Latest news with #YZiLabs
Globe and Mail
29-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
CEA Industries and 10X Capital, with the support of YZi Labs, announce $500 Million Private Placement to Establish Largest Publicly-Listed $BNB Treasury Company in the World (NASDAQ:VAPE)
Upsized PIPE offering with potential to deliver up to $1.25 billion of gross proceeds Offering consists of a common equity PIPE delivering $500M in gross proceeds ($400M in cash and $100M in Crypto), plus up to $750M in cash which may be received from exercised warrants to be issued in the private placement (assuming 100% of warrants are exercised). The proceeds of the offering by CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:VAPE) will be used to establish the largest publicly listed BNB Chain digital asset treasury strategy in the world. $BNB is the fourth largest cryptocurrency in the world, with $100B+ market cap, and provides the treasury with opportunities to generate income and rewards on the BNB Chain and Binance ecosystem, the world's #1 digital assets infrastructure by volume, with over 280 million users in over 180 countries. The BNB treasury strategy will be led by incoming CEO David Namdar (Co-founder of Galaxy Digital and Senior Partner at 10X Capital), incoming CIO Russell Read (former CIO of CalPERS and CIO of 10X Capital) and Saad Naja (former director at Kraken and one of the executive board of directors of global retail brokerage firm Exinity). 10X Capital, who also served as financial advisor to Nakamoto, will serve as the asset manager of the BNB treasury strategy, with the support of YZiLabs. Over 140 subscribers, led by institutional and crypto-native investors including YZi Labs, Pantera Capital, Arche Capital, GSR, Borderless, Arrington Capital, Hypersphere Capital, Kenetic, dao5, Protocol Ventures, Reciprocal Ventures, G-20 Group, Three Point Capital, Propel Horizon, Exinity, Winone, Nano Labs, and several other prominent investors including Olaf Carlson Wee, Rajeev Misra's family office and the founders of BitFury, participated in the offering. The transaction is expected to close on or around July 31, 2025. Louisville, CO, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:VAPE) (the 'Company') and 10X Capital, with support from YZi Labs, today announced the pricing of an oversubscribed and upsized above-the-market PIPE financing, positioning the Company to become the largest publicly traded BNB Treasury Company in the United States. This milestone marks a significant evolution from 10X Capital & YZi Labs' initial announcement in early July, officially bringing $BNB—a top-four digital asset token with over $100 Billion in market capitalization—into U.S. public markets at institutional scale through a dedicated treasury vehicle. Following the closing, the Company intends to begin deploying funds to acquire BNB, creating a gateway for institutional and retail investors to participate in the BNB Chain ecosystem, which powers millions of users and decentralized applications worldwide. Following closing, the Company's management team is expected to include significant institutional expertise, including from incoming CEO David Namdar (Co-Founder, Galaxy Digital and Senior Partner, 10X Capital), incoming CIO Russell Read (CIO, 10X Capital and former CIO of CalPERS, Deputy CIO of Deutsche Bank Asset Management) and Saad Naja (former director at Kraken and one of the executive board of directors of global retail brokerage firm Exinity). Reflecting significant demand for BNB exposure, the PIPE included over 140 subscribers from around the world, led by institutional and crypto-native investors including YZi Labs, Pantera Capital, Arche Capital, GSR, Borderless, Arrington Capital, Hypersphere Capital, Kenetic, dao5, Protocol Ventures, Reciprocal Ventures, G-20 Group, Three Point Capital, Propel Horizon, Exinity, Winone, Nano Labs, and several other prominent investors including Olaf Carlson Wee, Rajeev Misra's family office and the founders of BitFury. The Company expects to be positioned among the largest publicly traded vehicles offering exposure to a single Layer-1 blockchain following closing of the PIPE. 'BNB Chain is one of the most widely used blockchain ecosystems globally, yet institutional access has been limited until now. By creating a U.S.-listed treasury vehicle, we are opening the door for traditional investors to participate in a transparent way. This is a significant step in bridging digital assets and mainstream capital markets," said incoming CEO David Namdar. 'Institutional-grade exposure to BNB is attractive because it is driven by fundamentals rather than speculation. BNB powers one of the largest ecosystems in blockchain — with real network utility across DeFi, payments and enterprise applications. By creating a treasury vehicle, we're allowing institutions to participate in that growth story in a way that aligns with their need for transparency and long-term value, rather than short-term trading opportunities,' said incoming CIO Russell Read. BNB Treasury Strategy & Institutional Roadmap Following closing, the Company expects to: Build an initial BNB position with plans to significantly scale holdings over the next 12–24 months via a best-in-class capital markets program incorporating ATM sales and other proven strategies. Evaluate staking, lending and other opportunities throughout the Binance ecosystem to generate revenue from the BNB Treasury, while maintaining a conservative risk profile. 