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How many roguelikes can you identify in two minutes? Our latest quiz is harder than a no-hit run

by admin October 4, 2025

The roguelike genre is one of my favourite ever. I love that it’s like a special sauce you can mix with countless other genres to create bold new flavours—from card games, to bullet hell, to survival, to RTS, and more.

That’s why I’ve put together a quiz testing my fellow fans on their knowledge of roguelikes. All you have to do is check out the screenshots, and type in the name of the game for each one—within a two minute time limit, naturally.

I had to make it difficult, of course—that’s only being faithful to the genre, right? Don’t worry, if you lose, you can always start again.

Before anyone rushes to the comments with a “Well, actually” in hand—we’re going by the broad, modern definition of roguelikes here. We don’t need to get into a debate about roguelikes vs roguelites, and we’re definitely taking it as read that the genre includes more than just decades-old turn-based dungeon crawlers. So be prepared for a wide variety of very different games below, testing your knowledge across the whole roguelike spectrum.

But do rush to the comments to let us know your scores! We want to know how you did—and which of the 20 games below is your favourite.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Speculative Retail Trading is Good for Financial Markets, Actually

by admin October 4, 2025

Traditional investment firms all have the same mantras: “time in the market beats timing,” “move slowly,” and “big money is in the waiting.” It’s an action plan that made sense 20 years ago, but today, it’s a sure strategy for getting steamrolled by forces most of these firms refuse to acknowledge.

The uncomfortable truth is that markets no longer run on just earnings reports and balance sheets; they run on stories, memes, and cultural ideas that gain momentum through social communities like X and Reddit and move faster than analysts can reliably keep track of. As much as we want to call GameStop a glitch, it’s only a preview of how markets now work. Crypto investors had an outsized role in driving this shift that spilled over into traditional markets.

And now, retail investors have evolved from spectators to active market movers and makers, armed with platforms that let them coordinate, analyze, and act upon market intelligence at scale and unprecedented speed. While not every retail investor can outpace professional analysts, the most plugged-in communities have shown they can collectively move faster than institutions still operating by outdated playbooks. Look at Reddit’s WallStreetBets users, who drove the 2021 GameStop rally that led to massive losses for short sellers, citing that retail traders were the real force behind the market upheaval. Investors who have learned to read the cultural signals and narratives alongside financial ones will stay ahead.

Markets Don’t Crash From Speculation

A Wall Street secret is that markets don’t crash because of meme stocks — they crash because of stubborn loyalty to yesterday’s winners. The historic Dot-com Bubble didn’t burst because traders shifted their attention, but because both institutional and retail investors were in denial about industry over-valuation. Instead of recognizing the underlying stories that showed early signs of tech stocks’ crumbling prices, they chose to put their trust in past performance.

Crashes happen when conviction in positions hardens into blind faith and unquestioning belief, and markets force a hard reset. Speculation keeps markets honest by forcing constant reevaluation. Retail investors do this daily by actively debating a stock or token’s prospects or deep diving into company fundamentals with fellow market participants. When they engage critically and stress-test every narrative in real time, they perform an invaluable and increasingly rare service as the active asset management industry shrinks in favor of passive investing strategies.

The smartest retail investors ride a stock or token’s momentum but pivot as soon as the story changes. Their willingness to be wrong and adapt quickly helps prevent the kind of slow-moving institutional groupthink that leads to massive corrections, while still acknowledging that even retail communities can fall into faster, more volatile herd behavior. This mix of flexibility and collective attention makes them a uniquely influential force in today’s markets.

Retail Runs the Show – and It’s About Time

Retail stock trading is up to 20-35% of volume in the U.S. and UK alone, while crypto trade volume has also surged this past month exceeding a total market cap of $4T, but the change they’re forcing isn’t numbers — it’s intelligence. They’re networked, fast, and often spot trends before your dad’s broker does. Communities on platforms like Reddit and Discord can collectively analyze news, filings, and earnings calls, surfacing insights that sometimes catch institutional investors off guard. During the AMC rally, coordinated attention from retail communities amplified price swings and forced institutional adjustments. Today, AI-driven tools and educational platforms are making retail investors more capable and informed than ever, allowing them to process data and sentiment in real time. They might not always be right, but they’re influential enough to matter.

Taking a page out of what crypto has been doing for years, some companies are starting to get it: CEOs now engage directly with retail communities, and IR departments track social sentiment. They understand the passion retail investors have for their stocks and are more willing to stick with them through poor performance than with an institution that’s judged on quarterly performance.

Fighting Speculation is Fighting Reality

It’s 2025 and talking heads are still warning about how the gambling mentality is ruining price discovery, pointing to meme stocks and crypto volatility as proof that retail has turned markets into a casino floor. They say that embracing speculation encourages poor decision-making, market instability, and over-exposure to risk. This way of thinking misses that prices have always been driven by collective beliefs about future values. Now that more people are able to participate, it’s just happening faster.

Crypto is the ultimate example. Early critics called it pure speculation, divorced from the fundamentals of market movements, but it was actually just genuine price discovery happening at warp speed. The crypto market tested more ideas in a few years than traditional VCs could explore in a decade. While some ideas were garbage, the winners were massive.

How Do You Win in the New Game?

Don’t throw the fundamentals out the window just yet — success involves a hybrid approach of solid analysis and narrative awareness. More often than not, a great company with a boring story will underperform a decent company with a compelling narrative. Success means knowing narratives can change quickly and taking positions that capitalize on that.

By diversifying based on assets and stories, risk management is more comprehensive. It allows investors to stay plugged into the communities and platforms where market-moving conversations are happening, while being willing to admit being too certain about any position means you may be setting yourself up for a painful lesson in market dynamics. However, it’s also about being able to distinguish between market volatility and noise, and recognizing the distinction between legitimate analysis and the misinformation that can spread rapidly in these communities.

Adapt or Get Left Behind

Retail is here to stay — the technology exists and the communities keep growing. By acknowledging this is the new normal and learning to navigate social intelligence and narrative-driven momentum, all investors like will thrive. The future belongs to those who are flexible and can expand their toolkits beyond earnings reports and balance sheets to a world where information flows instantly and communities coordinate buying and selling in real time.

