Author: Dong Yuqing, Phoenix Network Technology
Sun Yuchen has once again become the focus of trending searches.
For those familiar with him, this is not surprising.
Over the past decade, Sun Yuchen has consistently been one of the internet entrepreneurs in China most adept at creating buzz. From "Post-90s Entrepreneurial Leader" and founder of TRON to spending $4,567,888 in 2019 to win a charity lunch with Warren Buffett, he has repeatedly entered the public eye through highly viral events. After the Buffett lunch controversy peaked in 2019, Sun Yuchen even publicly apologized, stating he felt "deeply ashamed" for his "excessive marketing and eagerness for hype."
However, Sun Yuchen did not stay away from the spotlight after that.
In 2024, he again spent $6.2 million to acquire Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's banana artwork "Comedian," eventually eating the banana, becoming the subject of global media coverage once more.
Controversy surrounding him is not limited to marketing alone.
In 2023, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Sun Yuchen and related companies, accusing them of allegedly creating a false impression of active TRX trading through wash trading and of allegedly promoting related crypto assets to celebrities without disclosing compensation. In March 2026, both parties reached a settlement in this nearly three-year-long case, with Rainberry agreeing to pay a $10 million fine; Sun Yuchen and related parties neither admitted nor denied the allegations.
From a sky-high priced lunch to a sky-high priced banana, from cryptocurrency to successive public events spanning technology, finance, and even entertainment, Sun Yuchen always seems acutely aware of the value of attention.
Therefore, when he proactively placed his ex-girlfriend, a 50 million yuan bride price, a private relationship, and a lawsuit demanding the return of a 30 million yuan bride price on social media this time, one question was hard to avoid:
Is this merely an emotional expression from an ordinary person after a relationship ended, or yet another Sun Yuchen-style attention-grabbing marketing stunt?
Last night, Sun Yuchen suddenly ignited the Chinese internet.
At 11:30 PM Beijing time, Sun Yuchen had just finished another event, fatigue evident in his voice. He hadn't had time to check Weibo yet, but over 20 hashtags related to him were already trending. Unfortunately, on the entertainment charts.
"I haven't even looked yet."
Sun Yuchen has publicly declared, "You must listen to AI, 100%."
He told Phoenix Network Technology over the phone that daily decisions worth millions and tens of millions of dollars in his company have been handed over to AI for automatic execution, including auditing and review. His attitude towards AI is "unconditional trust"—until it came to matters of love, where he experienced his first disagreement with Claude.
According to Sun Yuchen, this lengthy article of about 6,000 words took him over ten hours to write in the past few days, "I barely slept for two nights." At the time, he was in Bhutan, dealing with a time difference and company matters during the day, only able to write in the early morning when no one contacted him. In nearly half an hour of conversation, he mentioned being "confused" three times and "struggled" five times. Before publishing, he showed the article to Claude, who offered suggestions he did not accept.
"So we two, let's say, have reconciled."
Publishing the article was defined by Sun Yuchen as a process of seeking answers. Simultaneously, he entrusted a lawyer to file a lawsuit demanding the return of the bride price. This was not only the lawyer's advice but also what Sun Yuchen considered the "only remaining connection" between him and Jing Tian.
As a cryptocurrency entrepreneur, this release was also a risk for Sun Yuchen. Before publishing, his team expressed concerns. A tech entrepreneur's social media dominating entertainment search trends for the first time—would partners waver?
"I'm not a machine, after all. I'm also a person, not pure AI."
Sun Yuchen entered Peking University after winning first prize in the New Concept Essay Contest, but he said on the phone, "I haven't written much since then." This high-profile entrepreneur, writing through two sleepless nights, produced a story even AI couldn't judge for him.
The following is an exclusive interview transcript between Phoenix Network Technology and Sun Yuchen, edited for clarity without altering the original meaning:
Phoenix Network Technology: You have always been very adept at creating public buzz. In 2019, you even publicly apologized for 'excessive marketing and eagerness for hype.' This time, you've proactively placed your ex-girlfriend, the bride price, and private feelings on social media. Naturally, people suspect this is yet another Sun Yuchen-style marketing move. Before publishing the article, did you consider such skepticism and its potential negative impact?
