0%

Why Forbes Put Justin Sun on the Cover: The Rise of China’s Crypto Power Broker

23 hours ago 4 min read
News Article Banner Image

This marks just the second time a Chinese entrepreneur has appeared on the Forbes U.S. cover—the first being Alibaba’s Jack Ma—and places Sun in rare company among crypto exchange moguls like CZ (Binance), SBF (FTX), and Brian Armstrong (Coinbase).

But Sun’s appearance is more than symbolic. It’s a signal that China’s new breed of entrepreneurs isn’t just playing catch-up in Web3—they’re defining the rules of the game.

What Makes a Forbes Cover in 2025?

Forbes spotlights those with two things: quantifiable dominance and narrative authority. Jack Ma had Alibaba’s GMV and a mission to make business easy. Justin Sun brings something different: a globally integrated crypto empire that fuses payments, politics, and protocol-level influence.

In the Web3 era, power isn’t just measured in users or revenue—it’s about who’s shaping the infrastructure of the new financial world.

Justin Sun’s Crypto Trifecta

1. TRON as the Invisible Payment Layer

TRON isn’t flashy, but it’s everywhere. Over half of all USDT now moves on TRON because it’s cheaper and faster. Weekly USDT transactions on TRON top 14 million, making it the silent engine behind global crypto payments.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has praised TRON for its efficiency—Sun’s network is now foundational to the stablecoin economy.

2. Crypto Goes Political

In 2024, Sun became an advisor—and the largest investor—to WLFI, a Trump family-backed crypto project. His $75M investment wasn’t just financial—it was strategic, positioning crypto as a fundraising tool in an election year.

Forbes called it a “textbook case of political capitalisation”—proof that crypto has entered the realpolitik arena.

3. HTX’s Global Comeback Under Justin Sun

Post-FTX, Following leadership changes at Huobi, Sun supported HTX’s rebranding and compliance revamp as its Global Advisor. The exchange now publishes 100%+ proof-of-reserves monthly and runs a sophisticated AML system with real-time risk modeling.

In Q1 2025, HTX listed 47 new tokens, including politically-themed ones like TRUMP and MELANIA—some soaring 400%+. HTX DAO’s governance token ($HTX) now has over 760,000 holders, and the platform ranks among the top three for EUR-stablecoin trading volume in Europe.

The Industry’s Secret War Behind the Headlines: What Kind of Business Leaders Does China Need?

Back in 2015, when Jack Ma graced the cover of Forbes, the prevailing narrative among Chinese internet companies was the “Copy to China” model, as they worked to adapt and prove the success of Western business strategies within the Chinese market.  Today, Sun is building globally-native infrastructure—aiming to bring Chinese innovations to the global stage

His leadership style fuses:

  • Technological Application: TRON’s compliance partnership with Huawei Cloud or HTX’s curated listing model aren’t ideological—they’re tactical.

  • Scale mindset: From meme token grants to DAO governance, Sun speaks the language of Web3 communities at scale.

  • Regulatory jiu-jitsu: While U.S. exchanges struggle with the SEC, Sun supports licenses acquisition from various regions to the Liberland micronation, keeping operations nimble.

When Justin Sun appeared on the cover of Forbes, he was just 35 years old—and his journey was only beginning. As a young leader in the crypto industry, he represents not only the vast development potential of the crypto space but also the mainstream society’s curiosity and expectations for it. Justin once said in a live broadcast, “We can prove to the outside world that the crypto industry can represent the image and interests of the Chinese people internationally.” He has proven that Chinese entrepreneurs can still hold the industry’s discourse power without relying on the domestic market.

From The Cover To A New Era—The Encoder Of New Rules

Perhaps the real meaning behind the Forbes cover is that it reveals a new narrative for the globalization of Chinese entrepreneurs: In the Jack Ma era, China exported business models. In the Justin Sun era, it’s exporting governance layers and cross-border liquidity rails via blockchain technology.

For Sun, the Forbes cover is a launchpad to build his crypto empire to be the next-generation infrastructure that can stand alongside the likes of Alibaba & Tencent “It’s a milestone,” he said during a livestream, “but just the beginning.”

From the West Lake shores of Hangzhou to the memecoin vaults of HTX, the face of Chinese entrepreneurship is changing—and it speaks fluent Solidity.

The post first appeared on HTX Square.

Popular news

How to Set Up and Use Trust Wallet for Binance Smart Chain
#Bitcoin#Bitcoins#Config+2 more tags

How to Set Up and Use Trust Wallet for Binance Smart Chain

Your Essential Guide To Binance Leveraged Tokens

Your Essential Guide To Binance Leveraged Tokens

How to Sell Your Bitcoin Into Cash on Binance (2021 Update)
#Subscriptions

How to Sell Your Bitcoin Into Cash on Binance (2021 Update)

What is Grid Trading? (A Crypto-Futures Guide)

What is Grid Trading? (A Crypto-Futures Guide)

Start trading with Cryptohopper for free!

Free to use - no credit card required

Let's get started
Cryptohopper appCryptohopper app

Disclaimer: Cryptohopper is not a regulated entity. Cryptocurrency bot trading involves substantial risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. The profits shown in product screenshots are for illustrative purposes and may be exaggerated. Only engage in bot trading if you possess sufficient knowledge or seek guidance from a qualified financial advisor. Under no circumstances shall Cryptohopper accept any liability to any person or entity for (a) any loss or damage, in whole or in part, caused by, arising out of, or in connection with transactions involving our software or (b) any direct, indirect, special, consequential, or incidental damages. Please note that the content available on the Cryptohopper social trading platform is generated by members of the Cryptohopper community and does not constitute advice or recommendations from Cryptohopper or on its behalf. Profits shown on the Markteplace are not indicative of future results. By using Cryptohopper's services, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks involved in cryptocurrency trading and agree to hold Cryptohopper harmless from any liabilities or losses incurred. It is essential to review and understand our Terms of Service and Risk Disclosure Policy before using our software or engaging in any trading activities. Please consult legal and financial professionals for personalized advice based on your specific circumstances.

©2017 - 2025 Copyright by Cryptohopper™ - All rights reserved.