Who Sold 10,000 Bitcoin for Pizza? The Full Story Behind the Legendary Transaction

Imagine a time when you could buy dinner with digital coins that no one thought would amount to much. That is exactly what happened back in 2010. Who sold 10,000 Bitcoin for pizza? It was a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz. He made the first real-world purchase using Bitcoin. He traded 10,000 BTC for two simple Papa John’s pizzas. At the time, those coins were worth just about $41. Today, as Bitcoin hits new highs around $111,000 per coin in 2025, that same amount would be worth more than $1.1 billion. This fun story shows how Bitcoin went from a hobby project to a giant in money and tech. It all started with one man’s love for pizza.

Why This Story Still Matters in 2025

Every year on May 22, people around the world celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day. They eat pizza and remember Laszlo’s trade. It was not just about food. It proved Bitcoin could work like real money. Before this, Bitcoin lived only in computers and forums. No one used it to buy things in the real world. Laszlo changed that. His story helps new people understand crypto. It shows early risks and big rewards. Even now, with Bitcoin in banks and big companies, this tale reminds us of simple beginnings.

Many ask who sold 10,000 Bitcoin for pizza because it sounds crazy today. But back then, it made perfect sense. Bitcoin had no clear price. Mining it was easy on home computers. Laszlo wanted to test if it could buy something real. He did, and history was made.

Who Is Laszlo Hanyecz? Background and Early Days with Bitcoin

Laszlo Hanyecz lives in Florida. He works as a software developer. In the early days of Bitcoin, he was one of the first fans. Bitcoin started in 2009 by a mystery person or group called Satoshi Nakamoto. It aimed to be money without banks or governments.

Laszlo joined right away. He helped improve Bitcoin’s code. He made the first version that worked on Apple Mac computers. That let more people use it. He also found a big way to mine faster. Mining means using computers to check transactions and make new Bitcoins.

Before Laszlo, people mined with normal computer parts called CPUs. He switched to graphics cards, or GPUs. This made mining much quicker. His idea spread fast. Soon, everyone’s mining power jumped. Laszlo mined thousands of Bitcoins at home. It was like printing money for free back then.

Here are some key facts about Laszlo:

• Job: Programmer who loves coding and tech projects.
• Family: He bought the pizzas for his kids to enjoy.
• Personality: Helpful and fun. He shared tips on Bitcoin forums.
• Big Role: Talked with Satoshi Nakamoto in messages.
• Later Work: Helped with fast Bitcoin payments called Lightning Network. In 2018, he bought pizzas again with tiny Bitcoin fees.

Laszlo stays out of the spotlight now. He does not chase fame from the pizza story.

How Laszlo Mined So Much Bitcoin Early On

In 2010, Bitcoin was new. Anyone with a computer could mine. Laszlo ran programs day and night. His GPU trick gave him an edge. He collected over 100,000 Bitcoins in months. That would be billions today. But he spent most on fun things like more pizzas. He saw Bitcoin as play money, not gold.

The Full Story: How the Pizza Deal Happened Step by Step

People often search who sold 10,000 Bitcoin for pizza to learn the details. Here is what happened, broken down simply.

1. May 18, 2010: Laszlo posts on Bitcointalk forum. He says: “I’ll pay 10,000 Bitcoins for a couple of pizzas. I like onions, peppers, sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, pepperoni. No weird stuff.”
2. A Few Days Wait: No one replies at first. Bitcoin was small. Few people had wallets or knew how to use it.
3. May 21: Laszlo asks again: “Nobody wants to buy me pizza? Is the amount too low?”
4. The Helper Steps In: A 19-year-old named Jeremy Sturdivant (forum name “jercos”) says yes. He lives in California.
5. May 22: Jeremy orders two large Papa John’s pizzas with his credit card. Cost: about $25 plus delivery, around $41 total. Pizzas go to Laszlo’s house in Florida.
6. Payment: Laszlo sends 10,000 Bitcoin to Jeremy. It is the first known real buy with Bitcoin. The deal is on the blockchain forever in block 57,043.

Laszlo posts photos of his family eating the pizzas. He writes: “I just want to report that I successfully traded 10,000 Bitcoins for pizza. Thanks!”

For more on the early forum posts, check this detailed history from Trakx.

What the Pizzas Were Like

Two large ones from Papa John’s. One with cheese. The other loaded with toppings Laszlo liked. Nothing fancy. Just normal family dinner. But it changed crypto forever.

H2: Why Did Laszlo Have No Regrets About Selling 10,000 Bitcoin for Pizza?

