Every year on May 22, the cryptocurrency community celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day. This day marks the “first time ever” Bitcoin was used to buy a real-world item which was 2 pizzas. In 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz indeed paid 10,000 Bitcoins for two Papa John’s pizzas. At that time, those Bitcoins were worth about $41.
At today’s price, those same 10,000 Bitcoins would be worth over $1 billion, making it one, if not the most expensive meal in the history of human beings.
What happened?
On May 18, 2010, Hanyecz wrote a post on Bitcointalk saying he’d give 10,000 Bitcoins to anyone who could get him 2 pizzas. Just four days later, on May 22, a fellow user named Jeremy Sturdivant took him up on the offer and arranged for 2 pizzas to be delivered to Hanyecz’s home in Florida.
That simple exchange went down in history as the first ever known real-world purchase made with Bitcoin because it simply proved that the digital currency could be used to buy everyday goods not just as something to trade on the internet.
Why does it matter?
Bitcoin Pizza Day is more than just a quick story, as it marks a major milestone in the history of digital money. Before that Bitcoin was almost exclusive to tech lovers. But when it was used to buy 2 pizzas, it was the first proof that cryptocurrency could be used just like regular money.
Since this transaction, Bitcoin has skyrocketed in both value and popularity. These days, many companies accept it as a form of payment, and it’s widely recognized as a leading digital asset.
A Brief Timeline of Bitcoin’s value to give you an idea of the cost of these 2 pizzas:
- 2010: 10,000 BTC = ~$41 USD
- 2013: 10,000 BTC = ~$1.15 million USD
- 2017: 10,000 BTC = ~$20 million USD
- 2021: 10,000 BTC = ~$500 million USD
- 2025: 10,000 BTC = ~$1.050 billion USD
Crypto fans celebrate May 22 by ordering pizza, sometimes even paying for them with Bitcoin. Many crypto firms join in by running special deals and promotions to honor the day.
How does Hanyecz feel about it?
Laszlo Hanyecz, the man behind the original pizza purchase, says he has no regrets about spending 10,000 Bitcoins. Back then, Bitcoin was worth very little, and he was proud to contribute to something new and groundbreaking.
On the other hand, crypto communities around the world celebrate this event in different ways. PizzaDAO, a decentralized community that hosts the Global Pizza Party every May 22, has announced that in 2025, they are giving away free pizza in over 400 cities worldwide, including major locations like New York, Berlin, Mumbai, and Sydney.
Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, also celebrates Bitcoin Pizza Day by organizing pizza parties in various cities around the world.
Adding a personal touch to the celebrations, Binance’s co-founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), has been known to participate in past Bitcoin Pizza Day events by making and delivering pizzas himself. In 2022, he was seen preparing pizzas at a local pizzeria in Paris, engaging directly with the community and showing the grassroots spirit of the crypto movement.
In 2025, Binance announced hosting events in cities such as Sydney, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and Johannesburg, through gatherings featuring free pizza, interactive games, and community engagement activities to honor the historic Bitcoin transaction.
From Pizza to Policy: Bitcoin’s Rise as a Global Asset
Today, Bitcoin is no longer just a currency used to buy pizza, it’s now accepted by major global companies including Microsoft, Starbucks (via third-party apps), and even some luxury hotels and airlines.
Cryptocurrencies have grown even more influential, with traditional financial giants like BlackRock entering the scene by launching Bitcoin ETFs, signaling long-term institutional confidence in the asset.
Governments around the world are also exploring the idea of holding Bitcoin in national reserves and legalizing crypto trading.
In the United States, several lawmakers have proposed regulatory frameworks to formally integrate Bitcoin into the financial system. Meanwhile, countries like Ukraine have considered adopting Bitcoin as part of their national reserves, an idea gaining traction amid global economic uncertainty and rising inflation.
As adoption continues to grow, what began as a simple pizza transaction now echoes in boardrooms, parliaments, and national treasuries, reinforcing Bitcoin’s role in reshaping the future of finance.
Bitcoin Pizza Day is more than a quirky historical footnote; it’s a symbol of how far digital currency has come. What began as a simple food order among forum users has evolved into a global celebration of innovation, risk-taking, and community spirit. As Bitcoin continues to shape the future of finance, one would wonder, what small actions today might become tomorrow’s billion-dollar milestones?
