What is the feud between Changpeng Zhao and Star Xu about?

The dispute centres on long-standing allegations involving contract forgery, internal conflicts, and early crypto exchange rivalries. CZ’s memoir revisits these claims, while Star Xu denies them and calls CZ’s account inaccurate. The feud reflects deeper tensions from the early days of major exchanges like Binance and OKX.

What did CZ claim in his memoir “Freedom of Money”?

CZ claims that rivals attempted to undermine him through coordinated “FUD” campaigns and disputes a past contract issue at OKX Coin. He also suggests internal conflicts and external pressure shaped his early career. The book presents his version of events rather than a verified investigation.

How did OKX founder Star Xu respond to CZ’s claims?

Star Xu strongly rejected the memoir’s claims and publicly called CZ “a habitual liar.” He disputed allegations about contract forgery, past disputes, and other personal claims. Xu relied on previously released materials to support his position.

What is the contract forgery allegation involving Roger Ver?

The dispute relates to a 2014 agreement where OKCoin previously alleged CZ altered contract terms and forged a signature. CZ has denied these accusations. This issue remains unresolved and is a key point of contention between both sides.

Why is the 2020 OKX withdrawal halt being discussed again?

CZ’s memoir references a 2020 incident when OKX paused withdrawals for weeks while Xu was reportedly under “soft detention.” He contrasts this with Huobi, which did not halt withdrawals during a similar situation. The comparison questions operational resilience and custody practices.

Does this feud affect Binance or OKX users directly?

There is no immediate operational impact on users from this dispute. However, it may influence public perception of leadership and trust in both platforms. For traders, it is more reputational than fundamental in the short term.

Is there new evidence presented in this dispute?

No major new evidence has been introduced in the latest exchange of claims. Xu has largely referenced older materials, including past statements and notarised records. This suggests the feud is more about narrative than new facts.

How does this reflect broader competition in crypto exchanges?

The dispute highlights how competitive and contentious the early crypto exchange landscape was. Rivalries between major players like Binance and OKX often involved both business and personal conflicts. These tensions still shape industry narratives today.

CZ memoir reignites OKX feud with Star Xu

Written by Brie CarterPublished Apr. 9 2026

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s newly released memoir has reignited a long-running dispute with OKX founder Star Xu, reviving allegations tied to contract forgery and past exchange controversies.

In “Freedom of Money,” CZ recounts a disputed contract episode at OKX Coin and claims rival exchanges attempted to undermine him through coordinated negative campaigns during his early career.

Xu rejected the claims and publicly criticised CZ, calling him “a habitual liar” while disputing multiple assertions in the book, including allegations related to forged agreements and historical events.

The dispute revisits a 2014 contract involving Roger Ver, with prior OKCoin materials alleging CZ altered agreement terms and forged signatures, claims he previously denied.

It also references a 2020 incident when OKX, then operating as OKEx, halted withdrawals for several weeks while Xu was reportedly under soft detention, a situation CZ contrasted with Huobi’s handling of a similar case.

Xu has pushed back on the memoir’s narrative, arguing it misrepresents events including internal disputes, market conduct allegations, and claims involving figures such as Justin Sun.

A spokesperson for CZ said the book reflects his personal perspective rather than a definitive investigation, adding that readers should interpret the account independently.