diff --git a/docs/channels/matrix-js.md b/docs/channels/matrix-js.md
index 39734a56f36..6f3d640e1e9 100644
--- a/docs/channels/matrix-js.md
+++ b/docs/channels/matrix-js.md
@@ -211,6 +211,13 @@ openclaw matrix-js verify backup restore --verbose
 All `verify` commands are concise by default (including quiet internal SDK logging) and show detailed diagnostics only with `--verbose`.
 Use `--json` for full machine-readable output when scripting.
 
+When `encryption: true`, Matrix-js defaults `startupVerification` to `"if-unverified"`.
+On startup, if this device is still unverified, Matrix-js will request self-verification in another Matrix client,
+skip duplicate requests while one is already pending, and apply a local cooldown before retrying after restarts.
+Failed request attempts retry sooner than successful request creation by default.
+Set `startupVerification: "off"` to disable automatic startup requests, or tune `startupVerificationCooldownHours`
+if you want a shorter or longer retry window.
+
 ## Automatic verification notices
 
 Matrix-js now posts verification lifecycle notices directly into the Matrix room as `m.notice` messages.
@@ -338,6 +345,8 @@ See [Groups](/channels/groups) for mention-gating and allowlist behavior.
 - `groupAllowFrom`: allowlist of user IDs for room traffic.
 - `replyToMode`: `off`, `first`, or `all`.
 - `threadReplies`: `off`, `inbound`, or `always`.
+- `startupVerification`: automatic self-verification request mode on startup (`if-unverified`, `off`).
+- `startupVerificationCooldownHours`: cooldown before retrying automatic startup verification requests.
 - `textChunkLimit`: outbound message chunk size.
 - `chunkMode`: `length` or `newline`.
 - `responsePrefix`: optional message prefix for outbound replies.
diff --git a/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-migration.ts b/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-migration.ts
index a5989024e83..ae1a358cdc7 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-migration.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-migration.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ type LegacyAccountField =
   | "textChunkLimit"
   | "chunkMode"
   | "responsePrefix"
+  | "startupVerification"
+  | "startupVerificationCooldownHours"
   | "mediaMaxMb"
   | "autoJoin"
   | "autoJoinAllowlist"
@@ -45,6 +47,8 @@ const LEGACY_ACCOUNT_FIELDS: ReadonlyArray<LegacyAccountField> = [
   "textChunkLimit",
   "chunkMode",
   "responsePrefix",
+  "startupVerification",
+  "startupVerificationCooldownHours",
   "mediaMaxMb",
   "autoJoin",
   "autoJoinAllowlist",
diff --git a/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-schema.ts b/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-schema.ts
index d4482e95698..3080c99e14a 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-schema.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix-js/src/config-schema.ts
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@ export const MatrixConfigSchema = z.object({
     .enum(["group-mentions", "group-all", "direct", "all", "none", "off"])
     .optional(),
   reactionNotifications: z.enum(["off", "own"]).optional(),
+  startupVerification: z.enum(["off", "if-unverified"]).optional(),
+  startupVerificationCooldownHours: z.number().optional(),
   mediaMaxMb: z.number().optional(),
   autoJoin: z.enum(["always", "allowlist", "off"]).optional(),
   autoJoinAllowlist: z.array(allowFromEntry).optional(),
diff --git a/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts b/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts
index a9b1372f9c3..81ab6865e03 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/index.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import { createDirectRoomTracker } from "./direct.js";
 import { registerMatrixMonitorEvents } from "./events.js";
 import { createMatrixRoomMessageHandler } from "./handler.js";
 import { createMatrixRoomInfoResolver } from "./room-info.js";
+import { ensureMatrixStartupVerification } from "./startup-verification.js";
 
 export type MonitorMatrixOpts = {
   runtime?: RuntimeEnv;
@@ -363,16 +364,45 @@ export async function monitorMatrixProvider(opts: MonitorMatrixOpts = {}): Promi
     logger.warn("matrix: failed to sync profile from config", { error: String(err) });
   }
 
-  // If E2EE is enabled, report device verification status and guidance.
+  // If E2EE is enabled, report device verification status and request self-verification
+  // when configured and the device is still unverified.
   if (auth.encryption && client.crypto) {
     try {
-      const status = await client.getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus();
-      if (status.verified) {
+      const startupVerification = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+        client,
+        auth,
+        accountConfig,
+        accountId: account.accountId,
+        env: process.env,
+      });
+      if (startupVerification.kind === "verified") {
         logger.info("matrix: device is verified and ready for encrypted rooms");
-      } else {
+      } else if (
+        startupVerification.kind === "disabled" ||
+        startupVerification.kind === "cooldown" ||
+        startupVerification.kind === "pending" ||
+        startupVerification.kind === "request-failed"
+      ) {
         logger.info(
           "matrix: device not verified — run 'openclaw matrix-js verify device <key>' to enable E2EE",
         );
+        if (startupVerification.kind === "pending") {
+          logger.info(
+            "matrix: startup verification request is already pending; finish it in another Matrix client",
+          );
+        } else if (startupVerification.kind === "cooldown") {
+          logVerboseMessage(
+            `matrix: skipped startup verification request due to cooldown (retryAfterMs=${startupVerification.retryAfterMs ?? 0})`,
+          );
+        } else if (startupVerification.kind === "request-failed") {
+          logger.debug?.("Matrix startup verification request failed (non-fatal)", {
+            error: startupVerification.error ?? "unknown",
+          });
+        }
+      } else if (startupVerification.kind === "requested") {
+        logger.info(
+          "matrix: device not verified — requested verification in another Matrix client",
+        );
       }
     } catch (err) {
       logger.debug?.("Failed to resolve matrix-js verification status (non-fatal)", {
diff --git a/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/startup-verification.test.ts b/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/startup-verification.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a77792a5948
--- /dev/null
+++ b/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/startup-verification.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+import fs from "node:fs";
+import os from "node:os";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import { ensureMatrixStartupVerification } from "./startup-verification.js";
+
+function createTempStateDir(): string {
+  return fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), "matrix-js-startup-verify-"));
+}
+
+function createStateFilePath(rootDir: string): string {
+  return path.join(rootDir, "startup-verification.json");
+}
+
+type VerificationSummaryLike = {
+  id: string;
+  transactionId?: string;
+  isSelfVerification: boolean;
+  completed: boolean;
+  pending: boolean;
+};
+
+function createHarness(params?: {
+  verified?: boolean;
+  requestVerification?: () => Promise<{ id: string; transactionId?: string }>;
+  listVerifications?: () => Promise<VerificationSummaryLike[]>;
+}) {
+  const requestVerification =
+    params?.requestVerification ??
+    (async () => ({
+      id: "verification-1",
+      transactionId: "txn-1",
+    }));
+  const listVerifications = params?.listVerifications ?? (async () => []);
+  const getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus = vi.fn(async () => ({
+    encryptionEnabled: true,
+    userId: "@bot:example.org",
+    deviceId: "DEVICE123",
+    verified: params?.verified === true,
+    localVerified: params?.verified === true,
+    crossSigningVerified: params?.verified === true,
+    signedByOwner: params?.verified === true,
+    recoveryKeyStored: false,
+    recoveryKeyCreatedAt: null,
+    recoveryKeyId: null,
+    backupVersion: null,
+    backup: {
+      serverVersion: null,
+      activeVersion: null,
+      trusted: null,
+      matchesDecryptionKey: null,
+      decryptionKeyCached: null,
+      keyLoadAttempted: false,
+      keyLoadError: null,
+    },
+  }));
+  return {
+    client: {
+      getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus,
+      crypto: {
+        listVerifications: vi.fn(listVerifications),
+        requestVerification: vi.fn(requestVerification),
+      },
+    },
+    getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus,
+  };
+}
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.useRealTimers();
+});
+
+describe("ensureMatrixStartupVerification", () => {
+  it("skips automatic requests when the device is already verified", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const harness = createHarness({ verified: true });
+
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("verified");
+    expect(harness.client.crypto.requestVerification).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("skips automatic requests when a self verification is already pending", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const harness = createHarness({
