diff --git a/feature-wallet-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_wallet_impl/data/network/blockchain/assets/balances/utility/NativeAssetBalance.kt b/feature-wallet-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_wallet_impl/data/network/blockchain/assets/balances/utility/NativeAssetBalance.kt
index 7f9df0c1..c394ebdb 100644
--- a/feature-wallet-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_wallet_impl/data/network/blockchain/assets/balances/utility/NativeAssetBalance.kt
+++ b/feature-wallet-impl/src/main/java/io/novafoundation/nova/feature_wallet_impl/data/network/blockchain/assets/balances/utility/NativeAssetBalance.kt
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package io.novafoundation.nova.feature_wallet_impl.data.network.blockchain.assets.balances.utility
 
 import android.util.Log
-import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.runtime.binding.AccountInfo
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.runtime.binding.bindList
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.runtime.binding.bindNumber
 import io.novafoundation.nova.common.data.network.runtime.binding.castToDictEnum
@@ -18,6 +17,7 @@ import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.dao.LockDao
 import io.novafoundation.nova.core_db.model.BalanceHoldLocal
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_account_api.domain.model.MetaAccount
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_wallet_api.data.cache.AssetCache
+import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_wallet_api.data.cache.bindAccountInfoOrDefault
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_wallet_api.data.cache.updateAsset
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_wallet_api.data.network.blockhain.assets.balances.AssetBalance
 import io.novafoundation.nova.feature_wallet_api.data.network.blockhain.assets.balances.BalanceSyncUpdate
@@ -155,13 +155,13 @@ class NativeAssetBalance(
     // the caller, FullSyncPaymentUpdater.syncAsset(), wraps this whole call in a single retryWhen boundary meant
     // to catch and retry exactly these failures. Swallowing here would make that retry boundary never trigger.
     //
-    // Uses the typed remoteStorage.subscribe { metadata.system.account... } DSL (same as this class's own
-    // subscribeAccountBalanceUpdatePoint() and PooledBalanceUpdater/BalanceLocksUpdater) instead of a raw
-    // subscriptionBuilder.subscribe(key) call: on chains with several other assets/updaters already sharing
-    // the same SharedRequestsBuilder (e.g. Pezkuwi Asset Hub's 5 statemine assets + nomination-pools updater),
-    // the raw form's System.Account subscription was silently never reaching the wire - no exception, no data,
-    // ever - while every other asset on the same chain synced fine. The typed DSL is what every other caller
-    // on a busy shared connection already uses successfully.
+    // NOTE (2026-07-09): a prior attempt switched this to the typed remoteStorage.subscribe { metadata.system
+    // .account... } DSL, on the theory that it would fix HEZ silently never syncing on Pezkuwi Asset Hub (see
+    // git history). That attempt made things categorically worse - all assets across all 3 Pezkuwi chains
+    // stopped syncing, with logs showing what looked like cross-chain key contamination on the shared
+    // connection. Reverted back to the raw subscriptionBuilder.subscribe(key) form here, which is not broken
+    // for any OTHER native asset on any OTHER chain - only Pezkuwi Asset Hub's HEZ specifically. That narrower
+    // bug is still open; do not re-attempt the DSL swap without first understanding why it caused contamination.
     override suspend fun startSyncingBalance(
         chain: Chain,
         chainAsset: Chain.Asset,
@@ -169,18 +169,21 @@ class NativeAssetBalance(
         accountId: AccountId,
         subscriptionBuilder: SharedRequestsBuilder
     ): Flow<BalanceSyncUpdate> {
-        return remoteStorage.subscribe(chain.id, subscriptionBuilder) {
-            metadata.system.account.observeWithRaw(accountId)
-        }.map { change ->
-            val accountInfo = change.value ?: AccountInfo.empty()
-            val assetChanged = assetCache.updateAsset(metaAccount.id, chain.utilityAsset, accountInfo)
+        val runtime = chainRegistry.getRuntime(chain.id)
 
-            if (assetChanged) {
-                BalanceSyncUpdate.CauseFetchable(change.at!!)
-            } else {
-                BalanceSyncUpdate.NoCause
+        val key = runtime.metadata.system().storage("Account").storageKey(runtime, accountId)
+
+        return subscriptionBuilder.subscribe(key)
+            .map { change ->
+                val accountInfo = bindAccountInfoOrDefault(change.value, runtime)
+                val assetChanged = assetCache.updateAsset(metaAccount.id, chain.utilityAsset, accountInfo)
+
+                if (assetChanged) {
+                    BalanceSyncUpdate.CauseFetchable(change.block)
+                } else {
+                    BalanceSyncUpdate.NoCause
+                }
             }
-        }
     }
 
     private fun bindBalanceHolds(dynamicInstance: Any?): List<BlockchainHold>? {