YZi Labs Invests in MEET48 Through MVB Accelerator, Democratizing Fan Participation in Idol Economy

Main Takeaways:

• YZi Labs invests in MEET48, a decentralized entertainment platform from BNB’s MVB (Most Valuable Builder) Accelerator, to tackle challenges in fan engagement with token-driven solutions.
• The funding will accelerate MEET48’s growth and enrich its Web3 fan experience through virtual performances, idol management games, and real-world events.

YZi Labs today announced its strategic investment in MEET48 (X: @meet_48), a Decentralized Social (DeSoc) entertainment platform for fan economy with Asia’s biggest idol IPs. This investment highlights YZi Labs’ ongoing commitment to democratizing fan engagement and bringing transparency to idol communities worldwide.

Founded in 2022, MEET48 aims to give fans ownership and visibility into their idols’ journey by integrating $IDOL tokens for voting and rewards. Fans can vote for their favorite idols, earn exclusive NFTs, access virtual meet-and-greets, and enjoy premium content, creating a new level of fan participation. Through strategic partnerships with some of the largest South East Asian Idol groups and IPs, MEET48 targets over 30 million fans and plans to expand globally.

In traditional idol fan economies, fans often have limited visibility into how their support impacts rankings or decisions. Control typically lies with agencies, record labels, and media companies, which reduces fan participation and ownership. MEET48 aims to disrupt this model by providing a decentralized, transparent system where fans can directly engage with their idols.

MEET48 caught YZi Labs’ attention after being selected for BNB Chain’s MVB (Most Valuable Builder) Season 8 Accelerator Program – a 10-week initiative partnered with YZi Labs and CoinMarketCap. Unlike typical infrastructure or trading projects, MEET48 stands out with a team blending entertainment and Web3 expertise, led by Co-founder Wayne Zhang (early Ethereum miner, Harvard dropout), Co-founder & CEO Ken Xu (15+ years in media and film), and CFO Yoshiyuki Oe (former PwC Strategy consultant).

The newly secured funds from YZi Labs will enable MEET48 to scale community initiatives, focusing on empowering idol hopefuls from underrepresented communities in Asia, including Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, and beyond. These funds will also support the expansion of the platform’s idol ranking campaigns, co-branded events, virtual idol performances  – including their landmark Web3 Idol voting event and performance gala on August 2, 2025 in Hong Kong, featuring over 300 idols and special guests.

Sarah Song, BD Lead of BNB Chain who oversees the MVB Accelerator, shared: "MEET48 is transforming fan engagement with decentralized, token-driven interactions. Their platform brings fans closer to the idols they love, offering greater transparency and ownership in a space traditionally controlled by a few. This is the future of fan economies."

Ken Xu, Co-founder and CEO of MEET48, commented, “At MEET48, we believe that every fan and idol has the potential to shine. The MVB Accelerator has helped us sharpen this vision, and now with YZi Labs’ investment, we’re even more confident in building a future where anyone can become the idol they aspire to be. YZi Labs’ investment will empower both fans and artists, redefining what it means to be an idol in the Web3 era.”

About YZi Labs

YZi Labs manages over $10 billion in assets globally. Our investment philosophy emphasizes impact first—we believe that meaningful returns will naturally follow. We invest in ventures at every stage, prioritizing those with solid fundamentals in Web3, AI, and biotech.

YZi Labs’ portfolio covers over 300 projects from over 25 countries across six continents. More than 65 of YZi Labs’ portfolio companies have gone through our incubation programs. For more information, follow YZi Labs on X.

About MEET48

MEET48 is a Web2+Web3 Ecosystem focused on idol entertainment and the fan economy. It integrates a growth based token launchpad with AI-UGC applications, leveraging its well-proven idol voting mechanism, with talent incubation to revolutionize the idol industry and provide a next level entertainment experience. 

Disclaimer:The information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, endorsement, analysis, or recommendations with respect to any financial instruments, investments, or issuers. This article may contain forward-looking statements which are by nature subject to risks and uncertainties. Investment in cryptocurrency and DeFi projects involves substantial risk, including the risk of complete loss. This article does not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation, or specific needs of any particular person and each individual is urged to consult their legal and financial advisors before making any investment decisions.