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11 May 2026, 16:00

Anthropic Could Surpass OpenAI’s $852B Valuation After $1.8B Akamai Deal: Details

Anthropic has reportedly signed a $1.8 billion cloud infrastructure contract with Akamai, adding another major compute agreement as the artificial intelligence company expands capacity for its Claude models and competes more directly with OpenAI. The contract will run for seven years, Bloomberg reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Akamai disclosed the agreement during its first-quarter 2026 earnings call but did not name the customer. Chief Executive Frank Thomson Leighton described it as the largest customer deal in Akamai’s history. Leighton said the agreement involved a “leading frontier model company” and covered cloud infrastructure services. He also said the deal followed a separate $200 million cloud infrastructure contract announced in February with another major U.S. technology company working in AI. The reported Akamai agreement comes as Anthropic signs several large compute deals to meet demand for Claude, its AI assistant and enterprise tools. The company has also reached capacity agreements with Amazon Web Services, Google, CoreWeave, and SpaceXAI-linked infrastructure. Akamai Contract Expands Anthropic’s Compute Base The hardware involved in the Akamai contract has not been disclosed. Akamai previously said its $200 million cloud infrastructure agreement involved Nvidia Blackwell RTX Pro 6000 Server Edition clusters, which are suited for smaller distributed deployments. Akamai has been expanding its AI infrastructure strategy through a planned rollout of Nvidia hardware across its global network. The company has described an “AI Grid” project across 4,400 edge locations, using Nvidia’s reference design to support agentic AI and physical AI workloads closer to end users. For Anthropic, the reported Akamai agreement adds distributed compute capacity to a growing list of infrastructure sources. The company recently agreed to use all available capacity at SpaceXAI’s Colossus 1 data center, which reportedly includes more than 220,000 Nvidia GPUs. Akamai shares rose 27% after the company disclosed the cloud infrastructure contract. The company reported first-quarter revenue of $1.074 billion, up 6% from a year earlier. Its Cloud Infrastructure Services business generated $95 million, up 40% year over year. Anthropic and OpenAI Valuation Race Tightens The cloud deal comes as Anthropic is reportedly seeking a new private funding round at a valuation above $900 billion. Reports have said the company is discussing a $50 billion raise that could value it between $900 billion and $1 trillion. If completed at those levels, Anthropic could surpass OpenAI’s reported $852 billion valuation from its March 2026 funding round. Secondary market estimates have also placed Anthropic’s implied value near or above $1 trillion, though private market pricing can vary widely. Anthropic’s valuation growth has been rapid. According to reports, the company was valued at $61.5 billion in March 2025, $183 billion in September 2025, and $380 billion in February 2026. A $900 billion valuation would mark another sharp increase within months. Revenue growth has become a major part of the Anthropic-OpenAI comparison. Anthropic’s annualized revenue run rate has reportedly climbed to $30 billion to $45 billion, while OpenAI’s run rate has been estimated at $25 billion. Anthropic’s enterprise products, including Claude Code and Cowork, have been credited with driving rapid business adoption. OpenAI has been refocusing on enterprise services through new corporate sales efforts as competition for business customers grows. EU Scrutiny Adds Regulatory Dimension Anthropic and OpenAI are also drawing attention from European regulators. The European Commission has been discussing access to new AI models as the European Union prepares to enforce general-purpose AI obligations under the AI Act starting August 2, 2026. OpenAI has offered regulators access to its newest AI model, which the Commission has treated as a constructive step toward compliance with EU rules. Discussions with Anthropic have taken place, but formal talks over direct access to specific models have not yet begun. Recent EU attention has also focused on Anthropic’s unreleased Mythos model, which has raised cybersecurity questions because of its reported ability to identify IT vulnerabilities. EU officials are exploring whether such tools could help test banks and companies for cyber resilience. Anthropic has committed to the EU’s General-Purpose AI Code of Practice, which requires AI developers to assess and reduce systemic risks. The company’s regulatory posture will remain important as it expands across enterprise, cloud and cybersecurity markets.

11 May 2026, 16:00

Circle misses Q1 estimates as Arc token project hits $3B valuation

Circle (CRCL) has managed to raise $222 million from a pre-sale of Arc, which is the token associated with its upcoming blockchain. The company already has a fully diluted network value of $3 billion. But the timing could not have been worse, considering Circle’s earnings for the first quarter were better than expected yet still fell short of projections. The CRCL has regardless surged by more than 4% on Monday after the Arc news and the earnings report, where it posted 21 cents in earnings per share, which was 3 cents above the estimate from analysts surveyed by LSEG. The company’s revenue came in at $694 million, below the expected $722 million. Circle brings major investors into Arc before the blockchain goes live Andreessen Horowitz led the Arc raise with $75 million, joined by BlackRock (BLK), Apollo Funds, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), SBI Group (8473.T), Janus Henderson Investors (JHG), Standard Chartered Ventures, General Catalyst, Marshall Wace, ARK Invest, IDG Capital, Haun Ventures, and Bullish, the crypto exchange that owns CoinDesk. This makes Circle the first publicly traded company to run a token presale before its blockchain officially launches. Arc is the native token of the new network, and its first supply will total 10 billion tokens, with Circle keeping 25% of that amount that gives it a way to run validators, collect network fees, and earn staking income if Arc sees real usage. The biggest slice, 60%, is meant for developers, users, and other people or companies that build on the network, use it, or help support it. The remaining 15% will go into a long-term reserve. Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s CEO, told reporters on Monday that blockchain infrastructure is becoming as important as mobile operating systems and cloud platforms. “We want to build an operating system that has many, many stakeholders in it,” Jeremy said, adding that large companies would help run the infrastructure and take part in governance. Jeremy also said Circle is becoming “a broader internet platform company.” He said the company is entering the operating system business through a token-based, distributed network, while also getting into apps. Circle grows USDC revenue while higher costs drag down net income Circle’s reserve income surged to $653 million, reflecting an increase of 17% since last year. However, it was mainly driven by a surge in the average amount of USDC circulating. There was a 39% rise in the volume of USDC circulating, but unfortunately, the reserves’ ROI decreased by 66 basis points. The total additional revenue from subscriptions, transactions, and service fees was $21 million, increasing its total revenue to $42 million. Expenses were also on the rise, with a significant rise in distribution, transaction, and other expenses to $407 million, owing to higher distribution payments. Operating expenses were 76% higher than last year at $242 million, due to post-IPO stock compensation and associated payroll taxes. Operating costs for Circle adjusted up 32%, hitting $136 million due to an increase in product, distribution, and operating investments. Net income declined 15%, settling at $55 million owing to insufficient increases in revenue to offset increased stock-based payment expenses and additional costs. Adjusted EBITDA climbed 24%, reaching $151 million, aided by increased USDC supplies. Circle also unveiled Circle Agent Stack, a set of tools intended for developers and AI agents. Some products in the stack include Circle CLI, Agent Wallets, Agent Marketplace, and Nanopayments via Circle Gateway. Circle CLI equips developers and AI agents with a command-line interface to construct with Circle’s wallets, payments, and policy management. Nanopayments facilitates USDC transfers without fees down to $0.000001, designed specifically for quick machine-to-machine payments, according to Circle. Circle Skills adds more tools for autonomous software that needs payment rails. Nikhil Chandhok, Circle’s chief product and technology officer, said USDC is “internet-native, programmable, and always available.” He said the new products combine digital dollars, wallets, service discovery, machine-readable controls, and payment tools built for software. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

11 May 2026, 13:55

MoonPay Acquires Dawn Labs, Debuts AI Trading Tool That Turns Words Into Code

BitcoinWorld MoonPay Acquires Dawn Labs, Debuts AI Trading Tool That Turns Words Into Code Global cryptocurrency payments firm MoonPay has acquired Dawn Labs, an artificial intelligence trading startup, and simultaneously launched a new AI-powered trading tool called Dawn CLI. The development marks a significant step in making algorithmic trading accessible to a broader audience, according to details shared with Decrypt. How Dawn CLI Works Dawn CLI allows users to describe trading strategies in natural language, which the AI then converts into executable trading code. The initial platform supported is Polymarket, the popular prediction market built on the Polygon network. MoonPay stated that the tool simplifies what previously required a combination of software development, quantitative analysis, and portfolio management expertise into a single, user-friendly interface. Risk Management and Custody MoonPay has outlined specific measures to manage potential risks associated with AI-driven trading, including malfunctions and excessive trading activity. The company plans to implement a non-custodial wallet structure, meaning users retain control of their funds at all times. Additionally, trade limit policies will be enforced to prevent runaway trading behavior that could result from automated strategies. Why This Matters for Crypto Traders The launch of Dawn CLI addresses a long-standing barrier in the cryptocurrency space: the technical complexity of automated trading. By reducing the need for specialized coding skills, MoonPay is positioning itself as a bridge between traditional retail traders and sophisticated on-chain strategies. This could attract a new wave of participants to prediction markets and other decentralized trading venues. Strategic Implications The acquisition of Dawn Labs signals MoonPay’s broader ambition to move beyond simple payment processing and into higher-value financial technology services. As regulatory scrutiny around crypto continues to evolve globally, tools that offer transparency and user-controlled custody may help the company differentiate itself from competitors. The move also aligns with a growing trend among crypto infrastructure firms to integrate AI capabilities directly into their product offerings. Conclusion MoonPay’s acquisition of Dawn Labs and the launch of Dawn CLI represent a practical convergence of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency trading. By lowering the technical barrier to entry and implementing robust risk controls, the company is attempting to make algorithmic trading more accessible while maintaining a focus on user safety. The initial focus on Polymarket suggests a targeted rollout, with potential expansion to other platforms in the future. FAQs Q1: What is Dawn CLI? Dawn CLI is an AI-powered trading tool developed by MoonPay that converts natural language trading strategies into executable code. It is initially available for the Polymarket prediction market. Q2: How does MoonPay plan to prevent AI trading errors? MoonPay is implementing a non-custodial wallet structure, which keeps user funds under their control, and trade limit policies to mitigate risks from AI malfunctions or excessive trading. Q3: Who can use Dawn CLI? Dawn CLI is designed for users who want to automate trading strategies but lack programming or quantitative analysis skills. It simplifies the process into a natural language interface. This post MoonPay Acquires Dawn Labs, Debuts AI Trading Tool That Turns Words Into Code first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

11 May 2026, 08:10

S&P 500 Rally Extends on AI Strength and Solid Earnings: Deutsche Bank

BitcoinWorld S&P 500 Rally Extends on AI Strength and Solid Earnings: Deutsche Bank The S&P 500 continued its upward trajectory this week, driven by robust corporate earnings and renewed enthusiasm for artificial intelligence-related stocks, according to a new analysis from Deutsche Bank. The investment bank noted that the current rally reflects a broadening of market participation beyond the mega-cap technology names that have dominated gains for much of the year. Deutsche Bank’s Assessment of the Rally In a research note published Tuesday, Deutsche Bank strategists highlighted that the S&P 500’s recent advance is being supported by stronger-than-expected earnings reports across multiple sectors. The firm pointed to improving profit margins and resilient consumer spending as key contributors. However, the report emphasized that AI-related companies continue to be the primary engine of growth, with significant capital expenditure announcements from major tech firms reinforcing investor confidence in the sector’s long-term potential. Deutsche Bank’s analysis comes as the S&P 500 hovers near record levels, with the index posting gains in four of the last five trading sessions. The bank’s equity strategy team sees the current environment as one where earnings growth is gradually broadening out, which could provide a more sustainable foundation for the rally compared to the narrow leadership seen earlier in the cycle. AI and Earnings as Dual Drivers The link between AI developments and earnings performance has become increasingly central to market narratives. Companies that have successfully integrated AI into their products or operations are reporting higher revenue growth and operational efficiencies, which is reflected in their stock performance. Deutsche Bank noted that the market is rewarding firms that can demonstrate tangible returns on AI investments, rather than just speculative promises. This dynamic is particularly evident in the technology and communication services sectors, where several bellwethers have exceeded analyst expectations. The bank’s report also pointed to financials and industrials as sectors showing early signs of AI-driven productivity gains, suggesting the trend may be spreading beyond its initial epicenter. What This Means for Investors For market participants, Deutsche Bank’s analysis reinforces the importance of focusing on earnings quality and AI exposure when constructing portfolios. The bank advises that while the rally has room to run, investors should remain selective and avoid chasing momentum in overvalued names. The broadening of earnings strength is seen as a positive signal for the overall health of the U.S. equity market, potentially reducing the risk of a sharp correction driven by concentration in a few stocks. Conclusion Deutsche Bank’s latest report underscores a market that is being propelled by two powerful forces: the continued expansion of artificial intelligence and a solid earnings season that is showing signs of broadening. While risks such as inflation and geopolitical uncertainty remain, the bank’s outlook suggests that the S&P 500’s rally is built on more than just sentiment. For readers, the key takeaway is that the current market environment rewards companies that can convert AI potential into measurable financial performance, a trend that is likely to define the next phase of the bull market. FAQs Q1: What did Deutsche Bank say about the S&P 500 rally? Deutsche Bank stated that the S&P 500 rally is being extended by strong corporate earnings and continued momentum in AI-related stocks. The bank sees the rally as broadening beyond just mega-cap tech companies. Q2: How is AI impacting the stock market according to the report? AI is a key driver because companies that successfully integrate AI are reporting higher revenue growth and operational efficiencies. The market is rewarding firms that show tangible returns on AI investments. Q3: Should investors be concerned about the rally’s sustainability? Deutsche Bank views the broadening of earnings strength as a positive sign for sustainability. However, it advises selectivity and caution against chasing overvalued stocks. This post S&P 500 Rally Extends on AI Strength and Solid Earnings: Deutsche Bank first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

11 May 2026, 06:35

Bitcoin Mining Pools Controlling 75% of Hashrate Adopt Stratum V2, Decentralizing Block Selection

BitcoinWorld Bitcoin Mining Pools Controlling 75% of Hashrate Adopt Stratum V2, Decentralizing Block Selection In a significant development for the Bitcoin mining ecosystem, seven major mining pools that collectively control approximately 75% of the network’s total hashrate have announced their adoption of the Stratum V2 protocol. The move, first reported by CoinDesk, represents one of the most concrete steps toward addressing long-standing concerns about centralization within the mining industry. Which Pools Are Participating? The participating pools include some of the largest and most influential names in Bitcoin mining: Foundry, AntPool, F2Pool, SpiderPool, MARA Pool, Block Inc, and DMND. Their combined hashrate dominance means that Stratum V2 is now the de facto standard for a substantial majority of the network’s computational power, marking a pivotal shift in how mining operations are coordinated. What Is Stratum V2 and Why Does It Matter? Stratum V2 is an updated communication protocol that governs how individual miners interact with mining pools. The original Stratum protocol, which has been in use for years, gave pool operators the authority to select which transactions are included in a block. Stratum V2 fundamentally changes this dynamic by shifting that authority back to individual miners. This change is more than a technical upgrade. It addresses a core tension in Bitcoin’s design: while the network was intended to be decentralized, the practical reality of mining has seen power concentrate in the hands of a few large pools. By allowing miners to choose which transactions to include, Stratum V2 restores a degree of autonomy that was previously lost. Security and Efficiency Improvements Beyond decentralization, Stratum V2 offers enhanced security features, including encrypted communication between miners and pools, which reduces the risk of man-in-the-middle attacks and data tampering. The protocol also improves bandwidth efficiency, reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted between miners and pool servers. This is particularly important for miners operating in regions with limited or expensive internet connectivity. Industry Reaction and Implications The adoption of Stratum V2 has been widely welcomed by industry observers and participants. Many see it as a necessary evolution for Bitcoin’s infrastructure as the network matures. The shift in transaction selection authority is particularly significant because it reduces the ability of pool operators to censor or prioritize certain transactions, aligning more closely with Bitcoin’s original vision of a permissionless, decentralized system. However, the transition is not without challenges. Miners will need to update their software and hardware configurations to support the new protocol. While major pools have signaled their commitment, the pace of adoption among smaller, independent miners remains to be seen. The success of Stratum V2 will ultimately depend on widespread implementation across the entire mining ecosystem. Conclusion The adoption of Stratum V2 by seven major mining pools represents a landmark moment for Bitcoin’s mining infrastructure. By shifting transaction selection authority from pool operators to individual miners, the protocol addresses one of the most persistent criticisms of the current mining landscape. As the network continues to evolve, this move could serve as a blueprint for further decentralization efforts. For now, it signals that the industry is actively working to align its operational practices with the principles that underpin Bitcoin itself. FAQs Q1: What is Stratum V2? Stratum V2 is an updated communication protocol for Bitcoin mining that improves security, efficiency, and most importantly, shifts the authority to select which transactions are included in a block from pool operators to individual miners. Q2: Why is this adoption significant? The seven pools adopting Stratum V2 control about 75% of the network’s total hashrate, making this a major step toward decentralizing mining power and reducing the influence of large pool operators over transaction selection. Q3: Will all miners be required to switch to Stratum V2? No, the protocol is optional. However, with major pools adopting it, there is strong industry momentum. Miners who wish to retain transaction selection autonomy will need to update their software to support Stratum V2. This post Bitcoin Mining Pools Controlling 75% of Hashrate Adopt Stratum V2, Decentralizing Block Selection first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

