Crypto Pioneer Justin Sun Reminisces About Cryptocurrency's Infancy: Bitcoin Applied at $1 with Complimentary DOGE

In the world of cryptocurrency, Justin Sun has made a name for himself as an influential figure. His journey began in 2012, when he purchased Bitcoin for just $1, a decision that would prove to be a shrewd investment.

In the same year, Bitcoin could be bought on the Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao, similar to eBay. This early adoption of cryptocurrency set the stage for Sun's future endeavours.

Sun's focus shifted in 2014, when he and his team turned their attention to a new blockchain vision. At the time, no cryptocurrency had implemented smart contracts, a functionality that Sun believed held great potential. This belief was validated in 2015 with the launch of Ethereum via ICO, which had been a response to the success of smart contracts.

Sun's interest in smart contracts led him to work at Ripple Labs, contributing to the development of XRP. However, he eventually left to develop his own solution, TRON, a blockchain that supports smart contracts.

TRON was created as a response to the success of Ethereum's implementation of smart contracts. In late 2024, Sun made his largest investment yet, acquiring 2 billion WLFI tokens from the World Liberty Financial project for 30 million US dollars. This acquisition made him the largest investor in the project, which is connected to Donald Trump's family.

Sun's investment in the World Liberty Financial project is not the only area where he has shown an interest in NFT projects and crypto art. He has also purchased artist Maurizio Cattelan's artwork "Comedian" for $6 million. Sun plans to send this artwork to Mars via SpaceX or gift it to Donald Trump.

Interestingly, Sun gave away approximately $50 million worth of Dogecoin (DOGE) to friends and acquaintances. At the time, Dogecoin was seen as a joke, a perception that Sun himself acknowledges. It is not mentioned whether Sun was involved in the development of Dogecoin.

In November 2024, Sun acquired 2 billion WLFI tokens from the World Liberty Financial platform for $30 million, marking his largest investment in the project. This acquisition solidified Sun's position as a key player in the world of cryptocurrency, a position he continues to build upon today.