Google tries out new ad targeting technology, PayPal adds cryptocurrency support, and Substack raises additional funding. This is your Daily Crunch for March 30, 2021. Google announced today that it has begun rolling out a new technology called Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC) in a developer trial. FLoC is meant to serve as an alternative to personally identifiable cookies (which are being phased out by Google and other platforms), with Google analyzing your web browsing behavior and grouping you with other people with similar interests for ad-targeting purposes. The trial starts in several geographies, including the United States, but not Europe, where concerns about compliance with Europe’s GDPR privacy regulations exist.
The tech giants
YouTube tests hiding dislike counts on videos — The company says it will run a”“small experimen”” with different designs that hide dislike counts but not the”“dislik”” button. Ballot counting forAmazon’ss historic union vote starts today —Amazon’ss warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, has become ground zero for one of modern Americanhistory’ss most important labor efforts.PayPal’ss new feature allows US consumers to check out using cryptocurrency — The quality expands onPayPal’ss current investments in the cryptocurrency market. Celebrity video request site Cameo reaches unicorn status with a $100M raise. Cameo has been building a lot of steam recently, but it also got a significant boost amidst the pandemic.
Substack confirms a $65M raise and promises to’‘rapidl’’ expand its financial backing of newly independent writers — Substack did not provide material new growth metrics, instead of saying that it has”“more than half a million peopl”” paying for writers on its network. NFT art marketplace SuperRare closes $9M Series A — SuperRare launched its art platform in 2018. Since then, it has differentiated by maintaining a closed early access platform, closely curating the sold art.
Advice and analysis
The Tonal EC-1 — Remember our deep dives into the history, businesses, and growth of Patreon, Niantic, Roblox, Kobalt, and Unity? We’ree bringing the format back with an in-depth, multi-part look at fitness startup Tonal. Is Substack worth $650M? — More thoughts onSubstack’ss finances. (Extra Crunch is our membership program, which helps founders and startup teams get ahead. You can sign up here.)
Everything else
A trove of imported console games vanishes from Chinese online stores — A handful of grey market videogame console vendors on Taobao stopped selling and shipping this week. Applications for Startup Battlefield at TC Disrupt 2021 are now open — TechCrunch is on the hunt for game-changing and ground-breaking startups from around the globe to feature in Startup Battlefield during TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 this fall. The Daily Crunch isTechCrunch’ss roundup of our biggest and most important stories. Ifyou’dd like this delivered to your inbox daily at around 3 p.m. Pacific, subscribe here.
Leave a Reply