Last week, funds have flowed into #Bitcoin, #Ethereum, and #Hyperliquid.

February 27: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced today that the Fraud Center Strike Special Task Force—launched in November 2025—has targeted a Southeast Asian fraud network, freezing and seizing over $580 million in crypto assets. Led by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the task force includes the FBI, Secret Service, Treasury Department, and other agencies. It focuses on combating transnational scam groups operating in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and neighboring regions. Prosecutor Jeanine Pirro noted the assets will be forfeited via legal proceedings and returned to victims where possible. The so-called “pig slaughter” scam typically uses social engineering to trick victims into purchasing crypto, then controls and transfers funds through fake investment platforms or apps. Interpol previously designated Southeast Asia’s fraud hubs as a global threat. In September 2025, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 19 ent

On February 27, OpenAI founder Sam Altman stated that demand for the company’s offerings continues to grow rapidly. He noted OpenAI will consider going public at the appropriate time, adding a partnership with Amazon could drive new demand and a significant revenue increase. Altman also expressed hope to build a long-term, deep cooperative relationship with Amazon. He does not believe the U.S. should threaten AI companies with data protection laws. (Source: Golden Ten)

On February 27th, U.S. stock markets opened lower: the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.75%, the S&P 500 fell 0.82%, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.2%. Amazon (AMZN.O) edged down 0.44% — the e-commerce giant announced a partnership with OpenAI and invested $500 billion into the AI firm’s new $1.1 trillion funding round. Among crypto-related stocks, MicroStrategy (MSTR) slid 2.63%; Coinbase (COIN) dropped 3.12%, Circle Internet Financial (CRCL) fell 3.21%; Sports Betting & Gaming (SBET) declined 3.61%; and Bit Mining (BMNR) slipped 3.69%.

**Tariff Refund Update** The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) must respond by Friday, February 27, to a plaintiff motion seeking expedited refunds of "illegal tariffs" via the Court of International Trade (CIT), CNBC reports. Trade lawyers say over 2,000 businesses have filed tariff-refund claims with the CIT. Plaintiffs fear the government may try to delay the refund process. Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled tariffs imposed by former President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) were illegal, giving federal courts roughly one month to determine next steps (MacroPolo).

**February 27 – U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows January’s Producer Price Index (PPI) rose 0.5% month-over-month (MoM), beating market expectations of 0.3% and December 2024’s 0.4%. Year-over-year (YoY), PPI climbed 2.9%, topping the forecast 2.6%—signaling persistent upstream inflation pressure.** **Excluding food, energy, and trade services, core PPI rose 0.3% MoM (in line with expectations) but jumped to 3.4% YoY, exceeding the 3% consensus. Structurally: energy prices edged lower (wholesale gasoline fell 5.5% MoM and 15.7% YoY), while rising wholesale service prices and expanded retailer/wholesaler profit margins drove the gains.** **Earlier data showed January’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.4% YoY, near the Fed’s 2% target. But the stronger-than-expected PPI has amplified concerns over inflation stickiness, likely keeping the Fed cautious on its rate path.** **After the release, international spot gold prices pulled back slightly from highs before par

On February 27, OpenAI—the artificial intelligence firm—announced it has closed a new funding round totaling $110 billion, with a pre-money valuation of $730 billion. Multiple media outlets have confirmed this round as the largest single corporate financing in global history, far surpassing the company’s $40 billion record set in 2025. Key investors in the round include Amazon (contributing $50 billion), Nvidia ($30 billion), and SoftBank ($30 billion). OpenAI stated the massive capital will primarily fund three priorities: accelerating AI infrastructure development, expanding computing power, and researching next-generation cutting-edge models—all to advance its "AI for everyone" mission. Post-money valuation is expected to exceed $840 billion once the round wraps up. This landmark funding underscores the unprecedented demand for massive capital in the AI industry, further solidifying OpenAI’s leading position in global AI competition.