diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 94a580fc..6d7d59cf 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ buildscript {
 
         retrofitDep = "com.squareup.retrofit2:retrofit:$retrofitVersion"
         interceptorVersion = "com.squareup.okhttp3:logging-interceptor:$okhttpVersion"
+        okhttpDnsOverHttpsDep = "com.squareup.okhttp3:okhttp-dnsoverhttps:$okhttpVersion"
         gsonConvertedDep = "com.squareup.retrofit2:converter-gson:$retrofitVersion"
         scalarsConverterDep = "com.squareup.retrofit2:converter-scalars:$retrofitVersion"
 
diff --git a/common/build.gradle b/common/build.gradle
index 903043b4..fdae3b00 100644
--- a/common/build.gradle
+++ b/common/build.gradle
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ dependencies {
     api gsonConvertedDep
     implementation scalarsConverterDep
     implementation interceptorVersion
+    implementation okhttpDnsOverHttpsDep
 
     implementation zXingCoreDep
     implementation zXingEmbeddedDep
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/dns/EncryptedFirstDns.kt b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/dns/EncryptedFirstDns.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df4b1722
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/dns/EncryptedFirstDns.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.dns
+
+import okhttp3.Dns
+import okhttp3.HttpUrl.Companion.toHttpUrl
+import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
+import okhttp3.dnsoverhttps.DnsOverHttps
+import java.net.Inet6Address
+import java.net.InetAddress
+import java.net.UnknownHostException
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
+
+/**
+ * Resolves names over DNS-over-HTTPS first, so a network that answers plain DNS with a wrong address does not
+ * decide where the app connects; if every encrypted resolver fails, the system resolver answers, so no network
+ * is worse off than before. A resolver that failed is skipped for [resolverDownMillis], so a network that blocks
+ * DoH pays its timeout once, not on every lookup.
+ */
+class EncryptedFirstDns(
+    private val resolvers: List<Dns>,
+    private val fallback: Dns = Dns.SYSTEM,
+    private val resolverDownMillis: Long = TimeUnit.MINUTES.toMillis(10),
+    private val clock: () -> Long = System::currentTimeMillis,
+) : Dns {
+
+    companion object {
+
+        /** Google, Cloudflare and Quad9, each reached by IP so resolving the resolver needs no plain DNS. */
+        fun publicResolvers(bootstrapClient: OkHttpClient): List<Dns> = listOf(
+            doh(bootstrapClient, "https://dns.google/dns-query", "8.8.8.8", "8.8.4.4", "2001:4860:4860::8888"),
+            doh(bootstrapClient, "https://cloudflare-dns.com/dns-query", "1.1.1.1", "1.0.0.1", "2606:4700:4700::1111"),
+            doh(bootstrapClient, "https://dns.quad9.net/dns-query", "9.9.9.9", "149.112.112.112", "2620:fe::fe"),
+        )
+
+        private fun doh(client: OkHttpClient, url: String, vararg bootstrap: String): Dns = DnsOverHttps.Builder()
+            .client(client)
+            .url(url.toHttpUrl())
+            .bootstrapDnsHosts(bootstrap.map { InetAddress.getByName(it) })
+            .includeIPv6(true)
+            .build()
+
+        private val IP_LITERAL = Regex("^[0-9.]+$|:")
+    }
+
+    private val downUntil = ConcurrentHashMap<Int, Long>()
+
+    override fun lookup(hostname: String): List<InetAddress> {
+        // Addresses and local names never leave the device.
+        if (IP_LITERAL.containsMatchIn(hostname) || hostname == "localhost") return fallback.lookup(hostname)
+
+        resolvers.forEachIndexed { index, resolver ->
+            if (isDown(index)) return@forEachIndexed
+
+            try {
+                val addresses = resolver.lookup(hostname)
+                // DoH answers IPv6 whether or not this network has it; the system resolver would not. OkHttp tries
+                // addresses in order, so IPv4 goes first and a broken IPv6 route cannot stall every connection.
+                if (addresses.isNotEmpty()) return addresses.sortedBy { it is Inet6Address }
+            } catch (e: UnknownHostException) {
+                // DnsOverHttps reports an unreachable resolver with the I/O failure as the cause; NXDOMAIN and
+                // SERVFAIL come without one and say nothing about the resolver.
+                if (e.cause != null) markDown(index)
+            }
+        }
+
+        return fallback.lookup(hostname)
+    }
+
+    private fun isDown(index: Int): Boolean {
+        val until = downUntil[index] ?: return false
+        if (clock() < until) return true
+        downUntil.remove(index, until)
+        return false
+    }
+
+    private fun markDown(index: Int) {
+        downUntil[index] = clock() + resolverDownMillis
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/mirror/ConfigMirrorInterceptor.kt b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/mirror/ConfigMirrorInterceptor.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e1080539
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/mirror/ConfigMirrorInterceptor.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.mirror
+
+import okhttp3.CacheControl
+import okhttp3.HttpUrl
+import okhttp3.HttpUrl.Companion.toHttpUrl
+import okhttp3.Interceptor
+import okhttp3.Response
+import java.io.IOException
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
+
+/**
+ * Every config file the app reads (chains, assets, DApps, XCM, banners, icons) lives on
+ * raw.githubusercontent.com. When that host cannot be reached -- blocked, down, rate limited -- a fresh
+ * install has nothing to show. This interceptor retries the same file on mirrors that serve the same
+ * repository content, in order, and remembers for [hostDownMillis] that the primary failed so the next
+ * requests do not each wait for its timeout first.
+ *
+ * A 404 is an answer, not an outage: it is returned as is and no mirror is asked.
+ */
+class ConfigMirrorInterceptor(
+    private val mirrors: List<GithubMirror> = DEFAULT_MIRRORS,
+    private val hostDownMillis: Long = TimeUnit.MINUTES.toMillis(10),
+    private val clock: () -> Long = System::currentTimeMillis,
+) : Interceptor {
+
+    companion object {
+        const val GITHUB_RAW_HOST = "raw.githubusercontent.com"
+
+        val DEFAULT_MIRRORS = listOf(
+            GithubMirror.JsDelivr("cdn.jsdelivr.net"),
+            GithubMirror.JsDelivr("fastly.jsdelivr.net"),
+        )
+
+        private val OUTAGE_CODES = setOf(403, 429, 451)
+    }
+
+    private val downUntil = ConcurrentHashMap<String, Long>()
+
+    override fun intercept(chain: Interceptor.Chain): Response {
+        val request = chain.request()
+        val file = GithubFile.parse(request.url)
+
+        if (file == null || request.method != "GET") return chain.proceed(request)
+
+        val candidates = listOf(request) + mirrors.map { mirror ->
+            request.newBuilder()
+                .url(mirror.urlOf(file).newBuilder().encodedQuery(request.url.encodedQuery).build())
+                // A mirror's max-age would pin its copy in the HTTP cache long after the primary is back.
+                .cacheControl(CacheControl.Builder().noCache().build())
+                .build()
+        }
+
+        val available = candidates.filterNot { isDown(it.url.host) }.ifEmpty { candidates }
+
+        var lastFailure: IOException? = null
+        var lastOutage: Response? = null
+
+        for ((index, candidate) in available.withIndex()) {
+            val isLast = index == available.lastIndex
+
+            val response = try {
+                chain.proceed(candidate)
+            } catch (e: IOException) {
+                markDown(candidate.url.host)
+                lastFailure = e
+                continue
+            }
+
+            if (!isOutage(response) || isLast) {
+                if (!isOutage(response)) downUntil.remove(candidate.url.host)
+                lastOutage?.close()
+                return response
+            }
+
+            markDown(candidate.url.host)
+            lastOutage?.close()
+            lastOutage = response
+        }
+
+        lastOutage?.let { return it }
+        throw lastFailure ?: IOException("No source answered for ${request.url}")
+    }
+
+    private fun isOutage(response: Response) = response.code in OUTAGE_CODES || response.code >= 500
+
+    private fun isDown(host: String): Boolean {
+        val until = downUntil[host] ?: return false
+        if (clock() < until) return true
+        downUntil.remove(host, until)
+        return false
+    }
+
+    private fun markDown(host: String) {
+        downUntil[host] = clock() + hostDownMillis
+    }
+}
+
+/** A file in a GitHub repository at a ref, as raw.githubusercontent.com addresses it. */
+data class GithubFile(val owner: String, val repo: String, val ref: String, val path: String) {
+
+    companion object {
+
+        fun parse(url: HttpUrl): GithubFile? {
+            if (url.host != ConfigMirrorInterceptor.GITHUB_RAW_HOST) return null
+
+            val segments = url.pathSegments
+            if (segments.size < 4) return null
+
+            val (owner, repo) = segments
+            // raw accepts both `master` and `refs/heads/master`; mirrors only know the short form.
+            val refLength = if (segments[2] == "refs" && segments.size >= 6) 3 else 1
+            val ref = segments.subList(2, 2 + refLength).last()
+            val path = segments.drop(2 + refLength).joinToString("/")
+
+            if (path.isEmpty()) return null
+
+            return GithubFile(owner, repo, ref, path)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+sealed interface GithubMirror {
+
+    fun urlOf(file: GithubFile): HttpUrl
+
+    /** jsDelivr serves any public GitHub repository at `/gh/{owner}/{repo}@{ref}/{path}`. */
+    class JsDelivr(private val host: String) : GithubMirror {
+
+        override fun urlOf(file: GithubFile): HttpUrl {
+            return "https://$host/gh/${file.owner}/${file.repo}@${file.ref}/${file.path}".toHttpUrl()
