$3K to $2M: How CZ’s Memecoin Mention Sparked a 650x Flip
On October 1, 2025, the BNB Chain X account was hacked to post phishing links. The incident inspired the rapid creation of a meme token called “4,” referencing reports that the hacker stole only around $4,000. Binance co-founder CZ amplified the meme by tweeting about it, which drove a surge of speculative trading into 4’s illiquid pool on BNB Chain. Early buyers, notably a wallet labeled “0x872,” invested about $3,000 in 4 and saw its marked value balloon to nearly $2 million within hours due to thin liquidity and momentum trading. However, profits remained mostly unrealized because selling in such a shallow market would drastically drop the price. Other fast traders also reaped large on-paper gains by reacting quickly to social media cues. The episode illustrates how viral online events can rapidly create meme tokens and volatile trading environments, but also highlights risks: thin liquidity, price manipulation, and a high probability that gains are lost if sellers move ahead of exit plans. Key advice includes verifying token contracts, understanding pool liquidity, and treating on-screen profits as unrealized until successfully sold.