2010 marked the year Bitcoin started to gain a tangible, albeit very low, monetary value and saw its first use in a real-world commercial transaction.

The most famous event was on May 22, when programmer Laszlo Hanyecz paid 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, an event now celebrated annually as “Bitcoin Pizza Day.” This demonstrated Bitcoin’s potential as a medium of exchange. 

In July, the first major Bitcoin exchange, Mt. Gox, was established, providing a platform for users to buy and sell Bitcoin, which contributed to price discovery. Throughout 2010, the price of Bitcoin remained very low, never exceeding $0.40 per coin.

Bitcoin Milestones in 2010

• February: The first Bitcoin exchange, The Bitcoin Market, was proposed by user “dwdollar.”
• May 22: Laszlo Hanyecz made the first documented real-world purchase with Bitcoin, buying two pizzas for 10,000 BTC.
• July: Mt. Gox, which would become the largest Bitcoin exchange, was launched.
• December: The Bitcoin network’s difficulty increased, reflecting growing miner participation. Satoshi Nakamoto made their last known public posts.