OKX CEO Star Xu Challenges CZ's Bitcoin Story and Revives Old Disputes

OKX CEO Star Xu has publicly questioned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao's well-known claim of selling his apartment for $900,000 to buy Bitcoin at $400. The challenge came shortly after CZ released his book, which Xu says contains inaccuracies about his own history — prompting him to speak out after years of silence.

Xu raised pointed questions about the origins of the down payment and the actual ownership of the property, suggesting the apartment may have belonged to CZ's in-laws rather than CZ himself. He argued that the popular narrative leaves out key family members who supported CZ financially during that period and that repeatedly telling the story this way disrespects those individuals, particularly elderly in-laws who played a role in making it possible.

Beyond the Bitcoin story, Xu also brought up inconsistencies surrounding CZ's marital status. He cited a media report featuring a letter from CZ's wife in which she referred to the two as husband and wife, which contradicts how CZ has described the relationship in interviews and his book. Xu called for transparency, stating he would issue a public apology if CZ produced a signed divorce agreement — otherwise, he believes the claims amount to misrepresentation.

The dispute also dug up a 2015 controversy involving a contract tied to early Bitcoin investor Roger Ver during CZ's time at OKCoin. While CZ's book frames the conflict as a difference in vision and leadership, Xu rejected that explanation. He pointed to archived evidence and a notarized video that he says have never been disproven, dismissing CZ's suggestion that a separate employee may have accessed his account.

Xu made clear that CZ's book, which he believes contains falsehoods, is what pushed him to revisit these long-standing disputes publicly.