Changpeng Zhao aims to make YZi $10b portfolio open to outside investors

Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao is reportedly considering opening up YZi Labs’ portfolio to external investors, turning it into an investment fund. The firm mainly invests in crypto, AI and robotic projects among others.

According to a report by the Financial Times, Head of YZi Labs Ella Zhang told the media outlet that the firm has plans to “eventually consider turning it into an external-facing fund.” However, it is currently still focusing on its current ventures that are handled by a 12-person team.

“In AI and biotech we’re still early, we’re forming our team. When we have that expertise, we have the confidence level, we’ll open up for external investors,” said Zhang to FT, adding that the shift would entail “a huge responsibility.”

YZi Labs, formerly Binance’s investing arm Binance Labs, is a venture capital firm that invests its fund in early-stage companies mainly operating in the Web3, crypto, AI and biotech sectors. Launched in early 2025, the firm operates as the family office for Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao and co-founder Yi He, who is also Zhao’s longtime partner.

As Zhao is currently in 24th place on Forbes list of billionaires as of August 2025 with a net worth of $84.8 billion, the firm manages his funds and uses them to invest in early-stage projects that are aligned with Zhao’s vision to support emerging projects in the Web3 and biotech space.

If the fund does decide to open itself up to U.S. investors, it could attract more scrutiny from regulators; considering Zhao has not received a formal pardon from President Trump after he was imprisoned for four months last year.

In 2023, Zhao pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of failure to protect against money laundering. Meanwhile, Binance pleaded guilty to criminal charges linked to money laundering and breaching international financial sanctions, and agreed to pay a fine of more than $4.3b.

Why did Changpeng Zhao establish YZi Labs?

After finishing his sentence in prison, Changpeng Zhao emerged with a new goal in mind: to invest and mentor early-stage projects in artificial intelligence, robotics and biotechnology.

“I can help them with funding, with advice, with coaching, mentoring if they want it with access to other resources, connections,” said CZ in an interview he did when he was fresh out of the slammer.

The way he would go about it was through transforming Binance Labs into a family office under the name YZi Labs. Under YZi Labs, CZ planned to refine the venture capital unit’s incubation program, which would include residency initiatives for project founders. The firm would also continue to support its existing portfolio of 250 projects.

According to Zhang, YZi Labs has received pitches from more than 50 projects wanting to gain funding from the investment arm. Digital asset investments comprise about 70% of the firm’s investments. However, there is now renewed interest in AI and robotics.

“CZ’s vision is that robotics will help human beings to do things and their transactions will be [done] through crypto wallets,” she said.