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One year after DeepSeek, Chinese AI firms from Alibaba to Moonshot race to release new models

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: We're in the largest infrastructure build out in human history

BEIJING — Chinese companies are accelerating the rollout of new artificial intelligence models as competition with U.S.-based rivals OpenAI, Anthropic and Google intensifies.

Just over a year ago, China-made DeepSeek rocked global markets with the release of an AI chatbot that undercut OpenAI’s ChatGPT on usage fees and production costs, raising questions about the efficacy of U.S. tech restrictions on China.

On Tuesday, Beijing-based startup Moonshot AI revealed Kimi K2.5, which claimed to have video-generation and agentic capabilities that outperformed all three of the leading U.S. AI models. Agentic AI broadly refers to AI systems capable of carrying out tasks on behalf of people. The ultimate goal is to have sophisticated agents that work autonomously with minimal user interaction.

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The update came just about three months after Moonshot released its K2 model.

Hours earlier, e-commerce giant Alibaba announced its latest generative AI model, which can create text, pictures or video based on user commands. Alibaba claimed its Qwen3-Max-Thinking outperformed major U.S. rivals on a broad benchmark test called “Humanity’s Last Exam.”

Alibaba said the new model can automatically select the best AI tool for a range of tasks and draw on past conversations as context to generate new responses more efficiently, all at little additional cost.

A week earlier on Jan. 19, Z.ai released a free version of its recently launched GLM 4.7 model. Two days later, the company restricted new subscribers from signing up for its AI coding tool after demand strained its available computing power.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang: We're in the largest infrastructure build out in human history

Also last week, Hong Kong-traded shares of Chinese tech giant Baidu climbed to their highest level in nearly three years following the release of its latest generative AI model, Ernie 5.0. The company claimed the update outperformed Google’s Gemini-2.5-Pro, but did not compare it with Google DeepMind’s newest Gemini 3 Pro.

Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind, told CNBC this month that China’s AI models may be just “months” behind those developed in the U.S.

Trying other ways to compete

Beyond the rollouts, Chinese companies are pushing the adoption of homegrown technologies by making them more affordable for emerging economies.

Unlike many leading U.S.-developed AI models, those from China tend to be open-sourced, typically allowing free or low-cost access and the ability to customize the model’s underlying code.

“The hope is countries apart from China will use these models to ensure large amounts of applications are built on these Chinese models,” said Alex Lu, founder of LSY Consulting. “That’s one way for Chinese companies to penetrate the market.”

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There are indications that the trend is already happening. Microsoft earlier this month noted estimates that DeepSeek usage in Africa is two to four times higher than in other regions.

Paying too much attention to AI benchmarks distracts from the tech’s real value — when it is integrated into existing gaming or entertainment ecosystems such as Tencent’s, Ivan Su, senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said in a note.

The Chinese tech giant operates the ubiquitous WeChat messaging app as well as other popular gaming and video streaming apps in China.

Tencent on Sunday announced that it will distribute 1 billion yuan ($140 million) in cash awards through its Yuanbao AI chatbot app during the Lunar New Year festival in February. The promotion mimics earlier “red envelope” campaigns that helped WeChat become one of the two dominant mobile payment apps just over a decade ago. It is customary for families to give relatives cash in small red envelopes during the holiday.

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ByteDance and Baidu are also running AI-related promotions around the upcoming holiday in a bid to retain users on their AI applications.

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Earlier this month, Alibaba updated its Qwen AI app to encourage users interacting with the chatbot to shop, order food and pay without leaving the app — thanks to integration with the company’s existing e-commerce platforms such as Taobao. Qwen claims more than 100 million monthly active users.

This integration could generate more revenue for Alibaba, on the assumption that the greater the number of people who use Qwen, the more they will use Taobao and shop on it, Lu said. That would help offset the costs of developing and running the underlying AI model, he said.

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Chinese companies are mostly competing for user traffic rather than developing the most advanced models, he said.

