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WIRED
15 hours ago
- Health
- WIRED
The Best Massagers for People Who Don't Have Time to Relax
Skip to main content Don't cancel physical therapy just yet, but these portable, at-home massagers might be the hack you need after stressful days. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. The best massagers shouldn't feel like a luxury reserved for special occasions. Getting some tension out of your shoulders should be as accessible as your morning coffee. After all, between work, workouts, and the existential crisis that is life, who isn't carrying muscle tension somewhere? I've dedicated countless hours to trying (almost) every type of massage tool out there. Testing these contraptions might sound like the dream gig, but it's not all bliss. Some felt like having a personal therapist at my disposal. Others like they were designed to tenderize meat. A few even led me to question the very choices that brought me to this moment. The good news? I've rounded up the best massagers for all bodies and budgets. These options deliver on their promises to soothe, stimulate, and shiatsu. For more wellness recommendations, read our guides to the Best Theraguns and Therabody Tools, Best Posture Correctors, and Everything You Need for Your Yoga Practice. AccordionItemContainerButton I spent eight months (and counting) testing dozens of massagers across a variety of categories, including (but not limited to) percussive therapy guns, foot massagers, and compression goggles. To assess performance in everyday situations, I incorporated them into regular routines: post-workout recovery, desk-bound workdays, and nighttime wind-downs. I evaluated each device based on build quality, ease of use, and overall value. This involved checking motor strength and consistency, battery life (if applicable), the functionality of extra features, and how effectively each massager targets specific muscle groups. I also considered individual body types and sensitivities. Lastly, I prioritized long-term reliability and customer support. This meant reviewing warranty policies, user reviews, and brand transparency. Massage guns provide percussion therapy that enhances blood circulation, alleviates muscle fatigue, and minimizes soreness after workouts or tiring days. I recommend the Hypervolt 2 to everyone who isn't an athlete; if you are, it's worth investing in the Theragun Pro Plus ($625). However, the Hypervolt 2 is much more affordable, weighs just 1.8 pounds, and offers ample power thanks to its brushless 60-watt motor. It features three speed settings and five massage heads (flat, bullet, fork, ball, and cushion) to address different muscle groups. It can connect to the Hyperice app via Bluetooth for guided routines, provides up to three hours of battery life, and is TSA-approved for carry-on. The Theragun Mini ($149) is my favorite mini massage gun. For more Theraguns and percussive massage devices, check out our guides to the Best Therabody Tools and Best Massage Guns. Specs Battery Life ~3 hours Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 1 year Therabody SmartGoggles (2nd Generation) Eye massagers are well-liked for improving blood circulation around the eyes and reducing fatigue caused by long work hours. Therabody's second-generation SmartGoggles provides an ideal solution for weary eyes and headaches. According to the company's study, participants averaged 4 percent more sleep when using them before bedtime, 10 percent reported better sleep, and overall, users noted improved sleep quality. Additionally, 82 percent of users felt less stressed, and 71 percent reported lower anxiety levels. These goggles are a step up from the original model (9/10, WIRED Recommends) and maintain the same three settings: Focus, Sleep, and SmartRelax. The heating feature also encourages tear production, offering relief for dry eyes. Compatible with the Therabody app, users can select specific sessions while enjoying calming ambient soundscapes. I often find myself dozing off during a 20-minute session. Though I don't often suffer from migraines, they would make for an effective blackout sanctuary in a quiet, dark space. Specs Battery Life ~3 hours Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 1 year Normatec Go is a portable version of Hyperice's air compression system. Whether you're a frequent traveler or a dedicated runner, the Normatec Go effectively reduces inflammation and blood lactate levels without requiring a full suit. It is ideal for athletes, individuals experiencing poor circulation, and those suffering from chronic pain. These calf-specific sleeves eliminate hoses and control hubs, offering a mobile solution you can wear while cooking or standing at your desk. Each wrap provides 360-degree dynamic air compression to your calves, utilizing Hyperice's zone-based pulsing to enhance blood flow. With three overlapping compression zones and seven intensity levels, the Go also connects via Bluetooth to the Hyperice app. The Normatec Elite ($1,099) are Hyperice's premium full-length compression boots; we haven't tested them, but they are a luxe choice if you're considering full-leg coverage. Specs Battery Life ~3 hours Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 1 year The Chirp RPM Mini is a handheld massager that combines rolling and percussive therapy. It's essentially like an electric rolling pin for your entire body, featuring three speed settings and a multi-grip handle. This cordless device is equipped with six free-spinning massage heads, 24 massage nodes, and nonabrasive rollers that won't pinch your skin. While it's effective for the whole body, I particularly enjoy using it on my calves, biceps, forearms, and palms. I find it to be gentler and more soothing on my smaller muscle groups compared to percussive guns. The battery life is impressive as well, lasting up to four hours on a single charge. I don't think it justifies the price tag of $150—but it's TSA-approved for carry-on and comes with a portable case. Specs Battery Life ~4 hours Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 1 year Bob and Brad's EZBack Massager is a back massager but also a neck massager, a shoulder massager, and even a lower body massager with a little bit of imagination. It has four kneading nodes with bidirectional movement that mimics a shiatsu massage, three intensity settings, and a heat therapy option that feels nice but probably doesn't do much for your sore muscles. It straps to your office chair for a more ergonomic massage experience, uses a remote control, and is designed with a 15-minute auto shut-off to prevent overheating. You can also omit the straps if you'd like to use them while lounging on the couch, but you'll need to sit near a plug, unfortunately. A cordless version is available, but I have not tested it. Specs Battery Life N/A (corded) Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 2 years If you experience daily aches or a sore lower back, a heated wrap is helpful, and a vibrating one is even better. The Venom 2 Back provides consistent heat distribution across the lower back with three adjustable levels (113, 122, and 131 degrees Fahrenheit) that can be paired with three vibration patterns. It's great for back pain relief and warm-ups before mobility workouts, as it stimulates circulation and loosens the muscles in your lower back. I especially appreciate the auto shut-off function, which lets me sit back and relax, knowing I don't have to worry about turning it off. Too much heat can intensify muscle soreness or cause inflammation, and we don't want that. Specs Battery Life ~3 hours Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 1 year Hydragun Heatpulse Knee Massager Commerce director Martin Cizmar injured his knee while undertaking an 'extremely large and ambitious cleaning project' and endured the pain for nearly a year before discovering a solution. The HydraKnee Pulse from Hydragun wraps around the joint and provides a blend of heat and vibration massage therapy. It can heat up to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, is rechargeable via USB-C, and features seven temperature settings along with three massage speeds. Martin mentions that he sets both options to maximum and relaxes until it shuts off automatically (after 30 minutes). The best part is its longer straps, allowing use on shoulders or larger limbs, along with a newly designed buckle suitable for slimmer limbs like elbows. P.S.: Consult a physician or physical therapist before self-treating any injuries. Specs Battery Life ~3 hours Return Policy 30 days Warranty Info 18 months HoMedics Shiatsu + Air 4.0 Foot Massager with Heat for $140: This foot massager combines shiatsu-style kneading and air compression to better your circulation. I pop my toesies in and out (with socks on) of this massage tool during the work day, and it feels fabulous, with three intensities and three patterns. It fits feet up to a men's size 13 and is compact enough to tuck under a desk or coffee table when not in use. The advertised heat function didn't work for me, quite literally; I didn't feel any warmth, but I still appreciate its place under my desk. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED . Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today .
WIRED
2 days ago
- General
- WIRED
The MagPod Is a Basic Smartphone Tripod I Can't Live Without
It's simple and sturdy to use, and keeps my phone elevated from all the clutter. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. There's nothing special about STM Goods' MagPod phone stand. It's quite boring, especially compared to all the other MagSafe accessories I routinely test. It doesn't have unique features or charging capabilities—it just props your phone up. But I've grown more attached to it than any other phone tripod I've tried. Photograph: Brenda Stolyar I regularly carry it throughout my apartment, using it from my desk to the living room and kitchen. I rarely travel without it either—I throw it in my bag to use when working outside my house, like a coffee shop or the office. It's the perfect mobile accessory for keeping my phone elevated and within view, and in a world where so many accessories try to do too much , this one stays nice and simple. Simple and Compact I test a lot of iPhone accessories, and right before I switched to the MagPod, I had just wrapped testing of a few MagSafe grips that doubled as kickstands. At my desk, I was switching between the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro with DockKit and the OhSnap! Snap Stand. All of these are great, multi-functional iPhone stands, but I happily replaced them with the MagPod. It's just a mini tripod you magnetically attach your phone to wherever and whenever. There's no special setup. Simply unbox it, open the tripod, place it on your desk, and attach your phone. It doesn't require cables or adhesives (the OhSnap! Snap Stand has an adhesive bottom that keeps it steady but hard to move from surface to surface). On top of the tripod is a magnetic disc attached to a socket, meaning you can affix your phone in portrait or landscape mode. I've been using it with the iPhone 16 Pro, but it's compatible with any iPhone that supports MagSafe. It has a super strong hold. I never have to be too careful that I'll accidentally knock it over while moving stuff around my desk or when I pick it up to carry it to another room. You can twist the socket to adjust the angle and height. Mind you, the height is technically fixed; it just moves slightly up and down, but you have more versatility with the angle. When standing at my kitchen counter, I switch it to the tallest setting and angle the disc upward so that it's lying flat. That way, I can scroll through my phone while it's on the counter. Photograph: Brenda Stolyar The retractable legs are sturdy. With rubber grips on the bottom, they don't slide across surfaces as you tap or scroll on the display, staying put even when I'm typing texts or emails. You can fold all three legs together and use them as a grip to take selfies or shoot video, and this also makes the whole thing more travel-friendly. Space Saving Between my laptop, external monitor, keyboard, mouse, notebooks, iPad, and coffee mug, I always struggle to find a comfortable spot for my phone. But the compact MagPod stand makes it easy to separate it from all the clutter and keep it at an ideal viewing angle. The same goes for my nightstands, which are also fairly small and constantly occupied by my Kindle, physical books, water bottle, and trinkets. The MagPod makes it easy to check my notifications while reading or watching TV before bed, and it also keeps me from constantly picking up my phone. In between, I'll place it on the counter near the stove while cooking dinner, on my coffee table while sitting on the couch, and in the bathroom while doing my makeup. I use it to stream YouTube videos, but it's great for FaceTime calls, too. I used to rely on the Belkin Stand for this, but I prefer the MagPod's slim base when moving it from room to room. It's affordable and a no-brainer—everyone should have a little MagPod stowed away in their home, yes, even people with Android phones; just make sure you have a MagSafe case. I might go ahead and buy a second one to keep in my bag or in a separate room, so I don't have to constantly grab this one. Yes, I'm officially that emotionally attached to this stand.
WIRED
2 days ago
- Business
- WIRED
Best AirPods Pro Alternatives
Skip to main content These excellent AirPod alternatives provide great features and versatility in a familiar package. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. Apple's AirPods Pro are crazy popular for good reason (8/10, WIRED Recommends), from their airy design to their raft of advanced features and powerful noise canceling. But the best AirPods Pro alternatives provide something Apple's pricey flagship buds don't: serious versatility outside Apple's carefully controlled ecosystem. If you're looking for earbuds with that AirPods Pro vibe that travel better beyond the walls of the Apple castle (God forbid you own an Android!), we've got you covered. My colleagues and I have tested hundreds of pairs of earbuds over the years, and these are the best AirPods Pro alternatives we've come across. From affordable noise cancelers to sporty Beats buds, there's something for everyone here. For more options, check out our Best Wireless Earbuds, Best Wireless Headphones, and Best Noise-Canceling Headphones guides. How does WIRED define AirPods Pro alternatives? AccordionItemContainerButton They're are a lot of traits that spell out Apple's most popular pair, but their conveniently grabbable, stem-style design is a good start. Most of the pairs on our list share this Apple-pioneered form factor. Others, like the hook-shaped Powerbeats Pro 2, channel the AirPods Pro in a different way, offering Apple-friendly features like Find My and the ability to auto-swap between iCloud devices, while joining our other options with Android-friendly features to cater to the other side of the mobile aisle. Like the AirPods Pro, each model we chose offers noise canceling and transparency mode, and unlike Apple's standard AirPods, they all provide swappable eartips for a good seal and a stable fit. As with all our earbuds guides, sound quality, features, comfort, battery life, and convenient controls were all major factors in our decision process. Price and overall value also factored heavily to provide good options for those who can't stretch to premium pricing. What about regular AirPods? AccordionItemContainerButton Apple's standard AirPods (5/10, WIRED Review) are a different animal than most other earbuds we test. Their immaleable plastic shells provide a semi-open fit, rather than the sealed fit offered by earbuds with eartips available in various sizes. This heavily affects their sound quality and the efficacy of noise-canceling in the most recent option. That leaves them unable to provide performance on par with most buds we test, which is why this list aims toward AirPods Pro alternatives instead. While it's true that some folks swear by the standard AirPods' semi-open design, we generally point folks to options with better performance, more features, and a customizable fit, whether that's the AirPods Pro or their many rivals. If you're looking for a more relaxed fit that's less plugged up, our list of the best open earbuds has a variety of options that keep your ears fully open and aware of your environment. The Nothing Ear (a) (8/10, WIRED Recommends) serve up a sweet blend of style, sound quality, and usability at a surprisingly low price. Their AirPods Pro form factor is bolstered by Nothing's unmistakable aesthetic in both the buds and case for a pair that feels at once recognizable and wholly different. You'll find a customizable EQ, excellent touch controls, and solid noise canceling, though battery life takes a hit at just 5.5 hours per charge with the feature engaged. Still, that's nearly on par with Apple's pricier pair, adding up to sterling value with style for miles. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Bose's flagship buds (8/10, WIRED Recommends) provide AirPods style in a chunkier package, but that extra heft supports the best noise canceling we've ever tested in a pair of earbuds. There's plenty more to these buds, including clear and focused sound with excellent instrumental separation, adaptable transparency mode to keep your ears safe while staying environmentally aware, and advanced features like spatial audio with headtracking for deeper sonic immersion. These are the priciest pair on this list, but if you need serious soundkillers, they're the best in the biz. The second coming of Beats' Powerbeats Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is truly a best of both worlds option. You'll get all the best Apple features like Find My support, iCloud device switching, and one-touch iOS pairing, in a workout-ready design. Unlike the AirPods Pro, the Powerbeats have a dedicated Android app for features like one-touch pairing and customization. The controls, they're touchy when inserting the buds, but otherwise convenient thanks to both a multi-key and volume rocker. In true Beats fashion, the sound is brash treble and bassy, but with plenty of nuance, while advanced noise canceling and natural-sounding transparency mode help them adapt to your environment. Some have bemoaned the heartbeat monitor as not accurate enough, but it worked well enough for me, and it's especially useful for Android devices. Their new hook design is another upgrade, offering supreme comfort and stability to make these among the best workout buds you can buy. There are a lot of great-sounding AirPods-style earbuds, but few can compete with these unassuming AirPods clones from Soundpeats for the money. That's because of their hybrid design that pairs a special xMEMs solid-state driver for the top frequencies with a traditional dynamic driver for the bass. The result is sweet, lyrical detail and smooth, punctual bass that earned the pair a perfect 10/10 review score from WIRED Editor Parker Hall. I found the touch controls a little unresponsive, and their noise canceling is just OK, but otherwise, there's hardly a bad word to say about a pair this accomplished for the money. Soundcore has a knack for great sound and value, and the Liberty 4 NC embody that philosophy brilliantly. They've got tight and detailed sound, very good noise canceling for the money, and a laundry list of features, including some you might not expect at this price, like spatial audio. Not every feature is on par with the more premium AirPods Pro, but you'll get some options Apple's pair doesn't offer, like fully customizable controls and a multi-band EQ to tailor the experience as you see fit. Not for nothing, the white colorway looks pretty close to Apple's top pair from a distance.
WIRED
2 days ago
- Business
- WIRED
Carl Pei Thinks the Phone of the Future Will Only Have One App
Nothing's CEO speaks to WIRED about how he sees the smartphone market playing out in an era of AI, and where he thinks the competition is going wrong. Photograph: Shintaro Yoshimatsu All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. In the fiercely competitive Android smartphone market, British startup Nothing is trying to do things a little differently—from its product design to its pricing strategy. 'Remember a time where every new product made you excited?" the company asks on its website. "We're bringing that back.' There's more to Nothing than just smartphones these days, though. It's got a range of earbuds for a variety of budgets and uses, and recently teased that it's developing its first pair of over-ears—not long after announcing a new partnership with British hi-fi brand KEF. It has also developed a line of products under the CMF by Nothing sub-brand, which produces even lower-priced products, including a $69 smartwatch. But how does a brand that's keen to be disruptive remain competitive in an industry that's struggling for innovation? We asked its founder, Carl Pei. WIRED: In March, you released your latest smartphone, the Nothing Phone (3a). What do you think are Nothing's strengths, compared to what's out there already? Carl Pei: First of all, we are the only startup in the industry, so we actually have a lot of disadvantages. We are one of the smallest teams in the industry, so we have a fragile supply chain and low cash flow. However, I think where we're stronger is our creativity. We have to be—if we don't have industrial scale, we need creativity to remain competitive in this industry. Another advantage is the size of the manufacturers we compete with. When you're very big, you have to target all customers—young, old, and everyone in between. We, on the other hand, can focus on a specific group of users. Like creatives. The new 'Essential Space' feature [on Nothing Phone 3a] is aimed at them, for example, to help them store and organize new ideas as they emerge. And then there's also our software. The smartphone market is becoming very boring. We believe we are the only ones who can make it "fun" again. The Nothing Phone (3a) is the latest model of Nothing's smartphone line. Photograph: Shintaro Yoshimatsu What does creativity mean to you? Creativity is not only about design, fashion, or art, but about solving problems. Humans have a remarkable ability to connect different pieces of information to solve new problems. I think software engineers can be extremely creative. Now, in the age of AI, human creativity is even more important. In the long term, when humanity becomes a civilization that expands into space, it's creativity that's going to make us more competitive in the universe. That is why we want to make technology "fun" again, to help inspire human creativity. Personally, I was very inspired by Apple when I was younger—the first iPod, the first iPhone—that's the reason I'm in this industry. But now the creative companies of the past have become very big and very corporate, and they're no longer very creative. They're no longer inspirational for the younger generation. So we are trying to bring that back. We're also trying to be very transparent and human in our business efforts. For example, if you watch our YouTube videos, you'll see that we try to introduce the Nothing team, like our designers and software developers, so that you can get to know them. This is our way of doing things and our way of thinking. We hope it will encourage more young people to express their creativity. Carl Pei has long emphasized that he wants to make technology 'fun' again. Photograph: Shintaro Yoshimatsu Is your strategy working? How's business? Looking back on the last four and a half years, I think it is working. We face a lot of problems on a daily basis, but we cannot survive in this industry if we follow the same strategies as other companies. We have to be different. And the business is growing rapidly. Last year, we grew about 150 percent. However, we still only reached about 0.1% share of the global market, so there is plenty more to do. How do you plan to get there? What's the growth plan? I think the big trend we are all seeing right now is AI, and I think everyone is very stressed wondering what kind of AI functions they should launch. But I think they're looking at it wrong. Before the introduction of the iPod, it was common knowledge in the industry that an MP3 player with a hard drive would be the next big thing. At the time, companies such as South Korea's iriver and Singapore's Creative had also launched MP3 players with hard drives, but iPod became the market leader because it got everything right. Apple had the best design in the iPod, it had the best interface with the scroll wheel. It had the best integration of hardware and software, with iTunes for music management, and it had the best business model. All of a sudden, you could buy one song for $1 instead of having to buy the whole album! So it had the best overall package. I think there's a lot of similarities with AI today. We all know it's the next big thing, and everyone is trying to figure out exactly what's important there. But all we want to do is create the best product for our users. It is not about working quickly to create something and shoving AI into it to tick a box. If you look back, the iPod was not launched as 'an MP3 player with a hard disk drive.' The hard disk drive was merely a means to a better user experience. AI is just a new technology that enables us to create better products for users. So, our strategy is not to make big claims that AI is going to change the world and revolutionize smartphones. For us, it's about using it to solve a consumer problem, not to tell a big story. We want the product to be the story. In that respect, Apple today is very different from the Apple when I was younger. Last year, they told a very big story about Apple Intelligence. Now, a year later, it's not much more than some generated emojis. So it's made consumers very skeptical. Photograph: Shintaro Yoshimatsu Do you think more can be done with AI? I think the way we use devices will change in the future. In the short term, I don't think we will see new forms of hardware really taking off. People are trying with different things like smart