...and why I celebrate it every May 22 with extra cheese.
Hey folks, it’s RafiOnChain, and today I want to take you back to one of my favorite pieces of crypto lore — a story I think about every single year on May 22nd. It’s weird, it’s beautiful, it’s a little sad, and it’s probably one of the most important transactions in internet history.
It’s about a guy. A forum post. Two pizzas. And what would eventually be known as Bitcoin Pizza Day.
👨💻 It Was 2010. Bitcoin Was Worth Less Than a Penny.
Back then, Bitcoin wasn’t a hot topic. It wasn’t in the news. There were no laser eyes, no ETFs, no Coinbase. If you knew what Bitcoin was in 2010, you were either a cypherpunk, a dev, or a wild dreamer with a laptop and a lot of curiosity.
And then there was Laszlo Hanyecz — a programmer from Florida and one of Bitcoin’s earliest adopters.
One day, Laszlo got hungry. Not for profits. Not for moon shots. He literally just wanted pizza.
So he posted this on a forum:
“I’ll pay 10,000 bitcoins for a couple of pizzas… maybe two large ones so I have leftovers for the next day.”
No sarcasm. No hype. Just a man craving a greasy slice.
🍕 10,000 BTC for 2 Large Pizzas
Eventually, another user (a 19-year-old named Jeremy) replied and said he’d take him up on the offer.
He ordered two Papa John’s pizzas and had them delivered to Laszlo’s door. Laszlo transferred 10,000 BTC to him.
At the time, those BTC were worth about $41. Fair trade.
They even posted a picture of the pizza. Laszlo smiled like a proud dad. The internet barely noticed.
⏩ Fast-Forward to Now: That Pizza Is Worth Over $600 Million
Yep. $600,000,000+. For two large pizzas.
Every May 22nd since, we remember that transaction as the moment Bitcoin first became “real” money.
And while the media loves to talk about “the guy who lost a fortune,” Laszlo himself? He’s chill.
“It wasn’t like Bitcoins had any value back then, so the idea of trading them for a pizza was incredibly cool.”
That quote always gets me. Because he didn’t do it for gain. He did it to give this thing a shot. To make Bitcoin real.
💬 Why Bitcoin Pizza Day Still Hits Hard
To me, Bitcoin Pizza Day isn’t about laughing at Laszlo. It’s about celebrating guts and vision.
Think about it:
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He believed in the tech when nobody else cared.
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He used it when no one was sure if it even worked.
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He helped build momentum, unknowingly starting a snowball that would become a global financial revolution.
He didn’t HODL. He acted.
And honestly? I think we need more Laszlos in this space.
😅 What About the Guy Who Got the BTC?
That 19-year-old kid who received the 10,000 BTC? His name was Jeremy Sturdivant, aka “Jercos.” He ended up spending the Bitcoin on travel and never looked back.
He has no regrets either.
They were just two guys, experimenting with internet money, trying stuff out.
No regrets. Just curiosity.
🎉 So... What’s Bitcoin Pizza Day Now?
Today, every May 22nd, Bitcoin Pizza Day is celebrated around the world.
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Crypto Twitter lights up with pizza memes.
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Influencers host pizza giveaways.
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Some wallets and companies run BTC promos.
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Communities gather (IRL and online) and share slices in honor of that legendary trade.
It’s like a birthday party for a whole movement.
And yes, I buy a slice every year. It’s tradition.
⚠️ What Can We Learn from This?
I know the number—$600 million—can seem ridiculous. But Bitcoin Pizza Day reminds me of a few key things:
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💡 Vision matters. Laszlo saw potential before it was obvious.
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💸 Value evolves. What seems trivial today could be priceless tomorrow.
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🚀 It’s not all about profit. Sometimes the biggest wins come from showing up and trying.
In a space obsessed with the next 100x, Bitcoin Pizza Day is a perfect reminder: sometimes, doing something small can make history.
💭 My First “Pizza Moment”?
My first taste of crypto utility wasn’t nearly as legendary. I once used $5 in ETH to tip a stranger on Publish0x. Felt silly. But it felt good. Like I was part of something.
What was your first real crypto moment?
Was it an NFT mint? An airdrop? A rug pull? A random swap that changed everything?
Tell me below 👇
And this May 22nd, eat a slice for Laszlo.
Because without him... maybe none of this would’ve happened.
Stay curious. Stay generous. And always keep snacks nearby. 🍕
