Treasure hunts, art and space: the bold face of crypto’s new elite

John Collins-Black, an early Bitcoin investor, launched a $2 million treasure hunt, hiding five chests across the United States. These contain rare items, including a physical Bitcoin, collectible books, gold, and precious stones.

Justin Sun, founder of TRON, stood out with spectacular acquisitions. In 2024, he spent over $100 million on artworks, including pieces by Giacometti, Picasso, and Warhol. Some of them have been digitized through APENFT and showcased in the metaverse.

Chun Wang, co-founder of F2Pool, one of the world’s largest mining pools, funded a private SpaceX mission in 2025, marking the first orbital flight fully financed by crypto capital.

Djordje Novakovic, entrepreneur and trader, built a flamboyant public image tied to supercars, exotic animals, and multimillion-dollar businesses.

Ed Craven and Bijan Tehrani, founders of Stake.com, developed one of the largest crypto gambling platforms, expanding into real estate and media.

These stories highlight the rise of a new financial elite expressing its influence outside traditional structures. Where Wall Street once built skyscrapers, crypto wealth now finances space missions, viral collections, and headline-grabbing projects.