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April 29, 2026

How AI Crypto Scammers Drained a Retiree’s 0K Savings – NFT Plazas

Kyle Holder spent decades building a life. She worked as an occupational therapist, saved carefully, and planned for her older years the way most people hope to — with security, independence, and options. By early 2025, all of that was gone. In less than three months, nearly $300,000 had been transferred out of her accounts and into a criminal network she never knew existed.

Holder is 73 years old. She now lives in an assisted living facility supported by Medicaid. Her story, first reported by CBS News through direct interviews with Holder and IRS investigators, is not a cautionary abstraction. It is a documented case of financial exploitation — one that federal agents say reflects a significant and accelerating shift in how fraud operates in the United States.

It Started With a Single Message

It started with a WhatsApp message in December 2024.

Holder was recovering from an injury that had interrupted her ability to work. She used the app regularly to stay in touch with family across the United States, Canada, and Israel, so the platform itself didn’t register as unusual. The message advertised a cryptocurrency investment course. She later told CBS News that she saw it as a possible way forward — a chance, as she put it, to “use my time, start something new and make money, to carry me into my older years.”

She replied. That reply connected her with a person calling herself “Niamh,” who described herself as a single mother. What followed was not an immediate pitch. Instead, Niamh built a relationship — daily check-ins, personal conversations, emotional familiarity. A second person, framed as part of a “customer service team,” eventually joined the process.

Together, they guided Holder through setting up cryptocurrency wallets and making an initial transfer. She started small. Shortly after, thousands of dollars appeared in her wallet.

That moment — an early, visible “return” on a modest investment — is one of the most reliable tools in this category of fraud. It makes the system feel real. It creates a sense of momentum. And it’s designed precisely to do both.

Kyle Holder chatted with a scammer posing as “Niamh.”

Two Months. $300,000. Gone.

Encouraged by what she saw, Holder continued. The amounts grew.

Niamh offered reassurances along the way, telling Holder that the team would handle taxes on any profits they earned together. She framed the arrangement in personal terms, claiming that the funds she had contributed included child support for her daughter and money borrowed through loans — details calculated to add emotional weight and a sense of mutual investment.

Over approximately two months, Holder transferred a total of nearly $300,000 to 14 different cryptocurrency wallets controlled by the operation.

When the expected returns stopped appearing, she asked Niamh directly whether she had been scammed. The response was a sharp pivot. Rather than offering reassurance, Niamh told her she had made a “fatal mistake” by sending funds to the wrong wallet address. The tone turned cold. Communication broke down soon after.

The money was already gone.

In the weeks that followed, Holder fell into severe depression. She became bedbound. Social services eventually brought her to a hospital. She is now living in an assisted living facility, her retirement savings erased.

Holder was one of thousands of Americans swept up in cyber scams that drained an estimated $20 billion in 2025.

How the IRS Traced the Money

The case was taken up by the IRS Criminal Investigation division in New York.

Agents traced the funds flowing out of the 14 wallets into five consolidated wallets — a common step in cryptocurrency laundering designed to obscure the transaction trail. From there, the money moved again, reaching cryptocurrency exchanges where it could be converted and withdrawn. Investigators determined that the same network had processed more than $5 million in stolen funds across multiple victims.

IRS Special Agent Harry Chavis, speaking to CBS News, said that the criminals likely used tools sourced from the dark web — including AI systems capable of generating targeted scripts and identifying potential victims through hacked or purchased data. As Chavis described it, today’s scammers are “using these dark AI tools to write scripts to literally go specifically to the victim.”

That specificity is what separates modern fraud from the mass-blast schemes of earlier years. These operations are not sending generic messages to millions of strangers. They are crafting personalized interactions, adjusting tone and content based on individual responses, and sustaining those interactions over weeks or months. The result feels less like a scam and more like a relationship — which is, of course, the point.

IRS diagram shows stolen crypto mixed and funneled — hard to trace.

The Numbers Behind One Story

Holder’s case is not an outlier. It is a data point in a much larger pattern.

According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — 2025 Annual Report, cyber-enabled fraud in the United States reached record levels, with total reported losses exceeding $21 billion. Investment scams accounted for 49% of all complaints. Cryptocurrency-related fraud was the single most costly category, responsible for roughly $11 billion in losses across more than 181,000 reported cases.

The report also tracked a newer and growing subset: complaints tied specifically to artificial intelligence. More than 22,000 IC3 complaints were identified as AI-assisted scams, with combined losses approaching $900 million. Follow-up reporting from Moneywise and Yahoo Finance placed Holder’s experience within this surge, highlighting the particular vulnerability of older adults and retirees — people whose savings are fixed, whose recovery window is limited, and who are deliberately targeted for both reasons.

Chavis was direct about this when speaking to CBS News: “These are highly sophisticated scams and anyone can be a victim.”

What Makes These Scams So Hard to See Coming

These schemes are not effective because victims are careless. They are effective because they are engineered to be convincing.

AI gives scammers tools that didn’t exist at scale even a few years ago: the ability to generate personalized outreach, mirror conversational tone, adapt dynamically to responses, and pull from leaked or purchased personal data to make interactions feel specific and real. Combined with cryptocurrency — where transactions are fast, irreversible, and difficult to trace — the result is a fraud environment that is both highly effective and hard to dismantle.

The Federal Trade Commission has been explicit: no legitimate financial institution requests cryptocurrency payments, and no credible investment guarantees returns in volatile markets. Consumer protection agencies flag consistent warning signs — unsolicited investment offers arriving via messaging apps, pressure to act quickly, instructions to keep transactions private, and any promise of guaranteed profit.

For those who have been targeted, federal agents strongly encourage early reporting through the FBI’s IC3 portal or the FTC’s Report Fraud website. Chavis and other investigators have emphasized that shame and hesitation are among the scammers’ most effective tools — delays in reporting give criminal networks more time to move funds beyond reach.

Kyle Holder’s name appears in a federal investigation. Her experience has been documented, analyzed, and cited in national fraud reports. What those reports cannot fully capture is what it means to spend a career building financial security and lose it — not through carelessness, but through a coordinated, technologically sophisticated operation designed specifically to exploit trust.

Behind the $11 billion figure. Behind the 181,000 complaints. Behind the policy language about “emerging threats” — there are people like her.

And the number is growing.

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FOMC Today: What the Fed’s Rate Decision Means for NFT Floor Prices This Week

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Metaverse Fashion Week Online

April 29, 2026

FOMC Today: What the Fed’s Rate Decision Means for NFT Floor Prices This Week

The crypto market is zeroing in on one of the month’s most critical macro events as the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) prepares to announce its interest rate decision at 2 p.m. ET on April 29, followed by Chairman Jerome Powell’s press conference 30 minutes later. According to the CME FedWatch Tool, the market is almost certain the Fed will hold rates steady at 3.50%–3.75%, meaning this week’s volatility will likely hinge more on Powell’s message than the rate decision itself.

With the NFT market still in a state of thin liquidity and heavily dependent on Ethereum (ETH), any shift in risk sentiment could quickly reflect in the floor prices of major collections.

Markets Await Powell

The April 28–29 FOMC meeting takes place as the market has almost fully priced in the possibility that the Fed will hold rates steady. Data from CME FedWatch shows traders are betting nearly 100% on a scenario where the Fed maintains the target rate at 3.50%–3.75%, following months of cooling inflation that has yet to return to the 2% target.

FedWatch probability chart. Source: CMEGroup

The latest U.S. CPI currently stands at approximately 3.3%, while Core PCE — the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge — fluctuates around 2.8%. This keeps market expectations alive for the Fed to begin easing policy in the second half of the year, though it is not yet enough to guarantee an aggressive cutting cycle.

In this context, the spotlight has shifted to Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech rather than the timing of this month’s rate announcement. Accordingly, any signal indicating the Fed will maintain a cautious policy longer than expected could put pressure on high-speculation assets.

The NFT market is currently one of the areas most sensitive to such volatility. While NFT prices depend more on speculative activity around ETH and the buying power of a relatively small group of traders, this makes floor prices more prone to sharp swings when market sentiment shifts following major macro events like the FOMC.

NFT Liquidity Stays Thin

On-chain data shows that liquidity has not yet seen a strong recovery ahead of FOMC week, even though the prices of many blue-chip collections have stabilized in recent months.

The number of active NFT traders on Ethereum plateaued in April after a brief recovery in Q1, suggesting that speculative capital has not yet returned as it did in previous rallies. Meanwhile, Ethereum continues to hold a massive share of the high-value NFT segment, far outpacing other ecosystems like Polygon or Bitcoin in the high-value NFT category.

NFT Trade Volume by Chain. Source: CryptoSlam

This keeps the NFT market heavily dependent on ETH price action and general risk-on sentiment. When capital flows weaken, bids on marketplaces often thin out quickly, making floor prices easily dragged down by just a few transactions below the market average.

NFT Floors Face a Fed Test

Data from NFT Price Floor shows that many blue-chip collections are currently maintaining relatively stable floor prices denominated in ETH. CryptoPunks are trading around the 40 ETH range, while Pudgy Penguins and Bored Ape Yacht Club have held their positions among the high-liquidity collections in the market.

NFTPriceFloor ranking. Source: NFTPriceFloor

However, some of these collections have recorded only a few transactions in the last 24 hours. CryptoPunks recorded only about three transactions per day, while some art collections like Fidenza have seen almost no new volume. This indicates that the current issue is not that floor prices have collapsed, but that market depth remains quite thin.

Amidst this thin liquidity, ETH’s volatility following the Fed meeting could impact NFT floors more clearly, especially for low-liquidity or mid-cap NFT collections. Short-term selling pressure could quickly pull price levels down as buying power weakens, while a rebound in risk sentiment would likely focus on blue-chip collections first.

ETH Volatility Could Become the Real NFT Catalyst

Even though the focus this week is on the Fed, the decisive factor for the NFT market’s short-term direction will likely remain Ethereum. Most blue-chip collections are currently priced in ETH, causing fluctuations in the currency to quickly reflect in floor prices.

ETH price chart (1D). Source: TradingView

The ETH price has currently decreased by more than 50% from its all-time high and has not formed a clear breakout in recent weeks, showing that speculative capital remains quite cautious ahead of the FOMC meeting.

Instead of reacting directly to the interest rate decision, the NFT market usually moves according to ETH and general crypto market sentiment. This makes Jerome Powell’s remarks vital for the market this week, especially if ETH sees high volatility after the meeting.

If ETH comes under pressure following Powell’s speech, NFT floors will likely face downside risks, particularly in low-liquidity collections. Conversely, an ETH recovery usually helps speculative capital flow back into blue-chip NFTs first.

Risk Appetite Faces a Test

As market attention focuses on Jerome Powell’s speech and ETH’s reaction following the Fed meeting, the NFT market enters another week sensitive to macro fluctuations.

With the bulk of NFT liquidity still concentrated on Ethereum, ETH volatility will likely continue to play the primary role in the short-term direction of NFT floors this week. If volatility increases after the FOMC, low-liquidity collections may face clearer pressure due to the still-thin trading activity on the market.

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The Leading Payment Methods for Casino Gaming

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Metaverse Fashion Week Online

April 28, 2026

The Leading Payment Methods for Casino Gaming

Choosing the right payment method is an important part of the casino gaming experience. A good payment option should be secure, fast, easy to use, and suited to your personal preferences. As online gaming has evolved, so too have the ways players can fund their accounts and manage withdrawals. From traditional cards to modern digital wallets, today’s casino platforms offer a wide range of options designed to accommodate different needs and play styles.

For players enjoying modern online casino games, including those found at platforms such as online casino games at Virgin Games, understanding the strengths of each payment method can make gaming smoother, safer, and more enjoyable. Below is a comprehensive guide to the popular payment methods for casino gaming and why each one remains popular.

Debit Cards – A Familiar and Reliable Choice

Debit cards are among the most widely used payment methods for casino gaming. Their popularity comes from familiarity and ease of use, especially for players new to online platforms.

Why debit cards work well:

Direct connection to your bank accountWidely accepted across casino platformsEasy to track spending through bank statementsQuick and simple deposits

Debit cards are ideal for players who prefer straightforward, traditional banking methods without additional apps or accounts.

Credit Cards – Convenience With Extra Caution

Credit cards are still commonly used for casino deposits, although availability may vary by region or platform. They offer convenience and fast processing but require careful budgeting.

Benefits include:

Fast transactionsFamiliar checkout processOften supported by major platforms

However, many players prefer debit or alternative methods to maintain tighter budget control.

E-Wallets – Fast and Flexible Digital Payments

E-wallets have grown rapidly in popularity and are now considered one of the leading payment methods for casino gaming. These allow players to store funds in a digital account before transferring them to and from casino platforms.

Why e-wallets are highly rated:

Faster withdrawals compared to cardsAdded privacy since bank details aren’t sharedEasy account managementSimple transfers across multiple platforms

E-wallets are particularly popular with frequent players who value speed and efficiency.

Mobile Payment Solutions – Perfect for On-the-Go Gaming

Mobile payment options have become increasingly important as mobile gaming continues to rise. These methods allow players to fund their casino accounts using smartphones.

Advantages include:

No need to enter card details repeatedlyQuick approval via mobile devicesIdeal for casual and mobile-focused playersSimple, streamlined checkout experience

Mobile payments match the habits of players who prefer gaming in short, flexible sessions.

Prepaid Cards and Vouchers – Control and Security

Prepaid cards and vouchers offer a controlled way to enjoy casino gaming without linking banking details directly to a platform.

Why players choose prepaid options:

Fixed gaming budgetsNo bank or card information requiredEasy to purchase online or in storeUseful for gift or shared accounts

These are ideal for players who prioritise privacy and strict spending control.

Bank Transfers – Secure for Larger Transactions

Bank transfers are most often used by players making larger deposits or withdrawals. While slower than some alternatives, they are highly secure and transparent.

Key benefits:

Strong security protectionsSuitable for high-value transactionsClear transaction historyTrusted banking infrastructure

They suit players who prefer direct financial oversight, even if processing times are longer.

Cryptocurrency – Growing but Niche

Cryptocurrency payments have entered the casino gaming market as an alternative option. While not universally available, they appeal to players interested in digital assets.

Why some players explore crypto:

Decentralised payment structureEnhanced privacy featuresFast international transfers

However, price volatility and limited availability mean crypto remains a specialist choice rather than a mainstream one.

Speed Matters: Deposits vs Withdrawals

When comparing payment methods, it’s important to distinguish between deposit speed and withdrawal speed. Many methods allow instant deposits, but withdrawal processing times can vary significantly.

General trends:

Cards are fast for deposits but slower for withdrawalsE-wallets offer the quickest withdrawalsBank transfers are slower but reliable

Understanding this difference helps manage expectations and avoid frustration.

Security and Player Protection

The popular payment methods for casino gaming share one common feature: security. Modern platforms use encryption and verification checks to protect transactions, but some methods provide additional layers of protection.

Security-focused benefits include:

Tokenised paymentsTwo-step verificationFraud detectionControlled spending limits

Choosing a reputable payment method adds peace of mind to the gaming experience.

Matching Payment Methods to Play Style

There’s no single “leading” payment method for everyone. The ideal option depends on how often you play, your spending habits, and whether you prioritise speed, control, or privacy.

For example:

Casual players often prefer debit or prepaid cardsRegular players lean toward e-walletsMobile gamers benefit from mobile paymentsHigh-value players may choose bank transfers

Aligning the method with your habits improves comfort and enjoyment.

The leading payment methods for casino gaming balance convenience, security, and flexibility. From traditional debit cards and bank transfers to modern e-wallets and mobile solutions, today’s players have more choice than ever. Whether you’re enjoying feature-rich online casino games or exploring new platforms like online casino games at Virgin Games, selecting the right payment method helps ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.

By understanding the strengths of each option and choosing one that fits your lifestyle, you can focus on what matters most— enjoying the games with confidence and control.

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Why Is the US Bitcoin Reserve Changing Its Name? – NFT Plazas

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Metaverse Fashion Week Online

April 28, 2026

Why Is the US Bitcoin Reserve Changing Its Name? – NFT Plazas

The effort to establish a formal Bitcoin reserve in the United States is entering a new phase, marked by a strategic rebranding of the legislation behind it. What was previously known as the BITCOIN Act is now expected to be reintroduced as the American Reserves Modernization Act (ARMA) – a change that reflects both political strategy and evolving policy priorities in Washington.

At the center of this shift is Nick Begich, a Republican lawmaker from Alaska, who has been leading the push to integrate Bitcoin into the country’s long-term reserve framework. The updated bill is designed not only to formalize the federal government’s approach to holding Bitcoin but also to broaden support among lawmakers who may be hesitant about digital asset-focused legislation.

A Name Change With Political Intent

The decision to rename the bill is not merely cosmetic. According to Begich, the new title, ARMA, aims to reposition the proposal as a broader modernization effort rather than a niche cryptocurrency initiative. By emphasizing “reserves” instead of “Bitcoin,” the legislation is framed in terms that resonate more traditionally with policymakers.

This shift comes after discussions with the House Financial Services Committee, where lawmakers have been evaluating how best to present the proposal to a wider audience. The rebranding signals an attempt to align Bitcoin policy with established concepts like gold reserves and strategic national assets, rather than treating it as a standalone innovation.

In essence, ARMA is designed to make Bitcoin appear less experimental and more like a natural evolution of the United States’ reserve strategy.

A Name Change With Political Intent

Building on Existing Policy Foundations

The legislation builds directly on an executive order signed by Donald Trump, which directed the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve. That order laid the groundwork by recognizing Bitcoin as a potential long-term asset for the federal government, comparable in some respects to gold.

However, executive orders can be reversed or modified by future administrations. This limitation has driven lawmakers, including Cynthia Lummis, to push for a more permanent solution through legislation. ARMA aims to codify the executive action into law, ensuring continuity regardless of political changes.

As explains, the bill would establish a structured system for identifying, managing, and securing Bitcoin already held by federal agencies, much of which has been acquired through seizures and forfeitures.

Building on Existing Policy Foundations

From Acquisition to Custody

One of the defining features of the original BITCOIN Act was its ambitious proposal to acquire up to one million Bitcoin over five years using budget-neutral strategies. While it remains unclear whether ARMA will retain this exact target, the core concept of building a national Bitcoin reserve is expected to remain intact.

More importantly, the updated legislation places greater emphasis on custody and long-term management. The goal is to prevent short-term liquidation of government-held Bitcoin and instead treat it as a strategic asset.

Under ARMA, federal Bitcoin holdings would be consolidated into a formal reserve structure, with clear rules governing storage, access, and potential sale. The bill is also expected to limit the ability of future officials to move or dispose of these assets without congressional approval, adding another layer of oversight.

A Broader Debate Over Bitcoin’s Role

The renaming of the bill comes at a time when digital asset policy is becoming increasingly intertwined with questions of national strategy. Supporters argue that Bitcoin, as a decentralized and scarce asset, could serve as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risk.

Critics, however, remain cautious. Concerns about volatility, security, and the appropriateness of holding a decentralized asset in government reserves continue to shape the debate.

Still, momentum appears to be building. The White House’s crypto advisory team has hinted at upcoming announcements related to the reserve, suggesting that both the executive and legislative branches are actively working toward a more defined policy framework.

What Happens Next?

The reintroduction of the bill under the ARMA name is expected in the coming weeks. Its success will depend on several factors: committee approval, bipartisan support, and the broader political climate surrounding digital assets.

By shifting the focus from Bitcoin itself to the modernization of national reserves, lawmakers hope to make the proposal more accessible, and ultimately, more viable.

Whether ARMA succeeds or not, the name change highlights a key reality: in Washington, how an idea is presented can be just as important as the idea itself.

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Leading 8 Free AI Stock & Crypto Trading Bot Apps in 2026 for Passive Income

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April 27, 2026

Leading 8 Free AI Stock & Crypto Trading Bot Apps in 2026 for Passive Income

You’ve probably searched “free AI trading bot” and ended up drowning in sponsored reviews and vague promises. You’re not looking for another platform that calls itself “AI-powered” but still makes you babysit charts at 2am. You want to know: is there a free AI trading bot app that actually makes real money in 2026 — without needing a finance degree or $10,000 to start?

Yes. And we’ve ranked eight of them.

The catch? Most “free” bots aren’t fully free — they’re free to set up but charge fees, cap your withdrawals, or quietly limit automation unless you pay. We’ve been honest about that in every entry below. One platform, SaintQuant, offers a genuine free trial with live AI trading and real returns — no credit card required.

We ranked every platform on four things: depth of automation, real-money performance, ease of use for beginners, and whether “free” actually means free. Here’s what we found.

This is not financial advice. Trading involves risk — only invest what you can afford to lose.

Quick Comparison: Leading Free AI Trading Bots for Real Money in 2026

PlatformIdeal ForFree OptionAutomation LevelVerified Avg. ReturnSaintQuantFull hands-off automation, beginnersFree 10-day trial (live returns)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Full~1.0–2.5% daily (verified)PionexFree bots built into the exchangeAlways free (exchange fees only)⭐⭐⭐⭐ HighMarket-dependent3CommasAdvanced traders, DCA & grid3-day trial, then paid⭐⭐⭐⭐ HighVaries by strategyCryptohopperStrategy marketplace, copiersFree plan (limited bots)⭐⭐⭐ MediumVariesBitsgapGrid trading, portfolio management7-day free trial⭐⭐⭐⭐ HighMarket-dependentMudrexBeginner-friendly, pre-built strategiesFree plan available⭐⭐⭐ MediumStrategy-dependentShrimpyPortfolio automation, rebalancingFree plan (1 portfolio)⭐⭐ ModerateRebalancing-basedTradeSantaSimple bots, fast setupFree trial period⭐⭐⭐ MediumVaries by bot

1. SaintQuant — Leading Free AI Trading Bot App for Real Money with Zero Setup

#1 for: Complete beginners who want real passive income without watching a single chart.

You’ve wasted enough time on Telegram signal groups. Someone posts a “guaranteed” call. You buy in late. You’re holding a bag while they’ve already exited. That isn’t trading — it’s gambling on someone else’s timing and luck.

SaintQuant is the platform that replaces all of that. It’s a fully automated AI crypto trading bot trusted by 150,000+ traders globally — and the only platform on this list where “free” means a full 10-day live trial with real AI trading and real returns deposited into your account. No credit card. No manual configuration. No signal group.

Here’s what makes it different from every other platform claiming to be AI-powered:

The bot never stops. SaintQuant runs 24/7, executing trades while you sleep, while you work, while you’re offline. It analyses 2.5 million+ data points daily — real-time prices, on-chain signals, sentiment data — and adjusts positions automatically.

You choose your risk. The AI does everything else. When you activate a strategy, you pick a risk level (low, medium, or high). The AI handles entry, exit, stop-losses, and reinvestment. You don’t configure anything. You don’t watch charts. You check your dashboard and see what happened.

Risk management is built in, not bolted on. Automated stop-losses, real-time exposure limits, and dynamic controls run continuously. During the two market corrections in Q1 2026, users on the Elite plan reported maximum drawdowns under 6% — institutional-grade discipline on a retail platform.

Key features:

Leading free AI trading bot app for beginners — 3-minute setup, no technical knowledge needed10 AI strategies across DCA, Grid, and Swing bot typesConnects to Binance, Bybit, Bitget, BingX, Kraken, OKX, KuCoin, and CoinbaseAustralian-registered — transparent regulatory statusVerified avg. daily ROI: ~1.0–2.5% depending on planRated Trustpilot 4.3 / Capterra 4.8 / G2 4.7Featured on MarketWatch, TradingView, Benzinga, and AMBCrypto150,000+ active users, 4M+ trades executed

What it costs after the free trial: Starter plan is $99 for 10 days — your original capital plus any profit is returned at the end of the contract period. No subscription. No lock-up.

What it’s missing: SaintQuant’s free trial starts at $99 — so it’s not “free forever” in the way Pionex is. If your only constraint is zero upfront cost, Pionex is the alternative. But for automation depth, verified returns, and genuine hands-off trading across both crypto and stock markets, nothing on this list comes close.

Getting started: Create a free account at saintquant.com/register — you’re live in under 3 minutes.

“I was deeply skeptical. I’ve seen too many ‘AI trading’ platforms that are little more than marketing. What changed my mind with SaintQuant was the transparency — each strategy comes with a clear risk rating, bot type, frequency, and live date. Risk management genuinely works.” — Dr. Priya Nambiar, Quantitative Researcher

2. Pionex — Leading Truly Free AI Crypto Trading Bot (No Subscription Ever)

#2 for: Traders who refuse to pay monthly fees and are happy to learn as they go.

Pionex solves a real problem: most “free” bots are free until you want to actually use them. Pionex is genuinely free because it’s an exchange that builds the bots directly into the platform. Instead of paying a monthly subscription, you only pay standard trading fees (0.05% per trade) — the same fee you’d pay just to use the exchange.

It offers 16+ built-in bot types including grid trading bots for sideways markets, DCA bots for long-term accumulation, and an arbitrage bot. The interface is clean enough that beginners can activate a grid bot within minutes.

Key features:

Completely free — only pay exchange trading fees16+ built-in bot types including grid, DCA, TWAP, and arbitrageNo API setup required — bots run natively on the exchangeMobile app available for iOS and AndroidSupports major pairs: BTC, ETH, SOL, and 300+ others

What it’s missing: The bots are rule-based rather than true machine learning. They don’t adapt to market conditions the way SaintQuant’s AI does — which means you’ll need to monitor and reconfigure strategies when the market shifts. It’s automation, but not full hands-off automation.

Ideal for: People who want the most accessible free crypto trading bot and are willing to check in occasionally. Not a true “set it and forget it” platform — more of a “set it and check it weekly.”

3. 3Commas — Popular Free AI Trading Bot App for Advanced Strategy Builders

#3 for: Traders who know what DCA and grid strategies are and want to build their own.

3Commas is the platform experienced crypto traders reach for when they want to build custom automated strategies. The UI is dense, but once you understand it, you have genuine control: DCA bots, grid bots, options bots, and a Smart Trade terminal that lets you set simultaneous take-profit and stop-loss levels on any exchange.

The “free” option is a 3-day trial of the full platform. After that, plans start at $37/month — not free, but among the most feature-rich paid options on the market.

Key features:

Connects to 23+ exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and BybitDCA and grid bot builders with extensive customisationMarketplace of pre-built bots from experienced tradersReal-time signal integration (TradingView and others)Mobile app with full bot management

What it’s missing: The learning curve is steep. If you’re new to trading, you’ll spend hours configuring bots before you see a single trade — and misconfiguration is a real risk. It’s powerful, but it requires you to understand what you’re doing.

Ideal for: Intermediate-to-advanced traders who want to build and control their own automated strategy. Not the right call if you want AI trading that makes real money without any manual work.

4. Cryptohopper — Leading Free AI Trading Bot with a Strategy Marketplace

#4 for: Traders who want to copy experienced strategies without building from scratch.

Cryptohopper takes a different approach to automation: instead of building your own bot, you browse a marketplace of strategies built by experienced traders and copy the ones with the exact verified performance. It supports both crypto and stocks on some connected exchanges, making it one of the more versatile platforms on this list.

The free plan gives you access to a basic bot and limited templates. The paid tiers unlock the full strategy marketplace, signals, and backtesting.

Key features:

Strategy marketplace — copy pre-built bots from verified tradersSupports crypto and some stock trading via connected brokersBacktesting engine to test strategies before going liveFree plan available (limited functionality)Connects to 17+ exchanges including Binance, Kraken, and Coinbase

What it’s missing: On the free plan, you’re working with limited templates and restricted automation. The platform’s strength is the marketplace — and that’s behind the paywall. Also, copying another trader’s strategy means you’re dependent on their judgment, not independent AI analysis.

Ideal for: Beginners who want a low-friction free AI trading bot app for making real money through copying, not configuration. If you want true AI autonomy, upgrade to a paid tier or look at SaintQuant’s trial.

5. Bitsgap — Leading Free AI Trading Bot for Grid Trading and Portfolio Management

#5 for: Traders who want a clean interface, solid grid bots, and portfolio tracking in one place.

Bitsgap is a well-designed platform that combines grid trading bots, DCA bots, and a unified portfolio dashboard across multiple exchanges. The grid bot is genuinely strong — it works well in sideways markets and can be configured with smart entry and exit levels based on historical volatility.

The 7-day free trial gives you full access to live bots. After that, plans start at $23/month.

Key features:

Grid and DCA bots with smart configurationPortfolio tracking across all connected exchanges in one dashboardBacktesting with real historical dataDemo mode to test bots without risking real moneyConnects to 15+ major exchanges

What it’s missing: Like 3Commas, Bitsgap requires some configuration knowledge. The bots are rule-based — they execute within parameters you set, rather than adapting independently to market conditions. In highly volatile markets, you’ll need to adjust settings manually.

Ideal for: Traders who want a polished free trial, a strong grid bot for ranging markets, and a clean portfolio view. Not a fully hands-off solution.

6. Mudrex — Leading Free AI Trading Bot App for Absolute Beginners

#6 for: First-time investors who want automation without learning anything technical first.

Mudrex is built around one idea: crypto investing shouldn’t require any knowledge of trading. You browse pre-built “coin sets” (like thematic ETFs for crypto) and automated strategies, choose your risk level, and deposit. The platform manages everything else.

The free plan exists and offers limited strategy access. Paid tiers unlock the full strategy library and higher allocation limits.

Key features:

Pre-built “coin sets” for thematic crypto exposure (DeFi, Layer 1s, etc.)Strategy marketplace with risk-rated automated botsNo trading knowledge required at any stepMobile-first interface — designed to be used from a phoneSupports Binance and Coinbase integration

What it’s missing: Mudrex is simpler than it is powerful. The automation is more portfolio management than active AI trading — it won’t execute intraday opportunities the way SaintQuant or Pionex bots do. For pure passive exposure, it works. For active automated returns, it’s not the right tool.

Ideal for: Someone who wants their first free AI trading bot experience with zero friction, even if that means accepting lower potential returns than a more active platform.

7. Shrimpy — Leading Free AI Trading Bot for Portfolio Rebalancing

#7 for: Long-term holders who want their portfolio to stay balanced automatically without manual trading.

Shrimpy is less of a trading bot and more of a portfolio automation engine. You set your target allocations (40% BTC, 30% ETH, 30% SOL, for example) and Shrimpy automatically rebalances whenever your portfolio drifts too far from those targets — buying what’s fallen and selling what’s risen, systematically.

The free plan includes one portfolio and basic rebalancing. Paid plans unlock multiple portfolios and social features.

Key features:

Automatic portfolio rebalancing on a schedule or threshold basisSocial trading — follow and copy other users’ allocationsConnects to 20+ exchangesFree plan for one portfolioHistorical backtesting of rebalancing strategies

What it’s missing: Shrimpy is not an active trading bot. It doesn’t identify entries, exit positions for profit, or respond to market signals in real time. If you’re looking for a bot that makes real money through active AI trading, Shrimpy is not that product. It’s a portfolio discipline tool, not an income-generating bot.

Ideal for: HODLers who want automation applied to long-term holdings — not traders chasing active returns.

8. TradeSanta — Leading Free AI Trading Bot for Simple Setup and Fast Deployment

#8 for: Traders who want to get a working bot running in under 30 minutes with minimal complexity.

TradeSanta focuses on simplicity. The setup process is genuinely fast — connect your exchange, pick a template (long or short bot), set your trade amount, and activate. The bots use DCA strategies and trailing take-profit/stop-loss settings, which provide basic risk management without requiring manual configuration.

The free trial gives you access to limited bot creation. Paid plans start at $18/month.

Key features:

Fast setup — under 30 minutes from registration to first live botDCA bots with trailing take-profit and stop-lossLong and short bot templates for different market conditionsConnects to Binance, Huobi, OKX, and other exchangesMobile app available

What it’s missing: TradeSanta’s bots are simple by design — which means they’re limited in what they can respond to. In complex market conditions (sudden spikes, flash crashes, trend reversals), basic DCA bots can underperform significantly without human intervention to adjust settings.

Ideal for: Someone who wants their first working bot quickly and is happy to monitor and adjust it over time. A good starting point — not a long-term hands-off solution.

How to Choose the Right Free AI Trading Bot for Making Real Money in 2026

Not all “free” bots are equal — and not all of them are actually designed to make you money. Here’s how to think through the decision:

Do you want truly hands-off automation? If you don’t want to monitor, configure, or adjust anything, SaintQuant is the only platform on this list where the AI genuinely handles everything — including risk management, position sizing, and exit timing. Pionex and 3Commas require ongoing attention.

What’s your starting capital? SaintQuant’s trial starts at $99 and returns your capital plus profit. Pionex and Cryptohopper’s free tiers work with whatever you deposit. If you’re starting with under $500, Pionex’s always-free model makes more financial sense than paying monthly subscription fees.

Are you trading crypto or stocks? SaintQuant supports both crypto and stock markets, making it one of the more versatile platforms on this list. Most others are crypto-native. Cryptohopper also offers some stock exposure via connected brokers.

How much do you trust the “free” claim? Be honest with yourself: Pionex is the only platform on this list that is genuinely free forever (exchange fees only). SaintQuant’s trial is free but transitions to a paid plan. Every other platform has a free tier that limits functionality in meaningful ways.

Do Free AI Trading Bots Actually Make Real Money? (Honest Answer)

Yes — but with important context.

Automated bots can and do generate real returns. SaintQuant’s verified avg. daily ROI of ~1.0–2.5% across its plans is documented and consistent with its Trustpilot, Capterra, and G2 ratings. Pionex users running grid bots in ranging markets have documented steady returns in community forums and Reddit threads.

The honest caveat: no bot guarantees profit, and all of them carry risk. A grid bot in a trending market will underperform. An AI bot during a flash crash will trigger stop-losses — which is the right outcome, but it still means a short-term loss. Markets are volatile. Past performance, even verified performance, is not a guarantee of future results.

What separates platforms that make real money from ones that just look like they do:

Transparent risk management — you can see exactly what protections are in placeVerified returns — not screenshots, but third-party review site ratings and documented performanceHonest downside disclosure — the big platforms tell you when their bots underperform, not just when they don’t

SaintQuant publishes its strategy start dates, bot types, and risk levels openly on every plan. That transparency is unusual in this space — and it’s why it holds a 4.3 Trustpilot rating from real users, not paid reviewers.

FAQ — Free AI Trading Bots for Real Money in 2026

What is the leading free AI trading bot app for making real money? SaintQuant offers the strongest combination of full automation, transparent returns, and a genuine free trial with live AI trading. For a permanently free option, Pionex is the most credible — you only pay exchange trading fees.

Can I really make money with a free AI trading bot? Yes. Free bots can generate real returns, especially grid and DCA strategies in favourable market conditions. SaintQuant’s trial has produced documented returns for users during its 10-day live period. No bot guarantees profit — all trading carries risk.

Is it safe to connect a crypto bot to my exchange via API? Yes, with the right setup. Reputable platforms use API keys with trading permissions only — never withdrawal permissions. SaintQuant and the other platforms on this list use read/trade-only API connections, meaning the bot can never withdraw your funds from the exchange.

Do AI trading bots work in a bear market? Some do. SaintQuant’s grid and DCA bots are specifically designed to profit from volatility in both directions. During Q1 2026’s market corrections, users on the Elite plan reported drawdowns under 6%. Pure long-only strategies will struggle in sustained bear markets — the popular platforms offer short or neutral strategies for those conditions.

What’s the minimum amount to start with a free AI trading bot? SaintQuant’s trial starts at $99. Pionex has no minimum beyond the exchange’s standard requirements. Cryptohopper and TradeSanta free tiers have no mandatory minimum, but bots with too little capital generate returns too small to be meaningful. Most practitioners suggest starting with at least $200–$500 to see meaningful results without over-risking.

Are AI crypto trading bots legal in the US? Yes. Automated crypto trading is legal in the US. The platforms on this list operate within standard regulatory frameworks. Always verify that your chosen exchange is available in your state — some states have restrictions on certain exchanges.

How long does it take to set up a free AI trading bot? SaintQuant: under 3 minutes. Pionex: under 10 minutes. 3Commas and Cryptohopper: 20–45 minutes depending on strategy complexity. TradeSanta: under 30 minutes.

What happens to my money if the platform shuts down? Your funds are always held on the exchange (Binance, Bybit, etc.) — not by the bot platform itself. Even if a platform like SaintQuant or 3Commas ceased operations, your funds would remain in your exchange account, accessible at any time. This is why API-connected bots are fundamentally safer than platforms that hold your funds directly.

The Bottom Line: Which Free AI Trading Bot Actually Makes Real Money in 2026?

If you want the leading free AI trading bot app for making real money without configuring anything, monitoring charts, or depending on someone else’s signals, SaintQuant is the answer. It’s the only platform on this list where the AI genuinely handles everything — from strategy selection to risk management to exit timing — and where “free” means a full 10-day live trial with real returns deposited into your account.

The other platforms on this list are credible and useful in specific circumstances — Pionex if you want something permanently free, 3Commas if you want to build your own strategy, Cryptohopper if you want to copy experienced traders. But none of them match SaintQuant’s depth of automation for a complete beginner who simply wants their money working while they sleep.

The market is open 24 hours a day. Your attention isn’t. That’s the gap AI fills — and in 2026, the tools to close it are right here.

Ready to see it work for yourself? SaintQuant’s free trial takes 3 minutes to activate and requires no credit card. Your capital and any profit are returned at the end of the 10-day period.

Start your free AI trading trial → saintquant.com/register

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What Is Peace Frog (PEACE)? The Meme Coin Riding the Frog Meta in 2026 — and Whether It Has Anything Behind It – NFT Plazas

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April 24, 2026

What Is Peace Frog (PEACE)? The Meme Coin Riding the Frog Meta in 2026 — and Whether It Has Anything Behind It – NFT Plazas

The frog meta never really dies in crypto. From Pepe’s billion-dollar market cap to the endless parade of Kermit clones, frog-themed tokens have a strange, stubborn staying power. Now, in 2026, a new contender is croaking for attention: Peace Frog (PEACE), a Solana-based meme coin that boldly claims it existed before the frog trend even began — and is trying to turn that origin story into momentum.

But is there anything real behind the vibes? Let’s dig in.

The Origin Story: “Before Pepe, There Was Peace Frog”

Peace Frog‘s tagline isn’t just marketing fluff — it has cultural roots. The project traces its lineage directly to Matt Furie’s original 2004 drawing of Peace Frog, which predates Pepe the Frog by several years. That’s a legitimate piece of internet history, and the team leans into it hard.

The coin also draws on broader counterculture symbolism — referencing Jim Morrison’s 1970 song “Peace Frog” and an ethos that deliberately contrasts with the loud, chaotic energy most meme coins project. The project’s stated ethos is “Feels peaceful, man” — a brand identity built around calm confidence even during violent market swings.

Whether that’s genuine philosophy or clever positioning, it does set PEACE apart in a crowded space where most meme coins are screaming for attention with identical cartoon dogs and rockets.

Peace Frog website

What Is PEACE, Exactly?

Peace Frog coin, also known as PEACE, is a meme-based cryptocurrency launched on the Solana blockchain, designed as a community-focused token that emphasizes narrative and symbolism rather than technical complexity. At its core, it represents a deliberate shift from chaos to calm — a rare brand promise in the meme coin world.

The current circulating supply of Peace Frog is approximately 999.99 million tokens, with a maximum supply of 1 billion. Its all-time high of $0.009352 was reached on April 22, 2026, and the token currently carries a market cap of around $8.31 million with a 24-hour trading volume of $7.96 million.

The project launched on Pump.fun, the popular Solana meme coin launchpad, and quickly gained traction. It surged 25% following a viral social media campaign and community-driven events, reaching significant early attention in the memecoin sector.

PEACE 1D price chart (Source: CryptoRank)

What’s Actually Under the Hood?

This is where things get more interesting — and more nuanced — than your average meme coin.

The PEACE ecosystem is built around three components that go slightly beyond pure speculation:

DEX Trading via Raydium. Peace Frog uses Solana’s Raydium integration as its primary liquidity hub, enabling token swaps with minimal slippage via an automated market maker (AMM). Solana’s architecture means transactions are fast and fees are near zero — a meaningful practical advantage over legacy chains like Ethereum where gas costs can eat into small trades.

Holder Rewards. The token includes a reflection and airdrop mechanism built into Solana smart contracts. A token-burning mechanism on transfers creates mild deflationary pressure, theoretically rewarding long-term holders as supply gradually shrinks.

Meme Vaults (Staking Pools). The project offers yield farming through staking pools — a feature aimed at reducing the “buy and dump” cycle that kills most meme coins within weeks. By giving holders a financial incentive to stay, the project is betting on community retention over short-term speculation.

Crucially, the project is 100% community-owned with no VC allocation or developer wallets — a transparency point that resonates strongly with retail crypto communities burned by insider selloffs in previous cycles.

The Frog Meta in 2026: Why Now?

Frog tokens have had remarkable longevity in crypto culture. Pepe (PEPE), which launched in 2023 as a tribute to the Pepe the Frog internet meme, saw its market cap reach $1.6 billion at its peak, minting millionaires out of early holders and sparking what many called a “memecoin season.”

PEACE is riding that same cultural wave while trying to position itself as the more thoughtful, community-grounded alternative. Where Pepe leaned into chaos and irony, Peace Frog’s branding is deliberately softer — community art, music, memes, and culture rather than pure speculation fever.

In 2026, the project has expanded its ecosystem through partnerships in gaming and social tokens, with a partnership with a gaming platform announced in April 2026. These integrations, if they gain traction, could provide utility hooks that most meme coins never develop.

The Frog Meta in 2026: Why Now?

The Honest Risk Assessment

Here’s where we have to be straight with you: meme coins are, by their nature, high-risk, sentiment-driven assets.

PEACE hit its all-time high of $0.00045 in early 2025 during a meme coin frenzy fueled by celebrity endorsements and viral TikTok challenges, then dropped to an all-time low of $0.00008 amid a broader market correction triggered by regulatory news. That’s an 82% drawdown. Brutal.

Holdings are somewhat concentrated, with the top 10 holders controlling approximately 40% of supply — meaning whale activity can significantly move price in either direction, and smaller investors are exposed to sudden exits.

Its appeal comes from cultural storytelling and market sentiment rather than fundamentals. That’s both the charm and the danger. Sentiment is real until it isn’t.

The Honest Risk Assessment

So Does PEACE Have Anything Behind It?

More than most meme coins — but less than a utility token. That’s the honest answer.

What PEACE has going for it: a genuine cultural origin story, a clean no-dev-wallet structure, Solana’s speed and cost advantages, a growing holder base, and ecosystem features (staking, holder rewards) that incentivize retention over dumping.

What it lacks: a named team, a whitepaper with verifiable roadmap commitments, and the kind of institutional legitimacy that would protect it during a prolonged bear market.

If you’re evaluating PEACE, the question isn’t really “is this a good project?” — by meme coin standards, it’s one of the more thoughtful ones. The real question is whether the cultural narrative and community tools are strong enough to survive the inevitable hype cycle correction.

The frog meta has proven it can outlast its critics. Whether Peace Frog becomes part of that legacy or fades with the next market shift depends almost entirely on whether its community keeps showing up.

As always with meme coins: only risk what you can afford to lose entirely, and never confuse a good story for a guaranteed return.

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SuperRare Drops Panorama ($PANO) Today — What Collectors Need to Know About Token-Gated NFT Launches in 2026 – NFT Plazas

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April 23, 2026

SuperRare Drops Panorama ($PANO) Today — What Collectors Need to Know About Token-Gated NFT Launches in 2026 – NFT Plazas

Yigit Duman’s Panorama went live on April 23 with a genesis NFT auction and $PANO token launch. It’s not just a collection – it’s a 365-day generative painting that responds to its own price action. Here’s everything that happened and what comes next.

At 4 PM UTC today, a painting started writing itself. Yigit Duman’s Panorama, the most conceptually ambitious NFT drop to hit SuperRare this spring, went live alongside the debut of the $PANO token, marking the platform’s most high-profile Liquid Editions launch to date. The genesis NFT auction opened, the token began trading, and an AI pipeline quietly got to work on its first landscape. The canvas has begun.

But to understand why Panorama matters, and why collectors and observers beyond the usual NFT circles are paying attention, you need to understand what it actually does. This isn’t a static image collection. It’s a generative system where the artwork’s own market determines what the artwork looks like.

Panorama launch schedule

April 23 · 4 PM UTC – Complete: $PANO token launch + Genesis NFT auction opened

April 24 · 5 PM UTC – Allowlist NFT mint: Priority access for early $PANO holders and community members

April 24 · 6 PM UTC – Public NFT mint: Open to all, contingent on remaining supply

SuperRare official X announcement

What Is Panorama, and Why Is It Different?

Panorama is described on SuperRare’s editorial page as “an autonomous generative art system where a token’s price data drives the creation of a continuously expanding mythological panoramic painting.” That sentence is worth unpacking slowly, because there’s nothing casual about it.

Every single day, an AI pipeline generates a new 1920×1080 landscape painting that seamlessly extends the same continuous panorama. The key variable is price: when the $PANO token rises, the system produces scenes of divine celestial glory – apotheoses, sacred groves, celestial forges. When the token falls, it produces infernal underworld devastation – fallen cities, rivers of fire, titan prisons. The market’s mood becomes the painting’s mood.

“The market is the medium, and the painting is the market.” – SuperRare editorial on Panorama

Panorama by Yigit Duman

The visual language draws from the atmospheric intensity of J.M.W. Turner, the contemplative solitude of Caspar David Friedrich, and the dramatic use of light and emotion found in Géricault and Delacroix. In other words: Romantic painting, driven by DeFi. The result will run for exactly 365 days. After the 365th piece, the system closes. The panorama is complete and will never be made again.

The Two Layers of Ownership

Panorama has a deliberately layered ownership structure, and understanding it is essential before deciding how to participate in tomorrow’s mint windows.

Layer 1 — The System

1,000,000 $PANO tokens created through SuperRare’s Liquid Editions. Holding the token means owning and influencing Panorama as a whole. Market activity around $PANO feeds directly into what the AI generates next. Token holders shape the painting without touching a brush.

Layer 2 — The Outputs

Season 1 begins with 90 NFTs, each revealed daily as a 1920×1080 segment of the panoramic canvas. Over time this expands to 365 pieces. Each NFT is a tableau — a fragment of the larger work, capturing that day’s market sentiment translated into mythological imagery.

The loop is elegant: the token drives the system, the system produces the images, and the NFTs capture each moment of it. Collectors can participate at either layer — holding $PANO to influence the whole, or collecting individual NFT segments as the story unfolds day by day.

Who Is Yigit Duman?

Yigit Duman describes himself as a “wallet balance artist, on-chain meme-maker, computational poet and creator of sisyphean boulders”, and that self-description tells you something about his practice before you’ve seen a single piece. His work has a consistent preoccupation with the blockchain itself as material: not as a distribution mechanism, but as the actual subject of the art.

Previous works include Rothko on Pennies, a piece that created, destroyed, and restored on-chain artwork as a mediation on value, and PUSH4, a collaborative piece featuring an earlier SuperRare drop. He’s been featured in Bankless, the Etherscan blog, and Outland, and participated in SuperRare’s Intimate Systems exhibition. His Panorama project website is live at panorama.garden, and the full technical and editorial write-up is published on SuperRare’s curation page.

What distinguishes Duman within the current generative art landscape is that his concepts precede his tools. Panorama isn’t a technically impressive system dressed up as art – it’s a genuinely thought-through thesis about how markets and meaning interact, built into an unstoppable daily machine.

PUSH4

Liquid Editions: The Format That Makes This Possible

Panorama is built on SuperRare’s Liquid Editions format, which launched on March 5, 2026 with artist ripe’s debut piece Value Discovery. Understanding Liquid Editions is key to understanding why $PANO behaves differently from any NFT you’ve collected before.

As Bankless explained at launch: Liquid Editions are generative artworks that use fungible ERC-20 tokens instead of NFTs as their vessels. The token’s own market behavior – trades, transfers, price movement – determines what the art looks like at any given moment. There is no static image file. Instead, a smart contract serving as an on-chain renderer reads the live market state and generates visual outputs from that. The artwork is a function of its own economic activity, recomputed continuously, always on.

Liquid Editions vs standard NFTs: A standard NFT is a fixed image tied to a token. A Liquid Edition is a living generative system where the ERC-20 token’s market dynamics are the creative input. Price goes up – the art changes. Price goes down – the art changes differently. With Panorama, that input is translated into mythological landscape painting, one frame per day.

The Defiant noted that Liquid Editions also allow artists to issue companion ERC-721 NFTs, unique visual “lenses” over the shared market state. In Panorama’s case, the 365 daily NFTs serve exactly this function: each one is a timestamped record of what the market felt like on that particular day, rendered as a Romantic landscape painting.

Liquid Editions — Format Explainers

The Platform Behind It: SuperRare in 2026

SuperRare has been operating since April 2018 and has accumulated over $330 million in total sales, making it the longest-running on-chain art platform in existence. Its model has always been deliberately exclusive: artists are vetted and invited, every work is a single-edition NFT, and the platform operates on Ethereum with a 3% buyer fee and 15% primary gallery commission. Artists receive 85% of their primary sales and a 10% royalty on all secondary sales.

Founded: 2018Total sales: $330M+$RARE price: ~$0.016RARE max supply: 1 billionArtist royalty: 10% secondaryBuyer fee: 3%

The governance layer sits in the $RARE token, distinct from $PANO, which currently trades at approximately $0.016 with a circulating supply of around 825 million out of a maximum 1 billion. RARE holders vote on platform decisions including fee structures, treasury allocations, and which new Spaces (community-run galleries) get added to the ecosystem. Staking $RARE earns rewards from the network treasury, funded by transactions across the full SuperRare ecosystem.

Liquid Editions represent a meaningful evolution of that ecosystem, adding a third tier to what SuperRare calls its “Cultural Liquidity Stack,” sitting alongside 1/1 artworks and community ERC-1155 tokens. Panorama is only the second project to launch in this format, following ripe’s debut in March 2026.

What Collectors Should Watch Next

The genesis auction that opened today is the first and most exclusive entry point into the Panorama ecosystem. Tomorrow’s mint windows broaden that access: the allowlist mint at 5 PM UTC on April 24 is for early $PANO token holders and community participants, followed immediately by the public mint at 6 PM UTC if supply remains.

After the mints close, attention shifts to two things: how $PANO trades as a Liquid Edition token in open market conditions, and what the first few daily landscape NFTs look like. The price action of the token over the next week will literally determine whether the opening of Panorama’s canvas depicts heaven or hell, and that early visual record will likely carry significant collector value precisely because it documents the project’s launch conditions.

Before you participate tomorrow: Have your Ethereum wallet funded with ETH to cover both the mint price and gas. Gas fees spike during high-profile SuperRare drops, budget extra. Always confirm the smart contract address through SuperRare’s official channels at superrare.com or their verified @SuperRare X account. Phishing contracts are common on launch days; the few seconds of verification are worth it.

The deeper question Panorama raises isn’t about the auction result or the token price. It’s whether an artwork that literally paints its own market history – one landscape per day, for exactly one year, then never again – has found the right medium for its moment. In a market that increasingly asks art to do more than look beautiful, Duman has built something that does something else entirely: it keeps a record. In paint. On a blockchain. Every day, whether anyone is watching or not.

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Coinbase Flags Proof-of-Stake Chains Like Ethereum, Solana as Potential Quantum Risks

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April 23, 2026

Coinbase Flags Proof-of-Stake Chains Like Ethereum, Solana as Potential Quantum Risks

Coinbase warns that Proof-of-Stake blockchains like Ethereumn (ETH) and Solana (SOL) could face risks from quantum computers in the future, following the announcement of the first report from an independent quantum advisory board on April 22.

The report, conducted with researchers from Stanford, UT Austin, and the Ethereum Foundation, emphasizes that crypto remains safe from quantum for now, but preparation needs to start immediately before the threat becomes urgent — especially as the security structures of many blockchains could be affected if quantum computing capabilities reach a sufficiently strong threshold.

Coinbase Flags Quantum Risks for PoS

Coinbase is not issuing an “imminent threat” style warning, but framing the issue in a long-term context. In a recent post, Philip Martin, Coinbase CSO, emphasized that “crypto is safe today,” while noting that the industry needs to prepare before sufficiently powerful quantum systems emerge.

Today we’ve published the first position paper from the Coinbase Independent Advisory Board on Quantum Computing and Blockchain, a group of leading researchers from Stanford, UT Austin, the Ethereum Foundation, and beyond.

The short version: your crypto is safe today. But a…

— Philip Martin (@SecurityGuyPhil) April 21, 2026

This is the first report from the independent quantum advisory board established by Coinbase, with participation from researchers at academic institutions and the Ethereum Foundation. According to Coinbase, the group’s goal is to assess potential risks to current cryptographic systems and propose long-term preparation directions for the industry.

Research indicates that risk levels may vary between systems. Some blockchain protocols — especially Proof-of-Stake — may have a higher level of “exposure,” as the way public keys are used in the staking and validation process can increase exposure in certain attack scenarios.

Why PoS Faces Higher Exposure

Unlike Proof-of-Work, where public keys are usually only exposed when a transaction is performed, Proof-of-Stake protocols require validators to maintain their public keys in a public state for long periods to participate in the validation process.

This makes validators on PoS easier targets in a quantum computer attack scenario. If a sufficiently powerful quantum computer can derive a private key from a public key — an assumption related to the ability to break elliptic curve cryptography (ECDSA) — then the validator could become a direct target.

Ethereum total value staked. Source: CryptoQuant

Ethereum is currently the largest PoS network. About 32.3% of the total ETH supply is being staked, equivalent to about 39 million ETH, with a total staking market cap of around 94.4 billion USD. This means a significant portion of assets in the ecosystem depends on the security of validator keys.

On Solana, the risk level may be higher. About 68% of the total SOL supply is being staked, with a staking market cap of approximately 37.9 billion USD. As the stake ratio increases, the risk does not stop at individual accounts but could affect the entire PoS system if validators are compromised.

How Real Is the Threat Today

Both Coinbase and related studies emphasize that this risk is not yet immediate. Currently, there does not exist a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC) powerful enough to break encryption systems like ECDSA in real-world conditions.

A recent study from Google Quantum AI shows that under ideal conditions, a quantum system could derive a private key from a public key in just minutes — equivalent to the time it takes to create a Bitcoin block — opening an “on-spend attack” scenario where transactions could be replaced before they are confirmed.

However, this is still a theoretical model. Current quantum systems have not reached the necessary scale, and implementing a real-world attack still faces many technical hurdles. Therefore, the issue does not lie in the present, but in the fact that blockchain systems need to prepare before this threat computing becomes feasible. This is also why Coinbase emphasizes “prepare now, not when it’s urgent.”

Impact on Users

For regular users, the risk of being affected in the short term is very low, especially if using modern address standards where public keys are not exposed before a transaction.

Impact on Validators and Networks

For validators — especially on PoS networks — long-term exposure of public keys on the network makes them more vulnerable targets if a quantum attack becomes a reality.

At the systemic level, the potential risk is even greater. On Ethereum, controlling more than 1/3 of the stake can disrupt the finalization process; if it exceeds 2/3, an attacker can control the entire consensus mechanism. This turns a cryptography issue into a systemic risk.

How Ethereum and Solana Are Preparing

Major blockchains like Ethereum and Solana are still in the research and testing phase for response options to quantum computer risks, rather than deploying network-wide changes.

According to the Coinbase report, from user accounts to validators and zk (zero-knowledge) systems, many parts of Ethereum could be affected if quantum becomes feasible. Previously, Vitalik Buterin also mentioned a “quantum emergency” scenario, in which the network might need a hard fork to protect user funds. However, directions such as hash-based signatures or account abstraction still remain at the level of technical proposals.

For Solana, the network has introduced “Winternitz Vault,” allowing users to transfer assets to addresses using hash-based signatures. After the transfer, these assets are no longer vulnerable to quantum computer attacks.

A Long-Term Risk, Not Immediate

The warning from Coinbase is not a signal for an impending crisis, but a long-term risk to the security foundation of crypto.

For Proof-of-Stake networks like Ethereum and Solana, where validators directly participate in the validation process, transitioning to quantum-resistant systems may be more complex due to consensus mechanisms and the amount of assets being staked.

Instead of reacting after an incident occurs, organizations like Coinbase are trying to accelerate preparation in advance. As the gap between theory and reality narrows, the transition may need to take place before the threat truly emerges.

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PENGU Is Up 8% While Pudgy Penguins NFT Floor Is Flat – What the Divergence Tells Collectors – NFT Plazas

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April 22, 2026

PENGU Is Up 8% While Pudgy Penguins NFT Floor Is Flat – What the Divergence Tells Collectors – NFT Plazas

Something unusual is happening in the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem. The project’s native token, PENGU, has surged roughly 8% in the past 24 hours – but if you checked the NFT floor price on OpenSea, you’d barely notice a ripple. That divergence between the token and the underlying NFT collection isn’t noise. It’s a signal, and it tells collectors something important about how the market values this project in 2026.

The Numbers at a Glance

The live PENGU price is approximately $0.008203, with a 24-hour trading volume of $144 million. The token is up around 8% in the last 24 hours, with a current market cap over $515 million. According to the screenshot data visible on CoinGecko-powered trackers, the token is now ranked #80 by market cap, and carries a fully diluted valuation (FDV) of approximately $729 million.

Meanwhile, the Pudgy Penguins NFT collection, an 8,888-piece set on Ethereum, has seen its floor price hold relatively flat over the same period, showing none of the same momentum. That split is worth examining closely.

PENGU 24H price chart on 22/4/2026 (Source: CoinMarketCap)

Why Is PENGU Moving Without the NFTs?

The key insight is structural. PENGU now functions less as a derivative of NFT sentiment and more as an independent liquid asset with its own demand drivers – many of them rooted in real-world ecosystem expansion.

Recent ecosystem developments include a partnership with asset manager VanEck for NFC-chip-enabled hybrid collectibles and the launch of the Pengu Card, a Visa-backed crypto debit card, both announced in April 2026. These are not vague roadmap promises – they are live or near-live products that give PENGU holders a tangible utility story that NFT collectors, largely sitting on illiquid assets, don’t benefit from directly.

Pudgy Penguins also launched Pudgy World, a browser-based game, and expanded to Amazon, broadening the digital experience to a major retail platform for wider user access. The token is integrated into in-game transactions within Pudgy World, creating a use case that doesn’t require owning a $40,000+ NFT.

This is the “reverse funnel” effect playing out in real time: traditional crypto projects build tokens first and try to manufacture community; Pudgy Penguins built the community first – through NFTs, physical merchandise, and cultural reach – and then introduced PENGU as the ecosystem’s liquid layer. The community already existed. Now the token is monetizing it.

Why is PENGU moving without the NFTs?

The Volume Story Supports Organic Demand

Skeptics of any altcoin rally should always check the volume-to-market-cap ratio. Trading volume over the past 24 hours reached approximately $144 million against a market cap of roughly $515 million, putting the ratio near 28%. That sits well above the 15–20% threshold analysts commonly use to distinguish genuine buying interest from wash trading or artificial price inflation.

Altcoin Sherpa, a widely-followed market analyst, noted on April 20 that PENGU has spent about 2.5 months in a descending wedge range, with one-day EMAs flattening out and the market structure “starting to look much healthier,” adding that the token could “move hard” once conditions align, though it still needs a supportive Bitcoin environment.

On the chart, the RSI sits at approximately 63, technically elevated but not yet in overbought territory. The MACD is in a bullish configuration, suggesting the current momentum has room to continue in the near term before hitting resistance.

The volume story supports organic demand

What Collectors Should Understand About the Divergence

For NFT holders, the divergence can feel disorienting, and even slightly unfair. The token rallies while the floor stays flat, meaning liquid PENGU holders capture gains that illiquid NFT collectors miss. But this dynamic reflects a structural maturation in how markets price multi-asset crypto ecosystems.

Analysts note that if PENGU is rising, NFT floor prices for the collection usually follow, but the relationship is loose, not tight. Monitoring NFT floor prices on OpenSea alongside the PENGU token price is considered essential for anyone holding a position in either asset.

The NFT collection’s relative flatness right now may also reflect the broader state of the Ethereum NFT market, which has been quieter than the Solana-based token market in early 2026. PENGU, issued on Solana, has benefited from Solana’s more active trading environment and liquidity infrastructure, giving the token its own market microstructure that can diverge from what happens on Ethereum’s NFT layer.

Institutional Interest Is Building – But Slowly

One of the most meaningful developments underpinning PENGU’s longer-term narrative is the presence of institutional-grade filings. Canary Capital filed for a PENGU ETF in March 2025, which, if approved, would be the first US exchange-traded fund to include both PENGU tokens and Pudgy Penguins NFTs. The ETF received SEC acknowledgement in July 2025, marking one of the first steps toward institutional access to an NFT-native brand. Approval remains pending and faces a high regulatory bar, but the filing itself signals that serious capital allocators are watching.

In June 2025, CEO Luca Netz rang the Nasdaq opening bell alongside VanEck, a symbolic entry into traditional finance and mainstream institutional recognition. For a project that began as a collection of cartoon penguins on Ethereum, that is a remarkable trajectory.

Not just ringing the bell, but opening the mainstream financial door through VanEck and ETFs.

The Risk Collectors Shouldn’t Ignore

None of this is risk-free. The token’s tokenomics include a fully diluted valuation that represents a significant premium over realized market cap, indicating substantial token unlock events ahead, with allocations to the team and company subject to vesting schedules extending through mid-2027. Historical precedent suggests these unlocks can create selling pressure in the weeks surrounding vesting milestones.

The SEC has so far classified pure meme coins as non-securities, but PENGU is more complex given the centralized commercial activities of the Pudgy Penguins team – meaning future regulatory shifts remain a variable to watch.

Bottom Line

The divergence between PENGU’s 8% rally and a flat NFT floor isn’t a contradiction – it’s a maturation signal. The token has developed an independent identity backed by real products, institutional filings, and a cultural brand with over 100 billion cumulative social views. For collectors, the takeaway is clear: holding the NFT and holding the token are no longer the same bet. In 2026, they track different things, respond to different catalysts, and carry different risk profiles. Understanding that distinction may be the most important thing a Pudgy Penguins participant can do right now.

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Kelp DAO Hacker Just Moved $175 Million In Ethereum And Started Laundering It – Here Is What We Know – NFT Plazas

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April 22, 2026

Kelp DAO Hacker Just Moved 5 Million In Ethereum And Started Laundering It – Here Is What We Know – NFT Plazas

This is a developing story. Figures may have changed since publication.

One of DeFi’s largest exploits in recent memory has taken a sharp new turn after the Kelp DAO hacker began moving around $175 million in Ethereum and appears to have started laundering the stolen funds. The attacker’s on‑chain reaction came almost immediately after Arbitrum’s Security Council froze roughly $71 million of the stolen ETH, underscoring how quickly the hacker is trying to obscure the trail.

How the Kelp DAO exploit unfolded

The incident began on April 19–20, 2026, when an unknown attacker exploited a vulnerability in Kelp DAO’s rsETH bridge, which runs on LayerZero. According to LayerZero’s preliminary analysis, the setup Kelp DAO used – a 1/1 decentralized verifier network (DVN) – created a single‑point‑of‑failure by relying on one verifier path, which let the attacker forge cross‑chain messages.

Via that bridge, the hacker drained approximately 116,500 rsETH, valued at roughly $292–293 million at the time, representing about 18% of the token’s circulating supply. Kelp DAO responded by pausing its core contracts, but by then most of the rsETH had already been moved.finance.

Lending market domino: $195M+ bad debt on Aave

The stolen rsETH was quickly deposited as collateral on Aave V3, where it was used to borrow around $195–196 million in wrapped ether (WETH). This turned Aave into a passive victim: the protocol did not create the vulnerability, yet it still carries substantial bad debt on its balance sheet.

In a follow‑up incident report published on April 20, Aave outlined two potential scenarios: ~$123.7 million in bad debt under a more optimistic recovery assumption, and roughly $230.1 million if the hacked funds prove irrecoverable. On‑chain tracking firms such as PeckShield and CoinDesk have described this as one of the most damaging DeFi incidents in 2026 so far, both in absolute terms and in its impact on market confidence.

The equivalent of approximately 116,500 rsETH at current prices.

Arbitrum freezes $71 million – but most funds are still moving

Arbitrum’s 12‑member Security Council stepped in late on April 20, announcing it had frozen 30,766 ETH (about $71 million at current prices) tied to the exploit. Those funds were moved into an “intermediary frozen wallet” that can only be unlocked through Arbitrum governance, with law‑enforcement involvement noted in the council’s statement.

Importantly, Arbitrum emphasized that the freeze affected only specific addresses linked to the stolen funds and did not alter the broader state of the network or harm other users. However, on‑chain data from Arkham Intelligence and other trackers show that the $71 million locked by Arbitrum represents less than 30% of the roughly $292–293 million total stolen, leaving the bulk of the funds still in motion.

Attacker moves 75,701 ETH – early laundering signaled

Hours after Arbitrum’s intervention, the hacker began reacting on‑chain. The wallet tagged by Arkham as linked to the Kelp DAO exploit moved approximately 75,701 ETH, valued at about $175 million, in three large transactions on Ethereum.

25,000 ETH to one newly created address;50,700 ETH and 0.7 ETH to another new address.

These flows were directed to freshly created addresses, which on‑chain investigators treat as an early sign of “layering” – the phase where attackers fragment and redirect funds to make tracing harder. CoinMarketCap and ARKHAM note that the attacker is now actively “layering” the stolen ETH across multiple wallets and protocols rather than holding it in one spot.

On-chain data also shows the stolen crypto being routed through the privacy protocol Umbra. (Source: Arkham)

Cross‑chain moves via THORChain and Umbra

On‑chain sleuth ZachXBT reported on Telegram that funds tied to the exploit have begun moving through non‑custodial protocols that complicate tracing.

Around $1.5 million was bridged from Ethereum to Bitcoin via THORChain, a cross‑chain DEX that does not require Know‑Your‑Customer checks.An additional $78,000 flowed through Umbra, a privacy‑oriented protocol that obscures sender and recipient addresses.

These tools are often favored in early‑stage laundering because they allow attackers to change chains, mix liquidity, and obscure relationships between addresses without leaving a clear KYC trail. Analysts from CoinDesk and The Block note that similar patterns have appeared in past hacks allegedly linked to state‑sponsored groups, including those suspected of ties to the Lazarus Group, though there is no confirmed law‑enforcement attribution in this case.

Lazarus Group has also been linked with the other high-profile hack this month: Drift Protocol

RsETH and restaking layer under stress

The market cap of rsETH, Kelp DAO’s liquid restaking token, has come under heavy pressure since the exploit. Trading viewers show rsETH’s market cap has pulled back sharply from earlier peaks above $2 billion, now hovering closer to $1.3 billion after a rapid expansion‑and‑collapse pattern characteristic of forced unwinds rather than organic selling.

From a technical‑analysis standpoint, rsETH is now trading below key moving averages, with its 200‑day trend flattening and beginning to roll over, suggesting the earlier growth phase is stalled. Because rsETH is used as collateral across multiple DeFi protocols, its market cap effectively acts as a proxy for trust in Kelp DAO’s restaking layer; the current compression signals that confidence has weakened and volatility could persist.

Fallout across Aave and DeFi TVL

The Kelp DAO attack has triggered a meaningful risk‑off response across the broader DeFi ecosystem. Data from DeFiLlama indicate that Aave’s TVL dropped by about $10 billion following the incident, falling from roughly $26 billion to around $16.4 billion by April 22.

CryptoQuant’s head of research, Julio Moreno, pointed out that borrow rates for USDT (USDt) on Aave’s Ethereum V3 market spiked from about 3% to 14%, a level not seen since December 2024, as liquidity thinned and users rushed to deleverage. At the same time, Kelp DAO restaked a large share of rsETH across 20 different chains, spreading the knock‑on effects well beyond Arbitrum and Ethereum.

AAVE V3: USDT, USDC Borrow Event Amount ($) and Borrow Rate

Freeze vs. decentralization: the debate ignited

Arbitrum’s ability to freeze $71 million in ETH has reignited a core philosophical debate about blockchain immutability, decentralization, and crisis response. Supporters argue that the Security Council’s move was a responsible, targeted intervention that preserved value for users and gave law enforcement breathing room to act.

Critics, meanwhile, warn that any mechanism allowing a council or small group to override address states undermines the idea that “code is law” and could set a precedent for future interventions. As The Block and CoinDesk have highlighted, the Kelp DAO case sits squarely in the middle of that tension: it is one of the largest DeFi hacks in recent years, yet the response has been more centralized and forceful than the market was built to expect.

What investigators are watching now

On‑chain analysts from Arkham, ZachXBT, and firms such as PeckShield continue to track the $175 million in newly moved ETH and the cross‑chain flows through THORChain, Umbra, and other DeFi protocols. Multiple sources report that the attacker has created several new addresses, redistributing smaller chunks of ETH in an attempt to deepen the laundry trail rather than simply exiting the ecosystem.

For now, the key open questions remain:

How much of the remaining $175 million can be effectively traced or recovered?Will law enforcement or exchange operators manage to freeze or seize additional assets on other chains?And whether the broader DeFi ecosystem will harden restaking and bridge architectures in response to the Kelp DAO exploit.

Those answers will shape both the financial fallout and the ideological debate about how much centralized control is acceptable in an ecosystem built on the promise of decentralization.

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It Started With a Single Message

Two Months. $300,000. Gone.

How the IRS Traced the Money

The Numbers Behind One Story

What Makes These Scams So Hard to See Coming

Markets Await Powell

NFT Liquidity Stays Thin

NFT Floors Face a Fed Test

ETH Volatility Could Become the Real NFT Catalyst

Risk Appetite Faces a Test

Debit Cards – A Familiar and Reliable Choice

Credit Cards – Convenience With Extra Caution

E-Wallets – Fast and Flexible Digital Payments

Mobile Payment Solutions – Perfect for On-the-Go Gaming

Prepaid Cards and Vouchers – Control and Security

Bank Transfers – Secure for Larger Transactions

Cryptocurrency – Growing but Niche

Speed Matters: Deposits vs Withdrawals

Security and Player Protection

Matching Payment Methods to Play Style

A Name Change With Political Intent

Building on Existing Policy Foundations

From Acquisition to Custody

A Broader Debate Over Bitcoin’s Role

What Happens Next?

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FAQ — Free AI Trading Bots for Real Money in 2026

The Bottom Line: Which Free AI Trading Bot Actually Makes Real Money in 2026?

The Origin Story: “Before Pepe, There Was Peace Frog”

What Is PEACE, Exactly?

What’s Actually Under the Hood?

The Frog Meta in 2026: Why Now?

The Honest Risk Assessment

So Does PEACE Have Anything Behind It?

Panorama launch schedule

What Is Panorama, and Why Is It Different?

The Two Layers of Ownership

Who Is Yigit Duman?

Liquid Editions: The Format That Makes This Possible

The Platform Behind It: SuperRare in 2026

What Collectors Should Watch Next

Coinbase Flags Quantum Risks for PoS

Why PoS Faces Higher Exposure

How Real Is the Threat Today

Impact on Users

Impact on Validators and Networks

How Ethereum and Solana Are Preparing

A Long-Term Risk, Not Immediate

The Numbers at a Glance

Why Is PENGU Moving Without the NFTs?

The Volume Story Supports Organic Demand

What Collectors Should Understand About the Divergence

Institutional Interest Is Building – But Slowly

The Risk Collectors Shouldn’t Ignore

Bottom Line

How the Kelp DAO exploit unfolded

Lending market domino: $195M+ bad debt on Aave

Arbitrum freezes $71 million – but most funds are still moving

Attacker moves 75,701 ETH – early laundering signaled

Cross‑chain moves via THORChain and Umbra

RsETH and restaking layer under stress

Fallout across Aave and DeFi TVL

Freeze vs. decentralization: the debate ignited

What investigators are watching now

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