diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration.yml b/.github/workflows/integration.yml
index c859f5d..27234b1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integration.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration.yml
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 name: Integration Tests (Testnet)
 
 on:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '0 0 * * *' # Nightly run at midnight UTC
   workflow_dispatch: # Allows manual triggering from the GitHub Actions UI
 
 jobs:
@@ -12,18 +14,20 @@ jobs:
       - name: Checkout Repository
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
 
+      - name: Setup pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v3
+
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '20'
           cache: "pnpm"
 
-      - name: Setup pnpm
-        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v3
-
       - name: Install Dependencies
         run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
+      - name: Verify package filter
+        run: pnpm --filter use-stellar --fail-if-no-match exec true
+
       - name: Run Integration Tests
-        run: pnpm --filter @israelolrunfemi/use-stellar test:integration
-        # Note: adjust the filter name to match the exact "name" field in packages/core/package.jsone
+        run: pnpm --filter use-stellar --fail-if-no-match test:integration
diff --git a/packages/core/jest.integration.config.js b/packages/core/jest.integration.config.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e530754
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/core/jest.integration.config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+module.exports = {
+  preset: 'ts-jest',
+  testEnvironment: 'node',
+  maxWorkers: 1,
+  testMatch: [
+    '**/__tests__/integration/**/*.test.ts'
+  ],
+  clearMocks: true,
+  resetMocks: true,
+  restoreMocks: true,
+};
diff --git a/packages/core/package.json b/packages/core/package.json
index efb3602..8c3bc98 100644
--- a/packages/core/package.json
+++ b/packages/core/package.json
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
     "build": "tsup",
     "test": "jest --testPathIgnorePatterns=integration",
     "test:watch": "jest --watch --testPathIgnorePatterns=integration",
-    "test:integration": "jest --testPathPattern=integration",
+    "test:integration": "jest --config jest.integration.config.js",
     "test:package": "node scripts/smoke-test.js",
     "typecheck": "tsc --noEmit",
     "dev": "tsup --watch",
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/balance.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/balance.test.ts
index 9488336..0ed4bd3 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/balance.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/balance.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+jest.unmock("@stellar/stellar-sdk")
 /**
  * @jest-environment node
  */
@@ -6,17 +7,46 @@ import { Keypair, Horizon } from "@stellar/stellar-sdk"
 // Increase timeout to 60 seconds to allow for network requests and ledger closures
 jest.setTimeout(60000)
 
+async function fundWithFriendbot(publicKey: string, retries = 3, delayMs = 2000): Promise<void> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < retries; i++) {
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch(`https://friendbot.stellar.org?addr=${publicKey}`)
+      if (response.ok) {
+        return
+      }
+      const body = await response.text()
+      if (i === retries - 1) {
+        throw new Error(`Friendbot failed with status ${response.status}: ${body}`)
+      }
+      console.warn(`Friendbot failed (status ${response.status}), retrying in ${delayMs}ms...`)
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (i === retries - 1) {
+        throw err
+      }
+      const errMsg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
+      console.warn(`Friendbot request failed with error: ${errMsg}, retrying in ${delayMs}ms...`)
+    }
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delayMs))
+    delayMs *= 2 // backoff
+  }
+}
+
 describe("Integration: Balance", () => {
   const server = new Horizon.Server("https://horizon-testnet.stellar.org")
 
+  it("should use the real SDK (unmocked)", () => {
+    const key1 = Keypair.random().publicKey()
+    const key2 = Keypair.random().publicKey()
+    expect(key1).not.toBe(key2)
+  })
+
   it("should fund an account via friendbot and verify the balance", async () => {
     // 1. Generate a new keypair
     const keypair = Keypair.random()
     const publicKey = keypair.publicKey()
 
     // 2. Fund the account using Friendbot
-    const response = await fetch(`https://friendbot.stellar.org?addr=${publicKey}`)
-    expect(response.ok).toBe(true)
+    await fundWithFriendbot(publicKey)
 
     // 3. Call Horizon directly to get the balance
     const account = await server.loadAccount(publicKey)
@@ -26,8 +56,8 @@ describe("Integration: Balance", () => {
       (b: { asset_type: string; balance: string }) => b.asset_type === "native"
     )
 
-    // Friendbot currently funds accounts with 10,000 XLM
+    // Friendbot currently funds accounts with some positive XLM
     expect(nativeBalance).toBeDefined()
-    expect(parseFloat(nativeBalance!.balance)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(10000)
+    expect(parseFloat(nativeBalance!.balance)).toBeGreaterThan(0)
   })
 })
diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/payment.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/payment.test.ts
index f17bf34..df986df 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/payment.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/integration/payment.test.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+jest.unmock("@stellar/stellar-sdk")
 /**
  * @jest-environment node
  */
@@ -12,17 +13,47 @@ import {
 
 jest.setTimeout(120000) // 2 minutes, as we have to fund twice and submit a tx
 
+async function fundWithFriendbot(publicKey: string, retries = 3, delayMs = 2000): Promise<void> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < retries; i++) {
+    try {
+      const response = await fetch(`https://friendbot.stellar.org?addr=${publicKey}`)
+      if (response.ok) {
+        return
+      }
+      const body = await response.text()
+      if (i === retries - 1) {
+        throw new Error(`Friendbot failed with status ${response.status}: ${body}`)
+      }
+      console.warn(`Friendbot failed (status ${response.status}), retrying in ${delayMs}ms...`)
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (i === retries - 1) {
+        throw err
+      }
+      const errMsg = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err)
+      console.warn(`Friendbot request failed with error: ${errMsg}, retrying in ${delayMs}ms...`)
+    }
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, delayMs))
+    delayMs *= 2 // backoff
+  }
+}
+
 describe("Integration: Payment Flow", () => {
   const server = new Horizon.Server("https://horizon-testnet.stellar.org")
 
+  it("should use the real SDK (unmocked)", () => {
+    const key1 = Keypair.random().publicKey()
+    const key2 = Keypair.random().publicKey()
+    expect(key1).not.toBe(key2)
+  })
+
   it("should successfully send 10 XLM from account A to account B", async () => {
     // 1. Generate keypairs for Alice and Bob
     const alice = Keypair.random()
     const bob = Keypair.random()
 
     // 2. Fund both accounts via Friendbot
-    await fetch(`https://friendbot.stellar.org?addr=${alice.publicKey()}`)
-    await fetch(`https://friendbot.stellar.org?addr=${bob.publicKey()}`)
+    await fundWithFriendbot(alice.publicKey())
+    await fundWithFriendbot(bob.publicKey())
 
     // 3. Verify Bob's initial balance
     let bobAccount = await server.loadAccount(bob.publicKey())
@@ -49,6 +80,10 @@ describe("Integration: Payment Flow", () => {
       .setTimeout(30)
       .build()
 
+    // Never let these tests touch mainnet
+    expect(Networks.TESTNET).toBe("Test SDF Network ; September 2015")
+    expect(transaction.networkPassphrase).toBe(Networks.TESTNET)
+
     transaction.sign(alice)
     const txResult = await server.submitTransaction(transaction)
     expect(txResult.successful).toBe(true)