5 Reasons Bitcoin Crashed to $75K and Why More Downside Could Be Ahead

One possible factor may even be tied to the incoming Federal Reserve chairman.

Bitcoin traded above $82,000 during the previous business week before facing a sharp rejection that pushed the asset down by more than $7,000 in just a few days. The decline drove BTC to a monthly low of $75,000 overnight.

Here are some of the key reasons behind the latest correction.

Trump Media and Mark Cuban Fuel Sell Off Concerns

CryptoPotato reported that a wallet connected to the Trump family operated Trump Media Group transferred more than $200 million worth of bitcoin to exchanges, likely with plans to sell. The group carried out a similar move four months ago and remains heavily underwater on its BTC holdings, which were accumulated near the asset’s all time high.

Additional uncertainty emerged after billionaire investor Mark Cuban revealed that he had sold most of his bitcoin holdings. Cuban explained that he no longer believes BTC serves as an effective hedge against weakening fiat currencies and geopolitical tensions. According to him, bitcoin’s recent behavior during the conflict involving Iran raised doubts about one of the main reasons he originally invested in the asset.

At the same time, crypto analyst Ali Martinez noted that other investors have also been moving large amounts of bitcoin to exchanges. Data from Santiment showed that approximately $745 million worth of BTC was transferred to trading platforms within just five days.

Such activity usually increases short term selling pressure because investors often move funds to exchanges when preparing to sell.

Warsh Appointment and Rising War Tensions Add Pressure

Bitcoin’s latest decline accelerated only hours after Kevin Warsh was sworn in as the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve.

Analysts believe the biggest concern for bitcoin and the broader crypto market may come from Warsh’s approach to the Fed’s balance sheet. He has previously argued that the balance sheet is too large and has hinted at support for quantitative tightening, a policy that has historically weighed heavily on risk driven assets such as cryptocurrencies.

At the same time, geopolitical tensions intensified after reports surfaced that the US President plans to launch a fresh round of military strikes against Iran following failed negotiations between both sides. CBS also reported that the President and several members of the US military and intelligence community canceled Memorial Day weekend plans in anticipation of possible attacks.

The ongoing conflict has already affected bitcoin’s price action in recent months, and fears of renewed escalation are unlikely to improve market sentiment. If the ceasefire collapses and attacks resume, bitcoin could face even more downside pressure in the near term.#crypto#cryptonewshttps://coinsignals.nethttps://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Galaxy Digital and BitGo Continue Legal Battle Over Collapsed $1.2 Billion Merger

Galaxy reportedly considered restructuring the acquisition through Canada as concerns mounted over possible opposition from the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

BitGo and Galaxy Digital remain locked in a legal dispute over the failed $1.2 billion acquisition agreement that was once expected to become the largest merger in the cryptocurrency industry.

During hearings this week at Delaware Chancery Court, BitGo argued that Galaxy improperly abandoned the transaction in 2022 and is now pursuing at least $100 million in damages, according to reports from Bloomberg.

Dispute Over Regulatory Issues and Deal Obligations

BitGo claims Galaxy failed to make sufficient efforts to complete the merger and also withheld information regarding investigations by United States authorities that may have complicated regulatory approval for the deal.

Michael Novogratz rejected those accusations during testimony, arguing that the investigations in question did not involve Galaxy itself and therefore had no impact on the approval process connected to the acquisition.

The merger was originally announced in May 2021. Under the proposed arrangement, BitGo co founder and CEO Mike Belshe was expected to join Galaxy Digital as deputy chief executive officer while also securing a seat on the company’s board of directors.

The combined company also planned to list shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange, a process that required approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

However, the transaction encountered growing difficulties in 2022 as crypto markets weakened and regulators intensified oversight of the digital asset industry.

According to testimony presented in court, both firms eventually became increasingly concerned that the SEC, which at the time was led by Gary Gensler, might refuse to approve the merger.

Novogratz stated that Galaxy even explored the possibility of restructuring the transaction through Canada in an attempt to bypass potential SEC related obstacles. Galaxy was already publicly listed in Canada at the time.

Disagreement Over Missed Audit Deadline

Galaxy officially terminated the acquisition agreement in August 2022.

At the time, the company stated that BitGo failed to deliver audited financial statements for 2021 before a July 31 deadline specified in the merger contract. Galaxy argued that the missed deadline released it from any obligation to pay a termination fee.

BitGo has consistently disputed those claims and maintains that the required financial documents were submitted properly.

