Blockonomi

TLDR:

Meta plans to cut over 20% of its 79,000-person workforce, potentially eliminating around 16,000 jobs.

Meta’s Avocado model has missed its deadline three times and now trails Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic on benchmarks.

Meta is reportedly exploring a temporary deal to license Google’s Gemini to power its own AI products.

Meta has committed up to $135 billion in 2026 capex and $600 billion in data center spending through 2028.

Meta layoffs are under scrutiny after Reuters confirmed plans to cut over 20 percent of the company’s roughly 79,000 employees.

About 16,000 jobs could be at risk under the reported plan. The move comes as Meta ramps up AI spending to between $115 and $135 billion in 2026.

However, the company’s own AI model has faced multiple delays. Meta is also reportedly considering licensing a competitor’s technology in the interim.

Model Delays Cast Doubt on the AI Replacement Thesis

Meta’s next-generation AI model, internally codenamed Avocado, has been delayed from March to at least May 2026. Internal benchmarks showed the model falling behind Google’s Gemini 3.0, OpenAI, and Anthropic in key areas.

Those areas include reasoning, coding, and writing performance. The delay comes at a particularly sensitive time for the company.

The delay is not a one-off event. The model has slipped three separate times from its original 2025 release target. Each delay pushes back Meta’s ability to prove that AI can handle work previously done by large teams.

Social media analyst @shanaka86 captured the tension in a widely shared post. He wrote: “Mark Zuckerberg is about to fire 16,000 humans because he believes AI can replace them. His own AI cannot replace Google’s.”

JUST IN: Mark Zuckerberg is about to fire 16,000 humans because he believes AI can replace them.

His own AI cannot replace Google’s.

That contradiction is the entire story of the 2026 tech economy and nobody is connecting the pieces.

Reuters confirmed late Thursday that Meta… pic.twitter.com/smeeXBI68k

— Shanaka Anslem Perera (@shanaka86) March 14, 2026

He called this contradiction “the entire story of the 2026 tech economy.” Many investors and observers have since amplified the observation online.

Meta’s previous flagship model, Llama 4 Behemoth, was never released publicly at all. Now the company is reportedly discussing a plan to license Google’s Gemini temporarily. That would mean a competitor’s model running inside Meta AI products under Meta’s own branding.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg told analysts earlier this year that he was “starting to see projects that used to require big teams now accomplished by a single very talented person.”

However, the company’s AI technology has not demonstrated that capability in competitive benchmarks. The layoffs appear to be running ahead of the technology they are supposed to depend on.

Acquisitions and Capital Commitments Add Financial Weight to the Strategy

Meta’s capital expenditure for 2026 is projected between $115 and $135 billion. That is nearly double the roughly $72 billion the company spent on infrastructure last year.

Additionally, Meta has committed to $600 billion in total data center spending through 2028. The scale of that commitment makes the AI model delays all the more consequential.

The company has also moved aggressively on acquisitions in a short time. Meta paid $14.3 billion to bring in Alexandr Wang from Scale AI.

It then spent over $2 billion on Manus and an undisclosed amount on Moltbook. Both deals came within recent months, adding to the company’s growing cost base.

The integration of these acquisitions, however, depends on a model that is still unfinished. Manus processes 147 trillion tokens using third-party AI models, not Meta’s own. Moltbook’s agent systems run on a platform called OpenClaw, also external to Meta’s stack.

Meta hired Nat Friedman, the former GitHub CEO, as part of its talent push. The company also recruited top AI researchers with compensation packages reported to exceed $100 million each. Zuckerberg described the goal as building “the highest talent density lab in the industry.”

Meta spokesperson Andy Stone pushed back on the layoff reports. He called them “speculative reporting about theoretical approaches,” with no confirmed plans or timelines.

Meta’s stock still fell 3.83 percent when the news broke. The proposed cuts would be the company’s largest since the 2022–23 efficiency drive, which removed 21,000 positions.

The post Meta’s $135 Billion AI Push Is Stumbling: Layoffs Loom as Flagship Model Trails Rivals appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:

Bitcoin melihat kelegaan makro karena cetakan inflasi PCE datang di ~2,8% YoY, sesuai dengan ekspektasi dan meredakan tekanan pada aset berisiko.

Pengecualian sanksi minyak AS selama 30 hari mendinginkan pasar energi, mengurangi ketakutan inflasi dan meningkatkan selera risiko investor.

ETF Spot Bitcoin mencatat beberapa hari aliran masuk berturut-turut, dengan IBIT BlackRock memimpin sinyal permintaan institusional.

Hedging dealer mendekati strike opsi $75K memperkuat gerakan naik BTC, mempercepat kembalinya ke level $70K.

Mengapa Bitcoin baru saja rebound ke $70,000 adalah pertanyaan yang banyak ditanyakan oleh pengamat pasar minggu ini. Pemulihan ini tidak terjadi secara kebetulan, karena beberapa faktor yang saling terkait mendorong harga lebih tinggi.

TLDR:

Boris Johnson menyebut Bitcoin sebagai skema Ponzi dalam kolom opini Daily Mail tanggal 13 Maret.

Michael Saylor berargumen bahwa Bitcoin tidak memiliki operator pusat, yang merupakan salah satu persyaratan utama skema Ponzi.

Pos sosial mengutip kapitalisasi pasar Bitcoin sebesar $1,42 triliun dan volume harian sekitar $62 miliar.

Mantan Kanselir Kwasi Kwarteng mengatakan bahwa politisi sering salah memahami desain pasokan tetap Bitcoin.

Bitcoin menghadapi kritik politik yang diperbarui setelah mantan Perdana Menteri Inggris Boris Johnson menyebutnya sebagai skema Ponzi.

Johnson membagikan pandangan tersebut dalam sebuah artikel opini Daily Mail tanggal 13 Maret yang membahas aset digital dan penipuan keuangan. Pernyataannya membandingkan Bitcoin secara kurang menguntungkan dengan aset seperti emas dan bahkan kartu Pokémon koleksi.

TLDR:

Sebuah dompet menukar $50J di aEthUSDT tetapi hanya menerima $36K di AAVE karena kerugian slippage yang ekstrem.

Bot MEV dan Titan Builder secara kolektif mengekstrak hampir $44J dari transaksi swap tunggal.

Analis on-chain mengaitkan 13 dompet ke satu entitas, semua didanai melalui Binance pada 16 dan 20 Februari.

Pedagang yang diduga menjual $543J dalam ETH dan $761J dalam BTC beberapa hari sebelum swap kontroversial terjadi.

Sebuah swap AAVE senilai $50J telah menimbulkan pertanyaan serius di seluruh komunitas kripto minggu ini. Sebuah dompet menukar $50 juta dalam aEthUSDT tetapi hanya menerima sekitar $36.000 dalam token AAVE.

TLDR:

ISO formally published blockchain interoperability standard 82098 after nearly a decade of international collaboration.

Quant CEO Gilbert Verdian chaired Working Group 7, the ISO committee that developed the interoperability framework.

The standard uses a multi-gateway architecture, enabling any DLT to connect with another without protocol changes.

Quant’s Overledger platform was built on the same architectural principles that shaped the published ISO standard.

Blockchain interoperability has reached a major milestone with the formal publication of an ISO standard. Gilbert Verdian, CEO of Quant, announced the development on social media after a decade of dedicated work.

The standard traces its roots to a 2016 proposal that aimed to resolve fragmentation, limiting blockchain adoption.

It caps years of international collaboration through ISO Technical Committee 307. Verdian helped establish the committee from the ground up, beginning in 2015.

From a Blog Post to a Published ISO Standard

The path to this standard began in April 2016 with a bold public proposal. Verdian’s team published what they described as the world’s first blockchain standard proposal. That post outlined a vision for a common framework transcending any single protocol or vendor.

That same year, Verdian partnered with Standards Australia to advance the initiative internationally. Together, they pressed ISO to create a dedicated technical committee for blockchain technology.

Their argument was clear: blockchain warranted its own global standards programme, not absorption into an existing one.

In September 2016, ISO’s New Work Item Proposal received global approval. TC 307 — Blockchain and Electronic Distributed Ledger Technologies — was formally established.

Its inaugural meeting took place in Sydney in April 2017, and the detailed technical work started from that point.

The Multi-Gateway Architecture Behind the Standard

Central to the standard’s design is the principle of multi-gateway architecture. This approach holds that interoperability should not depend on a single bridge or point-to-point connection. Instead, a layered gateway model abstracts differences between underlying distributed ledger technologies.

The architecture enables any DLT to communicate with any other DLT through a common interface. It also connects to existing networks without requiring changes to how individual ledgers function.

This protocol-agnostic, “any-to-any” design became the technical and philosophical core of the standard.

Verdian drew on over 20 years of cybersecurity experience when developing this framework. As he wrote on X, the standard and Quant’s technology “were born from the same insight.”

A decade in the making, we have published an ISO standard for blockchain interoperability.

This is a milestone I've been working towards since 2015, Remitt was founded with the conviction that blockchains could transform financial services but only if the industry solved…

— Gilbert Verdian (@gverdian) March 13, 2026

The two tracks — standards development and commercial building — ran side by side and mutually reinforced each other throughout.

Quant’s Role in Translating Standards Into Technology

As TC 307’s work progressed, Verdian’s company went through its own evolution. Remitt, originally a blockchain-focused financial services firm, was rebranded as Quant. The company then built Overledger, widely recognized as the world’s first blockchain operating system.

Overledger applies the same multi-gateway architecture that shaped Working Group 7’s contributions. It gives institutions a single integration point to access any DLT, any network, and any legacy system.

Both the commercial platform and the ISO standard address the same original problem of blockchain fragmentation.

Working Group 7, the interoperability committee chaired by Verdian, brought together experts from across the world.

For close to a decade, those contributors refined the standard through consensus and rigorous technical debate. The result is ISO standard 82098, now publicly available through the ISO website.

In his announcement, Verdian credited ISO, Standards Australia, and every expert who contributed to Working Group 7.

He also acknowledged that more standards remain to be developed and more technology to be built. For now, the publication marks the end of one chapter and the opening of the next.

The post ISO Publishes Blockchain Interoperability Standard After a Decade of Global Effort appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:

HyperCore menghapus 22,477 HYPE dari peredaran pada 13 Maret saja, melebihi imbalan staking yang dikeluarkan pada hari itu

Dengan kecepatan saat ini, sekitar 8,09 juta token HYPE akan keluar dari peredaran selama 12 bulan ke depan

Solana mengembang sekitar ~25,19M SOL setiap tahun; model Hyperliquid bergerak ke arah yang persis berlawanan

Volume buyback meningkat seiring dengan aktivitas perdagangan HIP-3, menghubungkan pertumbuhan protokol langsung dengan pengurangan pasokan token

Token HYPE dari Hyperliquid sekarang menyusut dalam pasokan, tidak tumbuh. Pada 13 Maret 2026, HyperCore membeli kembali 49,323 token HYPE dengan harga sekitar $37,12 masing-masing.

TLDR:

Harga ASTER tetap berada dalam kisaran konsolidasi yang ketat antara $0.67 dan $0.74 selama lebih dari sebulan meskipun ada kelemahan yang lebih luas di pasar crypto.

Zona resistensi utama antara $0.75 dan $0.80 terus membatasi momentum naik, dengan penjual mempertahankan level tersebut dalam beberapa percobaan.

Acara likuidasi Oktober 2025 menghapus sekitar $12.43 juta dalam posisi terleverage, sebagian besar mengatur ulang eksposur panjang di pasar derivatif.

Binance mendominasi perdagangan futures ASTER, memimpin baik volume harian maupun jumlah perdagangan sementara bursa besar memegang minat terbuka yang signifikan.

TLDR:

TON cancels Dubai event scheduled for May 1–2, citing safety concerns tied to the ongoing Middle East conflict. 

TOKEN2049 postponed its Dubai conference to April 2027 due to regional uncertainty and travel disruptions. 

TON Gateway ticket holders will receive full refunds within 14 days following the cancellation. 

TOKEN2049 attendees can keep tickets for 2027 or transfer them to the Singapore conference this year

TON cancels Dubai event scheduled for May after escalating Middle East tensions raised safety concerns in the United Arab Emirates. Organizers confirmed the cancellation as regional attacks triggered travel disruptions and uncertainty for international crypto conference participants.

TON Cancels Dubai Event Over Security Concerns

TON cancels Dubai event planned for May 1 and May 2, 2026. Organizers cited security risks linked to the escalating Middle East conflict.

The Open Network shared the decision in a post on X. The organization stated that safety conditions in the region required canceling the conference.

“Unfortunately, due to the Middle East conflict and safety conditions in the UAE area, we have made the decision to cancel Gateway Dubai,” the statement said.

Gateway Dubai was designed to gather developers and builders working within the TON ecosystem. The event aimed to encourage collaboration across projects and teams.

Dubai remains a major destination for blockchain conferences and technology investors. However, recent military developments changed the regional security outlook.

Following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, retaliatory missile and drone attacks targeted the United Arab Emirates.

Reports indicated the UAE received a large share of the strikes during the exchange. Analysts linked the attacks to the country’s close cooperation with Western partners.

Travel disruptions soon followed across several Middle Eastern cities. Airlines adjusted schedules while many travelers reconsidered regional visits.

TON organizers acknowledged that many participants had already planned their travel. They said the cancellation decision came after reviewing the evolving situation.

Despite the cancellation, the TON team said it may organize another Gateway event later this year using a different format.

Participants who purchased tickets for the conference will receive refunds within fourteen days.

TOKEN2049 Postpones Dubai Conference Until 2027

Regional tensions also affected another major crypto gathering in Dubai. TOKEN2049 announced that its Dubai conference will not take place this year.

The organizers confirmed the update through a post shared on X. The event had been scheduled for April 29 and April 30.

Unfortunately, due to the Middle East conflict and safety conditions in the UAE area, we have made the decision to cancel Gateway Dubai, originally scheduled for May 1 and 2, 2026. This was a difficult call, but the safety and well-being of our community always comes first.

If…

— TON (@ton_blockchain) March 12, 2026

“In collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, and in light of ongoing uncertainty in the region, TOKEN2049 Dubai will be postponed,” the announcement stated.

The conference will now take place on April 21 and April 22, 2027. Organizers said the change allows time for regional stability to improve.

TOKEN2049 usually attracts global blockchain founders, investors, and technology executives. The Dubai event was expected to host several well-known speakers.

Scheduled participants included Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan. Tether chief executive Paolo Ardoino and Circle co-founder Jeremy Allaire were also listed.

Attendees who purchased tickets will have multiple options following the postponement. They may keep their tickets for the 2027 conference.

Participants may also transfer their tickets to the TOKEN2049 Singapore event scheduled later this year.

Ticket prices for the Dubai conference ranged from $699 for early access. Standard passes reached $1,499, while premium packages cost $5,999.

Organizers encouraged attendees with travel bookings to contact airlines and hotels to modify reservations.

The post TON Cancels TOKEN2049 Dubai Event as Security Risks Rise Across the UAE Region appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

Major tech companies including Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta are partnering with nuclear facilities for reliable data center power.

Previously decommissioned nuclear plants such as Three Mile Island are being reactivated with corporate investment.

Advanced small modular reactor technology provides scalable, clean energy solutions close to computing facilities.

Cryptocurrency mining operations demonstrated nuclear energy’s viability for computationally demanding applications.

Nuclear capacity expansions and facility restarts address surging electricity requirements from artificial intelligence workloads.

The United States is experiencing a nuclear energy renaissance fueled by technology sector investments as corporations expand their data infrastructure footprint. Power providers are witnessing extraordinary demand from advanced computing operations that require reliable, emissions-free electricity. Industry leaders are forging direct partnerships with atomic energy facilities to guarantee uninterrupted power for continuous computational workloads.

Technology Leaders Forge Nuclear Partnerships for Reliable Energy

Leading technology corporations are establishing extended agreements to obtain nuclear-generated electricity for their computing facilities. Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have committed to multi-year contracts supporting nuclear installations throughout various regions. These strategic partnerships ensure uninterrupted energy delivery and allow power companies to efficiently maintain and enhance existing reactor infrastructure.

Atomic energy installations previously slated for closure are experiencing renewed investment, marking a reversal of historical industry trends. Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island Unit 1 and the Comanche Peak facility in Texas represent reactors benefiting from renewed corporate commitment. These collaborative ventures underscore nuclear technology’s critical importance to supporting contemporary digital infrastructure requirements.

Next-generation small modular reactors represent an innovative approach to positioning energy generation adjacent to intensive computing facilities. Their reduced physical footprint enables accelerated implementation while delivering consistent, environmentally clean power generation. These advanced systems work alongside conventional nuclear installations to satisfy the persistent energy requirements of large-scale data operations.

Cryptocurrency Operations Validated Nuclear’s Computing Potential

Bitcoin miners established the blueprint for positioning computationally intensive operations near atomic power facilities to minimize energy expenses. TeraWulf collaborated with Talen Energy to develop the Nautilus Cryptomine facility immediately adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear installation. This initiative sourced power directly from the reactor, creating a template for energy-proximate computing ventures.

The achievements of initial nuclear-powered mining operations motivated larger technology firms to explore comparable configurations for artificial intelligence and cloud computing applications. Power generation companies have transformed mining-adjacent locations into expansive data facility complexes. These transformations highlight nuclear energy’s adaptability in supporting next-generation technology infrastructure needs.

Through strategic use of nuclear facilities, operators can enhance capacity via “uprates,” boosting energy production without constructing additional reactors. Vistra and Constellation are incorporating hundreds of additional megawatts throughout their existing plant networks to fulfill extended partnership agreements. These enhancements reflect an evolving perspective treating nuclear reactors as scalable digital backbone infrastructure.

Atomic Energy Strengthens Grid Resilience During AI Growth

Expanding artificial intelligence and cloud computing operations have strained American electrical infrastructure, driving utilities to emphasize nuclear generation. Dominion Energy indicates that data centers account for more than one-quarter of power consumption within its PJM service territory. Nuclear facilities deliver constant, zero-emission electricity that variable renewable sources cannot dependably supply.

Utility providers and technology corporations are collaborating to prolong reactor operational periods and reactivate mothballed facilities. Notable examples include Iowa’s Duane Arnold reactor and Illinois’s Clinton Clean Energy Center. Nuclear power serves as the foundation for a robust, high-capacity electrical infrastructure supporting emerging technological requirements.

The convergence of new construction projects, facility reactivations, and capacity enhancements highlights nuclear energy’s essential function in America’s transforming power landscape. Technology enterprises are financing extended-term nuclear generation to guarantee carbon-neutral, dependable electricity access. Atomic energy currently underpins the accelerated development of AI data centers and advanced computing infrastructure.

 

The post Nuclear Energy Powers the AI Revolution: How Tech Companies Are Investing in Atomic Energy appeared first on Blockonomi.

Intisari

Investor legendaris memprediksi stablecoin akan mengendalikan pembayaran global dalam 10-15 tahun.

Teknologi blockchain menawarkan kecepatan dan efisiensi biaya yang superior untuk transfer internasional.

USDT dan USDC memimpin pasar dalam volume transaksi dan adopsi.

Lembaga keuangan secara aktif menguji stablecoin untuk pembayaran dan operasi kas.

Bitcoin mempertahankan posisinya sebagai penyimpan nilai digital.

Sistem keuangan global berada di titik potensi pergeseran saat teknologi pembayaran digital menantang infrastruktur konvensional. Investor miliarder terkenal Stanley Druckenmiller memproyeksikan bahwa stablecoin akan muncul sebagai kekuatan dominan dalam pembayaran global selama 10 hingga 15 tahun ke depan. Ramalannya menekankan pengakuan institusional yang semakin meningkat terhadap jaringan pembayaran berbasis blockchain yang memberikan kecepatan yang lebih baik dan mengurangi biaya transaksi untuk penyelesaian internasional.

Key Takeaways

Meta’s upcoming AI model, internally called “Avocado,” won’t arrive until May 2026 at the earliest.

Internal benchmarks show Avocado’s capabilities sit somewhere between Google’s Gemini 2.5 and Gemini 3.

The social media giant is exploring a potential licensing agreement with Google for Gemini AI technology.

Meta’s previous flagship AI release — Llama 3 — debuted in 2024.

This postponement occurs while Meta projects capital spending of up to $135 billion throughout 2026.

Meta Platforms has postponed its highly anticipated “Avocado” AI model until May following disappointing internal performance reviews. Sources indicate the company is exploring a short-term licensing arrangement with Google Gemini.

Why Meta’s AI Release Is Being Pushed Back

Meta Platforms has rescheduled the debut of its upcoming AI system, known internally as “Avocado,” moving the timeline from April to at least May — with a potential June launch also under consideration.

The New York Times initially broke the story, drawing on insider information. Reuters independently verified that Avocado’s current capabilities land somewhere between Google’s Gemini 2.5 and Gemini 3 models — suggesting performance gaps remain.

Meta’s most recent frontier AI model launch was Llama 3 in 2024. In the interim, competitors including Google’s Gemini, OpenAI’s GPT series, and Anthropic’s Claude have advanced significantly.

The company did introduce two scaled-down Llama 4 variants last year, optimized for resource-constrained environments. These were meant to precede a larger, more capable system dubbed “Behemoth” — though updates on that project have gone quiet.

A Meta representative stated: “As we’ve said publicly, our next model will be good, but more importantly, show the rapid trajectory we’re on, and then we’ll steadily push the frontier over the course of the year as we continue to release new models.” The spokesperson continued: “We’re excited for people to see what we’ve been cooking very soon.”

Meta stock declined approximately 2% during Friday’s opening hours.

Is a Google Partnership on the Table for Meta?

