Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta all report Q1 2026 AI earnings after the close on April 29, with crypto traders tracking whether their combined $600 billion in planned 2026 AI capital expenditure is translating into commensurate revenue and cloud growth.

The four companies collectively plan to spend over $600 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026, with the central market question being whether that spend is producing measurable revenue acceleration.

Bitcoin has risen in correlation with tech stocks and Nvidia this year, meaning a disappointing earnings cycle could hit crypto via the same risk-off channel that equity selloffs typically trigger.

Microsoft Azure growth above 38%, AWS above 25%, Alphabet Cloud above 48%, and Meta advertising margins above 40% are the specific thresholds analysts are watching as proof that AI monetization has arrived.

AI earnings season reaches its most concentrated single session on April 29 when Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta all report after the close, the same afternoon as Powell’s final FOMC press conference. Yahoo Finance noted that capital expenditure guidance has overtaken headline earnings as the most market-sensitive line item, with combined 2026 AI infrastructure commitments of roughly $200 billion from Amazon, $175 to $185 billion from Alphabet, $146 billion from Microsoft, and $115 to $135 billion from Meta.

AI Earnings Results Could Move Crypto Either Direction Before Asia Open

As crypto.news reported, the last time Big Tech AI capex figures landed without sufficient revenue justification, top AI tokens dropped over 20% and Bitcoin fell sharply in the same session, as investors feared that astronomical infrastructure costs would erode margins before monetization arrived. The February 2026 episode illustrated how tightly crypto has become correlated with the AI investment narrative: a miss on cloud growth or a raised capex guide without matching revenue acceleration is processed by markets as evidence that the AI return on investment timeline is longer than priced, which tightens risk sentiment across both equity and crypto simultaneously. For tonight’s reports, the specific thresholds that matter are Microsoft Azure growth above 38%, AWS above 25%, Google Cloud above 48%, and Meta advertising margins above 40%. Any of these numbers coming in materially below expectation, particularly combined with raised capex guidance, would be a negative catalyst for Bitcoin after the Asia open.

The Bitcoin-AI Correlation That Makes Tonight Matter

As crypto.news documented, the correlation between Bitcoin and Nvidia reached elevated levels during a three-month rolling window through late 2025, and data from the Nasdaq showed a materially positive aggregate relationship between tech earnings outcomes and subsequent Bitcoin price action. The mechanism is direct: when AI-related equities sell off sharply on earnings disappointments, macro and growth funds reduce exposure across risk assets simultaneously, and Bitcoin, despite its non-sovereign properties, gets caught in the liquidity contraction alongside everything else that front-ran the AI spending boom. A beat cycle in which all four companies show cloud growth meeting or exceeding consensus, with AI revenue lines contributing meaningfully to that growth, would remove the single largest overhanging risk for risk assets heading into May.

Core Scientific announced plans to transform its Texas facility into a large-scale artificial intelligence data center campus. The project, unveiled in April 2026, targets up to 1.5 gigawatts of power capacity and reflects the ongoing shift from Bitcoin mining to computing infrastructure.

Core Scientific launches AI data center project

The company is developing its Pecos, Texas site into a high-density colocation hub for AI workloads.

Key project details include:

total capacity of up to 1.5 GW

around 1 GW available for leasing

300 MW repurposed from mining

initial capacity expected in early 2027

The first data hall has completed foundational work and is entering the construction phase.

Demand for compute power is rising

The move reflects changing economics in Bitcoin mining. Declining margins are pushing companies to diversify.

Key drivers include:

rising demand for AI compute

increased mining competition

higher energy costs

expansion of cloud infrastructure

Mining companies already control critical resources. These include power access, infrastructure, and operational expertise.

This positions them well for data center development.

Miners will accelerate shift to data centers

The shift may accelerate the transformation of the mining sector. Companies are evolving into infrastructure providers.

Key implications:

growth of AI data center capacity

reduced reliance on mining revenue

increased competition for energy

capital reallocation across sectors

Other industry players are following similar strategies:

MARA Holdings expanding into AI

Hut 8 Corp. building data centers

TeraWulf developing HPC infrastructure

Market reduces dependence on Bitcoin

Core Scientific is scaling its infrastructure aggressively. The company acquired over 200 acres of land to support expansion.

It is also securing funding:

$3.3 billion through secured notes

$1 billion credit facility

The industry is shifting toward a hybrid model. Mining is becoming part of a broader computing ecosystem.

Companies are leveraging existing assets to support AI and high-performance workloads.

As a result, dependence on Bitcoin price is gradually decreasing. The future of the sector lies in digital infrastructure and computing services.

Crypto exchange Coinbase has partnered with real-time cross-border payments firm Nium to bring stablecoin payments to its 190-plus country network.

The goal is to replace the slow and costly SWIFT-based traditional banking services, which can take days to complete.

The transactions can be made in stablecoins and paid out in local fiat currencies.

Coinbase brings wallet infrastructure, stablecoin liquidity, custody, and on-ramps to Nium, as well as handling regulatory compliance. The system will use Circle’s USDC stablecoins. USDC is the second-largest stablecoin issuer, with almost $78 billion in circulation.

So far the partnership is aimed at providing business and banking customers with real-time payment capabilities, freeing them from the need to pre-fund cross-border payments, which leaves large stacks of money locked away in order to make payments quicker under traditional banking methods.

“Fiat and onchain infrastructure will increasingly work together, not in isolation,” said Prajit Nanu, CEO and founder of Nium, in a statement. “This partnership with Coinbase makes that future operational today — giving our clients a single platform to send, receive, and spend stablecoins at scale ahead of a fundamental shift in how money moves.”

Nium has also launched a USDC-based stablecoin credit card to be used for everyday spending at millions of merchants globally.

Western Union launching stablecoin

On the retail side of remittances, Western Union announced that its USDPT stablecoin is expected to launch in May.

The question is not whether Western Union will be active in stablecoin-based cross-border payments, but how fast the firm can scale them, according to president and CEO Devin McGranahan during its first-quarter earnings call.

Western Union has more than 350,000 cash pickup locations in more than 200 countries around the world. Global remittances accounted for the movement of more than $900 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank. The cost of sending $200 is more than 6% on average.

USDPT will launch on the Solana blockchain, with support from infrastructure provider Crossmint.

The US spot Bitcoin ETFs have just closed eight consecutive days of net inflows, totaling more than 2 billion dollars in less than two weeks. A rare streak, which is no coincidence. Are we on the dawn of a new cycle of institutional accumulation?

In brief

Spot Bitcoin ETFs record eight consecutive days of positive flows.

More than 2 billion dollars flowed in over this period.

BlackRock’s IBIT dominates with $167.5 million raised on Thursday.

An impressive streak driven by finance giants

Last Thursday in the United States, spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively gained 223.2 million dollars in net inflows. BlackRock leads the pack, with 167.5 million dollars recorded on its IBIT product alone. Behind it, Ark Invest/21Shares, Morgan Stanley, and Grayscale also showed positive flows for the day.

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A few slight outflows temper the picture: Fidelity, Bitwise, and VanEck collectively lost about thirty million dollars. But these occasional withdrawals do not change the overall sentiment, which remains clearly bullish.

What stands out is the consistency. Eight days straight, without interruption. This kind of regularity is not explained by speculators seeking a quick hit. These are institutional investors deliberately positioning capital with a medium-term outlook.

Bitcoin viewed as a strategic asset, not speculative

Analysts agree on one point: this rotation of capital reflects a profound shift in perception. After the outflows recorded early in 2026, institutions seem to view the Bitcoin correction as an accumulation window, not a warning signal.

BTC, on its side, confirms its relative strength. Over the last 30 days, it has advanced by about 10%. At the time of writing this article, it was trading around 77,505 dollars, slightly down by 0.40% on the day, in a range between 78,300 and 78,600 dollars.

It is admittedly far from its all-time high of 126,000 dollars reached in October 2025. But its market dominance has just crossed 60% for the first time this year, a strong technical signal often associated with consolidation phases before a rebound.

Also noteworthy: Ethereum ETFs, which themselves had recorded ten consecutive days of inflows, saw net outflows of 76 million dollars during the last session. A contrast that reinforces the idea that Bitcoin remains, for now, the preferred safe haven of major investors.

Ultimately, flows into Bitcoin ETFs send a clear message: institutional capital is methodically returning to an asset now considered strategic. If this momentum continues, the question may no longer be if BTC will regain its highs, but when.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States have seen a persistent influx of investments, driven by unwavering institutional interest. Recent data reveals that total holdings in these ETFs now amount to nearly 1.3 million BTC, worth approximately 103 billion dollars in total market value.

