diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 0147ed4..9300076 100644
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -1599,13 +1599,9 @@ async def update_asset(name: str, req: UpdateAssetRequest, user: User = Depends(
         updates["origin"] = req.origin
     if req.ipfs_cid is not None:
         updates["ipfs_cid"] = req.ipfs_cid
-        # Pin on IPFS
-        try:
-            import ipfs_client
-            if ipfs_client.is_available():
-                ipfs_client.pin(req.ipfs_cid)
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Failed to pin IPFS content {req.ipfs_cid}: {e}")
+        # Pin on IPFS (fire-and-forget, don't block)
+        import threading
+        threading.Thread(target=_pin_ipfs_async, args=(req.ipfs_cid,), daemon=True).start()
 
     # Update asset in database
     updated_asset = await db.update_asset(name, updates)
@@ -1639,20 +1635,27 @@ async def update_asset(name: str, req: UpdateAssetRequest, user: User = Depends(
     return {"asset": updated_asset, "activity": activity}
 
 
+def _pin_ipfs_async(cid: str):
+    """Pin IPFS content in background thread."""
+    try:
+        import ipfs_client
+        if ipfs_client.is_available():
+            ipfs_client.pin(cid)
+            logger.info(f"Pinned IPFS content: {cid}")
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning(f"Failed to pin IPFS content {cid}: {e}")
+
+
 async def _register_asset_impl(req: RegisterRequest, owner: str):
     """Internal implementation for registering an asset."""
     # Check if name exists
     if await db.asset_exists(req.name):
         raise HTTPException(400, f"Asset already exists: {req.name}")
 
-    # Pin content on IPFS if CID provided
+    # Pin content on IPFS if CID provided (fire-and-forget, don't block)
     if req.ipfs_cid:
-        try:
-            import ipfs_client
-            if ipfs_client.is_available():
-                ipfs_client.pin(req.ipfs_cid)
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Failed to pin IPFS content {req.ipfs_cid}: {e}")
+        import threading
+        threading.Thread(target=_pin_ipfs_async, args=(req.ipfs_cid,), daemon=True).start()
 
     # Create asset
     now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
@@ -1794,14 +1797,10 @@ async def publish_cache(req: PublishCacheRequest, user: User = Depends(get_requi
     if await db.asset_exists(req.asset_name):
         raise HTTPException(400, f"Asset name already exists: {req.asset_name}")
 
-    # Pin content on IPFS if CID provided
+    # Pin content on IPFS if CID provided (fire-and-forget, don't block)
     if req.ipfs_cid:
-        try:
-            import ipfs_client
-            if ipfs_client.is_available():
-                ipfs_client.pin(req.ipfs_cid)
-        except Exception as e:
-            logger.warning(f"Failed to pin IPFS content {req.ipfs_cid}: {e}")
+        import threading
+        threading.Thread(target=_pin_ipfs_async, args=(req.ipfs_cid,), daemon=True).start()
 
     # Create asset
     now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()