El Bitcoin Pizza Day, an event celebrated by the Bitcoin crypto community on May 22nd each year, commemorates the first real-world purchase made with this cryptocurrency, which gave rise to Bitcoin as a payment and value exchange system.
May 22 is a very special day for the crypto community, as it marked the beginning of the Bitcoin revolution that we are currently experiencing. 11 years ago, renowned programmer and bitcoiner Laszlo Hanyecz celebrated the first real-world purchase using Bitcoin. At the time, Laszlo paid for 2 pizzas, worth approximately $41, with 10.000 BTC.
In 2010, very few people were aware of the existence of Bitcoin (BTC), The first cryptocurrency successful in the world. Its developer, who hides behind the pseudonym of Satoshi Nakamoto, interacted with some developers and programmers through the Bitcointalk forum, who were practically the only ones who knew about Bitcoin at that time. Laszlo, who was one of these developers, wrote on the forum that he was interested in buying a couple of pizzas using the cryptocurrency.
Laszlo's message was answered a couple of days after it was posted, on May 22, by user jerks (Jeremy Sturdivant), who accepted Laszlo's proposal and exchanged 2 pizzas for 10.000 bitcoins, starting an unstoppable economic revolution.
Bitcoin, which was born as an alternative financial system, took its first steps that day as a payment and value exchange system, marking a milestone and a historical fact that is engraved in everyone's mind. For this reason, every May 22nd the Bitcoin Day is celebrated. Bitcoin Pizza Day.
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The most expensive pizzas in history!
The 10.000 bitcoins Laszlo paid in total for the 2 pizzas in 2010 would be worth over $400 million today, based on the current BTC price of $40.800. Without a doubt, the most expensive pizzas in history! Although Laszlo kept his offer open, as the developer pointed out Jameson Lopp in 2018, and paid 40.000 BTC worth of pizzas, an amount that would make anyone a true billionaire today.
While the amount of bitcoins Laszlo paid for a couple of pizzas may seem exaggerated now, many in the crypto community are aware that without those pizzas, the story could be different.
After this first purchase, the price of Bitcoin began to grow exponentially on the markets. When Laszlo bought the pizzas, the price of Bitcoin was about $0,003; a few months later it reached parity with the value of the dollar. And since then its performance has been simply exceptional.
“Bitcoin Pizza” in honor of Bitcoin
Renowned Bitcoin evangelist, Anthony Pompliano, is launching a pizza chain under the brand “Bitcoin Pizza”, in honor of the industry's first and most important cryptocurrency.
Pompliano said on his Twitter account that he will launch his decentralized national brand in 10 cities across the United States, and will begin the first deliveries this Saturday, May 22, in honor of Bitcoin on its 11th anniversary. In total, Pompliano will deliver 10.000 pizzas, to commemorate the first purchase made with 10.000 bitcoins.
Proceeds from the first week's sales will support the Human Rights Foundation's (HRF) Bitcoin Development Fund's research to defend the rights and freedoms of people around the world and continue to drive the development of Bitcoin.
“Bitcoin can be a tool of freedom”, reports Pompliano's Eat Bitcoin Pizza website.
Several pizzerias are joining in the celebration of Bitcoin Pizza Day by launching promotions and raffles to commemorate the day. SatoshiTango, Bitcoin Embassy Bar y Bitcoin Cash Latam, are some of those who have joined the global celebration of Bitcoin Pizza Day.
Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day Bitcoiners and Bit2meros!
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