diff --git a/bin/create-release-zip.sh b/bin/create-release-zip.sh
index a6e90b2d..2b8916fa 100755
--- a/bin/create-release-zip.sh
+++ b/bin/create-release-zip.sh
@@ -116,6 +116,17 @@ for dir in "${REQUIRED_DIRS[@]}"; do
     cp -r "$dir" "$PLUGIN_DIR/"
 done
 
+# Remove development-only assets from the staged copy:
+# - assets/src: uncompiled sources, never loaded at runtime
+# - *.map files under assets/build: source maps for debugging only
+# Note: unminified (non-.min) build files are kept on purpose — they are
+# loaded at runtime when SCF_DEVELOPMENT_MODE is enabled.
+# Note: assets/inc/select2/3 is kept on purpose — the legacy 'select2_version'
+# setting can still select version 3 at runtime.
+echo "Removing development-only asset files..."
+rm -rf "$PLUGIN_DIR/assets/src"
+find "$PLUGIN_DIR/assets/build" -type f -name "*.map" -delete
+
 # Install production dependencies
 echo "Installing production dependencies..."
 composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader --no-interaction --prefer-dist
diff --git a/includes/acf-field-functions.php b/includes/acf-field-functions.php
index 308c57cf..be66a3de 100644
--- a/includes/acf-field-functions.php
+++ b/includes/acf-field-functions.php
@@ -162,7 +162,14 @@ function acf_get_field_post( $id = 0 ) {
 
 		// Check $post_id and return the post when possible.
 		if ( $post_id ) {
-			return get_post( $post_id );
+			$post = get_post( $post_id );
+
+			// Prime sibling field lookups to avoid one query per field.
+			if ( $post && $post->post_parent ) {
+				_acf_prime_sibling_field_posts( $post );
+			}
+
+			return $post;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -170,6 +177,65 @@ function acf_get_field_post( $id = 0 ) {
 	return false;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Primes the field key lookup cache for all sibling fields of the given field post.
+ *
+ * Resolving a field key normally runs one query per field. When a field belongs
+ * to a field group, all fields of that group are loaded in a single (cached)
+ * query instead, so subsequent sibling key lookups avoid further queries.
+ *
+ * @since SCF 6.8.9
+ *
+ * @param WP_Post $post The field post object.
+ * @return void
+ */
+function _acf_prime_sibling_field_posts( $post ) {
+	static $primed = array();
+
+	// Bail early if this parent was already primed during this request.
+	if ( isset( $primed[ $post->post_parent ] ) ) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Filters whether sibling field lookups are primed when a field is loaded by key or name.
+	 *
+	 * Priming bypasses the per-key query (and any filters applied to it), so
+	 * plugins which filter field queries per language/context can opt out.
+	 *
+	 * @since SCF 6.8.9
+	 *
+	 * @param boolean $prime True to prime sibling field lookups. Default true.
+	 */
+	if ( ! apply_filters( 'acf/prime_field_group_fields', true ) ) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// Only prime when the parent is a field group.
+	$parent = get_post( $post->post_parent );
+	if ( ! $parent || 'acf-field-group' !== $parent->post_type ) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	$primed[ $post->post_parent ] = true;
+
+	// Load all fields of the group in a single (cached) query.
+	$raw_fields = acf_get_raw_fields( $parent->ID );
+	foreach ( $raw_fields as $raw_field ) {
+		$field_post = get_post( $raw_field['ID'] );
+
+		// Only prime published fields; a per-key query would not match other statuses.
+		if ( ! $field_post || 'publish' !== $field_post->post_status ) {
+			continue;
+		}
+
+		$cache_key = acf_cache_key( "acf_get_field_post:key:{$raw_field['key']}" );
+		if ( false === wp_cache_get( $cache_key, 'secure-custom-fields' ) ) {
+			wp_cache_set( $cache_key, $field_post->ID, 'secure-custom-fields' );
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 /**
  * acf_is_field_key
  *
diff --git a/includes/acf-meta-functions.php b/includes/acf-meta-functions.php
index 67b7d653..c18eb7bb 100644
--- a/includes/acf-meta-functions.php
+++ b/includes/acf-meta-functions.php
@@ -1,4 +1,12 @@
 <?php
+/**
+ * SCF meta functions.
+ *
+ * @package wordpress/secure-custom-fields
+ */
+
+// Register store for caching option meta queries. Options are site-specific.
+acf_register_store( 'option-meta' )->prop( 'multisite', true );
 
