In a stunning move that merges high art with high-tech, Chinese-born cryptocurrency entrepreneur Justin Sun ate a $6.2 million banana taped to a wall—an infamous piece by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan.
The shocking act unfolded during a press conference in Hong Kong, where Sun, the founder of the Tron blockchain, framed the moment as a commentary on the volatile world of cryptocurrency and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Last week, Sun outbid six other contenders at Sotheby’s New York auction, securing “Comedian”, Cattelan’s provocative 2019 artwork, which features a simple banana duct-taped to a wall.
The price tag—$6.2 million—made the fruit one of the most expensive in the world, but it’s not the first time the banana has been consumed. It was previously eaten by a performance artist in 2019 and again by a South Korean student in 2023. However, neither of them paid any money to do so.
Sun’s purchase grants him the right to display the installation and includes a guide on how to replace the banana, which is swapped out regularly to ensure it remains fresh for exhibitions. But the crypto tycoon took the artwork’s unconventional nature a step further by eating it in front of the press.
“Eating it at a press conference can also become a part of the artwork’s history,” Sun told reporters, calling the act “much better than other bananas.” He even joked about the “dumb questions” he had wondered about, such as whether the banana would rot.
The auctioned banana was purchased for just 35 cents the same day, its price soaring after being immortalized in an auction catalog. At the press event, Sun handed out bananas and duct tape to attendees, offering them the chance to replicate his performance.
“Everyone has a banana to eat,” he said, reinforcing his playful take on the work.
For Sun, the stunt was more than just a quirky art moment—it was a chance to bridge the gap between the world of contemporary art and the fast-evolving cryptocurrency market. He likened the “Comedian” to NFTs—digital art that holds value only through its buyers’ belief in it, much like cryptocurrencies.
Though Sun’s work has drawn fascination, it hasn’t come without controversy. The 34-year-old entrepreneur is still facing charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly offering and selling unregistered securities, a case that remains unresolved.
Meanwhile, Sun continues to make waves in the digital currency space, recently revealing a $30 million investment in a crypto project backed by President-elect Donald Trump.