The situation takes an intriguing turn here. Senior figures within Meta’s artificial intelligence teams have reportedly explored temporarily licensing Google’s Gemini technology to support company products during Avocado’s development. While no final determination has been reached, these discussions are actively underway.

Such a move would represent a significant concession for CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He’s committed substantial resources to his Superintelligence Labs initiative, assembling elite AI researchers and engineers. Meta’s projected capital expenditures for 2026 range from $115 billion to $135 billion, predominantly allocated toward AI-related infrastructure.

Licensing Gemini would essentially provide Alphabet with a high-profile victory — transforming its image from AI follower to a technology provider that competitors rely upon.

Meta has already generated tangible AI-driven value — enhanced advertising precision, superior content curation, and proprietary silicon for recommendation systems. The company also leads in the smart glasses category.

However, Zuckerberg has openly pledged to develop a “personal superintelligence” — a Meta-created platform potentially capable of rivaling Apple and similar smartphone ecosystems as consumers’ primary computing interface. Achieving this vision demands proprietary, industry-leading AI models rather than licensed alternatives.

Currently, the Avocado postponement dominates the narrative. Meta stock traded down roughly 2% in early Friday sessions.

The post Meta (META) Stock Dips 2% as Avocado AI Model Faces May Delay appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

Alibaba backed MetaComp’s Pre-A+ funding round, bringing total funds raised to $35 million in three months.

MetaComp previously secured $22 million in a December 2025 Pre-A round from multiple investors.

Spark Venture joined the latest round, and 100Summit Partners acted as exclusive financial adviser.

MetaComp will use the new capital to expand its StableX Network for cross-border settlements.

The company plans to grow operations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Singapore-based MetaComp has secured $35 million across two funding rounds within three months. The company confirmed that Alibaba backed its latest Pre-A+ raise. The funding will support the expansion of its stablecoin payment infrastructure across several regions.

Alibaba Backs MetaComp’s $35M Capital Raise

MetaComp completed a Pre-A+ round with backing from Alibaba and other investors. The company raised fresh capital and brought its cumulative total to $35 million. Spark Venture joined the round, while 100Summit Partners acted as exclusive financial adviser.

Earlier, MetaComp closed a $22 million Pre-A round in December 2025. Eastern Bell Capital, Noah, Sky9 Capital, Freshwave Fund, and Beingboom Capital participated in that raise. The company confirmed that both rounds closed within three months.

MetaComp said the new capital will fund the expansion of its StableX Network. The platform connects regulated institutions, stablecoin issuers, and partners through blockchain infrastructure. The company aims to increase real-time cross-border settlement services.

The firm stated that it will extend operations across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. It said these regions show rising demand for compliant cross-border payments. The company will focus on regulated financial institutions and high-net-worth clients.

Founded in 2018, MetaComp offers hybrid fiat and stablecoin payment solutions. It also provides access to traditional and tokenized wealth management products. The company operates under regulatory frameworks in Singapore.

Stablecoin Plans Advance as China Maintains Restrictions

Alibaba’s participation comes as China maintains strict controls on stablecoin issuance. In February, authorities reiterated that companies cannot issue yuan-pegged stablecoins without approval. The policy applies to both domestic and foreign firms.

Reports earlier indicated that Alibaba explored deposit-token technology for overseas transactions. The company has not announced any yuan-pegged stablecoin issuance. However, it continues to study blockchain-based payment systems.

MetaComp co-president Tin Pei Ling outlined the company’s strategy. She said, “MetaComp was built on a single conviction that cross-border finance requires an integrated Web2.5 architecture.” She added that fiat rails and stablecoin networks must operate together.

The company stated that StableX Network links traditional finance and blockchain systems. It said the network supports regulated settlement channels. The platform aims to improve transaction speed and transparency.

Institutions project rapid growth for the stablecoin market. Standard Chartered estimates the market could reach $2 trillion by 2028. MetaComp confirmed that it will deploy the new capital to scale infrastructure and partnerships.

The post Alibaba Backs MetaComp in $35M Stablecoin Funding Round appeared first on Blockonomi.

Poin Penting

Yayasan berkomitmen terhadap ketahanan terhadap sensor, privasi, dan keamanan sebagai pilar inti.

Pembaruan teknis akan menekankan desentralisasi, transparansi, dan pertumbuhan yang berkelanjutan.

Pengembangan aplikasi akan berfokus pada otonomi pengguna melalui solusi yang meminimalkan kepercayaan.

Kerangka CROPS mendorong pengambilan keputusan: ketahanan terhadap sensor, sumber terbuka, privasi, keamanan, inklusi.

Yayasan memperkuat perannya sebagai penjaga independen yang bebas dari pengaruh korporat.

Yayasan Ethereum telah mengungkapkan mandat resmi yang mendefinisikan tanggung jawabnya sebagai kustodian utama jaringan Ethereum. Kerangka komprehensif ini memprioritaskan perlindungan privasi, langkah-langkah keamanan yang kuat, dan ketahanan terhadap sensor di seluruh pengembangan infrastruktur dan aplikasi. Pengumuman ini merupakan langkah tegas untuk mempertahankan posisi Ethereum sebagai ekosistem netral, yang dikendalikan pengguna, dan dengan kepercayaan yang minimal.

TLDR

Vitalik Buterin mengkonfirmasi bahwa Ryoshi mengirimkan 500 triliun SHIB kepadanya pada tahun 2021 sebagai bagian dari pasokan token awal.

Dia mengatakan bahwa dia menjual sebagian dari koin meme dan mengonversi hasilnya menjadi ETH untuk sumbangan.

Buterin mengungkapkan bahwa dia membakar sekitar 410 triliun SHIB dengan mengirimkannya ke dompet mati.

Dia menyatakan bahwa dia menyumbangkan dana untuk inisiatif Crypto Relief di India dan kepada Sandeep.

Buterin menjelaskan bahwa dia juga mentransfer beberapa token ke Future of Life Institute.

Vitalik Buterin mengungkapkan rincian baru tentang bagaimana dia menangani 500 triliun token SHIB yang dikirim kepadanya pada tahun 2021. Dia menanggapi klaim yang mengaitkan sumbangan masa lalunya dengan Future of Life Institute dan menjelaskan tindakannya. Dia menjelaskan bahwa dia menjual, menyumbangkan, dan membakar sebagian besar koin meme yang dia terima.

TLDR

Komite pengembang XRP Ledger telah mengusulkan standar MPT Rahasia di bawah XLS-0096 untuk memungkinkan transfer token yang diterbitkan secara pribadi.

Draf tersebut mengintegrasikan enkripsi EC-ElGamal dan bukti tanpa pengetahuan untuk menyembunyikan saldo dan jumlah transaksi.

Validator masih dapat memverifikasi bahwa OutstandingAmount tidak melebihi MaxAmount tanpa mendekripsi saldo rahasia.

Penerbit mempertahankan kontrol penuh, termasuk kemampuan untuk membekukan akun dan melakukan penarikan kembali jika diperlukan.

Usulan ini hanya berlaku untuk token yang diterbitkan dan tidak mengubah fungsionalitas XRP.

TLDR

Perusahaan investasi besar termasuk BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, dan Cliffwater telah membatasi penarikan investor pada awal 2026

Pengaturan bunga PIK (Dibayar dalam Barang) — di mana perusahaan menambah utang daripada melakukan pembayaran tunai — telah melonjak dari 5% menjadi 11% dari pasar kredit swasta antara 2022 dan 2025

Pinjaman yang dikonversi di tengah periode dari pembayaran tunai ke syarat PIK (“bad PIK”) melonjak dari 2% menjadi 6.4% dari total kredit swasta pada akhir 2025

Korporasi pengembangan bisnis besar (BDC) termasuk Ares Capital dan Blue Owl diperdagangkan secara signifikan di bawah nilai aset bersih mereka

TLDR

Analysts at Luxor Technology’s Hashrate Index said oil shocks linked to the Iran conflict affect miners more through BTC price volatility than energy costs.

Brent crude rose above $100 per barrel after tanker disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz before easing near $90.

Hashrate Index estimated that about 90% of global hashrate operates in power markets with limited correlation to crude oil prices.

The report stated that crude oil use in bitcoin mining is “essentially a rounding error” within overall network energy consumption.

Hashprice fell to $27.89 per PH/s/day in February after bitcoin declined 23.8% from $78,000 to $65,000.

Bitcoin miners face greater exposure to BTC price swings than rising energy bills after oil market turmoil linked to the Iran conflict. Luxor Technology’s Hashrate Index reported that crude shocks transmit weakly into most mining power markets. The analysis showed that revenue volatility, not electricity costs, poses the main risk.

Oil Market Shock Shows Limited Direct Impact on Mining Costs

United States and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets disrupted tanker flows through the Strait of Hormuz. Roughly 20% of the global oil supply moves through that corridor each day. Brent crude jumped from about $60 to above $100 per barrel before easing near $90.

Traders also used decentralized venues like Hyperliquid to trade oil derivatives outside regular hours. However, Hashrate Index said crude oil use in mining remains “essentially a rounding error.” Data from the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance and the Bitcoin Mining Council shows that over half the network uses non-fossil energy.

Hashrate Index estimated that about 90% of global hashrate operates in electricity markets with little crude correlation. The United States, Russia, and China hold the largest hashrate shares. Paraguay, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Canada, Ethiopia, and Kazakhstan follow.

Most of these markets rely on natural gas, coal, hydro, or geothermal sources. Therefore, oil price swings do not directly raise mining costs in most regions. Analysts said utility rate cycles also slow any pass-through into industrial electricity prices.

The Gulf states account for about 6% of global hashrate in oil-linked grids. When analysts include Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, and Libya, exposure rises to 8% to 10%. Still, the majority of miners remain outside crude-sensitive markets.

BTC Price Volatility Drives Hashprice Pressure

Hashrate Index argued that macro effects from oil shocks weigh more on BTC price than on power costs. Higher crude prices can lift inflation expectations and shape interest rate outlooks. That shift can push capital toward lower-risk assets and pressure bitcoin.

The report linked revenue stress to the metric known as hashprice. Hashprice measures daily revenue earned per petahash of computing power. When BTC price falls, hashprice typically declines.

Data showed that hashprice dropped to $27.89 per PH/s/day in February. During that period, bitcoin slid 23.8% from around $78,000 to $65,000. The revenue decline compressed miner margins despite stable electricity costs.

Over the past year, miners who used rolling USD-denominated hashrate forward contracts outperformed spot mining. The analysis recorded outperformance of up to 8.2%. The data suggested hedging reduced exposure to BTC price swings.

Wenny Cai, chief operating officer at SynFutures, said geopolitical tensions briefly strengthened the U.S. dollar. She stated that a stronger dollar created a short-term macro headwind for risk assets. However, she added that global liquidity and Federal Reserve easing continued to support digital asset demand.

Analysts at Bitunix reported that bitcoin trades within a defined range. They placed resistance between $72,000 and $73,500 and support near $69,000. Bitcoin held above $71,000 as exchange-traded fund inflows tightened exchange supply.