IBIT: The Unyielding Leader

Prominent in the realm of Bitcoin ETFs is the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a product of BlackRock, a leading asset management firm. Over a mere span of seven trading sessions, IBIT attracted a staggering 1.4 billion dollars in new capital, comprising more than 73% of all investments in spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. At present, IBIT manages holdings of about 809,870 BTC, which constitutes a significant 62% of all U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF assets.

BlackRock, with its immense asset management portfolio, supports IBIT’s role as a foremost option for investors seeking Bitcoin exposure, especially during market fluctuations that demand high liquidity.

What Drives the Inflow Momentum?

Institutional participation extends beyond BlackRock. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin Trust fund, introduced in early April, has also been attracting significant interest. This fund has garnered 95 million dollars in inflows without recording any net outflows, marking its resilience since launch.

Over the past seven sessions, U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs collectively amassed 1.9 billion dollars in inflows, a record-breaking figure surpassing the prior high of 1.2 billion dollars recorded in March. This influx has been instrumental in supporting Bitcoin’s price rise, which appreciated 11% in the last month, topping the 79,000 dollar mark briefly.

Has the Market Sentiment Shifted?

Despite Bitcoin’s marginal decrease of 0.40% within the past 24 hours, a reflection of short-term profit-taking, its price hovers near 74,005 dollars. The continuous capital inflows into ETFs highlight a robust market foundation.

Beyond Bitcoin, attention is gradually swinging back to Ethereum products. Spot Ether ETFs registered 633.6 million dollars in inflows over the previous ten sessions, reigniting interest among various investor segments.

● U.S.-listed Bitcoin ETFs secured 1.9 billion dollars in seven trading days.

● BlackRock’s IBIT dominates, holding 809,870 BTC.

● Ethereum products capture fresh investor focus with over 633 million dollars.

Even though the Crypto Fear and Greed Index has risen to 46, indicative of increased optimism, it remains in the zone of “fear,” signaling investor cautiousness in the overarching market climate.

BlackRock has ramped up its Bitcoin accumulation, purchasing more than $900 million worth of the asset in just five days, signaling a sharp resurgence in institutional demand. Data highlighted by Arkham Intelligence shows the asset management giant dominating flows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), accounting for over 90% of total inflows during the period.

The buying spree comes at a time when interest in Bitcoin investment products is accelerating across the broader market. BlackRock’s activity not only positions it as the leading force in ETF inflows but also reinforces its standing as the world’s largest Bitcoin fund manager.

ETF dominance signals institutional comeback

BlackRock’s recent purchases suggest a strong return of institutional confidence after a period of cautious positioning triggered by market volatility. Earlier price swings had led some large investors to trim exposure, but the latest wave of accumulation indicates renewed conviction.

By contributing the overwhelming majority of ETF inflows, BlackRock has effectively set the pace for institutional participation in Bitcoin markets. The scale and consistency of its buying highlight a shift from reactive trading to strategic accumulation, often seen during periods of strengthening sentiment.

Shrinking supply raises scarcity concerns

Alongside rising demand, Bitcoin’s available supply on exchanges continues to decline, intensifying discussions around a potential supply squeeze. The report notes that only about 2.6 million Bitcoin remain on exchanges, a figure that has been steadily dropping as institutional players accumulate.

Major holders such as Strategy and Metaplanet have also been increasing their positions, further tightening available supply. Strategy expanded its Bitcoin position, acquiring 34,164 BTC over the past week as part of its ongoing treasury strategy funded through equity issuance, according to a newly filed Form 8-K. This trend has sparked renewed debate among analysts about a looming “supply shock,” where demand outpaces accessible Bitcoin in the market.

Bitcoin also appears to be carving out a new trading range as fresh sources of demand emerge and selling pressure eases. Markus Thielen’s latest analysis highlights improving institutional inflows into spot ETFs, a rising institutional premium, and steady buying linked to MicroStrategy, all pointing to a gradual shift in market dynamics.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says USDT supply has hit a record $188b, cementing the stablecoin’s dominance as broader stablecoin liquidity sits near all-time highs.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says USDT supply has reached a record $188 billion.

