diff --git a/internal/fs/handle/file_test.go b/internal/fs/handle/file_test.go
index e3accd52f6..d074a224d1 100644
--- a/internal/fs/handle/file_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/handle/file_test.go
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func createFileInode(
 		Size:           uint64(len(content)),
 		Generation:     1,
 		MetaGeneration: 1,
-		Updated:        clock.Now(),
+		Updated:        gcs.TimeToNS(clock.Now()),
 	}
 
 	// Create object in the fake bucket to simulate existing GCS object
@@ -1277,7 +1277,7 @@ func (t *fileTest) Test_ReadWithReadManager_FullReadSuccessWithBufferedRead() {
 func (t *fileTest) Test_ShouldSkipSizeChecks() {
 	const objectSize = 100
 	unfinalizedObject := &gcs.MinObject{Name: "unfinalized", Size: objectSize}
-	finalizedObject := &gcs.MinObject{Name: "finalized", Size: objectSize, Finalized: time.Now()}
+	finalizedObject := &gcs.MinObject{Name: "finalized", Size: objectSize, Finalized: gcs.TimeToNS(time.Now())}
 	directIOReadMode := util.NewOpenMode(util.ReadOnly, util.O_DIRECT)
 	readOnlyMode := util.NewOpenMode(util.ReadOnly, 0)
 
diff --git a/internal/fs/inode/file.go b/internal/fs/inode/file.go
index 819cc26144..ac82183ce8 100644
--- a/internal/fs/inode/file.go
+++ b/internal/fs/inode/file.go
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ func (f *FileInode) Attributes(
 	ctx context.Context, clobberedCheck bool) (attrs fuseops.InodeAttributes, err error) {
 	attrs = f.attrs
 	// Obtain default information from the source object.
-	attrs.Mtime = f.src.Updated
+	attrs.Mtime = f.src.UpdatedTime()
 	attrs.Size = f.src.Size
 
 	// If the source object has an mtime metadata key, use that instead of its
diff --git a/internal/fs/inode/file_mock_bucket_test.go b/internal/fs/inode/file_mock_bucket_test.go
index 68e3ac0e7c..ba4fe80bab 100644
--- a/internal/fs/inode/file_mock_bucket_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/inode/file_mock_bucket_test.go
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ func (t *FileMockBucketTest) TestAttributes_NoChangeInAttributes() {
 		Size:           initialSize,
 		Generation:     initialGeneration,
 		MetaGeneration: initialMetaGeneration,
-		Updated:        initialTime,
+		Updated:        gcs.TimeToNS(initialTime),
 	}
 	f := t.createGCSBackedFileInode(backingObj)
 	defer f.Unlock()
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ func (t *FileMockBucketTest) TestAttributes_NoChangeInAttributes() {
 		Generation:     initialGeneration,
 		MetaGeneration: initialMetaGeneration,
 		Size:           initialSize, // Size is not greater
-		Updated:        t.clock.Now(),
+		Updated:        gcs.TimeToNS(t.clock.Now()),
 	}
 	statReq := &gcs.StatObjectRequest{Name: fileName, ForceFetchFromGcs: false, ReturnExtendedObjectAttributes: false}
 	t.bucket.On("StatObject", t.ctx, statReq).Return(updatedMinObject, &gcs.ExtendedObjectAttributes{}, nil).Once()
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ func (t *FileMockBucketTest) TestAttributes_NoChangeInAttributes() {
 	assert.Equal(t.T(), initialSize, attrs.Size)
 	assert.Equal(t.T(), initialTime, attrs.Mtime)
 	assert.Equal(t.T(), initialSize, f.Source().Size)
-	assert.Equal(t.T(), initialTime, f.Source().Updated)
+	assert.Equal(t.T(), initialTime, f.Source().UpdatedTime())
 }
 
 func (t *FileMockBucketTest) TestInitBufferedWriteHandlerIfEligible_ZonalBucket_DoesNotFetchMetadataFromGCS_ForAppends() {
diff --git a/internal/fs/inode/file_test.go b/internal/fs/inode/file_test.go
index 0aba6cebf7..912b79870e 100644
--- a/internal/fs/inode/file_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/inode/file_test.go
@@ -403,9 +403,9 @@ func (t *FileTest) TestInitialAttributes() {
 	assert.Equal(t.T(), uint32(uid), attrs.Uid)
 	assert.Equal(t.T(), uint32(gid), attrs.Gid)
 	assert.Equal(t.T(), fileMode, attrs.Mode)
-	assert.Equal(t.T(), attrs.Atime, t.backingObj.Updated)
-	assert.Equal(t.T(), attrs.Ctime, t.backingObj.Updated)
-	assert.Equal(t.T(), attrs.Mtime, t.backingObj.Updated)
+	assert.Equal(t.T(), attrs.Atime, t.backingObj.UpdatedTime())
+	assert.Equal(t.T(), attrs.Ctime, t.backingObj.UpdatedTime())
+	assert.Equal(t.T(), attrs.Mtime, t.backingObj.UpdatedTime())
 }
 
