CZ and Vitalik kick off BNB Chain’s MVB Season 9 in Hong Kong

BNB Chain officially launched Season 9 of its Most Valuable Builder (MVB) program in Hong Kong, drawing major figures from the blockchain space, including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin.

Their joint appearance marked a symbolic moment of cross-chain cooperation with the new season, which includes 16 early projects in fields like artificial intelligence (AI), decentralized finance (DeFi), depIN, deSci, and gaming to expand these Web3 projects.

Season 9 of MVB is focused on nurturing early-stage builders with direct mentorship, technical support, and funding opportunities through Binance Labs.

MVB Season 9 launches in Hong Kong with 16 projects entering intensive Web3 accelerator program

The offline opening event for MVB had been set to be held in Hong Kong between April 5 and April 6. MVB Season 9 is not just a builder competition—it’s a full-fledged accelerator program.

The selected projects, 16 in total, had the opportunity to gain investment support from YZi Labs and were due to join a 4-week incubation. According to a press release, BNB chain, YZi Labs, and CMC Labs collaborated to execute the 4-week accelerator program.

The program was set to kick off with a two-day offline event in Hong Kong on Apr. 5, which was held alongside the BNB Super Meetup and the Hong Kong Web3 Festival. Vitalik’s and CZ’s presence significantly boosted participants and highlighted the industry-wide push to scale practical and sustainable blockchain solutions.

Across the duration of the program, the founders and core team members of each project were to receive a curriculum covering key concepts for early-stage Web3 projects. This included talent development, team building, fundraising tactics, and tokenomics design.

Finally, on Demo Day, the 16 project teams were to present and make a pitch to investors. Afterward, YZi Labs will make its investment decision based on the program’s project performance and the Demo Day pitches.

Hong Kong Web3 festival in 2025 set to propel global Web3 growth with leading industry minds

Apart from BNB Chain’s MVB Season 9, the Hong Kong Web3 festival has also contributed to boosting the growth of Web3.

Earlier on April 4, reports announced the Hong Kong Web3 Festival would return in 2025 from April 6 to 9 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC), located at 5BCDE. This marks the world’s leading crypto event that brings together the brightest minds in the Web3 and crypto space.

It is worth noting that this event goes beyond a straightforward conference since it brings together leaders and innovators to discuss the future of Web3 and present the newest advancements and solutions in the field.

Past editions have featured prominent speakers such as Cathie Wood, founder, CEO, and CIO of ARK Invest; Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum; Paul CHAN Mo-po, GBM, GBS, MH, JP, Financial Secretary of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

The list of speakers who were to attend this year’s ongoing festival includes government representatives and business executives, such as Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, Paul CHAN Mo-po, financial secretary, and others.

The festival brings together investors, developers, policymakers, and enthusiasts from around the world through a mix of exhibitions, networking sessions, and panel discussions. Attendees explore the latest developments in crypto policy, DeFi, NFTs, and blockchain infrastructure, while interactive zones add a layer of engagement with immersive metaverse games and digital art installations.

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