HONG KONG — A crypto entrepreneur recently made headlines when he devoured a banana that he bought as part of a conceptual art piece for a staggering $6.2 million. This event took place on Friday in Hong Kong, where Justin Sun, the founder of the cryptocurrency platform TRON, peeled the fruit from its duct tape casing during a press conference at The Peninsula Hong Kong, a luxury hotel located in the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui shopping area.
Sun, who was born in China, expressed his delight with the banana, stating, “It tastes much better than other bananas. Indeed, quite good.” The artwork, titled “Comedian,” was created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and first captured public interest at Art Basel Miami Beach in 2019. Attendees debated whether the artwork was a humorous stunt or a critical commentary on the eclectic tastes of art collectors, especially when another artist famously removed and consumed the banana from the wall.
The art piece caused such a stir that it had to be taken off display for a time. Nevertheless, three editions of “Comedian” sold for prices ranging from $120,000 to $150,000, as per information from the gallery involved in the sales. Sun’s recent acquisition took place at a Sotheby’s auction in New York, where he effectively purchased a certificate of authenticity that grants him the right to retape a banana to a wall and label it “Comedian.”
In his statement upon winning the auction, Sun remarked that the artwork symbolizes a cultural movement that spans art, memes, and the realm of cryptocurrencies. He added, “I will personally eat the banana as part of this unique artistic experience, honoring its place in both art history and popular culture.” Subsequently, reports indicated that the banana he consumed was sourced in Hong Kong.
Additionally, Sun revealed on a social media platform that he invested $30 million into World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency venture started by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in September. Sun stated that TRON is “committed to making America great again and leading innovation,” and his investment has led to him taking on an advisory role in Trump’s company.
It is worth noting that Sun faced legal challenges last year when he was charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission with fraud and violations of securities laws. In response to these allegations, he asserted on the same platform that the claims “lack merit.”