New York, New York, January 6th, 2026, Chainwire
CertiK, the world's largest Web3 security services provider, and YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs), a global investment vehicle backing long-term founders in Web3, AI, and Biotech has established a strategic partnership to improve the security architecture of participants in the "EASY Residency Incubation Program," safeguarding their long-term development.
EASY Residency is a global incubation program under YZi Labs, designed to support early-stage startups in the Web3, AI, and biotechnology fields who are committed to long-term value creation.
The partnership states that CertiK will establish a dedicated $1 million auditing grant for YZi Labs’ EASY Residency participants, along with formal verification, Skynet Boosting and AI scanning services. YZi Labs will facilitate connections between CertiK and its incubated projects, deepening the projects’ understanding of CertiK's products and services.
Ella Zhang, Head of YZi Labs, stated, “Security is the foundation of long-term success, but for early-stage founders, it’s often a high-stakes distraction while they are still chasing Product-Market Fit. Think of it like building a skyscraper: founders should focus on the architecture and the vision, while CertiK acts as the structural engineers ensuring the frame is earthquake-proof.” Professor Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder and CEO of CertiK, added, “We believe that our collaboration with YZi Labs will significantly improve the security level of projects, providing necessary guarantees for their long-term development. This is not only related to the growth of projects but also to the health and sustainability of the entire Web3 ecosystem.”
This strategic partnership marks a fundamental shift in the Web3 industry from “pursuing speed” to “ensuring security.” The new security incubation model, jointly built with technology and funding, is a clear indicator that security is a must-have in the early stages of startup companies. YZi Labs’ involvement reflects its exploration and upgrading of incubation models and has the potential to set a new security benchmark for the entire blockchain industry.
About CertiK
CertiK is the largest Web3 security services provider, utilizing industry-leading formal verification technology to protect and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts. Founded in December 2017 by professors from Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK applies cutting-edge innovations from academia to enterprise, enabling mission-critical applications to scale with safety and correctness.
One of the fastest-growing and most trusted companies in blockchain security, CertiK is a true market leader. To date, CertiK has worked with more than 5,000 enterprise clients, secured over $600 billion worth of digital assets, and detected more than 180,000 vulnerabilities in blockchain code. Our clients include industry-leading projects such as Aptos, Ripple, Sandbox, Polygon, BNB Chain, and TON.
Since its inception, CertiK has secured investments from 12 top-tier funds, including Sequoia, Coatue, Goldman Sachs, Shunwei Capital and Insight Partners, with a valuation of more than $2 billion.
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About YZi Labs
YZi Labs is a global investment vehicle backing long-term builders in Web3, AI, and Biotech. Founded by CZ in 2017 and led by Ella Zhang, YZi Labs manages over $10B in assets worldwide.
Our portfolio spans 300+ projects across 25+ countries and six continents, with over 65 teams graduating from our incubation programs.
For more information, follow YZi Labs on X.
Contact
Elisa Yiting Xu
yiting.xu@certik.com
Disclaimer: Press release sponsored by our commercial partners.