diff --git a/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.h b/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.h
index 2eeb4996e72..afc91954138 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 #include <mutex>
+#include <optional>
 #include <string>
 #include <thread>
 #include <type_traits>
@@ -74,11 +75,25 @@ class TaggedCache
     using shared_pointer_type = SharedPointerType;
 
 public:
+    /**
+     * A byte budget for the strongly-cached entries. Each entry is charged
+     * `cost(ptr)` bytes when it becomes strong; growth past `bytes` evicts
+     * like the entry cap. The cost should include the value's heap payload
+     * plus per-entry overhead.
+     */
+    struct ByteBudget
+    {
+        std::size_t bytes = 0;
+        std::function<std::size_t(SharedPointerType const&)> cost;
+    };
+
     /**
      * @param cacheHardCap When positive, a hard upper bound on the number of
      *     strongly-cached entries, enforced by demoting the approximately
      *     oldest entry whenever growth would exceed it. 0 disables the cap
      *     (the periodic sweep alone bounds the cache).
+     * @param byteBudget When set, a hard upper bound on the charged bytes of
+     *     strongly-cached entries, enforced the same way.
      */
     TaggedCache(
         std::string const& name,
@@ -87,7 +102,8 @@ class TaggedCache
         clock_type& clock,
         beast::Journal journal,
         beast::insight::Collector::ptr const& collector = beast::insight::NullCollector::make(),
-        int cacheHardCap = 0);
+        int cacheHardCap = 0,
+        std::optional<ByteBudget> byteBudget = std::nullopt);
 
 public:
     /**
@@ -108,6 +124,13 @@ class TaggedCache
     int
     getTrackSize() const;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns the charged bytes of strongly-cached entries; 0 unless a
+     * byte budget with a cost function is configured.
+     */
+    std::size_t
+    getCacheBytes() const;
+
     float
     getHitRate();
 
@@ -322,6 +345,10 @@ class TaggedCache
         shared_weak_combo_pointer_type ptr;
         clock_type::time_point lastAccess;
 
+        // Bytes charged against the byte budget while strong; 0 when weak
+        // or when no budget is configured.
+        std::uint32_t costBytes{0};
+
         ValueEntry(clock_type::time_point const& lastAccess, shared_pointer_type const& ptr)
             : ptr(ptr), lastAccess(lastAccess)
         {
@@ -378,6 +405,7 @@ class TaggedCache
         KeyValueCacheType::map_type& partition,
         SweptPointersVector& stuffToSweep,
         std::atomic<int>& allRemovals,
+        std::atomic<std::uint64_t>& allBytesRemoved,
         std::scoped_lock<std::recursive_mutex> const&);
 
     [[nodiscard]] std::thread
@@ -387,6 +415,7 @@ class TaggedCache
         KeyOnlyCacheType::map_type& partition,
         SweptPointersVector&,
         std::atomic<int>& allRemovals,
+        std::atomic<std::uint64_t>& allBytesRemoved,
         std::scoped_lock<std::recursive_mutex> const&);
 
     beast::Journal journal_;
@@ -409,6 +438,13 @@ class TaggedCache
     // weak-to-strong revivals). 0 disables it (sweep-only sizing).
     int const cacheHardCap_;
 
+    // Byte-denominated bound on strongly-cached entries, enforced the same
+    // way; each entry is charged by the budget's cost function while strong.
+    std::optional<ByteBudget> const byteBudget_;
+
+    // Charged bytes of strongly-cached entries (under mutex_).
+    std::size_t cacheBytes_{0};
+
     // Total hard-cap evictions (under mutex_); the first marks saturation
     // onset for logging.
     std::uint64_t hardCapEvictions_{0};
@@ -416,6 +452,17 @@ class TaggedCache
     // Number of items cached
     int cacheCount_{0};
 
+    // Charge or release an entry's bytes against the byte budget. No-ops
+    // without a configured budget; callers hold mutex_.
+    void
+    chargeEntry(ValueEntry& entry, SharedPointerType const& ptr);
+    void
+    dischargeEntry(ValueEntry& entry);
+
+    // True when either the entry cap or the byte budget is exceeded.
+    [[nodiscard]] bool
+    overHardCap() const;
+
     // Rotating bucket cursor for evictForHardCap so successive over-cap
     // evictions sweep the whole partition (CLOCK hand) instead of repeatedly
     // sampling the head buckets. Advanced under mutex_.
diff --git a/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.ipp b/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.ipp
index 55a6f986c7e..b882d78bd4a 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.ipp
+++ b/include/xrpl/basics/TaggedCache.ipp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include <xrpl/basics/scope.h>
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <limits>
 
 namespace xrpl {
 
@@ -58,7 +59,8 @@ inline TaggedCache<
         clock_type& clock,
         beast::Journal journal,
         beast::insight::Collector::ptr const& collector,
-        int cacheHardCap)
+        int cacheHardCap,
+        std::optional<ByteBudget> byteBudget)
     : journal_(journal)
     , clock_(clock)
     , stats_(
@@ -69,9 +71,65 @@ inline TaggedCache<
     , targetSize_(size)
     , targetAge_(expiration)
     , cacheHardCap_(cacheHardCap)
+    , byteBudget_(std::move(byteBudget))
 {
 }
 
+template <
+    class Key,
+    class T,
+    bool IsKeyCache,
+    class SharedWeakUnionPointer,
+    class SharedPointerType,
+    class Hash,
+    class KeyEqual,
+    class Mutex>
+inline void
+TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash, KeyEqual, Mutex>::
+    chargeEntry(ValueEntry& entry, SharedPointerType const& ptr)
+{
+    if (byteBudget_ && byteBudget_->cost)
+    {
+        entry.costBytes = static_cast<std::uint32_t>(std::min<std::size_t>(
+            byteBudget_->cost(ptr), std::numeric_limits<std::uint32_t>::max()));
+        cacheBytes_ += entry.costBytes;
+    }
+}
+
+template <
+    class Key,
+    class T,
+    bool IsKeyCache,
+    class SharedWeakUnionPointer,
+    class SharedPointerType,
+    class Hash,
+    class KeyEqual,
+    class Mutex>
+inline void
+TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash, KeyEqual, Mutex>::
+    dischargeEntry(ValueEntry& entry)
+{
+    cacheBytes_ -= entry.costBytes;
+    entry.costBytes = 0;
+}
+
+template <
+    class Key,
+    class T,
+    bool IsKeyCache,
+    class SharedWeakUnionPointer,
+    class SharedPointerType,
+    class Hash,
+    class KeyEqual,
+    class Mutex>
+inline bool
+TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash, KeyEqual, Mutex>::
+    overHardCap() const
+{
+    return (cacheHardCap_ > 0 && cacheCount_ > cacheHardCap_) ||
+        (byteBudget_ && cacheBytes_ > byteBudget_->bytes);
+}
+
 template <
     class Key,
     class T,
@@ -122,6 +180,23 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     return cacheCount_;
 }
 
+template <
+    class Key,
+    class T,
+    bool IsKeyCache,
+    class SharedWeakUnionPointer,
+    class SharedPointerType,
+    class Hash,
+    class KeyEqual,
+    class Mutex>
+inline std::size_t
+TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash, KeyEqual, Mutex>::
+    getCacheBytes() const
+{
+    std::scoped_lock const lock(mutex_);
+    return cacheBytes_;
+}
+
 template <
     class Key,
     class T,
@@ -173,6 +248,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     std::scoped_lock const lock(mutex_);
     cache_.clear();
     cacheCount_ = 0;
+    cacheBytes_ = 0;
 }
 
 template <
@@ -191,6 +267,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     std::scoped_lock const lock(mutex_);
     cache_.clear();
     cacheCount_ = 0;
+    cacheBytes_ = 0;
     hits_ = 0;
     misses_ = 0;
 }
@@ -251,8 +328,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
         constexpr int kMaxDemotionsPerCall = 8;
         std::size_t const maxBuckets = std::min<std::size_t>(bucketCount, 4 * kEvictSampleBudget);
 
-        for (int demotions = 0; cacheCount_ > cacheHardCap_ && demotions < kMaxDemotionsPerCall;
-             ++demotions)
+        for (int demotions = 0; overHardCap() && demotions < kMaxDemotionsPerCall; ++demotions)
         {
             int sampled = 0;
             std::size_t bucketsWalked = 0;
@@ -292,6 +368,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
             if (oldest == partition.end() || oldest == keep || oldest->second.isWeak())
                 return;
 
