No exaggeration, no criticism, what has Sun Yuchen really brought to cryptocurrency?

Author: Lao Lu Talks About Coins

There is an old saying: "Between the audience and the truth, there is always a media." This statement is vividly reflected in the case of Sun Yuchen.

The public's perception of Sun Yuchen is often shaped by the media's perspective. On one hand, the media focuses on his high-profile marketing and controversial events with a curious eye; on the other hand, his actual technical contributions and industry influence are often overlooked. The media acts as both a magnifying glass and a filter, presenting a vastly different image of Sun Yuchen in the eyes of different people.

The recent public apology from Sina for its coverage of Sun Yuchen proves everything. In March 2022, Sina published several articles about "FBI investigating Sun Yuchen," which led to a surge of public opinion and various unverified accusations. Finally, on February 7 of this year, Sina officially released a statement correcting its previous false reports and publicly apologized!

Looking back at Sun Yuchen's past media experiences, it is not difficult to find that this is not the first time he has encountered "demonization" in reports. From his high-priced purchase of a lunch with Buffett to being accused of "fleeing China," and various unverified investigation allegations, the public narrative about him has always been filled with controversy. The media has intentionally or unintentionally shaped a "traffic narrative"—depicting him as a "disruptor" in the crypto world while ignoring his real contributions in technology and industry.

However, historical judgment is ultimately determined by facts, not by temporary waves of public opinion. When the media noise subsides, what may truly be remembered are not those sensational accusations, but the technological innovations, ecological construction, and industry driving force that Sun Yuchen has left in the crypto field. Today, let’s take a look at what Sun Yuchen has brought to crypto.

1. Sun Yuchen: The "Outsider" Promoter of the Crypto World

In 2019, Sun Yuchen made headlines by purchasing a "lunch with Buffett" for a record-breaking $4.56 million, instantly becoming the focus of global financial media. This move not only significantly increased his personal visibility, but also successfully pushed the cryptocurrency industry out of its small circle into the mainstream.

At that time, Bitcoin and blockchain were still seen as niche technologies in many countries, and the public's understanding of them remained at the level of "speculative tools" or even "financial scams." Sun Yuchen's high-profile actions made countless people who were previously uninterested in cryptocurrencies start to pay attention to the industry.

Regardless of how the outside world interprets it, the impact of this event is undeniable: Sun Yuchen, through his personal influence, made cryptocurrency a part of the global financial conversation.

It is undeniable that he is one of the few figures who can truly "break the circle" for the crypto industry. For example, this year he purchased a banana for $6.2 million and paid with cryptocurrency, once again drawing public attention to the crypto field.

Globally, the crypto industry has always had a phenomenon of "circle-ization," where many projects circulate only within a small scope and struggle to reach a broader audience. Sun Yuchen, in his own way, has made cryptocurrency a topic of conversation for more people, pushing the industry toward the mainstream.

2. Ambition and Layout: The Dreamer Building a Crypto Empire

Sun Yuchen's achievements in the crypto field are not only reflected in the success of individual projects but also in his ability to innovate and integrate businesses to build a large and diverse crypto ecosystem. His strategic vision and execution capabilities have enabled platforms and projects like TRON, SunPump, Poloniex, and Huobi to operate in synergy, forming a closed-loop crypto economic system. This integration not only enhances the value of each project but also provides users with richer services and experiences.

TRON Public Chain: Bringing More Convenient Transactions to the Crypto World

Setting aside the surface of marketing, Sun Yuchen's layout in the crypto field can be described as high-level.

The TRON public chain he founded provides users with a more convenient trading experience. Compared to Ethereum, TRON has faster transaction confirmation speeds and lower fees, making it the preferred choice for many developers and users.

In the crypto world, TRON is often underestimated. However, as a true Web3 infrastructure, TRON not only performs excellently in terms of transaction volume and profitability but also realizes many of the "positive externalities" that crypto-native idealists expect in practice.

"Positive externality" refers to a project or behavior that, while achieving its own goals, also brings additional positive impacts to society. In the case of TRON, this positive externality is mainly reflected in the field of cross-border payments.

Traditional cross-border payments often rely on banks or third-party payment institutions, which are costly and time-consuming. TRON, through its efficient and low-cost blockchain network, provides a new cross-border payment solution for global users.

This innovation is particularly significant for users in developing countries and regions. For example, many users in Southeast Asia and Africa use TRON for cross-border remittances, saving a significant amount in fees and avoiding the cumbersome processes of traditional financial systems. This practice of "inclusive finance" is a true reflection of how crypto technology is changing the world.

Investing in the Trump Family: A Bridge Connecting Eastern and Western Crypto Cultures

Sun Yuchen's ambitions are not limited to the technical level; he also seeks to promote the global development of the crypto industry through capital operations and cultural exchanges.

On November 26, 2024, Sun Yuchen added another title to his long list: Advisor to the Trump family's cryptocurrency project WLFI. WLFI stated in its announcement: "Sun Yuchen's insights and experience will help us continue to innovate and develop." The day before, Sun Yuchen invested $30 million in WLFI, becoming the largest investor in the project. On January 19, 2025, Sun Yuchen announced an additional investment of $45 million, raising the total investment to $75 million.

