Yeliz Akmaca 
Bitcoin launched in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto, has witnessed numerous significant events in the cryptocurrency world since its inception. The most famous of these is Bitcoin Pizza Day, celebrated annually on May 22. This day symbolizes the first real-world use of BTC.
What is Bitcoin Pizza Day?
On May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz purchased two pizzas for 10,000 BTC. At the time, these BTC were worth just $40. However, today, that amount exceeds $1 billion. In 2025, BTC prices reached as high as $111,800, highlighting its remarkable value increase.
Key Milestones in Bitcoin’s History
- BTC Inception (2009)
The first BTC block was mined, marking the start of the decentralized digital currency era. - BTC Reaches $1 (2011)
BTC hit a value of $1 for the first time, beginning to attract attention. - Mt. Gox Hack (2014)
The world’s largest Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, was hacked, losing approximately $450 million worth of BTC and subsequently declaring bankruptcy. This event was a major wake-up call for crypto security. - BTC Surge to $20,000 and Beyond (2017)
BTC soared to $20,000 by the end of 2017. However, it later plummeted to $3,200 within the year, serving as a significant warning for investors. - Rise of Institutional Investments (2020-2021)
Major companies like Tesla and MicroStrategy began purchasing BTC, signaling its acceptance in the corporate world. - Taproot Upgrade (2024)
The Bitcoin network implemented the Taproot upgrade, enhancing privacy and transaction speed. This development showcased Bitcoin’s technological advancement.
Bitcoin Pizza Day represents the first real-world use of BTC. Additionally, events like the Mt. Gox hack and the 2017 price crash are critical milestones in BTC journey. These developments demonstrate that BTC continues to grow in the financial world. In 2015, the Bitcoin network was introduced to the Lightning Network concept, aiming to enable microtransactions and improve scalability. In 2021, El Salvador became the first country to adopt BTC as legal tender, marking a historic state-level adoption. In 2022, the use of cryptocurrencies expanded with NFT and DeFi projects. In 2023, several countries began testing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). All these developments prove that BTC is not just an investment vehicle but a global digital financial system.
15 years ago, Laszlo Hanyecz, a Floridian programmer, bought 2 Papa John's pizzas for 10,000 $BTC. Today, those pizzas would be valued at over $1.07B today.
Happy #Bitcoin Pizza Day, everyone! 🍕 pic.twitter.com/H7oeBTEIJM
— CoinGecko (@coingecko) May 22, 2025
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