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Crypto World

$1.6B Ether Machine-Dynamix SPAC Deal Collapses Amid Market Headwinds

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

Key Takeaways

  • Dynamix Corporation and The Ether Machine have abandoned their $1.6 billion SPAC merger arrangement
  • Adverse market conditions were cited by both parties as the primary factor behind the cancellation
  • A $50 million breakup fee will be paid to Dynamix within a two-week period
  • The transaction was designed to bring The Ether Machine to Nasdaq with the ETHM ticker symbol
  • Dynamix must secure an alternative merger partner by November 22, 2026 or face liquidation

A cryptocurrency treasury company holding more than $1 billion worth of ether has terminated its planned public market debut. The Ether Machine and special purpose acquisition company Dynamix Corporation officially ended their $1.6 billion merger arrangement on April 8, 2026.

According to joint statements from both entities, the Business Combination Agreement was terminated by “mutual agreement.” Both parties attributed the decision to challenging market dynamics.

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Originally unveiled in July 2025, the transaction would have enabled The Ether Machine to secure a Nasdaq listing through a reverse merger with Dynamix, trading under the ETHM ticker.

The Ether Machine operates as an Ethereum treasury and yield generation platform. Its holdings include 496,712 ETH valued at over $1.1 billion, with revenue generated through staking operations and DeFi strategies.

The proposed deal stood out for its substantial scale. It featured a $1.5 billion fully committed PIPE financing arrangement, marking the largest all-common-stock capital raise in this category since 2021.

Upon completion, the merged entity would have controlled in excess of 400,000 ETH. A significant portion of these digital assets came from co-founder Andrew Keys, who previously held a key position at Consensys.

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$50 Million Breakup Fee Headed to Dynamix

Under the termination terms, an entity associated with The Ether Machine is obligated to transfer $50 million to Dynamix within 15 days. This payment structure is documented in an SEC 8-K filing.

The $50 million sum represents a substantial amount when compared to Dynamix’s approximate $232 million market capitalization. The filing does not explicitly identify which specific party will make the payment.

The cancellation also voids associated agreements, including Sponsor Support and Subscription Agreements. Both organizations executed mutual release provisions and non-disparagement clauses addressing potential shareholder legal actions.

Dynamix’s Next Steps and Timeline

Dynamix’s SPAC journey continues. The company retains until November 22, 2026 to identify and execute an alternative business combination.

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Should Dynamix prove unable to finalize a new transaction before this deadline, the company faces mandatory dissolution, public share redemption, and liquidation procedures.

The deal’s failure arrives during a period of weak performance for ether prices. Appetite for cryptocurrency-related SPAC transactions has diminished considerably.

Nonetheless, the Ethereum treasury sector continues to show vitality. Currently, 10 Ethereum treasury firms collectively control more than 6 million ETH, representing a combined value approaching $14 billion.

The sector leader is Tom Lee’s Bitmine, which recently achieved uplisting to the New York Stock Exchange. The company’s board simultaneously expanded its share buyback program from $1 billion to $4 billion.

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Neither The Ether Machine nor Dynamix provided statements when contacted for this report.

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Bitcoin (BTC) Slides as U.S.-Iran Negotiations Fail in Islamabad

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Bitcoin (BTC) Price

Key Takeaways

  • Iranian and U.S. representatives convened in Pakistan’s capital on April 11–12 for direct diplomatic discussions following weeks of military tensions
  • No agreement was secured after approximately 21 hours of intensive negotiations, Vice President JD Vance announced
  • Tehran’s unwillingness to abandon nuclear weapons development emerged as the primary obstacle to a settlement
  • Bitcoin experienced a 2% decline to approximately $71,500 in the aftermath of the failed negotiations
  • XRP decreased 1.69% to $1.33, while Ethereum slipped 1.26% to $2,216, with cryptocurrency markets broadly declining 1–3%

High-ranking officials from Washington and Tehran convened in Pakistan’s capital on April 11 for their first direct, senior-level diplomatic engagement in decades. These discussions came after weeks of military confrontation that erupted on February 27, when the United States and Israel executed joint military operations dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” striking Iranian military installations and nuclear facilities. The operations resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The military escalation sent shockwaves through global energy markets and international financial systems. Critical maritime passages near the Strait of Hormuz, responsible for significant portions of worldwide petroleum transport, experienced disruptions due to the intensifying conflict.

Pakistan assumed a crucial intermediary position, providing neutral ground for both parties. While previous ceasefire initiatives had temporarily de-escalated tensions, no permanent resolution had materialized prior to these diplomatic sessions.

