Before Bitcoin was a household name, it was just an idea shared on internet forums. In May 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz, one of Bitcoin’s early users, made a trade that would go down in crypto history: 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas.
What later became known as Bitcoin Pizza Day now stands as a milestone in cryptocurrency history. It represents the first time Bitcoin was used for a real-world purchase — a small step that signaled the beginning of its journey from experimental software to global financial innovation.
It’s a story about early adopters, small beginnings, and how one ordinary purchase helped kickstart a global financial movement.
What Is Bitcoin Pizza Day?
Bitcoin Pizza Day marks the anniversary of the first real-world purchase made using Bitcoin. On May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz, an early Bitcoin enthusiast, exchanged 10,000 Bitcoin for two Papa John's pizzas — creating what is now seen as the first commercial transaction in cryptocurrency history.
This simple exchange turned Bitcoin from a niche digital experiment into something tangible — proof that it could be used as real money, not just an idea shared among online communities.
History of Bitcoin Pizza Day
In 2008, an anonymous creator known as Satoshi Nakamoto introduced Bitcoin to the world — a new idea for decentralized, peer-to-peer money. It wasn’t until 2010, however, that Bitcoin found its first real-world use.
That moment came thanks to Laszlo Hanyecz, a programmer and Bitcoin hobbyist based in Florida. On May 18, 2010, he posted a casual offer on the Bitcointalk forum: 10,000 Bitcoin to anyone who would send him two large pizzas.
The Original Post of Laszlo's Pizza Request | Source: Bitcoin Forum
Back then, Bitcoin had almost no established value — it was more of a tech experiment than a currency. Still, another forum user, Jeremy Sturdivant (known online as "jercos"), accepted the offer and ordered two Papa John’s pizzas to Hanyecz’s house.
Laszlo received his pizzas on May 22, worth about $41 at the time, and posted a picture to the forum, documenting what would later be seen as a historic milestone. In his own words: "It wasn't like bitcoins had any value back then, so the idea of trading them for a pizza was incredibly cool."
What seemed like an ordinary dinner order ended up proving Bitcoin’s potential: it could be exchanged for something tangible. That simple act helped set Bitcoin on the path from an obscure experiment to the global phenomenon it is today.
Why Is Bitcoin Pizza Day Important?
Beyond the memes and pizza parties, Bitcoin Pizza Day holds real significance for crypto enthusiasts — and for the history of money itself. Here’s why:
1. Bitcoin Pizza Day proved Bitcoin could be used as real money. When Laszlo Hanyecz exchanged 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, it showed that Bitcoin wasn’t just theoretical — it could buy real-world goods, marking Bitcoin’s first practical transaction.
2. The first Bitcoin transaction gave the cryptocurrency an initial price. That $41 pizza order valued Bitcoin at roughly $0.003 per coin, setting an early benchmark that made Bitcoin easier to understand and track.
3. Bitcoin’s first real-world purchase turned an idea into reality. Until that day, Bitcoin mostly existed in forums and theory. Hanyecz’s simple act proved Bitcoin could work as a decentralized currency for everyday use.
4. Bitcoin Pizza Day helped build the early Bitcoin community. The story of two pizzas became a symbol, bonding early adopters and helping Bitcoin's grassroots movement grow into a global community.
5. The Bitcoin Pizza Day story made Bitcoin’s growth tangible. Watching the value of 10,000 BTC rise over time gives a vivid, emotional example of cryptocurrency’s long-term potential and volatility.
The Historical Transaction Can Still Be Tracked Onchain | Source: Blockchain.com
How Much Would 10,000 Bitcoins Be Worth Today?
The Pizza Laszlo Bought for 10,000 BTC | Source: Bitcoin Forum
In April 2025, with Bitcoin trading around $94,488 per coin, the 10,000 BTC that once bought two pizzas would now be worth nearly $945 million.
What started as a casual $41 pizza order has become one of the most remarkable stories of value appreciation in financial history — a 23 million percent increase, or roughly a 230,000× return over fifteen years.
But the real significance of Laszlo Hanyecz’s transaction goes beyond the numbers. It wasn’t just about the price — it was about proving Bitcoin could be used in the real world. That simple act of trading digital coins for two pizzas marked the first real-world use of Bitcoin as money, laying the foundation for the cryptocurrency's global rise.
Even today, Hanyecz has expressed no regrets. In interviews, he has said that being part of Bitcoin’s early history was worth far more than the missed fortune. "I think it's great that I got to be part of the early history of Bitcoin in that way," he reflected in a 2024 interview. For Hanyecz, spending Bitcoin on everyday goods wasn’t a loss — it was a necessary step to show that Bitcoin could work beyond theory. Without moments like this, Bitcoin might have remained just an idea confined to online discussions. Instead, it grew, circulated, and evolved — and it all started with two pizzas and a bold leap of faith.
Fun Facts About Bitcoin Pizza Day
1. The Order That Turned May 22 Into Bitcoin Pizza Day Every May 22, Bitcoin fans worldwide honor the first real-world crypto transaction by doing what Laszlo Hanyecz did in 2010 — ordering pizza. Whether paying in Bitcoin or not, the tradition is a nod to Bitcoin’s earliest step into mainstream utility. Online communities host Bitcoin Pizza Day contests, pizza parties, and meme fests to celebrate how far crypto has come.
2. The Man Never Regretted His Bitcoin Pizza Despite the jaw-dropping value those 10,000 BTC would hold today, Laszlo Hanyecz has expressed no regrets. He has often said that helping Bitcoin become a usable currency felt more important than holding onto theoretical wealth. Without that simple pizza purchase, Bitcoin might have stayed stuck in the world of abstract tech discussions a little longer.
3. The Man Actually Spent Even More Bitcoins on More Pizzas While the May 22 pizza transaction is the most famous, Hanyecz didn’t stop there. He completed several Bitcoin-for-pizza trades around that time. Each transaction quietly helped Bitcoin move from a tech experiment to a functioning digital currency, at least among early Bitcoiners.
4. Crypto Pizza Deals and Promotions Are Now Part of the Tradition Today, Bitcoin Pizza Day isn’t just an online meme — it's a marketing event. Pizza chains, local shops, and crypto companies often offer special discounts, giveaways, and even crypto payment options. Some even launch crypto-exclusive pizza ordering portals just for the occasion.
5. The Bitcoin Pizza Index Tracks 10,000 BTC Over Time Crypto enthusiasts track the "Bitcoin Pizza Index" — a real-time measure of how much the 10,000 BTC spent in 2010 would be worth today. It’s a quirky, unforgettable reminder of Bitcoin’s meteoric rise from obscurity to a global financial asset.
Final Thoughts: A Reminder That Bitcoin Was Meant to Move
When Laszlo Hanyecz spent 10,000 Bitcoin on two pizzas, he wasn't trying to predict future prices. He was proving a point: Bitcoin was built to be used.
That first real-world purchase showed that cryptocurrency could do more than sit in a wallet. It could be exchanged, circulated, and embedded into everyday life — a small act that carried revolutionary weight.
Fourteen years later, that lesson still matters. Bitcoin’s long-term future depends not just on speculation, but on active use. Transactions build trust, demonstrate utility, and keep the original vision of decentralized money alive.
Bitcoin Pizza Day isn’t just a celebration of Bitcoin’s history — it’s a reminder that real adoption begins with real-world action. Just like two pizzas once changed everything.