Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has urged Elon Musk to stop “trolling” the cryptocurrency exchange after a significant $6.3 billion hack. Zhao reminded Musk of Binance’s substantial investment in X (formerly Twitter), valued at over $1 billion, and requested support during this difficult time.
The exchange experienced a major security breach, leading to billions in crypto assets being frozen. Musk’s initial reaction on X involved seemingly mocking emojis, which prompted Zhao’s direct appeal.
Binance Co-Founder Tells Elon Musk: "Bad Time to Troll" Amid $6.3 Billion Hack
Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of Binance, has publicly asked Elon Musk to cease his online mockery of the cryptocurrency exchange. The appeal comes in the wake of a massive $6.3 billion hack that has significantly impacted Binance, one of the world's largest crypto exchanges.
Changpeng Zhao, co-founder of Binance Holdings Ltd., during the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong, China, on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. (Photo Credit: Chan Long Hei | Bloomberg | Getty Images)
Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, responded to the news of the hack by posting a series of emojis on X (formerly Twitter), which appeared to be making light of the situation. Zhao, in turn, reminded Musk of Binance's significant equity stake in his ventures, specifically mentioning their investment in the former Twitter, now X.
"Elon, have a lot of respect for you, but bad time to troll. Please stop," Zhao wrote on X. "Our SPCX shares (from our $500m investment in your Twitter takeover) are worth more than a billion. Would appreciate if you show a little support. Thanks!"
Binance's investment in the former Twitter is valued at over $1 billion, a fraction of SpaceX's estimated $2 trillion valuation. This public exchange adds another chapter to the online sparring between the two tech titans, who have had public disagreements in the past, including a notable spat in November 2021 regarding Dogecoin withdrawals.
The recent hack saw approximately $3 billion in cryptocurrency assets frozen. Investigators suspect the North Korean state-sponsored hacking unit TraderTraitor to be behind the attack. Binance initially froze all withdrawals and deposits following the incident but has since restored deposit services.
Correction: An earlier headline incorrectly characterized Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao's request to Elon Musk; he asked for support, not simply to stop trolling.
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