OKX founder Star Xu has pushed back against Changpeng Zhao’s claim that jealousy is behind their public clash, saying the dispute comes from much older issues. In a post on X, Xu said he does not envy Zhao or Binance. He said he is ashamed of Zhao’s conduct and pointed to the Binance founder’s past legal troubles, compliance problems, and market controversies.
The response came after Zhao suggested in a recent interview that Xu’s repeated criticism of Binance reflected personal resentment rather than real concern. Xu rejected that framing. He said the core of their disagreement predates Binance’s rise into the largest crypto exchange in the world, and argued that the latest exchange of accusations should be seen as a continuation of unresolved tensions rather than a fresh conflict.
Xu links the feud to Zhao’s earlier OKCoin involvement
Xu said the roots of the dispute go back to Zhao’s earlier role at OKCoin. In his view, several incidents from that period were never properly addressed, and that left lasting friction between the two exchange founders. He presented the current argument as an old dispute returning to public view, not a new one.
Xu also challenged claims made in Zhao’s recently published book. He said Zhao mentioned him several times while describing events in ways that did not accurately reflect what happened. Xu argued that those passages created a false account of their professional relationship. He added that he has no interest in revisiting the past for personal reasons, but is willing to discuss the matter publicly if needed to correct what he sees as inaccurate statements.
Binance’s European licensing setback brought the fight back into focus
The dispute has drawn renewed attention after Binance’s recent regulatory setback in Europe. According to the report, Binance failed to obtain a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation license, which put fresh attention on Xu’s criticism of the exchange’s operating standards. Xu said his concerns go beyond that single episode and relate to Binance’s broader historical conduct and compliance record.
As both founders continue to defend their positions through interviews and social media, the clash has again become a talking point across the crypto industry. Community debate has centered on what originally damaged the relationship between the two men, and the latest statements have added fresh friction to a rivalry that has resurfaced repeatedly over the years.