 func (t *FileTest) TestInitialAttributes_MtimeFromObjectMetadata_Gcsfuse() {
diff --git a/internal/fs/inode/symlink.go b/internal/fs/inode/symlink.go
index c01288342d..45e50efa81 100644
--- a/internal/fs/inode/symlink.go
+++ b/internal/fs/inode/symlink.go
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ func NewSymlinkInode(
 			Uid:   attrs.Uid,
 			Gid:   attrs.Gid,
 			Mode:  attrs.Mode,
-			Atime: m.Updated,
-			Ctime: m.Updated,
-			Mtime: m.Updated,
+			Atime: m.UpdatedTime(),
+			Ctime: m.UpdatedTime(),
+			Mtime: m.UpdatedTime(),
 		},
 		metadata: m.Metadata,
 	}
@@ -265,6 +265,6 @@ func (s *SymlinkInode) Source() *gcs.MinObject {
 		MetaGeneration: s.sourceGeneration.Metadata,
 		Size:           s.sourceGeneration.Size,
 		Metadata:       s.metadata,
-		Updated:        s.attrs.Mtime,
+		Updated:        gcs.TimeToNS(s.attrs.Mtime),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/fs/inode/symlink_test.go b/internal/fs/inode/symlink_test.go
index 9d75f24009..5a8cc78fe0 100644
--- a/internal/fs/inode/symlink_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/inode/symlink_test.go
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func (t *SymlinkTest) TestSource() {
 	AssertEq(nil, err)
 	m := storageutil.ConvertObjToMinObject(obj)
 	m.Metadata = map[string]string{inode.StandardSymlinkMetadataKey: "true"}
-	m.Updated = time.Date(2024, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC) // Explicitly set Updated time for consistent testing.
+	m.Updated = time.Date(2024, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC).UnixNano() // Explicitly set Updated time for consistent testing.
 	attrs := fuseops.InodeAttributes{}
 	name := inode.NewFileName(inode.NewRootName("some-bucket"), m.Name)
 	s, err := inode.NewSymlinkInode(context.Background(), fuseops.InodeID(42), name, t.bucket, m, attrs)
@@ -185,5 +185,5 @@ func (t *SymlinkTest) TestSource() {
 	AssertEq(m.MetaGeneration, source.MetaGeneration)
 	AssertEq(m.Size, source.Size)
 	AssertEq(m.Metadata, source.Metadata)
-	AssertEq(0, m.Updated.Compare(source.Updated))
+	AssertEq(m.Updated, source.Updated)
 }
diff --git a/internal/fs/local_modifications_test.go b/internal/fs/local_modifications_test.go
index 8e96b5983e..02d8433667 100644
--- a/internal/fs/local_modifications_test.go
+++ b/internal/fs/local_modifications_test.go
@@ -1547,7 +1547,7 @@ func validateObjectAttributes(extendedAttr1, extendedAttr2 *gcs.ExtendedObjectAt
 	ExpectEq(0, minObject1.Size)
 	ExpectEq(FileContentsSize, minObject2.Size)
 	ExpectNe(minObject1.Generation, minObject2.Generation)
-	ExpectTrue(minObject1.Updated.Before(minObject2.Updated))
+	ExpectTrue(minObject1.Updated < minObject2.Updated)
 	attr1MTime, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339Nano, minObject1.Metadata[gcs.MtimeMetadataKey])
 	attr2MTime, _ := time.Parse(time.RFC3339Nano, minObject2.Metadata[gcs.MtimeMetadataKey])
 	ExpectTrue(attr1MTime.Before(attr2MTime))
diff --git a/internal/gcsx/file_cache_reader_test.go b/internal/gcsx/file_cache_reader_test.go
index ef7c66a12e..23c921db6f 100644
--- a/internal/gcsx/file_cache_reader_test.go
+++ b/internal/gcsx/file_cache_reader_test.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func (t *fileCacheReaderTest) SetupTest() {
