diff --git a/app/proguard-rules.pro b/app/proguard-rules.pro
index 9a9209d7..bb235c27 100644
--- a/app/proguard-rules.pro
+++ b/app/proguard-rules.pro
@@ -232,6 +232,13 @@
 -keep class org.drinkless.tdlib.** { *; }
 -dontwarn org.drinkless.tdlib.**
 
+# ============================================
+# org.json — Android provides these at runtime; any bundled copy must not be
+# renamed or R8 will produce org.json.b/c names that collide with the system
+# classes and fail ART bytecode verification (VerifyError on app launch).
+# ============================================
+-keep class org.json.** { *; }
+
 # ============================================
 # App-specific keeps
 # ============================================