def METHOD_NAME():
    global LOADED_EXCHANGE_CREDS_ENV_VARIABLES
    if not LOADED_EXCHANGE_CREDS_ENV_VARIABLES:
        # load environment variables from .env file if exists
        dotenv_path = os.getenv("EXCHANGE_TESTS_DOTENV_PATH", os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
        dotenv.load_dotenv(os.path.join(dotenv_path, ".env"), verbose=False)
        LOADED_EXCHANGE_CREDS_ENV_VARIABLES = True