Latest news with #BitcoinPizzaDay
Mint
10-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Bitcoin Pizza Day: From Novelty to Global Utility
Once dismissed by skeptics as a passing fad, cryptocurrencies become an integral part of the global financial ecosystem. Impressively, this incredible journey has taken shape over the span of just fifteen years. Back in May 2010, on what has become known as 'Bitcoin Pizza Day,' Bitcoin was first used in a real-world payment transaction. This pivotal event demonstrated Bitcoin's utility as a medium of exchange, paving the way for crypto to rise from the fringes of the internet, into the mainstream. Since then, the crypto community has celebrated this day, and not just as an excuse to throw a pizza party. "From two pizzas to a global financial movement, crypto's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary—and our community has been the driving force behind it,' said Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer at Binance. Back in May 2010, Bitcoin, which first became available for sale the previous fall, was steadily building up a following. However, until then, early adopters had simply traded U.S. dollars for BTC. Bitcoin owners yet to utilize the original cryptocurrency for anything more than as a speculative investment. That all changed on May 18, 2010. That's when early adopter Laszlo Hanyecz posted a thread on the BitcoinTalk forum, offering anyone 10,000 BTC if they would order two large pizzas, and send them to his home. On May 22, 2010, Laszlo confirmed in a subsequent post that his request had been fulfilled. For the first time, Bitcoin demonstrated its real world utility. As this event coincided with the aftermath of the late 2000s Global Financial Crisis, there was growing interest in building an alternative financial system, Bitcoin soon emerged as the vehicle to build such a system. Over the next fifteen years, Bitcoin went from facilitating a simple pizza order, to sparking the development of other cryptocurrencies. As you can see from this chart, the value of Bitcoin has increased significantly every year since that first 'Pizza Day' in 2010. It also led to the development of an entire alternative ecosystem to the highly-centralized and dollar-based global financial system, before becoming integrated with said mainstream system. In short, one can say that crypto has gone from 'Domino's to DeFi' in the fifteen years following this event. No longer a nerdy novelty hidden away in an obscure corner of the interest, Bitcoin's attainment of global utility has brought with it a sudden influx of institutional backing of this and other major cryptocurrencies. This has sparked another wave of high price appreciation. Today, the price of 1 BTC is well-within the six-figure category, with Bitcoin recently changing hands for over $110,000. In other words, Laszlo's 10,000 BTC pizza may have only translated into $41 at the time of the first 'Bitcoin Pizza Day,' but those same 10,000 BTC are now worth over $1.1 billion. That said, without this event, it's questionable whether Bitcoin's journey would've played out the same way. Even as Laszlo's pizza day was a fairly easy achievement, given Bitcoin's low price and low mining requirements at that time, it's possible that this event happened at the right place at the right time, sparking a chain of events that led to Bitcoin's meteoric rise in status. The crypto community continues to observe 'Bitcoin Pizza Day,' mainly for how it demonstrates how everyday transactions can profoundly affect the future. That's definitely the case for crypto users even today, as we found out from interviewing Binance users about their own personal 'Bitcoin Pizza stories.' Take, for instance, the story of Jimmy, a Canadian who became an accidental early 'HODLer' of Bitcoin. Back in 2012, Jimmy purchased 5 BTC in order to complete a textbook purchase. As Jimmy explains his story, 'My first encounter with crypto was in late 2012, when Bitcoin was around $13. I wasn't thinking about investing, I just needed it to buy a textbook on compilers from an online seller who insisted on Bitcoin payment. I bought five whole Bitcoins on Coinbase, used a few to pay for the book, and forgot about the rest. I didn't dive deeper into crypto until years later when I joined Binance. That old Coinbase account? It sat untouched for years, and I became an accidental HODLer.' Another poignant story comes from Binance Angel @Gerrit92 got into crypto back in 2019. Through patient 'buying and HODLing,' Gerrit92 built a small fortune. To celebrate, he cashed out some of his profits, using them to buy a Rolex. Besides fulfilling a long-held desire to own this valuable watch, the Rolex to this user also serves as a token of the friends and profits he has made via crypto. @Gerrit92 explains, 'I've been investing in crypto since 2019 and have never cashed out a large amount. I traded occasionally to rebalance my portfolio, but I always believed in a long-term vision. After many years in crypto, I decided to take a small portion of my profits to invest in another asset, fulfilling a childhood dream with a valuable purchase, a Rolex. It may be less volatile, but I look at it every day, and it reminds me of crypto and the friends I've made in this community.' The payoff from his efforts helped to build his self-esteem, and to prove himself to his ex-girlfriend and her father, who rejected him due to his past poverty. Note to readers: This article is part of Mint's paid consumer connect Initiative. Mint assumes no editorial involvement or responsibility for errors, omissions, or content accuracy. 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Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Jack Dorsey buys $100 worth of fries, and folks are losing it
Jack Dorsey buys $100 worth of fries, and folks are losing it originally appeared on TheStreet. In a viral post made on Thursday, Jack Dorsey, who was a co-founder of Twitter, posted pictures of himself buying fries at Steak 'n Shake with the Bitcoin Lightning Network, saying 'full circle.' The receipt indicates that Dorsey paid 96,173 sats (satoshis), or roughly $100.07, by scanning a QR code on a payment terminal operated by Tryspeed, a Lightning payments service provider. The transaction was immediate, on-chain, and Bitcoin-settled. "Bought with bitcoin @SteaknShake," Dorsey wrote in his post, which received over 330,000 views in only a few hours. The visual carousel featured the fries, the QR code screen, a payment confirmation, and a printed receipt that explicitly stated, "All Bitcoin transactions are final." For long-time Bitcoin fans, this mirrors Satoshi Nakamoto's initial idea of peer-to-peer digital payment. It also recalls the memorable Bitcoin Pizza Day in 2010, when 10,000 BTC was swapped for two pizzas. But this time, the transaction was quick, inexpensive, and widely apparent. Steak 'n Shake officially began taking Bitcoin as a payment option on May 16, in all locations. According to Steak 'n Shake Executive Dan Edwards, this implementation gives customers a different option for payment. Edwards, speaking at Bitcoin 2025 in Las Vegas on May 27, stated that Bitcoin payments are faster and cheaper than standard credit card purchases. Riding the success of Bitcoin payments, Edwards stated that the company is exploring new methods to use technology to carry its meals into the future, such as robo-taxis, cyber-chefs, and drones. Bitcoiners couldn't stop buzzing on Dorsey's post. 'That's a lot of sats. Hope that was a big order,' one user (@88shibe88keyz) joked, echoing the surprise many felt about the price tag. Another, @meerkatmaxi, chimed in: '96173 sats?!?! Those are some expensive fries.' Some users even questioned the transaction economics. @OwlGuy4 wrote, '$100? What did you buy…the restaurant?' Still, most saw it as a milestone for Bitcoin adoption, and a nod to its earliest use-case as peer-to-peer digital cash. @hidden_whale added, 'I see that you got fries with dat ,' while @TheBTCTherapist called it 'Pretty cool.' Even skeptics admired the gesture, with @AlanKepper asking, 'How long did the transaction take?' Back in 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz famously spent 10,000 BTC to buy two pizzas, the first real-world Bitcoin transaction, now celebrated as Bitcoin Pizza Day. At today's price of $105,000 per BTC, those pizzas would be worth over $1 billion. That's why some are trolling Jack Dorsey for spending $100 in Bitcoin on fries — joking that he might've just made his own Pizza Day mistake. Jack Dorsey buys $100 worth of fries, and folks are losing it first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared. Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
28-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Tokenize! Global Wraps Up Bitcoin Week with Leading Investor Summit
LAS VEGAS, NV, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (aka Bitcoin Pizza Day) – Tokenize! will hold its second annual Global Summit in Las Vegas on May 29-31, at an extravagant 18,000 square foot celebrity mansion on a two-acre, gated estate in Las Vegas' most exclusive neighborhood, just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. The conference previously was known as CoinAgenda, which held annual conferences from 2014-2023. Tokenize! is part of Bitcoin Week, the largest group of bitcoin and crypto conferences in the United States, immediately following the iconic Bitcoin 2025 conference. Key thought leaders confirmed to speak include Bruce Fenton, founder of the Satoshi Roundtable and Atlantic Financial; Matt Roszak, Forbes Crypto Billionaire list and cofounder of Bloq and Hemi; Brock Pierce, cofounder, DNA Fund, Tether, Eos, and Blockchain Capital; John D'Agostino, head of strategy, Coinbase; Jamie Rogozinksi, founder, Wall Street Bets; Jon Najarian, co-founder, Market Rebellion; Brittany Kaiser, CEO, Chateaushi, and CSO, Eliza Systems; Enzo Villani, founder Alpha Transform Holdings, Alpha Liquid Terminal (Alpha AI) and former managing director of strategy, NASDAQ. Other confirmed speakers include crypto influencer Wendy O and former head of the IRS, Charles Rettig. City leaders from more than half of the 30 chapters of BitAngels, the world's largest and oldest network of crypto investors, will also be in attendance to preside