BNB News Today: Hacked, Rebranded, Hyped: $4 Memecoin's $200M Surge Challenges Crypto Norms

The cryptocurrency market witnessed an extraordinary surge in October 2025 as the memecoin "$4" experienced a meteoric rise, driven by a combination of community action and high-profile endorsements. A single trader's $3,000 investment in the token ballooned to nearly $2 million within hours, capitalizing on a 652x return. The trader, identified via blockchain analytics, purchased 16.86 million units of $4 for 3 BNB ($3,060) and later sold 5.12 million tokens for 110 BNB ($118,700), retaining 11.75 million tokens valued at $1.88 million . This case study underscores the extreme volatility and speculative nature of memecoins, where rapid price movements can generate life-changing profits-or losses-in a short span.

The catalyst for the $4 memecoin's surge was a series of cryptic social media posts by Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder of Binance. Following a BNB Chain hack in which a hacker dumped the token for $4,000, CZ's public commentary-often referencing the number "4" as a symbol of resilience-was interpreted by the community as tacit support. The token's price surged over 500% in the 24 hours following CZ's posts, with trading volume spiking to $18.4 million and a market cap of $17.24 million . By October 3, the token's price had climbed to $0.1809, pushing its market capitalization beyond $200 million, though it later corrected to $0.1363 and $136 million .

The $4 memecoin's origins were shrouded in controversy. Initially created by a hacker exploiting a BNB Chain vulnerability, the token was later reclaimed by the community, which rebranded it as a symbol of decentralized ownership. This narrative of redemption-transforming a malicious asset into a community-driven project-resonated with traders, many of whom viewed the token as a protest against centralized control. The community's efforts were further amplified by CZ's ambiguous endorsements, including a post reading "1111," which traders interpreted as a bullish signal.

The token's meteoric rise, however, sparked debates about market ethics and sustainability. Critics highlighted the token's lack of utility and its roots in a hack, questioning whether its value was based on fundamentals or social media hype. Analysts noted that the $4 memecoin exemplified the growing influence of individual figures in crypto markets, where a single tweet or post could redirect billions in capital. "Meme coins live and die by their narratives," said Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart, emphasizing how CZ's involvement turned a niche token into a global phenomenon .

The episode also revealed the broader implications for the crypto industry. As memecoins gain traction, they challenge traditional notions of value and utility, relying instead on community sentiment and influencer dynamics. The $4 memecoin's journey-from exploit to $200 million market cap-highlighted the power of decentralized communities to reclaim and rebrand assets, even when their origins are dubious. Yet, its volatility and lack of real-world applications left many investors wary, particularly as regulatory scrutiny intensifies.

[1] $4 Memecoin's Market Cap Soars to $200M After CZ's Endorsement Causes Controversy (https://www.edgarindex.com/2025/10/03/4-memecoins-market-cap-soars-to-200m-after-czs-endorsement-causes-controversy/)

[2] CZ Comments on Meme Coin '4' Price Surge After Hack, Rises Over 500% (https://www.kucoin.com/news/flash/cz-comments-on-meme-coin-4-price-surge-after-hack-rises-over-500)

[3] $4 Memecoin Explodes to $200M Market Cap – CZ's Endorsement (https://www.hokanews.com/2025/10/4-memecoin-explodes-to-200m-market-cap.html)

[4] Trader Turns $3,000 Into $2 Million While Trading 4 Token with BNB (https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/04/trader-turns-3000-into-2-million-while-trading-4-token-with-bnb/)