diff --git a/src/bin/fipstop/ui/tree.rs b/src/bin/fipstop/ui/tree.rs
index 2d221f2..c8119c9 100644
--- a/src/bin/fipstop/ui/tree.rs
+++ b/src/bin/fipstop/ui/tree.rs
@@ -174,10 +174,6 @@ fn draw_stats(frame: &mut Frame, data: &serde_json::Value, scroll: u16, focused:
             &helpers::nested_u64(data, "stats", "sig_failed"),
         ),
         helpers::kv_line("Stale", &helpers::nested_u64(data, "stats", "stale")),
-        helpers::kv_line(
-            "Parent Switched",
-            &helpers::nested_u64(data, "stats", "parent_switched"),
-        ),
         helpers::kv_line(
             "Loop Detected",
             &helpers::nested_u64(data, "stats", "loop_detected"),
diff --git a/src/control/snapshots/show_tree.json b/src/control/snapshots/show_tree.json
index 148ab46..675d85a 100644
--- a/src/control/snapshots/show_tree.json
+++ b/src/control/snapshots/show_tree.json
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
       "loop_detected": 0,
       "outbound_sign_failed": 0,
       "parent_losses": 0,
-      "parent_switched": 0,
       "parent_switches": 0,
       "rate_limited": 0,
       "received": 0,
diff --git a/src/identity/auth.rs b/src/identity/auth.rs
index 6e383b7..aedf42d 100644
--- a/src/identity/auth.rs
+++ b/src/identity/auth.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 //! Authentication challenge-response protocol.
 
 use rand::Rng;
-use secp256k1::{Secp256k1, XOnlyPublicKey};
+use secp256k1::XOnlyPublicKey;
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 
 use super::{IdentityError, NodeAddr};
@@ -34,9 +34,9 @@ impl AuthChallenge {
     /// Verify a response to this challenge.
     pub fn verify(&self, response: &AuthResponse) -> Result<NodeAddr, IdentityError> {
         let digest = auth_challenge_digest(&self.0, response.timestamp);
-        let secp = Secp256k1::new();
 
-        secp.verify_schnorr(&response.signature, &digest, &response.pubkey)
+        super::SECP
+            .verify_schnorr(&response.signature, &digest, &response.pubkey)
             .map_err(|_| IdentityError::SignatureVerificationFailed)?;
 
         Ok(NodeAddr::from_pubkey(&response.pubkey))
diff --git a/src/identity/local.rs b/src/identity/local.rs
index f79e7cd..26db8e1 100644
--- a/src/identity/local.rs
+++ b/src/identity/local.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Local node identity with signing capability.
 
-use secp256k1::{Keypair, PublicKey, Secp256k1, SecretKey, XOnlyPublicKey};
+use secp256k1::{Keypair, PublicKey, SecretKey, XOnlyPublicKey};
 use std::fmt;
 
 use super::auth::{AuthResponse, auth_challenge_digest};
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ impl Identity {
 
     /// Create an identity from a secret key.
     pub fn from_secret_key(secret_key: SecretKey) -> Self {
-        let secp = Secp256k1::new();
-        let keypair = Keypair::from_secret_key(&secp, &secret_key);
+        let keypair = Keypair::from_secret_key(&super::SECP, &secret_key);
         Self::from_keypair(keypair)
     }
 
@@ -93,9 +92,8 @@ impl Identity {
 
     /// Sign arbitrary data with this identity's secret key.
     pub fn sign(&self, data: &[u8]) -> secp256k1::schnorr::Signature {
-        let secp = Secp256k1::new();
         let digest = sha256(data);
-        secp.sign_schnorr(&digest, &self.keypair)
+        super::SECP.sign_schnorr(&digest, &self.keypair)
     }
 
     /// Create an authentication response for a challenge.
@@ -103,8 +101,7 @@ impl Identity {
     /// The response signs: SHA256("fips-auth-v1" || challenge || timestamp)
     pub fn sign_challenge(&self, challenge: &[u8; 32], timestamp: u64) -> AuthResponse {
         let digest = auth_challenge_digest(challenge, timestamp);
-        let secp = Secp256k1::new();
-        let signature = secp.sign_schnorr(&digest, &self.keypair);
+        let signature = super::SECP.sign_schnorr(&digest, &self.keypair);
         AuthResponse {
             pubkey: self.pubkey(),
             timestamp,
diff --git a/src/identity/mod.rs b/src/identity/mod.rs
index e5f7899..6093427 100644
--- a/src/identity/mod.rs
+++ b/src/identity/mod.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ mod local;
 mod node_addr;
 mod peer;
 
+use std::sync::LazyLock;
+
+use secp256k1::{All, Secp256k1};
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 use thiserror::Error;
 
@@ -21,6 +24,15 @@ pub use local::Identity;
 pub use node_addr::NodeAddr;
 pub use peer::PeerIdentity;
 
+/// Shared secp256k1 context reused across all identity operations.
+///
+/// `Secp256k1::new()` allocates a `Secp256k1<All>` and runs randomization /
+/// blinding table setup; it is designed to be created once and reused rather
+/// than rebuilt per sign / verify / key-derive call. This single `All` context
+/// serves both signing and verification across the identity module and still
+/// performs the standard construction-time blinding.
+pub(crate) static SECP: LazyLock<Secp256k1<All>> = LazyLock::new(Secp256k1::new);
+
 /// FIPS address prefix (IPv6 ULA range).
 pub const FIPS_ADDRESS_PREFIX: u8 = 0xfd;
 
diff --git a/src/identity/peer.rs b/src/identity/peer.rs
index 06f65f7..b997058 100644
--- a/src/identity/peer.rs
+++ b/src/identity/peer.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Remote peer identity (public key only, no signing capability).
 
-use secp256k1::{Parity, PublicKey, Secp256k1, XOnlyPublicKey};
+use secp256k1::{Parity, PublicKey, XOnlyPublicKey};
 use std::fmt;
 
 use super::encoding::{decode_npub, encode_npub};
@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ impl PeerIdentity {
 
     /// Verify a signature from this peer.
     pub fn verify(&self, data: &[u8], signature: &secp256k1::schnorr::Signature) -> bool {
-        let secp = Secp256k1::new();
         let digest = sha256(data);
-        secp.verify_schnorr(signature, &digest, &self.pubkey)
+        super::SECP
+            .verify_schnorr(signature, &digest, &self.pubkey)
             .is_ok()
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/identity/tests.rs b/src/identity/tests.rs
index 5db8d8d..546c7ff 100644
--- a/src/identity/tests.rs
+++ b/src/identity/tests.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::collections::HashSet;
 use std::net::Ipv6Addr;
 
-use secp256k1::{Keypair, Secp256k1, SecretKey};
+use secp256k1::{Keypair, SecretKey};
 
 use super::*;
 
@@ -161,10 +161,10 @@ fn test_identity_sign() {
     let sig = identity.sign(data);
 
     // Verify the signature manually
-    let secp = secp256k1::Secp256k1::new();
     let digest = super::sha256(data);
     assert!(
-        secp.verify_schnorr(&sig, &digest, &identity.pubkey())
+        super::SECP
+            .verify_schnorr(&sig, &digest, &identity.pubkey())
             .is_ok()
     );
 }
@@ -580,13 +580,12 @@ fn test_peer_identity_pubkey_full_even_parity_fallback() {
 #[test]
 fn test_peer_identity_pubkey_full_preserved_parity() {
     // Create two identities and find one with odd parity to make this test meaningful
-    let secp = Secp256k1::new();
     let secret_bytes: [u8; 32] = [
         0x01, 0x02, 0x03, 0x04, 0x05, 0x06, 0x07, 0x08, 0x09, 0x0a, 0x0b, 0x0c, 0x0d, 0x0e, 0x0f,
         0x10, 0x11, 0x12, 0x13, 0x14, 0x15, 0x16, 0x17, 0x18, 0x19, 0x1a, 0x1b, 0x1c, 0x1d, 0x1e,
         0x1f, 0x20,
     ];
-    let keypair = Keypair::from_seckey_slice(&secp, &secret_bytes).unwrap();
+    let keypair = Keypair::from_seckey_slice(&super::SECP, &secret_bytes).unwrap();
     let full_pubkey = keypair.public_key();
 
     let peer = PeerIdentity::from_pubkey_full(full_pubkey);
diff --git a/src/node/handlers/lookup.rs b/src/node/handlers/lookup.rs
index 64f1dad..41f7c58 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/lookup.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/lookup.rs
@@ -283,17 +283,33 @@ impl Node {
                     // map used by the TUN reader/writer at TCP MSS clamp time.
                     let fips_addr = crate::FipsAddress::from_node_addr(&target);
                     match self.path_mtu_lookup.write() {
-                        Ok(mut map) => {
-                            let prior = map.insert(fips_addr, path_mtu);
-                            debug!(
-                                target = %self.peer_display_name(&target),
-                                fips_addr = %fips_addr,
-                                path_mtu = path_mtu,
-                                prior = ?prior,
-                                map_len = map.len(),
-                                "Wrote path_mtu_lookup from discovery LookupResponse"
-                            );
-                        }
+                        Ok(mut map) => match map.get(&fips_addr).copied() {
+                            Some(existing) if existing <= path_mtu => {
+                                // Keep the tighter learned value; never loosen
+                                // the clamp. A reactive MtuExceeded or
+                                // PathMtuNotification tighten takes precedence
+                                // over a looser discovery estimate
+                                // (cross-carrier keep-tighter).
+                                debug!(
+                                    target = %self.peer_display_name(&target),
+                                    fips_addr = %fips_addr,
+                                    path_mtu = path_mtu,
+                                    existing = existing,
+                                    "LookupResponse: keeping tighter existing path_mtu_lookup value"
+                                );
+                            }
+                            other => {
+                                map.insert(fips_addr, path_mtu);
+                                debug!(
+                                    target = %self.peer_display_name(&target),
+                                    fips_addr = %fips_addr,
+                                    path_mtu = path_mtu,
+                                    prior = ?other,
+                                    map_len = map.len(),
+                                    "Wrote path_mtu_lookup from discovery LookupResponse"
+                                );
+                            }
+                        },
                         Err(e) => {
                             warn!(
                                 target = %self.peer_display_name(&target),
diff --git a/src/node/handlers/mmp.rs b/src/node/handlers/mmp.rs
index 393603f..dc175ca 100644
--- a/src/node/handlers/mmp.rs
+++ b/src/node/handlers/mmp.rs
@@ -233,7 +233,6 @@ impl Node {
                 self.coord_cache
                     .invalidate_via_node(our_identity.node_addr());
                 self.reset_lookup_backoff();
-                self.metrics().tree.parent_switched.inc();
                 self.metrics().tree.parent_switches.inc();
                 info!(
                     new_parent = %self.peer_display_name(&new_parent),
@@ -267,7 +266,6 @@ impl Node {
                 self.coord_cache
                     .invalidate_other_roots(our_identity.node_addr());
                 self.reset_lookup_backoff();
-                self.metrics().tree.parent_switched.inc();
                 self.metrics().tree.parent_switches.inc();
                 info!(
                     new_root = %self.tree_state.root(),
diff --git a/src/node/metrics.rs b/src/node/metrics.rs
index d5b9f61..e27d5a6 100644
--- a/src/node/metrics.rs
+++ b/src/node/metrics.rs
@@ -284,7 +284,6 @@ pub struct TreeMetrics {
     pub stale: Counter,
     pub ancestry_invalid: Counter,
     pub accepted: Counter,
-    pub parent_switched: Counter,
     pub loop_detected: Counter,
     pub ancestry_changed: Counter,
     pub sent: Counter,
@@ -318,7 +317,6 @@ impl TreeMetrics {
             stale: self.stale.get(),
             ancestry_invalid: self.ancestry_invalid.get(),
             accepted: self.accepted.get(),
-            parent_switched: self.parent_switched.get(),
             loop_detected: self.loop_detected.get(),
             ancestry_changed: self.ancestry_changed.get(),
             sent: self.sent.get(),
diff --git a/src/node/stats.rs b/src/node/stats.rs
index 93e92f8..3f9955d 100644
--- a/src/node/stats.rs
+++ b/src/node/stats.rs
@@ -273,7 +273,6 @@ pub struct TreeStatsSnapshot {
     pub stale: u64,
     pub ancestry_invalid: u64,
     pub accepted: u64,
-    pub parent_switched: u64,
     pub loop_detected: u64,
     pub ancestry_changed: u64,
     pub sent: u64,
diff --git a/src/node/tests/discovery.rs b/src/node/tests/discovery.rs
index 8ad42ba..52be3b3 100644
--- a/src/node/tests/discovery.rs
+++ b/src/node/tests/discovery.rs
@@ -914,6 +914,45 @@ async fn test_originator_stores_path_mtu_in_cache() {
     );
 }
 
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn test_originator_lookup_response_keeps_tighter_path_mtu_lookup() {
+    // Regression: a LookupResponse carrying a looser (larger) path_mtu must
+    // NOT clobber a tighter (smaller) value already in path_mtu_lookup that a
+    // reactive MtuExceeded or PathMtuNotification learned. Cross-carrier
+    // keep-tighter: the clamp must never loosen.
+    let mut node = make_node();
+    let from = make_node_addr(0xAA);
+
+    let target_identity = Identity::generate();
+    let target = *target_identity.node_addr();
+    let root = make_node_addr(0xF0);
+    let coords = TreeCoordinate::from_addrs(vec![target, root]).unwrap();
+
+    node.register_identity(target, target_identity.pubkey_full());
+
+    // Pre-seed a tighter value, as if a reactive signal already narrowed it.
+    let target_fips = crate::FipsAddress::from_node_addr(&target);
+    node.path_mtu_lookup_insert(target_fips, 1280);
+
+    let proof_data = LookupResponse::proof_bytes(800, &target, &coords);
+    let proof = target_identity.sign(&proof_data);
+
+    let mut response = LookupResponse::new(800, target, coords.clone(), proof);
+    // Looser discovery estimate that must be rejected in favor of the tighter
+    // existing entry.
+    response.path_mtu = 1500;
+
+    let payload = &response.encode()[1..];
+
+    node.handle_lookup_response(&from, payload).await;
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        node.path_mtu_lookup_get(&target_fips),
+        Some(1280),
+        "LookupResponse must not loosen a tighter existing path_mtu_lookup value"
+    );
+}
+
 // ============================================================================
 // Open-Discovery Sweep — cache-injection unit test
 // ============================================================================
diff --git a/src/node/tests/spanning_tree.rs b/src/node/tests/spanning_tree.rs
index 471f630..85de6ee 100644
--- a/src/node/tests/spanning_tree.rs
+++ b/src/node/tests/spanning_tree.rs
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ async fn test_tree_announce_self_root_promotion() {
     let announce = TreeAnnounce::new(decl, TreeCoordinate::from_addrs(vec![l_addr]).unwrap());
     let encoded = announce.encode().unwrap();
 
-    let switched_before = nodes[p_idx].node.metrics().tree.parent_switched.get();
+    let switched_before = nodes[p_idx].node.metrics().tree.parent_switches.get();
     nodes[p_idx]
         .node
         .handle_tree_announce(&l_addr, &encoded[1..])
@@ -1240,7 +1240,7 @@ async fn test_tree_announce_self_root_promotion() {
     );
     assert_eq!(*nodes[p_idx].node.tree_state().root(), p_addr);
     assert_eq!(
-        nodes[p_idx].node.metrics().tree.parent_switched.get(),
+        nodes[p_idx].node.metrics().tree.parent_switches.get(),
         switched_before + 1
     );
 
diff --git a/src/node/tree.rs b/src/node/tree.rs
index 6d04dad..cbc2b65 100644
--- a/src/node/tree.rs
+++ b/src/node/tree.rs
@@ -373,7 +373,6 @@ impl Node {
                     .invalidate_via_node(our_identity.node_addr());
                 self.reset_lookup_backoff();
 
-                self.metrics().tree.parent_switched.inc();
                 self.metrics().tree.parent_switches.inc();
 
                 info!(
@@ -418,7 +417,6 @@ impl Node {
                 self.coord_cache
                     .invalidate_other_roots(our_identity.node_addr());
                 self.reset_lookup_backoff();
-                self.metrics().tree.parent_switched.inc();
                 self.metrics().tree.parent_switches.inc();
                 info!(
                     new_root = %self.tree_state.root(),
@@ -627,7 +625,6 @@ impl Node {
                     .invalidate_via_node(our_identity.node_addr());
                 self.reset_lookup_backoff();
 
-                self.metrics().tree.parent_switched.inc();
                 self.metrics().tree.parent_switches.inc();
 
                 info!(
@@ -670,7 +667,6 @@ impl Node {
                 self.coord_cache
                     .invalidate_other_roots(our_identity.node_addr());
                 self.reset_lookup_backoff();
-                self.metrics().tree.parent_switched.inc();
                 self.metrics().tree.parent_switches.inc();
                 info!(
                     new_root = %self.tree_state.root(),
diff --git a/src/proto/stp/core.rs b/src/proto/stp/core.rs
index 669d000..8181e94 100644
--- a/src/proto/stp/core.rs
+++ b/src/proto/stp/core.rs
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ pub(crate) enum TreeDecision {
     /// `evaluate_parent` picked a (different) parent: switch to it. Shell:
     /// `set_parent(new_parent, new_seq, ts)` -> flap_dampened; `recompute_coords`;
     /// sign; `invalidate_via_node`; reset_backoff;
-    /// metrics(parent_switched/parent_switches[, flap_dampened]); send_all;
+    /// metrics(parent_switches[, flap_dampened]); send_all;
     /// bloom.mark_all_updates_needed.
     Switch { new_parent: NodeAddr, new_seq: u64 },
 
     /// `evaluate_parent` None && !is_root && should_be_root: self-promote to root.
     /// Shell: `become_root`; sign; `invalidate_other_roots`; reset_backoff;
-    /// metrics(parent_switched/parent_switches); send_all;
+    /// metrics(parent_switches); send_all;
     /// bloom.mark_all_updates_needed.
     SelfRoot,