VANA price jumps past $9 as CZ joins as advisor after YZi Labs investment

While much of the cryptocurrency market grappled with a steep decline on February 25, 2025 morning, Vana, an innovative crypto-AI startup, bucked the trend with a remarkable 51.5% surge in its native token, $VANA, pushing its value beyond $9.

The token reached a high of $9.67 before stabilizing at $9.37 at press time, a significant rebound from its all-time low of $5.38 just one week ago on February 18.

Although still 75.4% below its peak of $35.23, recorded on December 17, 2024, $VANA has posted an impressive 53.8% gain over the past seven days, signalling a robust recovery.

This upward momentum coincided with two major developments: a strategic investment from YZi Labs and the appointment of Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, widely known as CZ, as an advisor to the project.

YZi Labs’ investment signals confidence in Vana’s vision

YZi Labs, the rebranded successor to Binance Labs, made a bold move by investing in Vana, marking its first venture into AI-driven cryptocurrency projects since its reestablishment in early 2025.

Building on Vana’s earlier $25 million fundraising success backed by prominent investors such as Paradigm, Coinbase Ventures, and Polychain Capital, this latest infusion of capital from YZi Labs positions the startup for rapid expansion.

While the exact size of YZi Labs’ investment remains undisclosed, its significance is undeniable.

Managing over $10 billion in assets, YZi Labs views Vana as a trailblazer in leveraging decentralized data solutions to unlock AI’s full potential.

Ella Zhang, CEO of YZi Labs, emphasized the critical role of data in AI development, stating, “AI is only as effective as the data it’s trained on.”

She lauded Vana’s user-focused approach as a transformative force in reshaping how AI models access and utilize data.

CZ brings expertise to Vana’s leadership

Further fueling Vana’s momentum is the addition of CZ as an advisor.

After stepping down as Binance CEO in late 2024, CZ has turned his attention to guiding promising blockchain initiatives.

His decision to join Vana represents a significant endorsement, given his proven success in scaling Binance into a global cryptocurrency leader and navigating intricate regulatory challenges.

For Vana, CZ’s involvement offers more than just prestige. It brings strategic expertise to a company aiming to expand its DataDAO ecosystem.

Founded in 2021, Vana operates a decentralized Layer-1 blockchain that enables individuals to own, manage, and monetize their personal data.

With CZ’s guidance, the startup is well-positioned to amplify its global reach and refine its ambitious vision.

Vana’s mission to redefine data ownership

At its core, Vana addresses a pressing issue in the digital age: data privacy and exploitation.

Unlike conventional platforms that profit by harvesting user data, Vana empowers individuals through its innovative Data Liquidity Pools.

These pools provide AI models with access to high-quality, user-controlled datasets while prioritizing privacy and ensuring fair compensation.

Contributors to the data liquidity pools are rewarded with $VANA tokens, which also facilitate transactions and governance within the ecosystem.

With fresh funding from YZi Labs, Vana plans to accelerate its growth by introducing Data Tokens for more than 16 DataDAOs.

This expansion aims to attract a broader pool of contributors and support diverse applications, spanning industries like finance and healthcare.

Vana’s founder Anna Kazlauskas describes this as a pivotal step toward “democratizing data ownership,” giving individuals a meaningful stake in the burgeoning AI economy.

As Vana continues to gain traction, its combination of cutting-edge technology, high-profile backing, and a mission-driven approach positions it as a standout player in the evolving intersection of cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence.

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