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Key Highlights

Cerebras’s Wafer-Scale Engine chips will be integrated into AWS data center infrastructure for AI inference operations.

Partnership extends multiple years; specific financial details remain undisclosed.

According to Cerebras, its processors deliver inference performance up to 25 times faster than Nvidia’s GPU technology.

In January 2026, OpenAI inked a separate agreement with Cerebras valued at more than $10 billion.

The chip startup secured $1 billion in funding during February 2026, pushing its valuation to approximately $23 billion.

Amazon Web Services has entered into an extended collaboration with semiconductor startup Cerebras Systems, bringing its Wafer-Scale Engine technology into AWS infrastructure. The arrangement focuses on AI inference workloads — the computational phase where artificial intelligence models generate responses to user inputs.

$AMZN's AWS and Cerebras are partnering to bring faster AI inference to Amazon Bedrock in the coming months.

The setup will combine Trainium for prompt processing with Cerebras CS-3 for token generation, with Bedrock becoming the first cloud service to offer Cerebras’… pic.twitter.com/LT6yoDEmCB

— Wall St Engine (@wallstengine) March 13, 2026

As the world’s dominant cloud computing provider, AWS has traditionally relied on internally developed silicon, particularly its Trainium processors created by semiconductor division Annapurna Labs. This new arrangement will see AWS merge Trainium capabilities with Cerebras technology to deliver enhanced inference performance.

According to Cerebras, its Wafer-Scale Engine excels during the “decode” stage of inference — the critical moment when models produce their actual output — achieving speeds up to 25 times greater than Nvidia’s graphics processing units.

AWS will market this as a high-performance option. “If you want slow inference, there will be cheaper ways to go,” stated Cerebras CEO Andrew Feldman. AWS representatives confirmed they will continue providing budget-friendly inference alternatives powered exclusively by Trainium.

Cerebras Momentum Accelerates

This partnership arrives several months following OpenAI’s January 2026 deal with Cerebras, an arrangement reportedly exceeding $10 billion in value. That contract aims to supply OpenAI’s ChatGPT platform with Cerebras computing power, with plans to establish up to 750 megawatts of processing infrastructure.

During February 2026, Cerebras completed a $1 billion capital raise, elevating total funding to $2.6 billion and establishing a company valuation near $23 billion. Investment participants include Fidelity Management, Benchmark, Tiger Global, and Coatue.

The company had previously submitted IPO documentation in September 2024 but pulled the application approximately one year afterward.

Nvidia Faces Growing Competition

The AWS-Cerebras collaboration represents another competitive pressure point for Nvidia within the inference computing segment. Industry momentum has been transitioning from model training workloads, where Nvidia maintains market leadership, toward inference applications requiring superior processing velocity.

Nvidia continues advancing its position. During December 2025, the company finalized a $20 billion licensing arrangement with chip developer Groq. Additionally, Nvidia has indicated plans to introduce a novel processing platform incorporating Groq’s innovations in the coming period.

Nafea Bshara, AWS executive and Annapurna Labs co-founder, emphasized that the Cerebras collaboration centers on accelerating performance while reducing expenses. “Our job is to push the speed and lower the price,” he explained.

Amazon’s AMZN stock traded down 0.44% at the time of this report.

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Key Highlights

CEO Michael Fiddelke is implementing price reductions of 5%–20% across more than 3,000 items, spanning clothing, household products, baby supplies, and grocery items.

The retailer’s annual net sales in 2025 declined 1.7% to $104.8 billion, marking the fifth consecutive quarter of revenue declines.

A $6 billion investment plan for 2026 has been announced, featuring $5 billion in capital spending — representing a 33% increase year-over-year.

The revamped approach focuses on serving “busy families” through inventory optimization, location upgrades, enhanced delivery speed, and expanded AI deployment across approximately 2,000 stores.

Market experts caution that price reductions by themselves are insufficient, noting the comprehensive turnaround strategy will require time to yield measurable outcomes.

Target’s newly appointed CEO is hitting the ground running. Michael Fiddelke, who assumed leadership last month, revealed plans this week to reduce prices across more than 3,000 products — marking his inaugural significant initiative since taking the helm. The price decreases span 5% to 20% and affect categories including clothing, home furnishings, infant products, and food staples. The changes are scheduled to take effect at checkout counters later this month.

This strategy isn’t unprecedented. Previous CEO Brian Cornell employed similar pricing tactics throughout his leadership, including a 5,000-item price reduction campaign in 2024. While that initiative temporarily restored positive comparable store sales, the momentum proved fleeting. Market observers are questioning whether this latest effort will produce more sustainable results.

According to CFRA analyst Arun Sundaram, the price reductions represent “a step in the right direction,” though he cautioned they won’t single-handedly restore customer traffic. “The winning playbook is broader than simply lowering prices,” he emphasized.

The operating environment remains challenging. Target’s top-line results have contracted for five consecutive quarters. Annual net sales for 2025 totaled $104.8 billion, representing a 1.7% decline. Operating profitability has decreased for three straight periods. In contrast, competitors Walmart and Costco have generated total returns exceeding 200% over the past five years — a timeframe during which Target’s total returns have declined by more than 20%.

Committing $6 Billion to Drive Recovery

Fiddelke’s vision extends beyond simple price adjustments. During his inaugural investor presentation on March 3, he revealed a comprehensive plan supported by $6 billion in total investment for 2026. This encompasses $5 billion in capital outlays, approximately one-third higher than the previous year.

