BNB Chain highlights a broader shift in crypto’s next phase, where the focus is moving away from hype and toward real builders, active users, and long-term global adoption. Infrastructure alone is no longer enough. Today’s leading networks are expected to support developers from idea to launch, connect them with users early, and scale effectively across diverse regions.
At Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, we spoke with Nina Rong, newly appointed Executive Director of Growth at BNB Chain, about how the network is positioning itself for this new era and what role developers and communities play in its strategy.
Why BNB Chain stood out
For Rong, stepping into the role was a natural fit. She sees BNB Chain as one of the few ecosystems capable of onboarding the next billion Web3 users. Backed by a strong engineering culture, the network has spent the past five years improving its core performance, cutting gas fees by 300 times and boosting throughput by 40 times.
BNB Chain’s longevity also matters. While many blockchains launched and faded within months, BNB Chain has been active for over half a decade and recently crossed 700 million unique wallets. That kind of adoption, Rong says, reflects deep market trust and a loyal mix of retail users, developers and institutional partners.
Lessons from Arbitrum and engineering roots
Before joining BNB Chain, Rong led partnerships at the Arbitrum Foundation and worked closely with Offchain Labs. Those experiences shaped her belief in a “win-win” ecosystem model, where developers, infrastructure providers and users all benefit together.
Her engineering background also plays a key role. Rong believes technical innovation deserves more recognition, especially from retail users. Clear communication between builders and users, she says, helps people better appreciate the technology that keeps crypto moving forward.
Supporting developers from idea to market
Developer growth is a major pillar of BNB Chain’s strategy. The network already runs multiple hackathons each year, both online and offline, supported by experienced mentors and founders.
This year, BNB Chain is introducing BNB Trenches, a new initiative designed to help teams turn hackathon ideas into market-ready products. The program fills the gap between hackathons and incubators, offering support before teams are ready for full-scale acceleration.
On the funding side, YZi Labs has committed $1 billion to support the ecosystem. Rong’s goal is to ensure builders have continuous support at every stage, while also giving them early exposure to BNB Chain’s large retail user base, even before token launches.
Expanding with a local-first mindset
Global expansion is another priority. BNB Chain has added community managers in Korea, India and Argentina, focusing on local representation rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Different regions have different strengths, from developer-heavy communities in Argentina to trader-driven markets in Korea.
Asia remains BNB Chain’s home base, but the network is expanding aggressively into North America, South America and Europe. Rong believes Asian entrepreneurs, in particular, excel at taking early-stage ideas to mass adoption, a strength BNB Chain plans to leverage.
Builders, trends and long-term thinking
Rong avoids dismissing emerging trends, including AI in crypto. Instead of chasing buzz, she watches for real traction. Crypto moves fast, she says, and flexibility is key.
When it comes to the next generation of Web3 builders, Rong highlights self-learning, curiosity and ownership. With no formal Web3 career path, the most successful builders are those who treat their careers like startups and take initiative beyond their assigned roles.
Looking ahead to 2026, Rong doesn’t try to predict market cycles. Instead, she focuses on preparedness. “We have plans for good markets and bad markets,” she said. “Volatility is part of the game.”
For Rong, success ultimately means seeing the ecosystem work together, developers, users and institutions building in harmony. That collaborative, ecosystem-first mindset is what she hopes to strengthen during her time at BNB Chain.
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