diff --git a/.ciagent/CHECKPOINT.json b/.ciagent/CHECKPOINT.json
index 8ce8989..4915114 100644
--- a/.ciagent/CHECKPOINT.json
+++ b/.ciagent/CHECKPOINT.json
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 {
   "phase": 0,
-  "stage": "ideate",
+  "stage": "plan",
   "milestone": "v1.26",
   "phase_role": "pre_execution",
   "attempts": 0,
-  "updated_at": "2026-08-12T21:14:00Z",
+  "updated_at": "2026-08-12T21:15:00Z",
   "project": "acdl",
   "projects": ["acdl", "nova-blockchain-exchange"],
   "active_milestone": "v1.26",
diff --git a/.ciagent/PLAN.md b/.ciagent/PLAN.md
index 3d4d4ce..f6d6095 100644
--- a/.ciagent/PLAN.md
+++ b/.ciagent/PLAN.md
@@ -1,371 +1,389 @@
-# PLAN — v1.25 (kyverno-json Unified Policy Engine)
+# PLAN — v1.26 (Live Pilot Estate Activation)
 
-> Feature milestone. Tags on the **v1.24.x** line: v1.24.0 (P0) →
-> v1.24.1 (P1) → v1.24.2 (P2) → v1.24.3 (P3) → v1.24.4 (P4) → v1.24.5
-> (P5 final = milestone release). 19 requirements (REQ-291..309),
-> 4 execution phases + P0 pre-execution + P5 final review/ship.
-
-## Wave model
-
-Each phase is a **vertical slice** (end-to-end: policy files + Python
-wiring + tests + docs). Phases are ordered by dependency: the engine
-protocol (P1) must exist before policies (P2/P3) can be wired; the
-pipeline wiring (P3) must exist before the meta-policies (P3) can
-consume the merged PCR list; the regression-gate policies (P4) are
-independent of the pipeline and can be authored in parallel with P3's
-tests, but ship after P3 because they reference the engine registry
-finalized in P1. Within each phase, the waves are the persona task
-groups (parallelizable across personas when `parallelization.enabled:
-true`, `max_concurrent_agents: 5`).
-
-## Phase breakdown
-
-### Phase P1 — engine-core (Wave 1, backend-engineer + policy-engineer + data-engineer)
-
-**Type:** `feat` (engine protocol + registry + kyverno-json engine adapter + install + tests)
-
-**Requirements:** REQ-291, REQ-292, REQ-293, REQ-294, REQ-308, REQ-309
-
-**Must-haves:**
-- `core/policy_engine.py` — `PolicyEngine` Protocol (PEP 544) +
-  `PolicyEngineRegistry` (selects from `config.json.policy.engine`) +
-  `NullEngine` fallback (emits `SKIPPED` when `policy` key absent)
-  (REQ-291)
-- `.ciagent/config.json` gains `policy` object: `{"engine":
-  "kyverno-json", "policy_root":
-  "adapters/kyverno-json/policies"}` (REQ-292)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/kyverno_json_engine.py` — `KyvernoJsonEngine`
-  implementing the protocol: `is_configured()` guards on `which kj`;
-  `evaluate()` writes payload to temp JSON, invokes
-  `kj scan --policy <dir> --payload <json> --output json`, translates
-  native output → `list[dict]` PCR records (`engine: "kyverno"`,
-  `ruleId` prefixed `KJ_<policy_name>`, severity from
-  `nova.cloudinit.dev/severity` annotation); defensive parsing
-  (malformed → `error` PCR, never exception); `is_configured()==false`
-  → single `SKIPPED` PCR (`KJ_ENGINE_NOT_CONFIGURED`) (REQ-293)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/__init__.py` exports `KyvernoJsonEngine`;
-  `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/_smoke.json` trivial
-  `require-contract-id` policy for round-trip validation;
-  `scripts/install-kyverno-json.sh` runs
-  `go install github.com/kyverno/kyverno-json/cmd/kj@latest`;
-  `.github/workflows/ci.yml` + `.gitea/workflows/ci.yml` install Go + kj
-  (cached) (REQ-294)
-- `tests/test_policy_engine.py` — protocol conformance, registry
-  selection, unknown-engine `KeyError`, `NullEngine` fallback,
-  `is_configured()` false when `which kj` absent (mocked) (REQ-308)
-- `tests/test_kyverno_json_engine.py` — `evaluate()` returns PCR dicts
-  validating against `schemas/policy_check_result.schema.json` (via
-  `jsonschema`); defensive parsing (malformed kyverno-json output →
-  `error` PCR); `is_configured()==false` → `SKIPPED` with
-  `KJ_ENGINE_NOT_CONFIGURED`; `pytest.skip("kj not installed")` when
-  `which kj` absent (REQ-309)
-
-**Vertical slice:** The `PolicyEngineRegistry.get_engine()` returns a
-configured `KyvernoJsonEngine` that can `evaluate()` a trivial payload
-against `_smoke.json` and produce a valid PCR list. The confidence
-signal is unchanged — it already consumes `list[PolicyCheckResult]`.
-The platform runs with or without the `kj` binary (`is_configured()`
-guard). All existing tests pass (NullEngine fallback when `policy` key
-absent in test config — but the v1.25 config.json *sets* the key, so
-existing tests that use the real config get `KyvernoJsonEngine` with
-`is_configured()==false` → `SKIPPED`).
-
-**Files touched:**
-- `core/policy_engine.py` (NEW)
-- `.ciagent/config.json` (MODIFIED — `policy` object)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/__init__.py` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/kyverno_json_engine.py` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/_smoke.json` (NEW)
-- `scripts/install-kyverno-json.sh` (NEW)
-- `.github/workflows/ci.yml` (MODIFIED — Go + kj install step)
-- `.gitea/workflows/ci.yml` (MODIFIED — Go + kj install step)
-- `tests/test_policy_engine.py` (NEW)
-- `tests/test_kyverno_json_engine.py` (NEW)
-
-**Verification:** `pytest tests/test_policy_engine.py
-tests/test_kyverno_json_engine.py tests/test_confidence_signal.py
-tests/test_adapter.py tests/test_checkov_adapter.py
-tests/test_kyverno_adapter.py -v` (new tests pass or skip-without-kj;
-existing adapter/confidence tests unchanged). `python3 -m py_compile
-core/policy_engine.py adapters/kyverno-json/kyverno_json_engine.py`.
+> Feature milestone. Tags on the **v1.25.x** line: v1.25.0 (P0) →
+> v1.25.1 (P1) → v1.25.2 (P2) → v1.25.3 (P3) → v1.25.4 (P4) → v1.25.5
+> (P5 final = milestone release). 13 requirements (REQ-310..322),
+> 5 phases (P0 pre-execution + 4 execution + 1 final). Multi-project:
+> `acdl` (platform) + `nova-blockchain-exchange` (consumer). Tags run
+> on the previous minor's patch line per `run.md` versioning logic
+> (feature milestone — at least one feat phase; progressive patches per
+> phase; the final phase's patch IS the milestone release; no separate
+> minor tag).
 
