Changpeng Zhao’s YZi Labs announces $1 billion fund for BNB Chain developers

YZi Labs, formerly Binance Labs, has announced a $1 billion Builder Fund to support founders and developers building within the BNB Chain ecosystem, the firm shared on Wednesday.

According to an announcement on X, the fund will pair capital with tools, integrations and access to what the firm describes as a 460 million–user ecosystem, while targeting projects in DeFi, AI, real-world assets, DeSci, payments and wallets.

Selected teams can receive up to $500,000 plus direct access to YZi and BNB Chain core teams and a global mentor network. Also, the initiative folds into Season 2 of EASY Residency, YZi’s accelerator program that now includes BNB Chain’s Most Valuable Builder track and expands hubs to New York, San Francisco, Dubai, and Singapore.

Founded as Binance Labs and rebranded in January, YZi Labs is led by Ella Zhang, with Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao taking an active role. The firm has recently deepened its support of Ethena Labs, the issuer of USDe and USDtb, while CZ also publicly rebutted speculation about opening its portfolio to outside investors.

Additionally, Wednesday’s announcement arrives as BNB has surged to fresh highs and climbed to the No. 3 crypto by market value. The Block’s price page shows BNB trading over $1,320, up nearly 30% in the last week amid a crypto market surge.