Stripe acquired Bridge, a company that builds infrastructure around stablecoins. Is this how crypto becomes a new payment rail?
AMD Acquires ZT Systems, AMD’s Integration, Substack In-App Purchases
AMD is acquiring ZT Systems in a bid to integrate AI system design and AI chips; then, more on Apple’s creator tax
Why Apple Deserves Special Scrutiny, Paramount Merges with Skydance
Apple deserves special scrutiny from regulators, and Paramount demonstrates Hollywood’s commitment to irrationality.
Databricks Buys Tabular, The End of Software?
Understanding why Databricks bought Tabular, and why there will still be a market for software in the future.
Walmart Earnings, Walmart Connect and Closing the Loop, Walmart Acquires Vizio
Walmart is focused on building an advertising business, and acquiring a TV maker makes perfect sense in that regard.
Adobe Abandons Figma Acquisition; The Neo-Brandeis Movement’s Missed Opportunity; First, Do No Harm
The Adobe-Figma acquisition probably shouldn’t have gone through; that the right outcome was achieved for arguably the wrong reasons, though, is concerning for the long run of tech innovation.
Unity CEO Out, Microsoft Owns Activision
John Riccitiello is out as Unity’s CEO, but the circumstances of his exit may have done the company a favor. Then, Microsoft finally owns Activision, and the outlines of the deal are a win for everyone except the FTC.
Microsoft, Activision, and Ubisoft(?!); The Activision Deal; Foolhardy Forecasting
Microsoft has substantially reworked its deal with Activision to satisfy U.K. regulators; it’s a win for the CMA, and time to consider what comes next.
Microsoft Can Acquire Activision, The FTC vs. the Record, The FTC’s Failed Vendetta
Microsoft didn’t just win its case against the FTC: the totality of its victory calls into question the FTC’s legitimacy, and may lead to more acquisitions in the future.
Friction Follow-Up, Databricks Acquires MosaicML
More on the trade-offs (and benefits) of Amazon’s scale, and initial reactions to Databricks’ acquisition of MosaicML.