The Bitcoin Pizza Day

    By Idris Busari

    The Bitcoin Pizza Day cover image

    22 May, 2024

    a man sitting at a desk with a computer and a monitor in front of him with many screens on the wall, computer art, computer graphics, Filip Hodas, dan mumford. octane render

    Laszlo Hanyecz sat in front of his computer, engrossed in the world of Bitcoin. He was an early adopter, a believer in the potential of this digital currency.

    a man sitting at a desk with a laptop and a keyboard in front of him, with multiple monitors behind him, computer art, a stock photo, Adam Pijnacker, dan mumford. octane render

    One day, an idea struck Laszlo, inspired by his craving for pizza. He pondered over the idea of paying for his favorite cheesy delight with Bitcoin.

    a man sitting at a table with a pizza in front of him in a restaurant with people sitting around, private press, a character portrait, andrei riabovitchev, professional photo

    Laszlo, with his newfound idea, ventured into the Bitcoin community. He posted a request: 'Will someone buy me pizza in exchange for 10,000 BTC?'

    a man with glasses and a bitcoin t - shirt on in a crowded room with people in the background, private press, a character portrait, Adam Pijnacker, professional photo

    The response was quick. A fellow enthusiast, jercos, stepped up and agreed to the deal. The terms were simple, yet groundbreaking.

    two men are cutting pizzas in a restaurant together, smiling at the camera man is holding a knife, viennese actionism, a stock photo, Avgust Černigoj, promotional image

    Laszlo ordered two large pizzas from Papa John’s. Jercos, honoring his part of the deal, paid for the pizzas. In return, Laszlo transferred 10,000 Bitcoins to jercos's digital wallet.

    a man holding a pizza in a store with a large crowd of people behind him and a large pizza on a plate, fantastic realism, a digital rendering, Eglon van der Neer, jurgens

    Unbeknownst to Laszlo, he had just made history. The transaction marked the first-ever commercial use of Bitcoin, all for two pizzas.

    a man sitting at a table with a pizza on a pan in front of him and a glass of orange juice, lowbrow, a stock photo, Christian W. Staudinger, professional food photography

    As Laszlo enjoyed his pizza, the gravity of the transaction was yet to dawn on him. Little did he know, these two pizzas would become legendary.

    a man standing in front of a table with pizzas on it and a light hanging above him and a brick wall behind him, photorealism, a photorealistic painting, Enrico Baj, behance hd

    Today, those 10,000 Bitcoins are worth a staggering $450 million. An unimaginable price for a simple indulgence, yet a priceless milestone in Bitcoin history.

    a man standing in front of a table with a pizza on it and a beer in his hand and a bitcoin on the plate, futurism, a stock photo, Adam Pijnacker, promotional image

    Laszlo's pizza escapade was more than a craving; it was a symbolic act. It showed Bitcoin could be used for real-world transactions, setting a precedent.

    a man is excited about his pizza and other people are in the background watching him eat it and he is excited, kitsch movement, a stock photo, Erwin Bowien, promotional image

    Every year on May 22, Bitcoin enthusiasts worldwide celebrate 'Bitcoin Pizza Day' in honor of Laszlo, the man who paid $450 million for two pizzas.

    a man with glasses is looking at something in the distance while standing on a street corner in a city, arbeitsrat für kunst, a character portrait, Erwin Bowien, rutkowski

    As the crypto market continues its wild ride, Laszlo's story is a reminder that even the most bizarre transactions can shape the future.

    a man holding a plate of pizza with a bitcoin on it in front of him in a restaurant, futurism, a stock photo, Enrico Baj, professional photo

    So, the next time you order a pizza, think of Laszlo and those 10,000 Bitcoins. Who knows? Your pepperoni delight might just be the stuff of legends too.