diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index db446e6..2c181a0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # See https://help.github.com/articles/ignoring-files/ for more about ignoring files.
 
-# Secret keys / credentials — NEVER commit these
+# Secret keys / credentials — NEVER commit these (devnet static keys are whitelisted below)
 *.key
 *.pem
 .env
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@
 **/*.secret
 **/*private*
 **/*mnemonic*
-validator-keys/
+# Only ignore root-level validator-keys/ if created outside devnet
+/validator-keys/
 
 # Build artifacts
 **/out/
diff --git a/contracts/.gas-snapshot b/contracts/.gas-snapshot
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c685108
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/.gas-snapshot
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+CounterTest:test_Increment() (gas: 30105)
diff --git a/contracts/foundry.toml b/contracts/foundry.toml
index 91c8f4a..d997a8f 100644
--- a/contracts/foundry.toml
+++ b/contracts/foundry.toml
@@ -1,40 +1,16 @@
-[//]: # (foundry-readme)
-# Foundry
-
-## Setup
-
-```bash
-curl -L https://foundry.paradigm.xyz | bash
-foundryup
-```
-
-## Devnet-Anvil Bridge
-
-If you want rapid contract iteration using Anvil:
-
-```bash
-anvil --fork-url http://localhost:8545 --chain-id 1337
-```
-
-The `--fork-url` uses validator-1 RPC as the state source.
-
-## Foundry Configuration
-
-Add `foundry.toml` at `contracts/foundry.toml`:
-
-```toml
 [profile.default]
 src = "src"
 test = "test"
 script = "script"
 out = "out"
-libs = ["lib"]
+libs = ["../lib"]
+
+[profile.default.remappings]
+"forge-std/"="../lib/forge-std/src/"
+"@openzeppelin/"="../lib/openzeppelin-contracts/"
 
 [rpc_endpoints]
 devnet = "http://localhost:8545"
 
 [etherscan]
 devnet = { key = "", url = "" }
-```
-
-Do not commit Anvil private keys.
diff --git a/devnet/besu-config/static-nodes.json b/devnet/besu-config/static-nodes.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..71bc948
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/besu-config/static-nodes.json
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+[
+  "enode://12691994a433e43e0608beda18257792b08122761dac26be196703ed00a88113@validator1:30303",
+  "enode://9f541ece7373b5e4c1507d7707575dc6e873d4af6bec0da066b95a03508ce272@validator2:30303",
+  "enode://2b986af838d8401a60f1c52919081f92bdbd9b4fe57870e923396b8cc9a200f5@validator3:30303"
+]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devnet/validator-keys/validator1/address b/devnet/validator-keys/validator1/address
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bb1e7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/validator-keys/validator1/address
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0x18257792b08122761dac26be196703ed00a88113
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devnet/validator-keys/validator1/key.pub b/devnet/validator-keys/validator1/key.pub
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..82a4169
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/validator-keys/validator1/key.pub
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+045f12c6938cf4b7e94480906fed478fa0da6eeb796102cf319039fda222ad4d650ae442dcc7bb9af5bc9f060257304f69019c983a02d0b99774c31c0b1344305d
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devnet/validator-keys/validator2/address b/devnet/validator-keys/validator2/address
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59ecff1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/validator-keys/validator2/address
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0x07575dc6e873d4af6bec0da066b95a03508ce272
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devnet/validator-keys/validator2/key.pub b/devnet/validator-keys/validator2/key.pub
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acc95b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/validator-keys/validator2/key.pub
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0451b0cca2e5d8da1b600d16aee4411a269f8070afc331860b51fe3eb2dc8ea76d058f91eb2bd6898ccdcbc73ca716c22df566ab96a2dddab1f2910d4e78b8cee4
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devnet/validator-keys/validator3/address b/devnet/validator-keys/validator3/address
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..35d1efc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/validator-keys/validator3/address
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0x19081f92bdbd9b4fe57870e923396b8cc9a200f5
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/devnet/validator-keys/validator3/key.pub b/devnet/validator-keys/validator3/key.pub
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acbf7ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/devnet/validator-keys/validator3/key.pub
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+04987a02acf845ce1c57b2333febe4bd2170403cc4e30a9bf58ae3b9484b49e0be71129eb36daeb82a193df5d1265652ed6700021679d926b3c224c7ae60359768
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/monitoring/prometheus/prometheus.yml b/monitoring/prometheus/prometheus.yml
index 85896d4..cb76576 100644
--- a/monitoring/prometheus/prometheus.yml
+++ b/monitoring/prometheus/prometheus.yml
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ scrape_configs:
   - job_name: 'besu-validators'
     static_configs:
       - targets:
-          - 'validator1:9545'
-          - 'validator2:9546'
-          - 'validator3:9547'
+          - 'besu-validator-1:9545'
+          - 'besu-validator-2:9545'
+          - 'besu-validator-3:9545'
         labels:
           env: devnet
           service: besu
diff --git a/scripts/load_test.py b/scripts/load_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9903a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/load_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,199 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""
+load_test.py — stdlib-only RPC load-test harness.
