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How Much Was the Most Expensive Pizza in the World
The answer is 10,000 bitcoins (BTC).
This isn’t a crypto joke. It’s a true story that happened on May 22, 2010. On that day, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz used 10,000 BTC, which had very little value at the time, to buy two Papa John’s pizzas. This was the first recorded purchase of a physical item using cryptocurrency, and it opened the door to a whole new chapter in global digital finance.
The day later became known as Bitcoin Pizza Day.
It’s more than just a fun fact in crypto history. Every year on May 22, the global Web3 community celebrates it as a symbol of crypto’s real-world adoption.
Today, those 10,000 bitcoins are worth a staggering amount. Calling it “the most expensive pizza in the world” is no exaggeration. From that one slice, Bitcoin has gone through countless ups and downs, growing from a little-known experiment into a globally recognized decentralized asset.
What Happened on May 22, 2010
It all started with a simple forum post.
At the time, Bitcoin was only about a year old, and most people still had no idea what digital currency even was. In Florida, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz, one of Bitcoin’s early core developers, made a bold yet simple request in a post on the forum bitcointalk.org.
“I’ll pay 10,000 bitcoins for a couple of pizzas… like maybe 2 large ones so I have some left over for the next day. I like having leftover pizza to nibble on later. You can make the pizza yourself and bring it to my house or order it for me from a delivery place, but what I’m aiming for is getting food delivered in exchange for bitcoins where I don’t have to order or prepare it myself. Kind of like ordering a ‘breakfast platter’ at a hotel or something, they just bring you something to eat and you’re happy!
I like things like onions, peppers, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, pepperoni, etc. Just standard stuff, no weird fish topping or anything like that. I also like regular cheese pizzas which may be cheaper to prepare or otherwise acquire.
If you’re interested, please let me know and we can work out a deal.
Thanks,
Laszlo.”
At first, no one paid much attention to what seemed like a ridiculous offer. After all, 10,000 BTC was only worth about 40 US dollars at the time.
But a few days later, a user named Jeremy Sturdivant (aka jercos) agreed and had two pizzas delivered to Laszlo’s house.
That’s how the first real-world crypto transaction was born.
The original discussion thread is still available online today, serving as a time capsule for the entire crypto community.
How Crazy Was This Trade
In 2010, 10,000 bitcoins were worth about 41 US dollars, and the two pizzas Laszlo received cost around 25 dollars. Even at the time, Laszlo got the short end of the deal.
But that’s not the point. What made this transaction legendary is what happened afterward: Bitcoin’s price exploded over the next 14 years.
Despite this, Laszlo later told CNN in an interview that he had no regrets:
“I don’t regret it. I think that it’s great that I got to be part of the early history of Bitcoin in that way.”
When asked if he loses sleep over how much those BTC would be worth today, he calmly replied:
“I think thinking like that is… not really good for me.”
To the crypto world, Laszlo isn’t a fool. He’s a hero.
The Bitcoin Pizza Guy, who helped turn Bitcoin from an idea into something real.
Why Is Bitcoin Pizza Day So Important to Crypto
There have been many price spikes and protocol upgrades throughout blockchain history. But few moments are as symbolic as Bitcoin Pizza Day. Because this wasn’t just about pizza. It was the moment Bitcoin stepped out of the whitepaper and into the real world.
Before this, Bitcoin was still a concept, an experimental idea shared by forum users and tech enthusiasts. No one knew if it could actually work. But when Laszlo successfully exchanged 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, he proved that crypto had real-world utility. That simple act opened the door for everything that followed. Bitcoin Pizza Day showed that digital assets could serve as a medium of exchange, not just a speculative asset. It marked the first step in a new financial era, laying the groundwork for Web3, DeFi, NFTs, and more. More importantly, it captured the spirit of early crypto: bold, curious, and driven by belief, with a touch of humor.
That’s why, every May 22, the crypto world comes together. Across chains, coins, and countries, we pause the debates, eat some pizza, and pay tribute to the man who started it all.
Exclusive Drop｜CoolWallet Pro Bitcoin Pizza Day Editions
To celebrate the legendary 10,000 BTC pizza transaction, CoolWallet presents a limited-edition Bitcoin Pizza Day Pro Series: three designs, three stories, honoring the evolution of crypto:
🔸 Golden Era｜A tribute to pioneers
Honoring the legendary moment when 10,000 BTC were exchanged for two pizzas. The gleaming gold finish represents the courage and vision of early believers, paying tribute to the pioneers who sparked the crypto revolution.
🔸 Retro Red｜Back to the 2010 Pizza Moment
A bold and nostalgic red design that brings back the moment of Bitcoin’s first real-world use. Classic, unforgettable, and a reminder of the early purity and energy that fueled the crypto movement.
🔸 Greenfield｜Connection and growth
Symbolizing the decentralized spirit of Web3 and the power of community, this design represents the ongoing journey of building trust, collaboration, and boundless possibility in the crypto world.
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Pizza Day Reflection: Would You Spend Your BTC on Pizza
If you had 10,000 BTC today, would you use it to buy two pizzas?
With Bitcoin now worth tens of thousands of dollars, that question sounds absurd, even funny. But this is exactly the kind of thought experiment that Bitcoin Pizza Day leaves with the crypto world. Laszlo didn’t HODL. He used Bitcoin. Not for profit, but to unlock a new kind of value exchange.
So we ask:
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Is HODLing always the right move?
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Is Bitcoin meant to be an investment, or a form of payment?
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Do we still have the early spirit of crypto, the courage to actually use it?
Today, the Web3 ecosystem has grown stronger. We have better tools, more robust infrastructure, and widespread adoption potential. But if no one actually uses their crypto, how will the decentralized revolution ever reach the mainstream? Bitcoin Pizza Day isn’t just about remembering a legend.
Bitcoin Pizza Day reminds us: it’s not about how much your BTC is worth. It’s about what you’re willing to do with it.
The Financial Revolution That Started With Pizza Is Still Going
Those two pizzas in 2010 didn’t just feed a hungry developer. They sparked the world’s imagination of what decentralized money could be.
Bitcoin Pizza Day became a symbol. It challenged the definition of traditional finance and broke the boundaries of value exchange. It challenges traditional finance, redefining value exchange, and proving trust can be built peer-to-peer.
From DeFi to GameFi, NFTs to DAOs, the ripple effects continue to shape the Web3 era. From person to person. From chain to chain. This financial revolution continues to grow.
What we celebrate each year on May 22 is not just a single transaction. It’s the spirit of experimentation and belief that started it all.
And it all began with one slice of pizza.
CoolWallet is proud to be part of this history. Let’s move forward together into the next chapter of Web3.
