Today marks the 16th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day, commemorating the first known real-world Bitcoin transaction. On May 22, 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas when the cryptocurrency was virtually worthless. The value of that transaction has since ballooned to approximately $770 million as Bitcoin’s price and global adoption have grown exponentially, illustrating the asset’s dramatic journey.
Sixteen years ago, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz completed a landmark transaction by spending 10,000 bitcoins for two Papa John’s pizzas. That purchase, valued then at roughly $41, marked the first known use of Bitcoin for a real-world good.
The 10,000 BTC used for the pizzas would be worth $10,000 just nine months later as Bitcoin’s price reached $1. The value of those coins surged to an estimated $1.26 billion during the asset’s peak price in October 2025.
This year’s anniversary finds Bitcoin trading lower than its recent highs, with the historic pizza purchase now valued at over $770 million. Data from CoinMarketCap shows Bitcoin trading around $77,360 at the time of reporting.
The current value of those Papa John’s pizzas reflects how much Bitcoin as an asset and a network has grown. A growing number of vendors and merchants now accept BTC as payment.
The crypto industry has grown alongside Bitcoin, with leading financial networks increasingly adopting the technology. The transaction’s evolution from buying two pizzas to representing a fortune underscores the asset’s significant development.
