Things We're Reading – Week of April 6, 2026

Despite a significant drop due to U.S.-Iran tensions, Bitcoin rebounded above $70,000, showcasing its resilience as a digital asset.

Ethereum's latest protocol upgrade, the Fusaka Hard Fork, improves network scalability and transaction efficiency, reinforcing its position in decentralized finance.

Solana's Alpenglow upgrade enhances network performance, attracting developers and increasing on-chain activity across DeFi and AI applications.

MARA Holdings sold $1.1 billion worth of Bitcoin to repurchase convertible debt at a discount, reflecting strategic treasury management amid market volatility.

Total stablecoin supply approaches a record $316 billion, indicating substantial sidelined liquidity poised for re-entry into the crypto market.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs, led by BlackRock's IBIT, continue to absorb supply, signaling increased institutional participation and potentially altering demand dynamics.

OpenAI's GPT-5.4 introduces advanced reasoning and multimodal processing, setting a new benchmark in AI model performance.

Google's Gemini 3.1 Ultra model enhances native multimodal reasoning, improving AI's ability to process diverse data types simultaneously.

States like Colorado, California, Utah, and Texas have enacted laws setting private-sector requirements for AI, reflecting a growing trend in state-level AI regulation.

Yuanjie, a Chinese maker of laser chips for AI data centers, reports significant revenue growth and plans a Hong Kong IPO, highlighting the expanding AI hardware market.