Binance’s $10B YZi Labs Eyes External Investors in AI Push

• Zhao-backed YZi Labs mulls outside capital after $10B growth.
• Emerging AI, robotics, and biotech expansion at the forefront.

On September 23, 2025, Financial Times reported that YZi Labs, Changpeng Zhao’s $10 billion investment firm, is considering outside investors as it expands into AI, robotics, and biotech alongside its core crypto assets. This potential shift marks a significant development for the firm, which currently oversees Zhao's personal wealth and funds from Binance executives.

YZi Labs was established in January 2025 after spinning out from Binance and has rapidly become one of the largest global crypto investors, with a portfolio consisting of 70% digital assets. The investment firm is now expanding its focus to emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. Head of the firm Ella Zhang explained that external capital would only be considered once YZi Labs has cultivated expertise sufficient to ensure investor confidence.

Previously, in 2022, the firm raised $300 million from external investors but later returned part of the funds after deeming its existing portfolio adequately sized. Zhang emphasized that managing external capital represents a “huge responsibility,” underscoring the importance of matching capabilities with investor expectations before scaling operations.

Introducing U.S.-based investors would likely bring greater regulatory scrutiny; however, Zhang disclosed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently requested a private showcase of YZi Labs-backed companies, signaling a potentially more favorable regulatory environment. Despite stepping down as Binance CEO and serving a four-month prison sentence, CZ remains the firm’s largest shareholder and closely involved.