diff --git a/telegram_aura_bot/bot.py b/telegram_aura_bot/bot.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c0cdc11b0b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/telegram_aura_bot/bot.py
@@ -0,0 +1,323 @@
+import logging
+import os
+import secrets
+import time
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
+from telegram import Update, InlineKeyboardButton, InlineKeyboardMarkup, WebAppInfo # Added imports
+from telegram.ext import Application, CommandHandler, MessageHandler, filters, ContextTypes
+from telegram.constants import ChatAction
+
+# --- Environment Variables & Logging ---
+load_dotenv() # Load variables from .env file
+
+TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN = os.getenv("TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN")
+# --- Get NGROK URL (Replace this manually for now) ---
+# IMPORTANT: Replace this with the ACTUAL https URL from your running ngrok instance!
+# In a real deployment, you wouldn't hardcode this.
+NGROK_URL = "https://a88f-134-6-156-202.ngrok-free.app"
+
+if not TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN:
+    raise ValueError("TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN not found in .env file")
+
+
+# Enable logging (helps with debugging)
+logging.basicConfig(
+    format="%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - %(message)s", level=logging.INFO
+)
+logging.getLogger("httpx").setLevel(logging.WARNING) # Quieter HTTP logs
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+# --- Constants and State ---
+COMMON_LINK_URL = "https://common.xyz/auth/telegram/link" # Replace with actual URL when available
+TOKEN_EXPIRY_SECONDS = 300 # 5 minutes
+
+# Temporary Token Storage (Replace with DB/Cache later)
+# Structure: {token: {"user_id": user_id, "timestamp": timestamp}}
+link_tokens = {}
+
+# Simulate Linked Users (Replace with DB check later)
+# Structure: {telegram_user_id}
+linked_user_ids = set()
+
+# --- Helper Functions ---
+
+def is_user_linked(user_id: int) -> bool:
+    """Checks if the user's Telegram ID is in the set of linked users (simulation)."""
+    # TODO: In production, this should query the Common backend DB/API
+    return user_id in linked_user_ids
+
+# --- NEW: Post Verification Message Function ---
+async def send_post_verification_message(user_id: int, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE):
+    """Sends a message to the user after successful account linking."""
+    post_verify_text = (
+        "Great! Your account is linked. ✨\n\n"
+        "You can now:\n"
+        "  • See your Aura points using /show_aura or /check_aura.\n"
+        "  • Earn points automatically for helpful messages in groups.\n\n"
+        "Use /help anytime to see all commands."
+    )
+    try:
+        await context.bot.send_message(chat_id=user_id, text=post_verify_text)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Failed to send post-verification message to {user_id}: {e}")
+
+# --- Placeholder Functions (To be implemented) ---
+
+async def analyze_message_helpfulness(message_text: str) -> bool:
+    """
+    Placeholder function to analyze message helpfulness using an LLM.
+    Returns True if helpful, False otherwise.
+    """
+    logger.info(f"Placeholder: Analyzing message: '{message_text[:50]}...'")
+    # TODO: Implement actual LLM API call here
+    # Example: Based on keywords for now
+    keywords = ["how to", "can you help", "explain", "resource", "link"]
+    if any(keyword in message_text.lower() for keyword in keywords):
+         logger.info("Placeholder: Classified as potentially helpful.")
+         return True
+    return False
+
+async def award_aura_points(user_id: int, points: int):
+    """
+    Placeholder function to award Aura points to a user in the database.
+    """
+    if not is_user_linked(user_id):
+        logger.info(f"User {user_id} is not linked, skipping point award.")
+        # Optionally, you could DM the user here telling them to link their account
+        return
+
+    logger.info(f"Placeholder: Awarding {points} points to linked user {user_id}")
+    # TODO: Implement database update logic here (e.g., using SQLite or another DB)
+    pass
+
+async def get_aura_points(user_id: int) -> int:
+    """
+    Placeholder function to retrieve Aura points for a user from the database.
+    Assumes user is already verified if this is called.
+    """
+    logger.info(f"Placeholder: Getting points for linked user {user_id}")
+    # TODO: Implement database query logic here
+    # Example: Return a dummy value for now
+    return 123 # Dummy value
+
+# --- Bot Handlers ---
+
+async def start(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Sends explanation on /start"""
+    user_name = update.effective_user.first_name
+    # --- Add Version Identifier --- 
+    start_message_version = "v1.1-LinkCheck"
+    # --- End Version Identifier ---
+    await update.message.reply_text(
+        f"Hi {user_name}! 👋 Welcome to the Common Rewards Bot ({start_message_version}).\n\n"
+        "I help track helpful contributions in group chats and award Aura points. "
+        "To get started and see your points, you first need to connect your Common account.\n\n"
+        "➡️ Use /link_account to connect your account.\n"
+        "❓ Use /help to see all available commands."
+    )
+
+# --- NEW: Help Command ---
+async def help_command(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Displays a list of available commands and their descriptions."""
+    help_text = (
+        "Here's what I can do:\n\n"
+        "🔗 /link_account - Connect your Common account to Telegram."
+        "✅ /verify_user - Check if your account is linked."
+        "📊 /show_aura - View your Aura points balance (requires linked account)."
+        "💰 /check_aura - Get your Aura points balance as text (requires linked account)."
+        "🆘 /help - Show this help message.\n\n"
+        "(I also automatically analyze messages in groups I'm added to!)"
+        # "\n🔧 /force_link - DEBUG ONLY: Manually link your account for testing."
+    )
+    await update.message.reply_text(help_text)
+
+async def handle_message(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Handles regular messages in groups, analyzes helpfulness, and awards points if user is linked."""
+    message = update.message
+    user = message.from_user
+    message_text = message.text
+
+    if not user or not message_text or message.chat.type == 'private': # Don't process private messages here
+         # Only process messages in groups/supergroups for helpfulness analysis
+        if message.chat.type != 'private':
+             logger.info(f"Ignoring non-group message from {user.username} or non-text message.")
+        return
+
+
+    logger.info(f"Received group message from {user.username} (ID: {user.id}): '{message_text[:50]}...'")
+
+    # Analyze message using LLM (placeholder)
+    try:
+        is_helpful = await analyze_message_helpfulness(message_text)
+
+        if is_helpful:
+            points_to_award = 5 # Example: Award 5 points for a helpful message
+            # Award points only awards if user is linked (checked inside the function)
+            await award_aura_points(user.id, points_to_award)
+            # Avoid noisy replies in groups
+            # logger.info(f"Awarded {points_to_award} points to {user.username} (ID: {user.id}) for helpful message.")
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error processing message from {user.username}: {e}", exc_info=True)
+
+
+async def check_aura_command(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Handles the /check_aura command (simple text reply, requires linking)."""
+    user = update.effective_user
+    if not user:
+        return
+
+    if not is_user_linked(user.id):
+        await update.message.reply_text("Please link your Common account first using /link_account.")
+        return
+
+    try:
+        points = await get_aura_points(user.id)
+        await update.message.reply_text(f"Hi {user.first_name}, you currently have {points} Aura points. Use /show_aura for a detailed view.")
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.error(f"Error fetching points for {user.username}: {e}", exc_info=True)
+        await update.message.reply_text("Sorry, I couldn't fetch your points right now.")
+
+# --- Web App Handler (Gated) ---
+async def show_aura_command(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Sends a button to open the Aura points Web App if user is linked."""
+    user = update.effective_user
+    if not user:
+        return
+
+    # --- Gate access based on linking status ---
+    if not is_user_linked(user.id):
+        await update.message.reply_text(
+            "You need to link your Common account first.\n"
+            "Please use the /link_account command."
+        )
+        return
+    # --- End Gate ---
+
+    # Create the button that opens the Web App
+    # The URL MUST be the HTTPS ngrok URL pointing to your local web server
+    keyboard = [
+        [InlineKeyboardButton("📊 Show My Aura Points", web_app=WebAppInfo(url=NGROK_URL))]
+    ]
+    reply_markup = InlineKeyboardMarkup(keyboard)
+
+    await update.message.reply_text(
+        "Click the button below to see your Aura points:",
+        reply_markup=reply_markup
+    )
+
+# --- Account Linking Handlers ---
+async def link_account_command(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Handles the /link_account command. Generates a token and sends a standard URL link via DM."""
+    user = update.effective_user # Use effective_user to handle different chat types
+    if not user:
+        return
+
+    # Clean up expired tokens (simple approach)
+    now = time.time()
+    expired_tokens = [token for token, data in link_tokens.items() if now - data["timestamp"] > TOKEN_EXPIRY_SECONDS]
+    for token in expired_tokens:
+        if token in link_tokens: # Check if exists before deleting (async race condition safety)
+            del link_tokens[token]
+    logger.info(f"Cleaned up {len(expired_tokens)} expired link tokens.")
+
+
+    # Generate unique token
+    token = secrets.token_urlsafe(32)
+    link_tokens[token] = {"user_id": user.id, "timestamp": now}
+
+    # Construct the linking URL for the *real* Common platform endpoint
+    linking_url = f"{COMMON_LINK_URL}?token={token}"
+
+    logger.info(f"Generated link token {token} for user {user.id} ({user.username}). URL: {linking_url}")
+
+    # Send the button via DM
+    dm_text = (
+        f"Click the button below to log in to your Common account ({COMMON_LINK_URL}) and link it to Telegram.\n\n"
+        "This link will expire in 5 minutes.\n\n"
+        "After successfully linking on the website, please return here and run /verify_user."
+        " (For testing, use /force_link to simulate completion)."
+    )
+    # --- Use standard URL button --- 
+    keyboard = [[InlineKeyboardButton("Link Common Account", url=linking_url)]]
+    reply_markup = InlineKeyboardMarkup(keyboard)
+
+    try:
+        await context.bot.send_message(
+            chat_id=user.id,
+            text=dm_text,
+            reply_markup=reply_markup
+        )
+        # Optionally reply in the original chat if it wasn't a DM
+        if update.message.chat.type != 'private':
+             await update.message.reply_text("I've sent you a private message with a link to connect your account.")
+        logger.info(f"Sent linking DM to user {user.id}")
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        # Handle cases where the bot can't DM the user (e.g., blocked)
+        logger.error(f"Could not send DM to user {user.id}: {e}")
+        await update.message.reply_text(
+            "I couldn't send you a private message. Please ensure you haven't blocked me and try starting a chat with me first.",
+             quote=True
+        )
+
+async def verify_user_command(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """Checks if the user is linked (simulated)."""
+    user = update.effective_user
+    if not user:
+        return
+
+    # TODO: In production, this should query the Common backend API
+    if is_user_linked(user.id):
+        await update.message.reply_text("✅ Your Telegram account is linked to your Common account.")
+    else:
+        await update.message.reply_text(
+            "❌ Your Telegram account is not linked.\n"
+            "If you just linked on the Common website, please use /force_link to finalize (for testing)."
+            "Otherwise, use /link_account to start."
+        )
+
+
+# --- Temporary command for testing linking ---
+async def force_link_command(update: Update, context: ContextTypes.DEFAULT_TYPE) -> None:
+    """DEBUG: Manually marks the user as linked for testing purposes."""
+    user = update.effective_user
+    if not user:
+        return
+
+    if user.id not in linked_user_ids:
+        linked_user_ids.add(user.id)
+        logger.info(f"DEBUG: Force-linked user {user.id} ({user.username})")
+        await update.message.reply_text("DEBUG: You have been manually marked as linked.")
+        # --- Send post-verification message --- 
+        await send_post_verification_message(user.id, context)
+        # --- End Send post-verification message ---
+    else:
+        await update.message.reply_text("DEBUG: You were already marked as linked.")
+
+
+# --- Main Bot Execution ---
+
+def main() -> None:
+    """Start the bot."""
+    application = Application.builder().token(TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN).build()
+
+    # Register handlers
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("start", start))
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("help", help_command))
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("check_aura", check_aura_command))
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("show_aura", show_aura_command))
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("link_account", link_account_command))
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("verify_user", verify_user_command))
+    application.add_handler(CommandHandler("force_link", force_link_command))
+
+    # Handle non-command text messages ONLY in groups/supergroups
+    application.add_handler(MessageHandler(filters.TEXT & ~filters.COMMAND & (filters.ChatType.GROUPS | filters.ChatType.SUPERGROUP), handle_message))
+
+
+    logger.info("Starting bot...")
+    # Clear any pending updates from previous possibly conflicting runs
+    application.run_polling(drop_pending_updates=True)
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main() 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/telegram_aura_bot/requirements.txt b/telegram_aura_bot/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..896f90a0a68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/telegram_aura_bot/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+python-telegram-bot[ext]
+python-dotenv
+# Add your chosen LLM library later, e.g., openai or google-generativeai
+# Add database library later, e.g., SQLAlchemy or sqlite3 (built-in) 
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/telegram_aura_bot/webapp/confirm_link.html b/telegram_aura_bot/webapp/confirm_link.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f940eec7829
--- /dev/null
+++ b/telegram_aura_bot/webapp/confirm_link.html
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<html lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
+    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
+    <title>Confirm Link</title>
+    <style>
+      body {
+        font-family: sans-serif;
+        padding: 20px;
+        background-color: var(--tg-theme-bg-color, white);
+        color: var(--tg-theme-text-color, black);
+        display: flex;
+        justify-content: center;
+        align-items: center;
+        height: 90vh;
+        text-align: center;
+        flex-direction: column;
+      }
+      #message {
+        font-size: 1.2em;
+        margin-bottom: 20px;
+      }
+      .spinner {
+        border: 4px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1);
+        width: 36px;
+        height: 36px;
+        border-radius: 50%;
+        border-left-color: var(--tg-theme-button-color, #3390ec);
+        animation: spin 1s ease infinite;
+        margin-bottom: 20px;
+      }
+      @keyframes spin {
+        0% {
+          transform: rotate(0deg);
+        }
+        100% {
+          transform: rotate(360deg);
+        }
+      }
+      .hidden {
+        display: none;
+      }
+    </style>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+    <div id="loading">
+      <div class="spinner"></div>
+      <div id="message">Confirming Telegram link...</div>
+    </div>
+    <div id="success" class="hidden">
+      <div id="message">✅ Success! Account linked. Closing window...</div>
+    </div>
+
+    <script src="https://telegram.org/js/telegram-web-app.js"></script>
+    <script>
+      const tg = window.Telegram.WebApp;
+
+      function getTokenFromUrl() {
+        const params = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search);
+        return params.get('token');
+      }
+
+      function showSuccessAndClose() {
+        document.getElementById('loading').classList.add('hidden');
+        document.getElementById('success').classList.remove('hidden');
+        // Close the Mini App window after a short delay
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          tg.close();
+        }, 2500); // 2.5 seconds delay
+      }
+
+      function handleError(message) {
+        document.getElementById('loading').classList.add('hidden');
+        const successDiv = document.getElementById('success');
+        successDiv.innerHTML = `<div id="message">❌ Error: ${message}. Please try again via the bot.</div>`;
+        successDiv.classList.remove('hidden');
+        // Optional: Close after a longer delay on error?
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          tg.close();
+        }, 5000); // 5 seconds delay
+      }
+
+      // --- Main Execution ---
+      tg.ready(); // Make sure WebApp is ready
+      tg.expand(); // Expand the Mini App window
+
+      const token = getTokenFromUrl();
+
+      if (token) {
+        // Send the token back to the bot backend
+        tg.sendData(token);
+        // Simulate confirmation success visually after a short delay
+        // The actual confirmation happens when the bot receives the sendData message
+        setTimeout(() => {
+          showSuccessAndClose();
+        }, 1500); // 1.5 second delay for visual feedback
+      } else {
+        // Handle case where token is missing in URL
+        handleError('Missing confirmation token.');
+        console.error('No token found in URL parameters.');
+      }
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/telegram_aura_bot/webapp/index.html b/telegram_aura_bot/webapp/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7f77f9da978
--- /dev/null
+++ b/telegram_aura_bot/webapp/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+<!doctype html>
+<html lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
+    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
+    <title>My Aura Points</title>
+    <style>
+      body {
+        font-family: sans-serif;
+        padding: 20px;
+        background-color: var(--tg-theme-bg-color, white);
+        color: var(--tg-theme-text-color, black);
+      }
+      .container {
+        text-align: center;
+      }
+      .points {
+        font-size: 2em;
+        font-weight: bold;
+        margin-top: 10px;
+      }
+      /* Basic styling - Telegram provides theme variables */
+    </style>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+    <div class="container">
+      <h1>Your Aura Balance</h1>
+      <!-- TODO: Fetch and display real points later -->
+      <div class="points" id="aura-points">Loading...</div>
+    </div>
+
+    <!-- Include Telegram WebApp script for integration -->
+    <script src="https://telegram.org/js/telegram-web-app.js"></script>
+    <script>
+      // Initialize Telegram Web App
+      Telegram.WebApp.ready();
+
+      // --- Placeholder to display dummy points ---
+      // In a real app, you'd fetch this, maybe using data passed
+      // in the initial URL or by calling an API on your bot's backend.
+      const dummyPoints = 123; // Same dummy value as in bot.py for consistency
+      document.getElementById('aura-points').innerText = dummyPoints;
+
+      // Example: Send data back to bot (not needed for just displaying)
+      // Telegram.WebApp.sendData("User viewed points");
+
+      // Example: Close the web app
+      // Telegram.WebApp.close();
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>