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  • Western Union to roll out Solana-based stablecoin next month

    Western Union to roll out Solana-based stablecoin next month

    Western Union, one of the biggest firms facilitating money transfers for consumers internationally, is set to release its flagship Solana-based stablecoin next month, CEO Devin McGranahan said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

    Dubbed the U.S. Dollar Payment Token, or USDPT, the token serves as a settlement alternative to SWIFT across select markets and agent partners. With USDPT, Western Union aims to deliver faster, lower-cost international transfers to 100 million users.

    The remittance giant also plans to introduce a Digital Asset Network (DAN) to bridge crypto and fiat, allowing users to convert digital assets into cash through its global footprint, and a USD Stable Card targeting inflation-sensitive markets where customers seek dollar-denominated spending power.

    According to McGranahan, the strategy reflects Western Union’s focus on innovation. USDPT and the new network are expected to strengthen its position by linking digital assets with traditional finance.

    Western Union has partnered with Crossmint to support the rollout of its USDPT stablecoin, integrating Crossmint’s wallet and payment APIs with Western Union’s Digital Asset Network.

    The collaboration will enable fintech platforms to access USDPT, settle transactions on the Solana blockchain, and convert digital assets into local currency through Western Union’s global payout infrastructure across more than 200 countries and 360,000 locations.

    Western Union posted adjusted revenue of $983 million in Q1 2026, down about 1% from the prior year. Its Consumer Services segment grew 24% on a GAAP basis. Shares on the NYSE closed at $8.9 after falling nearly 5% last Friday.

  • Oprah Moves Podcast, Book Club and More to Wondery

    Oprah Moves Podcast, Book Club and More to Wondery

    The Oprah Podcast is joining Wondery. 

    Per the deal, announced Monday, The Oprah Podcast will expand to two episodes per week starting this summer, with Wondery gaining exclusive distribution and advertising rights to the show’s audio and video. The deal also includes rights to The Oprah Winfrey Show library, and Oprah’s Book Club and Oprah’s Favorite Things, with the opportunity to integrate the two further across Amazon.

    Starting in July, Wondery will distribute The Oprah Podcast across Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Music, Fire TV Channels, and Audible. The show will also continue to be available on YouTube and wherever podcasts are available.

    Winfrey’s podcast joins a roster of other shows, including New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Baby, this is Keke Palmer and Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard in the reimagined Wondery. After breaking up the company in August, some narrative podcasts moved to Audible, amid layoffs of the narrative team, while the team responsible for Wondery’s creator-led, video-focused podcast shows formed a new organization called Creator Services. with the goal of scaling audiences across Amazon. 

    “Hosting this podcast allows me to continue the work I feel called to do – opening the door for conversations that matter,” said Winfrey. “The kind of conversations that remind us we’re not alone, and invite us to see ourselves and one another more clearly. Expanding our reach globally is an opportunity I embrace, as we continue to connect through stories that invite new ways of seeing and, hopefully, deepen understanding.”

    “Oprah Winfrey has built one of the most iconic, timeless brands in the world, spanning television, publishing, and beyond,” said Steve Boom, VP of Audio, Twitch, and Games, Amazon. “Through this collaboration with Harpo Entertainment, we are bringing her voice to more people and expanding how her audiences engage with Oprah in ways only Amazon can deliver.”

    Matt Sandler, GM of Creator Services, Amazon added, “Long before the term ‘creator’ existed, Oprah was building a direct and deeply personal connection with audiences across generations – and that bond continues to grow. Creators are reshaping entertainment, and Oprah continues to pave the way. We couldn’t be more excited to partner with her on what’s ahead.”

  • Marketecture Media Taps Jackelyn Keller as Chief Commerical Officer

    Marketecture Media Taps Jackelyn Keller as Chief Commerical Officer

    Marketecture Media, a publishing and live event outfit that focuses on the nexus of media and technology, has recruited Jackelyn Keller to serve as chief revenue officer as the company looks to scale its business events and content operations.

    The company just completed a $1 million seed funding round designed to help it expand its portfolio of business content and live events. Keller has broad experience in publishing, ad tech and marketing. Marketecture was founded in 2022 and is based in New York. The company operates a number of B2B content platform and hosts events and activations in various cities.

    “Marketecture was built to make a complex industry easier to understand by hearing directly from the people doing the work,” said Jeremy Bloom, co-founder and CEO of Marketecture Media. “As we grow, it’s critical to have leadership that understands both the business of media and the dynamics of this industry. Jackelyn brings a rare combination of experience, and we’re excited to see that drive commercial impact.”

