By Raye Hadi, Research Associate, Digital Assets

Introduction

In Part One of ARK’s four-part guide to stablecoins, we introduced stablecoins and contextualized their development. I argued that the design of each type of stablecoin includes tradeoffs

Listen below or on the go via Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Trump threatens Iran’s power plants if strait not open. (0:17) GameStop earnings draw focus as Cohen touts Berkshire style. (1:17) California jury finds Elon Musk misled Twitter investors. (2:15)

The following is an abridged transcript:

It’s a light week for economic data and earnings, meaning sentiment will remain closely tied to the conflict with Iran — and what it means for oil and interest rates.

President Donald Trump said Saturday the U.S. would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours.

Prediction markets are signaling skepticism.

On Polymarket, traders assign just a 30% chance that traffic returns to normal by the end of April.

Kalshi contracts imply a more gradual reopening, with about a 39% probability by May 15, rising to 53% by June 1 and 59% by July 1.

The strait handles about 20% of global oil shipments.

WTI crude (CL1:COM) (USO) briefly moved back above $100/bbl in weekend trading on IG Index before easing. On the Hyperliquid blockchain, oil was trading around $98/bbl.

With oil putting upward pressure on inflation, expectations for Fed rate cuts this year have largely evaporated. Fed funds futures now indicate nearly a one-in-three chance that rates are higher at year-end.

On the earnings front, GameStop (GME) is likely the headline name among a light reporting slate.

There’s limited analyst coverage, so no formal consensus, but the holiday quarter update carries added weight after CEO Ryan Cohen floated ambitions to turn the retailer into a Berkshire (BRK.A) (BRK.B)-style investment platform.

Cohen has discussed acquiring an undervalued, high-quality public consumer company run by what he calls a “sleepy” management team. Any detail on deal size, timing, financing or potential targets would move sentiment — though management hasn’t held an earnings call in more than two years.

Seeking Alpha analyst Bernard Zambonin said he expects the results to offer little in the way of core fundamentals. However, backing from high-profile investors like Michael Burry continues to support the stock’s momentum and reinforces its appeal to those who view GameStop less as a retailer and more as an investment vehicle.

Also on the calendar:

Chewy (CHWY), PDD (PDD) and Beyond Meat (BYND) report Wednesday, followed by Pony AI (PONY) on Thursday.

BYD (BYDDF) and Carnival (CCL) report Friday.

In the news this weekend, a California jury found that Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk defrauded Twitter investors through certain public statements about the company’s user metrics, ruling that his comments were materially false or misleading.

The case centered on Musk’s May 13 and May 17 tweets in 2022 — including one that said the deal was “temporarily on hold” pending confirmation that bots accounted for about 5% of users, as disclosed in SEC filings.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs said total damages could reach as much as $2.6B — a small fraction of Musk’s net worth.

And OpenAI (OPENAI) is planning a major hiring push.

According to the Financial Times, the company aims to nearly double its workforce to about 8,000 employees by the end of 2026, up from roughly 4,500 today, as it seeks to narrow the gap with Anthropic (ANTHRO).

Most of the hires would focus on product development, engineering, research and sales. OpenAI is also expanding its “technical ambassadorship” initiative — specialists who help enterprise clients make better use of its tools.

And for income investors, Broadcom (AVGO) goes ex-dividend on Monday, with a payout date of March 31.

Dividend heavyweight Altria (MO) and Seagate (STX) go ex-dividend on Wednesday. Altria pays on April 30, while Seagate pays out on March 25.

Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS) goes ex-dividend on Friday, with an April 10 payout date.

Sydney — The 2026 season of *Married at First Sight Australia* continues to deliver high-stakes romance and chaos, with the experiment entering its later stages amid dinner party confrontations, shocking revelations and post-show life updates that have fans buzzing.

Now in its 13th season on the Nine Network, *MAFS Australia* has paired singles in arranged marriages, testing their compatibility through commitment ceremonies, honeymoons and group events. Filmed in 2025 and airing into 2026, the current run features a mix of original couples and intruders, with relationship experts John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Alessandra Rampolla guiding the process.

Recent episodes have focused on Feedback Week, dinner parties and unseen footage exposing tensions. As of mid-March 2026, several couples remain in the experiment while others have exited early, and post-experiment developments include a former bride’s pregnancy announcement and bitter accusations of blindsiding.

Key highlights from the latest developments:

Former bride **Brook Crompton**, who left the experiment early after her pairing with Chris, shared an intimate video revealing her engagement to fiancé Harry and her pregnancy with a baby boy. In a joyful social media post, Brook detailed the proposal, a Maldives holiday and their excitement for parenthood months after her shock departure. The update marks a positive turn for the 28-year-old, contrasting the on-screen turmoil.

