From $3K to $2M: How a Trader Struck Gold After CZ’s Viral Post (October 2025 Update)

When a Joke Turns Into a Fortune

It started as an inside joke among crypto degens - a hacker stole a trivial amount, someone created a memecoin called $4 as satire, and then magic happened. On October 4, 2025, CZ (Changpeng Zhao) tweeted about it to his 9.2 million followers. Within hours, trader 0x872a became crypto's newest millionaire after investing just 3 BNB ($3,060) to buy 16.86 million $4 tokens. According to, they sold 5.12M $4 for 110 BNB ($118.7K) and still held 11.75M $4 worth $1.88M at peak - a staggering 652x return.

This isn't an isolated incident. Every bull run creates new memecoin millionaires - from Dogecoin to shiba inu to this year's $4 phenomenon. As BTCC analyst Mark Chen observes: "These pumps follow a predictable pattern - celebrity endorsement triggers FOMO, retail piles in, then the smart money exits. It's less about fundamentals and more about crowd psychology." CoinMarketCap data shows the average memecoin loses 92% of its value within 3 months of peaking.

Pepenode: Building Web3's Backbone

While memecoins dominate headlines, projects like Pepenode work on crypto's less glamorous but more crucial infrastructure. Their node-as-a-service platform lets anyone participate in network security without technical expertise. "We're creating the plumbing for Web3," explains founder Elena Rodriguez. "It's not sexy like 1000x memecoins, but someone needs to build the foundations." Their approach has attracted long-term investors seeking alternatives to speculative assets.

The Two Faces of Crypto Investing

Crypto offers two distinct paths: the high-stakes casino of memecoins and the slow-but-steady approach of infrastructure projects. TradingView charts show memecoins can deliver life-changing gains (the top 1% of traders), while nodes and staking provide more consistent 10-30% annual yields. "I've done both," admits veteran trader Raj Patel. "The $4 play was fun money, but 80% of my portfolio is in infrastructure plays like Pepenode and ethereum staking."

Is Lightning Likely to Strike Twice?

While our $3K-to-$2M trader's story went viral, the reality is grimmer for most participants. Blockchain analytics show 78% of late $4 buyers lost money. "For every winner, there are hundreds who bought the top," warns BTCC's risk management team. The token has since dropped 97% from its October 5 peak according to CoinGecko data.

The Moral of the Story

Crypto remains the only market where jokes can become billion-dollar assets overnight - and disappear just as quickly. While memecoins fulfill our lottery fantasies, sustainable wealth building often happens through less glamorous channels. As the market matures, investors increasingly balance both approaches - allocating a small percentage to high-risk plays while building Core positions in fundamental projects.

Crypto assets are highly volatile - only invest what you can afford to lose.

Q&A: Understanding the $4 Token Phenomenon

How did the $4 token originate?

It began as an inside joke among crypto developers about a minor hack, then gained legitimacy when CZ tweeted about it on October 4, 2025.

What made trader 0x872a's strategy successful?

They bought early (before the CZ tweet), took partial profits at the peak, and benefited from perfect timing - a combination of skill and luck.

How does Pepenode differ from memecoins?

Pepenode provides actual blockchain infrastructure services with recurring revenue, unlike memecoins which rely purely on speculation.

What percentage of memecoin traders actually profit?

Industry studies suggest only 5-10% of memecoin traders net positive returns long-term, with most losses concentrated among late entrants.

Are there warning signs before a memecoin crashes?

Yes - extreme social media hype, celebrity endorsements, and parabolic price increases often precede major corrections according to TradingView data.