CZ’s Bold New Bet: Is BNB Chain Ready to Explode?

For years, Changpeng Zhao, better known as CZ, was almost synonymous with Binance itself. When he stepped back from the exchange after his legal battles in the US, many assumed his influence over the ecosystem – especially BNB Chain – would quietly fade into the background.

Instead, the opposite is happening.

In 2025, CZ has started openly championing a fresh vision for BNB and BNB Chain: a shift from being “just” an exchange token and high-throughput chain into a foundational layer for prediction markets, real-world assets (RWA), and institutional on-chain capital. Recently, he backed Predict.fun, a BNB Chain–based prediction market that lets users not only bet on real-world events but also earn yield on staked funds, a twist that blurs the line between trading, DeFi, and entertainment.

At the same time, the core BNB Chain team has published an ambitious 2025–2026 tech roadmap focused on AI-powered user experiences, sub-second finality, and scaling to hundreds of millions of users, while on-chain metrics show surging transactions, active addresses, and DeFi usage.

Put simply, the story is no longer just “Binance’s chain.” It’s becoming a broader Web3 infrastructure thesis.

So the big question is: has CZ really changed tracks – and is BNB Chain about to take off in a way that truly differs from previous hype cycles? Let’s unpack what’s happening under the hood.

Who is CZ today – and why his new focus still matters

From exchange king to ecosystem architect

Even after stepping down as Binance CEO following a plea deal with US authorities, CZ remains one of the most influential figures in crypto. Binance paid a multibillion-dollar fine and CZ served a short prison sentence before being pardoned, after which he declared himself “retired” from day-to-day exchange leadership.

However, “retired” has never meant invisible. CZ’s social media posts, interviews, and public appearances still move markets. More importantly, his energy has shifted from centralized exchange operations toward ecosystem building: infrastructure, products, and capital structures that live directly on BNB Smart Chain and related networks.

Legal scars and the “post-Binance” CZ

The regulatory saga forced Binance itself to tighten compliance and adopt a dual-CEO structure, with co-founder Yi He now sharing leadership responsibilities.  This frees CZ to act more like a network evangelist than a traditional CEO.

What exactly changed? CZ’s new track for BNB Chain

Prediction markets: Predict.fun and the “betting as DeFi” narrative

The launch of Predict.fun is more than just another dApp announcement. It signals a thesis: BNB Chain can become a hub for real-world event trading, mixing prediction markets, yield, and social engagement.

Predict.fun, built by former Binance employees and backed by CZ, runs on BNB Chain and introduces a yield-bearing mechanic. Users stake capital to take positions on real-world outcomes, but instead of sitting idle, those funds can be deployed to earn yield in the background.

Institutional pathways and real-world assets (RWA)

CZ has also outlined a roadmap to attract institutional capital into BNB via transparent vehicles and on-chain treasuries, including a US-listed treasury product for BNB exposure and a stronger focus on RWA tokenization and stablecoins.

At the same time, ecosystem partners are pushing RWAs directly on BNB Chain. Nano Labs, for example, launched the “NBNB Program” aimed at building compliant, transparent RWA infrastructure on BNB Chain, explicitly positioning it as a bridge between Web2 finance and Web3.

BNB Chain fundamentals in 2025: is the base strong enough?

Usage, TVL, and on-chain activity

BNB has also climbed into the top three crypto assets by market cap, with the BNB price hitting new highs above $1,300 at one point in 2025.

These aren’t the stats of a chain clinging to life. They look more like a network entering a second growth phase.

Tech roadmap: opBNB, AI, and sub-second finality

When you combine these upgrades with leadership additions like Nina Rong as Executive Director of Growth, tasked with global ecosystem expansion, you get a picture of a chain that is not just coasting on Binance’s brand – it’s actively competing as a standalone Web3 platform.

Is BNB Chain about to take off?

The bullish case: network effect, narrative, and product fit

There are several reasons why this moment could be an inflection point for BNB Chain.

First, the network effect is already there. With hundreds of millions of unique addresses and tens of millions of active wallets, many users are simply used to BNB Chain’s low fees and fast confirmations. That user base creates demand for DeFi, gaming, memecoins, and now prediction markets and RWA tokens.

The risks: regulation, competition, and centralization perception

Of course, this time is different is a dangerous phrase in markets. There are real risks to keep in mind.

Regulatory risk remains high. Binance’s past issues are not magically erased, and any renewed scrutiny of centralized players tied to the ecosystem could spill over into sentiment for BNB and BNB Chain. Even with CZ no longer CEO, the network’s origins and branding are tightly linked to the exchange.

Competition is intense. Ethereum, Solana, and newer L2s are not standing still. They are also targeting RWAs, DeFi, AI-driven UX, and institutional capital. While BNB Chain has scale and low fees, it sometimes fights the perception of being more centralized or tightly controlled than some alternatives.

Finally, investors must remember that BNB’s price has already run hard in 2025. High valuations can amplify volatility in both directions as narratives shift.

None of these risks invalidate the bullish case, but they do mean that “about to take off” should be read as high potential with meaningful uncertainty, not a guaranteed moonshot.

Why this time really could be different for BNB Chain

From exchange token to core Web3 infrastructure

What this means for users and investors (not financial advice)

Either way, it’s difficult to ignore BNB Chain at this point. The combination of strong on-chain metrics, ambitious technical roadmap, and CZ’s strategic pivot gives the ecosystem a credible shot at becoming one of the core settlement layers for next-generation Web3 apps.

Conclusion

At the same time, the BNB ecosystem’s data tells a story of rising TVL, growing active addresses, and strong DeFi and gaming expansion, backed by a multi-year roadmap that targets speed, security, and usability.

Is BNB Chain about to take off? The conditions are certainly in place: clear vision, powerful narrative, real user activity, and serious technical ambitions. What happens next will depend on execution, regulatory tides, and whether builders and users continue to choose BNB Chain as their primary home in Web3.

But one thing is clear: this phase is not just a repeat of old BNB cycles. The mix of RWAs, prediction markets, AI UX, and institutional capital gives this moment a genuinely different flavor – and that’s exactly why so many are watching BNB Chain so closely right now.

FAQs

Q. What is BNB Chain and how is it different from Binance?
BNB Chain is a collection of blockchains centered around BNB Smart Chain (BSC) and opBNB, designed to run smart contracts.

Q. Why is CZ’s involvement still important for BNB Chain?
CZ’s brand and network give BNB Chain a powerful amplifier. When he backs projects like Predict.fun or speaks publicly about his vision for BNB’s institutional path, it attracts builders, investors, and liquidity into the ecosystem.

Q. Is BNB Chain really more than just a cheaper Ethereum alternative now?
In earlier years, many saw BNB Chain as a faster, cheaper clone of Ethereum.

Q. What are the main risks for BNB Chain going forward?
BNB Chain faces three main categories of risk. First, regulatory risk: Binance’s history and ongoing global scrutiny could affect sentiment around BNB, even as the chain grows more independent.

Q. Is now a good time to invest in BNB or BNB Chain projects?
Whether now is a good time to invest depends entirely on your risk tolerance, time horizon, and conviction in the BNB Chain thesis.