Drama intensified at recent dinner parties. Intruder couple **Sam Stanton** and **Chris Robinson** faced a devastating confrontation, with Sam accusing Chris of gaslighting and belittling his living situation in unaired footage. Sam revealed he aired issues publicly as a “desperate plea” to the experts rather than co-stars, expressing deep hurt over behind-the-scenes cracks that built quietly before the split. The pair are no longer together.

**Scott McCristal** unleashed on ex-TV wife **Gia Fleur** after her new romance with Alan Wallace went public. In an episode of *MAFS: After the Dinner Party* on Stan, Scott accused Gia of a “coordinated and set-up” relationship, claiming she blindsided him. Gia’s headline-making 36th birthday bash added fuel, with ongoing fallout dominating headlines.

Other couples navigated rocky patches. A disastrous dinner party saw accusations fly, including gaslighting claims, while Feedback Week brought partner swaps and brutal truths. One episode featured a “fingerbang” sex scandal during the annual retreat, involving public humiliation and relentless mocking that rocked the group.

Current status of major couples in the 2026 experiment (based on recent episodes and reports as of March 2026):

– **Bec and Danny** — Still together despite early challenges like a rocky honeymoon and lack of sexual chemistry. Bec has confessed her love, and they continue fighting for the connection.

– **Alissa and David** — One of the strongest pairs, remaining solid through the experiment despite initial altar doubts from Alissa.

– **Rachel and Steven** — Sweethearts of the season, maintaining a positive bond amid group drama.

– **Gia and Scott** — Appeared well-matched with mutual attraction, but post-show tensions and Gia’s new romance suggest they did not last.

– **Mel and Luke** — Split early; Mel admitted no romantic feelings, and they left as friends during a commitment ceremony.

– **Brook and Chris** — Split; Brook has moved on to engagement and pregnancy.

– **Julia and Grayson** — No longer together.

– **Stella and Filip** — Still navigating positively, with early chemistry and shared hobbies.

Intruder pairs like **Sam and Chris** and others have added volatility, with some exiting amid conflicts.

The season has featured classic *MAFS* elements: emotional weddings, honeymoon highs and lows, commitment ceremonies and group dinner parties turning explosive. Unseen footage continues to surface, stunning cast members and exposing “sheer calculation” in some behaviors.

Experts note the experiment’s goal remains finding lasting love, but success rates vary. Past seasons show few couples endure long-term, though standouts like previous winners inspire hope.

As episodes progress toward potential final vows, viewers watch for who will stay or leave. Post-show specials like *MAFS: After the Dinner Party* provide glimpses into real-life outcomes, from heartbreaks to happy surprises like Brook’s news.

The 2026 installment reinforces *Married at First Sight Australia’s* status as a cultural phenomenon, blending romance, conflict and personal growth. With millions tuning in weekly, the experiment continues sparking debates on modern relationships, compatibility and reality TV’s role in matchmaking.

Fans can catch new episodes on Nine and 9Now, where exclusive clips and cast updates keep the conversation alive.

The disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC *Today* show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has entered its eighth week with no resolution, as federal investigators recently obtained what may be the last known video footage of her before she vanished from her Tucson-area home.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen by family members on the evening of January 31, 2026, when her son-in-law dropped her off at her residence in the Catalina Foothills suburb of Tucson, Arizona, after dinner. She was reported missing the following day, February 1, after failing to attend a planned virtual church service with a friend. Authorities quickly classified the case as a possible abduction or kidnapping, citing evidence including drops of her blood found on the front porch and signs of forced removal from her bed in the early morning hours.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, led by Sheriff Chris Nanos, has led the investigation with significant FBI involvement. Early in the probe, officials released doorbell camera footage showing a masked individual at Guthrie’s doorstep around the time of the incident. Blood analysis confirmed the porch droplets belonged to Guthrie, and her pacemaker reportedly disconnected at approximately 2:28 a.m. on February 1, adding urgency due to her reliance on daily medication for health conditions.

As of March 22, 2026, no suspect has been publicly identified or arrested, and Guthrie’s whereabouts and condition remain unknown. The case has drawn nationwide attention, fueled by Savannah Guthrie’s emotional public appeals, including videos pleading for her mother’s safe return and the family’s announcement of a $1 million reward in late February for information leading to her recovery or the arrest of those responsible.

Recent developments include reports that the FBI has acquired video from an Uber rideshare Guthrie took earlier on January 31 to visit her daughter Annie’s home. According to sources cited by NewsNation and other outlets, this footage—captured inside the vehicle—represents potentially the final public sighting before her return home. It is unclear how pivotal the clip may prove, but it adds to the timeline investigators are piecing together.

