Bitcoin Pizza Day is a celebration of the first documented purchase using bitcoin, the most popular and widely used digital currency in the world. On May 22, 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas from Papa John’s for 10,000 bitcoins. That’s equivalent to about $400 million today!
But Bitcoin Pizza Day is not only a historical event, but also a cultural phenomenon. It is celebrated by the cryptocurrency community every year on May 22, by ordering pizzas with bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Some pizza shops and delivery services offer discounts or special deals for customers who pay with crypto.
Bitcoin Pizza Day is also a source of fun stories and pictures that showcase the humor and creativity of the crypto community. Here are some examples:
The original pizza picture
The original picture of the two pizzas that Hanyecz bought with bitcoin is one of the most iconic images in crypto history. It was posted by Hanyecz on the BitcoinTalk forum, where he announced his purchase and asked for volunteers to deliver the pizzas. The picture shows two large pizzas with cheese and pepperoni toppings, cut into eight slices each.
The picture has been widely shared and referenced by crypto enthusiasts and media outlets over the years. It has also inspired many memes and jokes, such as comparing the pizzas to other expensive items or mocking Hanyecz for his decision.
The Bitcoin Pizza Guy
Hanyecz is also known as the Bitcoin Pizza Guy, a nickname that he earned for his legendary purchase. He is regarded as a legend and a hero by many Bitcoin fans, who appreciate his generosity and curiosity. He does not regret his decision, as he told CoinDesk in 2018:
It wasn’t like Bitcoins had any value back then, so the idea of trading them for a pizza was incredibly cool. No one knew it was going to get so big.
Hanyecz has also repeated his pizza purchase several times over the years, using different cryptocurrencies and technologies. In 2018, he bought two pizzas using the Lightning Network, a layer-2 solution that aims to improve the scalability and speed of Bitcoin transactions. He paid 0.00649 BTC for the pizzas, which were delivered by a friend who used a prepaid card.
The Bitcoin Pizza Index
The Bitcoin Pizza Index is a metric that tracks how much the 10,000 bitcoins that Hanyecz spent on the pizzas are worth today. It is calculated by multiplying the current market price of Bitcoin by 10,000. The index shows how much Bitcoin has appreciated in value and demand since 2010.
The index also serves as a reminder of the opportunity cost and risk-reward ratio of investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. Some people may see Hanyecz’s purchase as a mistake or a waste, while others may see it as a bargain or a sacrifice.
The index can be found on various websites and platforms, such as CoinMarketCap, CoinDesk, and BitcoinPizzaDay.com. As of May 22, 2021, the index was $365 million.
The Bitcoin Pizza Project
The Bitcoin Pizza Project is a charitable initiative that aims to use Bitcoin to feed people in need around the world. It was launched in 2014 by Andreas Antonopoulos, a prominent Bitcoin advocate and educator. He explained the idea on Reddit:
On May 22nd 2010 someone spent 10k BTC on pizza. Today we can use bitcoin to feed thousands of people around the world who are hungry or homeless.
The project works by collecting donations in bitcoin and converting them into local currencies to buy pizzas for various organizations and communities that help people in need. The project also encourages donors to share pictures and stories of their pizza deliveries on social media using the hashtag #BitcoinPizzaDay.
The project has delivered pizzas to various countries and regions, such as Venezuela, Argentina, India, Lebanon