Crypto Drama Alert: CZ’s Book Spills the Tea on China’s Crypto Feud!

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Oh, darling, grab your popcorn! Binance’s Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has dropped a 457-page memoir, “Freedom of Money,” and it’s messier than a Bridget Jones diary entry after a bottle of Chardonnay. Naturally, it’s reignited the crypto world’s ugliest feud with OKX’s Star Xu. Pass the tissues, this is going to get emotional.

Apparently, CZ’s book isn’t just about his rags-to-riches tale from rural China to crypto kingpin. No, no, no. It’s a full-on exposé, dragging in fellow crypto titans like Huobi’s Li Lin and Tron’s Justin Sun. Because nothing says “freedom of money” like airing dirty laundry in public, right?

The Roots of a Decade-Old Rivalry (Or: When Crypto Bros Break Up)

Back in 2014, CZ was the CTO of OKCoin (OKX’s predecessor), but his tenure was shorter than a Kardashian marriage. He claims he left in 2015 after Star Xu tried to renegotiate his 10% equity stake. Because, you know, nothing says “friendship” like haggling over percentages.

The breakup was chef’s kiss dramatic. A contract dispute erupted over the Bitcoin.com domain, involving early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver. Two contracts, one forged signature, and a whole lot of “he said, he said.” Roger even tweeted cryptographic proof of the forgery, because nothing screams professionalism like a public Twitter meltdown.

I have cryptographic proof of @OKCoinBTC forging my signature onto a fake contract, and then trying to present it as the truth. More soon…

– Roger Ver (@rogerkver) May 23, 2015

CZ accused OKCoin of inflating trade volumes with bots (shocking, I know), while Xu called CZ a deceitful liar. The feud eventually fizzled out, but clearly, neither forgot. Because crypto bros hold grudges longer than I hold onto that one pair of jeans that no longer fits.

From Old Grudges to New Allegations (Or: The Never-Ending Drama)

Fast forward to 2020, and CZ’s book revisits China’s crypto crackdown. OKCoin suspended withdrawals, Star Xu was placed under “soft detention” (aka crypto house arrest), and Huobi’s Li Lin got the same treatment a few weeks later. Because nothing bonds crypto founders like a shared experience of being detained by the Chinese police.

(1/5)📢It has been 15 days since @OKEx announced the withdrawal suspension on October 16.

This incident has escalated from a decision of a single trading platform to the turmoil of the entire industry, and may even affect the industry’s future direction.

– H.E. Justin Sun 👨‍🚀 🌞 (@justinsuntron) October 31, 2020

Li Lin eventually sold Huobi to Justin Sun for a cool $1 billion, but the deal turned sour (surprise, surprise). Sun accused Li of hiding a $30 million shortfall, and Li sued over trademark rights. Sun rebranded the exchange as HTX, because nothing says “fresh start” like a new name and a lawsuit.

But the juiciest bit? CZ claims that at a 2025 dinner (yes, future-dinner), Li Lin told him Star Xu personally reported him to the Chinese police, leading to his arrest. Drama. Queen. Energy.

“Five years later, at a dinner in 2025, I met Li Lin again after 11 years. Li Lin told me that he had seen a screenshot showing Xu Mingxing personally reporting him to the Chinese police, and it was this report that led to his arrest.”

Star Xu Hits Back (Or: The Clapback Heard ‘Round the Crypto World)

Xu was not having it. He called CZ’s snitching allegation “absurd” and shaded him for his four-month stint in prison (thanks to that little anti-money laundering violation in 2023). “A habitual liar never changes their nature,” he quipped. Ouch. That’s gotta sting more than a bad trade.

“After spending four months in prison, he continues to make false statements to the world. All I can say is: a habitual liar never changes their nature,” he stated.

Xu even dug up old evidence from the 2014 contract dispute, including a YouTube video and QQ chat logs. Because nothing says “I’m over it” like revisiting a decade-old feud with receipts.

He also accused CZ of lying about his time at OKCoin, the Roger Ver dispute, market manipulation, and even his marital status. Because clearly, no crypto feud is complete without a side of personal attacks.

  • CZ’s account of his time at OKCoin? Fake news.
  • The Roger Ver dispute? Totally CZ’s fault.
  • Market manipulation? You bet.
  • Marital status? Suspicious.

CZ hasn’t responded directly, but let’s be honest, this drama is far from over. It’s like a soap opera, but with more blockchain and fewer love triangles (unless you count the feuds).

What This Feud Reveals About China’s Crypto Founders (Or: Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?)

This whole mess highlights how personal rivalries still shape the crypto narrative. CZ, Star Xu, Li Lin, and Justin Sun built empires, but they also built grudges. Beijing’s crackdowns, detentions, and offshore pivots didn’t help, but let’s be real-these guys were never going to be BFFs.

  • Li Lin? Sold Huobi and vanished into the sunset.
  • Justin Sun? Now runs HTX while battling SEC charges. Bold move.
  • CZ? Served his time and is now a “thought leader.” Sure, Jan.
  • Xu? Still leading OKX, because some things never change.

None of these claims have been verified, and the screenshot CZ mentions? Nowhere to be found. The 2014 contract evidence? Still contested. But one thing’s clear: “Freedom of Money” has reopened wounds that were better left closed. Thanks, CZ. You’ve outdone yourself.

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2026-04-08 17:07