Speculation lets investors read both the fundamentals and social sentiment to spot undervalued assets and emerging narratives before the crowds catch on. Read the signals and adapt, or watch from the sidelines.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

The Shining’s New Numbered Limited Edition Is Up For Grabs At Amazon

by admin October 4, 2025

Stanley Kubrick and Stephen King fans will want to check out the newly released limited editions of The Shining before Amazon sells out. The retailer just listed The Film Vault’s Steelbook Special Edition and Solus Steelbook Editions of the classic 1980 horror movie on 4K Blu-ray. The regular Steelbook Edition comes with an acetate slipcover and is currently priced at $48.86. The Steelbook Special Edition is $87.07 and includes the following extras: a themed cigar box, two posters, five character cards, and three behind-the-scenes cards. Each Special Edition has a holographic sticker numbered to 6,000, so don’t expect it to remain in stock for long.

The Shining’s Film Vault collectible editions were manufactured in the UK and come with region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. Even though you’re ordering from Amazon’s US storefront, both editions are sold by Amazon Global Store UK with free shipping to the US. It looks like it could take roughly two weeks for orders to be delivered, but you’re getting free international shipping, which is quite nice.

The Shining Steelbook Special Edition (The Film Vault)

Before these Amazon pages popped up, The Shining Film Vault editions were exclusive to Walmart in the US. Technically, they still are, as Amazon US isn’t “officially” selling either edition. Notably, the prices were higher at Walmart: $65 for the Steelbook and $100 for the Steelbook Special Edition. Walmart sold out at those prices in August. In early September, the retailer canceled a bunch of orders due to inventory shortages. The Special Edition never returned, but Walmart restocked the Steelbook Edition last week–and sold out again on launch day (October 3). Note: The prices are even higher now at Walmart due to resellers.

The Shining is one of two early ’80s horror films in The Film Vault Wave 3. The Shining launched alongside the 1982 supernatural horror film Poltergeist. Just like The Shining, Poltergeist is exclusive to Walmart in the US, but the retailer is sold out of both editions. Once again, though, Amazon has Poltergeist Special Edition Steelbook and Solus Steelbook in stock for $87.68 and $46.79, respectively. Both editions ship from Amazon UK and include 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. Walmart was charging $100 for the Special Edition and $65 for the Solus Steelbook.

The Shining and Poltergeist Film Vault limited editions come with region-free 4K Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs. All four releases were designed by Vice Press in partnership with Warner Bros. UK.

$87.07 (was $100) | Available Now

The Special Edition’s cigar box features a large silhouette of Jack Torrance with the fireman’s axe overlooking (sorry) the Overlook Hotel. On the back of the box is Jack’s typewriter with a half-finished page from the play he was working on–just kidding, it’s the same sentence over and over again: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

The envelope that holds the eight art cards is a replica of the “All Work and No Play” page from the film. The five character cards showcase memorable shots from the movie. The other three cards are behind-the-scenes production photos, including one that shows Kubrick on the set.

The steelbook artwork is also featured on the new movie poster created by Matt Ferguson and Florey of Vice Press. The second poster is a retouched version of Saul Bass’ iconic promotional poster for The Shining’s 1980 theatrical release.

With the Special Edition, the acetate slipcover goes over the cigar box. The title and logos are printed on the slipcover, so you can choose to display the artwork with or without text.

Steelbook with exclusive artwork
Cigar Box with new artwork and Acetate slipcover
- Remove slipcover for text-free display box
2 Posters
- New artwork by Matt Ferguson & Florey
- Retouched version of Saul Bass’ 1980 Theatrical Poster
Art Cards
- 5 Character Cards
- 3 Behind-the-Scenes Cards
“All Work and No Play” Envelope for Art Cards
Numbered Holographic Sticker
The Shining on 4K Blu-ray
The Shining & Special Features on Blu-ray

The Shining Solus Steelbook (The Film Vault)

$48.86 (was $65) | Available Now

Since the Solus Steelbook Edition doesn’t include an outer box, the acetate slipcover goes directly on the steelbook case. Once again, the movie title and logos are printed on the transparent slipcover, so the case can be displayed with or without text. To be clear: This is the same steelbook case found in the Special Edition.

The new artwork by Matt Ferguson & Florey from Vice Press recreates the scene where Jack Torrance trudges through the hedge maze. The back cover features the bathroom door Danny wrote “Redrum” on in red lipstick. The interior artwork shows the hedge maze from the movie on both sides.

Steelbook with exclusive artwork
Acetate sleeve
- Remove sleeve for text-free display case
The Shining on 4K Blu-ray
The Shining on Blu-ray

The Shining’s 4K Blu-ray originally released in 2019 and remains one of the best restorations of a film from its era today. Displayed in native 4K (2160p), The Shining supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+. For audio, it has DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound.

The Shining Special Features

All 4K and Blu-ray editions of The Shining come with a handful of great special features. The 4K and 1080p discs include an optional commentary track with Kubrick’s biographer John Baxter and Steadicam inventor Garrett Brown. The other bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes documentary, are only found on the standard Blu-ray disc.

Audio Commentary: John Baxter & Garrett Brown
The Making of The Shining (35 minutes)
View from the Overlook: Crafting The Shining (26 minutes)
The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (15 minutes)
Wendy Carlos, Composer (7 minutes)

If you’re unfamiliar with The Film Vault, it’s a series of collectible editions of classic movies from the Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures film catalogs. The Film Vault was created in 2022 by Vice Press, a UK company specializing in officially licensed movie collectibles and artwork. All of the 4K Blu-rays released by The Film Vault are region-free discs, but as a UK company, these limited-edition versions of all-time classics aren’t regularly found at US retailers.

The Shining & Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

The Shining and Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (Scribner)

Kubrick’s The Shining was adapted from Stephen King’s classic 1977 horror novel. King rather famously doesn’t like the adaptation. This eventually led to a new miniseries adaptation that aired on ABC in 1997. The miniseries is more faithful to the book, though it’s not as highly regarded. It’s definitely worth watching, though. Shout Factory released a The Shining miniseries on Blu-ray in 2024.