Before negotiations commenced, Tehran reportedly pursued sanctions removal, unfreezing of financial assets, and security assurances. Washington maintained firm positions regarding restrictions on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and maintaining freedom of navigation through strategic waterways.

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Esmaeil Baqaei, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, characterized the 24-hour discussion period as addressing the Strait of Hormuz situation, nuclear program concerns, compensation for war damages, sanctions removal, and complete conflict resolution. He indicated that results would hinge on “the seriousness and good faith of the opposing side.”

Baqaei further urged Washington to refrain from “excessive demands and unlawful requests” while honoring Iran’s “legitimate rights and interests.”

Diplomatic Efforts Conclude Without Agreement

Following approximately 21 hours of intensive discussions, Vice President JD Vance announced at a media briefing that negotiators failed to reach a settlement.

“The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement,” Vance stated. He noted that the U.S. had presented its position comprehensively throughout the talks.

According to Vance, the fundamental obstacle centered on Iran’s refusal to pledge abandonment of nuclear weapons ambitions. “The simple fact is that we need to see an affirmative commitment that they will not seek a nuclear weapon,” he explained.

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The American delegation departed Pakistan without securing any agreement. The trajectory of the conflict remains uncertain moving forward.

Cryptocurrency Markets Decline Following Failed Talks

Digital asset markets responded swiftly after Vance’s public statement. Bitcoin declined to approximately $71,500, representing a roughly 2% daily loss.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price
Bitcoin (BTC) Price

Short-term trading charts revealed a pronounced selloff directly correlated with news reports about the diplomatic impasse.

XRP retreated 1.69% to $1.33. Ethereum declined approximately 1.26% to $2,216. Comprehensive losses throughout cryptocurrency markets spanned from 1% to 3%.

As of April 12, the standoff between Washington and Tehran persists without resolution.

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Ether Machine Abandons Public Debut as Dynamix Merger is Terminated

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Ether Machine Abandons Public Debut as Dynamix Merger is Terminated

Ether Machine has called off its planned public debut after the Ethereum treasury-focused firm and Dynamix Corporation agreed to terminate their merger, citing deteriorating market conditions.

In a Saturday post on X, Ether Machine said the decision to end the deal was mutual and effective immediately. The transaction had aimed to take the firm public through a merger with the Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), alongside involvement from The Ether Reserve LLC.

“The Ether Reserve LLC, together with certain other parties thereto, announced today that they have mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced Business Combination Agreement, effective immediately, as a result of unfavorable market conditions,” the firm wrote.

According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, an unnamed “Payor,” identified in Annex A of the agreement but not disclosed publicly, must pay $50 million to Dynamix within 15 days of the termination taking effect.

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Related: Bitmine uplists to NYSE as share buyback is increased to $4B

Ether Machine’s $1.5 billion Ethereum treasury plan collapses

Ether Machine first announced plans to launch what it described as the largest yield-bearing Ether (ETH) fund aimed at institutional investors in July last year. At the time, the company, co-founded by former Consensys executives Andrew Keys and David Merin, said it would list on Nasdaq under the ticker “ETHM,” launching with more than 400,000 ETH, worth over $1.5 billion at the time, under management.

In September, Ether Machine secured $654 million in a private financing round, including 150,000 ETH from Ethereum advocate Jeffrey Berns, who also joined the company’s board. The raise was part of its broader plan to build a large Ether treasury ahead of the planned Nasdaq debut, which has now been canceled.

Top Ether treasury firms. Source: EthereumTreasuries.NET

Meanwhile, Dynamix retains a limited window to secure a new deal. The company has until November 22, 2026, to complete another business combination. If it fails to do so, it will be required to liquidate and return funds held in trust to shareholders, in line with its corporate charter.

Related: Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund dumps ETHZilla stake as ETH treasuries face pressure

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Ethereum treasury exits deepen

Ether funds exit amid mounting pressure on Ethereum treasury strategies. Trend Research has fully unwound its Ethereum position, selling 651,757 ETH worth about $1.34 billion while locking in an estimated $747 million loss.

Separately, ETHZilla, formerly a biotech firm that pivoted into an Ethereum treasury strategy during the 2025 hype, has also moved away from Ether accumulation, updating its corporate name and brand to Forum Markets.

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