diff --git a/contracts/reputation/src/lib.rs b/contracts/reputation/src/lib.rs
index 399dc684..5eea06ee 100644
--- a/contracts/reputation/src/lib.rs
+++ b/contracts/reputation/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use soroban_sdk::{
     contract, contracterror, contractimpl, contracttype, Address, Bytes, BytesN, Env, IntoVal,
     Symbol, Vec,
 };
+pub use profile::BadgeLevel;
 
 mod profile;
 mod storage;
@@ -480,6 +481,7 @@ impl ReputationContract {
         let total_jobs = metrics.completed_jobs;
         let badge_level = metrics.badge_level;
 
+        profile.refresh_badges();
         storage::write_profile(&env, &address, &profile);
         env.events().publish(
             ("reputation", "ScoreAdjusted"),
@@ -512,6 +514,7 @@ impl ReputationContract {
         let total_jobs = metrics.completed_jobs;
         let badge_level = metrics.badge_level;
 
+        profile.refresh_badges();
         storage::write_profile(&env, &address, &profile);
         env.events().publish(
             ("reputation", "ScoreAdjusted"),
@@ -955,6 +958,72 @@ mod test {
         assert_eq!(saved_hash, Some(hash));
     }
 
+    // ── Issue #402: badge minting ──
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_badge_starts_at_bronze_for_default_score() {
+        let env = Env::default();
+        env.mock_all_auths();
+        let admin = Address::generate(&env);
+        let addr = Address::generate(&env);
+        let cid = env.register_contract(None, ReputationContract);
+        let client = ReputationContractClient::new(&env, &cid);
+        client.initialize(&admin);
+
+        // Default score is 5000 → Bronze
+        let badge = client.get_badge(&addr, &Role::Freelancer);
+        assert_eq!(badge, BadgeLevel::Bronze);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_badge_upgrades_to_silver_at_6000() {
+        let env = Env::default();
+        env.mock_all_auths();
+        let admin = Address::generate(&env);
+        let addr = Address::generate(&env);
+        let cid = env.register_contract(None, ReputationContract);
+        let client = ReputationContractClient::new(&env, &cid);
+        client.initialize(&admin);
+
+        // Raise score by 1000 → 5000+1000 = 6000 → Silver
+        client.update_score(&addr, &Role::Freelancer, &1000);
+        let badge = client.get_badge(&addr, &Role::Freelancer);
+        assert_eq!(badge, BadgeLevel::Silver);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_badge_upgrades_to_gold_at_8000() {
+        let env = Env::default();
+        env.mock_all_auths();
+        let admin = Address::generate(&env);
+        let addr = Address::generate(&env);
+        let cid = env.register_contract(None, ReputationContract);
+        let client = ReputationContractClient::new(&env, &cid);
+        client.initialize(&admin);
+
+        client.update_score(&addr, &Role::Freelancer, &3000); // 5000+3000=8000
+        assert_eq!(client.get_badge(&addr, &Role::Freelancer), BadgeLevel::Gold);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_slash_downgrades_badge() {
+        let env = Env::default();
+        env.mock_all_auths();
+        let admin = Address::generate(&env);
+        let addr = Address::generate(&env);
+        let cid = env.register_contract(None, ReputationContract);
+        let client = ReputationContractClient::new(&env, &cid);
+        client.initialize(&admin);
+
+        // Bring to Gold first, then slash twice to drop back to Bronze
+        client.update_score(&addr, &Role::Client, &3000); // 8000 → Gold
+        assert_eq!(client.get_badge(&addr, &Role::Client), BadgeLevel::Gold);
+        client.slash(&addr, &Role::Client, &soroban_sdk::Symbol::new(&env, "fraud")); // 6000 → Silver
+        assert_eq!(client.get_badge(&addr, &Role::Client), BadgeLevel::Silver);
+        client.slash(&addr, &Role::Client, &soroban_sdk::Symbol::new(&env, "fraud")); // 4000 → Bronze
+        assert_eq!(client.get_badge(&addr, &Role::Client), BadgeLevel::Bronze);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     #[should_panic(expected = "Error(Contract, #2)")]
     fn test_upgrade_requires_admin() {
diff --git a/contracts/reputation/src/profile.rs b/contracts/reputation/src/profile.rs
index b1ab4e2b..df611d65 100644
--- a/contracts/reputation/src/profile.rs
+++ b/contracts/reputation/src/profile.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,36 @@ impl RoleMetrics {
     }
 }
 
+/// Badge tier awarded based on cumulative score thresholds.
+/// Scores are in basis points (0–10 000).
+///
+/// Thresholds:
+///   Bronze  ≥ 4 000
+///   Silver  ≥ 6 000
+///   Gold    ≥ 8 000
+///   Platinum ≥ 9 500
+#[contracttype]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum BadgeLevel {
+    None,
+    Bronze,
+    Silver,
+    Gold,
+    Platinum,
+}
+
+impl BadgeLevel {
+    pub fn from_score(score: i32) -> Self {
+        match score {
+            s if s >= 9_500 => BadgeLevel::Platinum,
+            s if s >= 8_000 => BadgeLevel::Gold,
+            s if s >= 6_000 => BadgeLevel::Silver,
+            s if s >= 4_000 => BadgeLevel::Bronze,
+            _ => BadgeLevel::None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[contracttype]
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub struct Profile {