Blockchain, media, and politics: Justin Sun journey to Forbes cover

​Justin Sun is one of the most prominent figures in the cryptocurrency world. The creator of the Tron blockchain and the man who bought a banana for $6.2 million has been a regular fixture in major media headlines for years. His blend of entrepreneurial savvy and provocative media presence has not only made him famous but also earned him a place among the world’s wealthiest individuals.

Last week, Tron’s founder Justin Sun appeared on the cover of Forbes Digital Assets, which dubbed him “the crypto billionaire who helped the Trumps make $400 million.” The Chinese entrepreneur became the second native of China, after Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, to be featured on the cover of the English-language digital edition of the magazine.

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The publication estimated Justin Sun’s net worth at $8.5 billion, placing him at #353 on its list. The ranking accounted for his personal assets and the growth of his blockchain projects, particularly the Tron ecosystem. This marked a major leap, as just a year earlier, analytics firm Arkham Intelligence estimated Sun’s fortune at only $1.4 billion.

Justin Sun sees this achievement as an opportunity to present both himself and the crypto industry to the global community.

“This will help the public better understand who I am, what the crypto industry is, and reshape their perception. It’s also a great opportunity for the industry’s growth in China. It’s certainly a major milestone — but it’s just the beginning,” the entrepreneur commented.

The beginning of a crypto journey

Justin Sun first became interested in cryptocurrency in 2012 after reading a New York Times article about Bitcoin. He downloaded a wallet, received his first coins from a friend, and quickly immersed himself in crypto communities, studying the technology and ideas behind digital assets.

His hobby soon turned into a career: in 2013, Sun joined Ripple Labs and became the company’s representative in China. His role was to expand Ripple’s presence in the region and promote XRP as an alternative to traditional banking systems. During this time, he began considering the launch of his own project.

In 2015, Sun left Ripple to focus on developing a new blockchain platform. His goal was to combine XRP’s transaction speed with the smart contract functionality of Ethereum. This led to the launch of Tron in 2017 — a blockchain focused on decentralized applications and entertainment. Despite criticism and allegations of plagiarism, Tron successfully held a $70 million ICO and quickly became one of the leading platforms in the Web3 ecosystem.

Lunch with Buffett, BitTorrent, and a banana

Sun’s fame comes not only from Tron but also from a series of headline-grabbing stunts that have defined his public image. One of the most high-profile moves was his 2018 acquisition of BitTorrent, the iconic peer-to-peer file-sharing platform. Sun integrated BitTorrent into the Tron ecosystem and launched the BTT token.

In 2019, Sun returned to the spotlight when he won a charity auction to have lunch with legendary investor Warren Buffett — paying $4.57 million for the privilege. However, just three days before the meeting, he abruptly canceled, citing health issues. Rumors soon spread about pressure from Chinese authorities, though the meeting eventually did take place months later behind closed doors and without media fanfare.

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Perhaps one of Sun’s most surreal moments was his purchase of “Comedian”, the infamous artwork of a banana duct-taped to a wall by Maurizio Cattelan. Sun bought the piece at Sotheby’s for $6.2 million, and just ten days later, he ate the banana onstage in front of reporters in Hong Kong, calling the act “a reimagining of art.”

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Justin Sun and Donald Trump

So where does his obsession with public attention come from? Sun has long expressed admiration for American businessman and politician Donald Trump. As a student, he learned English by watching The Apprentice, and was deeply impressed by Trump’s charisma and aggressive style. Over time, Trump became a symbol of success and a model for personal branding in Sun’s eyes.

In late 2024, shortly after Trump was re-elected as President of the United States, Sun learned that the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial (WLF), was in trouble. The project couldn’t find investors, and the Trumps refused to fund it themselves. Sun stepped in, investing $30 million and effectively rescuing the company from collapse.

But that was only the beginning. A few weeks later, Sun invested another $45 million, 75% of which went directly to the Trump family. In January 2025, when President Trump launched his meme coin TRUMP, Sun supported that too, purchasing several million dollars’ worth of the token. In total, his involvement helped generate around $400 million for Trump and his inner circle — a fact highlighted on the Forbes cover.

Although Sun made virtually no profit from his involvement with WLF, he still came out ahead. He became an advisor to the project, and shortly afterward, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suspended its investigation and lawsuit against him.

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Billions, attention, and control

Justin Sun’s story is a case study in how technological instinct, media strategy, and political pragmatism can converge. He didn’t just build a blockchain — he built an entire ecosystem with hundreds of millions of users, all while crafting the image of a bold billionaire who’s not afraid to shake up the establishment. From acquiring BitTorrent to bailing out Trump’s crypto initiative, each of Sun’s moves has been loud, strategic, and — ultimately — effective.

Today, Justin Sun is not just a Web3 entrepreneur; he is a global actor who knows how to use cryptocurrencies as a lever of influence. While his actions often raise questions and spark controversy, it’s precisely these larger-than-life figures who are helping to shape the new economic reality.