There were low expectations for Drake’s new album Iceman, but one track released today underperformed even by crypto’s degenerate standards. In his new song “Dust,” Drake calls Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) one of his guys and calls for his prison release.

“An FTX penthouse high-riser, yeah / Samuel Bankman, free all my guys up, yeah,” Drake raps on the album’s second track.

Drake’s “free all my guys” framing is a standard hip-hop convention as a solidarity shout-out. It also follows the storyline of “Dust” as an aggressive statement track, which follows the rap genre’s basic victory lap-and-diss sparkline.

The song isn’t complicated. Drake simply re-asserts examples of his dominance and successes while casting his rivals as washed-up, living off old plaques and memories. The chorus repeats the simple message, “Go blow the dust off your plaques.”

The music video also adds no more nuance, depicting a childish police car race from the fun-loving rapper.

Elsewhere, he also names himself a “BTC crypto big-timer,” demonstrating his obvious failure to understand how bitcoin (BTC) and crypto are distinct.

As evidence of his status, Drake references his globe-trotting lifestyle via Melbourne’s time zone, sold-out shows, and dubious references to the Bahamas where SBF stole FTX’s customer money: smoking luxury cigars at Graycliff, and a high‑rise penthouse.

SBF famously lived in one of the very few Bahamian high-rise penthouses, within the Albany neighborhood.

Key Takeaways

• Pershing Square Capital Management revealed it purchased Microsoft shares while divesting its entire Alphabet holdings in Q1
• Bill Ackman described Microsoft’s current pricing as offering “highly compelling valuation” following recent market weakness
• Shares climbed as high as 4.1% during Friday trading, settling around 3.7% higher by midday ET as broader indexes declined 1.2%
• Hedge fund TCI dumped nearly all of its decade-old $8 billion Microsoft position due to concerns about AI competition
• Azure cloud services expanded 40% in the latest quarter; Copilot AI has secured 20 million paid subscribers from a potential 450 million business users

Microsoft (MSFT) shares surged on Friday following the revelation that hedge fund manager Bill Ackman’s investment firm, Pershing Square Capital Management, established a significant position in the tech giant as a “core holding” while simultaneously exiting its Alphabet investment.

Microsoft Corporation, MSFT

Shares traded at $424.81 by midday ET, representing a 3.76% gain. The stock peaked at $426.44 during the session, marking a 4.1% intraday advance. Meanwhile, broader market indices moved in the opposite direction, with the S&P 500 sliding 1.2% and the Nasdaq declining 1.4%.

In an extensive 887-word social media post Friday morning, Ackman explained his rationale, describing Microsoft’s current valuation as “highly compelling” after sustained selling pressure that has pushed shares down 13% year-to-date in 2026 and 22% below their record high.

The investment represents a complete portfolio swap — Pershing liquidated its entire Alphabet stake to finance the Microsoft acquisition. Ackman highlighted the company’s cloud infrastructure operations and commanding presence in office productivity applications as fundamental pillars supporting his investment thesis.

Contrasting Views from Elite Hedge Funds

Ackman’s enthusiasm isn’t universally shared. TCI Fund Management, managed by Chris Hohn and recognized as among last year’s most successful hedge funds globally, discreetly liquidated the bulk of its $8 billion Microsoft position — an investment maintained for ten years.

TCI communicated its reasoning directly to investors: “We reduced our investment in Microsoft because the rapid progress in AI introduces uncertainty over Microsoft’s competitive position in the future.”

This situation presents two highly respected investment firms analyzing identical circumstances and arriving at diametrically opposed investment decisions. Financial analysts are keenly observing which perspective will prove accurate.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella appeared in an Oakland courtroom this week, providing testimony in Elon Musk’s litigation against OpenAI. Microsoft has channeled approximately $12 billion into OpenAI across seven years and currently maintains a 27% ownership stake valued near $230 billion. Musk’s lawsuit aims to dismantle this partnership, creating genuine strategic concerns for Microsoft’s artificial intelligence initiatives.

Copilot Penetration and AI Investment Returns

Regarding operational performance, Microsoft delivered adjusted earnings of $4.27 per share against revenue of $82.9 billion for its fiscal third quarter — surpassing analyst projections of $4.05 per share on $81.4 billion revenue. Azure cloud expansion reached 40%.

Microsoft’s infrastructure investments have escalated from $24 billion in fiscal 2021 to $88 billion in fiscal 2025, with projections indicating $190 billion for the current calendar year. These expenditures face intensifying examination as debates intensify regarding whether AI investments are translating into measurable customer returns.

The corporation presently counts 20 million paying subscribers for its premium Copilot AI product, representing a fraction of approximately 450 million total enterprise seats. Tigress Financial Partners maintains a Buy recommendation with a $680 price objective — significantly exceeding current market levels — pointing to triple-digit annual growth in paid Copilot subscriptions.

Nevertheless, the Wall Street Journal highlighted that certain clients have experienced confusion regarding Microsoft’s diverse AI product nomenclature, with some preferring Google’s Gemini alternative. Microsoft recently reorganized its AI division leadership.

Judson Althoff, who assumed control of commercial operations in October, dismissed these worries: “They don’t concern me, because I think the market is still trying to figure out AI.”

A research paper released by Microsoft Research this week introduced complexity to the AI optimism, determining that large language models “introduce sparse but severe errors that silently corrupt documents, compounding over long interaction.”

The paper’s three researchers are affiliated with Microsoft Research.

Justin Sun’s made-up country Liberland has given Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin a star-shaped medal, “its highest state distinction,” for his technical blockchain achievements. 

The “First Class Order of Merit of the Star of Liberland” was given to Buterin during ETHPrague 2026, where he attended a Network State event sponsored by the micronation. 

Liberland said the medal recognizes Buterin’s “extraordinary technical achievements,” and, “his role in advancing new ideas about how societies can organize themselves.

Additionally, Buterin was praised for the attention he has given to “pop-up cities, decentralized societies, and network states.”

Read more: Justin Sun is now prime minister of Liberland, an entirely made-up country

The medal’s name appears to have been inspired by the Commonwealth’s Order of Merit, a 100-year-old award that recognises the distinguished services of people such as Florence Nightingale. 

Someone who hasn’t received Liberland’s highest distinction is Tron founder Justin Sun. The crypto billionaire was, however, elected prime minister of the region back in October 2024. 

Sun has been re-elected seven times. 

When he first applied for the role, Sun emphasized the need to maintain a strong relationship with the US and boasted about his investments in Trump-linked crypto firm World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

He also praised US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff as an ally.

These statements haven’t aged well, however, as Witkoff’s son and WLFI co-founder, Zach Witkoff, is now claiming that Sun is attempting to “torch” the firm as WLFI and Sun launch lawsuits against each other. 

Myanmar’s military government released the text of an Anti-Online Fraud Bill, signaling a hardening stance against digital currency scams and other online-fraud schemes as regional crime networks continue to evolve. The measure would impose severe penalties on those convicted of online fraud and, in particular, “digital currency fraud,” underscoring the regime’s resolve to curb fintech-enabled crime.

The bill, made public this week, sets out lengthy prison terms for offenders—ranging from a minimum of ten years to life imprisonment—with the death penalty a possible outcome in certain circumstances. It also lays out conditions under which the death sentence could be applied, notably for those implicated in scam centers and for cases in which victims are coerced or exploited into participating in fraudulent activities.

According to a government notice, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Myanmar’s parliament, could consider the draft law during its first session in June, following elections the authorities say will proceed under the current framework. The government’s notice indicates that lawmakers may take up the bill in the first week of June as part of broader security and sovereignty efforts. The development comes amid a broader context in which Myanmar’s political trajectory remains controversial after the 2021 coup, and observers have questioned the fairness of recent elections.

Key takeaways

• The Anti-Online Fraud Bill would punish digital currency fraud with 10 years to life in prison, and it allows the death penalty for particular offenses, including those tied to scam centers and harm to victims.
• The bill is slated for consideration in June by Myanmar’s Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, according to a government notice, as the country navigates a fragile political environment post-coup.
• The move sits within a broader regional and international push to dismantle scam centers that operate across Southeast Asia, including high-profile actions in China and the United States.
• An FBI report released in April found Americans lost more than $11 billion to crypto-related scams in 2025, with online fraud totaling more than $20 billion overall, highlighting rising cross-border crime risk for crypto users and platforms. The White House cited a March executive order aimed at combating cybercrime and scam centers.

Myanmar’s draft law and the fight against online crime

Advertisements, romance scams, and “pig butchering” schemes have exposed crackdowns across Southeast Asia, prompting authorities to pursue harsher legal tools. The proposed law frames digital currency fraud as a distinct offense within the broader category of online fraud, signaling an intent to target crypto-enabled scams as aggressively as traditional cybercrime.

Among the most consequential provisions is the potential for capital punishment in circumstances tied to scam centers or where victims are coerced into fraud activities. The bill’s wording also emphasizes accountability for those who operate or manage scam centers, placing responsibility on organizers who orchestrate online fraud operations and profit from them.

China’s reaction to Myanmar-linked scam activity has been recently stark. State media reports cited by outlets such as Al Jazeera indicate that Beijing ordered the execution of 11 individuals connected to Myanmar scam networks that had trafficked Chinese nationals. The case underscores the international dimension of scam-center operations and the intensified pressure on regional governments to dismantle such networks. For readers seeking contemporary coverage, see the report linked to by Al Jazeera.

Global crackdown context: how the world is responding

The Myanmar bill arrives amid a broad pattern of cross-border enforcement against crypto scams and scam centers. In the United States, a coordinated crackdown has featured prominently in policy discussions. An FBI report released in April documented that Americans’ losses from crypto-related scams had reached more than $11 billion in 2025, with total losses from online fraud exceeding $20 billion. The report also notes that a coordinated effort—described as the Scam Center Strike Force—focuses on dismantling the worst scam compounds in Southeast Asia and pursuing leaders, including Chinese-affiliated crime networks operating in Cambodia, Laos, and Burma.

The executive branch has signaled a willingness to empower law enforcement to pursue these threats more aggressively. In March, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to intensify their efforts against scam centers and cybercrime, a move cited by the White House as part of a broader crackdown on fraud in the digital economy. Details of the order indicate a comprehensive mandate to strengthen investigations and penalties for cyber-enabled fraud.

Analysts note that the current wave of enforcement reflects a reshaped risk landscape for crypto users and for developers building compliant, security-minded platforms in Southeast Asia. As lawmakers in Yangon weigh the new bill, investors and operators will scrutinize how enforcement priorities align with consumer protection, due process, and the region’s evolving regulatory framework for digital assets.

Myanmar’s political backdrop and what it means for crypto policy

The political environment in Myanmar remains unsettled after the 2021 coup, with governance continuity and electoral legitimacy contested by many observers. A CFR assessment described the country’s elections as “neither free nor fair,” underscoring the fragile legitimacy of parliamentary steps taken by authorities. The government has indicated that the June session could consider the new anti-online-fraud legislation, signaling that the regime intends to push forward policy initiatives despite ongoing political tensions.

For market participants and developers, the key takeaway is that regulatory risk around online fraud and crypto-enabled crime is intensifying in the region. The bill’s passage would likely bolster penalties for digital-asset-related scams, potentially shaping compliance expectations for exchanges and wallet providers operating in or serving Myanmar and neighboring markets. It also highlights the need for robust identity verification, transaction monitoring, and cross-border information sharing to support enforcement efforts.

As the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw convenes in the coming weeks, observers will watch not only the bill’s text but how the government implements enforcement, safeguards due process, and coordinates with international partners to dismantle scam networks that routinely transcend borders. The interwoven nature of crypto fraud, trafficking, and cybercrime means policy developments in Myanmar will be read as part of a larger regional and global struggle to secure the digital economy from criminal exploitation.

Readers should stay tuned for updates on the bill’s advancement in June, as well as new data from enforcement agencies and regulators on cross-border crypto scams. The coming months are likely to reveal how much policy sentiment in Yangon has shifted toward punitive deterrence and how that shift might affect the broader crypto regulatory landscape in Southeast Asia.

Key Highlights

• Michael Pokorny, Chief Accounting Officer, offloaded approximately $3.5 million in shares; Director Necip Sayiner sold roughly $870,300 on May 8.
• Shares of SNDK have skyrocketed 465% throughout 2026, propelled by robust financial performance and surging AI infrastructure demand for NAND flash storage.
• Fiscal Q3 2026 saw revenue climb 251% compared to the same period last year, with adjusted earnings per share reaching $23.41.
• The memory maker is transitioning toward long-term supply contracts, securing guaranteed revenue streams from major hyperscale cloud providers.
• Executives project approximately $8 billion in Q4 revenue alongside an 80% gross profit margin.

Two senior executives at Sandisk offloaded a total of $4.4 million worth of company shares recently, capitalizing on what has become one of 2026’s most spectacular stock rallies.

Sandisk Corporation, SNDK

Michael Pokorny, the company’s Chief Accounting Officer, divested 2,446 shares this past Tuesday at a price of $1,426.18 per share, generating proceeds of approximately $3.5 million. Following this transaction, Pokorny maintains direct ownership of 22,375 shares, currently valued at roughly $31 million using Thursday’s closing price of $1,382.72.

Meanwhile, Board Director Necip Sayiner disposed of 579 shares on May 8 at an average selling price of $1,503.11, totaling $870,300 in proceeds. Post-sale, Sayiner retains ownership of 2,900 shares worth approximately $4 million.

Sandisk stock has climbed an extraordinary 465% during 2026, and approximately 3,640% since its spinoff from Western Digital completed in February 2025 at an initial public offering price of $38.50. Shares currently hover around the $1,400 mark.

By comparison, the Nasdaq 100 has advanced just 15% during the identical timeframe, underscoring the magnitude of Sandisk’s outperformance.

Forces Powering the Explosive Growth

The primary catalyst behind this remarkable ascent is NAND flash memory technology. Sandisk’s storage solutions have become essential components for AI-focused data centers, where requirements for high-capacity, non-volatile memory have exploded as hyperscale operators rapidly expand their computational infrastructure.

Technology giants including Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta have collectively allocated approximately $700 billion toward infrastructure investments in 2026. Sandisk has positioned itself as a direct beneficiary of this unprecedented capital deployment.

The company’s fiscal Q3 2026 financial results mirrored this explosive demand. Revenue surged 97% from the previous quarter and jumped 251% year-over-year. Adjusted earnings per share reached $23.41, a substantial increase from $5.15 in the preceding quarter.

Revenue generated from data center customers specifically increased 233% during the quarter. Chief Executive David Goeckeler has characterized hyperscale operators as “higher-value customers,” representing a strategic evolution from the company’s historically diverse and fragmented client portfolio.

Industry-wide memory supply constraints have additionally driven pricing upward, creating a favorable pricing environment that complements strong volume expansion.

Strategic Shift in Commercial Approach

Sandisk has been pivoting from transactional spot market sales toward structured, multiyear supply commitments. The corporation executed three such agreements during Q3, with two additional contracts already secured in Q4. This framework ensures predictable revenue for Sandisk while guaranteeing critical storage capacity for major customers.

Looking toward Q4, company leadership projects revenue of approximately $8 billion—representing a 321% increase versus the prior year—coupled with an 80% gross margin, modestly exceeding the 78.4% achieved in Q3.

Industry competitors have similarly experienced strong performance this year. Western Digital, Seagate, and Micron have all witnessed share price appreciation exceeding 100% during 2026.

At present valuations, Sandisk trades at approximately 16 times trailing-twelve-month revenue, elevated from roughly 4.5x at the beginning of the year. This expanded valuation multiple increases the stock’s vulnerability to any disappointing developments, whether company-specific execution issues or broader macroeconomic headwinds.

These recent insider transactions represent the most current SEC-disclosed sales from Sandisk leadership as the stock continues trading near record levels.