diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamClusterMonitor.cs b/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamClusterMonitor.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..453a5aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamClusterMonitor.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,211 @@
+using System.Text.Json;
+using System.Threading.Channels;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using NATS.Server.Raft;
+
+namespace NATS.Server.JetStream.Cluster;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Background loop consuming meta RAFT entries and dispatching cluster state changes.
+/// Reads <see cref="RaftLogEntry"/> items from a channel, parses the JSON command payload,
+/// and applies the corresponding mutation to the <see cref="JetStreamMetaGroup"/>.
+/// Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go:1455-1825 (monitorCluster).
+/// </summary>
+public sealed class JetStreamClusterMonitor
+{
+    private readonly JetStreamMetaGroup _meta;
+    private readonly ChannelReader<RaftLogEntry> _entries;
+    private readonly ILogger<JetStreamClusterMonitor> _logger;
+
+    // Monotonic counter incremented after each entry (including malformed ones).
+    // Protected by _processedLock so WaitForProcessedAsync can wait for a target
+    // without races between the count read and the wait.
+    private readonly object _processedLock = new();
+    private int _processedCount;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Total number of entries dequeued from the channel and processed (including
+    /// malformed entries that were skipped). Useful for test synchronisation.
+    /// </summary>
+    public int ProcessedCount { get { lock (_processedLock) return _processedCount; } }
+
+    public JetStreamClusterMonitor(JetStreamMetaGroup meta, ChannelReader<RaftLogEntry> entries)
+        : this(meta, entries, NullLogger<JetStreamClusterMonitor>.Instance)
+    {
+    }
+
+    public JetStreamClusterMonitor(
+        JetStreamMetaGroup meta,
+        ChannelReader<RaftLogEntry> entries,
+        ILogger<JetStreamClusterMonitor> logger)
+    {
+        _meta = meta;
+        _entries = entries;
+        _logger = logger;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Starts consuming entries from the channel until the token is cancelled.
+    /// Each entry is applied synchronously before the next is read.
+    /// Returns normally (without throwing) when <paramref name="ct"/> is cancelled.
+    /// </summary>
+    public async Task StartAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await foreach (var entry in _entries.ReadAllAsync(ct))
+            {
+                ApplyMetaEntry(entry);
+                lock (_processedLock)
+                {
+                    _processedCount++;
+                    Monitor.PulseAll(_processedLock);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            _logger.LogDebug("JetStreamClusterMonitor stopped via cancellation.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Waits until the cumulative <see cref="ProcessedCount"/> reaches at least
+    /// <paramref name="targetCount"/>. Returns immediately when the target is already met.
+    /// Used by tests to synchronise without sleeping.
+    /// </summary>
+    public Task WaitForProcessedAsync(int targetCount, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        // Fast path — already done.
+        lock (_processedLock)
+        {
+            if (_processedCount >= targetCount)
+                return Task.CompletedTask;
+        }
+
+        // Slow path — offload the blocking Monitor.Wait to a thread-pool thread so the
+        // calling async context is not blocked. Monitor.Wait releases the lock atomically
+        // while waiting, eliminating the TOCTOU race between reading the count and waiting.
+        return Task.Run(() =>
+        {
+            lock (_processedLock)
+            {
+                while (_processedCount < targetCount)
+                {
+                    ct.ThrowIfCancellationRequested();
+                    // Wait up to 50 ms so we can check cancellation periodically.
+                    Monitor.Wait(_processedLock, millisecondsTimeout: 50);
+                }
+            }
+        }, ct);
+    }
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Entry dispatch
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    private void ApplyMetaEntry(RaftLogEntry entry)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            using var doc = JsonDocument.Parse(entry.Command);
+            var root = doc.RootElement;
+
+            if (!root.TryGetProperty("Op", out var opElement))
+                return;
+
+            switch (opElement.GetString())
+            {
+                case "assignStream":
+                    ProcessStreamAssignment(root);
+                    break;
+                case "removeStream":
+                    ProcessStreamRemoval(root);
+                    break;
+                case "assignConsumer":
+                    ProcessConsumerAssignment(root);
+                    break;
+                case "removeConsumer":
+                    ProcessConsumerRemoval(root);
+                    break;
+                case "snapshot":
+                    ApplyMetaSnapshot(root);
+                    break;
+                // Unknown ops are silently ignored — forward compatibility.
+            }
+        }
+        catch (JsonException ex)
+        {
+            _logger.LogWarning(
+                ex,
+                "Skipping malformed meta RAFT entry at index {Index}: {Message}",
+                entry.Index,
+                ex.Message);
+        }
+    }
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Per-op processors
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    private void ProcessStreamAssignment(JsonElement root)
+    {
+        var streamName = root.GetProperty("StreamName").GetString()!;
+        var peers = root.GetProperty("Peers").EnumerateArray()
+            .Select(p => p.GetString()!)
