Everyone remembers the story about pizza for bitcoins, but here’s the thing — they don’t remember it quite right. Yes, on May 22, 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made history by paying 10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas. Today, that looks like the most expensive meal in human history. But there’s a second half to this story that almost no one talks about.

The person who accepted those 10,000 bitcoins was named Jeremy Sturdivant. He was only 19 years old when he was actively hanging out on Bitcoin forums. Laszlo posted his offer — I’ll give bitcoins in exchange for real goods — and Jeremy didn’t hesitate to agree. So, completely by chance, he found himself at the center of the most iconic crypto transaction.

Here’s where it gets really interesting. If Laszlo became famous for allegedly “spending” his coins, Jeremy simply… spent them. And he didn’t regret it. At that time, Bitcoin wasn’t seen as a store of value — it was an experimental currency, a tool for use. When he received 10,000 BTC, it wasn’t a gold mine, just coins that could be spent or exchanged. Later, Jeremy explained in interviews that he never regretted what happened because, back then, the value of Bitcoin was just tiny.

And now? Jeremy avoids publicity. Unlike Laszlo, who became the face of Bitcoin Pizza Day, almost no one knows about Sturdivant. Yes, he missed out on a fortune, but his role in the early Bitcoin ecosystem is cemented in history. He remains in the shadows but continues to be interested in cryptocurrencies and technology.

What annoys me about the narrative around the Bitcoin pizza — we focus on Laszlo’s “loss,” on how much money he could have made. Like, he didn’t hold onto his coins, what a fool. But Jeremy’s story tells a completely different tale. He received those coins, used them as currency, and simply moved on. No regrets, no “I would have.” Both guys played equally important roles — one showed that Bitcoin could be spent, the other showed that it could be accepted.

Without people like Jeremy, willing to accept BTC for goods and services, crypto would never have grown into what it is today. The Bitcoin pizza story isn’t just about missed opportunities. It’s about two guys who believed in the experiment and just did their thing. Laszlo spent, Jeremy received and spent. Both are in history. Maybe next time, we should remember not only the buyer but also the seller?