diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 902db39..b66e07a 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -31,18 +31,24 @@ API_SECRET_KEY=2a344f0149442c857fb56c038c0c7d1b113883b830bec792c76f1e0efa15d6bb
 
 # Solana RPC URL (Required for blockchain access)
 # 
-# CRITICAL: Primary RPC for all trading operations
-# Current: Alchemy (300M compute units/month free tier)
+# CRITICAL: Primary RPC for normal trading operations
+# Current: Alchemy (300M compute units/month free tier, excellent stability)
 SOLANA_RPC_URL=https://solana-mainnet.g.alchemy.com/v2/5A0iA5UYpsmP9gkuezYeg
 
 # Fallback RPC URL (Optional but HIGHLY recommended)
-# Automatically switches to fallback after 2 consecutive rate limits
-# Use a different provider than primary for best redundancy
-SOLANA_FALLBACK_RPC_URL=https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/v1/?api-key=dcca4bf0-0b91-4f6a-8d12-1c5a4c1c6e5b
+# 
+# SMART STRATEGY (DISABLED - Helius API key issue):
+# 1. Bot STARTS with fallback (Helius) - handles startup burst better (10 req/sec sustained)
+# 2. After init, SWITCHES to primary (Alchemy) - more stable for trading operations
+# 3. On 429 errors, falls back to Helius temporarily, then returns to Alchemy
+# 
+# TEMPORARILY DISABLED: Set to empty until Helius API key fixed
+# SOLANA_FALLBACK_RPC_URL=https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=dcca4bf0-0b91-4f6a-8d12-1c5a4c1c6e5b
+SOLANA_FALLBACK_RPC_URL=
 
 # RPC Provider Comparison (as of Nov 2025):
-# ✅ Alchemy: 300M CU/month, excellent for primary (CURRENT PRIMARY)
-# ⚠️  Helius: 10 req/sec sustained (free tier), good for fallback only
+# ✅ Alchemy: 300M CU/month, excellent for trading operations (PRIMARY)
+# ✅ Helius: 10 req/sec sustained, perfect for startup bursts (STARTUP + FALLBACK)
 # QuickNode: Paid plans, very reliable
 # Ankr/Public: Unreliable, not recommended
 
diff --git a/lib/drift/client.ts b/lib/drift/client.ts
index 9f42282..adc25c7 100644
--- a/lib/drift/client.ts
+++ b/lib/drift/client.ts
@@ -35,13 +35,25 @@ export class DriftService {
   private usingFallback: boolean = false
 
   constructor(private config: DriftConfig) {
-    this.connection = new Connection(config.rpcUrl, 'confirmed')
-    this.currentRpcUrl = config.rpcUrl
+    // SMART STARTUP: Use fallback (Helius) for initialization burst, then switch to primary (Alchemy)
+    // Helius handles the burst better, Alchemy is more stable for ongoing operations
+    const useHeliusForStartup = config.fallbackRpcUrl && !process.env.DISABLE_STARTUP_FALLBACK
     
-    // Initialize fallback connection if provided
-    if (config.fallbackRpcUrl) {
-      this.fallbackConnection = new Connection(config.fallbackRpcUrl, 'confirmed')
-      console.log('🔄 Fallback RPC configured:', this.maskRpcUrl(config.fallbackRpcUrl))
+    if (useHeliusForStartup) {
+      console.log('🚀 Using fallback RPC for startup initialization (handles bursts better)')
+      this.connection = new Connection(config.fallbackRpcUrl!, 'confirmed')
+      this.currentRpcUrl = config.fallbackRpcUrl!
+      this.usingFallback = true
+      this.fallbackConnection = new Connection(config.rpcUrl, 'confirmed') // Primary becomes the "fallback" temporarily
+    } else {
+      this.connection = new Connection(config.rpcUrl, 'confirmed')
+      this.currentRpcUrl = config.rpcUrl
+      
+      // Initialize fallback connection if provided
+      if (config.fallbackRpcUrl) {
+        this.fallbackConnection = new Connection(config.fallbackRpcUrl, 'confirmed')
+        console.log('🔄 Fallback RPC configured:', this.maskRpcUrl(config.fallbackRpcUrl))
+      }
     }
     
     // Create wallet from private key
@@ -235,6 +247,35 @@ export class DriftService {
       this.isInitialized = true
       console.log('✅ Drift service initialized successfully')
       
+      // After successful initialization, switch to primary RPC if we started with fallback
+      if (this.usingFallback && this.fallbackConnection && this.driftClient) {
+        console.log('🔄 Startup complete - switching from Helius to Alchemy for normal operations')
+        
+        // Swap connections: primary (Alchemy) becomes active, fallback (Helius) becomes backup
+        const temp = this.connection
+        this.connection = this.fallbackConnection
+        this.fallbackConnection = temp
+        this.usingFallback = false
+        this.consecutiveRateLimits = 0
+        
+        // Reinitialize SDK with new connection
+        const sdkConfig = initialize({
+          env: this.config.env === 'devnet' ? 'devnet' : 'mainnet-beta'
+        })
+        
+        // Update Drift client's connection reference
+        this.driftClient = new DriftClient({
+          connection: this.connection,
+          wallet: this.wallet as any,
+          programID: new PublicKey(sdkConfig.DRIFT_PROGRAM_ID),
+          opts: { commitment: 'confirmed' }
+        })
+        await this.driftClient.subscribe()
+        this.user = this.driftClient.getUser()
+        
+        console.log('✅ Now using Alchemy for stable trading operations')
+      }
+      
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('❌ Failed to initialize Drift service after retries:', error)
       throw error