diff --git a/app/Enums/SocialAccount/TelegramConnectStatus.php b/app/Enums/SocialAccount/TelegramConnectStatus.php
index 3afeb0bc..56c006f9 100644
--- a/app/Enums/SocialAccount/TelegramConnectStatus.php
+++ b/app/Enums/SocialAccount/TelegramConnectStatus.php
@@ -4,25 +4,19 @@
 
 namespace App\Enums\SocialAccount;
 
-use App\Models\TelegramConnectRequest;
+use App\Models\SocialAccount;
 
 enum TelegramConnectStatus: string
 {
     case Unknown = 'unknown';
     case Pending = 'pending';
     case Connected = 'connected';
-    case Expired = 'expired';
 
     /**
-     * Derive the connection status the frontend polls for from a connect request.
+     * Connected once the channel has been linked to an account; otherwise still pending.
      */
-    public static function for(?TelegramConnectRequest $request): self
+    public static function for(?SocialAccount $account): self
     {
-        return match (true) {
-            $request === null => self::Unknown,
-            $request->social_account_id !== null => self::Connected,
-            $request->isExpired() => self::Expired,
-            default => self::Pending,
-        };
+        return $account === null ? self::Pending : self::Connected;
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/TelegramController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/TelegramController.php
index a6367822..e7fd8202 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/TelegramController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Auth/TelegramController.php
@@ -6,20 +6,21 @@
 
 use App\Enums\SocialAccount\Platform as SocialPlatform;
 use App\Enums\SocialAccount\TelegramConnectStatus;
-use App\Http\Requests\App\Auth\TelegramStatusRequest;
-use App\Models\TelegramConnectRequest;
+use App\Services\Social\TelegramConnectCode;
 use Illuminate\Http\JsonResponse;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
-use Illuminate\Support\Str;
 use Symfony\Component\HttpFoundation\Response as SymfonyResponse;
 
 class TelegramController extends SocialController
 {
     protected SocialPlatform $platform = SocialPlatform::Telegram;
 
+    private const SESSION_KEY = 'telegram_connect_code';
+
     /**
-     * Start a connection: issue a one-time code the user posts in their channel
-     * (`/connect <code>`) so the webhook can tie the channel to this workspace.
+     * Start a connection: issue a signed one-off code the user posts in their
+     * channel (`/connect <code>`). The code carries the workspace, so the webhook
+     * can link the channel without any persisted state.
      */
     public function connect(Request $request): JsonResponse
     {
@@ -31,35 +32,39 @@ public function connect(Request $request): JsonResponse
         $this->authorize('manageAccounts', $workspace);
         $this->ensureSocialAccountLimit($workspace);
 
-        $connectRequest = TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-            'workspace_id' => $workspace->id,
-            'user_id' => $request->user()->id,
-            'code' => Str::lower(Str::random(12)),
-            'expires_at' => now()->addMinutes(15),
-        ]);
+        $expiresAt = now()->addMinutes(15);
+        $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($workspace->id, $expiresAt);
+
+        $request->session()->put(self::SESSION_KEY, $code);
 
         return response()->json([
-            'code' => $connectRequest->code,
+            'code' => $code,
             'bot_username' => config('trypost.platforms.telegram.bot_username'),
-            'expires_at' => $connectRequest->expires_at->toIso8601String(),
+            'expires_at' => $expiresAt->toIso8601String(),
         ]);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Poll whether the channel has been linked yet.
+     * Poll whether the channel issued in this session has been linked yet.
      */
-    public function status(TelegramStatusRequest $request): JsonResponse
+    public function status(Request $request): JsonResponse
     {
         $workspace = $request->user()->currentWorkspace;
         abort_if($workspace === null, SymfonyResponse::HTTP_CONFLICT, 'No active workspace.');
 
-        $connectRequest = TelegramConnectRequest::query()
-            ->where('workspace_id', $workspace->id)
-            ->where('code', $request->validated('code'))
+        $payload = TelegramConnectCode::decode($request->session()->get(self::SESSION_KEY));
+
+        if ($payload === null) {
+            return response()->json(['status' => TelegramConnectStatus::Unknown->value]);
+        }
+
+        $account = $workspace->socialAccounts()
+            ->where('platform', SocialPlatform::Telegram->value)
+            ->where('meta->connect_nonce', data_get($payload, 'nonce'))
             ->first();
 
         return response()->json([
-            'status' => TelegramConnectStatus::for($connectRequest)->value,
+            'status' => TelegramConnectStatus::for($account)->value,
         ]);
     }
 }
diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/Webhooks/TelegramWebhookController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/Webhooks/TelegramWebhookController.php
index 6b281df4..4d673c45 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/Webhooks/TelegramWebhookController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/Webhooks/TelegramWebhookController.php
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 use App\Enums\SocialAccount\Status;
 use App\Features\SocialAccountLimit;
 use App\Http\Controllers\Controller;
-use App\Models\TelegramConnectRequest;
 use App\Models\Workspace;
+use App\Services\Social\TelegramConnectCode;
 use Illuminate\Http\Request;
 use Illuminate\Http\Response;
 use Laravel\Pennant\Feature;
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ class TelegramWebhookController extends Controller
 {
     /**
      * Receives Bot API updates. The only update we act on is a `/connect <code>`
-     * message/channel_post: it ties the originating channel to the workspace that
-     * generated the code. Everything else is acknowledged and ignored.
+     * message/channel_post: the signed code carries the workspace, so we link the
+     * originating channel to it. Everything else is acknowledged and ignored.
      */
     public function handle(Request $request): Response
     {
@@ -39,21 +39,16 @@ public function handle(Request $request): Response
             return response()->noContent();
         }
 
-        $connectRequest = TelegramConnectRequest::query()
-            ->whereNull('social_account_id')
-            ->where('code', $matches[1])
-            ->where('expires_at', '>', now())
-            ->first();
+        $payload = TelegramConnectCode::decode($matches[1]);
+        $workspace = $payload === null ? null : Workspace::find(data_get($payload, 'workspace_id'));
 
-        if ($connectRequest === null) {
+        if ($workspace === null) {
             return response()->noContent();
         }
 
         $chatId = (string) data_get($chat, 'id');
         $username = data_get($chat, 'username');
 
-        $workspace = $connectRequest->workspace;
-
         // Mirror the controller's limit gate: block only brand-new accounts, never reconnects.
         $isNewAccount = ! $workspace->socialAccounts()
             ->where('platform', SocialPlatform::Telegram->value)
@@ -64,7 +59,7 @@ public function handle(Request $request): Response
             return response()->noContent();
         }
 
-        $account = $workspace->socialAccounts()->updateOrCreate(
+        $workspace->socialAccounts()->updateOrCreate(
             [
                 'platform' => SocialPlatform::Telegram->value,
                 'platform_user_id' => $chatId,
@@ -83,12 +78,11 @@ public function handle(Request $request): Response
                     'chat_id' => $chatId,
                     'username' => $username,
                     'type' => data_get($chat, 'type'),
+                    'connect_nonce' => data_get($payload, 'nonce'),
                 ],
             ],
         );
 
-        $connectRequest->update(['social_account_id' => $account->id]);
-
         return response()->noContent();
     }
 
diff --git a/app/Http/Requests/App/Auth/TelegramStatusRequest.php b/app/Http/Requests/App/Auth/TelegramStatusRequest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 3810e203..00000000
--- a/app/Http/Requests/App/Auth/TelegramStatusRequest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace App\Http\Requests\App\Auth;
-
-use Illuminate\Foundation\Http\FormRequest;
-
-class TelegramStatusRequest extends FormRequest
-{
-    public function authorize(): bool
-    {
-        return true;
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @return array<string, mixed>
-     */
-    public function rules(): array
-    {
-        return [
-            'code' => ['required', 'string'],
-        ];
-    }
-}
diff --git a/app/Models/TelegramConnectRequest.php b/app/Models/TelegramConnectRequest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 5f44a283..00000000
--- a/app/Models/TelegramConnectRequest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,40 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-namespace App\Models;
-
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Concerns\HasUuids;
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Factories\HasFactory;
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
-use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Relations\BelongsTo;
-
-class TelegramConnectRequest extends Model
-{
-    use HasFactory;
-    use HasUuids;
-
-    protected $guarded = [];
-
-    protected function casts(): array
-    {
-        return [
-            'expires_at' => 'datetime',
-        ];
-    }
-
-    public function isExpired(): bool
-    {
-        return $this->expires_at->isPast();
-    }
-
-    public function workspace(): BelongsTo
-    {
-        return $this->belongsTo(Workspace::class);
-    }
-
-    public function user(): BelongsTo
-    {
-        return $this->belongsTo(User::class);
-    }
-}
diff --git a/app/Services/Social/TelegramConnectCode.php b/app/Services/Social/TelegramConnectCode.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..97cb45f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/Services/Social/TelegramConnectCode.php
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+namespace App\Services\Social;
+
+use Carbon\CarbonInterface;
+use Illuminate\Contracts\Encryption\DecryptException;
+use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Crypt;
+use Illuminate\Support\Str;
+
+/**
+ * A stateless, signed `/connect` code. It carries the workspace it belongs to,
+ * a one-off nonce (so the polling UI can recognise its own connection) and an
+ * expiry — encrypted with the app key, so the webhook can trust it without any
+ * database lookup.
+ */
+class TelegramConnectCode
+{
+    public static function issue(string $workspaceId, CarbonInterface $expiresAt): string
+    {
+        return Crypt::encryptString((string) json_encode([
+            'workspace_id' => $workspaceId,
+            'nonce' => Str::lower(Str::random(16)),
+            'expires_at' => $expiresAt->getTimestamp(),
+        ]));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Decode and validate a code, returning its payload or null when the code is
+     * missing, tampered with, or expired.
+     *
+     * @return array{workspace_id: string, nonce: string, expires_at: int}|null
+     */
+    public static function decode(?string $code): ?array
+    {
+        if (! is_string($code) || $code === '') {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        try {
+            $payload = json_decode(Crypt::decryptString($code), true);
+        } catch (DecryptException) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        if (! is_array($payload) || now()->getTimestamp() > (int) data_get($payload, 'expires_at')) {
+            return null;
+        }
+
+        return $payload;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/database/migrations/2026_06_14_002757_create_telegram_connect_requests_table.php b/database/migrations/2026_06_14_002757_create_telegram_connect_requests_table.php
deleted file mode 100644
index ed34310a..00000000
--- a/database/migrations/2026_06_14_002757_create_telegram_connect_requests_table.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-declare(strict_types=1);
-
-use Illuminate\Database\Migrations\Migration;
-use Illuminate\Database\Schema\Blueprint;
-use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Schema;
-
-return new class extends Migration
-{
-    public function up(): void
-    {
-        Schema::create('telegram_connect_requests', function (Blueprint $table) {
-            $table->uuid('id')->primary();
-            $table->foreignUuid('workspace_id')->constrained('workspaces')->cascadeOnDelete();
-            $table->foreignUuid('user_id')->nullable()->constrained('users')->nullOnDelete();
-            $table->string('code')->unique();
-            // Set by the webhook once the channel is linked; null while pending.
-            $table->foreignUuid('social_account_id')->nullable()->constrained('social_accounts')->nullOnDelete();
-            $table->timestamp('expires_at');
-            $table->timestamps();
-        });
-    }
-
-    public function down(): void
-    {
-        Schema::dropIfExists('telegram_connect_requests');
-    }
-};
diff --git a/resources/js/components/accounts/TelegramConnectDialog.vue b/resources/js/components/accounts/TelegramConnectDialog.vue
index d295a372..57c701e3 100644
--- a/resources/js/components/accounts/TelegramConnectDialog.vue
+++ b/resources/js/components/accounts/TelegramConnectDialog.vue
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import {
 const open = defineModel<boolean>('open', { required: true });
 
 type Phase = 'loading' | 'ready' | 'connected' | 'expired' | 'error';
-type ConnectStatus = 'unknown' | 'pending' | 'connected' | 'expired';
+type ConnectStatus = 'unknown' | 'pending' | 'connected';
 
 interface ConnectResponse {
     code: string;
@@ -57,9 +57,7 @@ const poll = async () => {
     if (phase.value !== 'ready') return;
 
     try {
-        const response = await httpStatus.get(
-            telegramStatus.url({ query: { code: code.value } }),
-        );
+        const response = await httpStatus.get(telegramStatus.url());
 
         if (response?.status === 'connected') {
             phase.value = 'connected';
@@ -72,7 +70,8 @@ const poll = async () => {
             return;
         }
 
-        if (response?.status === 'expired' || response?.status === 'unknown') {
+        // The signed code expired (or the session was lost): prompt a fresh one.
+        if (response?.status === 'unknown') {
             phase.value = 'expired';
             stopPolling();
             return;
diff --git a/tests/Feature/Social/TelegramConnectionTest.php b/tests/Feature/Social/TelegramConnectionTest.php
index 81bbefee..4bd19bb2 100644
--- a/tests/Feature/Social/TelegramConnectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/Feature/Social/TelegramConnectionTest.php
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 use App\Enums\SocialAccount\Platform;
 use App\Enums\UserWorkspace\Role;
 use App\Models\SocialAccount;
-use App\Models\TelegramConnectRequest;
 use App\Models\User;
 use App\Models\Workspace;
 use App\Services\Social\ConnectionVerifier;
+use App\Services\Social\TelegramConnectCode;
 use Illuminate\Support\Facades\Http;
 
 beforeEach(function () {
@@ -43,31 +43,23 @@ function telegramUpdate(string $code, array $chat = []): array
     ];
 }
 
-it('issues a connect code', function () {
+it('issues a signed connect code and stores it in the session', function () {
     $response = $this->actingAs($this->user)
         ->postJson(route('app.social.telegram.connect'))
         ->assertOk()
-        ->assertJsonStructure(['code', 'bot_username', 'expires_at']);
+        ->assertJsonStructure(['code', 'bot_username', 'expires_at'])
+        ->assertSessionHas('telegram_connect_code');
 
     expect($response->json('bot_username'))->toBe('TryPostBot');
-
-    $this->assertDatabaseHas('telegram_connect_requests', [
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'code' => $response->json('code'),
-        'social_account_id' => null,
-    ]);
+    expect(data_get(TelegramConnectCode::decode($response->json('code')), 'workspace_id'))
+        ->toBe($this->workspace->id);
 });
 
 it('links the channel when the webhook receives a matching /connect', function () {
-    $request = TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
-        'code' => 'abc123code',
-        'expires_at' => now()->addMinutes(15),
-    ]);
+    $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->addMinutes(15));
 
     $this->withHeader('X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token', 'shh-secret')
-        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('abc123code'))
+        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate($code))
         ->assertNoContent();
 
     $account = SocialAccount::where('workspace_id', $this->workspace->id)
@@ -79,20 +71,15 @@ function telegramUpdate(string $code, array $chat = []): array
     expect($account->display_name)->toBe('My Channel');
     expect($account->username)->toBe('mychannel');
     expect(data_get($account->meta, 'chat_id'))->toBe('-1001234567890');
-
-    expect($request->fresh()->social_account_id)->toBe($account->id);
+    expect(data_get($account->meta, 'connect_nonce'))
+        ->toBe(data_get(TelegramConnectCode::decode($code), 'nonce'));
 });
 
 it('links a private channel that has no username', function () {
-    TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
-        'code' => 'privatecode',
-        'expires_at' => now()->addMinutes(15),
-    ]);
+    $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->addMinutes(15));
 
     $this->withHeader('X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token', 'shh-secret')
-        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('privatecode', ['username' => null]))
+        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate($code, ['username' => null]))
         ->assertNoContent();
 
     $account = SocialAccount::where('platform', Platform::Telegram)->first();
@@ -107,15 +94,10 @@ function telegramUpdate(string $code, array $chat = []): array
 
     SocialAccount::factory()->count(5)->create(['workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id]);
 
-    TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
-        'code' => 'limitcode',
-        'expires_at' => now()->addMinutes(15),
-    ]);
+    $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->addMinutes(15));
 
     $this->withHeader('X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token', 'shh-secret')
-        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('limitcode'))
+        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate($code))
         ->assertNoContent();
 
     expect($this->workspace->socialAccounts()->count())->toBe(5);
@@ -133,15 +115,10 @@ function telegramUpdate(string $code, array $chat = []): array
         'platform_user_id' => '-1001234567890',
     ]);
 
-    TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
-        'code' => 'reconnectcode',
-        'expires_at' => now()->addMinutes(15),
-    ]);
+    $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->addMinutes(15));
 
     $this->withHeader('X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token', 'shh-secret')
-        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('reconnectcode'))
+        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate($code))
         ->assertNoContent();
 
     expect($this->workspace->socialAccounts()->count())->toBe(5);
@@ -150,58 +127,56 @@ function telegramUpdate(string $code, array $chat = []): array
     )->toBe(1);
 });
 
-it('requires a code to check connection status', function () {
-    $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->getJson(route('app.social.telegram.status'))
-        ->assertStatus(422);
-});
-
 it('rejects the webhook without the secret token', function () {
-    $this->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('whatever'))
+    $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->addMinutes(15));
+
+    $this->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate($code))
         ->assertForbidden();
 });
 
-it('ignores the webhook for an unknown or expired code', function () {
-    TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
-        'code' => 'expiredcode',
-        'expires_at' => now()->subMinute(),
-    ]);
+it('ignores the webhook for a tampered or expired code', function () {
+    $expired = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->subMinute());
 
     $this->withHeader('X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token', 'shh-secret')
-        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('expiredcode'))
+        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate($expired))
         ->assertNoContent();
 
     $this->withHeader('X-Telegram-Bot-Api-Secret-Token', 'shh-secret')
-        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('does-not-exist'))
+        ->postJson(route('telegram.webhook'), telegramUpdate('not-a-valid-code'))
         ->assertNoContent();
 
     expect(SocialAccount::where('platform', Platform::Telegram)->count())->toBe(0);
 });
 
-it('reports connection status while pending and once connected', function () {
-    $request = TelegramConnectRequest::create([
-        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
-        'user_id' => $this->user->id,
-        'code' => 'statuscode',
-        'expires_at' => now()->addMinutes(15),
-    ]);
+it('reports the session connection status while pending and once connected', function () {
+    $code = TelegramConnectCode::issue($this->workspace->id, now()->addMinutes(15));
+    $nonce = data_get(TelegramConnectCode::decode($code), 'nonce');
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->getJson(route('app.social.telegram.status', ['code' => 'statuscode']))
+        ->withSession(['telegram_connect_code' => $code])
+        ->getJson(route('app.social.telegram.status'))
         ->assertOk()
         ->assertJson(['status' => 'pending']);
 
-    $account = SocialAccount::factory()->telegram()->create(['workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id]);
-    $request->update(['social_account_id' => $account->id]);
+    SocialAccount::factory()->telegram()->create([
+        'workspace_id' => $this->workspace->id,
+        'meta' => ['chat_id' => '-1001234567890', 'username' => 'mychannel', 'type' => 'channel', 'connect_nonce' => $nonce],
+    ]);
 
     $this->actingAs($this->user)
-        ->getJson(route('app.social.telegram.status', ['code' => 'statuscode']))
+        ->withSession(['telegram_connect_code' => $code])
+        ->getJson(route('app.social.telegram.status'))
         ->assertOk()
         ->assertJson(['status' => 'connected']);
 });
 
+it('reports unknown status without a session code', function () {
+    $this->actingAs($this->user)
+        ->getJson(route('app.social.telegram.status'))
+        ->assertOk()
+        ->assertJson(['status' => 'unknown']);
+});
+
 it('verifies a connected telegram account via getChat', function () {
     config(['trypost.platforms.telegram.bot_token' => 'TESTTOKEN']);