Bitcoin Pizza Day: How Bitcoin Became Spendable
What is Bitcoin Pizza Day?
Bitcoin Pizza Day marks a pivotal moment in crypto history: the first documented commercial Bitcoin transaction, when 10,000 BTC were exchanged for two pizzas—a turning point for Bitcoin's real-world use.
At the time, BTC had little value, and the pizza purchase was worth about $41. Today, that same purchase would be worth over $970 million.
Since that now-famous event, Bitcoin has evolved from a niche experiment to a global payment method and store of value. In this blog, we’ll trace Bitcoin’s path from pizza to payments and ask: “If Bitcoin could buy pizza in 2010, what can it buy today?”
An Unusual Proposal: The 10,000 BTC Offer
It all began on May 18, 2010. Just after midnight, Laszlo Hanyecz posted on a Bitcoin forum with the subject “Pizza for bitcoins?” offering an unusual trade:
“I'll pay 10,000 bitcoins for a couple of pizzas.. like maybe 2 large ones so I have some left over for the next day. I like having left over pizza to nibble on later. You can make the pizza yourself and bring it to my house or order it for me from a delivery place, but what I'm aiming for is getting food delivered in exchange for bitcoins where I don't have to order or prepare it myself, kind of like ordering a 'breakfast platter' at a hotel or something, they just bring you something to eat and you're happy!"
Hanyecz’s offer was eventually accepted by fellow Floridian Jeremy Sturdivant, who bought the pizzas from Papa Johns with a credit card. The transaction was finalized on May 22, 2010—four days after the original post.
Since then, May 22 has been celebrated as Bitcoin Pizza Day, not just for the most expensive meal in history, but for the first recorded commercial Bitcoin transaction.
How Much was 1 BTC Worth on Pizza Day?
On May 22, 2010, 1 BTC was worth just $0.0041, less than half a penny. Five days later, Bitcoin’s price jumped to $0.08—and in the years that followed, it skyrocketed. By May 13, 2025, 1 BTC was worth over $103,000 - Hanyecz’s $41 pizza order would be worth over $1 billion.
The Man Behind the Pizza: Laszlo Hanyecz
Laszlo Hanyecz is often remembered for spending 10,000 BTC on pizza, but he was far more than a quirky Bitcoin enthusiast. A skilled programmer, Hanyecz played a key role in Bitcoin’s development. Actively involved in the community by late 2009, Hanyecz worked directly with Satoshi Nakamoto to improve the software and was among the first thousand miners of the Bitcoin blockchain. His contributions include porting Bitcoin to macOS and introducing GPU mining, which significantly boosted mining efficiency.
Watch the 60 Minutes Interview of Laszlo Hanyecz with Anderson Cooper.
Why Bitcoin Pizza Day Matters
In the years that followed, the Bitcoin pizza transaction became a viral meme—often cited as a cautionary tale or punchline. To outsiders, it looked like a foolish mistake. But the jokes missed the point.
Laszlo Hanyecz wasn’t trying to make a profit—he was testing Bitcoin’s real-world utility. By successfully exchanging 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, he proved that Bitcoin could function as a currency, not just as an experimental technology. It was a crucial proof of concept that showed digital assets could be used for everyday purchases.
The experiment also helped shift public perception. By involving the community, Hanyecz moved Bitcoin from a niche tech curiosity toward a broader vision: a decentralized, peer-to-peer alternative to traditional money. It laid the foundation for Bitcoin’s future as a store of value and a medium of exchange. In Hanyecz’s words, buying those pizzas made Bitcoin “real for some people.”
A comment on YouTube from user @xBrainZy:
“People might call him an idiot but without him buying pizzas with 10k BTC (at that time when nobody was interested in having bitcoin despite its value was in cents or less) bitcoin would not have been recognized as a currency that can bring in transaction value. RESPECT”
From Pizza to Payments: Where Can Bitcoin Take You Today?
Fifteen years after Hanyecz’s experiment, Bitcoin is no longer just a curiosity—it’s accepted worldwide for a wide range of goods and services. While volatility and regulation still limit its everyday use, BTC is now accepted by major retailers like Microsoft, Newegg, and Overstock.
Today, you can use Bitcoin to pay for flights, hotels, electronics, and even real estate. Companies like AT&T and Namecheap have accepted it at various times, and crypto debit cards let users spend BTC anywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Services like BitPay, Strike, and the Lightning Network have made Bitcoin payments faster and cheaper, making everyday transactions more practical. In countries with unstable currencies or limited banking, Bitcoin also offers a vital tool for financial inclusion and autonomy.
It may not replace credit cards anytime soon, but Bitcoin has proven itself as both a store of value and a means of exchange. Buying pizza with Bitcoin in 2025 may not make headlines—but it’s no longer an experiment. It’s a real option.
How is Pizza Day Celebrated Around the World?
Bitcoin Pizza Day is now celebrated every year to honor the pioneering spirit of Laszlo Hanyecz and other early Bitcoin adopters. The day is marked by community events, brand promotions, special discounts, themed meet-ups, and, of course, plenty of pizza.
It's a fun occasion to reflect on Bitcoin's humble beginnings and its impressive journey. Crypto enthusiasts come together to educate newcomers, discuss Bitcoin’s evolution, and strengthen connections within the growing digital economy.
Want to join the celebration? Here are a few fun ways to mark the day:
🍕Buy two pizzas and put Bitcoin-shaped pineapple slices on it!
🍕Order two pepperoni pizzas and imagine the pepperonis are bitcoins!
🍕Give away $5–$20 in BTC to family and friends with Ballet’s Bitcoin Cold Storage Coin Wallets or REAL Pizza Cold Wallets, and buy a pizza for yourself.
🍕Host a BTC Pizza Day meet up!
🍕Buy a pizza, then buy some BTC from the Ballet Crypto App!
Introducing Ballet Wallet - Pizza Special Edition
Inspired by the legendary two-pizza transaction, Ballet’s special REAL Pizza Physical Cold Storage features a discreet pizza logo and is free of references to crypto. Ballet REAL PIZZA offers a subtle way to commemorate Bitcoin's history, allowing users to store over 1,000 cryptocurrencies on the card while prioritizing discretion.
Celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day and get 10% OFF your order + a FREE Pizza Keychain with every Ballet REAL Pizza 2-Pack! With Ballet Cold Wallets, you can rest assured that your cryptocurrencies are stored safely offline, protected from hackers and online threats.
Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day!
From 10,000 BTC pizzas to global payments, Bitcoin’s journey has been anything but boring. As we look ahead, Bitcoin Pizza Day reminds us how far the technology—and community—has come. Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day!
