SAN DIEGO and NEWARK, N.J., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From April 17 to 22, 2026, ACROBiosystems—a company dedicated to being a cornerstone of the global biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries—presented its comprehensive, AI‑driven protein solutions at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2026. Dr. Yu Sun, VP of Product Development, delivered a presentation titled “Leveraging AI and Research Platforms to Accelerate Next‑generation Biological Modalities.”

Addressing Core Industry Challenges with AI

To tackle critical pain points—such as the high cost and difficult development of key reagents stemming from low expression titers, protein instability, and solubility challenges—ACROBiosystems developed its AI Protein Dry-Wet Closed-Loop System, Acro-AIx. This system features specialized models trained on proprietary data, including:

DeepExp (AUC=0.95): An AI model that accurately predicts secretory expression levels for full-length proteins in mammalian cells, overcoming a key forecasting challenge.

ProDeSol (AUC=0.94): A model providing high-accuracy solubility prediction for prokaryotic systems, enabling precise optimization.

“By integrating AI with deep biological insights, ACROBiosystems is redefining protein design—turning challenges into opportunities for next-generation therapeutics,” said Dr. Yu Sun.

Enabling Advanced Therapies through Engineered Proteins

Leveraging its fully self-developed AI platform, ACROBiosystems engineers thermally stable and highly active proteins, aiming to enable more robust, scalable, and cost-accessible manufacturing processes.

For protein redesign, the company’s “AI Box” Protein Engineering Toolkit autonomously optimizes multiple key properties like binding affinity, stability, and solubility. Focused on cell and gene therapy, it has been used to develop essential GMP-grade materials such as the Salt Active GENIUS™ Nuclease, Human FGF basic Superior Stable Mutant Protein, and Human IL-21 Superior Stable Mutant Protein to overcome technical bottlenecks.

This AI-driven focus is part of ACROBiosystems’ broader commitment to “Integrated Innovation,” a principle that also encompasses aligning with emerging therapeutic modalities, concentrating on pivotal disease areas, and actively collaborating within global innovation ecosystems.

Beyond AI: A Comprehensive Suite of Technology Platforms

This commitment to Integrated Innovation is supported by a comprehensive suite of technology platforms that extend beyond AI-driven design. ACROBiosystems has built a robust infrastructure to support biologics development, including:

A Comprehensive Protein Expression Platform covering prokaryotic, eukaryotic, and cell-free systems.

A High-Throughput Protein Screening Platform for molecular construction, cell culture, and bioactivity analysis.

An Ultra-Strict Protein Quality Control Platform.

A Featured Technology Platform Display, which includes the Star Staining™ Site-Specific Fluorescent Labeling Platform, a Custom GMP-Grade Protein Services Platform, and the “FLAG” Multi-pass Transmembrane Protein R&D Platform.

Underpinning all these platforms and the company’s approach is ACROBiosystems’ proprietary “Structure & Application Integrated” Protein Development Platform. “Our product platforms are unique to us here at ACROBiosystems. We consider both structure and application to ensure that our products meet and exceed our customers’ demands,” explained Dr. Yu Sun. The company adheres to the principle of “Quality by Design (QbD),” ensuring high-quality and functional proteins from the outset.

Complementing its drive for innovation, the company’s core brand promise is equally built upon the pillars of Reliable Quality and Considerate Service. Its commitment to quality is substantiated by a stringent management system certified to both ISO 9001 and GMP standards. Its service model is designed to provide responsive partnership, featuring expedited logistics and dedicated technical support.

About ACROBiosystems Group

ACROBiosystems Group, founded in 2010 and listed in 2021, is a biotechnology company aimed at being a cornerstone of the global biopharmaceutical and healthcare industries by providing innovative products and business models. The company spans across the globe and maintains offices, R&D centers, and production bases in more than 15 different cities within the United States, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Germany. ACROBiosystems Group has established numerous long-term and stable partnerships with the world’s top pharmaceutical enterprises, including Pfizer, Novartis, and Johnson & Johnson, and numerous well-known academic institutes. The company comprises several subsidiaries such as ACROBiosystems, bioSeedin, Condense Capital, and ACRODiagnostics.

ACROBiosystems’ brands include Resilient Supply, CytoPak, SAFENSURE, FLAG, Star Staining, Aneuro, ComboX, GENPower and many others. Its main products and services are recombinant proteins, kits, antibodies, scientific services, and other related products. ACROBiosystems employs a strict quality control system for its products that are used in biopharmaceutical research and development, production, and clinical application. This includes targeted discovery and validation, candidate drug screening/optimization, CMC development and pilot production, preclinical research, clinical trials, commercial production, and clinical application of companion diagnostics.

Through the continuous development of new technologies and products, ACROBiosystems Group creates value for the global pharmaceutical industry and actively empowers our partners. The company is dedicated to accelerating the drug development process, including targeted therapies, immunotherapeutic drugs, and their clinical applications, and contributes to global health.

Five Cooling Bedding Essentials Recognized for Superior Quality, Cooling Performance, and Comfort

NEW YORK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Breescape®, the bedding brand dedicated to helping sleepers achieve uninterrupted sleep through thoughtful cooling design, is proud to announce that five products from its signature cooling lineup have earned the highly respected Good Housekeeping Seal.

The certified products include Breescape® Cooling Sheet Set, Breescape® Cooling Comforter Blanket 2.0, Breescape® Cooling Mattress Topper, Breescape Cooling Pillowcases, and Breescape Comforter Set, all designed to deliver cooling bedding comfort for warm nights.

The Good Housekeeping Seal: Quality & Uncompromising Standards

Good Housekeeping bestows its limited warranty Seal on products that have been rigorously evaluated by the scientists in the Good Housekeeping Institute to ensure they perform well and deliver on their promises, both in packaging and advertising.

If any product that bears Good Housekeeping’s limited warranty Seal proves to be defective within two years, Good Housekeeping, not the manufacturer, that will either refund the money or replace the product. That’s a promise that nobody else makes — and nobody else delivers on.

Each Breescape product went through strict tested in The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles Lab where scientists evaluated for fabric strength, cooling performance, washability, comfort, and fit—ensuring it meets the high standards that consumers have trusted for decades. Earning the Good Housekeeping Seal is a testament to a product’s real-world performance and commitment to excellence.

Certified Cooling Bedding That Delivers All-Night Comfort

All five certified products leverage Breescape’s patented BlendTek™ technology, designed to address common sleep disruptions like temperature swings and trapped heat, delivering instant coolness, enhanced breathability, and efficient moisture-wicking.

Breescape® Cooling Sheet Set – Crafted with BlendTek™ fabric (Q-Max > 0.46), these premium cooling sheets deliver instant, all-night coolness, reliable breathability and effective moisture-wicking, with an ultra-soft feel and snug fit to support uninterrupted sleep.

Breescape® Cooling Comforter Blanket 2.0 – Named among the best comforters for hot sleepers, it combines BlendTek™ technology, dynamic temperature regulation, and a dual-sided design to provide plush, cooling comfort year-round.

Breescape® Cooling Mattress Topper – This 3-inch ventilated topper features BlendTek™ cooling, responsive foam, and anti-slip straps, transforming any mattress into a cool, supportive haven for restful sleep.

Breescape® Cooling Pillowcases – These silk-smooth pillowcases integrate BlendTek™ cooling comfort, preventing frizz while elevating sleepers’ overnight hair care routine.

Breescape® Comforter Set – A coordinated cooling bedding set that includes a comforter, fitted sheet, and pillowcases, creating an effortless, cool sleep space for uninterrupted rest.

Cooling Excellence Backed by Rigorous Validation

As a specialized bedding brand engineered to help all sleepers achieve uninterrupted sleep (even during warm months), Breescape leverages over 46 years of textile expertise to develop innovative cooling solutions, anchored by its patented BlendTek™ technology.

The recognition of earning the Good Housekeeping Seal validates Breescape’s dedication to quality, durability, and real-world performance—it confirms that its cooling fabrics, construction, and user-centric design meet strict, trustworthy standards, reinforces its position as a leader in cooling bedding, and supports its mission to create tools that help people achieve uninterrupted sleep, live better, and thrive.

A Commitment to Cooler, Uninterrupted Sleep

“We are deeply honored to earn the Good Housekeeping Seal for our core cooling products,” said Helen Wu, Founder of Breescape. This milestone reaffirms Breescape’s commitment to excellence.

The brand will prominently display the Good Housekeeping Seal on certified product pages and packaging to help shoppers make confident choices. Moving forward, Breescape will continue to leverage its textile expertise and BlendTek™ technology, further optimizing its products to deliver even better cooling performance and comfort—remaining a trusted partner for uninterrupted sleep.

About Breescape®
Breescape® is a specialized bedding brand engineered for hot sleepers, offering the ultimate solution for a refreshing, sweat-free sleep experience, even during the hottest months of the year. Our patented fabric technology, BlendTek™, blends multiple fibers in the golden ratio to deliver real, long-lasting coolness with an instant cool-to-the-touch sensation, enhanced breathability, and efficient moisture-wicking for sleepers experiencing hot flashes, ensuring all-night comfort.

For more information, visit www.breescape.com or shop at Amazon.com/breescape. Connect with Breescape on social media @Breescapehome.

About Good Housekeeping
Celebrating more than 140 years, Good Housekeeping (GoodHousekeeping.com) is a leading lifestyle media brand inspiring a monthly audience of 53+ million readers to discover genius innovations, delicious ideas, style-savvy trends, compelling news and best-in-class products for their homes, families and themselves. The Good Housekeeping Institute’s state-of-the-art labs combined with Good Housekeeping‘s seasoned editorial talent is unparalleled. Staffed by top engineers, scientists and technology experts, the GH Institute tests and evaluates thousands of products each year for the magazine, website and for the Good Housekeeping Seal, which is among the most recognized and trusted consumer icons in the world today. Good Housekeeping and Good Housekeeping UK are published by Hearst Magazines, a unit of Hearst, a leading global, diversified media, information and services company. Hearst Magazines, the world’s largest lifestyle media publisher, has a portfolio of more than 30 powerful brands in the U.S. that inspire and entertain audiences across all media platforms. Hearst Magazines’ print and digital assets reach 142 million readers and site visitors each month — 55% of all adults in the U.S., 51% of all Millennials and 47% of all Gen Z adults over the age of 18 (Source: 2025 comScore Multi-Platform© MRI-Simmons – 11/25/S25). The company publishes more than 200+ brand editions and 175 websites around the world. Follow Good Housekeeping on Facebook, Instagram, X, Pinterest, TikTok and on the Inside the Institute blog.

About the Good Housekeeping Seal 
The Good Housekeeping Seal, launched in 1909 and celebrating more than 115 years, is a widely recognized emblem of quality assurance, backed by the rigorous testing of the Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI). Products that earn the Seal have been evaluated for performance and reliability, offering consumers an extra layer of confidence in their purchases. These judgments are the basis of the Good Housekeeping Consumers’ Refund Policy. This is Good Housekeeping‘s limited warranty: If any product that bears our limited warranty Seal proves to be defective within two years from the date it was first sold to a consumer by an authorized retailer, we, Good Housekeeping, will refund the purchase price or $2,000, whichever is less or, at Good Housekeeping‘s sole discretion, repair or replace the product. This policy covers you, the consumer, whether you bought the product or it was given to you (by the buyer).

Installations begin week of April 27 in Ann Arbor, testing a new model for grid reliability and energy affordability

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH announced today it will begin installation in participating homes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the week of April 27 as part of a pilot program led by the Ann Arbor Sustainable Energy Utility (A2SEU).

The initiative is a first-of-its-kind pilot led by a U.S. city-owned utility to purchase and deploy residential solar and battery systems for behind-the-meter energy use. The program will examine how distributed home energy resources can support grid reliability, reduce household energy costs and expand access to locally generated renewable power.

The opt-in program is available to residents in Ann Arbor’s Bryant neighborhood, where many households are energy-burdened, with some spending more than one-third of their income on utility bills. By pairing rooftop solar with battery storage, the program is designed to reduce costs while improving energy resilience at the household and community level.

“Ann Arbor is showing how cities can play a leading role in advancing local energy solutions,” said Gary Lam, CEO and cofounder of FranklinWH. “By bringing solar and battery storage together through a city-led program, residents can lower utility costs, improve reliability, and help ease pressure on the grid during peak demand. It reflects how cities and utilities are increasingly using local programs to improve reliability and manage energy demand.”

Ann Arbor voters approved the creation of the Sustainable Energy Utility in November 2024. The community-owned utility operates as an optional, supplemental energy provider, delivering 100 percent locally generated renewable energy.

As part of the program, approximately 150 homes will be equipped with the FranklinWH System, including the aPower S battery. The project is expected to expand to 1,000 homes in 2027, with additional scale planned in subsequent years.

“In our evaluation, FranklinWH stood out for both technical performance and customer experience,” said Shoshannah Lenski, executive director of A2SEU. “Paired with local solar generation, these systems will help us deliver more reliable, resilient energy across our community.”

Under the program, the FranklinWH System, an energy management and storage solution, will be paired with rooftop solar installations from Michigan Solar Solutions, Homeland Solar, and Oak Electric Service. Texture’s distributed energy management software will aggregate the systems into a coordinated, utility-scale resource.

FranklinWH currently participates in more than 20 utility-led virtual power plant (VPP) and demand response programs. The Ann Arbor project extends that model into a city-owned residential program designed to evaluate how aggregated home energy systems can function as a coordinated resource at community scale.

About FranklinWH

FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System, a next-generation home energy management and storage solution. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team brings decades of experience across energy system design, manufacturing, sales, and installation. The company is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions and continues to empower homeowners to achieve true energy freedom. Learn more at franklinwh.com.

Media Contact:

media@franklinwh.com

HANGZHOU, China, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hikvision has released its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance Report, marking the eighth consecutive year of transparent sustainability reporting.

Guided by its THRIVE sustainability philosophy, the report refined its double materiality assessment, identifying technological innovation, product safety and quality, and cybersecurity as double materiality topics, advancing its sustainable development goals in a systematic manner.

Advancing Social Good through AIoT

Committed to “Tech for Good,” Hikvision fosters innovation to create positive values. In urban governance, it develops end-to-end monitoring systems to safeguard critical infrastructures, with more than 300 devices and 140 scenario-based solutions for traffic management. In nature conservation, Hikvision’s solutions, which were showcased at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves, are now deployed across China’s first batch of national parks, and 50% of the country’s biosphere reserves.

Beyond business operations, Hikvision remains dedicated to social good. Spanning 14 countries and regions, the STAR Program powers Pyrenees ecological observations and Himalayan glacier research, while the 2025 STAR Installer Partner Initiative unites a global network for vital technical support.

Building Reliability through Cybersecurity and Quality

To strengthen digital trust, Hikvision has established a comprehensive cybersecurity framework to enhance management. These efforts, including a 100% vulnerability remediation rate in 2025, were recognized with the highest level of the Digital Trust Assurance Award from the British Standards Institution (BSI).

In product quality management, Hikvision has built standardized digital processes to ensure reliability and strengthen its intellectual property portfolio, with 7,399 invention patent applications related to its core business and 1,553 newly granted patents in 2025.

Ensuring Compliance and Data Protection

By adopting global best practices, Hikvision effectively embeds compliance requirements in daily operations. In 2025, the company achieved ISO 37301 certification. Keeping pace with the latest technological trends, the company also published Hikvision’s Journey Practicing Responsible AI, outlining its firm commitment to compliant AI development.

Data protection remains a paramount priority for Hikvision. Hikvision successfully cleared annual audits in 2025 for multiple international standards, including ISO/IEC 27701, ISO/IEC 38505, ISO/IEC 29151, and ISO 37301, and achieved 100% workforce coverage in personal data protection awareness.

Accelerating Climate Action

Hikvision drives climate action through a three-tier governance structure, supporting decarbonization across four pillars: low-carbon products, smart manufacturing, digital empowerment, and green operations.

To further its impact, the company built the GPA platform to enhance green product management capabilities. By the end of 2025, 169 product models completed carbon footprint accounting. Notably, seven WonderHub smart displays obtained the TCO Certified Generation 10 certification, becoming the world’s first large-format displays to meet this standard.

Upholding the Ten Principles of UN Global Compact, Hikvision continues to advance responsible governance and sustainable business practices, evidenced by its latest ESG recognitions – the EcoVadis Silver Medal and DMCC Global Enterprise ESG Leader Award.

Looking ahead, Hikvision will remain committed to continuous improvement and long-term value creation, joining hands with stakeholders for a more resilient, sustainable world.

Check here to read Hikvision’s full 2025 ESG Report.

Eightco treasury composition as of April 27, 2026: $90M OpenAI equity (indirect), $25M Beast Industries equity, 11,068 ETH, 283 million WLD holdings, and $121M cash and equivalents

World offers a solution to the ‘double human’ problem in a world proliferating with deepfakes and agentic agents

Tinder, Zoom, Docusign, Vercel, Browserbase, and Exa to integrate Proof of Human verification features

Eightco provides indirect exposure to some of the most innovative private companies including OpenAI and Beast Industries

EASTON, Pa., April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) (“Eightco” or the “Company”) today provided an update on its total holdings, highlighting its expanding position across digital assets and strategic investments in leading private technology companies.

As of April 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET, ORBS’ holdings include a $90 million investment (indirectly, through SPVs) in OpenAI, a $25 million investment in Beast Industries ($18 million funded, plus $7 million commitment), a $1 million investment in Mythical Games, 283,452,700 Worldcoin (WLD) at $0.25 per WLD (per Coinbase), 11,068 Ethereum (ETH), and $121 million in total cash and stablecoins, for total holdings of approximately $333 million.

Key takeaways from ORBS treasury assets in the past week

ORBS management believes the Company’s treasury portfolio holds some of the most critical components for the future AI and digital financial system. Among the holdings, key highlights in the past week are:

• OpenAI shipped GPT-5.5 and extended its lead on independent benchmarks
• MrBeast, founder of Beast Industries, was named to the 2026 TIME100
• Regarding the Worldcoin token (WLD), OpenAI founder, Sam Altman, recently stated on a podcast with Pantera Capital, “World is now on the way to being a real human network for the internet… Our goal is to make World ID be this new proof of human for the internet.”

Highlight: OpenAI ships GPT 5.5

On April 23, 2026, OpenAI released GPT-5.5, a re-architected model purpose-built for agentic execution. GPT-5.5 set state-of-the-art performance on Terminal-Bench 2.0 at 82.7%, the leading benchmark for autonomous task completion across complex command-line workflows (per OpenAI). Within two days of release, NVIDIA deployed GPT-5.5-Codex internally to more than 10,000 employees on its GB200 NVL72 systems, reporting a 35x reduction in cost per million tokens and a 50x improvement in throughput per megawatt versus prior generations (per NVIDIA).

Highlight: Worldcoin to become ‘proof of human’ for the internet

Since the April 17 World Lift Off event, World ID has rapidly activated across major consumer and enterprise platforms. Tinder is rolling out a verified-human badge worldwide. Zoom uses it to flag deepfakes on video calls. Docusign uses it to confirm a real person is signing. Vercel, Browserbase, and Exa use it to verify AI agents operating on the open web.

“World is now on the way to being a real human network for the internet… We’re seeing this now with what you all and others are building, that people are really going to need this, and really going to need to do this in a privacy-preserving way. So World ID is our effort at that, and it’s been amazing to see the progress over the last year as people have adopted this and figured out how to integrate this into a new world of AI. Our goal is to make World ID be this new Proof of Human for the internet,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and Co-Founder of Tools for Humanity, speaking on a podcast with Cosmo Jiang of Pantera Capital.

Under World’s announced business model, applications pay per-verification fees while end-user verification remains free, with both credential issuers and the World protocol monetizing verified-human authentication. World identifies a $6.35 trillion combined addressable revenue opportunity across 13 industries spanning banking, e-commerce, gaming, social media, and agentic AI (per Tools for Humanity).

EIGHTCO: Exposure to key mega-trends

Eightco is built around three mega-trends the Company expects to shape the next decade of innovation: artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy, with positions in each trend through indirect investment in OpenAI (27% of ORBS’ treasury holdings), Worldcoin (21%), and Beast Industries (8%).

Artificial Intelligence — OpenAI

Eightco has invested approximately $90 million in special purpose vehicles with exposure to equity interests in the parent company of OpenAI, representing approximately 27% of treasury assets, one of the highest disclosed concentrations of any listed vehicle.

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s consumer app, has officially claimed the #1 spot for application downloads in the consumer AI category, overtaking TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook in monthly worldwide downloads in early 2026 (per Sensor Tower), making it the fastest-scaling consumer app of the year to date.

Digital Identity — WLD Token

Eightco holds over 283 million WLD, approximately 8.58% of circulating supply, the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally and approximately 21% of the Eightco treasury’s assets.

Worldcoin is the native token of World, a global Proof of Human network built by Tools for Humanity (co-founded by Sam Altman and Alex Blania) and stewarded by the World Foundation. Its Orb devices issue a privacy-preserving World ID that verifies a user is a unique human, not an AI agent.

Creator Economy — Beast Industries

Eightco has invested $18 million in Beast Industries equity with an additional $7 million future commitment, or $25 million total; in aggregate, approximately 8% of treasury assets.

Beast Industries operates one of the largest direct-to-consumer reach footprints in the world, with a combined 500 million-plus follower base across platforms, anchored by MrBeast as the most-watched person on YouTube globally. As AI commoditizes content production, distribution and audience trust become increasingly scarce assets.

About Eightco Holdings Inc.

Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded holding company executing a first-of-its-kind Worldcoin (WLD) treasury strategy, providing investors single-ticker indirect exposure to three of the defining trends of this cycle: artificial intelligence through its indirect investment in OpenAI, digital identity through its position as the largest public holder of WLD and the Proof of Human protocol, and the creator economy through its equity stake in MrBeast’s Beast Industries. Backed by leading institutional investors including Bitmine Immersion Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BMNR), MOZAYYX, World Foundation, CoinFund, Discovery Capital Management, FalconX, Payward/Kraken, Pantera, and GSR, Eightco is building the infrastructure layer for human verification in the agentic AI era.

For more information:

X: @iamhuman_orbs

Website: 8co.holdings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ORBS stock?

Eightco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ORBS) is a publicly traded holding company on Nasdaq. ORBS provides indirect exposure to: OpenAI and Beast Industries.

Who owns the most Worldcoin (WLD)?

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) holds 283 million WLD, approximately 8.58% of circulating supply and the largest publicly disclosed institutional position globally.

What is Proof of Human?

Proof of Human is cryptographic verification that a user is a unique, living person, not a bot or AI agent. It is foundational infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and any system requiring “one person, one account” in the agentic AI era.

How does Eightco (ORBS) relate to Proof of Human?

Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) is the largest publicly disclosed institutional holder of Worldcoin (WLD), the token powering World’s Proof of Human network.

Who is the CEO of Eightco Holdings?

Kevin O’Donnell is the CEO of Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS). The Company’s Board includes Tom Lee (Managing Partner and Head of Research at Fundstrat, and Chairman of Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR)) and, as an advisor to the Board, Brett Winton (Chief Futurist at ARK Invest).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact could be deemed forward-looking, including, without limitation, statements regarding: expectations regarding the development and adoption of agentic artificial intelligence, including OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 and successor models; expectations regarding the adoption of the World ID protocol across enterprise and consumer applications; the Company’s expectations that artificial intelligence, digital identity, and the creator economy will shape the next decade of innovation; beliefs that Proof-of-Human verification is becoming essential infrastructure for social networks, banking, agentic commerce, and financial systems in the agentic AI era; the Company’s treasury strategy and anticipated benefits of its indirect positions in OpenAI (through special purpose vehicles) and its positions in WLD and Beast Industries; the Company’s belief that its treasury portfolio holds critical components for the future AI and digital financial system; statements regarding potential market opportunities for verified-human authentication; and statements regarding the Company’s future capital commitments and investment plans, including its $7 million future commitment to Beast Industries. Words such as “plans,” “expects,” “will,” “anticipates,” “continue,” “expand,” “advance,” “develop,” “believes,” “guidance,” “target,” “may,” “remain,” “project,” “outlook,” “intend,” “estimate,” “could,” “should,” and other words and terms of similar meaning and expression are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s inability to direct the management or operations of private businesses where the Company is not a controlling stockholder, including OpenAI and Beast Industries; risk of loss or markdown on the Company’s strategic investments, including its indirect position in OpenAI equity (held through special purpose vehicles), its position in WLD, and its position in Beast Industries equity; the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements; unexpected costs, charges or expenses that reduce the Company’s capital resources or otherwise delay capital deployment; inability to raise adequate capital to fund or scale its business operations or strategic investments; volatility in digital asset prices, including WLD and ETH, which could materially affect the value of the Company’s treasury holdings; regulatory changes, future legislation and rulemaking negatively impacting digital assets, artificial intelligence adoption, or biometric data collection; risks related to the development, adoption, and market acceptance of Proof-of-Human technology and the World network; uncertainty regarding the pace and trajectory of agentic AI deployment in enterprise and consumer applications; and shifting public and governmental positions on digital assets or artificial intelligence-related industries. Given these risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. For a discussion of other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Eightco’s actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements herein, see Eightco’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors and other disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2026 and other publicly available SEC filings. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Eightco undertakes no duty to update this information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of such statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

NINGDE, China, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On April 27, CATL and HyperStrong signed a strategic cooperation agreement on sodium-ion batteries for energy storage in Ningde, Fujian. The two parties announced a three-year partnership covering 60GWh of sodium-ion battery supply, marking a significant milestone for the industrialization of sodium-ion batteries technology.

As CATL’s first strategic partner for sodium-ion energy storage, HyperStrong will work closely with CATL in areas including technology R&D, product applications, and project deployment.

This partnership marks CATL’s successful breakthrough across the entire value chain for mass production of sodium-ion batteries, giving the company the capacity for large-scale delivery. It also represents the largest sodium-ion battery supply agreement in the world to date, ushering in a new phase of large-scale expansion for the global sodium-ion battery industry.

Through morphology control and surface modification, CATL has significantly enhanced the energy density of sodium-ion batteries. On the manufacturing side, the Company has systematically addressed key process challenges in mass production—such as foaming in hard carbon production lines and moisture control—by leveraging core technologies including angstrom-level pore size regulation, surface molecular water-locking, and adaptive dynamic formation, thereby ensuring consistency across large-volume production.

Sodium-ion batteries offer excellent adaptability across a wide temperature range, deliver outstanding high-temperature cycle life, generate less heat during operation, and experience lower cell expansion stress, resulting in superior safety and stability. In long-duration energy storage applications, system integration can be effectively simplified, reducing auxiliary energy losses and comprehensively improving overall plant efficiency and economic performance.

In addition, CATL’s sodium-ion energy storage batteries feature a platform-based design with the same form factor as lithium-ion batteries, ensuring high compatibility with the existing industrial chain. This effectively reduce adaptation costs and significantly shortens the timeline from product readiness to power station deployment.

The 60GWh sodium-ion battery cooperation marks a major milestone for both parties. As sodium-ion technology enters a phase of large-scale development, the two sides will continue to deepen collaboration, promote high-quality growth of the energy storage industry, and provide more resilient and diversified technological support for the global energy transition.

BANGKOK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What kind of refreshing surprise can a single ice cream bring to the height of scorching Thai summer? As temperatures soar, finding moments of cool relief has become an essential part of consumers’ daily lives.

Stepping up to meet this seasonal demand, Thai ice cream brand Cremo recently launched its immersive consumer campaign “Cremo Boost It To The Max” (ครีโมบูสต์ฟินอินทุกเลเยอร์), delivering a vibrant and breezy escape for the public amidst the intense summer heat.

In a recent episode of the hit Thai outdoor variety show Running Man Thailand, Cremo featured its brand ambassador Billkin Putthipong in a special appearance. Through custom-designed games like the “Flying Chair Challenge,” the brand seamlessly blended product moments with pure entertainment. The show’s fast-paced, highly interactive format brought out the carefree vitality of summer through laughter and challenges, successfully reinforcing Cremo’s “fun, surprise and youthful” brand identity.

On social media, Cremo consistently rolled out diverse content tailored to the lifestyles of the younger generation. From trendy challenges to lighthearted, feel-good posts and relatable daily scenarios, the content resonates authentically with young Thai consumers. This strategy elevates the brand beyond a mere product, positioning it as a true lifestyle companion. By engaging directly and playfully with its audience, Cremo continues to build stronger connections with younger consumers.

As online buzz builds, Cremo has seamlessly extended its campaign offline. At brand ambassador Billkin’s recent concert in Bangkok, Cremo created an interactive zone that combined music, vibrant energy, and a refreshing product experience, offering fans a highly engaging, multi-dimensional brand encounter.

The on-site activation featured ice cream tasting, interactive photo booths, and limited-edition merchandise giveaways, creating an engaging, immersive experience for attendees. Concertgoers were able to enjoy refreshing treats while soaking up the live atmosphere. In this relaxed and joyful setting, Cremo fostered authentic interactions with consumers, bringing the idea of “summer refreshment” to life through a tangible, memorable experience.

As a Thai ice cream brand under Yili Group—Asia’s leading dairy company—Cremo remains deeply committed to local consumer needs, continuously driving product innovation and enhancing the brand experience. Backed by Yili’s global quality control systems and robust R&D capabilities, Cremo has consistently elevated both its product quality and consumer engagement. As a result, Cremo saw steady growth in both market share and brand awareness in 2025, earning widespread recognition across the Thai market.

From hit variety shows to social media platforms and from online campaigns to offline activations, Cremo has brought its core philosophy of being “innovative, fun, and full of surprises” to life across consumer touchpoints. This summer, Cremo is not only delivering a refreshing taste but also bringing an extra layer of joy and relaxation to the everyday lives of Thai consumers.

NEW YORK, April 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — DuRoBo, creator of the ePaper focus hub, has recently launched Software Update 1.2 for Krono, continuing its steady cadence of meaningful improvements designed to make the device more intuitive. Building on earlier updates, this latest version underscores DuRoBo’s commitment to actively refining the Krono experience post-launch.

Version 1.2 introduces a native browser app, giving users direct access to the web within Krono. Desktop customization now lets users pin their favorite apps directly to the home screen. Korean language support also arrives as a full system language and within Spark transcription, alongside Chinese and Japanese—making Krono more accessible for a global audience. In addition, the Smart Dial, Krono’s tactile control for navigation, access to Spark, screen refresh, and brightness, brings smooth page-turning and scrolling to third-party reading apps such as Kindle, Kobo Books, and Play Books. These enhancements make Krono more versatile while preserving its core minimalist design—keeping users in rhythm without constant touch interactions.

This release expands the foundation laid by Version 1.1, which introduced the Transfer app for fast, wireless file sharing, making it easier to move content onto the device. Version 1.1 also brought flexible reading controls, including customizable fonts, layouts, and margins, along with saved Spark summaries for easy access and refinement. A more polished bookshelf and a cleaner user interface for greater calm on Krono.

DuRoBo has maintained this responsive approach with the quick follow-up Version 1.2.1, which adds an Invert Scrolling option for the Smart Dial based on user feedback, reinforcing its approach of delivering incremental improvements rather than waiting for major overhauls. DuRoBo remains committed to evolving Krono through thoughtful, user-driven updates that enhance its role as the definitive ePaper focus hub.

About DuRoBo
DuRoBo is a Dutch tech company specializing in ePaper products, including eReaders, tablets, and monitors. With a robust supply chain, exceptional hardware and software development capabilities, and original design expertise, DuRoBo operates across consumer products, industry solutions, and customized collaborations. More information can be found at https://www.durobo.com/