US-based Allbirds, once famed for its athletic footwear, has announced a dramatic shift in its business model. The company will exit the shoe business entirely, changing both its name and core operations. Moving forward, Allbirds will rebrand as NewBird AI and focus exclusively on developing artificial intelligence infrastructure.

From sneakers to artificial intelligence

The company revealed that it has reached an agreement with American Exchange Group to transfer its footwear brand. With this strategic move, Allbirds is divesting its shoe operation and redirecting its resources into building IT infrastructure tailored to the AI sector.

As part of funding this transformation, Allbirds has secured a $50 million convertible loan. According to the official statement, this fresh capital will be used to purchase the necessary processing hardware and to establish advanced computing infrastructure to power its new AI services.

Convertible loan dwarfs prior market value

The scale of the financing is remarkable compared to the company’s previous business. The $50 million convertible loan is more than double Allbirds’ pre-announcement market capitalization of $22 million. Market data showed a staggering 300% surge in Allbirds’ stock value following the announcement.

A global shortage of AI hardware and rising demand for computing power have not only enticed tech giants, but are now drawing smaller players like Allbirds into the field as well. According to CryptoAppsy, Allbirds’ market valuation soared to $88 million after news of the transformation broke.

Recent months have seen a trend of companies, particularly those involved in bitcoin mining, pivoting toward artificial intelligence and high-performance computing spaces. Allbirds is now joining the ranks of smaller firms from diverse industries looking to seize similar opportunities in the AI market.

Risks and rewards of convertible financing

A convertible loan allows investors to initially lend capital to the company and later convert that debt into equity, typically at a discounted share price. While this approach provides vital funding, it can significantly dilute the holdings of current shareholders, making it a metric closely watched by market participants.

Convertible financing enables investors to first extend capital as debt and later convert it into shares, often at below-market prices, which can cause major dilution for existing stakeholders.

Experts believe Allbirds’ move could lead to substantial changes in its financial structure. However, the rapidly expanding AI sector is likely to attract growing interest from investors, potentially offsetting shareholder concerns about dilution.

Going forward, the market will closely watch whether NewBird AI can effectively secure processing units and build a formidable infrastructure, a critical step for a brand that is still relatively small in the burgeoning AI landscape.

Tether has introduced tether.wallet, a self-custodial digital wallet designed to give direct access to its financial ecosystem, marking a major expansion of its user-facing infrastructure. The launch connects end users to Tether’s global settlement and liquidity network, which already spans more than 160 countries and is used across payments and digital asset markets.

Tether has introduced tether.wallet, a self-custodial digital wallet designed to give direct access to its financial ecosystem, marking a major expansion of its user-facing infrastructure. The launch connects end users to Tether’s global settlement and liquidity network, which already spans more than 160 countries and is used across payments and digital asset markets.

Until now, Tether’s strength has come mainly from liquidity. USDT is widely listed, heavily traded, and used across exchanges and settlement systems. But that strength has mostly stayed at the infrastructure level, while users still rely on exchanges, fintech apps, and third-party wallets to access it.

With tether.wallet, Tether is starting to bring the full chain into one place. Issuance, distribution, custody, and spending are now being pulled into a single product it controls. That changes where Tether sits in the crypto stack.

The bigger shift is competition. Tether is no longer only competing with other stablecoins. It is now competing with wallets, neobanks, and crypto apps that currently sit between USDT and everyday users. It is moving closer to the point where users actually hold and spend digital dollars.

If adoption grows, USDT may stop being just an asset people trade and instead become a default way people save and spend inside its own ecosystem. That would reduce reliance on external platforms and give Tether more control over user activity, data, and transaction flow.

It also changes how power is distributed in stablecoins. Tether would not only provide the dollar liquidity layer but also the interface where that liquidity is used. That is a shift from being the back end of crypto markets to becoming the front end of digital dollar usage.

Meanwhile, Tether stepped into a new era of financial scrutiny as it appointed KPMG to conduct its first-ever full financial statement audit. The move signals a major shift for the $184 billion stablecoin giant, which has long relied on periodic attestations rather than comprehensive audits.

The company said the rollout aligns with its long-standing focus on financial inclusion, particularly in emerging economies where access to traditional banking services remains limited. As of March 2026, Tether reports more than 570 million users interacting with its ecosystem globally, with adoption continuing to grow across both emerging and developed markets.

