Fintech themes to watch in 2025: relaxed regulation in the second Trump administration, more IPOs, M&A, and VC deal activity, and the expansion of stablecoins (Emily Mason/Bloomberg)

Greg Sadetsky, known as Greg Technology on YouTube, showcases a modified version of Chocolate Doom that allows players to cut, copy, and paste opponent characters, adding a unique twist to the game. This feature lets players replicate attackers multiple times, which Sadetsky humorously notes can lead to unhappy in-game reactions, as each monster is stored with a unique type number for this functionality. Want More Context? 🔎

The Department of Government Efficiency has announced plans to implement a new AI tool aimed at reducing federal regulatory mandates by 50% by the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's return to office, as reported by The Washington Post. This initiative is part of a broader effort to streamline government operations and enhance efficiency. Want More Context? 🔎

A Chinese mega-constellation of communications satellites, including the Qianfan broadband network, is significantly behind schedule, with only 90 of the planned 648 satellites launched, jeopardizing its competition with SpaceX's Starlink, which has around 8,000 satellites in orbit. Contributing to this delay is China's reliance on single-use rockets, as their current launch capabilities lag behind SpaceX's reusable technology. Want More Context? 🔎

The Zero Day Initiative, part of Trend Micro, raises concerns over a possible leak that allowed attackers, including Chinese spies, to exploit Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities (CVE-2025-53770, CVE-2025-53771) despite security patches released shortly after. Experts suggest that threat actors may have utilized large language models like Google Gemini to identify exploitation routes, as Microsoft has provided no guidance for recent vulnerabilities, indicating potential distrust in their MAPP program. Want More Context? 🔎

According to a report from The Washington Post, DOGE is utilizing an AI tool, the DOGE AI Deregulation Decision Tool, to analyze and propose the deletion of 100,000 federal regulations. The tool has been tested by agencies like the CFPB and HUD, prompting staff reviews for finalization, with training for other agencies set to begin this month. Want More Context? 🔎

The Chief People Officer of Astronomer resigned after being featured on the "Kiss Cam" at a Coldplay concert alongside the CEO, who also resigned. In a surprising development, Gwyneth Paltrow was hired as a temporary spokesperson for the company, addressing the viral incident and promoting their upcoming dataops conference. Want More Context? 🔎