The First-Ever Bitcoin Purchase Was Remarkably Inglorious
Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images
The Wall Street Journal's Moneybeat blog took some time this morning to commemorate the first known purchase
made with bitcoin. The landmark moment in cryptocurrency history
happened four years ago today and involved the procurement of two
pepperoni pizzas from Papa John's. Moneybeat caught up with Laszlo
Hanyecz, the Florida programmer who initiated the transaction, to better
retell the moment:
On a bitcoin forum, he offered 10,000 bitcoins to anybody who would buy him a pizza. Today that’s worth about $5 million at current prices, but back then it was worth about $60. Hanyecz figured that was enough for two pies and compensation for somebody’s time.
He finally found a taker, another coder living in the U.K., who called a Papa John’s in Jacksonville, placed the order, and paid with his credit card. Hanyecz sent over the 10,000 bitcoins, and a somewhat confused deliveryman showed up at his door with two pepperoni pizzas. “Pizza delivery from London,” he said in an unsure voice. Hanyecz left the offer open, and bought several more pies.
Here at Moneybox, we have to wonder why the U.K. coder decided to
place such a world-historical pizza order at Papa John's. Perhaps he
didn't realize the importance of the moment. Or perhaps he wasn't
familiar with Papa John's—as online reviewers
are more than happy to tell you, Papa John's is known for its flaccid,
soulless pizza and appallingly bad service. But who knows? Maybe in 100
years Papa John's will be remembered not for its doughy, pizza-like
product but for its place in bitcoin history. Too bad Hanyecz wasn't in Chicago or New Haven four years ago today.
Alison Griswold is a Slate staff writer covering business and economics.
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