diff --git a/leaderboard/leaderboard.py b/leaderboard/leaderboard.py
index 23694df..c211ff3 100644
--- a/leaderboard/leaderboard.py
+++ b/leaderboard/leaderboard.py
@@ -133,41 +133,93 @@ class Leaderboard(commands.Cog):
         return total_points
 
     async def _get_leaderboard(self) -> Optional[list]:
-        """Fetch and combine leaderboard data from bank and LevelUp."""
+        """Fetch the global leaderboard from the API."""
+        if not self.admin_secret or not self.admin_secret.get("admin_secret"):
+            log.error("Admin secret not configured")
+            return None
+            
+        if not self.session:
+            log.error("Session not initialized")
+            return None
+            
         try:
-            all_users = {}
-            
-            # Get all guild members
-            for guild in self.bot.guilds:
-                for member in guild.members:
-                    if member.bot:
-                        continue
-                    
-                    points = await self.get_user_points(member)
-                    
-                    if points > 0:
-                        all_users[str(member.id)] = {
-                            "userId": str(member.id),
-                            "username": str(member),
-                            "points": points
-                        }
-            
-            # Sort by points and convert to list
-            sorted_users = sorted(
-                all_users.values(),
-                key=lambda x: x["points"],
-                reverse=True
-            )
-            
-            return sorted_users
+            now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).timestamp()
             
+            # Return cached data if available and fresh
+            if self._cache and now - self._last_update.get("leaderboard", 0) < self.cache_time:
+                return self._cache.get("leaderboard")
+                
+            async with self.session.get(
+                f"{self.api_base_url}/leaderboard",
+                headers={"Authorization": self.admin_secret.get("admin_secret")}
+            ) as resp:
+                if resp.status == 200:
+                    data = await resp.json()
+                    if not isinstance(data, dict) or "leaderboard" not in data:
+                        log.error("Invalid API response format")
+                        return None
+                    self._cache["leaderboard"] = data["leaderboard"]
+                    self._last_update["leaderboard"] = now
+                    return self._cache["leaderboard"]
+                elif resp.status == 401:
+                    log.error("Unauthorized: Invalid admin secret")
+                    return None
+                else:
+                    log.error(f"Failed to fetch leaderboard: Status {resp.status}")
+                    return None
         except Exception as e:
-            log.error(f"Error generating leaderboard: {e}")
+            log.error(f"Error fetching leaderboard: {e}")
             return None
 
-    async def _update_points(self, user_id: str, username: str, points: int) -> bool:
-        """Update points is no longer needed as points are pulled from bank and LevelUp."""
-        return True
+    async def _update_points(self, user_id: str, username: str, points: int = None) -> bool:
+        """Update a user's points in the global leaderboard."""
+        if not self.admin_secret or not self.admin_secret.get("admin_secret"):
+            log.error("Admin secret not configured")
+            return False
+            
+        if not self.session:
+            log.error("Session not initialized")
+            return False
+
+        try:
+            # If points not provided, calculate from Red's systems
+            if points is None:
+                member = None
+                for guild in self.bot.guilds:
+                    member = guild.get_member(int(user_id))
+                    if member:
+                        break
+                
+                if not member:
+                    return False
+                
+                points = await self.get_user_points(member)
+
+            async with self.session.post(
+                f"{self.api_base_url}/leaderboard",
+                headers={
+                    "Authorization": self.admin_secret.get("admin_secret"),
+                    "Content-Type": "application/json"
+                },
+                json={
+                    "userId": user_id,
+                    "username": username,
+                    "points": points
+                }
+            ) as resp:
+                if resp.status == 200:
+                    # Clear cache to ensure fresh data on next fetch
+                    self._cache.pop("leaderboard", None)
+                    return True
+                elif resp.status == 401:
+                    log.error("Unauthorized: Invalid admin secret")
+                    return False
+                else:
+                    log.error(f"Failed to update points: Status {resp.status}")
+                    return False
+        except Exception as e:
+            log.error(f"Error updating points: {e}")
+            return False
 
     @commands.group(name="globalboard", aliases=["glb"])
     async def globalboard(self, ctx: commands.Context):
@@ -271,14 +323,22 @@ class Leaderboard(commands.Cog):
             await ctx.send(embed=embed)
 
     @commands.Cog.listener()
-    async def on_message(self, message):
-        """Award points for activity."""
+    async def on_member_update(self, before: discord.Member, after: discord.Member):
+        """Update points when member's data changes."""
+        if before.bot:
+            return
+        
+        # Update points in API when bank balance or XP changes
+        await self._update_points(str(after.id), str(after))
+
+    @commands.Cog.listener()
+    async def on_message(self, message: discord.Message):
+        """Update points periodically during user activity."""
         if message.author.bot or not message.guild:
             return
             
         # Get guild settings
         guild_settings = await self.config.guild(message.guild).all()
-        points_per_message = guild_settings["points_per_message"]
         min_length = guild_settings["min_message_length"]
         cooldown = guild_settings["cooldown"]
         
@@ -295,22 +355,5 @@ class Leaderboard(commands.Cog):
             
         self._last_update[f"msg_{message.author.id}"] = now
         
-        # Get current points
-        leaderboard_data = await self._get_leaderboard()
-        current_points = 0
-        
-        if leaderboard_data:
-            user_data = next(
-                (entry for entry in leaderboard_data if entry.get("userId") == str(message.author.id)),
-                None
-            )
-            if user_data:
-                current_points = user_data.get("points", 0)
-        
-        # Update points
-        new_points = current_points + points_per_message
-        await self._update_points(
-            str(message.author.id),
-            str(message.author),
-            new_points
-        ) 
\ No newline at end of file
+        # Update points in API
+        await self._update_points(str(message.author.id), str(message.author)) 
\ No newline at end of file