“Former Binance CEO CZ’s YZi Labs Shifts Focus Towards New Investors”

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao’s $10 billion investment firm YZi Labs is contemplating initiatives to open the fund to outside resources and external contributors.

YZi Labs oversees Zhao’s personal wealth and investments from several early Binance participants, including co-founder Yi He. The fund accepted approximately $300 million in outside investment in 2022, but subsequently returned part of it, citing the excessive volume of capital already being managed.

“There’s consistently a significant amount of external investors intrigued,” Ella Zhang, who leads the fund, stated to the Financial Times. “We will ultimately contemplate transforming it into an external-facing fund. We just believe it’s not quite the right time.”

YZi Labs’ portfolio encompasses notable crypto and Web3 initiatives such as Aptos Labs, Polygon, 1inch Network, Sky Mavis, along with infrastructure and security enterprises like LayerZero, Mysten Labs, and CertiK. It comprises over 230 firms within its portfolio, as reported by Dealroom.

Related: Standard Chartered’s venture branch to collect $250M for digital asset fund: Report

SEC requests private demonstration of YZi Labs portfolio

Zhang informed the FT that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently sought a private demonstration of companies supported by YZi Labs, after its chair missed the fund’s demonstration day at the New York Stock Exchange, indicating a more crypto-accepting approach from US regulators during the Trump administration.

“Paul Atkins and other commissioners are very receptive,” she remarked. Atkins has been the chair of the SEC since April 2025.

Zhao stepped down from Binance last year after admitting guilt to a US criminal accusation regarding the failure to enforce Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.

He served a four-month incarceration and is presently seeking clemency from US President Donald Trump. Notwithstanding his departure, he remains Binance’s principal shareholder.

Cointelegraph reached out to YZi Labs for feedback, but had not received a reply by the time of publication.

Related: Institutional interest increases with new crypto treasuries and SEC reforms: Finance Redefined

Galaxy Digital’s inaugural external fund secures $175 million

YZi Labs’ consideration of external investors arises amid growing interest for crypto-centered investment funds. In June, Galaxy Digital secured $175 million for its first externally financed venture fund. The fund surpassed its initial target of $150 million.