Key Takeaways:
- CZ pledged $10M to support Vitalik’s open-source vaccine project, emphasizing blockchain’s global utility.
- MVB Season 9 off-site highlighted DAO-AI integration, AI-driven trading, and long-term innovation.
- YZi Labs revealed a values-first, profit-second approach in backing purposeful Web3 projects.
Behind the tightly secured doors of a luxury venue in Hong Kong, BNB Chain’s MVB Season 9 convened some of Web3’s brightest minds last April 5–6. It was not merely a startup incubation but an insight into crypto’s future of collaboration, AI, and biotech.
The event, which was part of the Hong Kong Web3 Festival, brought 16 seed-level projects chosen by BNB Chain, YZi Labs, and CMC Labs together for an intensive two-day off-site program.
One of the standout points was the authoritative presence of Binance’s CZ and Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin at an invitation-only fireside chat.
CZ stole the show by committing $10 million toward an open-source vaccine campaign by Vitalik. This was an actual use of crypto wealth for public health infrastructure. But this wasn’t publicity charity; it was in line with the overall message of the day: creating for long-term impact rather than short-lived hype.
MVB mentor and Web3 specialist Richard Ma pointed out how this meeting represents an essential turning point away from token speculation talk to solutions-focused innovation.
He noted that entrepreneurs today should create infrastructure that’s beyond market cycles, prioritizing actual solutions ahead of near-term narratives.
CZ and Vitalik Outline AI’s Role in the Next Era of Web3
The Q&A session between CZ and Vitalik Buterin was not symbolic at all; it was an insight into the philosophical congruence of previously competing giants.
CZ passionately discussed AI’s increasing role in maximizing trading experiences and quoted examples of interfaces in which ChatGPT-like bots would be able to process in-chain commands in real time. He also talked about deeper implications for AI to analyze market liquidity trends and optimize MEV tactics.
Vitalik, in contrast, brought the topic into decentralized governance. He discussed how DAO decision-making can be replicated by AI in order to remove inefficiencies and imbalances of power that have long plagued decentralized communities.
His words resonated strongly within MVB’s larger story, tools not only to innovate but to sustain. A contrast in vision, yet complementarity in approach, created a template for future tech fusion. Efficiency and scale, structure and resilience.
YZi Labs Redefines Startup Investment Ahead of MVB Demo Day
At the core of the MVB accelerator lies YZi Labs, a firm that’s rewriting the investor playbook. Head of YZi Labs, Ella Zhang, stated during her session that the firm seeks projects that prioritize mission over monetary metrics.
From AI to biotech, their thesis revolves around identifying founders who are building cross-disciplinary solutions that will endure beyond market cycles.
With Demo Day approaching on April 24, all eyes are on which of the 16 trailblazing teams will rise to earn funding and redefine what meaningful innovation looks like in the next Web3 wave.
Related Reading | Ethereum’s Rally: Is It Just a Correction or the Start of a Bullish Wave?