glasses and the Humane AI Pin, but I don't believe in these form factors right now, because the market is so small. Smart glasses are about 1 million units per year, and devices like the AI Pin are about 5,000 units per year. A smartphone is like 1 billion units per year. It is the largest and most diverse market. We use smartphones for everything, and the key to good AI is data. I don't think any other device will be as important for AI as the smartphone for the foreseeable future. The back of the Nothing smartphone is transparent and features a 'glyph interface' with glowing LEDs. Photograph: Shintaro Yoshimatsu And how do you see smartphone use evolving in that time? It will change dramatically. I believe that in the future, the entire phone will only have one app—and that will be the OS. The OS will know its user well and will be optimized for that person. However, we need to pay close attention to user privacy. We need transparency in how data is handled and clarity about whether it resides in the cloud or is stored on the device. Users must also be able to control who has access to their data, and of course, they must be able to delete it. The next step after data-driven personalization, in my opinion, is automation. That is, the system knows you, knows who you are, and knows what you want. For example, the system knows your situation, time, place, and schedule, and it suggests what you should do. Right now, you have to go through a step-by-step process of figuring out for yourself what you want to do, then unlocking your smartphone and going through it step by step. In the future, your phone will suggest what you want to do and then do it automatically for you. So it will be agentic and automated and proactive. The ultimate benefit to the user is that they will spend less time doing boring things and more time on what they care about. But to get there, we need to take it one step at a time. At this point, if we said, 'We have eliminated apps from smartphones,' no one would buy it. So we have to ship a little bit, look at the data, look at the feedback, iterate, and then ship again. Gradually make suggestions over and over again. We could do this quicker, but we need to bring the user with us on the journey. Carl Pei says that in product development, it is important to move slowly and listen to feedback. Photograph: Shintaro Yoshimatsu How long do you think it will take to realize such a vision? I would say seven to 10 years. I think many people would like to see it happen sooner, but in reality I think people love using apps, so I don't think it will happen that fast. What kind of company will Nothing be by then, and what kind of products will it offer? At that point, the OS will be fairly mature and connected to all the important devices. And I think there will be more forms of hardware that are important to users. The market for smart glasses is very small at this point, but seven years from now it will be a big category. There might be other product areas that will catch on, but we are researching which product categories to start planning for. And hopefully, on an emotional level, we can also offer something to the world, because the last few years have not been very positive. All the companies that were once creative are now big corporations, everyone is afraid of AI, the economy is bad. There's war. In the midst of all this, I hope that we can bring some positivity and inspiration to the world.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
An 'Orgy of Corruption' and 'Walmart Steak': Inside Donald Trump's disastrous crypto dinner party
Donald Trump 's exclusive dinner party for investors in his $TRUMP meme coin turned into a spectacle of disappointment, with critics slamming it as an 'orgy of corruption' and guests complaining about the food and lack of access to the US president. Held Thursday evening at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, the high-profile event gathered 220 crypto investors who collectively poured in $148 million for a chance to meet Trump and dine in style. Instead, many left underwhelmed—by both the meal and the man. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ansoim - Manufacturing Today OMEA Award ansoim Learn More Undo Social media personality and prankster Nicholas Pinto , who says he invested $360,000 in the memecoin, attended the event and told WIRED and Fortune that it was 'the worst food' he's ever had at a Trump property. 'The only good thing was the bread and butter,' Pinto added, calling the steak 'trash' and likening it to something bought at Walmart. Attendees were promised filet mignon with demi-glace and pan-seared halibut with citrus reduction—but what was served allegedly failed to meet expectations. Despite being promoted as a high-end dinner and networking opportunity for independent traders and crypto executives, most guests had little to no interaction with Trump, who delivered a short 20-minute speech and exited promptly afterward. Live Events 'The speech was pretty much bullshit,' Pinto said. 'Trump could have at least given the top people their watches himself,' he added cryptically, without elaborating on what watches were involved. Only the top 25 investors were reportedly invited to a private VIP reception with Trump. Even Caitlin Sinclair, anchor at One America News Network (OANN) and the event's host, was unable to get a photo with him. Christoph Heuermann, a German entrepreneur in attendance, posted on Instagram that Trump 'enjoyed being celebrated' but didn't engage with the crowd. Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the event, calling it 'an orgy of corruption' and a stark example of pay-for-access politics. 'This is corruption in its ugliest form,' she declared, raising concerns about ethical violations given Trump's unofficial appearance and the enormous sums guests had to spend for entry. Adding to the intrigue were a handful of notable guests, including Chinese crypto billionaire Justin Sun and former NBA star Lamar Odom. However, the full list of attendees remains confidential. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the event was unofficial and therefore not subject to public disclosure. With an average investment of $1.8 million per guest, many in the crypto world are now questioning whether the evening was a groundbreaking networking opportunity—or just another overhyped, underdelivered Trump affair.
