diff --git a/src/app/page.tsx b/src/app/page.tsx
index 4ba154a..605d153 100644
--- a/src/app/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/page.tsx
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import { useState, useEffect } from 'react';
 import Image from 'next/image';
 import Link from 'next/link';
-import { getChallenge, verifySignature, getMe, type AuthResponse } from '@/lib/api';
+import { getChallenge, verifySignature, getMe, getUserCount, type AuthResponse } from '@/lib/api';
 
 type Asset = 'btc' | 'ltc' | 'xmr' | 'wow' | 'grin';
 
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export default function Home() {
   const [user, setUser] = useState<AuthResponse['user'] | null>(null);
   const [hasExtension, setHasExtension] = useState<boolean | null>(null);
   const [checkingSession, setCheckingSession] = useState(true);
+  const [userCount, setUserCount] = useState<number | null>(null);
 
   // Check for extension on mount
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -34,6 +35,13 @@ export default function Home() {
     return () => clearTimeout(timeout);
   }, []);
 
+  // Fetch user count on mount
+  useEffect(() => {
+    getUserCount()
+      .then((data) => setUserCount(data.count))
+      .catch(() => {}); // Silently ignore errors
+  }, []);
+
   const handleConnect = async () => {
     if (!window.smirk) {
       setError('Smirk extension not found');
@@ -143,6 +151,12 @@ export default function Home() {
           />
         </div>
         <p className="creepster-text text-2xl mt-4">smirk.ca$h</p>
+        {userCount !== null && userCount > 0 && (
+          <p className="text-zinc-500 text-sm mt-4">
+            <span className="text-[#fbeb0a] font-semibold">{userCount.toLocaleString()}</span>{' '}
+            {userCount === 1 ? 'smirker' : 'smirkers'} and counting
+          </p>
+        )}
       </div>
 
       {/* Initial state - Connect button */}
diff --git a/src/app/settings/page.tsx b/src/app/settings/page.tsx
index cb18d05..a267255 100644
--- a/src/app/settings/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/settings/page.tsx
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import {
   getLinkedSocials,
   registerSocial,
   unlinkSocial,
+  getMyUsername,
+  setUsername,
   type MeResponse,
   type LinkedSocial,
 } from '@/lib/api';
@@ -20,6 +22,13 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
   const [loading, setLoading] = useState(true);
   const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null);
 
+  // Username state
+  const [smirkUsername, setSmirkUsername] = useState<string>('');
+  const [editingUsername, setEditingUsername] = useState(false);
+  const [usernameInput, setUsernameInput] = useState('');
+  const [usernameError, setUsernameError] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  const [savingUsername, setSavingUsername] = useState(false);
+
   // Telegram linking state
   const [linkStep, setLinkStep] = useState<LinkStep>('idle');
   const [telegramUsername, setTelegramUsername] = useState('');
@@ -35,15 +44,43 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
       return;
     }
 
-    Promise.all([getMe(token), getLinkedSocials(token)])
-      .then(([userData, socialsData]) => {
+    Promise.all([getMe(token), getLinkedSocials(token), getMyUsername(token)])
+      .then(([userData, socialsData, username]) => {
         setUser(userData);
         setSocials(socialsData.socials);
+        setSmirkUsername(username || '');
+        setUsernameInput(username || '');
       })
       .catch((err) => setError(err.message))
       .finally(() => setLoading(false));
   }, [token]);
 
+  const handleSaveUsername = async () => {
+    if (!token) return;
+    const trimmed = usernameInput.trim().toLowerCase();
+
+    if (trimmed.length < 3 || trimmed.length > 32) {
+      setUsernameError('Username must be 3-32 characters');
+      return;
+    }
+    if (!/^[a-z0-9_]+$/.test(trimmed)) {
+      setUsernameError('Only lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores allowed');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    setSavingUsername(true);
+    setUsernameError(null);
+    try {
+      const result = await setUsername(token, trimmed);
+      setSmirkUsername(result.username);
+      setEditingUsername(false);
+    } catch (err) {
+      setUsernameError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'Failed to save username');
+    } finally {
+      setSavingUsername(false);
+    }
+  };
+
   const handleStartLink = () => {
     setLinkStep('entering');
     setLinkError(null);
@@ -154,6 +191,70 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         </div>
       </section>
 
+      {/* Smirk Username */}
+      <section className="mb-8">
+        <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-4 text-zinc-400">Smirk Username</h2>
+        <div className="bg-zinc-900 rounded-xl p-4">
+          {!editingUsername ? (
+            <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+              <div>
+                {smirkUsername ? (
+                  <>
+                    <p className="text-zinc-500 text-xs mb-1">Your username</p>
+                    <p className="text-[#fbeb0a] font-medium">@{smirkUsername}</p>
+                  </>
+                ) : (
+                  <p className="text-zinc-500 text-sm">No username set</p>
+                )}
+              </div>
+              <button
+                onClick={() => setEditingUsername(true)}
+                className="px-4 py-2 bg-[#fbeb0a] text-black font-medium rounded-lg hover:bg-[#d4c708]"
+              >
+                {smirkUsername ? 'Change' : 'Set Username'}
+              </button>
+            </div>
+          ) : (
+            <div>
+              <label className="block text-sm text-zinc-400 mb-2">
+                Choose a username (3-32 chars, lowercase alphanumeric + underscores)
+              </label>
+              <div className="flex gap-2">
+                <input
+                  type="text"
+                  value={usernameInput}
+                  onChange={(e) => setUsernameInput(e.target.value.toLowerCase())}
+                  placeholder="my_username"
+                  maxLength={32}
+                  className="flex-1 px-3 py-2 bg-zinc-800 border border-zinc-700 rounded-lg text-white placeholder:text-zinc-500 focus:outline-none focus:border-[#fbeb0a]"
+                />
+                <button
+                  onClick={handleSaveUsername}
+                  disabled={savingUsername}
+                  className="px-4 py-2 bg-[#fbeb0a] text-black font-medium rounded-lg hover:bg-[#d4c708] disabled:opacity-50"
+                >
+                  {savingUsername ? 'Saving...' : 'Save'}
+                </button>
+                <button
+                  onClick={() => {
+                    setEditingUsername(false);
+                    setUsernameInput(smirkUsername);
+                    setUsernameError(null);
+                  }}
+                  className="px-4 py-2 border border-zinc-700 rounded-lg hover:border-zinc-500"
+                >
+                  Cancel
+                </button>
+              </div>
+              {usernameError && <p className="mt-2 text-sm text-red-400">{usernameError}</p>}
+              <p className="mt-3 text-xs text-zinc-500">
+                Others can tip you directly using your Smirk username
+              </p>
+            </div>
+          )}
+        </div>
+      </section>
+
       {/* Linked Accounts */}
       <section>
         <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold mb-4 text-zinc-400">Linked Accounts</h2>
diff --git a/src/lib/api.ts b/src/lib/api.ts
index efb8072..3aab09c 100644
--- a/src/lib/api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api.ts
@@ -256,3 +256,73 @@ export async function getClaimableTips(token: string): Promise<{ tips: Claimable
 
   return res.json();
 }
+
+// =============================================================================
+// Username Management
+// =============================================================================
+
+export async function getMyUsername(token: string): Promise<string | null> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${API_URL}/api/v1/users/me/username`, {
+    headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
+  });
+
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error('Failed to get username');
+  }
+
+  return res.json();
+}
+
+export async function setUsername(token: string, username: string): Promise<{ username: string }> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${API_URL}/api/v1/users/me/username`, {
+    method: 'POST',
+    headers: {
+      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
+      Authorization: `Bearer ${token}`,
+    },
+    body: JSON.stringify({ username }),
+  });
+
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    const data = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
+    throw new Error(data.error || 'Failed to set username');
+  }
+
+  return res.json();
+}
+
+export interface UserLookupResponse {
+  user_id: string;
+  username: string;
+}
+
+export async function lookupByUsername(username: string): Promise<UserLookupResponse> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${API_URL}/api/v1/users/by-username/${encodeURIComponent(username)}`);
+
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    if (res.status === 404) {
+      throw new Error('User not found');
+    }
+    throw new Error('Failed to lookup user');
+  }
+
+  return res.json();
+}
+
+// =============================================================================
+// User Count (Public)
+// =============================================================================
+
+export interface UserCountResponse {
+  count: number;
+}
+
+export async function getUserCount(): Promise<UserCountResponse> {
+  const res = await fetch(`${API_URL}/api/v1/users/count`);
+
+  if (!res.ok) {
+    throw new Error('Failed to get user count');
+  }
+
+  return res.json();
+}