Introduction
Many people wonder: What was Bitcoin's cheapest price in history? In its earliest days (2009), BTC had no monetary value—it was merely a cryptographic experiment with "block rewards" of 50 BTC per mined block. Let’s explore Bitcoin’s price evolution from zero to today’s staggering valuations.
Bitcoin’s Price Timeline: Key Milestones
2009–2010: The Beginning
- January 2009
Bitcoin’s genesis block launched with no market value.
Block reward: 50 BTC (priceless at the time). - May 2010
First commercial transaction:
👉 10,000 BTC bought two pizzas (~$25).
Price: 0.0025 USD/BTC (≈0.0175 CNY/RMB).
Today, those pizzas would cost 4.63 billion CNY. - July 2010
Slashdot coverage spiked demand—price 10x growth (0.008 → 0.08 USD).
2011–2013: Early Volatility
- February 2011
BTC hit 1 USD (≈7 CNY) for the first time. - September 2012
London Bitcoin Conference: 11.8 USD/BTC.
Bitcoin Fund established at 12.46 USD. - March 2013
Bitcoin ATMs debuted, fueling a rally (40 → 92 USD monthly).
2015–2024: Bull Markets & Peaks
| Year | Price (CNY/BTC) | Event Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 3,500 | Post-crash recovery to ~500 USD. |
| 2016 | 7,000 | Brexit/US election boosted demand. |
| 2017 | 140,000 | Year-end ATH: 19,800 USD. |
| 2021 | 360,000 | Musk/Tesla invested $1.5B. |
| 2024 | 530,000 | Current all-time high (~53K USD). |
FAQ: Bitcoin’s Cheapest Era
Q: What was Bitcoin’s lowest price ever?
A: 0.0175 CNY (May 2010)—effectively “1 cent per BTC.”
Q: How much would 100 BTC from 2010 be worth today?
A: 46.3 million CNY (based on 2024 prices).
Q: Why did early Bitcoin have no value?
A: No exchange markets existed until 2010—it was purely experimental tech.
Q: What triggered Bitcoin’s first price surge?
A: Media attention (e.g., Slashdot) and real-world utility (e.g., pizza purchase).
Conclusion
Bitcoin’s journey from zero to 530,000 CNY exemplifies unprecedented asset growth. Early adopters who invested mere pennies now hold fortunes. 👉 Explore Bitcoin’s potential today.
Fun fact: A $5 investment in 2010 could now be worth billions.