On October 8, 2025, YZi Labs, the investment firm founded by Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, announced a monumental $1 billion Builder Fund dedicated to founders and projects within the BNB ecosystem. This strategic move signals a powerful commitment to cementing BNB Chain’s position as a leading infrastructure for the next generation of digital applications.
The Strategic Vision Behind the Fund
The fund is designed to “double down” on founders building on BNB Chain, leveraging its high-performance, low-cost infrastructure to drive real-world impact. According to Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs, the BNB ecosystem represents the next phase of digital infrastructure, where decentralization and on-chain scalability converge with security and widespread distribution.
The capital will target a broad and ambitious range of sectors, showcasing a holistic vision for the ecosystem’s growth. Key areas of focus include Decentralized Finance (DeFi), Real-World Assets (RWA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), decentralized science (DeSci), payments, and wallets. This diverse mandate aims to foster innovation that connects cutting-edge technology back to tangible human progress.
Fueling the BNB Ecosystem Engine
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for the BNB ecosystem, which is already demonstrating significant momentum. The BNB token itself recently hit new all-time highs above $1,330, solidifying its position as the third-largest digital asset by market capitalization. This price surge is underpinned by robust on-chain activity, with BNB Chain recording 26 million daily transactions and ranking #1 in DEX trading volume and daily active users.
A key initiative through which the Builder Fund will operate is the EASY Residency program, which now incorporates BNB Chain’s flagship Most Valuable Builder (MVB) accelerator as a dedicated track. This unified program offers selected builders up to $500,000 in funding and provides direct access to the core teams at YZi Labs and BNB Chain, alongside a vast global network of investors, mentors, and a potential user base of over 460 million.
A Calculated Bet on the Future
This $1 billion commitment is more than just a fund; it’s a strategic bet on the future of the BNB ecosystem. YZi Labs, which manages over $10 billion in assets globally, has a history of reinforcing this momentum, having previously backed successful projects like PancakeSwap, ListaDAO, Aster, and Aspecta.
The fund’s launch, coupled with BNB’s record-breaking performance, creates a powerful feedback loop: success attracts capital and talent, which in turn builds the foundation for the next wave of innovation. By strategically funding projects that enhance utility and adoption, YZi Labs is not just investing in individual companies but is actively participating in building the infrastructure for a more open and accessible global financial system.
