Binance Labs announced that it will be changing its name, along with expanding its investment scope to include secondary market trades, OTC and other new projects. However, it also mentions former Binance CEO CZ and his plans to “deal with projects on a personal level.”

Recently mail On the last day of 2024, Binance Labs It announced that it will soon be operating under a different name and plans to invest in more projects in 2025, specifically naming cryptocurrencies, blockchain, Amnesty International and biotechnology as the main focus areas.

Binance Labs will also expand its investment scope beyond primary market trades to include other transactions, such as liquidity in secondary markets, and over the counter Transactions among others.

Although Binance's venture capital arm (BNB Bank) It also forecasts sectors that have “underperformed” in 2024, e.g GamesZK Technology and Privacy Solutions, will return in 2025 as it moves to more advanced stages compared to the previous year.

Additionally, Binance Labs predicts that emerging sectors such as decentralized science, real assets, stablecoins AI clients will continue to perform well in 2025 as these sectors are already poised to evolve even further.

In the thread, Binance Labs mentions the former CEO of Binance Changpeng "CZ" Zhao His “return to work” and his plans to invest in industry projects on a personal level.

“With @CZ_Binance back at work, and spending a significant portion of his time investing in the industry, he is eager to connect with existing and new founders, and engage with projects on a personal level,” Binance Labs wrote.

Although this has not been confirmed by Binance Labs, many users took this as an indication that CZ may return to the exchange in a less formal setting. However, it is possible that the exchange simply noted Czechoslovakia's participation in emerging sectors of the cryptocurrency industry, such as artificial intelligence and biotechnology, boosting its chances of achieving the top level in 2025.

In his first public appearance interview After his release from prison, CZ said he is interested in mentoring new crypto entrepreneurs and focusing on his two main projects: Giggle Academy and investments in blockchain, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.

Chow did repeat Several times that he has no intention of returning to Binance or leading a project of any kind.

In 2024 alone, Binance Labs invested in a total of 46 projects, 14 of which are projects built on the BNB chain and from incubation programs. The venture capital arm stated that 20% of its investments come from BNB-based projects. Meanwhile, the other 32 projects are direct investments.

Of the 46 projects in which Binance Labs has invested, 10 projects fall under DeFi, 7 AI projects, and 7 Bitcoin projects (Bitcoin) ecosystem, 4 in restoration, 3 in the gaming sector, 2 in ZK technology, 2 in RWA and 2 others in consumer applications.