The new peak comes weeks after stablecoins hit a combined $315 billion market cap.

USDT now dominates the sector as its float marches higher despite recent outflows.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says the circulating supply of USDT has reached a new all-time high of $188 billion, extending the stablecoin’s lead over rivals as on-chain dollar demand climbs.

In a post on X, Ardoino highlighted the new record as another milestone for what he has called a “digital dollar designed for the masses,” after previously disclosing that more than 550 million people in emerging markets now rely on USDT for payments and savings.

The figure marks fresh growth from early March, when data compiled by crypto.news showed Tether’s market cap around $184 billion, accounting for roughly 58% of a then-record $315 billion stablecoin sector.

Tether’s USDT climbs to $188b all-time high

According to Tether’s own disclosures and third-party trackers, the company held around $187 billion in assets and reported over $10 billion in profit for 2025, giving it one of the largest capital cushions in the crypto industry and allowing ongoing USDT issuance to keep pace with demand.

That expansion has come despite a brief cooling earlier this year, when Bloomberg reported that USDT’s supply posted its steepest monthly drop since the FTX collapse, shrinking by about $1.5 billion in February after a $1.2 billion pullback in January as large holders rotated capital.

Ardoino has argued that those flows reflect tactical positioning rather than a structural shift away from Tether, pointing in interviews to strong demand from users in inflation-hit economies such as Argentina, who turned to stablecoins when pandemic-era restrictions made access to physical dollars harder.

In a February quarterly update, Tether said USDT’s market cap had already hit a then-record $187.3 billion as of late 2025, with total reserves of $192.9 billion and net equity of $6.3 billion, framing the business as both profitable and overcollateralized relative to its liabilities.

Ardoino has also emphasized USDT’s distribution metrics, recently noting on X that the largest single sender accounts for less than 5% of USDT transfers, versus nearly 25% for some competing stablecoins, as evidence that usage is broad-based rather than dominated by a handful of whales.

With the USDT supply now at $188 billion, Tether’s token remains the third-largest crypto asset overall by market cap behind Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to crypto.news market data.

For more context on the stablecoin landscape, crypto.news recently reported on the stablecoin market’s $226.8 billion all-time high in early 2025 and the subsequent climb to a $315 billion peak, both milestones that were driven primarily by USDT’s aggressive supply growth.

Michael Saylor warned: “Think even Bigger.” He kept his word. Strategy has just made its third largest bitcoin purchase in its history, propelling its holdings well beyond the symbolic threshold of 800,000 BTC. A machine to accumulate that obviously knows no brakes.

In brief

Strategy acquired 34,164 BTC for 2.54 billion dollars between April 13 and 19, 2026.

This is the third largest bitcoin purchase ever made by the company.

The firm now holds 815,061 BTC, bought for a total of 61.56 billion dollars.

Michael Saylor accelerates again with a major Bitcoin acquisition

Strategy officially announced the operation this Monday via a 8-K form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Specifically, between April 13 and 19, 2026, the company acquired 34,164 bitcoins at an average price of 74,395 dollars each, for a total amount of 2.54 billion dollars.

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An impressive number. This purchase ranks as Strategy’s third largest historic acquisition, behind the 55,500 BTC and 51,780 BTC bought in November 2024. One week earlier, the firm had already committed a billion dollars for an additional 13,927 BTC.

In total, Strategy now holds 815,061 BTC, acquired for 61.56 billion dollars, at an average price of 75,527 dollars per bitcoin. The symbolic milestone of 800,000 BTC is surpassed, and the next purchase already seems to be in the starting blocks.

The signal was readable as early as Sunday. Michael Saylor had published his now famous “Orange Dots” chart on X, accompanied by three words: “Think even Bigger.” Since 2020, this chart invariably precedes a purchase announcement within 48 hours. The markets did not get it wrong.

STRC, the financial engine behind the accumulation machine

The financing method for this acquisition deserves attention. Of the 2.54 billion committed, 2.18 billion, or 85.7%, come from the preferred stock STRC, Strategy’s variable dividend share. The remaining 366 million were raised through sales of Class A common shares (MSTR).

STRC also broke several records during the period. On April 13, Strategy recorded a historic day with about 7,741 BTC bought in a single session, thanks to the sale of 11.9 million shares through its ATM program.