 		Name:       testObject,
 		Size:       17,
 		Generation: 1234,
-		Finalized:  time.Date(2025, time.June, 27, 07, 22, 30, 0, time.UTC),
+		Finalized:  gcs.TimeToNS(time.Date(2025, time.June, 27, 07, 22, 30, 0, time.UTC)),
 	}
 	t.unfinalized_object = &gcs.MinObject{
 		Name:       testObject_unfinalized,
diff --git a/internal/gcsx/garbage_collect.go b/internal/gcsx/garbage_collect.go
index db842fa746..e7e805c72d 100644
--- a/internal/gcsx/garbage_collect.go
+++ b/internal/gcsx/garbage_collect.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func garbageCollectOnce(
 	group.Go(func() (err error) {
 		defer close(staleNames)
 		for o := range minObjects {
-			if now.Sub(o.Updated) < stalenessThreshold {
+			if now.Sub(o.UpdatedTime()) < stalenessThreshold {
 				continue
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/storage/fake/bucket.go b/internal/storage/fake/bucket.go
index f22e821dd7..c3daecc381 100644
--- a/internal/storage/fake/bucket.go
+++ b/internal/storage/fake/bucket.go
@@ -536,8 +536,8 @@ func copyMinObject(o *gcs.Object) *gcs.MinObject {
 	copy.Size = o.Size
 	copy.Generation = o.Generation
 	copy.MetaGeneration = o.MetaGeneration
-	copy.Updated = o.Updated
-	copy.Finalized = o.Finalized
+	copy.Updated = gcs.TimeToNS(o.Updated)
+	copy.Finalized = gcs.TimeToNS(o.Finalized)
 	copy.Metadata = copyMetadata(o.Metadata)
 	copy.ContentEncoding = o.ContentEncoding
 	copy.CRC32C = o.CRC32C
diff --git a/internal/storage/fake/testing/bucket_tests.go b/internal/storage/fake/testing/bucket_tests.go
index 9dd9847075..553419e991 100644
--- a/internal/storage/fake/testing/bucket_tests.go
+++ b/internal/storage/fake/testing/bucket_tests.go
@@ -506,8 +506,8 @@ func (t *bucketTest) assertOnObjectAttributes(expectedMinObj *gcs.MinObject, exp
 	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.Size, Equals(o.Size))
 	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.Generation, Equals(o.Generation))
 	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.MetaGeneration, Equals(o.MetaGeneration))
-	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.Updated, DeepEquals(o.Updated))
-	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.Finalized, DeepEquals(o.Finalized))
+	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.UpdatedTime(), DeepEquals(o.Updated))
+	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.FinalizedTime(), DeepEquals(o.Finalized))
 	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.Metadata, DeepEquals(o.Metadata))
 	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.ContentEncoding, Equals(o.ContentEncoding))
 	ExpectThat(expectedMinObj.CRC32C, Equals(o.CRC32C))
@@ -3490,8 +3490,8 @@ func (t *statTest) StatAfterCreating() {
 	ExpectEq(orig.Generation, m.Generation)
 	ExpectEq(len("taco"), m.Size)
 	ExpectThat(e.Deleted, timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
-	ExpectThat(m.Updated, timeutil.TimeEq(orig.Updated))
-	ExpectThat(m.Finalized, timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
+	ExpectThat(m.UpdatedTime(), timeutil.TimeEq(orig.Updated))
+	ExpectThat(m.FinalizedTime(), timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
 }
 
 func (t *statTest) StatAfterOverwriting() {
@@ -3527,8 +3527,8 @@ func (t *statTest) StatAfterOverwriting() {
 	ExpectEq(o2.Generation, m.Generation)
 	ExpectEq(len("burrito"), m.Size)
 	ExpectThat(e.Deleted, timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
-	ExpectThat(m.Updated, timeutil.TimeEq(o2.Updated))
-	ExpectThat(m.Finalized, timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
+	ExpectThat(m.UpdatedTime(), timeutil.TimeEq(o2.Updated))
+	ExpectThat(m.FinalizedTime(), timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
 }
 
 func (t *statTest) StatAfterUpdating() {
@@ -3581,8 +3581,8 @@ func (t *statTest) StatAfterUpdating() {
 	ExpectEq(o2.MetaGeneration, m.MetaGeneration)
 	ExpectEq(len("taco"), m.Size)
 	ExpectThat(e.Deleted, timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
-	ExpectThat(m.Updated, timeutil.TimeEq(o2.Updated))
-	ExpectThat(m.Finalized, timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
+	ExpectThat(m.UpdatedTime(), timeutil.TimeEq(o2.Updated))
+	ExpectThat(m.FinalizedTime(), timeutil.TimeEq(time.Time{}))
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/internal/storage/gcs/object.go b/internal/storage/gcs/object.go
index 33b5dd100d..b32a649003 100644
--- a/internal/storage/gcs/object.go
+++ b/internal/storage/gcs/object.go
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ type MinObject struct {
 	Size            uint64
 	Generation      int64
 	MetaGeneration  int64
-	Updated         time.Time
-	Finalized       time.Time
+	Updated         int64 // Unix nanoseconds, 0 if zero
+	Finalized       int64 // Unix nanoseconds, 0 if zero
 	Metadata        map[string]string
 	ContentEncoding string
 	CRC32C          *uint32 // Missing for CMEK buckets
@@ -119,5 +119,32 @@ func (mo MinObject) HasContentEncodingGzip() bool {
 }
 
 func (mo MinObject) IsUnfinalized() bool {
-	return mo.Finalized.IsZero()
+	return mo.Finalized == 0
+}
+
+// UpdatedTime returns the time.Time representation of the Updated timestamp.
+func (mo MinObject) UpdatedTime() time.Time {
+	return NSToTime(mo.Updated)
+}
+
+// FinalizedTime returns the time.Time representation of the Finalized timestamp.
+func (mo MinObject) FinalizedTime() time.Time {
+	return NSToTime(mo.Finalized)
+}
+
+// TimeToNS converts a time.Time to Unix nanoseconds, returning 0 if the time is zero.
+// This avoids panics when calling UnixNano() on a zero time.Time.
+func TimeToNS(t time.Time) int64 {
+	if t.IsZero() {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return t.UnixNano()
+}
+
+// NSToTime converts Unix nanoseconds to time.Time, returning a zero time.Time if ns is 0.
+func NSToTime(ns int64) time.Time {
+	if ns == 0 {
+		return time.Time{}
+	}
+	return time.Unix(0, ns)
 }
diff --git a/internal/storage/gcs/object_test.go b/internal/storage/gcs/object_test.go
index 2d1b335680..43a4ef58d5 100644
--- a/internal/storage/gcs/object_test.go
+++ b/internal/storage/gcs/object_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestHasContentEncodingGzipNegative(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestIsFinalized(t *testing.T) {
-	mo := MinObject{Finalized: time.Date(2025, time.June, 19, 18, 23, 30, 0, time.UTC)}
+	mo := MinObject{Finalized: TimeToNS(time.Date(2025, time.June, 19, 18, 23, 30, 0, time.UTC))}
 
 	assert.False(t, mo.IsUnfinalized())
 }
diff --git a/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs.go b/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs.go
index 66f7189655..2a7293b796 100644
--- a/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs.go
+++ b/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs.go
@@ -122,8 +122,8 @@ func ObjectAttrsToMinObject(attrs *storage.ObjectAttrs) *gcs.MinObject {
 		Metadata:        attrs.Metadata,
 		Generation:      attrs.Generation,
 		MetaGeneration:  attrs.Metageneration,
-		Updated:         attrs.Updated,
-		Finalized:       attrs.Finalized,
+		Updated:         gcs.TimeToNS(attrs.Updated),
+		Finalized:       gcs.TimeToNS(attrs.Finalized),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -170,11 +170,11 @@ func ConvertObjToMinObject(o *gcs.Object) *gcs.MinObject {
 		Size:            o.Size,
 		Generation:      o.Generation,
 		MetaGeneration:  o.MetaGeneration,
-		Updated:         o.Updated,
+		Updated:         gcs.TimeToNS(o.Updated),
 		Metadata:        o.Metadata,
 		ContentEncoding: o.ContentEncoding,
 		CRC32C:          o.CRC32C,
-		Finalized:       o.Finalized,
+		Finalized:       gcs.TimeToNS(o.Finalized),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -211,8 +211,8 @@ func ConvertMinObjectAndExtendedObjectAttributesToObject(m *gcs.MinObject,
 		Size:               m.Size,
 		Generation:         m.Generation,
 		MetaGeneration:     m.MetaGeneration,
-		Updated:            m.Updated,
-		Finalized:          m.Finalized,
+		Updated:            m.UpdatedTime(),
+		Finalized:          m.FinalizedTime(),
 		Metadata:           m.Metadata,
 		ContentEncoding:    m.ContentEncoding,
 		ContentType:        e.ContentType,
@@ -242,10 +242,10 @@ func ConvertMinObjectToObject(m *gcs.MinObject) *gcs.Object {
 		Size:            m.Size,
 		Generation:      m.Generation,
 		MetaGeneration:  m.MetaGeneration,
-		Updated:         m.Updated,
+		Updated:         m.UpdatedTime(),
 		Metadata:        m.Metadata,
 		ContentEncoding: m.ContentEncoding,
 		CRC32C:          m.CRC32C,
-		Finalized:       m.Finalized,
+		Finalized:       m.FinalizedTime(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs_test.go b/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs_test.go
index 8ff61a2cdf..cbeaac2cbc 100644
--- a/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs_test.go
+++ b/internal/storage/storageutil/object_attrs_test.go
@@ -250,8 +250,8 @@ func Test_ConvertObjToMinObject_WithValidObject(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, size, gcsMinObject.Size)
 	assert.Equal(t, generation, gcsMinObject.Generation)
 	assert.Equal(t, metaGeneration, gcsMinObject.MetaGeneration)
-	assert.True(t, currentTime.Equal(gcsMinObject.Updated))
-	assert.True(t, currentTime.Equal(gcsMinObject.Finalized))
+	assert.True(t, currentTime.Equal(gcsMinObject.UpdatedTime()))
+	assert.True(t, currentTime.Equal(gcsMinObject.FinalizedTime()))
 	assert.Equal(t, contentEncode, gcsMinObject.ContentEncoding)
 	assert.Equal(t, metadata, gcsMinObject.Metadata)
 	assert.Equal(t, crc32C, *gcsMinObject.CRC32C)
@@ -342,8 +342,8 @@ func Test_ConvertObjToExtendedObjectAttributes_WithNonNilMinObjectAndNonNilAttri
 		Size:            uint64(36),
 		Generation:      int64(444),
 		MetaGeneration:  int64(555),
-		Updated:         timeAttr,
-		Finalized:       timeAttr,
+		Updated:         gcs.TimeToNS(timeAttr),
+		Finalized:       gcs.TimeToNS(timeAttr),
 		Metadata:        map[string]string{"test_key": "test_value"},
 		ContentEncoding: "test_encoding",
 	}
@@ -370,8 +370,8 @@ func Test_ConvertObjToExtendedObjectAttributes_WithNonNilMinObjectAndNonNilAttri
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.Size, gcsObject.Size)
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.Generation, gcsObject.Generation)
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.MetaGeneration, gcsObject.MetaGeneration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Updated.Compare(minObject.Updated))
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Finalized.Compare(minObject.Finalized))
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Updated.Compare(minObject.UpdatedTime()))
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Finalized.Compare(minObject.FinalizedTime()))
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.Metadata, gcsObject.Metadata)
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.ContentEncoding, gcsObject.ContentEncoding)
 	assert.Equal(t, extendedObjAttr.ContentType, gcsObject.ContentType)
@@ -406,8 +406,8 @@ func Test_ConvertMinObjectToObject_WithNonNilMinObject(t *testing.T) {
 		Size:            uint64(36),
 		Generation:      int64(444),
 		MetaGeneration:  int64(555),
-		Updated:         timeAttr,
-		Finalized:       timeAttr,
+		Updated:         gcs.TimeToNS(timeAttr),
+		Finalized:       gcs.TimeToNS(timeAttr),
 		Metadata:        map[string]string{"test_key": "test_value"},
 		ContentEncoding: "test_encoding",
 		CRC32C:          &crc32C,
@@ -420,8 +420,8 @@ func Test_ConvertMinObjectToObject_WithNonNilMinObject(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.Size, gcsObject.Size)
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.Generation, gcsObject.Generation)
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.MetaGeneration, gcsObject.MetaGeneration)
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Updated.Compare(minObject.Updated))
-	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Finalized.Compare(minObject.Finalized))
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Updated.Compare(minObject.UpdatedTime()))
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, gcsObject.Finalized.Compare(minObject.FinalizedTime()))
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.Metadata, gcsObject.Metadata)
 	assert.Equal(t, minObject.ContentEncoding, gcsObject.ContentEncoding)
 	assert.Equal(t, "", gcsObject.ContentType)
diff --git a/internal/util/sizeof_test.go b/internal/util/sizeof_test.go
index 58ee84b67b..41665d6b69 100644
--- a/internal/util/sizeof_test.go
+++ b/internal/util/sizeof_test.go
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ func TestNestedSizeOfGcsMinObject(t *testing.T) {
 		Metadata:        customMetadataFields,
 		Generation:      generation,
 		MetaGeneration:  metaGeneration,
-		Updated:         updated,
+		Updated:         gcs.TimeToNS(updated),
 		CRC32C:          &crc32,
 	}