Analysis: Tariffs and Geopolitical Risks Boost Gold's Safe-Haven Appeal, Likely to See Seventh Consecutive Monthly Gain

On February 27, global financial giant Citibank announced it will launch a Bitcoin custody solution for institutional clients in 2026, integrating digital assets into its core banking system. The plan was revealed by Nisha Surendran, head of the bank’s Digital Assets Custody business, at an industry event. The new platform will offer institutional-grade custody, key management, and wallet solutions, supporting 24/7 operations, Swift messaging integration, and API connectivity. It will also extend tax reporting, compliance management, and risk control processes to Bitcoin holdings—allowing institutional investors to manage digital assets just as they do stocks or bonds. Citibank disclosed it currently oversees approximately $30 trillion in assets. The firm intends to initially roll out core custody functions, with plans to expand later to advanced services like asset segregation and collateral management. Industry insiders say the move could further channel traditional capital int

**February 27** Donald Trump's Media Technology Group (DJT.O) is in talks to spin off assets—including its Truth Social platform—into a new publicly traded company. The move follows the firm’s completion of a $6 billion merger with nuclear energy company TAE Technologies. Under the proposed plan: - Shares of the spun-off entity will be distributed to DJT.O’s registered shareholders **before** the TAE transaction closes. - The spun-off company will then merge with special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Texas Ventures Acquisition III. The spin-off aims to separate Trump Media’s social media business from its commercial nuclear fusion investments. The firm hopes to capitalize on surging energy demand tied to the artificial intelligence (AI) boom for its nuclear-focused operations. Both parties emphasize negotiations are ongoing, and no final agreement has been reached. Source: Jinse

**Ethereum Foundation Launches Project Odin to Bolster Sustainable Funding for Core Public Goods** On February 27, the Ethereum Foundation’s Funding Coordination Team announced the launch of Project Odin—a one-year structured support program designed to help core public goods teams build sustainable funding paths, boost ecosystem resilience, and cut long-term reliance on a single funding source. Vyper, the smart contract language, has become the first pilot project to join the initiative. Project Odin will help teams transition from grant dependency to a diversified funding portfolio (e.g., service contracts, SLAs, training) by pairing each team with a strategic advisor and guiding them through three phases: research, validation, and execution. The initiative’s long-term goal is to advance the FRCs model, which funds advanced technical research via a mix of grants and contracts to address the ecosystem’s engineering challenges while preserving the independence of long-term res

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%.