Axios

Ukrainian developers are giving gamers a powerful look at the impacts of Russia’s invasion of their country.

Driving the news: Those glimpses have appeared online over the past few days in the midst of digital showcases of upcoming video games.

The founders of major crypto lender BlockFi, Zac Prince and Flori Marquez, took pay cuts amidst broader cutbacks at the company that included laying off 20% of its staff, a spokesperson confirms for Axios.

Why it matters: Talks about salaries at the highest echelons of crypto leadership have bubbled up amid layoff announcements.

Kraken wants to hire more than 500 people to fill open and soon-to-be-open positions at the crypto exchange — only it comes with a disclaimer about company culture that job hunters might want to be aware of.

Why it matters: Signs of a bear market are all around, including the rash of layoffs over the last couple of weeks. That makes crypto job hunters, especially those who were disappointed lately, susceptible to leap before looking.

Some crypto projects make outlandish claims while largely flying under the radar of the press, all the while building up large followings of retail investors organically. Safuu is one such project. It has almost 47,000 Twitter followers, 32,000 Discord members and a claim that it can turn $1,000 into almost $4 million in a year.

Why it matters: Crypto may or may not be key technology for the future internet-of-value, but it's definitely beset with dodgy projects right now. Sometimes it's worth digging into these things so people know the danger signs.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer sunsets today, after more than 20 years.

Driving the news: The announcement came last year from Microsoft that they would be retiring the browser today and that they would be shifting their focus to their new browser Microsoft Edge.

Teslas driving on the car's Autopilot function were involved in 273 crashes over roughly the last year, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released Wednesday.

Why it matters: Tesla has made up nearly 70% of the 392 car crashes that have occurred since last June involving vehicles using an advanced driver assistance system.

More and more retailers are experimenting with checkout-free technology, including this Camden Food Express store I recently visited while passing through New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

A retired general and former White House official is seeking U.S. approval for his startup to provide its secure communications technology to the Ukrainian military.

The latest: SEMPRE (Secure EMP Resistant Edge), a tech startup run by retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Robert Spalding, wants to offer its technology to allow Ukrainian soldiers to communicate securely without having to rely on traditional communications networks.

With the seemingly modest step of agreeing not to oppose workers' efforts to unionize, Microsoft has upended long-held assumptions about Big Tech's hostility to organized labor.

Why it matters: Microsoft's move suggests some tech leaders are beginning to accept the inevitability that at least some parts of their maturing industry will end up unionized.

The next Sonic the Hedgehog game is getting unusually negative early buzz, demonstrating the hazards of even the most carefully coordinated marketing campaign.

Driving the news: Sega's Sonic Frontiers showed so poorly when it was unveiled in late May on IGN that some fans called for a delay past its holiday 2022 release window. Subsequent hands-on sessions with a build of the game in Los Angeles last week have produced mixed reactions.

A Shakespearean dating game published in a peer-reviewed journal takes to heart the Bard’s line that “The course of true love never did run smooth."

What’s happening: We Are Not All Alone Unhappy, the charming side project of Firaxis narrative lead Cat Manning, asks players to test the romantic chemistry between characters from various Shakespeare plays.

Five of the world's largest tech companies owned more than half (53%) of all global ad revenues last year, up from 46% last year.

Why it matters: Macroeconomic factors like inflation and rising wages are making it harder for new entrants to disrupt the ad market, analysts explain in the latest midyear ad forecast from GroupM.

Enterprise software company MicroStrategy is at risk of having to post more of its bitcoin after taking out a loan to buy more bitcoin.

Driving the news: The price of the cryptocurrency overnight briefly fell below $21,000 — a level at which the company previously said it could face a margin call. That means MicroStrategy could soon face a requirement to post more capital for its roughly $205 million bitcoin-collateralized three year term loan.

Cameras made by Chinese surveillance company Hikvision are deeply integrated into an intelligence program aimed at tracking and detaining Uyghurs and other ethnic groups in Xinjiang, according to a new report.

Why it matters: The findings add further weight to allegations the surveillance technology giant is complicit in the Chinese government's human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Centralized crypto lender Celsius rocked its customers' worlds Sunday night after freezing withdrawals and other transactions on the platform, citing "extreme market conditions."

Why it matters: The company is testing the terms of its user agreement that allow it to close the gate on users who are pulling funds out, plus those making swaps or transfers.

Representatives from both the U.S. legislators and administration officials expressed urgency Tuesday around providing clarity to the digital asset or blockchain industry during Axios' "Crypto and the Investing Space" event.

Why it matters: If the rules in an industry are fuzzy, the bad actors are fuzzy, too.

Coinbase Global said Tuesday morning that the crypto exchange would lay off roughly 18% of its workforce, or about 1,100 full-time jobs.

Why it matters: Layoffs and rescinded job offers are starting to become more commonplace amid fears of an economic downturn leading to an extended crypto winter.

Pinterest has struck one of its largest content deals ever — a multimillion-dollar, multiyear deal with Tastemade that will result in 50 new TV shows, live videos and events, the companies tell Axios.

Why it matters: "This is the most significant partnership I'm announcing as part of my time and tenure with the company," says Malik Ducard, who joined Pinterest as chief content officer in October.

The Washington Post is looking to double down on its investment in its tech publishing arm, Arc XP, despite outside sales interest valuing the company in the low nine figures, sources told Axios.

Why it matters: The company sees more long-term value in trying to grow the business than sell it now, executives told Axios.

As a tough antitrust bill aimed at clipping Big Tech's wings gains headway in Congress, supporters and opponents are battling in the media, hoping to sway the public.

Driving the news: John Oliver devoted an entire segment to Big Tech and pending antitrust bills in Congress on Sunday night on his HBO show, "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver."

Lawmakers are making a major push on passing privacy legislation as the clock ticks down toward the midterms.

Why it matters: Congress has remained stalled on crafting privacy protections, but the latest effort comes from key lawmakers who have the power to push a bill forward.