diff --git a/models.py b/models.py
index 1abe075..a6f3c3f 100644
--- a/models.py
+++ b/models.py
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ class MerchantProfile(BaseModel):
 class MerchantConfig(MerchantProfile):
     event_id: Optional[str] = None
     sync_from_nostr = False
-    active: bool = False
+    # TODO: switched to True for AIO demo; determine if we leave this as True
+    active: bool = True
     restore_in_progress: Optional[bool] = False