During testimony earlier this week, Belshe said Galaxy’s public explanation for abandoning the deal caused significant reputational harm because it created the impression that BitGo had been unable to complete a proper audit process.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Ethereum Layer 2 Zero Network Announces Shutdown After 18 Months of Operations

Zero Network confirmed that user funds remain secure and transferable before the Ethereum Layer 2 permanently stops block production on July 31.

After operating for roughly a year and a half, Zero Network announced plans to shut down its standalone blockchain and redirect its focus toward expanding the Zerion API and wallet ecosystem.

In a statement shared on X, the team explained that Zero Network was initially created around the belief that gas fees remained one of the largest obstacles preventing mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.

Zero Network Outlines Full Shutdown Process

Zero Network positioned itself as the first fully gasless EVM compatible rollup, allowing users of the Zerion wallet to complete transactions without paying gas fees through an open paymaster model.

However, after operating the network, the project concluded that maintaining an independent blockchain was no longer the most effective way to pursue its long term vision.

Instead, the company said it plans to focus resources on products already seeing daily usage among customers, particularly its wallet and API infrastructure.

As part of the shutdown process, the team urged all users holding ETH, tokens, or NFTs on Zero Network to bridge their assets away from the chain before July 31, 2026.

The project stressed that all user funds remain fully secure and accessible. Users were advised to transfer assets either back to the Ethereum mainnet or to another blockchain network before the final shutdown deadline.

According to the announcement, inbound bridging to Zero Network has already been disabled, while outbound transfers will remain available until July 31. After that date, the blockchain will cease operations entirely and stop producing blocks permanently.

The company also thanked early users, developers, and ecosystem partners that supported the project since launch, including Matter Labs, Caldera, Relay Protocol, and Highlight.

Zero Network stated that while its original vision remains unchanged, the strategy for delivering that vision is evolving. The team added that the experience and technology developed through the project will now be directed toward building what it described as one of the best wallet and crypto data API experiences across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

Crypto Industry Continues Seeing Project Closures

Zero Network joins a growing list of crypto companies that announced shutdowns this week.

Earlier, Syndicate Labs, an Ethereum focused infrastructure company backed by Andreessen Horowitz, revealed plans to close after five years of operations.

The company said it had spent years building tools designed to help developers create and scale on chain applications but acknowledged that the rollup market had changed dramatically over time. Syndicate Labs added that EVM rollups are no longer broadly viewed as the default framework for blockchain development.

Meanwhile, crypto trading card platform Fantasy.top announced plans to shut down in June after struggling to generate enough trading activity to sustain long term operations. The company reportedly experimented with other products, including prediction markets, but failed to find sufficient demand.

Pantera backed cross chain infrastructure company Everclear also confirmed that it would wind down both Everclear Foundation and Everclear Labs after failing to achieve sustainable revenue growth or broader commercial adoption.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin Falls Below $76,000 Following Kevin Warsh’s Appointment as Federal Reserve Chair

Liquidations across the crypto market surged sharply, with long positions accounting for more than $430 million in losses.

Bitcoin’s relatively calm price action over the past several days ended abruptly after the cryptocurrency experienced a sharp selloff that pushed it below the $76,000 level for the first time in weeks.

The decline came only hours after Kevin Warsh officially assumed office as the seventeenth Chair of the United States Federal Reserve.

Warsh was sworn in during a ceremony held at the White House on Friday, beginning his four year term leading the central bank.

During the event, Donald Trump praised Warsh and said he believed the new Fed Chair could become one of the greatest leaders in the institution’s history.

Trump also stated that Warsh would operate independently as Fed Chair, despite previously criticizing former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on multiple occasions over interest rate policy. Over the past year and a half, Trump repeatedly pressured Powell to reduce rates and publicly attacked the former Fed leader over monetary decisions.

Speaking after taking office, Warsh said he intends to lead a reform focused Federal Reserve that learns from both past successes and failures while maintaining high standards of integrity and performance.

Shortly after the swearing in ceremony concluded, Bitcoin began falling rapidly. The cryptocurrency dropped from nearly $78,000 to around $75,500 within hours, marking its lowest price since April 30.

The broader crypto market also turned sharply lower.

Ethereum declined toward the $2,050 level, XRP fell below its key $1.35 support zone, and Solana slipped under $85.

According to data from CoinGlass, total liquidations across the market climbed to approximately $485 million, with more than $430 million coming from wiped out long positions.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Ethereum Sentiment Turns Increasingly Bearish as Traders Question ETH’s Short Term Future

Fresh market data suggests that Ethereum is increasingly being viewed by traders as “dead money” amid weak price performance, ETF outflows, and growing frustration across social media platforms.

Ethereum has lost nearly 30% of its value since the start of the year. Despite several recovery attempts, the asset struggled to regain momentum throughout May, while negative sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency became more visible across both trading activity and online discussions.

According to analytics platform Santiment, Ethereum’s decline has not been triggered by a single major event. Instead, multiple bearish narratives have gradually combined to weaken market confidence.

Bearish Narratives Continue Building Around Ethereum

One of the strongest warning signs identified by Santiment was the increase in Ethereum’s social dominance even as its price continued falling.

Typically, rising social dominance can reflect growing bullish interest during strong rallies. However, Santiment noted that Ethereum discussion activity surged after the asset reached a local peak on April 17, precisely when momentum began fading.

Rather than focusing on optimism or new highs, most conversations across social media shifted toward disappointment, frustration, and fears of additional downside.

The analytics firm also highlighted a steady deterioration in overall sentiment ratios. In late April, Ethereum maintained relatively healthy sentiment, with bullish comments outnumbering bearish ones by more than two to one.

That balance gradually weakened throughout May until positive and negative commentary became nearly equal, a trend Santiment believes reflects declining trader confidence in Ethereum’s short term outlook.

Ethereum’s prolonged price weakness has become one of the main reasons behind the growing negativity. According to Santiment, many investors have increasingly started viewing ETH as stagnant compared to other digital assets that have delivered stronger performance throughout 2026.

While Bitcoin has continued attracting institutional demand and newer blockchain ecosystems have captured speculative attention, Ethereum has struggled to reclaim the dominant market leadership position it held during previous crypto cycles.

ETF Outflows and Ecosystem Concerns Add Pressure

Spot Ethereum ETF activity has also contributed to bearish sentiment.

Several Ethereum exchange traded funds reportedly experienced ongoing outflows throughout May, including notable withdrawals tied to BlackRock related products.

Santiment noted that Ethereum ETFs have not recorded a single day with more than $50 million in net inflows for nearly three weeks. Although ETF flows often reflect broader market sentiment rather than predict it, many retail traders interpret persistent outflows as evidence that institutional confidence is weakening.

Additional concerns emerged from headlines surrounding the Ethereum Foundation. Reports of researcher departures and ongoing exits from parts of the Ethereum ecosystem spread widely across social media, fueling speculation about instability within the network’s leadership and developer community.

At the same time, rumors circulated claiming that prominent Ethereum figures, including David Hoffman, were reducing or exiting ETH positions. Even when some of the reports lacked full context, the narratives added to uncertainty among traders already worried about falling prices.

Santiment explained that fear driven narratives often spread rapidly in crypto markets, especially when investors begin suspecting that insiders may be exiting positions ahead of broader market declines.

Ethereum Faces Growing Competition From Rival Ecosystems

Ethereum is also facing increasing competition from alternative blockchain ecosystems.

Despite remaining the industry leader in raw developer activity, with millions of GitHub events and one of the largest developer communities in crypto, Ethereum has struggled to maintain the same level of excitement among retail traders.

Many investors have become more focused on short term price performance rather than long term development strength, while competing ecosystems such as Solana and BNB Chain continue attracting speculative capital and trader enthusiasm.

On chain activity has weakened as well. Daily active addresses and network growth have both declined compared with the elevated levels seen during Ethereum’s strongest rallies in 2024 and 2025.

Extreme Pessimism Could Eventually Become a Contrarian Signal

Despite the overwhelmingly bearish mood, Santiment suggested that extreme pessimism can sometimes signal growing exhaustion among traders and potentially emerge near major market turning points.

The firm noted that markets have historically moved against overwhelming consensus once sentiment becomes excessively one sided.

According to Santiment, Ethereum may now be approaching a stage where social media discussions are becoming dominated by reasons to abandon the asset entirely, a condition that contrarian investors sometimes interpret as an early sign of a possible sentiment reversal.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Verus Bridge Hacker Returns $8.5 Million and Keeps $2.8 Million White Hat Reward

The Verus team had previously offered to halt investigations and avoid legal action if the attacker agreed to return the stolen funds within a 24 hour deadline.

The individual responsible for exploiting the Verus Ethereum bridge and stealing more than $11 million has now returned approximately $8.5 million to the project while retaining around $2.8 million as part of a negotiated white hat bounty agreement.