 ---
 
-### Phase P2 — contract + stack-IR policies (Wave 2, policy-engineer + backend-engineer)
+## Phase 0 — Pre-Execution (complete, tag v1.25.0)
 
-**Type:** `feat` (policies + resolver wiring + tests)
+SPECIFY → CLARIFY → RESEARCH → IDEATE → PLAN → GRILL. All `.ciagent/`
+MD, research, plans. Ships as `v1.25.0` on the v1.25.x line.
 
-**Requirements:** REQ-295, REQ-296, REQ-297, REQ-298, REQ-299
+**Pre-run (Workstream A, on main before branch gate):**
+- A1: flaky test fix (commit `8c68d68`, pushed).
+- A2: ACDL_*→NOVA_* bootstrap migration (commit `f844fea`, pushed).
+- A3: AWS bootstrap — S3 state bucket + DynamoDB outbox created.
+- A4: `nova-blockchain-exchange` Gitea repo created + cloned.
 
-**Must-haves:**
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/contract/` — 4 policies over consumer
-  contract JSON: `require-id-pattern.json`,
-  `require-env-in-enum.json`, `require-infrastructure-min-1.json`,
-  `forbid-unknown-fields.json` — each a `ValidatingPolicy` with one
-  `validate.assert` rule using JMESPath against the payload root;
-  severity via `nova.cloudinit.dev/severity` annotation (REQ-295)
-- `core/contract_resolver.py` invokes
-  `PolicyEngineRegistry.get_engine().evaluate(contract_dict,
-  policies/contract/, contract_id)` **before** resolving; failures
-  feed the `policy` input as `fail` PCRs (no resolver exit — confidence
-  signal decides the gate, `--soft-fail` pattern); emits
-  `nova.policy.evaluated` metrics event (REQ-296)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/stack-ir/` — 3 policies over
-  resolved Stack IR: `require-tagging-standard.json` (ports
-  `nova_tagging.py` — `nova:owner` + `nova:environment` tags on every
-  `resources[]` entry), `forbid-public-ingress.json` (v1.0 demo rule),
-  `require-encryption-by-default.json` (v1.8 D-encryption-default);
-  `~` modifier iterates `resources[]` (REQ-297)
-- `core/contract_resolver.py` invokes the engine with the resolved
-  Stack IR and `policies/stack-ir/` **after** resolving; resulting PCRs
-  appended to the contract-policy PCRs; resolver return values and
-  exceptions unchanged (additive) (REQ-298)
-- `tests/test_stack_ir_policies.py` + `tests/fixtures/stack_ir/` —
-  passing IR (all tags + encryption) + failing IR (missing tags, public
-  ingress, plaintext bucket); each policy in isolation + full dir as
-  bundle; `pytest.skip("kj not installed")` when `which kj` absent
-  (REQ-299)
-
-**Vertical slice:** A consumer contract passes through the resolver
-and produces two PCR lists (contract policies pre-resolve, stack-IR
-policies post-resolve) that feed the confidence signal. A contract
-with a bad `id` or missing tags produces `fail` PCRs that lower the
-confidence score. The resolver's existing tests pass unchanged (the
-policy call is additive — it does not change resolver return values
-or exceptions).
-
-**Files touched:**
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/contract/require-id-pattern.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/contract/require-env-in-enum.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/contract/require-infrastructure-min-1.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/contract/forbid-unknown-fields.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/stack-ir/require-tagging-standard.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/stack-ir/forbid-public-ingress.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/stack-ir/require-encryption-by-default.json` (NEW)
-- `core/contract_resolver.py` (MODIFIED — pre/post resolve engine calls)
-- `tests/test_stack_ir_policies.py` (NEW)
-- `tests/fixtures/stack_ir/passing.json` (NEW)
-- `tests/fixtures/stack_ir/failing.json` (NEW)
-
-**Verification:** `pytest tests/test_contract_resolver.py
-tests/test_stack_ir_policies.py tests/test_policy_engine.py -v`
-(existing resolver tests pass; new policy tests pass or skip-without-
-kj). `python3 -m py_compile core/contract_resolver.py`.
+**Phase 0 stages (on `phase/00-specify-clarify-research-plan`):**
+- SPECIFY: v1.26 established in config.json + PROJECT.md + ROADMAP.md +
+  `.ciagent/nova-blockchain-exchange/{PROJECT,REQUIREMENTS,ROADMAP}.md`.
+- CLARIFY: 10 ambiguities resolved (D-200..D-213).
+- RESEARCH: PoA blockchain, deploy model, DynamoDB gap (REQ-322),
+  metric grounding, persona assessment (5 personas).
+- IDEATE: 7 ideas accepted (I1..I7 → REQ-315..322), 3 deferred.
+- PLAN: this file.
+- GRILL: adversarial review (binding verdicts).
 
