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  • Fake ‘Retreat,’ Real Product: The Hot Sauce in ‘Jury Duty: Company Retreat’ Is Now Available to Buy Online

    Fake ‘Retreat,’ Real Product: The Hot Sauce in ‘Jury Duty: Company Retreat’ Is Now Available to Buy Online

    If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

    Amazon’s second season of its social experiment series, “Jury Duty,” ended this month, with the reveal that unwitting series star Anthony Norman had been working for a family-owned hot sauce company that didn’t actually exist in real life.

    But while “Rockin’ Grandmas” was a fictitious firm that formed the basis of “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” (streaming free on Prime Video) fans of the show can now actually purchase Rockin’ Grandmas products in real life.

    Prime Video and Dave’s Gourmet have launched a lineup of four hot sauces under the “Rockin’ Grandma’s” moniker, with the sauces inspired by the comedy series and popular restaurant-style condiments. The collection features a Jamaican Jerk (Off) Sauce (their name, not ours); a “smoky sauce” with habanero, chipotle and passion fruit; an original hot sauce made with habanero, mustard and honey; and a “sweet sauce” that adds a touch of pineapple and mango to the ingredient list.

    AS SEEN ON TV

    Rockin’ Grandma’s Sauce Variety Pack

    Amazon has the sauces available for purchase individually as 148 ml. bottles or as part of this “Greatest Hits Hot Sauce Collection” variety pack.

    The hot sauce bottles come in fun and colorful branding that nods to themes and motifs from the show along with a hangtag displaying the Prime Video and “Jury Duty” show logos. The catchphrase: these sauces will “rock your socks off.”

    “We loved the idea that something living inside a world created for one person could make its way into the real world for many more to enjoy,” says Matthew Insolia, President of Dave’s Gourmet, which also makes its own line of condiments and pasta sauces available online. “Now fans of the show can taste it. No acting required.”

    Series star Norman was hired a “temporary employee” to assist at a corporate retreat for Rockin’ Grandma’s, with the weekend then covered documentary-style for “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat.” Of course, unbeknownst to Norman, the entire experience was staged for the TV show. The finale episode, which aired April 3, saw Norman helping to save Rockin’ Grandma’s from being sold, after which the cast revealed the truth to the 25-year-old “temp,” who was awarded $150,000 for his participation on the show. The finale was followed by a reunion episode hosted by actor James Marsden, who played himself in the first season of “Jury Duty.”

    While the show is over, you can still buy the Rockin Grandma’s hot sauces online at Amazon, and Amazon Prime members can stream “Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat” online free on Prime Video. Not a Prime member? Get a 30-day free trial here to watch the show for free and get free shipping on the sauces, in addition to a host of other Prime member deals and offers.

    Of course, Rockin Grandma’s Hot Sauce is not to be confused with Grandma’s Hot Sauce, an independently-owned small business in the UK producing hot sauces inspired by founder Kapana Feldano’s grandmother’s upbringing and recipes from the West Indies. You can shop Grandma’s Hot Sauce and its line of wiri wiri and scotch bonnet pepper-inspired condiments online here.

  • Palantir posted a manifesto that reads like the ramblings of a comic book villain

    Because we get asked a lot.

    The Technological Republic, in brief.

    1. Silicon Valley owes a moral debt to the country that made its rise possible. The engineering elite of Silicon Valley has an affirmative obligation to participate in the defense of the nation.

    2. We must rebel against the tyranny of the apps. Is the iPhone our greatest creative if not crowning achievement as a civilization? The object has changed our lives, but it may also now be limiting and constraining our sense of the possible.

    3. Free email is not enough. The decadence of a culture or civilization, and indeed its ruling class, will be forgiven only if that culture is capable of delivering economic growth and security for the public.

    4. The limits of soft power, of soaring rhetoric alone, have been exposed. The ability of free and democratic societies to prevail requires something more than moral appeal. It requires hard power, and hard power in this century will be built on software.

    5. The question is not whether A.I. weapons will be built; it is who will build them and for what purpose. Our adversaries will not pause to indulge in theatrical debates about the merits of developing technologies with critical military and national security applications. They will proceed.

    6. National service should be a universal duty. We should, as a society, seriously consider moving away from an all-volunteer force and only fight the next war if everyone shares in the risk and the cost.

    7. If a U.S. Marine asks for a better rifle, we should build it; and the same goes for software. We should as a country be capable of continuing a debate about the appropriateness of military action abroad while remaining unflinching in our commitment to those we have asked to step into harm’s way.

    8. Public servants need not be our priests. Any business that compensated its employees in the way that the federal government compensates public servants would struggle to survive.

    9. We should show far more grace towards those who have subjected themselves to public life. The eradication of any space for forgiveness—a jettisoning of any tolerance for the complexities and contradictions of the human psyche—may leave us with a cast of characters at the helm we will grow to regret.

    10. The psychologization of modern politics is leading us astray. Those who look to the political arena to nourish their soul and sense of self, who rely too heavily on their internal life finding expression in people they may never meet, will be left disappointed.

    11. Our society has grown too eager to hasten, and is often gleeful at, the demise of its enemies. The vanquishing of an opponent is a moment to pause, not rejoice.

    12. The atomic age is ending. One age of deterrence, the atomic age, is ending, and a new era of deterrence built on A.I. is set to begin.

    13. No other country in the history of the world has advanced progressive values more than this one. The United States is far from perfect. But it is easy to forget how much more opportunity exists in this country for those who are not hereditary elites than in any other nation on the planet.

    14. American power has made possible an extraordinarily long peace. Too many have forgotten or perhaps take for granted that nearly a century of some version of peace has prevailed in the world without a great power military conflict. At least three generations — billions of people and their children and now grandchildren — have never known a world war.

    15. The postwar neutering of Germany and Japan must be undone. The defanging of Germany was an overcorrection for which Europe is now paying a heavy price. A similar and highly theatrical commitment to Japanese pacifism will, if maintained, also threaten to shift the balance of power in Asia.

    16. We should applaud those who attempt to build where the market has failed to act. The culture almost snickers at Musk’s interest in grand narrative, as if billionaires ought to simply stay in their lane of enriching themselves . . . . Any curiosity or genuine interest in the value of what he has created is essentially dismissed, or perhaps lurks from beneath a thinly veiled scorn.

    17. Silicon Valley must play a role in addressing violent crime. Many politicians across the United States have essentially shrugged when it comes to violent crime, abandoning any serious efforts to address the problem or take on any risk with their constituencies or donors in coming up with solutions and experiments in what should be a desperate bid to save lives.

    18. The ruthless exposure of the private lives of public figures drives far too much talent away from government service. The public arena—and the shallow and petty assaults against those who dare to do something other than enrich themselves—has become so unforgiving that the republic is left with a significant roster of ineffectual, empty vessels whose ambition one would forgive if there were any genuine belief structure lurking within.

    19. The caution in public life that we unwittingly encourage is corrosive. Those who say nothing wrong often say nothing much at all.

    20. The pervasive intolerance of religious belief in certain circles must be resisted. The elite’s intolerance of religious belief is perhaps one of the most telling signs that its political project constitutes a less open intellectual movement than many within it would claim.

    21. Some cultures have produced vital advances; others remain dysfunctional and regressive. All cultures are now equal. Criticism and value judgments are forbidden. Yet this new dogma glosses over the fact that certain cultures and indeed subcultures . . . have produced wonders. Others have proven middling, and worse, regressive and harmful.

    22. We must resist the shallow temptation of a vacant and hollow pluralism. We, in America and more broadly the West, have for the past half century resisted defining national cultures in the name of inclusivity. But inclusion into what?

    Excerpts from the #1 New York Times Bestseller The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West, by Alexander C. Karp & Nicholas W. Zamiska

  • JUST IN: Donald Trump Says Framework for Iran Deal Is Complete, but Iran Is Making Mixed Statements—Keep an Eye on Tuesday

    JUST IN: Donald Trump Says Framework for Iran Deal Is Complete, but Iran Is Making Mixed Statements—Keep an Eye on Tuesday

    According to Axios, Iranian officials doubt that the U.S. will launch a military offensive before the current ceasefire expires on Tuesday night. While negotiations continue between the parties, uncertainty and mutual distrust on the ground are noteworthy.

    However, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, US President Donald Trump painted an optimistic picture regarding negotiations with Iran in a brief meeting today. Trump stated, “The framework for the agreement is complete. I think we have a very high chance of finalizing it.”

    Related News Justin Sun Makes an Unusual Offer to the Hacker Involved in the $290 Million Hack

    However, a more cautious approach is emerging on the Iranian side. Iranian officials are concerned that Trump’s positive statements regarding the agreement may be a tactic to conceal a possible “surprise attack.” In this context, as of Sunday afternoon, it is still unclear whether Iran will send a negotiating team to Islamabad. Several Iranian officials have expressed the possibility that Washington’s true intention might be to restart the war.

    On the other hand, a Turkish security official pointed out that talks between Iran and the US risk failing. The official warned that if the negotiations collapse, conflicts could resume in a more intense and destructive manner.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • Warning: There Are Claims That the Aave and KelpDAO Incident Is Worse Than It Seems, So Don’t Let Your Guard Down

    Warning: There Are Claims That the Aave and KelpDAO Incident Is Worse Than It Seems, So Don’t Let Your Guard Down

    As pressure on DeFi markets intensifies following the KelpDAO-related exploit crisis, leading industry commentator 0xQuit has issued a noteworthy warning. According to the analyst, the situation on Aave is “bad and getting worse.”

    0xQuit stated in its assessment that multiple liquidity pools on Aave had reached 100% utilization. This situation, they explained, was causing lenders to become locked out of the system and exposing the protocol to an additional risk of “bad debt.”

    The analyst also argued that lending rates have risen to 10-15%, but this yield is insufficient compared to the risk of financing a potential deficit of approximately $300 million. 0xQuit stated that the biggest uncertainty in the market is who will bear the rsETH losses, adding that the panic could dissipate somewhat once this issue is clarified.

    Related News Hacking Crisis Escalates: Record Outflows from Aave

    On the other hand, it was noted that the lack of sufficient communication from both Aave and the relevant infrastructure providers (e.g., LayerZero) in the current process has increased uncertainty. 0xQuit stated, “Markets don’t like uncertainty.”

    According to the analyst, even with clarity, it will take time for confidence in DeFi, and especially Aave, to return to previous levels following this event. However, if the uncertainty is resolved, the system could resume operation, albeit at lower total value locked (TVL) levels.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • Starting 5: LeBron’s dimes lead Lakers, Joker & Murray take control, Knicks & Cavs take Playoff Game 1 wins

    Starting 5: LeBron’s dimes lead Lakers, Joker & Murray take control, Knicks & Cavs take Playoff Game 1 wins

    LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers took Game 1 over the Rockets, as The King handed out 13 assists.

    Not in our house.

    Saturday was for the home teams, as higher seeds opened the 2026 Playoffs 4-0.

    With four more Game 1s on the way — two on ABC, two on NBC & Peacock — what does today have in store?


    5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

    April 19, 2026

    LeBron & Luke: James, Kennard lead Lakers over Rockets with Durant out

    Denver’s D: Joker & Murray boost scoring while Nuggets shut down Wolves to win Game 1

    East Winners: Spida’s 32 lead Saturday’s scorers, Brunson opens & KAT closes as Knicks, Cavs take Game 1’s

    ABC Doubleheader: Sixers, Celtics meet for record 116th Playoff game, Thunder’s road to repeat begins

    NBC Sunday Night Basketball: No. 1 Pistons clash with No. 8 Magic, Wemby makes Playoff debut


    BUT FIRST … ⏰

    Reloaded with four more Game 1’s

    Scores & Schedule

    Sunday brings four more Game 1’s to get all first-round series underway.

    • ABC Doubleheader: No. 2 Celtics meet No. 7 Sixers (1 ET) and No. 1 Thunder start title defense vs. No. 8 Suns (3:30 ET)
    • SNB On NBC & Peacock: No. 1 Pistons clash with No. 8 Magic (6:30 ET) before Wemby makes his Playoff debut vs. No. 2 Blazers (9 ET)

    Playoff Bracket


    1. HOLLYWOOD NIGHT: LEBRON & LUKE SHOW TAKES GAME 1 FOR L.A.

    LeBron James, Luke Kennard

    Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

    Houston and L.A. began their First Round series Saturday without the matchup’s top-3 scorers.

    In response, the game’s all-time leading scorer came out with seemingly one thing on his mind:

    Make something happen.

    Lakers 107, Rockets 98: James (19 pts, 8 reb) dished out eight 1st-quarter dimes, on his way to 13 total, and Luke Kennard netted Playoff career-highs of 27 points and 5 3s (100 3P%) to help the Lakers take a 1-0 lead.

    L.A. was without top scorers Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, while Houston missed Kevin Durant (knee contusion) after a practice collision. | Recap

    • “For me, I gotta do a little bit of everything,” LeBron said postgame. “That’s what the job requires. So that’s being a triple-threat: being able to rebound, being able to pass, being able to shoot. Also defend.”
    • James’ 5th assist – to Kennard – put him at the 2,100 mark for his Playoff career, joining only Magic Johnson as the only players to log that many
    • Getting to 8 in that 1st frame, LeBron set a career Playoff high for any quarter, and a Lakers record for most in any Playoff quarter in the play-by-play era
    • Finishing with 13, James became the first player age 41 or older with both double-digit assists and a points/assists double-double in a Playoff game
    LeBron & Bronny James

    Sean M. Haffey/NBAE via Getty Images

    The passing game wasn’t the only area where LeBron made history, as he and Bronny became the NBA’s first father-son duo to win a Playoff game together.

    • “That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career,” LeBron said of playing in the Playoffs with Bronny. “That’s just insane.”
    • Kennard’s Turn: The sharpshooter’s 27 points equal the 2nd-highest total ever for a player in his Lakers postseason debut, trailing Nick Van Exel by a bucket
    • Houston filled in for Durant with five 15+ point scorers, including Alperen Sengun (19), Amen Thompson (17), Reed Sheppard (17), Tari Eason (16) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16)

    Durant gets an extra day to heal his bruised knee, as the series picks up on Tuesday with Game 2 from L.A. (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).


    2. NUGGETS WIN GAME 1: 2ND-HALF SHUTDOWN COOLS RIVAL WOLVES

    Nikola Jokić

    Matthew Stockman/NBAE via Getty Images

    Nikola Jokić had 6 points at halftime. He finished with a 25-point triple-double.

    Jamal Murray went 0-for-8 from 3. He logged a game-high 30 points.

    Denver started 6-for-22 (27.3 FG%) from the field. They won by double-digits.

    Showing no panic, the 3-seed Nuggets let their game find its own way in time, and that paid off for a 1-0 First Round lead.

    Nuggets 116, Wolves 105: Denver shook off a quiet start to catch the Wolves by halftime and lead the rest of the way, with Joker (25 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) and Murray guiding the group past Anthony Edwards (22 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) and their rival Wolves.

    Not to be lost in Saturday’s Playoffs excitement, Denver has now won 13 straight games, dating back a full month to its last loss on March 18. | Recap

    • Cold Open: The Nuggets’ 6-for-22 start had them facing their largest deficit of the game (12 pts), and still trailing by double-digits going into the 2nd quarter
    • Tale Of Two Lines: With 3s not falling, Murray started driving, getting to the foul line eight times in his 14-point, 2nd-quarter rally. He finished 16-for-16 from the stripe
    • “We just had to keep shooting,” Murray said. “Myself included. I didn’t make a 3 today. But I didn’t stop shooting. And I was able to find guys and keep the defense on their toes.”
    • A Breakthrough: Then early in the 3rd, a 17-2 Denver run built a double-digit lead, with Jokić going on the attack for 12 of his 25 points in that quarter
    • Joker credited homecourt advantage: “Whenever we needed a little spark, [the fans] were behind our back, and I love to play in front of our crowds. I think they’re great.”

    Anthony Edwards

    From there, the Nuggets held the Wolves to just four made 3s and 43 points in the 2nd half. Minnesota had only seven halves all season of 43 points or fewer.

    • AE & KG: Edwards passed Kevin Garnett twice with his 237th career Playoff assist, in his 32nd career 20+ point playoff game, taking the franchise lead in both categories
    • Murray Joins Jokić: Murray reached his 20th career 30+ point Playoff game, joining Joker (35) as the only Nuggets ever with 20 or more such games
    • Jokić Tops MPJ: Joker passed former Nugget Michael Porter Jr. (166) for 2nd-most Playoff triples made in franchise history

    Game 2 from Mile High comes our way Monday night (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).


    3. EAST WINS: BRUNSON OPENS, KAT CLOSES, SPIDA LEADS ALL SCORERS

    Karl-Anthony Towns

    Elsa/NBAE via Getty Images

    Floater in the lane: ✅

    Contested wing 3-ball: ✅

    Fadeaway bank shot: ✅

    Transition triple: ✅

    Face-up fadeaway J: ✅

    Pull-up from long-range: ✅

    Jalen Brunson started Saturday 6-for-6 for 15 points in under 6 minutes.

    All that, and the Knicks were up just six, as both New York and Atlanta shot over 85% in the opening 4 minutes of their First Round series opener.

    Knicks 113, Hawks 102: Brunson scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in that 1st quarter, and Karl-Anthony Towns (25 pts, 8 reb) took control down the stretch, as New York outlasted CJ McCollum (26 pts, 4 3s) and Atlanta for a 1-0 series lead. | Recap

    • 2nd-Half KAT: After a 1-for-6 1st half, Towns took the baton from Brunson, scoring 19 of his 25 points in the 2nd half
    • “I was just rusty,” Towns said of his 1st half. “12 days, 13 days without playing… It takes a toll. So just trying to knock the rust off early in the game.”
    • It was Towns who sealed the win in the 4th, sinking a triple followed by an and-1 take for back-to-back 3-point plays, capping a 10-0 Knicks run and stretching their lead to 19
    • “I knew I was gonna get a chance to show what I could do in a pivotal moment,” said Towns. “I felt good about the 4th quarter and I’m glad I was able to make those shots for my teammates.”
    • JB Ties Clyde: Brunson recorded his 29th Playoff game of 25+ points as a Knick, tying Walt Frazier for the 2nd-most in franchise history. Only Patrick Ewing (43) has more

    New York and Atlanta tip off Game 2 at The Garden Monday night (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)


    Donovan Mitchell

    Jason Miller/NBAE via Getty Images

    With 2:01 remaining, the Cleveland crowd rose to its feet.

    The Cavs’ first unit subbed out to a standing ovation, up 16.

    Playoff basketball was back in The Land, celebrating a First-Round, Game 1 win for the third consecutive year.

    Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113: Donovan Mitchell poured in a game-high 32 points, setting an NBA record with his ninth straight 30+ point performance in a series opener, as the Cavs rolled to a 1-0 lead over RJ Barrett (24 pts), Scottie Barnes (21 pts, 7 ast) and the Raptors. | Recap

    • Applause-Worthy: Backing up Mitchell, Max Strus went for a Playoff career-high 24 pts, James Harden (22 pts) dished out 10 assists, and Evan Mobley (17 pts, 7 reb) controlled the paint
    • Go Time: In a 4-point game with 1:11 to play before halftime, Cleveland exploded into the 2nd half with a 27-9 carryover run, leading the rest of the way. Strus had 11 points (3 3s) in that decisive stretch
    • “Coming out in the 3rd quarter, we upped our intensity defensively,” Mitchell said of the getaway run. “And then obviously, offensively, we did what we do.”

    Mitchell’s record-setting nine-game, 30+ point streak in Game 1s has helped him to a 33.1 ppg average across 12 career Game 1s.

    This was his 32nd-career 30+ point Playoff game, and 13th for Cleveland, passing Kyrie Irving for 2nd-most in Cavs history.

    • “32 is 32, but I’m happy I got a steal…” Mitchell said. “I’m finding ways to get rebounds… Those are the little details that carry over to wins.”
    • Harden’s History: The Beard passed Larry Bird (3,897 pts) for 13th place on the NBA’s all-time postseason scoring list
    • “It’s tough for defenses to try to figure out which ways to guard both of us,” Mitchell said of his first Playoff pairing with Harden. “We gotta keep it up for the series.”

    James Harden


    4. TODAY ON ABC: 76ERS-CELTICS RIVALRY, CHAMPS START TITLE DEFENSE

    Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey

    Isaiah Vazquez/NBAE via Getty Images

    The reunited 2024 champs and the Divisional rival who played them closer than anyone this season.

