Fifteen years ago, a programmer unknowingly made history when he traded 10,000 bitcoins for two pizzas—marking the first documented purchase using cryptocurrency.
Today, that $41 transaction is celebrated annually as Bitcoin Pizza Day, and in 2025, the timing couldn’t be more symbolic. As Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of $111,000, the infamous pizza order would now be worth over $1.1 billion.
What began as a niche inside joke among crypto veterans has evolved into a full-blown global marketing event. Major exchanges seized the moment. Binance kicked off a $5 million Bitcoin referral campaign, echoing the original deal by capping payouts at $40 per user. The company also deployed branded pizza trucks and threw community parties across dozens of cities to fuel the celebration.
Other platforms weren’t far behind. BTSE hosted a $5.22 million USDT trading contest and offered a 5.22% BTC staking yield—nodding to the May 22 date. HTX, backed by TRON partners, launched a $200,000 prize campaign, while MEXC handed out over $100,000 through a spin-to-win contest. Across the world, communities joined in with DIY events, livestreams, and giveaways coordinated through a dedicated Pizza Day hub.
While some question the effectiveness of these mass promotions—arguing they often attract short-term signups rather than long-term users—the event’s symbolic weight remains undeniable. From a $41 meal to a billion-dollar legend, Bitcoin Pizza Day captures crypto’s spirit: bold, unconventional, and full of surprises.
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