Multi-asset wallet targets simplicity and global payments

The new wallet supports USD₮, USA₮, XAU₮ (tokenized gold), and Bitcoin, with compatibility across networks including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Polygon, Plasma, and the Bitcoin Lightning Network. It also introduces simplified sending through human-readable identifiers such as name@tether.me, removing reliance on complex wallet addresses.

Tether said transactions are designed to be gasless from the user perspective, with fees paid in the transferred asset itself. The wallet is fully self-custodial, meaning private keys and recovery phrases remain under user control, with all transactions signed locally before broadcast.

The application is built on Tether’s open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK), which enables developers, devices, and AI agents to integrate and build self-custodial wallet systems. The company said this positions the infrastructure for a future where digital assets are used not only by individuals but also by autonomous systems.

At a time when much of the market is still trying to find its footing, Michael Saylor isn’t slowing down. If anything, he’s leaning in harder. His company, Strategy Inc., has purchased another 13,927 Bitcoin worth roughly $1 billion, continuing a buying streak that has become one of the most closely watched signals in the crypto market. The latest move pushes Strategy’s total holdings to a level that now represents over 3.7% of Bitcoin’s total supply, a staggering concentration for a single corporate entity.

In March alone, the firm accounted for 44,377 BTC of the total monthly inflows (47,000 BTC) from public companies, representing roughly 94% of all corporate Bitcoin purchases during the period.

This isn’t a one-off decision. It’s part of a long-running playbook that Saylor has repeated through bull runs, crashes, and everything in between: buy Bitcoin, hold it, and buy more when the opportunity presents itself.

Buying through volatility, not waiting for clarity

What makes this latest purchase stand out isn’t just the size, it’s the timing. Strategy has continued accumulating Bitcoin even as the company absorbs significant unrealized losses tied to market swings.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the firm reported over $14 billion in paper losses due to Bitcoin’s price decline. Yet, instead of pulling back, it resumed buying almost immediately, adding thousands more coins to its balance sheet.

That approach reflects Saylor’s long-held belief: Bitcoin isn’t a trade; it’s a long-term treasury asset. He has repeatedly framed it as a superior alternative to holding cash, even going as far as suggesting the company has no intention of selling its holdings.

A strategy that is reshaping corporate Bitcoin exposure

Strategy’s accumulation model has effectively turned the company into a proxy for Bitcoin exposure in public markets. Since pivoting to this approach in 2020, the firm has steadily increased its holdings using a mix of equity issuance, debt financing, and internal capital.

At times, the pace has been aggressive, running into billions of dollars in purchases within weeks.

Supporters argue this creates a powerful feedback loop: rising Bitcoin prices strengthen Strategy’s balance sheet, which in turn enables more buying. Critics, however, warn that the model depends heavily on continued market confidence and access to capital.

The crypto market continues to show significant growth as the latest 24-hour data confirms it. Hence, the total crypto market capitalization has surged by 1.35% to reach $2.44T. In addition to this, the 24-hour crypto volume has hit the $95.31B mark after a 0.82% increase. At the same time, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index now accounts for 46 points, showing a “Neutral” sentiment among the market participants.

Bitcoin Surges by 0.95% and Ethereum ($ETH) Sees 1.82% Increase

Reflecting the wider market growth, the top crypto asset, Bitcoin ($BTC), is 0.95% up while changing hands at $72,738.24. Additionally, the market dominance of Bitcoin stands at 59.1%. Along with that, the flagship altcoin, Ethereum ($ETH), is now changing hands at $2,234.07, displaying a 1.82% rise in price. In the meantime, $ETH’s market dominance sits at 10.9%.

$PENGU, $HBTC, and $TSLA Lead Crypto Gainers of Day

Simultaneously, the top crypto gainers of the day include PENGU AI ($PENGU), Hold BTC ($HBTC), and Tesla ($TSLA). Particularly, $PENGU has risen by a staggering 1513.39%, reaching $0.0006242. Subsequently, a 1318.38% prise surge has pushed $HBTC to $0.000003243. Following that, $TSLA shows a 1148.86% increase, while hovering around $0.3357.

DeFi TVL Jumps by 1.27%, While NFT Sales Volume Drops by 4.99%

Apart from that, the DeFi TVL has recorded a 1.27% jump, hitting the $95.975B spot. In the same vein, the top DeFi project in terms of TVL, Aave, presents a 1.90% increase, touching $25.645B. However, when it comes to 1-day TVL change, Surf Liquid leads the DeFi landscape, accounting for a stunning 6924% spike over the past twenty-four hours.