The recovery comes just one day after the Verus community and development team publicly proposed the reward arrangement in exchange for the attacker meeting specific conditions.

Attacker Accepts Multi Million Dollar Bounty Deal

The exploit occurred on May 17 after the attacker identified a missing validation process within one of Verus’ cross chain bridge contracts. The vulnerability allowed the hacker to withdraw approximately 103.6 tBTC, 1,625 ETH, and 147,000 USDC from the protocol.

Following the incident, the Verus team shut down its block producing nodes to prevent additional unauthorized transfers and quickly released an emergency security patch.

Later, Verus announced on social media that it was willing to offer the Ethereum bridge exploiter a bounty worth 1,350 ETH if they returned 4,052 ETH within a 24 hour period. The team also stated that it would stop all investigations and avoid pressing charges if the conditions were fulfilled.

In its public statement, the project explained that returning the requested amount to the specified address would be treated as acceptance of the agreement, after which Verus would discontinue further efforts to identify or pursue the attacker.

Blockchain security firm PeckShield later confirmed that the exploiter transferred 4,052 ETH back to the project’s wallet. The recovery represented roughly 75% of the stolen assets, while the attacker retained the remaining 25% as a bounty payment equal to approximately 1,350 ETH.

Despite the returned funds, Verus has not yet formally confirmed the recovery across its official platforms as outlined in the original agreement.

Developers Suggest Artificial Intelligence May Have Played a Role

The Verus exploit arrives during a year marked by a sharp rise in bridge related security breaches across the crypto industry. According to PeckShield, attackers have stolen approximately $328.6 million from cross chain protocols so far this year.

Affected projects include THORChain, ZetaChain, KelpDAO, HyperBridge, CrossCurve, Squid Router, and IoTeX.io.

What makes the Verus exploit particularly notable is the possibility that artificial intelligence may have assisted in carrying out the attack.

Verus lead developer Mike Toutonghi explained in a published article that AI tools may have helped the attacker understand the bridge system’s operational rules in enough detail to construct malicious transactions capable of bypassing verification checks. According to Toutonghi, the exploit manipulated the Ethereum contract into accepting fraudulent cross chain transfers.

Meanwhile, Vitalik Buterin recently shared a different perspective on the role of artificial intelligence in crypto security.

Responding to concerns from the community about AI enabling endless exploitation opportunities, Buterin argued that AI assisted formal verification systems could instead become an important defensive tool for strengthening smart contract security and reducing vulnerabilities across the crypto ecosystem.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin Breaks Below Major Support as HYPE Reaches Record High Ahead of New Fed Leadership

Aside from HYPE, NEAR and VVV emerged as the other top weekly performers in the crypto market.

One of the most closely watched financial events is set to unfold within hours as the United States Federal Reserve prepares for a leadership transition after more than eight years under Jerome Powell.

Before markets shift focus fully to the incoming Federal Reserve Chair, the past week delivered significant volatility across Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin climbed above $82,000 near the end of the previous trading week after progress surrounding the CLARITY Act in the US Senate boosted sentiment. However, the rally quickly lost momentum, and the leading cryptocurrency fell below the key $80,000 support level by Friday evening.

The decline extended through the weekend, with Bitcoin dropping below $78,000 on Saturday before stabilizing near that range on Sunday.

Selling pressure intensified again at the start of the new business week, pushing Bitcoin down to approximately $76,000, its lowest level since early May. Within less than a week, the asset had lost more than $6,000 in value.

Bitcoin later attempted a modest rebound and briefly touched $78,000 on Thursday. Even so, bearish market sentiment and weak technical structure prevented a stronger recovery, leaving BTC struggling to hold above the $77,000 mark at the time of writing.

Markets Await the Kevin Warsh Era at the Federal Reserve

Attention is now shifting toward the Federal Reserve’s leadership transition as Kevin Warsh officially begins his tenure as Fed Chair today.

Earlier analysis from XWIN Research Japan suggested that Bitcoin’s short term price direction may depend more heavily on liquidity conditions and key on chain indicators than on the leadership change itself.

Analysts specifically highlighted risks tied to quantitative tightening policies and warned traders to closely monitor signals such as the Coinbase Premium and Bitcoin exchange netflows for early signs of institutional sentiment changes.

As a result of the broader market weakness, Bitcoin closed the week in negative territory alongside most major altcoins.

HYPE Dominates Weekly Gains With New All Time High

While large cap cryptocurrencies struggled, HYPE emerged as the standout performer of the week.