    The well-rested defending champions and the red-hot shooting squad who won the West Play-In Finale.

    ABC’s Playoff matineé doubleheader delivers on drama and deep storylines. Here’s what to watch for:

    (7) Sixers at (2) Celtics (1 ET): NBA Playoff Sunday tips off with the 116th postseason meeting of Philly and Boston, the most in NBA history.  The Celtics lead this series all-time, 66-50.

    The last time these two franchises met in the Playoffs, the 2023 East Semis went a full seven games, with Jayson Tatum delivering an iconic 50-ball to end it.

    • Jay & Jay: Scoring 20+ points in each of his last seven games, Tatum (21.8 ppg in 16 gm) is reunited with Jaylen Brown, who set career-highs (28.7 ppg) while leading the C’s all year
    • Before Tatum’s return, these two teams lived up to their thrilling history with three early season matchups, each decided by the final possession (2-1 PHI)
    • Philly’s Answer: The Sixers will look to attack with the duo of top-5 scorer Tyrese Maxey (28.3) and two-way talent VJ Edgecombe, the first rookie in 7+ years with 1100 points and 100 steals — not to mention Paul George, who’s averaged 21.2 ppg in his Playoff career
    Dillon Brooks, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    Christian Petersen/NBAE via Getty Images

    Following Philly and Boston, OKC takes off on its road to two in a row.

    (8) Suns at (1) Thunder (3:30 ET): The reigning champs begin their quest to repeat, taking on Devin Booker, Jalen Green and the hot-shooting Suns.

    No NBA team has repeated since the Warriors in 2017-18, with seven straight unique champions since.

    • The Thunder are the NBA’s youngest champion in 50 years, and boast the league’s best defensive rating (106.5) since the 2019-20 Bucks, holding opponents 3.5 FG percentage points below the league average
    • Phoenix joins OKC with a top-10 defensive rating (112.9, 9th), while both teams rank top-5 in steals per game (9.5+)
    • The Reigning MVP: SGA is the first guard in NBA history to average 30+ ppg on 55% shooting. He also ranks 2nd in ppg (31.1), 2nd in iso ppg (8.3), 2nd in 30-pt games (43), and 1st in total clutch points (175)
    • Suns all-time leading scorer Devin Booker has the help of a hot hand in Jalen Green, who enters off the 2nd-ever back-to-back 35+ point performances in Play-In history

    5. SNB: NO. 1 PISTONS, NO. 8 MAGIC COLLIDE BEFORE WEMBY’S PLAYOFF DEBUT 

    Cade Cunningham, Paolo Banchero

    NBC & Peacock’s Sunday doubleheader features two of this Playoff field’s strongest contenders, in East 1-seed Detroit and West 2-seed San Antonio.

    But their respective First Round opponents are uniquely qualified to make this matchup tougher than seedings might suggest.

    (8) Magic at (1) Pistons (6:30 ET): Detroit begins its Playoff after its first 60-win season since 2006-07.

    The league leader in both steals (10.4) and blocks (6.4) per game, the Pistons operate with the identity of defensive physicality – something Orlando just utilized to overpower the Hornets in its Play-In win to get here.

    The Pistons are led by the rising All-Star duo of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.

    • Cade is back from his collapsed lung, and Detroit’s offensive engine was missed: The Pistons have a 120.4 OffRtg with Cade on-floor, and a 111.1 with him off; a 9.3-point swing
    • First-time All-Star Duren dominates the paint with the league’s 3rd-most PITP, while Ausar Thompson logged the most steals in a season (146) by a Piston since Ben Wallace in 06-07

    The Magic enter the series coming off a Play-In game statement, making their third straight Playoffs. The team split its four-game series with Detroit this season.

    • Paolo Banchero has 336 points through his first 12 career Playoff games (28.0 ppg), and led the way for Orlando in its Play-In win, with 12 first quarter points and a game-high 25 overall
    • Acquired last offseason, Desmond Bane has delivered offensively, leading the team in total points (1647) and total 3s (167), and ranking 2nd in assists (338)
    Victor Wembanyama, Deni Avdija

    Soobum Im/NBAE via Getty Images

    After a year of bending physics on the court — and transforming the Spurs into one of the league’s toughest teams — third-year superstar Victor Wembanyama’s about to make his debut on the league’s biggest stage: The Playoffs.

    (7) Blazers at (2) Spurs (9 ET): Wemby is set to make his first Playoff appearance against a Portland team that beat San Antonio once in three tries this season.

    • The Spurs return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2018–19, with their first 60-win season since 2016–17. They flipped from 60 losses to 60 wins in just two years
    • February March: Half those wins came in the final 2.5 months of this season, losing just four games after the start of February (30–4 record)
    • With Wemby on the floor, opposing teams shot 5.7% worse – the largest on/off difference of the decade – and the Spurs posted a 103.6 defensive rating, which would rank as the best in the league over a full season

    But it’s not just Wemby. He’s backed by a dynamic trio of guards.

    • Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, took a leap this season, increasing his points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
    • De’Aaron Fox, a two-time All-Star, finished second on the team in scoring and led the team in total clutch points.
    • Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, provides a spark off the bench for this Spurs squad.

    Portland features the league’s third-best defense since the All-Star break, and an international All-Star on the rise, who’s coming off a huge performance.

    • Deni Avdija became the first player to record 40 points and 10 assists in a Play-In game, capping off a breakout year in which he joined Joker and Luka as the only players to average 24/6/6

     

  • Tina Fey Says Her Sarah Palin ‘SNL’ Sketches Were a ‘Fair Hit’: ‘If it’s Not True, it Will Not Be Funny’

    Tina Fey Says Her Sarah Palin ‘SNL’ Sketches Were a ‘Fair Hit’: ‘If it’s Not True, it Will Not Be Funny’

    Tina Fey reflected on how “Saturday Night Live” has covered politics at History Talks, a speaker series featuring some of the most prolific political and media figures in modern history. The starry event, produced in tandem by the History Channel and Comcast NBCUniversal, fittingly celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States right in the heart of Philadelphia.

    “One fifth of America’s history has been covered by ‘Saturday Night Live,’” Fey quipped to the audience at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday afternoon. “Which one will last longer?”

    Fey appeared on “SNL” from 1997 to 2006, a pivotal era where she worked closely with Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers and Rachel Dratch, helping usher the sketch series into a new echelon of political relevance — one in which the country’s top elected officials began to take notice.

    “The show’s relationship to current events became a thinner and thinner veil,” Fey explained. “They said something, we said something back. They’d come over and go, ‘We want to be on [the show] too.’ It’s thrilling, and almost a scary thing, that something you say will be heard by the person in charge.”

    Fey continued to shape “SNL” history after her departure, notably hosting the first episode following the 2007–08 writers strike with a monologue that criticized NBC’s staff cuts. Later that fall, she appeared in a run of sketches as Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin during the height of the 2008 election. Many media analysts at the time suggested the sketch impacted McCain and Palin’s poll numbers. Variety reported on the “SNL Effect” in March 2008, highlighting how the show helped fuel a narrative that the press was too tough on Hillary Clinton and too soft on Barack Obama, which some argued led to tougher media coverage of Obama.

