TL;DR: Enigmatic Tron founder Justin Sun reportedly bid more than $4.5 million in a charity auction to have lunch with one of the world’s most successful investors, Warren Buffett. According to cryptocurrency exchange Binance’s CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), Sun offered to have CZ along at the meal. CZ very politely refused, suggesting others go in his stead.

Binance CEO Won’t Be Dining With Warren Buffett and Justin Sun

“I officially announce I’ve won the record-setting 20th-anniversary charity lunch hosted by @WarrenBuffett,” Sun posted on his personal Twitter account recently. “I’ll also invite #blockchain industry leaders to meet with a titan of investment. I hope this benefits everyone.” Evidently one of those industry leaders was CZ.

Justin Sun “kindly invited me to go,” CZ explained publicly, “but I can’t make it. Too far. I guess that’s like turning down $1,000,000, assuming 5 guys going, lol… But very much appreciated.” He then recommended a well-known American podcaster go in his place. CZ also referenced Buffett’s recent comments about Bitcoin, adding, “I guess Buffett will be eating a lunch funded by ‘rat poison’ after all, lol,” he joked. “Further, what if crypto entrepreneurs buy him lunch for the next 10 years? $50m at net present value, a decent sized ICO, lol… Well, careful what you wish for,” CZ stressed.

As a traditional value investor, Buffett has largely shied from technology-related investments, notoriously missing both the so-called Dot Com runup and hysteria, where he was routinely called a Luddite, … only then to be once again hailed sage-like when the burgeoning tech market came crashing down not long after. With regard to cryptocurrencies, Buffett hasn’t had a kind thing to say since first learning of their ascendancy a few years back, and is thus at least part of the reason Sun financially lobbied so hard to get a chance at good-old proselytization in the flesh.

“It’s good to be famous,” CZ continued, “people pay millions of dollars to educate you. Lastly, very smart move for @justinsuntron, now the whole traditional financial industry has eyes on #crypto (and $TRX of course). Who is this #crypto kid? Kudos for pushing adoption, Justin!” The overall cryptocurrency community, if it can be gauged, has been vocally negative about Sun’s latest marketing tactic, but since the story consumed mainstream financial press others have come around to CZ’s way of thinking, if begrudgingly.

DISCLOSURE: The author holds cryptocurrency as part of his financial portfolio, including BCH.

CONTINUE THE SPICE and check out our piping hot VIDEOS. Our podcast, The CoinSpice Podcast, has amazing guests. Follow CoinSpice on Twitter. Join our Telegram feed to make sure you never miss a post. Drop some BCH at the merch shop — we’ve got some spicy shirts for men and women. Don’t forget to help spread the word about CoinSpice on social media.