U.S. CPI: +2.9% YEAR-OVER-YEAR (EST. +2.9%); U.S. CORE CPI: +3.2% YEAR-OVER-YEAR (EST. +3.3%)

According to BIT (bit.com) market data, U.S. stocks closed lower across the board on Monday (September 28), with all three major indices declining: the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.67%, the S&P 500 dropped 0.77%, and the Nasdaq slipped 0.92%. Semiconductor stocks saw more losers than gainers. Arm (ARM) plunged 8.70%, Qualcomm (QCOM) slid 7.17%, Intel (INTC) decreased 5.67%, Marvell Technology (MRVL) fell 3.83%, AMD dropped 3.61%, while NVIDIA (NVDA) advanced 1.68%. The storage sector mostly retreated: SK Hynix (SKHY) declined 5.03%, SanDisk (SNDK) fell 3.65%, Micron Technology (MU) dropped 2.62%, Western Digital (WDC) slipped 0.78%. All optical communication concept stocks fell across the board: Credo (CRDO) plunged 8.67%, Coherent (COHR) slid 4.52%, Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) dropped 4.52%, Marvell Technology (MRVL) fell 3.83%, Astera Labs (ALAB) slipped 3.65%. Neocloud concept stocks trended lower across the board: Applied Digital (APLD) declined 6.55%, Cipher Digital (CIFR) fell 5.58%, IREN dropped 5.45%, Core Scientific (CORZ) slid 4.73%, Galaxy Digital (GLXY) fell 4.25%.

Crypto exchange and wallet service provider Blockchain.com plans to raise around $500 million via an initial public offering (IPO) this year, targeting a valuation of between $4 billion and $6 billion. The firm is also open to a smaller offering if needed to complete the listing. This valuation is significantly lower than the $14 billion it reached during the last crypto market peak in 2022. Blockchain.com confidentially filed a draft registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May this year to prepare for the potential IPO, though it did not disclose the number of shares to be offered or a price range at that time. The listing plan comes as the crypto market rebounds, with capital market financing channels for related companies starting to reopen. Bitcoin has rallied more than 30% since mid-August. However, the IPO environment for crypto firms remains challenging, as shares of recently listed firms Gemini, BitGo, and eToro have still fallen by roughly 50% to 80% from their post-IPO highs.

According to GMGN data, the market capitalization of Meme token Bundle Cat (BUN) on Robinhood Chain briefly surged past $110 million, hitting a new all-time high before pulling back to $109 million. It has risen 57.2% in the past 24 hours, with trading volume reaching $2.9 million. Bundle Cat (BUN) is the mascot of Mosh and its first experimental token. Mosh is an experimental token issuance mechanism not yet fully launched on Robinhood Chain, and BUN marks its first test run. Mosh is a protocol layered on top of the Robinhood Chain launch platform, centered on the fair launch narrative of "community lockups + AI market making". Note: This token is not equivalent to a finalized governance token; official endorsement remains to be seen, and investors should exercise caution. BlockBeats reminds users that Meme tokens generally lack real use cases, are highly volatile, and investors should approach them with caution.

Beating AI News Flash: A prospectus filed by Anthropic shows the AI startup outlined plans for transformative artificial intelligence technology in its pitch to IPO investors. The document reveals Anthropic’s fiscal 2025 revenue hit $4.59 billion, a 1,088% year-over-year increase, though the company posted an operating loss of more than $8 billion after deducting liability impairment charges primarily related to prior financing rounds. Anthropic noted nearly a quarter of last year’s revenue came from just two clients, and warned in its risk factors that many of its largest customers have not signed long-term contracts, exposing the firm to potential future spending cuts or terminations. This may lead investors to exercise greater caution when valuing high-growth companies at elevated valuations. Recent sell-offs in AI and chip stocks have weighed on the sector, and Anthropic’s upcoming IPO will further test whether market enthusiasm for AI investment can withstand closer scrutiny. As of December 31, 2025, Anthropic held total cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments of $20.28 billion. The prospectus also states Anthropic plans to invest $518 billion in cloud computing, compute resources, and infrastructure commitments over the next year.

According to Al Jazeera, U.S. President Donald Trump is open to considering easing sanctions on Iran and unfreezing Iranian funds if "specific progress" is made on the Iran nuclear issue. U.S. officials said the U.S. and Iran are holding "positive and constructive" discussions via intermediaries, but no deal will be reached if the nuclear issue is not resolved. The official added that Iran has signaled some flexibility on the nuclear issue, though the two sides have yet to agree on the timeline for implementing relevant commitments. Trump previously rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling the plan "unacceptable." Trump said more talks with Iran are expected this week. Negotiations on the U.S. side are led by Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Trump is skeptical of Iran’s proposals, believing Iran is demanding all its conditions be met before advancing further negotiations. White House officials also noted the U.S. is cautious about Iran’s commitments, citing Iran’s violation of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding reached in July, which included attacks on commercial vessels. (Source: Jinshi)

According to Al Jazeera, U.S. officials said the U.S. is continuing active discussions with Iran via intermediary channels; no agreement will be reached unless the nuclear issue is resolved. Trump is prepared to ease sanctions on Iran and unfreeze its frozen assets in exchange for progress on the Iran nuclear issue. Possibly as a result, the crypto market rallied in the short term, while U.S. WTI and Brent crude oil prices dropped by roughly $1 each, hitting $92.02 per barrel and $105.65 per barrel respectively.