CertiK and YZi Labs join forces with $1M security fund for early-stage founders

CertiK, the world's largest blockchain security provider, and YZi Labs, the freshly independent venture arm formerly known as Binance Labs, announced a $1 million audit grant initiative for the participants in the "EASY Residency Incubation Program."

The partnership targets founders still burning through early-stage funding, offering them free security audits through CertiK's platform.

It's a smart move that signals the industry is finally waking up to a hard truth: securing code early beats patching holes later.

The grant covers participants in YZi Labs' "EASY Residency" incubation program, alongside other support services including Skynet monitoring tools and AI scanning capabilities.

Think of it as security scaffolding for startups building their first products.

EASY Residency is a 12-week in-person program launched by YZi Labs to mentor Web3, AI, and biotech founders who are chasing long-term value, not quick exits.

Building infrastructure before the collapse

A $1 million security fund might sound eye-catching until you realise CertiK has already audited protocols protecting over $600 billion in digital assets.

But for early-stage teams with lean budgets, removing the friction of expensive audits changes everything.

Traditional security audits cost anywhere from $50,000 to $500,000-plus, depending on complexity. That's capital that founders would otherwise pour into hiring, product development, or marketing.

Ella Zhang, who heads YZi Labs, framed the partnership with a useful metaphor: founders should focus on architecture and vision while "CertiK acts as the structural engineers ensuring the frame is earthquake-proof."

It's not subtle. The message is clear: speed without security is recklessness.

A sector-wide shift

Professor Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder and CEO of CertiK, said:

"This is not only related to the growth of projects but also to the health and sustainability of the entire Web3 ecosystem," the CEO added.

What makes this partnership notable isn't the grant size but the signal it sends.

For years, the Web3 industry operated in sprint mode: launch fast, iterate faster, and apologise if things went wrong.

We have seen the results. Last year alone, over $2 billion was lost to hacks and exploits. That body count finally matters to VCs writing checks.

The partnership represents what industry veterans are calling a pivot from "pursuing speed" to "ensuring security."

It's the difference between a startup that survives regulatory scrutiny versus one that becomes a cautionary tale.

YZi Labs' involvement here is important because it carries weight as the firm manages over $10 billion in assets and has backed winners like Polygon and Injective Protocol during their early runs.

CertiK, valued at $2 billion and backed by Sequoia and Goldman Sachs, brings credibility that audits from lesser-known firms can't match.

For founders in the program, that's institutional validation that can matter down the road with future investors.

This may not be the flashiest announcement, but it addresses something the industry actually needs: removing barriers to security for founders who want to build properly but lack the budget to do so.

That's the unsexy infrastructure work that actually prevents the next major hack.