Laszlo Hanyecz made Bitcoin history on May 22, 2010, when he paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas from Papa John’s. Back then, the transaction’s worth was only $41. He posted on a forum offering to pay Bitcoin if someone delivered pizza, and another user stepped up to help order the pizzas. That marked the first recorded use of Bitcoin in the real world. This milestone allowed Bitcoin to have practical uses instead of just being used for speculation or rewards from mining.
10,000 BTC in 2025 Is Worth $1.1 billion
In 2025, the per-coin price of Bitcoin is estimated to be around $110,742, which means Hanyecz’s over $1.1 billion. This showcases the unprecedented value growth Bitcoin has and will have in 15 years. Bitcoin has outperformed gold, stocks, and major tech companies and is recognized as a safe resource against inflation and devaluation.
Bitcoin Pizza Day Now Unites Millions in the Crypto Community
May 22nd has not only become a global event but also allows participants to join in on the mass celebrations at kiosks. Crypto exchanges always run offers on May 22, and this year was no different. Binance had over 1 million participants in their Pizza Day celebration. 2025 wasn’t any different as Crypto.com provided 50% off deals on pizza for the users in their applications. Coinbase joined in by doing quizzes regarding Bitcoin’s history and offering pizza as the reward. Reddit, X, and TikTok also joined the celebrations and had 43% more mentions this year than previously. Local crypto communities even hosted pizza parties globally.
Bitcoin’s Market Growth: From $1M to $2.2T
In 2010, Bitcoin had a total market cap of just under 1 million. By the year 2025, it is estimated to cross 2.2 trillion, mostly driven by institutions. BlackRock, Tesla, and MicroStrategy are known to hold huge amounts of BTC. Only 21 million BTC can ever exist, with 19.87 million already mined as of May 2025. This scarcity is one of the reasons driving long-term value increases of Bitcoin. More people are beginning to see Bitcoin as digital gold, or “hard money.”
Laszlo Hanyecz: The Man Behind the Milestone
Bitcoin enthusiasts are well Familiar with the name Laszlo Hanyecz. Having completed the very first commercial transaction almost a decade back, Hanyecz ordered a pizza for 10,000 BTC. Recently, Hanyecz traded in his 10k worth of BTC and lost all of it on Superbit Degen because of a hacker draining his wallet. But Lazlo, one of the earliest pioneers of crypto, doesn’t regret his bets. He had made headlines claiming that the world had to witness the spending of $100s worth of Bitcoins to fully believe in their potential value. Stating that roadblocks require real, not genuine, hype to fix.
Lightning Network: Making Bitcoin Payments Instant
Bitcoin’s core network is slow and costly for small transactions. To solve this, Bitcoin built the Lightning Network for daily use. In Q1 2025, it processed 30 million+ transactions globally. This layer-2 solution makes micro-BTC payments faster and nearly free. Users can buy coffee or pizza using BTC instantly via apps. It ensures Bitcoin stays relevant not just for holding, but for spending.
The $1.1 billion Pizza That Taught the World a Lesson
Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas. At that time, those coins were worth only $41. Today, the same amount is worth more than $1.1 billion. Laszlo says he doesn’t regret spending Bitcoin on pizza. He wanted to prove Bitcoin could be used for real purchases. This helped people see Bitcoin as money, not just a concept. That day showed how new ideas need real use to grow.
Bitcoin’s journey from a small experiment to global money began there. It reminds us to be open to change and innovation. Even if something seems small or strange, it might become big. Bitcoin Pizza Day teaches patience and belief in progress. It shows how today’s small choices can shape tomorrow’s world.