Binance and OKX Founders Engage in Heated Feud Over Alleged Misconduct
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao is embroiled in a public feud with OKX founder Star Xu over allegations of dishonesty and personal misconduct. The dispute centers around events from 2015, when Zhao worked at OKCoin, the predecessor to OKX.
Xu claims that Zhao misrepresented facts in his recently published prison-penned memoir, citing a video that shows conflicting contract versions from that period. He called Zhao 'a habitual liar' who 'never changes', accusing him of misleading the public about a contract dispute involving early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver.
Zhao denied the allegations in a 2015 Reddit post and detailed problems he observed at OKCoin. However, Xu questioned whether Zhao had misrepresented his marital status, referencing earlier reporting where Zhao's spouse was described as his 'wife' in a letter submitted to a judge. Zhao responded with a $1 billion wager that his divorce had been finalized, giving Xu a 24-hour deadline to accept.
Xu rejected the bet, citing compliance obligations and regulatory standards. He argued that publicly offering a $1 billion bet was 'hardly professional conduct' for the beneficial owner of a regulated company. Zhao dismissed Xu's question about his Binance stake being legally separated as part of any divorce, calling it 'none of your business.'