If you’re a fan of serial killer thrillers, one of the very best is streaming on Paramount+.
There is not a more unpredictable filmmaker working today than Bong Joon-ho. If he says he’s going to make a giant monster movie, he winds up making a comedy and a tragedy and an environmental cautionary tale all at once that has a big ol’ monster in it. If he says he’s concocted a post-apocalyptic action film set on a train, he turns the conveyance into a car-by-car commentary on classism and gives Steve Rogers a monologue about eating babies. He repeated himself just a little with “Mickey 17,” but there are only so many themes to choose from and he keeps cramming three or four into a single movie.
How does he routinely get away with this gonzo game of filmmaking (besides being naturally brilliant)? He creates wonderfully flawed, fouled-up characters who, like human beings in real life, surprise us at every turn. I will forever be amazed at Director Bong’s ability to, in “The Host,” turn a moment of profound grief into a hilarious comedic beat. There are epiphanies like this strewn throughout his movies, but the greatest work of his career thus far possesses some of the darkest surprises.
If you’ve never seen Director Bong’s 2003 masterpiece “Memories of Murder,” now is the time to remedy that — and you can do so by streaming it on Paramount+. The film centers on the investigation into a real-life series of rapes and killings that occurred during the late 1980s in the Gyeonggi Province of South Korea (the country’s first experience with a serial killer). Director Bong has never managed a more astonishing tonal tightrope act. In doing so, he pioneered the revisionist serial killer movie four years before David Fincher’s “Zodiac.”
Memories of Murder follows the long, winding trail of Korea’s first serial killer
CJ Entertainment
Please do not read this as a slam on Fincher’s superb thriller, nor an insinuation that he nicked Director Bong’s idea for an epic-length serial killer movie for the American market (“Zodiac” had been an obsession for Fincher dating back to his Marin County childhood). As for Director Bong, he was both determined to approach the material with sensitivity (given that many of the families touched by this madness were still around), while still scratching an itch for the pulp detective genre.
He finds his middle ground via two remarkable performances. Song Kang-ho stars as Park Doo-man, a local detective who’s serious about his territory. So he’s not thrilled when he receives unwelcome assistance from Kim Sang-kyung’s Seo Tae-yoon, an inspector from Seoul who’s more experienced and cerebral (Kim Roy-ha is also good as Park’s partner Cho). Song and Kim work a splendid variation on the mismatched cop formula, but as their investigation draws on, and leads go cold, Park and Seo feel hollowed out. Defeated, even. This leads to a final sequence that, no hyperbole, may contain the most haunting closing shot in film history.
You already know Bong Joon-ho is the goods. If you’ve got a Paramount+ subscription, check it out (although this is a movie that deserves the full ad-free treatment). You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll shriek and you’ll feel just a little bit empty.
MONACO, May 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crypto news is turning toward AlphaPepe as the project advances toward its Q2 2026 exchange listing, with Stage 15 still live at $0.01666 per token. The presale has now raised over $1.1 million, the holder count has passed 8,400, the AlphaSwap AI DEX demo has surpassed 2,000 active users, and the project has completed a full 10/10 BlockSAFU security audit before public trading begins.
The move comes as XRP price prediction headlines return to the $10 debate ahead of key ETF and regulatory catalysts in May. XRP remains one of the most watched large-cap assets in the market, but its next major move still depends on regulation, institutional demand, and broader liquidity building at the same time. AlphaPepe is moving in a shorter window, where the presale is active now, the product is already being tested, and the Q2 listing timeline is becoming the main focus.
Crypto News: AlphaPepe Moves Toward Q2 Listing While The XRP Price Prediction Reopens The $10 Debate
AlphaPepe’s Q2 exchange listing is now the central focus of the project’s roadmap. The presale has crossed $1.1 million, Stage 15 remains active, and the holder base has moved beyond 8,400. That gives AlphaPepe a stronger pre-listing profile than many early-stage launches, especially because the project is entering the final stretch with product proof already visible.
This is where the presale-to-listing gap starts to matter. Before listing, buyers enter through the stage price. After listing, the market decides. Each stage transition removes the previous entry and brings AlphaPepe closer to the first public candle. Stage 15 is now live at $0.01666, and that stage-by-stage structure keeps tightening the current entry window.
XRP remains one of the biggest names in the current crypto news cycle. The XRP price prediction has moved back into focus as traders watch the CLARITY Act deadline, leveraged XRP ETF launches, and broader institutional demand. Some bullish models place XRP between $5 and $10 if regulation, ETF inflows, and market strength align in the same window.
But that target still depends on several external catalysts. XRP needs regulatory clarity, stronger institutional flow, and broader risk appetite to support a move toward $10. AlphaPepe’s next milestones are more direct. Stage 15 is live, AlphaSwap is being tested, the audit is complete, and the Q2 exchange listing remains the next major step.
AlphaPepe also removes one of the biggest launch problems in presales: delayed access. Token delivery is instant, with no vesting and no claim delay. That means buyers are not waiting for unlocks, claim portals, or post-listing distribution mechanics. They enter while the presale structure is still active and hold exposure before the exchange window opens.
AlphaSwap Gives AlphaPepe Product Proof Before Listing
At the center of AlphaPepe is AlphaSwap, the AI-powered decentralized exchange built for meme coin traders. AlphaSwap is designed to solve three recurring problems in the sector: unsafe contracts, poor visibility into whale activity, and fragmented execution. The contract screening layer identifies suspicious token behavior before users interact with a smart contract. The whale tracking system gives traders visibility into large wallet movements as they happen. The cross-chain execution architecture is being built on BSC with speed and low-cost access in mind.
The 1,000-user demo milestone matters because it gives AlphaPepe a product-led story before listing. Many early-stage crypto launches still come to market with branding, community energy, and future promises. AlphaPepe is moving toward its Q2 exchange listing with users already testing its core product. That gives the launch a different profile from a typical presale built only on hype.
The 10/10 BlockSAFU audit adds another layer of credibility before public trading begins. In a market where security remains one of the biggest concerns for early-stage buyers, AlphaPepe is approaching launch with a completed audit, a live product demo, 8,400+ holders, and more than $1.1 million raised before exchange access begins. That combination gives the presale a stronger position as the Q2 listing window moves closer.
Conclusion
XRP’s $10 target remains one of the most aggressive large-cap predictions in the current market. The setup depends on regulatory clarity, ETF demand, institutional participation, and broader crypto liquidity all moving in the same direction. If those catalysts align, XRP could remain one of the biggest stories in crypto news.
But XRP’s path to $10 still depends on external market conditions building over time. AlphaPepe is moving on a shorter timeline. Stage 15 is live, the presale has already crossed $1.1 million, the holder count has passed 8,400, the AlphaSwap demo is active, and the Q2 exchange listing is approaching with visible product traction already in place.
That is why the listing window matters. AlphaPepe is not asking the market to wait for utility after launch. Users are already testing the product, the audit is complete, the holder base is growing, and the presale has crossed another major milestone before public trading begins. XRP gives buyers the large-cap catalyst trade. AlphaPepe gives them the presale-to-listing entry before the next price reset.
Stage 15 is active now, and every stage close moves the entry higher. Buyers waiting for the Q2 exchange listing may not be buying the same setup later. They may be chasing the price that early presale buyers secured before the public market arrived.
CLICK TO VISIT ALPHAPEPE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
FAQs
What is AlphaPepe’s current presale status?AlphaPepe has raised over $1.1 million with 8,400+ holders. Stage 15 is live at $0.01666, the AlphaSwap AI DEX demo has surpassed 1,000 users, and the Q2 exchange listing is approaching.
Can XRP reach $10?The $10 XRP target is a bullish scenario tied to CLARITY Act progress, ETF inflows, institutional demand, and broader market strength. It remains possible under aggressive assumptions but depends on multiple catalysts aligning.
About AlphaPepe
AlphaPepe is a crypto presale project building AlphaSwap, an AI-powered decentralized exchange designed to support safer and smarter on-chain trading. AlphaSwap combines AI contract screening, whale wallet tracking, and cross-chain execution on BSC to help users identify risk, monitor large wallet activity, and trade with lower friction. AlphaPepe has crossed $1.1 million raised, passed 8,400 holders, surpassed 2,000 AlphaSwap demo users, and completed a 10/10 BlockSAFU audit ahead of its planned Q2 2026 exchange debut.
Contact:Jack Duffycontact@alphapepe.io
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Top banking groups say the new Clarity Act language leaves loopholes regarding stablecoin yield.
The compromise would ban direct yield on stablecoins but still allow some rewards tied to account balances.
The banks’ statement comes as senators prepare for a long-delayed committee vote on the Clarity Act.
A coalition of the nation’s top banking trade groups, representing Wall Street giants and community banks alike, issued a statement Friday expressing concern that new language in a major crypto bill would benefit digital assets companies and disrupt the traditional banking industry.
For months, the banking industry and the crypto lobby have battled over key language in the Clarity Act, a bill that would formally legalize most crypto activity in the United States.
Banks want to add language to the legislation banning crypto companies from offering yield on stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to the value of the U.S. dollar. The banks say such programs could make traditional, low-yield savings accounts less attractive; crypto companies, including Coinbase, have argued they should be able to compete with traditional finance.
For nearly four months, the skirmish over stablecoin yield has kept the Clarity Act from advancing in the Senate. Last week, two key lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee finally revealed a proposed compromise on the issue, which crypto leaders quickly embraced.
Senators soon after signaled optimism that the problem was dealt with, and that a committee vote on the Clarity Act was near at hand.
But now, a united front of top banking trade groups is asking for further changes to the proposed language, arguing the current draft contains loopholes that would allow crypto companies to evade the intended prohibitions on stablecoin yield.
The compromise language, drafted by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), would prohibit the payment of rewards on stablecoins in a manner that is “economically or functionally equivalent to the payment of interest or yield on an interest-bearing bank deposit.”
But it would also potentially greenlight rewards tied to participation in governance, validation, and staking—and rewards calculated by referencing a user’s account balance.
Today, six banking trade groups, representing all major national banks and community banks in all 50 states, wrote a letter to the Senate Banking Committee arguing that those exceptions are overbroad.
“We are concerned… that the proposed language includes exceptions that will enable evasion of the intended prohibition and incentivize customers to hold and grow stablecoin balances at the expense of deposits,” the groups said.
The letter includes specific asks about rewording the stablecoin yield language—including striking the ability for rewards to reference account balances in any way, and changing the prohibition on payments “economically or functionally equivalent” to yield, to a prohibition on payments “substantially similar” to yield.
The letter lists numerous potential stablecoin rewards programs the banking groups say could exist under the proposed language that would violate the spirit of a potential compromise. Those include payments structured like a money market mutual fund, payments of a flat monthly reward that increases with account balance increases, and payments based on account balance but triggered by making a certain number of monthly transactions.
When banks first floated concerns about the new language earlier this week, Sen. Tillis replied in a statement that he and Sen. Alsobrooks “respectfully agree to disagree”—signaling the lawmakers were willing to proceed with a committee vote on the bill regardless.
Decrypt reached out to the two senators regarding the more granular concerns raised today by the banking trades, but did not immediately receive a response.
Time is of the essence for supporters of the Clarity Act, which senators on the Banking Committee have promised would be considered next week or the week following.
The Senate is only in session for two weeks this month, and will soon grind to a halt in advance of November’s midterm elections. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), a pro-crypto member of the Senate Banking Committee, recently urged that if the bill does not pass this month, “digital asset legislation will not pass for the foreseeable future.”
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The Commodore Amiga scene gets another rediscovery, as today’s appearance is a game called Bomberplanes, an intense aerial shooter originally developed in 1994 by Dutch creator Bart ter Haar. A game in which he states, that not only was it created 32 years ago using SEUCK for the Amiga, but he was only 16 at the time! A version that is, in some respects, even more limited than the C64 version. Naturally, he would have done it very differently in 2026. To coincide with this news, provided below is the latest footage and game details.
Built using the legendary Shoot ‘Em Up Construction Kit (SEUCK), the game is a masterclass in early-90s homebrew development for the Amiga 500. Every frame of its distinctive handmade pixel art was crafted using DeluxePaint IV, while the custom sound effects and atmospheric samples were composed in Protracker 2.2a.”
Single or Multiplayer mode Fight against various Boss planes You start your journey with 3 lives Collect coins for Extra Points Extra Life with every 10,000 points Watch out for floating aerial mines!
Bitcoin briefly crossed $80,000 on May 4, 2026, its first time above that level since late January. For many traders, that number isn’t just a price milestone. It’s a psychological line that separates cautious optimism from real conviction.
The rally didn’t come out of nowhere. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $2.44 billion during April 2026, nearly double March’s inflows, signaling serious institutional appetite. Combine that with growing momentum around the CLARITY Act, a U.S. Senate bill pushing toward a formal crypto regulatory framework, and bulls suddenly had two strong narratives running simultaneously.
Why $80k Is A Psychological Flashpoint
Round numbers carry outsized weight in markets. They concentrate options activity, attract media coverage, and force traders who’ve been sitting on the fence to pick a side. Bitcoin at $80K does all three at once.
The price had been locked below this threshold for months, which means a clean break above it would technically invalidate a long period of bearish overhead pressure. That’s exactly why the debate has become so heated. Both camps know this level could define the next major trend leg.
Bulls Vs. Bears: What Charts Are Showing
Bulls aren’t short on ammunition. Bitcoin surged roughly 19% over the past month through May 2026, comfortably outpacing the S&P 500’s 10% return in the same window. Technical traders are pointing to a confirmed breakout above the 100-day moving average and key supply zones, with some eyeing $90K–$95K as realistic near-term targets.
Bears, however, aren’t convinced. They’re flagging declining price momentum, down 3.5%, alongside a 28.6% drop in net buying pressure, both signs that the move may lack the follow-through needed. When price momentum starts fading at a major resistance level, experienced traders pay attention.
That elevated crypto prices often increase activity across related industries. For example, recommended crypto casinos for players tend to see higher traffic when BTC dominance climbs and investor confidence improves. Additionally, crypto mining firms and blockchain payment platforms also typically benefit when Bitcoin prices rise, as stronger market sentiment drives more transactions and user participation.
Hardware wallet manufacturers and crypto tax software providers also tend to see increased demand during strong bull markets, as more users look to secure and manage growing digital portfolios.
Call option hedging clustered around the $80K strike is also creating artificial resistance that bulls will need to absorb before any sustainable advance.
How BTC Momentum Changes Crypto User Behavior
Price rallies don’t just move charts; they influence behavior. When Bitcoin climbs, on-chain activity accelerates, NFT floor prices tend to recover, and DeFi protocols see renewed deposit flows. The $80K push is already producing those signals across several ecosystem metrics.
Sentiment data offers a more cautious read, though. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index dropped to 40 in May 2026, slipping into “Fear” territory despite the price gains. That disconnect, rising prices but falling confidence, is something analysts typically treat as a yellow flag rather than a green light.
What Happens If $80k Fails To Hold
A rejection at this level wouldn’t be catastrophic on its own, but it would reset the psychological narrative significantly. Traders who bought the breakout would face paper losses, and a rush for the exits could accelerate any pullback faster than the move up.
The macro backdrop does offer some support. ETF inflows remaining strong and regulatory clarity progressing through Washington both reduce the likelihood of a complete breakdown.
The CLARITY Act’s Senate progress is the most concrete U.S. crypto legislation in years. That structural tailwind doesn’t disappear just because price wobbles. The $80K level remains contested, but the basics underneath it look considerably more solid than they did six months ago.
TON currently offers the highest staking APR among the top 50 cryptocurrencies at 18.80%.
Pavel Durov highlighted TON’s staking yield as network activity and adoption continue to increase.
Recent upgrades, lower fees, and Telegram ecosystem integration have supported validator participation.
The Open Network (TON), a decentralized layer-1 blockchain, has come up as a leader in annual staking rewards among the 50 largest cryptocurrencies.
In an X post on Friday, Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, stated that TON currently offers the highest staking yields in its category. The post came as Toncoin (TON) faced significant price momentum, almost doubling in value over the last week.
TON is #1 in annual staking rewards among the 50 largest cryptocurrencies.
That’s on top of the coin’s price growth, which doubled this week. pic.twitter.com/Lt7C2B6wTd
— Pavel Durov (@durov) May 8, 2026
TON stands with an 18.80% Annual Percentage Rate (APR) and ranks 15th as per its market capitalization. Following TON, other top 10 places are held by Bittensor (TAO), Canton Network (CC), Avalanche (AVAX), Solana (SOL), Polkadot (DOT), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), Tron (TRX), Ethereum (ETH), and Hyperliquid (HYPE).
Staking allows TON holders to lock tokens with network validators, which helps to secure the blockchain and earn rewards in return. High-staking APY (Annual Percentage Yield) makes the asset captivating for long-term holders looking for passive income along with potential price appreciation.
Network upgrades support activity growth
Durov’s statement highlights TON’s growing appeal within the broader crypto market. The network is closely attached to the Telegram messaging app and has around one billion users. It has profited from recent technical upgrades, including faster block times, reduced transaction fees, and improved finality.
These advancements have resulted in increased network activity and validator participation. Other developments, including Telegram becoming the biggest validator on the network, have also strengthened confidence in infrastructure and governance.
Despite the announcement, the token is trading 4.11% lower in the past 24 hours and is standing at $2.59 at the time of this writing, as reported by CoinMarketCap. However, it has shown impressive weekly performance, being up by 94.73%.
The market capitalization of the asset stands at $6.96 billion, and 24-hour trading volume remains at $1.11 billion. The 24-hour high hit by the token was $2.78.
Launch of agentic wallets
Another update resulting in boosting annual staking rewards could be attributed to the launch of agentic wallets on TON by TON Tech, backed by the TON Foundation. The new function allows the AI bots operating on Telegram to store their own money and process blockchain transactions according to the parameters defined by the users themselves.
A user can provide their bot with its own self-custody wallet, top it up, and establish conditions under which payments will be made. The bot will be able to transfer money, purchase products in apps, and communicate with smart contracts without any additional authorizations from the user side.
Yield and utility continue to drive adoption
The recent trends in the price of TON and staking are occurring in the context of an overall market rebound, where many different cryptocurrencies have shown renewed interest in usability and profitability.
As the digital asset market matures, projects that offer both real-world use cases and competitive incentives are likely to attract greater adoption.
The present situation regarding TON’s staking reward is a reflection of such a trend. Durov’s announcement has received positive feedback from the community and markets alike.
Also Read: US Senator Warren Flags Meta’s Stablecoin Project Potential Risk
Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.
In tonight’s Coronation Street (Friday, May 8), Danielle Silverton found an unexpected bond with Todd Grimshaw in the aftermath of Theo’s death.
She shifted away from being the ‘bitter ex wife’ and instead stepped into the role of ‘understanding ally.’
However, viewers aren’t buying the sudden change, with many convinced there’s far more to Danielle’s overly friendly behaviour than she’s letting on.
Danielle visited Todd (Credit: ITV)
Danielle and Todd bond in Coronation Street
In Friday’s episode, Danielle finally dropped her guard during a truly emotional conversation with Todd. She gave her most candid account yet of life with Theo.
After initially meeting him in the Rovers, the pair later returned to George’s house where Danielle reflected on their complicated history.
She admitted there were genuinely happy moments in the early years of their marriage and described Theo as a devoted father when their relationship first began. But she also revealed that, over time, he became increasingly controlling, quietly shaping their family life behind closed doors.
While Danielle did not allege any physical abuse, she made it clear she had lived in a constant state of fear around him and often felt unable to challenge his behaviour.
She went on to apologise to Todd for everything Theo had put him through and promised she would be there if he ever needed support. Danielle suggested they were both dealing with different sides of the same man.
Still, her sudden shift in attitude has raised eyebrows, with viewers questioning whether she genuinely wants understanding with Todd or whether there is another motive behind her opening up now.
Did Danielle kill Theo? (Credit: ITV)
Fans predict Danielle played a part in Theo’s murder
Danielle may be trying to get closer to Todd for a reason, and Coronation Street fans are convinced it could be because she was involved in Theo’s death.
Some viewers believe she may have killed her ex-husband herself, taking to social media to share their theories.
One Coronation Street fan on X wondered: “Was it Danielle?,” while another commented: “I think Danielle killed Theo because she was abused, or it’s just a way for the writers to write her out for good.”
A third person predicted: “Worked out the killer. Just like when crime dramas cast a well-known actor, they either die or are the murderer. In this case, it’ll be Danielle who killed Theo.”
The killer or the cover-up
However, others think Theo’s son Miles could be responsible, with Danielle then helping to cover things up.
One fan wrote: “I was convinced it was Summer that pushed him at first but now I’m thinking Danielle or Miles did it & she’s covering for him. It’s way too suspicious that we haven’t seen them for ages and now Theo’s dead they’re suddenly back on screen. Something’s not adding up.”
Another agreed: “Danielle is covering for Miles, I’m calling it now no WAY Miles randomly made an appearance right before Theo was killed.”
A final person finished: “My thinking exactly, it’s no coincidence the show brought Miles back last week for no reason. Could Danielle be covering for him? She looked shifty at the end of tonight’s episode.”
As suspicions continue to swirl, fans are clearly not convinced Danielle’s emotional honesty is the full story. She might know more than she’s letting on.
Read more: Coronation Street opinion: Soap losing balance as villains dominate
Coronation Street usually airs Monday-Friday at 8.30pm on ITV.
What do you think about this story? Let us know by leaving a comment on our Facebook page @CoronationStreetInsider. We want to hear your thoughts!
Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant has faced some huge storylines during his years playing Jacob Sugden, but right now his alter ego is going through one of his toughest times yet.
While Jacob may be happily settled with wife Sarah and their baby, life at work has become a nightmare thanks to Dr Todd’s bullying campaign. And with her now threatening to expose the truth about baby Leyla, things look set to get even worse.
Away from the ITV soap, though, Joe-Warren’s real life has had its fair share of drama too, from high-profile romance rumours to heartbreak and an unexpected side hustle that fans never saw coming.
Things haven’t been easy for Jacob in Emmerdale lately (Credit: ITV)
Joe-Warren Plant in an age-gap romance
One of Jacob’s most talked-about storylines saw him groomed and abused by teacher and dad’s girlfriend Maya Stepney.
At the time, Joe was 17 in real life and dating girlfriend Nicole Hadlow, who was 22. The pair regularly shared loved-up snaps online, including glamorous holidays to places like Mexico and Ibiza.
However, their relationship came to an end in 2021 when Joe signed up for Dancing On Ice, with reports suggesting the intense schedule played a part in their split.
Speaking to The Sun at the time, Joe admitted: “Dancing on Ice has come at a good time for me physically and mentally.
“Relationships are hard to kind of deal with. It has helped to take my mind off of it slightly, having to focus and train all day every day.”
He added: “It’s helped taking my mind off it, but things are still tough to be fair.”
Joe-Warren Plant and Vanessa Bauer were partnered together on Dancing On Ice in 2021 (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant and co-star romance rumours
It was during his time on Dancing On Ice that romance rumours began swirling around Joe and his professional skating partner Vanessa Bauer.
Fans quickly speculated the pair’s chemistry on screen had become something more, with some even suggesting it had contributed to Joe’s split from Nicole.
Addressing the rumours in an interview with the Mail Online, Joe insisted there was nothing romantic going on.
“With Dancing On Ice, it is about telling a story, to be engaged with the audience and the judges,” he explained.
“So you have to have a certain level of chemistry between you and your partner.”
He added: “Everybody has seen that we’re getting on so well and automatically assumed that something is going on but there isn’t.”
Sadly, Joe and Vanessa were later forced to withdraw from the competition after contracting COVID, despite being among the favourites to win.
At the time, Joe wrote online: “I am beyond heartbroken that our journey has been cut short.”
He later stepped away from the public eye for a month to focus on himself.
Joe and Anna were together for two years (Credit: Shutterstock)
New girlfriend
Joe later found love again and went public with girlfriend Anna Norton in 2022.
A source told The Sun at the time that the pair were “totally smitten” with each other.
The insider claimed: “They’ve been spending a lot of time together recently at charity football events and make each other really happy.”
The couple reportedly bought a house together in Blackpool and even shared a cat. However, after two years together, the relationship ended, with reports suggesting the split was not amicable.
Looking cosy… (Credit: @joewarren_plant on Instagram Stories)
Who is Emmerdale star Joe-Warren Plant dating now?
The 24-year-old later went Instagram official with a new girlfriend in January 2025.
Joe shared a cosy snap on his Instagram Stories, tagging a brunette called Isabella, although her account remains private.
The Sun later reported Isabella was Joe’s new girlfriend. While he keeps his private life fairly low-key, the pair appear to still be together and have shared several sunny holiday moments online.
Joe doesn’t just appear in Emmerdale (Credit: ITV)
Joe’s side hustle
Away from Emmerdale, Joe-Warren also has a very unexpected second job.
Speaking on the Celebrity Side Hustles podcast last year, former co-star Matthew Wolfenden revealed Joe still works as a waiter in a restaurant in Blackpool.
Matthew explained: “He started off washing dishes. He’s kept himself grounded, got a normal job on a weekend and yeah, that’s just really admirable and beautiful.”
He added: “He’s just such a gorgeous young man – he’s never got starry about it.”
Joe-Warrent Plant was just 10 when he joined Emmerdale (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock)
Tragic loss of his mum
Joe joined Emmerdale as Jacob in 2010 at just eight years old and has previously credited his parents, Warren and Steph, for supporting his acting career from the beginning.
Speaking to The Mirror in 2023, he said: “I can’t remember what it was like before. This is home for me. I owe everything to Mum and Dad.”
Tragically, Joe’s mum died from liver complications in November 2022 aged 47.
Reflecting on her support, Joe said: “Mum was so supportive and such an amazing person. I miss her a lot.”
Read more: Emmerdale cast shake-up 2026 as exits confirmed and big returns teased – so who’s leaving?
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 8pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!
Published: May 08, 2026 at 1:54 pm Updated: May 08, 2026 at 1:54 pm
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London, United Kingdom, May 8th, 2026, Chainwire
GoBTC Pay is a protocol that lets consumers make native and instant payments on Bitcoin’s base layer.
GoMining launches its own mining pool to prioritize GoBTC Pay transaction confirmation, targeting a 12-hour final on-chain settlement by the end of 2026.
The launch marks a strategic expansion for GoMining, a platform with 5 million users. GoBTC Pay extends this ecosystem into everyday payments.
GoMining launches GoBTC Pay a Bitcoin payment protocol that delivers on what the 2008 whitepaper promised: peer-to-peer electronic payments. GoBTC Pay enables free and instant Bitcoin payments on the core Bitcoin layer. This makes it practical to use Bitcoin at the point of sale for everyday purchases. Payments are free for end-users and merchants pay a small acquiring fee that undercuts traditional card processing.
GoBTC Pay is designed as an open infrastructure. GoMining operates the reference implementation, but any wallet provider — from Ledger to Trust Wallet to MetaMask — can integrate the protocol to offer instant Bitcoin payments to their users.
Why this matters
Bitcoin is the dominant cryptocurrency with a market cap above $1.5 trillion. Over 150 public companies hold BTC on their balance sheets. Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which didn’t exist two years ago, now manage roughly $100 billion in assets across a dozen funds. The U.S. government holds approximately 328,000 BTC. But Bitcoin still can’t process a retail transaction quickly and reliably.
The Lightning Network, introduced in 2018 to solve this problem, took seven years to reach $1 billion in monthly volume and its average transaction of $223 mostly reflects exchange-to-exchange flows, not someone paying for groceries. In the US, about 22% of adults own Bitcoin, yet there are only 2,300 U.S. businesses that accept Bitcoin directly, and the gap between how many people own Bitcoin and how many places accept it is widening.
“The first line of the Bitcoin whitepaper describes a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. Bitcoin was designed to be money, not just an asset. That promise is still unfulfilled, and we intend to deliver on it,” said Mark Zalan, CEO of GoMining. “We already serve millions of users, and run data centers on three continents. All of this provides us a unique position to enable native Bitcoin payments with GoBTC Pay.”
Mining-powered confirmation
GoBTC Pay enables free and instant payments in Bitcoin, using GoMining’s own mining infrastructure to confirm the transactions. It uses a 2-of-3 multi-signature architecture shared between the user, GoMining, and a regulated third-party custodian.
GoMining serves 5 million users globally. The company has created a dedicated mining pool for processing GoBTC Pay transactions, aiming for a 12-hour on-chain settlement by the end of 2026. Where most payment companies depend on third-party pools for confirmation, GoMining mines the blocks itself.
The pool also serves GoMining’s “digital miners” — users who own tokenized hashrate through GoMining’s app. A portion of GoBTC Pay transaction fees flows back to these miners as additional BTC yield: consumers pay with BTC, merchants earn BTC, miners earn a share of payment fees, and GoMining’s pool processes the transactions.
Any wallet provider, whether hardware, software, or custodial, can connect to the GoBTC Pay network and enable instant Bitcoin payments for their users.
Bitcoin payments for Merchants
For merchants, GoBTC Pay is a Bitcoin-native acquiring network that undercuts every major card processor on cost. Its acquiring fee of 0.2% is substantially lower than traditional card processing, which range from 1.5% to 3.5% in the US. On a $100 sale, the merchant keeps $99.80.
GoMining distributes the entire fee back into the ecosystem: half goes to the miners who confirm transactions, and half goes to the wallet provider that initiated the payment. GoMining retains nothing on third-party transactions to incentivize wallet integrations and accelerate adoption.
Merchants can receive BTC directly to their own wallet, or use GoMining’s custodial merchant solution, which offers yield on their BTC balance — including during the settlement window — and an off-ramp to fiat. GoBTC Pay will ship with a dedicated PoS terminal, a web merchant dashboard, a developer SDK, and plugins for Shopify and WooCommerce in the coming months.
The launch coincides with GoMining’s major expansion in the United States. The company is building combined data centers for Bitcoin mining and AI workloads, with a target of securing 1 GW of compute capacity in 2026.
GoMining presented a live demo of GoBTC Pay at Consensus Miami 2026 (May 5–7, Miami Beach Convention Center).
About GoMining
GoMining is an all-in-one Bitcoin ecosystem that makes it simple and secure to mine, earn, and use Bitcoin every day. GoMining serves 5 million users and ranks among the top-10 Bitcoin miners by hashrate globally, with data centers in the U.S. and internationally. The company makes Bitcoin accessible through tokenized hashrate, daily BTC rewards, and an expanding suite of payment and earning products. For more information, please visit https://gomining.com/
Contact
GoMining[email protected]
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.
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The xenomorph threat is back, and this time it’s bringing even more chaos with it in Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2.
Officially announced by Daybreak Game Company, Cold Iron Studios and 20th Century Games, the co-op shooter set to launch this summer on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
Following on from the success of 2021’s Aliens: Fireteam Elite, the sequel looks set to expand almost every aspect of the formula, including larger co-op squads, deeper class systems and even deadlier enemy encounters pulled straight from the Alien universe.
If you thought surviving against swarms of xenomorphs with three friends was stressful before, just wait until four-player chaos enters the picture.
At A Glance
Game: Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2
Developer: Cold Iron Studios
Publisher: Daybreak Game Company / 20th Century Games
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store
Release Window: Summer 2026
A Bigger Bug Hunt Begins
Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 once again throws players into the boots of Colonial Marines battling overwhelming alien horrors, but the sequel is clearly aiming for a larger scale experience.
This time around, teams of up to four players will head into dangerous missions across new environments inspired by the wider Alien universe. What begins as a rescue operation quickly spirals into the sort of desperate survival scenario fans of the franchise know all too well.
Cold Iron Studios is promising escalating combat encounters that move from claustrophobic corridor fights to full-scale horde warfare, with xenomorphs stalking from the shadows and launching coordinated attacks from every angle.
And they won’t be alone.
New Threats Beyond The Xenomorphs
While the iconic aliens remain the headline threat, Fireteam Elite 2 also introduces additional dangers into the mix.
Pathogen creatures return alongside Weyland-Yutani combat synths, adding extra layers of unpredictability to firefights. Combined with larger battles and more dynamic encounters, it sounds like players will need to think far more carefully about squad composition and loadouts this time around.
The sequel also introduces brand-new classes, including a fully customisable Specialist role that allows players to create unique builds around their own preferred playstyle.
Weapons, abilities and class mechanics can all be mixed and matched, opening the door for more flexible team setups and deeper replayability.
Cold Iron Wants To Double Down On Action And Horror
Chris Cross, Game Director on Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, said the studio is pushing harder into both sides of the Alien formula. “With Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, we’re doubling down on the action and the terror, delivering an experience worthy of the Alien franchise. This sequel expands the action to four players, introduces new character classes including a fully customizable Specialist, and takes the fight to immersive new environments across the Aliens universe.”
That bigger scope seems fitting too, particularly with 2026 marking the 40th anniversary of James Cameron’s legendary Aliens film.
John Drake, GM of 20th Century Games, also referenced that milestone directly:
“We’re celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Aliens in 2026, and Fireteam Elite 2 honors that world. With the help of Daybreak Game Company and Cold Iron Studios, we’re delivering the chaos of a Colonial Marine bug hunt with the terror and challenge of overcoming an overwhelming enemy. We can’t wait for squads to get their hands on this world later this summer.”
Building On A Strong Original
The original Aliens: Fireteam Elite proved to be a pleasant surprise back in 2021, delivering fast-paced co-op action wrapped in some genuinely authentic Alien atmosphere.
In our 4.5/5 review, we said: “Aliens: Fireteam Elite is very good indeed.”
We also praised its replayability, relentless action and faithful presentation, noting that it successfully captured the feeling of stepping into the Colonial Marines universe.
From what’s been shown so far, Fireteam Elite 2 looks determined to push that fantasy even further.
And if Cold Iron can successfully balance the horror, teamwork and chaos of a proper xenomorph outbreak once again, this could end up becoming one of the bigger co-op shooters of the summer.
