diff --git a/.github/workflows/build-all.yml b/.github/workflows/build-all.yml
index 992d493..a80f70e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build-all.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build-all.yml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
 
 env:
-  VERSION: "5.3.4"
+  VERSION: "5.3.5"
 
 jobs:
   build-windows-qt:
diff --git a/src/clientversion.h b/src/clientversion.h
index a6554d1..5782cf6 100644
--- a/src/clientversion.h
+++ b/src/clientversion.h
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 // These need to be macros, as version.cpp's and triangles-qt.rc's voodoo requires it
 #define CLIENT_VERSION_MAJOR       5
 #define CLIENT_VERSION_MINOR       3
-#define CLIENT_VERSION_REVISION    4
+#define CLIENT_VERSION_REVISION    5
 #define CLIENT_VERSION_BUILD       0
 
 // Converts the parameter X to a string after macro replacement on X has been performed.
diff --git a/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp b/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp
index f67f51c..8a8ffe8 100644
--- a/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/clientmodel.cpp
@@ -70,12 +70,20 @@ void ClientModel::updateTimer()
     int newNumBlocks = getNumBlocks();
     int newNumBlocksOfPeers = getNumBlocksOfPeers();
 
-    // Always emit during IBD so the speed/ETA display stays live
-    if(cachedNumBlocks != newNumBlocks || cachedNumBlocksOfPeers != newNumBlocksOfPeers
-       || newNumBlocks < newNumBlocksOfPeers)
+    // Always emit when values change or during IBD.
+    // Also emit every ~30 seconds even when idle so setNumBlocks() can
+    // re-evaluate sync status (e.g. when a new block arrives after a long gap).
+    static int64_t nLastEmit = 0;
+    int64_t nNow = GetTime();
+    bool fChanged = (cachedNumBlocks != newNumBlocks || cachedNumBlocksOfPeers != newNumBlocksOfPeers);
+    bool fCatchingUp = (newNumBlocks < newNumBlocksOfPeers);
+    bool fPeriodicRefresh = (nNow - nLastEmit >= 30);
+
+    if(fChanged || fCatchingUp || fPeriodicRefresh)
     {
         cachedNumBlocks = newNumBlocks;
         cachedNumBlocksOfPeers = newNumBlocksOfPeers;
+        nLastEmit = nNow;
 
         emit numBlocksChanged(newNumBlocks, newNumBlocksOfPeers);
     }
diff --git a/src/qt/trianglesgui.cpp b/src/qt/trianglesgui.cpp
index 01ef56d..065d2ec 100644
--- a/src/qt/trianglesgui.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/trianglesgui.cpp
@@ -904,9 +904,10 @@ void TrianglesGUI::setNumBlocks(int count, int nTotalBlocks)
     }
 
     // Set icon state: spinning if catching up, tick otherwise.
-    // Use a generous threshold (6 hours) for PoS chains where block intervals
-    // can be long during difficulty adjustment with few stakers.
-    if(secs < 6*60*60 && count >= nTotalBlocks)
+    // For PoS chains with few stakers, blocks can be hours or days apart.
+    // Sync status is based purely on block count - NOT block timestamp.
+    // A stale chain (no recent blocks) is still "synced" if we have all blocks.
+    if(count >= nTotalBlocks)
     {
         tooltip = tr("Up to date") + QString(".<br>") + tooltip;
         labelBlocksIcon->setPixmap(QIcon(":/icons/synced").pixmap(STATUSBAR_ICONSIZE, STATUSBAR_ICONSIZE));
diff --git a/src/version.h b/src/version.h
index b124feb..79d9b55 100644
--- a/src/version.h
+++ b/src/version.h
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ static const int MEMPOOL_GD_VERSION = 60002;
 
 #define DISPLAY_VERSION_MAJOR       5
 #define DISPLAY_VERSION_MINOR       3
-#define DISPLAY_VERSION_REVISION    4
+#define DISPLAY_VERSION_REVISION    5
 #define DISPLAY_VERSION_BUILD       0
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/wallet.h b/src/wallet.h
index fa2dab4..f7bcf75 100644
--- a/src/wallet.h
+++ b/src/wallet.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
+#include <atomic>
 
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
@@ -204,9 +205,8 @@ public:
     bool CreateCoinStake(const CKeyStore& keystore, unsigned int nBits, int64_t nSearchInterval, int64_t nFees, CTransaction& txNew, CKey& key);
 
     // Cached staking info - updated by the staking thread, read by the UI thread.
-    // Access is safe without locks: written atomically by the miner, read by UI for display only.
-    volatile uint64_t nCachedStakeWeight;
-    volatile int64_t  nCachedStakeWeightTime;  // GetTime() when last updated
+    std::atomic<uint64_t> nCachedStakeWeight;
+    std::atomic<int64_t>  nCachedStakeWeightTime;  // GetTime() when last updated
 
     std::string SendMoney(CScript scriptPubKey, int64_t nValue, std::string& sNarr, CWalletTx& wtxNew, bool fAskFee=false);
     std::string SendMoneyToDestination(const CTxDestination& address, int64_t nValue, std::string& sNarr, CWalletTx& wtxNew, bool fAskFee=false);