In May 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz famously spent 10,000 Bitcoins to buy two pizzas, paying about $41 at the time when BTC's price was a mere $0.004. This transaction has now become the most expensive pizza order ever, with those same coins valued at over $1.1 billion following Bitcoin's surge to a new all-time high above $111,000.
This milestone not only commemorates the first documented real-world Bitcoin purchase but also symbolizes BTC's transition from a speculative asset to a practical payment method. The amount spent in 2010 could currently buy over 53 million pizzas priced at $20 each.
To celebrate the 15th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day, major cryptocurrency exchanges have launched extensive promotions. Binance spearheaded the events with a $5 million Bitcoin referral giveaway, capping rewards at $40 per pair to honor the original transaction's cost. Additionally, Binance organized pizza trucks and hosted global parties.
Other exchanges also joined the celebrations: BTSE initiated a $5.22 million USDT trading contest featuring a 5.22% BTC staking yield, HTX provided $200,000 in surprise gifts backed by TRON partners, and MEXC held a "Lucky Wheel" giveaway with over $100,000 in BTC and tokens. Community events spanned from Buenos Aires to Dubai, including streams, meet-ups, and giveaways coordinated via a new Pizza Day hub.
These festivities blend nostalgia with a growing institutional interest in Bitcoin, creating a marketing supercycle around what started as a meme. While some question the authenticity of user engagement generated by mass giveaways, the milestone dramatically showcases how early Bitcoin memes can translate into significant financial value.