Binance Labs, the venture capital subsidiary of crypto exchange giant Binance, has announced plans to rebrand in 2025 as part of a strategic overhaul. Notably, the move follows recent developments indicating that Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) will play a more active role in shaping the company’s future direction.
In the December 31 announcement, Binance Labs confirmed it would undergo a rebranding process next year to align with evolving market trends. “Going into 2025 and beyond, we’ll continue to provide evergreen support to founders who share our vision of building for the long term,” said Binance Labs.
The rebrand comes amid CZ’s increased engagement following his legal settlement and departure as Binance CEO. Zhao is expected to focus on mentorship and strategic planning to guide Binance Labs through its next growth phase.
Binance Labs: Achievements in 2024
This year, the firm invested in 46 projects, including 14 from its BNB Chain-focused MVB program and Labs’ Incubation program and 32 through direct investments. Also, its portfolio was evenly split between infrastructure and application deals, covering sectors like DeFi, AI, Bitcoin, Restaking, Gaming, Zero-Knowledge, Real-World Assets (RWAs), and consumer apps. In addition, Investments also extended to security, wallets, chain abstraction, and emerging areas such as the Move ecosystem and decentralized science (DeSci).
Furthermore, the firm reported a diversified approach, backing projects across Ethereum, Solana, Telegram, and Layer 2 networks, while exploring newer ecosystems like Berachain, Monad, and Initia, alongside established ones such as Stacks, Celestia, and Bittensor. Interestingly, about 20% of investments came from the BNB ecosystem, reflecting Binance Labs’ focus on internal growth and cross-chain opportunities.
2025 Rebranding Highlights
In the latter part of the announcement on X, the venture capital elucidated key aspects of its proposed rebranding in the coming year.
First, “The key areas of focus in 2025 for Binance Labs are crypto/ blockchain, AI and Biotech,” said Binance Labs. In 2025, Binance Labs will focus on exploring innovations at the intersections of these three emerging areas.
The firm also expressed its interest in “underperforming sectors” like gaming, ZK technologies, and privacy solutions production. With the firm’s prowess, “existing narratives” such as DeSci, RWAs, and AI agents are set to gain momentum, unlocking new possibilities.
As CZ actively engages with founders and expands investments beyond primary markets, Binance Labs will back projects with real-world use cases, strong teams, and sustainable growth potential. Analysts believe CZ’s involvement could strengthen partnerships and attract new funding rounds for startups.
In conclusion, Binance Labs highlighted Trump’s tenure in office as a potential boost to fulfilling its goals. “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,” said Binance Labs.