Animoca Brands, the Web3 and blockchain gaming powerhouse, has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Azarus, a decentralized streaming platform built on blockchain technology. The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed. This strategic move is set to combine the strengths of both companies, offering creators, players, and viewers a more interactive and rewarding ecosystem, unlocking fresh revenue streams for all participants.
Azarus: Pioneering Decentralized Streaming
Azarus is a blockchain-powered platform that enables direct interaction between content creators and viewers. Since its inception, it has distributed over $2 million in rewards to more than 20 million unique players. The platform features overlay ads, trivia games, and a reward system that allows viewers to tip creators or receive tokens while watching streams, creating a circular economy around live content.
The acquisition follows a prior partnership in December 2022, when Azarus and Animoca Brands collaborated to extend Azarus’ reward capabilities to a broader blockchain gaming audience. Earlier, Azarus raised $4 million in an extended seed round and launched a League of Legends-themed trivia game.
Animoca’s Vision for the Open Metaverse
For Animoca Brands, the acquisition aligns with its core mission of making gaming a decentralized and rewarding experience through cryptocurrency. Yat Siu, Executive Chairman of Animoca Brands, commented: “The acquisition of Azarus was a natural business decision that attests to our belief in the transformative power of Web3 technology. Azarus evokes the early days of The Sandbox, with that same energy and upside that makes it such an attractive proposition.” He added that Animoca looks “forward to redefining the streaming landscape, making it more interactive, rewarding, and aligned with the open metaverse.”
Alexander Casassovici, CEO of Azarus, stated: “We’re not just enhancing streaming; we’re pioneering a movement where every viewer becomes an active participant, and every stream becomes an immersive experience.”
The acquisition comes amid a challenging period for the crypto market. In November 2022, Animoca Brands announced a $2 billion fund to support metaverse projects, but later revised the target to $1 billion in January 2023 due to market conditions. Despite the headwinds, Animoca continues to invest in Web3 infrastructure, with Azarus being the latest addition to its portfolio that already includes The Sandbox, REVV, and many other projects.
Industry observers view this acquisition as a key step toward merging gaming, live streaming, and blockchain rewards. By integrating Azarus’ technology, Animoca Brands can enable dynamic in-stream interactions, tokenized rewards, and a more engaged community across its entire ecosystem. The deal is expected to close in the coming weeks, subject to customary conditions.