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Disney’s ‘Toast to TV’ Emmy FYC Kickoff, Hosted by Dana Walden, Celebrates With A-List Stars, Producers

For a brief moment Monday night, Hollywood folks put aside any concerns they have about the industry’s troubles and found reason to celebrate at the Walt Disney Co.’s “Toast to Television.” The event, held at Soho House Hollywood, was exactly that: A moment for some of the medium’s biggest stars, creators, writers, executives, producers and directors to rub elbows and celebrate the fact that good storytelling is alive and well.

Stars and producers from ABC, Disney+, Hulu, 20th TV and other Disney-related entities repped shows including “9-1-1,” “Abbott Elementary,” “Alien: Earth,” “American Dad,” “The Bear,” “Chad Powers,” “Dancing With the Stars,” “Deli Boys,” “Disneyland Handcrafted,” “Family Guy,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “High Potential,” “Ironheart,” “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery,” “Love Story,” “Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair,” “Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice,” “Murdaugh: Death in the Family,” “Paradise,” “Reasonable Doubt,” “RJ Decker,” “Scrubs,” “Shifting Gears,” “The Simpsons,” “Swiped,” “The Testaments,” “Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox,” “Welcome to Wrexham,” “Wonder Man” and more.

In her opening remarks, newly named Walt Disney Co. president and chief creative officer Dana Walden noted that “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane had a little fun teasing the “Toast to TV” event title. But, “we are calling it that, and I want to say thank you and welcome to everyone that’s here. I’m looking at these amazing faces and people who have done so much extraordinary work with us. I thought a lot about what I wanted to say tonight, and I decided I wanted to do two things.

“First, I wanted to make it really quick, because I want you all to spend time talking to each other. Second, I wanted to say it’s kind of remarkable the year that you have all had. You have told stories that break through an incredible amount of clutter. You’re just such dreamy partners. All of us at Disney, we spend a lot of time thinking about who we want to partner with. And I have to say, when I look in this crowd, this is our dream.

“And so the second thing I want to say is I see people who have been to parties like this so many times. But I also want to say ‘welcome’ to the people who are joining us for the first time. We have met extraordinary new partners, and the work has just been so meaningful and beautiful, and we’re so proud of it. So Seth, it’s a toast to TV. And it’s a toast to people like you, our longtime partners, and a huge welcome to all of our new partners. On behalf of everyone at Disney, on behalf of [new CEO] Josh [D’Amaro] and [Disney Entertainment, Studios, chairman] Alan Bergman and [FX boss] John Landgraf and Deborah OConnell, our new head of Disney Entertainment Television. You are the best of the best. And cheers to you.”

Here are some photos from the event:

William Stanford Davis, Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams and Chris Perfetti, “Abbott Elementary.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Shailene Woodley and Thomas Doherty, “Paradise.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs”) and Ryan Reynolds (“Welcome to Wrexham”). (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Lucy Halliday and Chase Infiniti, “The Testaments.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan and Asif Ali, “Deli Boys.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Sterling K. Brown, “Paradise.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, “Love Story.” (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

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Dana Walden, Shailene Woodley, Dan Fogelman, “Paradise.” (Disney/Frank Micelotta)

Disney

Deena Katz, Derek Hough, Conrad Green, Alfonso Ribeiro, “Dancing With the Stars.” (Disney/Jonny Marlow)

Disney

Chris Perfetti, Tyler James Williams (“Abbott Elementary); Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison (“Scrubs”). (Disney/Jonny Marlow)

Disney

Rob Mac (“Welcome to Wrexham”), Dana Walden, Sydney Chandler (“Alien: Earth”), Kaitlin Olson (“High Potential”). (Disney/Frank Micelotta)

Disney

April 28, 2026
Coffee May Alter Gut Microbiome to Reduce Stress (Yes, Even Decaf)
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Coffee, even without caffeine, can reduce stress, improve learning, and boost mood by influencing your gut-brain axis. Oleg Breslavtsev/Getty Images
New research suggests both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can improve mood and reduce stress by influencing the gut–brain axis.

Coffee may alter the gut microbiome, increasing bacteria linked to digestion, immunity, and emotional regulation.

Decaf coffee was associated with improved learning and memory, while caffeinated coffee enhanced attention and reduced anxiety and inflammation.

Experts say coffee’s polyphenols and other compounds may support mental well-being by lowering inflammation and strengthening communication between the gut and brain.
Your morning cup of coffee may be more than just an energizing ritual.

New research from APC Microbiome Ireland suggests that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee can improve mood and reduce stress by acting on the gut–brain axis.

Researchers analyzed 62 adults, including 31 regular coffee drinkers and 31 non-drinkers, using psychological assessments, diet tracking, and stool and urine samples to examine changes in the gut microbiome and mood.

Coffee drinkers, defined as those consuming 3 to 5 cups daily, first abstained for two weeks, which led to notable shifts in gut metabolite profiles.

When coffee was reintroduced in a blinded trial, half consumed caffeinated and half decaffeinated. Both groups reported reduced stress, depression, and impulsivity, suggesting benefits beyond caffeine.

Researchers also observed increases in specific gut bacteria linked to digestion and immune function.

Decaffeinated coffee was associated with improved learning and memory, while caffeinated coffee was linked to reduced anxiety, better attention, and lower inflammation, highlighting distinct but complementary effects.
Coco Pierrel, is a certified integrative nutritionist and founder of Eat Shed Glow, who was not involved in the research.

She told Healthline that this study is the first to confirm what gut health specialists have seen in clinical practice for years: that coffee is a functional beverage.

“Coffee feeds your gut microbes through plant compounds called polyphenols and fiber-like molecules called melanoidins,” Pierrel explained.

“Your gut bacteria ferment these into short-chain fatty acids, which send signals directly to the brain through the vagus nerve.”

Pierrel recommended thinking of your gut as a second brain that is in constant communication with your first brain, and coffee is one of the loudest messages you send it every morning.

“Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain to sharpen alertness, while stimulating gastric acid and motility in the gut,” she explained.

“Coffee is one of the few daily habits that synchronizes your metabolism with your mental clarity, which is exactly what makes it such a powerful player on the gut-brain axis.”

People often associate the mental benefits of coffee with caffeine. However, this study shows that when it comes to lowering stress, boosting learning, and improving memory, decaf coffee has merit too.

“The polyphenols in coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, lower inflammation, and chronic low-grade inflammation is one of the most underrated drivers of low mood and anxiety,” Pierrel pointed out.

“Those same polyphenols get fermented by gut bacteria into short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which strengthens the gut barrier and quiets inflammatory signaling to the brain.”

Coffee polyphenols also help regulate the HPA axis, the body’s central stress response system, which is likely why both caffeinated and decaf drinkers in this study reported feeling less stressed.

“A healthy brain is often the byproduct of a healthy gut,” Pierrel said.

Still, the study noted some differences between caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.

Caffeinated coffee, in particular, was associated with reduced anxiety and improved vigilance and attention.

“Caffeine blocks adenosine, the molecule that tells your brain it is tired, which is why you feel sharper within 30 minutes of your first cup,” Pierrel explained.

“What most people miss is that habitual coffee drinkers develop a blunted cortisol response over time, meaning daily coffee may actually train your nervous system to handle pressure with less reactivity,” she noted.

The study also found caffeine specifically reduced inflammation.

“When you lower the noise of inflammation in the brain, you naturally raise the signal of focus and vigilance. That is why moderate daily coffee tends to leave habitual drinkers composed rather than just jittery,” Pierrel pointed out.

Of course, you can have too much of a good thing, and how you take your coffee matters, too.

“Two to three cups a day is the sweet spot for gut and brain benefits, while more can disrupt sleep and undo the very benefits you are drinking it for,” Pierrel warned.

“Sensitivity varies widely based on genetics and metabolism, so some people do best with one cup while others handle three comfortably. I generally recommend a caffeine curfew by 2 pm to protect sleep quality, too.”

The real problem is rarely the coffee itself; it is what most people pour into it.

Pierrel warned against routinely using flavored syrups, artificial sweeteners, and conventional creamers and milks loaded with seed oils and gut-disrupting gums or additives like carrageenan.

“These can compromise the gut lining and cancel the anti-inflammatory benefits the study just demonstrated,” she noted.

“The simplest path is black coffee, ideally organic to avoid pesticides and mold. If you take milk, go for grass-fed whole milk or an unsweetened plant milk with a short ingredient list, like Malk or Elmhurst,” Pierrel advised.

And if you like sweetness?
April 28, 2026
Why XRP’s $1.40–$1.46 Range Is the Real Battleground After the Latest Sweep

Is the Market Resetting for a Break?

$XRP has been quietly compressing into a tight range between $1.40 and $1.46, a zone that is now drawing increased attention after a recent liquidity sweep shook out weak positions.

At the moment, with price hovering around $1.39, the market appears to be at a critical inflection point where direction could soon be decided.

Source: CoinCodex

The significance of this range lies in what has happened beneath the surface. The liquidity sweep effectively cleared out overleveraged longs, resetting positioning across the board.

Following that move, open interest is beginning to stabilize rather than continue its prior decline, suggesting that panic unwinding may be slowing. Furthermore, CVD (Cumulative Volume Delta) is showing signs of fading sell pressure, indicating that aggressive market selling is losing momentum.

Source: TradingView

This combination has sparked a key question whether $XRP has already gone through its deleveraging phase, setting the stage for a potential reset? In other words, is the market now stabilizing enough to build a new directional trend rather than continuing its previous corrective structure?

Is $XRP Compression Signaling an Imminent Breakout or Another Range Reset?

Price action is now coiling tightly, and that compression is what makes the $1.40–$1.46 band so important.

Realistically, markets rarely stay in such narrow ranges for long, especially after liquidity has been cleared. As a result, $XRP’s present structure suggests equilibrium, whereby buyers and sellers are temporarily balanced while awaiting the next catalyst.

From a technical perspective, the next level of interest sits around $1.50. This zone is being closely watched as both a potential breakout trigger and a possible fakeout area. A decisive move above it, backed by rising volume and improving derivatives positioning, could confirm a bullish continuation. However, failure to hold above it could just as easily trap late longs and trigger another rotation back into the range.

There is also growing discussion around whether $XRP is entering a broader structural shift. If the current consolidation is indeed a base-building phase after deleveraging, then the market could be transitioning from forced liquidation dynamics into more organic price discovery.

In this scenario, supply overhead becomes the key battleground, with each push upward meeting layered resistance from earlier holders.

Ultimately, $XRP sits in a compressed state, low volatility, stabilizing derivatives data, and fading sell pressure all pointing toward an impending move. The only question is whether the next expansion breaks toward $1.50 with conviction, or fades into another range-bound reset.

April 28, 2026
Ethereum Price To Rally 100% In 2026: Here’s Where It Will Start And End

Ethereum’s long stretch of sideways movement may be closer to resolution than most market participants expect. A higher time frame analysis shared by a TradingView analyst suggests the current structure is the final stage before a larger expansion that sees the Ethereum price rallying by over 100% in 2026.

This prediction rests on decades of price history that, taken together, present a compelling case. Ethereum has done this before, the structure is intact, and a 100% move from the current price level is possible.

A Six-Year Consolidation Hiding A Bullish Structure

Technical analysis of higher timeframe charts, particularly the monthly candlestick timeframe, shows that Ethereum has spent much of the past six years locked in a wide consolidation range, with repeated failures between $4,500 and $4,900. That range has acted as a ceiling across multiple attempts, consistently attracting selling pressure each time price approaches it.

To understand where Ethereum may be going, a technical analyst known as Phil on the TradingView platform noted that traders must first understand where it has been. Not in weeks or months, but across the full sweep of its market history.

Two moments stand out as structural inflection points on the monthly chart. The first came in early 2017, when the $ETH price broke above the $40 psychological resistance level after repeatedly failing to clear it throughout 2016. That was the ignition point for a rally of about 7,500%.

The second came in mid-2020, when Ethereum, having spent two years consolidating inside a falling wedge pattern, staged another breakout from the lower support trendline of that formation, launching a continuation rally of roughly 1,900%.

Ethereum Price Chart. Source: TradingView

The Breakout Path To A 100% Rally

What followed both breakouts was a prolonged period of sideways price action, and that is precisely where Ethereum finds itself again. $ETH has now been consolidating for almost six years below $4,900. The overall bullish trend, however, has not been broken.

Corrections since 2021 have led to the creation of higher lows, and this is playing out an ascending triangle pattern on the monthly timeframe. Ethereum has already pulled back roughly 25% from its recent highs, easing bearish momentum into the support region of the triangle pattern.

On the other, the $2,000 psychological level, which $ETH tested just weeks ago, provides a second significant floor. As it stands, $ETH has already bounced approximately 8% on the monthly chart since the $2,000 low was reached and held. The next step, according to the analysis, would be confirmation through higher lows and a push away from support.

If the support holds and bullish confirmation develops, the path forward becomes relatively straightforward from a technical standpoint. The first major target is a return to the $4,500 resistance range. A clean break above that level would finalize the completion of the ascending triangle. According to the analyst, this is expected to play out a 100% rally in 2026.

$ETH price falls below $2,300 | Source: ETHUSDT on Tradingview.com

April 28, 2026
Quixote Studios Lays Off 70, Winds Down L.A. Locations Amid Production Slump

Quixote Studios is shuttering its Atlanta-based production services business and winding down its soundstage business in L.A. amid an ongoing production slump, the company announced Tuesday.

The changes will mean layoffs for about 70 people in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Hudson Pacific Properties bought the company in 2022 for $360 million, but has since had to write down the entire value of its Quixote unit due to heavy operating losses.

“Obviously, clearly it was not the best deal we’ve ever done, but if you compare that to everything else we’ve done, then we’re doing okay,” said Victor Coleman, the chairman and CEO of Hudson Pacific, at an investor conference in March. “We think that we have multiple alternatives with that asset that we can make it zero or at least flat at the end of the year.”

Hudson Pacific also owns Sunset Studios, a separate portfolio of L.A.-based soundstages. Those properties — which are leased to Netflix and other production companies — are unaffected by the change, and the company said that they are 96% leased.

Hudson leased additional soundstages under the Quixote brand, including facilities in Pacoima, Panorama City and West Hollywood. Occupancy on those properties was considerably lower — just 53.3% last year. Those properties will be relinquished, though the firm is hanging on to its Atwater Village location, across the L.A. River from Griffith Park. The cost reductions are expected to save the company about $21-$27 million a year.

“Quixote is taking steps to move away from leased sound stages and markets characterized by structural cost or demand disadvantages, which will allow Hudson Pacific to focus financial and operational resources on our office portfolio and higher performing segments of our studio business,” said Mark Lammas, president of Hudson Pacific, in a statement.

The company is closing down its production services business in Atlanta, after closing its services businesses in New Orleans and Albuquerque last year, as it looks to refocus that side of the business on L.A. and New York.

At the investor conference in March, Coleman argued that L.A. and New York are faring better in the downturn than second-tier hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Albuquerque and New Orleans.

“Those markets are much more depressed,” he said. “The tax credits in both Los Angeles and New York have enhanced what we see as the production flow.”

Hudson also owns the Icon, Cue and Epic office towers on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, which are leased to Netflix as its L.A. headquarters through 2031.

Netflix is believed to be closing in on a deal to acquire the Radford Studios lot in Studio City, though there is no sense yet how that might impact its current studio leasing arrangements.

April 28, 2026
A Night in the Writers’ Room Returns Spotlighting Creators of Top Television Series

Variety’s annual A Night in the Writers’ Room event returns on May 7 in Los Angeles. The event will feature intimate conversations and behind-the-scenes insights into the art and craft of television storytelling for a curated audience of TV voting members.

Programming for the evening includes three genre-based panels.

The Comedy Series panel moderated by Variety’s executive TV editor Michael Schneider includes:
Liz Tuccillo, Showrunner & Executive Producer – “Best Medicine”
Eva Anderson, Executive Producer – “Margo’s Got Money Troubles”
Chris Kula, Executive Producer, Writer, and Actor – “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat”
David Stassen, Executive Producer & Showrunner – “Running Point”
Lucia Aniello, Co-Creator, Director, Executive Producer, & Writer – “Hacks”
Oren Uziel, Creator, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, Writer – “Spider-Noir”
Erin Foster, Creator, Executive Producer, & Writer – “Nobody Wants This”

The Limited Series Panel moderated by Variety’s senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay includes:
Annie Weisman, Creator, Showrunner, Writer, & Executive Producer – “Imperfect Women”
Connor Hines, Creator, Writer, & Executive Producer – “Love Story”
Mike Makowsky, Creator, Executive Producer, & Writer – “Death by Lightning”

The Drama Series Panel moderated by Variety’s senior TV features editor Emily Longeretta includes:
Vince Gilligan, Executive Producer, Creator & Showrunner – “Pluribus”
Sam Levinson, Creator, Showrunner, Writer, & Director – “Euphoria”
Eric Kripke, Executive Producer & Showrunner – “The Boys”
Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Executive Producer & Showrunner – “Fallout”
Bruce Miller, Creator, Showrunner, & Executive Producer – “The Testaments”
Matthew B. Roberts, Creator, Showrunner, Writer, & Executive Producer – “Outlander: Blood of My Blood”

This year’s supporting partners include Warner Bros. Television, Fox Entertainment, Hulu, Apple TV, FX Networks, Peacock, Amazon, HBO, Starz, Netflix & AMC. A Night in the Writers’ Room is part of Variety’s TV Week. Request an invite here: variety.com/tvweek.

April 28, 2026
Big Day Tomorrow: FED to Announce Interest Rate Decision – Expert Nicknamed “FED Spokesperson” Predicts What Might Happen

A recent analysis by Nick Timiraos points to growing disagreements within the Fed and a critical juncture in monetary policy communication. According to Timiraos, known as the “Fed’s spokesman,” the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting will conclude on Wednesday, and this will be Jerome Powell’s last meeting as chairman.

The general expectation in the markets is that the Fed will keep its policy interest rate stable in the 3.5%–3.75% range. However, the main debate focuses on whether officials will maintain their rhetoric regarding interest rate cuts. The statement in the decision text that “the next policy step is more likely to be an interest rate cut than an increase” is seen as crucial for the direction of the markets.

Rising geopolitical tensions on a global scale are also making the Fed’s job more difficult. The energy shock and supply disruptions stemming from the war with Iran are bringing stagflation risks back to the forefront, while the de facto blockage in the Strait of Hormuz and the sharp rise in jet fuel prices are negatively impacting the inflation outlook. Fed officials predict that it could take at least a year for inflation to return to the 2% target.

Related News Price of Altcoin Skyrockets After Crypto Company Executive Says ‘I Bought It’

The US economy has faced four major supply shocks in the last five years: the post-pandemic reopening, the Russia-Ukraine war, trade tensions, and the recent crisis in the Middle East. These developments have increased uncertainty in monetary policy and deepened disagreements within the Fed. It is reported that Christopher Waller, a member of the Fed Board of Governors who previously supported interest rate cuts due to concerns about the labor market, has adopted a more cautious stance this month regarding inflation risks.

According to Timiraos’ analysis, the biggest point of contention within the Fed is whether or not to change the official policy statement. Some officials advocate removing the current “tendency to cut rates” phrase. This step would equalize the probabilities of rate cuts and increases, and would be perceived by markets as a hawkish signal. However, the majority within the committee believes that such a change could unnecessarily tighten financial conditions.

Therefore, although it is almost certain that the Fed will keep interest rates unchanged at this meeting, the tone of the message and the forward guidance will be decisive in pricing in global markets.

*This is not investment advice.

April 28, 2026
Hyperliquid Gains Counter $216 Million Q1 Loss at Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital
In brief

Galaxy Digital posted a first-quarter net loss of $216 million, or $0.49 per share, an improvement compared to a deficit of $295 million a year ago.

The company attributed its second consecutive quarterly loss to a tepid crypto market.

Founder and CEO Mike Novogratz said the firm’s first-quarter blow was cushioned by Hyperliquid exposure.
Galaxy Digital reported its second consecutive quarterly loss on Tuesday, indicating that tepid crypto market conditions continued to pressure the financial services firm.

The company posted a first-quarter net loss of $216 million, or $0.49 per share, an improvement compared to a deficit of $295 million a year ago. For the period ended March 31, analysts had penciled in a loss per share of $0.93, according to Yahoo Finance.

Galaxy’s losses narrowed on a consecutive basis. Alongside Bitcoin’s plunge from all-time highs last year, the company reported a net loss of $482 million, or $1.08 per share. Still, Galaxy continued to cite a depreciation in digital asset prices as the main driver of losses.

The company’s stock was little changed on Tuesday, with shares changing hands around $25 following the opening bell. Although shares hit an 11-month low of $16.43 last month, the New York City-based firm’s stock price has increased 12% year-to-date.

Galaxy’s total assets declined 12% quarter-over-quarter to $9.99 billion from $11.3 billion, driven mostly by a $316 million decline in the value of its digital assets and related investments.

Novogratz acknowledged that the company’s balance sheet lost money because crypto prices are down; however, he said the firm’s first-quarter deficit was partially offset by reduced headcount and a major shift in exposure to Hyperliquid’s native token.

“We’ve been a supporter, mostly because it’s got an economic model, unlike many of the other tokens, which were association tokens,” he added. “I think Hyperliquid is a good way to look at what the future of crypto is going to look [like].”

As of March 31, Galaxy’s treasury had $134 million in “Other Token Exposure.” Meanwhile, the company’s exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana clocked in at $431 million, $61 million, and $42 million, respectively, amid $95 million in other investments.

As a decentralized exchange specializing in perpetual futures, Hyperliquid supports its native token through a buyback-and-burn mechanism that’s intended to boost the digital asset’s scarcity. Year-to-date, the token’s price has rallied 56% to $39.73, according to CoinGecko.

The company indicated that digital assets generated a first-quarter gross profit of $49 million, edging down sequentially from $51 million. In an announcement, Galaxy attributed the stability of its performance to scaling recurring fee revenue and transaction income.

Galaxy bills itself as a bridge between Wall Street and crypto markets, historically providing trading, lending, and derivative services to institutions. However, the company has recently debuted a retail-facing platform, GalaxyOne, while managing its own data center.

Profits from data centers are expected to ramp up this year, with the expected delivery of Galaxy’s first data hall to CoreWeave, an AI-native cloud provider. During the company’s earnings call, founder and CEO Mike Novogratz highlighted that diversification.

“We’re optimistic on both sides of the business,” he said. “The world is in an AI revolution, and we plan on riding that wave and paddling our canoe as fast as possible.”

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April 28, 2026
Stablecoin Giant Tether Reveals Plans for Modular Bitcoin Mining Hardware
In brief

Tether unveiled plans for modular Bitcoin mining systems that separate compute from power and cooling infrastructure.

The company partnered with Nasdaq-listed Canaan Inc. and ACME Swisstech to develop the hardware.

Operators can upgrade individual components without replacing entire mining machines, allowing independent optimization of each system element.
Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin, unveiled modular Bitcoin mining systems developed with Canaan Inc. and ACME Swisstech that separate compute from power and cooling components.

The new architecture addresses fundamental constraints in traditional mining hardware by allowing operators to optimize each component independently. It’s a model that Jack Dorsey’s Block is also working to further with its modular Proto Rig mining units, revealed last year.

“Most mining infrastructure is still built as sealed, fixed units, which makes it expensive to scale and inefficient to run,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, in a statement. “Tether is revisioning that concept by deploying modular compute that can be tuned, upgraded, and cooled independently, so we can directly control cost, efficiency, and how these systems perform at scale.”

The industrial-scale design marks a departure from consumer mining equipment. ACME Swisstech President Giv Zanganeh described the collaboration as enabling “mining systems that are radically different from today’s plug-and-play, retail-oriented products in the market,” taking “a holistic, industrial co-design approach aimed at large-scale operations.”

Canaan, which specializes in ASIC design and mining hardware manufacturing, brings established expertise to the partnership. The collaboration reflects Tether’s broader push into mining infrastructure control, building on its previous development of an open-source Mining OS and Mining SDK, the latter of which was released on Monday.

No release timeline for the Bitcoin mining hardware was revealed, nor did Tether share any imagery of the planned designs. Decrypt reached out to Tether on both points but did not immediately receive a response.

Tether’s mining hardware initiative represents the latest expansion beyond its core USDT stablecoin business. The company is also building decentralized AI infrastructure via its QVAC tech, which enables the creation of local, offline AI apps.

The modular hardware approach could provide competitive advantages in hash rate efficiency as mining economics tighten. The Bitcoin mining business has become particularly challenging in recent months as the price of the top crypto asset has plunged nearly 40% from its record high last fall, with many mining firms pivoting focus to providing AI compute amid that boom.

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April 28, 2026
‘American Pie’ Star Shannon Elizabeth Earns More Than $1.2 Million on OnlyFans in First Week

Shannon Elizabeth‘s pivot to OnlyFans is off to a blockbuster start. Creators Inc. CEO Andy Bachman reveals the “American Pie” and “Scary Movie” star has “grossed seven figures in her first week on the platform,” with sources telling Variety that Elizabeth surpassed the $1.2 million mark in her first seven days. The actor’s OnlyFans page launched on Thursday, April 16.

Elizabeth, who was one of Hollywood’s biggest sex symbols in the early 2000s thanks to her role as Nadia in the “American Pie” movies, told People magazine ahead of launching her OnlyFans page that she was tired of working in Hollywood where “other people controlled the narrative and the outcome of my career.”

“This new chapter is about changing that, showing off a more sexy side no one has seen, and being closer to my fans,” she added at the time. “I’m choosing OnlyFans because it allows me to connect directly with my audience, create on my own terms, and just be free. I really do think this is the future.”

Elizabeth’s manager, Andy Bachman, celebrated her career move to OnlyFans in a statement to Variety, saying: “Shannon has always been someone who genuinely enjoys connecting with and giving back to her fans, and this allows her to do that in a more direct, meaningful way than ever before. It’s a powerful model, and right now, there’s nothing more effective at facilitating that connection than OnlyFans.”

Elizabeth joined a growing list of high-profile creators on OnlyFans that includes Carmen Electra, Bhad Bhabie, Mia Khalifa, “The Sopranos” star Drea de Matteo and Sophie Rain. De Matteo launched an OnlyFans account in August 2025 and went viral for disclosing how the profits she made in just one month allowed her to save her home from going into foreclosure as her acting career dried up.

“Reconnecting with my fans through appearances has reminded me just how much their support has meant to me throughout my career — and how much I’ve missed that energy,” Elizabeth said in a statement to Variety before her account launched. “OnlyFans gives me the opportunity to offer something more — a behind the scenes, unfiltered look at my life and a genuine connection that no other platform allows. This is also where I’ll be sharing exclusive content that you simply won’t find anywhere else. This isn’t just content to watch from a distance. This is for the people who have always shown up for me, and I want them to feel that.”

Elizabeth stressed to her fans that she is still based in South Africa and focused on her charity work, which “remains incredibly close to my heart. But this feels like the perfect moment to open up my world to the fans who have been with me throughout this journey. I’m so excited for this.” Bachman noted amid news of Elizabeth’s success that she’s planning a charity gala for June in Las Vegas to support her foundation.

April 28, 2026