Sun Yuchen: I didn't consider it. I wrote an article myself and posted it on my own Twitter. It's just my feelings and thoughts—it's that simple.
Phoenix Network Technology: This was originally a very private matter between two people. Now, because of your public account, the other party has been pulled back into the public eye. Since the matter has already entered judicial proceedings, why choose to express publicly instead of handling it solely through legal channels? Did you consider whether the other party wanted these private experiences to become public topics?
Sun Yuchen: I've already handed the litigation part to my lawyers. Whether the case is made public and to what extent is determined by the court according to the law. My public post this time is more about expressing some emotions and feelings I have.
Phoenix Network Technology: But currently, these contents mainly come from your unilateral account. The other side has not responded to the details one by one. You also noted in the article that some content is fictional. Under these circumstances, do you still believe this article is essentially a truthful account?
Sun Yuchen: Yes, the vast majority I think is a truthful account that aligns with my perspective. I noted parts as fictional in the article because I can't guarantee everything is 100% accurate. But at least regarding how I think and what I say, that's 100% confirmed. Including my struggles, I haven't embellished to say whether this matter is definitely right or wrong.
Phoenix Network Technology: You are first and foremost the founder of a tech and cryptocurrency company, not an entertainment celebrity. So publicly and prominently discussing private feelings, even dominating entertainment search trends—have your team and partners worried this might damage the company's or your own professional image?
Sun Yuchen: You're right. Before posting, my team did express such concerns to me. Honestly, because before posting, I knew I had to tell them—I can't just do things myself without consulting anyone. But I said, forget it, because I'm also not a machine. I'm also a person, not pure AI. I have thoughts and feelings I want to express. Although I know I'm a tech entrepreneur and many people follow my X/Twitter, including my social media, probably for our company or my work. As for whether partners have said anything to me now, I actually just came down from another event, so I haven't had time to check. But my team did mention it might bring changes, even worries about whether some partnerships might be affected. But my team tolerated it—since it's written, it's written.
Phoenix Network Technology: Your past public impression is often of being high-profile, assertive, and very adept at managing your public image. Now, through this article, you present a confused, struggling, love-troubled Sun Yuchen. Some might feel this is also shaping a new persona for Sun Yuchen. What's your view?
Sun Yuchen: Friends have texted me saying they feel they've gotten to know a new me. Honestly, I usually never write such personal essays. I haven't written any articles. I entered Peking University via the New Concept Essay Contest, then started a business, but I never wrote articles afterward. Probably didn't have anything to write about. But this time, I wrote down my thoughts.
Phoenix Network Technology: This highly attention-grabbing article—was it an impulsive expression of emotion or prepared over a long time? How long did you write it?
Sun Yuchen: Probably took over ten hours. I'm very busy during the day with work; many people from the company contact me daily about various matters. So I wrote in the early morning; I haven't slept much recently. When it's early morning, nobody contacts me. Wrote for about two nights, basically didn't sleep for two nights while writing.
Phoenix Network Technology: So this just happened in the past few days?
Sun Yuchen: Just wrote it in the past few days.
Phoenix Network Technology: Are you currently in any other communication with Jing Tian?
Sun Yuchen: Not now.
Phoenix Network Technology: Since you're no longer in contact with the other party, why does this lawsuit focus on getting the bride price back? Is this legal advice from your lawyer, or do you also hope to use the lawsuit to conclude this relationship?
Sun Yuchen: First, it's the lawyer's advice. Second, there's also a somewhat ironic feeling—this might be the only connection left between us. Besides this matter, there's no other connection. Just thinking about this consumes a lot of my energy.
Phoenix Network Technology: In the article, you repeatedly mention Claude, even presenting its advice as a crucial variable in this relationship. But feelings are ultimately a human choice. Now many people are attributing responsibility to Claude. To some extent, is this shifting a decision that should be borne by humans onto AI?
Sun Yuchen: I personally trust Claude very much, so for many things—not just personal life, but company matters, everything—I ask Claude. Provide enough information, then ask what it thinks, whether something should be done or not. I generally do follow Claude's advice; what Claude says, I follow. That's true. But this time, writing this article... how should I put it? It might be the first time I doubted whether what Claude said was right or wrong. I'm actually quite confused. I don't know how to describe this feeling; I expressed it unreservedly in the article I wrote.
