diff --git a/.github/ci/minio/README.md b/.github/ci/minio/README.md
index 51bf7c70a25..dade447210f 100644
--- a/.github/ci/minio/README.md
+++ b/.github/ci/minio/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 # Buzz CI MinIO
 
 `ghcr.io/block/buzz-minio:latest` contains MinIO and `mc` for the disposable
-Linux AMD64 CI runners. `docker-compose.ci.yml` selects it for both services;
-development and deployment defaults stay in `docker-compose.yml`.
+Linux AMD64 runners. Only the publisher smoke test selects it through
+`docker-compose.ci.yml`. Ordinary CI inherits the Silo pins from
+`docker-compose.yml`; the Helm install test inherits the chart defaults.
 
 The **MinIO image** workflow builds only when its inputs change, or on a manual
 dispatch. Pull requests build and smoke-test without publishing. On `main`, a
@@ -13,9 +14,10 @@ Once consumers adopt the override, ordinary CI only pulls it; there is no build
 fallback or dependency on the publisher. `latest` deliberately floats, and
 Compose always pulls it. Docker's pull output records the resolved digest.
 
-The Dockerfile uses the same upstream releases as the development services,
-with checksummed official GitHub release binaries and a digest-pinned Alpine
-base. MinIO and `mc` are AGPL-3.0; their corresponding source is available at
+The Dockerfile pins upstream MinIO releases independently of the Silo images
+used by the development and deployment examples. It uses checksummed official
+GitHub release binaries and a digest-pinned Alpine base. MinIO and `mc` are
+AGPL-3.0; their corresponding source is available at
 the [MinIO release](https://github.com/minio/minio/tree/RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z)
 and [mc release](https://github.com/minio/mc/tree/RELEASE.2025-08-13T08-35-41Z).
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_ci-desktop.yml b/.github/workflows/_ci-desktop.yml
index 15893a1cb4e..cd1532aab96 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_ci-desktop.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_ci-desktop.yml
@@ -122,7 +122,9 @@ jobs:
   desktop-smoke-e2e:
     name: Desktop Smoke E2E (${{ matrix.shard }})
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    timeout-minutes: 30
+    # Chromium dependency setup can take 10m; a serial smoke shard needs
+    # ~25m. Leave time for the full suite and its reports to finish.
+    timeout-minutes: 45
     if: github.event_name == 'push' || inputs.desktop || inputs.desktop_rust || inputs.rust
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
diff --git a/.github/workflows/_ci-relay.yml b/.github/workflows/_ci-relay.yml
index a498336ae98..335ae00fba7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/_ci-relay.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/_ci-relay.yml
@@ -209,8 +209,6 @@ jobs:
             --archive-file target/ci/postgres-tests.tar.zst
 
   desktop-e2e-integration-shard:
-    env:
-      COMPOSE_FILE: docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.ci.yml
     name: Desktop E2E Integration (${{ matrix.shard }}/2)
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 20
@@ -404,8 +402,6 @@ jobs:
           echo "Desktop E2E Integration shards passed"
 
   backend-integration:
-    env:
-      COMPOSE_FILE: docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.ci.yml
     name: Backend Integration (relay e2e)
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 20
@@ -576,8 +572,6 @@ jobs:
           if-no-files-found: ignore
 
   relay-e2e:
-    env:
-      COMPOSE_FILE: docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.ci.yml
     name: Relay E2E
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     timeout-minutes: 20
diff --git a/.github/workflows/mesh-lifecycle.yml b/.github/workflows/mesh-lifecycle.yml
index 0666e98c327..ead1ada6ce5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/mesh-lifecycle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mesh-lifecycle.yml
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ env:
 
 jobs:
   lifecycle-smoke:
-    env:
-      COMPOSE_FILE: docker-compose.yml:docker-compose.ci.yml
     name: Relay-Driven Mesh Lifecycle Smoke
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     timeout-minutes: 45
diff --git a/ARCHITECTURE.md b/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 0d61e2eb302..55e3bbe969b 100644
--- a/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -900,7 +900,7 @@ Docker Compose provides the full local development stack. All services include h
 | Postgres | `postgres:17-alpine` | 5432 | Primary event store — events, channels, tokens, workflows, audit; full-text search (`search_tsv` GIN) |
 | Redis | `redis:7-alpine` | 6379 | Pub/sub fan-out, presence (SET EX), typing (sorted sets) |
 | Adminer | `adminer` | 8082 | DB web UI (dev only) |
-| MinIO | `quay.io/minio/minio` | 9000 (API), 9001 (console) | S3-compatible object storage (media) |
+| Silo (MinIO fork) | `pgsty/silo` | 9000 (API), 9001 (console) | S3-compatible object storage (media) |
 | Prometheus | `prom/prometheus` | 9090 | Metrics collection |
 
