Remembering the First Bitcoin Purchase
May 22, 2010, marks a pivotal moment in cryptocurrency history, as programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made the groundbreaking decision to purchase two supreme pizzas from the popular chain, Papa John’s. At the time, he paid a staggering 10,000 BTC, worth about $266 million today. Talk about inflation!
What’s Cooking in Those Pizzas?
Let’s take a closer look at the glorious concoction that Hanyecz ordered. It’s believed he chose Papa John’s “The Works” pizza, which is their version of the classic supreme. Assuming it was loaded with the usual suspects, the cost of assembling just one of these gastronomical feats can be broken down as follows:
- Pepperoni: 244 BTC = $6.5 million
- Bacon: 146 BTC = $3.8 million
- Italian Sausage: 97 BTC = $2.5 million
- Onions: 24 BTC = $640,000
- Green Peppers: 36 BTC = $960,000
- Mushrooms: 63 BTC = $1.6 million
- Black Olives: 121 BTC = $3.2 million
- Cheese: 730 BTC = $19.4 million
That brings the total cost of ingredients to a whopping 1,461 BTC, or about $39 million. Who knew a pizza could break the bank like this? Time to reconsider that pizza party!
A Slice of History
Known affectionately as Bitcoin Pizza Day, May 22 not only commemorates the transaction itself but also signifies Bitcoin’s astounding value increase. Back in 2010, Bitcoin was a mere $0.0041 per unit, and now it’s soaring above $26,500. Clearly, some folks got rich off pizza!
Hanyecz’s order was finally delivered four days after his initial request on the Bitcointalk forum, where he put out a shout-out saying,”I’ll pay 10,000 bitcoins for a couple of pizzas.” The rest is delicious history.
The Delivery Guy’s Take
Enter Jeremy Sturdivant, the 19-year-old university student who fulfilled this infamous order. He told Cointelegraph in a reflective interview that his motivation for delivering the pizzas was to fund a vacation, not as an investment strategy for Bitcoin. Who would have thought that a slice of pizza would lead to such a massive legacy!
Looking Back Without Regrets
Despite the unforeseen surge in Bitcoin’s value, Laszlo Hanyecz famously stated he had no regrets about the transaction. His contributions to Bitcoin, including improving its mining capabilities, have solidified his place in crypto history.
In a world where every penny counts, he ought to feel like a king for treating himself to those supreme pies for a steal.
