diff --git a/docs/lite-wallet-implementation-plan-v2-2026-06-04.md b/docs/lite-wallet-implementation-plan-v2-2026-06-04.md
index 4c472af..89d5c81 100644
--- a/docs/lite-wallet-implementation-plan-v2-2026-06-04.md
+++ b/docs/lite-wallet-implementation-plan-v2-2026-06-04.md
@@ -93,7 +93,9 @@ Each milestone is independently demoable and gated by a fake-backend test. Order
 > **Status (2026-06-04): data pipeline landed; live wiring (M2b) remains.**
 > - ✅ **Last hop implemented + tested** — `applyLiteRefreshModelToWalletState(model, WalletState&)` in `lite_wallet_controller.{h,cpp}`: zatoshi→DRGX balances, z/t address split, transaction typing + confirmations (`chainHeight - blockHeight + 1`), sync progress. Mutates `WalletState` in place (it's non-copyable). `testLiteRefreshModelAppliesToWalletState()` drives a bundle through the existing `mapLiteWalletRefreshBundle` → apply → asserts the populated `WalletState`. `ctest` green.
 > - ℹ️ The fetch/parse/assemble pipeline already exists and works: `LiteWalletGateway::refresh()` → `LiteWalletRefreshBundle` → `mapLiteWalletRefreshBundle()` → `LiteWalletAppRefreshModel`. M2 just needed the final `→ WalletState` hop (above) plus live wiring.
-> - ⏳ **M2b (remaining) — live wiring.** Blocked on a design decision surfaced by the M1 smoke run: `litelib` is a **global singleton** and every `LiteClientBridge` calls `litelib_shutdown()` (stops the live client) on destruction, so the controller cannot own a second owning bridge for the gateway/sync. **Decision: refactor the lite services (`LiteWalletLifecycleService`, `LiteWalletGateway`, `LiteConnectionService`, `LiteSyncService`) to take a non-owning bridge (`LiteClientBridge*`/shared handle); the controller owns the one bridge.** Then: implement `LiteSyncService::startSync` (replace the "not implemented" stub) + a background worker polling `syncstatus` and running `gateway.refresh()` (mirror `NetworkRefreshService`/`RefreshScheduler`: enqueue → worker → apply on main thread), apply into `App` `WalletState`, and hook into `App::update()`. Note: `litelib_execute` is already panic-safe (`catch_unwind`), so the polling workhorse won't abort the app. Per-address balances need notes-correlation (currently aggregate-only).
+> - ✅ **M2b-1 — shared-bridge refactor (done).** `litelib` is a global singleton and every `LiteClientBridge` calls `litelib_shutdown()` on destruction, so services must not each own one. `LiteWalletLifecycleService`, `LiteWalletGateway`, and `LiteSyncService` now take a **non-owning `LiteClientBridge*`**; `LiteWalletController` owns the single bridge and passes `&bridge_`. Builds clean in all configs; existing tests stay green.
+> - ✅ **M2b-2 — sync + controller refresh (done + tested).** `LiteSyncService::startSync` now executes the `sync` command (was a stub). `LiteWalletController` gained `startSync()` (auto-invoked when a wallet becomes ready) and `refreshWalletState(WalletState&)` which polls `syncstatus`, runs `gateway.refresh()`, maps the bundle, and applies it into `WalletState`. `testLiteWalletControllerRefreshPopulatesState()` drives the full path against the real-shape fake (balances/addresses/transactions/sync populated; no-op when no wallet open). The fake harness now returns command-shaped JSON per `tests/fixtures/lite/result_parsers.json`. (Surfaced a real bug: `info` requires `latest_block_height`, and the gateway aborts the whole refresh on the first command's parse failure — fixed in the fake; worth noting the gateway's abort-on-first-failure is fragile against partial backend responses.)
+> - ⏳ **M2b-3 — threaded App hook (remaining).** Drive `refreshWalletState` from a controller-owned background worker (mirror `NetworkRefreshService`/`RefreshScheduler`): worker produces a copyable `LiteWalletAppRefreshModel`; `App::update()` applies it into `state_` on the main thread (WalletState is non-copyable, so pass the model, not the state, across threads). `litelib_execute` is `catch_unwind`-safe so the worker won't abort the app. Also: per-address balances (notes-correlation) and a real-backend refresh smoke (the real backend's JSON shapes may differ from the hand-built fixture).
 - Implement `LiteSyncService::startSync` (replace the "not implemented" stub) + a background worker polling `syncstatus`, mirroring `NetworkRefreshService`/`RefreshScheduler` (enqueue → worker → apply on main thread).
 - Drive `LiteWalletGateway` refresh (info/height/balance/addresses/notes/list/transactions) through `lite_result_parsers` → `lite_wallet_state_mapper` → `App` `WalletState` (`privateBalance`, `transparentBalance`, `addresses`, `transactions`, `sync`).
 - Hook the controller into `App::update()`'s refresh dispatch alongside (not inside) the full-node path.
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.cpp b/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.cpp
index 4448cd3..2a78a5d 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.cpp
@@ -166,11 +166,11 @@ LiteSyncRecoveryDecision evaluateLiteSyncRecovery(const LiteSyncRecoveryInput& i
 