+Targets any JSON-RPC endpoint (mock or real Besu).
+
+Usage:
+    python3 load_test.py --url http://localhost:8545 \
+                         --method eth_sendTransaction \
+                         --duration 30 \
+                         --workers 8 \
+                         --rps 500
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import json
+import multiprocessing
+import signal
+import sys
+import time
+import urllib.request
+from collections import deque
+from typing import Any, Dict, List
+
+
+def _rpc_request(url: str, payload: Dict[str, Any], timeout: float = 10.0) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    req = urllib.request.Request(
+        url,
+        data=json.dumps(payload).encode(),
+        headers={"Content-Type": "application/json"},
+        method="POST",
+    )
+    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=timeout) as resp:
+        return json.loads(resp.read())
+
+
+def _worker_process(
+    worker_id: int,
+    url: str,
+    method: str,
+    duration: float,
+    rps: float,
+    result_queue,
+):
+    """Target function for each worker process."""
+    end_time = time.monotonic() + duration
+    interval = 1.0 / rps if rps > 0 else 0.0
+    count = 0
+    dropped = 0
+    latencies: List[float] = []
+    errors: List[str] = []
+
+    # Deterministic account for eth_sendTransaction
+    addr = f"0x{'%040x' % worker_id}"
+    to_addr = f"0x{'%040x' % ((worker_id + 1) % 10)}"
+
+    while time.monotonic() < end_time:
+        start = time.monotonic()
+        if method == "eth_sendTransaction":
+            payload = {
+                "jsonrpc": "2.0",
+                "method": "eth_sendTransaction",
+                "params": [
+                    {
+                        "from": addr,
+                        "to": to_addr,
+                        "value": "0x1",
+                        "gas": "0x5208",
+                        "gasPrice": "0x1",
+                    }
+                ],
+                "id": count,
+            }
+        elif method == "eth_getBalance":
+            payload = {
+                "jsonrpc": "2.0",
+                "method": "eth_getBalance",
+                "params": [addr, "latest"],
+                "id": count,
+            }
+        else:
+            payload = {
+                "jsonrpc": "2.0",
+                "method": method,
+                "params": [],
+                "id": count,
+            }
+
+        try:
+            _rpc_request(url, payload, timeout=10.0)
+            latencies.append((time.monotonic() - start) * 1000)
+            count += 1
+        except Exception as e:
+            dropped += 1
+            errors.append(str(e))
+
+        # Rate-limit sleep
+        elapsed = time.monotonic() - start
+        if interval > elapsed:
+            time.sleep(interval - elapsed)
+
+    result_queue.put(
+        {
+            "worker_id": worker_id,
+            "requests": count,
+            "dropped": dropped,
+            "latencies": latencies,
+            "errors": errors[:5],  # cap error detail
+        }
+    )
+
+
+def run_load_test(url: str, method: str, duration: float, workers: int, rps: float):
+    result_queue = multiprocessing.Queue()
