diff --git a/packages/wallet/README.md b/packages/wallet/README.md
index 390ea53c68..c2cfc5d65a 100644
--- a/packages/wallet/README.md
+++ b/packages/wallet/README.md
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ for (const [name, metadata] of Object.entries(wallet.controllerMetadata)) {
 
 The `patches` argument contains Immer patches identifying exactly which top-level fields changed, so writes can be scoped rather than full-state replacements.
 
+## Architecture decisions
+
+- [Init-messenger pattern](./init-messenger-decision.md) — why the wallet uses a single messenger per controller rather than the extension/mobile two-messenger pattern, and when to revisit.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 This package is part of a monorepo. Instructions for contributing can be found in the [monorepo README](https://github.com/MetaMask/core#readme).
diff --git a/packages/wallet/init-messenger-decision.md b/packages/wallet/init-messenger-decision.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73099b0e15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/wallet/init-messenger-decision.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Init-messenger pattern decision
+
+## Background
+
+Both `metamask-extension` and `metamask-mobile` create **two** restricted
+messengers per controller:
+
+- A **controller messenger** — handed to the controller constructor; defines
+  what the controller may do for the rest of its lifetime.
+- An **init messenger** — used only inside the controller's `init()` function
+  during boot (broader privileges: one-shot capability queries, approval handler
+  registration, boot-time telemetry). Discarded once initialization completes.
+
+The split keeps runtime messenger allowlists narrow at the cost of additional
+boilerplate per controller.
+
+`@metamask/wallet` currently uses a **single messenger per controller**. Some
+controllers (notably `TransactionController`) keep init-time actions in their
+runtime allowlist because there is no separate init messenger to put them on.
+
+## Decision: defer
+
+We are not adopting the two-messenger pattern at this time. The single-messenger
+approach is functionally correct; the only cost is a slightly wider runtime
+allowlist for a small number of controllers. That cost is acceptable while the
+controller inventory is small.
+
+## Revisit trigger
+
+Each controller's `init()` call is bracketed by a `[wallet] ${name}: initialized`
+log line (emitted when `WalletOptions.logger` is provided). This makes it
+straightforward to instrument which messenger actions are invoked before vs.
+after each init-complete boundary.
+
+Revisit this decision if:
+
+- A controller's runtime allowlist grows large enough to be a meaningful security
+  concern (i.e. it can call actions it has no legitimate runtime reason to call).
+- Profiling shows init-time messenger calls are a material source of latency and
+  isolating them would help.
+- The controller count grows to the point where the allowlist unions become
+  unwieldy for TypeScript to infer.
+
+Until one of those conditions is met, keep the single-messenger pattern.