+      listVerifications: async () => [
+        {
+          id: "verification-1",
+          transactionId: "txn-1",
+          isSelfVerification: true,
+          completed: false,
+          pending: true,
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("pending");
+    expect(harness.client.crypto.requestVerification).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("respects the startup verification cooldown", async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers();
+    vi.setSystemTime(new Date("2026-03-08T12:00:00.000Z"));
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const harness = createHarness();
+    await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+      nowMs: Date.now(),
+    });
+    expect(harness.client.crypto.requestVerification).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+    const second = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+      nowMs: Date.now() + 60_000,
+    });
+
+    expect(second.kind).toBe("cooldown");
+    expect(harness.client.crypto.requestVerification).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("supports disabling startup verification requests", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const harness = createHarness();
+    const stateFilePath = createStateFilePath(tempHome);
+    fs.writeFileSync(stateFilePath, JSON.stringify({ attemptedAt: "2026-03-08T12:00:00.000Z" }));
+
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {
+        startupVerification: "off",
+      },
+      stateFilePath,
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("disabled");
+    expect(harness.client.crypto.requestVerification).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    expect(fs.existsSync(stateFilePath)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("persists a successful startup verification request", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const harness = createHarness();
+
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+      nowMs: Date.parse("2026-03-08T12:00:00.000Z"),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("requested");
+    expect(harness.client.crypto.requestVerification).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ ownUser: true });
+
+    expect(fs.existsSync(createStateFilePath(tempHome))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it("keeps startup verification failures non-fatal", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const harness = createHarness({
+      requestVerification: async () => {
+        throw new Error("no other verified session");
+      },
+    });
+
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("request-failed");
+    expect(result.error).toContain("no other verified session");
+
+    const cooledDown = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: harness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath: createStateFilePath(tempHome),
+      nowMs: Date.now() + 60_000,
+    });
+
+    expect(cooledDown.kind).toBe("cooldown");
+  });
+
+  it("retries failed startup verification requests sooner than successful ones", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const stateFilePath = createStateFilePath(tempHome);
+    const failingHarness = createHarness({
+      requestVerification: async () => {
+        throw new Error("no other verified session");
+      },
+    });
+
+    await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: failingHarness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath,
+      nowMs: Date.parse("2026-03-08T12:00:00.000Z"),
+    });
+
+    const retryingHarness = createHarness();
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: retryingHarness.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath,
+      nowMs: Date.parse("2026-03-08T13:30:00.000Z"),
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("requested");
+    expect(retryingHarness.client.crypto.requestVerification).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it("clears the persisted startup state after verification succeeds", async () => {
+    const tempHome = createTempStateDir();
+    const stateFilePath = createStateFilePath(tempHome);
+    const unverified = createHarness();
+
+    await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: unverified.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath,
+      nowMs: Date.parse("2026-03-08T12:00:00.000Z"),
+    });
+
+    expect(fs.existsSync(stateFilePath)).toBe(true);
+
+    const verified = createHarness({ verified: true });
+    const result = await ensureMatrixStartupVerification({
+      client: verified.client as never,
+      auth: {
+        homeserver: "https://matrix.example.org",
+        userId: "@bot:example.org",
+        accessToken: "token",
+        encryption: true,
+      },
+      accountConfig: {},
+      stateFilePath,
+    });
+
+    expect(result.kind).toBe("verified");
+    expect(fs.existsSync(stateFilePath)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/startup-verification.ts b/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/startup-verification.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..913649670e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/extensions/matrix-js/src/matrix/monitor/startup-verification.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+import fs from "node:fs/promises";
