diff --git a/MODULE.bazel b/MODULE.bazel
index 1b431dca..48fb106f 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel
+++ b/MODULE.bazel
@@ -261,6 +261,18 @@ use_repo(meld, "meld_toolchain")
 
 register_toolchains("@meld_toolchain//:meld_toolchain")
 
+# Loom toolchain for WebAssembly component optimization (native binary, v1.x).
+# wasm_optimize consumes this (loom_toolchain_type); the old @loom_wasm 0.3.0
+# component path was removed (#512).
+loom = use_extension("//wasm:extensions.bzl", "loom")
+loom.register(
+    name = "loom",
+    version = "1.1.14",
+)
+use_repo(loom, "loom_toolchain")
+
+register_toolchains("@loom_toolchain//:loom_toolchain")
+
 # spar toolchain: AADL architecture model -> WIT generation
 spar = use_extension("//wasm:extensions.bzl", "spar")
 spar.register(
@@ -331,13 +343,9 @@ wasm_component_download(
     version = "0.7.0",
 )
 
-# LOOM WebAssembly optimizer (version in //checksums/tools/loom.json)
-wasm_component_download(
-    name = "loom_wasm",
-    filename = "loom.wasm",
-    tool_name = "loom",
-    version = "0.3.0",
-)
+# LOOM: consumed via the native loom toolchain (@loom_toolchain, above).
+# The old @loom_wasm 0.3.0 component download was removed — loom v1.x is
+# native-only and wasm_optimize now runs the native binary directly (#512).
 
 # WASM Tools Component toolchain for universal wasm-tools operations
 register_toolchains("//toolchains:wasm_tools_component_toolchain_local")
diff --git a/MODULE.bazel.lock b/MODULE.bazel.lock
index 6f4841d8..b81cd26b 100644
--- a/MODULE.bazel.lock
+++ b/MODULE.bazel.lock
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@
   "moduleExtensions": {
     "//toolchains:extensions.bzl%wasm_tool_repositories": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "t2mOVh2g8u6qWKLYZ1RD9rQ4Wvl4nsYm51KJSVawqTQ=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "GVpK79XDY26ixQ+99LlGDPx1maOeGRkQYSxUIq2k1TQ=",
         "usagesDigest": "clQqyOwvm/I5edLjq5P4LnONWTjXO0N1AnoQTVKRaOY=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%binaryen": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "c5GClIZ+xfHSKFn9WL/02Ag7wuihInOMqTGH5CxR/U8=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%cpp_component": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "ZtIrdMAeTaET/8t3kmG14kQp8U4FKMqhGB1+JS825Do=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%jco": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "MRHYkIS73wv1wYllXhdZBYX6dRIp7VySTL4edmOH2/M=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -356,9 +356,33 @@
         ]
       }
     },
+    "//wasm:extensions.bzl%loom": {
+      "general": {
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
+        "usagesDigest": "DFU/sKFAEZQ+zav+qZj4HmWRMKHuW16wFNoirPl+iLQ=",
+        "recordedFileInputs": {},
+        "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
+        "envVariables": {},
+        "generatedRepoSpecs": {
+          "loom_toolchain": {
+            "repoRuleId": "@@//toolchains:loom_toolchain.bzl%loom_repository",
+            "attributes": {
+              "version": "1.1.14"
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        "recordedRepoMappingEntries": [
+          [
+            "",
+            "bazel_tools",
+            "bazel_tools"
+          ]
+        ]
+      }
+    },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%meld": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "Nc45Hq7pjpIzzA1UXlHsAEAgQHpg1jE3/IUlCJYcFgU=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -382,7 +406,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%spar": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "HteVAnfZ8Jv2xAL/oX+kiaSB6HLWRIt9g2CRFKUEz9k=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -406,7 +430,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%synth": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "XTIJ1SQ/Se7btOFYHYJX2DjviC7xWk2ugwNS0Q3Icho=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -430,7 +454,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%tinygo": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "esnFdrH+qxI9awhZ/uW4dIkm843wWmTCzO4b1pdmifs=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -454,7 +478,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%wasi_sdk": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "4CDKvALAslODuYVBSBBBKgDbmaqWRdwJJ4yfDrzWeYg=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -839,7 +863,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%wasm_toolchain": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "Keg+j4249N8787+5NDDpsnW8S0P3hp9HSaC26H2SeJg=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -873,7 +897,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%wasmtime": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "ApoHDOpNvMY+Neo28RYxqriytCle29d6O6ibK6MJ7u0=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -898,7 +922,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%witness": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "vz4JVaRGcdcwU0XOHYN0kb54nuI69CDjEu/MXFK6r/g=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
@@ -922,7 +946,7 @@
     },
     "//wasm:extensions.bzl%wkg": {
       "general": {
-        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "MPtqvx8t7gZJVOuxHU4eGcG9yk/A4QiX6cXUSrRp1fM=",
+        "bzlTransitiveDigest": "0qEi+vG8SVFzA/pNsQsrTAkpTnn15fiVjSNm5DZLt+U=",
         "usagesDigest": "ks+Q/IL0nntNP6PabzUcF0ruF4X9hTKhbmck/ueoPTg=",
         "recordedFileInputs": {},
         "recordedDirentsInputs": {},
diff --git a/test/p3/BUILD.bazel b/test/p3/BUILD.bazel
index a47b62ff..a890ef2d 100644
--- a/test/p3/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/test/p3/BUILD.bazel
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ P2 tests verify no regression, P3 tests verify the new attribute is accepted.
 
 load("@bazel_skylib//rules:build_test.bzl", "build_test")
 load("@rules_wasm_component//rust:defs.bzl", "rust_wasm_component", "rust_wasm_component_bindgen")
+load("@rules_wasm_component//wasm:defs.bzl", "wasm_optimize")
 load("@rules_wasm_component//wit:defs.bzl", "wit_library")
 
 package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
@@ -38,6 +39,20 @@ build_test(
     targets = [":hello_p2"],
 )
 
+# ============================================================================
+# Native loom optimize (covers wasm_optimize on the native loom toolchain, #512)
+# ============================================================================
+
+wasm_optimize(
+    name = "hello_p2_optimized",
+    component = ":hello_p2",
+)
+
+build_test(
+    name = "loom_optimize_build_test",
+    targets = [":hello_p2_optimized"],
+)
+
 # ============================================================================
 # P3 build (experimental — async bindings via wit-bindgen crate runtime)
 # ============================================================================
diff --git a/toolchains/BUILD.bazel b/toolchains/BUILD.bazel
index d24d1885..7a9f215b 100644
--- a/toolchains/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/toolchains/BUILD.bazel
@@ -90,6 +90,12 @@ toolchain_type(
     visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
 )
 
+# Toolchain type for Loom (WebAssembly component optimization)
+toolchain_type(
+    name = "loom_toolchain_type",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
+
 # Toolchain type for spar (AADL architecture model -> WIT generation)
 toolchain_type(
     name = "spar_toolchain_type",
@@ -349,6 +355,14 @@ bzl_library(
     deps = [":tool_registry"],
 )
 
