Crypto’s billionaires are making headlines; here’s what they’re buying

Forget charts and tokenomics for a second—crypto billionaires are rewriting the playbook on how wealth gets spent. One launched a $55 million SpaceX mission over the poles. Another made headlines by purchasing the Eurovision trophy at an auction supporting Ukraine. One literally buried $2 million worth of treasures across the U.S., while another casually keeps an orangutan as a pet. And let’s not forget the guy who ate a $5 million banana onstage.These aren’t just flexes—they’re loud, chaotic, and often genius-level PR stunts. And they say more about the culture of crypto than any whitepaper ever could. In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most bizarre, surprising, and fascinating investments made by crypto billionaires—and take a closer look at one of the most elusive parts of their identity—and more importantly, what their spending reveals about the scale of their wealth. One thing’s for sure—we’re all a little curious about how the rich spend their money. Because when crypto billionaires go off-chain, things tend to spiral from spreadsheets into spectacle.To better understand how crypto billionaires behave financially, it’s useful to look at recurring lifestyle patterns that shape their approach to wealth and influence. Many of them fall into a mix of three archetypes: the minimalist, the builder, and the extravagant. Some—like Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin and Polkadot’s Gavin Wood—favor low-profile lives, focusing their fortunes on research, philanthropy, and ecosystem growth rather than luxury. Others, such as Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong or WhiteBIT’s Volodymyr Nosov, are tireless builders who channel their wealth into blockchain infrastructure and public initiatives, while remaining firmly in the public eye and actively shaping their public personas.Yet, crypto’s more flamboyant side is impossible to ignore. From Richard Heart’s flashy wardrobe to Justin Sun’s art-stunt headlines, these figures live boldly and visibly. Even builders like Nosov occasionally step into this world—his purchase of Freddie Mercury’s car suggests a taste for symbolic flair. Ultimately, these personas reflect more than ego; they serve strategic purposes—signaling confidence, reinforcing brand identity, or expressing deeply held values through action. The $2M crypto treasure hunt no one’s solved yetOne of the most mind-bending crypto stunts comes from American millionaire John Collins-Black, who literally turned treasure hunting into an art form. Inspired by Forrest Fenn’s famous buried treasure, Collins-Black, whose estimated net worth allows for multi-million dollar projects like this, hid five chests worth a combined $2 million across the U.S.—and encoded the clues to their locations in a book he authored titled There’s Treasure Inside. Among the buried items? A physical Casascius Bitcoin, a Colombian emerald, a rare 2002 Pokémon Shining Charizard card, and a dessert bowl that once belonged to George Washington. If no one finds them, he says, he’ll release new clues every 8–10 years. Because why just HODL when you can hide your bags like a pirate?The $55 million flex that left earth’s orbitWhat’s the ultimate flex for a crypto millionaire? Apparently, it’s going to space. In March 2025, Chun Wang—co-founder of F2Pool and Stakefish—became the first crypto billionaire to fully fund and board a SpaceX mission that orbited Earth over both poles. The mission, called Fram2, cost Wang an eye-watering $55 million. But that wasn’t just a joyride—Wang and his international crew conducted 22 experiments, including the first X-ray scan of a human body in space and mushroom cultivation in microgravity. According to multiple crypto industry sources, Wang’s net worth is estimated at over $1 billion, largely accumulated through early mining operations and infrastructure investments in the blockchain space.Wang isn’t alone in crypto-space ambitions. Virgin Galactic also accepted Bitcoin payments for spaceflights, with the first crypto-funded seat bought by a Hawaiian investor for $250,000 back in 2013. Galactic gains, indeed.The $5M banana that fed the hype machineJustin Sun took things to the next level—literally eating Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous banana artwork, Comedian, during a live event in a $5 million publicity stunt. Originally sold at Art Basel Miami for $120,000, the banana taped to a wall became an instant meme in the art world. Sun transformed the viral piece into a crypto-infused performance spectacle, claiming that his version involved complex licensing, media production, and PR orchestration—pushing the total price tag north of $5 million. Equal parts absurd and strategic, the stunt cemented his status as one of crypto’s most flamboyant showmen.When your crypto wallet buys you a zooOne of the most outrageous displays of crypto wealth came from Djordje Novakovic, a flamboyant trader who dubbed himself the “James Bond of crypto.” After earning over £30 million through forex, crypto, and NFTs, Novakovic didn’t just splurge on supercars, private jets, and luxury watches—he went as far as keeping a pet orangutan. The exotic primate, reportedly living in his lavish estate, became a symbol of Novakovic’s taste for the eccentric—and it’s not the only exotic pet he has. Djordje also keeps company with a baby tiger. His social media became a catalog of decadence: designer suits, champagne showers, and yes—a literal ape in the background. It wasn’t just about flaunting wealth—it was about crafting a surreal identity where shock value and extravagance became a strategic personal brand.He didn’t go to space, he elevated Eurovision’s market valueThere’s Volodymyr Nosov,Founder and President of WhiteBIT Group, who made headlines by purchasing the Eurovision trophy won by Kalush Orchestra for 500 ETH—nearly $900,000. Yes, we finally know how much a Eurovision trophy is worth in crypto. And Nosov? He seems to be one of those billionaires who prefers music over Mars. With the backing of WhiteBIT—whose reported capitalization of about $38 billion—Nosov has positioned himself among the most financially influential figures in crypto. Beyond Eurovision, he also acquired Freddie Mercury’s classic Rolls-Royce for $11 million and even took a bold step into sports by purchasing a football club—moves that only seem natural when your billionaire status makes just about any headline-making acquisition feel like a power move.So... what’s next?A crypto-funded coliseum where gladiators fight for NFTs? A zoo where each animal is named after a meme coin—meet Shiba the lemur and Doge the capybara? Or maybe a rocket launch that etches a Bitcoin logo on the Moon?Featured image via ShutterstockThe post Crypto’s billionaires are making headlines; here’s what they’re buying appeared first on Finbold.