Rivalry Reignites: $1 Billion Showdown Unfolds Between Binance And OKX Founders
A well-recognized feud in crypto’s higher ranks has flared up once more, this time centered not on buying and selling platforms, however on the founders behind them. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and OKX founder Star Xu (Mingxing Xu) are as soon as extra buying and selling accusations publicly.
Binance And OKX Founders Clash Again
The renewed battle began after Binance’s founder revealed his autobiography, Freedom of Money. In response, Xu posted a sequence of sharp messages on social media platform X, accusing Zhao of spreading “purely false info” and difficult his private {and professional} integrity.
Xu’s feedback additionally disputed claims Zhao included within the e book—notably a narrative involving Huobi founder Li Lin. Zhao’s autobiography says that Li Lin informed him in 2025 that Li had been arrested due to a whistleblower report allegedly tied to Xu.
Xu shortly pushed again, denying that any such report was made and insisting he by no means contacted authorities concerning Li Lin. He argued that whereas individuals file complaints within the crypto trade, these complaints don’t sometimes end in arrests.
The conflict additionally revisited an earlier dispute courting again to 2014 and 2015, when Zhao was a senior government at OKCoin, the corporate that might later develop into OKX. At the middle of that older disagreement was a commercial arrangement involving early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver.
CZ Offers $1 Billion Bet
Xu says OKCoin accused Zhao of fabricating contract variations in a method that launched a six-month termination clause. According to Xu’s posts, the disagreement initially hinged on the accuracy and authenticity of the contract phrases—and the query of whether or not proof had been altered.
Zhao has repeatedly denied these allegations, and in his autobiography, he steered that any proof used towards him may have been manipulated. Xu, nonetheless, claims to have new materials supporting his place.
He reposted what he described as a notarized video, saying it proves contract forgery. Xu additionally referenced the passage of time, stating that contract falsification proof had already been made public on the web 12 years earlier. In his feedback, Xu known as Zhao “a ordinary liar” who “by no means modifications their nature.”
But whereas the OKX founder has been arguing the case intimately on-line, CZ responded in a separate social media submit dismissing the assaults as false claims—at the least initially.
He wrote that he sometimes ignores such accusations, however added, “You can apologize now.” Binance’s former CEO then made a private and authorized provide, saying that he wouldn’t submit any authorized paperwork on-line out of respect for his ex-wife and privateness.
CZ’s submit additionally launched the wager that has caught consideration throughout crypto circles. He stated he can be “pleased to wager $1 billion USD (or any quantity you select)” that he’s formally divorced—“method earlier than in the present day.”
The Binance founder steered that if Xu agrees, attorneys may validate the divorce settlement and known as the method “lifeless easy.” CZ stated the wager provide would stay legitimate completely, “everytime you really feel prepared,” however added that if Xu doesn’t settle for inside 24 hours, it will point out who has misrepresented the general public.
Featured picture from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com