diff --git a/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.spec.ts b/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.spec.ts
index e0ab2ceef..a1dc60c18 100644
--- a/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.spec.ts
+++ b/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.spec.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import {Network} from '../../constants';
 import {startKycVerification, startGetKycStatus} from './sumsub.effects';
 import {SumSubApi} from '../../api/sumsub';
 import {launchSumSubSdk} from '../../lib/sumsub';
+import {ongoingProcessManager} from '../../managers/OngoingProcessManager';
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Mocks
@@ -32,9 +33,20 @@ jest.mock('../../lib/sumsub', () => ({
   launchSumSubSdk: jest.fn(),
 }));
 
+jest.mock('../../managers/OngoingProcessManager', () => ({
+  ongoingProcessManager: {
+    show: jest.fn(),
+    hide: jest.fn(),
+  },
+}));
+
 const mockFetchAccessToken = SumSubApi.fetchAccessToken as jest.Mock;
 const mockFetchKycStatus = SumSubApi.fetchKycStatus as jest.Mock;
 const mockLaunchSumSubSdk = launchSumSubSdk as jest.Mock;
+const mockOngoingProcess = ongoingProcessManager as unknown as {
+  show: jest.Mock;
+  hide: jest.Mock;
+};
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Helper: build a store seeded with a logged-in user
@@ -95,6 +107,17 @@ describe('startKycVerification — auth guard', () => {
     expect(mockFetchAccessToken).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(mockLaunchSumSubSdk).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });
+
+  it('tells the user to log in instead of failing silently', async () => {
+    const store = configureTestStore({
+      APP: {network: Network.mainnet},
+      BITPAY_ID: {user: {}, apiToken: {[Network.mainnet]: API_TOKEN}},
+    });
+
+    await store.dispatch(startKycVerification());
+
+    expect(store.getState().APP.showBottomNotificationModal).toBe(true);
+  });
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -236,7 +259,15 @@ describe('startKycVerification — failure handling', () => {
 
     expect(mockLaunchSumSubSdk).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(store.getState().SUMSUB.kyc[Network.mainnet]).toBeNull();
-    expect(store.getState().APP.showBottomNotificationModal).not.toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('surfaces a message when the backend returns no token', async () => {
+    const store = makeLoggedInStore();
+    mockFetchAccessToken.mockResolvedValue(null);
+
+    await store.dispatch(startKycVerification());
+
+    expect(store.getState().APP.showBottomNotificationModal).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it('resolves when fetching the access token fails', async () => {
@@ -249,6 +280,55 @@ describe('startKycVerification — failure handling', () => {
     expect(mockLaunchSumSubSdk).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
     expect(store.getState().SUMSUB.kyc[Network.mainnet]).toBeNull();
   });
+
+  it('never leaks the raw server error into the modal', async () => {
+    const store = makeLoggedInStore();
+    mockFetchAccessToken.mockRejectedValue(
+      new Error('Region not supported for identity verification'),
+    );
+
+    await store.dispatch(startKycVerification());
+
+    const {message} = store.getState().APP.bottomNotificationModalConfig!;
+    expect(store.getState().APP.showBottomNotificationModal).toBe(true);
+    expect(message).toBe('The verification process encountered an error.');
+    expect(message).not.toContain('Region not supported');
+  });
+});
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Loading indicator around the token mint
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+describe('startKycVerification — spinner', () => {
+  it('shows and hides the spinner around the token mint', async () => {
+    const store = makeLoggedInStore();
+
+    await store.dispatch(startKycVerification());
+
+    expect(mockOngoingProcess.show).toHaveBeenCalledWith('GENERAL_AWAITING');
+    expect(mockOngoingProcess.hide).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('hides the spinner even when the token mint throws', async () => {
+    const store = makeLoggedInStore();
+    mockFetchAccessToken.mockRejectedValue(new Error('token endpoint down'));
+
+    await store.dispatch(startKycVerification());
+
+    expect(mockOngoingProcess.hide).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('hides the spinner before the SDK is launched', async () => {
+    const store = makeLoggedInStore();
+    mockLaunchSumSubSdk.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      expect(mockOngoingProcess.hide).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+      return {success: true, status: 'Approved'};
+    });
+
+    await store.dispatch(startKycVerification());
+
+    expect(mockLaunchSumSubSdk).toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
 });
 
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.ts b/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.ts
index dbe67f916..254fe3b37 100644
--- a/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.ts
+++ b/src/store/sumsub/sumsub.effects.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import {t} from 'i18next';
 import {Effect} from '../index';
 import {SumSubApi} from '../../api/sumsub';
 import {launchSumSubSdk} from '../../lib/sumsub';
@@ -7,6 +8,10 @@ import {KycInfo} from './sumsub.reducer';
 import {showBottomNotificationModal} from '../app/app.actions';
 import {CustomErrorMessage} from '../../navigation/wallet/components/ErrorMessages';
 import {deriveKycUiState} from './sumsub.selectors';
+import {ongoingProcessManager} from '../../managers/OngoingProcessManager';
+import {sleep} from '../../utils/helper-methods';
+
+const MODAL_HANDOFF_DELAY = 600;
 
 // Fetches the backend KYC object and stores it verbatim. No-op when logged out.
 export const startGetKycStatus =
@@ -57,6 +62,15 @@ export const startKycVerification =
       dispatch(
         LogActions.error('[SumSub] Cannot start KYC — user not logged in'),
       );
+      dispatch(
+        showBottomNotificationModal(
+          CustomErrorMessage({
+            errMsg: t(
+              'Please log in to your BitPay account to verify your identity.',
+            ),
+          }),
+        ),
+      );
       return;
     }
 
@@ -64,15 +78,31 @@ export const startKycVerification =
       SumSubApi.fetchAccessToken(apiToken);
 
     try {
-      const accessToken = await getAccessToken();
+      ongoingProcessManager.show('GENERAL_AWAITING');
+      let accessToken: string | null;
+      try {
+        accessToken = await getAccessToken();
+      } finally {
+        ongoingProcessManager.hide();
+      }
 
-      // Null token → not eligible; not an error, just don't launch the SDK.
       if (!accessToken) {
         dispatch(
           LogActions.info(
             '[SumSub] No access token returned — KYC not available for this user.',
           ),
         );
+        await sleep(MODAL_HANDOFF_DELAY);
+        dispatch(
+          showBottomNotificationModal(
+            CustomErrorMessage({
+              title: t('Verification unavailable'),
+              errMsg: t(
+                "Identity verification isn't available for your account at this time. Please contact support if you need help.",
+              ),
+            }),
+          ),
+        );
         return;
       }
 
@@ -114,5 +144,13 @@ export const startKycVerification =
     } catch (err) {
       const msg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : JSON.stringify(err);
       dispatch(LogActions.error(`[SumSub] SDK error: ${msg}`));
+      await sleep(MODAL_HANDOFF_DELAY);
+      dispatch(
+        showBottomNotificationModal(
+          CustomErrorMessage({
+            errMsg: t('The verification process encountered an error.'),
+          }),
+        ),
+      );
     }
   };