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40 Best Early Amazon Prime Day Deals on WIRED-Tested Gear (2025)

by admin September 30, 2025

It’s that time of year again, and Prime Day deals are back. The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event—also known as Amazon Prime Day 2—is officially arriving on October 7 and 8, but early deals have already started. The WIRED Reviews team has hundreds of years of collective experience covering shopping holidays such as this. What sets us apart is that we only write about actual deals on the gear and gadgets that we’ve hand-tested. We’re getting ready to cover the whole sale with a variety of stories and even a liveblog (and, hopefully, lots of caffeine.) Below, you’ll find the best deals we’ve managed to find so far. Come back for additional coverage when the event begins.

Get prepared with our guide on How to Shop Prime Day Like A Pro. We also have advice on avoiding scams on Amazon and making sure you’re getting all of your Amazon Prime perks.

Updated September 30, 2025: We’ve added 10 new deals on a few Amazon devices, the best cheap laptop, a great fitness tracker, our favorite smart bird feeder, and a few other gadgets. We’ve also checked for accuracy throughout.

Featured in this article

The Best Qi2 Power Bank

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) (Qi2)

Jump to Deal

Apple iPad (2025, A16) for $299 ($149 off)

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar
Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

This deal comes within $20 of the lowest price we’ve tracked for the best iPad on the market. The 2025 Apple iPad (A16) is cute and comes in a few different colors in your choice of 128-, 256-, or 512-gigabyte storage. It has a modern design, USB-C charging, Touch ID, and two 12-MP cameras. It’s powerful enough for most people, and it doesn’t have support for Apple Intelligence (which may be a blessing or a curse). If you primarily use your tablet to watch videos, play mobile games, or do light work, it’ll be just fine (and you won’t overpay for features you aren’t using). One thing to note is that it only supports the first-generation or USB-C Apple Pencil. Check our guide to the Best iPad Accessories for additional picks.

Apple

iPad Air (2025, M3)

This iPad is our upgrade pick, with an M3 chip that can handle more graphics-intensive tasks. Go for the 13-inch.

Apple

iPad Mini (2024, 7th Gen)

This small-but-mighty iPad supports Apple Intelligence and has an A17 Pro chipset, though its 60-Hz refresh rate could be higher.

Apple

AirTags (4-pack)

Coming within $10 of the best deal, these trackers add your wallet, keys, or luggage to the Find My app.

Apple

MagSafe Charger (2 m)

Nothing Ear (a) for $89 ($20 off)

Photograph: Parker Hall

The Nothing Ear (a) top our list of the best wireless earbuds. They look super cool, with a stylish semi-clear design, on-board touch controls, and a sleek charging case. They pack excellent sound and good noise cancellation, and they’re downright easy to use. The battery lasts about five and a half hours if you’ve got active noise cancellation on. They also pair easily with both Android and iOS devices. This deal comes within $10 of the best discount we’ve tracked.

Logitech

Pro X 2

Our favorite gaming headset has Bluetooth and wired connectivity, plus a built-in mic and comfy ear cups.

Google

Pixel Buds Pro 2

These tiny, comfy earbuds are our favorite for Android phone owners.

Nimble Champ (Large) for $90 ($10 off)

Photograph: Simon Hill

The Nimble Champ (Series 2) is the best power bank lineup you can buy, and right now a few different capacities are on sale. They don’t drop in price very often. Every iteration is small and lightweight, with fast charging speeds (that vary from 15 watts to 65, depending on the size) and a durable finish. Nimble’s power banks are made with bioplastics and have minimal packaging, which helps lessen the environmental impact. They’re also nice to look at.

Anker

Nano Power Bank

We like this tiny power bank for phones because it’s compact but still delivers a full charge.

Anker

737 Power Bank

WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe uses this power bank nearly every day. It recharges quickly and has a handy display.

Anker

MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station (Qi2)

The best 3-in-1 charger for travel can top off your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch despite its compact size.

Ugreen

145W Power Bank

This power bank is an excellent option for tablets thanks to its robust capacity and power delivery.

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) for $70 ($20 off)

Photograph: Simon Hill

Anker

MagGo Power Bank (10K) (Qi2)

This is the best Qi2 power bank out of the many we’ve tried so far, and we’ve not yet seen it sell for less. It has a built-in kickstand, a two-way USB-C port, and a built-in LED display. You can attach MagSafe iPhones or Qi2 phones in landscape or portrait orientation. It’s not the beefiest power bank in the world, offering about one and a half charges for newer phones, but it’ll definitely come in handy if you just need a quick top-off while on the go—especially since you won’t need to bring your own cable.