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/signed/SignedConfig.kt b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/signed/SignedConfig.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b1828a9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/signed/SignedConfig.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,172 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.signed
+
+import com.google.gson.JsonObject
+import com.google.gson.JsonParser
+import org.bouncycastle.crypto.params.Ed25519PublicKeyParameters
+import org.bouncycastle.crypto.signers.Ed25519Signer
+import org.bouncycastle.util.encoders.Base64
+import java.security.MessageDigest
+
+/**
+ * Signed config metadata, after TUF: a root, signed by a threshold of root keys, names the keys that may sign the
+ * targets list and how many must; the targets list gives the sha256 of every config file. The APK carries a first
+ * root. A new root is accepted only one version at a time and only when a threshold of the old root's keys and of
+ * its own keys signed it, so keys can be replaced without an app release and a stolen targets key can be revoked.
+ *
+ * Every metadata file is an envelope: `{"signed": base64(payload), "signatures": [{"keyid", "sig"}]}`, where the
+ * signature is Ed25519 over the payload bytes exactly as published and keyid is hex sha256 of the 32-byte key.
+ */
+class SignedConfigException(message: String) : Exception(message)
+
+class Envelope(val payload: ByteArray, val signatures: List<Pair<String, ByteArray>>) {
+
+    companion object {
+
+        fun parse(bytes: ByteArray): Envelope = guard {
+            val json = parseJson(String(bytes, Charsets.UTF_8)).asJsonObject
+            val signatures = json.getAsJsonArray("signatures").map {
+                val signature = it.asJsonObject
+                signature["keyid"].asString to Base64.decode(signature["sig"].asString)
+            }
+
+            Envelope(Base64.decode(json["signed"].asString), signatures)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** How many of [keyIds] signed the payload; a key signing twice counts once, a key not in [keys] not at all. */
+    fun validSignatures(keys: Map<String, ByteArray>, keyIds: Set<String>): Int {
+        return signatures
+            .filter { (keyId, signature) -> keyId in keyIds && keys[keyId]?.let { verifyEd25519(it, payload, signature) } == true }
+            .map { (keyId, _) -> keyId }
+            .toSet()
+            .size
+    }
+
+    fun payloadJson(expectedType: String): JsonObject = guard {
+        val json = parseJson(String(payload, Charsets.UTF_8)).asJsonObject
+        if (json["type"].asString != expectedType) throw SignedConfigException("expected $expectedType, got ${json["type"]}")
+        json
+    }
+}
+
+class Role(val keyIds: Set<String>, val threshold: Int)
+
+class RootMetadata(
+    val version: Long,
+    val expiresAt: Long,
+    val keys: Map<String, ByteArray>,
+    val root: Role,
+    val targets: Role,
+) {
+
+    companion object {
+
+        fun parse(envelope: Envelope): RootMetadata = guard {
+            val json = envelope.payloadJson("root")
+            val keys = json.getAsJsonObject("keys").entrySet().associate { (keyId, key) ->
+                val bytes = Base64.decode(key.asString)
+                if (bytes.size != 32 || keyIdOf(bytes) != keyId) throw SignedConfigException("key $keyId does not match its id")
+                keyId to bytes
+            }
+
+            RootMetadata(
+                version = json["version"].asLong,
+                expiresAt = json["expires"].asLong,
+                keys = keys,
+                root = parseRole(json.getAsJsonObject("root"), keys),
+                targets = parseRole(json.getAsJsonObject("targets"), keys),
+            )
+        }
+
+        private fun parseRole(json: JsonObject, keys: Map<String, ByteArray>): Role {
+            val keyIds = json.getAsJsonArray("keyids").map { it.asString }.toSet()
+            val threshold = json["threshold"].asInt
+            if (threshold < 1 || threshold > keyIds.size || !keys.keys.containsAll(keyIds)) throw SignedConfigException("unusable role")
+            return Role(keyIds, threshold)
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+class TargetsMetadata(val version: Long, val expiresAt: Long, val files: Map<String, String>) {
+
+    companion object {
+
+        fun parse(envelope: Envelope): TargetsMetadata = guard {
+            val json = envelope.payloadJson("targets")
+            TargetsMetadata(
+                version = json["version"].asLong,
+                expiresAt = json["expires"].asLong,
+                files = json.getAsJsonObject("files").entrySet().associate { (path, hash) -> path to hash.asString.lowercase() },
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    fun matches(path: String, content: ByteArray): Boolean = files[path] == sha256Hex(content)
+}
+
+object SignedConfigRules {
+
+    /** A targets version may move forward by at most this much at once, so a stolen key cannot freeze updates. */
+    const val MAX_TARGETS_VERSION_JUMP = 10_000L
+
+    /** The APK's own root: it must be signed by a threshold of its own root keys. */
+    fun trustBundledRoot(envelope: Envelope): RootMetadata {
+        val root = RootMetadata.parse(envelope)
+        requireThreshold(envelope, root.keys, root.root, "bundled root")
+        return root
+    }
+
+    /** The root that follows [trusted]; expiry is not checked here, so an expired root can still be rotated out. */
+    fun nextRoot(trusted: RootMetadata, envelope: Envelope): RootMetadata {
+        val next = RootMetadata.parse(envelope)
+        if (next.version != trusted.version + 1) throw SignedConfigException("root ${next.version} does not follow ${trusted.version}")
+        requireThreshold(envelope, trusted.keys, trusted.root, "root ${next.version} by the previous root")
+        requireThreshold(envelope, next.keys, next.root, "root ${next.version} by itself")
+        return next
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * [now] is seconds since the epoch; callers pass the latest of the device clock and anything already trusted,
+     * so turning the clock back does not revive an expired list.
+     */
+    fun verifyTargets(root: RootMetadata, envelope: Envelope, lastTrustedVersion: Long?, now: Long): TargetsMetadata {
+        if (root.expiresAt <= now) throw SignedConfigException("root ${root.version} expired")
+        requireThreshold(envelope, root.keys, root.targets, "targets")
+
+        val targets = TargetsMetadata.parse(envelope)
+        if (targets.expiresAt <= now) throw SignedConfigException("targets ${targets.version} expired")
+        if (lastTrustedVersion != null) {
+            if (targets.version < lastTrustedVersion) throw SignedConfigException("targets ${targets.version} is older than $lastTrustedVersion")
+            if (targets.version - lastTrustedVersion > MAX_TARGETS_VERSION_JUMP) throw SignedConfigException("targets ${targets.version} jumps too far")
+        }
+        return targets
+    }
+
+    private fun requireThreshold(envelope: Envelope, keys: Map<String, ByteArray>, role: Role, what: String) {
+        val valid = envelope.validSignatures(keys, role.keyIds)
+        if (valid < role.threshold) throw SignedConfigException("$what: $valid of ${role.threshold} required signatures")
+    }
+}
+
+fun keyIdOf(publicKey: ByteArray): String = sha256Hex(publicKey)
+
+fun sha256Hex(bytes: ByteArray): String = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256").digest(bytes).joinToString("") { "%02x".format(it) }
+
+private fun verifyEd25519(publicKey: ByteArray, message: ByteArray, signature: ByteArray): Boolean = runCatching {
+    Ed25519Signer().apply {
+        init(false, Ed25519PublicKeyParameters(publicKey, 0))
+        update(message, 0, message.size)
+    }.verifySignature(signature)
+}.getOrDefault(false)
+
+private inline fun <T> guard(block: () -> T): T = try {
+    block()
+} catch (e: SignedConfigException) {
+    throw e
+} catch (e: Exception) {
+    throw SignedConfigException("malformed metadata: $e")
+}
+
+// The Gson the app resolves predates JsonParser.parseString.
+@Suppress("DEPRECATION")
+private fun parseJson(text: String) = JsonParser().parse(text)
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/CommonModule.kt b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/CommonModule.kt
index 796543ea..077aed93 100644
--- a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/CommonModule.kt
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/CommonModule.kt
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import android.content.SharedPreferences
 import android.graphics.Color
 import coil.ImageLoader
 import coil.decode.SvgDecoder
+import coil.util.CoilUtils
 import com.google.android.play.core.integrity.IntegrityManagerFactory
 import dagger.Module
 import dagger.Provides
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.memory.ComputationalCache
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.memory.RealComputationalCache
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.NetworkApiCreator
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.coingecko.CoinGeckoLinkParser
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.dns.EncryptedFirstDns
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.mirror.ConfigMirrorInterceptor
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.providers.deviceid.AndroidDeviceIdProvider
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.providers.deviceid.DeviceIdProvider
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.repository.AssetsIconModeRepository
@@ -116,6 +119,7 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.common.view.input.selector.ListSelectorMixin
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.view.input.selector.RealListSelectorMixinFactory
 import io.novasama.substrate_sdk_android.encrypt.Signer
 import io.novasama.substrate_sdk_android.icon.IconGenerator
+import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
 import java.security.SecureRandom
 import java.util.Random
 import javax.inject.Qualifier
@@ -143,7 +147,19 @@ class CommonModule {
 
     @Provides
     @ApplicationScope
-    fun imageLoader(context: Context) = ImageLoader.Builder(context)
+    fun imageLoader(
+        context: Context,
+        configMirrorInterceptor: ConfigMirrorInterceptor,
+        encryptedFirstDns: EncryptedFirstDns
+    ) = ImageLoader.Builder(context)
+        // Token icons live on raw.githubusercontent.com too; Coil keeps its own disk cache.
+        .okHttpClient {
+            OkHttpClient.Builder()
+                .cache(CoilUtils.createDefaultCache(context))
+                .addInterceptor(configMirrorInterceptor)
+                .dns(encryptedFirstDns)
+                .build()
+        }
         .componentRegistry {
             add(SvgDecoder(context))
         }
diff --git a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/NetworkModule.kt b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/NetworkModule.kt
index 4896f028..312f303f 100644
--- a/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/NetworkModule.kt
+++ b/common/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/di/modules/NetworkModule.kt
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.AppLinksProvider
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.HttpExceptionHandler
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.NetworkApiCreator
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.TimeHeaderInterceptor
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.dns.EncryptedFirstDns
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.mirror.ConfigMirrorInterceptor
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.rpc.SocketSingleRequestExecutor
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.di.scope.ApplicationScope
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.mixin.api.NetworkStateMixin
@@ -35,6 +37,9 @@ import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit
 private const val HTTP_CACHE = "http_cache"
 private const val CACHE_SIZE = 50L * 1024L * 1024L // 50 MiB
 private const val TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 20L
+private const val DOH_TIMEOUT_SECONDS = 4L
+private const val DOH_CACHE = "doh_cache"
+private const val DOH_CACHE_SIZE = 1L * 1024L * 1024L // 1 MiB
 
 private const val SOCKET_CONNECTION_TIMEOUT = 5_000
 
@@ -74,10 +79,30 @@ class NetworkModule {
         )
     }
 
+    @Provides
+    @ApplicationScope
+    fun provideConfigMirrorInterceptor() = ConfigMirrorInterceptor()
+
+    @Provides
+    @ApplicationScope
+    fun provideEncryptedFirstDns(context: Context): EncryptedFirstDns {
+        // Only carries DNS queries to the resolvers, which it reaches by IP; short timeouts so a network that
+        // blocks DoH falls back to the system resolver quickly.
+        val resolverClient = OkHttpClient.Builder()
+            .connectTimeout(DOH_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+            .readTimeout(DOH_TIMEOUT_SECONDS, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+            .cache(Cache(File(context.cacheDir, DOH_CACHE), DOH_CACHE_SIZE))
+            .build()
+
+        return EncryptedFirstDns(EncryptedFirstDns.publicResolvers(resolverClient))
+    }
+
     @Provides
     @ApplicationScope
     fun provideOkHttpClient(
-        context: Context
+        context: Context,
+        configMirrorInterceptor: ConfigMirrorInterceptor,
+        encryptedFirstDns: EncryptedFirstDns
     ): OkHttpClient {
         val builder = OkHttpClient.Builder()
             .connectTimeout(TIMEOUT_SECONDS, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
@@ -85,7 +110,9 @@ class NetworkModule {
             .readTimeout(TIMEOUT_SECONDS, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
             .cache(Cache(File(context.cacheDir, HTTP_CACHE), CACHE_SIZE))
             .retryOnConnectionFailure(true)
+            .dns(encryptedFirstDns)
             .addInterceptor(TimeHeaderInterceptor())
+            .addInterceptor(configMirrorInterceptor)
 
