YZi Labs Launches $1B Builder Fund to Support BNB Ecosystem Founders

YZi Labs announced a $1 billion builder fund aimed at supporting founders and early-stage projects within the BNB Ecosystem. The fund focuses on BNB Chain-based innovations across sectors such as DeFi, real-world assets (RWA), AI, DeSci, payments, and wallets. Projects benefiting from the fund will leverage BNB Chain’s high-performance infrastructure, low transaction costs, and the broader 460 million user ecosystem.

The initiative is designed to provide capital, technical support, and ecosystem access for long-term founders. It operates alongside YZi Labs’ existing programs, including strategic investments, global events, and partnerships that connect emerging projects with institutional and retail participants.

The Scope of the $1B Builder Fund

The fund offers direct funding, mentorship, and access to YZi Labs’ extensive network. Each project may receive up to $500,000 in initial support through the EASY Residency program, which now hosts the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) track for BNB Chain projects.

Through these programs, founders gain:

• Capital for project development
• Direct guidance from YZi Labs and BNB Chain core teams
• Access to global investors, mentors, and partners
• Exposure to a 460M+ user ecosystem for testing and adoption

The fund emphasizes measurable growth and long-term viability, targeting projects that contribute to the infrastructure and usability of BNB Chain.

BNB Chain Milestones Driving the Fund

Recent network developments have reinforced BNB Chain’s attractiveness for builders:

• Daily Transactions: 26 million recorded, demonstrating high throughput
• DEX Volume: Ranked #1 in trading volume and active users
• Market Cap: BNB reached new highs above $1,330 on October 7
• Maxwell Hardfork: May 2025 update reduced block times to 0.75 seconds and lowered fees to 0.05 Gwei

These technical improvements enhance BNB Chain’s scalability and accessibility, providing a stable foundation for tokenized applications and decentralized finance infrastructure.

YZi Labs’ Role in the BNB Ecosystem

YZi Labs has actively supported the growth of BNB Chain through capital, incubation, and global outreach. Key contributions include:

• Backing projects such as PancakeSwap, ListaDAO, Aster, and Aspecta from the MVB program
• Advancing institutional participation via the BNB Digital Asset Treasury, RWA fund by China Renaissance, and BNB Yield Fund by Hash Global
• Hosting global gatherings in Seoul and Singapore to connect traditional institutions with Web3 innovators

These initiatives have strengthened the network of builders and investors while fostering adoption of BNB-based products.

EASY Residency and MVB Track

Starting October 2025, the MVB accelerator operates under YZi Labs’ EASY Residency as a dedicated track for BNB Chain builders. This unified program combines:

• Up to $500,000 in project funding
• Direct mentorship from YZi Labs and BNB Chain teams
• Access to global investors, industry partners, and ecosystem tools

Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs, emphasized:

"BNB Ecosystem represents the next phase of digital infrastructure, where decentralization and scalability converge with security and real distribution. It’s a living network with global reach and on-chain depth, giving builders the foundation to create products  that have real usage and last."

Applications for the program are open on a rolling basis, allowing founders to apply at any time.

Projects launched through the fund may later gain exposure through broader Binance channels, including Binance Alpha, Binance Futures, and Spot listings, enhancing liquidity and market visibility.

Institutional Participation in the BNB Ecosystem

YZi Labs’ fund complements recent moves by institutional actors entering the BNB ecosystem. In September 2025, Franklin Templeton expanded its Benji Technology Platform to BNB Chain, enabling tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) with compliance and scalability.

Roger Bayston, Head of Digital Assets at Franklin Templeton, noted:
"Our goal is to meet more investors where they’re active, while delivering tokenized assets with security and compliance at the forefront."

These integrations demonstrate BNB Chain’s capacity to handle institutional-grade tokenization and investment products alongside developer-driven projects.

Key Sectors Supported by the Fund

The $1B Builder Fund focuses on several areas:

• DeFi: Decentralized exchanges, lending, and stablecoin infrastructure
• RWA: Tokenized equities, corporate debt, and other real-world assets
• AI: Tools enhancing human potential and Web3 automation
• DeSci: Decentralized research platforms for collaborative science
• Payments and Wallets: Expanding digital payment rails and self-custody solutions

This broad scope ensures that the fund supports both foundational infrastructure and application-layer innovation.

YZi Labs’ Portfolio and Impact

YZi Labs manages over $10 billion in global assets and supports more than 300 projects across 25 countries. The firm’s investment approach emphasizes fundamental strength, measurable impact, and alignment with the broader ecosystem. 

Over the years, 65 portfolio companies have participated in YZi Labs’ incubation programs, benefiting from hands-on guidance and strategic support. The firm has also collaborated with platforms such as CoinMarketCap to share insights and foster knowledge exchange, while hosting global events that connect traditional institutions with Web3 builders. 

Conclusion

The $1B Builder Fund establishes YZi Labs as a central supporter of innovation within the BNB Ecosystem. By providing funding, mentorship, and ecosystem access, the program enables founders to build projects across DeFi, RWA, AI, DeSci, and payments. 

Integrated with EASY Residency and MVB programs, the fund ensures that developers have access to technical resources, capital, and a global user base of over 460 million. These capabilities make BNB Chain a practical and scalable platform for building impactful blockchain applications and institutional-grade solutions.

Resources:

1. Yzi Labs announcement: https://x.com/yzilabs/status/1975822909307560092

2. BNB Price action: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/bnb/

3. Announcement by BNB Chain - Franklin Templeton’s Benji Technology Platform Onboards BNB Chain, Unlocking the Next Era of Tokenized Finance: https://www.bnbchain.org/en/blog/franklin-templetons-benji-technology-platform-onboards-bnb-chain-unlocking-the-next-era-of-tokenized-finance

4. BNB Chain X platform: https://x.com/BNBCHAIN