The sale happened on August 11, 1994, through a small web store called NetMarket, run by 21-year-old Dan Kohn. What made it historic wasn't the item — it was that the transaction used early encryption (SSL) to protect the buyer's credit card number, proving people could safely pay for things online. Pizza Hut had let customers order online that same month, but those orders were still paid for in cash at the door.