From pizza to billions: Bitcoin’s global rise in 15 years
Bitcoin, the cryptocurrency created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2007, has evolved from a digital curiosity into a global financial alternative, now valued at approximately $108,000.
Its sustained growth has been fueled by support from the crypto community, as well as growing trust from institutions and major investors.
A Historic Milestone.
A defining moment in Bitcoin’s history took place on May 22, 2010, when programmer Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 bitcoins for two boxes of pizza in Florida, USA.
This first commercial transaction using bitcoin—worth about $41 at the time—marked the beginning of its real-world use as a means of payment.
It is now commemorated by the community as Bitcoin Pizza Day.
As Juanita Rodríguez Kattah, Country Manager of Bitso in Colombia, explains:
“Bitcoin Pizza Day not only reminds us how much financial technology has evolved over the past decade, but also highlights the transformative power of cryptocurrencies in our economy. What started with two boxes of pizza now represents a $1.9 trillion market capitalization, increasingly unbound by borders. Bitcoin embodies the spirit of innovation driving financial inclusion in Latin America and across the globe.”
To grasp the current value of those 10,000 bitcoins—now worth around $1.07 billion—consider what could be acquired with that amount:
– The Manchester United football club, valued at approximately $789 million.
– The H3 by Oceanco, the world’s most expensive luxury yacht, at around $310 million.
– Bill Gates’ Xanadu 2.0 mansion, valued at $130 million.
– Kaibu Island in Fiji, on the market for $79 million.
– A Rolls-Royce ‘La Rose Noire Droptail,’ the world’s most luxurious car, priced at $34 million.
Growth and Records.
In 2024, Bitcoin’s market capitalization doubled—from $840 billion to $1.9 trillion—making it the seventh most valuable asset in the world.
Following the approval of the first exchange-traded funds (ETFs) earlier this year, BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF surpassed $50 billion in assets under management.
This figure overtook the leading gold ETF, which holds $33 billion. Additionally, Bitcoin transactions exceeded $19 billion by the end of 2024, more than doubling the volume recorded in 2023.
On the 15th anniversary of the first commercial purchase, Bitcoin surged once again.
It held steady above $107,000—just shy of its all-time high of $109,115 reached in January.
Adoption in Colombia.
Interest in Bitcoin is also rising in Colombia, where an estimated 6 million people conduct transactions exceeding 70 trillion Colombian pesos each month.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, the country received over $6.788 billion in bitcoin inflows.
This positions Colombia as the fourth-highest adopter in Latin America.
According to the Crypto Landscape in Latin America report by Bitso, Bitcoin remains the dominant asset in crypto portfolios across all countries where the platform operates.
It holds a 49% share regionally and 38% in Colombia. More than just a commemorative date for the crypto community, Bitcoin Pizza Day symbolizes how far this cryptocurrency has come.
It plays a key role in democratizing financial access and accelerating the digitization of money. Year after year, the celebration draws more investors and users.
They trust Bitcoin as a driving force for global financial evolution.
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