+# Bzl library for Loom toolchain implementation
+bzl_library(
+    name = "loom_toolchain",
+    srcs = ["loom_toolchain.bzl"],
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+    deps = [":tool_registry"],
+)
+
 # Export .bzl files for testing
 exports_files([
     "tool_registry.bzl",
diff --git a/toolchains/loom_toolchain.bzl b/toolchains/loom_toolchain.bzl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..444b2692
--- /dev/null
+++ b/toolchains/loom_toolchain.bzl
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+# Copyright 2026 Ralf Anton Beier. All rights reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+"""Loom toolchain: native binary for WebAssembly component optimization.
+
+loom optimizes a WebAssembly component (constant folding, CSE, inlining, DCE,
+fused-component passes, optional Z3 verification). As of v1.x loom is
+distributed as native per-OS binaries (the v0.x `loom.wasm` component was
+dropped), so wasm_optimize runs the native binary directly instead of running
+loom.wasm under wasmtime. Mirrors toolchains/meld_toolchain.bzl, but loom ships
+tarballs (extracted) rather than a bare binary.
+"""
+
+load("//checksums:registry.bzl", "validate_tool_exists")
+load("//toolchains:tool_registry.bzl", "tool_registry")
+
+# Platforms where loom native binaries are downloaded + extracted here. loom
+# also ships a Windows binary (loom.exe), but that path is not wired yet
+# (binary-name differs); Windows gets the stub for now (see #512 follow-up).
+_SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS = [
+    "darwin_amd64",
+    "darwin_arm64",
+    "linux_amd64",
+]
+
+def _loom_toolchain_impl(ctx):
+    """Implementation of loom_toolchain rule."""
+    return [platform_common.ToolchainInfo(
+        loom = ctx.file.loom,
+    )]
+
+loom_toolchain = rule(
+    implementation = _loom_toolchain_impl,
+    attrs = {
+        "loom": attr.label(
+            allow_single_file = True,
+            executable = True,
+            cfg = "exec",
+            doc = "loom binary for component optimization",
+        ),
+    },
+    doc = "Declares a Loom toolchain for WebAssembly component optimization",
+)
+
+_STUB_BUILD = '''"""Loom toolchain stub: unsupported platform.
+
+loom has no wired native binary for this host, so we register a toolchain that
+is marked incompatible with any target. Toolchain resolution for wasm_optimize
+targets fails cleanly here; builds that never touch wasm_optimize are unaffected.
+"""
+
+load("@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:loom_toolchain.bzl", "loom_toolchain")
+
+package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
+
+exports_files(["loom_stub"])
+
+loom_toolchain(
+    name = "loom_toolchain_impl",
+    loom = "loom_stub",
+)
+
+toolchain(
+    name = "loom_toolchain",
+    target_compatible_with = ["@platforms//:incompatible"],
+    toolchain = ":loom_toolchain_impl",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:loom_toolchain_type",
+)
+'''
+
+def _loom_repository_impl(repository_ctx):
+    """Download + extract the loom native binary and create a toolchain repo."""
+    platform = tool_registry.detect_platform(repository_ctx)
+    version = repository_ctx.attr.version
+
+    if platform not in _SUPPORTED_PLATFORMS or not validate_tool_exists(repository_ctx, "loom", version, platform):
+        print("Loom: no wired native binary for platform {} (version {}); emitting stub".format(platform, version))
+        repository_ctx.file("loom_stub", content = "", executable = True)
+        repository_ctx.file("BUILD.bazel", _STUB_BUILD)
+        return
+
+    print("Setting up loom {} for platform {}".format(version, platform))
+
+    # loom ships a tarball containing ./loom; tool_registry extracts it (the
+    # 1.1.14 registry entries have no `binary: true`) and returns the binary
+    # path. strip_prefix is "" (flat archive) — see _calculate_strip_prefix.
+    tool_registry.download(
+        repository_ctx,
+        "loom",
+        version,
+        platform,
+    )
+
+    repository_ctx.file("BUILD.bazel", '''"""Loom toolchain repository"""
+
+load("@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:loom_toolchain.bzl", "loom_toolchain")
+
+package(default_visibility = ["//visibility:public"])
+
+loom_toolchain(
+    name = "loom_toolchain_impl",
+    loom = ":loom",
+)
+
+toolchain(
+    name = "loom_toolchain",
+    exec_compatible_with = [],
+    target_compatible_with = [],
+    toolchain = ":loom_toolchain_impl",
+    toolchain_type = "@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:loom_toolchain_type",
+)
+''')
+
+loom_repository = repository_rule(
+    implementation = _loom_repository_impl,
+    attrs = {
+        "version": attr.string(
+            default = "1.1.14",
+            doc = "Loom version to download",
+        ),
+    },
+    doc = "Downloads loom and creates a toolchain repository",
+)
diff --git a/toolchains/tool_registry.bzl b/toolchains/tool_registry.bzl
index fb233706..82656ad9 100644
--- a/toolchains/tool_registry.bzl
+++ b/toolchains/tool_registry.bzl
@@ -143,6 +143,11 @@ _URL_PATTERNS = {
         "filename": "{suffix}",  # e.g., "meld-aarch64-apple-darwin"
         "is_binary": True,
     },
+    "loom": {
+        # loom v1.x releases are tarballs (extracted; url_suffix IS the filename)
+        "base": "https://github.com/{repo}/releases/download/v{version}",
+        "filename": "{suffix}",  # e.g., "loom-v1.1.14-aarch64-apple-darwin.tar.gz"
+    },
     "spar": {
         # spar releases are tar.gz/zip archives: spar-v{version}-{triple}.{ext}
         "base": "https://github.com/{repo}/releases/download/v{version}",
diff --git a/wasm/extensions.bzl b/wasm/extensions.bzl
index da8acec1..705713f5 100644
--- a/wasm/extensions.bzl
+++ b/wasm/extensions.bzl
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ load("//toolchains:componentize_py_toolchain.bzl", "componentize_py_toolchain_re
 load("//toolchains:cpp_component_toolchain.bzl", "cpp_component_toolchain_repository")
 load("//toolchains:jco_toolchain.bzl", "jco_toolchain_repository")
 load("//toolchains:meld_toolchain.bzl", "meld_repository")
+load("//toolchains:loom_toolchain.bzl", "loom_repository")
 load("//toolchains:spar_toolchain.bzl", "spar_repository")
 load("//toolchains:witness_toolchain.bzl", "witness_repository")
 load("//toolchains:synth_toolchain.bzl", "synth_repository")
@@ -702,6 +703,45 @@ meld = module_extension(
     },
 )
 
