Techmeme
December 29, 2025, 2:15 PM

Top News

Bloomberg:
SoftBank agrees to acquire NYSE-listed DigitalBridge, a private equity firm that invests in data centers and digital infrastructure operators, for $4B in cash  —  SoftBank Group Corp. agreed to buy private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc. for about $3 billion in cash …
Timmy Shen / The Block:
China's central bank unveils an overhaul of its digital yuan framework, including saying that commercial banks will soon begin paying interest on holdings  —  China's central bank announced a major overhaul of its digital yuan framework on Monday, revealing that commercial banks …
Katria Alampay / Bloomberg:
How Japan's viral horse racing game Umamusume, developed by Cygames, passed 30M downloads in Asia, spurring anime adaptations, concerts, and new racetrack fans  —  With more than 30 million downloads, Umamusume: Pretty Derby has generated anime adaptations, live concerts and a new legion of racetrack fans.
More: Gematsu
Vikki Blake / Eurogamer.net:
Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt and DRM-free digital games store GOG, has acquired 100% of the shares in GOG from CD Projekt  —  A-GOG.  —  Michał Kiciński, co-founder of CD Projekt, has acquired 100 percent ownership of GOG, the DRM-free digital games store.
Arsheeya Bajwa / Reuters:
SEC filing: Nvidia acquires Intel shares worth $5B, carrying out a transaction announced in September, buying 214.7M shares for $23.28 each  —  Nvidia (NVDA.O) has purchased Intel shares worth $5 billion, the American semiconductor firm (INTC.O) said in a filing on Monday, carrying out a transaction announced in September.
Shinhye Kang / Bloomberg:
Coupang says it is offering $1B+ in compensation to all 33.7M customers affected by South Korea's biggest-ever data breach, after an ex-staffer accessed data  —  Coupang is offering compensation worth more than $1 billion to all customers affected by South Korea's biggest-ever data breach.
Ellesheva Kissin / Financial Times:
ACCA, the world's largest accounting body, says it is ending remote exams to combat a rise in students cheating by using AI tools when taking tests  —  Decision follows scandals at Big Four and comes as AI tools make it easier to circumvent invigilators  —  The world's largest accounting body …
Rajesh Pandey / Android Police:
Samsung and Google partner to bring Google Photos to TizenOS-powered TVs, launching in March 2026 and showing curated memories, ahead of CES 2026  —  Rajesh started following the latest happenings in the world of Android around the release of the Nexus One and Samsung Galaxy S …
Washington Post:
Sources detail how JD Vance, David Sacks, and others brokered a fragile truce between President Trump and Elon Musk, who threatened to fund an America Party  —  JD Vance played a key role brokering a reconciliation between the president and his wealthiest supporter.
Lydia Wheeler / Wall Street Journal:
Sources and a memo: the US DOJ is using a novel reading of a federal anti-fraud law to probe contractors, including Google and Verizon, over their DEI programs  —  Google and Verizon among those being investigated under novel interpretation of law applying to government contractors
George Hammond / Financial Times:
PitchBook: the biggest US private startups raised $150B in 2025, surpassing the previous high of $92B in 2021, boosted by large funding rounds by AI startups  —  Mega funding rounds create ‘fortress balance sheets’ as investors advise top groups to brace for tougher markets
Reuters:
China's SMIC plans to acquire the remaining 49% stake in its SMNC unit for ~$5.8B, making the unit wholly owned; SMNC focuses on 12" integrated circuit wafers  —  China's top foundry SMIC (0981.HK) said on Monday that it plans to acquire the remaining 49% stake in unit SMNC for 40.6 billion yuan …
Emma Roth / The Verge:
Patrick Oster / Bloomberg:
Lou Gerstner, a former IBM CEO and chairman credited with turning the company around, died at 83; IBM's market value rose from $29B to ~$168B during his tenure  —  Louis Gerstner, who took over International Business Machines Corp. when it was on its deathbed and resuscitated it as a technology industry leader, died Saturday.

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Aisha Down / The Guardian:
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Earlier Picks

Martha Muir / Financial Times:
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Cheyenne MacDonald / Engadget: