The crypto world witnessed a pivotal transformation as Binance Labs, the venture arm and incubator of Binance, officially rebranded to YZi Labs on January 23, 2025. This strategic shift marks more than just a name change—it signals a full independence from the Binance brand and the evolution of the organization into a dedicated family office for CZ (Changpeng Zhao), with an expanded investment focus spanning Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology (biotech).
This rebranding reflects the natural progression of an entity that, while historically operating under the Binance umbrella, has long maintained independent decision-making and investment strategies. With CZ stepping away from Binance’s day-to-day operations, YZi Labs now stands as a distinct vehicle for his personal and strategic investments.
“Binance Labs today announces its rebrand to YZi Labs. This evolution is a natural progression. While we operated under the Binance brand for years, we were always functionally independent. Now, as CZ moves forward, YZi is evolving accordingly.”
CZ Remains at the Helm of Strategic Direction
Despite stepping back from Binance, CZ continues to play a central role in YZi Labs. He will remain deeply involved in shaping investment strategies, offering direct guidance, and mentoring founders within the portfolio. His vision remains foundational to the new direction of the organization.
Rejoining him is Ella Zhang, co-founder of the original Binance Labs, who returns as the head of YZi Labs. Ella was instrumental in launching the first three incubation cohorts between 2018 and 2020, nurturing now-iconic projects such as Polygon, Injective Protocol, CertiK, and Dune Analytics. After leaving to pursue her own entrepreneurial ventures, her return underscores continuity and renewed ambition.
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From Venture Arm to Full-Fledged Family Office
One of the most significant revelations is that YZi Labs is now purely a family office investment vehicle—a private wealth management structure focused on long-term value creation for CZ and his associates. According to reports from Bloomberg, this transition means that Binance the exchange has no operational or financial control over YZi Labs, distancing it from regulatory entanglements and aligning it solely with CZ’s personal investment philosophy.
This distinction is critical: while Binance Labs once served dual purposes—driving ecosystem growth for Binance while generating returns—YZi Labs now operates with complete autonomy, prioritizing innovation over exchange-centric incentives.
A Portfolio Worth Over $10 Billion
YZi Labs’ investment portfolio is primarily composed of crypto assets issued by its portfolio companies, with total holdings estimated to exceed **$10 billion**. This positions YZi among the most powerful private investors in the blockchain space—potentially surpassing even major venture capital firms like **a16z**, which reports over $7.6 billion in assets under management across multiple funds.
This scale enables YZi Labs to make bold, long-term bets on early-stage technologies without pressure for short-term exits.
Expanding Horizons: Web3, AI, and Biotech
While Web3 remains a core pillar, YZi Labs is broadening its scope to include two of the most transformative fields of the 21st century: artificial intelligence and biotechnology.
Why AI and Biotech?
- AI is reshaping industries through machine learning, automation, and data intelligence—areas that increasingly intersect with blockchain via decentralized compute, verifiable AI models, and tokenized data economies.
- Biotech represents frontier science in genomics, longevity, synthetic biology, and personalized medicine—fields where trustless systems and secure data sharing (enabled by blockchain) can unlock breakthroughs.
By bridging these domains, YZi Labs aims to back founders building convergent technologies—projects that leverage multiple disciplines to solve complex global challenges.
“This isn’t just a rebrand—it symbolizes an expansion of our investment horizon beyond blockchain and crypto into artificial intelligence and biotechnology.”
— CZ
Ella Zhang emphasized continuity amid change:
“While the rebrand marks a new chapter, our mission remains unchanged: empowering visionary founders with strong execution capabilities who are committed to long-term building. By entering AI and biotech while staying rooted in Web3, we aim to push the boundaries of innovation and create lasting societal value.”
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Reviving the Incubation Program
YZi Labs is also reintroducing its 12-week residential incubation program, offering selected startups an immersive environment to develop their products, refine go-to-market strategies, and connect with mentors and investors.
Founders will gain access to:
- Technical mentorship from industry experts
- Strategic guidance on fundraising and tokenomics
- Legal and compliance support
- Networking opportunities with top-tier VCs and ecosystem partners
The program will continue to prioritize projects with strong fundamentals, clear use cases, and teams capable of executing at speed.
Importantly, all existing portfolio companies will continue receiving support under the YZi Labs banner. The rebrand does not affect ongoing initiatives, including backing for the BNB Chain Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program, ensuring stability for current partners.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is YZi Labs still connected to Binance?
A: No. While YZi Labs originated as Binance Labs, it is now fully independent. It operates as CZ’s family office and has no operational ties to Binance the exchange.
Q: What types of startups will YZi Labs invest in?
A: YZi Labs focuses on early-stage ventures in Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology (biotech). They prioritize teams with strong technical foundations, clear roadmaps, and long-term vision.
Q: Will the incubation program continue?
A: Yes. YZi Labs is relaunching its 12-week residential incubator, providing hands-on support for founders building in its core focus areas.
Q: Who leads YZi Labs now?
A: Ella Zhang, co-founder of the original Binance Labs, has returned as head of YZi Labs. CZ remains actively involved in strategic decisions and founder mentorship.
Q: How large is YZi Labs’ investment portfolio?
A: The portfolio is valued at over $10 billion, mostly in crypto assets from successful investments. This makes it one of the largest private tech-focused family offices globally.
Q: Does YZi Labs only invest in crypto-related projects?
A: While Web3 remains central, YZi Labs now actively seeks opportunities in AI and biotech, especially where these fields intersect with decentralized technologies.
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The Road Ahead
The transformation of Binance Labs into YZi Labs represents a bold new phase—not just for CZ, but for the broader innovation ecosystem. By decoupling from Binance and embracing a multidisciplinary approach, YZi Labs is positioning itself as a catalyst for breakthroughs that transcend any single technology stack.
With Ella Zhang at the helm and CZ’s strategic oversight, the organization is well-equipped to identify and empower the next generation of transformative founders—those building not just apps or protocols, but entire new paradigms.
As Web3 matures, AI accelerates, and biotech unlocks human potential, YZi Labs stands ready to invest in the future—wherever groundbreaking ideas emerge.
Core Keywords:
- YZi Labs
- Binance Labs rebrand
- CZ family office
- Web3 investments
- AI and biotech startups
- Ella Zhang
- Blockchain incubator
- Crypto venture capital