diff --git a/frontend/src/components/SendTip.jsx b/frontend/src/components/SendTip.jsx
index c98bb5b5..6ad19c7f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/SendTip.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/SendTip.jsx
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ import { analytics } from '../lib/analytics';
 import ConfirmDialog from './ui/confirm-dialog';
 import TxStatus from './ui/tx-status';
 
-const MIN_TIP_STX = 0.001;
-const MAX_TIP_STX = 10000;
-const COOLDOWN_SECONDS = 10;
+const MIN_TIP_STX = 0.001; // minimum tip in STX
+const MAX_TIP_STX = 10000; // maximum tip in STX
+const COOLDOWN_SECONDS = 10; // seconds between allowed tips
 
 const TIP_CATEGORIES = [
     { id: 0, label: 'General' },
@@ -182,7 +182,6 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
                     setMessage('');
                     setCategory(0);
                     notifyTipSent();
-                    refetchBalance();
                     startCooldown();
                     analytics.trackTipConfirmed();
                     addToast('Tip sent! Tx: ' + data.txId, 'success');
@@ -208,13 +207,17 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
         }
     };
 
+    /** Called by TxStatus when the transaction reaches 'success' status. */
     const handleTxConfirmed = useCallback(() => {
+        refetchBalance();
         addToast('Tip confirmed on-chain!', 'success');
-    }, [addToast]);
+    }, [addToast, refetchBalance]);
 
+    /** Called by TxStatus when the transaction is aborted on-chain. */
     const handleTxFailed = useCallback((reason) => {
+        refetchBalance();
         addToast(`Transaction failed: ${reason}`, 'error');
-    }, [addToast]);
+    }, [addToast, refetchBalance]);
 
     return (
         <div className="max-w-md mx-auto">
@@ -223,7 +226,7 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
 
                 {/* Balance */}
                 {senderAddress && (
-                    <div className="mb-5 flex items-center justify-between bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 border border-gray-100 dark:border-gray-700">
+                    <div data-testid="balance-section" className="mb-5 flex items-center justify-between bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-xl px-4 py-3 border border-gray-100 dark:border-gray-700">
                         <div>
                             <p className="text-xs text-gray-500 dark:text-gray-400">Your Balance</p>
                             <p className="text-lg font-bold text-gray-900 dark:text-white">
@@ -231,6 +234,11 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
                                     ? formatBalance(balance)
                                     : 'Unavailable'}
                             </p>
+                            {pendingTx && (
+                                <p className="text-xs text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400">
+                                    Pending confirmation
+                                </p>
+                            )}
                         </div>
                         <button onClick={refetchBalance} disabled={balanceLoading}
                             className="text-gray-400 hover:text-gray-600 dark:hover:text-gray-300 disabled:opacity-50" title="Refresh balance" aria-label="Refresh balance">
@@ -246,9 +254,10 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
                     <div>
                         <label htmlFor="tip-recipient" className="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 mb-1.5">Recipient Address</label>
                         <input id="tip-recipient" type="text" value={recipient} onChange={(e) => handleRecipientChange(e.target.value)}
+                            aria-describedby={recipientError ? "tip-recipient-error" : undefined}
                             className={`w-full px-4 py-2.5 border rounded-xl text-sm focus:ring-2 focus:ring-amber-500/50 focus:border-amber-500 outline-none transition-all bg-white dark:bg-gray-800 dark:text-white ${recipientError ? 'border-red-300 dark:border-red-600' : 'border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700'}`}
                             placeholder="SP2..." />
-                        {recipientError && <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-red-500">{recipientError}</p>}
+                        {recipientError && <p id="tip-recipient-error" className="mt-1 text-xs text-red-500" role="alert">{recipientError}</p>}
                         {blockedWarning && (
                             <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-amber-600 dark:text-amber-400">
                                 This recipient has blocked you. The transaction will likely fail on-chain.
@@ -260,9 +269,10 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
                     <div>
                         <label htmlFor="tip-amount" className="block text-sm font-medium text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 mb-1.5">Amount (STX)</label>
                         <input id="tip-amount" type="number" value={amount} onChange={(e) => handleAmountChange(e.target.value)}
+                            aria-describedby={amountError ? "tip-amount-error" : undefined}
                             className={`w-full px-4 py-2.5 border rounded-xl text-sm focus:ring-2 focus:ring-amber-500/50 focus:border-amber-500 outline-none transition-all bg-white dark:bg-gray-800 dark:text-white ${amountError ? 'border-red-300 dark:border-red-600' : 'border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700'}`}
                             placeholder="0.5" step="0.001" min={MIN_TIP_STX} max={MAX_TIP_STX} />
-                        {amountError && <p className="mt-1 text-xs text-red-500">{amountError}</p>}
+                        {amountError && <p id="tip-amount-error" className="mt-1 text-xs text-red-500" role="alert">{amountError}</p>}
                     </div>
 
                     {/* Message */}
@@ -289,7 +299,7 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
 
                     {/* Breakdown with fee preview and post-condition ceiling */}
                     {amount && parseFloat(amount) > 0 && (
-                        <div className="bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-xl p-4 border border-gray-100 dark:border-gray-700 text-sm">
+                        <div data-testid="fee-preview" className="bg-gray-50 dark:bg-gray-800 rounded-xl p-4 border border-gray-100 dark:border-gray-700 text-sm">
                             <p className="font-semibold text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-200 mb-2">Fee Preview</p>
                             <div className="space-y-1 text-gray-600 dark:text-gray-400">
                                 <div className="flex justify-between">
@@ -325,6 +335,7 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
 
                     {/* Submit */}
                     <button onClick={validateAndConfirm} disabled={loading || cooldown > 0}
+                        aria-disabled={loading || cooldown > 0}
                         className="w-full bg-gradient-to-r from-amber-500 to-orange-500 hover:from-amber-600 hover:to-orange-600 text-black font-bold py-3 px-4 rounded-xl shadow-sm hover:shadow-md transition-all active:scale-[0.98] disabled:opacity-40 disabled:cursor-not-allowed">
                         {loading ? (
                             <span className="flex items-center justify-center gap-2">
@@ -340,7 +351,7 @@ export default function SendTip({ addToast }) {
 
                 {/* Pending TX */}
                 {pendingTx && (
-                    <div data-testid="pending-tx" className="mt-6 p-4 bg-green-50 dark:bg-green-900/20 rounded-xl border border-green-100 dark:border-green-800">
+                    <div data-testid="pending-tx" aria-live="polite" className="mt-6 p-4 bg-green-50 dark:bg-green-900/20 rounded-xl border border-green-100 dark:border-green-800">
                         <p className="text-sm text-gray-700 dark:text-gray-300 mb-2">
                             Sent {pendingTx.amount} STX to <span className="font-mono text-xs">{pendingTx.recipient.slice(0, 8)}...{pendingTx.recipient.slice(-4)}</span>
                         </p>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/ui/tx-status.jsx b/frontend/src/components/ui/tx-status.jsx
index 280e018f..7cb77f2e 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/ui/tx-status.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/ui/tx-status.jsx
@@ -101,10 +101,13 @@ export default function TxStatus({ txId, onConfirmed, onFailed }) {
   const explorerUrl = `${EXPLORER_BASE_URL}/${txId}?chain=mainnet`;
 
   return (
-    <div data-testid="tx-status" className={`mt-4 p-4 rounded-xl border ${config.color}`} role="status" aria-live="polite">
+    <div data-testid="tx-status" data-status={status} aria-busy={status === 'pending'} className={`mt-4 p-4 rounded-xl border ${config.color}`} role="status" aria-live="polite">
       <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
         <span className={`h-2.5 w-2.5 rounded-full ${config.dot}`} aria-hidden="true" />
         <span className="text-sm font-medium">{config.label}</span>
+        {status === 'pending' && pollCount > 0 && (
+          <span className="text-xs text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500 ml-2">({pollCount}/{MAX_POLLS})</span>
+        )}
       </div>
       <div className="mt-2 flex items-center gap-2">
         <a
@@ -121,6 +124,11 @@ export default function TxStatus({ txId, onConfirmed, onFailed }) {
           Still waiting. Check the explorer for the latest status.
         </p>
       )}
+      {status === 'pending' && pollCount > 0 && pollCount < MAX_POLLS && (
+        <p className="mt-2 text-xs text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-500">
+          Stacks blocks typically take 10-30 minutes.
+        </p>
+      )}
     </div>
   );
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/useBalance.js b/frontend/src/hooks/useBalance.js
index 1289121b..d2d8a1e5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/useBalance.js
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/useBalance.js
@@ -1,22 +1,32 @@
-import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useMemo } from 'react';
+import { useState, useEffect, useCallback, useMemo, useRef } from 'react';
 import { STACKS_API_BASE } from '../config/contracts';
 import { microToStx } from '../lib/balance-utils';
 