This investment not only reflects Sun Yuchen's confidence in the WLFI project but also marks an important intersection of Eastern and Western crypto cultures. WLFI, as a cryptocurrency project under the Trump family, represents the recognition and participation of traditional American capital in the crypto industry. Sun Yuchen's involvement injects a perspective and resources from Eastern crypto culture into this project.

Strategic Layout of Global Trading Platforms

Sun Yuchen's investments in Poloniex and Huobi further expanded his influence in the global crypto market. Poloniex, as an established exchange, has a strong technical foundation and user base; while Huobi is an important player in the Asian market. Sun Yuchen has incorporated these two platforms into his crypto landscape, forming a trading network that covers both East and West. This integration not only enhances the competitiveness of both platforms but also provides users with a more convenient trading experience.

USDD Stablecoin: Providing Users with a High-Yield Hedging Tool

The USDD stablecoin launched by Sun Yuchen is another important layout in the DeFi field. USDD maintains a 1:1 peg to the US dollar through over-collateralization and algorithmic adjustments while offering users an annualized yield of up to 20%. This product not only provides users with a high-yield hedging tool but also contributes to the stability of the crypto market.

During market downturns, many investors successfully avoided market risks by holding USDD. This case fully demonstrates Sun Yuchen's innovative capabilities and market insights in the field of crypto finance.

Innovative Attempts in Crypto Finance

Sun Yuchen's innovative attempts in crypto finance are also reflected in the promotion of the Re-staking model. Re-staking allows users to use already staked assets for other financial operations, maximizing the efficiency of capital utilization. This model not only provides users with more investment options but also injects new vitality into the liquidity of the crypto finance market. Sun Yuchen has promoted the Re-staking model on a large scale, attracting a large number of users to participate. This innovation also provides new ideas for the entire crypto industry.

3. What Kind of "Evangelist" Does the Crypto World Need?

Sun Yuchen graduated with a bachelor's degree in history from Peking University and a master's degree in East Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. As early as 2011, Sun Yuchen became the cover figure of Time Warner's "Asia Weekly."

In 2014, he founded the company Ripple based on the open-source protocol and served as CEO, becoming one of the promoters of blockchain technology in China. That same year, he was awarded the title of "Global Young Leader" by the World Economic Forum (Davos Forum).

In 2015, Sun Yuchen was selected as one of Forbes China's 30 Under 30 entrepreneurs. In July 2017, he created the blockchain project "TRON" with the aim of building a globally decentralized and free system.

On November 13, 2019, Sun Yuchen strategically invested in the globally renowned digital currency exchange Poloniex and collaborated in various fields such as TRC20-USDT stablecoin, DeFi decentralized finance, and TRON trading zones.

On March 5, 2019, TRON announced a partnership with Tether, with Tether issuing the TRC20-based stablecoin USDT on the TRON blockchain.

On May 5, 2022, the TRON DAO Reserve officially launched the decentralized stablecoin USDD, circulating on major global public chains such as BSC and Ethereum through the BTTC protocol.

On October 10, 2022, TRON founder Sun Yuchen became a global advisor for Huobi.

However, Sun Yuchen's resume goes far beyond this. He has already achieved significant accomplishments in the crypto industry and earned substantial wealth, yet he continues to choose to fight on the front lines. Behind this, there must be a desire that transcends fame and fortune supporting him—a dedication to technological innovation, a belief in the future of the industry, and a sense of mission for the transformation of the global financial system.

Today, Sun Yuchen stands before an unprecedented historical opportunity. With his unique business insights and bold strategic layout, leveraging the deep technical foundation and large user base of TRON, along with the significant market advantages and excellent brand reputation of Huobi HTX, as well as the powerful political resources brought by deep cooperation with the Trump family, Sun Yuchen not only has the ability to further expand the territory of his crypto empire but also has the potential to push cryptocurrencies onto a broader market stage, leading the entire crypto industry to a new height. Every step he takes is paving the way for the future of the industry; every innovation he makes injects new momentum into the transformation of the global financial system.

Sun Yuchen is not perfect. He entered the crypto industry at the age of 24, and it is impossible for every decision and thought to satisfy everyone. However, it is clearly meaningless to judge him by the standards of a saint. The development of the crypto industry is still in its early stages and needs "evangelists" like Sun Yuchen who dare to break conventions.

4. Let Go of Prejudice and Rationally View Sun Yuchen's Contributions

Instead of repeatedly complaining, being sarcastic, or insulting, it is better to stand from the user's perspective when Sun Yuchen launches a valuable project, to help users ask questions, supervise, and provide suggestions, and work with his team to make the project better, gradually building a cooperative and win-win crypto ecosystem.

Sun Yuchen is a microcosm of the crypto world, embodying the vitality, ambition, and controversy of this emerging industry. Whether he is a "disruptor" or a "breaker" will be answered by time. But regardless, his presence has added more possibilities to the crypto world and prompted us to think more deeply about the future development direction of blockchain technology.

Let go of prejudice, break cognitive barriers, be rational and objective, ask questions, supervise, and work together as builders of the industry! This is the true spirit that the crypto industry needs.