diff --git a/apps/desktop/src/components/MessageList.tsx b/apps/desktop/src/components/MessageList.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b083dad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/desktop/src/components/MessageList.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+import { useVirtualizer } from '@tanstack/react-virtual';
+import {
+  forwardRef,
+  useCallback,
+  useImperativeHandle,
+  useLayoutEffect,
+  useRef,
+  useState,
+  type ReactNode,
+} from 'react';
+
+import { isNearBottom, isNearTop, type Anchor } from '../lib/scrollController';
+import type { VirtuosoRow } from '../pages/ConversationPage';
+
+export interface MessageListHandle {
+  scrollToBottom(behavior?: ScrollBehavior): void;
+  scrollToRow(index: number, align?: 'center' | 'end', behavior?: ScrollBehavior): void;
+}
+
+export interface MessageListProps {
+  rows: VirtuosoRow[];
+  renderRow: (index: number, row: VirtuosoRow) => ReactNode;
+  computeKey: (row: VirtuosoRow) => string;
+  /** Initial scroll target for a freshly-mounted list. */
+  initialAnchor: { type: 'bottom' } | { type: 'row'; index: number };
+  /** Reveal gate — the list stays hidden behind a spinner until true, so the
+   *  post-paint height cascade (reactions/divider) is never visible. */
+  ready: boolean;
+  estimateRowHeight?: number;
+  atBottomThreshold?: number;
+  onReachTop?: () => void;
+  onAtBottomChange?: (atBottom: boolean) => void;
+  onTopRowChange?: (topIndex: number) => void;
+}
+
+export const MessageList = forwardRef<MessageListHandle, MessageListProps>(function MessageList(
+  {
+    rows,
+    renderRow,
+    computeKey,
+    initialAnchor,
+    ready,
+    estimateRowHeight = 64,
+    atBottomThreshold = 64,
+    onReachTop,
+    onAtBottomChange,
+    onTopRowChange,
+  },
+  ref,
+) {
+  const scrollElRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null);
+  const [revealed, setRevealed] = useState(false);
+  const atBottomRef = useRef(true);
+  // Load-older preservation: remember the first row key + scrollHeight so a
+  // prepend can be detected and the viewport restored.
+  const prevFirstKeyRef = useRef<string | null>(null);
+  const prevScrollHeightRef = useRef(0);
+
+  const virtualizer = useVirtualizer({
+    count: rows.length,
+    getScrollElement: () => scrollElRef.current,
+    estimateSize: () => estimateRowHeight,
+    overscan: 8,
+    getItemKey: (index) => computeKey(rows[index]!),
+  });
+
+  const readMetrics = useCallback(() => {
+    const el = scrollElRef.current;
+    return el
+      ? { scrollTop: el.scrollTop, scrollHeight: el.scrollHeight, clientHeight: el.clientHeight }
+      : { scrollTop: 0, scrollHeight: 0, clientHeight: 0 };
+  }, []);
+
+  const applyAnchor = useCallback(
+    (anchor: Anchor) => {
+      virtualizer.scrollToIndex(anchor.index, { align: anchor.align });
+      // Re-apply next frame: dynamic measurement settles after first paint, so a
+      // single scrollToIndex can land a few px off. Still hidden here → invisible.
+      requestAnimationFrame(() => virtualizer.scrollToIndex(anchor.index, { align: anchor.align }));
+    },
+    [virtualizer],
+  );
+
+  // Deferred reveal: when ready, anchor (before paint) then reveal.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (!ready || revealed || rows.length === 0) return;
+    const anchor: Anchor =
+      initialAnchor.type === 'bottom'
+        ? { index: rows.length - 1, align: 'end' }
+        : { index: Math.max(0, Math.min(initialAnchor.index, rows.length - 1)), align: 'start' };
+    applyAnchor(anchor);
+    atBottomRef.current = initialAnchor.type === 'bottom';
+    onAtBottomChange?.(atBottomRef.current);
+    requestAnimationFrame(() => setRevealed(true));
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [ready, rows.length]);
+
+  // Stick-to-bottom: when content grows and we were at the bottom, re-pin.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    if (!revealed) return;
+    if (atBottomRef.current) {
+      virtualizer.scrollToIndex(rows.length - 1, { align: 'end' });
+    }
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [rows.length, virtualizer.getTotalSize()]);
+
+  // Load-older preservation: if rows were prepended (first key changed and the
+  // user is near the top), restore scrollTop by the height delta so the viewport
+  // stays put instead of jumping.
+  useLayoutEffect(() => {
+    const firstKey = rows.length > 0 ? computeKey(rows[0]!) : null;
+    const el = scrollElRef.current;
+    if (el && revealed && prevFirstKeyRef.current && firstKey !== prevFirstKeyRef.current) {
+      const delta = el.scrollHeight - prevScrollHeightRef.current;
+      if (delta > 0 && el.scrollTop < atBottomThreshold * 4) {
+        el.scrollTop += delta;
+      }
+    }
+    prevFirstKeyRef.current = firstKey;
+    prevScrollHeightRef.current = el?.scrollHeight ?? 0;
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [rows]);
+
+  const handleScroll = useCallback(() => {
+    const m = readMetrics();
+    const atBottom = isNearBottom(m, atBottomThreshold);
+    if (atBottom !== atBottomRef.current) {
+      atBottomRef.current = atBottom;
+      onAtBottomChange?.(atBottom);
+    }
+    if (isNearTop(m, atBottomThreshold * 4)) onReachTop?.();
+    const first = virtualizer.getVirtualItems()[0];
+    if (first) onTopRowChange?.(first.index);
+  }, [atBottomThreshold, onAtBottomChange, onReachTop, onTopRowChange, readMetrics, virtualizer]);
+
+  useImperativeHandle(
+    ref,
+    () => ({
+      scrollToBottom: () => {
+        atBottomRef.current = true;
+        virtualizer.scrollToIndex(rows.length - 1, { align: 'end' });
+      },
+      scrollToRow: (index, align = 'center') => {
+        virtualizer.scrollToIndex(index, { align });
+      },
+    }),
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+    [virtualizer, rows.length],
+  );
+
+  const items = virtualizer.getVirtualItems();
+
+  return (
+    <div
+      ref={scrollElRef}
+      onScroll={handleScroll}
+      className="h-full overflow-y-auto"
+      style={{ opacity: revealed ? 1 : 0, position: 'relative' }}
+    >
+      <div style={{ height: virtualizer.getTotalSize(), position: 'relative', width: '100%' }}>
+        {items.map((vi) => (
+          <div
+            key={vi.key}
+            data-index={vi.index}
+            ref={virtualizer.measureElement}
+            style={{
+              position: 'absolute',
+              top: 0,
+              left: 0,
+              width: '100%',
+              transform: `translateY(${vi.start}px)`,
+            }}
+          >
+            {renderRow(vi.index, rows[vi.index]!)}
+          </div>
+        ))}
+      </div>
+      {/* 12px bottom breathing space (matches the old Virtuoso Footer). */}
+      <div style={{ height: 12 }} />
+    </div>
+  );
+});