BNB News Today: YZi's $1B Builder Fund Targets DeFi, AI to Drive BNB Chain's Global Expansion

YZi Labs, the investment arm of Binance co-founder Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, has announced a $1 billion Builder Fund to accelerate innovation in the BNB ecosystem, with a focus on projects building on BNB Chain. The initiative, unveiled on October 8, 2025, targets sectors including decentralized finance (DeFi), real-world assets (RWA), artificial intelligence (AI), decentralized science (DeSci), and global payment solutions. The fund aims to provide founders with capital, mentorship, and access to BNB Chain's infrastructure, which now supports 26 million daily transactions and leads in decentralized exchange trading volume.

The Builder Fund operates through direct funding, residency programs, and strategic integrations. Founders can apply for grants of up to $500,000 through the EASY Residency Season 2, with tech hubs in New York, San Francisco, Dubai, and Singapore. The program also connects builders with investors, mentors, and BNB Chain's 460 million-user ecosystem. YZi Labs emphasized rigorous selection criteria, with oversight from CZ and the team, to prioritize projects with strong execution potential and product-market fit. The fund aligns with recent upgrades to BNB Chain, including the Maxwell Hardfork, which reduced block times to 0.75 seconds and transaction fees to 0.05 Gwei.

BNB, the native token of the BNB Chain, reached an all-time high above $1,300, with a market cap near $182 billion. The token's surge has positioned it as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, adding $40 billion in value in October 2025. YZi Labs' funding announcement coincides with growing institutional participation in the BNB ecosystem, including initiatives like the BNB Digital Asset Treasury and RWA funds. The firm has previously supported projects such as PancakeSwap, ListaDAO, and Aster, while advancing decentralized infrastructure through partnerships with CoinMarketCap and other platforms.

CZ's personal stake in BNB has grown significantly, with estimates suggesting his holdings could be worth approximately $116 billion following the token's rally. While YZi Labs operates as a venture capital platform distinct from a traditional family office, it reportedly manages assets from Binance co-founders and has over $10 billion in capital under management. The firm's strategic focus on BNB Chain reflects broader efforts to scale Web3 infrastructure, with Ella Zhang, YZi Labs' head, highlighting the ecosystem's potential to drive "democratized access and ownership" and integrate AI with blockchain technology.

The Builder Fund's launch underscores BNB Chain's ambition to compete with Ethereum and Solana in decentralized innovation. By pairing capital with accelerator programs and institutional resources, YZi Labs aims to reduce barriers for startups and enhance BNB Chain's utility in payments, DeFi, and cross-chain applications. The initiative also aligns with regulatory developments, as projects like the BNB Digital Asset Treasury seek to attract institutional capital through compliant structures.