Justin Sun’s journey from buying a $6.2 million banana to Trump’s blockchain project

First came the $4.57 million lunch with Warren Buffett. Then the self-appointed role as prime minister of a micro-nation. Now, blockchain baron Justin Sun has found his next conversation piece: a $6.2 million banana secured to a wall with duct tape, paired with a $30 million bet on Donald Trump’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.

“The U.S. is becoming the blockchain hub, and Bitcoin owes it to @realDonaldTrump ! TRON is committed to making America great again and leading innovation. Let’s go!” Sun wrote on X.

But who exactly is Justin Sun, and what’s his story?

A prolific entrepreneur and a crypto king

Justin Sun, a 34-year-old Chinese-born entrepreneur, established himself as a significant player in the blockchain industry when his Tron network reached a market cap of $50 billion in 2021.

As founder of the Tron Blockchain Foundation and CEO of file-sharing platform BitTorrent, which he acquired for $140 million in 2018, Sun has expanded his influence through strategic acquisitions. His portfolio now includes advisory roles at HTX (formerly Huobi) exchange and positions across decentralized finance projects worth over $1 billion in total value.

When Sun had lunch with crypto skeptic Warren Buffett

One of Sun’s most headline-grabbing moments came in 2021 when he paid $4.57 million to win a charity auction for a private lunch with Warren Buffett. The Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A+1.82%) chairman, a staunch critic of cryptocurrency, famously labeled Bitcoin as “rat poison squared” and predicted its downfall within decades.

During the meeting, Sun presented Buffett with a phone loaded with one Bitcoin and other tokens. Sun’s goal was to bridge the gap between traditional finance and blockchain, attempting to soften the investor’s skepticism about the potential of crypto and decentralized technology. However, Buffett’s position on crypto did not change, even as Berkshire Hathaway profits from crypto through its investment in, Nu Holdings Ltd (NU-0.93%), a Brazilian fintech company that deals in multiple cryptocurrencies.

A blockchain Prime Minister? Sun’s unconventional role

Sun’s influence isn’t confined to business. In a bold and symbolic move, he became the prime minister of Liberland, a tiny self-proclaimed micronation in Eastern Europe, through a blockchain-based election. This unusual achievement underscores his commitment to showcasing blockchain’s transformative capabilities, even in governance.

Sun’s reputation is not without its controversies

While Sun’s innovations have earned him accolades, his career has faced significant hurdles. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against him and his companies in 2023, alleging securities fraud through artificially inflated token trading volumes.

However, his recent moves suggest a calculated resurgence. Beyond his $30 million investment in World Liberty Financial, Sun has joined the project’s advisory board, helping to boost total token sales from $21 million to $52 million. The venture, which plans to launch a stablecoin-focused credit card, represents his largest stakeholder position to date.

Justin Sun’s journey exemplifies the volatile nature of the cryptocurrency world — equal parts ambition, innovation, and controversy. With Trump’s upcoming return to office and pro-bitcoin agenda, Sun’s position as World Liberty Financial’s principal investor and advisor suggests his influence in digital finance could expand considerably over the next four years.