In what is now regarded as the most infamous transaction in cryptocurrency history, a man who spent 10,000 Bitcoin on two pizzas back in 2010—now worth $700 million—has spoken out about his feelings on the decision.
Laszlo Hanyecz, the man behind the transaction, etched his name in history as part of what is considered the first-ever real-world purchase using Bitcoin. At the time, Bitcoin was an experimental digital currency valued at just a few cents per coin, and Hanyecz decided to trade 10,000 Bitcoin (BTC) for two large pizzas from Papa John’s.
Today, those same coins are worth a staggering $700 million, as Bitcoin’s value has skyrocketed over the past decade, peaking at over $60,000 per coin.
A Historic First
Hanyecz’s transaction on May 22, 2010, now celebrated annually as “Bitcoin Pizza Day,” marked a turning point for Bitcoin. It demonstrated that cryptocurrency could be used for real-world purchases, legitimizing it as a potential form of currency.
At the time, Hanyecz wasn’t concerned about Bitcoin’s long-term value. “I just wanted pizza,” he said in interviews over the years. “I thought it was cool that I could trade this new digital money for something tangible.”
His innocent craving for pizza unwittingly became one of the greatest “what-ifs” in financial history.
Regret or Acceptance?
Now, more than a decade later, Hanyecz has spoken about whether he regrets the purchase. Surprisingly, his outlook remains remarkably positive. While he acknowledges that 10,000 Bitcoin is now life-changing wealth, he insists he doesn’t dwell on it.
“It wasn’t worth anything back then,” Hanyecz explained. “The idea of Bitcoin was so new that nobody could have predicted its future.”
To him, those two pizzas represent something far greater than their monetary value. They symbolize the early days of Bitcoin, where pioneers like Hanyecz were pushing the boundaries of what digital currency could achieve.
“I like to think that I played a small part in helping Bitcoin become what it is today,” he added.
A Lesson in Perspective
While many people might view the story as a cautionary tale, Hanyecz’s attitude offers a different perspective. His transaction helped pave the way for mainstream adoption of Bitcoin, a currency that is now used worldwide and has created an entirely new financial landscape.
Bitcoin Pizza Day remains a reminder of how far digital currencies have come—and how unpredictable technological revolutions can be.
For Laszlo Hanyecz, those pizzas might have cost him $700 million, but they also secured his place in history. And as he puts it: “Sometimes, it’s just about enjoying the pizza.”