May 22, one of the most iconic days in Bitcoin history, is now celebrated worldwide as “Bitcoin Pizza Day.” But what’s the story behind this day, and why is it celebrated by millions each year?
10,000 Bitcoins for Pizza: How It All Started
In 2010, when Bitcoin was still known by only a handful of people, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz posted on a forum that he wanted to buy pizza in exchange for 10,000 BTC. The offer was accepted by 19-year-old Jeremy Sturdivant, who sent two large pizzas in return. This became the first commercial transaction ever made with Bitcoin, and it went down in history.
At the time, 10,000 BTC was worth only about $41. Based on today’s prices, that amount is worth well over $1 billion.
How Is Bitcoin Pizza Day Celebrated?
Every May 22, the crypto community organizes social media campaigns, orders pizzas, and crypto exchanges host special events. For example, in 2025, Binance conducted a global pizza giveaway with a $5 million reward pool.
These celebrations symbolize the birth of Bitcoin as a payment method and emphasize crypto’s place in everyday life.
Who Is Laszlo Hanyecz?
Laszlo is a developer who made significant contributions to the early Bitcoin community. He wrote the first Bitcoin client for MacOS, pioneered GPU mining, and helped lay the foundations for Bitcoin’s infrastructure. Even after the pizza transaction, he continued to use Bitcoin for payments, spending nearly 100,000 BTC throughout the summer of 2010.
He states that he has no regrets about those transactions and is proud to have proven Bitcoin's real-world utility.
The Cultural Significance of Bitcoin Pizza Day
This special day symbolizes the point at which crypto began to gain not only technical traction but social acceptance. From that first transaction to today, Bitcoin has evolved to impact a wide spectrum of actors, from individual investors to governments.
It also represents the transformation of financial systems, the potential of decentralized alternatives, and how individual freedom merges with technology.
Lesser-Known Facts About Bitcoin Pizza Day
- Jeremy Sturdivant, the person who received the first 10,000 BTC, says he spent them within a few months.
- Laszlo spent a total of 79,000 BTC throughout the year on pizza and other goods.
- In 2025, Bitcoin Pizza Day campaigns surpassed $10 million in total activity.
Conclusion
Bitcoin Pizza Day is considered a turning point in the writing of financial history. Behind the celebrations lies more than just a pizza transaction—it's the first step toward decentralized finance. That transaction marked the moment crypto transitioned from dream to reality.
To celebrate this day is not only to honor the past, but also to express belief in the future.
