Linera Launches Babbage Testnet

On April 9, Bitcoin rebounded to break above $72,000, according to HTX market data, posting a 24-hour gain of 1.07%.

**April 9 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he ordered Israeli officials yesterday to launch direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible, responding to repeated Lebanese requests for such talks.** The negotiations will center on two core objectives: disarming Hezbollah and establishing a peaceful relationship between Israel and Lebanon. Israel also expressed appreciation for the Lebanese Prime Minister’s call today to demilitarize Beirut.

April 9 (CNBC) — Maine is set to become the first U.S. state to ban data center construction statewide, a move that could prompt other states to follow suit and slow the rapidly growing industry. This week, Maine lawmakers approved a bill prohibiting data center construction in the state through November 2027. The measure is expected to get final approval in the coming days and will establish a committee to develop a regulatory framework ensuring data centers do not drive up energy prices or create other issues for Maine residents. While the bill has bipartisan support, it faces strong pushback from tech groups and businesses, which fear even a short construction delay would leave the state at a disadvantage. Glenn Adams, business development director at Maine-headquartered Sargent Corporation (currently building data centers in Virginia and North Carolina), said any pause in data center construction — even temporary — would set the company back.

On April 9, NBC News reported that U.S. officials stated former President Donald Trump asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back bombing operations in Lebanon to support successful negotiations with Iran.

On April 9, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins posted on social media that “The goal of the NewCoin Project is to have the SEC and CFTC ready to implement the CLARITY Act as soon as Congress acts.” Treasury Secretary Benson is correct: it’s time for Congress to plan for future-proof regulation and advance comprehensive market structure legislation to President Trump’s desk.

On April 9, Telegram founder Pavel Durov took to social media to announce: The TON Blockchain has just undergone an upgrade, with its speed now increased tenfold, block generation speed up sixfold, and transactions now instant with sub-second confirmations. This marks the first step of the seven-step "Make TON Great Again (MTONGA)" plan. The next phase will cut transaction fees—already low—by an additional sixfold.