Former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao may have kept his words to a minimum, but the market needed little else. A single, seemingly casual interaction from CZ has set off a chain reaction across the BNB Chain, propelling two memecoins: PALU and 4  into triple-digit rallies within hours.

The soft endorsement, described by traders as “CZ’s soft shill,” quickly morphed into a full-blown market phenomenon. Investors and influencers piled in, pushing BNB-based meme tokens to new highs and fuelling speculation that a “BNB memecoin season” has only just begun.

While memecoins are infamous for their volatility and speculative nature, CZ’s influence continues to prove that narrative power and social signals can be just as potent as technical fundamentals in the crypto markets.

PALU Rockets to $100 Million After CZ’s Interaction

The most dramatic gainer in this wave was PALU, a token affectionately dubbed the “Binance mascot” by its growing community. The memecoin’s breakout came immediately after CZ engaged with a viral meme on social media, one featuring a cartoon version of himself, which also doubles as PALU’s official logo.

Within minutes of CZ’s interaction, PALU’s market capitalisation surged to $100 million, before stabilising slightly below $80 million. Trading volume exploded to $230 million, making it one of the most actively traded tokens on the BNB Chain.

According to on-chain analytics platform X-Alpha, PALU’s pump wasn’t entirely organic. Data revealed that several Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), including @Eljaboom, @Web3Annie and @Sibeleth, had already been engaging with the token in the days leading up to the rally. Their influence, combined with CZ’s implicit endorsement, created the perfect storm for a liquidity-driven surge.

Supporting this, data from Bubblemaps showed that a whale wallet purchased $100,000 worth of PALU tokens just moments before CZ’s post, a move some speculate was either anticipatory or informed.

At press time, PALU remained among the top-traded BNB Chain tokens, as traders continue to speculate on whether the meme-driven coin can reclaim or even surpass its previous peak.

With ongoing influencer interest, a loyal community and high social visibility, PALU’s next leg could see it retest the $100 million market cap, provided retail momentum holds and liquidity continues to flow from other memecoin rotations.

‘4’: The Number That Became a Movement

The second major memecoin to benefit from CZ’s soft influence is “4,” a token that has swiftly evolved into one of the most discussed projects in the BNB ecosystem.

The hype around “4” emerged in the wake of GIGGLE’s earlier rally to a $100 million market cap, which spotlighted Binance-linked meme assets. But “4” carried a different kind of symbolism.

The number 4 is widely associated with CZ himself, a reference to his recurring use of “#4” on social media as shorthand for “Ignore FUD, fake news, and attacks.” For many Binance loyalists, it has become a mantra of resilience and focus. Others have jokingly noted that the number may also allude to the four months CZ spent in prison earlier this year, turning it into a tongue-in-cheek cultural meme across the crypto community.

Riding this wave of narrative energy, 4’s market cap surged past $200 million, fuelled by endorsements and social traction from major players including Bitget Global, Binance’s launchpad project four.meme and influencers like @Aixbt_agent.

As the buzz intensified, trading volume exceeded $100 million, firmly establishing “4” as the new flagship memecoin of the BNB Chain. Although social mentions briefly dipped midweek, sentiment has reignited, suggesting that speculative momentum may not be over yet.

Should enthusiasm persist, particularly with CZ-linked assets dominating the conversation, analysts suggest “4” could push toward the $1 billion market cap mark, potentially becoming the defining meme trade of the quarter.

KOLs, Whales and the Anatomy of a Meme Pump

The simultaneous rallies of PALU and 4 highlight the increasingly interconnected ecosystem of influencers, whales and community-driven sentiment that powers memecoin markets.

Both rallies demonstrated how KOL activity and social engagement precede major on-chain movements, amplifying visibility and driving a feedback loop of hype and liquidity.

Data from X-Alpha indicates that mentions of BNB memecoins rose by nearly 250% across X (formerly Twitter) within 24 hours of CZ’s engagement. Likewise, trading volumes on BNB-based decentralised exchanges spiked significantly, underscoring how soft cues from high-profile figures can trigger chain-wide momentum.

While such moves often attract short-term traders seeking quick profits, analysts warn that volatility remains high. Many memecoins experience steep retracements once initial enthusiasm fades, particularly in the absence of tangible utility or developer engagement.

Still, this latest episode reinforces the BNB Chain’s growing dominance as a hub for meme-driven speculation, an identity once dominated by Ethereum and Solana.

Can the “BNB Memecoin Season” Sustain Momentum?

The phrase “BNB memecoin season” has been trending across crypto circles, as traders speculate whether the current surge marks the start of a sustained cycle or a short-lived hype burst.

Several factors support continued activity: abundant liquidity within the BNB ecosystem, the presence of strong influencer networks and a history of retail-led rallies during bullish sentiment phases.

However, sustainability may depend on whether these tokens evolve beyond memes, incorporating staking, NFT integrations, or utility within Binance’s wider ecosystem.

For now, both PALU and 4 exemplify how social catalysts and symbolic gestures can spark extraordinary market reactions.

As one trader on X aptly summarised:

“CZ didn’t have to say a word, the market was listening anyway.”

Conclusion: The Power of Perception

In crypto, perception often precedes price and this week’s BNB Chain rally is a textbook example. A single nod from one of the industry’s most influential figures reignited meme speculation and injected hundreds of millions of dollars in trading volume into Binance’s ecosystem.

Whether this marks the beginning of a lasting memecoin cycle or merely another chapter in crypto’s social-media-fuelled volatility remains to be seen.