+            dischargeEntry(oldest->second);
             if (oldest->second.ptr.useCount() == 1)
             {
                 // Sole owner: release entirely.
@@ -362,16 +439,24 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
         std::vector<std::thread> workers;
         workers.reserve(cache_.partitions());
         std::atomic<int> allRemovals = 0;
+        std::atomic<std::uint64_t> allBytesRemoved = 0;
 
         for (std::size_t p = 0; p < cache_.partitions(); ++p)
         {
             workers.push_back(sweepHelper(
-                whenExpire, now, cache_.map()[p], allStuffToSweep[p], allRemovals, lock));
+                whenExpire,
+                now,
+                cache_.map()[p],
+                allStuffToSweep[p],
+                allRemovals,
+                allBytesRemoved,
+                lock));
         }
         for (std::thread& worker : workers)
             worker.join();
 
         cacheCount_ -= allRemovals;
+        cacheBytes_ -= std::min<std::uint64_t>(allBytesRemoved, cacheBytes_);
     }
     // At this point allStuffToSweep will go out of scope outside the lock
     // and decrement the reference count on each strong pointer.
@@ -410,6 +495,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     if (entry.isCached())
     {
         --cacheCount_;
+        dischargeEntry(entry);
         entry.ptr.convertToWeak();
         ret = true;
     }
@@ -465,9 +551,10 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
                                         std::forward_as_tuple(clock_.now(), data))
                                     .first;
         ++cacheCount_;
+        chargeEntry(emplacedIt.mit->second, data);
         // The just-inserted entry is the newest; evictForHardCap skips it
         // and drops the oldest in its partition.
-        if (cacheHardCap_ > 0 && cacheCount_ > cacheHardCap_)
+        if (overHardCap())
             evictForHardCap(*emplacedIt.ait, emplacedIt.mit);
         return false;
     }
@@ -494,7 +581,9 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     {
         if (shouldReplaceCached())
         {
+            dischargeEntry(entry);
             entry.ptr = data;
+            chargeEntry(entry, data);
         }
         else if constexpr (!replaceCached)
         {
@@ -519,14 +608,16 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
         }
 
         ++cacheCount_;
-        if (cacheHardCap_ > 0 && cacheCount_ > cacheHardCap_)
+        chargeEntry(entry, entry.ptr.getStrong());
+        if (overHardCap())
             evictForHardCap(*cit.ait, cit.mit);
         return true;
     }
 
     entry.ptr = data;
     ++cacheCount_;
-    if (cacheHardCap_ > 0 && cacheCount_ > cacheHardCap_)
+    chargeEntry(entry, data);
+    if (overHardCap())
         evictForHardCap(*cit.ait, cit.mit);
 
     return false;
@@ -802,8 +893,17 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     std::scoped_lock const l(mutex_);
     ++misses_;
     auto const [it, inserted] = cache_.emplace(digest, Entry(clock_.now(), std::move(sle)));
-    if (!inserted)
+    if (inserted)
+    {
+        ++cacheCount_;
+        chargeEntry(it.mit->second, it.mit->second.ptr.getStrong());
+        if (overHardCap())
+            evictForHardCap(*it.ait, it.mit);
+    }
+    else
+    {
         it->second.touch(clock_.now());
+    }
     return it->second.ptr.getStrong();
 }
 // End CachedSLEs functions.
@@ -837,7 +937,8 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
     {
         // independent of cache size, so not counted as a hit
         ++cacheCount_;
-        if (cacheHardCap_ > 0 && cacheCount_ > cacheHardCap_)
+        chargeEntry(entry, entry.ptr.getStrong());
+        if (overHardCap())
             evictForHardCap(*cit.ait, cit.mit);
         entry.touch(clock_.now());
         return entry.ptr.getStrong();
@@ -891,11 +992,13 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
         KeyValueCacheType::map_type& partition,
         SweptPointersVector& stuffToSweep,
         std::atomic<int>& allRemovals,
+        std::atomic<std::uint64_t>& allBytesRemoved,
         std::scoped_lock<std::recursive_mutex> const&)
 {
     return std::thread([&, this]() {
         int cacheRemovals = 0;
         int mapRemovals = 0;
+        std::uint64_t bytesRemoved = 0;
 
         // Keep references to all the stuff we sweep
         // so that we can destroy them outside the lock.
@@ -922,6 +1025,8 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
                 {
                     // strong, expired
                     ++cacheRemovals;
+                    bytesRemoved += cit->second.costBytes;
+                    cit->second.costBytes = 0;
                     if (cit->second.ptr.useCount() == 1)
                     {
                         stuffToSweep.emplace_back(std::move(cit->second.ptr));
@@ -951,6 +1056,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
         }
 
         allRemovals += cacheRemovals;
+        allBytesRemoved += bytesRemoved;
     });
 }
 