+            .ToList();
+        var config = root.TryGetProperty("Config", out var cfg) ? cfg.GetString() ?? "{}" : "{}";
+
+        var sa = new StreamAssignment
+        {
+            StreamName = streamName,
+            Group = new RaftGroup { Name = streamName, Peers = peers },
+            ConfigJson = config,
+        };
+        _meta.AddStreamAssignment(sa);
+        _logger.LogDebug("Applied stream assignment for {StreamName}", streamName);
+    }
+
+    private void ProcessStreamRemoval(JsonElement root)
+    {
+        var streamName = root.GetProperty("StreamName").GetString()!;
+        _meta.RemoveStreamAssignment(streamName);
+        _logger.LogDebug("Applied stream removal for {StreamName}", streamName);
+    }
+
+    private void ProcessConsumerAssignment(JsonElement root)
+    {
+        var streamName = root.GetProperty("StreamName").GetString()!;
+        var consumerName = root.GetProperty("ConsumerName").GetString()!;
+        var peers = root.GetProperty("Peers").EnumerateArray()
+            .Select(p => p.GetString()!)
+            .ToList();
+
+        var ca = new ConsumerAssignment
+        {
+            ConsumerName = consumerName,
+            StreamName = streamName,
+            Group = new RaftGroup { Name = consumerName, Peers = peers },
+        };
+        _meta.AddConsumerAssignment(streamName, ca);
+        _logger.LogDebug("Applied consumer assignment {ConsumerName} on {StreamName}", consumerName, streamName);
+    }
+
+    private void ProcessConsumerRemoval(JsonElement root)
+    {
+        var streamName = root.GetProperty("StreamName").GetString()!;
+        var consumerName = root.GetProperty("ConsumerName").GetString()!;
+        _meta.RemoveConsumerAssignment(streamName, consumerName);
+        _logger.LogDebug("Applied consumer removal {ConsumerName} from {StreamName}", consumerName, streamName);
+    }
+
+    private void ApplyMetaSnapshot(JsonElement root)
+    {
+        var dataB64 = root.GetProperty("Data").GetString()!;
+        var data = Convert.FromBase64String(dataB64);
+        var assignments = MetaSnapshotCodec.Decode(data);
+        _meta.ReplaceAllAssignments(assignments);
+        _logger.LogInformation("Applied meta snapshot: {StreamCount} streams restored", assignments.Count);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamMetaGroup.cs b/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamMetaGroup.cs
index 1732ec2..eddb230 100644
--- a/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamMetaGroup.cs
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamMetaGroup.cs
@@ -264,6 +264,71 @@ public sealed class JetStreamMetaGroup
         return Task.CompletedTask;
     }
 
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+    // Monitor-facing mutation methods
+    // Called by JetStreamClusterMonitor when processing committed RAFT entries.
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Directly adds a stream assignment to the meta-group state.
+    /// Used by the cluster monitor when processing RAFT entries.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void AddStreamAssignment(StreamAssignment sa)
+    {
+        _streams[sa.StreamName] = 0;
+        _assignments[sa.StreamName] = sa;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Removes a stream assignment from the meta-group state.
+    /// Used by the cluster monitor when processing RAFT entries.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void RemoveStreamAssignment(string streamName)
+    {
+        ApplyStreamDelete(streamName);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Adds a consumer assignment to a stream's assignment.
+    /// Increments the total consumer count if the consumer is new.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void AddConsumerAssignment(string streamName, ConsumerAssignment ca)
+    {
+        if (_assignments.TryGetValue(streamName, out var sa))
+        {
+            var isNew = !sa.Consumers.ContainsKey(ca.ConsumerName);
+            sa.Consumers[ca.ConsumerName] = ca;
+            if (isNew)
+                Interlocked.Increment(ref _totalConsumerCount);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Removes a consumer assignment from a stream.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void RemoveConsumerAssignment(string streamName, string consumerName)
+    {
+        ApplyConsumerDelete(streamName, consumerName);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Replaces all assignments atomically (used for snapshot apply).
+    /// Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go meta snapshot restore.
+    /// </summary>
+    public void ReplaceAllAssignments(Dictionary<string, StreamAssignment> newState)
+    {
+        _assignments.Clear();
+        _streams.Clear();
+        _totalConsumerCount = 0;
+
+        foreach (var (name, sa) in newState)
+        {
+            _assignments[name] = sa;
+            _streams[name] = 0;
+            _totalConsumerCount += sa.Consumers.Count;
+        }
+    }
+
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------
     // ApplyEntry dispatch
     // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go RAFT apply for meta group
diff --git a/tests/NATS.Server.Tests/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamClusterMonitorTests.cs b/tests/NATS.Server.Tests/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamClusterMonitorTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3ca4672
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/NATS.Server.Tests/JetStream/Cluster/JetStreamClusterMonitorTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,344 @@
+using System.Threading.Channels;
+using NATS.Server.JetStream.Cluster;
+using NATS.Server.Raft;
+
+namespace NATS.Server.Tests.JetStream.Cluster;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Tests for JetStreamClusterMonitor — background meta entry processing.
+/// Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go:1455-1825 (monitorCluster).
+/// </summary>
+public class JetStreamClusterMonitorTests
+{
+    // Each test uses a 5-second CancellationToken as a hard upper bound so a
+    // hung monitor doesn't stall the test run indefinitely.
+    private static CancellationTokenSource TestTimeout() =>
+        new(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_processes_stream_assignment_entry()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster assignStream op
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        var assignJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "test-stream",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+            Config = """{"subjects":["test.>"]}""",
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, assignJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(1, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+        meta.GetStreamAssignment("test-stream").ShouldNotBeNull();
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_processes_consumer_assignment_entry()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster assignConsumer op
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        var streamJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "s1",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+            Config = """{"subjects":["x.>"]}""",
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, streamJson));
+
+        var consumerJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignConsumer",
+            StreamName = "s1",
+            ConsumerName = "c1",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, consumerJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.ConsumerCount.ShouldBe(1);
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_processes_stream_removal()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster removeStream op
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        var assignJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "to-remove",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+            Config = """{"subjects":["rm.>"]}""",
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, assignJson));
+
+        var removeJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "removeStream",
+            StreamName = "to-remove",
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, removeJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(0);
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_applies_meta_snapshot()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster snapshot op — replaces all state
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        var assignments = new Dictionary<string, StreamAssignment>
+        {
+            ["snap-stream"] = new StreamAssignment
+            {
+                StreamName = "snap-stream",
+                Group = new RaftGroup { Name = "rg-snap", Peers = ["n1", "n2", "n3"] },
+            },
+        };
+        var snapshotB64 = Convert.ToBase64String(MetaSnapshotCodec.Encode(assignments));
+
+        var snapshotJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "snapshot",
+            Data = snapshotB64,
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, snapshotJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(1, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+        meta.GetStreamAssignment("snap-stream").ShouldNotBeNull();
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_processes_consumer_removal()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster removeConsumer op
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        var streamJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "s1",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, streamJson));
+
+        var consumerJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignConsumer",
+            StreamName = "s1",
+            ConsumerName = "c1",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, consumerJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.ConsumerCount.ShouldBe(1);
+
+        var removeJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "removeConsumer",
+            StreamName = "s1",
+            ConsumerName = "c1",
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(3, 1, removeJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(3, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.ConsumerCount.ShouldBe(0);
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_skips_malformed_entries()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster — malformed entries must not abort the loop
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, "not-json"));
+
+        var assignJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "after-bad",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1", "n2", "n3" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, assignJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+        meta.GetStreamAssignment("after-bad").ShouldNotBeNull();
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_stops_on_cancellation()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go monitorCluster shuts down cleanly when stop channel closes
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask; // Should complete without throwing
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_ignores_entry_with_no_op_field()
+    {
+        // Entries missing the "Op" property are silently ignored (forward-compat).
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, """{"NotOp":"whatever"}"""));
+
+        var assignJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "after-no-op",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, assignJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_ignores_unknown_op()
+    {
+        // Unknown op names are silently ignored — forward compatibility.
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, """{"Op":"futureFoo","Data":"xyz"}"""));
+
+        var assignJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "after-unknown-op",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, assignJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Monitor_snapshot_replaces_existing_state()
+    {
+        // Go reference: jetstream_cluster.go — snapshot apply wipes old assignments
+        var meta = new JetStreamMetaGroup(3);
+        var channel = Channel.CreateUnbounded<RaftLogEntry>();
+        var monitor = new JetStreamClusterMonitor(meta, channel.Reader);
+
+        using var cts = TestTimeout();
+        var monitorTask = monitor.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+
+        var assignJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "assignStream",
+            StreamName = "old-stream",
+            Peers = new[] { "n1" },
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(1, 1, assignJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(1, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+
+        var newAssignments = new Dictionary<string, StreamAssignment>
+        {
+            ["new-stream"] = new StreamAssignment
+            {
+                StreamName = "new-stream",
+                Group = new RaftGroup { Name = "rg-new", Peers = ["n1", "n2", "n3"] },
+            },
+        };
+        var snapshotB64 = Convert.ToBase64String(MetaSnapshotCodec.Encode(newAssignments));
+        var snapshotJson = System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new
+        {
+            Op = "snapshot",
+            Data = snapshotB64,
+        });
+        await channel.Writer.WriteAsync(new RaftLogEntry(2, 1, snapshotJson));
+        await monitor.WaitForProcessedAsync(2, cts.Token);
+
+        meta.StreamCount.ShouldBe(1);
+        meta.GetStreamAssignment("old-stream").ShouldBeNull();
+        meta.GetStreamAssignment("new-stream").ShouldNotBeNull();
+
+        cts.Cancel();
+        await monitorTask;
+    }
+}