Experts weighing in on the case have offered varied theories. Morgan Wright, CEO of the National Center for Open and Unsolved Cases, told NewsNation that he hypothesizes a “targeted abduction,” suggesting the act was planned rather than random. Retired Pima County homicide detective Kurt Dabb speculated that two to four accomplices may have coordinated the crime, based on the circumstances and lack of immediate evidence pointing to a lone perpetrator.

Former FBI special agent James Hamilton, founder of Hamilton Security Group, discussed possible motives and execution in interviews, noting the sophistication implied by the nighttime entry and removal without immediate detection in a residential area. Sheriff Nanos has stated investigators believe they know the motive but have withheld details to protect the investigation’s integrity.

The family has maintained a public presence, with Savannah Guthrie and siblings Annie and Camron issuing heartfelt messages to the Tucson community. In one recent video, they emphasized, “We are all family now,” urging residents to search their memories for any details from January 31 or the early hours of February 1. They stressed that someone in the southern Arizona area likely holds key information, even if it seems insignificant.

The investigation has shifted phases: Initial large-scale searches involving drones, dogs, and ground teams have tapered, with resources refocused on detectives combing through tips. The FBI reportedly moved much of its operation from Tucson to Phoenix, while the sheriff’s office assigned dedicated personnel. Multiple gloves recovered from the scene remain under analysis, though their connection is unclear.

No ransom demands have been confirmed in recent reports, despite early speculation. The family has cleared all relatives, including siblings and spouses, of suspicion, as announced by Sheriff Nanos in mid-February.

The case has highlighted challenges in missing-persons investigations involving elderly individuals, particularly those living alone. Observers note the emotional toll of “ambiguous loss” on families, freezing grief without closure. Savannah Guthrie has spoken of “blowing on the embers of hope,” acknowledging the possibility her mother “may already be gone” while continuing appeals.

Community vigils persist outside the Guthrie home, with flowers, notes, and messages of support accumulating. Authorities continue encouraging tips via the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, 88-CRIME, the Pima County Sheriff’s tip line at 520-351-4900, or tips.fbi.gov.

As the milestone of 50 days since the abduction approaches—marked Sunday, March 22—analysts like criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos have speculated on investigative progress behind the scenes. Despite an apparent public standstill, officials insist the case remains active and leads are being pursued exhaustively.

The disappearance has gripped the nation, blending celebrity proximity with the stark reality of an unresolved violent crime against a vulnerable senior. With no breakthroughs reported in the latest updates, the focus remains on community awareness and any overlooked detail that could bring Nancy Guthrie home or deliver justice.

Airport security delays amid the partial government shutdown have created weekend travel nightmares, with massive TSA lines choking terminals across the country, unpaid officers calling out in growing numbers, and President Donald Trump vowing to send U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports to try to stem the tide of American angst.

“This is insane,” a frustrated passenger told CNN at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International, regarded as the busiest airport in the world. “We didn’t think it was going to be this bad.”

“It’s pandemonium out there,” another added in videos posted to social media this weekend.

“We shouldn’t have to deal with this just to get on an airplane,” an X poster raged — a complaint that now captures the mood at airports nationwide as travelers absorb the fallout from Washington’s funding fight.

TSA OFFICIAL WARNS SMALLER AIRPORTS COULD SHUT DOWN AMID DHS FUNDING CRISIS

The famously busiest airport in the world in Atlanta was dogged by long TSA security lines due to the government shutdown and staffing shortages. (Megan Varner/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The chaos is being fueled by deepening TSA staffing shortages during one of the busiest travel stretches of the season due to spring breaks for schools and colleges. Officers are working without pay under the shutdown, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned absenteeism, resignations and delays are likely to worsen if the stalemate drags on.

More than 400 TSA workers have already quit since the shutdown began Feb. 14, according to DHS.

The immediate concern for travelers, though, is far more fundamental: getting through the checkpoint before their flight leaves.

DHS SHUTDOWN FORCES AIRPORTS TO TELL TRAVELERS TO ARRIVE 4 HOURS EARLY AMID MASSIVE DELAYS

Among the most eye-popping wait times and airport line scenes reported this weekend:

Atlanta (ATL): Reported wait of 153 minutes early Sunday, with lines described as wrapping around baggage claim. 

New Orleans (MSY): Security line reportedly stretched into the parking garage. 

Houston (IAH/HOU): Some passengers reportedly faced waits of up to two to three hours, with Hobby Airport hit especially hard by staffing shortages.

JFK (New York): Waits climbed to 75 minutes Sunday morning after being much lower a day earlier.

Newark (EWR): Delays reached 44 minutes at points.

LaGuardia (LGA): Waits rose to around 20 minutes, lower than other major hubs but still up from minimal waits the previous day.

Cincinnati (CVG): Third-party tracker estimates showed waits approaching nearly an hour.

San Juan (SJU): Third-party tracker estimates also showed waits approaching nearly an hour.

AIRPORT CHECKPOINT CLOSURES SPREAD AS TSA WARNS OF SECURITY ‘THREAT,’ MORE TRAVEL DELAYS

The full national picture remains murky because official TSA tools are no longer reliably current.

“Due to the lapse in federal funding, this website will not be actively managed,” a red alert atop the My TSA app reads Sunday. “Click here for more information.”

That link reveals the data has not been updated for more than a month:

AIRLINE CEOS TORCH LAWMAKERS FOR TURNING AIR TRAVEL INTO A ‘POLITICAL FOOTBALL’

“This website was last updated on February 17, 2026 and will not be updated until after funding is enacted. As such, information on this website may not be up to date. Transactions submitted via this website might not be processed and we will not be able to respond to inquiries until after appropriations are enacted.”

VIDEO CAPTURES CRAZY AIRPORT CROWDS AS PASSENGERS POUR INTO TERMINAL AFTER SECURITY CHECKPOINTS CLOSE

DHS has said more than 10% of TSA officers called out on more than half of the past seven days, with some airports averaging absence rates near 20%. At Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, the rate reportedly climbed above 40% on certain days. Those no-shows have forced lane closures, longer backups and wild swings in wait times from one hour to the next.

For weeks, Republicans in Congress have been sharing the narrative – with photos and videos of TSA security delays – “thank a Democrat.“

Trump even went so far as to call Democrats the “greatest enemy” Americans face, as he continues to declare victory over Iran.

SHUTDOWN SPARKS FLIGHT CHAOS AS TSA LINES SPILL INTO PARKING LOTS WITH 3-HOUR WAITS OR LONGER

“Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!” Trump wrote Sunday morning on Truth Social.

Trump’s post came after his vow to send ICE agents to overwhelmed TSA security checkpoints at American airports. Coincidentally, Democrats have forced the Senate’s government shutdown for DHS funding over alleged abuse of power by ICE agents in Democrat-run sanctuary cities and states.

But, as Trump and Republicans frequently remind their counterparts, ICE is already fully funded since last summer’s passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so shutting down DHS appropriations is not accomplishing its stated goals.

HOMELAND SECURITY REACTIVATES MAJOR GLOBAL ENTRY PROGRAM FOR TRAVELERS AMID SHUTDOWN

“On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, hailing border czar Tom Homan as the fixer the TSA chaos needs urgently.

“But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work. THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB. The great Tom Homan is in charge!!!”

Democrats blasted the idea, with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., calling it “another reckless, lawless threat to misuse ICE agents,” and Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., accusing Trump of “manufacturing chaos at airports for political leverage.”

TRUMP SAYS ICE WILL DEPLOY TO AIRPORTS MONDAY TO ASSIST TSA AMID FUNDING STANDOFF

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned the mess could get much worse, saying current delays may look like “child’s play” if TSA personnel miss another paycheck. Officials have even suggested some airports could face deeper disruptions — or possible closures — if the staffing crisis keeps intensifying.

For now, airports are urging travelers to arrive at least three hours early, even for domestic departures. But for passengers staring down marathon lines, the advice is landing more like a warning than reassurance: the shutdown is no longer just a fight in Washington — it is now a checkpoint crisis playing out in real time at airports across America.

“The current unpredictability is being driven by unpredictable staffing levels, basically, how many TSA officers are showing up for work on any given day,” Sheldon H. Jacobson, , the founder professor of engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an expert on aviation security and airport security screening, told Business Insider.

THUNE REVEALS REASON DEMOCRATS ARE ‘SCARED’ TO REOPEN DHS

“TSA officers have historically been cross-trained to do many different tasks, so the number that show up is the key factor,” Jacobson said.

ICE agents are not specifically trained for airport security, the domain of TSA, which has 65,000 employees, including 50,000 airport security officers. ICE has played a central role in the Trump administration’s illegal immigration crackdown.

“He seems to have no concept of what the limits are on ICE, and I think America would be absolutely appalled to see ICE agents roaming through airports, just as they’ve been breaking down doors at homes,” Blumenthal told reporters in Washington.

SCHUMER GAMBIT FAILS AS DHS SHUTDOWN HITS 36 DAYS AND AIRPORT LINES GROW

Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, on Saturday offered to cover TSA paychecks “during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country.”

Homeland Security historically has shifted resources across agencies during emergency staffing shortages, said Stewart Baker, who was a DHS policy official in President George W. Bush’s administration. Keeping TSA going without paying staff creates “serious trouble” for the agency, Baker said.

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Using ICE agents for airport security “may be slower than using trained people, but it would be better than having nobody,” he added.

Reuters contributed to this report.