The token surged more than 43% over the past seven days and reached a new all time high above $62, significantly outperforming the rest of the market. Other notable weekly gainers included ZEC, NEAR, ONDO, and VVV, all of which posted double digit percentage increases.

Current Market Snapshot

Market Capitalization: $2.666 trillion

24 Hour Trading Volume: $76 billion

Bitcoin Dominance: 58%

BTC: $77,100, down 2% weekly

ETH: $2,125, down 3.8% weekly

XRP: $1.36, down 4.8% weekly

Major Crypto Stories From the Week

Bitcoin Pizza Day Marks 16 Years Since Crypto’s First Real World Purchase

The crypto industry celebrated the 16th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22. In 2010, early Bitcoin adopter Laszlo Hanyecz famously purchased two pizzas from Papa John’s using 10,000 BTC, creating one of the first documented Bitcoin transactions in history.

Bitcoin Whales Continue Accumulating

New data from Santiment showed that wallets holding at least 100 BTC continue increasing steadily. The number of such wallets reportedly climbed to 20,229, representing an 11.2% increase compared with the same period last year.

CME XRP Futures Reach $63 Billion in Trading Volume

This week also marked the first anniversary of XRP futures trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. CME highlighted strong adoption metrics, including approximately $63 billion in cumulative trading volume and millions of contracts traded since launch.

Truth Social Exits the Crypto ETF Race

Media platform Truth Social unexpectedly withdrew from the crypto ETF market, claiming its filing structure relied on the Securities Act of 1933 instead of the Investment Company Act of 1940. However, several analysts questioned whether that explanation represented the true reason behind the company’s departure.

Strategy Expands Bitcoin Holdings With Massive Purchase

Strategy, founded by Michael Saylor, announced one of its largest Bitcoin acquisitions in recent months. The company spent more than $2 billion to purchase 24,869 BTC, increasing its total holdings to approximately 843,738 Bitcoin.

Iran Reportedly Introduces Bitcoin Based Shipping Insurance

Reports also surfaced this week claiming that Iran launched a Bitcoin based insurance system for ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz. The initiative appears separate from an earlier proposal that involved requiring vessels to make Bitcoin payments while crossing the region.

Chart Analysis This Week

This week’s technical analysis section focuses on Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Binance Coin, and Hyperliquid.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Warsh Takes Over Fed Leadership as Bitcoin Traders Focus on Two Key On Chain Indicators

A weakening Coinbase Premium could emerge before Bitcoin’s price fully reacts to monetary policy changes under incoming Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh.

Warsh is expected to officially become the seventeenth Chair of the Federal Reserve during a White House ceremony on Friday, May 22, with Donald Trump scheduled to administer the oath.

Research released by XWIN Research Japan highlights two major on chain indicators that analysts believe could react first as financial markets begin adjusting to the implications of a Fed led by Warsh.

Coinbase Premium and Exchange Flows Could Signal Early Market Stress

The analysis, published on May 22, argues that most market observers are focusing on the wrong issue. According to XWIN, the real concern is not whether Warsh decides to lower interest rates or keep them unchanged, but rather how aggressively he plans to shrink the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet.

During testimony before the Senate Banking Committee, Warsh stated that the Fed’s balance sheet had become excessively large and suggested the central bank should reduce its holdings, particularly long term Treasury securities.

XWIN noted that this form of quantitative tightening operates differently from traditional interest rate policy because it directly removes liquidity from the financial system rather than simply altering borrowing costs.

The research firm warned that a particularly difficult scenario for markets would involve falling short term interest rates alongside rising long term bond yields. Historically, that combination has placed significant pressure on risk assets.

According to the report, Bitcoin is now far more sensitive to global liquidity conditions than in previous market cycles due to the growth of spot ETFs, institutional participation, and derivatives trading activity.

For Bitcoin, analysts believe the first sign of stress would likely appear through the Coinbase Premium, an indicator that tracks demand from United States based institutional investors. XWIN explained that if expectations for prolonged quantitative tightening increase, institutional buying demand may weaken before Bitcoin’s spot price reflects the shift.

A negative Coinbase Premium, therefore, could serve as one of the earliest signals that institutional sentiment is deteriorating.

The second metric analysts highlighted is Bitcoin exchange netflows. Rising inflows to trading platforms often indicate that investors are preparing to sell or reposition defensively by moving assets onto exchanges.

XWIN suggested that a more risk averse environment under Warsh’s Federal Reserve leadership could encourage short term holders to increase exchange deposits, potentially signaling growing market caution.

Can Bitcoin Attract Capital in a Tighter Liquidity Environment?

The report also pointed to concerns surrounding Bitcoin’s recent market structure. According to XWIN, much of the latest upward movement has been fueled by leveraged positioning rather than strong spot demand.

In those situations, rallies are often driven by short liquidations instead of fresh capital entering the market, making price recoveries less sustainable.

Still, the firm acknowledged that a more optimistic outcome remains possible. If spot Bitcoin ETF inflows begin strengthening again, exchange reserves continue declining, and the Coinbase Premium turns positive, it could indicate that Bitcoin is attracting new investment capital even under tighter financial conditions.

Analysts said such a development would reinforce Bitcoin’s appeal as an asset operating outside the traditional fiat based financial system.

At the time of writing, Bitcoin traded slightly above $77,000 after earlier dropping to a three week low near $76,000. Attempts to recover above the $78,000 level have so far been unsuccessful.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Polymarket Admin Wallet Reportedly Compromised on Polygon, According to ZachXBT

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT revealed earlier today that an administrator wallet linked to Polymarket may have been compromised on the Polygon network.

Initial estimates from ZachXBT suggested the attacker stole roughly $520,000. However, later updates from Bubblemaps and Lookonchain indicated that the total amount taken could have exceeded $600,000.

Reports suggest the attacker exploited Polymarket’s UMA FT adapter contract before distributing the stolen funds across 15 separate wallet addresses.

Polymarket executive Shantikiran Chanal later addressed the situation on X, confirming that the company is aware of the reported security incident tied to rewards payouts. He also stated that user funds and market resolution systems remain secure despite the breach.

Chanal added that the team is actively investigating whether any additional internal credentials or secrets may have been exposed. As part of the response, Polymarket has also started rotating its backend services to strengthen security measures.#crypto#cryptpnews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin Pizza Day 2026 Celebrates Crypto’s First Real World Purchase

The modern day value of those two famous Papa John’s pizzas highlights just how dramatically Bitcoin has evolved as both a financial asset and a global payment network.

Every year on May 22, the crypto community marks Bitcoin Pizza Day, the anniversary of the first known real world Bitcoin transaction. The event traces back to a historic purchase in which 10,000 BTC were exchanged for two pizzas, a trade that would later become one of the most iconic moments in cryptocurrency history.

As Bitcoin Pizza Day reaches its 16th anniversary in 2026, the occasion serves as a reminder of how far the digital asset industry has come since Bitcoin’s earliest days.

The Transaction That Became Crypto History

Back in 2010, Florida based programmer and early Bitcoin supporter Laszlo Hanyecz used 10,000 BTC to purchase two pizzas from Papa John’s. At the time, Bitcoin traded at approximately $0.0041, placing the value of the purchase at around $41.

Less than a year later, Bitcoin climbed to $1 per coin, pushing the value of those same 10,000 BTC to $10,000.

Bitcoin’s growth accelerated rapidly in the years that followed, repeatedly setting new all time highs. By 2024, the value of the coins spent on the pizzas had surged to roughly $690 million. In 2025, when Bitcoin traded near $111,000, the 10,000 BTC were valued at approximately $1.1 billion.

Last year’s Bitcoin Pizza Day took place during a strong bull market, with Bitcoin reaching a fresh all time high on the same day. During the peak of the rally in October, Bitcoin climbed to around $126,200, temporarily pushing the value of the 10,000 BTC to nearly $1.26 billion.

This year’s celebration arrives under different market conditions, with bearish sentiment weighing on crypto prices and Bitcoin showing weaker momentum. Even so, the 10,000 BTC used in the original pizza purchase are still worth more than $770 million based on current market prices.

According to data from CoinMarketCap, Bitcoin was trading near $77,360 at the time of writing.

Bitcoin’s Transformation Over 16 Years

The enormous increase in value tied to the famous pizza transaction reflects Bitcoin’s broader transformation over the last decade and a half.

What began as an experimental digital currency used by a small online community has developed into a globally recognized financial asset. Bitcoin is now accepted by a growing number of merchants and payment providers, while institutional investors increasingly include the cryptocurrency in investment portfolios and financial products.

At the same time, the wider crypto industry has expanded alongside Bitcoin’s rise, attracting participation from major financial firms, trading platforms, and payment networks around the world.

Sixteen years ago, 10,000 BTC could purchase only two pizzas. Today, that same amount of Bitcoin could buy luxury properties, private jets, high end vehicles, and countless other premium assets and experiences.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic