The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is reportedly proposing cutting 
the Internal Revenue Service&#8217;s (IRS) workforce by 20% in a change expected to 
take effect by May 15, 2025.
According to CNN, the cuts would impact an estimated 6,800 employees at the 
government agency, in addition to the 6,700 probationary employees who have 
already been let go and 4,700 IRS agents who were given severance packages to 
retire.
However, a recent ruling from US district judge William Alsup ordering federal 
agencies to reinstate probationary workers terminated due to the DOGE cost- 
cutting programs could hinder the layoffs if the order is not overturned.
President Trump has promised comprehensive tax reform in the United States, 
including potentially eliminating the federal income tax and funding the 
federal government exclusively through tariffs on foreign goods.
_President Trump discussing his policy proposals with reporters inside the 
Oval Office. Source:__The White House_
 _**Related:**__**Crypto taxes, DOGE, Trump and avoiding an IRS audit: Taxbit 
exec spills the tea**_
## DOGE pursues cost-cutting and efficiency strategies
The Department of Government Efficiency, headed by businessman Elon Musk, is 
exploring methods to reduce the $36 trillion US national debt by substantially 
reducing the size of the federal bureaucracy and introducing cost-cutting 
measures.
One of the more unique measures proposed included putting all public spending 
onchain to reduce deficits and ensure transparency.
On Feb. 21, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced it was 
cutting its regional office directors to comply with the Trump 
administration&#8217;s cost-saving directives.
However, under the reorganization plan, the regional offices, which are spread 
out across major US cities, would stay open, and the SEC recently submitted 
its 2025 budget proposal to Congress requesting $2.6 billion.
_The US national debt has exploded to over $36 trillion. Source:__US Debt 
Clock_
President Trump and Elon Musk have considered passing on 20% of the DOGE 
savings to Americans in a stimulus check or potential tax credits.
Research from accounting automation company Dancing Numbers argued that 
Trump&#8217;s plan to eliminate federal income tax could save the average American 
$134,809 in taxes throughout their lives.
The company added that these lifetime tax savings could extend to as much as 
$325,561 per person if other wage-based taxes at the state level are also 
repealed.
Despite this, not everyone is convinced by DOGE&#8217;s cost-cutting tactics, 
including US Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is highly critical of Elon Musk, 
Trump, and DOGE.
In January 2025, the Massachusetts Senator sent a letter to the DOGE proposing 
increasing taxes and federal spending to make the government more efficient.
_**Magazine:**__**Elon Musk &#8216;s plan to run government on blockchain faces 
uphill battle**_

DOGE proposes slashing Internal Revenue Service staff by 20%

Gaming activity on some layer-2 blockchains rose by over 20,000% in February 
2025 while the number of daily unique active wallets (dUAWs) dropped, 
according to a report by DappRadar.
Abstract, an Ethereum layer-2 blockchain developed by Igloo, the parent 
company of NFT collection Pudgy Penguins, led all chains with a growth of over 
20,000% in daily active unique wallets (dAUWs). Soneium, Sony&#8217;s Ethereum L2 
blockchain, came in second with a growth of over 3,200%, and Linea, another L2 
blockchain, placed third with over 1,000% growth.
_Monthly growth of unique active wallets across blockchains. 
Source:__DappRadar_
On Abstract and Soneium, two games were the primary drivers of activity 
growth: Treasure Ship on Abstract, which currently has around 72,000 UAWs, and 
Evermoon on Soneium, with approximately 32,000 UAWs.
However, despite the rise of gaming activity on L2s, dUAWs overall dropped by 
16% compared to January, settling at around 5.8 million. The report notes that 
while blockchain gaming &#8220;has historically held strong market dominance, 
economic conditions have shifted investor focus back towards DeFi. With market 
uncertainty causing traders to exit positions, DeFi now leads as the most 
dominant sector.&#8221;
The most dominant blockchains for gaming in terms of dUAWs are opBNB, a 
layer-2 blockchain built on top of the BNB Smart Chain; independent layer-1 
blockchain Aptos built for decentralized applications; and Nebula, which is a 
Skale chain.
According to the report, blockchain gaming investments soared to $55 million 
in February, marking a 243% increase from January, with 92% of the funds 
allocated to infrastructure development.
## Blockchain gaming activity sees year-over-year growth, but challenges 
persist
As Cointelegraph reported in February, blockchain gaming activity saw a 
significant year-over-year surge, with daily unique active wallets soaring by 
386% to 7 million. The sharp rise led some industry observers to speculate 
about a potential blockchain gaming bull run in 2025 &#8212; though that prospect 
is now under debate.
One of the games that had been drawing attention to the use of blockchains in 
games was &#8220;Off The Grid.&#8221; The title, which plans to use an Avalanche subnet, 
generated more than 100 million transactions in its first month.
The sector, however, has faced challenges. Gunzilla Games Web3 director 
Theodore Agranat told Cointelegraph that there &#8220;is no new money coming into 
the system,&#8221; explaining that existing capital is just being recycled between 
gaming projects.
&#8220;They will just go from project to project and extract whatever value they can 
from that project,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And once there&#8217;s no more value to be had there, 
they are going to move on to another project.&#8221;
_**Magazine:**__**Web3 Gamer: How AI could ruin gaming, The Voice, addictive 
Axies game**_

L2 gaming activity spikes in February, but wallets decline — Report

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