The next day, it already surpassed this record with an additional 9,364 BTC. Over these two days alone, the cumulative volume reached 17,204 BTC, a 518% increase compared to the average of the previous four weeks.

This mechanism is at the heart of the Saylor machine: raising capital through innovative financial instruments, then deploying it massively into Bitcoin, without diluting historical shareholders, without touching common shares.

Strategy also announced Friday its intention to submit to a shareholder vote, at the annual meeting on June 8, a switch to STRC dividends paid twice a month.

Phong Le, CEO of the company, plainly embraces the ambition: “We would be the only preferred company in the world to pay semi-monthly dividends.” A world first that would also strengthen the share’s attractiveness to institutional investors.

In short, 815,061 BTC in portfolio, 61.56 billion dollars invested, a seasoned financing model, and still available liquidity: Strategy is not slowing down. Michael Saylor’s firm continues to redefine what it means to hold bitcoin at an institutional scale. The next orange chart will, unsurprisingly, point even higher.

Strategy is planning to switch to semi-monthly payouts for its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC). In its Friday announcement, the company stated that the change would reduce the dead time between dividends, allowing investors to compound their gains more quickly, stabilize stock prices, and attract more investors.

On X, founder Michael Saylor reaffirmed, “These proposed changes are intended to stabilize price, dampen cyclicality, drive liquidity, and grow demand.” He added that the change would not alter STRC’s dividend responsibilities or its current annual payout rate of 11.5%.

Momentum behind the preferred stock has accelerated sharply. STRC recorded roughly $1.1 billion in daily trading volume on April 13, a new high that highlights deepening liquidity and institutional participation. The surge represents a significant jump from its historical averages and signals that the instrument is becoming a central vehicle for capital flows into Strategy’s broader Bitcoin-focused financial model.

Market participants say the updated payout cadence could improve liquidity and trading engagement around STRC, particularly as institutional interest in crypto-linked yield products continues to grow.

STRC’s total value climbed to $6.4 billion

Shareholders are set to vote on the STRC stock dividend update by June 8. So far, the STRC stock has become a massive hit, with total value ballooning to $6.4 billion. Volatility is now 2.1% over the last two months, significantly below the 13% recorded in the first eight months after launch. Saylor and his team say semi-monthly payments could bring it down even more.

More recently, Saylor also acknowledged that STRC has become a central source of funding for the company’s purchase strategy. Earlier in the week, the company bought 13,927 BTC for around $1 billion, pushing total holdings to 780,897 BTC, all backed by the sale of over 10 million STRC shares.

Aside from STRC, Strategy has also introduced other preferred stocks—STRF (Strife), STRE (Stream), STRK (Strike), and STRD (Stride)—to finance its Bitcoin purchase strategy, and unlike STRC, they feature fixed payout rates.

Strategy shares surged on Friday after Middle East geopolitical tensions eased

On Friday, Strategy shares surged as peace prospects in the Middle East sent Bitcoin higher. Iran’s foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, had assured the world that cargo ships could pass through the Strait of Hormuz without incident during the 10-day truce, which led to a rise in asset prices.

MSTR shares advanced 11.8% as Bitcoin gained 3% to $77,400, marking its highest level since mid-January. The uptick offered some relief to Strategy, which had been under strain as unrealized losses climbed into the billions amid Bitcoin’s fall to $65,600.

Following the gains, Saylor also posted on X an apparent AI-generated image of him shirtless on a luxury yacht, wearing orange shorts, with the words “Bitcoin and chill.”

However, IG Group Market Analyst Alex Rudolph noted that, even with the ceasefire news, a quick rally won’t solve underlying problems such as weak crypto demand and traders’ nervous mood. For the past six months, Strategy’s stock has been on a downward slide, losing 42% of its value from a $279 peak.

Last year, traders were worried that if the company’s stock kept crashing, they’d have to dump their Bitcoin, which would tank the whole market. Moreover, Strategy’s use of STRC had heightened concerns for some, given that billions in dividends have created lasting cost burdens for the firm.

Bitwise Senior Investment Strategist Juan Leon even commented, “Because they have such a large stockpile, they are starting to become a gorilla that can move the market. It adds more psychological pressure to the downside than to the upside, because the worry for investors becomes ever greater when they’re underwater.”