diff --git a/ipfs_client.py b/ipfs_client.py
index fd46890..6d3117f 100644
--- a/ipfs_client.py
+++ b/ipfs_client.py
@@ -3,14 +3,15 @@
 IPFS client for Art DAG L2 server.
 
 Provides functions to fetch and pin content from IPFS.
-L2 uses IPFS to retrieve content from the federated network.
+Uses direct HTTP API calls for compatibility with all Kubo versions.
 """
 
 import logging
 import os
+import re
 from typing import Optional
 
-import ipfshttpclient
+import requests
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -21,9 +22,26 @@ IPFS_API = os.getenv("IPFS_API", "/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp/5001")
 IPFS_TIMEOUT = int(os.getenv("IPFS_TIMEOUT", "60"))
 
 
-def get_client():
-    """Get an IPFS client connection."""
-    return ipfshttpclient.connect(IPFS_API, timeout=IPFS_TIMEOUT)
+def _multiaddr_to_url(multiaddr: str) -> str:
+    """Convert IPFS multiaddr to HTTP URL."""
+    # Handle /dns/hostname/tcp/port format
+    dns_match = re.match(r"/dns[46]?/([^/]+)/tcp/(\d+)", multiaddr)
+    if dns_match:
+        return f"http://{dns_match.group(1)}:{dns_match.group(2)}"
+
+    # Handle /ip4/address/tcp/port format
+    ip4_match = re.match(r"/ip4/([^/]+)/tcp/(\d+)", multiaddr)
+    if ip4_match:
+        return f"http://{ip4_match.group(1)}:{ip4_match.group(2)}"
+
+    # Fallback: assume it's already a URL or use default
+    if multiaddr.startswith("http"):
+        return multiaddr
+    return "http://127.0.0.1:5001"
+
+
+# Base URL for IPFS API
+IPFS_BASE_URL = _multiaddr_to_url(IPFS_API)
 
 
 def get_bytes(cid: str) -> Optional[bytes]:
@@ -37,10 +55,15 @@ def get_bytes(cid: str) -> Optional[bytes]:
         Content as bytes or None on failure
     """
     try:
-        with get_client() as client:
-            data = client.cat(cid)
-            logger.info(f"Retrieved from IPFS: {cid} ({len(data)} bytes)")
-            return data
+        url = f"{IPFS_BASE_URL}/api/v0/cat"
+        params = {"arg": cid}
+
+        response = requests.post(url, params=params, timeout=IPFS_TIMEOUT)
+        response.raise_for_status()
+        data = response.content
+
+        logger.info(f"Retrieved from IPFS: {cid} ({len(data)} bytes)")
+        return data
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Failed to get from IPFS: {e}")
         return None
@@ -57,10 +80,14 @@ def pin(cid: str) -> bool:
         True on success, False on failure
     """
     try:
-        with get_client() as client:
-            client.pin.add(cid)
-            logger.info(f"Pinned on IPFS: {cid}")
-            return True
+        url = f"{IPFS_BASE_URL}/api/v0/pin/add"
+        params = {"arg": cid}
+
+        response = requests.post(url, params=params, timeout=IPFS_TIMEOUT)
+        response.raise_for_status()
+
+        logger.info(f"Pinned on IPFS: {cid}")
+        return True
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Failed to pin on IPFS: {e}")
         return False
@@ -77,10 +104,14 @@ def unpin(cid: str) -> bool:
         True on success, False on failure
     """
     try:
-        with get_client() as client:
-            client.pin.rm(cid)
-            logger.info(f"Unpinned from IPFS: {cid}")
-            return True
+        url = f"{IPFS_BASE_URL}/api/v0/pin/rm"
+        params = {"arg": cid}
+
+        response = requests.post(url, params=params, timeout=IPFS_TIMEOUT)
+        response.raise_for_status()
+
+        logger.info(f"Unpinned from IPFS: {cid}")
+        return True
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Failed to unpin from IPFS: {e}")
         return False
@@ -94,9 +125,9 @@ def is_available() -> bool:
         True if IPFS is available, False otherwise
     """
     try:
-        with get_client() as client:
-            client.id()
-            return True
+        url = f"{IPFS_BASE_URL}/api/v0/id"
+        response = requests.post(url, timeout=5)
+        return response.status_code == 200
     except Exception:
         return False
 
@@ -109,9 +140,10 @@ def get_node_id() -> Optional[str]:
         Peer ID string or None on failure
     """
     try:
-        with get_client() as client:
-            info = client.id()
-            return info.get("ID")
+        url = f"{IPFS_BASE_URL}/api/v0/id"
+        response = requests.post(url, timeout=IPFS_TIMEOUT)
+        response.raise_for_status()
+        return response.json().get("ID")
     except Exception as e:
         logger.error(f"Failed to get node ID: {e}")
         return None
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 16e3a47..faa8463 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -7,4 +7,3 @@ python-jose[cryptography]>=3.3.0
 markdown>=3.5.0
 python-multipart>=0.0.6
 asyncpg>=0.29.0
-ipfshttpclient>=0.7.0