OKX founder and CEO Star Xu has said the exchange will continue to put compliance ahead of short-term profits as regulators pay closer attention to crypto platforms around the world.
In a statement posted on social media, Xu said a global financial company cannot offer every product or serve every customer. He said that following the law, respecting regulators, and managing risk sometimes means giving up short-term income, but this helps protect users, the platform, and the wider crypto industry over time.
一家真正的全球金融机构，不是所有业务都能做，也不是所有客户都能服务。遵守法律、尊重监管、做好风险管理，有时候意味着必须放弃一些短期收入。长期来看，这才是真正保护用户、保护平台、保护行业的做法。… https://t.co/DEmRHP3AiH
— Star_OKX (@star_okx) June 26, 2026
Xu also addressed prediction markets, which have become more popular among crypto users through blockchain platforms. He said prediction markets are still a new product, and their legal status is different from one country to another. Because of this, OKX does not automatically treat money linked to prediction markets as gambling. Instead, it reviews each case based on local laws, regulations and the level of risk.
Questions raised over account restrictions
The comments followed a discussion on social media after one crypto user said a friend complained that OKX had restricted his account. According to the post, the account was limited after the user deposited USDT linked to illegal online gambling. The exchange reportedly allowed the customer to withdraw the funds but restricted further use of the account.
The same discussion also raised questions about whether funds coming from blockchain-based prediction markets such as Polymarket could face similar checks when sent to OKX.
Crypto exchanges face different rules worldwide
The issue shows the challenge facing global crypto exchanges. A wallet or blockchain address may be linked to legal activity in one country but face restrictions in another. That means exchanges cannot rely only on blockchain records when reviewing transactions.
Large crypto companies, including OKX, have increased checks on deposits and withdrawals in recent years as regulators demand stronger controls against money laundering, fraud and illegal gambling. Exchanges now use blockchain tracking tools together with internal risk systems to identify suspicious transactions before they enter the platform.
For crypto users, Xu’s comments show that access to an exchange depends not only on owning digital assets but also on where the funds came from and whether they meet local rules. As prediction markets continue to grow, exchanges will likely keep reviewing these transactions one case at a time instead of applying a single rule across every country.
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