diff --git a/app/(marketing)/page.tsx b/app/(marketing)/page.tsx
index b2875c5b..c366cfba 100644
--- a/app/(marketing)/page.tsx
+++ b/app/(marketing)/page.tsx
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import Navbar from "./_components/navbar";
 import KpiStrip from "./_sections/kpi-strip";
 import { CTA } from "./_sections/cta";
 import { useParallax } from "@/hooks/use-parallax";
+import { TrendingRail } from "@/app/components/TrendingRail";
 
 export default function MarketingRoute() {
   const orbRef1 = useParallax({ depth: -20 });
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ export default function MarketingRoute() {
       <AnimatedBackground />
       <Navbar />
       <Hero />
+      <TrendingRail />
       <KpiStrip />
       <Features />
       <HowItWorks />
diff --git a/app/components/TrendingRail.test.tsx b/app/components/TrendingRail.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9e59df46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/TrendingRail.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+import React from "react"
+import { render, screen, fireEvent } from "@testing-library/react"
+import { TrendingRail, TRENDING_MARKETS } from "./TrendingRail"
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Helpers
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+function mockOverflow(container: HTMLElement) {
+  Object.defineProperty(container, "scrollWidth", {
+    value: 3000,
+    configurable: true,
+  })
+  Object.defineProperty(container, "clientWidth", {
+    value: 500,
+    configurable: true,
+  })
+  Object.defineProperty(container, "scrollLeft", {
+    value: 0,
+    writable: true,
+    configurable: true,
+  })
+  container.scrollTo = jest.fn(
+    ({ left }: { left: number }) => {
+      Object.defineProperty(container, "scrollLeft", {
+        value: left,
+        writable: true,
+        configurable: true,
+      })
+    },
+  ) as unknown as typeof container.scrollTo
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Tests
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+describe("TrendingRail", () => {
+  // ---- Rendering ----------------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("renders the heading", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("heading", { name: /what's happening now/i }),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it("renders all default trending markets", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    TRENDING_MARKETS.forEach((market) => {
+      expect(screen.getByText(market.title)).toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+  })
+
+  it("renders each trending market as a link", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    const links = screen.getAllByRole("link")
+    expect(links.length).toBe(TRENDING_MARKETS.length)
+    links.forEach((link) => expect(link).toHaveAttribute("href"))
+  })
+
+  // ---- Empty state --------------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("returns nothing when no markets are provided", () => {
+    const { container } = render(<TrendingRail markets={[]} />)
+    expect(container.innerHTML).toBe("")
+  })
+
+  // ---- Hot markets --------------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("shows 'Hot' badge on markets with isHot flag", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    const hotBadges = screen.getAllByText("Hot")
+    const hotMarkets = TRENDING_MARKETS.filter((m) => m.isHot)
+    expect(hotBadges.length).toBe(hotMarkets.length)
+  })
+
+  // ---- Volume display -----------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("displays 24h volume for each market", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    TRENDING_MARKETS.forEach((market) => {
+      expect(screen.getByText(market.volume)).toBeInTheDocument()
+    })
+    const volLabels = screen.getAllByText("24h vol")
+    expect(volLabels.length).toBe(TRENDING_MARKETS.length)
+  })
+
+  // ---- Accessibility ------------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("has a labelled carousel region", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("region", { name: /trending markets carousel/i }),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+
+  it("the carousel region is keyboard-focusable", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    expect(
+      screen.getByRole("region", { name: /trending markets carousel/i }),
+    ).toHaveAttribute("tabIndex", "0")
+  })
+
+  // ---- Keyboard navigation ------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("scrolls right on ArrowRight when content overflows", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    const region = screen.getByRole("region", {
+      name: /trending markets carousel/i,
+    })
+    mockOverflow(region)
+
+    fireEvent.scroll(region)
+    fireEvent.keyDown(region, { key: "ArrowRight" })
+    expect(region.scrollTo).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ behavior: "smooth" }),
+    )
+  })
+
+  it("scrolls left on ArrowLeft when content overflows", () => {
+    render(<TrendingRail />)
+    const region = screen.getByRole("region", {
+      name: /trending markets carousel/i,
+    })
+    mockOverflow(region)
+    // Simulate we've scrolled to the right
+    Object.defineProperty(region, "scrollLeft", {
+      value: 1000,
+      writable: true,
+      configurable: true,
+    })
+
+    fireEvent.scroll(region)
+    fireEvent.keyDown(region, { key: "ArrowLeft" })
+    expect(region.scrollTo).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+      expect.objectContaining({ behavior: "smooth" }),
+    )
+  })
+
+  // ---- Custom markets -----------------------------------------------------
+
+  it("accepts a custom market list", () => {
+    const custom = [
+      {
+        id: "custom-1",
+        title: "Custom Market",
+        category: "Test",
+        volume: "$1k",
+        participants: 10,
+        odds: 2.0,
+        href: "/test",
+      },
+    ]
+    render(<TrendingRail markets={custom} />)
+    expect(screen.getByText("Custom Market")).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText(TRENDING_MARKETS[0].title)).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/app/components/TrendingRail.tsx b/app/components/TrendingRail.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8b5bd673
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/components/TrendingRail.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,301 @@
+"use client"
+
+import { useRef, useState, useEffect } from "react"
+import Link from "next/link"
+import { ChevronLeft, ChevronRight, Flame, TrendingUp, Users } from "lucide-react"
+import { cn } from "@/lib/utils"
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Types
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+export interface TrendingMarket {
+  id: string
+  title: string
+  category: string
+  /** 24h volume, e.g. "$42.1k" */
+  volume: string
+  participants: number
+  odds: number
+  /** Visual marker: hot/trending if true */
+  isHot?: boolean
+  href: string
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Default trending markets (curated for the marketing home page)
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+export const TRENDING_MARKETS: TrendingMarket[] = [
+  {
+    id: "trending-btc",
+    title: "Will BTC close above $100k this month?",
+    category: "Crypto",
+    volume: "$42.1k",
+    participants: 2310,
+    odds: 1.6,
+    isHot: true,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-eth",
+    title: "ETH ETF approval before year end?",
+    category: "Crypto",
+    volume: "$28.7k",
+    participants: 980,
+    odds: 2.9,
+    isHot: true,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-ucl",
+    title: "Champions League: Real Madrid to reach the final?",
+    category: "Football",
+    volume: "$35.2k",
+    participants: 1190,
+    odds: 2.1,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-senate",
+    title: "US Senate majority after the midterms?",
+    category: "Politics",
+    volume: "$19.8k",
+    participants: 670,
+    odds: 2.4,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-nvda",
+    title: "Will NVDA beat its Q2 earnings estimate?",
+    category: "Stocks",
+    volume: "$15.3k",
+    participants: 530,
+    odds: 1.9,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-lakers",
+    title: "Will the Lakers make the playoffs?",
+    category: "Sports",
+    volume: "$22.4k",
+    participants: 720,
+    odds: 1.7,
+    isHot: true,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-ai",
+    title: "Will a major AI safety bill pass this quarter?",
+    category: "Politics",
+    volume: "$18.4k",
+    participants: 340,
+    odds: 3.5,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+  {
+    id: "trending-oscar",
+    title: "Best Picture winner at next year's Oscars?",
+    category: "Entertainment",
+    volume: "$8.9k",
+    participants: 305,
+    odds: 4.1,
+    href: "/events",
+  },
+]
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Component
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+interface TrendingRailProps {
+  /** Override the default trending markets. */
+  markets?: TrendingMarket[]
+  className?: string
+}
+
+/**
+ * A horizontally-scrollable rail of trending prediction markets for the
+ * marketing home page. Highlights markets with high 24h volume and activity.
+ *
+ * Features:
+ * - Responsive horizontal carousel with snap scrolling
+ * - Keyboard-navigable (ArrowLeft / ArrowRight)
+ * - Hot markets get a flame badge
+ * - Accessible: labelled region, ARIA controls
+ */
+export function TrendingRail({
+  markets = TRENDING_MARKETS,
+  className,
+}: TrendingRailProps) {
+  const scrollContainerRef = useRef<HTMLDivElement>(null)
+  const [canScrollLeft, setCanScrollLeft] = useState(false)
+  const [canScrollRight, setCanScrollRight] = useState(true)
+
+  const updateScrollState = () => {
+    const el = scrollContainerRef.current
+    if (!el) return
+    setCanScrollLeft(el.scrollLeft > 4)
+    setCanScrollRight(
+      el.scrollLeft < el.scrollWidth - el.clientWidth - 4,
+    )
+  }
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    updateScrollState()
+  }, [markets])
+
+  const scroll = (direction: "left" | "right") => {
+    const el = scrollContainerRef.current
+    if (!el) return
+    const amount = el.clientWidth * 0.75
+    el.scrollTo({
+      left:
+        direction === "left"
+          ? el.scrollLeft - amount
+          : el.scrollLeft + amount,
+      behavior: "smooth",
+    })
+  }
+
+  const handleKeyDown = (event: React.KeyboardEvent) => {
+    if (event.key === "ArrowLeft" && canScrollLeft) {
+      event.preventDefault()
+      scroll("left")
+    } else if (event.key === "ArrowRight" && canScrollRight) {
+      event.preventDefault()
+      scroll("right")
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (markets.length === 0) return null
+
+  return (
+    <section
+      className={cn("w-full py-12 sm:py-16", className)}
+      aria-labelledby="trending-rail-heading"
+    >
+      <div className="mx-auto max-w-7xl px-4 sm:px-6 lg:px-8">
+        {/* Header */}
+        <div className="mb-6 flex items-center gap-3">
+          <div className="flex h-10 w-10 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-orange-500/20">
+            <Flame className="h-5 w-5 text-orange-400" aria-hidden="true" />
+          </div>
+          <div>
+            <h2
+              id="trending-rail-heading"
+              className="text-xl font-bold text-white sm:text-2xl"
+            >
+              What&apos;s happening now
+            </h2>
+            <p className="text-sm text-slate-300">
+              Trending markets with the most action right now
+            </p>
+          </div>
+        </div>
+
+        {/* Carousel */}
+        <div className="relative group">
+          {/* Scroll buttons */}
+          {canScrollLeft && (
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              className={cn(
+                "absolute -left-3 top-1/2 z-10 flex h-10 w-10 -translate-y-1/2 items-center justify-center",
+                "rounded-full border border-white/20 bg-slate-900/90 text-white shadow-lg",
+                "opacity-0 backdrop-blur-sm transition-opacity duration-200",
+                "hover:bg-slate-800 hover:border-white/40",
+                "focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-orange-500/50",
+                "group-hover:opacity-100",
+              )}
+              onClick={() => scroll("left")}
+              aria-label="Scroll trending markets left"
+            >
+              <ChevronLeft className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
+            </button>
+          )}
+          {canScrollRight && (
+            <button
+              type="button"
+              className={cn(
+                "absolute -right-3 top-1/2 z-10 flex h-10 w-10 -translate-y-1/2 items-center justify-center",
+                "rounded-full border border-white/20 bg-slate-900/90 text-white shadow-lg",
+                "opacity-0 backdrop-blur-sm transition-opacity duration-200",
+                "hover:bg-slate-800 hover:border-white/40",
+                "focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-orange-500/50",
+                "group-hover:opacity-100",
+              )}
+              onClick={() => scroll("right")}
+              aria-label="Scroll trending markets right"
+            >
+              <ChevronRight className="h-5 w-5" aria-hidden="true" />
+            </button>
+          )}
+
+          <div
+            ref={scrollContainerRef}
+            className="flex gap-4 overflow-x-auto scrollbar-hide scroll-smooth snap-x snap-mandatory pb-2"
+            onScroll={updateScrollState}
+            onKeyDown={handleKeyDown}
+            tabIndex={0}
+            role="region"
+            aria-label="Trending markets carousel"
+          >
+            {markets.map((market) => (
+              <Link
+                key={market.id}
+                href={market.href}
+                className={cn(
+                  "flex-shrink-0 snap-start w-[280px] sm:w-[300px]",
+                  "rounded-2xl border border-white/10 bg-white/5 p-5",
+                  "hover:bg-white/10 hover:border-white/20",
+                  "focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-orange-500/50",
+                  "transition-all duration-200",
+                  "group/card",
+                )}
+              >
+                {/* Top row: category + hot badge */}
+                <div className="mb-3 flex items-center justify-between gap-2">
+                  <span className="rounded-full bg-white/10 px-2.5 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-slate-300">
+                    {market.category}
+                  </span>
+                  {market.isHot && (
+                    <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-orange-500/20 px-2 py-0.5 text-xs font-semibold text-orange-400">
+                      <Flame className="h-3 w-3" aria-hidden="true" />
+                      Hot
+                    </span>
+                  )}
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Title */}
+                <h3 className="mb-3 text-sm font-semibold leading-snug text-white group-hover/card:text-orange-300 transition-colors">
+                  {market.title}
+                </h3>
+
+                {/* Volume */}
+                <div className="mb-3 flex items-center gap-1.5 text-xs text-slate-400">
+                  <TrendingUp className="h-3.5 w-3.5 text-green-400" aria-hidden="true" />
+                  <span className="font-mono font-medium text-white">
+                    {market.volume}
+                  </span>
+                  <span className="text-slate-500">24h vol</span>
+                </div>
+
+                {/* Bottom row: participants + odds */}
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs">
+                  <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 text-slate-400">
+                    <Users className="h-3 w-3" aria-hidden="true" />
+                    {market.participants.toLocaleString()}
+                  </span>
+                  <span className="rounded-md bg-white/10 px-2 py-0.5 font-mono font-semibold text-white">
+                    {market.odds.toFixed(1)}x
+                  </span>
+                </div>
+              </Link>
+            ))}
+          </div>
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+  )
+}
diff --git a/docs/TRENDING_RAIL.md b/docs/TRENDING_RAIL.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab19817f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/TRENDING_RAIL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+# Trending Rail — "What's Happening Now"
+
+The `TrendingRail` component displays a horizontally-scrollable carousel of trending prediction markets on the marketing home page. It highlights markets with high 24-hour trading volume and active participation.
+
+## Quick Start
+
+```tsx
+import { TrendingRail } from "@/app/components/TrendingRail"
+
+// Render on the marketing page
+<TrendingRail />
+```
+
+## Default Markets
+
+8 curated markets across Crypto, Football, Politics, Stocks, Sports, and Entertainment. Markets with the highest 24h volume are flagged as "Hot" with a flame badge.
+
+## Features
+
+- **Horizontal carousel** — snap-scrolling cards with keyboard navigation (ArrowLeft / ArrowRight)
+- **Hot market badges** — markets with `isHot: true` display a flame badge
+- **Volume indicators** — each card shows 24h trading volume with a trend icon
+- **Scroll buttons** — appear on hover for desktop users
+- **Responsive** — cards are 280px on mobile, 300px on desktop
+- **Accessible** — labelled carousel region, keyboard-focusable, ARIA controls
+- **Empty state** — returns nothing when no markets are provided
+
+## API
+
+```tsx
+interface TrendingRailProps {
+  /** Override the default trending markets. */
+  markets?: TrendingMarket[]
+  className?: string
+}
+
+interface TrendingMarket {
+  id: string
+  title: string
+  category: string
+  volume: string        // e.g. "$42.1k"
+  participants: number
+  odds: number
+  isHot?: boolean       // Shows flame badge
+  href: string
+}
+```
+
+### Custom Markets
+
+```tsx
+<TrendingRail
+  markets={[
+    {
+      id: "my-market",
+      title: "Will my team win?",
+      category: "Sports",
+      volume: "$12.5k",
+      participants: 450,
+      odds: 2.5,
+      isHot: true,
+      href: "/events",
+    },
+  ]}
+/>
+```
+
+## Placement
+
+The rail is rendered on the marketing home page (`app/(marketing)/page.tsx`) between the Hero and KpiStrip sections:
+
+```tsx
+<Hero />
+<TrendingRail />
+<KpiStrip />
+```
+
+## Testing
+
+11 tests cover:
+
+- Rendering (heading, all markets, links)
+- Empty state (no markets → nothing rendered)
+- Hot market badges
+- Volume display
+- Keyboard navigation (ArrowLeft / ArrowRight)
+- Accessibility (labelled region, keyboard-focusable)
+- Custom market lists
+
+```bash
+pnpm test -- app/components/TrendingRail.test.tsx
+```
+
+## Dependencies
+
+- `lucide-react` — icons (Flame, TrendingUp, Users, ChevronLeft, ChevronRight)
+- `@/lib/utils` — `cn` class utility