diff --git a/src/app/features/lotus/chatBackground.ts b/src/app/features/lotus/chatBackground.ts
index 38170969c..665e21e62 100644
--- a/src/app/features/lotus/chatBackground.ts
+++ b/src/app/features/lotus/chatBackground.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,12 @@
 import { CSSProperties } from 'react';
 import { ChatBackground } from '../../state/settings';
+import {
+  animRainKeyframe,
+  animStarsDriftKeyframe,
+  animGridPulseKeyframe,
+  animAuroraKeyframe,
+  animFirefliesKeyframe,
+} from '../../styles/Animations.css';
 
 export const BG_OPTIONS: { value: ChatBackground; label: string }[] = [
   { value: 'none', label: 'None' },
@@ -19,6 +26,11 @@ export const BG_OPTIONS: { value: ChatBackground; label: string }[] = [
   { value: 'waves', label: 'Waves' },
   { value: 'neon', label: 'Neon Grid' },
   { value: 'aurora', label: 'Aurora' },
+  { value: 'anim-rain', label: 'Digital Rain' },
+  { value: 'anim-stars', label: 'Star Drift' },
+  { value: 'anim-pulse', label: 'Grid Pulse' },
+  { value: 'anim-aurora', label: 'Aurora Flow' },
+  { value: 'anim-fireflies', label: 'Fireflies' },
 ];
 
 const DARK: Record<ChatBackground, CSSProperties> = {
@@ -184,6 +196,71 @@ const DARK: Record<ChatBackground, CSSProperties> = {
       'radial-gradient(ellipse at 60% 90%, rgba(0,212,255,0.06) 0%, transparent 50%)',
     ].join(','),
   },
+
+  // Animated: Matrix digital rain — scrolling vertical green stripes
+  'anim-rain': {
+    backgroundColor: '#010804',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'repeating-linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0,255,136,0.13) 0px, rgba(0,255,136,0.13) 1px, transparent 1px, transparent 20px)',
+      'repeating-linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0,255,136,0.07) 0px, rgba(0,255,136,0.07) 1px, transparent 1px, transparent 8px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '40px 200px, 12px 200px',
+    backgroundPosition: '0 0, 0 0',
+    animation: `${animRainKeyframe} 8s linear infinite`,
+  },
+
+  // Animated: drifting star field — three layers at different speeds
+  'anim-stars': {
+    backgroundColor: '#050510',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(255,255,255,0.85) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(200,220,255,0.55) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(180,200,255,0.3) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '130px 130px, 190px 190px, 260px 260px',
+    backgroundPosition: '0 0, 65px 32px, 32px 97px',
+    animation: `${animStarsDriftKeyframe} 25s linear infinite`,
+  },
+
+  // Animated: neon grid pulse — grid lines that expand/contract
+  'anim-pulse': {
+    backgroundColor: '#030508',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'linear-gradient(rgba(255,107,0,0.12) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255,107,0,0.12) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'linear-gradient(rgba(0,212,255,0.06) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(0,212,255,0.06) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '60px 60px, 60px 60px, 12px 12px, 12px 12px',
+    animation: `${animGridPulseKeyframe} 4s ease-in-out infinite`,
+  },
+
+  // Animated: aurora borealis — slowly drifting gradient bands
+  'anim-aurora': {
+    backgroundColor: '#020a10',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 20% 30%, rgba(0,255,136,0.10) 0%, transparent 55%)',
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 70%, rgba(0,100,255,0.10) 0%, transparent 55%)',
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 10%, rgba(191,95,255,0.08) 0%, transparent 50%)',
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 60% 90%, rgba(0,212,255,0.08) 0%, transparent 50%)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '200% 200%',
+    backgroundPosition: '0% 0%',
+    animation: `${animAuroraKeyframe} 20s ease-in-out infinite`,
+  },
+
+  // Animated: fireflies — three layers of glowing dots at different speeds
+  'anim-fireflies': {
+    backgroundColor: '#030508',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(255,220,50,0.55) 1.5px, rgba(255,160,0,0.15) 3px, transparent 4px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(255,200,30,0.45) 1px, rgba(255,140,0,0.12) 2.5px, transparent 3.5px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(255,240,100,0.35) 1px, transparent 2px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '200px 200px, 280px 280px, 160px 160px',
+    backgroundPosition: '0 0, 120px 80px, 60px 140px',
+    animation: `${animFirefliesKeyframe} 15s linear infinite`,
+  },
 };
 
