diff --git a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_admin_analytics_frontend.py b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_admin_analytics_frontend.py
index eead095f..976a1be4 100644
--- a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_admin_analytics_frontend.py
+++ b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_admin_analytics_frontend.py
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ def test_app_lifecycle_and_cache_versions_are_wired():
     # Lockstep owner for the console's bumped tags and the /admin page's pins:
     # every bump edits this test in the same change (Global Constraints).
     assert 'styles.css?v=159' in APP_HTML
-    assert 'app.js?v=160' in APP_HTML
+    assert 'app.js?v=161' in APP_HTML
     assert 'js/admin-tabs.js?v=12' in APP_HTML
     for tag in (
         'href="admin.css?v=13"',
diff --git a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_analytics_frontend.py b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_analytics_frontend.py
index 649ea82d..d6a386f4 100644
--- a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_analytics_frontend.py
+++ b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_analytics_frontend.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def _function_body(source: str, signature: str) -> str:
 
 
 def test_analytics_script_loads_between_app_and_page_scripts():
-    app_at = APP_HTML.index('<script src="app.js?v=160" defer></script>')
+    app_at = APP_HTML.index('<script src="app.js?v=161" defer></script>')
     analytics_at = APP_HTML.index(
         '<script src="js/analytics.js?v=1" defer></script>'
     )
diff --git a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_backtest_comparison_frontend.py b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_backtest_comparison_frontend.py
index 47688294..80b5b4ae 100644
--- a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_backtest_comparison_frontend.py
+++ b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_backtest_comparison_frontend.py
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def test_exact_raw_ties_mark_every_tied_series_best():
 
 def test_comparison_script_and_semantic_table_ship_before_app():
     helper = '<script src="js/backtest-comparison.js?v=1" defer></script>'
-    app = '<script src="app.js?v=160" defer></script>'
+    app = '<script src="app.js?v=161" defer></script>'
     assert 'href="styles.css?v=159"' in APP_HTML
     assert APP_HTML.index(helper) < APP_HTML.index(app)
     for element_id in (
diff --git a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_frontend_fast_boot.py b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_frontend_fast_boot.py
index 05359603..df7065f3 100644
--- a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_frontend_fast_boot.py
+++ b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_frontend_fast_boot.py
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ def test_cache_busters_bumped():
     # the next bump, so the exact one looks like the broken guard and gets
     # "fixed" by loosening it. That collision has already cost this repo one
     # round of follow-ups (#347/#348).
-    assert "app.js?v=160" in APP_HTML
+    assert "app.js?v=161" in APP_HTML
     assert "js/agent-editor.js?v=32" in APP_HTML
     assert "styles.css?v=159" in APP_HTML
     assert "js/leaderboard.js?v=38" in APP_HTML
diff --git a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_research_guest_shelf.py b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_research_guest_shelf.py
index e8290c22..7f9bf246 100644
--- a/dashboard/backend/tests/test_research_guest_shelf.py
+++ b/dashboard/backend/tests/test_research_guest_shelf.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 RENDER = APP[APP.index('let researchShelfRenderVersion = 0;'):APP.index('/** The Community research card', APP.index('async function renderResearchShelf()'))]
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize('mode', ['guest', 'owner', 'failure'])
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('mode', ['guest', 'empty_owner', 'owner', 'failure'])
 def test_research_shelf_access_states(mode):
     if not shutil.which('node'):
         pytest.skip('Node required')
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def test_research_shelf_access_states(mode):
 const empty = {}, count = {};
 const document = {getElementById:id=>({agentsGridResearch:grid,agentsEmptyResearch:empty,agentsCountResearch:count}[id])};
 const agent = {template_id:'research',name:'Research demo',research:{},added:true};
-const fetchResearchAgents = async()=> {if(mode==='owner') return [agent,{...agent,name:'Unadded',added:false}]; throw {status:mode==='guest'?401:503};};
+const fetchResearchAgents = async()=> {if(mode==='empty_owner')return []; if(mode==='owner') return [agent,{...agent,name:'Unadded',added:false}]; throw {status:mode==='guest'?401:503};};
 let catalogCalls=0;
 const API = {get:async()=>{catalogCalls++;return {templates:[agent,{name:'Trading',template_id:'trading'}]};}};
 const API_BASE='';
@@ -31,19 +31,19 @@ def test_research_shelf_access_states(mode):
 const escapeHtml=s=>String(s??'');
 const openAuthModal=()=>login=true;
 const openResearchWorkbench=()=>workbench=true;
-const communityShelfButtonHtml=()=>'';
+const communityShelfButtonHtml=()=>'<button>Community</button>';
 RENDER
-(async()=>{await renderResearchShelf();if(handler)handler();console.log(JSON.stringify({html:grid.innerHTML,display:section.style.display,login,workbench,catalogCalls,error:empty.textContent}));})().catch(e=>{console.error(e);process.exit(1)});
+(async()=>{await renderResearchShelf();if(handler)handler();console.log(JSON.stringify({html:grid.innerHTML,display:section.style.display,login,workbench,catalogCalls,error:empty.textContent,emptyHtml:empty.innerHTML,countHidden:count.hidden}));})().catch(e=>{console.error(e);process.exit(1)});
 '''.replace('MODE', json.dumps(mode)).replace('RENDER', RENDER)
     result = json.loads(subprocess.check_output(['node', '-e', script], text=True))
     assert result['display'] == ''
-    if mode == 'guest':
-        assert 'Research demo' in result['html']
-        assert 'Sign in to use' in result['html']
-        assert 'research-remove-btn' not in result['html']
-        assert 'Trading' not in result['html']
-        assert result['login'] and not result['workbench']
-        assert result['catalogCalls'] == 1
+    if mode in ('guest', 'empty_owner'):
+        assert result['html'] == ''
+        assert 'No research agents yet.' in result['emptyHtml']
+        assert '<button>Community</button>' in result['emptyHtml']
+        assert result['countHidden']
+        assert not result['login'] and not result['workbench']
+        assert result['catalogCalls'] == 0
     elif mode == 'owner':
         assert 'Open workbench' in result['html']
         assert 'Unadded' not in result['html']
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ def test_pending_guest_response_cannot_overwrite_signed_in_shelf(reject_old):
 const catalogStarted = new Promise(resolve=>started=resolve);
 const catalog = new Promise((resolve,reject)=>{resolveCatalog=resolve;rejectCatalog=reject;});
 const agent = {template_id:'research',name:'Owned research',research:{},added:true};
-const fetchResearchAgents = async()=>{if(signedIn)return [agent];throw {status:401};};
+const fetchResearchAgents = async()=>{if(signedIn)return [agent];started();return catalog;};
 const API = {get:()=>{started();return catalog;}};
 const API_BASE='';
 const templateMarketplaceShelf=()=> 'research';
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ def test_pending_guest_response_cannot_overwrite_signed_in_shelf(reject_old):
   signedIn=true;
   await renderResearchShelf();
   const expected=grid.innerHTML;
-  if(REJECT)rejectCatalog(new Error('Late failure'));
-  else resolveCatalog({templates:[{...agent,name:'Guest research'}]});
+  if(REJECT)rejectCatalog({status:401});
+  else resolveCatalog([]);
   await oldRender;
   console.log(JSON.stringify({unchanged:expected===grid.innerHTML,html:grid.innerHTML,error:empty.textContent}));
 })().catch(e=>{console.error(e);process.exit(1)});
diff --git a/dashboard/frontend/app.html b/dashboard/frontend/app.html
index e81e7b5b..c0f93bf8 100644
--- a/dashboard/frontend/app.html
+++ b/dashboard/frontend/app.html
@@ -2512,7 +2512,7 @@ <h2 id="creditsRefundTitle">Refund Credits purchase</h2>
     <script src="market-events/MarketEventFeed.js" defer></script>
     <script src="js/portfolio.js?v=18" defer></script>
     <script src="js/backtest-comparison.js?v=1" defer></script>
-    <script src="app.js?v=160" defer></script>
+    <script src="app.js?v=161" defer></script>
     <script src="js/analytics.js?v=1" defer></script>
     <script src="js/agent-editor.js?v=32" defer></script>
     <script src="js/credit-format.js?v=1" defer></script>
diff --git a/dashboard/frontend/app.js b/dashboard/frontend/app.js
index a49e3213..bf4ed3bb 100644
--- a/dashboard/frontend/app.js
+++ b/dashboard/frontend/app.js
@@ -13381,16 +13381,14 @@ async function renderResearchShelf() {
   const section = grid.closest('.agents-category');
   if (section) section.style.display = '';
   let agents = [];
-  let guest = false;
   try {
     try {
       agents = await fetchResearchAgents();
     } catch (error) {
       if (renderVersion !== researchShelfRenderVersion) return;
       if (error?.status !== 401) throw error;
-      guest = true;
-      const catalog = await API.get(`${API_BASE}/api/v1/agents/marketplace`);
-      agents = (catalog.templates || []).filter(agent => templateMarketplaceShelf(agent) === 'research');
+      // Guests share the unadded shelf state; discovery lives in Community.
+      agents = [];
     }
   } catch (error) {
     if (renderVersion !== researchShelfRenderVersion) return;
@@ -13403,7 +13401,7 @@ async function renderResearchShelf() {
     return;
   }
   if (renderVersion !== researchShelfRenderVersion) return;
-  const added = guest ? agents : agents.filter((agent) => agent.added);
+  const added = agents.filter((agent) => agent.added);
   if (countEl) {
     countEl.textContent = String(added.length);
     countEl.hidden = added.length === 0;
@@ -13412,7 +13410,7 @@ async function renderResearchShelf() {
     grid.innerHTML = '';
     if (emptyEl) {
       emptyEl.hidden = false;
-      emptyEl.innerHTML = 'No research agents yet. Add one from '
+      emptyEl.innerHTML = 'No research agents yet. Add a research agent from '
         + communityShelfButtonHtml('all') + '.';
     }
     return;
@@ -13432,14 +13430,13 @@ async function renderResearchShelf() {
           <svg class="ui-icon research-fact-icon" aria-hidden="true"><use href="#icon-file-text"></use></svg> ${escapeHtml(((agent.research || {}).output_formats || []).join(' / '))}
         </p>
         <div class="research-agent-card-actions">
-          <button type="button" class="auth-btn auth-btn-primary research-open-btn">${guest ? 'Sign in to use' : 'Open workbench'}</button>
-          ${guest ? '' : `<button type="button" class="research-remove-btn" data-remove-template-id="${escapeHtml(agent.template_id)}" data-agent-name="${escapeHtml(agent.name)}">Remove</button>`}
+          <button type="button" class="auth-btn auth-btn-primary research-open-btn">Open workbench</button>
+          <button type="button" class="research-remove-btn" data-remove-template-id="${escapeHtml(agent.template_id)}" data-agent-name="${escapeHtml(agent.name)}">Remove</button>
         </div>
       </article>`;
   }).join('');
   grid.querySelectorAll('.research-agent-card').forEach((card) => {
     card.querySelector('.research-open-btn')?.addEventListener('click', () => {
-      if (guest) { openAuthModal('login'); return; }
       openResearchWorkbench(card.dataset.templateId);
     });
     card.querySelector('.research-remove-btn')?.addEventListener('click', async (event) => {