         if (BuildConfig.DEBUG) {
             builder.addInterceptor(HttpLoggingInterceptor().setLevel(HttpLoggingInterceptor.Level.BODY))
diff --git a/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/dns/EncryptedFirstDnsTest.kt b/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/dns/EncryptedFirstDnsTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4c2ab7a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/dns/EncryptedFirstDnsTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.dns
+
+import okhttp3.Dns
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Test
+import java.io.IOException
+import java.net.InetAddress
+import java.net.UnknownHostException
+
+class EncryptedFirstDnsTest {
+
+    private val honest = InetAddress.getByName("203.0.113.7")
+    private val poisoned = InetAddress.getByName("192.0.2.66")
+
+    private var now = 0L
+    private val calls = mutableListOf<String>()
+
+    private fun resolver(name: String, answer: () -> List<InetAddress>) = object : Dns {
+        override fun lookup(hostname: String): List<InetAddress> {
+            calls += "$name:$hostname"
+            return answer()
+        }
+    }
+
+    private val system = resolver("system") { listOf(poisoned) }
+
+    private fun unreachable(): Nothing = throw UnknownHostException("h").apply { initCause(IOException("connect timed out")) }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `the encrypted answer wins over the system resolver`() {
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { listOf(honest) }), system)
+
+        assertEquals(listOf(honest), dns.lookup("raw.githubusercontent.com"))
+        assertEquals(listOf("doh1:raw.githubusercontent.com"), calls)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `IPv4 addresses come first`() {
+        val v6 = InetAddress.getByName("2001:db8::1")
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { listOf(v6, honest) }), system)
+
+        assertEquals(listOf(honest, v6), dns.lookup("a.example"))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `an unreachable resolver hands over to the next`() {
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { unreachable() }, resolver("doh2") { listOf(honest) }), system)
+
+        assertEquals(listOf(honest), dns.lookup("a.example"))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `when every encrypted resolver fails the system resolver answers`() {
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { unreachable() }), system)
+
+        assertEquals(listOf(poisoned), dns.lookup("a.example"))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `an unreachable resolver is not waited on again inside its window`() {
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { unreachable() }), system, resolverDownMillis = 1_000, clock = { now })
+        dns.lookup("a.example")
+        calls.clear()
+
+        dns.lookup("b.example")
+        assertEquals(listOf("system:b.example"), calls)
+
+        now += 1_001
+        calls.clear()
+        dns.lookup("c.example")
+        assertEquals(listOf("doh1:c.example", "system:c.example"), calls)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a name that does not exist does not take the resolver out`() {
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { throw UnknownHostException("x: NXDOMAIN") }), system, clock = { now })
+        dns.lookup("missing.example")
+        calls.clear()
+
+        dns.lookup("b.example")
+        assertEquals(listOf("doh1:b.example", "system:b.example"), calls)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `addresses and localhost never leave the device`() {
+        val dns = EncryptedFirstDns(listOf(resolver("doh1") { listOf(honest) }), resolver("system") { emptyList() })
+
+        listOf("10.0.2.2", "::1", "localhost").forEach { dns.lookup(it) }
+
+        assertEquals(listOf("system:10.0.2.2", "system:::1", "system:localhost"), calls)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/mirror/ConfigMirrorInterceptorTest.kt b/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/mirror/ConfigMirrorInterceptorTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..030bccd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/mirror/ConfigMirrorInterceptorTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.mirror
+
+import okhttp3.HttpUrl.Companion.toHttpUrl
+import okhttp3.Interceptor
+import okhttp3.MediaType.Companion.toMediaType
+import okhttp3.OkHttpClient
+import okhttp3.Protocol
+import okhttp3.Request
+import okhttp3.Response
+import okhttp3.ResponseBody.Companion.toResponseBody
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Assert.assertNull
+import org.junit.Test
+import java.io.IOException
+
+private const val RAW = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/android/chains.json"
+private const val CDN = "https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils@master/chains/v22/android/chains.json"
+private const val FASTLY = "https://fastly.jsdelivr.net/gh/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils@master/chains/v22/android/chains.json"
+
+class ConfigMirrorInterceptorTest {
+
+    private var now = 0L
+    private val hits = mutableListOf<String>()
+
+    /** What each host does, standing in for the network: a status code, or null for a connection failure. */
+    private val hosts = mutableMapOf<String, Int?>()
+
+    private val client = OkHttpClient.Builder()
+        .addInterceptor(ConfigMirrorInterceptor(hostDownMillis = 1_000, clock = { now }))
+        .addInterceptor(Interceptor { chain -> fakeNetwork(chain.request()) })
+        .build()
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a blocked primary is served from the first mirror`() {
+        hosts["raw.githubusercontent.com"] = null
+        hosts["cdn.jsdelivr.net"] = 200
+
+        assertEquals("cdn.jsdelivr.net", fetch(RAW))
+        assertEquals(listOf(RAW, CDN), hits)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `mirrors are tried in order until one answers`() {
+        hosts["raw.githubusercontent.com"] = 451
+        hosts["cdn.jsdelivr.net"] = null
+        hosts["fastly.jsdelivr.net"] = 200
+
+        assertEquals("fastly.jsdelivr.net", fetch(RAW))
+        assertEquals(listOf(RAW, CDN, FASTLY), hits)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a server error on the primary goes to a mirror`() {
+        hosts["raw.githubusercontent.com"] = 503
+        hosts["cdn.jsdelivr.net"] = 200
+
+        assertEquals("cdn.jsdelivr.net", fetch(RAW))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a missing file is an answer and no mirror is asked`() {
+        hosts["raw.githubusercontent.com"] = 404
+
+        assertNull(fetch(RAW))
+        assertEquals(listOf(RAW), hits)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a failed primary is skipped until its window passes`() {
+        hosts["raw.githubusercontent.com"] = null
+        hosts["cdn.jsdelivr.net"] = 200
+        fetch(RAW)
+        hits.clear()
+
+        fetch(RAW)
+        assertEquals("the primary is not waited on again inside the window", listOf(CDN), hits)
+
+        now += 1_001
+        hits.clear()
+        hosts["raw.githubusercontent.com"] = 200
+        assertEquals("raw.githubusercontent.com", fetch(RAW))
+        assertEquals(listOf(RAW), hits)
+    }
+
+    @Test(expected = IOException::class)
+    fun `when every source fails the failure reaches the caller`() {
+        fetch(RAW)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `other hosts are left alone`() {
+        hosts["example.org"] = null
+
+        runCatching { fetch("https://example.org/a.json") }
+        assertEquals(listOf("https://example.org/a.json"), hits)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `the long ref form maps to the mirror's short form`() {
+        val file = GithubFile.parse("https://raw.githubusercontent.com/o/r/refs/heads/master/a/b.json".toHttpUrl())
+
+        assertEquals(GithubFile("o", "r", "master", "a/b.json"), file)
+    }
+
+    private fun fetch(url: String): String? {
+        client.newCall(Request.Builder().url(url).build()).execute().use { response ->
+            return if (response.isSuccessful) response.body!!.string() else null
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun fakeNetwork(request: Request): Response {
+        hits += request.url.toString()
+
+        val code = hosts[request.url.host] ?: throw IOException("unreachable: ${request.url.host}")
+
+        return Response.Builder()
+            .request(request)
+            .protocol(Protocol.HTTP_1_1)
+            .code(code)
+            .message("")
+            .body(request.url.host.toResponseBody("text/plain".toMediaType()))
+            .build()
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/signed/SignedConfigTest.kt b/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/signed/SignedConfigTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a6853ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/common/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/common/data/network/signed/SignedConfigTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.signed
+
+import org.bouncycastle.crypto.params.Ed25519PrivateKeyParameters
+import org.bouncycastle.crypto.signers.Ed25519Signer
+import org.bouncycastle.util.encoders.Base64
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Assert.assertFalse
+import org.junit.Assert.assertTrue
+import org.junit.Test
+import java.security.SecureRandom
+
+class SignedConfigTest {
+
+    private class Key {
+        val private = Ed25519PrivateKeyParameters(SecureRandom())
+        val public: ByteArray = private.generatePublicKey().encoded
+        val id = keyIdOf(public)
+
+        fun sign(payload: ByteArray): ByteArray = Ed25519Signer().apply {
+            init(true, private)
+            update(payload, 0, payload.size)
+        }.generateSignature()
+    }
+
+    private val rootKeys = List(3) { Key() }
+    private val targetsKey = Key()
+    private val now = 1_800_000_000L
+
+    private fun envelope(payload: String, vararg signers: Key): Envelope {
+        val bytes = payload.toByteArray()
+        val signatures = signers.joinToString(",") { """{"keyid":"${it.id}","sig":"${Base64.toBase64String(it.sign(bytes))}"}""" }
+        return Envelope.parse("""{"signed":"${Base64.toBase64String(bytes)}","signatures":[$signatures]}""".toByteArray())
+    }
+
+    private fun rootPayload(version: Long, root: List<Key>, threshold: Int = 2, targets: List<Key> = listOf(targetsKey), expires: Long = now + 1000): String {
+        val keys = (root + targets).distinct().joinToString(",") { """"${it.id}":"${Base64.toBase64String(it.public)}"""" }
+        val ids = { list: List<Key> -> list.joinToString(",") { "\"${it.id}\"" } }
+        return """{"type":"root","version":$version,"expires":$expires,"keys":{$keys},""" +
+            """"root":{"keyids":[${ids(root)}],"threshold":$threshold},"targets":{"keyids":[${ids(targets)}],"threshold":1}}"""
+    }
+
+    private fun targetsPayload(version: Long, files: Map<String, ByteArray>, expires: Long = now + 1000): String {
+        val entries = files.entries.joinToString(",") { (path, content) -> "\"$path\":\"${sha256Hex(content)}\"" }
+        return """{"type":"targets","version":$version,"expires":$expires,"files":{$entries}}"""
+    }
+
+    private val bundledRoot = SignedConfigRules.trustBundledRoot(envelope(rootPayload(1, rootKeys), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[1]))
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a root needs two of its three keys`() {
+        val one = envelope(rootPayload(1, rootKeys), rootKeys[0])
+        val sameKeyTwice = envelope(rootPayload(1, rootKeys), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[0])
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.trustBundledRoot(one) }
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.trustBundledRoot(sameKeyTwice) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `targets signed by the targets key are trusted and checked file by file`() {
+        val chains = "[1,2,3]".toByteArray()
+        val targets = SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(targetsPayload(5, mapOf("chains.json" to chains)), targetsKey), null, now)
+
+        assertTrue(targets.matches("chains.json", chains))
+        assertFalse(targets.matches("chains.json", "[1,2,666]".toByteArray()))
+        assertFalse(targets.matches("other.json", chains))
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `targets signed by anyone else are rejected`() {
+        val stranger = Key()
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(targetsPayload(5, emptyMap()), stranger), null, now) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a payload changed after signing is rejected`() {
+        val signed = envelope(targetsPayload(5, emptyMap()), targetsKey)
+        val tampered = Envelope(targetsPayload(6, emptyMap()).toByteArray(), signed.signatures)
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, tampered, null, now) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `targets cannot go back, jump too far, or be used after they expire`() {
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(targetsPayload(4, emptyMap()), targetsKey), 5, now) }
+        val tooFar = 5 + SignedConfigRules.MAX_TARGETS_VERSION_JUMP + 1
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(targetsPayload(tooFar, emptyMap()), targetsKey), 5, now) }
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(targetsPayload(6, emptyMap(), expires = now), targetsKey), 5, now) }
+
+        assertEquals(5L, SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(targetsPayload(5, emptyMap()), targetsKey), 5, now).version)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a metadata file of the wrong type is rejected`() {
+        // Well formed as targets in every field but its type: only the type check stands in the way.
+        val mislabelled = targetsPayload(5, emptyMap()).replace("\"type\":\"targets\"", "\"type\":\"root\"")
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(bundledRoot, envelope(mislabelled, targetsKey), null, now) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a new root needs the old keys and its own`() {
+        val newKeys = List(3) { Key() }
+
+        val byOldOnly = envelope(rootPayload(2, newKeys), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[1])
+        val byNewOnly = envelope(rootPayload(2, newKeys), newKeys[0], newKeys[1])
+        val byBoth = envelope(rootPayload(2, newKeys), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[2], newKeys[1], newKeys[2])
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.nextRoot(bundledRoot, byOldOnly) }
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.nextRoot(bundledRoot, byNewOnly) }
+        assertEquals(2L, SignedConfigRules.nextRoot(bundledRoot, byBoth).version)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `roots move one version at a time`() {
+        val skipping = envelope(rootPayload(3, rootKeys), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[1])
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.nextRoot(bundledRoot, skipping) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a rotated root revokes the old targets key`() {
+        val newTargetsKey = Key()
+        val root2 = SignedConfigRules.nextRoot(bundledRoot, envelope(rootPayload(2, rootKeys, targets = listOf(newTargetsKey)), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[1]))
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(root2, envelope(targetsPayload(6, emptyMap()), targetsKey), 5, now) }
+        assertEquals(6L, SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(root2, envelope(targetsPayload(6, emptyMap()), newTargetsKey), 5, now).version)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `an expired root signs nothing`() {
+        val expired = SignedConfigRules.trustBundledRoot(envelope(rootPayload(1, rootKeys, expires = now), rootKeys[0], rootKeys[1]))
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.verifyTargets(expired, envelope(targetsPayload(5, emptyMap()), targetsKey), null, now) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a key that does not match its id is rejected`() {
+        val forged = rootPayload(1, rootKeys).replace(Base64.toBase64String(rootKeys[2].public), Base64.toBase64String(Key().public))
+
+        assertRejected { SignedConfigRules.trustBundledRoot(envelope(forged, rootKeys[0], rootKeys[1])) }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `garbage is rejected, not thrown as something else`() {
+        assertRejected { Envelope.parse("not json".toByteArray()) }
+    }
+
+    private fun assertRejected(block: () -> Unit) {
+        try {
+            block()
+        } catch (e: SignedConfigException) {
+            return
+        }
+        throw AssertionError("expected SignedConfigException")
+    }
+}
diff --git a/feature-dapp-impl/build.gradle b/feature-dapp-impl/build.gradle
index 030dda39..1eeb7e1e 100644
--- a/feature-dapp-impl/build.gradle
+++ b/feature-dapp-impl/build.gradle
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 apply plugin: 'kotlin-parcelize'
 apply from: '../tests.gradle'
 apply from: "../scripts/secrets.gradle"
+apply from: "../scripts/bundled-config.gradle"
 