 const LIGHT: Record<ChatBackground, CSSProperties> = {
@@ -340,7 +417,82 @@ const LIGHT: Record<ChatBackground, CSSProperties> = {
       'radial-gradient(ellipse at 60% 90%, rgba(0,160,200,0.07) 0%, transparent 50%)',
     ].join(','),
   },
+
+  // Animated light variants
+
+  'anim-rain': {
+    backgroundColor: '#f0fff4',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'repeating-linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0,160,80,0.14) 0px, rgba(0,160,80,0.14) 1px, transparent 1px, transparent 20px)',
+      'repeating-linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0,160,80,0.07) 0px, rgba(0,160,80,0.07) 1px, transparent 1px, transparent 8px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '40px 200px, 12px 200px',
+    backgroundPosition: '0 0, 0 0',
+    animation: `${animRainKeyframe} 8s linear infinite`,
+  },
+
+  'anim-stars': {
+    backgroundColor: '#f5f5ff',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(60,60,160,0.50) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(80,80,180,0.35) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(100,100,200,0.20) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '130px 130px, 190px 190px, 260px 260px',
+    backgroundPosition: '0 0, 65px 32px, 32px 97px',
+    animation: `${animStarsDriftKeyframe} 25s linear infinite`,
+  },
+
+  'anim-pulse': {
+    backgroundColor: '#ffffff',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'linear-gradient(rgba(0,98,184,0.14) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(0,98,184,0.14) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'linear-gradient(rgba(0,98,184,0.06) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+      'linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(0,98,184,0.06) 1px, transparent 1px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '60px 60px, 60px 60px, 12px 12px, 12px 12px',
+    animation: `${animGridPulseKeyframe} 4s ease-in-out infinite`,
+  },
+
+  'anim-aurora': {
+    backgroundColor: '#f0f8f4',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 20% 30%, rgba(0,160,80,0.12) 0%, transparent 55%)',
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 80% 70%, rgba(0,80,200,0.12) 0%, transparent 55%)',
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 50% 10%, rgba(140,60,220,0.09) 0%, transparent 50%)',
+      'radial-gradient(ellipse at 60% 90%, rgba(0,160,200,0.09) 0%, transparent 50%)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '200% 200%',
+    backgroundPosition: '0% 0%',
+    animation: `${animAuroraKeyframe} 20s ease-in-out infinite`,
+  },
+
+  'anim-fireflies': {
+    backgroundColor: '#fffdf0',
+    backgroundImage: [
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(180,120,0,0.55) 1.5px, rgba(160,90,0,0.15) 3px, transparent 4px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(160,100,0,0.45) 1px, rgba(140,80,0,0.12) 2.5px, transparent 3.5px)',
+      'radial-gradient(circle, rgba(200,140,0,0.35) 1px, transparent 2px)',
+    ].join(','),
+    backgroundSize: '200px 200px, 280px 280px, 160px 160px',
+    backgroundPosition: '0 0, 120px 80px, 60px 140px',
+    animation: `${animFirefliesKeyframe} 15s linear infinite`,
+  },
 };
 
-export const getChatBg = (bg: ChatBackground, isDark: boolean): CSSProperties =>
-  isDark ? DARK[bg] : LIGHT[bg];
+export const getChatBg = (
+  bg: ChatBackground,
+  isDark: boolean,
+  pauseAnimations?: boolean,
+): CSSProperties => {
+  const style = isDark ? DARK[bg] : LIGHT[bg];
+  const reducedMotion =
+    typeof window !== 'undefined' && window.matchMedia('(prefers-reduced-motion: reduce)').matches;
+  if ((pauseAnimations || reducedMotion) && style.animation) {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-unused-vars
+    const { animation: _anim, ...rest } = style;
+    return rest;
+  }
+  return style;
+};
diff --git a/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx b/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx
index 7d5e01301..9abd0aecf 100644
--- a/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/room/RoomView.tsx
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ export function RoomView({ eventId }: { eventId?: string }) {
   const roomViewRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null) as React.RefObject<HTMLDivElement>;
   const [chatBackground] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'chatBackground');
   const [lotusTerminal] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'lotusTerminal');
+  const [pauseAnimations] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pauseAnimations');
   const theme = useTheme();
   const isDark = theme.kind === ThemeKind.Dark;
 
@@ -98,8 +99,12 @@ export function RoomView({ eventId }: { eventId?: string }) {
 
   const chatBgStyle = useMemo(
     () =>
-      getChatBg(lotusTerminal && chatBackground === 'none' ? 'tactical' : chatBackground, isDark),
-    [chatBackground, lotusTerminal, isDark],
+      getChatBg(
+        lotusTerminal && chatBackground === 'none' ? 'tactical' : chatBackground,
+        isDark,
+        pauseAnimations,
+      ),
+    [chatBackground, lotusTerminal, isDark, pauseAnimations],
   );
 
   return (
diff --git a/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx b/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx
index c406cb2df..94ada8d74 100644
--- a/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx
+++ b/src/app/features/settings/general/General.tsx
@@ -331,6 +331,7 @@ function Appearance() {
     settingsAtom,
     'glassmorphismSidebar',
   );
+  const [pauseAnimations, setPauseAnimations] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pauseAnimations');
 
   return (
     <Box direction="Column" gap="100">
@@ -390,6 +391,14 @@ function Appearance() {
         </Box>
       </SequenceCard>
 
+      <SequenceCard className={SequenceCardStyle} variant="SurfaceVariant" direction="Column">
+        <SettingTile
+          title="Pause Background Animations"
+          description="Stop background animation to reduce motion or improve performance."
+          after={<Switch variant="Primary" value={pauseAnimations} onChange={setPauseAnimations} />}
+        />
+      </SequenceCard>
+
       <SequenceCard className={SequenceCardStyle} variant="SurfaceVariant" direction="Column">
         <SettingTile
           title="Show Profile on Every Message"
@@ -1056,6 +1065,7 @@ function Calls() {
 
 function ChatBgGrid() {
   const [chatBackground, setChatBackground] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'chatBackground');
+  const [pauseAnimations] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pauseAnimations');
   const theme = useTheme();
   const isDark = theme.kind === ThemeKind.Dark;
 
@@ -1080,7 +1090,7 @@ function ChatBgGrid() {
                   : '2px solid rgba(128,128,128,0.25)',
               padding: 0,
               overflow: 'hidden',
-              ...getChatBg(opt.value as ChatBackground, isDark),
+              ...getChatBg(opt.value as ChatBackground, isDark, pauseAnimations),
             }}
           />
           <Text
diff --git a/src/app/pages/client/SidebarNav.tsx b/src/app/pages/client/SidebarNav.tsx
index 9a5910eae..1a6bc3062 100644
--- a/src/app/pages/client/SidebarNav.tsx
+++ b/src/app/pages/client/SidebarNav.tsx
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ export function SidebarNav() {
   const [glassmorphismSidebar] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'glassmorphismSidebar');
   const [chatBackground] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'chatBackground');
   const [lotusTerminal] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'lotusTerminal');
+  const [pauseAnimations] = useSetting(settingsAtom, 'pauseAnimations');
   const theme = useTheme();
   const isDark = theme.kind === ThemeKind.Dark;
 
@@ -44,21 +45,24 @@ export function SidebarNav() {
       style.removeProperty('background-color');
       style.removeProperty('background-size');
       style.removeProperty('background-position');
+      style.removeProperty('animation');
       return;
     }
     const effectiveBg = lotusTerminal && chatBackground === 'none' ? 'tactical' : chatBackground;
-    const bgStyle = getChatBg(effectiveBg, isDark);
+    const bgStyle = getChatBg(effectiveBg, isDark, pauseAnimations);
     style.backgroundImage = (bgStyle.backgroundImage as string | undefined) ?? '';
     style.backgroundColor = (bgStyle.backgroundColor as string | undefined) ?? '';
     style.backgroundSize = (bgStyle.backgroundSize as string | undefined) ?? '';
     style.backgroundPosition = (bgStyle.backgroundPosition as string | undefined) ?? '';
+    style.animation = (bgStyle.animation as string | undefined) ?? '';
     return () => {
       style.removeProperty('background-image');
       style.removeProperty('background-color');
       style.removeProperty('background-size');
       style.removeProperty('background-position');
+      style.removeProperty('animation');
     };
-  }, [glassmorphismSidebar, chatBackground, lotusTerminal, isDark]);
+  }, [glassmorphismSidebar, chatBackground, lotusTerminal, isDark, pauseAnimations]);
 
   return (
     <Sidebar className={classNames(glassmorphismSidebar && SidebarGlass)}>
diff --git a/src/app/state/settings.ts b/src/app/state/settings.ts
index 74e8609fe..852283b15 100644
--- a/src/app/state/settings.ts
+++ b/src/app/state/settings.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ export type ChatBackground =
   | 'hexgrid'
   | 'waves'
   | 'neon'
-  | 'aurora';
+  | 'aurora'
+  | 'anim-rain'
+  | 'anim-stars'
+  | 'anim-pulse'
+  | 'anim-aurora'
+  | 'anim-fireflies';
 export enum MessageLayout {
   Modern = 0,
   Compact = 1,
@@ -94,6 +99,8 @@ export interface Settings {
   deafenKey: string;
 
   warnOnUnverifiedDevices: boolean;
+
+  pauseAnimations: boolean;
 }
 
 const defaultSettings: Settings = {
@@ -157,6 +164,8 @@ const defaultSettings: Settings = {
   deafenKey: 'KeyM',
 
   warnOnUnverifiedDevices: false,
+
+  pauseAnimations: false,
 };
 
 export const getSettings = (): Settings => {
diff --git a/src/app/styles/Animations.css.ts b/src/app/styles/Animations.css.ts
index 5a92b9a64..b3a1488fd 100644
--- a/src/app/styles/Animations.css.ts
+++ b/src/app/styles/Animations.css.ts
@@ -69,3 +69,39 @@ export const MsgAppearClass = style({
     },
   },
 });
+
+// Animated chat background keyframes
+
+// Animated chat background keyframes
+
+/** Matrix rain — two stripe layers scroll at different speeds for parallax depth */
+export const animRainKeyframe = keyframes({
+  from: { backgroundPosition: '0 0, 0 0' },
+  to: { backgroundPosition: '0 200px, 0 100px' },
+});
+
+/** Drifting stars — three layers drift diagonally */
+export const animStarsDriftKeyframe = keyframes({
+  from: { backgroundPosition: '0 0, 65px 32px, 32px 97px' },
+  to: { backgroundPosition: '130px 130px, 195px 162px, 162px 227px' },
+});
+
+/** Grid pulse — expands/contracts backgroundSize slightly */
+export const animGridPulseKeyframe = keyframes({
+  '0%': { backgroundSize: '60px 60px, 60px 60px, 12px 12px, 12px 12px' },
+  '50%': { backgroundSize: '66px 66px, 66px 66px, 13px 13px, 13px 13px' },
+  '100%': { backgroundSize: '60px 60px, 60px 60px, 12px 12px, 12px 12px' },
+});
+
+/** Aurora — sweeps backgroundPosition in large cycle */
+export const animAuroraKeyframe = keyframes({
+  '0%': { backgroundPosition: '0% 0%' },
+  '50%': { backgroundPosition: '-50% -25%' },
+  '100%': { backgroundPosition: '0% 0%' },
+});
+
+/** Fireflies — three layers of glowing dots drift diagonally */
+export const animFirefliesKeyframe = keyframes({
+  from: { backgroundPosition: '0 0, 120px 80px, 60px 140px' },
+  to: { backgroundPosition: '200px 150px, 320px 230px, 260px 290px' },
+});