In 2013, Scribner published Doctor Sleep, a sequel to The Shining that stars a grown-up Danny Torrance. Mike Flanagan directed the 2019 film adaptation of Doctor Sleep. The novel and the movie are great, but neither reaches the same heights as the originals (unsurprisingly).

Both novels are available for cheap in hardcover and paperback at Amazon. The Shining’s trade paperback edition is on sale for $11.30 (was $20), while the vintage hardcover is $19.80 (was $45). Doctor Sleep, meanwhile, is only $13.78 in hardcover and $10.49 in paperback.

Stanley Kubrick fans have another 4K Blu-ray to look forward to. Eyes Wide Shut, the director’s final film, is joining The Criterion Collection on November 25.

$125 | 2-Book Hardcover Box Set (1,396 Pages)

If you are interested in a $100 edition of The Shining, it’s a safe bet that you or someone you know is a huge fan. As a massive fan myself, I can say that if I had to choose between a fancy new edition of The Shining on 4K Blu-ray or the recently released compendium about the film, I would pick the compendium without thinking twice.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is a two-volume, 1,396-page box set that offers a staggeringly comprehensive look at the making of the film. This beautiful slipcase collection was designed by M/M Paris and published by Taschen earlier this year.

Written by J.W. Rinzler and edited by Pixar director Lee Unkrich, this compendium is based on hundreds of hours of interviews and mountains of investigative research. The first book, which includes an introduction by Steven Spielberg, chronicles every step of the production. When I received my copy earlier this year, I was astounded by the level of detail provided throughout the roughly 900-page hardcover book. If there’s a more thorough making-of book about a single movie, I would be shocked. This book is nearly as long as all three volumes in Rinzler’s The Making of Star Wars series, which is also fantastic.

The box set also comes with a gorgeous scrapbook filled with a wide array of photographs, artwork, and documents related to the production of The Shining.

To put it simply: This compendium is the best collection of behind-the-scenes material–across any medium–I’ve ever read.

Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining is in stock at Amazon for $125, but it’s unknown how many copies the publisher printed and whether it will receive additional print runs. Amazon sold out when preorders opened last summer, and the box set remained out of stock until a few months ago.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Ray-Ban Meta, GoPro Max 2 and more

by admin October 4, 2025

If you prefer some variety in your review roundups, we cover quite the gamut this time. The headliner is the new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, but we’ve recently tested a powerful gaming laptop, two action cameras and a wireless mouse (yep, still need those). Catch up on all the reviews we’ve published over the last two weeks by scrolling down below.

Ray-Ban Meta

Engadget

Meta’s second-generation smart glasses are becoming a genuinely useful accessory.

Pros

Noticeably better battery life
YouTuber-friendly 3K video
Meta AI translations are a game-changer for travel

Cons

Framing POV photos and video is still a challenge
Pricey lens upgrades

$379 at Meta

While the second-generation Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses may look similar to the original model, a lot has changed in terms of features. There are also two big upgrades over the last version: battery life and video quality. “The Ray-Ban Meta glasses have a lot of features that didn’t exist when I first reviewed them two years ago, largely thanks to AI,” senior editor Karissa Bell said. “And with the release of its second-generation frames, there’s still a lot to look forward to, like new camera features and AI-powered audio.”

Alienware 16 Area-51

Alienware / Engadget

While it is a bit pricey at $2,000 to start, the Alienware 16 Area-51 sports top-notch components, a bright display, a clicky mechanical keyboard and a slick re-interpretation of the company’s signature intergalactic design.

Pros

Unique design
Strong performance
Clicky mechanical keyboard
Lots of ports

Cons

Pricey
Big and heavy
More display options would be nice

$2,000 at Dell

If you’re in the market for a powerful gaming laptop with a unique design, the Alienware 16 Area-51 might be for you. Of course, you’ll have to live with a machine that ‘s big and heavy — and also expensive. “Even though the Alienware 16 Area-51 might not be as portable as some of its rivals, it’s got a lot to offer,” senior reviews writer Sam Rutherford wrote. “There’s a striking design, a nice screen (though more options would be nice), tons of ports and class-leading performance with plenty of configurability so you can dial in its specs exactly how you like.”

GoPro Max 2

GoPro/Engadget

GoPro’s Max 2 is a worthy competitor to DJI and Insta360 with a focus on image quality and effective editing tools to make clips you might actually want to share.

Pros

“True” 8K 10-bit GP-Log video
Replaceable lenses
Simple in-app editing
Works with Bluetooth mics

Cons

Stitch lines are sometimes present
No onboard storage

$500 at Amazon

GoPro’s new product this fall wasn’t another Hero action camera. Instead, the company opted to take the 360 route, debuting the Max 2 for spherical videos. “With a mix of pro features like Timecode, GP-Log (with LUTs) alongside mobile-focused editing, GoPro clearly hopes the Max 2 will appeal to demanding and casual users alike,” contributor James Trew observed. “The company has also focused heavily on improving the user experience rather than going for pure technological advances and after a week or so of testing, that feels like a sensible move.”

DJI Osmo Nano

DJI/Engadget

The Osmo Nano is DJI’s first mini action cam designed to take on Insta360’s Go 3S and Go Ultra. Video quality is a bit better than those rivals, but it’s still missing a few features.

Pros

Tiny size
Log and 10-bit video
DJI Mic compatibility
Generous built-in memory

Cons

Video editing app falls short
Poor stabilization in low light
Vlog mode is less convenient than rivals

$299 at Amazon

In case you missed it, tiny action cameras with detachable displays are a thing now. DJI’s first attempt at one of these products takes direct aim at Insta360’s duo of Go models. And despite better video quality than the competition, there’s still work to be done for the Osmo Nano. “With the Nano, DJI leaned on its camera experience and mostly matches or beats its main rival in terms of video quality,” reporter Steve Dent said. “However, the company is still lagging behind in a few areas, particularly its editing app — something that’s important for many creators.”

Logitech MX Master 4

Three years after releasing the MX Master 3S, Logitech is back with another update to its productivity mouse. Shopping for the new version isn’t exactly a straightforward endeavor though. “The MX Master 4 may not be a essential upgrade if you’re happy with an older MX Master mouse, and if those didn’t work for you before, this one probably won’t work for you now,” senior buying advice reporter Jeff Dunn wrote. “But if you’re a power user in the market for a new productivity mouse, we’d expect this newest iteration to be as popular as its predecessors.”

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

In Case of Emergency, This 1500W Portable Power Station Is a Lifesaver and It’s Now Selling for Pennies

by admin October 4, 2025

Power outages during storms, camping trips without reliable electricity, tailgating events that need a blender for frozen drinks, remote work setups in RVs, or simply keeping your essential devices running during emergency situations… These scenarios share one common frustration: being disconnected from power when you need it most.

A portable power station solves this problem by providing reliable electricity anywhere and gives you the freedom to charge laptops, run small appliances, or keep medical devices operational during blackouts. If you’ve found yourself in any of these situations wishing you had backup power, the Jackery Explorer 1000 is currently at a record low of $429, down from $799. This 46% discount makes one of the most capable portable power stations accessible for people who need reliable energy independence.

See at Amazon

The Explorer 1000 holds 1,070 watt-hours of capacity in an incredibly light 23.8-pound package. This held energy translates to usable use like powering a mini-fridge for roughly 10 hours, charging a laptop over multiple work sessions, or keeping your phone charged dozens of times through. The unit can output 1,500 continuous watts via its three pure sine wave AC receptacles and can surge a maximum of 3,000 watts momentarily as appliances come online.

Charges Faster Than You’d Ever Imagine

Jackery designed this power station using ChargeShield 2.0 technology which enables full recharge in one hour when you activate emergency mode via the accompanying app. That’s due to intelligent charging algorithms that push maximum current safely into the lithium iron phosphate battery cells. The standard charge time stands at 1.7 hours which strikes a balance between fast charging and maintaining long-term battery health by minimizing heat gain during charging. For perspective, most other power stations you’ll find take four to six hours for a full charge.

LiFePO4 battery chemistry delivers outstanding longevity over conventional lithium-ion cells. This battery retains over 70% of its capacity after 4,000 full charge cycles, or over a decade of moderate use if you’re cycling the battery every week. Lithium iron phosphate cells also handle extreme temperatures more robustly and represent less fire hazard than traditional lithium-ion batteries.

The port choice caters to modern charging needs with two USB-C ports offering 100 watts of power delivery, a USB-A port, a 12-volt automotive port, and the usual three AC ports. A 100-watt USB-C port can charge new MacBook Pros, iPads and high-end Android phones at maximum speed without requiring separate power bricks.

At $429, this power station is practically half its regular price but provides the capacity and functionality that makes portable power stations really useful and not novelty items.

See at Amazon

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Ethereum price rallies on $1.3b ETF inflows, eyes $5k target

by admin October 4, 2025

Ethereum price is off to a strong start in October, fueled by the so-called ‘Uptober’ rally and surging inflows into exchange-traded funds, as it nears a crucial milestone.

Summary

Ethereum price has formed a bullish flag pattern on the daily chart.
The Murrey Math Line tool points to a jump to $5,625 soon.
Ethereum ETFs are nearing the $15 billion cumulative inflows.

Ethereum ETF inflows near a major milestone

Ethereum (ETH) briefly crossed the $4,500 milestone after jumping by almost 20% from its lowest level in September. This rally may continue in the coming days, as it has formed a rare bullish flag pattern.

Data compiled by SoSoValue shows that spot Ethereum ETFs made a strong rebound this week. These funds saw over $1.3 billion in inflows, a sharp recovery after shedding $795 million in assets the previous week.

The ETFs have now recorded cumulative inflows of $14.42 billion—a figure that may surpass the $15 billion milestone next week if the trend continues.

BlackRock’s ETHA ETF holds the largest market share in the industry. It recorded $206.7 million in inflows on Friday, bringing its total assets under management to $17.8 billion. Fidelity’s FETH has $3.35 billion in assets.

Ethereum ETFs have gained strong momentum this year, supported by the ongoing crypto market rally that pushed Bitcoin (BTC) to a record high.

Inflows surged this week as investors turned to cryptocurrencies as safe-haven assets amid the government shutdown. They also increased following a report by ADP, which showed the labor market weakened in September—losing over 36,000 jobs—and raised expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve.

Ethereum price technical analysis

ETH price chart | Source: crypto.news

The daily chart reveals that ETH has rebounded in recent days, rising from $3,800 in September to over $4,500. It broke through the key resistance level at $4,106, the highest point reached in December of last year.

The coin has now formed a bullish flag pattern, which resembles a hoisted flag. It includes a vertical rally followed by a descending channel that forms the flag portion.

The ETH price is now slightly below the upper boundary of the flag but remains above the strong pivot reversal indicated by the Murrey Math Lines tool.

Therefore, the coin will likely continue rising as bulls target the key resistance level at $5,000. A move above that level could signal further gains toward $5,625.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Bitcoin Price Still On Track To Hit $165,000, JPMorgan Analysts Reveal Timeline

by admin October 4, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

JPMorgan analysts, led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, have predicted that the Bitcoin price could still rally to $165,000. They also provided a timeline for when this could happen and their reasons for this bullish outlook on the flagship crypto.

JPMorgan Analysts Predict Bitcoin Price Rally To $165,000

JPMorgan stated that Bitcoin is undervalued against gold and that it had significant upside to $165,000, which it could reach by year-end, marking a new all-time high (ATH) for BTC. Analysts at the bank noted that the steep rise in the gold price over the past month has made Bitcoin more attractive to investors relative to gold, especially as the BTC-to-gold volatility has drifted lower to below 2.0.

The analysts noted that this volatility ratio implies that BTC currently consumes 1.85 times more risk capital than gold. Therefore, BTC’s market cap would have to “mechanically” rise by close 42%, putting the Bitcoin price at $165,000, to match the volume-adjusted basis of the around $6 trillion of private sector investment in gold. In line with this, the JPMorgan analysts declared that the mechanical exercise could thus imply significant upside for BTC.

Source: Chart from Matthew Sigel on X

The JPMorgan analysts also alluded to the ‘debasement trade’ as investors continue to invest in Bitcoin and gold as a hedge against inflation. This is evident in the increase in Bitcoin ETF inflows once again, with these funds taking in over $3.2 billion in net inflows this week, according to SoSo Value data.

This marks the second-largest net weekly inflows since they launched last year. Thanks to this, the BTC price has started October on a high note, up already 7% since the start of the month. Meanwhile, BTC already came close to reaching its ATH of $124,400 yesterday, rising to as high as $124,000.

Standard Chartered Gives More Bullish Prediction

Standard Chartered analyst Geoff Kendrick has provided a more bullish outlook for the Bitcoin price, predicting that it could rally to $200,000 by year-end. He believes that BTC could hit a new record if the U.S. government shutdown is prolonged, noting the flagship crypto’s correlation with Treasury term premiums.

He also predicted that the BTC price could rally to $200,000 as more inflows pile into the BTC ETFs, with investors viewing the crypto asset as a hedge against macroeconomic uncertainty. Meanwhile, the Standard Chartered analyst forecasts that BTC could rally to $135,000 soon, which is above Citigroup’s $132,000 year-end target for the flagship crypto. Notably, rallies to these targets will mark a new ATH for Bitcoin.

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $112,500, up over 2% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

BTC trading at $122,268 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Game Updates

Why does Helldivers 2 have such a bloated install size on PC? Old hard drives, says dev

by admin October 4, 2025

Even the most fervent Super Earth bootlicker wouldn’t deny that Helldivers 2 has been suffering some technical problems, especially after the performance-sapping Into the Unjust update. Developers Arrowhead say a patch is coming, and in the meantime, have shared the first in a series of techy blog posts burrowing into the engineering side of how the co-op bugshooter comes together. Entry number one doesn’t deal with framerates, though: instead it explains the game’s longer-running issue with its increasingly gargantuan, 150GB-ish install size.

Earlier this year, players had already discovered the most immediate cause of Helldivers 2’s swelling: its installation is stuffed with duplicate files, spanning weapon models to tree and rock textures. This had not only ballooned the install size over time, as successive updates added more and more assets, but left PC players with the unanswered question of why their SSDs were filled with photocopied rocket launchers. Especially as the PS5 and Xbox versions, weighing in around a third of the size, exhibited no such duplication.

As the post (credited to deputy technical director Brendan Armstrong) now explains, including multiple file copies was Arrowhead’s solution to the slow loading times of creaking old hard drives. A lingering inconvenience to some PCs, but not the exclusively SSD-equipped consoles.

“The main issue with a mechanical HDD is seek time,” Armstrong writes. “An HDD stores data on a spinning platter, and a physical arm with a read head has to move across the platter to find and retrieve data. The time it takes for this arm to “seek” or move to the correct location is a significant performance bottleneck.

“Imagine a large game level with various objects – trees, rocks, buildings, props. If the data for these objects is scattered all over the hard drive, the read head has to physically jump around the disk, which adds a lot of time to the loading process.”

I know the feeling – I recently flooded my flat with spare scissors, having tired of never remembering where I put our sole original pair. Hard drives might have more reliable memories than me but when it comes to Helldivers 2, Arrowhead evidently don’t consider the time they would spend searching for individual, non-duplicate files to constitute an acceptable loading speed.

The post also considers alternate solutions, including removing or repacking certain duplicates – which would make HDD loading slower, but potentially cut the file size – or split off 4K textures as an optional download, something Armstrong says is not “natively” supported by the game’s engine but could still be made possible.

It’s tempting to mutter “Or everyone could just be sensible and get an SSD.” I’d probably be muttering it myself, had almost every facet of gaming PC building and ownership not become so miserably expensive in the past few years, in turn making cheap mech drives genuinely harder to upgrade from on tight budgets. Hopefully Arrowhead can find a fix that works for everyone.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

TCL QM9K review: a flagship mini-LED TV with exceptional brightness and Gemini AI

by admin October 4, 2025

Why you can trust TechRadar

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TCL QM9K: Two-minute review

The TCL QM9K is the final TV series the company launched in 2025, and it was clearly saving the best for last. As the company’s flagship mini-LED TV series, it arrives packed with the highest level of performance, along with the latest and greatest features, with some of those exclusive to the QM9K.

A key exclusive feature of the TCL QM9K at launch is Google TV with Gemini. This adds the Gemini AI chatbot to what is otherwise the same Google TV smart interface found on many of the best TVs. Gemini enables you to conduct not just content searches, but research on essentially any topic, from dinner recipes to ancient Roman civilization, using the TV’s built-in far-field mic.

The contextual, conversational Gemini lets you ask follow-up questions without losing the thread, and for those concerned about privacy, queries get deleted after 10 minutes. Other Gemini capabilities include image generation, and the screensavers you create can pop up on the screen automatically when you enter the room, thanks to the TV’s built-in presence sensor (another QM9K exclusive).

On the picture-quality front, the QM9K features a mini-LED panel with up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and TCL’s Halo Control System works to minimize incidences of backlight blooming – something it does remarkably well. The result is an exceptionally bright picture with powerful contrast, deep, uniform blacks, and detailed shadows.

Other features that enhance the QM9K’s picture are an AIPQ Pro processor, a wide viewing angle feature, and an anti-reflective screen. Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats are both supported, and the TV features Filmmaker Mode and is IMAX Enhanced.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system provides potent Dolby Atmos sound with clear dialogue and an impressive level of bass for a TV. And if you want even better sound, the QM9K is one of the first TVs to support Dolby FlexConnect, which can output wireless Atmos sound to the company’s Z100 speakers and Z100-SW subwoofer, as well as automatically configure the system for optimal performance.

TCL’s Zero Bezel design for the QM9K reduces the screen’s bezel width to 3.2mm for a striking, “all-picture” look. An adjustable height pedestal stand provides solid support and can clear space for a soundbar, and the TV’s edges taper in at the sides to give it a slim profile.

A respectable number of gaming features are provided on the QM9K, including two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. A pop-up Game Bar menu lets you make quick adjustments, and a Game Accelerator 288 feature enables 288Hz gaming at 1080p resolution.

TCL QM9K QD-Mini LED 4K TV (2025) (55-inch LED) at Amazon for $497.99

TCL QM9K review: Price and release date

The QM9K’s high brightness and refined local dimming help to bring out fine details in images (Image credit: Future)

Release date: September 2025
65-inch: $2,999.99
75-inch: $3,499.99
85-inch: $3,999.99
98-inch: $5,999.99

The TCL QM9K is available in 65- to 98-inch screen sizes. As TCL’s flagship TV, it is priced higher than other series in the company’s mini-LED TV lineup, with the 75-inch model I tested priced at $3,499 at launch. To put the QM9K’s price in perspective, the step-down TCL QM8K mini-LED launched in May at $3,199 for the 75-inch size, and is now selling for around $2,000.

Similar to the QM8K, prices for the QM9K are already starting to drop, with the 75-inch model having been reduced to $2,499. Other flagship mini-LEDs in a 75-inch size that the QM9K is competing with include the Samsung QN90F (currently selling for $2,099) and Hisense U8QG (currently selling for $1,899).

TCL QM9K review: Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Screen type:

QLED with mini-LED

Refresh rate:

144Hz

HDR support:

Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, HLG

Audio support:

Dolby Atmos

Smart TV:

Google TV

HDMI ports:

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

Built-in tuner:

ATSC 3.0

TCL QM9K review: Benchmark results

TCL QM9K review: Features

The QM9K has two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, plus two HDMI 2.0 ports (Image credit: Future)

Wide viewing angle and anti-reflective screen
Audio by Bang & Olufsen
Google TV with Gemini

The TCL QM9K features a high-contrast display panel with a wide viewing angle and an anti-reflective screen. A Halo Control System with a 23-bit controller and dynamic light algorithm is used to minimize blooming from the TV’s mini-LED backlight, which provides up to 6,500 local dimming zones, and the company’s AIPQ Pro processor is used for upscaling and noise reduction.

High dynamic range support includes both the Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ formats. The QM9K is also IMAX Enhanced certified and features a Filmmaker Mode picture preset, a new addition to TCL TVs in 2025.

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen built-in speaker system features Dolby Atmos support, and there’s pass-through for DTS:X. Upfiring speakers for Atmos height effects are located on the TV’s top surface, and there are dual subwoofers on the back panel.

TCL’s Zero Border design for the QM9K provides a disappearingly thin bezel that allows for virtually the full screen area to be filled with the picture. A built-in sensor can be configured to turn the TV on when it detects your nearby presence, and it will then be switched to ambient mode, displaying artwork or photos. A built-in far-field mic lets you use voice commands to control the TV, and there’s also a built-in mic on the backlit remote control that lets you do the same.

The QM9K is the first Google TV with Gemini AI, which lets you carry out contextual, voice-based content search, among other things. Gemini can be used to control Google Assistant smart home devices, and the TV additionally works with Alexa and Apple HomeKit and jas AirPlay and Chromecast built-in support.

Gaming features include 4K 144Hz support on two of the TV’s four HDMI ports, FreeSync Pro, and Game Accelerator 288, which lets you game in 1080p resolution at a 288Hz refresh rate. There is also a Game Bar onscreen display that lets you make gaming-related adjustments without having to exit to a menu.

TCL QM9K review: Picture quality

The QM9K’s high brightness and anti-glare screen make it a great option for bright room viewing (Image credit: Future)

Exceptional brightness and contrast
Rich color and excellent detail
Wide viewing angle

When I previously reviewed the TCL QM9K’s step-down sibling, the TCL QM8K, one of that TV’s high points was its exceptional brightness. In my testing, the QM9K proved to be even brighter than the QM8K, with a measured peak HDR brightness of 3,322 nits in Filmmaker Mode and 3,811 nits in Standard mode. Fullscreen HDR brightness was also impressive, with the QM9K hitting around 660 nits in both Filmmaker and Standard modes.

The QM9K’s HDR color gamut coverage was also very good, with the TV measuring 96.7% for UHDA-P3 and 79.7 for BT-2020. Color point accuracy was similarly good, with the Delta-E value (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen, with a result lower than 3 being undetectable by the human eye) averaging out to 1.8, and to 2.8 for grayscale accuracy.

The QM9K’s high brightness, combined with its extended, accurate color and refined local dimming translated into an exceptional picture. Watching the animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse on 4K Blu-ray, a scene where Spider-Man battles the Green Goblin had powerful contrast, and it caused the scene’s psychedelic color palette to pop more than I’m used to seeing on most TVs. The film’s animated textures were also displayed with a high level of detail, giving it a near 3D-like effect.

The QM9K’s impressive detail carried over to Ripley, which I streamed in 4K with Dolby Vision from Netflix. Watched in the TV’s Dolby Vision Dark picture mode, textures in clothing and objects were clearly visible, and it gave the picture a strong sense of depth. The show’s black and white images looked completely uniform, and subtle gray tones were easily revealed.

Test patterns on the Spears & Munsil Ultra HD Benchmark 4K Blu-ray confirmed that the QM9K’s CrystGlow WHVA Panel worked as well in maintaining uniform color and contrast over a wide viewing angle as the TCL QM8K did when I tested it. The disc’s local dimming torture tests also confirmed the effectiveness of TCL’s Halo Control System at minimizing backlight blooming in high contrast images.

With its Ultra Wide Angle feature, the QM9K’s picture looks uniformly good over a range of seating positions (Image credit: Future)

The only area where the QM9K stumbled a bit was in its motion handling. Watching a scene from the James Bond film No Time to Die, where Bond walks across a craggy hillside cemetery, there was a fair amount of judder, although this could be eliminated by making adjustments to the Custom mode in the TV’s Motion menu without introducing too much “soap opera” effect.

There was also a very slight degree of vignetting at the edges of the screen, an effect likely related to its Zero Border design. This was mostly visible on test patterns, however, and I rarely spotted it on TV shows or movies.

The QM9K’s anti-reflection screen proved effective at reducing screen glare from overhead lights and maintaining picture contrast. I did see some reflections from lamps when placed in the path of the screen, but it was minimal and mostly an issue for dark images.

Picture quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Sound quality

The QM9K’s Audio by Bang & Olufsen speaker system features upfiring drivers for Dolby Atmos height effects and dual subwoofers on the TV’s rear (shown) (Image credit: Future)

Audio by Bang & Olufsen with Beosonic interface
Dolby FlexConnect support
Potent sound with good directional effects

TCL doesn’t provide much in the way of audio specs for its TVs, but the QM9K does have an Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system with upfiring drivers and built-in subwoofers. There’s no DTS Virtual:X processing, but DTS:X pass-through is supported.

The QM9K is also compatible with Dolby FlexConnect, which lets you use the TV with the company’s Z100 wireless FlexConnect speakers and Z100-SW wireless subwoofer. FlexConnect automatically configures and calibrates the system from the TV, and it gives you the freedom to position the speakers anywhere you want in the room, not just in the standard home theater positions to the side of the screen, or behind you to the sides.

One notable feature related to the Audio by Bang & Olufsen on the QM9K is its Beosonic interface, which becomes available when you select the TV’s Custom sound preset.

The graphic interface features a cursor that allows you to move between Relaxed, Energetic, Bright, and Warm quadrants to adjust the sound to your liking. Using this, I was able to warm up the TV’s too-bright sound, though I ended up leaving the Movie preset in place for most of my testing.

Overall, I found the QM9K’s sound to be pretty potent, with clear dialogue and a good helping of bass. When I watched the chase scene through the town square in No Time to Die, the crashes and gunfire had good impact and directionality, and the sound of ringing church bells in the Dolby Atmos soundtrack had a notably strong height effect.

I imagine many viewers will be fine with using the QM9K’s built-in speakers, though I’d recommend adding one of the best soundbars or taking advantage of its FlexConnect feature to get sound quality that equals the picture.

Sound quality score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Design

The TV’s pedestal stand can be installed flush or at an elevated height (shown) to accommodate a soundbar (Image credit: Future)

ZeroBorder design
Height-adjustable pedestal stand
Full-size, backlit remote control

TCL’s ZeroBorder design minimizes the QM9K’s bezel to a vanishingly small 3.2mm, giving it a true “all-picture” look. The panel itself has a two-inch depth, although its sides taper inward in a manner that gives the TV a slimmer look when viewed from the side.

A pedestal stand comes with the QM9K in screen sizes up to 85 inches, while the 98-inch version features support feet. The stand is made of metal covered with a faux brushed metal plastic, and it has two height positions, with the higher option clearing space for a soundbar.

Connections on the QM9K include four HDMI ports (one with eARC), two USB type-A, Ethernet, and an optical digital audio output. There is also an ATSC 3.0 tuner input for connecting an antenna.

TCL’s full-size remote control features a backlit keypad. The layout is uncluttered, and includes three direct access buttons for apps (Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube) plus an input select button, and a Free TV button that takes you to the TV’s free and ad-supported streaming channels portal.

TCL QM9K review: Smart TV and menus

Image 1 of 2

The QM9K’s Google TV smart interface with the Gemini AI icon,(Image credit: Future)Google TV’s Live TV grid guide(Image credit: Future)

Google TV with Gemini AI
Live program grid with broadcast channels
Quick menu for basic adjustments

The QM9K is notable for being the first Google TV with Gemini AI chatbot support. This feature lets you essentially carry on a conversation with the TV using either the set’s built-in far-field mic or the remote control’s mic.

Using Gemini, you can ask a question like, “Show me a list of Samurai movies from the 1960s to the present.” The contextual nature of Gemini search lets you then ask follow-up questions to drill down deeper, such as “Show me the ones with an 80% or higher Rotten Tomatoes score that are available on HBO Max or Netflix.”

Gemini has much more in its bag of tricks: You can ask about anything you want, from questions about astronomy or astrology to recipes to top attractions to see when visiting cities. It can create news briefs with video links and also generate images from prompts (“Fantasy twilight landscape with white deer”) to use as screensavers.

The QM9K features a built-in presence sensor, and it can be configured to activate your AI-generated screensavers, or even a rotating photo gallery drawn from a Google Photos account, automatically when you enter the room.

A Live TV portal in Google TV provides a grid guide of broadcasts pulled in by the QM9K’s ATSC 3.0 tuner, including NextGen channels, and these are displayed along with Google TV Freeplay and TCL free ad-supported TV channels. Google TV gives you multiple options to sort these, including by genre (Reality TV, News, etc.) or antenna-only.

Both AirPlay and Chromecast built-in are supported by the QM9K, which also works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.

The QM9K’s quick menu lets you easily adjust basic settings (Image credit: Future)

There are extensive settings in the QM9K’s menus to satisfy picture and sound tweakers. The Brightness section of the Picture menu provides multiple gamma settings and contrast adjustments. For sound, there are various audio presets, including a custom Audio by Bang & Olufsen Beosonic adjustment that lets you EQ the sound based on parameters like Bright, Relaxed, Energetic, and Warm.

Accessing these settings is done by pressing the gear icon on the remote control or by clicking the same icon in the Google TV home screen. Another option is to press the quick menu icon on the remote, which calls up a menu at the screen’s bottom with a range of picture and sound setup options.

Smart TV & menus score: 4.5/5

TCL QM9K review: Gaming

The QM9K’s Game Bar menu (Image credit: Future)

Two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support
FreeSync Premium Pro and Game Accelerator 288
12.9ms input lag is average

Gaming features on the QM9K include two HDMI 2.1 ports with 4K 144Hz support, FreeSync Premium Pro, ALLM, and Dolby Vision gaming. There is also a Game Accelerator 288 feature that lets you game at 288Hz in 108p resolution and a Game Bar onscreen overlay for making quick adjustments to gaming-related settings.

The QM9K’s bright, contrast-rich picture makes all manner of games look great. Performance is also responsive, with the TCL measuring at 12.9ms when tested with a Leo Bodnar 4K input lag meter.

TCL QM9K review: Value

The QM9K’s full-size, fully backlit remote control (Image credit: Future)

Priced higher than top mini-LED competition
Less extensive gaming features than competition
Google TV with Gemini enhances value

The TCL QM9K is a fantastic TV, but its raw value is taken down a notch by the fact that there is plenty of great mini-LED TV competition in 2025.

At the time of writing, TCL had already lowered the price of the 75-inch QM9K by $1,000 to $2,499. Even so, other 75-inch flagship mini-LED TVs such as the Samsung QN90F are now selling for $2,099. The QM9K has higher peak HDR brightness than the Samsung, and it also beats competitors such as the Hisense U8QG on that test. But the Samsung has superior gaming features and performance, and its great overall picture quality was one of the main reasons why it earned a five out of five stars overall rating in our Samsung QN90F review.

TCL’s own step-down mini-LED TV, the TCL QM8K, also provides very impressive picture quality, and it features the ZeroBorder screen, ultra wide viewing angle, and anti-reflection screen features found in the QM9K.

I’d have said that Google TV with Gemini, which is currently exclusive to the QM9K, was its ace-in-the-hole when it comes to value, but that feature is also coming to the QM8K at some point in 2025, and it should also be available as an upgrade for the Hisense U8QG. The QM9K is the only TV of the three with a built-in presence sensor, so that is one exclusive feature the QM9K can claim.

Should I buy the TCL QM9K?

A Gemini-generated fantasy image, used as a screensaver (Image credit: Future)Swipe to scroll horizontallyTCL QM9K

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Features

Google TV with Gemini, Dolby FlexConnect and comprehensive HDR support

4.5/5

Picture quality

Exceptional brightness and refined local dimming combined with a ultra wide viewing angle feature and anti-reflective screen make this a great all-around TV

4.5/5

Sound quality

Very good built-in sound from Audio by Bang & Olufsen Dolby Atmos speaker system

4.5/5

Design

ZeroBorder screen minimizes bezel for all picture look. Adjustable height pedestal stand can clear space for a soundbar

4/5

Smart TV and menus

Google TV is enhanced by Gemini AI, plus the quick menu provides easy access to basic settings

4.5/5

Gaming

4K 144Hz and FreeSync Premium Pro supported, but only on two HDMI ports

4/5

Value

A bit pricier than most of the current flagship mini-LED TV competition. Step-down QM8K model is a better overall value

4/5

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

TCL QM9K: Also consider…

Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0

TCL QM9K

Samsung QN90F

TCL QM8K

Hisense U8QG

Price (65-inch)

$2,999

$2,499.99

$2,199

Screen type

QLED w/ mini-LED

Refresh rate

144Hz

165Hz

144Hz

165Hz

HDR support

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

DolbyVision/HDR10+/HDR10/HLG

Smart TV

Google TV (with Gemini)

Tizen

Google TV

HDMI ports

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

4x HDMI 2.1

4 (2x HDMI 2.1)

3x HDMI 2.1

How I tested the TCL QM9K

Measuring a 10% HDR white window pattern during testing (Image credit: Future)

I spent about 15 viewing hours in total measuring and evaluating
Measurements were made using Calman color calibration software
A full calibration was made before proceeding with subjective tests

When I test TVs, I first spend a few days or even weeks using it for casual viewing to assess the out-of-the-box picture presets and get familiar with its smart TV menu and picture adjustments.

I next select the most accurate preset (usually Filmmaker Mode, Movie or Cinema) and measure grayscale and color accuracy using Portrait Displays’ Calman color calibration software. The resulting measurements provide Delta-E values (the margin of error between the test pattern source and what’s shown on-screen) for each category, and allow for an assessment of the TV’s overall accuracy.

Along with those tests, I make measurements of peak light output (recorded in nits) for both standard high-definition and 4K high dynamic range using 10% and 100% white window patterns. Coverage of DCI-P3 and BT.2020 color space is also measured, with the results providing a sense of how faithfully the TV can render the extended color range in ultra high-definition sources – you can read more about this process in our guide to how we test TVs at TechRadar.

For the TCL QM9K, I used the Calman ISF workflow, along with the TV’s advanced picture menu settings, to calibrate the image for best accuracy. I also watched a range of reference scenes on 4K Blu-ray discs to assess the TV’s performance, along with 4K HDR shows streamed from Max, Netflix, and other services.

TCL QM9K QD-Mini LED 4K TV (2025): Price Comparison

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October 4, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Suspected Crypto Scammer Linked to $580 Million in Stolen Funds Arrested in Bangkok

by admin October 4, 2025

In brief

Portuguese authorities suspect 39-year-old Pedro M. of orchestrating cryptocurrency and credit card fraud totaling €500 million across multiple countries including Portugal, Europe, the Philippines, and Thailand.
The suspect was discovered by a Portuguese journalist at a Bangkok luxury mall and arrested by Thai police using facial recognition technology.
Police say he’s been living illegally in Thailand since 2023.

A Portuguese man who police suspect of orchestrating cryptocurrency and credit card fraud worth $580 million (€500 million) has been apprehended in Bangkok, Thailand.

The man, identified as 39-year-old Pedro M. by English-language Thai newspaper Khaosod, was first spotted in a luxury shopping mall by a Portuguese journalist who was on holiday in the city.

Pedro’s last name was not confirmed by Khaosod, but his profile and images match that of Pedro Mourato, who’s well-known in Portuguese media.

Thai authorities say they confirmed his identity using facial recognition and biometric data. The police dispatched more than 10 plainclothes investigators to search the mall. Pedro M. was reportedly found while making a call on his smartphone with a “tense” expression.

Police say that Pedro, born in Lisbon, has been living in Thailand since 2023. He had managed to avoid an initial arrest warrant that was issued after he first entered the country and remained there. But he was there illegally after failing to renew his visa or officially register his address.

He reportedly continued his fraudulent activity in Thailand, allegedly defrauding investors of more than 1 million baht ($30,800) while in Bangkok. Citing Interpol databases, Khaosod says that Pedro has been implicated in frauds across the planet in Portugal, Europe, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Thailand Hits Back at Crypto Refugees

Fleeing to Thailand may not be an effective strategy for avoiding punishment for crypto crime. The Southeast Asian nation has nabbed plenty of suspected crypto criminals on the run over just the past year.

In May, a 30-year-old Vietnamese woman was arrested in Bangkok for her involvement in a cryptocurrency scam that allegedly deceived more than 2,600 victims and resulted in losses of roughly $300 million.

In August, Thai police apprehended a 33-year-old South Korean man at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport for his alleged role in laundering cryptocurrency via gold bars for international criminals.

The same week, the 34-year-old “mastermind” of another fraudulent scheme was extradited to his home country of South Korea. The scheme was thought to have defrauded K-pop star Jungkook, a member of BTS, among many others.

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October 4, 2025 0 comments