Tron founder, Justin Sun, just spent $6.2 million to purchase the artwork "Comedian" - a banana taped to a wall - at an auction in New York, and announced that he will eat this banana.
On November 21, the cryptocurrency community and the art world were abuzz with the news that Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, had spent $6.2 million to acquire the artwork "Comedian" by artist Maurizio Cattelan at an auction in New York.
This controversial work of art is simply a fresh banana taped to a wall. The final price, including $5.2 million for the artwork and $1 million in auction fees to Sotheby's, was four times higher than the initial estimate of $1 to $1.5 million.
Sotheby's, the auction house that organized the event, reported on social media platform X that there was a fierce bidding war lasting over 6 minutes for the artwork. The starting price was $800,000, but it quickly escalated to millions of dollars in the lively atmosphere. The auctioneer joked about the banana "sliding all over the auction room" and urged the buyers to "not let it slip out of their hands", causing the audience to burst into laughter. Ultimately, Sun outbid 6 other competitors to emerge victorious.
I'm thrilled to announce that I've bought the banana
— H.E. Justin Sun!!! @SpaceX @Sothebys I am Justin Sun, and I'm excited to share that I have successfully acquired Maurizio Cattelan's iconic work, Comedian for $6.2 million. This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon… pic.twitter.com/lAj1RE6y0C
Notably, Sun announced that he will eat the banana as part of a "unique artistic experience". On the social media platform X, he stated: "This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon connecting the art world, memes, and the cryptocurrency community."
The Meaning Behind the Million-Dollar Banana
Purchasing the "Comedian" artwork is not simply about owning a banana taped to a wall. The buyer is essentially paying for the instructions on how to tape the banana and a certificate of authenticity, allowing them to call the work their own "Comedian". The owner can replace the banana when it spoils and change the tape when necessary.
Sun's actions take place against the backdrop of him facing various legal challenges. His TRON Blockchain is currently processing a significant portion of the trading volume of the Tether stablecoin, which is under criminal investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. Sun himself is also reportedly being investigated by the FBI and prosecutors in New York.
In March 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Sun and TRON, alleging the unregistered sale of TRON tokens as securities and market manipulation. However, Sun has denied these allegations.
If Sun does indeed eat the banana as he has claimed, he will be the third person recorded doing so. Previously, in 2019, artist David Datuna ate the banana from the "Comedian" artwork at Art Basel Miami after it was sold for $120,000. In April 2022, a student also ate the banana when the work was exhibited at an art museum in Seoul due to hunger. Neither of these incidents resulted in any legal consequences.
