Vana Receives Strategic Investment from YZi Labs, Binance Co-Founder CZ Joins as Advisor

As the need for data privacy and ownership becomes need of the hour, innovative start-ups like Vana are working towards the realisation of this goal.

A strategic investment has been made by YZi Labs, formerly known as Binance Labs, in Vana, a Web3 data startup that enables users to contribute, manage, and monetize their personal data in a decentralized manner.

Following a X post by the firm on Tuesday, the investment is part of a broader strategy by YZi Labs to support innovative projects in Web3, AI, and biotechnology. The investment size was not disclosed, but sources close to the matter suggest it is part of a larger effort by YZi Labs to drive the next wave of on-chain AI applications.

Moreover, Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has joined Vana in an advisory role, as announced by the company. After stepping down as CEO of Binance in late 2024, CZ has been mentoring and investing in emerging blockchain projects. Vana will benefit greatly from his deep knowledge of building global-scale crypto platforms and navigating regulatory landscapes.

Since its rebranding from Binance Labs in early 2025, YZi Labs has been making significant strides. The firm, which manages over $10 billion in assets, has expanded beyond its crypto roots and now focuses heavily on the convergence of Web3 and AI.

“We are excited to support Vana in their mission to build the data layer for AI and empower users,” said Ella Zhang, CEO of YZi Labs. “Vana's approach to data ownership aligns with the Web3 ethos of decentralization and fairness. AI is only as good as the data it learns from, and we believe Vana is pioneering a user-centric model that could redefine AI training.”

This comes after Vana had previously raised $25 million from leading funds such as Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, and Polychain Capital. Now with the new funding, Vana aims to use the investment for further development and expansion of its DataDAO ecosystem.

In a related development, Vana announced on Monday that Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao has joined the company in an advisory role. This follows Vana's previous announcement that it had raised $25 million from funds including Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, and Polychain Capital.

Vana will use the new investment to further develop and expand its DataDAO ecosystem, according to the announcement. The company also plans to launch Data Tokens for over 16 DataDAOs and attract more data contributors while supporting multiple new DataDAOs.

“We're thrilled to have CZ join us in our mission to build the next generation of Web3 applications powered by user-owned AI models,” said Vana co-founder and CEO Chris Deering. “Together with YZi Labs, we aim to drive the widespread adoption of DataDAOs and empower users to participate in the rapidly growing AI economy.”

Vana is a Web3 data startup that enables users to contribute, manage, and monetize their personal data in a decentralized manner. The platform’s core innovation lies in its Data Liquidity Pools (DLPs), which allow AI models to access high-quality, user-owned datasets while ensuring privacy and equitable distribution of rewards.

The latest investment from YZi Labs will help Vana in accelerating its development, expanding its ecosystem, and attract more contributors to its DataDAO model. It further aims to launch Data Tokens for over 16 DataDAOs and attract more data contributors while supporting multiple new DataDAOs.

The investment comes as the intersection of AI and blockchain continues to gain momentum. Vana's latest funding round signals that the industry is moving towards a more decentralized, user-driven data economy. The collaboration with YZi Labs and CZ's involvement could position Vana as a key player in shaping the future of AI-powered Web3 applications.