 /**
  * Returns an array of "ACF only" meta for the given post_id.
@@ -56,6 +64,12 @@ function acf_get_option_meta( $prefix = '' ) {
 	// Globals.
 	global $wpdb;
 
+	// Check store. Invalidated by _acf_flush_option_meta_cache() on option writes.
+	$store = acf_get_store( 'option-meta' );
+	if ( $store->has( $prefix ) ) {
+		return $store->get( $prefix );
+	}
+
 	// Vars.
 	$meta = array();
 
@@ -85,10 +99,37 @@ function acf_get_option_meta( $prefix = '' ) {
 		$meta[ substr( $row['option_name'], $len ) ][] = $row['option_value'];
 	}
 
+	// Cache results for repeat calls during this request.
+	$store->set( $prefix, $meta );
+
 	// Return results.
 	return $meta;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Flushes the cached option meta for any prefix matching the written option.
+ *
+ * Option values are written via update_option()/delete_option() from several
+ * code paths, so the core option actions are used to invalidate the cache.
+ *
+ * @since SCF 6.8.9
+ *
+ * @param string $option The name of the option being added, updated or deleted.
+ * @return void
+ */
+function _acf_flush_option_meta_cache( $option ) {
+	$store = acf_get_store( 'option-meta' );
+
+	foreach ( array_keys( $store->get_data() ) as $prefix ) {
+		if ( 0 === strpos( $option, "{$prefix}_" ) || 0 === strpos( $option, "_{$prefix}_" ) ) {
+			$store->remove( $prefix );
+		}
+	}
+}
+add_action( 'added_option', '_acf_flush_option_meta_cache' );
+add_action( 'updated_option', '_acf_flush_option_meta_cache' );
+add_action( 'deleted_option', '_acf_flush_option_meta_cache' );
+
 /**
  * Retrieves specific metadata from the database.
  *
diff --git a/includes/admin/admin-commands.php b/includes/admin/admin-commands.php
index 19970b68..5cef3f5d 100644
--- a/includes/admin/admin-commands.php
+++ b/includes/admin/admin-commands.php
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@
  * @since SCF 6.5.0
  */
 function acf_commands_init() {
-	// Ensure we only load our commands where the WordPress commands API is available.
-	if ( ! wp_script_is( 'wp-commands', 'registered' ) ) {
+	// Ensure we only load our commands on screens where the command palette itself loads.
+	// Core enqueues 'wp-commands' in the block/site editors (and on all admin screens
+	// since WP 6.9 via wp_enqueue_command_palette_assets()); elsewhere there is no palette.
+	if ( ! wp_script_is( 'wp-commands', 'enqueued' ) ) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -42,4 +44,5 @@ function acf_commands_init() {
 	}
 }
 
-add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', 'acf_commands_init' );
+// Priority 20 ensures this runs after core has enqueued the command palette assets (priority 10).
+add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', 'acf_commands_init', 20 );
diff --git a/includes/admin/admin.php b/includes/admin/admin.php
index 445908e5..4455a15b 100644
--- a/includes/admin/admin.php
+++ b/includes/admin/admin.php
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ public function admin_menu() {
 		 */
 		public function admin_enqueue_scripts() {
 			wp_enqueue_style( 'acf-global' );
+
+			// Only load the escaped HTML notice assets when the notice will render.
+			if ( ! $this->should_show_escaped_html_notice() ) {
+				return;
+			}
+
 			wp_enqueue_script( 'acf-escaped-html-notice' );
 