 LiteSyncService::LiteSyncService(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                                  LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
-                                 LiteClientBridge bridge,
+                                 LiteClientBridge* bridge,
                                  LiteSyncServiceOptions options)
     : capabilities_(capabilities),
       connectionSettings_(std::move(connectionSettings)),
-      bridge_(std::move(bridge)),
+      bridge_(bridge),
       options_(options)
 {
 }
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ LiteSyncAvailability LiteSyncService::availability() const
 {
     if (!isLiteBuild(capabilities_)) return LiteSyncAvailability::UnsupportedBuild;
     if (!supportsLiteBackend(capabilities_)) return LiteSyncAvailability::BackendUnavailable;
-    if (!bridge_.available()) return LiteSyncAvailability::BridgeUnavailable;
+    if (!bridge_ || !bridge_->available()) return LiteSyncAvailability::BridgeUnavailable;
     if (!selectLiteServer(connectionSettings_).ok) return LiteSyncAvailability::NoUsableServer;
     if (!options_.allowSyncStatusBridgeCalls) return LiteSyncAvailability::BridgeCallsDisabled;
     return LiteSyncAvailability::Ready;
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ LiteSyncPlan LiteSyncService::planStartSync(const LiteSyncStartRequest& request)
     return makePlan(
         LiteSyncOperation::StartSync,
         request.serverUrl,
-        false,
+        options_.allowSyncStatusBridgeCalls,
         request.mode,
         request.forceRescan,
         request.afterRestore);
@@ -229,9 +229,21 @@ LiteSyncStartResult LiteSyncService::startSync(const LiteSyncStartRequest& reque
         return blockedStartResult(plan, status());
     }
 
-    return blockedStartResult(
-        plan,
-        makeSyncScaffoldStatus(WalletBackendState::Unavailable, "lite sync start execution is not implemented"));
+    LiteSyncStartResult result;
+    result.plan = plan;
+    result.attempted = true;
+
+    const auto bridgeCall = bridge_->execute(plan.command, plan.args);
+    if (!bridgeCall.ok) {
+        result.status = makeSyncScaffoldStatus(WalletBackendState::Error, "lite sync start bridge call failed");
+        result.error = result.status.message;
+        return result;
+    }
+
+    result.ok = true;
+    result.syncStarted = true;
+    result.status = makeSyncScaffoldStatus(WalletBackendState::Syncing, "lite sync started");
+    return result;
 }
 
 LiteSyncStatusResult LiteSyncService::pollSyncStatus(const LiteSyncStatusRequest& request)
@@ -245,7 +257,7 @@ LiteSyncStatusResult LiteSyncService::pollSyncStatus(const LiteSyncStatusRequest
     result.plan = plan;
     result.attempted = true;
 
-    const auto bridgeCall = bridge_.execute(plan.command, plan.args);
+    const auto bridgeCall = bridge_->execute(plan.command, plan.args);
     result.bridgeResponseRedacted = bridgeCall.ok || !bridgeCall.error.empty() ? "<redacted>" : "<empty>";
     if (!bridgeCall.ok) {
         result.status = makeSyncScaffoldStatus(WalletBackendState::Error, "lite syncstatus bridge call failed");
@@ -334,7 +346,7 @@ WalletBackendStatus LiteSyncService::statusFor(LiteSyncAvailability availability
         case LiteSyncAvailability::BridgeUnavailable:
             return makeSyncScaffoldStatus(
                 WalletBackendState::Unavailable,
-                detail.empty() ? bridge_.unavailableReason() : detail);
+                detail.empty() ? (bridge_ ? bridge_->unavailableReason() : "lite bridge is unavailable") : detail);
         case LiteSyncAvailability::BridgeCallsDisabled:
             return makeSyncScaffoldStatus(
                 WalletBackendState::Unavailable,
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.h b/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.h
index 0438b68..c2865d0 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.h
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_sync_service.h
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ class LiteSyncService {
 public:
     LiteSyncService(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                     LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
-                    LiteClientBridge bridge,
+                    LiteClientBridge* bridge,
                     LiteSyncServiceOptions options = {});
 
     const WalletCapabilities& capabilities() const { return capabilities_; }
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ private:
 