 android {
 
@@ -21,6 +22,14 @@ android {
     }
     namespace 'io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl'
 
+    testOptions {
+        unitTests {
+            // android.util.Log.* throws "Method ... not mocked" in plain JVM unit tests; the first-install
+            // fallback logs the failed fetch it recovers from.
+            returnDefaultValues = true
+        }
+    }
+
     packagingOptions {
         resources.excludes.add("META-INF/NOTICE.md")
     }
@@ -96,3 +105,10 @@ dependencies {
     testImplementation jUnitDep
     testImplementation mockitoDep
 }
+
+// The DApps catalog a first install shows when none can be fetched (AssetBundledDappCatalog).
+bundleConfigAsset(
+    "bundleDappsConfig",
+    "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/dapps/dapps_full.json",
+    "bundled-config/dapps.json"
+) { it instanceof Map && it.dapps instanceof List && !it.dapps.isEmpty() }
diff --git a/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/BundledDappCatalog.kt b/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/BundledDappCatalog.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5fa785a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/BundledDappCatalog.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.repository
+
+import android.content.Context
+import android.util.Log
+import com.google.gson.Gson
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.utils.LOG_TAG
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataResponse
+
+/** The DApps catalog the APK was built with: what is shown until a catalog can be fetched. */
+fun interface BundledDappCatalog {
+
+    fun load(): DappMetadataResponse?
+
+    companion object {
+        val None = BundledDappCatalog { null }
+    }
+}
+
+class AssetBundledDappCatalog(
+    private val context: Context,
+    private val gson: Gson,
+) : BundledDappCatalog {
+
+    companion object {
+        // Written at build time by the `bundleDappsConfig` task in feature-dapp-impl/build.gradle.
+        const val ASSET_PATH = "bundled-config/dapps.json"
+    }
+
+    override fun load(): DappMetadataResponse? = runCatching {
+        context.assets.open(ASSET_PATH).bufferedReader().use { gson.fromJson(it, DappMetadataResponse::class.java) }
+    }.onFailure {
+        Log.e(LOG_TAG, "No usable bundled DApps catalog", it)
+    }.getOrNull()
+}
diff --git a/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepository.kt b/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepository.kt
index 8c999fc9..5ca08c1c 100644
--- a/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepository.kt
+++ b/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepository.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.repository
 
+import android.util.Log
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.utils.CollectionDiffer
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.utils.LOG_TAG
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.utils.Urls
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.utils.retryUntilDone
 import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.dao.BrowserHostSettingsDao
@@ -11,6 +13,8 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_api.data.repository.DAppMetadataRepos
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.mappers.mapDAppMetadataResponseToDAppMetadatas
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataApi
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataRemote
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataResponse
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CancellationException
 import kotlinx.coroutines.channels.BufferOverflow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.Flow
 import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.MutableSharedFlow
@@ -19,7 +23,8 @@ import kotlinx.coroutines.flow.first
 class RealDAppMetadataRepository(
     private val dappMetadataApi: DappMetadataApi,
     private val remoteApiUrl: String,
-    private val browserHostSettingsDao: BrowserHostSettingsDao
+    private val browserHostSettingsDao: BrowserHostSettingsDao,
+    private val bundledCatalog: BundledDappCatalog = BundledDappCatalog.None,
 ) : DAppMetadataRepository {
 
     private val dappMetadatasFlow = MutableSharedFlow<DappCatalog>(replay = 1, onBufferOverflow = BufferOverflow.DROP_OLDEST)
@@ -29,7 +34,30 @@ class RealDAppMetadataRepository(
     }
 
     override suspend fun syncDAppMetadatas() {
-        val response = retryUntilDone { dappMetadataApi.getParachainMetadata(remoteApiUrl) }
+        if (dappMetadatasFlow.replayCache.isEmpty()) {
+            // Every read below waits for a first catalog. Try the network once, and if that fails show the
+            // catalog the APK was built with, so the DApps screen opens; the fetched one replaces it below.
+            val firstTry = try {
+                dappMetadataApi.getParachainMetadata(remoteApiUrl)
+            } catch (e: CancellationException) {
+                throw e
+            } catch (e: Exception) {
+                Log.e(LOG_TAG, "First DApps catalog fetch failed, showing the bundled catalog", e)
+                null
+            }
+
+            if (firstTry != null) {
+                applyCatalog(firstTry)
+                return
+            }
+
+            bundledCatalog.load()?.let { dappMetadatasFlow.emit(mapDAppMetadataResponseToDAppMetadatas(it)) }
+        }
+
+        applyCatalog(retryUntilDone { dappMetadataApi.getParachainMetadata(remoteApiUrl) })
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun applyCatalog(response: DappMetadataResponse) {
         val dappMetadatas = mapDAppMetadataResponseToDAppMetadatas(response)
         syncHostSettings(response.dapps)
         dappMetadatasFlow.emit(dappMetadatas)
diff --git a/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/di/modules/DappMetadataModule.kt b/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/di/modules/DappMetadataModule.kt
index 941da9c0..78e34f59 100644
--- a/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/di/modules/DappMetadataModule.kt
+++ b/feature-dapp-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/di/modules/DappMetadataModule.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.di.modules
 
+import android.content.Context
+import com.google.gson.Gson
 import dagger.Module
 import dagger.Provides
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.NetworkApiCreator
@@ -8,6 +10,7 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.dao.BrowserHostSettingsDao
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_api.data.repository.DAppMetadataRepository
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.BuildConfig
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataApi
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.repository.AssetBundledDappCatalog
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.repository.RealDAppMetadataRepository
 
 @Module
@@ -23,10 +26,13 @@ class DappMetadataModule {
     @FeatureScope
     fun provideDRepository(
         api: DappMetadataApi,
-        dappHostSettingsDao: BrowserHostSettingsDao
+        dappHostSettingsDao: BrowserHostSettingsDao,
+        context: Context,
+        gson: Gson
     ): DAppMetadataRepository = RealDAppMetadataRepository(
         dappMetadataApi = api,
         remoteApiUrl = BuildConfig.DAPP_METADATAS_URL,
-        browserHostSettingsDao = dappHostSettingsDao
+        browserHostSettingsDao = dappHostSettingsDao,
+        bundledCatalog = AssetBundledDappCatalog(context, gson)
     )
 }
diff --git a/feature-dapp-impl/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepositoryTest.kt b/feature-dapp-impl/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepositoryTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..16cb4edb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/feature-dapp-impl/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_dapp_impl/data/repository/RealDAppMetadataRepositoryTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.repository
+
+import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.dao.BrowserHostSettingsDao
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataApi
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataRemote
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_dapp_impl.data.network.metadata.DappMetadataResponse
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CompletableDeferred
+import kotlinx.coroutines.launch
+import kotlinx.coroutines.runBlocking
+import kotlinx.coroutines.yield
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
+import org.junit.Test
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith
+import org.mockito.Mock
+import org.mockito.Mockito.`when`
+import org.mockito.junit.MockitoJUnitRunner
+import java.io.IOException
+
+@RunWith(MockitoJUnitRunner::class)
+class RealDAppMetadataRepositoryTest {
+
+    @Mock
+    lateinit var hostSettingsDao: BrowserHostSettingsDao
+
+    private val bundled = catalogOf("https://bundled.example")
+    private val remote = catalogOf("https://remote.example")
+
+    @Test
+    fun `a first install shows the bundled catalog until one is fetched`() = runBlocking {
+        `when`(hostSettingsDao.getBrowserAllHostSettings()).thenReturn(emptyList())
+        val network = CompletableDeferred<DappMetadataResponse>()
+        var calls = 0
+        val api = object : DappMetadataApi {
+            override suspend fun getParachainMetadata(url: String): DappMetadataResponse {
+                calls++
+                if (calls == 1) throw IOException("unreachable")
+                return network.await()
+            }
+        }
+        val repository = RealDAppMetadataRepository(api, "url", hostSettingsDao) { bundled }
+
+        val sync = launch { repository.syncDAppMetadatas() }
+        while (!repository.isDAppsSynced()) yield()
+
+        assertEquals("https://bundled.example", repository.getDAppCatalog().dApps.single().url)
+
+        network.complete(remote)
+        sync.join()
+
+        assertEquals("https://remote.example", repository.getDAppCatalog().dApps.single().url)
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `the bundled catalog is not read when the fetch works`() = runBlocking {
+        `when`(hostSettingsDao.getBrowserAllHostSettings()).thenReturn(emptyList())
+        var bundledReads = 0
+        val api = object : DappMetadataApi {
+            override suspend fun getParachainMetadata(url: String) = remote
+        }
+        val repository = RealDAppMetadataRepository(api, "url", hostSettingsDao) { bundledReads++; bundled }
+
+        repository.syncDAppMetadatas()
+
+        assertEquals(0, bundledReads)
+        assertEquals("https://remote.example", repository.getDAppCatalog().dApps.single().url)
+    }
+
+    private fun catalogOf(url: String) = DappMetadataResponse(
+        popular = emptyList(),
+        categories = emptyList(),
+        dapps = listOf(DappMetadataRemote(name = "d", icon = "i", url = url, categories = emptyList(), desktopOnly = null))
+    )
+}
diff --git a/runtime/build.gradle b/runtime/build.gradle
index 436183ea..ca53ccd1 100644
--- a/runtime/build.gradle
+++ b/runtime/build.gradle
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 apply from: '../scripts/secrets.gradle'
 apply plugin: 'kotlin-parcelize'
+apply from: '../scripts/bundled-config.gradle'
+
+def chainsUrl = "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/android/chains.json"
 