 			wp_localize_script(
@@ -141,26 +147,37 @@ public function maybe_show_import_from_cptui_notice() {
 		 * @since ACF 6.2.5
 		 */
 		public function maybe_show_escaped_html_notice() {
+			// Notice for when HTML has already been escaped.
+			if ( $this->should_show_escaped_html_notice() ) {
+				acf_get_view( 'escaped-html-notice', array( 'acf_escaped' => _acf_get_escaped_html_log() ) );
+			}
+		}
+
+		/**
+		 * Checks if the escaped unsafe HTML notice should be rendered.
+		 *
+		 * @since SCF 6.8.9
+		 *
+		 * @return boolean
+		 */
+		private function should_show_escaped_html_notice() {
 			// Only show to editors and above.
 			if ( ! current_user_can( 'edit_others_posts' ) ) {
-				return;
+				return false;
 			}
 
 			// Allow opting-out of the notice.
 			if ( apply_filters( 'acf/admin/prevent_escaped_html_notice', false ) ) {
-				return;
+				return false;
 			}
 
 			if ( get_option( 'acf_escaped_html_notice_dismissed' ) ) {
-				return;
+				return false;
 			}
 
 			$escaped = _acf_get_escaped_html_log();
 
-			// Notice for when HTML has already been escaped.
-			if ( ! empty( $escaped ) ) {
-				acf_get_view( 'escaped-html-notice', array( 'acf_escaped' => $escaped ) );
-			}
+			return ! empty( $escaped );
 		}
 
 		/**
diff --git a/includes/api/api-helpers.php b/includes/api/api-helpers.php
index 0bac01e2..4e91c5da 100644
--- a/includes/api/api-helpers.php
+++ b/includes/api/api-helpers.php
@@ -1028,12 +1028,12 @@ function acf_decode_taxonomy_term( $value ) {
 	// allow for term_id (Used by ACF v4)
 	if ( is_numeric( $data['term'] ) ) {
 
-		// global
-		global $wpdb;
-
-		// find taxonomy
+		// find taxonomy (uses the term cache instead of a direct query)
 		if ( ! $data['taxonomy'] ) {
-			$data['taxonomy'] = $wpdb->get_var( $wpdb->prepare( "SELECT taxonomy FROM $wpdb->term_taxonomy WHERE term_id = %d LIMIT 1", $data['term'] ) );
+			$term_object = get_term( (int) $data['term'] );
+			if ( $term_object instanceof WP_Term ) {
+				$data['taxonomy'] = $term_object->taxonomy;
+			}
 		}
 
 		// find term (may have numeric slug '123')
diff --git a/includes/assets.php b/includes/assets.php
index 5a00953f..05275ef8 100644
--- a/includes/assets.php
+++ b/includes/assets.php
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ class ACF_Assets {
 		 */
 		public function __construct() {
 			add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'register_scripts' ) );
+			add_action( 'enqueue_block_editor_assets', array( $this, 'enqueue_block_editor_assets' ) );
 		}
 
 		/**
@@ -115,7 +116,7 @@ public function register_scripts() {
 				'base' => 'assets/build/js/%s' . $suffix . '.js',
 			);
 			$css_path_patterns   = array(
-				'pro'  => 'assets/build/css/pro/%s.css',
+				'pro'  => 'assets/build/css/pro/%s' . $suffix . '.css',
 				'base' => 'assets/build/css/%s' . $suffix . '.css',
 			);
 			$asset_path_patterns = array(
@@ -493,6 +494,24 @@ public function enqueue_uploader() {
 			do_action( 'acf/enqueue_uploader' );
 		}
 
