On November 22, 2024, Justin Sun, Global Advisor of HTX and Founder of TRON, made headlines by purchasing Maurizio Cattelan's artwork "Comedian" for $6.2 million at Sotheby's. This banana taped to a wall has now become the most expensive fruit ever sold, igniting discussions across the internet about the implications of this purchase in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Sun attended HTX Live's program shortly after the auction, sharing insights about how meme culture influenced his interest in the artwork. He noted that nearly 90% of attendees at the auction were drawn to the banana, overshadowing other items worth $18 million. His experience reflects the growing intersection of art and cryptocurrency, as he hopes this purchase bridges these two worlds.
In a related development, on November 27, 2024, Sun announced his role as an adviser to Donald Trump's crypto project, World Liberty Financial, after investing $30 million in its WLFI tokens. This move aims to rejuvenate interest in the project, which has been struggling with sales.
Sun's actions highlight the evolving landscape of cryptocurrency and its cultural significance. As Bitcoin approaches the $100,000 mark, the global attention surrounding these events underscores the potential for further integration of crypto within mainstream culture.