 android {
 
     defaultConfig {
 
-        buildConfigField "String", "CHAINS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/android/chains.json\""
+        buildConfigField "String", "CHAINS_URL", "\"$chainsUrl\""
         buildConfigField "String", "EVM_ASSETS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/assets/evm/v3/assets.json\""
         buildConfigField "String", "PRE_CONFIGURED_CHAINS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/preConfigured/chains.json\""
         buildConfigField "String", "PRE_CONFIGURED_CHAIN_DETAILS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/preConfigured/details\""
@@ -27,13 +30,21 @@ android {
             minifyEnabled false
             proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
 
-            buildConfigField "String", "CHAINS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/android/chains.json\""
+            buildConfigField "String", "CHAINS_URL", "\"$chainsUrl\""
             buildConfigField "String", "EVM_ASSETS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/assets/evm/v3/assets.json\""
             buildConfigField "String", "PRE_CONFIGURED_CHAINS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/preConfigured/chains.json\""
             buildConfigField "String", "PRE_CONFIGURED_CHAIN_DETAILS_URL", "\"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pezkuwichain/pezkuwi-wallet-utils/master/chains/v22/preConfigured/details\""
         }
     }
     namespace 'io.novafoundation.nova.runtime'
+
+    testOptions {
+        unitTests {
+            // android.util.Log.* throws "Method ... not mocked" in plain JVM unit tests; the first-install
+            // fallback logs the failed fetch it recovers from.
+            returnDefaultValues = true
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 dependencies {
@@ -66,4 +77,7 @@ dependencies {
     androidTestImplementation androidTestRunnerDep
     androidTestImplementation androidTestRulesDep
     androidTestImplementation androidJunitDep
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
+
+// The chain list a first install starts from when none can be fetched (AssetBundledChains).
+bundleConfigAsset("bundleChainsConfig", chainsUrl, "bundled-config/chains.json") { it instanceof List && !it.isEmpty() }
diff --git a/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/di/ChainRegistryModule.kt b/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/di/ChainRegistryModule.kt
index eff94b38..29ff4187 100644
--- a/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/di/ChainRegistryModule.kt
+++ b/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/di/ChainRegistryModule.kt
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.di
 
+import android.content.Context
 import com.google.gson.Gson
 import dagger.Module
 import dagger.Provides
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.ethereum.Web3ApiFactory
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.ChainRegistry
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.asset.EvmAssetsSyncService
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.asset.remote.AssetFetcher
+import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.AssetBundledChains
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.ChainSyncService
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.remote.ChainFetcher
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.connection.ChainConnection
@@ -56,8 +58,9 @@ class ChainRegistryModule {
         dao: ChainDao,
         chainAssetDao: ChainAssetDao,
         chainFetcher: ChainFetcher,
-        gson: Gson
-    ) = ChainSyncService(dao, chainFetcher, gson)
+        gson: Gson,
+        context: Context
+    ) = ChainSyncService(dao, chainFetcher, gson, AssetBundledChains(context, gson))
 
     @Provides
     @ApplicationScope
diff --git a/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/BundledChains.kt b/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/BundledChains.kt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..476ed64c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/BundledChains.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain
+
+import android.content.Context
+import android.util.Log
+import com.google.gson.Gson
+import com.google.gson.reflect.TypeToken
+import io.novafoundation.nova.common.utils.LOG_TAG
+import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.remote.model.ChainRemote
+
+/** The chain list the APK was built with: what a first install starts from when no chain list can be fetched. */
+fun interface BundledChains {
+
+    fun load(): List<ChainRemote>?
+
+    companion object {
+        val None = BundledChains { null }
+    }
+}
+
+class AssetBundledChains(
+    private val context: Context,
+    private val gson: Gson,
+) : BundledChains {
+
+    companion object {
+        // Written at build time by the `bundleChainsConfig` task in runtime/build.gradle.
+        const val ASSET_PATH = "bundled-config/chains.json"
+    }
+
+    override fun load(): List<ChainRemote>? = runCatching {
+        context.assets.open(ASSET_PATH).bufferedReader().use { reader ->
+            gson.fromJson<List<ChainRemote>>(reader, object : TypeToken<List<ChainRemote>>() {}.type)
+        }
+    }.onFailure {
+        Log.e(LOG_TAG, "No usable bundled chain list", it)
+    }.getOrNull()
+}
diff --git a/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncService.kt b/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncService.kt
index 5e571e0b..bab41c46 100644
--- a/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncService.kt
+++ b/runtime/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncService.kt
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.chain.AssetSourceLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.chain.ChainAssetLocal.Companion.ENABLED_DEFAULT_BOOL
 import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.chain.ChainLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.chain.ChainNodeLocal
+import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.chain.JoinedChainInfo
 import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.chain.NodeSelectionPreferencesLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.mappers.mapExternalApisToLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.mappers.mapRemoteAssetToLocal
@@ -19,17 +20,48 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.mappers.mapRemoteChainT
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.mappers.mapRemoteExplorersToLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.mappers.mapRemoteNodesToLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.remote.ChainFetcher
+import io.novafoundation.nova.runtime.multiNetwork.chain.remote.model.ChainRemote
+import kotlinx.coroutines.CancellationException
 import kotlinx.coroutines.Dispatchers
 import kotlinx.coroutines.withContext
 
 class ChainSyncService(
     private val chainDao: ChainDao,
     private val chainFetcher: ChainFetcher,
-    private val gson: Gson
+    private val gson: Gson,
+    private val bundledChains: BundledChains = BundledChains.None,
 ) {
 
