The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you’d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 9am Pacific, you can subscribe here.
1. WikiLeaks’ Assange charged under the Espionage Act in a ‘major test case’ for press freedom
Julian Assange, founder of whistleblowing site WikiLeaks, is facing more than a dozen additional charges from U.S. federal prosecutors.
According to the newly unsealed indictment, Assange faces 17 new charges — including publishing classified information — under the Espionage Act, a law typically reserved for spies working against the U.S. or whistleblowers and leakers who worked for the U.S. intelligence community.
2. Lime’s founding CEO steps down as his co-founder takes control
Lime announced co-founder and chief executive officer Toby Sun will transition out of the C-suite to focus on company culture and R&D. Brad Bao, a Lime co-founder and longtime Tencent executive, will assume CEO responsibilities.
3. The US Senate is coming after ‘loot boxes’
Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room
Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $400.
Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit
1,000+ founders and investors come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages. Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately
Offer ends March 13.
A new Senate bill asserts that “pay-to-win” transactions that give users a nominal advantage for a fee, or loot boxes, which allow users to essentially play a slot machine for rare and important items, are bad for minors and need to be banned.
4. Best Buy cancels Samsung Galaxy Fold pre-orders
A note from Best Buy cites “a plethora of unforeseen hiccups,” and adds, “Because we put our customers first and want to ensure they are taken care of in the best possible manner, Best Buy has decided to cancel all current pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Fold.”
5. Automattic acquires subscription payment company Prospress
Among other things, Prospress has developed WooCommerce Subscriptions, a recurring payment solution specifically designed for WooCommerce.
6. Instagram’s vertical IGTV surrenders to landscape status quo
Following lackluster buy-in from creators loathe to shoot in a proprietary format that’s tough to reuse, IGTV is retreating from its vertical-only policy.
7. Shopify quietly acquired Handshake, an e-commerce platform for B2B wholesale purchasing
Handshake is a New York startup that offers a commerce platform for businesses that sell wholesale goods.
