Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep: 50K Account Fees, Drawdown and Payouts Compared
On a 50K account, passing in the first month costs $198 on the Topstep Standard Path versus $719 on Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail Standard (official list prices checked on 2026-11-04); the total depends on how long it takes to pass and which type you choose. The main difference is billing: Apex Trader Funding charges a one-time fee for an evaluation with a fixed time limit, while Topstep bills monthly with no deadline to pass.
- Billing differs. An Apex Trader Funding evaluation is a one-time payment that expires after 30 calendar days, while the Topstep Trading Combine is a monthly subscription renewed every 30 days with no deadline to pass.
- On 50K, the $3,000 profit target and the $2,000 maximum drawdown are the same. What differs is where the drawdown line stops, the daily loss limit, the consistency rule and the minimum trading days.
- The profit split is 100% in the Apex Trader Funding PA and 90% in the Topstep XFA. Outside the US, Apex Trader Funding pays through Plane, and Topstep mainly through international wire (Wire/SWIFT). Both firms publish restricted country lists; check that your country is not listed before you sign up.
Quick answer: which firm fits which trader
You want a one-time payment and no monthly charges
An Apex Trader Funding evaluation is a one-time payment that gives you 30 calendar days from purchase. It is not a subscription, but there are no extensions or resets, so if you do not pass in 30 days you buy again.
You want to pay monthly and pass without a deadline
The Topstep Trading Combine renews automatically every 30 days and continues until you pass or cancel. There is no deadline to pass, and 50K Standard costs $49 a month (before tax).
You want an end-of-day drawdown
Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail, or Topstep
Both the Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail and the Topstep Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) raise the line based on the end-of-day balance and are enforced in real time during the day. If you are fine with a line that rises with the intraday high, the Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail has a lower evaluation list price.
You do not want to pay an activation fee after passing
Both firms offer a No Activation Fee option
Apex Trader Funding has evaluations with a $0 activation fee in exchange for a higher evaluation price; 50K EOD Trail is a one-time $1,190. Topstep offers the No Activation Fee Path at $95 a month, and you cannot switch paths after purchase.
You want to reach your first payout quickly
Check evaluation days and payout days together
Apex Trader Funding has no minimum trading days in the evaluation, so you can pass in 1 day, and a PA payout needs 5 qualifying days (another official article says "trade 8 days, with 5 days of $50 or more"). The Topstep evaluation takes at least 2 days, and XFA Consistency lets you request a payout after 3 trading days.
This is not a ranking. Pick the firm that matches your own conditions, such as billing, trading style and days to your first payout.
Apex Trader Funding vs Topstep 50K comparison table: EOD Trail vs Trading Combine
Apex Trader Funding replaced its products on 2026-03-01, and the current products are Intraday Trail and EOD Trail (the old Legacy product is back on sale for a limited time, but its rules differ, so it is not covered here). Because the Topstep Trading Combine Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) follows the end-of-day balance, the main comparison uses EOD Trail, which works the same way, and prices are shown for Standard, which charges an activation fee after passing. Intraday Trail and No Activation Fee are covered in the next table and in the cost section.
| Item (50K) | Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail (Standard) | Topstep Trading Combine (Standard Path) |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation price and billing | One-time $590 (list price), 30 calendar days from purchase | $49 a month, auto-renews every 30 days |
| Activation fee after passing | $129 (one-time, non-refundable) | $149 |
| Profit target | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Maximum drawdown and type | $2,000, recalculated at the close (EOD) | $2,000, follows the end-of-day balance (MLL) |
| Where the line stops (evaluation) | Locks at the profit target balance on Rithmic and WealthCharts; does not lock on Tradovate | Locks at the $50,000 starting balance |
| Daily loss limit | $1,000 (fixed; hitting it stops trading for the day) | Optional; $1,000 if added (chosen at purchase) |
| Consistency | None in the evaluation. 50% for PA payouts | 55% in the evaluation (exceeding it raises the target). 40% for XFA Consistency |
| Deadline and minimum days | Expires after 30 calendar days; no minimum days | No deadline; at least 2 days |
| Profit split | 100% in the PA (simulated) | 90% in the XFA (simulated) |
| Payout requirements (main) | 5 qualifying days ($250 or more each), 50% consistency, balance of $52,600 or more (another article says "trade 8 days, with 5 days of $50 or more"; under review) | Standard: 5 winning days of $150 or more. Consistency: 3 trading days and 40% |
| Payout method outside the US | Plane (fee under review) | International wire Wire/SWIFT ($30). Wise only for China, Canada and the UK |
| Restricted countries | 87 countries and regions listed | 34 and 25 countries and regions listed |
Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail and No Activation Fee
On Apex Trader Funding 50K, Intraday Trail has the same $3,000 profit target and $2,000 maximum drawdown. The differences are that the line follows the highest balance including open profit, and there is no daily loss limit during the evaluation. Prices by type are below.
| Apex Trader Funding 50K | Evaluation list price (one-time) | Activation fee after passing | Drawdown type | Daily loss limit in evaluation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intraday Trail Standard | $249 | $99 | Follows the intraday high balance | None |
| Intraday Trail No Activation Fee | $799 | Free | Follows the intraday high balance | None |
| EOD Trail Standard | $590 | $129 | Recalculated at the close | $1,000 |
| EOD Trail No Activation Fee | $1,190 | Free | Recalculated at the close | $1,000 |
On Topstep 50K, choosing the No Activation Fee Path raises the monthly price to $95, and the activation fee when you pass is $0. The rules are the same as the Standard Path, and you cannot change paths after purchase.
Read the full Apex Trader Funding guide
Sources for this section (20)
Source: Apex Trader Funding official site / Official site / Official site 2 / Official site 3 / Official site 4 / Official site 5 / Official site: Consistency / Official site: Payouts / Official site: Payouts 2 / Official site: Payouts 3 / Official site 6 / Official help: Pricing / Official help: Subscriptions / Official help: Combine rules / Official help: Max drawdown / Official help: Consistency / Official help: XFA / Official help: XFA 2 / Official help: Payouts / Official help: Eligible countries
Which is cheaper? One-time Apex vs monthly Topstep, total cost to pass
An Apex Trader Funding evaluation is a one-time payment with 30 calendar days of access from purchase, and it expires at 6:00 PM ET on Day 30. There are no extensions or resets, so if you fail or run out of time you buy again. The Topstep Trading Combine renews automatically every 30 days and continues until you pass or cancel. When you pass, that Combine subscription is canceled automatically, but the current month is not refunded or prorated.
So for both firms, the longer it takes to pass, the more you pay. The table below shows the total if you pass in month 1, month 2 or month 3. It assumes you buy one Apex Trader Funding evaluation per month, and that you pay the Topstep monthly fee each month without buying extra resets.
Prices are official list prices as of 2026-11-04. Sale and discount prices are not included. Taxes and payment fees are not included either (Topstep prices are shown before tax, and local VAT, GST or sales tax may be added).
| 50K (evaluation + activation fee) | Pass in 1 month | Pass in 2 months | Pass in 3 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail Standard | $719 | $1,309 | $1,899 |
| Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail No Activation Fee | $1,190 | $2,380 | $3,570 |
| Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail Standard | $348 | $597 | $846 |
| Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail No Activation Fee | $799 | $1,598 | $2,397 |
| Topstep Standard Path | $198 | $247 | $296 |
| Topstep No Activation Fee Path | $95 | $190 | $285 |
If you pass in 1 month, Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail Standard costs $719 ($590 evaluation plus $129 activation fee), and the Topstep Standard Path costs $198 ($49 monthly plus $149 activation fee). The Topstep No Activation Fee Path costs only the $95 monthly fee, and even 3 months come to $285.
At Topstep, hitting the Maximum Loss Limit only costs you eligibility; the subscription continues, and you get one Reset Credit at the next renewal. If you want to restart mid-month, you can buy a reset separately, $49 for 50K Standard. The current Apex Trader Funding products have no reset.
Refunds and payment methods
- Apex Trader Funding: no refunds at all (including first purchases, activation fees, data fees and choosing the wrong plan). You pay with a Visa, Mastercard or Discover card in your own name; American Express and crypto are not accepted.
