In the realm of cryptocurrency, Binance is a name that no practitioner can ignore. Binance Labs, as a prominent player in venture capital investments, has had a profound impact on the crypto space. Months after Zhao Changpeng (CZ) was released from prison in Long Beach, the frenzied surge in cryptocurrencies boosted his net worth to $70 billion.

Against this backdrop, Binance Labs officially announced its renaming to YZi Labs on January 23rd, marking its transformation from a crypto venture capital firm into CZ's private family office. With the blockchain market thriving, how will YZi Labs, with its Binance lineage and evolving investment strategy, impact the entire ecosystem?

Investment Expansion

Although CZ has stepped down from Binance, he will continue to play a pivotal role in YZi Labs, providing one-on-one guidance and strategic advice to entrepreneurs directly, helping them refine their business models and investment strategies.

CZ emphasizes that his investment philosophy focuses more on social impact than short-term returns. Ella Zhang's return supports this belief. Ella, the inaugural head of Binance Labs, will lead the strategic development of YZi Labs upon her return. She has successfully incubated over 40 projects, including Polygon, Injective Protocol, and CertiK, and her experience will bring more innovative momentum to YZi Labs.

Since his release from prison, CZ has repeatedly expressed his intention to focus more on applications related to "human well-being" and has ventured into the education sector to some extent (through Giggle Academy for K12 education). Disclosed investments by YZi Labs span Web3 infrastructure, DeFi, and more, with plans to expand from crypto and blockchain into Web3, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and biotechnology (biotech).

Web3: YZi Labs will continue supporting blockchain and decentralized technology projects, including its previously incubated BNB Chain "Most Valuable Builder (MVB)" program. As one of its core investment areas, Web3 will continue to drive the development of dApps and blockchain infrastructure, empowering the Binance ecosystem through investments in this field.

AI: AI is viewed as a critical driving force for future technology, and YZi Labs plans to invest in AI startups and explore their integration with blockchain technology. For instance, it has invested in AI infrastructure projects like Sahara AI and MyShell, which aim to decentralize AI through blockchain technology. Users may perceive this more in the Agent sector, so subsequent investments may focus on this area.

Biotech: Investments in biotechnology will concentrate on projects with transformative potential, particularly innovative applications intersecting with AI and Web3 technologies. CZ's attendance and discussions at the DeSci Conference in Bangkok reflect this preference, evident in subsequent investments. For example, BIO Protocol provides a financing paradigm for decentralized science, demonstrating YZi Labs' focus on interdisciplinary technology fusion.

With its transformation into a family office, YZi Labs will manage the wealth of CZ and his family members, including assets belonging to Binance co-founder He Yi. This transformation offers greater flexibility in its investment strategy while maintaining a focus on high-potential projects. YZi Labs currently manages around $10 billion in crypto-related assets and plans to further diversify its portfolio.

The Significance of the Transformation and Renaming

YZi Labs also plans to expand its team from the current nine members to 20, hiring experts in AI and biotechnology to enhance its investment capabilities in these emerging fields. Separate from Binance, YZi Labs can be expected to have greater freedom and breadth in decision-making. Meanwhile, the fully spun-off VC department will be more influenced by the personal preferences of the Zhao family.

Complementarity and Synergy

YZi Labs intends to launch a 12-week offline Bootcamp program by optimizing its incubation plan, creating an immersive collaborative environment for entrepreneurs. This initiative not only strengthens face-to-face interactions among entrepreneurs but also accelerates the growth and innovation of startups through direct mentorship, aiming to help entrepreneurs transition from concept to market while exploring innovative possibilities stemming from the fusion of these fields.

From Binance's previous ecosystem perspective, it needs to empower its public blockchain BNB CHAIN and related applications. In the on-chain ecosystem, existing pure on-chain liquidity is concentrated in Solana and Base ecosystems. For the BNB ecosystem, it requires certain post-investment driving effects for support. As an industry-leading exchange, Binance offers unparalleled resources. Various products launched in recent years (such as Binance Alpha, HODLER Drop, etc.) show that Binance is promoting user adoption for many projects, including those invested in by YZi Labs (e.g., Solv Protocol and BIO Protocol).

The Significance of the Transformation and Renaming Revisited

The renaming and transformation of Binance Labs into YZi Labs represent not only a brand upgrade but also a comprehensive expansion of its investment strategy. By focusing on Web3, AI, and biotechnology, and with the leadership of CZ and Ella Zhang, YZi Labs is poised to become a significant driver of cross-disciplinary innovation in the coming years. Its positioning as a family office also provides it with greater flexibility and a long-term investment perspective

In the realm of cryptocurrency, Binance is a name that no practitioner can ignore. Binance Labs, as a prominent player in venture capital investments, has had a profound impact on the crypto space. Months after Zhao Changpeng (CZ) was released from prison in Long Beach, the frenzied surge in cryptocurrencies boosted his net worth to $70 billion.