@@ -971,6 +1077,7 @@ TaggedCache<Key, T, IsKeyCache, SharedWeakUnionPointer, SharedPointerType, Hash,
         KeyOnlyCacheType::map_type& partition,
         SweptPointersVector&,
         std::atomic<int>& allRemovals,
+        std::atomic<std::uint64_t>&,
         std::scoped_lock<std::recursive_mutex> const&)
 {
     return std::thread([&, this]() {
diff --git a/include/xrpl/config/Constants.h b/include/xrpl/config/Constants.h
index a947e17fead..1b57f663e0f 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/config/Constants.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/config/Constants.h
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ struct Keys
     static constexpr auto kBgThreads = "bg_threads";
     static constexpr auto kBlockSize = "block_size";
     static constexpr auto kCacheAge = "cache_age";
+    static constexpr auto kCacheBytes = "cache_bytes";
     static constexpr auto kCacheMb = "cache_mb";
     static constexpr auto kCacheSize = "cache_size";
     static constexpr auto kClientMaxWindowBits = "client_max_window_bits";
diff --git a/include/xrpl/nodestore/Database.h b/include/xrpl/nodestore/Database.h
index 902cfc9e039..2930f0ba48f 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/nodestore/Database.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/nodestore/Database.h
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ class Database
         return fetchSz_;
     }
 
-    void
+    virtual void
     getCountsJson(json::Value& obj);
 
     /**
diff --git a/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/DatabaseNodeImp.h b/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/DatabaseNodeImp.h
index 33a2e279397..93e810ec5f0 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/DatabaseNodeImp.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/nodestore/detail/DatabaseNodeImp.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <xrpl/nodestore/Database.h>
 #include <xrpl/nodestore/NodeObject.h>
 #include <xrpl/nodestore/Scheduler.h>
+#include <xrpl/protocol/jss.h>
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <cstdint>
@@ -58,12 +59,31 @@ class DatabaseNodeImp : public Database
 
         if (cacheSize.has_value() || cacheAge.has_value())
         {
-            cache_ = std::make_shared<TaggedCache<uint256, NodeObject>>(
+            using Cache = TaggedCache<uint256, NodeObject>;
+
+            // Serialized sizes are exact, so bound this cache by bytes when
+            // cache_bytes is set; the count target remains advisory.
+            std::optional<Cache::ByteBudget> byteBudget;
+            if (auto const bytes = config.exists(Keys::kCacheBytes)
+                    ? get<std::uint64_t>(config, Keys::kCacheBytes)
+                    : 0)
+            {
+                // Charge the blob plus per-entry overhead (map node, weak
+                // tracking, control block).
+                byteBudget = Cache::ByteBudget{bytes, [](std::shared_ptr<NodeObject> const& obj) {
+                                                   return (obj ? obj->getData().size() : 0) + 160;
+                                               }};
+            }
+
+            cache_ = std::make_shared<Cache>(
                 "DatabaseNodeImp",
                 cacheSize.value_or(0),
                 std::chrono::minutes(cacheAge.value_or(0)),
                 stopwatch(),
-                j);
+                j,
+                beast::insight::NullCollector::make(),
+                0,
+                std::move(byteBudget));
         }
 
         XRPL_ASSERT(
@@ -120,6 +140,17 @@ class DatabaseNodeImp : public Database
     void
     sweep() override;
 
+    void
+    getCountsJson(json::Value& obj) override
+    {
+        Database::getCountsJson(obj);
+        if (cache_)
+        {
+            obj[jss::node_cache_size] = static_cast<json::UInt>(cache_->getCacheSize());
+            obj[jss::node_cache_bytes] = std::to_string(cache_->getCacheBytes());
+        }
+    }
+
 private:
     // Cache for database objects. This cache is not always initialized. Check
     // for null before using.
diff --git a/include/xrpl/protocol/jss.h b/include/xrpl/protocol/jss.h
index 5b0f978b4c7..4a9d11205c5 100644
--- a/include/xrpl/protocol/jss.h
+++ b/include/xrpl/protocol/jss.h
@@ -430,6 +430,8 @@ JSS(no_ripple);                   // out: AccountLines
 JSS(no_ripple_peer);              // out: AccountLines
 JSS(node);                        // out: LedgerEntry
 JSS(node_binary);                 // out: LedgerEntry
+JSS(node_cache_bytes);            // out: GetCounts
+JSS(node_cache_size);             // out: GetCounts
 JSS(node_read_bytes);             // out: GetCounts
 JSS(node_read_errors);            // out: GetCounts
 JSS(node_read_retries);           // out: GetCounts
diff --git a/src/tests/libxrpl/basics/TaggedCache.cpp b/src/tests/libxrpl/basics/TaggedCache.cpp
index 2789da8f7f4..e55ac21f0c1 100644
--- a/src/tests/libxrpl/basics/TaggedCache.cpp
+++ b/src/tests/libxrpl/basics/TaggedCache.cpp
@@ -297,4 +297,43 @@ TEST(TaggedCacheTest, hard_cap_disabled)
     EXPECT_EQ(uncapped.getCacheSize(), 1000);
 }
 
