Controversy, ambition, and achievement: Justin Sun's 35-year-old crypto journey

Justin Sun, founder of TRON and key figure in the crypto industry, celebrated his 35th birthday, reflecting on his journey from a blockchain advocate to leading a crypto empire.
TRON's Milestone: TRON Inc. went public, marking a historic moment as its native token TRX became a strategic reserve asset for Nasdaq-listed companies.
Mars Project: Huobi HTX unveiled its space-focused "Mars Project," with Sun set to join Blue Origin's NS-34 spaceflight, linking crypto and space exploration.
DAO Governance: HTX DAO fully upgraded its governance, enabling community-driven token listings and advancing the "People's Exchange" vision.
Controversy & Ambition: Despite criticism, Sun's ventures—from surviving China's 2017 crypto ban to Nasdaq—highlight resilience and long-term strategic planning.
Future Outlook: At 35, Sun remains a polarizing yet pivotal figure, pushing boundaries in crypto, space, and decentralized governance.

In this world, some people are often equated with "high profile," but you have to admit they're ahead of the curve. On July 30th, Justin Sun celebrated his 35th birthday. From the young man in a suit, who declared in front of a television camera, "Let blockchain change the world," to the man who now helms a vast crypto empire, including TRON and Huobi HTX, Justin Sun remains one of the most talked-about and symbolic figures in the industry. On his 35th birthday, Justin Sun fondly reflected on the hardships of recent years on X. He wrote, "Ten thousand years is too long; now we're fighting for a thousand days. The world is eager to hear stories of young and promising people. Not everyone is Yamal, but fortunately, they debuted early, persevered, weathered the vicissitudes of life, and now, as they reach middle age and take on the responsibility of leading the way, people can't help but wonder, 'How can Pulisic only be twenty-seven? There's a World Cup next year.'" "How can he only be thirty-five? Good things are worth waiting for, and goals always come in the second half. Now it's your turn." And on this birthday, his "three arrows" are being launched: ●TRON. Inc. goes public, reshaping a new round of value capture logic; ●Huobi HTX launches its "Mars Project," laying out the narrative of future space technology; ● HTX's DAO governance has been fully upgraded, and the "People's Exchange" has become a reality. What may seem accidental, is actually a long-term plan; every move conceals a grand vision. Controversy, ambition, and achievement: Justin Sun's 35-year journey through cryptocurrencies. From "94" to "Nasdaq": A counterattack from the cryptocurrency world to Wall Street. Many people don't know that TRON's origins actually came at an extremely difficult time. In September 2017, China's "94 Ban" came to a head, halting the complete IOC operation. Sun Yuchen, who had just launched the Tron project at the time, was hit by a double whammy of both a crypto winter and a swirl of public opinion. Many projects vanished at the time, but he chose to "pack up and leave." Eight years later, in July 2025, TRON not only became the underlying blockchain for mainstream stablecoins, but its native token, TRX, was also included in the financial reporting system of Nasdaq-listed companies as a core strategic reserve asset, marking a significant breakthrough in the traditional financial market. This historic moment felt like a belated reckoning. Justin Sun stood at the bell ringing podium, without shouting slogans or hyping up new concepts. He declared, "This is not only a major step forward for TRON Inc., but also a significant moment for the entire blockchain industry." His words were spoken softly, yet they marked the beginning of an era.

●Learn More: TRON's Seven-Year Journey: From Controversial ICO to Nasdaq's Opening Bell

Four-Year Space Promise: Sending Crypto's Narrative into Space

In Justin Sun's vision, crypto and space exploration converge on the same movement to upgrade human civilization. Their core commonalities lie in decentralization, breaking boundaries, and reconstructing order.

Based on this logic, three clear directions for future convergence are gradually emerging:

1. Space resources and blockchain assets share many similar characteristics.

Whether it's lunar land, Martian minerals, or geosynchronous orbital locations, on-chain ownership confirmation and tokenization are the core means to commercialization.

2. Web3 communities may become the original shareholders and collaborative units of space exploration. Unlike the old model dominated by national governments, future space projects may be initiated by DAOs, crowdfunded by global communities, and jointly governed by on-chain governance.

3. Blockchain*Space Data: Creating a Trusted Universe-Level Information Carrier: Blockchain can serve as a trusted record carrier for data from space stations, satellite networks, and other sources, preventing tampering.

Justin Sun isn't just flying into space; he's also pushing the Web3 narrative to new frontiers.