Singapore Gulf Bank launched a stablecoin minting and redemption service for corporate clients, allowing conversions between fiat and USD stablecoins with no fees on Solana for transactions over $100,000. This aims to enhance cash flow and boost USDC adoption.

Intchains Group reported a cumulative staking of 8,040 ETH, with a strategy that includes the FalconX platform and its own Goldshell Stake. The company is also enhancing operations through AI automation to boost efficiency and decision-making.

French authorities are enhancing security for digital-asset executives and investors due to recent kidnappings. Following these threats, police escorted Paris Blockchain Week attendees, and protective measures for crypto holders are being developed.

On April 16, Alibaba's stock rose over 3% after announcing price increases for its AI services to stabilize supply and operations. The company also unveiled Happy Oyster, an innovative model for 3D environments, targeting gaming and film industries, while aiming to boost AI and cloud revenue to $100 billion in five years.

NetEase Youdao's shares increased by over 7% to $10.42 after reporting a 5% revenue rise to 5.91 billion yuan and a 48.7% profit boost to 220 million yuan in its 2025 annual report. The company also recorded positive operating cash flow, generating 60 million yuan.

The Australian dollar has reached a 30-year high against the Japanese yen, propelled by optimism over a US-Iran ceasefire and a global equity rally. The RBA's hawkish policy and positive links to equity markets enhance AUD's appeal, though risks remain due to potential volatility.

0G Labs launched the 0G App, a no-code platform enabling users to create AI applications through natural language. It combines decentralized computing and AI capabilities, addressing centralization issues while enhancing privacy. This launch aims to boost AI Agent adoption and integrates with 0G's broader AI economy.

Polygon has launched sPOL, a liquid staking token, enabling greater liquidity for staked POL tokens. Audited for security, sPOL allows stakers to earn rewards while using assets in DeFi, with initial liquidity from the treasury and live pools on Uniswap V4.

Copper prices rose as traders reacted to U.S.-Iran peace talks, reversing a six-week decline. Improved market sentiment, driven by increased Chinese demand and easing inflation fears, suggests long-term growth in copper demand, particularly from AI data centers.

NVIDIA's N1 development board, co-developed with MediaTek, has appeared on a second-hand market for about $1,370. Featuring 10 high-performance and 10 energy-efficient CPU cores, it aims to boost gaming and content creation on Arm-based Windows PCs. Official details are expected at GTC 2026.