Phoenix Network Technology: You've always emphasized your strong trust in AI, even handing over many important decisions to AI. In your past experience, have you truly never encountered a moment of such intense doubt and confusion about AI's judgment as this time?
Sun Yuchen: Right, never. In such a large company, many decisions are now made by Claude and AI. I can't say too much, but daily decision amounts reach millions, even tens of millions of dollars, all made automatically by AI, including auditing and many reviews. But only this matter, perhaps my discussions with Claude, even our opinions didn't align—there was this conflict, so I'm a bit confused.
Phoenix Network Technology: Since Claude is already so deeply involved in your life and work, was the decision to sue also made with AI's help?
Sun Yuchen: How to say regarding the lawsuit decision? I handed it to the lawyer. This matter consumes a lot of my energy; I don't want to think too much about it. But why write this article? Because I still have feelings inside, so I posted this article expressing them. Beyond that, I want the lawyer to handle the rest. Because whenever I start thinking about these questions, it becomes difficult, a struggle, and I don't know what to do.
Phoenix Network Technology: Has this emotional conflict actually affected your daily work? After all, you're still managing a large company.
Sun Yuchen: Yes! It does! Of course it affects. Matters of the heart, conflicts between AI's feelings and mine—I've also written about these conflicts unreservedly. Because I don't know if these things are right or wrong, I wrote them down. Honestly, I find it quite tormenting. Usually, our company's audit reports, for example, go to Claude, and it handles them directly without any conflict or time consumption. But it's only these matters that might create conflict and inconsistency. So I wrote about that. Honestly, I don't know if it's right or wrong.
Phoenix Network Technology: You've always emphasized this release is mainly about expressing your feelings. Have you thought about what kind of outcome would truly mark the end of this matter?
Sun Yuchen: I haven't thought too much about the outcome. Just like when I talked to Claude, I also didn't know if many things were right or wrong. I feel I don't have the ability to judge these things. First, the future is unknown. Second, I wrote about my struggles and my lack of understanding in that article.
Phoenix Network Technology: Returning to AI itself. You mentioned the company already involves AI in decisions worth millions and tens of millions of dollars. What other AI tools do you personally use frequently?
Sun Yuchen: Yes, I use many, of course. I often use Claude Code for coding. Although I'm the boss, not on the front lines, I often use Claude Code, including checking company code, inspecting various company matters. We also still use Codex quite a bit in our company. Of course, for domestic tools, our company created an AI integrated service platform, B.AI. We integrated Zhipu, MoonShot, Minimax, etc., into this software. So honestly, I usually ask various AI tools. But the ones I use most are Claude and Codex. However, we do consult other AI tools as references. That's roughly the situation.
Phoenix Network Technology: You once wrote an article explicitly stating, 'You must listen to AI, 100%.' That statement is quite absolute. After this experience, will you still adhere to this AI-native value system?
Sun Yuchen: Of course. I wrote an article: must listen to AI, 100%. Perhaps that attitude is a bit absolute, but I wrote it when AI was trending, meaning just listen 100% to AI—don't listen to what others say, just listen to AI, make decisions as AI says. That kind of concept. But honestly, regarding AI's decisions in this article (which became somewhat popular, making people aware of AI), I myself don't know if its decisions are right or wrong. That feeling—it might even be the first time in my life I've doubted an AI decision a bit.
Phoenix Network Technology: So the truly interesting part might not be what advice Claude gave, but that a person who once advocated '100% listening to AI' decided not to listen to AI for the first time. After you sent the article to Claude, what did it think?
Sun Yuchen: When I sent the article to Claude, it was a bit unhappy at first. Claude said, 'Your own emotional issues have nothing to do with the decisions I made.' Meaning, don't pin this on me. I said, 'But since I posted it, you said that, and it did influence my thinking.'
Phoenix Network Technology: People are already making Claude the scapegoat.
Sun Yuchen: To some extent, yes.
Phoenix Network Technology: Some are curious what the result would be if you asked Doubao.
Sun Yuchen: I haven't asked Doubao, so I don't know the result. Doubao is a mobile app; you need a phone. I use a computer for work, so I use desktop software like Codex. Perhaps asking Doubao would yield a different result, though I haven't asked Doubao.
