On May 22, 2010, a simple online transaction changed the course of cryptocurrency history — not because it was grand or technologically groundbreaking, but because it was human. On that day, 19-year-old Jeremy Sturdivant sent two pizzas to a programmer in Florida in exchange for 10,000 bitcoins. At the time, the coins were worth less than $40. Today, that same amount is worth nearly **$400 million**, even after recent market corrections.
This seemingly trivial trade has since become legendary, celebrated annually as Bitcoin Pizza Day — a lighthearted yet profound reminder of how quickly the world of digital finance evolved. But behind the memes and headlines lies a story of youth, spontaneity, and reflection.
The Birth of Bitcoin’s First Real-World Transaction
In May 2010, Bitcoin was still an obscure experiment. Few understood its potential, and even fewer believed it could ever function as real money. That’s when Laszlo Hanyecz, a Florida-based software developer and early Bitcoin contributor, posted on the Bitcointalk forum: he wanted to buy two large pizzas using 10,000 BTC.
“I just want something delicious for dinner… I like pepperoni, but I’m open to suggestions,” he wrote.
Four days later, on May 22, Jeremy Sturdivant — then a teenager living in California — took him up on the offer. He ordered two Papa John’s pizzas and shipped them across the country. In return, he received 10,000 BTC.
Hanyecz celebrated the moment online:
“I successfully traded 10,000 bitcoins for pizza. Thanks jercos!”
The username jercos was Sturdivant’s — unknowingly making him a permanent name in crypto lore.
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What Happened to the 10,000 Bitcoins?
Contrary to popular myth, Sturdivant didn’t hold onto the coins. Within months, as Bitcoin briefly rose to $0.10 per coin, he sold all 10,000 BTC.
With the proceeds — around $1,000 at the time — he and his girlfriend took a spontaneous road trip. No real estate purchases, no long-term investments. Just freedom, youth, and two people enjoying life in the moment.
Today, with Bitcoin valued at tens of thousands of dollars per coin, that decision seems unfathomable. But context matters.
“I definitely regret not holding onto them,” Sturdivant admitted in a recent interview. “But back then, I wasn’t thinking about investment. I was just excited to make the trade happen — to actually use Bitcoin in a real transaction.”
He added:
“I didn’t know where this thing would go. None of us did. It was just a fun project, a cool idea shared among tech enthusiasts.”
Still, there’s pride in his voice when he reflects:
“I can’t say Bitcoin succeeded because of me — but I’m proud I played a small role in showing it could work.”
Core Keywords in Context
This story isn’t just about lost fortune — it’s about Bitcoin adoption, early cryptocurrency use cases, and the human side of innovation. The keywords that define this moment include:
- Bitcoin Pizza Day
- Laszlo Hanyecz
- Jeremy Sturdivant
- first Bitcoin transaction
- Bitcoin history
- cryptocurrency adoption
- real-world crypto use
- Bitcoin value growth
These terms naturally emerge from one of the most iconic moments in digital currency history — a moment where hunger met curiosity, and a new financial era quietly began.
Laszlo Hanyecz: The Man Behind the Meal
While Sturdivant delivered the pizza, Laszlo Hanyecz helped build the foundation of Bitcoin itself. One of the first developers to mine Bitcoin using GPU power, he contributed code that improved mining efficiency and even created tools for others to join the network.
To him, spending 10,000 BTC on pizza wasn’t reckless — it was experimental.
“It was free pizza,” he said in a 2019 interview with Bitcoin Magazine. “Back then, I mined thousands of coins every day. Ten thousand didn’t mean much.”
For Hanyecz, the trade wasn’t about value — it was about proving concept. Could Bitcoin be used to buy something tangible? Could it function as money?
“This was a way to test that,” he said. “And yes, someone else might have done it eventually — but I’m glad I did it first.”
His contribution goes beyond pizza. He remains a respected figure in open-source development and continues advocating for decentralized systems.
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FAQ: Your Questions About Bitcoin’s Most Famous Meal
Q: Is it true that two pizzas cost $400 million?
A: In today’s market value, yes — approximately. With Bitcoin fluctuating around $40,000–$45,000 in 2025, 10,000 BTC equals roughly $400 million. While prices change daily, the symbolic weight remains.
Q: Did Jeremy Sturdivant lose billions?
A: Technically no — because Bitcoin hadn’t appreciated yet. He received less than $40 worth of value at the time and later sold for about $1,000. There was no billion-dollar fortune in hand — only unrealized potential.
Q: Why didn’t anyone realize Bitcoin’s future back then?
A: In 2010, Bitcoin lacked infrastructure, public awareness, and regulatory clarity. It was used by programmers and privacy advocates — not investors. Most early adopters saw it as an experiment, not an asset.
Q: Is Bitcoin Pizza Day celebrated every year?
A: Yes! Every May 22, crypto communities worldwide celebrate with pizza giveaways, NFT tributes, and social media retrospectives. Some exchanges even offer limited-time promotions.
Q: Are either Laszlo or Jeremy still involved in crypto?
A: Both remain connected to the space. Hanyecz continues contributing to open-source projects. Sturdivant occasionally speaks in interviews but maintains a low profile.
Q: Has anyone else made big purchases with early Bitcoin?
A: Yes — though none as iconic. Early adopters bought everything from laptops to cars with BTC when values were low. But the pizza trade remains the first documented real-world purchase.
A Legacy Written in Code and Crust
Eleven years later, both men look back with mixed emotions — not bitterness over lost wealth, but gratitude for being part of something historic.
Sturdivant isn’t wealthy by today’s standards — but he’s content.
Hanyecz isn’t famous for being rich — but for being visionary.
Their story reminds us that innovation isn’t always driven by profit. Sometimes, it starts with curiosity. A question: Can I buy pizza with internet money? And an answer: Yes — let’s try.
That simple act validated Bitcoin’s utility long before Wall Street took notice. It proved digital currency could move beyond theory and into daily life — one slice at a time.
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Final Thoughts: More Than Just Regret
While headlines focus on "lost millions," the real lesson isn’t financial loss — it’s foresight.
No one could have predicted Bitcoin’s rise in 2010. Not Hanyecz. Not Sturdivant. Not even Satoshi Nakamoto.
But they participated anyway.
And in doing so, they gave us more than a quirky anecdote — they gave us proof that decentralized money could work in the real world.
Today’s traders, investors, and developers stand on the shoulders of these early experiments. The pizzas may be long gone — but their legacy is baked into every transaction on the blockchain.
So this May 22, if you celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day with a slice and a laugh — remember: behind every bite is a story of risk, vision, and human connection in the digital age.