diff --git a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt
index 10a2281ee..a82686b24 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/ChatViewModel.kt
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ import kotlin.time.Duration.Companion.seconds
 
 data class TypingConstraints(
     val enabled: Boolean = false,
+    // False until the async typing-enabled query (does this chat have a cash message?) has
+    // answered at least once. The bottom bar keeps its layout invisible until this is true so it
+    // never renders the default full-width state and then snaps to the resolved pill + input.
+    val resolved: Boolean = false,
     val interval: Duration = 3.seconds,
     val timeout: Duration = 5.seconds,
 )
@@ -327,6 +331,12 @@ internal class ChatViewModel @Inject constructor(
                     chatCoordinator.setActiveChatId(chatId)
                     viewModelScope.launch { chatCoordinator.loadMessages(chatId) }
                     chatCoordinator.dismissNotifications(chatId)
+                } else {
+                    // No existing chat means no messages yet, so typing stays disabled. The
+                    // observeMessages-driven typing flow only fires once a chatId exists, so mark
+                    // the typing state resolved here explicitly — otherwise the bottom bar would
+                    // stay hidden forever for a brand-new contact.
+                    dispatchEvent(Event.TypingEnabled(false))
                 }
 
                 // 2. Resolve contact
@@ -865,7 +875,10 @@ internal class ChatViewModel @Inject constructor(
                 Event.OnSelfTypingStopped -> { state -> state.copy(isSelfTyping = false) }
                 is Event.TypingEnabled -> { state ->
                     state.copy(
-                        typingConstraints = state.typingConstraints.copy(enabled = event.enabled)
+                        typingConstraints = state.typingConstraints.copy(
+                            enabled = event.enabled,
+                            resolved = true,
+                        )
                     )
                 }
                 is Event.TokenUpdated -> { state -> state.copy(token = event.token) }
diff --git a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/screens/components/ChatBottomBar.kt b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/screens/components/ChatBottomBar.kt
index b645d721b..f45f23a2b 100644
--- a/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/screens/components/ChatBottomBar.kt
+++ b/apps/flipcash/features/messenger/src/main/kotlin/com/flipcash/app/messenger/internal/screens/components/ChatBottomBar.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package com.flipcash.app.messenger.internal.screens.components
 
 import androidx.compose.animation.AnimatedContent
+import androidx.compose.animation.ContentTransform
+import androidx.compose.animation.EnterTransition
+import androidx.compose.animation.ExitTransition
 import androidx.compose.animation.fadeIn
 import androidx.compose.animation.fadeOut
 import androidx.compose.animation.scaleIn
@@ -24,6 +27,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Alignment
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
+import androidx.compose.ui.draw.alpha
 import androidx.compose.ui.focus.FocusRequester
 import androidx.compose.ui.graphics.TransformOrigin
 import androidx.compose.ui.platform.testTag
@@ -113,8 +117,25 @@ internal fun UserControlBottomBar(
                     .measured { buttonHeight = it.height }
                     .padding(horizontal = CodeTheme.dimens.inset)
                     .padding(vertical = CodeTheme.dimens.grid.x3)
-                    .navigationBarsPadding(),
+                    .navigationBarsPadding()
+                    // typingConstraints.enabled starts false and only resolves a frame or two after
+                    // open, once Room confirms whether the chat has a cash message. Rendering the
+                    // default false layout first showed a full-width "Send $" button that then
+                    // scaled down to the pill + input box. Hold the bar invisible (but measured, so
+                    // the message list keeps correct padding) until resolved, then reveal the final
+                    // layout directly — no visible full-width state, no resize.
+                    .alpha(if (state.typingConstraints.resolved) 1f else 0f),
                 targetState = state.typingConstraints.enabled,
+                // The layout only ever changes on the initial async resolution, which is hidden by
+                // the alpha gate above, so snap rather than crossfade. The SendCashButton's own
+                // color/label springs still animate the typing interaction.
+                transitionSpec = {
+                    ContentTransform(
+                        targetContentEnter = EnterTransition.None,
+                        initialContentExit = ExitTransition.None,
+                        sizeTransform = null,
+                    )
+                },
             ) { canType ->
                 Row(
                     modifier = Modifier