Logitech

Combo Touch

This keyboard case with built-in trackpad is a great tool for working from your iPad.

Anker

MagGo Wireless Charger Pad (Qi2)

This Qi2 charger is one of our favorites, especially at this price.

Rain Design

mStand

This is our favorite budget-friendly laptop stand, and now it’s even more affordable.

Apple MacBook Air (M4, 2025) for $799 ($200 off)

Photograph: Brenda Stolyar

Apple

MacBook Air (M4, 2025)

It’s hard to do much better than the MacBook Air (M4, 2025). The best laptop has beefy performance, terrific battery life, and is super quiet thanks to its fanless design. It also has support for two 4K external monitors, and the built-in M4 chip allows for on-device AI processing and support for Apple Intelligence. The webcam boasts 12 megapixels, which is an upgrade compared to previous models, too. It comes in your choice of four different colors and three storage configurations. Check our MacBook buying guide for additional recommendations.

Roku

Streaming Stick Plus (2025)

This compact little streaming stick is easy to set up and use, with 4K streaming and voice controls.

Boox

Palma 2

This tiny tablet works best as a phone-sized e-reader, perfect for airports or train rides.

Fitbit

Charge 6

This comes close to the best price we’ve tracked for the very best fitness tracker.

Amazfit

Active 2

Want a fitness tracker without overspending? This is the best cheap option.

Arlo Pro 5S Security Camera for $100 ($80 off)

Photograph: Simon Hill
Photograph: Simon Hill

This is a great deal on our favorite outdoor security camera, and you can get in on it right before porch pirate season. The Arlo Pro 5 has clear footage, fast live-feed load times, and smart notifications. Recording at up to 2K resolution with HDR, it won’t struggle in low light thanks to night vision, and there’s also a color mode. Two-way audio is clear, and there’s a built-in siren too. You do need an Arlo Secure subscription to make the most of this camera, but the deal is solid. The multipacks are discounted, too.

Arlo

Essential Indoor Security Camera (2nd Gen)

These cheap security cameras are still solid and reliable, though some features are locked behind a subscription.

Flexispot

Adjustable Table With Wheels

Upgrade your WFH setup with this rolling adjustable desk that has room for your laptop and coffee.

Plugable

USB-C 9-in-1 Hub (USBC-9IN1E)

The best USB-C hub has 140 watts of power delivery, plus every port you could need.

Tribit

Stormbox Blast 2

This boombox-style speaker will bring the party anywhere, complete with built-in lights.

Amazon Kindle Scribe (2024) for $300 ($100 off)

Photograph: Nena Farrell
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Courtesy of Amazon

Amazon

Kindle Scribe (2024)

Full disclosure: A new Kindle Scribe is coming, but we still think this is worth buying. The Kindle Scribe is our favorite e-reader for taking notes. It works well as a digital notebook and as a way to read your favorite books. With a generous 10-inch display and a Premium Pen (with a soft-tipped eraser on the end) included, you can use it to plan, journal, or annotate. There are some AI software features like note summarization, too. We do wish it was waterproof, or that it had some color features like the new model will, but if you’re in the market for something like it, it’s worth considering. There’s a chance it will get slightly cheaper when Prime Day actually arrives, but it likely won’t be by much—especially considering this is a match of the lowest price we’ve tracked.

Amazon

Echo Pop

This cute little smart speaker has personality, though its sound quality isn’t fantastic.

Amazon

Echo Dot (5th Gen)

This Amazon smart speaker has surprising sound quality, and may get cheaper when Prime Day arrives.

Amazon

Kindle Colorsoft Kids

This colorful Kindle is the same as the grown-up version, and you get a cover.

Netvue

Birdfy Plastic Smart Bird Feeder

Ultrahuman Ring Air for $300 ($50 off)

Photograph: Simon Hill
Photograph: Simon Hill

This smart ring is our favorite without a subscription. Importantly, due to a ruling by the FTC, these rings will no longer be available for purchase in the US after October 21 (though Ultrahuman says existing rings will still be supported). If you have been eyeing one, this deal is a match of the best we have tracked so far. The Ring Air can track your heart rate, blood oxygen, physical activity, and sleep, and it’ll offer insights about changes in your heart rate variability or skin temperature. There are some additional convenient features like a smart alarm that’ll wake you up during a lighter part of your sleep cycle, too.

JBL

Flip 7

Our favorite Bluetooth speaker sounds fantastic and comes in a wide array of different colors.

Asus

Vivobook 14 (X1407QA)

There’s no better cheap laptop on the market. This can handle most tasks for less money than usual.

Belkin

3-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand

This 3-in-1 charger looks great on your nightstand, keeping things secure in portrait or landscape orientation.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

XRP Price Reacts to Ripple CTO’s Resignation Announcement

by admin September 30, 2025

The price of the XRP token has remained mostly flat following Ripple CTO David Schwart’s surprising resignation announcement.

As reported by U.Today, Schwartz will leave his CTO role at the end of the year while getting a seat on the company’s board of directors.

The third-largest cryptocurrency is currently changing hands at $2.86 on the Binance exchange.

“The architect of XRPL”

Schwartz has always been regarded as a pivotal figure within the XRP community given that he is the architect behind the XRP Ledger (XRPL). He is one of the original designers of the network that is meant to solve the inefficiencies of the current financial system and address the scalability issues of other blockchains.

Why Ripple’s XRP Could Benefit Heavily From The US-UK Transatlantic Task Force

by admin September 30, 2025

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

Crypto pundit Amelie has highlighted how XRP, which has ties to Ripple, could benefit from the US-UK crypto collaboration. Community members continue to make a strong case for the altcoin’s utility even amid increased competition in the crypto space.

How Ripple’s XRP Will Benefit From US-UK Crypto Deal

In an X post, Amelie indicated that the move will be huge for XRP, as the US and the UK will look to align on stablecoins, tokenization, and cross-border market access. This came as the Pundit noted that Ripple’s Managing Director, Cassie Craddock, stated that the US-UK Transatlantic Taskforce will lead to closer cooperation between the two countries on digital assets.

Notably, stablecoins, tokenization, and cross-border market access are areas where Ripple is focusing on using the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and XRP. The crypto firm recently released the next phase of its roadmap towards achieving its goals.

Meanwhile, Craddock had also mentioned that given its major presence in the UK, Ripple is well-placed to leverage its strong transatlantic footprint to drive further US-UK tech innovation, which is a positive for XRP. She added that they are looking forward to contributing to the task force’s work.

XRP community members continue to present compelling narratives for XRP, with the altcoin expected to gain wider adoption as Ripple advances. Crypto pundit Xaif Crypto highlighted the views of market expert Jeff Booth on how Ripple will replicate traditional banking with XRP.

However, Ripple and XRP could face significant competition from SWIFT, which plans to integrate blockchain technology into its operations. The firm yesterday unveiled its blockchain-based ledger in collaboration with over 30 major financial institutions.

What XRP’s Appeal Is

In an X post, pro-XRP lawyer Bill Morgan stated that XRP’s appeal lies in its decentralized, permissionless, and sanction-resistant neutrality. He added that it is funny that XRP has been called a bank for years, but now, SWIFT’s blockchain is being built in partnership with several banks.

Morgan’s comment followed a statement by Anodos Finance co-founder, pressing Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse to make another comment on SWIFT following recent developments. In 2018, the Ripple CEO described SWIFT’s infrastructure as outdated, noting that the platform’s messaging isn’t tied to settlement and that it cannot address liquidity issues.

Meanwhile, XRP community member Vet also commented on the latest move from SWIFT. He indicated that Ripple and XRP still have the upper hand because permissioned ledgers lack what makes blockchains like the XRP Ledger special. He explained that they are public, decentralized, and neutral. As such, Ripple, using XRPL and XRP, could gain more trust than SWIFT if the latter proceeds with this permissioned ledger.

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.8, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

XRP trading at $2.87 on the 1D chart | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image from iStock, 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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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Esports

Gruesome Zombie merch arrives on Call of Duty Shop

by admin September 30, 2025

The Call of Duty Shop usually has an epic drop around Call of Duty: NEXT, and they definitely hit the jackpot today. Incoming is a replica Gobblegum machine, Pack-A-Punch hoodie, and more! Check out everything below and go grab your own ASAP.

Call of Duty Gobblegum 12″ Replica Dispenser

Call of Duty Gobblegum 12″ Replica Dispenser

Call of Duty Gobblegum Replica Dispenser brings Zombies to life with premium die-cast detail and functional gumball use – perfect for any fan’s collection.

· Price: $70.00

· Launch Date: September 30, 2025, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Call of Duty Gobblegum Replica Dispenser Description:

Step into the undead survival experience with the Call of Duty Gobblegum Replica Dispenser, a must-have collectible for any Zombies fan.

Modeled after the iconic perk machine from the game, this highly detailed piece is crafted from premium die-cast metal to deliver a display-worthy collectible that feels as authentic as it looks. Standing out with its vibrant design and game-accurate detailing, the dispenser features a unique two-stage lenticular hatch that mirrors the mysterious, otherworldly vibe of the Gobblegum machines in-game.

More than a display piece, this working machine can be loaded with standard gumballs up to 0.5″ in diameter, adding an interactive touch to your collection. Whether you’re a longtime Zombies veteran or a new recruit, the Gobblegum Replica Dispenser makes a standout centerpiece for any Call of Duty collection – equal parts nostalgia, functionality, and premium craftsmanship.

Key Features:

· In-game content:

o Receive a Call of Duty Gobblegum Machine Weapon Charm with every Call of Duty Gobblegum Replica Dispenser purchase. Code supplied in the product packaging.

· Die-cast metal

· 12 x 3 x 4 in.

· Dispenses gumballs with 2-stage lenticular hatch – Gumballs not included.

· Accommodates standard gumballs up to 0.5″ in diameter

· Officially Licensed

Pack-A-Punch Capsule Description:

Call of Duty Pack-A-Punch Snapback Hat – $35.00

Call of Duty Pack-A-Punch Snapback Hat

Level up your look with the Call of Duty Pack-a-Punch Hat, featuring bold embroidery, sleek design, and an adjustable fit for all-day comfort.

Launch Date: September 30, 2025, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Level up your look with this Call of Duty Pack-a-Punch Hat. Inspired by the legendary Zombies upgrade machine, this hat brings an iconic piece of Call of Duty history to your everyday style. Featuring bold embroidered details and a sleek, structured design, it’s the perfect way to rep your love for Zombies mode both in and out of the game. With an adjustable fit for all-day comfort, this hat is a must-have for any player ready to pack a punch in their wardrobe.

· Cotton Twill Structured Hat

· Adjustable fit with Snapback Closure

· Embroidered Detailing

· Officially Licensed

Call of Duty Pack-A-Punch Evolution Pullover Hoodie – $65.00

Call of Duty Pack-A-Punch Evolution Pullover Hoodie

Power up your wardrobe with the Call of Duty Pack-a-Punch Evolution Hoodie, featuring bold graphics, soft fleece, and game-inspired style for any fan.

Launch Date: September 30, 2025, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Power up your wardrobe with the Call of Duty Pack-a-Punch Evolution Hoodie. Inspired by the iconic in-game upgrade machine that’s saved countless zombie-slaying runs, this hoodie blends comfort with bold, game-accurate design for fans who know the importance of staying one step ahead in the fight. Featuring a striking Pack-a-Punch machine graphic on the back that evolves through the ages, this hoodie delivers high-impact style and unmistakable gamer cred. Crafted from a soft, midweight cotton-blend fleece, it’s built to keep you warm whether you’re grinding late-night sessions or hitting the streets.

This product is printed to order and requires up to 14 days additional production time before it ships. Print-to-order items are excluded from any promotions and not eligible for discounts using a promo code.

· 80% Cotton, 20% Polyester

· Unisex

· Regular Fit

· Screen-print

· Officially Licensed

Call of Duty Pack-A-Punch 16×20″ Canvas – $75.00

Call of Duty Pack-A-Punch 16×20″ Canvas

Bring the Pack-a-Punch machine to your wall with this Call of Duty 16×20″ Canvas, featuring vibrant, durable artwork and ready-to-hang design.

Launch Date: September 30, 2025, at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET

Bring the iconic power of the Pack-a-Punch machine off the screen and onto your wall with the Call of Duty Pack-a-Punch 16×20″ Canvas. Whether you’re leveling up in-game or decking out your battle station, this premium canvas captures the legendary essence of one of Call of Duty’s most unforgettable features. This canvas wall art is crafted with an archival polyester-cotton blend for museum-quality durability. A glossy finish protects the artwork from moisture and UV rays, preserving its vibrant color for years to come. The canvas is wrapped around 1.25″ stretcher bars made from 100% renewable, kiln-dried, knot-free wood.

It arrives ready to hang with pre-installed hardware and wall-protecting bumpers, making it easy to display right out of the box.

· 16 x 20 x 1.25 in.

· Canvas

· Made in the USA

· Officially Licensed

Stay tuned to GamingTrend for more Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 news and info!

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Coinbase’s (COIN) Bitcoin-Backed Loans Surpass $1B as Exchange Prepares to Lift Borrowing Cap

by admin September 30, 2025

Coinbase (COIN) said its bitcoin-backed loan program has surpassed $1 billion in originations since launching in January, underscoring growing demand for crypto as collateral.

The exchange currently offers retail customers in the U.S. the ability to borrow cash against BTC$114,258.31 holdings through the on-chain Morpho platform. A spokesperson said the average loan size sits at $54,000 but noted the firm plans to raise its borrowing cap from $1 million to $5 million in the coming weeks.

“We do see some users borrowing up against the current $1 [million] loan limit, and are excited to meet their needs, as well,” the spokesperson said. “We work closely with the Morpho team to ensure that we maintain steady liquidity in the onchain loan protocol as we roll out to more customers with larger loans.”

The product caters to customers looking to access cash without selling their bitcoin, a use case that mirrors how homeowners tap equity or how businesses leverage equipment. Coinbase said top applications include debt consolidation, covering large unexpected expenses such as medical bills or taxes, investing in real estate, and making high-cost purchases.

The move comes as the asset-based lending industry continues to expand. A July report projected the market could reach $1.3 trillion by 2030, reflecting broader interest in loans secured by assets beyond traditional real estate or vehicles.

By pushing the ceiling higher, Coinbase is positioning itself to serve wealthier clients and investors who may want to borrow against larger bitcoin holdings.

The milestone highlights the steady integration of crypto into conventional financial practices.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Roblox continues efforts for child safety by expanding age estimation to all users by end of the year

Game Updates

Roblox’s new ‘sensitive issues’ label deemed “a step backward for both creative expression and social justice” by advocacy groups

by admin September 30, 2025

Roblox has been criticised for its new guidelines on “sensitive issues”, described by advocacy groups as “a step backward for both creative expression and social justice”.

Back in August, Roblox introduced a new content descriptor for sensitive issues as part of an improvement to parental control. The descriptor is meant for Roblox experiences themed on social, political, or religious issues, but the company stated it is “not meant to take a stance on any specific issue”.

That has now been opposed in an open letter to Roblox by advocacy groups Women In Games, Out Making Games, and BAME in Games, each focused on supporting marginalised groups.

“Roblox’s recently proposed creator guidelines regarding ‘sensitive issues’ represent a step backward for both creative expression and social justice,” the open letter reads. “These changes threaten to undermine the vibrant, inclusive creative community that has flourished on the platform since 2006, while potentially causing real harm to marginalised groups in society.”

Essentially, the letter argues, by introducing these descriptors Roblox is treating issues of equality and human rights as “debatable rather than fundamental”.

Roblox’s criteria for the descriptor applies to “experiences where a majority of the content, gameplay, or experience details…refers to the sensitive issue”, which can include immigration, capital punishment, gun control, marriage equality, pay equity in sports, racial profiling, reproductive rights, and more.

“We support efforts to keep children safe online – especially girls, who face disproportionate harassment and grooming,” the open letter continues. “But safety cannot be achieved by silencing content that educates and empowers.

“Issues such as equal pay, reproductive rights, and gender equality are central to girls’ and women’s lived experiences. Marking these as ‘sensitive’ risks hiding content that is vital to representation, education, and inspiration.”

Suppressing such experiences, the advocacy groups claim, is “false neutrality” and instead of protecting children, “the policy risks teaching Roblox’s diverse audience that issues of justice and equality are controversial opinions rather than universal values, thereby reinforcing the very divisions it claims to guard against.”

Instead, the groups believe Roblox should rely on internationally recognised age-rating systems like PEGI and the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), instead of “invent[ing] a vague, easily abused ‘sensitive issues’ label”.

Eurogamer has contacted Roblox for its response to the open letter.

Back in July, Roblox also introduced new safety features, including an AI used to estimate a user’s age through video selfie. Earlier this month, it announced this would be expanded to all users by the end of the year.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

It looks like an M5 iPad Pro is coming very soon

by admin September 30, 2025

Apple may be releasing a new iPad Pro with an M5 chip in the very near future, according to an unboxing video made by a Russian YouTuber. This is the same creator that leaked the 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 chip last year, so the information in the video is likely credible.

To that end, the creator unboxes what appears to be a new 13-inch iPad Pro with an M5 chip and 256GB of storage in a Space Black finish. The exterior design doesn’t look noticeably different from current models, as the tablet still has a single rear camera, four speakers and a Smart Connector.

Previous leaks had indicated that the next iPad Pro would feature a second front camera, but this video doesn’t confirm that. It also looks like this new model is still plenty thin.

The video even puts the tablet through some testing. A Geekbench 6 benchmark shows a 12 percent increase in multi-core CPU performance when compared to the previous generation. This benchmark result suggests a 36 percent faster GPU. It also indicated that the 256GB model of this tablet will include 12GB of RAM. Current models with 256GB of storage ship with just 8GB of RAM.

The footage shows that this tablet is running iPadOS 26, which makes sense, and that the battery was manufactured in August of this year. This could all be a ruse but, again, the leaker has been proven correct in the past. It’s likely that Apple will announce the refreshed iPad Pro with the M5 chip sometime in October, which tracks with previous reporting.

It was also recently reported that the company is working on a refresh of the MacBook Pro laptop with the M5 chip. These computers could be available later this year.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

EA Sports FC 26 Review – An Immersive Step Forward

by admin September 30, 2025

Outside of the name change to EA Sports FC, EA Sports’ football series had stagnated. With each passing entry, the community has grown increasingly concerned about the lack of significant changes to the annualized franchise. But after spending several hours with EA Sports FC 26’s many modes, I emerged impressed by the strides EA Sports took with this year’s entry.

Sports games are driven by their communities, and EA Sports turned to community feedback to inform this year’s iterations of the studio’s titles with varying degrees of success. EA Sports FC 26 builds on this by overhauling gameplay with authenticity as its primary goal. Newly introduced for FC 26, the “Competitive” and “Authentic” gameplay presets enable players to choose how they want to play. The former’s arcade style is the perfect mode of play for FUT and the online suite, and the latter imbues career modes with a level of realized play that rewards your time on the pitch.

Authentic mode allows players looking to immerse themselves in the most beautiful game to experience the chaos of scrambles in the box, the value of playing positionally, and the importance of winning every header. With its responsive gameplay, FC 26 is the closest attempt to pure simulation that the franchise has taken in years. But with authenticity comes a more methodical and slow-paced approach to matches, which you can easily feel from the moment you step onto the pitch.

Authentic and Competitive mode choices allow EA Sports FC 26 to develop gameplay that is closest to simulated, deliberate play. However, the most crucial element is that the jarring experience of switching between FUT and other solo-player modes is in your control, with gamble play pacing at your discretion. If you’re a fan of the fast-paced, high-scoring nature of FUT games, you can have that in your career modes. You’re in control of the pace, and that allows you to chart your time in FC 26 your way.

Regardless of which gameplay style you choose, goalkeeping receives a significant boost. Bad goalkeeping drastically impacts your love of the game, so thankfully, I can’t recall any goals that clearly should have been saved or cheap rebounds. This keeps scores lower, works to impact authenticity further, and helps make scoring more dynamic.

You can feel the most significant difference in goalkeeping while playing FUT, but even as you progress through a career, the keepers you are playing against all feel different. Keepers matter, not just when their overall stats are in the high 90s, and that forces you to plan your attacks instead of just taking every shot on goal. One of the elements that most impacts goalkeeping is the fact that keepers now block with different animations for different saves, which makes it more difficult for strikers.

The enhancements to goalkeeping are a good starting point, particularly because of save percentages that come close to the completion percentages we see in EA Sports College Football’s robo-QB problem, which can push challenging into frustrating, especially in close matches. Better balancing is essential to make this quality-of-life enhancement for a core position a shining star.

Despite the gameplay enhancements, EA Sports FC 26 sometimes shanks the punt thanks to technical issues, including menu crashes and server disconnects. These aren’t constant, but when they do happen, they not only remove you from the immersion – they remove you from the game itself. What starts to wear on you is how frequently your account will disconnect from EA Sports servers, which, depending on the mode, will force you to stop playing, even if the game technically hasn’t crashed.

Choice continues to guide EA Sports FC 26 in Player Career mode with the introduction of archetypes. At first glance, archetypes may seem familiar to those who also play EA Sports’ American football games. However, FC 26 isn’t copying anyone’s homework and instead has introduced a robust archetype progression system that adds much-needed depth to developing your player.

Inspired by the real-life greats, the Archetype system is more realized than any other EA Sports has put together. Replacing the Player Growth System of the past, everything you do as a player matters. From on-pitch goals to hit, set forward by your manager, to the choices you make off the field, player development isn’t just about looking at stat lines. Instead, you’re developing an entire identity and personality.

Archetypes are broken into three identity categories: Virtuoso, Heartbeat, and Maverick. Are you looking to be the driving force of your team? Are you looking to play all 11 positions on the field? The important thing here is that you get that choice. This is made even more critical as you begin to specialize your player within the Archetypes.

How you respond to your fans on social media, how much you praise your team, and as you start to build your nest egg with your weekly salary, the off-the-field activities also impact how you develop. Each of the choices you make about how to respond after losses, or if you book activities for your fans, shapes how the team views you. As you develop each of these three categories, you unlock different abilities that impact how you play, with the number of slots locked to progression, and from there, the abilities locked by how far into each of the three identity branches you have progressed.

As you begin to specialize and define your player through their playstyle, specializations like Recycler, Maestro, and Spark for forwards, or Progressor and Marauder for defenders, give you control in charting your path and taking advantage of the nuances in how you play. Are you more of a Rapinoe or a Morgan? A Sun or an Mbappe? These specializations work to build that path. Archetypes are the core progression system, and they work exceptionally well to push role-playing expectations and immersion in sports titles.

Much like other RPG choice systems, how you respond, the actions you choose to buy, all contribute to how fast you can unlock Virtuoso, Heartbeat, and Maverick abilities. Additionally, the ability to become a hybrid between all three isn’t easily obtained, pushing you to pick a specialty to get the full benefits. While you can split your identity between two branches, taking the time to read through what you can unlock in the future is essential to building a player you will be happy with. From a gameplay perspective, restricting branch movement is a crucial key to balancing players against one another. This is especially important for building characters within online clubs.

The level of role-playing elements introduced for clubs and Player Career mode is one of the most in-depth overhauls in a sports title yet. It boosts immersion to a point that begs you to engage with your career as more than just scoring goals or landing a new contract. Modern sports titles are, in actuality, one part sport and one part RPG. It’s why we spend much time building Online Dynasties, Franchises, and, for FC 26, clubs. Stepping back and looking at the three standard bearers of the EA Sports catalog, FC 26 offers the most robust RPG experience that the studio has put forward.

EA Sports FC 26 also features the largest roster of players, clubs, and stadiums yet. While this is vital to driving authenticity, it’s also key to immersion. Playing with a newer club, like my home team, Austin FC, as my male pro and the Houston Dash as my female pro, showcased how much investment has been given to both men’s and women’s soccer. Playing through parallel careers, there weren’t many moments that felt like either side was less than the other.

While contracts for both women and men are drastically different, with my Austin FC pro making around $14k a week and my Houston Dash pro making only $1.4k, both players still had access to the same activities, with the prices adjusted to the salary you were locked into – a slight nod to authentic pay disparity without penalizing the player.

The game wants to put you in your player’s shoes, and when you score a goal, you’ll experience a replay of the moment from the first-person perspective. While this feature is fun and has no significant impact on gameplay, the POV feature often suffers from visual issues, including awkward hair clipping through the frame. This stands out even more when compared to the visual successes of character models during cutscenes and gameplay, as well as the immersive stadium presentations.

Even with its issues, EA Sports FC 26 offers a level of player development and immersion that you just don’t get in other sports titles. On the surface, it’s easy to describe the gameplay overhaul as simple quality-of-life updates, but this year’s changes tackle several player frustrations (particularly around goalkeeping), ultimately improving the franchise for the long haul.. EA Sports FC 26 is a robust step forward for a franchise I had lost faith in, and now, I can’t stop playing.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Bitcoin Spot Market Regains Momentum On Binance: A Shift In Investor Behavior

by admin September 30, 2025

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

Bitcoin is experiencing a modest surge after enduring days of persistent selling pressure, offering temporary relief to traders. Despite the bounce, price action continues to struggle at higher levels, and momentum remains uncertain. Bulls are attempting to stabilize the market, but conviction is still lacking, leaving investors cautious about whether the rebound can develop into something more sustained.

Related Reading: Bitcoin Wholecoiner Inflows Decline To Lowest Levels Since November 2023 – Details

Adding to the discussion, top analyst Darkfost shared insights pointing to an important shift in trading dynamics. According to him, spot buying is making a notable comeback on Binance, an exchange where derivatives activity has traditionally dominated since the launch of Futures. Historically, the average trading ratio on Binance has leaned heavily toward leveraged products, reflecting the speculative nature of market participation.

However, during specific periods, such as today, spot markets regain strength and capture a larger share of trading flows. Darkfost highlights that this return of spot demand is a key signal, as it often reflects genuine capital entering directly into Bitcoin rather than leveraged positioning. This can serve as a stabilizing factor, consolidating market structure and building stronger foundations for a potential recovery.

Spot Market Dynamics: A Shift Toward Sustainable Growth

Analyst Darkfost explains that the recent uptick in spot buying reflects a meaningful change in investor behavior. Instead of focusing on the fast-paced speculation of derivatives, more traders are allocating capital directly into Bitcoin itself. This shift is significant because spot purchases represent actual ownership of BTC, making them more sustainable than leveraged bets that can unwind quickly.

Binance Spot vs Futures Dominance | Source: Darkfost

Darkfost explains that when spot activity increases, it signals fresh capital flowing into the market. These inflows strengthen the underlying market structure, reducing reliance on speculative leverage and laying a sturdier foundation for price stability. Historically, periods where spot flows dominate have often coincided with the early phases of short- or medium-term bullish recoveries. These stages are marked by consolidation, where strong hands accumulate and prepare the market for the next leg upward.

Beyond Bitcoin, the spot trend also extends to altcoins traded on Binance. Current data highlights large spot volumes in tokens such as BNB, which recently reached a new all-time high, Alpine — the Formula 1 team’s fan token — and PUMP, the meme-inspired token from Pumpfun. These flows illustrate that when investors turn to spot markets, liquidity and interest often spill over into highly active altcoins, amplifying broader market momentum.

