The Beijing Internet Court recently handed a victory to TRON founder Justin Sun in a defamation case against Beijing SINA Internet Information Service Co. Ltd, the operator of finance.sina.com. The court’s ruling on December 31, 2024, marked the end of a six-year legal battle that began in response to false allegations made against Sun in articles published between 2017 and 2022.
The lawsuit was initiated by Sun to combat the spread of misinformation that portrayed him in a negative light within the cryptocurrency community. The court found that Sina had published articles accusing Sun of insider trading and being under investigation by the IRS and FBI without verifying the accuracy of the claims.
In his response to the court’s decision, Sun referenced a Chinese fable about perseverance, stating, “Everyone’s prejudices are like a towering mountain, and it takes the ‘foolish old man moves mountains’ spirit to break them down.” The court ordered Sina to remove all infringing content, issue a public apology on their platform for 72 hours, and pay damages totaling over 30,000 RMB for emotional distress and related fees.
Sun highlighted the importance of the court’s ruling in debunking false rumors that had circulated online for years. He also mentioned that the resolution of this case may help to rebuild his reputation and strengthen TRON’s institutional credibility at a crucial time for blockchain adoption.
This legal victory comes amidst ongoing regulatory developments for Sun and TRON, with Sun indicating progress in compliance efforts with the SEC. The resolution of this case, along with a previous defamation suit won against Chongqing Business Media Group, serves to refute baseless allegations and clear Sun’s name in the public eye.
For the TRON DAO and its ecosystem, the court’s decision sets a precedent that may deter similar reporting practices against blockchain organizations. The outcome of the case removes a source of reputational strain for Sun and TRON, allowing them to focus on their mission of advancing blockchain technology.
Overall, the resolution of this defamation case represents a significant milestone for Sun and TRON, reaffirming their commitment to transparency and accountability in the cryptocurrency industry.