Building and maintaining one of the world’s busiest blockchain ecosystems is no small task. At BNB Chain, that responsibility sits largely with Sarah Song, Head of Business Development, who oversees partnerships, developer growth, and strategic expansion across the network. Speaking at Binance Blockchain Week in Dubai, Song shared how BNB Chain is scaling its ecosystem, where it sees the biggest opportunities, and what it takes to build long-term credibility in crypto.
Song’s journey into blockchain began in 2017, after attending a crypto-focused event hosted by HKUST, her alma mater. That was her first exposure to Bitcoin and the idea of peer-to-peer digital money. Inspired by the technology and the people building it, she dove deeper into blockchain infrastructure, Ethereum, and early Layer 1 networks.
Without prior industry experience, Song joined a major Layer 1 protocol in 2018, working in ecosystem development and ecosystem fund roles. Her focus from day one was supporting builders—helping developers turn blockchain technology into practical, usable products that benefit both crypto-native users and those coming from web2.
That mission eventually led her to BNB Chain in 2023. As one of the most active Layer 1 ecosystems, BNB Chain offered scale, real usage, and access to a wide range of builders. Today, Song leads a 10-person business development team that works closely with developers, infrastructure providers, and partners building across DeFi, GameFi, real-world assets (RWAs), and more.
Looking ahead, BNB Chain has narrowed its focus to three major growth areas: RWAs, stablecoin payments, and AI. RWAs, in particular, have seen rapid expansion. At the start of the year, RWA-related total value locked (TVL) on BNB Chain stood at around $4 million. By early December, that figure had surged to roughly $1.6 billion.
The ecosystem now includes major RWA players such as BlackRock’s BUIDL, Franklin Templeton’s BENJI, and USYC, alongside partners like Securitize and Asian financial institutions including China Merchants Bank and China Merchants Securities. Beyond money market funds, BNB Chain has expanded into tokenized stocks, pre-IPO assets, digital gold, art collectibles, and is even exploring tokenization of assets like wine and Pokémon cards.
Stablecoin payments are another major pillar. Stablecoin circulation on BNB Chain grew from about $7 billion to $40 billion this year alone. The network has launched a native stablecoin, onboarded regional and European stablecoins, and introduced gas-free stablecoin transfers, removing the need for BNB when sending stablecoins. These efforts have helped position BNB Chain as one of the leading networks for stablecoin activity.
AI remains early-stage, but Song is optimistic about AI agents, AI-powered payments, and tools that assist traders with research and decision-making. BNB Chain is actively onboarding AI-focused protocols as the space develops.
For Song, high-quality projects share a few common traits: clear product–market fit, strong founding teams with aligned long-term vision, and a focus on real value rather than token launches alone. As BNB Chain expands into emerging markets across Asia and Africa, she sees strong demand driven by limited access to traditional finance. The challenge, she notes, is understanding local users—something the team addresses through regional events and local partnerships.
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Song admits the early days were challenging. Over time, consistent delivery and deep collaboration helped earn trust and respect. With more women now stepping into leadership roles across web3, she believes the industry is moving in the right direction—and she’s committed to helping make it more inclusive.
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