 ---
 
-### Phase P3 — plan-JSON policies + meta-orchestration + pipeline wiring (Wave 3, policy-engineer + backend-engineer)
+## Phase 1 — blockchain-core (tag v1.25.1)
 
-**Type:** `feat` (plan-JSON policies + meta-policies + run_platform.sh wiring + tests)
+**Goal:** The consumer repo has a working homegrown PoA blockchain +
+order-matching engine + settlement service. All unit tests pass in the
+consumer repo's own CI.
 
-**Requirements:** REQ-300, REQ-301, REQ-302, REQ-303
+**Project:** `nova-blockchain-exchange` (consumer repo).
+**Branch:** `nova-blockchain-exchange/phase/01-blockchain-core`.
+**Persona:** blockchain-engineer (primary), lead-developer (coordination).
 
-**Must-haves:**
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/plan-json/` — 3 policies over
-  `terraform show -json` output: `forbid-plaintext-secrets.json` (ports
-  CKV_AWS_41/45/46), `forbid-iam-wildcard.json` (ports CKV_AWS_1/40),
-  `require-kms-reference.json` (ports CKV_AWS_7/33); JMESPath over
-  `planned_values.root_module.resources[]` (REQ-300)
-- `run_platform.sh` Step 5 gains a parallel kyverno-json pass: after
-  Checkov/Wiz produce raw PCRs, the script runs
-  `kj scan --policy adapters/kyverno-json/policies/plan-json/
-  --payload <tfshow.json> -o json` and pipes through
-  `adapters/kyverno-json/kyverno_json_engine.py` to produce a second
-  PCR list; both lists concatenated and fed to the confidence signal;
-  `nova.policy.evaluated` event with both engine names; when
-  `which kj` is false, logs and proceeds with Checkov/Wiz list only
-  (no hard failure) (REQ-301)
-- `tests/test_plan_json_policies.py` + `tests/fixtures/plan_json/` —
-  passing plan (no secrets, no wildcard, KMS alias) + failing plan
-  (plaintext password, `Action: "*"`, inline KMS key); policies in
-  isolation + bundle; `tests/test_run_platform_plan_json_policies.py`
-  asserts `run_platform.sh` has the kyverno-json Step 5 block +
-  concatenates PCR lists (script-substring assertion, pattern from
-  `tests/test_pipeline.py:79-95`) (REQ-302)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/meta/` — `block-on-any-critical.json`
-  (asserts no PCR in merged list has `severity: critical` + `result:
-  fail`; if any does, emits `fail` PCR `KJ_META_BLOCK_CRITICAL`
-  severity `critical` — declarative source of truth; the
-  `confidence_signal.py` hard-override stays as defense-in-depth per
-  D-119) + `tagging-rules-agree.json` (cross-checks Checkov
-  `NOVA_TAG_NAMING` vs kj `KJ_REQUIRE_TAGGING_STANDARD` by
-  `resourceRef`; divergence emits `error` PCR per D-118);
-  `tests/test_meta_policies.py` (REQ-303)
+### Wave 1 — chain core (REQ-310)
+- **Task 1.1** (blockchain-engineer): `chain/block.py` — Block dataclass
+  (index, timestamp, prev_hash, transactions, nonce, hash).
+  `compute_hash()` deterministic (SHA-256). Unit test: `test_block.py`.
+- **Task 1.2** (blockchain-engineer): `chain/ledger.py` — Ledger class:
+  `append_block()`, `verify_chain()`, `get_block(index)`,
+  `get_latest_block()`. Genesis block on init. Unit test: `test_ledger.py`.
+- **Task 1.3** (blockchain-engineer): `chain/validator.py` — PoA
+  validator: single validator (config-driven), `propose_block(transactions)`
+  → Block, `commit_block(block)`. Unit test: `test_validator.py`.
 
-**Vertical slice:** `run_platform.sh` Step 5 produces a merged PCR list
-(Checkov/Wiz + kj plan-JSON policies + kj meta-policies over the
-merged list) that feeds the confidence signal. A plan with a plaintext
-secret produces two `fail` PCRs (one Checkov, one kj) for the same
-resource — visible defense-in-depth. A critical finding anywhere
-produces a `KJ_META_BLOCK_CRITICAL` meta-PCR that the confidence
-signal's hard-override blocks. The pipeline runs with or without `kj`
-(graceful skip).
+### Wave 2 — order engine + settlement (REQ-311, REQ-312) — parallel with Wave 1 tail
+- **Task 2.1** (blockchain-engineer): `engine/order.py` — Order
+  dataclass (id, side, symbol, price, size, timestamp).
+- **Task 2.2** (blockchain-engineer): `engine/order_book.py` —
+  OrderBook: `add_order(order)`, `match_orders()` → list of Match
+  (price-time priority, partial fills). Unit test: `test_order_book.py`.
+- **Task 2.3** (blockchain-engineer): `settlement/service.py` —
+  SettlementService: `settle(match)` → SettlementTransaction,
+  `submit(ledger)`. Idempotent (re-settling a match is a no-op once
+  final). Finality = block commit. Unit test: `test_settlement.py`.
 
-**Files touched:**
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/plan-json/forbid-plaintext-secrets.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/plan-json/forbid-iam-wildcard.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/plan-json/require-kms-reference.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/meta/block-on-any-critical.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/meta/tagging-rules-agree.json` (NEW)
-- `scripts/run_platform.sh` (MODIFIED — Step 5 kj parallel pass)
-- `tests/test_plan_json_policies.py` (NEW)
-- `tests/test_meta_policies.py` (NEW)
-- `tests/test_run_platform_plan_json_policies.py` (NEW)
-- `tests/fixtures/plan_json/passing.json` (NEW)
-- `tests/fixtures/plan_json/failing.json` (NEW)
+### Wave 3 — consumer CI (cross-cutting)
+- **Task 3.1** (blockchain-engineer): `.github/workflows/ci.yml` +
+  `.gitea/workflows/ci.yml` — lint + pytest on chain/engine/settlement.
+- **Task 3.2** (lead-developer): `nova-blockchain-exchange/README.md` —
+  repo overview + dev setup.
 
-**Verification:** `pytest tests/test_plan_json_policies.py
-tests/test_meta_policies.py tests/test_run_platform_plan_json_policies.py
-tests/test_pipeline.py -v` (new tests pass or skip-without-kj; existing
-pipeline tests pass). `python3 -m py_compile` on any modified Python.
-Shellcheck on `run_platform.sh` if available.
+**Must-haves (verify before ship):**
+- `pytest tests/` in the consumer repo passes (chain integrity, hash
+  determinism, genesis, append/verify, match priority, partial fills,
+  settlement idempotency, finality check).
+- The chain is deterministic (replay produces the same hash chain).
+- The consumer CI workflow runs on push.
+
+**Ship:** tag `v1.25.1`, merge `phase/01` → `milestone/v1.26-pilot-activation`,
+Gitea release (best-effort). Delete `phase/01`.
 
 ---
 
-### Phase P4 — regression-gate policies + docs (Wave 4, policy-engineer + data-engineer + lead-developer)
+## Phase 2 — consumer-contract-and-deploy (tag v1.25.2)
 
-**Type:** `feat` (regression policies) + `docs` (adapter READMEs + ARCHITECTURE + STANDARDS + METRICS)
+**Goal:** The consumer repo declares its infrastructure via
+`contract.yaml` (validated against the platform's schema) + invokes the
+platform's `deploy.yml@v1.25` workflow. The contract references the
+`microservice` (ECS), `dynamodb`, + `s3` modules.
 
-**Requirements:** REQ-304, REQ-305, REQ-306, REQ-307
+**Project:** `nova-blockchain-exchange` (consumer repo) + `acdl`
+(platform repo — for the `deploy.yml@v1.25` ref + the `v1.25` floating
+tag).
+**Branch:** `nova-blockchain-exchange/phase/02-contract-and-deploy`.
+**Persona:** blockchain-engineer (contract authoring), data-engineer
+(registry/DynamoDB dependency check), lead-developer (deploy.yml ref).
 
-**Must-haves:**
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/regression/` — 3 policies over
-  capability-inventory JSON frontmatter: `cap-013-adapter-dedup.json`,
-  `cap-023-metrics-collector.json`, `cap-024-deck-structure.json`;
-  emit `pass`/`fail` PCRs per capability; the existing
-  `core/regression_verify.py` is kept (drives the CI gate); the
-  policies are the declarative mirror (REQ-304)
-- `tests/test_regression_policies.py` +
-  `tests/fixtures/capability_inventory/clean.json` +
-  `tests/fixtures/capability_inventory/drifted.json` — clean (all caps
-  pass) + drifted (duplicate adapter, missing metric status, broken
-  deck arc); regression gate still 287/287 baseline (new tests
-  additive, skip-without-kj) (REQ-305)
-- `adapters/README.md` gains new kyverno-json adapter row + "Policy
-  Engine Protocol" section (Protocol, registry, swap boundary,
-  how-to-add-OpaEngine); `adapters/kyverno-json/README.md` documents
-  the engine, install path, policy directory layout, 4 policy
-  categories (REQ-306)
-- `.ciagent/ARCHITECTURE.md` §12.7 (added in RESEARCH) is finalized;
-  `schemas/README.md` notes `engine: "kyverno"` shared by K8s adapter
-  + kj (distinguished by `ruleId` prefix); `modules/STANDARDS.md`
-  gains "Policy authoring standard" section for module owners;
-  `docs/METRICS.md` notes the policy engine is swappable (Strategic
-  Objective #2 — provable trust via a replaceable substrate) (REQ-307)
+### Wave 1 — contract (REQ-313)
+- **Task 1.1** (blockchain-engineer): `contract.yaml` — id
+  (`blkex`), name (`blockchain-exchange`), environment (dev),
+  infrastructure block (microservice + dynamodb + s3).
+- **Task 1.2** (blockchain-engineer): `contracts/blockchain-exchange.dev.yml`,
+  `.qa.yml`, `.prod.yml` — per-env variants.
+- **Task 1.3** (blockchain-engineer): `tests/test_contract_validates.py`
+  — schema validation against the platform's
+  `schemas/contract.schema.json`.
 
-**Vertical slice:** The regression gate's capability checks are now
-declarative policies auditable as artifacts. A new module owner can
-read `modules/STANDARDS.md` "Policy authoring standard" and write a
-per-module kyverno-json policy. A new engineer can read
-`adapters/README.md` "Policy Engine Protocol" and implement an
-`OpaEngine`. The 287/287 baseline is unchanged.
+### Wave 2 — deploy invocation (REQ-314)
+- **Task 2.1** (blockchain-engineer): `.github/workflows/deploy.yml` —
+  `uses: acdl/.github/workflows/deploy.yml@v1.25` with
+  `with: { contract: contract.yaml, mode: full, environment: dev }`.
+- **Task 2.2** (blockchain-engineer): `.gitea/workflows/deploy.yml` —
+  byte-identical mirror.
+- **Task 2.3** (blockchain-engineer): `tests/test_deploy_workflow_invocation.py`
+  — asserts the `uses:` ref + inputs.
 
-**Files touched:**
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/regression/cap-013-adapter-dedup.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/regression/cap-023-metrics-collector.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/regression/cap-024-deck-structure.json` (NEW)
-- `tests/test_regression_policies.py` (NEW)
-- `tests/fixtures/capability_inventory/clean.json` (NEW)
-- `tests/fixtures/capability_inventory/drifted.json` (NEW)
-- `adapters/README.md` (MODIFIED — new row + PolicyEngine Protocol section)
-- `adapters/kyverno-json/README.md` (NEW)
-- `schemas/README.md` (MODIFIED — engine enum note)
-- `modules/STANDARDS.md` (MODIFIED — Policy authoring standard section)
-- `docs/METRICS.md` (MODIFIED — swappable engine narrative)
+### Wave 3 — platform floating tag (cross-cutting)
+- **Task 3.1** (lead-developer, on `acdl` repo): verify the `v1.25`
+  floating tag exists (created by `release.yml` on merge to main). If
+  not, create it pointing at the `v1.25.0` tag (Phase 0 ship).
 
-**Verification:** `pytest tests/test_regression_policies.py
-tests/test_kyverno_json_engine.py -v` (new tests pass or skip-without-
-kj). Full regression gate `pytest tests/` still at 287/287 baseline +
-new tests (skip without kj). Manual read of `adapters/README.md` +
-`adapters/kyverno-json/README.md` + `modules/STANDARDS.md` policy
-section for clarity.
+**Must-haves (verify before ship):**
+- `contract.yaml` validates against `schemas/contract.schema.json`.
+- The deploy workflow invocation asserts the correct `uses:` ref +
+  inputs.
+- The `v1.25` floating tag resolves.
+
+**Ship:** tag `v1.25.2`, merge `phase/02` → milestone, Gitea release.
+Delete `phase/02`.
 
 ---
 
-### Phase P5 — final review + audit + milestone ship (Final Phase)
+## Phase 3 — pilot-metrics-and-policies (tag v1.25.3)
 
-**Type:** `docs` (review + audit + milestone completion)
+**Goal:** The platform repo gains the metric-grounding emitters, the
+kyverno-json pilot policies, the DynamoDB L1 primitive, the env-JSON
+wiring reconciliation, + the pilot regression CAP. The Post-Pilot
+metrics are grounded (outcome backfill + escalation reason); the pilot-
+readiness + settlement-finality policies are in place.
 
-**Requirements:** All REQ-291..309 (mark complete)
+**Project:** `acdl` (platform repo).
+**Branch:** `acdl/phase/03-pilot-metrics-and-policies` (platform branch).
+**Personas:** backend-engineer (emitters + adapter + regression),
+data-engineer (DynamoDB primitive + env JSON + collector),
+policy-engineer (kyverno-json policies).
 
-**Must-haves:**
-- `ciagent-review` multi-persona code review across P1..P4
-  (lead-developer, backend-engineer, data-engineer, policy-engineer).
-  Auto-fix P0; flag P1+ for post-hoc review. If P1+ issues found, fix
-  them in this final phase (not loop back to EXECUTE).
-- `ciagent-audit` — reconstruction test (git log ↔ `.ciagent/` files),
-  `.ciagent/` file discipline, branch hygiene, commit discipline.
-  Critical issues fixed in this phase.
-- `ciagent-ship` (milestone) — merge `phase/05-final-review-ship` →
-  `milestone/v1.25-kyverno-json` → `main`; tag `v1.24.5` (= the v1.25
-  release per the prev-minor tagging rule); create Gitea release with
-  full milestone summary (all phases, all requirements); delete all
-  milestone branches (local + remote).
-- Update `REQUIREMENTS.md` (mark REQ-291..309 complete),
-  `ROADMAP.md` (mark v1.25 complete), `CHECKPOINT.json`
-  (milestone_complete: true), `NORTH_STAR.md` (note Strategic
-  Objective #2 — provable trust via a replaceable policy-engine
-  substrate).
+### Wave 1 — DynamoDB primitive (REQ-322) — data-engineer
+- **Task 1.1** (data-engineer): `modules/l1/dynamodb/interface.json` —
+  stack type `aws:dynamodb:table`, inputs (table_name, region, pk, sk,
+  billing_mode), outputs (table_arn, table_name).
+- **Task 1.2** (data-engineer): `modules/l1/dynamodb/terraform/main.tf`
+  — `resource "aws_dynamodb_table" "this"` (PK + optional SK,
+  `PAY_PER_REQUEST` default, encryption + PITR enabled per v1.8 NFR).
+- **Task 1.3** (data-engineer): `modules/l1/dynamodb/README.md` +
+  `instance.json`.
+- **Task 1.4** (data-engineer): `modules/registry.json` — `dynamodb`
+  entry (kind `l1`, `terraform_dir`).
+- **Task 1.5** (data-engineer): `modules/README.md` — catalog index.
 
-**Vertical slice:** The v1.25 milestone is complete: kyverno-json is
-the primary policy tool, behind a swappable adapter, with policies
-over all 4 Nova artifacts. Tags v1.24.0..v1.24.5 on the v1.24.x line.
-The milestone branch merges to main.
+### Wave 2 — metric grounding (REQ-317, REQ-318) — backend-engineer + data-engineer — parallel
+- **Task 2.1** (backend-engineer): `core/metrics/outcome_backfill.py` —
+  `backfill(decision_id, outcome)` updates `fact_decision.outcome` +
+  `backfilled_at`. Reads run-manifest events.
+- **Task 2.2** (backend-engineer): `core/metrics/collector.py` —
+  invokes backfill after run completion.
+- **Task 2.3** (backend-engineer): `tests/test_outcome_backfill.py`.
+- **Task 2.4** (backend-engineer): `core/confidence_signal.py` —
+  `ai.decision.made` gains `escalation_reason: 'confidence'` when
+  `band == 'block'`.
+- **Task 2.5** (backend-engineer): `core/metrics/collector.py` —
+  persists `escalation_reason` into `fact_run`.
+- **Task 2.6** (backend-engineer): `tests/test_confidence_escalation_reason.py`.
 
-**Verification:** `pytest tests/ -v` full suite passes (287 baseline +
-new tests). `git log --oneline` shows the v1.25 phase commits.
-`git tag` shows v1.24.0..v1.24.5. `git branch` shows no leftover
-milestone/phase branches (all deleted post-ship).
+### Wave 3 — env-JSON wiring + adapter (REQ-319) — backend-engineer + data-engineer — parallel
+- **Task 3.1** (backend-engineer): `adapters/terraform/adapter.py` —
+  reads `env.state_backend.bucket` when present (fallback to computed
+  name for backwards compat).
+- **Task 3.2** (data-engineer): `core/environments/dev.json` —
+  `account_id` → `581513795199`, `state_backend.bucket` →
+  `nova-tfstate-581513795199-us-east-1`.
+- **Task 3.3** (data-engineer): `core/environments/{qa,prod,dr}.json` —
+  `state_backend.bucket` updated; `account_id` stays placeholder
+  (pilot-readiness policy blocks apply on placeholder, D-208).
+- **Task 3.4** (backend-engineer): `tests/test_adapter_state_backend.py`.
+- **Task 3.5** (backend-engineer): `tests/test_adapter.py` — add
+  `dynamodb` to `EXPECTED_L1_KEYS` + a resolution + emission test
+  (cross-territory: data-engineer authored the module, backend-engineer
+  owns the test).
+
+### Wave 4 — kyverno-json policies (REQ-315, REQ-320) — policy-engineer — parallel
+- **Task 4.1** (policy-engineer):
+  `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/settlement-finality/all-matches-committed.json`
+  — kyverno-json policy over settlement-service status JSON (asserts
+  `all_committed: true`).
+- **Task 4.2** (policy-engineer):
+  `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/pilot-readiness/no-placeholder-account.json`
+  — kyverno-json policy over env JSON (asserts
+  `account_id != "000000000000"`).
+- **Task 4.3** (policy-engineer): `tests/test_settlement_finality_policy.py`
+  — passing + failing fixtures; skip when `kj` absent.
+- **Task 4.4** (policy-engineer): `tests/test_pilot_readiness_policy.py`
+  — passing (real account) + failing (placeholder) fixtures; skip when
+  `kj` absent.
+
+### Wave 5 — regression CAP (REQ-316) — backend-engineer
+- **Task 5.1** (backend-engineer): `core/regression_verify.py` —
+  CAP-025 (live-pilot-apply): the round-trip assertion.
+- **Task 5.2** (backend-engineer): `tests/test_regression_pilot.py`.
+
+**Must-haves (verify before ship):**
+- `pytest tests/` in the platform repo passes (170 existing + new tests).
+- The DynamoDB primitive resolves + emits valid Terraform.
+- The outcome backfill updates `fact_decision.outcome` (not `pending`).
+- The `escalation_reason` field is emitted on `block` band.
+- The adapter reads `env.state_backend.bucket` from the env JSON.
+- The 2 new kyverno-json policies pass on valid fixtures + fail on
+  invalid fixtures (skip when `kj` absent).
+- CAP-025 is in the regression gate.
+- No existing tests regress (170 baseline holds).
+
+**Ship:** tag `v1.25.3`, merge `phase/03` → milestone, Gitea release.
+Delete `phase/03`.
 
 ---
 
-## Wave ordering (parallelization)
+## Phase 4 — pilot-run-and-docs (tag v1.25.4)
 
-With `parallelization.enabled: true`, `max_concurrent_agents: 5`,
-`min_plans_for_parallel: 2`:
+**Goal:** The pilot estate runs end-to-end against live AWS
+`581513795199` (contract resolve → adapter compile → terraform plan →
+policy scan → confidence signal → attestation → outbox record). Docs +
+adapter README + onboarding guide are complete.
 
-- **P1 Wave 1:** backend-engineer (protocol + registry + install) ‖
-  data-engineer (config.json policy object) ‖ policy-engineer (engine
-  adapter + smoke policy). 3 concurrent personas. Merge in order:
-  data-engineer → backend-engineer → policy-engineer.
-- **P2 Wave 2:** policy-engineer (contract + stack-IR policies) ‖
-  backend-engineer (resolver wiring — depends on P1 registry). 2
-  concurrent. Merge: policy-engineer → backend-engineer (wiring
-  references the policy dirs).
-- **P3 Wave 3:** policy-engineer (plan-JSON + meta policies) ‖
-  backend-engineer (run_platform.sh wiring — depends on P1 engine +
-  P2 resolver pattern). 2 concurrent. Merge: policy-engineer →
-  backend-engineer.
-- **P4 Wave 4:** policy-engineer (regression policies) ‖ data-engineer
-  (capability-inventory fixtures) ‖ lead-developer (docs: READMEs,
-  STANDARDS, METRICS). 3 concurrent. Merge: data-engineer →
-  policy-engineer → lead-developer.
+**Project:** `nova-blockchain-exchange` (consumer repo — the run) +
+`acdl` (platform repo — docs).
+**Branch:** `acdl/phase/04-pilot-run-and-docs` (platform branch for
+docs); the run happens via the consumer's `deploy.yml` invocation.
+**Personas:** blockchain-engineer (the run), lead-developer (docs),
+backend-engineer (regression CAP-025 verification).
 
-Territory enforcement: `warn` mode (per `config.json
-personas.territory_enforcement: "warn"`). Cross-territory edits
-(e.g., backend-engineer touching a policy file) emit a warning, not a
-block.
+### Wave 1 — the pilot run (REQ-316 verification, live)
+- **Task 1.1** (blockchain-engineer): trigger the consumer's
+  `deploy.yml` with `mode: full, environment: dev` against
+  `581513795199`. The workflow checks out the consumer + platform
+  repos, runs `run_platform.sh`, applies the contract (ECS +
+  DynamoDB + S3), records the decision + attestation.
+- **Task 1.2** (backend-engineer): verify CAP-025 (regression gate)
+  passes against the live run.
+- **Task 1.3** (blockchain-engineer): capture the run's
+  `ai.decision.made` + `attestation.recorded` events from the Decision
+  Ledger → evidence for the milestone ship.
 
-## Requirement → phase → persona matrix
+### Wave 2 — docs (REQ-321)
+- **Task 2.1** (lead-developer): `adapters/README.md` — new consumer
+  row + fix the stale `TYPE_MAP` references (IDEATE I8).
+- **Task 2.2** (lead-developer): `docs/METRICS.md` — Post-Pilot metrics
+  grounded note (the 3 targets now have non-zero denominators post-run).
+- **Task 2.3** (lead-developer): `.ciagent/ARCHITECTURE.md` §12.8
+  (Pilot Estate).
+- **Task 2.4** (lead-developer):
+  `.ciagent/nova-blockchain-exchange/README.md` — consumer onboarding
+  guide (how to invoke `deploy.yml@v1.25`, what secrets to set, what
+  the contract shape is).
 