The allocation includes $1 billion designated for accelerating product replenishment and store renovations, over $1 billion for grocery operations, and $1 billion in incremental operating costs. He’s also prioritizing expanded artificial intelligence integration throughout Target’s roughly 2,000 retail locations.

Market participants reacted favorably to the announcement — TGT stock climbed 6% following the reveal.

Fiddelke projected positive sales growth across all quarters this year and forecasted an adjusted operating income margin of 4.8% for 2026, marking a 20 basis point improvement from the prior year.

Recapturing the “Busy Family” Shopper

The revised strategy identifies a specific core customer: Fiddelke’s “busy family” demographic. Chief merchandising officer Cara Sylvester indicated the discounted merchandise consists of items this segment frequently purchases — seasonal clothing, linens, footwear, infant equipment, and daily necessities.

The retailer intends to strengthen its focus on proprietary brands alongside established national brands such as Bugaboo and Doona. The objective is delivering a refined shopping experience that balances aesthetic appeal with value.

Michael Ashley Schulman from Cerity Partners characterized the timeline as “aggressive but realistic,” contingent upon successful store operations and supply chain performance. “Retail turnarounds rarely get a second shot,” he observed.

Jay Woods from Freedom Capital Markets noted that any positive effects from the fundamentals-focused strategy will materialize incrementally.

Target’s projected adjusted operating income margin of 4.8% for 2026 compares favorably against Walmart’s anticipated margin of up to 4.4% for the identical period.

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Key Takeaways

Morgan Stanley elevated Nokia’s price target to €8.50 from €6.50, establishing the highest analyst target on Wall Street with an Overweight rating

The bullish call stems from accelerating AI and cloud infrastructure investments, especially in optical and IP networking sectors

While AI/cloud revenue represents just ~6% of Nokia’s total sales, Morgan Stanley projects robust ~13% growth in this segment through 2026

Recent analyst downgrades from DNB Carnegie and Danske Bank created headwinds, coupled with Nokia’s lowered 2026 profit guidance

Nokia’s ADR (NOK) traded around $7.90 on Tuesday, while the Helsinki-listed shares have climbed approximately 24% year-to-date

Nokia, the telecommunications equipment giant based in Finland, received a significant boost this week when Morgan Stanley designated it as a top pick and established a new Wall Street-leading price target.

The financial institution increased its price objective to €8.50 from €6.50, maintaining an Overweight rating. This valuation surpasses all other analysts tracking the company, based on Bloomberg’s compiled data.

The upgrade comes on the heels of impressive results from Ciena, a competitor in optical networking, which delivered robust cloud-driven revenue expansion. Morgan Stanley believes these figures validate the thesis that Nokia’s own projections for its Optical and IP business unit may be understated.

Nokia has provided guidance for 10% to 12% revenue expansion in this division. However, Morgan Stanley is modeling approximately 13% growth, with optical networking revenue specifically projected to surge over 20%, driven by hyperscale data center operators.

The shares have experienced significant volatility in recent weeks. Helsinki-traded Nokia shares jumped more than 12% in the prior week and soared over 37% across the past month — creating conditions ripe for some consolidation. The stock retreated roughly 5% midweek after dropping below its 5-day moving average.

The ADR trading on the New York Stock Exchange hovered near $7.90 at Tuesday’s market close, gaining 1.28% during the session. The Helsinki-listed shares stood at €6.83 on Wednesday, representing approximately 24% gains year-to-date.

Mixed Analyst Sentiment Creates Uncertainty

The analyst community isn’t universally optimistic. DNB Carnegie downgraded Nokia from buy to hold on March 10, establishing a $6.50 price target. Danske Bank executed a comparable downgrade in late February, also setting a $6.50 objective.

These downgrades, along with Nokia’s choice to reduce its 2026 profit forecast during its Q4 earnings release, have maintained caution among certain investors — despite Nokia marginally exceeding earnings projections.

For Q4, Nokia delivered adjusted operating profit of €435 million against net sales of €4.83 billion, with revenue climbing 12% year-over-year. However, profitability declined approximately 10% versus the comparable prior-year quarter.

The mobile networks division continues to struggle, with radio access network investment remaining subdued and mobile revenue declining roughly 2% year-over-year in the latest quarter.

AI and Cloud Infrastructure Fueling Growth

Nokia’s AI and cloud-connected business currently represents a modest portion of total revenue — approximately 6% — but is expanding rapidly and helping to counterbalance weaker spending from traditional telecom operators.

Morgan Stanley increased its valuation multiple from 10× to 14× on projected operating profit, highlighting Nokia’s expanding presence in data center connectivity markets.

Nokia currently provides networking infrastructure to Microsoft Azure and collaborates with NVIDIA on AI networking solutions. NVIDIA maintains a 2.9% ownership position in the company.

The investment bank identified the Optical Fiber Communication Conference, scheduled for March 15 to 19, as an important near-term catalyst. The event could deliver updates regarding Nokia’s optical strategy and potentially announce new hyperscale partnerships.

Moody’s confirmed Nokia’s Ba1 credit rating in December and upgraded its outlook to positive, referencing anticipated profitability improvements spanning 2026 to 2028. Nokia concluded September 2025 with approximately €6.1 billion in cash and committed credit facilities.

The broader analyst consensus leans cautiously optimistic. A MarketBeat survey from early January reflected a “Moderate Buy” rating with 8 buy recommendations, 3 hold ratings, and 1 sell rating among 12 analysts. The average 12-month ADR price target stood around $6.10, though certain models positioned it closer to $7.36, with the upper range now reaching $8.50 — established by Morgan Stanley.

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