Fortnite and Unreal Engine creator Epic Games is acquiringindie online store and music platform Bandcamp, a deal announced Wednesday that will help further Epic's music ambitions.
Why it matters: The move gives Epic a stronger hold on its ability to incorporate music into the metaverse and its products.
A bipartisan group of attorneys general launched an investigation Wednesday into whether TikTok is harming children and teens' mental health.
Driving the news: Massachusetts, California, Florida, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee and Vermont will investigate if using TikTok is harmful to young adults, and if TikTok was aware about such harms, per an announcement from Massachusetts AG Maura Healey.
Brex, the corporate credit card startup valued by venture capitalists at more than $12 billion, doesn't plan to go public "anytime soon," co-CEO Henrique Dubugras said Wednesday during an Axios Pro Insights event.
"I think we would only consider [going public] in a good market. We're not anti-going public or anything, but we're still a five year-old company and I think it's very normal for companies to wait until they're eight or nine years old."
Russia's war with Ukraine has become a catalyst for the adoption of cryptocurrencies, Circle Financial CEO Jeremy Allaire said Wednesday during an Axios Pro Insights event.
"There's a focus on what is the role of crypto on everything from aid distribution to Ukraine, which is accelerating ... to the question of individuals ... who are asking themselves if they should own and hold non-sovereign digital assets ... in a world where central banks can literally freeze accounts."
Ford has agreed to sell Spin, the scooter rental startup it acquired in 2018, to Tier, a Berlin-based micromobility company, for an undisclosed price.
Why it matters: Despite an initial thesis around expanding into transportation beyond cars, "this allows [Ford] to focus on their core business" as the importance of electric vehicles has grown, Spin CEO Ben Bear tells Axios.
EA Sports will remove the Russian National Team and all Russian club soccer teams from its FIFA video game franchise, and remove all Russian and Belarusian hockey teams from the latest NHL video game franchise, the gaming developer announced on Wednesday.
Why it matters: The sports world's rebuke of the invasion signals a swift rebuke of the Russian government. The Ukrainian government has also called on video game companies and esports operators to bar Russian gamers and esports teams.
Moves to restrict Kremlin disinformation after Russia's invasion of Ukraineare further splintering the global internet even as they help stem the tide of propaganda.
Why it matters: A universal internet where every user can access the same messages and services has long been held up as a global ideal, but as democracy falters and governments limit usage, it looks to be receding out of reach.
The Ukrainian government is beseeching video game companies and esports operators to cut off Russian gamers and esports teams.
Why it matters: The request is an attempt to rally Russian opposition to their country's invasion of Ukraine. It was issued in a letter published online this morning by Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation.
Valve designer Greg Coomer hopes the ambitious new Steam Deck can fill a void in the “insufficient” portable PC gaming landscape.
Driving the news: The Deck now makes Valve, already a highly influential company in gaming, a hardware platform owner with all the responsibility that comes with it.
Apple on Tuesday introduced a sweeping set of measures in response to Russia’s escalating war with Ukraine, including pausing product sales in the country and removing Russian state media outlets RT and Sputnik News from its App Store.
Why it matters: Apple has taken some of the most aggressive measures in response to the war of any American tech company so far.
From camps for girls to networking events for grownups, organizations all over the country are working to promote Latinos in tech.
Why it matters: The numbers of Latinos and Latinas in the industry has been rising gradually in the past few years, but they're still disproportionately low in most companies.
A small group of Latino U.S. House members recently expressed "extreme concern" about a plan to potentially dispatch robot dogs along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Driving the news: A letter obtained by Axios Latino shows that U.S. Reps. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA) are seeking a meeting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection about the robots.
Crypto exchanges are at the center of U.S. efforts to carry through with sanctions, but most are refusing calls to block Russian addresses en masse.
Why it matters: Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov asked major crypto exchanges to go beyond sanctions and block the addresses of all Russian users. But Binance, Coinbase and Kraken say it goes against their core beliefs.
Crypto-focused venture firm Electric Capital has raised a $400 million for its third early stage fund, as well as a $600 million digital token-fund.
Why it matters: Raising huge pools of capital to invest in crypto is becoming the norm as the industry's boom continues—despite regulatory uncertainty and ongoing concerns over scams.
A company called PORTL that lets you beam a lifelike, real-time image of yourself into its vending-machine-size box has introduced a lower-budget miniature version, potentially bringing video calls to American living rooms.
Why it matters: For consumers seeking better alternatives to Zoom and FaceTime, there's the PORTL M — or mini — a 2-foot-tall rectangular device that can receive a curiously intimate (if tiny) walking, talking image of a faraway loved one.
A Ukrainian government official thanked Elon Musk after a promised shipment of terminals from SpaceX's satellite internet service Starlink arrived in Ukraine Monday.
The big picture: Musk responded to Ukraine digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov's request Saturday, saying the satellites had been activated in Ukraine and more terminals were en route. He replied to Fedorov's tweet confirming the terminals' arrival: "you are most welcome."
