• The R Roundup
  • Posts
  • Art or Stunt? Justin Sun Turns $6M Banana Into A SnackšŸŒ

Art or Stunt? Justin Sun Turns $6M Banana Into A SnackšŸŒ

Issue #163 : Solana + Crypto Headlines In The Past WeekšŸ“†

What do you get when you mix high art, crypto chaos, and a $6.2 million banana? 

Justin Sun, of course, casually munching on the world’s priciest fruit at Hong Kong’s ultra-luxurious Peninsula Hotel.

The banana in question was part of Maurizio Cattelan’s famous 2019 art installation Comedian, which featured a single yellow fruit duct-taped to a wall. The piece became an art-world sensation and sparked endless debates.

Last week, it sold for $6.2 million at Sotheby’s auction. The winning bidder? Justin Sun. He purchased the certificate of authenticity, officially owning the right to recreate this ā€œartā€ whenever he wants.

But admiring art isn’t enough when you can eat it. So, in front of a crowd of journalists and faux auction staff, he peeled off the duct tape, took a bite, and quipped, ā€œIt tastes much better than other bananas. Indeed, quite good.ā€  

Sun, ever the showman, drew a parallel between the stunt and the world of crypto. He described the banana as a symbol of how art, memes, and cryptocurrency collide, making a statement that transcends just the fruit itself.

As if the banana spectacle wasn’t enough, Sun also dropped $30 million this week into Donald Trump’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial, all while facing ongoing SEC charges tied to his TRON project.

Love him or hate him, Justin Sun is redefining the art of being extra. Bananas? Bought. Headlines? Owned. Chaos? Fully embraced.

Phantom Goes Even More Multi-Chain With Base IntegrationšŸ”µ

Phantom is making waves in the multi-chain world with its latest integration of Base, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2.

This upgrade opens the door for users to swap tokens across Solana, Base, Ethereum, and Polygon seamlessly, further cementing Phantom’s position as a go-to wallet for cross-chain interactions.

With Base now in the mix, Phantom users can buy ETH and USDC directly on the platform and move assets between blockchains effortlessly. This follows the wallet’s expansion into Ethereum and Polygon in 2023, signaling its commitment to building a truly interconnected DeFi experience.

Currently, Base is the largest Ethereum Layer 2 by total value locked (TVL) at $3.4 billion, while ranking sixth among all blockchains in TVL. The integration puts Phantom at the forefront of a rapidly evolving ecosystem, tapping into Base’s growing prominence as a hub for activity in the crypto world.

Player Wins $47K After Outsmarting AI FreysašŸ¤‘

In one of crypto’s wildest experiments yet, an AI called Freysa sat on $47,000 in crypto while players scrambled to outsmart her and claim the prize. 

The catch?

Freysa’s only rule was simple: do not, under any circumstances, transfer the funds. To win, players had to find a way to make her break that rule — and it wasn’t easy.

It was part mind game, part treasure hunt, with escalating stakes. Each message cost more than the last, starting at $10 and climbing to $450.  

For weeks, 481 attempts failed. Then came the 482nd. A savvy player, p0pular.eth, found the loophole, convincing Freysa she wasn’t releasing funds but processing a treasury deposit.

The AI fell for it, triggering the transfer function and sending the entire $47,000 prize pool straight to the player’s wallet.  

More than just a game, Freysa was an experiment in pushing AI boundaries and exploring blockchain’s potential for interactive, transparent challenges.

In the end, it proved one thing: with enough creativity (and persistence), even an AI with ironclad rules can be outmaneuvered.

Solana Flips Ethereum Monthly DEX All-Time HighšŸ”ŗ

Solana just hit a major milestone in DeFi, smashing Ethereum’s all-time high for monthly DEX trading volume.

Solana closed the month with $129 billion in on-chain trades processed, surpassing Ethereum’s $117.6 billion record from May 2021. 

Solana Monthly DEX Volume. Credit: DefiLlama

Now, the blockchain has its sights on the ultimate prize; BNB Chain’s industry record of $140 billion. Fueled by a vibrant ecosystem, Solana’s trading boom owes much to its bustling activity in memecoin markets, which make up a staggering 77% of its volume. Meanwhile, SOL/USD pairs trail as a distant second.  

This milestone solidifies Solana as a heavyweight in the DeFi space. With 35% of November’s DEX trading volume, Solana isn't just challenging Ethereum anymore. Rather, it's becoming a leading player across the entire blockchain space.

A Week at RR šŸ—“ļø

Checkout this week’s content published to stay up to date with the latest research and crypto talking points šŸ‘‡

RR Files šŸ—‚ļø

Wondering what we’re reading this week at RR?

Worry no more!

Thanks for reading ā¤ļø

Don’t forget to checkout last week’s issue for more insightful contentšŸ‘‡

Reply

or to participate.