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 transactions or memorable crypto transactions – each story paves the way for crypto use in the real world.
Crypto is here for everyone. The people telling this story were also beginners once. If they could take the first step, you certainly can too.
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. It was the first time cryptocurrency was used to purchase something in the real world – specifically, the non-digital world. The world has changed significantly since then, including the world of cryptocurrencies.
Today, digital assets enable global payments, expanding access to basic financial services in places that desperately need them, and helping people save, invest, and store value. Crypto serves as a bridge between the digital and physical worlds, between ambition and achievement. Moreover, perhaps most importantly, crypto adoption has just begun. Many of the people shaping the crypto world today started their journeys like the majority of 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 transactions or the most memorable crypto moments, namely when they used digital assets to buy something real. From delicious meals and mugs to life-changing achievements, their stories illustrate the process of crypto permeating everyday life.
Crypto in Everyday Life: Meals, 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 a delicious kebab with USDT. "It was so practical," he said. "The exchange rate was also better than my bank's rate back home. Crypto really made my travels easier."
Sergio from Mexico also felt the same way last February when he paid for dinner with BNB in the coastal town of Tulum. "It was my first time using crypto to buy something real, 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 really be used to buy real items. 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 bitcoin's purchasing power. "I spent almost one BTC to buy a small gift for my family. The mug alone 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 cross borders effortlessly 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 it was much easier than doing a bank transfer. "Looking back, I'm glad I didn't pay him in 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 let me off the deposit on the condition that I keep the place tidy and clean. I didn't end up paying, but the experience proved how practical crypto is in everyday life."
Often, a single payment opens the door to various other uses, even if it happens unintentionally. Jimmy Su, Binance's Chief Security Officer, first encountered crypto in late 2012 when the price of bitcoin was around $13. "I didn't intend to invest. I just needed bitcoin to buy a textbook on compilers from an online seller who insisted on being paid in bitcoin. I bought five BTC at once on an exchange and used some of it to pay for the book, then forgot about the rest. I only really delved into crypto years later after joining Binance."
That old exchange account? It went untouched for years, so Jimmy inadvertently became a HODLer.
For Loved Ones
Sometimes, the first transaction with crypto holds deep emotional significance. 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 shared. "It felt incredibly satisfying, as if I was part of something big." I paid for it through Binance, and the process went smoothly. The only regret I have is not starting earlier."
Additionally, there's Gerrit, a Binance Angel who kept his crypto assets long-term and finally decided to cash out a small portion for something very personal. "I've been involved in crypto since 2019 and rarely sell assets. But one day, I bought something I had dreamed of since I was a kid, which is a luxury watch. Its value isn't as volatile as crypto, but every time I look at that watch, I remember the journey I've gone through and the friends I've met in the crypto community along the way."
More and more crypto users are leveraging their digital assets to purchase significant items—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 a part-time job, GPU mining, and eventually trading crypto, he began accumulating BNB, often when the price was still as low as $8 to $34. When the price of BNB skyrocketed 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 it for fiat, paid the down payment, and then used the rest to pay the property purchase tax. The house installment was even cheaper than the rent." Crypto made it happen.
Crypto as a Story of Rising from Adversity
Some transactions hold meanings beyond just the items bought; they are about what has been proven.
In 2018, Aman, a Binance Angel from Sri Lanka, received the most painful remark of his life. His girlfriend's father scolded Aman for being unemployed and having no money. "He called me 'useless.' I was only 19 and saving for college," he recalled. Determined to prove that perception wrong, Aman dove into the world of crypto. He started with Ethereum, then joined Binance in 2019 and leveraged the platform to trade, save, and earn through various features like Launchpad and Earn.
By the end of 2020, the crypto assets Aman owned had increased significantly enough for him to buy 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, I bought another plot of land and started building a house. 'Crypto helped me rise from the hardest times in my life.'
The Last Slice
Whether it's a plate of delicious kebab, family memories, or a house, all these stories start from a single transaction. These tales 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 is 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 certainly can too.
In the end, it's more than just pizza.