diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7a704cac..b3fd1639 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Optimized Nostr login speed. (PR #2153 by PR0M3TH3AN)
 - Updated `nostr-tools`, `floating-ui`, and `crypto-helpers` dependencies. (PR #2153 by PR0M3TH3AN)
 - Major repository update and synchronization (Commit `b429b1c` by thePR0M3TH3AN)
+- Removed runtime `ASSET_VERSION` query-string cache busting for static assets. Deployment freshness is now driven by build-time hashed filenames and `asset-manifest.json` rewrites.
 
 ### Fixed
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fa37d528..a1a2e489 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -356,6 +356,11 @@ This split is required for safe fast rollouts: HTML needs rapid update pickup,
 while fingerprinted static assets should remain aggressively cacheable for
 performance and cost control.
 
+> Migration note: runtime `ASSET_VERSION` query-parameter mutation has been
+> removed. Static asset freshness now comes from build-time hashed filenames
+> recorded in `dist/asset-manifest.json` and rewritten into `dist/index.html`
+> / `dist/embed.html` during `npm run build`.
+
 
 #### Service worker rollback playbook
 
diff --git a/config/asset-version.js b/config/asset-version.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 6d3f28be..00000000
--- a/config/asset-version.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-export const ASSET_VERSION = "2024.11.09-2";
diff --git a/docs/deployment-notes.md b/docs/deployment-notes.md
index cd40b221..affeda90 100644
--- a/docs/deployment-notes.md
+++ b/docs/deployment-notes.md
@@ -5,3 +5,9 @@
 - **Status:** The design system styling is always active. The former `FEATURE_DESIGN_SYSTEM` runtime flag has been removed, so there is no rollback toggle during deployment.
 - **Template contract:** Every layout, view, and partial must keep `data-ds` on its root element. The entrypoint stamps `data-ds="new"` during bootstrap so controllers inherit the correct primitives.
 - **Controllers:** UI controllers still receive a `designSystem` context, but `context.isNew()` now always returns `true`. Use the context for consistency, but do not branch on legacy styling paths.
+
+## Asset freshness and cache invalidation
+
+- Static CSS/JS asset freshness is now driven by build-time manifest rewriting (`dist/asset-manifest.json`) instead of runtime `ASSET_VERSION` query-string mutation.
+- Keep source HTML entry points (`index.html`, `embed.html`) pointing at logical asset paths (for example, `js/index.js` and `css/tailwind.generated.css`). The build pipeline rewrites those references to content-hashed filenames in `dist/`.
+- App routing query parameters (such as `?v=` for video pointers) are unchanged and remain part of runtime URL behavior.
diff --git a/js/index.js b/js/index.js
index 1642eac3..d23dca98 100644
--- a/js/index.js
+++ b/js/index.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 // js/index.js
 
 import { validateInstanceConfig } from "../config/validate-config.js";
-import { ASSET_VERSION } from "../config/asset-version.js";
 import "./bufferPolyfill.js";
 import {
   getApplication,
@@ -548,17 +547,8 @@ document.addEventListener("animationend", handleFadeInAnimationComplete, true);
 document.addEventListener("animationcancel", handleFadeInAnimationComplete, true);
 
 // 1) Load modals (login, application, etc.)
-const withAssetVersion = (url) => {
-  if (typeof url !== "string" || url.length === 0) {
-    return url;
-  }
-
-  const separator = url.includes("?") ? "&" : "?";
-  return `${url}${separator}v=${encodeURIComponent(ASSET_VERSION)}`;
-};
-
 const fetchPartial = async (url) => {
-  const response = await fetch(withAssetVersion(url), { cache: "no-store" });
+  const response = await fetch(url, { cache: "no-store" });
   if (!response.ok) {
     throw new Error("Failed to load " + url);
   }
diff --git a/js/viewManager.js b/js/viewManager.js
index fe23b0d5..b3852bd7 100644
--- a/js/viewManager.js
+++ b/js/viewManager.js
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import { initKidsView } from "./kidsView.js";
 import { initExploreView } from "./exploreView.js";
 import { subscriptions } from "./subscriptions.js";
 import { getApplication } from "./applicationContext.js";
-import { ASSET_VERSION } from "../config/asset-version.js";
 import { applyDesignSystemAttributes } from "./designSystem.js";
 import { devLogger, userLogger } from "./utils/logger.js";
 import { attachFeedInfoPopover } from "./ui/components/FeedInfoPopover.js";
@@ -14,15 +13,6 @@ import { FEED_TYPES } from "./constants.js";
 
 const TRACKING_SCRIPT_PATTERN = /(?:^|\/)tracking\.js(?:$|\?)/;
 
-const withAssetVersion = (url) => {
-  if (typeof url !== "string" || url.length === 0) {
-    return url;
-  }
-
-  const separator = url.includes("?") ? "&" : "?";
-  return `${url}${separator}v=${encodeURIComponent(ASSET_VERSION)}`;
-};
-
 /**
  * Load a partial view by URL into the #viewContainer.
  */
@@ -33,7 +23,7 @@ export async function loadView(viewUrl) {
       app.prepareForViewLoad();
     }
 
-    const res = await fetch(withAssetVersion(viewUrl), { cache: "no-store" });
+    const res = await fetch(viewUrl, { cache: "no-store" });
     if (!res.ok) {
       throw new Error(`Failed to load view: ${res.status}`);
     }