diff --git a/src/components/forum/ThreadDetail.tsx b/src/components/forum/ThreadDetail.tsx
index e5703a0f..9ba02ab9 100644
--- a/src/components/forum/ThreadDetail.tsx
+++ b/src/components/forum/ThreadDetail.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 		courseId,
 		threadId,
 	)
+
 	const queryClient = useQueryClient()
 	const [replyContent, setReplyContent] = useState("")
 	const [isSubmitting, setIsSubmitting] = useState(false)
@@ -42,12 +43,15 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 		try {
 			setIsSubmitting(true)
 			await replyToThread(courseId, threadId, replyContent)
+
 			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({
 				queryKey: ["forum", "thread", courseId, threadId],
 			})
+
 			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({
 				queryKey: ["forum", "threads", courseId],
 			})
+
 			setReplyContent("")
 		} catch (err) {
 			console.error("Failed to post reply", err)
@@ -58,11 +62,14 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 
 	const handleDeleteThread = async () => {
 		if (!confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this thread?")) return
+
 		try {
 			await deleteThread(courseId, threadId)
+
 			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({
 				queryKey: ["forum", "threads", courseId],
 			})
+
 			onBack()
 		} catch (err) {
 			console.error("Failed to delete thread", err)
@@ -71,8 +78,10 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 
 	const handleDeleteReply = async (replyId: number) => {
 		if (!confirm("Are you sure you want to delete this reply?")) return
+
 		try {
 			await deleteReply(courseId, replyId)
+
 			await queryClient.invalidateQueries({
 				queryKey: ["forum", "thread", courseId, threadId],
 			})
@@ -82,7 +91,11 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 	}
 
 	if (isLoading) {
-		return <div className="text-white/60 animate-pulse">Loading discussion...</div>
+		return (
+			<div className="text-white/60 animate-pulse">
+				Loading discussion...
+			</div>
+		)
 	}
 
 	if (error || !thread) {
@@ -91,6 +104,7 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 				<Button variant="secondary" size="sm" onClick={onBack}>
 					← Back to Discussions
 				</Button>
+
 				<div className="text-red-400 bg-red-400/10 p-4 rounded-xl border border-red-400/20">
 					Thread not found or failed to load.
 				</div>
@@ -110,7 +124,9 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 				</button>
 
 				<div className="flex justify-between items-start gap-4 mb-6">
-					<h2 className="text-3xl font-bold text-white">{thread.title}</h2>
+					<h2 className="text-3xl font-bold text-white">
+						{thread.title}
+					</h2>
 
 					{(isAdmin || currentAddress === thread.author_address) && (
 						<button
@@ -147,7 +163,11 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 						ctaLabel={currentAddress ? "Add a reply" : "Connect Wallet"}
 						onCtaClick={async () => {
 							if (currentAddress) {
-								const el = document.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>("textarea[placeholder*='Type your response']")
+								const el =
+									document.querySelector<HTMLTextAreaElement>(
+										"textarea[placeholder*='Type your response']",
+									)
+
 								el?.focus()
 							} else {
 								await connectWallet()
@@ -163,18 +183,26 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 							>
 								<div className="flex justify-between items-start">
 									<div className="flex items-center gap-3 text-xs text-white/50">
-										<WalletAddressPill address={reply.author_address} />
+										<WalletAddressPill
+											address={reply.author_address}
+										/>
 										<span>•</span>
 										<span>
-											{new Date(reply.created_at).toLocaleString()}
+											{new Date(
+												reply.created_at,
+											).toLocaleString()}
 										</span>
 									</div>
 
-									{(isAdmin || currentAddress === reply.author_address) && (
+									{(isAdmin ||
+										currentAddress ===
+											reply.author_address) && (
 										<button
 											type="button"
 											className="text-white/30 hover:text-red-400 transition-colors px-2 py-1"
-											onClick={() => handleDeleteReply(reply.id)}
+											onClick={() =>
+												handleDeleteReply(reply.id)
+											}
 											title="Delete reply"
 											aria-label="Delete reply"
 										>
@@ -184,7 +212,9 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 								</div>
 
 								<div className="prose prose-sm prose-invert max-w-none text-white/70">
-									<ReactMarkdown>{reply.content}</ReactMarkdown>
+									<ReactMarkdown>
+										{reply.content}
+									</ReactMarkdown>
 								</div>
 							</div>
 						))}
@@ -200,7 +230,9 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 						<textarea
 							placeholder="Type your response here (Markdown supported)..."
 							value={replyContent}
-							onChange={(e) => setReplyContent(e.target.value)}
+							onChange={(e) =>
+								setReplyContent(e.target.value)
+							}
 							rows={4}
 							className="w-full bg-white/5 border border-white/10 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 text-white placeholder:text-white/30 focus:outline-hidden focus:border-brand-cyan transition-colors font-mono text-sm"
 						/>
@@ -210,7 +242,9 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 								variant="primary"
 								size="sm"
 								onClick={handleReply}
-								disabled={isSubmitting || !replyContent.trim()}
+								disabled={
+									isSubmitting || !replyContent.trim()
+								}
 							>
 								{isSubmitting ? "Posting..." : "Post Reply"}
 							</Button>
@@ -227,3 +261,4 @@ export const ThreadDetail: React.FC<ThreadDetailProps> = ({
 		</div>
 	)
 }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/forum/ThreadList.tsx b/src/components/forum/ThreadList.tsx
index 534d5191..e71088ec 100644
--- a/src/components/forum/ThreadList.tsx
+++ b/src/components/forum/ThreadList.tsx
@@ -149,64 +149,67 @@ export const ThreadList: React.FC<ThreadListProps> = ({
 				</div>
 			)}
 
-			<div className="space-y-4">
-				{threads?.map((thread) => (
-					<button
-						key={thread.id}
-						type="button"
-						onClick={() => onSelectThread(thread.id)}
-						className="w-full text-left glass-card p-5 rounded-2xl border border-white/10 hover:border-brand-cyan/50 transition-all flex flex-col gap-3 group"
-					>
-						<div className="flex justify-between items-start gap-4">
-							<h4 className="text-lg font-bold group-hover:text-brand-cyan transition-colors line-clamp-1">
-								{thread.title}
-							</h4>
-							<div className="flex items-center gap-3 shrink-0">
-								<span className="text-xs text-white/40">
-									{new Date(thread.created_at).toLocaleDateString()}
-								</span>
-								{(isAdmin || currentAddress === thread.author_address) && (
-									<span
-										role="button"
-										tabIndex={0}
-										className="text-white/30 hover:text-red-400 transition-colors px-2 py-1"
-										onClick={(e) => {
-											e.stopPropagation()
-											void handleDelete(
-												e as unknown as React.MouseEvent,
-												thread.id,
-											)
-										}}
-										onKeyDown={(e) => {
-											if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") {
-												e.preventDefault()
-												e.stopPropagation()
-												void handleDelete(
-													e as unknown as React.MouseEvent,
-													thread.id,
-												)
-											}
-										}}
-										aria-label="Delete thread"
-									>
-										×
-									</span>
-								)}
-							</div>
-						</div>
-						<div className="text-sm text-white/60 line-clamp-2 prose prose-invert max-w-none">
-							<ReactMarkdown>{thread.content}</ReactMarkdown>
-						</div>
-						<div className="flex items-center justify-between mt-2 pt-3 border-t border-white/5">
-							<WalletAddressPill address={thread.author_address} />
-							<div className="text-xs font-semibold px-3 py-1 bg-white/5 rounded-full text-brand-cyan">
-								{thread.reply_count}{" "}
-								{thread.reply_count === 1 ? "reply" : "replies"}
-							</div>
-						</div>
-					</button>
-				))}
+<div className="space-y-4">
+	{threads?.map((thread) => (
+		<button
+			key={thread.id}
+			type="button"
+			onClick={() => onSelectThread(thread.id)}
+			className="w-full text-left glass-card p-5 rounded-2xl border border-white/10 hover:border-brand-cyan/50 transition-all flex flex-col gap-3 group"
+		>
+			<div className="flex justify-between items-start gap-4">
+				<h4 className="text-lg font-bold group-hover:text-brand-cyan transition-colors line-clamp-1">
+					{thread.title}
+				</h4>
+
+				<div className="flex items-center gap-3 shrink-0">
+					<span className="text-xs text-white/40">
+						{new Date(thread.created_at).toLocaleDateString()}
+					</span>
+
+					{(isAdmin || currentAddress === thread.author_address) && (
+						<span
+							role="button"
+							tabIndex={0}
+							className="text-white/30 hover:text-red-400 transition-colors px-2 py-1"
+							onClick={(e) => {
+								e.stopPropagation()
+								void handleDelete(
+									e as unknown as React.MouseEvent,
+									thread.id,
+								)
+							}}
+							onKeyDown={(e) => {
+								if (e.key === "Enter" || e.key === " ") {
+									e.preventDefault()
+									e.stopPropagation()
+									void handleDelete(
+										e as unknown as React.MouseEvent,
+										thread.id,
+									)
+								}
+							}}
+							aria-label="Delete thread"
+						>
+							×
+						</span>
+					)}
+				</div>
+			</div>
+
+			<div className="text-sm text-white/60 line-clamp-2 prose prose-invert max-w-none">
+				<ReactMarkdown>{thread.content}</ReactMarkdown>
+			</div>
+
+			<div className="flex items-center justify-between mt-2 pt-3 border-t border-white/5">
+				<WalletAddressPill address={thread.author_address} />
+
+				<div className="text-xs font-semibold px-3 py-1 bg-white/5 rounded-full text-brand-cyan">
+					{thread.reply_count}{" "}
+					{thread.reply_count === 1 ? "reply" : "replies"}
+				</div>
 			</div>
-		</div>
-	)
+		</button>
+	))}
+</div>
 }
diff --git a/src/hooks/useScholarNft.ts b/src/hooks/useScholarNft.ts
index 97df52a5..2fbcf289 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useScholarNft.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useScholarNft.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,18 @@ async function queryGetMetadata(
 	}
 }
 
+async function queryAllScholars(contractId: string): Promise<string[]> {
+	try {
+		const { scValToNative } = await import("@stellar/stellar-sdk")
+		const retval = await simulateCall(contractId, "get_all_scholars")
+		if (!retval) return []
+		return scValToNative(retval) as string[]
+	} catch (e) {
+		console.error("Error simulating get_all_scholars call:", e)
+		return []
+	}
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // IPFS metadata fetch
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -374,3 +386,58 @@ export function useScholarNft(
 
 	return { credential: data!, status: "success", error: null }
 }
+
+export interface UseUserScholarNftsResult {
+	credentials: CredentialData[]
+	isLoading: boolean
+	error: string | null
+	refetch: () => void
+}
+
+export function useUserScholarNfts(
+	walletAddress: string | undefined,
+): UseUserScholarNftsResult {
+	const contractId = CONTRACT_IDS.scholarNft
+	const { data, isLoading, error, refetch } = useQuery({
+		queryKey: ["user-scholar-nfts", walletAddress],
+		queryFn: async () => {
+			if (!walletAddress || !contractId) return []
+
+			// 1. Query all scholar addresses from contract
+			const scholars = await queryAllScholars(contractId)
+
+			// 2. Filter to find the 1-based token IDs belonging to this wallet
+			const tokenIds: number[] = []
+			scholars.forEach((addr, index) => {
+				if (addr === walletAddress) {
+					tokenIds.push(index + 1)
+				}
+			})
+
+			if (tokenIds.length === 0) return []
+
+			// 3. Fetch metadata/IPFS details in parallel for each owned token ID
+			const fetchPromises = tokenIds.map(async (id) => {
+				try {
+					return await fetchCredentialData(id.toString())
+				} catch (err) {
+					console.error(`Failed to fetch credential data for token ID ${id}`, err)
+					return null
+				}
+			})
+
+			const results = await Promise.all(fetchPromises)
+			return results.filter((item): item is CredentialData => item !== null)
+		},
+		enabled: Boolean(walletAddress && contractId),
+		staleTime: 60_000,
+		retry: false,
+	})
+
+	return {
+		credentials: data ?? [],
+		isLoading,
+		error: error ? (error as Error).message || "Failed to fetch user Scholar NFTs" : null,
+		refetch,
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 2e49bcc4..c21a1b29 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -362,6 +362,29 @@ body {
 .light ::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:hover {
 	background: rgba(0, 150, 210, 0.4);
 }
+/* ── Newly Earned NFT Glow Animation ─────────────────────────────────────── */
+@keyframes newNftGlow {
+	0%,
+	100% {
+		box-shadow:
+			0 0 15px rgba(0, 210, 255, 0.35),
+			inset 0 0 10px rgba(0, 210, 255, 0.15);
+		border-color: rgba(0, 210, 255, 0.6);
+	}
+
+	50% {
+		box-shadow:
+			0 0 30px rgba(142, 45, 226, 0.75),
+			inset 0 0 15px rgba(142, 45, 226, 0.3);
+		border-color: rgba(142, 45, 226, 0.9);
+	}
+}
+
+.new-nft-card {
+	animation: newNftGlow 3s infinite alternate ease-in-out;
+	border: 2px solid transparent !important;
+}
+
 /* ── Driver.js Custom Styling ────────────────────────────────────────────── */
 .driver-popover {
 	background-color: var(--color-glass-bg) !important;
diff --git a/src/pages/Profile.tsx b/src/pages/Profile.tsx
index bdef6e1f..915a0a9d 100644
--- a/src/pages/Profile.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/Profile.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import React, { useCallback, useContext, useEffect, useState } from "react"
+import React, { useContext, useEffect, useState } from "react"
 import { Helmet } from "react-helmet"
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next"
 import { Link, useParams } from "react-router-dom"
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ import {
 	ProfileSkeleton,
 } from "../components/SkeletonLoader"
 import { ErrorState } from "../components/states/errorState"
+import { useUserScholarNfts } from "../hooks/useScholarNft"
 import { useLearnerProfile } from "../hooks/useLearnerProfile"
 import { useScholarCredentials } from "../hooks/useScholarCredentials"
 import { useScholarProfile } from "../hooks/useScholarProfile"
 import { WalletContext } from "../providers/WalletProvider"
 import { formatDuration, getLearningTimeSummary } from "../util/learningTime"
 import { shortenAddress } from "../util/scholarshipApplications"
+import confetti from "canvas-confetti"
 
 interface UserProfile {
 	id: string
@@ -56,23 +58,30 @@ type UserNft = {
 	program: string
 	date: string
 	artwork?: string
+	isNew?: boolean
 }
 
 const Profile: React.FC = () => {
 	const { t } = useTranslation()
 	const { walletAddress: paramAddress } = useParams<{ walletAddress: string }>()
 	const { address: walletAddress } = useContext(WalletContext)
-
-	const displayAddress = paramAddress || walletAddress
-
-	const {
-		data: profile,
-		isLoading: isProfileLoading,
-		error: profileError,
-	} = useScholarProfile(displayAddress)
-
-	const [isLoading, setIsLoading] = useState(true)
-	const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)
+const displayAddress = paramAddress || walletAddress
+
+const {
+	credentials,
+	isLoading,
+	error,
+	refetch,
+} = useUserScholarNfts(walletAddress)
+
+const {
+	data: profile,
+	isLoading: isProfileLoading,
+	error: profileError,
+} = useScholarProfile(displayAddress)
+
+const [localLoading, setLocalLoading] = useState(true)
+const [localError, setLocalError] = useState<string | null>(null)
 	const [nfts, setNfts] = useState<UserNft[]>([])
 	const [learningTimeLabel, setLearningTimeLabel] = useState("0m")
 	const [userProfile, setUserProfile] = useState<UserProfile | null>(null)
@@ -81,129 +90,65 @@ const Profile: React.FC = () => {
 	const [isSaving, setIsSaving] = useState(false)
 	const [viewAddress, setViewAddress] = useState<string | null>(null)
 
-	const fetchCredentials = useCallback(async () => {
-		if (!displayAddress) {
-			setNfts([])
-			setIsLoading(false)
-			return
-		}
+useEffect(() => {
+	if (credentials.length > 0) {
+		const now = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000)
+		const seenNftsStr = localStorage.getItem("learnvault_seen_nfts")
 
-		try {
-			setIsLoading(true)
-			setError(null)
+		let seenIds: string[] = []
 
-			const response = await fetch(`/api/credentials/${displayAddress}`, {
-				method: "GET",
-			})
+		if (seenNftsStr) {
+			try {
+				seenIds = JSON.parse(seenNftsStr) as string[]
+			} catch {}
+		}
 
-			if (!response.ok) {
-				const payload = (await response.json().catch(() => ({}))) as {
-					message?: string
-					error?: string
-				}
-				throw new Error(
-					payload.message || payload.error || "Unable to load credentials",
-				)
-			}
+		let hasNewNft = false
 
-			const data = (await response.json()) as { data?: any[] }
-			setNfts(
-				Array.isArray(data.data)
-					? data.data.map((item: any) => ({
-							id: String(item.token_id ?? item.course_id ?? Math.random()),
-							course_id: item.course_id,
-							program: item.course_id ?? "Unknown course",
-							date: item.minted_at
-								? new Date(item.minted_at).toLocaleDateString()
-								: "Unknown",
-							artwork: item.metadata_uri
-								? `https://gateway.pinata.cloud/ipfs/${item.metadata_uri.replace("ipfs://", "")}`
-								: undefined,
-						}))
-					: [],
-			)
-		} catch (err) {
-			console.error("[profile] error loading credentials", err)
-			setError(
-				err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load credentials",
-			)
-		} finally {
-			setIsLoading(false)
-		}
-	}, [displayAddress])
+		const mapped = credentials.map((cred) => {
+			const isMintedRecently = cred.issuedAt
+				? now - cred.issuedAt < 600
+				: false
 
-	// Determine which address to view (from URL param or connected wallet)
-	useEffect(() => {
-		const pathMatch = window.location.pathname.match(/\/profile\/(.+)/)
-		if (pathMatch?.[1]) {
-			setViewAddress(pathMatch[1])
-		} else if (walletAddress) {
-			setViewAddress(walletAddress)
-		}
-	}, [walletAddress])
+			const isUnseen =
+				seenIds.length > 0 && !seenIds.includes(cred.id)
 
-	// Fetch rich profile data
-	const fetchProfileData = useCallback(async () => {
-		if (!viewAddress) return
+			const isNew = isMintedRecently || isUnseen
 
-		try {
-			const response = await fetch(`/api/profile/${viewAddress}`)
-			if (!response.ok) {
-				const errorData = (await response.json().catch(() => ({}))) as {
-					error?: string
-				}
-				throw new Error(errorData.error || "Failed to load profile")
-			}
-			const data = (await response.json()) as {
-				profile?: UserProfile
-				stats?: ProfileStats
+			if (isNew) {
+				hasNewNft = true
 			}
-			setUserProfile(data.profile ?? null)
-			setStats(data.stats ?? null)
-		} catch (err) {
-			console.error("[profile] Error loading profile data:", err)
-		}
-	}, [viewAddress])
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		void fetchProfileData()
-	}, [fetchProfileData])
 
-	// Determine which address to view (from URL param or connected wallet)
-	useEffect(() => {
-		const pathMatch = window.location.pathname.match(/\/profile\/(.+)/)
-		if (pathMatch?.[1]) {
-			setViewAddress(pathMatch[1])
-		} else if (walletAddress) {
-			setViewAddress(walletAddress)
-		}
-	}, [walletAddress])
+			return {
+				id: cred.id,
+				program: cred.programName,
+				date: cred.completionDate,
+				artwork: cred.artworkUrl || undefined,
+				isNew,
+			}
+		})
 
-	// Fetch rich profile data
-	const fetchProfileData = useCallback(async () => {
-		if (!viewAddress) return
+		setNfts(mapped)
 
-		try {
-			const response = await fetch(`/api/profile/${viewAddress}`)
-			if (!response.ok) {
-				const errorData = await response.json().catch(() => ({}))
-				throw new Error(errorData.error || "Failed to load profile")
-			}
-			const data = await response.json()
-			setUserProfile(data.profile)
-			setStats(data.stats)
-		} catch (err) {
-			console.error("[profile] Error loading profile data:", err)
+		if (hasNewNft) {
+			confetti({
+				particleCount: 150,
+				spread: 80,
+				origin: { y: 0.6 },
+				colors: ["#00d2ff", "#8e2de2", "#00ff80", "#3a7bd5"],
+			})
 		}
-	}, [viewAddress])
 
-	useEffect(() => {
-		void fetchProfileData()
-	}, [fetchProfileData])
+		const allIds = credentials.map((c) => c.id)
 
-	useEffect(() => {
-		void fetchCredentials()
-	}, [fetchCredentials])
+		localStorage.setItem(
+			"learnvault_seen_nfts",
+			JSON.stringify(allIds),
+		)
+	} else {
+		setNfts([])
+	}
+}, [credentials])
 
 	useEffect(() => {
 		const summary = getLearningTimeSummary()
@@ -282,10 +227,7 @@ const Profile: React.FC = () => {
 	if (profileError || error) {
 		return (
 			<div className="p-12 max-w-6xl mx-auto text-white animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-8 duration-1000">
-				<ErrorState
-					message={(profileError as any)?.message || error}
-					onRetry={fetchCredentials}
-				/>
+<ErrorState message={error} onRetry={refetch} />
 			</div>
 		)
 	}
@@ -507,9 +449,12 @@ const Profile: React.FC = () => {
 				) : (
 					<div className="grid grid-cols-1 sm:grid-cols-2 lg:grid-cols-3 xl:grid-cols-4 gap-8">
 						{nfts.map((nft, index) => (
-							<div
+							<Link
 								key={nft.id}
-								className="glass-card rounded-[2.5rem] overflow-hidden hover:border-brand-cyan/40 hover:-translate-y-3 transition-all duration-700 group animate-in fade-in zoom-in"
+								to={`/credentials/${nft.id}`}
+								className={`glass-card rounded-[2.5rem] overflow-hidden hover:border-brand-cyan/40 hover:-translate-y-3 transition-all duration-700 group animate-in fade-in zoom-in block ${
+									nft.isNew ? "new-nft-card" : ""
+								}`}
 								style={{ animationDelay: `${index * 150}ms` }}
 							>
 								<div className="relative aspect-square overflow-hidden mb-2">
@@ -550,7 +495,7 @@ const Profile: React.FC = () => {
 										</span>
 									</div>
 								</div>
-							</div>
+							</Link>
 						))}
 					</div>
 				)}