Jeremy Sturdivant and the pizza that should not be forgotten: the other story of Bitcoin Pizza Day

When we mention Bitcoin Pizza Day, everyone remembers Laszlo Hanyecz paying 10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas on May 22, 2010. But the true story involves two people, and Jeremy Sturdivant, the man who received those bitcoins, remains virtually invisible in the cryptocurrency history narrative.

From $41 to Billions: The Contrast No One Remembers

At the time of Bitcoin Pizza Day, 10,000 BTC cost only $41. Today, with Bitcoin trading at $68,100, those same bitcoins would be worth approximately $681 million. This astronomical difference explains why everyone focuses on Laszlo Hanyecz—the “guy who spent a fortune on pizza.” But what about Jeremy Sturdivant? He was on the other side of the transaction, and his story deserves to be told with the same attention.

The Invisible Hero: Who Was Jeremy Sturdivant in 2010

Jeremy Sturdivant, known online as “jercos,” was only 19 years old when he accepted 10,000 BTC in exchange for two pizzas. He was an active participant in the early Bitcoin forums, where Laszlo Hanyecz posted his unusual proposal to trade cryptocurrency for real food. Without hesitation, Jeremy responded to the call and carried out the transaction that would go down in history.

At the time, few understood Bitcoin’s potential. For most users in the early crypto communities, it was an experimental currency—not a treasure to be hoarded. Jeremy Sturdivant saw Bitcoin exactly that way: a tool to use, not to accumulate.

Two Paths, Two Legacies: Laszlo vs. Jeremy Sturdivant

While Laszlo Hanyecz became famous for “spending” his bitcoins, Jeremy Sturdivant did something different with his part of the story. He spent or traded the 10,000 BTC as Bitcoin gained traction in online communities. Jeremy has never regretted that decision, as he explained in later interviews—after all, at the time, the value was insignificant.

The fundamental difference lies in the narrative we build. Laszlo is remembered as a “missed opportunity,” while Jeremy is forgotten. But that’s a biased perspective. Jeremy Sturdivant represented the true mission of Bitcoin in its early days: to be a functional currency, useful for real transactions. He proved that Bitcoin could do exactly that.

Why Jeremy Sturdivant Deserved to Be in the History

Bitcoin Pizza Day is often told as a cautionary tale—a fable about what might have happened if Laszlo Hanyecz had held onto his bitcoins. But this narrative ignores a crucial point: without people like Jeremy Sturdivant willing to accept Bitcoin as a form of payment, the cryptocurrency would never have left the theoretical realm.

Jeremy Sturdivant was more than a secondary character in a historic event. He was a validator of Bitcoin’s concept—someone who demonstrated in practice that the technology could work in the real world. Every early transaction depended on both sides—the seller and the buyer. Jeremy Sturdivant was both when necessary.

His story also offers us a different lesson from Laszlo’s. While one represents regret for not “hodling” (holding onto) his coins, the other embodies participation without remorse in a revolutionary experiment. There are no errors in either narrative—only different choices made at different times.

So, next time you celebrate Bitcoin Pizza Day, remember: Jeremy Sturdivant didn’t lose a fortune. He gained the opportunity to be part of a moment that would forever change the world of finance. And that, without a doubt, is worth far more than any amount of bitcoin.