"TRON Founder Sun Entangled in Art Forgery Dispute"

Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, has found himself entangled in a legal dispute over the alleged impersonation and unauthorized sale of a renowned sculpture, "Nose," by his art advisor, Xiong Zihan. Sun acquired the artwork for $78.4 million at the 2021 Sotheby's New York Autumn Auction and later donated it to his blockchain initiative, ApeNFT. However, plans to sell the sculpture fell through when Sun did not permit Zihan to handle the sale.

Sun's legal counsel has stated that Zihan admitted to forging Sun's signature and impersonating a lawyer during the transaction. Reports indicate that Zihan orchestrated a transaction involving art dealers that exchanged the sculpture for two paintings valued at a total of $65.5 million and a cryptocurrency payment of $10.5 million without Sun's consent. Sun has initiated legal action against collector David Geffen to reclaim the artifact, which Geffen presently possesses and has refused to return, labeling Sun's lawsuit as "desperate and ridiculous." Sun has publicly asserted the legitimacy of his claims, mentioning that law enforcement has been informed and necessary legal measures are underway. He suggested that although crime in the art world may not be as straightforward as in digital assets, there are hopes for a successful recovery of the sculpture.