Crypto thrives on narratives. Sometimes, it’s technology driving the story, a new layer-2, a protocol upgrade, or an ambitious roadmap. Other times, it’s culture: memes, hashtags, or even a single number. In the past week, one such number, “4”, has become a market event. A token inspired by a passing moment on X, linked to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, has rallied triple digits and captured timelines. This looks more than just another memecoin pump; it is a live experiment in how symbols, hype, and liquidity shape the future of crypto adoption.
On October 5, 2025, a trader who bought “4” memecoin after a mention linked to Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao saw their position grow from about $3,000 to nearly $2 million, a return of roughly 650×. According to Phemex’s on-chain tracking, the wallet address “0x872” held most of its position even after realizing part of the gains.
In the same window, analytics firms flagged that “4” became one of the most purchased tokens by what they classify as “smart money” on BNB Chain. The surge amplified across social media and blockchain feeds, drawing widespread attention to how narrative alone can catalyze massive price moves.
What gave the token its spark was not a whitepaper or a roadmap, but a moment on X, when Binance founder CZ referenced the number in connection with chatter around the chain. That casual mention, tied to CZ’s long-standing association with “4,” was enough to turn a niche meme into a full-blown market event. Screenshots of the trader’s windfall spread like wildfire, fueling a rush of liquidity and drawing in speculators who didn’t want to miss the next parabolic run.
CZ, the number “4,” and the backstory
Why does “4” carry so much weight? In November 2023, U.S. prosecutors charged him and Binance with violating anti-money-laundering rules, a case that resulted in a $4.3 billion settlement, one of the largest in crypto history. As part of the sentencing in 2024, CZ received four months in prison. Over time, the number became a cultural tag in crypto circles, shorthand for defiance, irony, and survival. CZ himself leaned into it, often using “4” in posts to signal “ignore FUD” or stand firm.
So when the digit resurfaced in a tweet years later, the market didn’t just see a number; it saw a cultural cue. Traders and memecoin hunters were already primed to turn it into a signal. What followed was less about fundamentals and more about recognition: a shared nod to the lore of crypto’s most famous exchange boss.
Market mechanics behind the narrative
Once the narrative seed was planted, the market did the rest. Liquidity pools on decentralized exchanges filled quickly, Telegram and X buzzed with screenshots, and wallets identified as “smart money” piled in early. The hype cycle fed itself: the more charts showed vertical green candles, the more momentum traders joined, amplifying volatility and risk.
Reports show that “4” tokens at peak surged over 500 % in a matter of days, with its market cap touching hundreds of millions of dollars. In parallel, related meme projects on BNB Chain reportedly captured more than $1 million in daily fees at the height of the frenzy, evidence that on-chain activity was feeding directly from the narrative.
This leaves the bigger question: what does “4” actually mean for crypto adoption? On one side, tokens like this lower the barrier for newcomers. A simple, cultural entry point, even one built on memes, can bring people into wallets, swaps, and on-chain activity for the first time. It is adoption through culture rather than technology.
On the other side, cycles like this risk reducing crypto to a game of hot potato. When tokens pump purely on hype, they normalize speculation over substance, put retail wallets at risk, and overshadow projects building long-term infrastructure. Regulators, already suspicious of crypto’s volatility, see little distinction between playful memes and outright manipulation.
Closing thought
The rise of “4” shows how quickly symbols can mobilize markets. It was not whitepapers or partnerships that moved prices, but a single digit loaded with history and amplified by community energy. That convergence of culture and liquidity is powerful , but power can build or burn. Whether “4” becomes just another headline in memecoin lore or a signpost for crypto’s evolving culture will depend on how the market chooses to carry the story forward.
