YZi Labs Wins Proxy Fight with CEA Industries, Adds Directors Linked to CZ

CEA Industries (Nasdaq: BNC) has ended its months-long proxy contest with YZi Labs, the family office of Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao. The cooperation agreement, signed on June 23, reshapes the company's board and strategic direction.

The deal places three YZi Labs-linked directors, Ella Zhang, Alex Odagiu, and Matthew Roszak, onto BNC's board. Odagiu will also serve as Interim President, giving YZi Labs direct operational influence over the company.

YZi Labs had launched a consent solicitation when governance didn't move fast enough toward a BNB-focused treasury strategy after investing $500 million in BNC via PIPE financing in August 2025. The cooperation agreement dissolves this consent solicitation entirely and forms a CEO Search Committee to find permanent leadership with experience in both digital assets and public company governance.

The companies are also jointly searching for an additional independent director with blockchain expertise. BNC's Board Chair Carly E. Howard framed the additions as necessary for navigating an evolving landscape, given YZi Labs' significant investments across Web3, AI, and biotech sectors.