From Two Pizzas to a Presidential Banquet: The Handshake Between Trump and Justin Sun Is a Turning Point for Cryptocurrency

2025-05-23 16:13

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On May 22, 2010, programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made history by purchasing two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins, marking the first-ever real-world transaction with Bitcoin. Since then, "Bitcoin Pizza Day" has become an annual celebration in the crypto community. Fifteen years later, the symbolic significance of May 22nd was perfectly upheld: on this day in 2025, U.S. President Trump gathered the top 220 $TRUMP token holders for a grand banquet and extended a special invitation to the top 25 holders for a private reception and a VIP tour of the White House. Coincidentally, Bitcoin also broke $110,000 for the first time on this day, setting a new all-time high.

As the most powerful person on Earth, Trump's close interaction with the crypto world is destined to become a new milestone for the industry. Under the spotlight, a face from the East stands out — he is Justin Sun, the Huobi HTX Global Advisor, TRON founder, the largest holder of $TRUMP, and advisor to Trump family's crypto project, WLFI.

The Long Journey of Crypto Mainstream Adoption: Justin Sun's Firm Advocacy

The development of the crypto industry is an epic journey from grassroots to mainstream. When the Bitcoin pizza transaction post was made on the forum, few could have imagined that this idealistic experiment by cryptography geeks would, fifteen years later, enter the most authoritative political center and become a significant force reshaping the global political, financial, and cultural order.

This process cannot be separated from the contributions of numerous devout advocates and steadfast builders, with Justin Sun being one of the exceptional ones. Devoting over a decade to the crypto industry, he still maintains his initial zeal without a trace of fatigue. On the technical front, he actively promotes stablecoin payments through TRON's efforts, establishing one of the world's most active blockchain networks. Every Web3 user relies on the infrastructure he provides. On the cultural front, leveraging his powerful influence and Huobi HTX's strong brand foundation, he has created numerous breakthrough moments for cryptocurrency. From the Buffett lunch to the high-priced banana artwork, from gracing the cover of Forbes magazine to inviting Huobi HTX users on a space journey, Justin Sun has opened a window for the public to glimpse into the world of crypto, leading more people to appreciate the charm of blockchain and cryptocurrency.

Moreover, known for his strategic acumen, Justin Sun is paving a new path to drive the widespread adoption of cryptocurrency. From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, he twice invested in the Trump family's crypto project, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), totaling a whopping $75 million and became an advisor to the project. At TOKEN2049 in Dubai, he shared laughter with Trump's son Eric Trump, and subsequently, the stablecoin USD1 issued by WLFI was first listed globally on Huobi HTX and is soon to be integrated with TRON. In fact, long before Wall Street's traditional financial giants ventured into cryptocurrency and before U.S. bipartisan politicians fiercely debated crypto legislation, Justin Sun had already started his strategic positioning in the American market and within the Trump family. Why did he do this? Let's hear what Justin Sun himself has to say.

"I have long believed that President Trump would bring many positive impacts to the cryptocurrency field. After his election, the entire crypto world has been revitalized," said Justin Sun. Through his advisory role, "I have acted as a bridge of communication between the crypto industry and the President, and to some extent, possibly a bridge for future U.S.-China communication. My original intention was to establish a good relationship with the Trump family and introduce more people from the traditional world into the blockchain world. We will collaborate with President Trump's cryptocurrency project in the long term to drive the development and progress of our entire industry."

The Story Behind the Trump Banquet: A New Chapter in Cryptocurrency Development

During his first term, Trump scoffed at Bitcoin, but now, Bitcoin has become a key asset for his re-election and a crucial topic for his second term. Hosting this Trump Banquet directly indicates that the traditional mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrency has reached an unprecedented level. As Justin Sun mentioned at the banquet, "Not long ago, crypto enthusiasts were continuously oppressed, and it would have been impossible to hold such a grand event in Washington, bringing together all practitioners in the U.S. to build the crypto industry." This was not a simple marketing event but a demonstration of the U.S. political ecosystem's renewed recognition of the value of crypto assets and blockchain technology: they are tools for financial transformation and vehicles for connecting young voters and building a new economic network.

On Pizza Day, when Justin Sun presented the achievements and vision of the crypto industry on the global political stage, this was not a coincidence but a concrete manifestation of the crypto world's transition from the fringe to the center.

Justin Sun is not only a leader in the crypto industry but also a technological diplomat in long-term dialogue with multiple sovereign governments. In this banquet, his role was not only that of a guest but also a messenger and interlocutor—representing the crypto world's olive branch to the traditional system and serving as a guide for the mainstream system to explore the crypto space.

As Trump's hand clasped with Justin Sun's hand, the divide between the mainstream and crypto worlds accelerated its dissolution, ushering in an era of integration. In this key transition period for the crypto industry from 'anti-establishment' to 'influencing the establishment,' driven by Justin Sun and countless builders, the industry will no longer merely chase technological advancement but will truly participate in the formation of global rules. With the signing of the Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act, with the GENIUS Stablecoin Act entering the revision process, with Bitcoin surpassing $110,000...the future that the crypto world has always pursued may have already arrived.

From Pizza to Feast, The Legend Continues

The Bitcoin Pizza Day is not just a holiday; it is a way of "commemoration." It reminds us that all great things have humble beginnings – two pizzas, a transaction between two geeks, a seemingly meaningless piece of code.

And today, as key figures in the crypto space mingle with the President of the United States, we realize that the legendary tale of buying pizza is not yet concluded but is being continued in another form.

More importantly, the question is: How do we script the next 15 years?

Justin Sun is still running. And each of us is a fellow traveler in this era-defining journey.