Bitcoin Pizza Day Celebrates $1.1 Billion Legacy as BTC Sets New Record High

What started as a humble purchase of two pizzas for 10,000 BTC fifteen years ago has now blossomed into a $1.1 billion milestone, coinciding with Bitcoin’s latest all-time high.

On May 22, 2010, developer Laszlo Hanyecz made the first-ever recorded commercial transaction using Bitcoin, paying 10,000 BTC—then worth about $40—for two pizzas from Papa John’s. This moment marked a pivotal step in transforming Bitcoin from an experimental digital asset to a viable form of currency.

Today, with Bitcoin soaring above $111,800, that initial 10,000 BTC is worth more than $1.1 billion, enough to purchase over 70 million pizzas at current market prices.

Despite the staggering value increase, Hanyecz has always viewed the transaction as a milestone rather than a missed opportunity. In a 2019 interview, he said the purchase made Bitcoin feel “real” for the first time, after mining the coins when they were virtually worthless.

Since then, Bitcoin has grown beyond novelty transactions to be used for real-world purchases like homes, cars, and even tax payments in certain regions—showcasing the cryptocurrency’s expanding role in the global economy.