BNB News Today: YZi Aims to Connect Tech to Human Progress with $1B Builder Fund

YZi Labs, the rebranded venture arm of Binance, has launched a $1 billion Builder Fund to accelerate innovation on the BNB Chain, aiming to solidify its position as a global hub for blockchain development. The initiative, announced on October 8, 2025, targets projects in decentralized finance (DeFi), artificial intelligence (AI), real-world assets (RWA), decentralized science (DeSci), payments, and wallets. The fund will provide financial support, incubation, integrations, and access to YZi Labs' 460 million-user ecosystem to foster builders creating scalable, decentralized infrastructure. Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs, emphasized the fund's focus on "open systems that connect technology back to human progress," aligning with BNB Chain's vision of democratized access and innovation.

The announcement follows significant milestones for BNB Chain, including 26 million daily transactions in October 2025, a record high of 26 million daily transactions, and a surge in BNB's market capitalization to $183.52 billion, making it the third-largest cryptocurrency after surpassing XRP and Tether. Technical upgrades such as the Maxwell Hardfork in May 2025 reduced block times to 0.75 seconds and transaction fees to 0.05 Gwei, enhancing scalability and cost efficiency. These improvements have driven increased adoption, with the BNB Chain leading in decentralized exchange (DEX) trading volume and daily active users.

The Builder Fund builds on YZi Labs' existing incubation programs, including the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) accelerator, which has supported over 200 projects across 10 seasons. The MVB program now operates under YZi Labs' EASY Residency, offering founders mentorship, ecosystem resources, and potential funding. The next cohort of MVB is open for applications, with a focus on projects leveraging AI, DeFi, and RWA integration. YZi Labs has previously backed successful BNB Chain projects such as PancakeSwap, ListaDAO, and Aster, contributing to the network's growth in blockchain activity.

The fund's launch coincides with growing institutional interest in BNB. CEA Industries, for instance, has announced plans to accumulate 1% of BNB's total supply by year-end. Analysts attribute BNB's recent rally to the Maxwell Hardfork's efficiency gains and the fund's potential to attract developers. BNB's price reached an all-time high of $1,336 in October 2025, with a 100% surge in 24-hour trading volume to $10.1 billion. The network's decentralized exchange (DEX) volume hit $6.05 billion in a single day, underscoring its dominance in on-chain activity.

YZi Labs' strategy extends beyond funding to include strategic partnerships and global expansion. The EASY Residency Season 2 will operate in New York, San Francisco, Dubai, and Singapore, offering startups up to $500,000 in funding and access to YZi Labs' investor network. The initiative aligns with Changpeng "CZ" Zhao's renewed involvement in YZi Labs, which he rebranded from Binance Labs in 2025 to focus on Web3, AI, and biotech innovation. Zhao's role underscores the fund's ambition to position BNB Chain as a backbone for next-generation decentralized systems.

The Builder Fund reflects YZi Labs' commitment to long-term ecosystem growth, combining financial backing with technical and strategic support to address scalability and real-world adoption challenges. By leveraging BNB Chain's high-performance infrastructure and expanding incubation programs, the fund aims to drive innovation in sectors such as AI, DeFi, and RWA tokenization. As the BNB ecosystem continues to evolve, the initiative highlights the network's potential to shape the future of onchain economies.

Source: [1] $1B Builder Fund to Empower Builders: Backed by YZi Labs and BNB Chain (https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/1b-builder-fund-to-empower-builders-backed-by-yzi-labs-and-bnb-chain) [2] YZi Labs Introduces $1B Fund for BNB Chain Projects (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/10/08/yzi-labs-introduces-usd1b-fund-for-bnb-chain-projects) [3] YZi Labs launches $1B Builder Fund to boost BNB Chain startups (https://invezz.com/news/2025/10/08/yzi-labs-launches-1b-builder-fund-to-boost-bnb-chain-startups/) [4] CZ's YZi Labs Unveils $1B BNB Builder Fund as Binance Coin Overtakes XRP in Market Rally (https://www.the-blockchain.com/2025/10/08/czs-yzi-labs-unveils-1b-bnb-builder-fund-as-binance-coin-overtakes-xrp-in-market-rally/) [5] YZi Labs Brings $1B Builders Fund to Double Down on BNB (https://www.coinspeaker.com/yzi-labs-1b-bnb-fund/) [6] $1B Builder Fund to Empower Builders: Backed by YZi Labs and BNB Chain (https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/1b-builder-fund-to-empower-builders-backed-by-yzi-labs-and-bnb-chain) [7] YZi Labs Introduces $1B Fund for BNB Chain Projects (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/10/08/yzi-labs-introduces-usd1b-fund-for-bnb-chain-projects) [8] YZi Labs launches $1B Builder Fund to boost BNB Chain startups (https://invezz.com/news/2025/10/08/yzi-labs-launches-1b-builder-fund-to-boost-bnb-chain-startups/) [9] CZ's YZi Labs Unveils $1B BNB Builder Fund as Binance Coin Overtakes XRP in Market Rally (https://www.the-blockchain.com/2025/10/08/czs-yzi-labs-unveils-1b-bnb-builder-fund-as-binance-coin-overtakes-xrp-in-market-rally/) [10] YZi Labs Brings $1B Builders Fund to Double Down on BNB (https://www.coinspeaker.com/yzi-labs-1b-bnb-fund/)