Pizza Day, also known as Bitcoin Pizza Day, is remembered as the first time Bitcoin was used to buy something in the real world: two large pizzas for 10,000 BTC. It began with a forum post and has since become an annual event that crypto fans celebrate to show how much the technology has progressed.
In May 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz asked on a Bitcoin forum if anyone would buy him two large pizzas in exchange for 10,000 Bitcoin. Another user agreed, ordered the pizzas from Papa John’s, and had them delivered to Laszlo’s home. This first Bitcoin-for-goods transaction happened on May 22, 2010, and the pizzas cost about $41 at the time.
Pizza Day is a simple story with an important message. It shows how Bitcoin went from a technical experiment to something people could actually use to buy things. Over time, this small trade became a symbol in the crypto community. The story also shows how much Bitcoin’s value has changed since 2010.
Every year, the community celebrates with fun activities. Some crypto fans buy pizza using Bitcoin, merchants offer pizza-themed deals, and online groups share memes and retell the original story. Local meetups and online events also use the day to talk about using crypto for payments.
Pizza Day is memorable partly because of the numbers. The 10,000 Bitcoin spent on two pizzas in 2010 would be worth a huge amount in later years. People often talk about the big difference between the pizza’s price then and Bitcoin’s later highs, which is why the story is still shared. Some see it as proof that Bitcoin could be used, while others view it as a famous missed financial opportunity.
Charities and nonprofits use Pizza Day to connect with crypto donors. They might run pizza-themed donation drives, match crypto gifts, or share posts to teach supporters about giving cryptocurrency. For nonprofits, the day is a friendly way to show they accept crypto and welcome new donors. Guides suggest using clear donation buttons, recognizing donors publicly, and sharing short educational content for those new to crypto giving.
Pizza Day is more than just about money. It stands for early crypto culture—experiments, community trust, informal trades, and the idea of using digital tokens for everyday things. The story is still used in teaching, marketing, and fundraising because it is simple and memorable. Many groups use the theme to help newcomers learn how cryptocurrency payments and donations work.
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