diff --git a/src/components/OnboardingGate.tsx b/src/components/OnboardingGate.tsx
index 83aae538..dec868cd 100644
--- a/src/components/OnboardingGate.tsx
+++ b/src/components/OnboardingGate.tsx
@@ -423,11 +423,12 @@ function CaptiveOverlay() {
           key={step}
           className={cn(
             'w-full mx-auto animate-in fade-in slide-in-from-bottom-2 duration-300',
-            // Bio, statement & how-to steps host a large text surface /
-            // markdown editor / two-column tutorial and need more room than
-            // the narrow base screens.
+            // Bio, statement & how-to steps host a text surface / markdown
+            // editor / tutorial and want a slightly roomier column than the
+            // narrow base screens — but not the full-width 3xl that left the
+            // text boxes and tutorial feeling oversized.
             step === 'orgBio' || step === 'orgStatement' || step === 'orgVerifyHowto'
-              ? 'max-w-3xl'
+              ? 'max-w-xl'
               : 'max-w-md',
           )}
         >
diff --git a/src/components/onboarding/VerifierBioStep.tsx b/src/components/onboarding/VerifierBioStep.tsx
index 12b7cc51..768e0fee 100644
--- a/src/components/onboarding/VerifierBioStep.tsx
+++ b/src/components/onboarding/VerifierBioStep.tsx
@@ -47,9 +47,28 @@ export function VerifierBioStep({
         <Textarea
           id="verifier-org-bio"
           value={draft.about}
-          onChange={(e) => onChange({ about: e.target.value })}
+          onChange={(e) => {
+            onChange({ about: e.target.value });
+            // Auto-grow: reset then size to content so the box expands
+            // downward as the user types instead of scrolling internally.
+            e.target.style.height = 'auto';
+            e.target.style.height = `${e.target.scrollHeight}px`;
+          }}
+          onFocus={(e) => {
+            e.target.style.height = 'auto';
+            e.target.style.height = `${e.target.scrollHeight}px`;
+          }}
           placeholder={t('onboarding.verifier.bio.placeholder')}
-          className="min-h-[400px] resize-none p-3 text-lg leading-7 md:text-lg"
+          className={cn(
+            'min-h-[200px] w-full resize-none overflow-hidden p-3',
+            'text-lg leading-7 md:text-lg',
+            // Match the muted, borderless look of the "Your name" field on
+            // the previous identity step (ProfileCard's editable inputs).
+            'rounded-lg border-2 border-transparent bg-muted/40',
+            'hover:bg-muted/60 hover:border-border',
+            'focus-visible:bg-transparent focus-visible:border-primary focus-visible:ring-0 focus-visible:ring-offset-0',
+            'placeholder:text-muted-foreground/40 transition-colors duration-150',
+          )}
           aria-required
         />
       </div>
diff --git a/src/components/organizations/VerifierStatementEditor.tsx b/src/components/organizations/VerifierStatementEditor.tsx
index 7f1572a5..801d43e9 100644
--- a/src/components/organizations/VerifierStatementEditor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/organizations/VerifierStatementEditor.tsx
@@ -62,10 +62,18 @@ export function VerifierStatementEditor({
 
   return (
     <div className={cn('space-y-4', className)}>
-      {/* Borderless WYSIWYG markdown editor — no surrounding card/box so it
-          blends into the step. */}
-      <div className="rounded-lg overflow-hidden focus-within:ring-1 focus-within:ring-ring">
+      {/* Muted, borderless WYSIWYG markdown editor that matches the "Tell us
+          about your organization" bio box on the previous step — same muted
+          fill, no border until focus, and the same min height. */}
+      <div
+        className={cn(
+          'rounded-lg border-2 border-transparent bg-muted/40 overflow-hidden transition-colors duration-150',
+          'hover:bg-muted/60 hover:border-border',
+          'focus-within:bg-transparent focus-within:border-primary',
+        )}
+      >
         <MilkdownEditor
+          className="verifier-statement-editor"
           value={value}
           onChange={onChange}
           placeholder={t('verifier.placeholder')}
diff --git a/src/index.css b/src/index.css
index 500375e0..0d5b9f87 100644
--- a/src/index.css
+++ b/src/index.css
@@ -690,6 +690,15 @@
   @apply min-h-[350px];
 }
 
+/* Verifier-statement instance: shorter, transparent fill so it matches the
+   muted bio textarea on the previous onboarding step. The muted background
+   and border live on the wrapper in VerifierStatementEditor, not here. */
+.milkdown-editor.verifier-statement-editor .editor,
+.milkdown-editor.verifier-statement-editor .ProseMirror,
+.milkdown-editor.verifier-statement-editor .milkdown-content .ProseMirror {
+  @apply min-h-[200px] bg-transparent;
+}
+
 /* Room navigation arrow nudge — subtle horizontal pulse */
 @keyframes room-arrow-nudge-left {
   0%, 100% { transform: translateX(0); }