+    processes: List[multiprocessing.Process] = []
+
+    def sigint_handler(_sig, _frame):
+        for p in processes:
+            p.terminate()
+        sys.exit(0)
+
+    signal.signal(signal.SIGINT, sigint_handler)
+
+    start = time.monotonic()
+    for i in range(workers):
+        p = multiprocessing.Process(
+            target=_worker_process,
+            args=(i, url, method, duration, rps / workers, result_queue),
+        )
+        p.start()
+        processes.append(p)
+
+    for p in processes:
+        p.join()
+
+    elapsed = time.monotonic() - start
+    total_requests = 0
+    total_dropped = 0
+    all_latencies: List[float] = []
+    for _ in range(workers):
+        result = result_queue.get()
+        total_requests += result["requests"]
+        total_dropped += result["dropped"]
+        all_latencies.extend(result["latencies"])
+
+    all_latencies.sort()
+    mean_latency = sum(all_latencies) / len(all_latencies) if all_latencies else 0.0
+    p95 = all_latencies[int(len(all_latencies) * 0.95)] if all_latencies else 0.0
+    p99 = all_latencies[int(len(all_latencies) * 0.99)] if all_latencies else 0.0
+    actual_tps = total_requests / elapsed if elapsed > 0 else 0.0
+    drop_rate = total_dropped / (total_requests + total_dropped) if (total_requests + total_dropped) > 0 else 0.0
+
+    print("\n=== Load Test Results ===")
+    print(f"URL          : {url}")
+    print(f"Method       : {method}")
+    print(f"Workers      : {workers}")
+    print(f"Target RPS   : {rps}")
+    print(f"Duration     : {elapsed:.1f}s")
+    print(f"Total reqs   : {total_requests}")
+    print(f"Dropped      : {total_dropped} ({drop_rate*100:.2f}%)")
+    print(f"Actual TPS   : {actual_tps:.1f}")
+    print(f"Latency avg  : {mean_latency:.2f} ms")
+    print(f"Latency p95  : {p95:.2f} ms")
+    print(f"Latency p99  : {p99:.2f} ms")
+
+    return {
+        "total_requests": total_requests,
+        "total_dropped": total_dropped,
+        "drop_rate": drop_rate,
+        "actual_tps": actual_tps,
+        "mean_latency_ms": mean_latency,
+        "p95_latency_ms": p95,
+        "p99_latency_ms": p99,
+        "duration_s": elapsed,
+        "pass": drop_rate <= 0.01 and actual_tps >= rps * 0.95,
+    }
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="RPC load-test harness")
+    parser.add_argument("--url", default="http://localhost:8545")
+    parser.add_argument("--method", default="eth_getBalance", choices=["eth_sendTransaction", "eth_getBalance", "eth_blockNumber"])
+    parser.add_argument("--duration", type=float, default=30.0, help="Test duration in seconds")
+    parser.add_argument("--workers", type=int, default=8, help="Number of concurrent worker processes")
+    parser.add_argument("--rps", type=float, default=500.0, help="Target aggregate requests per second")
+    parser.add_argument("--latency-budget", type=float, default=200.0, help="Latency budget in ms for pass/fail")
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    result = run_load_test(args.url, args.method, args.duration, args.workers, args.rps)
+
+    if result["pass"]:
+        print("\nPASS: TPS and drop-rate within acceptance thresholds.")
+        sys.exit(0)
+    else:
+        print("\nFAIL: Did not meet TPS/drop-rate thresholds.")
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/scripts/package-lock.json b/scripts/package-lock.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7c78e2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/package-lock.json
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+{
+  "name": "jcc-devnet-scripts",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "lockfileVersion": 3,
+  "requires": true,
+  "packages": {
+    "": {
+      "name": "jcc-devnet-scripts",
+      "version": "0.0.1",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@ethereumjs/rlp": "^5.0.0",
+        "ethereum-cryptography": "^2.2.0"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@ethereumjs/rlp": {
+      "version": "5.0.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@ethereumjs/rlp/-/rlp-5.0.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-DziebCdg4JpGlEqEdGgXmjqcFoJi+JGulUXwEjsZGAscAQ7MyD/7LE/GVCP29vEQxKc7AAwjT3A2ywHp2xfoCA==",
+      "license": "MPL-2.0",
+      "bin": {
+        "rlp": "bin/rlp.cjs"
+      },
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">=18"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@noble/curves": {
+      "version": "1.4.2",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@noble/curves/-/curves-1.4.2.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-TavHr8qycMChk8UwMld0ZDRvatedkzWfH8IiaeGCfymOP5i0hSCozz9vHOL0nkwk7HRMlFnAiKpS2jrUmSybcw==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@noble/hashes": "1.4.0"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://paulmillr.com/funding/"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@noble/hashes": {
+      "version": "1.4.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@noble/hashes/-/hashes-1.4.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-V1JJ1WTRUqHHrOSh597hURcMqVKVGL/ea3kv0gSnEdsEZ0/+VyPghM1lMNGc00z7CIQorSvbKpuJkxvuHbvdbg==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "engines": {
+        "node": ">= 16"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://paulmillr.com/funding/"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@scure/base": {
+      "version": "1.1.9",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@scure/base/-/base-1.1.9.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-8YKhl8GHiNI/pU2VMaofa2Tor7PJRAjwQLBBuilkJ9L5+13yVbC7JO/wS7piioAvPSwR3JKM1IJ/u4xQzbcXKg==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://paulmillr.com/funding/"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@scure/bip32": {
+      "version": "1.4.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@scure/bip32/-/bip32-1.4.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-sVUpc0Vq3tXCkDGYVWGIZTRfnvu8LoTDaev7vbwh0omSvVORONr960MQWdKqJDCReIEmTj3PAr73O3aoxz7OPg==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@noble/curves": "~1.4.0",
+        "@noble/hashes": "~1.4.0",
+        "@scure/base": "~1.1.6"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://paulmillr.com/funding/"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/@scure/bip39": {
+      "version": "1.3.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@scure/bip39/-/bip39-1.3.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-disdg7gHuTDZtY+ZdkmLpPCk7fxZSu3gBiEGuoC1XYxv9cGx3Z6cpTggCgW6odSOOIXCiDjuGejW+aJKCY/pIQ==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@noble/hashes": "~1.4.0",
+        "@scure/base": "~1.1.6"
+      },
+      "funding": {
+        "url": "https://paulmillr.com/funding/"
+      }
+    },
+    "node_modules/ethereum-cryptography": {
+      "version": "2.2.1",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/ethereum-cryptography/-/ethereum-cryptography-2.2.1.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-r/W8lkHSiTLxUxW8Rf3u4HGB0xQweG2RyETjywylKZSzLWoWAijRz8WCuOtJ6wah+avllXBqZuk29HCCvhEIRg==",
+      "license": "MIT",
+      "dependencies": {
+        "@noble/curves": "1.4.2",
+        "@noble/hashes": "1.4.0",
+        "@scure/bip32": "1.4.0",
+        "@scure/bip39": "1.3.0"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/package.json b/scripts/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f21dee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "name": "jcc-devnet-scripts",
+  "version": "0.0.1",
+  "private": true,
+  "dependencies": {
+    "ethereum-cryptography": "^2.2.0",
+    "@ethereumjs/rlp": "^5.0.0"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/run_smoke_tests.sh b/scripts/run_smoke_tests.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a3ccd62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run_smoke_tests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+# run_smoke_tests.sh — quick validation suite for the JCC devnet stack.
+# Requires: Python 3.x, nothing else (stdlib only).
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+
+# 1. Start mock RPC gateway in background
+python3 "${SCRIPT_DIR}/rpc_gateway_mock.py" --port 8545 --latency 5 &
+RPC_PID=$!
+function cleanup_rpc() {
+    kill "$RPC_PID" 2>/dev/null || true
+}
+trap cleanup_rpc EXIT
+
+# Wait for mock to be ready
+sleep 2
+
+# 2. RPC gateway smoke (eth_getBalance, eth_sendTransaction)
+echo "=== RPC Gateway Smoke ==="
+curl -sf http://localhost:8545 -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","method":"eth_getBalance","params":["0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000","latest"],"id":1}' || { echo "RPC getBalance failed"; exit 1; }
+
+echo "eth_getBalance OK"
+
+# 3. Load test against mock (short burst to prove harness)
+echo "=== Load Test (mock, 10s) ==="
+python3 "${SCRIPT_DIR}/load_test.py" --url http://localhost:8545 --method eth_getBalance --duration 10 --workers 4 --rps 500
+
+# 4. Foundry compile + test
+echo "=== Foundry Build + Test ==="
+cd "${SCRIPT_DIR}/../contracts"
+forge build
+forge test
+forge snapshot
+
+echo "=== All smoke tests passed ==="