diff --git a/src/app/[locale]/blog/page.tsx b/src/app/[locale]/blog/page.tsx
index 1b33fbc..168bb3a 100644
--- a/src/app/[locale]/blog/page.tsx
+++ b/src/app/[locale]/blog/page.tsx
@@ -328,17 +328,6 @@ function getImagePath(coverImage: string) {
   return coverImage.replace('/blog/', '/images/posts/');
 }
 
-// Placeholder image for posts without cover images
-const PLACEHOLDER_IMAGE = 'data:image/svg+xml,' + encodeURIComponent(`
-  <svg width="1792" height="1024" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
-    <rect width="100%" height="100%" fill="#181C14"/>
-    <rect x="40%" y="35%" width="20%" height="30%" rx="8" fill="#697565" opacity="0.3"/>
-    <circle cx="50%" cy="45%" r="8%" fill="#697565" opacity="0.2"/>
-    <rect x="30%" y="65%" width="40%" height="4%" rx="2" fill="#465B50" opacity="0.3"/>
-    <rect x="35%" y="72%" width="30%" height="3%" rx="2" fill="#465B50" opacity="0.2"/>
-  </svg>
-`);
-
 // Known existing images (from public/images/posts/)
 const EXISTING_IMAGES = new Set([
   '/images/posts/erp-integration-breuninger/cover.jpg',
@@ -347,18 +336,15 @@ const EXISTING_IMAGES = new Set([
   '/images/posts/automated-ad-creatives/cover.jpg',
 ]);
 
-// Blog image component with fallback
-function BlogImage({ src, alt, fallback }: { src: string; alt: string; fallback: string }) {
-  const imageSrc = EXISTING_IMAGES.has(src) ? src : fallback;
-
+// Blog image component
+function BlogImage({ src, alt }: { src: string; alt: string }) {
   return (
     <Image
-      src={imageSrc}
+      src={src}
       alt={alt}
       fill
       sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, (max-width: 1024px) 50vw, 33vw"
       className="object-cover transition-transform duration-700 group-hover:scale-110"
-      unoptimized={imageSrc.startsWith('data:')}
     />
   );
 }
@@ -380,7 +366,6 @@ function BlogPostCard({ post, locale }: { post: BlogPost; locale: string }) {
           <BlogImage
             src={getImagePath(post.coverImage)}
             alt={post.title}
-            fallback={PLACEHOLDER_IMAGE}
           />
           <div className="absolute inset-x-0 -bottom-20 top-0 bg-gradient-to-t from-zinc-900 via-zinc-900/70 to-transparent opacity-95" />
         </div>