🚨 BIDEN WARNS OF TECH OLIGARCHY IN FAREWELL ADDRESS. President Biden sounded the alarm on the growing power of tech giants, warning of a rising "tech-industrial complex" that threatens democracy. He cautioned that unchecked influence from Silicon Valley could concentrate wealth and control in the hands of a few, undermining free speech and spreading misinformation. Source: Wall Street Journal.
hello, future. it’s me, kev.
…and this is a dispatch from the digital frontier. It’s time to meet the future NOW — with the latest on markets, tech, and freedom. The day is 16. The year is 2025. The planet is Earth. My name is Kevin Cirilli —> LinkedIn.
TOMORROW MORNING: MTF x CRYPTO POWER BREAKFAST: Join us for a meet the future power breakfast tomorrow at the National Press Club. Message me for details.
TOMORROW NIGHT: See you at Milano :)
Back to the future...
FUTURES
📉 WALL STREET COOLS AFTER HOT STREAK. After Wednesday's rally, U.S. stock indexes dipped on Thursday due to mixed earnings reports. The S&P 500 fell 0.2%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite decreased 0.9%.
—> EARNINGS MIXED: Morgan Stanley's shares rose 4% on strong earnings, while UnitedHealth Group's shares declined.
—> YOUR BOTTOM LINE: Despite a slight pullback, the market remains optimistic due to cooling inflation and strong bank earnings.
CRYPTO
🚨 TRUMP SIGNALS SUPPORT FOR U.S. CRYPTO RESERVE AS DIGITAL ASSETS GO MAINSTREAM. Reports suggest Trump is open to creating a strategic reserve of U.S.-backed cryptocurrencies, signaling that crypto could become a permanent part of the nation’s financial strategy. The move reflects growing recognition that digital assets are here to stay and could play a central role in the future of the global economy.
—> 🏦 WHAT IS A CRYPTO RESERVE? A crypto reserve would involve the U.S. government holding significant amounts of digital currencies—such as Bitcoin, Solana, Ripple, and stablecoins like USDC—as a national financial safeguard. Similar to gold or foreign currency reserves, this strategy could help protect against economic instability and position the U.S. as a leader in digital finance. It also reflects a broader shift toward integrating blockchain technology into national economic policy.
—> 🗣️ WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. Supporters argue that embracing a crypto reserve could drive innovation, secure U.S. dominance in digital finance, and prepare the economy for a tech-driven future. They see it as a way to legitimize digital assets and foster economic resilience. Critics caution that government involvement in crypto could threaten decentralization and expose the economy to market volatility. Some warn that it could lead to increased regulation and limit financial freedom.
—> 🌐 WHY YOU CARE: Trump’s interest in a national crypto reserve reflects a turning point for digital assets in U.S. policy. Whether welcomed or criticized, it signals that crypto is no longer a fringe technology—it’s becoming part of the global financial system.
Source: CoinDesk, NYT, Forbes.
SPACE
🚀 SPACEX LAUNCHES TWO PRIVATE MOON LANDERS: SpaceX successfully launched two private lunar landers, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s Resilience, on a Falcon 9 rocket. These landers will deliver NASA experiments and a micro-rover to study the Moon’s surface. The mission supports NASA’s Artemis program and marks a big step for private companies in space exploration. Source: NASA.
🪦 SPACE CEMETERIES: WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ASTRONAUT DIES IN SPACE? You’ve heard the age old question: cremated or buried? But what about in outer space? Daily Galaxy got their hands on what happens if an astronaut dies in space and NASA’s protocol. It’s fascinating:
Depose the body into space (which breaks international space laws against littering the cosmos).
Let it burn up on reentry (turning the body into cosmic cremation scattered over Earth).
Bring it back to Earth (sealed and frozen until landing). Each choice is as haunting as it is complicated.
QUANTUM // ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
🚨 BIDEN FAST-TRACKS AI MEGASITES—INCLUDING NUCLEAR-POWERED DATA HUBS. President Biden just signed an executive order to supercharge America’s AI infrastructure with massive data centers and clean energy hubs.
Federal sites—including places like the decommissioned Three Mile Island nuclear plant—could soon become futuristic AI fortresses, fueled by wind, solar, and possibly nuclear power. Tech giants will compete to build these data strongholds, plugged directly into the grid.
—> ⚡ WHY IT MATTERS: AI's energy demand is skyrocketing—set to consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028. Biden’s move aims to keep America ahead in the global AI race, but with Trump’s inauguration days away, the future of this plan is uncertain. Source: AP News.
🤖💸 GEN Z WANTS AI TO MANAGE THEIR MONEY. AI finance apps are everywhere, promising to make managing your money easier than ever. Tools like Cleo and Bright automate savings, track spending, and even help negotiate bills. An Experian report found that 96% of users—especially millennials and Gen Z—had a positive experience using AI for personal finance. But here’s the catch: not all advice from these chatty bots is good for your wallet.
—> 📊 SMART SAVINGS OR SNEAKY SALES? AI can break down your spending into colorful charts and automate tasks like budgeting, making finance feel less intimidating. But some apps push paid subscriptions and short-term cash loans with hidden fees. Critics warn these apps might prioritize profits over your financial health, using your data to upsell risky products.
—> 💡 WHY YOU CARE: AI can help you save and stay on top of your finances—but it’s still a business. The advice it gives might not always be in your best interest. Double-check recommendations, compare sources, and don’t let a bot make your money moves.
GEOPOLITICS
🚨 TRUMP'S TREASURY PICK BACKS TOUGHER SANCTIONS ON RUSSIAN OIL. Scott Bessent, Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, told senators at his confirmation hearing earlier that he "100%" supports increasing sanctions on Russian oil giants if Trump orders it.
NOTABLE: Bessent criticized Biden’s sanctions as too weak and vowed to escalate pressure to force Russia to negotiate an end to the Ukraine war. Source: Reuters.
ONE MORE THING
🌀🦿 YOUR VACUUM JUST GOT LEGS. Robot vacuums have always had one tragic flaw: stairs. Dreametech’s X50 just laughed in the face of gravity, becoming the first vacuum to conquer the dreaded steps.
—> MEET THE FUTURE: Imagine your Roomba went to boot camp and came back ready to tackle your multi-level home. Stairs? Conquered. Dust? Obliterated. 🏠🤖
…for $1699.
Now if only it could fold and put away laundry, life would be perfect.
🚀🧹
With gratitude,
Kev
ABOUT mtf.tv’s meet the future: mtf.tv’s meet the future is a cutting-edge platform focused on addressing key challenges at the intersection of national security, technology, and business. With a mission to embrace freedom to meet the future’s challenges and opportunities, mtf.tv offers forward-thinking media offerings and forums.
Share this post