Bitcoin Faces Resistance After Sharp Rebound

Bitcoin is trading around $113,400 after staging a sharp recovery from lows near $110,000 earlier in the week. The 8-hour chart shows a strong bounce, but momentum has now slowed as the price approaches a cluster of resistance levels. The $117,500 zone, marked in yellow, continues to act as the key ceiling. It has rejected multiple rallies since August and remains the level bulls must reclaim to unlock higher momentum.

BTC facing resistance | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView

Moving averages offer further context. The 50-period (blue) and 100-period (green) moving averages are converging just below the current price, while the 200-period (red) remains overhead near $115,000. Bitcoin’s failure to close above the red line in previous attempts underlines the significance of this barrier. Until the market clears both the 200 MA and the $117,500 horizontal resistance, upward momentum remains fragile.

On the downside, support sits near $110,000, which cushioned the recent decline and provided the base for this rebound. A breakdown below that level would likely intensify selling pressure and expose BTC to deeper losses.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Kentucky State Senator Sued Over Bitcoin Mining Business

by admin September 30, 2025

In brief

Kentucky Senator Brandon Smith faces two lawsuits over his Bitcoin mining repair company Mohawk Energy, including claims of misrepresentation and breach of contract.
Smith, who authored Kentucky’s 2021 crypto mining tax incentive bill, denies all allegations and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs.
The legal troubles highlight growing pains in the U.S. crypto mining sector, which expanded 23% between 2022 and 2024.

Kentucky Sen. Brandon Smith (R-Hazard) is facing two separate legal cases related to a Bitcoin mining repair business he founded in Letcher County, Kentucky.

Smith is the CEO and co-founder of Mohawk Energy, which in 2022 pivoted from coal cleanup operations to ASIC repair and other Bitcoin mining services.

Local outlet, Lexington Herald Leader, reports that Ricky Dale Cole sued Smith in Letcher Circuit Court in January, accusing the lawmaker of misrepresenting the value of Mohawk Energy.

Cole claims that he sold a warehouse to Mohawk, agreeing with Smith to sell the premises below market price in return for a 20% stake in the business.

Yet Cole’s suit alleges that the company has refused to share info about its finances and that he has not profited from the deal. He also alleged that Smith made false promises and representations.

This suit comes in addition to a case filed in November 2023 by Huobi-subsidiary HBTPower, which alleges breach of contract and misrepresentation, following an agreement with Mohawk Energy in June 2022.

According to HBT’s allegations, Smith had made a deal to work with HBTPower employees to train his own workers and acquire the in-house ability to repair Bitcoin mining machines.

However, Smith and other Mohawk representatives eventually asked HBTPower personnel to leave Mohawk’s premises, with HBTPower claiming that Smith did not own the warehouse at the time he entered into a contract with the Chinese company.

Smith has denied the allegations against him, and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs.

Despite the legal difficulties surrounding Mohawk’s pivot to crypto, Smith remains optimistic about the industry’s future in the US and in Kentucky.

Smith had been instrumental in securing the passage of several crypto-related bills in Kentucky, including a 2021 bill—which he authored—that provides tax incentives for investments in cryptocurrency mining.

Speaking to Decrypt in his capacity as Mohawk Energy CEO, Smith said that the company is “excited” to return to its mission of “job creation and training” once the litigation is over.

“While it is unfortunate that Huobi and its shell subsidiary HBTPower breached their eight year contract and refused to start operating at the Mohawk plant, that does not impact Mohawk’s long term plans to bring more jobs and technology training to the region,” he said. “Our counter suits to the complaints explain our position.”

Mohawk’s difficult pivot came during a period when the U.S. cryptocurrency mining sector witnessed rapid expansion, with Bitcoin mining sites in the U.S. increasing in number by 23% between 2022 and 2024, to 48.

According to Shanon Squires, the Chief Mining Officer at Compass Mining, such growth has continued this year, as evidenced by Bitcoin’s hashrate reaching new all-time highs recently.

“In the U.S., that momentum is especially visible in states like Texas and Wyoming,” she told Decrypt. “The expansion seems to be mostly coming from existing companies, rather than from new players entering the market.”

While affirming that the American cryptomining industry has become increasingly professionalized in recent years, there is still some degree of variability, with some endeavors “popping up and fading” quicker than others.

She added, “While Bitcoin mining is no longer the ‘wild west’ it once was, companies still need to do their homework and work with established partners that have proven themselves through multiple cycles.”

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September 30, 2025 0 comments