11 May 2026, 05:20

PayPal and Google Cloud say crypto rails are key to scaling agentic commerce

Payment giant PayPal and tech firm Google Cloud say cryptocurrency-based payment infrastructure will play a central role in the future of “agentic commerce.” In this model, artificial intelligence agents can independently make purchases, negotiate services, and settle payments without human intervention. Executives from both companies argued that traditional payment systems are not designed for AI-driven transactions during a Consensus Miami conference. Rich Widmann, Global Head of Strategy for Web3 at Google Cloud, stressed that AI agent interaction in the current web environment is poorly designed. “An agent can’t get a bank account. It’s not just hard; it’s impossible, due to both technological and regulatory challenges,” he said. Widmann described crypto as an excellent machine-readable interface for payments. The discussion comes as major technology and fintech firms race to build standards for autonomous AI commerce. According to conference materials, emerging systems such as Coinbase-backed x402 , Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), and other agent-payment frameworks are designed to allow AI agents to pay for APIs, compute power, digital services, and online goods in real time. AI agents’ contribution to the financial sector sparks heated discussions in the ecosystem Recent comments from Google Cloud and PayPal’s senior officials cast a serious gaze on the possibility of structural financial change in the future of commerce. May Zabaneh, PayPal’s Vice President and General Manager of Crypto, weighed in on the topic. She expressed her belief that AI agents will revolutionize commerce. Meanwhile, PayPal conducted a survey . The study results showed a major gap in the sector. Though AI agent visits are common knowledge, only 20% of sellers actually optimize their site’s data for machine consumption. Experts suggested several workable solutions. They anticipated that developing agentic payment solutions could drive the global market valuation to between $3 trillion and $5 trillion in 2030. Zabaneh urged the industry to address liability for poor agent purchasing decisions, while Widmann emphasized that multi-party custody is becoming essential for the design of these agents. The main challenge, he noted, lies in integrating AI agents into existing capital market infrastructure and payment systems. Although Zabaneh acknowledged that trust is her primary concern at work, she is eagerly anticipating the use of agentic technology to simplify her personal life. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has also recognized the potential of agentic commerce. As recently reported by Cryptopolitan , the firm launched Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Payments in partnership with Coinbase and Stripe to facilitate AI agent transactions. The system backs USDC stablecoins and protocols, including x402 and the Machine Payments Protocol. Stripe followed suit by demonstrating efforts to simplify crypto payments and fiat-to-crypto transitions. This will enable businesses to manage digital asset transactions seamlessly. Block, Inc. is making Bitcoin a default option for millions of US businesses via its Square platform. This initiative aims to turn crypto into a standard way to pay. While several tech companies embrace these ambitious goals, major obstacles remain. Analysts urge merchants to adopt computer-friendly catalogs Several merchants are missing out on customer traffic because their websites are designed for humans, not AI agents. The merchants with machine-friendly catalogs recommended by AI get top-quality traffic and make more sales. This gap makes it challenging for businesses to thrive in an economy. Analysts think this sluggish merchant readiness could slow agent commerce. They also pointed out that laws surrounding digital assets could slow down their everyday use. That is partly due to the standards these regulations impose to protect users and combat crime. At this particular moment, experts warned that letting AI handle money is risky. They argued that although Google and Mastercard’s FIDO Alliance are developing rules for AI payments, allowing AI to handle transactions may make it difficult to stop fraud or fix problems when things go wrong. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .