TLDR
- CZ said he is officially divorced and offered a $1 billion bet to prove it.
- Star Xu asked CZ to show a signed divorce agreement and issue public proof.
- CZ said lawyers can verify the divorce agreement without posting it online.
- The dispute followed the April 8 release of CZ’s 457-page memoir Freedom of Money.
- The clash revives a long-running rivalry linked to their time at OKCoin in 2014.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, has challenged OKX founder Star Xu to a $1 billion bet. The dispute centers on CZ’s statement that he is officially divorced. Star Xu publicly questioned that claim and asked for legal proof.
CZ answered on X and said the divorce is official and happened well before now. He also said he would not post private legal papers online. Instead, he offered to let lawyers verify the divorce agreement if Star accepts the wager.
Dispute grows after public challenge
The latest clash began after Star Xu questioned CZ’s marital status in public posts. He asked CZ to provide a divorce agreement signed by both parties. He said he would apologize publicly if CZ could show the document.
CZ responded by rejecting the accusation and defending his statement. He wrote, “I am officially divorced.” He then offered a $1 billion bet, or any amount Star chooses, on whether the divorce is official.
CZ also said he wants to protect his former wife’s privacy. For that reason, he said he would not share the agreement on social media. He added that lawyers could review the document and confirm the facts.
The public exchange drew wider attention because both men lead major crypto businesses. Star replied that such a public wager is not professional conduct for the beneficial owner of a regulated company. He also raised questions about whether Binance shares were legally divided.
Memoir release adds fuel to old rivalry
The argument gained speed after the release of CZ’s memoir, Freedom of Money, on April 8. According to reports, the book revived old tensions between the two founders. Their rivalry goes back more than a decade.
CZ worked as chief technology officer at OKCoin in 2014. OKCoin later became linked to the OKX business. Their relationship broke down amid disputes over equity, a Bitcoin.com domain contract, and past forgery claims.
The memoir also brought up another point of conflict. CZ reportedly wrote that Huobi founder Li Lin told him in 2025 that Star had reported him to Chinese authorities. Star denied that claim, and the dispute widened again.
This new disagreement over the divorce claim has now become another front in that long-running feud. The exchange has also pulled in broader questions about business conduct, corporate ownership, and public statements made by high-profile crypto founders.
Binance leadership and ownership come into focus
The dispute also turned attention toward Binance’s internal leadership structure. Reports linked the issue to Yi He, Binance’s co-founder and co-CEO. She is also described as CZ’s long-term partner and the mother of three of his children.
According to the same reports, CZ has five children in total, including two from his previous marriage. Yi He responded during the latest round of public debate. She said she is the second largest shareholder and a co-CEO at Binance.
Her statement aimed to defend her position inside the company during the public exchange. It also came as Star questioned whether CZ’s Binance stake had been properly separated after the divorce. That issue became part of the wider argument.
For now, the key fact remains the direct challenge from CZ. He said he is officially divorced and offered a $1 billion bet to prove it. He also said legal verification is available, but public release of the agreement is not.
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