 ### Postgres Schema (key tables)
diff --git a/deploy/charts/buzz/README.md b/deploy/charts/buzz/README.md
index 10c5ce13d1d..999a1522c26 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/buzz/README.md
+++ b/deploy/charts/buzz/README.md
@@ -38,6 +38,20 @@ image:
   digest: sha256:<64-lowercase-hex-characters>
 ```
 
+Bundled object storage uses [Silo](https://silo.pgsty.com/download/), a maintained
+MinIO fork, with matching `pgsty/silo` and `pgsty/mc` release images pinned by
+multi-platform digest. Both images allow anonymous pulls and support Linux
+amd64 and arm64; the upstream Quay MinIO images no longer allow anonymous pulls.
+The existing `minio` names and `MINIO_*` settings remain compatible. Keep the
+Helm and Compose pins aligned when upgrading, and run Buzz's
+[object-store conformance probe](../../../docs/git-on-object-storage.md#conformance-admitting-a-backend-for-a3)
+against the new release before deploying it.
+
+For an existing MinIO data volume, follow Silo's
+[migration guide](https://silo.pgsty.com/compatibility/migration/) and take a
+backup before upgrading. Replacing the container image upgrades the storage
+server as well as changing its registry.
+
 ## Production (GitOps)
 
 The chart is designed for ArgoCD and Flux. Both render charts with `helm template`, in which mode Helm's `lookup` function returns empty — any chart-side `randAlphaNum` call would regenerate secrets on every sync. The chart-managed Secret path is **only** safe for `helm install` / `helm upgrade`.
diff --git a/deploy/charts/buzz/ci/quickstart-values.yaml b/deploy/charts/buzz/ci/quickstart-values.yaml
index 1a7f4d58389..4dcf6bcd21b 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/buzz/ci/quickstart-values.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/buzz/ci/quickstart-values.yaml
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ redis:
   enabled: true
 minio:
   enabled: true
-  image: ghcr.io/block/buzz-minio:latest
-  mcImage: ghcr.io/block/buzz-minio:latest
 relayUrl: wss://buzz.test.local
 ownerPubkey: "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001"
 relay:
diff --git a/deploy/charts/buzz/values.yaml b/deploy/charts/buzz/values.yaml
index d51d37b4bb7..41ddee97130 100644
--- a/deploy/charts/buzz/values.yaml
+++ b/deploy/charts/buzz/values.yaml
@@ -416,12 +416,14 @@ operatorJobs:
         cpu: "1"
         memory: 1Gi
 
-# In-cluster MinIO for the quickstart profile only. Production deploys leave
+# In-cluster Silo (MinIO fork) for the quickstart profile only. Production deploys leave
 # this disabled and use s3.* (or secrets.existingSecret) against managed S3.
 minio:
-  enabled: false                 # quickstart: set true for bundled in-cluster MinIO
-  image: quay.io/minio/minio:RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z@sha256:14cea493d9a34af32f524e538b8346cf79f3321eff8e708c1e2960462bd8936e
-  mcImage: quay.io/minio/mc:RELEASE.2025-08-13T08-35-41Z@sha256:a7fe349ef4bd8521fb8497f55c6042871b2ae640607cf99d9bede5e9bdf11727
+  enabled: false                 # quickstart: set true for bundled in-cluster Silo
+  # Silo is a maintained MinIO fork with public amd64/arm64 images.
+  # Keep the matching server/client release and digest pins aligned with Compose.
+  image: pgsty/silo:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:635197cb9f36d01bee221d34d1c7d7960f6a95c48b0b6c01d99cd13bdae51a46
+  mcImage: pgsty/mc:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:cfc83108c3abb371f8fb84d99c1fdc88f8c237e022409b0081fb7c0a3be634dd
   persistence:
     enabled: true
     size: 10Gi
diff --git a/deploy/compose/README.md b/deploy/compose/README.md
index b12f9ff48c6..9afcb1e651a 100644
--- a/deploy/compose/README.md
+++ b/deploy/compose/README.md
@@ -50,6 +50,20 @@ keypair.
 
 Run `./run.sh backup-hint` for the backup checklist.
 
+Bundled object storage uses [Silo](https://silo.pgsty.com/download/), a maintained
+MinIO fork, with matching `pgsty/silo` and `pgsty/mc` release images pinned by
+multi-platform digest. Both images allow anonymous pulls and support Linux
+amd64 and arm64; the upstream Quay MinIO images no longer allow anonymous pulls.
+The existing `minio` names and `MINIO_*` settings remain compatible. Keep the
+Helm and Compose pins aligned when upgrading, and run Buzz's
+[object-store conformance probe](../../docs/git-on-object-storage.md#conformance-admitting-a-backend-for-a3)
+against the new release before deploying it.
+
+For an existing MinIO data volume, follow Silo's
+[migration guide](https://silo.pgsty.com/compatibility/migration/) and take a
+backup before upgrading. Replacing the container image upgrades the storage
+server as well as changing its registry.
+
 ## Validation
 
 Before sharing an install link publicly, verify a fresh install with:
diff --git a/deploy/compose/compose.yml b/deploy/compose/compose.yml
index bcdad7296c8..effe78e058e 100644
--- a/deploy/compose/compose.yml
+++ b/deploy/compose/compose.yml
@@ -85,7 +85,8 @@ services:
       - buzz-net
 
   minio:
-    image: quay.io/minio/minio:RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z@sha256:14cea493d9a34af32f524e538b8346cf79f3321eff8e708c1e2960462bd8936e
+    # Silo preserves the MinIO configuration and health endpoints.
+    image: pgsty/silo:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:635197cb9f36d01bee221d34d1c7d7960f6a95c48b0b6c01d99cd13bdae51a46
     command: server /data --console-address ":9001"
     environment:
       MINIO_ROOT_USER: ${BUZZ_S3_ACCESS_KEY:?set BUZZ_S3_ACCESS_KEY}
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ services:
       - buzz-net
 
   minio-init:
-    image: quay.io/minio/mc:RELEASE.2025-08-13T08-35-41Z@sha256:a7fe349ef4bd8521fb8497f55c6042871b2ae640607cf99d9bede5e9bdf11727
+    image: pgsty/mc:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:cfc83108c3abb371f8fb84d99c1fdc88f8c237e022409b0081fb7c0a3be634dd
     depends_on:
       minio:
         condition: service_healthy
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/community-rail.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/community-rail.spec.ts
index 1f08f423378..c700d507c7c 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/community-rail.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/community-rail.spec.ts
@@ -1682,8 +1682,13 @@ test.describe("community rail", () => {
         }),
       );
     }, `community-rail-button-${COMMUNITY_B.id}`);
+    // Wait for the sensor to activate and publish the move before dropping.
+    await expect(buttonB).toHaveAttribute("aria-pressed", "true");
     // ArrowUp moves the active item one slot up.
     await page.keyboard.press("ArrowUp");
+    await expect(
+      page.getByRole("status").filter({ hasText: COMMUNITY_B.id }),
+    ).toContainText(`was moved over droppable area ${COMMUNITY_A.id}`);
     // Space drops the item — same synthetic dispatch for consistency.
     await page.evaluate((testId) => {
       const el = document.querySelector(`[data-testid="${testId}"]`);
diff --git a/desktop/tests/e2e/virtualization.spec.ts b/desktop/tests/e2e/virtualization.spec.ts
index f7a44f05c72..adc23fdb84d 100644
--- a/desktop/tests/e2e/virtualization.spec.ts
+++ b/desktop/tests/e2e/virtualization.spec.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { expect, test } from "@playwright/test";
 import type { Locator, Page } from "@playwright/test";
 
 import { installMockBridge } from "../helpers/bridge";
+import { waitForMockChannelHeadReady } from "../helpers/channelHeadReady";
 
 const WATERCOOLER_CHANNEL_ID = "a27e1ee9-76a6-5bdf-a5d5-1d85610dad11";
 const FORUM_THREAD_ID = "mock-forum-release-thread";
@@ -866,16 +867,47 @@ test("live tail arrivals stay buffered while reading and release on jump", async
   );
   await page.getByTestId("channel-deep-history").click();
 
+  await waitForMockChannelHeadReady(
+    page,
+    "deep-history",
+    "feedf00d-0000-4000-8000-000000000007",
+  );
+  await page.evaluate(() => document.fonts.ready.then(() => undefined));
+
   const timeline = page.getByTestId("message-timeline");
   await expect(timeline.locator("[data-message-id]").first()).toBeVisible();
   await timeline.evaluate((element) => {
+    // Reader input retires the virtualizer's bottom-follow intent before
+    // moving into history; a scrollTop write alone leaves it armed.
+    element.dispatchEvent(new WheelEvent("wheel", { deltaY: -1 }));
     element.scrollTop = Math.max(500, element.scrollHeight / 2);
     element.dispatchEvent(new Event("scroll", { bubbles: true }));
   });
   await expect(page.getByTestId("message-scroll-to-latest")).toBeVisible();
-  const frozenHeight = await timeline.evaluate(
-    (element) => element.scrollHeight,
-  );
+  const frozenHeight = await timeline.evaluate(async (element) => {
+    // Entering history renders and measures new virtual rows. Capture the
+    // baseline only after that layout has stopped changing across frames.
+    let previousHeight = element.scrollHeight;
+    let previousOffset = element.scrollTop;
+    let stableFrames = 0;
+    for (let frame = 0; frame < 120; frame += 1) {
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve) =>
+        requestAnimationFrame(() => resolve()),
+      );
+      const height = element.scrollHeight;
+      const offset = element.scrollTop;
+      stableFrames =
+        height === previousHeight && offset === previousOffset
+          ? stableFrames + 1
+          : 0;
+      if (stableFrames >= 3) return height;
+      previousHeight = height;
+      previousOffset = offset;
+    }
+    throw new Error(
+      "virtual timeline layout did not settle before live arrival",
+    );
+  });
 
   await page.evaluate(() => {
     window.__BUZZ_E2E_EMIT_MOCK_MESSAGE__?.({
diff --git a/docker-compose.harness.yml b/docker-compose.harness.yml
index 0164a68e274..ab24dcbfece 100644
--- a/docker-compose.harness.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.harness.yml
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ services:
       start_period: 5s
 
   minio:
-    image: quay.io/minio/minio:RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z@sha256:14cea493d9a34af32f524e538b8346cf79f3321eff8e708c1e2960462bd8936e
+    # Silo preserves the MinIO configuration and health endpoints.
+    image: pgsty/silo:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:635197cb9f36d01bee221d34d1c7d7960f6a95c48b0b6c01d99cd13bdae51a46
     command: server /data --console-address ":9001"
     environment:
       MINIO_ROOT_USER: buzz_dev
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ services:
       start_period: 10s
 
   minio-init:
-    image: quay.io/minio/mc:RELEASE.2025-08-13T08-35-41Z@sha256:a7fe349ef4bd8521fb8497f55c6042871b2ae640607cf99d9bede5e9bdf11727
+    image: pgsty/mc:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:cfc83108c3abb371f8fb84d99c1fdc88f8c237e022409b0081fb7c0a3be634dd
     depends_on:
       minio:
         condition: service_healthy
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 995adea1561..ad4ac2fd537 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ services:
     restart: unless-stopped
 
   minio:
-    image: quay.io/minio/minio:RELEASE.2025-09-07T16-13-09Z@sha256:14cea493d9a34af32f524e538b8346cf79f3321eff8e708c1e2960462bd8936e
+    # Silo preserves the MinIO configuration and health endpoints.
+    image: pgsty/silo:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:635197cb9f36d01bee221d34d1c7d7960f6a95c48b0b6c01d99cd13bdae51a46
     container_name: buzz-minio
     command: server /data --console-address ":9001"
     environment:
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@ services:
     restart: unless-stopped
 
   minio-init:
-    image: quay.io/minio/mc:RELEASE.2025-08-13T08-35-41Z@sha256:a7fe349ef4bd8521fb8497f55c6042871b2ae640607cf99d9bede5e9bdf11727
+    image: pgsty/mc:RELEASE.2026-09-16T00-00-00Z@sha256:cfc83108c3abb371f8fb84d99c1fdc88f8c237e022409b0081fb7c0a3be634dd
     container_name: buzz-minio-init
     depends_on:
       minio: