What is Bitcoin Pizza Day and why is it celebrated?
On 22 May 2010, Florida-based programmer Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC for two large Papa John’s pizzas. At the time, the coins were worth just $41. The transaction, arranged through a Bitcoin forum, is widely recognised as the first recorded instance of Bitcoin being used to purchase a physical item.
That modest meal has become a symbol of possibility—and of missed opportunity. Today, those same coins are worth over a billion dollars.
The day is now observed annually by crypto communities across the globe. It’s often marked with events, memes, pizza giveaways, and reflection on Bitcoin’s journey. For many, it’s not just about pizza; it’s a reminder of how digital currency left the fringes of the internet to become a global financial phenomenon.
Bitcoin Price Today: Breaks all records
Coinciding with this year’s Pizza Day, Bitcoin’s price surged past $111,000 (₹94,79,872), according to data from CoinMarketCap. The 4% spike over 24 hours was accompanied by a 77% jump in trade volume, pushing its market capitalisation to $2.21 trillion.
Ashish Singhal, Co-founder of CoinSwitch, described the event as historic, “Bitcoin officially entered uncharted territory, breaking past its previous all-time high and is currently trading above $110,000,” he said.“This isn’t just a milestone for the market—it’s a reflection of how the global perception of digital assets is fundamentally evolving.”Singhal credited the rally to sustained ETF inflows, improving macroeconomic clarity, regulatory advances like the Genius Act, and the rising credibility of Bitcoin on a sovereign level.
Edul Patel, Co-founder and CEO of Mudrex, pointed to policy changes and growing investor confidence as key drivers.
“The approval of the Stablecoin Bill and easing trade restrictions have significantly improved investor sentiment, helping BTC hit a new ATH just four months after the previous ATH in January,” he said.
Patel highlighted that spot Bitcoin ETFs had attracted $2.2 billion in inflows over the past ten trading sessions. He also noted a rebound in retail participation.
“CryptoQuant data shows a steady return of retail investors, with smaller wallets re-entering the market, bringing fresh liquidity and signalling broader market confidence,” he said.
Altcoins join the rally
Bitcoin’s bullish run lifted other cryptocurrencies too. Ethereum rose 2% within an hour to trade at $2,645. XRP followed with a 0.5% gain, reaching $2.41. While not as dramatic as Bitcoin’s spike, the rally suggested a wider optimism across the digital asset market.
Bitcoin: How the world—and India—has changed since 2010
Bitcoin Pizza Day is more than a quirky milestone; it stands as proof that decentralised digital money can work in the real world. What started with a pizza order has contributed to Bitcoin becoming a $2 trillion asset.
Today, countries like El Salvador have adopted Bitcoin as legal tender. The cryptocurrency is increasingly seen as a hedge against economic uncertainty and a viable alternative to fiat money.
India, too, is seeing a boom in crypto engagement.
According to Patel, India ranks consistently high in global crypto adoption indexes.
“India has consistently ranked among the top countries for grassroots crypto adoption, according to global reports like Chainalysis’ Global Crypto Adoption Index,” he said.
Notably, global players are returning to India’s crypto market, with 10–12 international platforms registering with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in the past year.
The rise of long-term crypto investment
Indian investors are also changing how they approach cryptocurrency. On the Mudrex platform, there’s a growing trend of systematic investing.
“Through this SIP format investments, users have been taking advantage of the market volatility to generate better risk-adjusted returns in the long term,” said Patel.
He added that SIP requests had doubled over the past year.
A recent internal survey by Mudrex revealed that 65% of respondents plan to hold their crypto investments for over five years.
“This signals a growing conviction in crypto as a long-term asset class, not just a tool for quick gains,” Patel said.
From 10,000 BTC for two pizzas to Bitcoin becoming a “strategic crypto reserve” among leading global economies, the transformation is staggering. Patel noted that Bitcoin has earned the title of “digital gold” and that top firms like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Grayscale are rapidly increasing their exposure.
“The usage of BTC as a store of value shows the potential of Bitcoin and Altcoins to become the largest asset classes of the 21st century,” he added.
With evolving regulations, institutional backing, and widespread retail interest, Bitcoin Pizza Day is no longer just about nostalgia. It’s about a financial revolution that began with two pizzas—and is now reshaping the future of money.