Laszlo gets asked a lot if he feels bad. His answer? No way. In interviews, he says:

• “It made Bitcoin real for people. It did for me too.”
• “No one knew it would get this big.”
• “I mined them easy. Spending showed Bitcoin works.”

In a 2019 talk on 60 Minutes, he explained Bitcoin felt like game coins. Spending them was exciting. It helped Bitcoin grow. Without real uses, it might have died.

Jeremy, who got the 10,000 BTC, spent most on trips and games. He has no regrets either. Holding forever was not the plan then.

Watch Laszlo tell his side in this classic interview video.

Lessons from Laszlo’s Choice

• Spend to Grow: Using Bitcoin makes it stronger as money.
• Early Days Were Wild: Value was unknown.
• No Looking Back: Laszlo keeps coding and using crypto.

How Much Are Those 10,000 Bitcoins Worth Today in 2025?

As of December 2025, Bitcoin trades near record highs. Let’s look at the growth:

This comes from real market data. In May 2025, on the 15th anniversary, it hit $1.1 billion exactly when Bitcoin topped $111,000. Read more in this Fortune article on the milestone.

What could $1.1 billion buy now?

• Millions of pizzas (over 70 million at today’s prices!).
• Luxury homes, yachts, or even small companies.
• Help for many charities.

But Laszlo says the trade was worth it for history.

Bitcoin Pizza Day Celebrations Around the World

Every May 22, crypto fans party:

• Pizza shops give Bitcoin discounts.
• Exchanges like Bitget host events in cities.
• People share pizza photos paid with BTC.
• Museums and talks remember the day.

In 2025, it was extra big for the 15th year. Bitcoin hit new highs that day too!

More Fun Facts About the Pizza Transaction

• Laszlo spent closer to 100,000 BTC on pizzas over time. That’s billions today!
• The blockchain shows the exact trade forever.
• Jeremy used the coins for fun, not holding.
• Laszlo did the first Lightning Network pizza buy in 2018 – super cheap and fast.
• No one calls it a mistake. It boosted Bitcoin’s fame.

What If Laszlo Held the Coins?

He would be a billionaire many times over. But he might not have helped Bitcoin prove itself. Spending showed it had value.

FAQs About Who Sold 10,000 Bitcoin for Pizza

Who sold 10,000 Bitcoin for pizza? Laszlo Hanyecz, a Florida programmer, traded them for two Papa John’s pizzas on May 22, 2010.

Does Laszlo regret it? No. He says it made Bitcoin real and no one saw the future price coming.

What is Bitcoin Pizza Day? May 22 each year. People eat pizza and talk about crypto history.

How much was Bitcoin worth then? About 0.4 cents each. 10,000 BTC = $41.

Who got the 10,000 Bitcoin? Jeremy Sturdivant, a young forum user who ordered the pizzas.

Is the transaction still visible? Yes, on the public Bitcoin blockchain.

For creative crypto stories, visit Phaelon Thilyx.

Conclusion

The man who sold 10,000 Bitcoin for pizza is Laszlo Hanyecz. His 2010 trade for two pizzas started it all. It turned Bitcoin from code into real money. Today, those coins would make anyone super rich – over $1.1 billion in 2025. But Laszlo has zero regrets. His story teaches us about bold steps, fun experiments, and how fast tech can change. Bitcoin Pizza Day keeps his legacy alive with smiles and slices.

What do you think – would you spend Bitcoin on pizza today, or hold forever? Share your thoughts!

References

1. Fortune. (2025). 15 years ago, a software developer paid for two pizzas with 10,000 bitcoin. Retrieved from https://fortune.com/article/pizza-bitcoin-day-story-laszlo-hanyecz-papa-johns-pizzas-value/. In-depth look at the transaction, quotes, and 2025 value.
2. YouTube. (Interview with Laszlo Hanyecz). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obbp87WK0ok. Laszlo shares his no-regrets view firsthand.
3. Trakx. (2025). The History of Bitcoin Pizza Day: 10,000 BTC for a Pizza. Retrieved from https://trakx.io/resources/insights/bitcoin-pizza-day/. Detailed timeline, blockchain facts, and extra insights.

Understanding the Audience

This guide targets crypto beginners aged 18-45, investors curious about Bitcoin history, and fans celebrating Pizza Day. They want easy facts, no jargon, and fun stories to share. Many search for inspiration or lessons on holding vs spending crypto. Content focuses on reassurance: Early moves built the space we enjoy today.