The IRS has received special permission to quickly hire 8,000 employees by September due to significant staff reductions. A memo revealed the agency sought expedited hiring authority, indicating a critical need despite public assurances of maintained services.
The US Department of Health and Human Services faces a crisis under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with thousands of employee losses, unaddressed health emergencies like Ebola and measles, and lacking leadership in key roles, amidst reports of Kennedy's absenteeism and focus on niche issues.
German villages are reviving "Tante Emma" shops with hybrid, autonomous 24/7 access models. This innovation combats staffing shortages and rising costs, aiming to preserve community hubs and counter rural disaffection that fuels political extremism.
Disability benefit claimants in the UK will face more in-person assessments as the Department for Work and Pensions aims for 30% face-to-face reviews. This shift, intended to improve accuracy, is hampered by a shortage of medical staff. Advocacy groups express concern over the burden on individuals with health issues, stressing the need for flexibility beyond physical presence.
Crypto majors are very red following a red Tuesday across markets; BTC -3% at $88,200; ETH -6% at $2,905, SOL -2% at $127; XRP -2% to $1.88. MYX (+11%) and ZRO (+10%) led top movers. Bitcoin and Solana both fell below key technical support levels as selling pressure accelerated. Over $1B in longs were liquidated during Bitcoin’s slide below $88k. Delaware Life added Bitcoin exposure to a fixed indexed annuity by linking performance to BlackRock’s spot BTC ETF, one of the first big moves to expand crypto access inside traditional insurance products. Trump Media announced plans to airdrop crypto tokens to shareholders in February, marking its first onchain incentive tied directly to equity ownership. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong traveled to Davos to push for a “win-win” U.S. crypto market structure bill amid renewed regulatory momentum. Portugal’s gambling regulator blocked access to Polymarket, citing unlicensed gambling concerns as prediction markets face mounting global scrutiny. The CFTC warned it is underprepared to take on a broader crypto oversight role, as the agency faces staffing shortages after a roughly 21.5% workforce reduction. Galaxy Digital announced plans for a $100M hedge fund targeting crypto and fintech. World Liberty Fi announced its first annual form at Mar-A-Lago on Feb 18.
