Crypto Entrepreneur Consumes $6.2 Million Banana Artwork
Justin Sun Eats Part of Maurizio Cattelan's 'Comedian' Installation at Hong Kong Event
Justin Sun, a Chinese-born cryptocurrency mogul, fulfilled his public promise by consuming the banana from Maurizio Cattelan's artwork 'Comedian', which he purchased for $6.2 million at a Sotheby's auction in New York.
The artwork, famously a banana duct-taped to a wall, became a subject of interest in 2019 and has been a symbol of the blurred lines between art and conceptual humor.
Sun ingested the fruit at a press conference in Hong Kong to emphasize similarities between the nature of contemporary art and cryptocurrency.
The installation allows for the banana's replacement, and Sun holds the rights to exhibit the artwork, which has been previously consumed by others without financial commitment.
At the event, attendees received a banana and tape as memorabilia.
Sun likened the transient nature of the banana artwork to the concept of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), digital assets with assigned value traded on blockchain platforms.
He manages the Tron blockchain network, a platform for cryptocurrency exchange.
Previously, Sun faced charges from the US SEC for allegedly selling unregistered security tokens, a claim he contests.
This week, he declared a $30 million investment in a crypto project supported by Donald Trump.