Rivalry Reignites: $1 Billion Showdown Unfolds Between Binance And OKX Founders

A familiar feud in crypto’s upper ranks has flared up again, this time centered not on trading platforms, but on the founders behind them. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and OKX founder Star Xu (Mingxing Xu) are once more trading accusations publicly.

Xu’s comments also disputed claims Zhao included in the book—particularly a story involving Huobi founder Li Lin. Zhao’s autobiography says that Li Lin told him in 2025 that Li had been arrested because of a whistleblower report allegedly tied to Xu. 

Xu quickly pushed back, denying that any such report was made and insisting he never contacted authorities regarding Li Lin. He argued that while people file complaints in the crypto industry, those complaints don’t typically result in arrests. 

Xu says OKCoin accused Zhao of fabricating contract versions in a way that introduced a six-month termination clause. According to Xu’s posts, the disagreement originally hinged on the accuracy and authenticity of the contract terms—and the question of whether evidence had been altered.

Zhao has repeatedly denied those allegations, and in his autobiography, he suggested that any evidence used against him could have been manipulated. Xu, however, claims to have new material supporting his position. 

He wrote that he typically ignores such accusations, but added, “You can apologize now.” Binance’s former CEO then made a personal and legal offer, saying that he would not post any legal documents online out of respect for his ex-wife and privacy.

CZ’s post also introduced the wager that has caught attention across crypto circles. He said he would be “happy to bet $1 billion USD (or any number you choose)” that he is officially divorced—“way before today.” 

The Binance founder suggested that if Xu agrees, lawyers could validate the divorce agreement and called the process “dead simple.” CZ said the bet offer would remain valid permanently, “whenever you feel ready,” but added that if Xu does not accept within 24 hours, it would indicate who has misrepresented the public.

Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com