     WalletCapabilities capabilities_;
     LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings_;
-    LiteClientBridge bridge_;
+    LiteClientBridge* bridge_ = nullptr;  // non-owning; owned by LiteWalletController
     LiteSyncServiceOptions options_;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.cpp b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.cpp
index f9a4d41..c94ff4c 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.cpp
@@ -94,10 +94,13 @@ LiteWalletController::LiteWalletController(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                                           LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
                                           LiteClientBridge bridge,
                                           LiteWalletControllerOptions options)
-    : lifecycle_(capabilities,
-                 std::move(connectionSettings),
-                 std::move(bridge),
-                 LiteWalletLifecycleOptions{options.allowBridgeCalls})
+    : bridge_(std::move(bridge)),
+      lifecycle_(capabilities, connectionSettings, &bridge_,
+                 LiteWalletLifecycleOptions{options.allowBridgeCalls}),
+      gateway_(capabilities, connectionSettings, &bridge_,
+               LiteWalletGatewayOptions{options.allowBridgeCalls}),
+      sync_(capabilities, connectionSettings, &bridge_,
+            LiteSyncServiceOptions{options.allowBridgeCalls})
 {
     status_ = lifecycle_.status();
 }
@@ -119,9 +122,46 @@ void LiteWalletController::onLifecycleResult(const LiteWalletLifecycleResult& re
     if (result.walletReady) {
         walletOpen_ = true;
         if (persist_) persist_();
+        startSync();  // begin background sync now that a wallet is ready
     }
 }
 
+LiteSyncStartResult LiteWalletController::startSync()
+{
+    auto result = sync_.startSync(LiteSyncStartRequest{});
+    if (result.syncStarted) syncStarted_ = true;
+    return result;
+}
+
+bool LiteWalletController::refreshWalletState(dragonx::WalletState& state)
+{
+    if (!walletOpen_) return false;
+
+    // Poll sync status first so the refresh bundle (and the mapped sync model) carries it.
+    LiteWalletRefreshRequest request;
+    const auto syncResult = sync_.pollSyncStatus(LiteSyncStatusRequest{});
+    if (syncResult.ok) {
+        request.haveSyncStatus = true;
+        request.syncStatus = syncResult.syncStatus;
+    }
+
+    const auto refreshResult = gateway_.refresh(request);
+    if (refreshResult.bundle.successfulCommandCount == 0 && !request.haveSyncStatus) {
+        status_ = refreshResult.status;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    const auto mapped = mapLiteWalletRefreshResult(refreshResult);
+    if (!mapped.ok) {
+        status_ = refreshResult.status;
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    applyLiteRefreshModelToWalletState(mapped.model, state);
+    status_ = refreshResult.status;
+    return true;
+}
+
 LiteWalletLifecycleResult LiteWalletController::createWallet(LiteWalletCreateRequest request)
 {
     auto result = lifecycle_.createWallet(request);
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.h b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.h
index 7137770..f7cd605 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.h
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_controller.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 #include "lite_client_bridge.h"
 #include "lite_connection_service.h"
 #include "lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.h"
+#include "lite_wallet_gateway.h"
+#include "lite_sync_service.h"
 #include "lite_wallet_state_mapper.h"
 #include "wallet_backend.h"
 #include "wallet_capabilities.h"
@@ -72,12 +74,26 @@ public:
     LiteWalletLifecycleResult openWallet(LiteWalletOpenRequest request);
     LiteWalletLifecycleResult restoreWallet(LiteWalletRestoreRequest request);
 
+    bool syncStarted() const { return syncStarted_; }
+
+    // Begin background sync on the backend (idempotent enough to call once a wallet is ready;
+    // also invoked automatically when a lifecycle op produces a ready wallet).
+    LiteSyncStartResult startSync();
+
+    // Poll sync status + fetch balance/addresses/transactions, and apply the result into the
+    // app's WalletState. Returns true if state was updated. Safe no-op when no wallet is open.
+    bool refreshWalletState(dragonx::WalletState& state);
+
 private:
     void onLifecycleResult(const LiteWalletLifecycleResult& result);
 
