Much of the attention around Bitcoin in 2017 understandably focused on its meteoric price rise and overall volatility. But all that attention overlooks the fact that Bitcoin was initially intended to be used as a currency for buying things. Thus, the oft-reported story of the developer (Laszlo Hanyecz) who bought two pizzas in May 2010 for 10,000 Bitcoin ($140 million value today) in what is reported as the first bitcoin transaction in which someone bought something from a mainstream merchant. It was supposedly because of this volatility that Microsoft, which started accepting Bitcoin s a means of payment in 2014, recently stopped letting customer use Bitcoin. Microsoft reported today that it is again accepting Bitcoin. Other places where you can use Bitcoin to pay are Subway, Expedia, Etsy, Whole Foods and Overstock.com.
Where Can I Buy Things With Bitcoin?
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David Zaslowsky is partner in the Litigation Department of Baker McKenzie's New York office. He helps companies solve complex commercial disputes in arbitration and litigation, especially those involving cross-border issues and Section 1782 discovery. David has a degree in computer science and, as a result, has worked on numerous technical-related disputes, including, most recently, those involving blockchain and artificial intelligence. In April 2025, Attorney Intel named David one of the top 25 blockchain lawyers in the country. He is the editor of the Firm's blockchain blog and co-editor of the firm's International Litigation & Arbitration Newsletter. David has been included for a number of years in the Chambers USA Guide and Chambers Global Guide for his expertise in international arbitration. He also sits as an arbitrator and is on the roster of arbitrators for a number of arbitral institutions. David sits on the Board and chairs the governance committee of the New York International Arbitration Center, and is a founding member of the International Arbitration Club of New York. For over 35 years, he has written and spoken often on the subjects of arbitration and international litigation.