BNB Chain organized an invitation-only, closed-door meeting in Hong Kong from April 5–6 as part of the Web3 Festival. Additionally, this marked the launch of Season 9 of the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) Accelerator Program. It gathered 16 blockchain startups at an early stage, picked by BNB Chain, YZi Labs, and CMC Labs.
One of those key moments was when Binance Founder CZ and Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin made a surprise appearance. In an unusual display of cooperation, CZ committed $10 million to support Vitalik’s open-source vaccine project.
CZ and Vitalik spoke about the confluence of AI, crypto, and public goods. CZ spoke about applying AI to trade, anticipating liquidity trends, and improving user interfaces. He spoke of an era in which ChatGPT-like interfaces direct crypto trades through on-chain intent.
Vitalik highlighted the significance of AI simulations in DAO governance. He explained that smart coordination had the potential to assist DAOs in approaching existing challenges.
Both speakers discussed constructing scalable, sustainable infrastructure for supporting real-world blockchain use. Their presence reinforced the underlying purpose of the event: to enable builders to build meaningful impact through Web3.
BNB Chain: Powering startup innovation in Web3
However, the two-day event was full of insight and vision. Yi He, Binance’s co-founder, presented a virtual keynote speech related to leadership and team-building. She spoke about scaling Binance, emphasizing culture and mission alignment.
Sarah Song from BNB Chain and Ella Zhang from YZi Labs presented in-depth dives into their ecosystems. Sarah highlighted BNB Chain’s long-term dedication to startups.
Ella explained YZi Labs’ emphasis on founders who address actual problems in AI, biotech, and Web3. She stated that the firm supports those who have a long-term vision rather than short-term hype.
Sessions also included product-market fit, user growth, and fundraising. Representatives from KernelDAO, Hologram Labs, and Bedrock presented on community-driven growth strategies. CMC Labs founder Jin Choo demonstrated ways that founders can use CoinMarketCap for go-to-market traction.
The 16 projects in MVB 9 cover AI, DeFi, gaming, and decentralized science. Some of them include BitGPT, JoJoWorld, and Stadium Science. Startups will pitch at Demo Day, April 24, for an opportunity to get funded by YZi Labs.
Nonetheless, BNB Chain’s MVB 9 establishes the tone for what’s to come in blockchain. With support from industry-leading executives, a robust support structure, and an emphasis on creating real solutions, this program seeks to take Web3 to its limits.
