YZi Labs Launches $1 Billion BNB Builder Fund to Drive Next-Gen Innovation

Formerly known as Binance Labs, YZi Labs has unveiled a $1 billion BNB Builder Fund aimed at accelerating innovation within the BNB Chain ecosystem. The initiative is designed to support long-term development across emerging sectors such as trading, real-world assets (RWA), artificial intelligence (AI), decentralized science (DeSci), decentralized finance (DeFi), payments, and digital wallets.

According to YZi Labs, the program leverages BNB Chain’s high-performance, low-cost infrastructure along with access to enhanced tools, funding, integrations, and a growing ecosystem that now includes more than 460 million users worldwide.

Integrating MVB Into EASY Residency

A key component of the initiative is the integration of the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) accelerator into YZi Labs’ EASY Residency, set to begin in October 2025. The merger will form a unified program dedicated to supporting developers and startups building on BNB Chain.

Selected projects will be eligible for up to $500,000 in direct funding, along with access to YZi Labs’ global network of investors, mentors, and strategic partners. Participants will also gain close collaboration opportunities with the core development teams at both YZi Labs and BNB Chain, giving them a unique advantage in scaling their projects.

Building on a Track Record of Impact

YZi Labs has played a pivotal role in nurturing innovation within the BNB ecosystem. The firm has previously backed major projects such as PancakeSwap, ListaDAO, Aster, and Aspecta, all of which originated through the MVB program.

It has also worked to expand institutional participation through initiatives including the BNB Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) by BNC, the RWA Fund by China Renaissance, and the BNB Yield Fund developed in partnership with Hash Global. Beyond funding, YZi Labs has organized global developer and investor gatherings in Seoul and Singapore, strengthening the collaborative network around BNB Chain.

Vision for Decentralized Infrastructure

Commenting on the launch, Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs, described blockchain as “the next phase of digital infrastructure, where decentralization and on-chain scalability converge with security and real distribution.”

She added:

“Through this $1B BNB Builder Fund, YZi Labs is committed to supporting BNB builders across sectors such as DeFi, AI, RWA, and DeSci—those building the next generation of open systems that connect technology back to human progress.”

BNB Hits Record High, CZ’s Holdings Surge

The fund’s announcement coincided with a historic rally for BNB, which reached a new all-time high on October 7, solidifying its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at $182 billion, surpassing Ripple’s XRP.

BNB’s price has climbed 27% over the past week and nearly 50% in the past month, with a modest 1% daily gain. The surge has significantly increased the value of Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s holdings—he is reported to own about 64% of the total BNB supply, now estimated to be worth roughly $116 billion at current market valuations.