Changpeng Zhao, also known as CZ, made an optimistic statement on Sept. 4. The crypto figure claimed that YZi Labs’ string of investments over recent months will be its best-performing portfolio. The reason is simple: the capital injections entered at the depths of the crypto winter, when many projects desperately needed fresh funding.
YZi Labs, the rebranded entity of Binance Labs operating independently from Binance under the leadership of CZ and Yi He, currently manages over $10 billion in assets. However, the founder’s claim comes with a catch: his statement is purely personal opinion without verifiable performance metrics. No data on acquisition prices, current valuations, or return on investment figures has been disclosed to market participants.
Expanding Beyond Web3
YZi Labs’ funding track record throughout 2026 reflects a shift in investment targets. While the Web3 ecosystem still accounts for 70% to 80% of the total portfolio, the venture arm has begun aggressively expanding into artificial intelligence, robotics, and traditional financial institutions.
Publicly confirmed funding rounds this year clarify this new direction. YZi Labs invested capital in RoboForce, an industrial robotics maker that recently closed a $52 million funding round, bringing its total raised capital to $67 million. They also co-funded BitGo, a digital asset custody provider that crossed over to the public market via an initial listing on the NYSE last January.
In its native realm, YZi Labs’ capital flowed into prediction market platform Predict.fun, payment protocol AEON, and fixed-rate lending platform TermMax. Early-stage project incubation also continues through its recurring EASY Residency program.
Awaiting Valuation Proof
The fundamental issue is that the public lacks any basis to gauge the success CZ speaks of. YZi Labs has declined to disclose the specific funding amounts contributed to each company or the project valuations when the investment deals were signed.
The RoboForce funding case underscores this uncertainty. The robotics firm claims to hold over 11,000 letters of intent for its products. In reality, there is still no evidence of actual revenue or third-party audited product delivery records. The deal’s valuation rests entirely on paper potential.
CZ’s confident stance also comes as the market continues to gauge the strength of the bulls. Bitcoin traded around $79,945 on Sept. 6. While this level marks a meaningful recovery from early 2026 lows, it remains below its previous all-time high. As long as valuation figures stay tightly concealed, claims of a standout winter portfolio will remain nothing more than the owner’s narrative. Reported by crypto.news.
Read also: What Is DeFi (Decentralized Finance)?
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
