Author: Editor

When Donnell Beverly Jr. decided to launch end-of-life planning startup Eazewell after the loss of both of his parents, he knew exactly who to call to help launch the business: longtime friend, and nine-time NBA All-Star, Russell Westbrook.   “The main thesis with Russ across every business that he touches is how do we impact people?” Beverly Jr. [pictured above] told TechCrunch. “He’s been very vocal about that throughout his career. I always say we really took personal pain and then created a platform to really help people.”  Westbrook was in. Four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker also joined, and the trio launched Eazewell.   Eazewell is an AI-driven platform that helps families navigate and automate the administrative aspects…

In brief Solana, Dogecoin, and Cardano outperformed the broader crypto market on Wednesday. Despite Congress failing to pass a continuing resolution to avoid a government shutdown, crypto markets shrugged off concerns. Bitcoin surpassed $117,000 for the first time in about two weeks while anticipation builds for an expected 25-basis point Fed rate cut at October’s...

New York City regulators have extended Waymo’s autonomous vehicle testing permit through the end of the year, the company said Wednesday.   The permit was initially granted in August to allow Waymo to test its robotaxis in the city until the end of September. The terms of the extended permit are the same: Waymo can deploy up to eight of its Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn with a human safety operator behind the wheel. A spokesperson for Waymo said the permit makes the company’s drivers exempt from New York’s rules mandating they keep one hand on the wheel at all times.  Waymo’s permit extension signals that it is inching towards being the first AV company to launch a robotaxi…

California just made history as the first state to require AI safety transparency from the biggest labs in the industry. Governor Newsom signed SB 53 into law this week, mandating that AI giants like OpenAI and Anthropic disclose, and stick to, their safety protocols. The decision is already sparking debate about whether other states will follow suit.  Adam Billen, vice president of public policy at Encode AI, joined Equity to break down what this new law actually means and why it managed to pass its predecessor SB 1047 incurred so much ire from tech companies that Newsom ended up vetoing…

In brief Gabriel Haines often posts shirtless rants about crypto on X. He has raised money to film a pilot for a dark comedy based on industry happenings. The protagonist of “The Max Extractor” is loosely inspired by Libra co-creator, Hayden Davis. When a meme coin crisis befell Argentine President Javier Milei in February, Gabriel...

In a video on OpenAI’s new TikTok-like social media app Sora, a never-ending factory farm of pink pigs are grunting and snorting in their pens — each is equipped with a feeding trough and a smartphone screen, which plays a feed of vertical videos. A terrifyingly realistic Sam Altman stares directly at the camera, as though he’s making direct eye contact with the viewer. The AI-generated Altman asks, “Are my piggies enjoying their slop?” This is what it’s like using the Sora app, less than 24 hours after it was launched to the public in an invite-only early access period.…

They say journalists never truly clock out. But for Christian, that’s not just a metaphor, it’s a lifestyle. By day, he navigates the ever-shifting tides of the cryptocurrency market, wielding words like a seasoned editor and crafting articles that decipher the jargon for the masses. When the PC goes on hibernate mode, however, his pursuits take a more mechanical (and sometimes philosophical) turn. Christian’s journey with the written word began long before the age of Bitcoin. In the hallowed halls of academia, he honed his craft as a feature writer for his college paper. This early love for storytelling paved…

Three months into a major marijuana tax hike in California, a new law putting a pause on the increase has officially taken effect. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed the tax relief legislation from Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) late last month. Now, as of Wednesday, consumers will not be paying the increased excise tax—at least until...

In brief Bitcoin rose above $117,000 and gold hit a new all-time high Wednesday, with both assets benefiting from safe-haven demand. Stocks fell after the U.S. entered its first government shutdown in nearly seven years, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each down about 0.5% upon open. The shutdown’s duration remains uncertain, echoing the record...

Bitcoin has reclaimed the $115,000 level, restoring momentum after weeks of uncertainty and signaling that bulls are regaining strength. The move comes as traders push back against selling pressure, with renewed optimism spreading across the market. For many, the rebound highlights Bitcoin’s resilience and its ability to bounce after testing key support levels. Related Reading Yet, not everyone feels convinced. Several analysts warn that despite the recent upside, Bitcoin may still face the risk of a deeper correction. The recovery looks promising, but the broader structure remains fragile, and cautious voices continue to dominate discussions. A failure to hold above…