+TEST(TaggedCacheTest, byte_budget_enforced_on_insert)
+{
+    using namespace std::chrono_literals;
+    beast::Journal const journal{TestSink::instance()};
+
+    TestStopwatch clock;
+    clock.set(0);
+
+    using Key = LedgerIndex;
+    using Value = std::string;
+    using Cache = TaggedCache<Key, Value>;
+
+    // Each 100-byte value is charged exactly; the 4 KiB budget holds ~40
+    // entries, enforced as the cache grows, with the sweep unable to fire.
+    Cache::ByteBudget budget{
+        4096, [](std::shared_ptr<Value> const& v) { return v ? v->size() : 0; }};
+    Cache capped(
+        "bytes",
+        1'000'000,
+        3600s,
+        clock,
+        journal,
+        beast::insight::NullCollector::make(),
+        0,
+        budget);
+
+    bool everExceeded = false;
+    for (Key k = 1; k <= 200; ++k)
+    {
+        capped.insert(k, std::string(100, 'x'));
+        if (capped.getCacheBytes() > 4096)
+            everExceeded = true;
+    }
+    EXPECT_FALSE(everExceeded);
+    EXPECT_LE(capped.getCacheBytes(), std::size_t{4096});
+    EXPECT_GT(capped.getCacheSize(), 0);
+    EXPECT_LT(capped.getCacheSize(), 50);
+}
+
 }  // namespace xrpl
diff --git a/src/xrpld/app/ledger/LedgerHistory.cpp b/src/xrpld/app/ledger/LedgerHistory.cpp
index 8734faa1fb2..292292b5187 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/app/ledger/LedgerHistory.cpp
+++ b/src/xrpld/app/ledger/LedgerHistory.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,11 @@ LedgerHistory::LedgerHistory(beast::insight::Collector::ptr const& collector, Ap
           app_.config().getValueFor(SizedItem::LedgerSize),
           std::chrono::seconds{app_.config().getValueFor(SizedItem::LedgerAge)},
           stopwatch(),
-          app_.getJournal("TaggedCache"))
+          app_.getJournal("TaggedCache"),
+          beast::insight::NullCollector::make(),
+          // A ledger byte size is ill-posed (nodes are shared copy-on-write
+          // across ledgers), so bound this cache by count.
+          app_.config().getValueFor(SizedItem::LedgerSize))
     , consensusValidated_(
           "ConsensusValidated",
           64,
diff --git a/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/LedgerMaster.cpp b/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/LedgerMaster.cpp
index 83d76bcd2a1..67e37bdee17 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/LedgerMaster.cpp
+++ b/src/xrpld/app/ledger/detail/LedgerMaster.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,9 @@ LedgerMaster::LedgerMaster(
           65536,
           std::chrono::seconds{45},
           stopwatch,
-          app_.getJournal("TaggedCache"))
+          app_.getJournal("TaggedCache"),
+          beast::insight::NullCollector::make(),
+          65536)
     , stats_([this] { collectMetrics(); }, collector)
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/xrpld/app/main/Application.cpp b/src/xrpld/app/main/Application.cpp
index 62e04a03ed2..7c3a796f571 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/app/main/Application.cpp
+++ b/src/xrpld/app/main/Application.cpp
@@ -258,6 +258,10 @@ class ApplicationImp : public Application, public BasicApp
     std::unique_ptr<TxQ> txQ_;
     ClosureCounter<void, boost::system::error_code const&> waitHandlerCounter_;
     boost::asio::steady_timer sweepTimer_;
+
+    // Set by doSweep when post-trim RSS exceeds 150% of the memory budget;
+    // accelerates the sweep cadence until RSS retreats below 130%.
+    std::atomic<bool> memoryPressure_{false};
     boost::asio::steady_timer entropyTimer_;
 
