Binance Labs to Rebrand and Expand Investment Focus, CZ Takes Personal Involvement

• Binance Labs has announced that it would be embarking on a rebrand in 2025, and would focus its investment on crypto/blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Biotech. 
• In its yearly breakdown, Binance Labs disclosed to have invested in 46 projects in 2024 with 20% of its investment coming from its BNB ecosystem projects. 

Binance Labs has announced that there could be a rebranding to change its name in 2025. According to the report, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao would lead and engage in investment projects.

In March 2024, it was reported that Binance Labs had quietly broken away from the exchange and established itself as an independent entity. However, Investment Director at Binance Labs, Alex Odagiu, disclosed that the new entity would continue to use the Binance brand under the licensing agreement. An excerpt of this announcement on the official website reads:

Binance Labs is an independent venture and not part of the Binance Group nor is it involved in any of the businesses operated by the Binance Group (including but not limited to the Binance cryptocurrency exchange).

It is also important to note that CZ is permanently banned from engaging in Binance leadership. However, the law permits him to focus on investment.

Reviewing a detailed thread posted on X, it was observed that the upcoming rebranding would not disrupt the original goal of the entity. According to the post, they would continue to provide evergreen support for founders whose vision aligns with Binance Labs.

Providing a general overview of its activities in 2024, Binance Labs hinted that it invested in 46 projects. 14 of the projects came from the BNB-chain-focused MVB program, while 32 were direct investments.

At Binance Labs (soon to be rebranded), we’re laser-focused on fundamentals, aiming for long-term impact. Going into 2025 and beyond, we’ll continue to provide evergreen support to founders who share our vision of building for the long term. As we conclude 2024, let’s review the…— Binance Labs Fund (@BinanceLabs) December 31, 2024

Binance Labs’ Investment Breakdown

Throwing more light on the breakdown, it was disclosed that 10 out of the 46 projects that benefited from the investment program fall under Decentralized Finance (DeFi), as we formerly reported.

Seven of the projects were found in the Bitcoin ecosystem, seven in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector, four in Restaking, three in gaming, and two in consumer apps. Apart from these, the remaining investments focused on infrastructures ranging from security to wallets and chain abstraction. Projects in the Move ecosystem and the DeSci also benefited from the program, according to Binance Labs.

Adding to this, the post highlighted that 20% of the Binance Labs investment came from its BNB ecosystem projects. A portion of the investment was also allocated to emerging ecosystems such as Monad and Initia and established networks like Stacks, Celestia, and Bittensor.

In 2025, the key areas of investment would be crypto/blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Biotech. Also, there is an expectation that underperforming sectors, including gaming, ZK technologies, and privacy solutions, may transition from development to production.

As we transition into 2025, the Year of the Wood Snake, we anticipate a dynamic phase for the industry. The Wood element symbolizes growth and creativity, suggesting a year ripe for innovation and development. The pro-crypto stance of the incoming Trump administration is expected to foster a more favorable regulatory environment. This shift is likely to bolster institutional interest and investment in the crypto space, contributing to the industry’s maturation and establishing a stronger foundation built on solid fundamentals.