After officially being released from detention at the end of September 2025, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has returned to activity on X (formerly Twitter). But this time, not as the Binance CEO rather, as a mysterious figure stirring hype across the BNB Chain ecosystem through a series of cryptic, clue-filled tweets.

Without naming specific tokens, CZ often posts lines like:

“#BNB meme szn! I didn’t expect this at all.” October 7, 2025

The result? Meme coin trading volume on BNB Chain exploded to $6.05 billion within 24 hours, marking the second-highest daily volume of the year, according to DeFiLlama.

Tokens like GIGGLE and “4” surged thousands of percent in just hours with token “4” skyrocketing 3,400%, turning one trader’s $3,000 into roughly $2 million.
The phenomenon quickly earned a new nickname in the community: “The CZ Effect.”

Subtle Strategy: CZ’s “Soft-Shill” Approach

Although CZ never explicitly says “buy this token,” his subtle promotional style is remarkably effective.

He frequently references the number “4,” which inspired the creation of $4, a meme token on BNB Chain that reached hundreds of millions of dollars in market cap.

In some instances, CZ even purchased small amounts of these tokens after hacker-related dumps a gesture interpreted by the community as a show of support.

CZ has also praised projects like Aster DEX and received meme coin donations for his social initiative, Giggle Academy. Within just 12 hours, the education project collected over $1 million in donations, showcasing the viral power of CZ’s tweets in moving markets.

BNB Chain on Fire: PancakeSwap Leads the DEX Boom

The meme coin frenzy had an immediate impact on DeFi activity across the Binance ecosystem.

According to DeFiLlama, total DEX volume on BNB Chain reached $6.051 billion on October 7, with PancakeSwap alone contributing $4.29 billion — more than two-thirds of total activity.

This sharp increase even pushed BNB Chain ahead of Solana and Base in daily revenue, proving that “meme season” has reignited liquidity across the network.

The Risks Behind the Hype: Copycats and Scams

Every meme frenzy comes with risks.

Each time CZ posts a new tweet, fake tokens (copycat tickers) flood the market. Scammers quickly deploy malicious contracts, phishing links, and rug pulls to exploit investor euphoria.

For example, after the hype around STAR10 (inspired by Ronaldinho), multiple fake versions appeared across other chains.

CZ even had to step in, warning users that only the official token on BNB Chain is legitimate.

In one case, hackers stole $22,000 through a phishing contract, while one victim lost about $8,000.

This mirrors the Solana meme season earlier in the year, where thousands of investors lost funds to similar scams.

CZ’s View: “Meme Coins Can Have Utility Too”

Interestingly, CZ now seems more open-minded toward the meme coin phenomenon.

While he once dismissed them as mere market jokes, he now acknowledges that meme coins can have utility at least in community building and driving blockchain adoption.

However, he maintains a clear disclaimer:

“I’m not a meme coin expert and I don’t have any official token. Don’t take my tweets as investment advice.”

His message remains simple:
DYOR (Do Your Own Research), stay SAFU, and avoid blind euphoria.

Conclusion: Between Strategy and Speculation

CZ’s involvement in BNB Chain’s “meme season” appears to be a strategic move to revive the ecosystem.

Through his mysterious yet powerful communication style, he successfully drew traders’ and developers’ attention back to BNB, shifting the spotlight away from Solana and Base.

However, the extreme volatility and surge of scams also expose the dark side of meme hype.

Meme coins can offer extraordinary opportunities but also the risk of total loss.
Before riding the next wave, make sure you understand what you’re buying and never invest more than you’re willing to lose.