OKX founder Star Xu unleashed a fierce denial on social media, branding claims in Changpeng Zhao's upcoming book as outright lies. Xu insists that accusations of him personally reporting Huobi's Li Lin to Chinese authorities in 2020, leading to Li's brief detention, lack any basis in reality. He highlighted the barrage of complaints crypto leaders face annually in Asia, arguing that mere reports shouldn't topple empires like OKX or Huobi.

Exposing a Web of Crypto Rivalries

Xu didn't hold back, accusing the book's source—implicitly Zhao, fresh from a four-month U.S. prison stint—of habitual deception. He rattled off alleged falsehoods, from twisted job histories at OKCoin to market manipulation claims and even whispers of turning informant against Tron founder Justin Sun. This spat revives echoes of 2020's regulatory crackdowns, when Beijing's grip tightened on exchanges, forcing Huobi and OKX to pivot offshore amid founder detentions that shook investor confidence.

Industry veterans recall Xu and Li's once-close ties, sharing drinks and deals before rivalries soured. Zhao's narrative, detailed in a purported dinner reunion screenshot, paints Xu as the betrayer, but Xu counters that high-EQ leaders like Li shouldn't swallow such "ghost stories." As crypto rebounds in 2026, these personal feuds underscore lingering regulatory shadows over platforms navigating global scrutiny.