Justin Sun, the outspoken crypto tycoon, Chinese blockchain entrepreneur, and founder of TRON (TRX), has made his way onto the cover of Forbes, earning the moniker ‘Crypto’s Billionaire Barker.’
Excited about the recognition, Sun took to Twitter, saying, “From a visionary to a global force—honored to be featured on Forbes as Crypto’s Billionaire Barker. TRON keeps expanding, fueling a global payment network with over 300 million users. In the long run, decentralization is bound to come out on top.”
The article dives into Sun’s grip on the crypto space, showcasing his talent for shaking up the market—whether it’s through bold bets, flashy declarations, or controversies that keep him in the spotlight. And speaking of deals, this cover story wouldn’t be complete without mention of his recent $80 million investment in Donald Trump’s crypto startup, World Liberty Financial (WLF).
At a time when WLF was spiraling into uncertainty, Sun wired $30 million in November 2024, mere weeks after Trump secured his White House return. His reasoning? “I see WLF as a strong player in the financial technology space,” he claimed.
But it didn’t stop there. Sun doubled down, throwing in an additional $45 million—75% of which reportedly went straight into Trump’s pocket. In total, Sun’s contributions helped Trump and his family amass an estimated $400 million. Yet, the WLF pitch deck, titled the “Gold Paper,” offered little substance—just Trump painted gold like a comic book hero, with no real product, liquidity, equity, or legitimate leadership.
The Crypto Curse?
As news of Sun’s cover spread, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) chimed in, tweeting: “Congrats! Finally read the article, as I refuse to have a subscription. Is it just me, or does it come across like a hit piece?”
One user bluntly posted, replying to CZ: “I remember when you went to jail after that picture. And SBF.”
Crypto Twitter was quick to connect the dots. Users recalled that when CZ graced Forbes’ cover in February 2018 with the headline “From Zero To Crypto Billionaire In Under A Year: Meet The Founder Of Binance,” he later found himself behind bars.
Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) also had his time in the spotlight when Forbes ran a piece titled “Meet The World’s Richest 29-Year-Old: How Sam Bankman-Fried Made A Record Fortune In The Crypto Frenzy.” Not long after, he ended up behind bars.
With this strange pattern playing out again, the big question is—will history repeat itself? Sun has already caught the SEC’s eye, and as TRON cements its place in global payments, regulators are bound to take a closer look.
So far, TRX’s price hasn’t reacted to Sun’s Forbes moment. But in crypto, history has a way of rhyming. Will Sun break the cycle, or is he just the latest name in the so-called Forbes cover curse?
Also Read: Justin Sun Says No To Profits From Memecoins On Tron