     suspend fun syncUp() = withContext(Dispatchers.Default) {
-        val localChainsJoinedInfo = chainDao.getJoinChainInfo().filter { it.chain.source != ChainLocal.Source.CUSTOM }
+        if (loadLocal().isEmpty()) {
+            // A first install has nothing to show until a chain list arrives. Try the network once (the
+            // config mirrors are behind it), and if that fails, start from the list the APK was built with
+            // so the wallet opens; the remote list replaces it below as soon as it can be fetched.
+            val firstTry = try {
+                chainFetcher.getChains()
+            } catch (e: CancellationException) {
+                throw e
+            } catch (e: Exception) {
+                Log.e(LOG_TAG, "First chain fetch failed, starting from the bundled chain list", e)
+                null
+            }
+
+            if (firstTry != null) {
+                applyRemoteChains(firstTry, loadLocal())
+                return@withContext
+            }
+
+            bundledChains.load()?.let { applyRemoteChains(it, loadLocal()) }
+        }
+
+        val remoteChains = retryUntilDone { chainFetcher.getChains() }
+
+        applyRemoteChains(remoteChains, loadLocal())
+    }
+
+    private suspend fun loadLocal() = chainDao.getJoinChainInfo().filter { it.chain.source != ChainLocal.Source.CUSTOM }
+
+    private suspend fun applyRemoteChains(remoteChains: List<ChainRemote>, localChainsJoinedInfo: List<JoinedChainInfo>) {
         val oldChains = localChainsJoinedInfo.map { it.chain }
         val oldAssets = localChainsJoinedInfo.flatMap { it.assets }.filter { it.source == AssetSourceLocal.DEFAULT }
         val oldNodes = localChainsJoinedInfo.flatMap { it.nodes }.filter { it.source != ChainNodeLocal.Source.CUSTOM }
@@ -40,8 +72,6 @@ class ChainSyncService(
         val oldChainsById = oldChains.associateBy { it.id }
         val associatedOldAssets = oldAssets.associateBy { it.fullId() }
 
-        val remoteChains = retryUntilDone { chainFetcher.getChains() }
-
         // A transient upstream issue (CDN hiccup, regional network filtering, a bad publish) can make
         // chainFetcher.getChains() return successfully with a suspiciously small/empty list instead of
         // throwing. Applying that as a diff against a populated local DB would delete most or all of the
@@ -54,7 +84,7 @@ class ChainSyncService(
                 "Refusing to apply chain sync: remote returned ${remoteChains.size} chains vs ${oldChains.size} currently stored " +
                     "(would remove more than half). Likely a transient fetch issue - skipping this sync cycle."
             )
-            return@withContext
+            return
         }
 
         // One malformed/incompatible chain (a new field the app's mapper doesn't understand yet, a bad
diff --git a/runtime/src/test/java/android/util/Log.java b/runtime/src/test/java/android/util/Log.java
index dd394e3f..12627f4d 100644
--- a/runtime/src/test/java/android/util/Log.java
+++ b/runtime/src/test/java/android/util/Log.java
@@ -22,5 +22,10 @@ public class Log {
         return 0;
     }
 
+    public static int e(String tag, String msg, Throwable tr) {
+        System.out.println("ERROR: " + tag + ": " + msg + ": " + tr);
+        return 0;
+    }
+
     // add other methods if required...
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/runtime/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncServiceTest.kt b/runtime/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncServiceTest.kt
index dc880dd6..bd4451cc 100644
--- a/runtime/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncServiceTest.kt
+++ b/runtime/src/test/java/io/novafoundation/nova/runtime/multiNetwork/chain/ChainSyncServiceTest.kt
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.test_shared.emptyDiff
 import io.novafoundation.nova.test_shared.insertsElement
 import io.novafoundation.nova.test_shared.removesElement
 import kotlinx.coroutines.runBlocking
+import org.junit.Assert.assertEquals
 import org.junit.Before
 import org.junit.Test
 import org.junit.runner.RunWith
@@ -131,6 +132,50 @@ class ChainSyncServiceTest {
         }
     }
 
+    @Test
+    fun `a first install starts from the bundled list when the fetch fails`() {
+        runBlocking {
+            val bundled = REMOTE_CHAIN.copy(chainId = "0xbb")
+            chainSyncService = ChainSyncService(dao, chainFetcher, gson) { listOf(bundled) }
+            localReturns(emptyList())
+            `when`(chainFetcher.getChains()).thenThrow(RuntimeException("unreachable")).thenReturn(listOf(REMOTE_CHAIN))
+
+            chainSyncService.syncUp()
+
+            verify(dao).applyDiff(
+                chainDiff = insertsChainWithId(bundled.chainId),
+                assetsDiff = insertsAssetWithId(assetId),
+                nodesDiff = insertsNodeWithUrl(nodeUrl),
+                explorersDiff = insertsExplorerByName(explorerName),
+                externalApisDiff = insertsTransferApiByUrl(transferApiUrl),
+                nodeSelectionPreferencesDiff = insertsNodeSelectionPreferences(bundled.chainId)
+            )
+            // ... and the fetched list still follows it.
+            verify(dao).applyDiff(
+                chainDiff = insertsChainWithId(REMOTE_CHAIN.chainId),
+                assetsDiff = insertsAssetWithId(assetId),
+                nodesDiff = insertsNodeWithUrl(nodeUrl),
+                explorersDiff = insertsExplorerByName(explorerName),
+                externalApisDiff = insertsTransferApiByUrl(transferApiUrl),
+                nodeSelectionPreferencesDiff = insertsNodeSelectionPreferences(REMOTE_CHAIN.chainId)
+            )
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `the bundled list is not read when the fetch works`() {
+        runBlocking {
+            var bundledReads = 0
+            chainSyncService = ChainSyncService(dao, chainFetcher, gson) { bundledReads++; emptyList() }
+            localReturns(emptyList())
+            remoteReturns(listOf(REMOTE_CHAIN))
+
+            chainSyncService.syncUp()
+
+            assertEquals(0, bundledReads)
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     fun `should not insert the same chain`() {
         runBlocking {
diff --git a/scripts/bundled-config.gradle b/scripts/bundled-config.gradle
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0a158c2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/bundled-config.gradle
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Config files the APK is built with, so a first install can open when none can be fetched
+// (GitHub blocked, offline). Each is the live file at build time, fetched from GitHub or its jsDelivr
+// mirror, checked by the caller's `isUsable`, and placed in the module's assets under `assetPath`.
+//
+//   apply from: '../scripts/bundled-config.gradle'
+//   bundleConfigAsset("bundleChainsConfig", chainsUrl, "bundled-config/chains.json") { it instanceof List && !it.isEmpty() }
+
+ext.bundleConfigAsset = { String taskName, String url, String assetPath, Closure isUsable ->
+    def outputDir = "$buildDir/generated/bundledConfig"
+    def target = file("$outputDir/$assetPath")
+
+    def task = tasks.register(taskName) {
+        outputs.file(target)
+        outputs.upToDateWhen { false }
+
+        doLast {
+            def sources = [
+                url,
+                url.replaceFirst('^https://raw\\.githubusercontent\\.com/([^/]+)/([^/]+)/([^/]+)/', 'https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/$1/$2@$3/')
+            ]
+            def bytes = null
+            for (source in sources) {
+                try {
+                    bytes = new URL(source).getBytes(connectTimeout: 20_000, readTimeout: 60_000)
+                    break
+                } catch (IOException e) {
+                    logger.warn("$taskName: $source failed: $e")
+                }
+            }
+            if (bytes == null) throw new GradleException("$taskName: no source answered for $url")
+
+            def parsed = new groovy.json.JsonSlurper().parse(bytes)
+            if (!isUsable(parsed)) throw new GradleException("$taskName: $url is not a usable config file")
+
+            target.parentFile.mkdirs()
+            target.bytes = bytes
+            def sha256 = java.security.MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256").digest(bytes).encodeHex().toString()
+            logger.lifecycle("$taskName: $assetPath ${bytes.length} bytes, sha256 $sha256")
+        }
+    }
+
+    android.sourceSets.main.assets.srcDir(outputDir)
+    preBuild.dependsOn(task)
+}