diff --git a/client/components/blog/BlogTrendingRail.tsx b/client/components/blog/BlogTrendingRail.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d1869140
--- /dev/null
+++ b/client/components/blog/BlogTrendingRail.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import { Link } from "react-router-dom";
+import { Badge } from "@/components/ui/badge";
+import { Card, CardContent } from "@/components/ui/card";
+import { Flame, MessageCircle, ThumbsUp } from "lucide-react";
+import type { BlogPost } from "./types";
+
+interface BlogTrendingRailProps {
+  posts: BlogPost[];
+}
+
+const BlogTrendingRail = ({ posts }: BlogTrendingRailProps) => {
+  if (!posts.length) return null;
+
+  return (
+    <section className="border-b border-border/30 bg-background/60 py-12 backdrop-blur">
+      <div className="container mx-auto space-y-6 px-4">
+        <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
+          <div>
+            <p className="text-xs uppercase tracking-[0.4em] text-muted-foreground">Trending now</p>
+            <h2 className="text-2xl font-semibold text-white">High-signal reads across AeThex</h2>
+          </div>
+          <Badge className="hidden lg:inline-flex items-center gap-1 bg-gradient-to-r from-orange-500 to-rose-500 text-xs uppercase tracking-widest">
+            <Flame className="h-3.5 w-3.5" /> Hot topics
+          </Badge>
+        </div>
+
+        <div className="grid gap-4 md:grid-cols-3">
+          {posts.map((post) => (
+            <Card
+              key={post.slug}
+              className="group border-border/40 bg-background/80 transition hover:border-aethex-400/60 hover:shadow-xl"
+            >
+              <CardContent className="space-y-4 p-6">
+                <Badge variant="outline" className="text-xs">
+                  {post.category || "General"}
+                </Badge>
+                <Link
+                  to={`/blog/${post.slug}`}
+                  className="block text-lg font-semibold leading-snug text-white transition group-hover:text-aethex-200"
+                >
+                  {post.title}
+                </Link>
+                <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground line-clamp-3">{post.excerpt}</p>
+                <div className="flex items-center justify-between text-xs text-muted-foreground">
+                  <span>{post.author || "AeThex Team"}</span>
+                  <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
+                    <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1">
+                      <ThumbsUp className="h-3 w-3" />
+                      {post.likes?.toLocaleString() ?? 0}
+                    </span>
+                    <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1">
+                      <MessageCircle className="h-3 w-3" />
+                      {post.comments?.toLocaleString() ?? 0}
+                    </span>
+                  </div>
+                </div>
+              </CardContent>
+            </Card>
+          ))}
+        </div>
+      </div>
+    </section>
+  );
+};
+
+export default BlogTrendingRail;