TL;DR
- CZ quietly sent 200,000 Binance Coin (about $10 million) to Vitalik’s Kanro biotech fund months ago, only revealing the donation on July 1.
- Funds back open-source, decentralized lab projects, from modular protocols to privacy-preserving health tools, prioritizing patient outcomes and on-chain transparency.
- The surprise gift spotlights crypto’s shift toward philanthropy, validating native tokens like BNB as catalysts for decentralized science and social impact.
Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao quietly transferred $10 million worth of BNB to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin’s biotech fund, surprising the crypto world when he revealed the gift months later.
Unexpected Gift Fuels Biotech Revolution
Beneath the notice of major news outlets, CZ discreetly sent 200,000 BNB tokens, valued at about $10 million at that time, to Vitalik Buterin’s Kanro biotech fund. The capital infusion targets open-source and decentralized laboratory projects that prioritize patient outcomes over corporate margins.
CZ explained that a recent post by his family office, YZi Labs, on people-centered biotech moved him to act. His simple declaration, “just doing my little part”, belies the transformative potential of this high-profile endorsement for decentralized science.
From Private Transfer to Public Applause
CZ’s donation wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment tweet. He completed the transfer months ago, waiting for the right moment to step into the light. When his July 1 post on X finally broke the silence, the crypto community erupted in praise. Analysts noted that by choosing Binance’s native coin over traditional stablecoins or fiat, Zhao reinforced faith in native tokens as vehicles for social impact. In calling on like-minded innovators, he signaled that conviction, not celebrity, is the best magnet for mission-driven talent.
https://twitter.com/cz_binance/status/1940057900300578831
Shared Vision: Decentralized Science
Vitalik Buterin and CZ share a blueprint for reimagining research funding through blockchain. Buterin’s Kanro fund has already recycled crypto windfalls, especially meme coin liquidations, into grants for modular lab protocols and privacy-preserving health data tools.
CZ’s fresh capital will accelerate YZi Labs’ collaborations, where small teams test rapid-response diagnostics and fractionalized R&D crowdsourcing. Together, they champion transparency: every grant, every line of code, and every protocol tweak can be inspected on-chain, inviting global voices to participate in tomorrow’s medical breakthroughs.
Beyond the Donation: Philanthropy in Crypto
The $10 million gift signals a broader shift: crypto is no longer just about market speculation but a catalyst for social good. CZ’s past relief efforts and Binance Coin contributions for earthquake survivors and scam victims prove his hands-on approach. In the meantime, Vitalik’s charitable contributions amount to millions directed towards pandemic research, AI ethics, and wildlife conservation. As crypto philanthropy surpasses $1 billion in 2024, smart money eyes long-term impact.
