diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 7821501..3942bfb 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -142,6 +142,8 @@ session with **no other memory of this project**. So:
     Owner Settings shows the upstream balance (`SasquatchAiStatusCard`) via the
     owner-only `POST /api/ai/status` (NIP-98 + owner pubkey → `handleStatus`), with
     a "low balance" warning below 500 sats — the top-up nudge (no webhook needed).
+    The same balance shows as a chip in the Sasquatch panel header (owner-only,
+    fetched only while the panel is open so it never prompts at startup).
     **AI answers are Pro-only**: free users get the static FAQ/glossary + local
     relay lookups only (`if (isPro)` gates the AI block in `SasquatchGuide`).
     Pro access (`useSasquatchPro`) is granted by a provider-authored zap receipt,
diff --git a/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx b/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx
index dd8f1fc..e0bff17 100644
--- a/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx
+++ b/src/components/SasquatchGuide.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ import { useCurrentUser } from '@/hooks/useCurrentUser';
 import { useCVMClient } from '@/hooks/useCVMClient';
 import { usePersonalContext } from '@/hooks/usePersonalContext';
 import { useSasquatchPro } from '@/hooks/useSasquatchPro';
+import { useSasquatchAiStatus } from '@/hooks/useSasquatchAiStatus';
+import { PLATFORM_OWNER_PUBKEYS } from '@/hooks/useListingRestrictions';
 import { SasquatchProDialog } from '@/components/SasquatchProDialog';
 import { useSasquatchActions, type SasquatchDraft } from '@/hooks/useSasquatchActions';
 import { SasquatchActionCard } from '@/components/SasquatchActionCard';
@@ -636,11 +638,16 @@ export function SasquatchGuide({ message, onDismiss }: SasquatchGuideProps) {
   const cvm = useCVMClient();
   const personal = usePersonalContext();
   const { isPro, receiptEvent } = useSasquatchPro();
+  // Owner-only: show the AI (Routstr) balance on the panel — fetched only while
+  // the panel is open, so it never prompts at startup.
+  const isOwner = !!user?.pubkey && PLATFORM_OWNER_PUBKEYS.includes(user.pubkey);
   const { publishDraft } = useSasquatchActions();
   const [proDialogOpen, setProDialogOpen] = useState(false);
 
   const [isMinimized, setIsMinimized] = useLocalStorage('sasquatch-minimized', false);
   const [isVisible, setIsVisible] = useState(false);
+  // Fetched only while the panel is open (owner-only).
+  const aiStatus = useSasquatchAiStatus({ enabled: isOwner && isVisible && !isMinimized });
   const [chatMessages, setChatMessages] = useState<ChatMessage[]>([]);
   const [userInput, setUserInput] = useState('');
   const [showChat, setShowChat] = useState(false);
@@ -1547,6 +1554,17 @@ Instructions:
                     </button>
                   ) : null}
                   <CVMStatus connected={cvmConnected} />
+                  {isOwner && aiStatus.data?.configured && aiStatus.data.balanceSats != null && (
+                    <span
+                      className={cn(
+                        'flex items-center gap-0.5 rounded px-1 py-0.5 text-[8px] font-black uppercase tracking-wider',
+                        aiStatus.data.low ? 'bg-amber-500/20 text-amber-400' : 'bg-emerald-500/15 text-emerald-400',
+                      )}
+                      title={`Sasquatch AI balance — top up at ${aiStatus.data.provider ?? 'the node'}`}
+                    >
+                      ⚡ {aiStatus.data.balanceSats.toLocaleString()} sats
+                    </span>
+                  )}
                 </div>
                 <div className="text-[10px] text-[#ccff00]/50 leading-none mt-0.5">
                   {activeMessage.title}
diff --git a/src/hooks/useSasquatchAiStatus.ts b/src/hooks/useSasquatchAiStatus.ts
index 9a9cf9e..1271665 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useSasquatchAiStatus.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/useSasquatchAiStatus.ts
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ const AI_STATUS_URL = Capacitor.isNativePlatform()
  * nudged to top up before AI silently degrades to the keyless fallback. Polled
  * every few minutes. Returns `undefined`/skips for non-owners.
  */
-export function useSasquatchAiStatus() {
+export function useSasquatchAiStatus(options: { enabled?: boolean } = {}) {
   const { user } = useCurrentUser();
   const isOwner = !!user?.pubkey && PLATFORM_OWNER_PUBKEYS.includes(user.pubkey);
 
   return useQuery<SasquatchAiStatus>({
     queryKey: ['sasquatch-ai-status', user?.pubkey],
-    enabled: isOwner,
+    enabled: (options.enabled ?? true) && isOwner,
     refetchInterval: 5 * 60 * 1000,
     staleTime: 60 * 1000,
     queryFn: async () => {