OKX Fires X Layer Spokesman Felix Fan Amid Binance Poaching Rumors

OKX has abruptly dismissed Felix Fan, the official spokesman and “Builder #001” of its Layer-2 network, X Layer, sparking widespread speculation and community unrest. Fan, who gained popularity for his active engagement and transparency, was unexpectedly removed from his position after OKX cited a “conflict of interest and ethical violations.” The vague explanation fueled rumors across crypto circles, especially since Fan has remained silent since the announcement.

Adding fuel to the controversy, OKX President Hong Fang made a cryptic post indirectly accusing a “certain competitor,” widely believed to be Binance, of poaching OKX employees. According to Fang, this competitor—referred to as “BN”—has been offering lucrative deals to lure away OKX talent, only to later discard them. The timing of her comments, coinciding with Fan’s removal, has intensified speculation that Binance may have played a role in the incident.

The situation follows recent tensions between OKX and Binance, which have clashed over market strategies and ecosystem dominance. Community members suggest Fan’s termination may also be linked to a meme coin bet involving OKX’s CEO. Fan reportedly bet on XDOG, a top X Layer meme coin, to outperform a Binance-backed token. When XDOG’s value dropped, Fan congratulated Binance’s CZ in a since-deleted post—potentially crossing internal ethical lines.

While details remain unclear, the controversy has raised questions about internal dynamics at OKX and the extent of Binance’s influence. The lack of transparency from OKX and Fan’s silence continue to stir debate, leaving supporters demanding answers. As speculation mounts, the incident threatens to damage OKX’s credibility and deepen its rivalry with Binance within the competitive crypto exchange landscape.