Binance Labs, the investment arm of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance, has undergone a rebranding, officially becoming YZi Labs.
With this rebranding, Binance intends to highlight its broader investment focus, which extends beyond blockchain technology to include artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.
gm we’re kickstarting 2025 with a brand new name and expanded investment focus
Why YZi Labs? Pronounced “easy labs”, it reflects our mission to make innovation “easy” for builders and founders to pioneer the future.
We’re dedicated to empowering visionary founders and… https://t.co/DtlFQ6jQoO
— YZi Labs (@BinanceLabs) January 23, 2025
According to the Thursday announcement, YZi Labs will operate more independently while still benefiting from the resources and expertise of the Binance ecosystem.
Changpeng Zhao Leads YZi Labs
The rebranding comes as Binance founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, transitions his role to focus on YZi Labs, merging his own interests with those of co-founder Ella Zhang.
Zhang, who played a key role in the early success of Binance Labs, successfully nurtured the growth of several prominent crypto projects, including Polygon, Injective, Dune Analytics, Certik, and SafePal.
YZi Labs will now prioritize investments that not only generate financial returns, but also make a positive contribution to society and the environment.
This shift in focus reflects Zhao’s personal desire to contribute to a better world, a sentiment he expressed after his release from prison in September 2024.
Zhao said he will continue to invest in blockchain, decentralized technologies, AI and biotech. “I’m a long-term investor who cares about impact, not returns.”
gm, the food taste so good… And what a luxury to be able to have more than one piece of fruit per day!
I know some of you may have a lot of questions. I won’t have all the answers.
Let me chill for a bit. Then figure out the next steps. There are always more opportunities in… https://t.co/9hvgp8Bo97
— CZ BNB (@cz_binance) September 29, 2024
To support this new direction, YZi Labs will also revamp its incubation program, reintroducing a residency program that provides mentorship and guidance to promising founders.
The firm will continue to support its existing portfolio of over 250 projects while actively seeking out new investment opportunities in AI, biotech, and Web3.
“Rebranding to YZi Labs is more than a name change – it signifies an expanded vision as we broaden our horizons to include transformative sectors like AI and biotech,” said CZ.
Binance Labs’ Early AI Investments
Even before its official rebrand to YZi Labs, Binance Labs had already begun exploring investments in the fields of AI.
In August 2024, the firm announced investments in two AI companies to support the development of AI-powered decentralized applications.
The first investment targeted Sahara AI, a decentralized blockchain platform designed to reward users, data sources, and AI trainers who are crucial to the success of generative AI.
This contrasts with the current model, where typically only the company that created the AI benefits.
Sahara AI raised $43M to build a collaborative AI economy!
Co-led by @PanteraCapital, @BinanceLabs, and @polychain, this funding brings us closer to a future of open, equitable, and secure AI through our decentralized AI blockchain platform.
We also saw participation from… pic.twitter.com/f67Vi0nDey
— Sahara AI (@SaharaLabsAI) August 14, 2024
Furthermore, Binance Labs invested in MyShell, an AI startup that simplifies the process of building and sharing AI-powered applications.
MyShell distinguishes itself from other AI platforms by championing decentralization. The company has open-sourced key parts of its codebase and leverages blockchain technology to facilitate model training and ensure fair creator royalties.
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