CZ Memoir Reignites Feud With OKX Founder Star Xu Over Contract Forgery

Changpeng Zhao's memoir 'Freedom of Money' has triggered a public dispute with OKX founder Star Xu regarding their shared history at OKCoin according to reports.

The conflict centers on a 2015 contract dispute over the Bitcoin.com domain where Xu alleges Zhao forged a contract version adding a six-month termination clause as detailed.

Xu supports this claim with a notarized video showing chat logs where Zhao allegedly sent two contract versions with the controversial clause appearing only in the second according to the video.

The memoir also revisits the October 2020 Chinese regulatory crackdown and claims regarding Li Lin's detention as reported.

Xu has denied claims that he reported Li to Chinese police, calling the allegation purely false information according to MEXC.

Why Are Contract Forgery Allegations Resurfacing Now?

The publication of the book on April 8 has forced a re-examination of the 2015 OKCoin contract dispute as Cointelegraph reports.

CZ claims OKCoin forged a modified contract version to terminate his equity stake early .

Xu and OKCoin allege CZ sent the forged version himself minutes after the first version .

This led to a $570,000 lawsuit by Bitcoin investor Roger Ver and public accusations of market manipulation against CZ .

Xu responded by labeling CZ a habitual liar and resurfacing a 2015 notarized video .

He argued that the video disproves CZ's claim that his account was hacked .

Xu also referenced a Reddit post from OKCoin detailing accusations against CZ .

OKCoin claimed it withheld CZ's final salary due to unresolved ownership transfers .

How Do These Historical Disputes Impact Current Trust?

The dispute highlights the lack of independent verification for key allegations regarding contract forgery .

Neither side has provided new verifiable evidence beyond the existing archival materials .

The feud underscores how unresolved conflicts from the early days of Chinese crypto exchanges continue to shape current industry narratives .

Xu provided critical context regarding the regulatory environment in Asia .

He argued that major exchanges face numerous reports from various parties annually .

Xu contended that if reports alone dictated legal outcomes, the industry could not function .

This public confrontation occurs during a period of heightened global regulatory scrutiny .

The dispute between high-profile founders risks undermining institutional and user trust in platform stability .

The rivalry between OKX, Binance, and HTX reflects a fierce battle for market share .

As the industry seeks greater legitimacy, the conduct of its founders remains under intense scrutiny .

Public statements serve as strategic communications to investors and regulators .

Xu also addressed CZ's claims regarding contract disputes and alleged market manipulation .

He presented evidence from 2015 to dispute the memoir's narrative .

CZ has consistently denied these accusations, framing the historical disputes as a clash of vision rather than misconduct .

The renewed focus on these historical events highlights the enduring nature of the professional rivalry .

The conflict demonstrates how personal histories and competitive tensions continue to shape the narrative around major cryptocurrency platforms .