USDC payments on Base for AI agents at checkout, alongside open-source documentation of how merchants run agent-driven commerce.

Amsterdam, May 11th 2026, ZEX PR WIRE, 15:00 CEST. Cryptorefills has enabled x402 payments at checkout, allowing AI agents to pay for gift cards, mobile top-ups and eSIMs using USDC on the Base network. The protocol, developed by Coinbase and Cloudflare, lets autonomous software settle stablecoin transactions programmatically. Cryptorefills has also published an open-source operations reference for the merchant operations layer of agentic commerce.

x402 lets a software agent receive an HTTP 402 Payment Required response from a merchant, settle the requested amount in stablecoin, and complete the transaction in a single automated exchange. For Cryptorefills, checkout becomes a programmable endpoint that agents can call directly.

The x402 launch adds a second agent-payment rail to the platform. Cryptorefills released its Model Context Protocol server in October 2025, allowing agents to discover products, build orders, and complete purchases through MCP. x402 addresses a different pattern: the agent calls a Cryptorefills endpoint, receives payment terms, settles in USDC, and completes the request in one round trip. The two rails serve different agent contexts and run in parallel. 

“We shipped x402 and open-sourced our merchant operations work in the same week on purpose. One is a payment rail, while the other is what a merchant needs around it to accept agent traffic. Agentic commerce is happening, and very little about the second part has been written down,” said Massimiliano Silenzi, CEO of Cryptorefills. “We’ve been running stablecoin checkout since 2018, and a lot of what we learned there carries over. We chose to publish what we’ve learned and continue building the rest openly.”

The reference repository, available at github.com/Cryptorefills/agentic-commerce, covers the operations surface that surrounds the protocol stack. Topics include catalogue discovery for agent buyers, settlement reconciliation across chains, quote-and-pricing handling, and delivery confirmations. Documentation is released under CC0; example code is Apache 2.0.

“In the repository we just open-sourced there are nine playbooks, the TypeScript schemas behind them, and five runnable examples. Two of them connect to our live MCP and x402 endpoints, so a developer can clone the repository and watch the agent-merchant exchange execute against production,” said Simonluca Landi, CTO of Cryptorefills.

Cryptorefills serves AI agents through three of the field’s emerging standards: MCP for context, Agent Skills for capability publishing, and x402 for stablecoin settlement. 

About Cryptorefills

Cryptorefills enables people in over 180 countries to spend cryptocurrency on everyday products and services. Categories include gift cards from over 6,600 brands, mobile top-ups across 600 operators, eSIMs, flights across 300 airlines, and stays at over 1 million hotels and properties. The platform supports stablecoin checkout across Base, Ethereum, Tron, Solana, Polygon, and other major networks, alongside Bitcoin and Lightning. It is among the first ecommerce companies to integrate AI-agent payment standards including MCP, Agent Skills, and x402.

Operating publicly since 2018 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Cryptorefills is a member of the Holland Fintech Association and Blockchain Netherlands Foundation.

Collaboration to focus on cost-effective capture and mineralization of biogenic CO₂ in Europe

Korea South, 11th May 2026, – SEOUL, South Korea & KORTRIJK, Belgium – South Korea’s ICEnergy and Belgium-based Emicap have partnered to deploy cryogenic carbon capture systems targeting biogenic CO₂ in Europe. The partnership combines ICEnergy’s proprietary capture technology with Emicap’s cryogenic R&D and market access, supported by Emicap’s sister company, LM Engineering, which provides industrial engineering and execution capabilities.

Dr. Sungho Park(icenergy0805@gmail.com), CEO of ICEnergy, stated that he hopes this partnership will enable ICEnergy and Emicap to take a further step toward realizing carbon neutrality in the European market. The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment following the successful demonstration of ICEnergy’s technology. Amid a rapidly expanding European market for biogenic CO₂ solutions, early deployment is critical to secure access to high-quality feedstocks and permanent storage pathways.

ICEnergy recently demonstrated a 10 ton/day cryogenic carbon capture system for both onshore and marine applications. The system converts flue gas CO2 directly into dry ice, avoiding the need for conventional separation and liquefaction steps. A key feature of the electrically driven process is the internal recovery and reuse of cold energy. By recycling this energy, external demand is reduced and consumption is focused on CO₂ conversion, resulting in approximately 30% lower energy use compared to conventional systems, supporting a low lifecycle carbon footprint.

Emicap integrates cryogenic CO2 capture with downstream applications by coupling emission sources from Waste-to-Energy and biomass plants to the carbonation of alkaline industrial residues such as steel slags and fly ash. To ensure seamless site-specific deployment, Emicap applies its cryogenic R&D expertise to tailor ICEnergy’s capture systems for these European industrial plants. This integration enables the permanent storage of CO2 while upgrading captured emissions and industrial residues into supplementary cementitious materials for use in low-carbon construction. By operating across the full value chain, Emicap helps offset capture costs, reducing reliance on institutional subsidies.

The partners are targeting removal of up to 200 kilotons of CO₂ annually by 2035, positioning the collaboration to contribute to industrial-scale, net-negative emissions.

Media Contact

Organization: ICEnergy Co.,

Contact
Person: Sungho Park

Website:

https://www.icenergy.co.kr/

Email:

icenergy0805@gmail.com

Contact Number: 82313307852

Country:Korea South

The post
Emicap, ICEnergy Forge Partnership to Accelerate European Carbon Capture Deployments appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

Collaboration to focus on cost-effective capture and mineralization of biogenic CO₂ in Europe

Korea South, 11th May 2026, – SEOUL, South Korea & KORTRIJK, Belgium – South Korea’s ICEnergy and Belgium-based Emicap have partnered to deploy cryogenic carbon capture systems targeting biogenic CO₂ in Europe. The partnership combines ICEnergy’s proprietary capture technology with Emicap’s cryogenic R&D and market access, supported by Emicap’s sister company, LM Engineering, which provides industrial engineering and execution capabilities.

Dr. Sungho Park(icenergy0805@gmail.com), CEO of ICEnergy, stated that he hopes this partnership will enable ICEnergy and Emicap to take a further step toward realizing carbon neutrality in the European market. The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment following the successful demonstration of ICEnergy’s technology. Amid a rapidly expanding European market for biogenic CO₂ solutions, early deployment is critical to secure access to high-quality feedstocks and permanent storage pathways.

ICEnergy recently demonstrated a 10 ton/day cryogenic carbon capture system for both onshore and marine applications. The system converts flue gas CO2 directly into dry ice, avoiding the need for conventional separation and liquefaction steps. A key feature of the electrically driven process is the internal recovery and reuse of cold energy. By recycling this energy, external demand is reduced and consumption is focused on CO₂ conversion, resulting in approximately 30% lower energy use compared to conventional systems, supporting a low lifecycle carbon footprint.

Emicap integrates cryogenic CO2 capture with downstream applications by coupling emission sources from Waste-to-Energy and biomass plants to the carbonation of alkaline industrial residues such as steel slags and fly ash. To ensure seamless site-specific deployment, Emicap applies its cryogenic R&D expertise to tailor ICEnergy’s capture systems for these European industrial plants. This integration enables the permanent storage of CO2 while upgrading captured emissions and industrial residues into supplementary cementitious materials for use in low-carbon construction. By operating across the full value chain, Emicap helps offset capture costs, reducing reliance on institutional subsidies.

The partners are targeting removal of up to 200 kilotons of CO₂ annually by 2035, positioning the collaboration to contribute to industrial-scale, net-negative emissions.

Media Contact

Organization: ICEnergy Co.,

Contact
Person: Sungho Park

Website:

https://www.icenergy.co.kr/

Email:

icenergy0805@gmail.com

Contact Number: 82313307852

Country:Korea South

The post
Emicap, ICEnergy Forge Partnership to Accelerate European Carbon Capture Deployments appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

Collaboration to focus on cost-effective capture and mineralization of biogenic CO₂ in Europe

Korea South, 11th May 2026, – SEOUL, South Korea & KORTRIJK, Belgium – South Korea’s ICEnergy and Belgium-based Emicap have partnered to deploy cryogenic carbon capture systems targeting biogenic CO₂ in Europe. The partnership combines ICEnergy’s proprietary capture technology with Emicap’s cryogenic R&D and market access, supported by Emicap’s sister company, LM Engineering, which provides industrial engineering and execution capabilities.

Dr. Sungho Park(icenergy0805@gmail.com), CEO of ICEnergy, stated that he hopes this partnership will enable ICEnergy and Emicap to take a further step toward realizing carbon neutrality in the European market. The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment following the successful demonstration of ICEnergy’s technology. Amid a rapidly expanding European market for biogenic CO₂ solutions, early deployment is critical to secure access to high-quality feedstocks and permanent storage pathways.

ICEnergy recently demonstrated a 10 ton/day cryogenic carbon capture system for both onshore and marine applications. The system converts flue gas CO2 directly into dry ice, avoiding the need for conventional separation and liquefaction steps. A key feature of the electrically driven process is the internal recovery and reuse of cold energy. By recycling this energy, external demand is reduced and consumption is focused on CO₂ conversion, resulting in approximately 30% lower energy use compared to conventional systems, supporting a low lifecycle carbon footprint.

Emicap integrates cryogenic CO2 capture with downstream applications by coupling emission sources from Waste-to-Energy and biomass plants to the carbonation of alkaline industrial residues such as steel slags and fly ash. To ensure seamless site-specific deployment, Emicap applies its cryogenic R&D expertise to tailor ICEnergy’s capture systems for these European industrial plants. This integration enables the permanent storage of CO2 while upgrading captured emissions and industrial residues into supplementary cementitious materials for use in low-carbon construction. By operating across the full value chain, Emicap helps offset capture costs, reducing reliance on institutional subsidies.

The partners are targeting removal of up to 200 kilotons of CO₂ annually by 2035, positioning the collaboration to contribute to industrial-scale, net-negative emissions.

Media Contact

Organization: ICEnergy Co.,

Contact
Person: Sungho Park

Website:

https://www.icenergy.co.kr/

Email:

icenergy0805@gmail.com

Contact Number: 82313307852

Country:Korea South

The post
Emicap, ICEnergy Forge Partnership to Accelerate European Carbon Capture Deployments appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

United States, 11th May 2026, – There is a unique kind of magic that happens when people gather around an open flame. For years, Big Horn Outdoors has been at the forefront of this experience, crafting premium outdoor cooking equipment designed to turn ordinary backyards and campsites into extraordinary culinary destinations. To celebrate the growing community of grill masters, pizza enthusiasts, and outdoor lovers, the brand is proud to announce its inaugural Big Horn Day, a multi-day online festival dedicated to the art of outdoor cooking.
 

The Brand Mission: Bringing Gourmet Outdoors

At its core, Big Horn Outdoors believes that high-quality outdoor cooking should be accessible, enjoyable, and built to last. Whether it is the authentic taste of a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, the perfect crust on a 1500-degree seared steak, or the slow-cooked perfection of an Argentine-style barbecue, the brand’s diverse lineup of equipment is engineered to inspire culinary creativity in the great outdoors.

By combining innovative engineering with durable materials, Big Horn Outdoors has established itself as a trusted companion for families and adventurers who want to elevate their outdoor living spaces.

Introducing Big Horn Day (May 9 – May 12)

To give back to the community that shares this passion, the brand is hosting Big Horn Day from May 9th to May 12th on bighornoutdoor.com. Positioned as the biggest outdoor cooking carnival online, this event is designed to equip both seasoned chefs and beginners for the upcoming summer season.

During this four-day celebration, visitors can expect:

• Community Giveaways: Everyone who visits the site during the event will have a chance to win exclusive giveaways, celebrating the spirit of sharing.
• The Lowest Price of the Year: As a token of appreciation, the brand is offering up to 50% off across its catalog, making it the perfect time to upgrade backyard setups.

Signature Equipment Featured During the Celebration

As part of the Big Horn Day festivities, the brand is highlighting several of its flagship products, offering them at unprecedented value to encourage more people to explore outdoor gastronomy.

Join the Carnival

“Big Horn Day is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the outdoor lifestyle and the memories we create around food,” says the team at Big Horn Outdoors®.

Outdoor lovers and culinary enthusiasts are invited to join the biggest online carnival of the season. To explore the brand’s story, discover new recipes, or participate in the giveaways and exclusive offers, visit the official event page:

Join the Big Horn Day Celebration

About Big Horn Outdoors:

Big Horn Outdoors is a premier designer and manufacturer of high-quality outdoor cooking equipment, including pizza ovens, grills, and accessories. Dedicated to innovation and craftsmanship, the brand empowers people to cook, gather, and enjoy life outside. For more information, visit bighornoutdoor.com.

Media Contact

Organization: Big Horn Outdoors®

Contact
Person: Media Relations

Website:

https://bighornoutdoor.com/

Email:

official@bighornoutdoor.com

Country:United States

The post
Elevating the Backyard Culinary Experience: Big Horn Outdoors Celebrates Community with the First-Ever Big Horn Day appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

United States, 11th May 2026, – There is a unique kind of magic that happens when people gather around an open flame. For years, Big Horn Outdoors has been at the forefront of this experience, crafting premium outdoor cooking equipment designed to turn ordinary backyards and campsites into extraordinary culinary destinations. To celebrate the growing community of grill masters, pizza enthusiasts, and outdoor lovers, the brand is proud to announce its inaugural Big Horn Day, a multi-day online festival dedicated to the art of outdoor cooking.
 

The Brand Mission: Bringing Gourmet Outdoors

At its core, Big Horn Outdoors believes that high-quality outdoor cooking should be accessible, enjoyable, and built to last. Whether it is the authentic taste of a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, the perfect crust on a 1500-degree seared steak, or the slow-cooked perfection of an Argentine-style barbecue, the brand’s diverse lineup of equipment is engineered to inspire culinary creativity in the great outdoors.

By combining innovative engineering with durable materials, Big Horn Outdoors has established itself as a trusted companion for families and adventurers who want to elevate their outdoor living spaces.

Introducing Big Horn Day (May 9 – May 12)

To give back to the community that shares this passion, the brand is hosting Big Horn Day from May 9th to May 12th on bighornoutdoor.com. Positioned as the biggest outdoor cooking carnival online, this event is designed to equip both seasoned chefs and beginners for the upcoming summer season.

During this four-day celebration, visitors can expect:

• Community Giveaways: Everyone who visits the site during the event will have a chance to win exclusive giveaways, celebrating the spirit of sharing.
• The Lowest Price of the Year: As a token of appreciation, the brand is offering up to 50% off across its catalog, making it the perfect time to upgrade backyard setups.

Signature Equipment Featured During the Celebration

As part of the Big Horn Day festivities, the brand is highlighting several of its flagship products, offering them at unprecedented value to encourage more people to explore outdoor gastronomy.

Join the Carnival

“Big Horn Day is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the outdoor lifestyle and the memories we create around food,” says the team at Big Horn Outdoors®.

Outdoor lovers and culinary enthusiasts are invited to join the biggest online carnival of the season. To explore the brand’s story, discover new recipes, or participate in the giveaways and exclusive offers, visit the official event page:

Join the Big Horn Day Celebration

About Big Horn Outdoors:

Big Horn Outdoors is a premier designer and manufacturer of high-quality outdoor cooking equipment, including pizza ovens, grills, and accessories. Dedicated to innovation and craftsmanship, the brand empowers people to cook, gather, and enjoy life outside. For more information, visit bighornoutdoor.com.

Media Contact

Organization: Big Horn Outdoors®

Contact
Person: Media Relations

Website:

https://bighornoutdoor.com/

Email:

official@bighornoutdoor.com

Country:United States

The post
Elevating the Backyard Culinary Experience: Big Horn Outdoors Celebrates Community with the First-Ever Big Horn Day appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

United States, 11th May 2026, – There is a unique kind of magic that happens when people gather around an open flame. For years, Big Horn Outdoors has been at the forefront of this experience, crafting premium outdoor cooking equipment designed to turn ordinary backyards and campsites into extraordinary culinary destinations. To celebrate the growing community of grill masters, pizza enthusiasts, and outdoor lovers, the brand is proud to announce its inaugural Big Horn Day, a multi-day online festival dedicated to the art of outdoor cooking.
 

The Brand Mission: Bringing Gourmet Outdoors

At its core, Big Horn Outdoors believes that high-quality outdoor cooking should be accessible, enjoyable, and built to last. Whether it is the authentic taste of a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, the perfect crust on a 1500-degree seared steak, or the slow-cooked perfection of an Argentine-style barbecue, the brand’s diverse lineup of equipment is engineered to inspire culinary creativity in the great outdoors.

By combining innovative engineering with durable materials, Big Horn Outdoors has established itself as a trusted companion for families and adventurers who want to elevate their outdoor living spaces.

Introducing Big Horn Day (May 9 – May 12)

To give back to the community that shares this passion, the brand is hosting Big Horn Day from May 9th to May 12th on bighornoutdoor.com. Positioned as the biggest outdoor cooking carnival online, this event is designed to equip both seasoned chefs and beginners for the upcoming summer season.

During this four-day celebration, visitors can expect:

• Community Giveaways: Everyone who visits the site during the event will have a chance to win exclusive giveaways, celebrating the spirit of sharing.
• The Lowest Price of the Year: As a token of appreciation, the brand is offering up to 50% off across its catalog, making it the perfect time to upgrade backyard setups.

Signature Equipment Featured During the Celebration

As part of the Big Horn Day festivities, the brand is highlighting several of its flagship products, offering them at unprecedented value to encourage more people to explore outdoor gastronomy.

Join the Carnival

“Big Horn Day is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of the outdoor lifestyle and the memories we create around food,” says the team at Big Horn Outdoors®.

Outdoor lovers and culinary enthusiasts are invited to join the biggest online carnival of the season. To explore the brand’s story, discover new recipes, or participate in the giveaways and exclusive offers, visit the official event page:

Join the Big Horn Day Celebration

About Big Horn Outdoors:

Big Horn Outdoors is a premier designer and manufacturer of high-quality outdoor cooking equipment, including pizza ovens, grills, and accessories. Dedicated to innovation and craftsmanship, the brand empowers people to cook, gather, and enjoy life outside. For more information, visit bighornoutdoor.com.

Media Contact

Organization: Big Horn Outdoors®

Contact
Person: Media Relations

Website:

https://bighornoutdoor.com/

Email:

official@bighornoutdoor.com

Country:United States

The post
Elevating the Backyard Culinary Experience: Big Horn Outdoors Celebrates Community with the First-Ever Big Horn Day appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

China, 11th May 2026, – ZimaCube 2: A Self-Hosting Powerhouse

The era of the NAS as a passive file vault is ending. As local AI, self-hosted services, and edge computing move into the home, what users need is not more storage but more compute, with storage built in. IceWhale Technology today announced the ZimaCube 2, a self-hosting platform powered by Intel 12th Gen Core processors, dual open PCIe expansion, Thunderbolt 4, and ZimaOS. Three configurations are available: Standard ($799), Pro ($1,299), and Creator Pack ($2,499), shipping now at shop.zimaspace.com.

“The NAS industry is splitting into two paths: closed ecosystems that sell you subscriptions, or open platforms that let you own everything. We chose open. ZimaCube 2 ships with unlocked PCIe slots, community-driven software, and enough compute to run local AI, because the next decade of NAS is about what your hardware can do, not just what it can store,” said Lauren Pan, CEO of IceWhale.

Powered by ZimaOS: Self-Hosting Without the Sysadmin Tax

ZimaCube 2 ships with ZimaOS pre-installed, a Docker-native OS refined through over 4 million downloads. Users get a visual app store with one-click deployment for Plex, Jellyfin, Immich, Nextcloud, Home Assistant, and 800+ more. ZimaOS also mounts existing NAS volumes, cloud drives, and USB disks into one unified file manager, so users can bring scattered data home without migrating everything at once. TrueNAS, Proxmox, Unraid, Ubuntu, and Windows are also supported on the same x86 hardware.

Open Expansion: Inside and Out

Where many NAS vendors lock down PCIe or solder in fixed accelerators, ZimaCube 2 leaves both slots open: 1x PCIe 4.0 (x16, 4-lane) and 1x PCIe 3.0 (x8, 2-lane) for a GPU, transcoder, 25GbE NIC, or NVMe expansion card. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports provide DAS-level direct-connect to a Mac or PC with zero network setup.

Who It’s For

ZimaCube 2 is built for homelab enthusiasts consolidating single-purpose devices into one always-on system, creators who need 10 GbE and GPU-ready expansion, and privacy-conscious households who want data stored on hardware they own. No cloud account, no monthly fee.

Hardware Tuned for Storage and Self-Hosting

Intel 12th Gen Core processors pair Performance cores for burst compute with Efficiency cores for always-on background services. DDR5 provides the memory bandwidth multi-service workloads demand. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, The 6+4 hybrid storage architecture combines 4x M.2 NVMe slots and 6x 3.5″ SATA bays in one chassis, over 212TB of raw capacity. Three tiers share this foundation:

ZimaCube 2 ($799) — Intel Core i3-1215U (6 cores, 4.4 GHz), 8 GB DDR5 (expandable to 64 GB), 256 GB NVMe, dual 2.5 GbE. Ready to run a full self-hosting stack out of the box.

ZimaCube 2 Pro ($1,299) — Intel Core i5-1235U (10 cores, 12 threads, 4.4 GHz), 16 GB DDR5 (expandable to 64 GB), 4x M.2 NVMe at 3,200 MB/s, onboard 10 GbE. The sweet spot for self-hosting at scale.

ZimaCube 2 Creator Pack ($2,499) — Same i5 platform maxed to 64 GB DDR5, 1 TB NVMe, plus NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000 pre-installed. A complete local AI and media workstation, ready on first boot.

ZimaCube 2 is available now at shop.zimaspace.com.

About IceWhale / Zima

IceWhale builds open hardware and community-driven software to help every household own its own NAS. The Discord community has grown to 30,000+ members, and ZimaOS has been downloaded over 4 million times. ZimaOS is a private-cloud operating system that consolidates scattered data into one dashboard. ZimaBoard and ZimaBlade are compact home-server platforms for self-hosting at a lower entry point.

Media Contact

Organization: IceWhale Technology

Contact
Person: Media Relations

Website:

https://shop.zimaspace.com/

Email:

pr@icewhale.org

Country:China

The post
IceWhale Technology Launches ZimaCube 2: A Self-Hosting Powerhouse appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

China, 11th May 2026, – ZimaCube 2: A Self-Hosting Powerhouse

The era of the NAS as a passive file vault is ending. As local AI, self-hosted services, and edge computing move into the home, what users need is not more storage but more compute, with storage built in. IceWhale Technology today announced the ZimaCube 2, a self-hosting platform powered by Intel 12th Gen Core processors, dual open PCIe expansion, Thunderbolt 4, and ZimaOS. Three configurations are available: Standard ($799), Pro ($1,299), and Creator Pack ($2,499), shipping now at shop.zimaspace.com.

“The NAS industry is splitting into two paths: closed ecosystems that sell you subscriptions, or open platforms that let you own everything. We chose open. ZimaCube 2 ships with unlocked PCIe slots, community-driven software, and enough compute to run local AI, because the next decade of NAS is about what your hardware can do, not just what it can store,” said Lauren Pan, CEO of IceWhale.

Powered by ZimaOS: Self-Hosting Without the Sysadmin Tax

ZimaCube 2 ships with ZimaOS pre-installed, a Docker-native OS refined through over 4 million downloads. Users get a visual app store with one-click deployment for Plex, Jellyfin, Immich, Nextcloud, Home Assistant, and 800+ more. ZimaOS also mounts existing NAS volumes, cloud drives, and USB disks into one unified file manager, so users can bring scattered data home without migrating everything at once. TrueNAS, Proxmox, Unraid, Ubuntu, and Windows are also supported on the same x86 hardware.

Open Expansion: Inside and Out

Where many NAS vendors lock down PCIe or solder in fixed accelerators, ZimaCube 2 leaves both slots open: 1x PCIe 4.0 (x16, 4-lane) and 1x PCIe 3.0 (x8, 2-lane) for a GPU, transcoder, 25GbE NIC, or NVMe expansion card. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports provide DAS-level direct-connect to a Mac or PC with zero network setup.

Who It’s For

ZimaCube 2 is built for homelab enthusiasts consolidating single-purpose devices into one always-on system, creators who need 10 GbE and GPU-ready expansion, and privacy-conscious households who want data stored on hardware they own. No cloud account, no monthly fee.

Hardware Tuned for Storage and Self-Hosting

Intel 12th Gen Core processors pair Performance cores for burst compute with Efficiency cores for always-on background services. DDR5 provides the memory bandwidth multi-service workloads demand. Dual Thunderbolt 4 ports, The 6+4 hybrid storage architecture combines 4x M.2 NVMe slots and 6x 3.5″ SATA bays in one chassis, over 212TB of raw capacity. Three tiers share this foundation:

ZimaCube 2 ($799) — Intel Core i3-1215U (6 cores, 4.4 GHz), 8 GB DDR5 (expandable to 64 GB), 256 GB NVMe, dual 2.5 GbE. Ready to run a full self-hosting stack out of the box.

ZimaCube 2 Pro ($1,299) — Intel Core i5-1235U (10 cores, 12 threads, 4.4 GHz), 16 GB DDR5 (expandable to 64 GB), 4x M.2 NVMe at 3,200 MB/s, onboard 10 GbE. The sweet spot for self-hosting at scale.

ZimaCube 2 Creator Pack ($2,499) — Same i5 platform maxed to 64 GB DDR5, 1 TB NVMe, plus NVIDIA RTX PRO 2000 pre-installed. A complete local AI and media workstation, ready on first boot.

ZimaCube 2 is available now at shop.zimaspace.com.

About IceWhale / Zima

IceWhale builds open hardware and community-driven software to help every household own its own NAS. The Discord community has grown to 30,000+ members, and ZimaOS has been downloaded over 4 million times. ZimaOS is a private-cloud operating system that consolidates scattered data into one dashboard. ZimaBoard and ZimaBlade are compact home-server platforms for self-hosting at a lower entry point.

Media Contact

Organization: IceWhale Technology

Contact
Person: Media Relations

Website:

https://shop.zimaspace.com/

Email:

pr@icewhale.org

Country:China

The post
IceWhale Technology Launches ZimaCube 2: A Self-Hosting Powerhouse appeared first on
Brand News 24.
It is provided by a third-party content
provider. Brand News 24 makes no
warranties or representations in connection with it.

United States, 11th May 2026, – Imagination is Imagination is the New Frontier of Creation—Hailuo in Cannes

As a global partner of World AI Film Festival (WAIFF 2026) and the co-initiator of the Chinese Special Track, MiniMax Hailuo took the center stage in Cannes.

All greatness in human history begins with creation. We unveiled our 2026 brand video—brought to life by our multimodal models—dedicated to the audience in Cannes and to every soul brave enough to create, to embark, and to evolve.

Where Technology Meets Tradition: Reimagining Eastern Aesthetics in Cannes.

MiniMax Hailuo and Stellar Pictures have joined forces to create the animated music video The Fleeting Beauty, featuring a special vocal performance by singer Esther Yu.

The project achieves a mastery of intricate light and subtle expression, weaving ink-wash textures and classical Chinese symbols into a fluid cinematic language. Through the lens of AI, it bridging the gap between ancient ink-wash traditions and the future of digital expression.

“Watching and hearing my music in such a special stage is truly special,” shared Esther Yu. “In any creative work, emotion is the heartbeat. No matter how the medium evolves, it is always the soul of the story that ultimately moves people.”

“I don’t view AI as a force that changes culture; rather, it is a breakthrough technology that allows fantasy.” said Yixu Wang, Founder and CEO of Stellar Pictures. “We remain committed to deep-rooting AI—not just to enhance visual realism, but to give Eastern aesthetics a more vivid expression. By extending these capabilities into high-end animation, we aim to push the very boundaries of what imagination can achieve.” 

Technology Answers the “How,” but Humans Answer “What is good.”

On the stage of Cannes, we engaged with global creators on a topic: The history of creation has been a history of compromise. For too long, creators have sacrificed their vision due to the limitations of tools.

Our mission is not just to provide tools, but to build a bridge between a creator’s mind and the screen. We believe the only limit to a film should be the director’s taste and inspiration, not the boundaries of technical capability.

Our panel also featured the internationally renowned AI creative team, The Dor Brothers, who showcased their latest collaboration with Hailuo, Death Lane.

When watching the film, people’s first instinct isn’t to ask about “What model was used?” or “What was the prompt?” —it is to wonder: Where does the story go next?

The Dor Brothers are pioneers in merging wild imagination with technology. As Yonatan Dor shared on stage: “The biggest challenge in creation is performance. Technology will always scale new heights, but great content is rooted in human emotional connection. AI will never truly replace the creator. There is a world of difference between viral hits and high-quality storytelling; only the latter endures.” 

From ink-wash animation to avant-garde experimental videos, our video model-Hailuo carries both the expression of traditional eastern aesthetics and the diverse dreams of global creators.

Ruby Yang, Oscar-voting member and winner of the 79th Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Subject, has been observing the growth of AI cinema through the professional eye of a veteran filmmaker. At Palais des Festivals, Professor Yang presented the “MiniMax Hailuo× BEST AI FEATURE FILM” award to Napoleon III: Le Prix de l’Audace.

From São Paulo to Seoul, Kyoto to Beijing, and finally to Cannes—over the past few months, we have accompanied creators from across the globe through five major milestones, journeying from the very first frame to the steps of the Palais. Out of nearly 2,000 submissions from China, we brought 25 award-winning works directly to Cannes to be screened alongside the world’s most elite stage, also providing creators with opportunities to engage with international distributors and producers, securing potential support for future project development.

Among the highlights, A Dollar Story by Chinese director Sheng Qiu clutched the ‘BEST AI ACTION FILM’ award in the main competition. Qiu shared his reflections: “The most moving moment was watching the whole film with the audience at the Théâtre Debussy. It has been a dreamlike journey, and I look forward to even more wondrous encounters with AI.”

Moving forward, we will launch a dedicated WAIFF showcase on our official website and app, featuring a curated selection of global entries—bringing the magic of Cannes directly to your screen.

From a single spark of inspiration to the stage of Cannes, we have walked alongside creators as more than just a “tool” or a “model”. We are here to liberate creation from the constraints of technology and let imagination take center stage.

Greatness Starts with Creation. Imagination is Productivity.

Intelligence with Everyone.

Media Contact

Organization: MiniMax

Contact
Person: Jessie Yang

Website:

https://www.minimax.io/

Email:

jessie@minimaxi.com

Country:United States

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MiniMax Hailuo Showcases AI-Powered Creative Vision at Cannes During WAIFF 2026 appeared first on
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