The IT Industry: A Week of Transitions and Transformations (Week Ending March 14th, 2025)

The week ending March 14th, 2025, proved to be a period of significant shifts and advancements within the information technology landscape. From leadership changes in major semiconductor firms to unprecedented cybersecurity incidents, and from the emergence of potentially groundbreaking artificial intelligence to notable developments in the fintech and telecommunications sectors, the industry witnessed a flurry of activity. These events collectively paint a picture of an industry in constant flux, grappling with innovation, security challenges, and evolving market dynamics.

Leadership and Strategic Shifts: Intel’s New Direction

A major highlight of the week was the appointment of Lip-Bu Tan as the new Chief Executive Officer of Intel ¹. This decision by the semiconductor giant was met with considerable enthusiasm from the market, evidenced by a significant surge of approximately 13-15% in Intel’s stock value ¹. This positive reaction underscores the prevailing sentiment that fresh, experienced leadership from within the chip industry is crucial for revitalising Intel. Tan, a veteran of the semiconductor sector with a distinguished track record at Cadence Design Systems, brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of the global technology ecosystem, particularly in Asia ². Analysts at Deutsche Bank described the appointment as a “desirable outcome,” while Bank of America upgraded Intel’s rating, signaling increased confidence in the company’s future direction under Tan’s guidance ¹. The market’s optimism likely stems from the belief that Tan’s expertise and connections can help Intel regain its footing in a rapidly evolving market.

However, Tan steps into a role fraught with considerable challenges. Intel has faced increasing competitive pressures, notably missing out on significant gains from the artificial intelligence boom, and has seen its market share in crucial sectors like data centers and personal computers erode ¹. Furthermore, the company’s foundry business has reported substantial losses, adding to the complexity of the situation ³. A central debate within the industry has revolved around whether Intel should maintain its traditional Integrated Device Manufacturer (IDM) model, which encompasses both chip design and manufacturing, or consider a strategic separation or spin-off of its foundry operations ⁴. In his initial communication to Intel employees, Tan indicated his commitment to working diligently to restore Intel’s position as a world-class products company and to establish its foundry business as a leader in the field ⁴. This suggests an initial inclination towards preserving the IDM model, leveraging Intel’s unique advantage in this area.

Despite this commitment, Tan’s past experiences and perspectives hint at potential significant changes within the organisation. Reportedly, he stepped down from Intel’s board in August 2024 due to frustrations with the company’s bureaucratic culture and the size of its workforce, feeling that previous layoff efforts were insufficient and should have targeted middle management to foster greater innovation ⁴. This suggests that Tan may be considering more substantial restructuring and cost-cutting measures to improve efficiency and agility. Additionally, there has been speculation regarding potential joint ventures with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and interest from major fabless companies in utilizing Intel’s manufacturing capabilities ³. Navigating the complexities of maintaining the IDM model while adapting to the demands of the specialised AI chip market and addressing the challenges in the foundry business will require a delicate balancing act. The potential for significant job cuts and strategic realignments under Tan’s leadership could have far-reaching consequences for the semiconductor industry and the economies where Intel operates.

Cybersecurity Threats and Incidents: The ByBit Crypto Heist and North Korean Involvement

The cryptocurrency world was rocked by news of an unprecedented security breach at the ByBit exchange, resulting in the theft of approximately $1.5 billion in Ethereum ⁶. This incident marks the largest cryptocurrency heist in history and underscores the persistent and evolving cybersecurity threats within the digital asset space. The attack reportedly involved the compromise of a developer machine associated with Safe{Wallet}, a multisignature platform used by ByBit to secure its digital assets ⁶. The hackers then allegedly used this access to create a fake user interface that deceived individuals responsible for authorizing transactions, including ByBit’s CEO, into approving fraudulent transfers from the exchange’s cold wallet ⁶. ByBit CEO Ben Zhou confirmed the attack and stated that the company was actively working to secure bridge loans to cover potential losses and was collaborating with cybersecurity firms to track the stolen funds ¹.

The attack has been attributed to the notorious North Korean hacking group known as Lazarus Group, also referred to as TraderTraitor and APT38, by blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ¹. This group has a well-documented history of involvement in high-profile cryptocurrency thefts, and it is believed that their activities are often linked to funding North Korea’s weapons programs, which face stringent international sanctions ¹. Reports indicate that Lazarus Group successfully converted approximately $300 million of the stolen Ethereum into usable cash, highlighting their ability to navigate the complexities of the cryptocurrency ecosystem to monetize their illicit gains ¹. In response to the heist, ByBit announced a bounty program aimed at tracing and recovering the remaining $90 million of the stolen funds ¹. The sheer scale and sophistication of the ByBit attack serve as a stark reminder of the advanced threats targeting the cryptocurrency sector, even against platforms that employ seemingly robust security measures like multisignature wallets. The fact that the attackers did not exploit a fundamental flaw in the smart contract code but instead focused on human vulnerabilities and supply chain weaknesses indicates a concerning trend towards more sophisticated social engineering and infrastructure compromise tactics.

Furthermore, the methods reportedly employed by the hackers to launder the stolen funds demonstrate an adaptation to increased scrutiny of traditional cryptocurrency mixers. Instead of heavily relying on such services in the initial stages, the funds from the ByBit hack are reportedly being processed through decentralized, wallet-to-wallet exchanges and cross-chain bridges ⁷. This shift towards more complex and distributed methods of obscuring the flow of stolen cryptocurrency poses a significant challenge to law enforcement and blockchain analytics firms attempting to track and recover these assets. The involvement of a state-sponsored entity like North Korea’s Lazarus Group in such a large-scale cybercrime underscores the significant threat that such actors pose to the global financial system and highlights the increasing intersection of cybersecurity and international geopolitics. The incident also raises concerns about the potential use of stolen cryptocurrency to evade international sanctions and fund illicit activities.

Artificial Intelligence Advancements and Hype: Manus AI and Telecom Applications

The realm of artificial intelligence witnessed the emergence of a new platform that has generated considerable buzz and speculation: Manus AI ¹. Developed by the Chinese startup Butterfly Effect, Manus AI is being marketed as a potentially groundbreaking “agentic” AI platform, with some even suggesting it offers a glimpse into the future of artificial general intelligence (AGI) ¹. Unlike traditional chatbots that primarily respond to specific prompts, Manus AI is claimed to possess the ability to make its own decisions and autonomously execute complex tasks without requiring continuous human instruction ¹¹. Its purported capabilities include independent information retrieval from online sources, sophisticated data analysis, report generation, workflow automation, and even code writing ¹¹. The hype surrounding Manus AI has been significant, with reports of limited invite codes being sold online for substantial sums, indicating a high level of interest within the tech community ¹. Furthermore, claims have emerged suggesting that Manus AI has outperformed existing leading models, such as OpenAI’s Deep Research, on certain benchmarks like the GAIA benchmark, which is designed to evaluate AI agents’ ability to handle real-world problem-solving tasks ¹¹. The emergence of autonomous AI agents like Manus could indeed represent a fundamental shift in the field, potentially moving beyond the current generation of chatbots towards systems capable of more independent reasoning and action. If the claims surrounding Manus AI are substantiated, it could have profound implications for automation across various industries, potentially leading to significant increases in efficiency and the development of novel forms of human-machine collaboration.

However, alongside the excitement, critical assessments and reports of challenges have also surfaced. TechCrunch and early testers have reported encountering issues such as looping errors, where the AI gets stuck in repetitive cycles, as well as instances of factual inaccuracies and an apparent over-reliance on existing large language models, such as Claude Sonnet and Qwen finetunes, rather than utilising a completely unique, proprietary model ¹. Concerns have also been raised regarding potential security and privacy risks associated with an autonomous AI agent capable of executing commands, retrieving files, and interacting with external systems ¹¹. The debate continues as to whether the significant hype surrounding Manus AI is truly justified given these reported limitations and the fact that the platform is still in its early stages of development and not yet widely accessible ¹. Comparisons have been drawn to DeepSeek, another Chinese AI tool that generated considerable initial enthusiasm, highlighting the potential for a gap between initial hype and real-world usability ¹². While the potential of Manus AI is undeniable, early indications suggest that the technology still has significant hurdles to overcome in terms of reliability, accuracy, and achieving true autonomy in complex, real-world scenarios.

Beyond these developments in general AI, the week also saw advancements in the application of AI within specific sectors, notably telecommunications ¹⁶. e& and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly launched an AI-powered platform designed to address critical global challenges in areas such as climate change, health, and disaster response, demonstrating the potential of AI to enhance decision-making processes for sustainable development. Furthermore, the increasing relevance of AI in the telecommunications industry was highlighted by mentions of technologies like DeepSeek and Manus AI being considered for various applications within this sector.

Fintech and Regulatory Landscape: Acquisitions, Regulations, and Digital Currencies

The fintech sector experienced significant activity during the week, marked by notable acquisitions and regulatory developments. British banking giant Barclays reportedly neared an agreement to sell its UK merchant acquiring business, Barclaycard Payments, to Toronto-based investment firm Brookfield Asset Management in a deal valued at £650 million ¹⁷. The proposed structure of the acquisition involves Brookfield initially securing a 10% stake, with plans to increase its ownership to 90% within three years, while Barclays would retain a 10% minority stake ¹⁸. As part of the agreement, Barclays is expected to invest £400 million into the payments division to support its growth and an additional £250 million in regulatory capital ¹⁹. This potential sale reflects the increasing competitive pressures faced by traditional banks in the rapidly evolving payments landscape, particularly from nimble fintech companies like Stripe and Adyen ²⁰. The decision by Barclays to potentially offload this business unit suggests a strategic move towards focusing on core banking operations while allowing specialized firms like Brookfield to drive growth and innovation in the merchant acquiring space.

Another significant development in the fintech sector was the announcement that Rocket Companies, a US-based financial services and consumer lending firm, had agreed to acquire digital real estate brokerage Redfin in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.75 billion ¹⁷. The primary rationale behind this acquisition is to create a more streamlined and integrated home-buying experience by combining Redfin’s home search platform and agent network with Rocket’s mortgage origination and servicing capabilities ²³. Rocket anticipates significant synergies from this acquisition, including access to Redfin’s substantial user base of approximately 50 million monthly visitors and its network of over 2,200 real estate agents ²³. The combined entity expects to achieve over $200 million in annualized savings by 2027 through the elimination of duplicate expenses and the realisation of revenue synergies ²³. This acquisition positions Rocket to potentially regain the top spot in the US mortgage lending market and signifies a trend towards greater consolidation within the real estate and mortgage technology sectors, aiming to simplify the often complex home-buying journey for consumers.

In the regulatory sphere, the UK government announced its plans to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) as an independent body, with its functions to be primarily consolidated into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ¹⁷. The government’s stated aim is to reduce “unnecessary regulation,” alleviate burdens on businesses, and stimulate economic growth by creating a single point of contact for firms operating in the payments sector ²⁸. Currently, payment system firms often have to engage with multiple regulatory bodies, leading to increased costs and complexities ²⁸. While no immediate changes will occur and the PSR will continue to operate with its existing statutory powers until legislation is passed, this move has the potential to streamline the regulatory landscape for fintech companies in the UK, potentially reducing reporting requirements and fostering a more conducive environment for innovation and growth ²⁸. However, concerns have also been raised about potential disruptions during the transition and the long-term impact on ongoing initiatives like Open Banking, which has benefited from the PSR’s dedicated focus ²⁹.

Meanwhile, across the European Union, a recent survey indicated a limited level of enthusiasm among European consumers for the upcoming digital euro ¹⁶. The European Central Bank (ECB) is pursuing the development of a digital euro with the goals of safeguarding the role of public money in an increasingly digital economy, promoting innovation in payments, and enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy in the financial sector ³³. Despite these objectives and the ECB’s efforts to communicate the potential benefits of a digital euro, findings suggest that a significant portion of consumers have a strong preference for existing payment methods and may not readily adopt the new digital currency ³⁵. Overcoming this inertia and convincing consumers of the added value of a digital euro compared to current options will likely be a key challenge for the ECB in its efforts to achieve widespread adoption.

To provide a clearer overview of the significant transactions in the fintech sector during the week:

Key Fintech Acquisitions – Week Ending March 14, 2025

Telecommunications and Infrastructure: Advancements in Network Technology

The week witnessed continued progress in the telecommunications sector, with several companies announcing significant advancements in network technology and infrastructure ¹⁶. AT&T and Ciena successfully tested a 1.6 terabit-per-second fiber link, a development that will be crucial in meeting the ever-increasing demand for data and enhancing overall network capacity. In the United Kingdom, YouFibre became the first internet service provider (ISP) to deploy a 400G port at LINX Manchester, significantly boosting its broadband capabilities for users. Nokia was also active, securing an agreement to upgrade Vodafone Idea’s (Vi) IP backhaul network using its latest IP/MPLS products, which will improve connectivity and enable the handling of growing data traffic. On a broader scale, the European Union allocated €14.3 million for the expansion of the Medusa subsea cable project, aimed at improving connectivity in West Africa. Additionally, Canal Telecom in the Caribbean region adopted Nokia’s Altiplano solution to expand its fiber network, further enhancing connectivity for its users. These collective efforts underscore the ongoing investment and innovation in telecommunications infrastructure globally, which is essential for supporting the growing demands of a digital world driven by factors such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and increasing internet usage.

Big Tech’s Energy Initiatives: Supporting Nuclear Power Growth

A notable trend this week was the increasing support for nuclear power from major technology companies. Amazon, Google, and Meta all voiced their support for a global pledge to at least triple nuclear energy capacity worldwide by 2050 ¹. This significant endorsement from some of the world’s largest energy consumers is primarily driven by the immense and rapidly growing energy demands of their data centers, which power everything from cloud computing services to artificial intelligence workloads ³⁸. These tech giants recognise that renewable energy sources alone may not provide the consistent and reliable power needed to sustain their operations and are increasingly looking towards nuclear energy as a crucial low-carbon alternative ³⁸. Nuclear power offers several key advantages, including its reliability (operating 24/7 regardless of weather conditions), a high capacity factor (producing electricity efficiently and consistently), and the fact that it does not produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation ³⁸. The potential for deploying small modular reactors (SMRs) near data centers to ensure a dedicated and stable energy supply is also a significant factor in this growing interest ³⁸. While acknowledging the challenges associated with nuclear power, such as high upfront costs, long development timelines, and stringent regulatory requirements, the commitment from these major tech players signals a growing consensus that nuclear energy will play a vital role in meeting future energy demands and achieving sustainability goals, particularly in the face of the escalating energy needs of the AI era.

Developments in Search and AI-Powered Platforms: Google and Microsoft

The week also saw continued developments in the realm of search engines and AI-powered platforms, with both Google and Microsoft actively testing and rolling out new features ⁴³. Google announced the rollout of its March 2025 core update, a significant algorithm update expected to take up to two weeks to fully implement. This update is aimed at improving the surfacing of content from content creators. Additionally, Google reinstated the local pack feature within its AI Overviews (formerly known as Search Generative Experience or SGE), a feature that was temporarily removed in September 2023. In the advertising space, Google Ads introduced a new capability allowing advertisers to integrate WhatsApp messaging into their Performance Max campaigns. Furthermore, Google was observed testing a new accommodations carousel in its search results for hotel-related queries, aiming to provide users with a more visually engaging and informative experience. On Microsoft’s side, the company was seen experimenting with a new user interface for its Copilot AI answer feature, suggesting ongoing efforts to refine and enhance the user experience of its AI assistant. These continuous updates and experiments from the leading search engine providers highlight the intense competition in the market and the ongoing drive to leverage artificial intelligence to deliver more relevant, efficient, and user-friendly information retrieval and search experiences.

Market Trends and Stock Performance

The technology sector experienced a notable rally on Friday, March 14th, 2025, marking its best day of the year ⁴⁴. This surge was largely led by strong performances from companies heavily involved in artificial intelligence, with AI chipmaker Nvidia and analytics software provider Palantir leading the gains, posting increases of over 5% and 8%, respectively ⁴⁴. Other major tech companies, including Tesla, Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Broadcom, also saw solid gains on the day ⁴⁴. Memory chip maker Micron and server manufacturer Super Micro Computer also experienced significant increases in their stock prices ⁴⁴. Palantir’s stock specifically jumped following an announcement from CEO Alex Carp about new partnerships with defense manufacturing startups, emphasizing the importance of bolstering the domestic industrial base through AI technologies ⁴⁴. Additionally, shares of Rubrik, a data security and management company, rose after reporting better-than-anticipated fourth-quarter financial results ⁴⁴. This strong single-day performance in the tech sector, particularly among companies focused on AI and related technologies, suggests continued investor confidence in the long-term growth prospects of the IT industry, despite broader market fluctuations.

However, it is important to note that despite Friday’s impressive gains, the major market indexes were still down for the fourth consecutive week ⁴⁴. This indicates that while there is optimism surrounding specific segments of the tech industry, particularly those related to AI, broader economic uncertainties and market volatility persist.

To further illustrate the strong performance of key tech companies on the final trading day of the week:

Stock Performance of Major Tech Companies – Friday, March 14, 2025

Conclusion: A Week of Transformation and Persistent Challenges

The week ending March 14th, 2025, was marked by significant developments across the IT industry, highlighting both the rapid pace of innovation and the persistent challenges that remain. The appointment of Lip-Bu Tan as Intel’s CEO signifies a pivotal moment for the semiconductor giant as it navigates a complex and competitive landscape. The massive cryptocurrency heist at ByBit underscores the ever-present and evolving threats in the cybersecurity domain, particularly within the burgeoning digital asset space. The emergence of Manus AI has ignited considerable excitement and debate about the future of autonomous artificial intelligence, even as critical assessments point to ongoing limitations. Major acquisitions in the fintech sector, such as the reported sale of Barclaycard Payments and Rocket Companies’ acquisition of Redfin, reflect the dynamic nature of the financial technology landscape and the drive towards consolidation and integrated service offerings. Regulatory shifts, such as the UK government’s plan to abolish the PSR, indicate a broader trend of reviewing and potentially streamlining regulatory frameworks to foster economic growth and innovation. Meanwhile, advancements in telecommunications infrastructure continue to lay the groundwork for future technological developments and increasing data demands. Finally, the growing support for nuclear power among big tech companies signals a recognition of the immense energy requirements of the digital world and the need for reliable, low-carbon energy solutions. These events, while diverse, collectively illustrate an industry undergoing continuous transformation, grappling with technological advancements, security imperatives, evolving regulations, and the fundamental infrastructure required to power the digital future.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is based on publicly available reports and news sources from the week ending March 14th, 2025. It is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered exhaustive or financial advice. The IT industry is rapidly evolving, and future developments may differ from the information presented here.

References

1. FTI Consulting News Bytes – 14 March 2025, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://fticommunications.com/fti-consulting-news-bytes-14-march-2025/

2. Intel\’s New CEO: Lip-Bu Tan and the Question of a Breakup – Aragon Research, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://aragonresearch.com/intels-new-ceo-lip-bu-tan-question-of-a-breakup/

3. Intel Shares Soar on Appointment of Chip Veteran Lip-Bu Tan as CEO, But Challenges Remain | Nasdaq, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/intel-shares-soar-appointment-chip-veteran-lip-bu-tan-ceo-challenges-remain

4. Opinion: A Sigh of Relief as Lip-Bu Tan is Appointed CEO of Intel – EE Times, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.eetimes.com/opinion-a-sigh-of-relief-as-lip-bu-tan-is-appointed-ceo-of-intel/

5. Intel\’s new CEO warns employees about \’tough decisions\’, but Wall Street cheers, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/intels-new-ceo-warns-employees-about-tough-decisions-but-wall-street-cheers

6. FBI Confirms North Korean Lazarus Group Behind $1.5 Billion Bybit Crypto Heist, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.picussecurity.com/resource/blog/fbi-north-korean-lazarus-group-bybit-crypto-heist

7. A Conversation with Geoff White on Lazarus Group, the ByBit Hack and Money Laundering, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.castellum.ai/insights/fireside-chat-lazarus-group-bybit-hack-and-anti-money-laundering

8. The $1.5 Billion Bybit Hack: Lessons from History\’s Largest Crypto Heist – Reflectiz, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.reflectiz.com/blog/bybit-crypto-hack/

9. Crypto sent reeling by world\’s biggest ever heist – Investment News, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.investmentnews.com/industry-news/crypto-sent-reeling-by-worlds-biggest-ever-heist/259418

10. The need for enterprise security measures in the wake of the Bybit attack – Quant Network, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://quant.network/perspectives/the-need-for-enterprise-security-measures-in-the-wake-of-the-bybit-attack/

11. Manus AI: Features, Architecture, Access, Early Issues & More – DataCamp, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.datacamp.com/blog/manus-ai

12. China\’s Manus AI \’agent\’ could be our 1st glimpse at artificial general intelligence, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.livescience.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/chinas-manus-ai-agent-could-be-our-1st-glimpse-at-artificial-general-intelligence

13. What Is Manus AI? Inside the Latest China-Owned AI Assistant – Tech.co, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://tech.co/news/manus-ai-everything-you-need-to-know

14. Manus AI: A Comprehensive Overview | by ByteBridge – Medium, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://bytebridge.medium.com/manus-ai-a-comprehensive-overview-c87c9dad32f0

15. AI Explained just dropped Manus AI review! Summary in the comments : r/singularity – Reddit, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.reddit.com/r/singularity/comments/1jawlba/ai_explained_just_dropped_manus_ai_review_summary/

16. Top tech news today: 14 March, 2025 – BTW Media, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://btw.media/company-stories/top-tech-news-today-14-march-2025/

17. Top five news stories of the week – 14 March 2025 … – FinTech Futures, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.fintechfutures.com/2025/03/fintech-futures-top-five-news-stories-of-the-week-14-march-2025/

18. Barclays reportedly nears deal to offload UK merchant acquiring business to Canada\’s Brookfield – FinTech Futures, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.fintechfutures.com/2025/03/barclays-reportedly-nears-deal-to-offload-uk-merchant-acquiring-business-to-canadas-brookfield/

19. Barclays advances £650m strategic divestiture of UK payments division, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.paymentscardsandmobile.com/barclays-advances-650m-strategic-divestiture-of-uk-payments-division/

20. Barclays Inches Closer to Offloading Its Payment Business – PaymentsJournal, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.paymentsjournal.com/barclays-inches-closer-to-offloading-its-payment-business/

21. Barclays closes in on sale of merchant acquiring business – Finextra Research, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/45625/barclays-closes-in-on-sale-of-merchant-acquiring-business

22. Barclays nears £650m merchant payments deal with Brookfield – Private Equity Insights, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://pe-insights.com/barclays-nears-650m-merchant-payments-deal-with-brookfield/

23. Rocket to Acquire Redfin for $1.75 Billion – Finovate, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://finovate.com/rocket-to-acquire-redfin-for-1-75-billion/

24. Rocket to Acquire Redfin to Boost Home Purchase Lending and Take Back #1 Spot, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.thetruthaboutmortgage.com/rocket-to-acquire-redfin-to-boost-home-purchase-lending-and-take-back-1-spot/

25. Zillow responds to Rocket\’s planned $1.75B acquisition of Redfin – GeekWire, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.geekwire.com/2025/zillow-responds-to-rockets-planned-1-75b-acquisition-of-redfin/

26. Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Rocket Mortgage\’s Acquisition of RedFin, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.homesinorlando.forsale/blog/survey-note-detailed-analysis-rocket-mortgages-acquisition-redfin/

27. Rocket acquires pioneering online brokerage Redfin – Scotsman Guide, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.scotsmanguide.com/news/rocket-acquires-redfin-what-this-major-brokerage-deal-means-for-real-estate/

28. Retiring the Payment Systems Regulator – Mishcon de Reya, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.mishcon.com/news/retiring-the-payment-systems-regulator

29. UK Government confirms plans to abolish the Payment Systems Regulator – Fox Williams, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.foxwilliams.com/2025/03/14/uk-government-confirms-plans-to-abolish-the-payment-systems-regulator/

30. PSR abolished as part of UK Government plans to \’simplify\’ payments regulation, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.openbankingexpo.com/news/psr-abolished-as-part-of-uk-government-plans-to-simplify-payments-regulation/

31. UK government to abolish the PSR in push to cut \”unnecessary regulation\” and drive economic growth – FinTech Futures, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.fintechfutures.com/2025/03/uk-government-to-abolish-the-psr-in-push-to-cut-unnecessary-regulation-and-drive-economic-growth/

32. UK Payment Systems Regulator to be abolished – what\’s next? – A&O Shearman, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.aoshearman.com/insights/ao-shearman-on-fintech-and-digital-assets/uk-payment-systems-regulator-to-be-abolished-whats-next

33. Why do we need a digital euro? – European Central Bank, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/why-we-need-it/html/index.en.html

34. The digital euro project is making progress, European banks should pay attention | articles, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://think.ing.com/articles/the-digital-euro-project-is-making-progress-and-european-banks-should-pay-attention/

35. Consumer attitudes towards a central bank digital currency, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpwps/ecb~cde4bd616e.wp3035en.pdf

36. EFFECTS OF A DIGITAL EURO ON FINANCIAL STABILITY AND CONSUMER WELFARE – European Banking Federation, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.ebf.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Effects-of-a-Digital-Euro-on-Financial-Stability-and-Consumer-Welfare_CE-Report_December2023.pdf

37. digital euro: objectives and challenges – Eurofi, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.eurofi.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/eurofi_digital-euro_objectives-and-challenges_prague_september-2022.pdf

38. Meta, Google, and Amazon Join Global Pledge to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://carboncredits.com/meta-google-and-amazon-join-global-pledge-to-triple-nuclear-energy-by-2050/

39. Amazon, Google and Meta Support Tripling Nuclear Power By 2050 – Slashdot, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/03/12/1350256/amazon-google-and-meta-support-tripling-nuclear-power-by-2050

40. Why Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta Are Investing in Nuclear Power and Why Malaysia Needs It Right Now – ResearchGate, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388998064_Why_Amazon_Microsoft_Google_and_Meta_Are_Investing_in_Nuclear_Power_and_Why_Malaysia_Needs_It_Right_Now

41. Why Amazon, Microsoft, Google And Meta Are Investing In Nuclear Power – YouTube, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58zHJL1dKtw

42. Why are Amazon, Google & Meta Backing Nuclear? – Energy Digital Magazine, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://energydigital.com/articles/why-are-amazon-google-meta-backing-nuclear

43. Daily Search Forum Recap: March 14, 2025, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.seroundtable.com/recap-03-14-2025-39063.html

44. Markets News, March 14, 2025: Stocks Soar to Their Best Day of 2025 as Nvidia and Palantir Lead Tech Rally; Major Indexes Still Down for 4th Straight Week – Investopedia, accessed on March 15, 2025, https://www.investopedia.com/dow-jones-today-03142025-11696887