    Keller previously worked in marketing and business roles for Dotdash Meredith, Quantcast, Samsung Ads and early in her career, Turner Broadcasting.

    “Marketecture is changing the way our industry gets smart — how we stay on top of what’s happening, share what we’re learning, and connect with each other,” Keller said. “This shift creates a real opportunity for brands to connect with the media and tech community in ways they haven’t before. It allows us to color outside the lines, creating access and experiences that are more relevant, more engaging, and more aligned with how this industry actually operates.”

  • Spotify Muscles Into Fitness Category, Inks Deal With Peloton for 1,400-Plus Workout Videos

    Spotify Muscles Into Fitness Category, Inks Deal With Peloton for 1,400-Plus Workout Videos

    Years before Spotify even launched, music was a core part of many people’s fitness routines.

    Now Spotify is expanding into the fitness category with an array of videos and guided workouts, available in the app alongside music, podcasts and audiobooks.

    Spotify’s new guided workout experiences will include more than 1,400 on-demand workout classes from Peloton instructors like Rebecca Kennedy, Ally Love and Rad Lopez, spanning strength, cardio, yoga and meditation. The Peloton workout videos, which will continue to expand over time, will be available to Spotify Premium subscribers in the U.S. and most other markets.

    In addition, both Spotify free and Premium users will have access to dozens of curated playlists as well as content from established wellness creators. Those include videos from Yoga With Kassandra, Caitlin K’eli Yoga, Sweaty Studio, Chloe Ting, Abi Mills Wellness, Sophiereidfit, and Pilates Body by Raven from Raven Ross (pictured above), who appeared on Season 3 of Netflix’s “Love Is Blind.”

    Spotify says it’s tapping into existing user behavior: According to the company, almost 70% of Spotify Premium customers work out monthly and there are already more than 150 million fitness playlists active globally.

    “For nearly two decades, Spotify has been the soundtrack to the world’s workouts,” Roman Wasenmüller, Spotify’s VP, global head of podcasts, said in a statement. “Today, we are expanding Spotify to become a true daily wellness companion. By bringing thousands of creators and partners like Peloton directly into our video and audio ecosystem, we are investing in a future where Spotify isn’t just where you spend your time — it’s where you go to build momentum, improve your well-being, and get more out of every day.”

    To access the full collection of Peloton content, Spotify Premium users can search “fitness” in the app to open the Fitness hub (or finding it in “Browse all” menu). From there, they can explore classes and curated playlists to find the perfect session for your mood and goals.

    Workouts are available primarily in English, with select options in Spanish and German. Users also will be able to download classes for offline access. In addition, you can switch between watching a workout on TV and audio listening on your phone or smart speaker.

  • APE Insider Adds to Lido DAO Long, Bringing Position to 10.26 Million LDO Worth $4.58M

    APE Insider Adds to Lido DAO Long, Bringing Position to 10.26 Million LDO Worth $4.58M

    An onchain trader previously flagged by analysts at Lookonchain as the wallet behind a profitable Apecoin insider trade has expanded a Lido DAO long position to 10.26 million $LDO, valued at approximately $4.58 million.

    Key Takeaways:

    • The wallet linked to the APE insider trade now holds 10.26 million $LDO worth $4.58 million, per Lookonchain.
    • The accumulation follows $LDO’s April 20 sell-off, when the token dropped roughly 19% amid KelpDAO-linked decentralized finance contagion.
    • $LDO has recovered approximately 5% in the past 24 hours as broader sentiment across DeFi stabilizes.

    Same Wallet, New Position

    The wallet first drew attention when Lookonchain analysts identified it as the source behind an early Apecoin move that converted $174,000 into $2.45 million in a single trading session. The same address has since rotated into Lido DAO, the decentralized finance ( DeFi) liquid staking protocol that controls the largest share of staked ether on the Ethereum network.

    Wallet snapshot displaying the 10.26 million $LDO long position.

    The $LDO accumulation intensified in the aftermath of the KelpDAO breach earlier in April, which triggered a broad sell-off across DeFi tokens. $LDO fell approximately 19% on April 20 as contagion from the incident rippled through liquidity pools and drove large-scale capital exits from Aave and related protocols.

    The wallet’s willingness to accumulate through that dip suggests a deliberate counter-trend position, and at 10.26 million $LDO, the stake is valued at roughly $4.58 million at current prices.

    $LDO Steadies as DeFi Sentiment Recovers

    Lido DAO has traded up approximately 5% in the past 24 hours, extending a tentative recovery following the worst of the DeFi liquidity crunch. Trading volume for $LDO reached approximately $58.4 million in the 24-hour period ending April 26, reflecting renewed speculative interest in the protocol.

    Lido controls roughly 28% of all staked ether, giving $LDO token holders governance authority over one of the largest DeFi protocols by total value locked. A separate investor acquired $1.86 million in $LDO over-the-counter in April following the protocol’s $20 million token repurchase program, approved by the DAO in the same month, pointing to a wider pattern of accumulation from larger onchain participants during the recent weakness.

    If this contrarian bet pays off will likely depend on ethereum’s broader market performance, but for now, all metrics indicate that smart money is using the recent volatility as a strategic opportunity to secure governance power at a discount.

  • Trump’s Nominee Kevin Warsh, One Step Closer to Becoming FED Chairman! “The Obstacle is Over!”

    Trump’s Nominee Kevin Warsh, One Step Closer to Becoming FED Chairman! “The Obstacle is Over!”

    Current Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s term expires in May. US President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to replace Powell as FED chairman.

    As Kevin Warsh awaits Senate confirmation to become Fed Chairman, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, one of the most critical figures in Warsh’s Senate confirmation process, has withdrawn his opposition.

    At this point, Tom Tillis announced that he would support the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the FED Chairman nominee.

    Senator Thom Tillis cited the investigation into the Fed and Powell as the reason for his opposition. However, that investigation is now over.

    Senator Tillis, in a statement made via account X, said the following:

    “The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded its investigation against Chairman Jerome Powell. Therefore, I will support the confirmation of nominee Wash.”

    The senator stated that the US Justice Department’s investigation into the renovation of the Fed buildings was an attack on the Fed’s independence.

    Tillis stated, “This investigation was one that could threaten the independence of the Federal Reserve. We couldn’t consider supporting it before the investigation was concluded.”

    As you may recall, the US Department of Justice recently concluded its investigation into the FED and Powell.

    Furthermore, Senator Tillis alone could prevent the vote on Warsh’s nomination from moving forward and halt the process. Therefore, Tillis’s opposition was seen as the biggest obstacle to Kevin Warsh’s nomination.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • Bottle of wine from 1945 sells for a record-breaking $812,500

    Bottle of wine from 1945 sells for a record-breaking $812,500

    Odd News // 1 month ago

    Virginia man buys 20 tickets for one lottery drawing, wins 20 times

    March 27 (UPI) — A Virginia man bought 20 identical tickets for a single Pick 4 lottery drawing and ended up winning $5,000 for each ticket — a total of $100,000.

  • Spotify Partners With Peloton in a Big Push Into Fitness

    Spotify Partners With Peloton in a Big Push Into Fitness

    Spotify is making a big move into fitness. 

    The audio company has partnered with Peloton to give paid users access to more than 1,400 on-demand workout classes from Peloton instructors within the Spotify app. The classes will include outdoors runs, strength, cardio, yoga and meditation but will not include workouts on the Peloton bike. The feature launches April 27 and will include content in English, German and Spanish. 

    The move comes as Spotify has already seen increasing interest among its userbase in fitness. The platform includes more than 150 million active fitness playlists for users to listen to while working out. Roman Wasenmüller, Spotify’s vp, global head of podcasts, told The Hollywood Reporter that the existing health and wellness content on the app, populated by video and audio of mediation, yoga and strength workouts made by outside creators, has been seeing 30 percent growth year over year. 

    Adding in more fitness is a step to increase time spent on the platform, as well as to potentially pull in more users. It also fits into Spotify’s big push into video, which has included bringing more video podcasts, as well as making it easier for outside creators to earn money for their content on the platform. As part of the April 27 launch, Peloton will also include videos and music playlists for free users from creators including Yoga With Kassandra, Chloe Ting and Pilates Body By Raven.

    “It’s truly another way to deepen value for hundreds of millions of subscribers and users, but also making sure that they just have more moments per day covered with Spotify serves them,” Wasenmüller said. 

    Spotify does not currently have plans to invest in its own health and wellness content, Wasenmüller said, but the company is open to more partnerships in that space. He did not comment on the financial terms of the partnership with Peloton. 

    “I think this is truly just the beginning. It’s basically the first step to expand the catalog, but also just set a flag and say, like we’re serious about this, that’s what we’re going to invest in,” he said.

  • Tennessee Becomes Second State to Outlaw Bitcoin, Crypto ATMs

    Tennessee Becomes Second State to Outlaw Bitcoin, Crypto ATMs

    In brief

    • Tennessee has become the second U.S. state to impose a sweeping ban on Bitcoin ATMs, which is set to take effect in July.
    • In March, Indiana imposed a ban on the machines, which federal authorities have identified as a vector committing fraud against the elderly.
    • The FBI reported that Americans aged over 60 lost $257 million to scams involving Bitcoin ATMs last year.

    Tennessee has become the second U.S. state to outlaw Bitcoin ATMs, making it a criminal offense in the Volunteer State to own or operate the machines that federal authorities have identified as a vector committing fraud against the elderly.

    Whether operators’ kiosks allow customers to purchase Bitcoin or other digital assets with cash, they have until July 1 to pull the plug under House Bill 2505, which Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed into law on April 13 following the legislation’s introduction earlier this year.

    The legislation was co-sponsored by Republican state representatives Cameron Sexton and Jay Reedy. In a March statement, Sexton said the kiosks “have become a gateway for scammers to exploit Tennesseans, especially our seniors.”

    Sexton noted that victims defrauded while using Bitcoin ATMs often have little hope of recovering their money once it’s gone. That was around the time that local authorities warned of a scam where victims had lost $4 million to overseas scammers posing as law enforcement.

    Reedy, a certified master beef producer, said “Crypto ATMs have given scammers a fast and easy way to target our citizens and scare them into draining their savings.”

    The two-page bill, which was introduced in February, classifies violations as a Class A misdemeanor, on par in Tennessee with simple drug possession and domestic assault.

    In total, Tennessee hosts 651 Bitcoin ATMs, with a majority of them clustered around Nashville, the state’s most populous city and capital, according to Coin ATM Radar. The locations range from gas stations and smoke shops to liquor stores.

    According to FBI numbers released this month, Americans aged over 60 lost $257 million to scams involving Bitcoin ATMs last year, a 58% increase year-over-year. Citizens under 30, for comparison, lost $6.6 million to that type of scam in 2025.

    In March, Indiana became the first U.S. state to impose a sweeping ban on Bitcoin ATMs, per WLFI. The publication cited one law enforcement official who said, “The number of reports has doubled each year for the last four years.”

    Amid an uptick in scams, several states have passed legislation imposing transaction limits and mandating refunds for victims. In Minnesota, lawmakers are weighing legislation that would follow Tennessee’s lead and ban Bitcoin ATMs across the state.

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  • Brazil Issues Sweeping Ban Against Prediction Market Platforms

    Brazil Issues Sweeping Ban Against Prediction Market Platforms

    In brief

    • Brazil blocked access to prediction market platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket, citing investor protection concerns.
    • Finance Minister Dario Durigan said the platforms violated betting regulations approved by Congress and lacked proper regulatory oversight.
    • The central bank prohibited derivatives contracts based on sports, gaming, political events, and other non-economic benchmarks.

    Brazil’s Finance Ministry blocked access to prediction market platforms Thursday, targeting major platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi that traders use to bet on outcomes.

    Finance Minister Dario Durigan said the platforms violated betting regulations approved by the Brazilian Congress, and that prediction markets weren’t legal or regulated in the country. He added that blocking them would protect citizens’ savings amid government efforts to reduce debt levels.

    “We have advocated for stricter enforcement and very rigorous regulation, which will continue to advance, so that we can curb the negative externalities and social harm that unregulated gambling causes to the Brazilian population,” Durigan said.

    Reuters reported that both Polymarket and Kalshi were inaccessible in the country as of Friday afternoon.

    Banco Central do Brasil issued a resolution prohibiting derivatives contracts based on sports events, virtual gaming, political outcomes, and other non-economic benchmarks. The central bank cited risks to investor protections and market integrity.

    Chief of Staff Miriam Belchior said the measure aims to “protect income, prevent financial losses, and reduce families’ exposure to unsafe practices.”

    The Brazilian crackdown reflects mounting global pressure on prediction markets. Portugal restricted Polymarket access in January, while multiple U.S. states have taken action. Most recently, Wisconsin filed lawsuits against Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket, and Crypto.com on Friday, alleging their sports event contracts violate the state’s commercial gambling ban.

    Daily Debrief Newsletter

    Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.