The cryptocurrency world witnessed a pivotal shift as Binance Labs, the venture capital and incubation arm of Binance, officially rebranded to YZi Labs on January 23, 2025. This transformation marks more than just a name change—it represents a strategic evolution from a corporate-backed incubator into an independent family office investment vehicle led by Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and co-founder Ella Zhang.
YZi Labs will now operate autonomously, free from the Binance brand, with a sharpened focus on high-impact innovation across Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology (biotech). The move aligns with CZ’s post-Binance vision, emphasizing long-term technological disruption beyond the boundaries of blockchain.
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A Natural Evolution: From Binance Labs to YZi Labs
In an official announcement shared via social media, YZi Labs stated:
"Binance Labs today announces its rebranding to YZi Labs. This evolution is a natural progression. While it operated under the Binance brand for years, Binance Labs functioned independently in practice. With CZ stepping away from Binance, this transition is both timely and logical."
This independence was always latent. Since its founding in 2018, Binance Labs operated with a distinct mission: to identify, fund, and nurture early-stage blockchain projects with transformative potential. Now, as YZi Labs, that mission expands—both in scope and autonomy.
The new identity reflects a clean break from Binance's operational umbrella while preserving the legacy of success built over six years of strategic investments and accelerator programs.
CZ Remains at the Helm
Despite stepping down from his role at Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) continues to play a central role in YZi Labs. He will remain actively involved through direct engagement and strategic guidance, ensuring continuity in vision and execution.
Rejoining him is Ella Zhang, co-founder of the original Binance Labs, who returns as the head of YZi Labs. Her return marks a full-circle moment in the organization’s journey.
Under Zhang’s leadership between 2018 and 2020, Binance Labs launched three successful incubation cohorts and backed over 40 startups—including now-household names like Polygon, Injective Protocol, CertiK, and Dune Analytics. Her return signals a renewed commitment to hands-on mentorship and founder empowerment.
More Than Venture Capital: YZi Labs as a Family Office
According to a report by Bloomberg, Ella Zhang clarified that YZi Labs is now “purely a family office investment tool.” This distinction is crucial: unlike traditional venture funds that raise capital from external investors, YZi Labs manages CZ’s personal wealth, allowing for greater flexibility, longer investment horizons, and reduced regulatory constraints.
This structure enables YZi Labs to take bold bets on frontier technologies without pressure for short-term returns.
Massive Asset Base Fueling Innovation
YZi Labs commands an estimated **$10+ billion in assets**, primarily composed of equity stakes and token holdings from its extensive portfolio of Web3 investments. This positions it among the most well-capitalized private tech investors globally—surpassing even prominent firms like **a16z**, which reports over $7.6 billion in assets under management across multiple funds.
With such financial strength, YZi Labs can act swiftly and decisively in fast-moving markets.
Expanding the Innovation Frontier: Web3, AI, and Biotech
While rooted in blockchain innovation, YZi Labs is now broadening its investment thesis to include two other exponential technologies:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Biotechnology (Biotech)
This triad—Web3, AI, and biotech—represents what the team sees as the next wave of foundational change. By converging decentralized infrastructure with intelligent systems and biological breakthroughs, YZi aims to back companies building solutions for global challenges in finance, healthcare, data privacy, and sustainability.
Ella Zhang emphasized:
"While the rebrand marks a new chapter, our core mission remains unchanged: empowering visionary founders with strong execution capabilities. By entering AI and biotech while staying grounded in Web3, we aim to push the boundaries of innovation and create lasting societal value."
To support this expanded mandate, YZi Labs is relaunching its 12-week residential incubation program, offering selected founders immersive access to technical mentorship, network connections, and funding opportunities.
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Commitment to Existing Portfolio and Ecosystem
YZi Labs reassured all stakeholders that the rebrand does not disrupt existing operations. All current portfolio companies will continue to receive full support, including access to resources, technical guidance, and ecosystem partnerships.
Notably, YZi Labs will maintain its active involvement in the BNB Chain Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program, underscoring ongoing alignment with one of the largest Layer-1 ecosystems in Web3.
Core Keywords Identified:
- YZi Labs
- Binance Labs rebrand
- CZ family office
- Web3 investments
- AI and biotech funding
- Ella Zhang
- Cryptocurrency venture capital
- Decentralized technology innovation
These keywords reflect the central themes of leadership transition, strategic expansion, and technological convergence driving the new direction of YZi Labs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is YZi Labs?
A: YZi Labs is the rebranded version of Binance Labs—an independent family office investment firm founded by Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and led by Ella Zhang. It focuses on early-stage investments in Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), and biotechnology.
Q: Why did Binance Labs change its name to YZi Labs?
A: The rebrand reflects its separation from Binance following CZ’s departure. As a standalone family office managing CZ’s personal assets, the new name signifies independence, strategic evolution, and expansion into new technology domains.
Q: Is YZi Labs still connected to Binance?
A: No operational or structural connection remains. However, YZi Labs continues to support projects within the BNB Chain ecosystem, such as through the MVB program, based on shared interests in advancing Web3 innovation.
Q: Who leads YZi Labs now?
A: Ella Zhang serves as the head of YZi Labs, returning after previously co-founding Binance Labs in 2018. CZ remains deeply involved as a strategic advisor and key decision-maker.
Q: What types of companies does YZi Labs invest in?
A: The firm targets startups in blockchain/Web3, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology—especially those developing scalable solutions with long-term societal impact.
Q: Does YZi Labs still run an incubator program?
A: Yes. The 12-week residential incubation program is being revived to provide founders with mentorship, funding access, and collaborative workspace to accelerate development.
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Looking Ahead: Building the Future Beyond Blockchain
YZi Labs’ transformation is more than organizational—it’s philosophical. By embracing AI and biotech alongside Web3, it signals a belief that the future belongs to those who can integrate decentralized systems with intelligent algorithms and biological insights.
With CZ’s vision, Ella Zhang’s leadership, and a war chest exceeding $10 billion in crypto-native assets, YZi Labs is uniquely positioned to shape the next decade of technological progress.
As the lines between digital identity, machine learning, genetic engineering, and decentralized finance blur, one thing is clear: the era of siloed innovation is over. And YZi Labs intends to lead the convergence.