INANCE Labs Rebrands for 2025
On December 31, 2024, Binance Labs sent ripples throughout the space with the declaration of a major rebranding effort and expanded investment strategy for 2025. The venture capital arm of Binance will now make investments beyond primary market investing, into secondary markets, over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, and projects emanating from emerging industries: AI, blockchain, and biotech.
Beyond Primary Markets
Historically focused on primary market deals, Them is looking to diversify its portfolio by delving into secondary market opportunities and liquidity provision. The firm expects a comeback of previously underperforming sectors such as gaming, zero-knowledge (ZK) technology, and privacy solutions, which it believes will progress significantly in 2025.
Furthermore, Binance Labs has also identified decentralized science, real-world assets, stablecoins, and AI agents as areas that will see significant scale, with a strong strategic shift.
CZ’s Personal Investment Plans
The announcement also revealed that former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao would personally invest in projects. According to Binance Labs, CZ is looking forward to meeting founders and discovering new blockchain and AI developments.
That move stirred speculation of CZ’s possible return to them, this time in a non-official capacity. In various interviews recently, CZ clarified that although he is committed to continued support for entrepreneurs, he will not go back to leading Binance. Instead, he would guide projects and continue to work on his ventures involving blockchain, AI, and biotech.
A Productive Year in 2024
In 2024, Binance Labs invested in 46 projects, with major cuts across the following:
- DeFi: 10
- AI: 7
- Bitcoin ecosystem: 7
- Restaking: 4
- Gaming: 3
- ZK tech, RWA, Consumer Apps: 2 each
Of the above, fourteen were built on the BNB Chain and accounted for 20% of the year’s investments.
Looking Ahead
With a rebrand on the horizon and expanded vision, Binance Labs will be leading the way in fostering innovation across blockchain, AI, and biotech. The personal involvement of CZ adds an interesting dimension to their strategy for 2025.