     std::optional<SQLiteDatabase> relationalDatabase_;
@@ -365,10 +369,12 @@ class ApplicationImp : public Application, public BasicApp
               logs_->journal("TaggedCache"))
         , cachedSLEs_(
               "Cached SLEs",
-              0,
+              config_->getValueFor(SizedItem::SleCacheSize),
               std::chrono::minutes(1),
               stopwatch(),
-              logs_->journal("CachedSLEs"))
+              logs_->journal("CachedSLEs"),
+              beast::insight::NullCollector::make(),
+              config_->getValueFor(SizedItem::SleCacheSize))
         , networkIDService_(std::make_unique<NetworkIDServiceImpl>(config_->networkId))
         , validatorKeys_(*config_, journal_)
         , resourceManager_(
@@ -916,9 +922,11 @@ class ApplicationImp : public Application, public BasicApp
                 }))
         {
             using namespace std::chrono;
-            sweepTimer_.expires_after(
-                seconds{config_->sweepInterval.value_or(
-                    config_->getValueFor(SizedItem::SweepInterval))});
+            auto interval = seconds{
+                config_->sweepInterval.value_or(config_->getValueFor(SizedItem::SweepInterval))};
+            if (memoryPressure_)
+                interval = std::min(interval, seconds{10});
+            sweepTimer_.expires_after(interval);
             sweepTimer_.async_wait(std::move(*optionalCountedHandler));
         }
     }
@@ -1087,7 +1095,30 @@ class ApplicationImp : public Application, public BasicApp
                                    << "; size after: " << cachedSLEs_.size();
         }
 
-        mallocTrim("doSweep", journal_);
+        auto const trim = mallocTrim("doSweep", journal_);
+
+        // Circuit breaker, not a control loop: byte-charged caps do the real
+        // bounding, and RSS legitimately lags eviction (allocator retention),
+        // so pressure only accelerates sweeps and warns. Hysteresis: trip at
+        // 150% of the budget, reset below 130%.
+        if (auto const budget = config_->cacheMemoryBudget(); budget != 0 && trim.rssAfterKB > 0)
+        {
+            auto const rss = static_cast<std::uint64_t>(trim.rssAfterKB) * 1024;
+            if (rss > budget + budget / 2)
+            {
+                if (!memoryPressure_)
+                {
+                    JLOG(journal_.warn())
+                        << "memory pressure: RSS " << (rss >> 20) << " MB exceeds 150% of the "
+                        << (budget >> 20) << " MB memory_limit; sweeping every 10s";
+                }
+                memoryPressure_ = true;
+            }
+            else if (rss < budget + budget * 3 / 10)
+            {
+                memoryPressure_ = false;
+            }
+        }
 
         // Set timer to do another sweep later.
         setSweepTimer();
diff --git a/src/xrpld/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp b/src/xrpld/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp
index 5c5fc2877b7..0507b766f11 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp
+++ b/src/xrpld/app/misc/SHAMapStoreImp.cpp
@@ -178,6 +178,11 @@ SHAMapStoreImp::makeNodeStore(int readThreads)
     if (!nscfg.exists(Keys::kCacheAge))
         nscfg.set(Keys::kCacheAge, "5");
 
+    // An eighth of the memory budget bounds the serialized-object cache.
+    if (auto const budget = app_.config().cacheMemoryBudget();
+        budget != 0 && !nscfg.exists(Keys::kCacheBytes))
+        nscfg.set(Keys::kCacheBytes, std::to_string(budget / 8));
+
     std::unique_ptr<node_store::Database> db;
 
     if (deleteInterval_ != 0u)
diff --git a/src/xrpld/core/Config.h b/src/xrpld/core/Config.h
index ba5b642d48f..60834532c26 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/core/Config.h
+++ b/src/xrpld/core/Config.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ enum class SizedItem : std::size_t {
     LgrDbCache,
     BurstSize,
     AccountIdCacheSize,
+    SleCacheSize,
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/xrpld/core/detail/Config.cpp b/src/xrpld/core/detail/Config.cpp
index 5edd5570b62..ad2accf866c 100644
--- a/src/xrpld/core/detail/Config.cpp
+++ b/src/xrpld/core/detail/Config.cpp
@@ -1346,6 +1346,10 @@ Config::getValueFor(SizedItem item) const
             // Fixed regardless of budget: ~22 MB at 72 bytes per slot, and
             // the value stays prime for hash distribution.
             return 300007;
+        case SizedItem::SleCacheSize:
+            // Closed-ledger SLEs pulled by RPC and pathfinding, a few KB
+            // each; previously unbounded.
+            return std::clamp(gb * 1024, 4096, 262144);
     }
 
     UNREACHABLE("xrpl::Config::getValueFor : invalid item");