Crypto might be a serious business for many, but every once in a while, the industry gives us moments that are equal parts absurd and entertaining. From outrageous stunts to government departments named after memes, the world of cryptocurrency did not disappoint in delivering its share of laughs this year.
Here’s a roundup of the 6 funniest and most bizarre crypto stories of 2024 that had us all either laughing, facepalming, or both.
1. A $6.2 Million Banana, Courtesy of Justin Sun
When does a banana stop being just a banana? Apparently, when it’s duct-taped to a wall and declared a piece of “artwork.” That’s exactly what happened at an exhibition in Miami a few years ago, but crypto mogul Justin Sun took things to the next level in 2024.
Sotheby’s auctioned off this infamous banana ‘art,’ projecting it could fetch somewhere around $1.5 million—a ridiculous price by any means. But, in true Justin Sun fashion, the TRON founder decided to outdo expectations, shelling out a jaw-dropping $6.2 million.
We thought the story was over until Sun turned his extravagant purchase into a snack a few months later. Yes, Sun ate the world’s most expensive banana at a luxury hotel in Hong Kong. When asked about the taste, his review? “It’s really quite good.”
Millions of bewildered crypto enthusiasts couldn’t decide what was more astonishing—the audacity of the purchase or the casual way Sun devoured it.
2. The Tap-to-Earn Craze of Hamster Kombat
How much would you tap your screen for free tokens? For players of Hamster Kombat, the answer seemed to be “until our thumbs are sore.” This Telegram game exploded in 2024, promising rewards for tapping furiously every day.
The game attracted an astounding 300 million users, mainly through the lure of a future token airdrop. The frenzy even caused sales of massage guns in Russia to skyrocket as exhausted players tried to recover from non-stop tapping marathons.
But when the airdrop arrived, disappointment wasn’t far behind. One Reddit user summed it up perfectly, saying, “After grinding for what felt forever, I got €13.80 for my efforts. Seriously, what a waste!”
By the end of the year, the hype had fizzled out, with Hamster Kombat’s user base dropping more than 80%. Some were left wondering which was shorter—the lifespan of their interest, or the average hamster’s.
3. DOGE’s Unexpected Glow-Up
From a joke cryptocurrency to a government department? Yes, the rise of DOGE took an altogether unexpected turn in 2024.
This year marked the creation of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), spearheaded by none other than Donald Trump and Elon Musk as part of Musk’s initiative to reimagine federal spending. While it has nothing to do with the actual cryptocurrency, the acronym was enough to send DOGE memes surging to the top of Elon’s Twitter feed once again.
While some laughed at the odd pairing of Trump and Musk leading a department with such an ambitious goal, others questioned whether DOGE—the meme and the department—would thrive or fizzle out just like the original hype train in 2021.
4. The Teenage Rug Puller
Cryptocurrency has its fair share of scams, but none are quite as audacious as this one. Late in 2024, a teenage trader launched a token called QUANT on pump.fun, a platform that lets users easily mint and trade meme coins. The twist? He live-streamed his rug pull for all to see, flipping off viewers while exclaiming, “Holy [expletive], thanks for the 20 bandos.”
The teen made around $50,000 before the token crashed, but the crypto community decided to teach him a good old-fashioned karmic lesson. QUANT reached such unexpected trading volumes that, had the teen held onto his tokens, his portfolio would have been worth $4 million.
Still, the story is an amusing reminder that crypto remains as wild as the Wild West, where even a teenager can make—or lose—a fortune.
5. The Satoshi Nakamoto Documentary That Foolishly Tried
October brought us Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery, an HBO documentary with one bold claim—it would finally unmask Bitcoin’s elusive creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. But as the credits rolled, viewers were less convinced and more amused.
The documentary pinned the title onto Peter Todd, a crypto expert who immediately denied the allegation, calling the evidence against him “fragile.” Criticism poured in, not just from Todd but from the wider crypto community, who accused the filmmakers of presenting flimsy theories under the guise of groundbreaking revelations.
While the film inspired some witty memes, it also left Bitcoiners saying, “Nice try, but better luck next time.”
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6. Microsoft’s Firm “No” to Bitcoin
One would think that by 2024, Bitcoin’s influence would have swayed more industry giants. But Microsoft made its stance clear this year when its shareholders rejected Bitcoin as a treasury asset in an almost comical landslide vote.
Despite Bitcoin evangelist Michael Saylor presenting a sleek, persuasive pitch, 99.45% of the votes—equivalent to over 5 billion—opted against Microsoft diversifying into BTC. Only a mere 0.55% showed any interest.
While the blow was undoubtedly a tough one for Bitcoin advocates, it became an amusing takeaway in the crypto world that even Bitcoin’s biggest fans couldn’t win over Big Tech this time.
Laughing Through 2024’s Crypto Chaos
Cryptocurrency may revolutionize finance as we know it, but the industry never fails to deliver its quirky, eyebrow-raising moments. Whether it’s a $6 million snack, hamster-tapping games, or DOGE entering the U.S. government, these stories remind us that sometimes, crypto is just plain fun.
If 2024 taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected. Here’s to more laughs in 2025—because no matter where crypto goes, one thing’s for sure, it’ll never be boring.