    “It is fascinating to know that what you say will be taken seriously,” Fey said, recounting the six-week cycle she spent writing Palin sketches with Poehler and Meyers. “We always worked really hard to make sure they were what we call a ‘fair hit.’ It only felt like it would work if it was based in something that was true. Sometimes people will ask me, ‘Does SNL try to control the narrative of politics?’ And they really do not. You really can’t because if it’s not true, it will not be funny.”

    Fey’s comments align with what longtime NBC executive Rick Ludwin told Variety after Nielsen reported that “SNL” Season 34 saw a 50% ratings boost during the 2008 presidential campaign. “We’re obviously thrilled the show is being talked about as more relevant than in the past,” Ludwin told Variety’s Michael Schneider. “There is a sense of responsibility to be fair. Our job is to be funny and to make fun of politics.”

    The “SNL” icon also listed some of her favorite political impressions on the show: Darrell Hammond as Al Gore, Dana Carvey as George H. W. Bush and Matt Damon as Brett Kavanaugh. Before explaining why Damon’s take worked, Fey looked out into the crowd and quipped, “Justice Kavanaugh, if you’re here, I don’t understand what this event is. Are we on trial?”

    Damon’s Kavanaugh debuted in the “SNL” Season 44 premiere in 2018, leading a cold open on the nominee’s Supreme Court hearings opposite Rachel Dratch as Sen. Amy Klobuchar. His explosive performance poked fun at Kavanaugh’s questionable explanations of yearbook jokes widely interpreted as references to lewd sexual exploits and heavy binge drinking.

    “He came in and just played him so perfectly, it helped alleviate a frustration that many viewers of those hearings had,” Fey said. “It only works if it’s correct.”

    “SNL” alum Kate McKinnon also moderated a History Talks panel with current cast member Colin Jost, the “Weekend Update” co-anchor who now occupies the desk once held by Fey. The event drew a wide range of attendees, including NFL stars Tom Brady and Jason Kelce, country singer Garth Brooks and Nicole Kidman. Most notably, all four living former U.S. presidents — Barack Obama, Joe Biden, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton — were in attendance.

    “Doesn’t it seem like there is one segment that is out of place?” McKinnon quipped.

  • Indigo Girls Receive Outpouring of Love After Emily Saliers Tearfully Acknowledges Two Incurable Conditions That Will Affect Vocals on Tour

    Indigo Girls Receive Outpouring of Love After Emily Saliers Tearfully Acknowledges Two Incurable Conditions That Will Affect Vocals on Tour

    The Indigo Girls have been receiving an outpouring of support and love from fans and famous admirers, after the duo released a video statement in which Emily Saliers got exceptionally frank about how two incurable physical conditions she’s experiencing will adversely affect her vocals on their upcoming tour.

    In a clip posted to their Instagram account, with Amy Ray sitting beside her, Saliers talked about how she has been diagnosed with cervical dystonia and an essential tremor — both of which have hampered her ability to sing in a clear and constant tone. Nonetheless, they are forging ahead with the tour, but with full advance warning to the audience that they will notice the difference.

    “Unfortunately there’s no cure for these, so the honest fact is that my voice will not be what it was,” Saliers said, briefly becoming tearful amid the otherwise matter-of-fact explanation of what she is dealing with. “That’s really hard for me. … I hate that I’m only 62 and it’s happened to me, but we are both aging. People age. We are trying to look at this organically as a process of our own aging. … I just hope that you can have some grace with my struggles for this particular touring year. We’re gonna work hard to make it good, and then whatever the future holds, we’ll see. … We want to bring you the best show that we possibly can.”

    Saliers talked about the medical treatment she has been getting to mitigate the effects of these two conditions on her singing. For the upcoming tour, she said they have been working on altering arrangements, boosting the support they already got from background singers like band mainstay Lucy Wainwright Roche, and making use of “all the modern digital tools that front-of-house engineers use to help singers sound better.” (A huge percentage of modern pop artists use live tuning as part of their concert arsenal, though very few have ever owned up to it.)

    Reaction to this revelation was as emotional and positive as might be expected. And their fellow performing artists were among the first to chime in in the comments with applause for how boldly and proactively the Indigo Girls were handling this tough situation.

    “What you offer the world is beyond bodies,” wrote Sara Bareilles on Instagram. “Thank you for sharing whatever you have to share. It will be received with so much love and gratitude.”

    Posted superfan Brandi Carlile: “This is why these two have been my heroes and the only reason I ever picked up a guitar. Being an @indigogirls fan is a life-long privilege. Indigo Girls fans already have an evolved perspective on aging and a deeper understanding of how badass vulnerability really is. This is because of the music they have given us. Wisdom breeds wisdom.

    “To say we have Emily’s back is the understatement of the century,” Carlile continued. “If you love to sing, Emily, sing. We will be there singing with you. We are the luckiest fans in the world – we know our verses, and we know the words to every song. Let’s sing them back at the Indigo Girls louder than ever.”

    The Indigo Girls’ video begins with Saliers saying:

    “We’re coming to you from Atlanta where we’re been practicing and looking forward to our tour dates that we have for 2026, and we needed to make y’all aware of something. To those of you in our community who have supported us all these years, we’re so grateful for you, and I wanted to be completely forthcoming. We both have talked about this and are in support of each other…

    “Many of you have noticed that my voice — maybe all of you have noticed, it’s pretty noticeable — that my voice is not what it once was. So I wanted to share with you that I’ve been diagnosed with two movement disorders. One is called cervical dystonia with torticollis, which basically is in the part of my brain that controls movement. And in other people with this condition, the brain sends signals to tighten muscles… So because of the cervical dystonia, my, head twists to the right and is misaligned. It can cause shaking of the head. It’s impossible for me to hold my head centrally without shaking, things like that. So structurally, obviously, that is problematic for this whole throat area.

    “But the other diagnosis, which is harder in fact for me, is an essential tremor. And the essential tremor causes involuntary shakes or movement, and it affects all the parts of my singing apparatus, the larynx, the pharyngeal muscles, my jaw and my diaphragm from which I get all the air for singing. So I’m unable to make the connections muscularly and structurally because of the essential tremor. What else the essential tremor does is give me this — I am gonna call it horrible, because it’s horrible to me — vibrato that I never used to have. I am completely physically unable to hold a straight tone the way I used to.

    “And this is what you, our community, have come to, I think, appreciate and love about some of our harmonies is the way we can hold long straight tones together. So I want to give you a heads up about that, in full transparency. I’m doing everything that I can know and that the medical community has advised me to mitigate the symptoms of these two disorders. So that includes therapeutic massage, physical therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture…. I get Botox shots in my neck and shoulders every three months. That’s sort of the standard line of treatment for these disorders. And I’m also seeing a vocal coach who is an expert in movement disorders for singers, particularly essential tremor.

    “Unfortunately there’s no cure for these, so the honest fact is that my voice will not be what it was. That’s really hard for me. Amy’s been super supportive, and we want you to know that as we get ready for these shows, we are doing everything we can to make the songs sound as good as they can possibly sound or ever sound, which includes all the modern digital tools that front-of-house engineers use to help singers sound better. So we’ll be using those and we’ll be working on harmony parts”. Lucy, Wayne, Wright Roach and Lyric and Jeff Fielder will be joining us. We’ll be singing some harmonies.” with the backup-singing musicians. “There may be some new arrangements…

    “We wanted together to let you know that this has been going on. I’ve had this diagnosis for a while, but as I say, the conditions get incrementally worse over time. … I hate that I’m only 62 and it’s happened to me, but we are both aging. People age. We are trying to look at this organically as a process of our own aging.

    “There are no words to articulate our gratitude for you, our community, who has been with us through our activism and through all the albums and through even our personal struggles through all the years. I just hope that you can have some grace with my struggles for this particular touring year. We’re gonna work hard to make it good, and then whatever the future holds, we’ll see. … We want to bring you the best show that we possibly can. And unfortunately this is a condition that can’t be reversed or mitigated unless there’s some medical breakthrough that hasn’t happened yet. So that’s where we are.”

    At this point, Ray added her thoughts.

    “We’re just reviewing all the songs. It’s interesting because there’s a lot of things I need to work on, too, and so we’re picking out the strongest songs… You know,we’re not changing things drastically. Basically, we’re bringing Lucy (Wainwright Roche) in a little bit more and that helps support us. And then we are just practicing together to make sure we’re singing together and blending as much as we can in the best way. So we’re doing the work because we love the music and we love you guys. And we don’t wanna just say, ‘Oh, we’re not gonna do it anymore because of this.’ We just want to keep playing and do our best, and I feel like y’all are the best audience ever. And we’re sort of as a community, you know, all going through things. So, so we’re gonna hang together, you know, and just do our thing. And the central message of love and self-esteem and activism and all that, it’s therem and that’s what we want to share.”

    “It’s heavy and it’s life,” said Saliers. “We are just telling you because we’re gonna go through this year touring, and we don’t want it to be this thing that people are talking about, that we’re not talking about. Because we expect you guys to believe in yourself. and we want to believe in ourselves. So if we can’t play all your requests, it’s not because we don’t want to, we’re just picking the songs, as Amy said, that work the best. And we hope we can bring you joy and that we can all enjoy these. I mean, I know we all need the bonding, galvanizing power of music together.”

    From the response, it seems clear that few if any fans will hold the alteration of arrangements in these shows against them. The message was met with a torrent of enthusiasm for the Indigo Girls carrying on. And some of their contemporaries led the way in the online onset of praise for their honesty and perseverance.

    Wrote singer Chely Wright: “You are the definition of authenticity, courage and grace.”

    Said Jennifer Nettles: “Forever in both of your corners! Forever a fan! Forever your friend. Your whole community of fans and friends are with you and I will be in the front row clapping the loudest and singing to the top of my lungs!! Your music sings and grows and evolves right along with life. Ever transforming. Thank you for your hearts and support of each other. You are inspiration to us all. See you on the road!!!”

    And, posted Glennon Doyle: “Your audience has been aging too, Emily and Amy. We’re entering our Indigo Crones era with you. So much has changed – around us and on us and in us. But you haven’t. You’ve been with us the whole time- writing us through, leading us forward, singing us home. We’re not home yet, so you can’t stop singing. We won’t either. Lead the way Emily- show us how to sing while we shake. There might not be a more important thing to show us in this moment. We love you, Amy and Emily. See you on stage.”

    The tour, announced three weeks ago, begins April 24 in Athens, Ohio, and runs through a Sept. 13 closer in Evanston, Illinois. One of the early dates is a May 14 gig in Los Angeles at the Bellwether. They will be opening for Brandi Carlile at the Gorge in Washington state on May 29 as part of a star-studded bill their famous acolyte has put together.

  • The next Mac Studio and MacBook Pro releases could be postponed by several months

    Anyone looking to upgrade to the next Mac Studio or MacBook Pro might have to wait a little longer, thanks to the ongoing global memory shortage. As reported by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, “at least two of the company’s upcoming machines … could debut a little later than the company initially planned,” referencing the refreshes to Apple’s desktop and its laptop that’s expected to get a touchscreen.

    Bloomberg reported that the upcoming Mac Studio, which follows up the current lineup in the M4 Max and M3 Ultra configurations, was first expected to release in the middle of the year. However, Apple is already dealing with shortages of its existing Mac Studio stock, likely due to the device being a popular choice for anyone running local AI models. With no stop to the shortage in sight, Gurman predicted that the refreshed Mac Studio’s release could be postponed to around October instead.

    It’s not just Apple’s desktop offerings being affected. Gurman also reported that the release of the next MacBook Pro could be delayed. While Gurman said the release timeline of the touchscreen MacBook Pro could be between the end of 2026 to early 2027, he’s now predicting that it would arrive toward the later end of that timeline. Of course, Apple isn’t the only consumer tech company heavily affected by the RAM shortage. However, Apple can at least take advantage of its successful MacBook Neo release amidst the memory shortage crisis affecting all laptop makers.

  • AI Traffic to US Retailers Jumps 393% in Q1 as Agentic Shoppers Outspend Humans

    AI Traffic to US Retailers Jumps 393% in Q1 as Agentic Shoppers Outspend Humans

    In brief

    • Adobe data shows AI-driven shopping traffic surging into the mainstream.
    • AI-assisted shoppers now outperform traditional retail consumers.
    • Report signals rapid shift toward agent-led commerce in U.S. retail.

    The dead internet is more alive than ever.

    A year ago, retailers were debating whether to block AI bots from crawling their websites. That calculation just got a lot harder. New data from Adobe Analytics shows AI-driven traffic to U.S. retail sites grew 393% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, and shoppers arriving from those sources are now spending more, staying longer, and buying at higher rates than everyone else.

    Adobe reported that AI traffic from Q1 2026 grew 393% year over year, with March alone up 269% YoY. “This continues the momentum that was observed during the most recent holiday season (Nov. to Dec. 2025) where AI traffic was up 693% YoY,” the company wrote.

    In March 2025, AI traffic converted 38% worse than standard non-AI sources like paid search and email.

    This is the opposite of what is happening with the content creation industry. A new UNESCO report found that generative AI is on its way to cause revenue losses of 24% for music creators and 21% for audiovisual creators by 2028.

    By March 2026, Adobe reports AI traffic was converting 42% better—a new record, according to the company, which tracks over one trillion visits to U.S. retail sites. Revenue per visit from AI referrals was 37% above non-AI traffic as of last month.

    According to Adobe, just one year ago, regular human traffic was worth 128% more.

    Source: Adobe

    The engagement data also shows that once a shopper arrives at a retail site via an AI assistant, they spend 48% more time on the page, browse 13% more pages per visit, and show a 12% higher engagement rate than visitors from other channels. “AI is quickly becoming the primary interface between consumers and their favorite brands,” Vivek Pandya, director of Adobe Digital Insights, wrote in the report.

    Adobe surveyed more than 5,000 U.S. consumers alongside its traffic data. Thirty-nine percent said they’ve used AI for online shopping, and 85% of that group said it improved their experience. Trust is also climbing: 66% of respondents said they believe AI tools provide accurate results—a figure that helps explain why conversion rates are surging instead of flattening.

    AI is serious business

    AI traffic is becoming a pretty big deal for service providers who are doing anything they can to control who provides the views and referrals in the ecommerce ecosystem.

    Amazon and Perplexity had a spat in federal court over whether AI agents can make purchases on third-party platforms without the platform’s explicit consent. A San Francisco judge issued a preliminary injunction in March blocking Perplexity’s Comet browser from shopping on Amazon after the e-commerce giant argued the agent disguised automated sessions as human browser traffic. Perplexity called Amazon’s legal push “bullying,” arguing that agentic shopping would bring Amazon more transactions, not fewer.

    OpenAI launched an “Instant Checkout” feature inside ChatGPT in September 2025. The same month Salesforce estimated that AI agents influenced more than 20% of all global online retail sales during the 2025 holiday season.

    Now, with OpenClaw, AI agents can buy things more easily, be it via API connections, MCP servers, skills, integrations, or users activating browser control.

    Adobe’s report also flags a structural problem that’s going to matter more as this traffic grows: a significant portion of U.S. retail websites aren’t fully readable by the models generating that traffic.

    Homepages scored an average of 75% on Adobe’s AI Content Visibility Checker, meaning roughly a quarter of their content is invisible to LLMs. Individual product pages came in at 66%—a more critical gap, since that’s where purchase decisions happen. The best-performing retailers scored 82.5% on homepage visibility; the lowest-performing hit just 54.2%.

    “Consumer adoption of these AI tools is not slowing down,” Adobe wrote, “and businesses need to ensure their digital front doors are optimized for AI to remain relevant in today’s environment.”

    McKinsey projects that agentic commerce—AI systems that research, compare, and purchase autonomously—could drive $1 trillion in U.S. retail revenue by 2030, so it’s no wonder why AI companies want to be the ad companies of the agentic era.

  • The 10 Public Companies With the Biggest Bitcoin Portfolios

    For many years, the idea that publicly traded corporations might buy Bitcoin for their reserves was considered laughable. The top cryptocurrency was considered too volatile, too fringe to be embraced by any serious business.

    That taboo has been well and truly broken, with a number of major institutional investors buying up Bitcoin in recent years.

    The floodgates first opened when cloud software company MicroStrategy bought $425 million worth of Bitcoin in August and September 2020. Others followed suit, including payments processor Block and electric car manufacturer Tesla.

    Per BitcoinTreasuries, public companies holding Bitcoin now account for 5.39% of the total supply of 21 million $BTC. These are the biggest holders as of this writing.

    1. Strategy

    Strategy, a prominent business analytics platform turned Bitcoin treasury company, has adopted $BTC as its primary reserve asset. The company is perhaps better known as MicroStrategy, but changed its name in February 2025 with co-founder Michael Saylor citing the “power and positivity” of “strategy.”

    The firm, which produces mobile software and provides cloud-based services, has aggressively pursued a Bitcoin buying spree, scooping up millions of dollars worth of the cryptocurrency. As of this writing, it holds 780,897 $BTC in reserve, equivalent to $59 billion and more than 3.7% of the total amount of Bitcoin that will ever be issued.

    In the company’s Q1 2024 earnings call, Saylor claimed that the company’s adoption of a “Bitcoin strategy” had enabled it to deliver 10x to 30x the performance of rival enterprise software companies in the business intelligence sector. The company typically reveals Bitcoin buys on a weekly basis, though it routinely skips a week at the end of each quarter.

    Unlike other executives who typically shy away from discussing their personal investments, Saylor has made it public that he personally purchased 17,732 $BTC—currently worth over $1.3 billion, and still holds them as of September 2024. It’s something of an about-face for the Strategy co-founder, who in 2013 claimed that Bitcoin’s days were numbered.

    “We’re at the beginning of the stage of rapid institutional adoption of digital property in the form of Bitcoin,” Saylor said during the company’s Q1 2024 earnings call. He added that in the future, Bitcoin won’t compete against other crypto assets, but against, “gold, art, equities, real estate, bonds, and other types of store-of-value money in wealth creation, wealth preservation, and the capital markets.”

    Perhaps the loudest Bitcoin proponent out there, Saylor has already said the firm will be “buying the top forever.” He has previously said the firm could ultimately buy 7% of the total $BTC supply, and recently reassured investors in MSTR that it could withstand a Bitcoin drawdown to as much as $8,000, just refinancing its debt along the way.

    “If you think it’s going to zero, then we’ll deal with that,” he said. “But I don’t think it’s going to zero, and I don’t think it’s going to $8,000 either.”

    2. Twenty One Capital

    The Jack Mallers-led Twenty One Capital (XXI) holds 43,513.12 Bitcoin according to its public balances on the Bitcoin blockchain. That’s about $3.3 billion worth, as of this writing.

    The firm, which launched via a SPAC merger with Cantor Equity Partner in December, worked with stablecoin giant Tether, crypto exchange Bitfinex, and Japanese investment firm SoftBank to build its Bitcoin treasury.

    Unlike other treasury firms that may accumulate Bitcoin for their balance sheets while operating non-crypto businesses, Twenty One’s primary focus remains on acquiring $BTC and providing Bitcoin-related services to help differentiate itself from others.

    The firm pledges a long-term focus with plans not to “outperform inflation,” but instead “render the concept of inflation irrelevant.”

    3. Metaplanet

    Metaplanet, a Tokyo-listed firm nicknamed the “Asian Strategy,” now holds 40,177 Bitcoin, worth over $3 billion at the time of writing.

    Outside of its Bitcoin operations, the company owns and operates a hotel that is being rebranded to the “Bitcoin Hotel,” and claims that it is the first and only publicly listed Bitcoin treasury company in Japan.

    Following in Strategy’s footsteps, the firm has aggressively added to its Bitcoin holdings. Last September, it achieved its 2025 goal of owning 30,000 $BTC while leapfrogging the Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company to take over the third spot on this list.

    Though its short-term goal has been achieved, it has a long way to go to reach its 2027 goal of owning more than 210,000 Bitcoin—nearly $16 billion worth at the time of writing.

    The company added President Donald Trump’s son Eric Trump to a Strategic Advisory Board in early 2025. Later that year, it took up residence in the United States, expanding with the creation of a subsidiary in Miami, Florida. In March 2026, it broadened its Bitcoin strategy, adding an investment arm with roughly $25 million expected to be invested into Bitcoin companies.

    4. MARA

    Bitcoin mining company MARA (formerly Marathon Digital), unsurprisingly, is also a large holder of Bitcoin, with around 38,689 $BTC—more than $2.9 billion worth—in its corporate treasury at the time of writing.

    The company, which originally aimed to build “the largest Bitcoin mining operation in North America at one of the lowest energy costs,” originated as a patent holding firm (and was often referred to as a patent troll) before its pivot into crypto mining.

    But as Bitcoin miners began to pivot towards providing AI infrastructure, so did MARA. As part of that move, the firm announced a shift in its strategy in March 2026, saying that it might sell some of its Bitcoin treasury to fund other initiatives. That strategy was put to use quickly, as the firm sold 15,133 $BTC valued at $1.1 billion to help buy back debt.

    “While Bitcoin mining remains the foundation of our platform, we have expanded our footprint in energy generation and are investing in research and development to establish a presence in AI and adjacent markets, creating additional revenue opportunities over the long term,” its most recent 10K filing reads.

    5. Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company

    Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company (BSTR) is another soon-to-be public entity that will launch with more than 30,000 $BTC when its transactions finalize, expected to take place in late Q1 or Q2 of 2026.

    The firm, which will be led by early Bitcoiner and $BTC whale Adam Back—who has denied being pseudonymous Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, amid high-profile accusations—is the result of a merger between BSTR and the Cantor Fitzgerald-linked special purpose acquisition company, Cantor Equity Partners I.

    As part of the merger, Back and founding shareholders will contribute 25,000 Bitcoin to the company, with another 5,021 Bitcoin provided via an in-kind PIPE, or private investment in public equity.

    “We are putting unprecedented firepower behind a single mission: maximizing Bitcoin ownership per share while accelerating real-world Bitcoin adoption,” Back said of the firm, in a statement.

    In addition to its 30,031 Bitcoin, the firm also announced it could raise up to $1.5 billion in funding for more purchases.

    6. Riot Platforms

    Another crypto mining outfit, U.S.-based Riot Platforms, holds 15,680 $BTC—worth nearly $1.2 billion at today’s prices.

    With its valuation surging from below $200 million in 2020 to highs of over $6 billion in 2021, the Nasdaq-listed company went on an aggressive expansion drive. In April 2021, it spent $650 million on a one-gigawatt Bitcoin mining facility in Texas, eventually expanding further in 2022 before rebranding to Riot Platforms to diversify its business model in 2023.

    The company also reached a settlement with Bitcoin mining firm, Bitfarms, as it attempted a hostile takeover of the rival in 2024.

    Amid Bitcoin’s drawdown in late 2025, the firm indicated that it may have to sell more of its Bitcoin holdings than previously anticipated to “generate the liquidity required to fund our ongoing operations and working capital needs.” It collectively sold around $450 million worth in Q4 and Q1 2026, combined as it pivoted to serve AI demand alongside other Bitcoin miners.

    7. Coinbase

    Arguably the best-known crypto firm in this list, crypto exchange Coinbase went public in a landmark direct listing on the Nasdaq in April 2021.

    Ahead of its listing, in February 2021, Coinbase revealed that it held $230 million in Bitcoin on its balance sheet. As of its most recent 10-K filing, it holds 15,389 $BTC in its treasury for investment as of December 31, 2025. That’s about $1.17 billion worth.

    The firm has added more than 8,500 $BTC since the end of 2024 when it held 6,885. And its CEO, Brian Armstrong, says it’ll keep adding in the future.

    “Coinbase is long Bitcoin,” he posted on X in October.

    Coinbase is long bitcoin.

    Our holding increased by 2,772 $BTC in Q3. And we keep buying more.

    — Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) October 30, 2025

    It continues to innovate with Bitcoin, announcing its own wrapped Bitcoin product, cbBTC, in late 2024. Coinbase also restarted Bitcoin lending services in January 2025.

    8. Strive Asset Management

    Financial services firm Strive Asset Management joined the top 10 public holders in January 2026 when it pushed its holdings above 13,000 $BTC. That number stands at 13,678 $BTC, valued above $1 billion, as of this writing.

    The firm, co-founded by former Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, raised $750 million in May 2025 to buy Bitcoin. Previously, it had encouraged famed meme stock firm and video game retailer, GameStop, to shove its holdings into the largest crypto asset by market cap. GameStop bought more than $500 million worth of Bitcoin in 2025, and in 2026, revealed that it put its funds into a covered call option strategy with Coinbase.

    After raising a massive fund to buy $BTC, Strive also acquired a smaller Bitcoin treasury firm—Semler Scientific—in an all-stock deal that gave it access to the healthcare technologies firm’s Bitcoin, around 5,048 $BTC at the time of the deal.

    9. Hut8

    Canadian Bitcoin mining firm Hut 8 holds 13,696 $BTC, worth over $1 billion at current prices according to its last $BTC-denominated update.

    In June 2021, the company was listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the HUT ticker, with the company’s SEC filing noting that it’s “committed to growing shareholder value by increasing the number and value of our Bitcoin holdings.” In November 2023, the firm merged with fellow mining company US Bitcoin, with the post-merger firm billing itself as an “energy infrastructure company targeting Bitcoin mining and data centers.”

    The company announced a $150 million investment last June to expand its AI compute push to meet demand, and its stock nearly doubled in the weeks following the presidential election. Its wholly owned subsidiary, American Bitcoin—which was co-founded by President Trump’s son, Eric Trump—has also gone public as a Bitcoin miner and treasury firm.

    HUT8 stock soared once more in December 2025 after the firm inked a $7 billion Google-backed AI data center deal. Shares in American Bitcoin, its wholly owned subsidiary, hit their lowest mark post-IPO when they dipped in late March.

    10. CleanSpark

    U.S. Bitcoin mining firm CleanSpark holds 13,363 $BTC as of March 26, worth approximately $1 billion at today’s prices.

    Ahead of the 2024 Bitcoin halving, the firm expanded its operations, snapping up three Bitcoin mining facilities in Mississippi for $19.8 million and adding up to 2.4 EH/s to its mining capacity. The company also added a third facility in Dalton, Georgia to its lineup, with a further 0.8 EH/s.

    While other public companies on the list have made it a habit of buying Bitcoin for their treasuries, CleanSpark CFO Gary Vecchiarelli said in February 2025, “We continue to invest in ourselves because why buy Bitcoin at current spot prices when we can mine it for $34,000?”

    Editor’s note: This article was first published in July 2022 and last updated with new details on April 19, 2026.

    This list is maintained via a mix of regulatory filings, information shared by the companies themselves, on-chain data, and rankings like BitcoinTreasuries.net. In situations where data is unclear or incomplete, we have made numerous attempts to reach out to the firms and seek clarification. Where we could not gain clarification, we’ve used our best judgment regarding inclusion. We will continue to update this ranking based on new information and moves ahead.

    Additional reporting by Daniel Phillips and Stephen Graves