The popular AI framework Virtuals Protocol will host an in-person meet-up in Hong Kong on Friday, January 17.

April 30 — PayPal announced a strategic business and executive team reorganization on Wednesday, aimed at accelerating its long-term growth strategy, streamlining decision-making, and driving innovation. The fintech giant will shift to a streamlined operating model with three core businesses: Payments Checkout with PayPal, Consumer Financial Services with Venmo, and Cryptocurrency Payment Services. **Key Personnel Moves:** - Frank Keller named President of Checkout Solutions & PayPal; - Alexis Sowa and Jeff Pomeroy tapped as interim leads for the other two major segments; - Antonio Lucio joins as Chief Marketing and Corporate Affairs Officer; - Anshu Bhardwaj takes on the role of Chief AI Transformation and Simplification Officer. PayPal said the restructuring aligns its organizational structure with its strategy to fuel sustainable growth and value creation. **Additional Business Integrations:** - Consolidated consumer and merchant ecosystems into a single strate

On April 30, a senior official told a Washington Examiner reporter that the White House is actively discussing with congressional lawmakers today ahead of the final deadline to seek a 30-day extension of the Iran War Authorization.

Coinbase has launched MegaETH (MEGA) spot trading as of April 30, per official sources.

April 30 – Crypto contract whale "Set 10 Big Goals First" posted on social media, revealing he closed a leveraged long Bitcoin position that was 4x his initial investment. The accompanying image shows the trade resulted in a $6.51 million loss.

April 30: The Wasabi team says it has identified an issue and is actively investigating. As a precaution, users are advised to avoid interacting with the project’s smart contract until further notice. The team noted it will release an update as soon as more details become available. Previously, Wasabi was hacked, with approximately $2.9 million stolen.

Reuters reported on April 30 that MARA Holdings (MARA.O) has agreed to acquire Long Ridge Energy & Power from FTAI Infrastructure for $1.5 billion, including debt. The move marks a key step for the Bitcoin mining firm to transition into a digital infrastructure and energy company. In recent years, MARA—one of the largest Bitcoin mining and holding companies—has shifted its focus to digital infrastructure and the energy production powering it, driven by growing demand for AI and technological advancements. While its past cryptocurrency operations don’t conflict with the new strategy, MARA is increasingly leaning toward directly owning energy assets to secure ample power for data center development. Long Ridge owns a 505-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas power plant and more than 1,600 contiguous acres of land. MARA plans to build data centers on the site, powered by the plant.