+    LiteClientBridge bridge_;  // the single owned bridge; services below borrow &bridge_
     LiteWalletLifecycleService lifecycle_;
+    LiteWalletGateway gateway_;
+    LiteSyncService sync_;
     std::function<void()> persist_;
     bool walletOpen_ = false;
+    bool syncStarted_ = false;
     WalletBackendStatus status_;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.cpp b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.cpp
index 361ef9e..ae330ec 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.cpp
@@ -135,11 +135,11 @@ LiteWalletRefreshBundle assembleLiteWalletRefreshBundle(const std::vector<LiteWa
 
 LiteWalletGateway::LiteWalletGateway(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                                      LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
-                                     LiteClientBridge bridge,
+                                     LiteClientBridge* bridge,
                                      LiteWalletGatewayOptions options)
     : capabilities_(capabilities),
       connectionSettings_(std::move(connectionSettings)),
-      bridge_(std::move(bridge)),
+      bridge_(bridge),
       options_(options)
 {
 }
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ LiteWalletGatewayAvailability LiteWalletGateway::availability() const
 {
     if (!isLiteBuild(capabilities_)) return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::UnsupportedBuild;
     if (!supportsLiteBackend(capabilities_)) return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::BackendUnavailable;
-    if (!bridge_.available()) return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::BridgeUnavailable;
+    if (!bridge_ || !bridge_->available()) return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::BridgeUnavailable;
     if (!selectLiteServer(connectionSettings_).ok) return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::NoUsableServer;
     if (!options_.allowBridgeCalls) return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::BridgeCallsDisabled;
     return LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::Ready;
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ WalletBackendStatus LiteWalletGateway::statusFor(LiteWalletGatewayAvailability a
         case LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::BridgeUnavailable:
             return makeGatewayStatus(
                 WalletBackendState::Unavailable,
-                detail.empty() ? bridge_.unavailableReason() : detail);
+                detail.empty() ? (bridge_ ? bridge_->unavailableReason() : "lite bridge is unavailable") : detail);
         case LiteWalletGatewayAvailability::BridgeCallsDisabled:
             return makeGatewayStatus(
                 WalletBackendState::Unavailable,
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ LiteWalletGatewayCommandResult LiteWalletGateway::executePlannedCommand(const Li
     result.plan = plan;
     result.attempted = true;
 
-    const auto bridgeCall = bridge_.execute(plan.commandName, plan.args);
+    const auto bridgeCall = bridge_->execute(plan.commandName, plan.args);
     result.bridgeResponseRedacted = bridgeCall.ok || !bridgeCall.error.empty() ? "<redacted>" : "<empty>";
     if (!bridgeCall.ok) {
         result.status = makeGatewayStatus(WalletBackendState::Error, "lite wallet gateway bridge call failed");
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.h b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.h
index 38ff88c..cb493d7 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.h
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_gateway.h
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class LiteWalletGateway {
 public:
     LiteWalletGateway(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                       LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
-                      LiteClientBridge bridge,
+                      LiteClientBridge* bridge,
                       LiteWalletGatewayOptions options = {});
 
     const WalletCapabilities& capabilities() const { return capabilities_; }
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ private:
 
     WalletCapabilities capabilities_;
     LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings_;
-    LiteClientBridge bridge_;
+    LiteClientBridge* bridge_ = nullptr;  // non-owning; owned by LiteWalletController
     LiteWalletGatewayOptions options_;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.cpp b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.cpp
index 7519979..009f0c9 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.cpp
@@ -119,11 +119,11 @@ std::string redactLitePrivateDataValue(const std::string& value)
 
 LiteWalletLifecycleService::LiteWalletLifecycleService(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                                                        LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
-                                                       LiteClientBridge bridge,
+                                                       LiteClientBridge* bridge,
                                                        LiteWalletLifecycleOptions options)
     : capabilities_(capabilities),
       connectionSettings_(std::move(connectionSettings)),
-      bridge_(std::move(bridge)),
+      bridge_(bridge),
       options_(options)
 {
 }
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability LiteWalletLifecycleService::availability() const
 {
     if (!isLiteBuild(capabilities_)) return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::UnsupportedBuild;
     if (!supportsLiteBackend(capabilities_)) return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::BackendUnavailable;
-    if (!bridge_.available()) return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::BridgeUnavailable;
+    if (!bridge_ || !bridge_->available()) return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::BridgeUnavailable;
     if (!selectLiteServer(connectionSettings_).ok) return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::NoUsableServer;
     if (!options_.allowBridgeCalls) return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::BridgeCallsDisabled;
     return LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::Ready;
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ WalletBackendStatus LiteWalletLifecycleService::statusFor(
     case LiteWalletLifecycleAvailability::BridgeUnavailable:
         return WalletBackendStatus{
             WalletBackendState::Unavailable,
-            detail.empty() ? bridge_.unavailableReason() : detail,
+            detail.empty() ? (bridge_ ? bridge_->unavailableReason() : "lite bridge is unavailable") : detail,
             {},
             {},
             0.0
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ LiteWalletLifecycleResult LiteWalletLifecycleService::executeCreate(
     const LiteWalletCreateRequest& request,
     const LiteWalletLifecyclePlan& plan)
 {
-    auto bridgeCall = bridge_.initializeNew(request.dangerous, plan.server.url);
+    auto bridgeCall = bridge_->initializeNew(request.dangerous, plan.server.url);
     return bridgeResult(plan, lifecycleCompletedStatus(), bridgeCall);
 }
 
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ LiteWalletLifecycleResult LiteWalletLifecycleService::executeOpen(
     const LiteWalletOpenRequest& request,
     const LiteWalletLifecyclePlan& plan)
 {
-    auto bridgeCall = bridge_.initializeExisting(request.dangerous, plan.server.url);
+    auto bridgeCall = bridge_->initializeExisting(request.dangerous, plan.server.url);
     return bridgeResult(plan, lifecycleCompletedStatus(), bridgeCall);
 }
 
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ LiteWalletLifecycleResult LiteWalletLifecycleService::executeRestore(
     const LiteWalletRestoreRequest& request,
     const LiteWalletLifecyclePlan& plan)
 {
-    auto bridgeCall = bridge_.initializeNewFromPhrase(
+    auto bridgeCall = bridge_->initializeNewFromPhrase(
         request.dangerous,
         plan.server.url,
         request.seedPhrase,
diff --git a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.h b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.h
index b7dfaa1..39c0b5e 100644
--- a/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.h
+++ b/src/wallet/lite_wallet_lifecycle_service.h
@@ -102,9 +102,12 @@ std::string redactLitePrivateDataValue(const std::string& value);
 
 class LiteWalletLifecycleService {
 public:
+    // bridge is NON-OWNING (the controller owns the single shared LiteClientBridge);
+    // it must outlive this service. The lite backend is a global singleton and every
+    // LiteClientBridge shuts it down on destruction, so services must not own one.
     LiteWalletLifecycleService(WalletCapabilities capabilities,
                                LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings,
-                               LiteClientBridge bridge,
+                               LiteClientBridge* bridge,
                                LiteWalletLifecycleOptions options = {});
 
     const LiteConnectionSettings& connectionSettings() const { return connectionSettings_; }
@@ -144,7 +147,7 @@ private:
 
     WalletCapabilities capabilities_;
     LiteConnectionSettings connectionSettings_;
-    LiteClientBridge bridge_;
+    LiteClientBridge* bridge_ = nullptr;  // non-owning; owned by LiteWalletController
     LiteWalletLifecycleOptions options_;
 };
 
diff --git a/tests/fake_lite_backend.h b/tests/fake_lite_backend.h
index c03c870..2263909 100644
--- a/tests/fake_lite_backend.h
+++ b/tests/fake_lite_backend.h
@@ -60,6 +60,28 @@ inline char* liteFakeExecute(const char* command, const char*)
     if (command && std::strcmp(command, "boom") == 0) {
         return liteFakeDup("Error: simulated lite backend failure");
     }
+    // Command-appropriate canned responses matching the litelib JSON shapes (see
+    // tests/fixtures/lite/result_parsers.json), so the gateway/sync refresh path parses.
+    if (command) {
+        const char* c = command;
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "sync") == 0) return liteFakeDup("{\"result\":\"success\"}");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "syncstatus") == 0)
+            return liteFakeDup("{\"synced_blocks\":1000,\"total_blocks\":1000}");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "balance") == 0)
+            return liteFakeDup("{\"tbalance\":100000000,\"zbalance\":200000000,\"unconfirmed\":50000000,"
+                               "\"verified_zbalance\":180000000,\"spendable_zbalance\":170000000}");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "addresses") == 0)
+            return liteFakeDup("{\"z_addresses\":[\"zs1fakeaddr\"],\"t_addresses\":[\"R1fakeaddr\"]}");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "notes") == 0)
+            return liteFakeDup("{\"unspent_notes\":[],\"utxos\":[],\"pending_notes\":[],\"pending_utxos\":[]}");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "list") == 0)
+            return liteFakeDup("[{\"txid\":\"faketx\",\"datetime\":1700000000,\"block_height\":990,"
+                               "\"unconfirmed\":false,\"address\":\"zs1fakeaddr\",\"amount\":150000000,\"memo\":\"\"}]");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "height") == 0) return liteFakeDup("{\"height\":1000}");
+        if (std::strcmp(c, "info") == 0)
+            return liteFakeDup("{\"chain_name\":\"main\",\"version\":\"sdxl-fake\",\"latest_block_height\":1000}");
+    }
+    // Default for any other/unknown command.
     return liteFakeDup("{\"version\":\"sdxl-fake\"}");
 }
 inline void liteFakeFree(char* v)
diff --git a/tests/test_phase4.cpp b/tests/test_phase4.cpp
index 1487a65..709f36b 100644
--- a/tests/test_phase4.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_phase4.cpp
@@ -4392,7 +4392,7 @@ void testLiteBackendInjectableFakeBridge()
     {
         dragonx::test::resetLiteFakeCounters();
         auto bridge = LiteClientBridge::fromApi(dragonx::test::makeFakeLiteApi());
-        const auto result = bridge.execute("info", "");
+        const auto result = bridge.execute("ping", "");  // unknown command -> default fake response
         EXPECT_TRUE(result.ok);
         EXPECT_EQ(result.value, std::string("{\"version\":\"sdxl-fake\"}"));
         EXPECT_EQ(dragonx::test::g_liteFakeAlloc, 1L);
@@ -4620,6 +4620,36 @@ void testLiteRefreshModelAppliesToWalletState()
     EXPECT_FALSE(state.sync.syncing);
 }
 
+// M2b: the controller, after a wallet is ready, auto-starts sync and refreshWalletState()
+// pulls balance/addresses/transactions/syncstatus through the shared bridge into WalletState.
+void testLiteWalletControllerRefreshPopulatesState()
+{
+    using namespace dragonx::wallet;
+    const auto caps = makeWalletCapabilities(WalletBuildKind::Lite, /*embeddedDaemon*/ false, /*liteBackendLinked*/ true);
+    const auto conn = defaultLiteConnectionSettings();
+
+    LiteWalletController controller(caps, conn, LiteClientBridge::fromApi(dragonx::test::makeFakeLiteApi()));
+    EXPECT_TRUE(controller.createWallet(LiteWalletCreateRequest{}).walletReady);
+    EXPECT_TRUE(controller.walletOpen());
+    EXPECT_TRUE(controller.syncStarted());  // auto-started when the wallet became ready
+
+    dragonx::WalletState state;
+    EXPECT_TRUE(controller.refreshWalletState(state));
+    EXPECT_NEAR(state.privateBalance, 2.0, 1e-9);
+    EXPECT_NEAR(state.transparentBalance, 1.0, 1e-9);
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<int>(state.z_addresses.size()), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<int>(state.t_addresses.size()), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(static_cast<int>(state.transactions.size()), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(state.transactions[0].type, std::string("receive"));
+    EXPECT_NEAR(state.transactions[0].amount, 1.5, 1e-9);
+    EXPECT_EQ(state.sync.headers, 1000);
+
+    // No wallet open -> refresh is a safe no-op
+    LiteWalletController fresh(caps, conn, LiteClientBridge::fromApi(dragonx::test::makeFakeLiteApi()));
+    dragonx::WalletState empty;
+    EXPECT_FALSE(fresh.refreshWalletState(empty));
+}
+
 } // namespace
 
 int main()
@@ -4656,6 +4686,7 @@ int main()
     testLiteWalletControllerLifecycle();
     testLiteChainNameMigration();
     testLiteRefreshModelAppliesToWalletState();
+    testLiteWalletControllerRefreshPopulatesState();
     testLiteBridgeRuntimeShutdownIsIdempotent();
     testLiteBridgeRuntimeDestructorCallsShutdownOnce();
     testLiteBridgeRuntimeShutdownWaitsForOwnedStringRelease();