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Bitcoin Pizza Day dates back to a programmer buying two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins on May 22, 2010.
One BTC today in 2025 can pay Harvard tuition, buy luxury cars, or fund a year in Manhattan.
Bitcoin’s journey started from a darknet currency, through the Silk Road, to now being a government-backed asset.
On May 22, 2010, a programmer named Laszlo Hanyecz made history by buying two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins. At the time, those coins were valued at just $41. Today, they’re worth over $1 billion. That infamous transaction birthed what is now called ‘Bitcoin Pizza Day’.
Let’s take this beyond the symbolism. What can you actually buy with 10,000 BTC today in 2025? The answer may surprise you, from luxury islands to Fortune 500 companies, Bitcoin’s astronomical purchasing power is no longer just a hype, it’s a reality.
To understand Bitcoin price evolution, let’s visualize real-world examples using a “Then vs Now” lens. Back in 2010, 10,000 BTC bought two pizzas worth around $41. In 2025, on May 22, 5.47 PM is 10,000 BTC at $110,872 each is $1.1 billion.
Let’s break down what that kind of money can buy today:
The value that was once worth two large pizzas, can now buy:
Buy out a publicly traded tech company.
Acquire a fleet of 10,000 Teslas.
One can fly globally in a private jet while owning an island to land on.
The idea of a Bitcoin purchasing power calculator isn’t just a novelty. It offers meaningful insight into how digital value translates into physical assets. Want to know what 1 BTC can buy today for an individual?
Here’s a quick 2025 snapshot:
1 BTC = $110,872
Two years of tuition at Harvard
A brand new BMW 7 Series
200 grams of gold
One year’s rent in a luxury Manhattan apartment
Five MacBook Pros and 10 iPhones
Even 0.01 BTC, roughly $1,109 today, gets you a pair of designer sneakers, a premium smartphone, or dinner for two at a Michelin-starred restaurant. It is a long way from the ‘worthless internet coin’ of 2010.
Alankar Saxena, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of Mudrex, emphasized this by saying, “The simple transaction of 10,000 BTC has now resulted in many governments and some of the largest corporations in the world to treat BTC as a store of value just like Gold, creating a $2 trillion asset class over the years. The Bitcoin Pizza transaction has now become a cultural significance among the crypto community, reminding the world of where it all began and how far we’ve come.
Understanding what 10,000 BTC is worth today requires a look at how it got here. Bitcoin’s journey from obscurity to mainstream adoption has been filled with massive booms, painful busts, and pivotal moments.
2010 – $0.003 to Pizza Day
Bitcoin’s first real-world transaction: 10,000 BTC exchanged for two pizzas. This marked the beginning of Bitcoin as a monetary asset.
2011 – Reaches $1, Then Crashes
Bitcoin hit $1 for the first time, but a Mt. Gox exchange hack crashed it to $2, triggering its first bear market.
2013 – $1,163 Peak and China’s Clampdown
The Cyprus banking crisis drove Bitcoin’s safe-haven appeal, pushing it to $1,163. Regulatory backlash from China halved its value.
2014–2015 – Mt. Gox Collapse, $200 Floor
The Mt. Gox bankruptcy plunged Bitcoin into its first long bear market. Prices dropped to $200, but foundational infrastructure quietly grew.
2016–2017 – Halving Rally to $20,000
Bitcoin’s second halving and ICO mania drove prices to $20,000. A brutal crash followed in 2018.
2018 – Post-ICO Crash to $3,000
After the speculative bubble burst, Bitcoin entered another winter, trading down to $3,000 before slowly recovering.
2020–2021 – COVID, Institutional Interest, $69,000 High
Pandemic-driven monetary easing, Tesla and PayPal adoption, and the third halving boosted Bitcoin to a record $69,000.
2022 – FTX Collapse, $15,500 Low
Interest rate hikes and the FTX fraud scandal pushed prices down again, testing the $15,500 mark.
2023–2025 – Institutional Gold Rush, $109,000 Peak
Post-fourth halving, Bitcoin surged beyond $100,000. ETFs, sovereign funds, and long-term holders defined this maturing bull cycle.
Also Read: Crypto Prices Today: Bitcoin Price Hits $111K, Ethereum Nears $2,650
Bitcoin’s growth isn’t just in price, it’s in perception.
Early Days: A Tool for the Darknet
Bitcoin’s anonymity made it a preferred currency on Silk Road, a dark web marketplace. Criminal use cases overshadowed its potential.
2013–2015: Regulatory Tension and Reputation Damage
China’s ban and the Mt. Gox collapse painted Bitcoin as unstable and dangerous in the public eye.
2017–2018: Rising Popularity, Persistent Doubts
Bitcoin flirted with $20,000, yet global regulators still warned against its use. The ICO bubble didn’t help.
2020–2021: Corporate and Institutional Embrace
Tesla, MicroStrategy, and Square embraced Bitcoin. PayPal support shifted it from retail hype to financial strategy.
2022–2023: Legal Troubles, Market Cleansing
FTX’s collapse triggered enforcement and cleanup. Ironically, this strengthened the ecosystem’s integrity.
2024–2025: ETF Approvals and Sovereign Interest
The SEC approved Bitcoin ETPs, giving it legitimacy. El Salvador adopted it as legal tender. Even Donald Trump endorsed its role in America’s financial future.
May 2025: BTC Crosses $110K
On May 22, 2025, as of 6.18 PM, the Bitcoin price chart shows gains of 4.57% to $111,451.97:
The comparison between 2010 and 2025 isn't just about inflation or asset growth. It's about Bitcoin's maturation as a financial force. In 2010, BTC was a fringe experiment. In 2025, it’s:
Held by sovereign nations (El Salvador, Bhutan).
Regulated under ETF frameworks by the US SEC.
Recognized as a strategic reserve asset by MicroStrategy and Tesla.
Politically relevant, with pro-crypto platforms gaining momentum.
Today’s 10,000 BTC isn’t just money, it’s political capital, institutional leverage, and a global store of value.
Raj Karkara, COO, ZebPay, aptly noted, “Bitcoin serves as a reminder of the power of early innovation and the impact of belief in transformative technology. Furthermore, Bitcoin’s rise has paved the way for a thriving ecosystem of digital assets, inspiring countless innovations in crypto investing and financial technology. Its recent milestone of crossing $100K again further highlights Bitcoin’s evolution into a serious asset class, embraced by individuals, institutions, and even nations. This year, ZebPay is planning an exclusive Bitcoin Masterclass, bringing together enthusiasts to explore the journey of Bitcoin, its current market significance, and what lies ahead.”
Looking at the rise in purchasing power, here’s what stands out:
HODLing pays off
1 BTC in 2010 now holds over $110,000 in spending power.
Unit bias is misleading
0.1 BTC could be life-changing in the long term.
Thus, spending BTC today should be a conscious choice, not a pizza mistake.
The Bitcoin pizza story is iconic because it's relatable; we all know what $40 looks like. However, what makes it unforgettable is the hindsight. Bitcoin’s value evolution isn’t just a tale of missed opportunities, it's living proof of how fast the world’s economic systems are transforming.
So the next time someone says, “It’s just digital money,” ask them what they’d do with $1 billion worth of it.
Also Read:Wait! Read This Before You Invest in Bitcoin Today