- Topstep: no refunds in principle. As an exception, a satisfaction guarantee refunds up to 1 monthly fee if you have not passed within 14 calendar days of your first Combine purchase. You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Google Wallet or Apple Pay; PayPal is not accepted.
See Apex Trader Funding plans and pricing
Sources for this section (11)
Source: Apex Trader Funding official site / Official site / Official site 2 / Official site 3 / Official site: Refunds / Official site 4 / Official help: Pricing / Official help: Subscriptions / Official help: Resets / Official help: XFA activation / Official help: Refunds
How do the rules differ? Drawdown, daily loss limit, consistency and trading hours
How the drawdown line moves
The Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail recalculates the drawdown line at the 4:59:59 PM ET close. The line sits $2,000 below the highest end-of-day balance, applies in real time during the next session, and touching it with an open loss also fails the account. The line never moves down. During the evaluation, on Rithmic and WealthCharts accounts the line locks once it reaches the profit target balance, while on Tradovate accounts it does not lock and keeps rising.
The Topstep Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) is also monitored in real time including open profit and loss, and the line rises with the end-of-day balance and never moves down. In the Combine, the line locks once it reaches the $50,000 starting balance. The official help center says there are no adjustments or exceptions to the MLL.
The Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail draws the line $2,000 below the highest balance including open profit, and it rises during the day. If open profit comes back, you get closer to the line, so the same $2,000 is managed differently from the EOD Trail.
Daily loss limit and consistency
The Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail evaluation has a fixed $1,000 daily loss limit; hitting it only stops trading for the day and does not fail the account. The Topstep daily loss limit is optional; if you add it at purchase, it is $1,000 on 50K. You cannot change it later, and it carries over to the XFA after you pass. Hitting it is not a rule break either, and you can resume at the next session, 5:00 PM CT.
The Apex Trader Funding evaluation has no consistency rule. When you request a payout from the PA after passing, your largest profit day must be less than 50% of net profit since the last payout. Topstep has a 55% consistency rule in the evaluation: if your best day is more than 55% of total profit, the profit target rises to "best day ÷ 0.55". On 50K, keeping your best day under $1,650 keeps the target at $3,000.
| Item (50K) | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum position (evaluation) | 6 mini, 60 micro | 5 mini, 50 micro |
| Maximum position (after passing) | PA: 2 to 4 contracts depending on profit | XFA: set by the scaling plan based on balance (table for standard products under review) |
| Minimum trading days | None (can pass in 1 day) | At least 2 days |
| Steps after passing | Activate the PA within 7 calendar days of the "Passed" status | Activate from the dashboard; ready in minutes |
| Funded accounts allowed | PA: up to 20 per household | XFA: up to 5 |
| Inactivity after passing | 2 days with net profit of $50 or more required in every 30 calendar days | May be closed after more than 30 days without trading |
Trading hours and prohibited activities
Neither firm allows holding positions overnight or over the weekend. Apex Trader Funding requires all positions to be closed by 4:59 PM ET, and the trader is responsible for it. Topstep requires all positions to be closed by 3:10 PM CT on weekdays, and its risk team starts closing positions after 3:08 PM CT. The Topstep deadline comes about 49 minutes earlier than the Apex Trader Funding deadline.
- Economic news: Topstep does not allow opening new equity index and metals mini positions for 5 minutes before and after CPI, FOMC, NFP and PPI (micros are limited to 3 on 50K). Apex Trader Funding allows trading with normal strategies; placing orders on both sides to bet on the outcome is prohibited.
- Automated trading: Apex Trader Funding states "No Automation or Algorithm Usage allowed". Topstep allows it with conditions, and orders from a VPS, VPN or remote server are prohibited.
- Hedging: both firms prohibit holding opposite positions in the same or correlated products across your own accounts.
Sources for this section (22)
Source: Official site / Official site 2 / Official site 3 / Official site: Daily loss limit / Official site: Consistency / Official site: Scaling / Official site 4 / Official site 5 / Official site 6 / Official site 7 / Official site: Prohibited conduct / Official help: Max drawdown / Official help: Combine rules / Official help: XFA / Official help: Consistency / Official help: XFA 2 / Official help: Scaling / Official help: XFA activation / Official help: Hours and products / Official help: Product limits / Official help: Prohibited conduct / Official help: TopstepX
How do payouts compare? Requirements, caps and methods outside the US
At both firms, payouts come from a simulated funded account after you pass: the Performance Account (PA) at Apex Trader Funding and the Express Funded Account (XFA) at Topstep. Moving to a real-capital account is by invitation at each firm, based on the judgment of its team.
| Item (50K) | Apex Trader Funding PA (EOD) | Topstep XFA Standard | Topstep XFA Consistency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days required | 5 qualifying days ($250 or more each, not necessarily in a row) | 5 winning days of $150 or more (not necessarily in a row) | 3 trading days (at least 1 trade each day) |
| Other requirements | 50% consistency, balance of $52,600 or more | Positive net profit since the last payout (waived for the first) | Consistency of 40% or less |
| Cap per payout | $1,500 for the 1st up to $3,000 for the 6th | 50% of balance, up to $2,000 | 50% of balance, up to $3,000 |
| Minimum | $500 | $125 | $125 |
| Profit split | 100% | 90% | 90% |
| Number of payouts | PA closes after 6 payouts | No limit stated | No limit stated |
For the Apex Trader Funding EOD PA, the caps per payout are $1,500, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $2,500 and $3,000, for a total of $13,000 over 6 payouts. For the Intraday PA, the minimum daily profit is $200, the caps run from $1,500 to $3,000, and the total is $14,500. The PA is closed after the 6th payout.
Note that official Apex Trader Funding articles describe the qualifying days differently. The payout rules article says 5 days, while the payout method article still says "trade at least 8 days, with 5 of them at $50 or more". Neither says which one applies, so both are shown here and marked as under review.
The Topstep XFA starts with a $0 balance, the line trails from -$2,000, and it locks at $0 after the first payout. Withdrawing lowers your balance and brings you closer to the loss floor, so Topstep recommends building your balance until the line reaches $0 before you request a payout.
Review times and payouts outside the US
| Item | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Review | Within 2 business days; sent 3 to 4 business days after approval; bank processing 3 to 7 business days | Internal approval in 1 to 3 business days |
| Method outside the US | Plane (invitation email after the first approval) | Wire/SWIFT (5 to 10 business days). Wise only for China, Canada and the UK |
| Receiving fee | Under review (not stated officially) | $30 (Wire/SWIFT) |
| What you need | A bank account in your own name in your country of residence; a government-issued ID number or passport number | An account in your own name; W-8BEN for non-US traders |
| Tax forms | Not issued to non-US traders | Non-US traders submit a W-8BEN |
If you receive $500 from Topstep by international wire, you get $420 after the 10% split ($50) and the $30 fee. Apex Trader Funding pays a 100% split, but the Plane receiving fee is not stated officially, so the amount you receive cannot be confirmed.
See Apex Trader Funding payouts
Sources for this section (13)
Source: Official site: Payouts / Official site: Payouts 2 / Official site: Consistency / Official site: Payouts 3 / Official site: Payouts 4 / Official site / Official site 2 / Official site 3 / Official help: Payouts / Official help: XFA / Official help: Max drawdown / Official help: Consistency / Official help: Live funded
Can you use them from your country? What the official pages say
Neither firm guarantees access from any particular country. This section lists only what the official terms and help centers say. Points that are not stated are marked "Not stated officially. Check the official site before you sign up."
Restricted country lists and how they are applied
- Apex Trader Funding: lists 87 countries and regions where new and additional accounts cannot be opened; as of 2026-11-04, check the list for your country. Eligibility is judged by government-issued ID, main residence, mailing address and bank account country, and using a payment method issued in a restricted country can lead to immediate termination.
- Topstep: judges by both citizenship and permanent residency, and lists 34 countries and regions that cannot trade and 25 that can go up to the XFA but cannot move to a real-capital account (both lists as of 2026-11-04). The official homepage shows "140+ Countries".
- Not being on a list does not guarantee that you can use the firm. Topstep says its list changes from time to time, and the Apex Trader Funding list also has an update date and may change. Check that your country is not listed on the official page before you sign up.
Identity verification, payouts and support
| Item | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| When identity is verified | At registration | Before your second purchase |
| Accepted ID | Passport, driver license, government-issued ID card and similar (no copies or digital versions) | Original passport, driver license or national ID card, plus a selfie |
| VPN | Hiding your location with a VPN, proxy or cloud server is prohibited | VPN, proxy and TOR are prohibited |
| Payouts outside the US | "Plane" (bank account in your country of residence required) | "Wire/SWIFT" (international wire, $30) |
| Fees charged by your local bank | Not stated officially. Check the official site before you sign up | Not stated officially (other than the Topstep $30). Check the official site before you sign up |
| Support languages | Not stated officially. Check the official site before you sign up | Phone support is in English only. Check the official site before you sign up |
| Tax treatment in your country | Not stated officially. Check with a local tax professional | Not stated officially. Check with a local tax professional |
Apex Trader Funding support is a ticket-based help desk, and its restricted countries article lists language and educational support barriers as one reason for restrictions. Topstep says its AI assistant, Windy, handles first contact and replies in the language you write in, but phone support (Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM CT) is in English only. How to report this income for tax is not covered in either firm's official information, so check with a tax professional in your country.
Also consider your daily schedule. Both firms set the deadline to close all positions in US time (see the trading hours section above), so convert it to your local time zone before you start.
Sources for this section (12)
Source: Official site / Official site: Prohibited conduct / Official site: Payouts / Official site 2 / Official site 3 / Official help: Eligible countries / Official help: ID verification / Official help: Prohibited conduct / Official help: Payouts / Official help: Support / Official help: Hours and products / Topstep official site
Which platforms, data and commissions do they offer?
At Apex Trader Funding, you choose one of 3 account connections: Rithmic, Tradovate or WealthCharts. Accounts cannot be converted between them, and choosing the wrong one is not refunded. There are setup guides for NinjaTrader, TradingView (via Tradovate), ATAS, Quantower, Sierra Chart and others. Rithmic does not support Mac.
Topstep uses its own platform, TopstepX. It runs in the browser with TradingView charts built in; there is no mobile app, but it works in a mobile browser. Quantower connects through TopstepX and is available only in the evaluation and the XFA. Support for NinjaTrader, Rithmic and others is not stated in the official help center and is under review.
| Item | Apex Trader Funding | Topstep |
|---|---|---|
| Connection | Rithmic, Tradovate, WealthCharts | TopstepX (in-house) |
| Main platforms | NinjaTrader, TradingView, ATAS, Quantower, Sierra Chart and others | TopstepX, Quantower (evaluation and XFA only) |
| Basic market data | Level 1 included in the evaluation fee | Level 1 free |
| Market depth (Level 2) | Tradovate CME Bundle L2 $48/month | $38/month (not prorated, non-refundable) |
| ES round-turn commission | Tradovate $3.10, Rithmic $3.98 | $3.78 (commission, NFA and exchange fees combined) |
| Automated trading | Prohibited | Allowed with conditions (API for simulation, $29/month) |
The ES round-turn commission is $3.10 on Tradovate and $3.98 on Rithmic at Apex Trader Funding, and $3.78 at Topstep. Topstep shows a breakdown that includes exchange fees, but it is under review whether the Apex Trader Funding amounts include exchange fees, so small differences cannot be compared directly.
See Apex Trader Funding platforms
Sources for this section (11)
Source: Official site / Official site 2 / Official site 3 / Official site 4 / Official site: Commissions / Official site: Prohibited conduct / Official help: TopstepX / Official help: Quantower / Official help: Market data / Official help: Commissions / Official help: TopstepX 2
FAQ
What is the biggest difference between Apex Trader Funding and Topstep?
Billing. An Apex Trader Funding evaluation is a one-time payment that expires 30 calendar days after purchase, with no extensions or resets. The Topstep Trading Combine is a monthly subscription renewed every 30 days that continues until you pass or cancel, with no deadline to pass. Both firms use a $3,000 profit target and a $2,000 maximum drawdown on 50K (checked 2026-11-04).