+def _loom_extension_impl(module_ctx):
+    """Implementation of Loom module extension."""
+    registrations = {}
+
+    for mod in module_ctx.modules:
+        for registration in mod.tags.register:
+            registrations[registration.name] = registration
+
+    for name, registration in registrations.items():
+        loom_repository(
+            name = name + "_toolchain",
+            version = registration.version,
+        )
+
+    if not registrations:
+        loom_repository(
+            name = "loom_toolchain",
+            version = "1.1.14",
+        )
+
+# Module extension for Loom (WebAssembly component optimization)
+loom = module_extension(
+    implementation = _loom_extension_impl,
+    tag_classes = {
+        "register": tag_class(
+            attrs = {
+                "name": attr.string(
+                    doc = "Name for this Loom registration",
+                    default = "loom",
+                ),
+                "version": attr.string(
+                    doc = "Loom version to use",
+                    default = "1.1.14",
+                ),
+            },
+        ),
+    },
+)
+
 def _spar_extension_impl(module_ctx):
     """Implementation of the spar module extension."""
     registrations = {}
diff --git a/wasm/private/wasm_optimize.bzl b/wasm/private/wasm_optimize.bzl
index 4ef32e60..fb063201 100644
--- a/wasm/private/wasm_optimize.bzl
+++ b/wasm/private/wasm_optimize.bzl
@@ -12,32 +12,13 @@ def _wasm_optimize_impl(ctx):
     input_wasm = ctx.file.component
     output_wasm = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + ".wasm")
 
-    # Get LOOM WASM component, the wrapper that runs it, and wasmtime.
-    loom_wasm = ctx.file._loom_wasm
-    loom_wrapper = ctx.executable._loom_wrapper
-    wasmtime = ctx.toolchains["@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:wasmtime_toolchain_type"].wasmtime
-
-    # Build command arguments for loom_wrapper, which prepends `wasmtime run`
-    # and the resolved `--dir` preopens (issue #490).
-    #
-    # loom reads input paths via WASI, and a fetched/adopted input is staged
-    # as a symlink whose target escapes a plain `--dir=.` preopen, so wasmtime
-    # refuses to follow it. The wrapper resolves the symlink on the host and
-    # preopens the real directory.
-    #
-    # The wasmtime binary and loom.wasm are passed as the first two arguments
-    # rather than located via the wrapper's runfiles: a hardcoded runfiles
-    # Rlocation embeds the canonical repo name, which differs when
-    # rules_wasm_component is the root module vs a dependency (the latter gains
-    # a `rules_wasm_component+` prefix), so the lookup fails for downstream
-    # consumers. wasmtime opens both files natively, so neither needs a WASI
-    # mount.
-    #
-    # Note: loom v0.3.0 does NOT accept the `--` separator between the wasm
-    # module path and the subcommand when run under `wasmtime run`.
+    # Native loom binary (v1.x is native per-OS, not the loom.wasm component).
+    # Running loom natively reads the input file directly through the OS, so the
+    # wasmtime/WASI-preopen/symlink workaround the old loom.wasm path needed
+    # (issue #490, loom_wrapper) no longer applies.
+    loom = ctx.toolchains["@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:loom_toolchain_type"].loom
+
     args = ctx.actions.args()
-    args.add(wasmtime)
-    args.add(loom_wasm)
     args.add("optimize")
     args.add(input_wasm)
     args.add("-o", output_wasm)
@@ -61,9 +42,9 @@ def _wasm_optimize_impl(ctx):
         args.add("--passes", ",".join(ctx.attr.passes))
 
     ctx.actions.run(
-        inputs = [input_wasm, loom_wasm, wasmtime],
+        inputs = [input_wasm],
         outputs = [output_wasm],
-        executable = loom_wrapper,
+        executable = loom,
         arguments = [args],
         mnemonic = "LoomOptimize",
         progress_message = "Optimizing WebAssembly component with LOOM: %{label}",
@@ -124,19 +105,8 @@ Available passes: precompute, constant-folding, cse, inline,
 advanced, branches, dce, merge-blocks, vacuum, simplify-locals""",
             default = [],
         ),
-        "_loom_wasm": attr.label(
-            doc = "LOOM WebAssembly component",
-            default = "@loom_wasm//file:file",
-            allow_single_file = True,
-        ),
-        "_loom_wrapper": attr.label(
-            doc = "Wrapper that runs loom.wasm under wasmtime with symlink-resolved WASI mounts",
-            default = "//tools/loom_wrapper",
-            executable = True,
-            cfg = "exec",
-        ),
     },
-    toolchains = ["@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:wasmtime_toolchain_type"],
+    toolchains = ["@rules_wasm_component//toolchains:loom_toolchain_type"],
     doc = """Optimize a WebAssembly component using LOOM.
 
 LOOM performs expression-level optimizations including: