diff --git a/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/__tests__/useMantecaDepositPolling.test.tsx b/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/__tests__/useMantecaDepositPolling.test.tsx
index fdf4c6108..f6ff2041d 100644
--- a/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/__tests__/useMantecaDepositPolling.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/__tests__/useMantecaDepositPolling.test.tsx
@@ -53,13 +53,31 @@ describe('useMantecaDepositPolling', () => {
         await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.status).toBe('failed'))
     })
 
-    it('reports "processing" for an intermediate settling status', async () => {
-        mockGetDepositStatus.mockResolvedValue({ data: { id: 'dep-4', status: 'PROCESSING' } })
+    it('keeps "pending" on PROCESSING at stage 1 — QR live, user has NOT paid (the vanished-QR bug)', async () => {
+        // Manteca flips the synthetic ACTIVE (→ intent PROCESSING) seconds after
+        // creation; treating that as "settling" hid the QR before anyone could pay.
+        mockGetDepositStatus.mockResolvedValue({ data: { id: 'dep-4', status: 'PROCESSING', stage: 1 } })
         const { result } = renderHook(() => useMantecaDepositPolling('dep-4', jest.fn()), { wrapper })
 
+        await waitFor(() => expect(mockGetDepositStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith('dep-4'))
+        expect(result.current.status).toBe('pending')
+    })
+
+    it('reports "processing" only once stage >= 2 (fiat received)', async () => {
+        mockGetDepositStatus.mockResolvedValue({ data: { id: 'dep-5', status: 'PROCESSING', stage: 2 } })
+        const { result } = renderHook(() => useMantecaDepositPolling('dep-5', jest.fn()), { wrapper })
+
         await waitFor(() => expect(result.current.status).toBe('processing'))
     })
 
+    it('degrades to "pending" when stage is absent (older BE / legacy row)', async () => {
+        mockGetDepositStatus.mockResolvedValue({ data: { id: 'dep-6', status: 'PROCESSING', stage: null } })
+        const { result } = renderHook(() => useMantecaDepositPolling('dep-6', jest.fn()), { wrapper })
+
+        await waitFor(() => expect(mockGetDepositStatus).toHaveBeenCalledWith('dep-6'))
+        expect(result.current.status).toBe('pending')
+    })
+
     it('does not query when depositId is undefined', () => {
         const { result } = renderHook(() => useMantecaDepositPolling(undefined, jest.fn()), { wrapper })
 
diff --git a/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/useMantecaDepositPolling.ts b/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/useMantecaDepositPolling.ts
index eee0b3ff4..ae9766b3d 100644
--- a/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/useMantecaDepositPolling.ts
+++ b/src/components/AddMoney/hooks/useMantecaDepositPolling.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,11 @@ const POLLING_INTERVAL = 5000
 
 // Terminal TransactionIntentStatus values returned by GET /manteca/deposit/:id/status.
 const TERMINAL_STATUSES = ['COMPLETED', 'FAILED', 'CANCELLED', 'REFUNDED']
-// Non-terminal states that mean "payment detected, settling" — show a processing screen.
-const PROCESSING_STATUSES = ['PROCESSING', 'AWAITING_SETTLEMENT']
+// "Payment detected" is signalled by the synthetic's stage, NOT the intent status:
+// Manteca flips a ramp-on to ACTIVE (→ intent PROCESSING) seconds after creation,
+// while the user hasn't paid — stage 1 is DEPOSIT (QR live, awaiting fiat), and
+// only stage >= 2 (ORDER/WITHDRAW) means the fiat actually arrived.
+const PAID_STAGE = 2
 
 type MantecaDepositPollStatus = 'pending' | 'processing' | 'completed' | 'failed'
 
@@ -34,9 +37,12 @@ export function useMantecaDepositPolling(depositId: string | undefined, onComple
 
     const status: MantecaDepositPollStatus = useMemo(() => {
         const s = data?.data?.status
+        const stage = data?.data?.stage
         if (s === 'COMPLETED') return 'completed'
         if (s && TERMINAL_STATUSES.includes(s)) return 'failed'
-        if (s && PROCESSING_STATUSES.includes(s)) return 'processing'
+        // stage may be null/absent (older BE, legacy row) — then stay 'pending'
+        // so the QR keeps showing rather than stranding the user on a loader.
+        if (typeof stage === 'number' && stage >= PAID_STAGE) return 'processing'
         return 'pending'
     }, [data])
 
diff --git a/src/services/manteca.ts b/src/services/manteca.ts
index 2429dd3b0..d70742fb7 100644
--- a/src/services/manteca.ts
+++ b/src/services/manteca.ts
@@ -287,7 +287,10 @@ export const mantecaApi = {
         }
     },
 
-    getDepositStatus: async (depositId: string): Promise<{ data?: { id: string; status: string }; error?: string }> => {
+    getDepositStatus: async (
+        depositId: string
+        // stage: 1 = QR live awaiting fiat, >= 2 = fiat received (settling), null = no snapshot
+    ): Promise<{ data?: { id: string; status: string; stage?: number | null }; error?: string }> => {
         try {
             const response = await serverFetch(`/manteca/deposit/${depositId}/status`)
             const data = await response.json()