On the other hand, the NFT sales volume has plunged by 4.99%, claiming $6,463,601. Additionally, the top-selling NFT collection, Courtyard, has witnessed a 12.81% jump, reaching $1,232,516.

Polymarket Launches Stablecoin Upgrade, CFTC Backs Crypto Innovation

Concurrently, the crypto industry has also experienced many other key developments across the globe over the past 24 hours. In this respect, Polymarket has revealed a crucial upgrade with the new Polymarket USD stablecoin to drive prediction markets.

Moreover, the CFTC has named the earliest innovation working teams to accelerate crypto clarity regulation. Furthermore, Bhutan has offloaded seventy percent of the total Bitcoin ($BTC) holdings over 18 months while also stopping mining.

Bitmine joins NYSE while expanding buyback and Ethereum holdings aggressively

Company increases repurchase plan to $4 billion amid ETH accumulation

Ethereum holdings surpass $10 billion as staking strategy scales further

Bitmine Immersion Technologies has moved to the New York Stock Exchange while expanding its financial strategy. The shift comes as the company increases both capital returns and crypto exposure. According to a company statement, chairman Tom Lee described the uplisting as a key step forward. He highlighted the NYSE’s legacy and its importance for institutional visibility.

Additionally, Bitmine’s board approved a major expansion of its share repurchase program. The authorization rose from $1 billion to $4 billion, placing it among the largest buybacks this year. The company confirmed that the updated plan includes shares already repurchased.

Buyback Expansion and Ethereum Accumulation Move in Parallel

Alongside the equity shift, Bitmine has accelerated its Ethereum acquisition strategy over recent weeks. The company added 71,252 ETH during the week ending April 5. This pushed total holdings to about 4.803 million tokens. At current prices, these holdings exceed $10 billion in value, while over 3.3 million ETH remains staked, representing roughly $7.1 billion.

Furthermore, Bitmine stated that it now stakes more Ethereum than any other entity globally. This detail highlights the scale of its commitment to the asset. The accumulation pace has remained steady across the past four weeks.

Capital Strategy Blends Shareholder Returns With Crypto Exposure

According to Lee, the company believes the market is nearing the end of a downturn phase. This outlook appears to support the continued buildup of Ethereum reserves. Consequently, the firm continues to deploy capital into digital assets despite recent volatility.

Meanwhile, the share repurchase program continues under established regulatory guidelines. The company executes buybacks through open market transactions. This structure allows flexibility while maintaining compliance with existing rules.

The combination of a larger buyback plan and increased crypto holdings reflects a balanced financial strategy. On one side, Bitmine aims to return value to shareholders. On the other, it expands its exposure to Ethereum at scale. In conclusion, the NYSE listing and $4 billion buyback align closely with Bitmine’s aggressive ETH accumulation strategy.

Circle launched USDC payout services in Singapore, enabling automated cross-border payments for fintechs and enterprises.

Payouts API reduces manual processes, improves transparency, and supports high-volume stablecoin transactions.

Expansion aligns with regulations, offering compliant infrastructure as demand for faster, cheaper payments rises.

Circle has expanded its stablecoin infrastructure into Singapore, enabling Circle Mint partners to access USDC payout services. The update allows payment firms to automate cross-border transfers using stablecoins. Announced recently, the rollout targets fintechs and enterprises seeking faster settlements, reduced manual processes, and compliant payout systems across Asia’s growing digital payments landscape.

Payouts API Expands Access In Singapore

According to Circle, the rollout introduces its Payouts API to partners contracted under Circle Mint Singapore. Previously, these partners lacked native access to scalable third-party payout functionality. Now, they can execute end-to-end payout workflows programmatically within the platform.

As a result, businesses can automate transactions while reducing operational overhead. Moreover, the system lowers the risk of manual errors and improves transparency in payment flows. This development extends capabilities beyond Circle’s U.S.-based infrastructure, marking its first such expansion.

Notably, the API supports high-volume transactions for fintechs, payment service providers, and enterprises. These firms can now integrate stablecoin payouts directly into their systems without restructuring existing operations.

Compliance And Infrastructure Alignment

Circle stated that the new system aligns with Singapore’s regulatory expectations, including Travel Rule requirements. Consequently, institutions gain a compliant framework for scaling cross-border payments using USDC.

In addition, the infrastructure introduces a standardized approach to managing payout operations. It ensures that transactions meet regulatory requirements while maintaining operational efficiency. Tokenized transfers also provide greater visibility compared to traditional payment rails.

Furthermore, the system supports seamless onboarding for new and existing partners. Companies using alternative payout solutions can consolidate operations within Circle Mint Singapore.

Growing Demand For Faster Payments

Circle noted that rising demand for efficient cross-border payments influenced its expansion into Singapore. The region serves as a major financial hub, making it a strategic location for scaling infrastructure.

Meanwhile, high remittance costs continue to affect global transfers. A recent World Bank report showed average costs still exceed 6%, highlighting inefficiencies in traditional systems.

With this rollout, Circle enables businesses to process payments faster and with fewer intermediaries. Additionally, partners can migrate operations to Singapore-based infrastructure to streamline regional payment flows.

Morgan Stanley is preparing to debut its spot bitcoin exchange-traded product, the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MBST), with trading scheduled to start on April 8. The product will be listed on NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT US, marking the banking giant’s first direct entry into the U.S. spot bitcoin ETF market as an issuer rather than a distributor for third-party funds.

Fee structure and market positioning

MBST is structured as an exchange-traded product that holds bitcoin directly, aligning with the architecture seen in recently launched spot bitcoin ETFs. The move places Morgan Stanley at the forefront among major U.S. banks issuing such a product.

The ETF enters a space that has experienced swift growth since the regulatory approval of spot bitcoin ETFs in early 2024. Investment products from large asset managers, including BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, have already drawn significant inflows from a range of investors.

Morgan Stanley appears to be challenging current market leaders by introducing MBST with a competitive annual fee of 0.14 percent, undercutting rivals like BlackRock’s IBIT, which charges approximately 0.25 percent. This pricing is aimed at attracting advisors and clients by reducing costs and providing a more integrated solution for allocating bitcoin exposure.

The bank’s wealth management division oversees trillions in assets and leverages a nationwide network of over 16,000 financial advisors. Many of these advisors are expected to start offering MBST to clients when trading commences, providing a lower-cost alternative compared to relying on external spot bitcoin ETFs.

Market impact and product structure

MBST’s arrival is expected to offer a new distribution channel for bitcoin investment, particularly among wealth management clients who have seen slower access to spot bitcoin ETFs due to internal policy reviews, fee considerations, and existing portfolio structures.

In terms of infrastructure, MBST will directly hold bitcoin, with Coinbase acting as both custodian and prime broker. BNY Mellon performs administration duties, as well as serving as the transfer agent and cash custodian, reflecting the standard framework established among spot bitcoin ETFs.

The launch steps were confirmed in a recent listing notice from NYSE Arca, bringing MBST close to going live following necessary regulatory procedures. Large-scale professional platforms like Morgan Stanley’s can substantially influence how and where investor capital is allocated within the growing ETF market.

Phong Le, CEO of Strategy, described MBST’s launch as a potential turning point for bitcoin’s integration into more traditional portfolios.

Phong Le called the Morgan Stanley initiative a significant driver for bitcoin adoption by mainstream investment channels, noting that even modest allocations multiplied across a large client asset base may translate to notable inflows.

Since the introduction of spot bitcoin ETFs earlier in 2024, the sector has witnessed inflows exceeding $50 billion, with institutional adoption picking up as distribution broadens across established brokerage networks.

According to current market figures, Bitcoin trades near $68,000, and access for institutional investors continues to grow via new regulated products like MBST, potentially expanding the footprint of bitcoin in client portfolios.

The issuer of the USDC stablecoin, Circle, had its busiest week so far in 2026, minting $3.25 billion to the Solana blockchain alone, on-chain data shows. The record comes days after Circle published its latest response to the escalating threat quantum technology poses to its open Layer-1 blockchain network, Arc.

The steady USDC liquidity injection spotted on-chain came via 13 tranches of 250 million mint transactions spread across the last seven days, ahead of a week where US President Donald Trump warned the “crazy bastards” in Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face the fire on “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day,” according to a Sunday Truth Social post.

The airstrikes promised for Tuesday are not the only imminent threat on the horizon, as Circle has one eye on the looming post-quantum era threat that Google warned about last week.

Circle sets new 2026 minting record on Solana

The $3.25 billion USDC tokens that entered circulation over the last seven days is the highest level the issuer has reached so far this year.

Typically, stablecoin issuers move their fiat-pegged tokens via mints, burns, and reblancing across different chains in response to demand and market conditions. It is also one of the most closely watched metrics among market participants who “follow the money.”

As Cryptopolitan reported in February, markets braced for a bear market when Binance’s stablecoin reserve steadily declined to $36 billion from almost $44 billion at one point. That period also coincided with liquidity outflows from BNB Chain, signs of generally depressed trading across the exchange and its native network.

And when $2.2 billion in USDT entered in a single day on March 18, the highest single-day inflow since November 2025, markets also interpreted that as a bullish signal.

What the $3.25 billion mint means

The $3.25 billion Circle minted is a sign that it is fulfilling demand for its stablecoin on the Solana network. As for where that liquidity will be deployed, on-chain data can offer clues.

Solana has sustained its dominance in the DeFi trenches, maintaining its volume lead over Ethereum since late 2024, when it became the hub for decentralized exchange (DEX) trading, driven by platforms such as Raydium, Jupiter, PumpSwap, Orca, Meteora, and HumidiFi.

Solana has also delivered strong numbers in both institutional and retail sections of the RWA tokenization sector.

The regulatory status of the USDC stablecoin has made it the leading option for settlements in the booming tokenized equities sector, where about $ 1 billion in stocks are already represented on-chain.

Token Terminal also spotted significant growth in tokenized commodities and funds on Solana, where USDC accounts for a dominant 52% of the $14.7 billion in stablecoins on the network.

The activity surge has also extended to other stablecoin issuers, with Global Dollar (USDG) also crossing the $1 billion milestone.

USDC issuer responds to quantum threat

Circle has claimed to be “actively planning” in its latest paper evaluating the risk quantum technology poses to cryptography, the technology powering its Arc blockchain.

Circle’s paper highlighted the bottleneck that banks, fintechs, stablecoin issuers, RWA platforms, global enterprises, and blockchains face in dealing with the time crunch that Google started when it escalated the threat level of the dreaded “Q-Day” timeline to 2029 based on research that it found too sensitive to even publish publicly last week.

Arc is planning to move quantum resilience from the theoretical phase into full deployment, from its mainnet launch phase through validator hardening designs in the long term.

In an ambitious move to fortify its blockchain network and reshape participant incentives, Polkadot has rolled out an extensive suite of staking reforms. Announced through the Polkadot Devs channel, these updates are meticulously focused on enhancing the roles and efficiency of nominators and validators within the ecosystem of the $DOT token.

What Are the New Protocol Enhancements?

Substantial changes have been introduced to the staking framework, setting new expectations for validators. They are now required to have a minimum self-stake of 10,000 $DOT and adhere to a fixed commission rate of 10%. These measures aim to solidify validators’ commitment to the network’s stability and ensure consistent earnings for their pivotal roles.

Additionally, the previous nominator reduction process, which exposed participants to losses if validators defaulted, has been scrapped. The new system promises a safer staking environment, mitigating past vulnerabilities that worried token supporters.

How Do These Changes Impact Staking Flexibility?

In a consumer-friendly move, the waiting period for unbonding staked assets is significantly shortened from the earlier 28 days to a mere 24 to 48 hours. This adjustment substantially enhances liquidity and flexibility, making engagement with the Polkadot network more appealing.

Through these transformative tweaks, Polkadot is not only refining its staking dynamics but also simplifying reward distribution. A larger portion of these rewards will now flow to validators, underscoring a commitment to the infrastructure providers who keep the network operational.

The system tweaking also carries implications for $DOT adoption and network resilience, as the revised incentives are designed to bolster a stable economic architecture. Despite an expected reduction in annual percentage yields, the initiative systematically shrinks staking-related uncertainties.

One notable element is the elimination of slashing under specific circumstances, protecting participants from potential financial losses and making staking more predictable.

“By realigning the incentive structures, we’re ensuring both validators and nominators are rewarded relative to their contributions,” a spokesperson for Polkadot emphasized.

Concrete results from these changes include:

– Validators need to stake a minimum of 10,000 $DOT.

– Removal of the nominator reduction process for enhanced security.

– Unbonding period slashed to 24-48 hours for improved liquidity.

– Redistribution benefits favoring infrastructure support.

These regulatory reforms are poised to induce a sustained impact on Polkadot’s operational efficiency and appeal to a broader user base. As such, stakeholders anticipate these strategic changes as essential for sustaining a vibrant and robust ecosystem.