Apex Trader Funding plansTopstep pricing
Sources for this section (4)
Source: Official site / Official help: Subscriptions / Official site 2 / Official help: Combine rules
On a 50K account, which is cheaper to pass?
It depends on how long you take and which type you choose. If you pass in 1 month, the list price totals are $719 for Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail Standard, $348 for Intraday Trail Standard, $198 for the Topstep Standard Path and $95 for the No Activation Fee Path. Apex Trader Funding is bought again every 30 days and the Topstep monthly fee continues, so both cost more the longer it takes.
Apex Trader Funding plansTopstep pricing
Sources for this section (4)
Source: Apex Trader Funding official site / Official site / Official help: Pricing / Official help: XFA activation
How do the drawdown types differ?
The Apex Trader Funding EOD Trail and the Topstep Maximum Loss Limit (MLL) both raise the line based on the end-of-day balance and are enforced in real time during the day. During the evaluation, the Topstep line stops at the $50,000 starting balance, and the Apex Trader Funding line stops at the profit target balance on Rithmic and WealthCharts but does not stop on Tradovate. The Apex Trader Funding Intraday Trail follows the highest balance including open profit.
Apex Trader Funding rulesTopstep rules
Sources for this section (3)
Source: Official site / Official site 2 / Official help: Max drawdown
Which firm lets you get paid sooner?
They count days differently. Apex Trader Funding has no minimum trading days in the evaluation, so you can pass in 1 day, and a PA payout needs 5 qualifying days ($250 or more each on EOD 50K). However, the payout method article still says "trade 8 days, with 5 days of $50 or more". The Topstep evaluation takes at least 2 days, and XFA Consistency lets you request a payout after 3 trading days with consistency of 40% or less.
Apex Trader Funding payoutsTopstep payouts
Sources for this section (5)
Source: Official site / Official site: Payouts / Official site: Payouts 2 / Official help: Combine rules / Official help: Payouts
How do the profit split and payout caps differ?
The Apex Trader Funding PA pays a 100% split; on 50K EOD the caps run from $1,500 for the 1st payout to $3,000 for the 6th, over 6 payouts, with a $500 minimum. The Topstep XFA pays a 90% split; on 50K the cap per payout is 50% of balance and up to $2,000 on Standard or $3,000 on Consistency, with a $125 minimum.
Apex Trader Funding payoutsTopstep payouts
Sources for this section (4)
Source: Official site: Payouts / Official site: Payouts 2 / Official help: Payouts / Official help: XFA
How do traders outside the US receive payouts?
Apex Trader Funding pays traders outside the US through Plane. An invitation email arrives after the first approval, and you need a bank account in your own name in your country of residence. The receiving fee is not stated officially. Topstep mainly uses international wire (Wire/SWIFT, 5 to 10 business days, $30), and Wise is available only for China, Canada and the UK.
Apex Trader Funding payoutsTopstep payouts
Sources for this section (2)
Source: Official site: Payouts / Official help: Payouts
Can I use them from my country?
Neither firm officially states that it can be used from a particular country. Both firms publish restricted country lists. As of 2026-11-04, Apex Trader Funding lists 87 restricted countries, and Topstep lists countries that cannot trade (34) and countries that cannot move to a real-capital account (25). The lists can change, so check that your country is not listed on both official pages before you sign up.
Apex Trader Funding guideTopstep guide
Sources for this section (2)
Can I use the same trading platform at both firms?
No. Apex Trader Funding connects through Rithmic, Tradovate or WealthCharts, and you can use NinjaTrader, TradingView and others. Topstep centers on its own TopstepX, and Quantower works through TopstepX only in the evaluation and the XFA. Topstep support for NinjaTrader and others is not stated in the official help center and is under review.
Apex Trader Funding platformsTopstepX guide
Sources for this section (3)
Source: Official site / Official help: TopstepX / Official help: Quantower
More on each firm
Sources and check dates
Every figure was checked on 2026-11-04 against 53 official pages.

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