That figure was calculated from electricity costs, not set on an exchange. Trading prices only appeared in 2010, and 1 BTC first reached US$1 on 9 February 2011.

Back then Bitcoin had just been created by Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonym of its creator. There were no exchanges, and Bitcoin was only swapped among technology enthusiasts.

On 22 May 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz paid for two pizzas with 10,000 BTC. At today's price, that amount is worth well over ten trillion rupiah. The full story is in Bitcoin Pizza Day.

Key Points

• Bitcoin's first recorded price was about US$0.00076 per BTC (roughly Rp12) on 5 October 2009, calculated from electricity costs, not an exchange price.
• On 22 May 2010, 10,000 BTC was used to buy two pizzas and was quoted at about US$41, or about US$0.0041 per BTC.
• Bitcoin first touched US$1 on 9 February 2011 on the Mt. Gox exchange.
• The fixed supply of 21 million BTC is one factor often linked to the rise in price.
• The latest record high was about US$126,000 on 6 October 2025. On 16 October 2026 the price was about US$82,166, roughly 35% below the record.
• High volatility remains the main risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

Read also: What Is Bitcoin Halving? Understanding Bitcoin's 4-Year Cycle

Bitcoin's Early Price on Exchanges

Bitcoin's price began to form in the open market in 2010. The Bitcoin Market exchange opened in March 2010, and on 16 March 2010 a bid for 500 BTC was recorded at US$0.0067 per BTC (a bid, not a trade). In May 2010, 10,000 BTC was quoted at about US$41 when it was used to buy pizza, or about US$0.0041 per BTC. Mt. Gox followed in July 2010.

On 9 February 2011, 1 BTC traded at US$1 on Mt. Gox for the first time. This point made investors and the media start to take notice of the digital asset.

Factors That Shaped Bitcoin's Early Price

Several key factors that helped Bitcoin's early price begin to rise include:

• Limited Supply: only 21 million BTC will ever exist, making it scarce by design.
• Blockchain Technology: the transparency and security of the blockchain attracted developers and investors.
• Crypto Community: early support from the tech community sped up Bitcoin's adoption.
• Media Coverage: press coverage from 2011 to 2013 brought Bitcoin to the international public.
• Institutional Adoption: large companies began allocating funds to Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
• Supportive Regulation: countries such as El Salvador and a few other jurisdictions made Bitcoin legal tender.
• DeFi and Layer 2 Innovation: the growth of the Lightning Network and DeFi applications increased Bitcoin's usefulness.

The Climb From the Starting Price to the Record High

From a price measured in fractions of a cent, Bitcoin's price rose to about US$126,000 on 6 October 2025, the record high as of this update. The exact figure differs slightly between data sources. The price then corrected, and on 16 October 2026 it sat at about US$82,166, roughly 35% below the record.

This long-term rise is often linked to growing institutional adoption, the global digital asset trend, and the view of Bitcoin as a hedge against inflation. Even so, the price still moves sharply, and its direction is never guaranteed.

Lessons From Bitcoin's Early Price

• High Volatility: Bitcoin's early price path shows sharp swings that call for readiness to take on risk.
• Long-Term Value: early investors who held on saw large gains in value, but past results do not guarantee future results.
• Financial Innovation: Bitcoin became the gateway to thousands of new digital assets in the crypto market.
• Portfolio Diversification: Bitcoin can be an effective diversifier.
• The Importance of Research: understanding Bitcoin's fundamentals helps investment decisions.
• Risk Management: use strategies such as dollar-cost averaging to reduce volatility risk.
• Patience: Bitcoin took years to reach a significant value.

Read also: Breaking Down Bitcoin's 4-Year Cycle and Its Impact on Investors

Comparison Table

This table uses key reference points (not yearly averages). The rupiah column uses an illustrative rate of Rp16,000 per US dollar for every row, so it only conveys scale. The last column shows what Rp10 million would be worth if bought at that point and sold at the 16 October 2026 reference price (US$82,166), assuming the same exchange rate and no fees or taxes.

Look at the last row: buying near a peak can leave the value far below what you put in. This table looks backward. No one knew the best entry point at the time, and past results do not guarantee future results.

You can see Bitcoin's current price, its chart, and the 24-hour high and low on the BTC/USDT market at Mobee. Open the BTC/USDT market at Mobee.

FAQ

What was Bitcoin's price when it first launched?

The first recorded price was about US$0.00076 per BTC on 5 October 2009 (1,309.03 BTC per US$1). The New Liberty Standard site calculated it from the electricity cost of mining, not from exchange trades. A price in the open market only formed in 2010, for example a bid of US$0.0067 per BTC on Bitcoin Market in March 2010.

What was Bitcoin's first price in rupiah?

At an illustrative rate of Rp16,000 per US dollar, a price of US$0.00076 equals about Rp12 per BTC, and US$0.0041 in May 2010 equals about Rp66. The rupiah rate at the time was different, so this is only a sense of scale, not a price you could have found on a rupiah market then.

When did Bitcoin first reach US$1?

On 9 February 2011, 1 BTC traded at US$1 on the Mt. Gox exchange, a point known as parity with the US dollar. Bitcoin later passed US$1,000 for the first time on 27 November 2013.

What was the first purchase made with Bitcoin?

The first widely recorded purchase of a real-world item took place on 22 May 2010. Programmer Laszlo Hanyecz paid for two Papa John's pizzas with 10,000 BTC, quoted at about US$41 at the time. The full story is in our Bitcoin Pizza Day article.

How can I buy Bitcoin safely?

Use a crypto asset platform that is licensed and supervised by OJK, such as Mobee. Turn on your account security features, check transaction details before confirming, do your own research, and use money you can afford to put at risk. Bitcoin's price swings sharply and there is no guarantee of profit.

Conclusion

Bitcoin's price began below a single cent, touched US$1 in February 2011, and reached a record of about US$126,000 in October 2025 before correcting. This journey shows how far technological innovation can change an asset's value, and also how sharply its price can move in both directions. Understanding Bitcoin's early price history helps you weigh risks and opportunities more calmly.

Want to keep an eye on Bitcoin? Use the Mobee app, licensed and supervised by OJK. Download the app now on Google Play Store or the App Store!

Also learn who the largest Bitcoin holders are and how Bitcoin compares with other crypto assets. For trading strategy, read crypto trading tips and the staking guide. And do not forget to check the crypto tax rules that apply.

Disclaimer

This article is prepared for information and education only, not as investment advice. Crypto assets are high-risk and prices can change at any time. Do your own research before making any decision. Mobee is operated by PT CTXG Indonesia Berkarya, licensed and supervised by the Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK).