The man who bought pizza with 10,000 Bitcoins: The legendary story of Laszlo Hanyecz

In 2009, Bitcoin (BTC) came into being. As the first decentralized cryptocurrency in human history, it did not cause much of a stir at the beginning. However, just one year later, on May 22, 2010, what seemed like an ordinary day became an eternal milestone in BTC history. On that day, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas with 10,000 BTC, completing the first real-world commodity transaction with BTC. This transaction is now known as "Bitcoin Pizza Day" and is a well-known story in the cryptocurrency community.
A bold attempt
Laszlo Hanyecz is a programmer who is passionate about BTC technology and an early participant in the BTC network. At that time, BTC was almost worthless, not even worth a penny, and most of the time it was just a 'digital toy' in the hands of geeks. In order to prove that BTC is not just a concept in the code, but can actually be used to exchange goods, Laszlo posted a message on the BTC forum Bitcointalk. He wrote: 'I want to exchange ten thousand BTC for two pizzas, whether you make them yourself or order takeout for me. I just want to enjoy the pleasure of pizza and experience the feeling of paying with BTC.' He also specifically mentioned that the brand doesn't matter, as long as it fills him up.
This post hung for four days without any response until a user named Jeremy Sturdivant was moved by his creativity and decided to take on this "order". Jeremy ordered two pizzas for Laszlo using a $25 pizza voucher, and the transaction was successfully completed. Laszlo enjoyed the pizzas and made a significant contribution to the history of Bitcoin.
The 'sky-high' evolution of two pizzas
In 2010, the value of 10,000 BTC was only about 41 cents, not even enough to buy a cup of coffee. However, fast forward to 2025, the price of BTC has soared to $100,000 each. At this price, those two pizzas are now worth as much as $1 billion! This enormous price difference makes Laszlo's story full of drama, and people can't help but tease him for 'eating the most expensive pizza in the world'.
But Laszlo himself did not care about this "expensive" transaction. In a later interview, he calmly stated, "I have no regrets because this transaction proved that BTC can be used to buy things, which promotes the actual application of BTC." For him, this is not just two pizzas, but the first step of BTC into the real world.
The Birth of Bitcoin Pizza Day
Since then, May 22nd of each year has become "BTC Pizza Day", a special holiday for the global cryptocurrency community. This day is not only to commemorate that transaction, but also symbolizes the starting point of BTC's transition from an abstract digital concept to real-world application. It tells people that BTC is not just an experiment for programmers, but a payment tool with the potential to change the world.
Laszlo's greater contribution
Laszlo's legend is far more than just a pizza transaction. As an early developer of Bitcoin, he also made significant contributions to the growth of the network. He developed the earliest GPU mining technology, greatly improving the mining efficiency of Bitcoin, and promoting the expansion of the network. In his view, exchanging 10,000 BTC for pizza is not only an interesting experiment, but also paving the way for the future of the Bitcoin ecosystem.
In 2025, the price of Bitcoin has surpassed $100,000, and the global acceptance of cryptocurrency has reached an unprecedented level. From individual investors to large institutions, BTC has evolved from a fringe technology to a mainstream asset. And all of this is inseparable from pioneers like Laszlo who are willing to try.
Wealth or meaning?
Some say that Laszlo is the 'unluckiest investor' because he missed out on billions of wealth; others call him the 'greatest pioneer' because his trade opened the door to a new world for Bitcoin. Faced with these evaluations, Laszlo remains indifferent. He once said that the success of Bitcoin is more meaningful than his personal wealth. What he exchanged for 10,000 BTC was not just two pizzas, but the starting point for Bitcoin's mainstream adoption.
Honor Pizza Day
When we look back at this story, we can't help but marvel at the changes in technology and the times. Those two pizzas, seemingly simple, carried the dream of the rise of Bitcoin. Perhaps it is precisely because of Laszlo's unwitting actions that we have the flourishing scene today.
If you are also a fan of Bitcoin, why not order a pizza on May 22nd each year to salute Laszlo's courage. After all, this holiday belongs not only to Bitcoin, but also to every ordinary person who believes in the future. Eating pizza, talking about Bitcoin—this may be the most down-to-earth way to celebrate!