diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/smoke-test.yml b/.gitea/workflows/smoke-test.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e978897
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/smoke-test.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+name: Staging Smoke Test
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '*/15 * * * *'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+jobs:
+  smoke-test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Check staging environment uptime
+        run: |
+          HTTP_CODE=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" http://staging.the-nexus.com/)
+          if [ "$HTTP_CODE" -eq 200 ]; then
+            echo "Staging environment is up (HTTP 200)"
+          else
+            echo "Staging environment returned HTTP $HTTP_CODE"
+            exit 1
+          fi
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 41f06f1..e90bccd 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,15 +1,12 @@
 # ◈ The Nexus — Timmy's Sovereign Home
 
-![The Nexus Banner](https://via.placeholder.com/1200x200?text=The+Nexus+Banner+-+Replace+This+Image)
-<!-- TODO: Replace the placeholder image URL with an actual banner image for The Nexus. -->
+![The Nexus Banner](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1462331940025-496dfbfc7564?q=80&w=1200&h=250&auto=format&fit=crop)
 
 ## Staging Environment
 
-[**🚀 The Nexus Staging Environment**](http://staging.the-nexus.com)
-<!-- TODO: Update the staging environment URL to the actual URL once available. -->
+# [**🚀 The Nexus Staging Environment**](http://staging.the-nexus.com)
 
-[![Staging Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/Staging-Unknown-lightgrey)](http://staging.the-nexus.com)
-<!-- TODO: Integrate a CI/CD pipeline to update this badge with the real status from a smoke test. The badge URL should point to the build status image generated by the CI/CD system. -->
+[![Staging Status](http://143.198.27.163:3000/Timmy_Foundation/the-nexus/actions/workflows/smoke-test.yml/badge.svg)](http://143.198.27.163:3000/Timmy_Foundation/the-nexus/actions?workflow=smoke-test.yml)
 
 A Three.js environment serving as Timmy's sovereign space — like Dr. Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, existing outside time. The Nexus is the central hub from which all worlds are accessed through portals.