Crypto Entrepreneur Justin Sun Buys Maurizio Cattelan's Artwork 'Comedian' for $6.2 Million at New York Auction

Tron founder said he plans to eat the banana, describing the act as part of a “unique artistic experience.”

Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun has bought Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork Comedian — a banana duct-taped to a wall — for a whopping $6.2 million at a New York auction. The artwork, which includes instructions for replacing the banana as it rots and a certificate of authenticity, was sold by Sotheby’s. Bidding for the piece began at $800,000 and quickly escalated, with the final price far exceeding its $1–$1.5 million presale estimate. Sun outbid six others, paying $5.2 million plus $1 million in fees.

Comedian consists of a real banana affixed to a wall with duct tape, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and detailed instructions for replacing the fruit and tape as necessary. It is considered a reflection on modern values and the art market, according to Cattelan, who described it as a sincere commentary on “speed and business” dominating art fairs.

This isn’t the first time Comedian has been eaten. In 2019, artist David Datuna consumed the banana after it sold for $120,000 at Art Basel Miami. In 2022, a student in Seoul ate the piece, claiming hunger after skipping breakfast.

Sun, the Tron founder, plans to eat the banana in the coming days, describing the act as part of a “unique artistic experience.” He shared his thoughts on the artwork in an X post on Nov. 21.

“This is not just an artwork; it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art, memes, and the cryptocurrency community,” wrote Sun.

Sun’s purchase comes as he remains under scrutiny. The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly investigating him and Tether, while the SEC sued him in March 2023 over allegations of unregistered securities sales and wash trading of the Tron token, which Sun denies.

The case involves allegations that the Tron Foundation, along with the BitTorrent Foundation and Rainberry (formerly known as BitTorrent), violated securities laws. The SEC alleges that the Chinese entrepreneur and his companies conspired to distribute billions of crypto assets and artificially inflate trade volumes in order to lure in investors. The federal agency also claims that Sun manipulated the price of BitTorrent’s BTT token.

Tron’s defense argued that their main challenge focused on the third prong of the Howey test, which concerns the expectation of profits from the efforts of others. They claimed that the SEC’s request for an additional reply, or sur-reply, misrepresented their stance and was unwarranted.