Bitcoin Pizza Day: Where Can You Pay with Bitcoin Today?

Imagine paying a billion dollars for a pizza. Not a fancy truffle pizza at some Michelin-star restaurant — just two regular Papa John's pies, delivered to your door in Florida. That's exactly what happened on May 22, 2010. And every year on this date, the whole crypto world stops for a second, looks back at that moment, and says: "Well, that was something."

Welcome to Bitcoin Pizza Day — arguably the most important date in cryptocurrency history, and definitely the most delicious one.

What Happened on May 22, 2010

Let's go back to spring 2010. Bitcoin is barely a year old. It has no real price. It's basically a toy for a small group of developers and cryptography nerds who believe that one day, people will use digital money instead of banks. Most of the world has never heard of it.

One of those early believers is Laszlo Hanyecz, a programmer from Florida. He's been mining Bitcoin on his GPU, accumulating coins that are worth — well, almost nothing. And then he gets a very normal human idea: he wants pizza.

On May 18, 2010, he posts on the Bitcointalk.org forum:

"I'll pay 10,000 bitcoins for a couple of pizzas... like maybe 2 large ones so I have some left over for the next day."

At the time, 10,000 BTC was worth roughly $41. Less than two movie tickets. The offer sounds a bit crazy, but also kind of fun. For four days, nobody responded. People are skeptical. Is this a joke? Is Bitcoin even real money?

Then, on May 22, a 19-year-old user named Jeremy Sturdivant (username "jercos") finally says yes. He orders two Papa John's pizzas for about $25 using his credit card and has them delivered to Hanyecz's house. Laszlo transfers 10,000 BTC to Jeremy's wallet. The deal is done.

Just like that, Bitcoin buys its first real thing.

The first "crypto receipt" in history. He seemed genuinely happy. He got his pizza. Bitcoin proved it could work as money. Everyone wins. Well — almost everyone.

The Most Expensive Pizza in History (By Far)

Here's where the story gets a little painful to think about.

Those 10,000 BTC that Laszlo spent on pizza? Let's look at how much they've been worth over the years.

Yes. Over one billion dollars. For two Papa John's pizzas.

On May 22, 2025 — exactly the 15th anniversary of the original transaction — Bitcoin actually hit a new all-time high of $111,000 per coin. The universe clearly has a sense of humor.

And Laszlo? Does he regret it? Not really. He has said multiple times in interviews that he doesn't. "It wasn't like bitcoins had any value back then," he explained once. "The idea of trading them for a pizza was incredibly cool." He just wanted to show that Bitcoin could work as actual money. And he did exactly that.

He probably buys regular pizza now, though 😄

Why Does the Crypto World Treat May 22 Like a Real Holiday?

Before May 22, 2010, Bitcoin was just a whitepaper, a theory, and some code running on a few computers. People argued about whether it had any real value at all. You couldn't do anything with it. It was digital money with nowhere to spend it.

When Laszlo bought those pizzas, everything changed. Bitcoin stopped being an experiment and became a medium of exchange, which is exactly what money is supposed to be. That transaction was the first proof that this decentralized digital currency could work in the real world, between real people, for real goods.

Without that pizza purchase, Bitcoin's path to mainstream adoption might have taken much longer. Maybe it would have died quietly, like so many other early internet projects.

Bitcoin Pizza Day is also a reminder of something important about innovation: the first step always looks a little ridiculous. A billion-dollar pizza looks insane now. But in 2010, it was just two guys making a peer-to-peer transaction with no bank in the middle. That's the whole point.

Where You Can Actually Pay with Bitcoin Today (2026)

This is where it gets really practical. Because the whole point of Bitcoin Pizza Day is to remind us that Bitcoin is supposed to be spent. So let's talk about where you can actually do that in 2026.

🇺🇸 United States

The US has the broadest adoption of Bitcoin payments, driven by major corporations and crypto-native payment processors like BitPay and Flexa.

Food & Coffee

• Starbucks — You can't pay directly in BTC at the counter (yet), but through the Bakkt app, you can load your Starbucks Rewards card with Bitcoin and pay for your latte that way.
• Chipotle, Burger King, Subway — These chains now accept direct crypto payments through BitPay at many locations.
• Whole Foods — Through the Flexa-powered Spedn app, you can pay with Bitcoin right at the checkout.

Tech & Electronics

• Microsoft — Pay for apps, games, and subscriptions on Xbox and Windows Store directly in Bitcoin.
• Newegg — One of the biggest electronics retailers online. Bitcoin has been accepted there for years, and it still works great for buying computer parts and gadgets.
• AT&T — You can pay your phone bill with Bitcoin through BitPay.

Retail & Luxury

• Gucci, Balenciaga & TAG Heuer — All US stores accept 12 different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, via Coinbase Commerce. You don’t need to scan a regular terminal at the register. The seller will send a special link with a QR code to your email address. You scan it with your crypto wallet (such as Coin Wallet or BitPay) and confirm the transaction.
• Home Depot — Through the Flexa network, Bitcoin works at checkout in physical stores.
• Overstock (now Beyond.com) — One of the first major retailers to adopt Bitcoin, and they still do it.

Entertainment

AMC Theatres — Movie tickets can also be purchased with Bitcoin.

🇪🇺 Europe

Europe is more fragmented than the US — regulations vary by country, and adoption is uneven. But there are some genuinely exciting places to spend Bitcoin across the continent.

France

• Printemps Haussmann, Paris — This is one of the most iconic department stores in Paris, and they accept Bitcoin and Ethereum for luxury purchases. If you're ever in Paris with some BTC to spend, this is the place.
• S.T. Dupont boutiques — The famous French luxury accessories brand accepts crypto at its Paris locations.

Czech Republic

Bitcoin Coffee, Prague — A legendary spot in the crypto world. This coffee shop and coworking space has accepted Bitcoin as its only payment method since 2017. No cash, no card — only BTC. If you're visiting Prague, this is basically a pilgrimage site for crypto people.

Germany

• Tesloop — Offers Tesla rentals with Bitcoin payment. Because of course, Germany has Bitcoin Tesla rentals.
• Café Miez, Bamberg — Another well-known crypto-friendly café in Germany where you can pay with BTC.
• Burger King Germany — The German branch of Burger King has accepted Bitcoin online since 2019.

Pan-European

• Takeaway.com — This food delivery platform operates across Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Romania, Bulgaria, and several other EU countries. You can order food from local restaurants and pay with Bitcoin through the BitPay gateway.
• Ferrari dealerships — Since mid-2024, European Ferrari dealers have accepted Bitcoin for car purchases. The most expensive thing you can buy with crypto without wiring millions to a stranger.
• TAG Heuer & Hublot boutiques — Select luxury watch stores across Europe accept crypto via QR code. Very smooth experience, reportedly.
• Travala — A blockchain-based travel platform where you can book hotels, flights, and activities across Europe using Bitcoin. Genuinely practical for travel.

The Easiest Way to Find Crypto-Friendly Spots Near You in the World

Check BTCmap.org — it's a crowdsourced map of businesses that accept Bitcoin, updated regularly by the community. You'd be surprised how many places are on there.

How to Actually Pay with Bitcoin in 2026

So you want to pay with Bitcoin. Here's how it works in practice, because it's not always as complicated as people think. Yes, the infrastructure is not perfect everywhere, and you'll sometimes hit a wall. But in 2026, spending Bitcoin in real life is not the crazy experiment it was in 2010.

Firstly, Lightning Network is the main thing you want to use for everyday payments. It's a second layer on top of Bitcoin that allows near-instant transactions with almost zero fees. Many crypto-friendly businesses in Europe accept Lightning payments specifically because of this.

Secondly, crypto debit cards like Crypto.com Pay, Bybit, or Binance Card are another option. They work like regular Visa or Mastercard cards, but are funded by your crypto balance. You can use them basically anywhere that accepts card payments. Not technically "paying with Bitcoin directly," but very practical.

Thirdly, third-party apps like Bakkt, Spedn, or Flexa act as bridges between your crypto and specific merchants. If you want to pay at Starbucks or Whole Foods, these are your best bets.

Finally, gift cards via Bitrefill — this is underrated. You can buy gift cards for Amazon, Netflix, Steam, and hundreds of other platforms using Bitcoin. It's indirect, but it lets you use BTC almost anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you actually pay for pizza with Bitcoin today?

Yes, in many places. The most direct option is to find a local restaurant or pizza chain that accepts crypto — use BTCmap.org to find spots near you. Online, you can use Bitrefill to buy gift cards for major pizza delivery apps like Domino’s or DoorDash and pay with BTC. For everyday spending, a crypto debit card (like Crypto.com Visa) lets you spend Bitcoin anywhere that takes card payments — which includes pretty much every pizza place on the planet.

What happened to Jeremy Sturdivant — the guy who got the 10,000 BTC?

Jeremy Sturdivant, who was 19 at the time, received the 10,000 BTC and spent them relatively quickly — on travel and living expenses with his girlfriend. In a 2018 interview, he said he never anticipated how much Bitcoin would appreciate in value, but that he didn’t regret the deal either. At the time, it felt like a good trade: he ordered $25 worth of pizza and got coins he could sell for around $400. He considered it a profitable transaction. What happened to his Bitcoin holdings after that remains publicly unknown.

Is Bitcoin Pizza Day an official holiday?

No, it’s not a government-recognized holiday. It’s an informal celebration within the cryptocurrency community, but it has grown significantly over the years. Major crypto exchanges run promotions and giveaways on May 22. Blockchain conferences often organize events around this date. Some pizza restaurants accept Bitcoin for one day only as a promotional stunt. And every year, crypto Twitter (X) turns into an ocean of pizza memes for 24 hours.

How do I find places that accept Bitcoin near me?

The best resource is BTCmap.org — a community-maintained map of businesses that accept Bitcoin worldwide. It covers restaurants, cafés, hotels, shops, and services, with regular updates from on-the-ground users. In the US, you can also check BitPay’s directory of merchants. For online shopping, Bitrefill offers gift cards for hundreds of brands. If you want maximum flexibility, a crypto debit card works everywhere Visa or Mastercard is accepted.