diff --git a/src/pages/MatrixPage.cache.test.tsx b/src/pages/MatrixPage.cache.test.tsx
index 2fd4e44..7ddf365 100644
--- a/src/pages/MatrixPage.cache.test.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/MatrixPage.cache.test.tsx
@@ -60,4 +60,31 @@ describe('MatrixPage — scan cache', () => {
       expect(fetchSpy).toHaveBeenCalled();
     });
   });
+
+  it('refresh preserves user-visible chains when balances are zero', async () => {
+    storage.setScanCache(ADDR, { balances: {}, prices: {} });
+    // hiddenChains defaults to empty in storage, so all chains start visible.
+    globalThis.fetch = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue(
+      new Response(JSON.stringify({ jsonrpc: '2.0', id: 1, result: '0x0' }), {
+        status: 200,
+        headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+      }),
+    ) as unknown as typeof fetch;
+
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    renderWithProviders(routes, [`/address/${ADDR}`]);
+
+    // Ethereum (chain id 1) is visible after hydrating from cache.
+    expect(await screen.findByText('Ethereum Mainnet')).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    const btn = await screen.findByRole('button', { name: /Refresh/ });
+    await user.click(btn);
+
+    // After a refresh with zero balances everywhere, the Ethereum column
+    // must still be visible — the old auto-hide pass used to remove it on
+    // every refresh.
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText('Ethereum Mainnet')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/state/WalletContext.tsx b/src/state/WalletContext.tsx
index d38c0a8..7b66789 100644
--- a/src/state/WalletContext.tsx
+++ b/src/state/WalletContext.tsx
@@ -156,7 +156,8 @@ export function WalletProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     }));
   }, []);
 
-  const startScan = useCallback(async (address: string) => {
+  const startScan = useCallback(async (address: string, opts: { autoHide?: boolean } = {}) => {
+    const autoHide = opts.autoHide ?? true;
     setState((s) => ({ ...s, address, demo: false, scanning: true, activeChain: null, scanProgress: {} }));
 
     // Scan chains sequentially, ordered by numeric chain ID (Ethereum first).
@@ -221,11 +222,16 @@ export function WalletProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     // Persist so repeat visits don't need to re-scan all chains.
     storage.setScanCache(address, { balances, prices });
 
-    // Auto-hide chains that have no tokens of value.
-    const autoHidden = new Set<ChainId>();
-    CHAINS.forEach((c) => {
-      if (!chainsWithValue.has(c.id)) autoHidden.add(c.id);
-    });
+    // On first connect, hide empty chains so the matrix isn't mostly blank.
+    // On refresh, keep whatever the user has since chosen to show or hide.
+    let nextHidden: Set<ChainId> | null = null;
+    if (autoHide) {
+      nextHidden = new Set<ChainId>();
+      CHAINS.forEach((c) => {
+        if (!chainsWithValue.has(c.id)) nextHidden!.add(c.id);
+      });
+      storage.setHiddenChains(nextHidden);
+    }
 
     setState((s) => ({
       ...s,
@@ -233,7 +239,7 @@ export function WalletProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
       prices,
       scanning: false,
       activeChain: null,
-      hiddenChains: autoHidden,
+      hiddenChains: nextHidden ?? s.hiddenChains,
       lastRefreshedAt: Date.now(),
       fromCache: false,
     }));
@@ -427,7 +433,7 @@ export function WalletProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
   const refreshBalances = useCallback(async (): Promise<void> => {
     const addr = loadedKeyRef.current;
     if (!addr || addr === 'demo') return;
-    await startScan(addr);
+    await startScan(addr, { autoHide: false });
   }, [startScan]);
 
   const disconnect = useCallback(() => {