+		/**
+		 * Enqueues scripts that should only load in the block editor.
+		 *
+		 * The JS block bindings layer relies on block editor APIs and pulls in
+		 * the block editor script stack, so it must not load on classic admin
+		 * screens or front-end forms.
+		 *
+		 * @since SCF 6.8.9
+		 *
+		 * @return void
+		 */
+		public function enqueue_block_editor_assets() {
+			// When the datastore is enabled, the bindings layer is handled by SCF\Blocks\Bindings_Editor instead.
+			if ( ! acf_is_using_datastore() ) {
+				wp_enqueue_script( 'scf-bindings' );
+			}
+		}
+
 		/**
 		 * Enqueues and localizes scripts.
 		 *
@@ -551,9 +570,8 @@ public function enqueue_scripts() {
 
 				// @todo integrate into the above. Previously, they were simply hooked into the hook below.
 				wp_enqueue_script( 'acf-pro-input' );
-				wp_enqueue_script( 'acf-pro-ui-options-page' );
-				if ( ! acf_is_using_datastore() ) {
-					wp_enqueue_script( 'scf-bindings' );
+				if ( is_admin() ) {
+					wp_enqueue_script( 'acf-pro-ui-options-page' );
 				}
 				wp_enqueue_style( 'acf-pro-input' );
 
diff --git a/includes/blocks.php b/includes/blocks.php
index 71d0e7f2..17e45ff2 100644
--- a/includes/blocks.php
+++ b/includes/blocks.php
@@ -1529,6 +1529,11 @@ function acf_get_empty_block_form_html( $block_name ) {
  */
 function acf_parse_save_blocks( $text = '' ) {
 
+	// Bail early if no ACF block types are registered.
+	if ( ! acf_get_block_types() ) {
+		return $text;
+	}
+
 	// Search text for dynamic blocks and modify attrs.
 	return addslashes(
 		preg_replace_callback(
@@ -1910,6 +1915,11 @@ function acf_add_block_meta_values( $block, $post_id ) {
  * @return void
  */
 function acf_save_block_meta_values( $post_id, $post ) {
+	// Bail early if no ACF block types are registered.
+	if ( ! acf_get_block_types() ) {
+		return;
+	}
+
 	$meta_values = acf_get_block_meta_values_to_save( $post->post_content );
 
 	if ( empty( $meta_values ) ) {
diff --git a/includes/datastore.php b/includes/datastore.php
index f561c133..49e7b9f6 100644
--- a/includes/datastore.php
+++ b/includes/datastore.php
@@ -20,8 +20,17 @@
  * @return boolean
  */
 function acf_is_using_datastore() {
+	// The WordPress version cannot change during a request, so compare it once.
+	// The filter below is intentionally not memoized as callbacks may be added
+	// or removed at runtime.
+	static $wp_supports_datastore = null;
+
+	if ( null === $wp_supports_datastore ) {
+		$wp_supports_datastore = version_compare( get_bloginfo( 'version' ), '6.7', '>=' );
+	}
+
 	// Bail if not on WordPress 6.7+.
-	if ( ! version_compare( get_bloginfo( 'version' ), '6.7', '>=' ) ) {
+	if ( ! $wp_supports_datastore ) {
 		return false;
 	}
 
diff --git a/includes/local-json.php b/includes/local-json.php
index 63b31580..00179edc 100644
--- a/includes/local-json.php
+++ b/includes/local-json.php
@@ -62,6 +62,31 @@ public function __construct() {
 			}
 		}
 
+		/**
+		 * Decodes the JSON in the given file, caching the result for the current request.
+		 *
+		 * Local JSON files are scanned once per internal post type and decoded again
+		 * when included, so without caching each file is decoded multiple times per
+		 * request. The cache is keyed on path, modified time and size so changed
+		 * files are decoded again.
+		 *
+		 * @since SCF 6.8.9
+		 *
+		 * @param string $file The JSON file path.
+		 * @return mixed The decoded JSON, or null on failure.
+		 */
+		private function decode_json_file( $file ) {
+			static $cache = array();
+
+			$key = $file . ':' . filemtime( $file ) . ':' . filesize( $file );
+
+			if ( ! array_key_exists( $key, $cache ) ) {
+				$cache[ $key ] = json_decode( file_get_contents( $file ), true );
+			}
+
+			return $cache[ $key ];
+		}
+
 		/**
 		 * Returns true if this component is enabled.
 		 *
@@ -297,7 +322,7 @@ public function include_fields() {
 			// Get load paths.
 			$files = $this->scan_files( 'acf-field-group' );
 			foreach ( $files as $key => $file ) {
-				$json               = json_decode( file_get_contents( $file ), true );
+				$json               = $this->decode_json_file( $file );
 				$json['local']      = 'json';
 				$json['local_file'] = $file;
 				acf_add_local_field_group( $json );
@@ -318,7 +343,7 @@ public function include_post_types() {
 			// Get load paths.
 			$files = $this->scan_files( 'acf-post-type' );
 			foreach ( $files as $key => $file ) {
-				$json               = json_decode( file_get_contents( $file ), true );
+				$json               = $this->decode_json_file( $file );
 				$json['local']      = 'json';
 				$json['local_file'] = $file;
 				acf_add_local_internal_post_type( $json, 'acf-post-type' );
@@ -339,7 +364,7 @@ public function include_taxonomies() {
 			// Get load paths.
 			$files = $this->scan_files( 'acf-taxonomy' );
 			foreach ( $files as $key => $file ) {
-				$json               = json_decode( file_get_contents( $file ), true );
+				$json               = $this->decode_json_file( $file );
 				$json['local']      = 'json';
 				$json['local_file'] = $file;
 				acf_add_local_internal_post_type( $json, 'acf-taxonomy' );
@@ -394,7 +419,7 @@ function scan_files( $post_type = 'acf-field-group' ) {
 							}
 
 							// Read JSON data.
-							$json = json_decode( file_get_contents( $file ), true );
+							$json = $this->decode_json_file( $file );
 							if ( ! is_array( $json ) || ! isset( $json['key'] ) ) {
 								continue;
 							}
@@ -430,7 +455,7 @@ public function get_files( $post_type = 'acf-field-group' ) {
 					$files[ $key ] = $path;
 				} elseif ( 'acf-field-group' === $post_type ) {
 					// If we can't figure out the ACF post type, make an educated guess that it's a field group.
-					$json = json_decode( file_get_contents( $path ), true );
+					$json = $this->decode_json_file( $path );
 					if ( ! is_array( $json ) ) {
 						continue;
 					}
diff --git a/includes/third-party.php b/includes/third-party.php
index 929648af..2d87bbb7 100644
--- a/includes/third-party.php
+++ b/includes/third-party.php
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ public function pts_allowed_pages( $pages ) {
 		 */
 		public function doing_dark_mode() {
 			$min = defined( 'SCF_DEVELOPMENT_MODE' ) && SCF_DEVELOPMENT_MODE ? '' : '.min';
-			wp_enqueue_style( 'acf-dark', acf_get_url( 'assets/css/acf-dark' . $min . '.css' ), array(), ACF_VERSION );
+			wp_enqueue_style( 'acf-dark', acf_get_url( 'assets/build/css/acf-dark' . $min . '.css' ), array(), ACF_VERSION );
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/webpack.config.js b/webpack.config.js
index 21d371e5..a2a04b50 100644
--- a/webpack.config.js
+++ b/webpack.config.js
@@ -98,7 +98,6 @@ const unminifiedConfig = {
 			filename: '[name].css', // Output CSS as .css
 		} ),
 		new DependencyExtractionWebpackPlugin( {
-			injectPolyfill: true,
 			useCombinedAssetFile: true,
 		} ),
 	],
@@ -132,7 +131,6 @@ const minifiedConfig = {
 			filename: '[name].min.css', // Changed to output .min.css files
 		} ),
 		new DependencyExtractionWebpackPlugin( {
-			injectPolyfill: true,
 			useCombinedAssetFile: true,
 		} ),
 	],