'When YZi Labs first announced our support earlier this month, it was because we recognized the institutional potential of a publicly listed BNB treasury vehicle.' said Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs. 'With the successful announcement of this PIPE, that conviction is now validated. We're proud to see this vision come to life — expanding BNB's utility and institutional access in a meaningful and sustainable way.' 'Treasury companies have proven to be the cleanest, most transparent gateway for institutions to access digital assets. With BNB powering hundreds of millions of users globally, this marks the right time for a well-capitalized BNB treasury company to enter the U.S. market,' said Hans Thomas, Founder and CEO of 10X Capital. The PIPE highlights a growing trend where publicly traded treasury companies are emerging as a new asset class for U.S. investors, building on the success of Bitcoin-focused vehicles such as MicroStrategy and recent treasury players such as Sharplink Gaming, Bitmine Immersion, and DeFi Development Corp. Importantly, ongoing crypto regulatory bills and signals from U.S. lawmakers are injecting confidence and laying the groundwork for greater market participation, providing institutional investors with increased regulatory certainty. Unlike those Bitcoin-focused and other treasury plays, this treasury vehicle is exclusively dedicated to the BNB Chain, offering exposure to a fast-growing Layer-1 network with strong DeFi, NFT and Web3 adoption. Trading & Next Steps The Company's common stock will continue to trade on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker 'VAPE', with the updated treasury strategy effective immediately following the closing, which is expected to take place on or about July 31, 2025. The Company will emphasize transparency and verification of holdings, strong engagement with the BNB ecosystem and community. Additional updates on BNB acquisitions, treasury growth and governance measures are expected in the coming weeks. Advisors Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. served as lead financial advisor to 10X Capital and sole placement agent to the Company. Cohen & Company Capital Markets, a division of Cohen & Company Securities, LLC, and Clear Street LLC served as financial advisors to 10X Capital. Winston & Strawn LLP served as counsel to 10X Capital. DLA Piper LLP (US) served as counsel to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, endorsement, analysis, or recommendations with respect to any financial instruments, investments, or issuers. Investment in cryptocurrency and DeFi projects involves substantial risk, including the risk of complete loss. This press release does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, or specific needs of any particular person and each individual is urged to consult their legal and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical facts and include, without limitation, statements regarding the potential for and amount of additional cash proceeds from warrant exercises, the anticipated closing date of the PIPE, use of proceeds from the announced PIPE, future announcements and priorities, expectations regarding management, market position, business strategies, future financial and operating performance, and other projections or statements of plans and objectives. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, assumptions, and projections, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors—many of which are beyond the Company's control—that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that may affect actual results include, among others, the Company's ability to execute its growth strategy; its ability to raise and deploy capital effectively; developments in technology and the competitive landscape; the market performance of BNB; and other risks and uncertainties described under 'Risk Factors' in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on March 27, 2025, and in other subsequent filings with the SEC. These filings are available at The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. -ends- About 10X Capital 10X Capital is a next-generation investment firm focused on digital transformation, including digital assets and digital infrastructure. Founded by pioneering digital currency and fintech entrepreneur Hans Thomas (founding team, InternetCash), 10X Capital brings institutional capital to exceptional opportunities worldwide. With capabilities in asset management, treasury management, and capital markets, the firm takes a holistic approach to building and managing Digital Assets Treasury companies around the world, in partnership with top foundations & entrepreneurs. About YZi Labs YZi Labs manages over $10 billion in assets globally. Its investment philosophy emphasizes impact first—YZi Labs believes that meaningful returns will naturally follow. YZi Labs invests in ventures at every stage, prioritizing those with solid fundamentals in Web3, AI, and biotech. YZi Labs' portfolio covers over 300 projects from over 25 countries across six continents. More than 65 of YZi Labs' portfolio companies have gone through our incubation programs. For more information, follow YZi Labs on X. About CEA Industries Inc. CEA Industries Inc. (Nasdaq:VAPE) is a growth-oriented company that has focused on building category-leading businesses in regulated consumer markets, including the high-growth, Canadian nicotine vape industry. CEA Industries targets scalable operators with strong regulatory alignment, defensible market share, and high-margin business models. Following the closing of the PIPE, CEA intends to adopt a BNB Treasury strategy, offering a gateway for institutional and retail investors to participate in the BNB Chain ecosystem, Binance Layer-1 blockchain ecosystem coin.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CEA Industries Stock Jumps 500% After Massive $500M Crypto-Backed PIPE Deal
July 28 - CEA Industries (NASDAQ:VAPE) surged more than 560% on Monday morning after it and 10X Capital, backed by YZi Labs, unveiled a $500 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) deal. The raise delivers $400 million in cash and $100 million in BNB cryptocurrency, with up to $750 million more if warrants convert. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with VAPE. Retail chatter on CEA Industries exploded, message volume on Stocktwits climbed 12,000%, and sentiment flipped to extremely bullish. One user even predicts shares topping $100 by afternoon. CEA said its new BNB treasury strategy will build the world's largest public treasury firm focused on Binance's native token. BNB, the fourth?largest crypto with a $100 billion market cap, offers yield opportunities across the BNB Chain's 280 million users. Incoming CEO David Namdar, co?founder of Galaxy Digital and partner at 10X Capital, will lead the effort, joined by incoming CIO Russell Read, former CalPERS CIO. 10X Capital steps in as asset manager alongside YZi Labs. The PIPE is expected to close around July 31, 2025. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
CEA Industries Stock Jumps 500% After Massive $500M Crypto-Backed PIPE Deal
July 28 - CEA Industries (NASDAQ:VAPE) surged more than 560% on Monday morning after it and 10X Capital, backed by YZi Labs, unveiled a $500 million private investment in public equity (PIPE) deal. The raise delivers $400 million in cash and $100 million in BNB cryptocurrency, with up to $750 million more if warrants convert. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with VAPE. Retail chatter on CEA Industries exploded, message volume on Stocktwits climbed 12,000%, and sentiment flipped to extremely bullish. One user even predicts shares topping $100 by afternoon. CEA said its new BNB treasury strategy will build the world's largest public treasury firm focused on Binance's native token. BNB, the fourth?largest crypto with a $100 billion market cap, offers yield opportunities across the BNB Chain's 280 million users. Incoming CEO David Namdar, co?founder of Galaxy Digital and partner at 10X Capital, will lead the effort, joined by incoming CIO Russell Read, former CalPERS CIO. 10X Capital steps in as asset manager alongside YZi Labs. The PIPE is expected to close around July 31, 2025. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
25-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Meet the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) Season 10 Cohort
Dubai, UAE, July 25th, 2025, Chainwire BNB Chain, the community-driven blockchain ecosystem, has announced the 15 early-stage projects selected for season 10 of the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) Accelerator Program. The long term accelerator program is jointly run by BNB Chain, YZi Labs, and CMC Labs. MVB continues with its goal of providing early-stage Web3 builders with the resources and support needed to thrive within the BNB Chain ecosystem to align with BNB Chain's mission of onboarding the next billion Web3 users. Season 10 will officially start this week online and conclude with a 2-day offline event in NYC, offering participants the chance to connect with peers, mentors, and guest speakers. Throughout the program, founders and core team members from each project will have access to a curriculum covering key topics to address early-stage Web3 project needs, such as tokenomics design, fundraising strategies, building teams, and talent. The season will conclude with a YZi Labs investment based on Demo Day pitches and project performance throughout MVB. On Aug 15, participants can tune in from anywhere in the world to watch the Demo Day from promising companies in the Web3 space as they showcase their innovative projects. 15 projects were incubated in MVB Season 9, and over 200 projects were incubated since projects launched in 2021, MVB continues to be a highly competitive program, with Season 10 receiving over 500 applicants. In recent months, projects publicly announced as investments by YZi Labs — including Meet48 and Avalon Labs — have both been part of the MVB cohort. A selective process admitted 15 MVB Season 10 Accelerator teams, listed alphabetically by sector: AI RICE AI is building an AI foundry that collects data and trains Robotics Foundation Models (RFM) in a decentralised way. Whitebridge Network is a decentralised people-data intelligence layer that turns scattered public records and online signals into trustable, ready-to-use insights. DeFi is a DeSoc protocol connecting user attention and onchain action by turning X into a fully interactive Web3 interface. is an optimal Web3 application abstraction layer that leverages existing social media platforms, transforming them into dynamic Web3 environments. Opsin is a trading terminal unifying analytics, trading and automated strategies on multiple chains. Sigma Money is a DeFi protocol that segregates yield-bearing assets into a stable tranche, designed for stable and consistent yield, and a volatile tranche, which maintains price exposure and leverage without funding rates DePin Bitring is a smart ring for crypto mining & health monitoring. ShareX is building the Web3 consumer and financial Layer for the sharing economy. DeSci dLife is a decentralized human-layer to bridge life science and Web3. Payment AEON is an omnichain crypto payment framework for AI and real-world use. Pepay Labs is a non-custodial, multichain payment infrastructure powering agentic commerce and next-gen Web3 applications. RWA Asseto is a RWA launchpad that integrates traditional finance assets with DeFi. AXC (RWA) is a programmable protocol that connects TradFi to onchain infrastructure. DMZ Finance is a platform for real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and stablecoin infrastructure. R2 is a stablecoin-powered DeFi ETFs backed by real world yields. Sarah S, Head of Business Development at BNB Chain, said, 'We're excited to kick off the 10th season of MVB with YZi Labs and CMC Labs, as we continue to back the next generation of Web3 innovators. This cohort highlights the growing diversity of the BNB Chain ecosystem — while AI and DeFi remain strong, we're now seeing increased momentum from real-world asset (RWA) projects choosing to build on BNB Chain. MVB continues to play a vital role in helping early-stage teams access the mentorship, exposure, and resources they need to thrive.' 'At YZi Labs, we remain committed to backing visionary founders who are building at the frontier of real-world utility and long-term impact. Coming off a strong cycle of in-person engagements in New York — from EASY Residency to builder bunker — we're seeing renewed conviction in supporting high-signal early-stage teams. MVB Season 10 brings together some of the most promising projects in Web3, providing them with hands-on mentorship and the ecosystem support needed to scale. We're focused on identifying teams with strong fundamentals, market timing, and the resilience to build through cycles.' said Alex Odagiu, Investment Director of YZi Labs. 'CMC Labs is proud to continue our partnership with BNB Chain and YZi Labs for Season 10 of the MVB Accelerator Program. With CoinMarketCap's deep market insights and global user base, we're excited to help these projects sharpen their positioning, gain visibility, and scale with lasting impact.' - Rush, CEO of CoinMarketCap. At the end of the accelerator, the 15 project teams will showcase and pitch their projects to investors at Demo Day. YZi Labs will make an investment decision on selected top-performing project teams. Users can follow YZi Labs, BNB Chain, and CoinMarketCap on X for the latest news on MVB 10. *Please note, admission into the MVB Accelerator Program does not equate to any investment in the projects. YZi Labs will make a final investment decision at the end of the MVB program. About BNB Chain BNB Chain is a community-driven blockchain ecosystem that is removing barriers to Web3 adoption. It is composed of: BNB Smart Chain (BSC): A secure DeFi hub with the lowest gas fees of any EVM-compatible L1; serves as the ecosystem's governance chain. opBNB: A scalability L2 that delivers some of the lowest gas fees of any L2 and rapid processing speeds. BNB Greenfield: Meets decentralized storage needs for the ecosystem and lets users establish their own data marketplaces. Setting a high bar for security, the AvengerDAO community protects BNB Chain users while Red Alarm provides a real-time risk-scanner for Dapps. The ecosystem also offers a range of monetary and ecosystem rewards as part of its Builder Support Program. For more, users can follow BNB Chain on X or start exploring via our Dapp library. About YZi Labs YZi Labs manages over $10 billion assets globally. Our investment philosophy emphasizes impact first— we believe that meaningful returns will naturally follow. We invest in ventures at every stage, prioritizing those with solid fundamentals in Web3, AI, and biotech. YZi Labs' portfolio covers over 250 projects from over 25 countries across six continents. More than 65 of YZi Labs' portfolio companies have gone through our incubation programs. For more information, users can followYZi Labs on X. About CMC Labs CMC Labs is CoinMarketCap's selective accelerator program for startups, supporting Web3 entrepreneurs with a range of expert services, including awareness raising, social amplification, bespoke content, and networking opportunities with top-tier ecosystems, VCs, market makers and mentors. To learn more, users can visit CMC Labs.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Aster Launches 24/7 Stock Perpetual Contracts Trading with Exposure to U.S. Equities
Mahé, Seychelles, July 16th, 2025, ChainwireAster, the next-generation decentralized perpetual exchange (perp DEX) backed by YZi Labs, is once again pushing the frontier of DeFi innovation with the launch of a new asset type on Aster Pro: stock perpetual contracts. Traders can now gain leveraged, permissionless exposure to leading U.S. stocks including Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (GOOG), Meta (META), Microsoft (MSFT), NVIDIA (NVDA) and Tesla (TSLA), with more blue-chip names to follow. This makes Aster one of the few global perp DEXs to offer stock-based perpetual futures - giving users the power to diversify into equities without compromising on custody, privacy, or speed. 24/7 Trading of Stock Perps with up to 50x Leverage Unlike traditional brokers bound by red tape, limited trading hours, and custodial control, Aster delivers decentralized access to global equity markets 24/7, without requiring any intermediaries. Users can enter positions anytime, anywhere with up to 50x leverage - no signups, no paperwork, no gatekeeping. While liquidity may be lower outside of traditional U.S. stock market hours, as this reflects the current structure of global equity markets, traders are still able to manage smaller positions on Aster during this period. During Wall Street's active hours, Aster's deep liquidity pools kick in, offering smoother fills and efficient execution. With NASDAQ's plan for 24/5 trading in the near future, traders will get to experience longer trading hours on Aster with deep liquidity and smooth execution as well. 'Aster is about breaking down barriers whether that's asset types, market hours, or outdated trading infrastructures,' said Leonard, CEO of Aster. 'With decentralized stock perpetual contracts, we're opening the doors for crypto traders to access the biggest U.S. equities with the privacy and speed they deserve.' Deep Liquidity And Secure Pricing via Pyth Network Similar to other perpetual contracts on Aster Pro, Aster's stock perpetuals are derivative contracts that let traders speculate on the price of the underlying asset, without the need for real-world custody. Pricing data for these contracts is derived directly from Pyth Network, where an aggregated price is generated from active quotes contributed by multiple independent publishers. This ensures reliable and tamper-resistant feeds for stock contracts and all other Aster perpetual contracts. Traders will also benefit from Aster's high-speed matching engine and integrated liquidity that have made Aster the global second perp DEX by trading volume. Whether traders are hedging a portfolio or betting on short-term moves, Aster stock perps offer unmatched versatility. For example, a user holding TSLA stock off-chain can short TSLA/USDT on Aster with leverage to hedge downside exposure in volatile markets - all without centralized intermediaries, using permissionless trading. Built for Traders, by Traders This launch marks a major milestone in Aster's mission to bridge traditional finance and DeFi without compromise. From a record-breaking first half of 2025 with over $58 billion in trading volume and the roll out of features like Aster Mobile app, to unveiling Hidden Orders, and Aster Chain Beta (a high performance ZK-powered L1 with privacy focus for perpetuals), Aster continues to elevate what DeFi can deliver with the launch of stock perpetual contracts. As the convergence of TradFi and DeFi continues to gain traction worldwide, Aster is leading the charge, combining the hallmark privacy and composability of DeFi with new asset opportunities. Users can start trading U.S. equities with crypto and leverage, with the freedom and flexibility that only Aster offers. About Aster Aster is a next-generation decentralized perpetual exchange built for everyone. It offers MEV-free, one-click trading for crypto with up to 1001x leverage in Simple Mode (BNB Chain, Arbitrum), and advanced tools including Hidden Orders, grid trading, and stock contracts in Pro Mode (BNB Chain, Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum). Aster Chain is a high-performance blockchain engineered to deliver private and non-custodial onchain orderbook trading. Backed by YZi Labs, Aster is building the future of DeFi: fast, flexible, and community-first. Users can learn more at the Aster official website, or connect with Aster on the official X | © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