+const MAX_RETRIES = 2;
+const RETRY_DELAY_MS = 1500;
+
 /**
  * Fetch and track the STX balance for a Stacks address.
+ * Includes automatic retry on transient failures.
  *
  * The balance is stored as the raw string returned by the Stacks API
  * (`/extended/v1/address/:addr/stx`), representing micro-STX. Consumers
  * should use the balance-utils helpers (`microToStx`, `formatBalance`) to
  * convert for display rather than dividing by a magic number.
  *
+ * On error the hook retries up to MAX_RETRIES times before setting the
+ * error state. Call refetch() to manually retry after a failure.
+ *
  * @param {string|null} address - Stacks principal to query. Pass null to skip.
- * @returns {{ balance: string|null, balanceStx: number|null, loading: boolean, error: string|null, refetch: () => Promise<void> }}
+ * @returns {{ balance: string|null, balanceStx: number|null, loading: boolean, error: string|null, lastFetched: number|null, refetch: () => Promise<void> }}
  */
 export function useBalance(address) {
     const [balance, setBalance] = useState(null);
     const [loading, setLoading] = useState(false);
     const [error, setError] = useState(null);
+    const [lastFetched, setLastFetched] = useState(null);
+
+    const retryCount = useRef(0);
 
     const fetchBalance = useCallback(async () => {
         if (!address) {
@@ -26,29 +36,40 @@ export function useBalance(address) {
 
         setLoading(true);
         setError(null);
+        retryCount.current = 0;
 
-        try {
-            const res = await fetch(
-                `${STACKS_API_BASE}/extended/v1/address/${address}/stx`
-            );
+        const attempt = async () => {
+            try {
+                const res = await fetch(
+                    `${STACKS_API_BASE}/extended/v1/address/${address}/stx`
+                );
 
-            if (!res.ok) {
-                throw new Error(`API returned ${res.status}`);
-            }
+                if (!res.ok) {
+                    throw new Error(`API returned ${res.status}`);
+                }
+
+                const data = await res.json();
 
-            const data = await res.json();
+                if (typeof data?.balance !== 'string' && typeof data?.balance !== 'number') {
+                    throw new Error('Unexpected balance format in API response');
+                }
 
-            if (typeof data?.balance !== 'string' && typeof data?.balance !== 'number') {
-                throw new Error('Unexpected balance format in API response');
+                setBalance(String(data.balance));
+                setLastFetched(Date.now());
+                setLoading(false);
+            } catch (err) {
+                if (retryCount.current < MAX_RETRIES) {
+                    retryCount.current += 1;
+                    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, RETRY_DELAY_MS));
+                    return attempt();
+                }
+                console.error('Failed to fetch balance:', err.message);
+                setError(err.message);
+                setLoading(false);
             }
+        };
 
-            setBalance(String(data.balance));
-        } catch (err) {
-            console.error('Failed to fetch balance:', err.message);
-            setError(err.message);
-        } finally {
-            setLoading(false);
-        }
+        await attempt();
     }, [address]);
 
     useEffect(() => {
@@ -58,5 +79,5 @@ export function useBalance(address) {
     /** Derived STX balance — memoised to avoid re-computing on every render. */
     const balanceStx = useMemo(() => microToStx(balance), [balance]);
 
-    return { balance, balanceStx, loading, error, refetch: fetchBalance };
+    return { balance, balanceStx, loading, error, lastFetched, refetch: fetchBalance };
 }