Strategy adds another 2.5 billion in Bitcoin while a Middle East ceasefire triggers 40 million in crypto liquidations. Cognition AI reaches 25 billion valuation in record time as OpenAI's GPT-5.5 begins autonomously shipping code. Meta and Microsoft eliminate 23,000 positions to accelerate AI investment while Lido votes to absorb losses from a massive partner hack.

Friday, April 24, 2026 — 413 words / ~2.8 min

Today's Top Stories:

  1. Strategy Drops $2.5B on Bitcoin as Ceasefire Sparks $40M Liquidation Wave
  2. Cognition AI Hits $25B Valuation in Under Two Years
  3. OpenAI's GPT-5.5 Ships Code Without Asking Permission
  4. Lido Votes to Cover $5.8M From Partner's $292M Hack
  5. Meta and Microsoft Cut 23,000 Jobs to Fund AI Bets