+import path from "node:path";
+import { readJsonFileWithFallback, writeJsonFileAtomically } from "openclaw/plugin-sdk/matrix-js";
+import type { MatrixConfig } from "../../types.js";
+import { resolveMatrixStoragePaths } from "../client/storage.js";
+import type { MatrixAuth } from "../client/types.js";
+import type { MatrixClient, MatrixOwnDeviceVerificationStatus } from "../sdk.js";
+
+const STARTUP_VERIFICATION_STATE_FILENAME = "startup-verification.json";
+const DEFAULT_STARTUP_VERIFICATION_MODE = "if-unverified" as const;
+const DEFAULT_STARTUP_VERIFICATION_COOLDOWN_HOURS = 24;
+const DEFAULT_STARTUP_VERIFICATION_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_MS = 60 * 60 * 1000;
+
+type MatrixStartupVerificationState = {
+  userId?: string | null;
+  deviceId?: string | null;
+  attemptedAt?: string;
+  outcome?: "requested" | "failed";
+  requestId?: string;
+  transactionId?: string;
+  error?: string;
+};
+
+export type MatrixStartupVerificationOutcome =
+  | {
+      kind: "disabled" | "verified" | "cooldown" | "pending" | "requested" | "request-failed";
+      verification: MatrixOwnDeviceVerificationStatus;
+      requestId?: string;
+      transactionId?: string;
+      error?: string;
+      retryAfterMs?: number;
+    }
+  | {
+      kind: "unsupported";
+      verification?: undefined;
+    };
+
+function normalizeCooldownHours(value: number | undefined): number {
+  if (typeof value !== "number" || !Number.isFinite(value)) {
+    return DEFAULT_STARTUP_VERIFICATION_COOLDOWN_HOURS;
+  }
+  return Math.max(0, value);
+}
+
+function resolveStartupVerificationStatePath(params: {
+  auth: MatrixAuth;
+  accountId?: string | null;
+  env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+}): string {
+  const storagePaths = resolveMatrixStoragePaths({
+    homeserver: params.auth.homeserver,
+    userId: params.auth.userId,
+    accessToken: params.auth.accessToken,
+    accountId: params.accountId,
+    env: params.env,
+  });
+  return path.join(storagePaths.rootDir, STARTUP_VERIFICATION_STATE_FILENAME);
+}
+
+async function readStartupVerificationState(
+  filePath: string,
+): Promise<MatrixStartupVerificationState | null> {
+  const { value } = await readJsonFileWithFallback<MatrixStartupVerificationState | null>(
+    filePath,
+    null,
+  );
+  return value && typeof value === "object" ? value : null;
+}
+
+async function clearStartupVerificationState(filePath: string): Promise<void> {
+  await fs.rm(filePath, { force: true }).catch(() => {});
+}
+
+function resolveStateCooldownMs(
+  state: MatrixStartupVerificationState | null,
+  cooldownMs: number,
+): number {
+  if (state?.outcome === "failed") {
+    return Math.min(cooldownMs, DEFAULT_STARTUP_VERIFICATION_FAILURE_COOLDOWN_MS);
+  }
+  return cooldownMs;
+}
+
+function resolveRetryAfterMs(params: {
+  attemptedAt?: string;
+  cooldownMs: number;
+  nowMs: number;
+}): number | undefined {
+  const attemptedAtMs = Date.parse(params.attemptedAt ?? "");
+  if (!Number.isFinite(attemptedAtMs)) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  const remaining = attemptedAtMs + params.cooldownMs - params.nowMs;
+  return remaining > 0 ? remaining : undefined;
+}
+
+function shouldHonorCooldown(params: {
+  state: MatrixStartupVerificationState | null;
+  verification: MatrixOwnDeviceVerificationStatus;
+  stateCooldownMs: number;
+  nowMs: number;
+}): boolean {
+  if (!params.state || params.stateCooldownMs <= 0) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (
+    params.state.userId &&
+    params.verification.userId &&
+    params.state.userId !== params.verification.userId
+  ) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  if (
+    params.state.deviceId &&
+    params.verification.deviceId &&
+    params.state.deviceId !== params.verification.deviceId
+  ) {
+    return false;
+  }
+  return (
+    resolveRetryAfterMs({
+      attemptedAt: params.state.attemptedAt,
+      cooldownMs: params.stateCooldownMs,
+      nowMs: params.nowMs,
+    }) !== undefined
+  );
+}
+
+function hasPendingSelfVerification(
+  verifications: Array<{
+    isSelfVerification: boolean;
+    completed: boolean;
+    pending: boolean;
+  }>,
+): boolean {
+  return verifications.some(
+    (entry) =>
+      entry.isSelfVerification === true && entry.completed !== true && entry.pending !== false,
+  );
+}
+
+export async function ensureMatrixStartupVerification(params: {
+  client: Pick<MatrixClient, "crypto" | "getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus">;
+  auth: MatrixAuth;
+  accountConfig: Pick<MatrixConfig, "startupVerification" | "startupVerificationCooldownHours">;
+  accountId?: string | null;
+  env?: NodeJS.ProcessEnv;
+  nowMs?: number;
+  stateFilePath?: string;
+}): Promise<MatrixStartupVerificationOutcome> {
+  if (params.auth.encryption !== true || !params.client.crypto) {
+    return { kind: "unsupported" };
+  }
+
+  const verification = await params.client.getOwnDeviceVerificationStatus();
+  const statePath =
+    params.stateFilePath ??
+    resolveStartupVerificationStatePath({
+      auth: params.auth,
+      accountId: params.accountId,
+      env: params.env,
+    });
+
+  if (verification.verified) {
+    await clearStartupVerificationState(statePath);
+    return {
+      kind: "verified",
+      verification,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const mode = params.accountConfig.startupVerification ?? DEFAULT_STARTUP_VERIFICATION_MODE;
+  if (mode === "off") {
+    await clearStartupVerificationState(statePath);
+    return {
+      kind: "disabled",
+      verification,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const verifications = await params.client.crypto.listVerifications().catch(() => []);
+  if (hasPendingSelfVerification(verifications)) {
+    return {
+      kind: "pending",
+      verification,
+    };
+  }
+
+  const cooldownHours = normalizeCooldownHours(
+    params.accountConfig.startupVerificationCooldownHours,
+  );
+  const cooldownMs = cooldownHours * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+  const nowMs = params.nowMs ?? Date.now();
+  const state = await readStartupVerificationState(statePath);
+  const stateCooldownMs = resolveStateCooldownMs(state, cooldownMs);
+  if (shouldHonorCooldown({ state, verification, stateCooldownMs, nowMs })) {
+    return {
+      kind: "cooldown",
+      verification,
+      retryAfterMs: resolveRetryAfterMs({
+        attemptedAt: state?.attemptedAt,
+        cooldownMs: stateCooldownMs,
+        nowMs,
+      }),
+    };
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const request = await params.client.crypto.requestVerification({ ownUser: true });
+    await writeJsonFileAtomically(statePath, {
+      userId: verification.userId,
+      deviceId: verification.deviceId,
+      attemptedAt: new Date(nowMs).toISOString(),
+      outcome: "requested",
+      requestId: request.id,
+      transactionId: request.transactionId,
+    } satisfies MatrixStartupVerificationState);
+    return {
+      kind: "requested",
+      verification,
+      requestId: request.id,
+      transactionId: request.transactionId ?? undefined,
+    };
+  } catch (err) {
+    const error = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+    await writeJsonFileAtomically(statePath, {
+      userId: verification.userId,
+      deviceId: verification.deviceId,
+      attemptedAt: new Date(nowMs).toISOString(),
+      outcome: "failed",
+      error,
+    } satisfies MatrixStartupVerificationState).catch(() => {});
+    return {
+      kind: "request-failed",
+      verification,
+      error,
+    };
+  }
+}
diff --git a/extensions/matrix-js/src/types.ts b/extensions/matrix-js/src/types.ts
index 59b6c07883f..93507570608 100644
--- a/extensions/matrix-js/src/types.ts
+++ b/extensions/matrix-js/src/types.ts
@@ -90,6 +90,10 @@ export type MatrixConfig = {
   ackReactionScope?: "group-mentions" | "group-all" | "direct" | "all" | "none" | "off";
   /** Inbound reaction notifications for bot-authored Matrix messages. */
   reactionNotifications?: "off" | "own";
+  /** Whether Matrix-js should auto-request self verification on startup when unverified. */
+  startupVerification?: "off" | "if-unverified";
+  /** Cooldown window for automatic startup verification requests. Default: 24 hours. */
+  startupVerificationCooldownHours?: number;
   /** Max outbound media size in MB. */
   mediaMaxMb?: number;
   /** Auto-join invites (always|allowlist|off). Default: always. */
diff --git a/src/plugin-sdk/matrix-js.ts b/src/plugin-sdk/matrix-js.ts
index 5ea8df32aca..ecc9e3951c9 100644
--- a/src/plugin-sdk/matrix-js.ts
+++ b/src/plugin-sdk/matrix-js.ts
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ export {
 export { formatDocsLink } from "../terminal/links.js";
 export type { WizardPrompter } from "../wizard/prompts.js";
 export { createScopedPairingAccess } from "./pairing-access.js";
-export { writeJsonFileAtomically } from "./json-store.js";
+export { readJsonFileWithFallback, writeJsonFileAtomically } from "./json-store.js";
 export { formatResolvedUnresolvedNote } from "./resolution-notes.js";
 export { runPluginCommandWithTimeout } from "./run-command.js";
 export { createLoggerBackedRuntime } from "./runtime.js";