Mobile gaming company Scopely announced this morning that it will acquire Pokémon Go maker Niantic’s games business in a deal valued at $3.5 billion.

Under terms of the deal, Niantic’s game developers will join Scopely, which is itself owned by Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group. Scopely will also own Niantic’s games, including the games Pikmin Bloom and Monster Hunter Now, as well as Pokémon Go and other titles.

The purchase represents the largest acquisition of a private, venture-backed game developer in a couple years, per Crunchbase data. The last deal of greater magnitude was Savvy’s purchase of Scopely, publisher of Monopoly Go and other popular titles, for $4.9 billion in 2023.

Previously, San Francisco-based Niantic was a prodigious venture fundraiser, best known for augmented reality games that allowed users to parlay mobile apps into experiences in the physical world. The company began as a startup within Google and later launched as an independent company.

Between 2015 and 2021, Niantic secured at least $770 million in known equity investments, with Coatue, IVP and Spark Capital among its lead investors.

Per Scopely, Niantic’s games business pulls in over 30 million monthly active players and drove more than $1 billion in revenue in 2024. Pokémon Go alone had over 100 million users in the course of 2024.

With the acquisition of its gaming business, Niantic will spin off its technology platform into a new standalone entity, Niantic Spatial. John Hanke, Niantic’s founder and longtime CEO, will lead the new company, which he said will focus on “building the models that will help AI move beyond the screen and into the real world.”

The Niantic purchase comes amid a sluggish period for gaming-related startup investment, with funding to the space falling to the lowest point in years in 2024, per Crunchbase data. It’s been a difficult period for developers as well, with mass layoffs at major game studios that began in 2022 and continued into 2024.

That said, game-playing isn’t showing signs of slowing down, with younger gamers in particular spending hours each week on their favorite titles.

Related Crunchbase Pro list:

• Gaming-Related Startup Funding

Related reading:

• After A Downish Year For Startup Funding, Gaming Has A Slow Start In 2025

Illustration: Dom Guzman

One of the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency exchanges, Binance, has confirmed that Abu Dhabi’s MGX has purchased a $2 billion stake in the platform. Indeed, the move marks the first institutional investment into the platform, according to an official statement.

The investment is also the single largest in a cryptocurrency company, the platform confirmed. Moreover, it is poised to play a critical role in the continued advancement of digital assets in global finance, as it represents MGX’s first entry into the crypto space.

JUST IN: Abu Dhabi's MGX acquires minority stake in Binance for $2 billion.

— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) March 12, 2025

Also Read: Binance Delisting: USDT and DAI in Europe by March 31 to Meet MiCA Rules

Binance Gets $2 Billion Landmark Investment From MGX

Although we are less than three months into the year, 2025 has proven to be groundbreaking for the cryptocurrency market. The United States has sought to completely overhaul its crypto policy. Moreover, there are expectations that it is one of many countries that will embrace favorable regulation.

The ongoing shifts have made the industry as promising as it has ever been. That is clearly seen in the continued exposure institutions are gaining regarding the industry. That has continued Wednesday, as Abu Dhabi’s MGX has acquired a $2 billion stake in cryptocurrency exchange Binance.

Also Read: Binance Coin: Can BNB Hit $750 In March?

The move was a groundbreaking one for a plethora of different reasons. It is not only the single largest investment in a crypto company but also the largest investment paid entirely in crypto. Indeed, the development speaks to the expected growth that the market will see in the coming years.

“MGX’s investment in Binance reflects our commitment to advancing blockchain’s transformative potential for digital finance,” managing director and CEO Ahmed Yahia said. “As institutional adoption accelerates, the need for secure, compliant, and scalable blockchain infrastructure and solutions has never been greater.”

Moreover, Yahia noted Binance “has been a driving force in cryptocurrency innovation, from exchange technology and tokenization to staking and payments.” Now, both sides are committed to creating a “more inclusive and robust digital finance ecosystem.”