Key Points
Bitcoin Pizza Day reminds us that the power of crypto is not limited to the digital world. With digital assets, one can enjoy dinner, regain self-esteem, and realize unfulfilled dreams.
Employees of Binance and Binance Angels from around the world share stories about their first crypto transaction or a memorable crypto transaction – each story paves the way for the use of crypto in the real world.
Crypto is for everyone. The people telling this story were once beginners too. If they could take the first step, you can certainly do it.
May 22 marks one of the most iconic milestones in the crypto world: the day when Laszlo Hanyecz used 10,000 bitcoins (BTC) to buy two pizzas. This was the first time cryptocurrency was used to purchase something in the real world – specifically, the non-digital world. That world has changed significantly since then, including the world of cryptocurrency.
Today, digital assets enable global payments, expanding access to basic financial services in places that desperately need it, as well as helping communities save, invest, and store value. Crypto serves as a bridge between the digital and physical worlds, between ambition and achievement. Furthermore, perhaps most importantly, crypto adoption is just getting started. Many people who are now shaping the crypto world began their journeys like most others: with a single transaction that turned belief into reality.
In the lead-up to BTC Pizza Day, we invite Binance employees and Angels to share stories about their first crypto transaction or their most memorable crypto moment, which is when they used digital assets to buy something real. From delicious dishes and mugs to life-changing achievements, their stories illustrate the process of crypto permeating everyday life.
Crypto in Everyday Life: Dishes, Mugs, and Much More
Sometimes, crypto transactions are as simple as buying food.
Codi, a member of the Binance team in Dubai, was traveling around Turkey in 2023 when he bought delicious kebab with USDT. "It was very practical," he said. "The exchange rate was also better than my bank's rate at home. Crypto really made my travel easier."
Sergio from Mexico had a similar experience last February when he paid for dinner with BNB in the coastal city of Tulum. "That was the first time I used crypto to buy real goods, so I was a bit hesitant. It turned out the process was smooth and quick."
Additionally, in Riga, Latvia, Kirill – a Binance Angel – wanted to prove that crypto could indeed be used to buy real goods. In 2015, he found three places that accepted payments using BTC: a local airline, a pub, and a unique gift shop. He chose the gift shop to demonstrate the purchasing power of bitcoin. "I spent almost one BTC to buy a small gift for my family. Just a mug cost 0.25 BTC." He felt proud to prove this.
Simpler Peer-to-Peer Payments
For some, the advantage of crypto is its ability to move across borders easily without involving banks.
Jessica, who lives in Dubai, needed to pay her electrician in Wales. The electrician was already familiar with crypto from his work in the crypto media. However, this was the first time he received payment using crypto. They completed the transaction using ETH, and the transaction was much easier than making a bank transfer. "Thinking back, I'm glad I didn't pay him with BTC," she said with a smile.
Andy, a Binancian living in Vietnam and traveling to Malaysia, faced difficulties when trying to rent a place because he didn't have a local bank account. "I was ready to use Binance to pay the deposit," he recalled. "However, the owner eventually waived the deposit provided I kept the place tidy and clean. I didn't end up paying, but that experience proved how practical crypto is in everyday life."
Often, a single payment opens up opportunities for various other uses, even if it happens unintentionally. Jimmy Su, Chief Security Officer of Binance, first learned about crypto in late 2012 when the price of bitcoin was around $13. "I had no intention of investing. I just needed bitcoin to buy a textbook on compilers from an online seller who insisted on being paid with bitcoin. I bought five BTC at once on an exchange, used some to pay for the book, and then forgot about the rest. I didn't really dive into crypto until years later after joining Binance."
That old exchange account? Untouched for years, so Jimmy accidentally became a HODLer.
For Loved Ones
Sometimes, the first transaction with crypto holds deep emotional meaning. For Mina, a Binancian, it all started with her mother.
"My first salary was paid in BNB, and at that time it was around $200. I immediately used it to buy my mother's favorite perfume," she recounts. "It felt incredibly satisfying, as if I was part of something big." I paid for it through Binance, and the process went smoothly. My only regret is not starting earlier."
Additionally, there is Gerrit, a Binance Angel who has been holding his crypto assets long-term and eventually decided to liquidate a small portion for something very personal. "I've been involved in the crypto world since 2019 and rarely sell my assets. However, one day, I bought something I had dreamed of since childhood, which is a luxury watch. Its value isn't as volatile as crypto, but every time I look at that watch, I'm reminded of the journey I've been through and the friends I've met in the crypto community along the way."
More and more crypto users are utilizing their digital assets to purchase significant things—even, often, things that change their lives.
AFKBNB, a Binance Angel from Pakistan, was still a student when he decided he wanted to buy a car in 2019. Through part-time work, GPU mining, and eventually trading crypto, he began accumulating BNB, often when its price was as low as $8 to $34. When the price of BNB soared above $500 in 2021, he sold it and bought a Honda Civic. "That was my first car. I'm still using it to this day. That car serves as a reminder that anything is possible if we believe and don’t rush to sell our digital assets."
Damo, a former Angel from Australia, once promised to buy the house he was renting from his parents. When the bull market began to slow down, he saw an opportunity. "I had BTC, BNB, and ETH worth about $140,000. I exchanged them for fiat, paid the down payment, and then used the rest to pay the property purchase tax. The mortgage payments were even cheaper than the rent." Crypto made it happen.
Crypto as a Story of Rising from Adversity
Some transactions are not just about what is purchased, but about what has been proven.
In 2018, Aman, a Binance Angel from Sri Lanka, received the most painful words of his life. His girlfriend's father berated Aman for being unemployed and having no money. "He called me 'useless.' Meanwhile, I was only 19 years old and saving for college," he recalls. Determined to prove that perception wrong, Aman dove into the world of crypto. He started with Ethereum, then joined Binance in 2019 and utilized the platform for trading, saving, and earning income through various features, such as Launchpad and Earn.
By the end of 2020, Aman's crypto assets had grown sufficiently for him to purchase a plot of land. "I sent a photo of the land deed to the man who once called me 'useless,' and I said: I am not a useless person." In 2021, he bought another plot of land and began building a house. "Crypto helped me rise from the toughest times in my life."
Final Cut
Whether it's a plate of delicious kebab, family memories, or a home, all these stories begin with a single transaction. These stories reflect the immense potential of crypto: from simple payments to significant achievements in life.
Bitcoin Pizza Day is not just about celebrating a unique moment in history. It serves as a reminder that crypto was indeed made to be used, experienced, and shared. The experts you see at Binance today also had their first experiences. If they could do it, you can too.
In the end, it's more than just pizza.