Against this backdrop, Binance Labs officially announced its renaming to YZi Labs on January 23rd, marking its transformation from a crypto venture capital firm into CZ's private family office. With the blockchain market thriving, how will YZi Labs, with its Binance lineage and evolving investment strategy, impact the entire ecosystem?

Investment Expansion

Although CZ has stepped down from Binance, he will continue to play a pivotal role in YZi Labs, providing one-on-one guidance and strategic advice to entrepreneurs directly, helping them refine their business models and investment strategies.

CZ emphasizes that his investment philosophy focuses more on social impact than short-term returns. Ella Zhang's return supports this belief. Ella, the inaugural head of Binance Labs, will lead the strategic development of YZi Labs upon her return. She has successfully incubated over 40 projects, including Polygon, Injective Protocol, and CertiK, and her experience will bring more innovative momentum to YZi Labs.

Since his release from prison, CZ has repeatedly expressed his intention to focus more on applications related to "human well-being" and has ventured into the education sector to some extent (through Giggle Academy for K12 education). Disclosed investments by YZi Labs span Web3 infrastructure, DeFi, and more, with plans to expand from crypto and blockchain into Web3, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and biotechnology (biotech).

Web3: YZi Labs will continue supporting blockchain and decentralized technology projects, including its previously incubated BNB Chain "Most Valuable Builder (MVB)" program. As one of its core investment areas, Web3 will continue to drive the development of dApps and blockchain infrastructure, empowering the Binance ecosystem through investments in this field.

AI: AI is viewed as a critical driving force for future technology, and YZi Labs plans to invest in AI startups and explore their integration with blockchain technology. For instance, it has invested in AI infrastructure projects like Sahara AI and MyShell, which aim to decentralize AI through blockchain technology. Users may perceive this more in the Agent sector, so subsequent investments may focus on this area.

Biotech: Investments in biotechnology will concentrate on projects with transformative potential, particularly innovative applications intersecting with AI and Web3 technologies. CZ's attendance and discussions at the DeSci Conference in Bangkok reflect this preference, evident in subsequent investments. For example, BIO Protocol provides a financing paradigm for decentralized science, demonstrating YZi Labs' focus on interdisciplinary technology fusion.

With its transformation into a family office, YZi Labs will manage the wealth of CZ and his family members, including assets belonging to Binance co-founder He Yi. This transformation offers greater flexibility in its investment strategy while maintaining a focus on high-potential projects. YZi Labs currently manages around $10 billion in crypto-related assets and plans to further diversify its portfolio.

The Significance of the Transformation and Renaming

YZi Labs also plans to expand its team from the current nine members to 20, hiring experts in AI and biotechnology to enhance its investment capabilities in these emerging fields. Separate from Binance, YZi Labs can be expected to have greater freedom and breadth in decision-making. Meanwhile, the fully spun-off VC department will be more influenced by the personal preferences of the Zhao family.

Complementarity and Synergy

YZi Labs intends to launch a 12-week offline Bootcamp program by optimizing its incubation plan, creating an immersive collaborative environment for entrepreneurs. This initiative not only strengthens face-to-face interactions among entrepreneurs but also accelerates the growth and innovation of startups through direct mentorship, aiming to help entrepreneurs transition from concept to market while exploring innovative possibilities stemming from the fusion of these fields.

From Binance's previous ecosystem perspective, it needs to empower its public blockchain BNB CHAIN and related applications. In the on-chain ecosystem, existing pure on-chain liquidity is concentrated in Solana and Base ecosystems. For the BNB ecosystem, it requires certain post-investment driving effects for support. As an industry-leading exchange, Binance offers unparalleled resources. Various products launched in recent years (such as Binance Alpha, HODLER Drop, etc.) show that Binance is promoting user adoption for many projects, including those invested in by YZi Labs (e.g., Solv Protocol and BIO Protocol).

The Significance of the Transformation and Renaming Revisited

The renaming and transformation of Binance Labs into YZi Labs represent not only a brand upgrade but also a comprehensive expansion of its investment strategy. By focusing on Web3, AI, and biotechnology, and with the leadership of CZ and Ella Zhang, YZi Labs is poised to become a significant driver of cross-disciplinary innovation in the coming years. Its positioning as a family office also provides it with greater flexibility and a long-term investment perspective