over more than 30 startup pitches and feature presentations. Founded in 2013 by crypto pioneers Michael Terpin and David Johnston, BitAngels holds more than 100 startup pitch events a year across the globe, including more than two dozen during leading crypto events such as CES, Consensus, ETH Denver, ETH CC, Token 2049, and many more. The conference kicks off on Thursday, May 29, with an exclusive cocktail party for speakers and VIP attendees only, followed by the main opening party in front of the estate's 80,000-gallon swimming pool, complete with voluminous water features and a jacuzzi grotto. The opening party is sponsored by OrdinalsBot and includes a full musical set and light show by former Pink Floyd sax player Scott Page and the Dark Side of the Moon Revisited band. The conference continues on Friday, May 30, with a full day of content, including an opening keynote by Bruce Fenton and fireside chats with Roszak and Pierce. There are panels on Bitcoin DeFi, Bitcoin Treasury Companies, Decentralized AI, Tokenized Securities, and Real-World Assets. In addition, there will be featured presentations by leading crypto projects, including AI Quant Labs, Alpha AI, BitWage, EASE Protocol, MatterFi, and Tachi. The day concludes with the 12th annual Global Legendary Dinner, where Tiger Mansion and grounds are transformed into an elegant supper club. The event is sponsored by ATH Vodka, House of Rare Tequila and other sponsors. On the conference's final day, Saturday, May 31, panels will include Family Offices and Bitcoin, Meet the Money (VCs), and What Angels are Looking For, as well as presentations by bitcoin and crypto startups vetted by the BitAngels Network of 30 cities. The conference concludes with a closing party by the estate's koi pond and waterfalls. For more information on Tokenize! Global , please visit Standard three-day passes are $1,750 and VIP passes are $3,500, with residents of greater Las Vegas qualifying for half-price admission. In addition, qualified accredited investors may qualify for free admission. Please consult our website for more details. xenia von Wedel Pres Transform Group 415-340-2792 xenia at
Business Upturn
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Celebrating a Global Success: CoinEx Crypto Quest: The Bitcoin Pizza Hunt
By GlobeNewswire Published on May 27, 2025, 14:42 IST HONG KONG, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On May 22, 2025, CoinEx celebrated Bitcoin Pizza Day with a one-of-a-kind global treasure hunt 'CoinEx Crypto Quest: The Bitcoin Pizza Hunt', bringing together our diverse international community for a day of fun, creativity, and crypto rewards. The event not only honored one of crypto's most iconic milestones, the first Bitcoin transaction used to buy pizza, but also showcased the strength and unity of the CoinEx ecosystem across continents. A Community-Driven Success This year's campaign was built on the spirit of community collaboration and digital engagement. We are proud to share that: Treasure boxes were hidden in the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Dubai, Iran, Turkey, Italy, and Spain, giving users a chance to celebrate the day Attracted participants from across 10 countries joined the hunt All 10 pizza box rewards, each containing a code for $100 in BTC, were successfully found and redeemed The event sparked a noticeable surge in local community participation, with a 5x increase in user-generated content and engagement across social platforms From creative social media posts to real-time hunts guided by live clues, the CoinEx community came together in truly inspiring ways, in both online and on the ground. Expanding CoinEx's Global Footprint The international scope of this campaign emphasized CoinEx's continued commitment to building a borderless crypto platform. Each activation reflected CoinEx's belief in empowering communities with localized experiences that are both meaningful and memorable. As we look ahead, CoinEx will continue to innovate and create opportunities that bring the crypto world closer together. Thank you for being part of the quest. See you at the next milestone. About CoinEx Established in 2017, CoinEx is an award-winning cryptocurrency exchange designed with users in mind. Since its launch by the industry-leading mining pool ViaBTC, the platform has been one of the earliest crypto exchanges to release proof-of-reserves to protect 100% of user assets. CoinEx provides over 1400 coins, supported by professional-grade features and services, for its 10+ million users across 200+ countries and regions. CoinEx is also home to its native token, CET, incentivizing user activities while empowering its ecosystem. To learn more about CoinEx, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube COVER 封面圖: Contact:CoinEx [email protected] Disclaimer: This content is provided by CoinEx. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page. Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an 'as-is' basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. GlobeNewswire provides press release distribution services globally, with substantial operations in North America and Europe.
Business Mayor
25-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Bitcoin Pizza Day showcases the utility of crypto
As May 22 approaches, the crypto community is gearing up to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this legendary transaction—the first time someone verifiably used BTC to buy something in the real world. It sounds almost like a joke now—10,000 BTC for two Papa John's pizzas. It proved that this weird internet money could do something tangible. Think about the wildest online purchase story you've ever heard. Does it involve spending what's now hundreds of millions of dollars on a couple of pizzas? Probably not, unless you're familiar with Bitcoin Pizza Day. As May 22 approaches, the crypto community is gearing up to celebrate the 15th anniversary of this legendary transaction—the first time someone verifiably used BTC to buy something in the real world. It sounds almost like a joke now—10,000 BTC for two Papa John's pizzas. But back in 2010, it was a groundbreaking moment. It proved that this weird internet money could actually do something tangible. Fifteen years later, Bitcoin Pizza Day isn't just a quirky footnote; it's a yearly reminder of how far cryptocurrencies have come, evolving from a niche experiment into tools with real-world utility for people all over the globe. 'From two pizzas to a global financial movement, crypto's journey has been nothing short of extraordinary—and our community has been the driving force behind it,' said Rachel Conlan, Chief Marketing Officer at Binance . 'This year, we're marking Bitcoin Pizza Day with the biggest BTC referral giveaway in history—$5 million worth—alongside over 28 local meetups and social activations. It's our way of honoring how far we've come while inviting millions more into the crypto world.' Bitcoin Pizza Day stories demonstrating real-world crypto utility To mark the occasion, the crypto exchange Binance recently asked its users to share how crypto has actually been useful in their own lives . Forget the memes for a second; these stories paint a picture of cryptocurrencies solving everyday problems and creating meaningful moments, showing the practical side that Bitcoin Pizza Day first hinted at. Take Andy from Vietnam, for example. He ran into a common travel snag in Malaysia: needing to pay a rental deposit without a local bank account. His plan B was crypto. 'I turned to crypto and planned to use Binance to make the payment,' he shared. As it turned out, the host ended up waiving the fee because Andy promised to take good care of the place. 'While the payment was never completed,' Andy reflected, 'it was still a perfect example of how versatile crypto can be in real-life situations!' Codi, based in Dubai, shared a story about using digital assets for better value while traveling. 'In 2023, I paid for a delicious Turkish kebab with USDT while visiting Turkey,' she said. 'It was incredibly convenient, and the exchange rate was much better than what my Dubai bank offered.' For Codi, using cryptocurrency wasn't just novel; it made the trip easier and more economical. 'Having crypto as a payment option made the whole trip feel smoother and more flexible—true worry-free travel.' It's not always about convenience or necessity, though; sometimes it's about sentiment. Mina from Algeria used her first crypto salary, earned when BNB was around $200, for a special purchase. Thinking back, she said, 'The first thing I ever bought with crypto wasn't pizza—it was my mom's favorite perfume. There's something special about using crypto for something you love; it felt exciting, satisfying, and like I was part of something bigger.' She used Binance for the fast, seamless payment, adding, 'My only regret? Not starting sooner!' Read More Ripple Locks Away 800 Million XRP In Escrow, Impact On Price? And then there's Jimmy from Canada, whose story highlights how early adoption, even accidental, could turn out. Back in late 2012, when Bitcoin was just $13, he needed some BTC not for investment, but necessity. 'I just needed it to buy a textbook on compilers from an online seller who insisted on Bitcoin payment,' he explained. 'I bought five whole Bitcoins on Coinbase, used a few to pay for the book, and forgot about the rest.' It wasn't until years later, after joining Binance, that he remembered the old account. 'It sat untouched for years, and I became an accidental HODLer.' These stories, from travel fixes to heartfelt gifts and forgotten digital wallets, show crypto's utility extending far beyond just trading charts. Why Bitcoin Pizza Day matters for the crypto industry So, why all the fuss about two pizzas bought 15 years ago? Because that single transaction, initiated by programmer Laszlo Hanyecz on the BitcoinTalk forum , was the moment Bitcoin stepped out of the purely digital realm. On May 22, 2010, after offering 10,000 BTC for pizza delivery, a fellow enthusiast named Jeremy Sturdivant took him up on it, ordering the pizzas and receiving the Bitcoin. At the time, those 10,000 BTC were worth maybe $41. Today? Over $970 million! But the astronomical Bitcoin price difference isn't the main point. The real significance is that it demonstrated utility. Suddenly, Bitcoin wasn't just lines of code anymore. That pizza deal proved it could operate as the peer-to-peer (P2P) electronic cash system Satoshi Nakamoto had described in the original whitepaper. Read More Ethereum Price Rebounds But Here's Why Upsides Might Be Limited It served as the first real test case for using crypto to buy actual things, and it definitely got people talking about whether it could catch on and how easy it was to use. The story also offers a fascinating snapshot of crypto's early days. Hanyecz, an early miner, reportedly earned his coins when mining rewards were 50 BTC per block. This means those 10,000 BTC represented validating just 200 blocks, a feat achievable on a regular computer back then. Contrast that with today's massive, ASIC-powered mining operations. Sturdivant, the recipient, didn't 'HODL' his way to riches; he reportedly used the BTC for travel and games, reflecting the experimental, currency-like view of Bitcoin at the time. Bitcoin Pizza Day, which only really gained traction around 2014 as Bitcoin's price and public awareness grew, serves as an annual benchmark. It reminds the community of crypto's humble origins and its incredible journey. It's a celebration of innovation, a nod to the early believers, and a prompt to keep working on making crypto more accessible and user-friendly—to fulfill the potential that first slice represented.