-| REQ | Phase | Primary persona | Type |
-|-----|-------|-----------------|------|
-| REQ-291 | P1 | backend-engineer | feat |
-| REQ-292 | P1 | data-engineer | feat (config) |
-| REQ-293 | P1 | policy-engineer | feat |
-| REQ-294 | P1 | backend-engineer | feat (install) |
-| REQ-295 | P2 | policy-engineer | feat |
-| REQ-296 | P2 | backend-engineer | feat (wiring) |
-| REQ-297 | P2 | policy-engineer | feat |
-| REQ-298 | P2 | backend-engineer | feat (wiring) |
-| REQ-299 | P2 | policy-engineer | test |
-| REQ-300 | P3 | policy-engineer | feat |
-| REQ-301 | P3 | backend-engineer | feat (pipeline) |
-| REQ-302 | P3 | policy-engineer + backend-engineer | test |
-| REQ-303 | P3 | policy-engineer | feat (meta) |
-| REQ-304 | P4 | policy-engineer | feat |
-| REQ-305 | P4 | policy-engineer + data-engineer | test |
-| REQ-306 | P4 | policy-engineer + lead-developer | docs |
-| REQ-307 | P4 | lead-developer | docs |
-| REQ-308 | P1 | backend-engineer | test |
-| REQ-309 | P1 | policy-engineer | test |
\ No newline at end of file
+**Must-haves (verify before ship):**
+- The pilot run completes end-to-end (apply succeeds, decision recorded,
+  attestation recorded for dev — autonomous, no human approver).
+- CAP-025 passes.
+- The 3 Post-Pilot metrics have non-zero denominators (the run
+  contributed to `fact_run` + `fact_decision`).
+- Docs are complete (adapter README, METRICS.md, ARCHITECTURE.md §12.8,
+  consumer onboarding guide).
+
+**Ship:** tag `v1.25.4`, merge `phase/04` → milestone, Gitea release.
+Delete `phase/04`.
+
+---
+
+## Phase 5 — final review + audit + milestone ship (tag v1.25.5)
+
+**Goal:** Multi-persona code review across P1..P4. Audit (reconstruction
+test, branch hygiene, commit discipline). Milestone ship: merge to main,
+tag `v1.25.5` (= the v1.26 release), Gitea release with full milestone
+summary, delete all milestone branches.
+
+**Project:** both (`acdl` + `nova-blockchain-exchange`).
+**Branch:** `phase/05-final-review-ship`.
+**Personas:** lead-developer (review + audit + ship), backend-engineer
+(review), data-engineer (review), policy-engineer (review),
+blockchain-engineer (review — the chain core is reviewed).
+
+### Wave 1 — review
+- **Task 1.1** (lead-developer): `ciagent-review` — multi-persona code
+  review across P1..P4. Auto-fix P0; flag P1+ for post-hoc review.
+- **Task 1.2** (all personas): fix P0 issues in this phase.
+
+### Wave 2 — audit
+- **Task 2.1** (lead-developer): `ciagent-audit` — reconstruction test
+  (git log ↔ `.ciagent/`), branch hygiene, commit discipline.
+- **Task 2.2** (lead-developer): fix critical audit issues in this phase.
+
+### Wave 3 — milestone ship
+- **Task 3.1** (lead-developer): merge `phase/05` →
+  `milestone/v1.26-pilot-activation` → `main`.
+- **Task 3.2** (lead-developer): tag `v1.25.5` (= the v1.26 release per
+  prev-minor tagging rule).
+- **Task 3.3** (lead-developer): create Gitea release with full milestone
+  summary (all phases, all 13 requirements).
+- **Task 3.4** (lead-developer): delete all milestone branches (local +
+  remote). Tags preserve all history.
+- **Task 3.5** (lead-developer): update `.ciagent/nova-blockchain-exchange/REQUIREMENTS.md`
+  (mark REQ-310..322 complete), `.ciagent/ROADMAP.md` (mark v1.26
+  complete), `.ciagent/NORTH_STAR.md` (note Strategic Objectives #1 +
+  #3 — first real consumer estate; Post-Pilot denominators activated).
+- **Task 3.6** (lead-developer): write checkpoint `stage: complete,
+  phase: 5, phase_role: final` + clear checkpoint (milestone complete).
+
+**Must-haves (verify before ship):**
+- Review: 0 P0 issues unfixed; P1+ flagged for post-hoc.
+- Audit: reconstruction test passes; branch hygiene clean; commit
+  discipline clean.
+- Ship: `v1.25.5` tag exists; Gitea release created; milestone branches
+  deleted; main has the milestone merge.
+
+---
+
+## Requirement → Phase Mapping
+
+| REQ | Phase | Wave | Persona |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| REQ-310 (blockchain core) | P1 | W1 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-311 (order engine) | P1 | W2 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-312 (settlement) | P1 | W2 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-313 (contract.yaml) | P2 | W1 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-314 (deploy invocation) | P2 | W2 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-315 (settlement-finality policy) | P3 | W4 | policy-engineer |
+| REQ-316 (pilot regression CAP) | P3 | W5 + P4 W1 | backend-engineer |
+| REQ-317 (outcome backfill) | P3 | W2 | backend-engineer |
+| REQ-318 (escalation reason) | P3 | W2 | backend-engineer |
+| REQ-319 (env-JSON wiring) | P3 | W3 | backend + data-engineer |
+| REQ-320 (pilot-readiness policy) | P3 | W4 | policy-engineer |
+| REQ-321 (docs) | P4 | W2 | lead-developer |
+| REQ-322 (DynamoDB primitive) | P3 | W1 | data-engineer |
+
+---
+
+## Wave Ordering Rationale
+
+- **P1 W1 → W2:** the chain core (block + ledger + validator) must land
+  before the order engine + settlement (they submit transactions to the
+  ledger). W3 (CI) is cross-cutting + can land any time after W1.
+- **P2 W1 → W2:** the contract must land before the deploy invocation
+  (the invocation references the contract). W3 (floating tag) is cross-
+  cutting.
+- **P3 W1 (DynamoDB) first:** the contract (P2) references `dynamodb` —
+  the primitive must exist before P2's contract can resolve. **Risk:**
+  P2's contract references a module that doesn't exist until P3. Resolution: P2's contract is authored but the `test_contract_validates.py` test only checks schema validity (not registry resolution) — the registry resolution test is in P3 (after the primitive lands). The contract's `dynamodb` block is schema-valid (the schema is open); the registry resolution happens at apply time (P4).
+  - **Alternative:** move REQ-322 to P2 W0 (before the contract). This
+    avoids the P2→P3 dependency. **Decision: move REQ-322 to P2 W0.**
+    See revised mapping below.
+
+### Revised: REQ-322 → P2 W0
+
+REQ-322 (DynamoDB primitive) lands in P2 Wave 0 (before the contract)
+so the contract's `dynamodb` block resolves at registry time, not just
+schema time. This makes P2 self-contained: the primitive + the contract
++ the deploy invocation all land in P2.
+
+| REQ | Phase | Wave | Persona |
+|---|---|---|---|
+| REQ-310 (blockchain core) | P1 | W1 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-311 (order engine) | P1 | W2 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-312 (settlement) | P1 | W2 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-322 (DynamoDB primitive) | P2 | W0 | data-engineer |
+| REQ-313 (contract.yaml) | P2 | W1 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-314 (deploy invocation) | P2 | W2 | blockchain-engineer |
+| REQ-315 (settlement-finality policy) | P3 | W4 | policy-engineer |
+| REQ-316 (pilot regression CAP) | P3 | W5 + P4 W1 | backend-engineer |
+| REQ-317 (outcome backfill) | P3 | W2 | backend-engineer |
+| REQ-318 (escalation reason) | P3 | W2 | backend-engineer |
+| REQ-319 (env-JSON wiring) | P3 | W3 | backend + data-engineer |
+| REQ-320 (pilot-readiness policy) | P3 | W4 | policy-engineer |
+| REQ-321 (docs) | P4 | W2 | lead-developer |
+
+This revision is a binding plan decision (G-Q8 in the grill may
+challenge it).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.ciagent/ROADMAP.md b/.ciagent/ROADMAP.md
index d96d98e..83ed46f 100644
--- a/.ciagent/ROADMAP.md
+++ b/.ciagent/ROADMAP.md
@@ -2282,6 +2282,11 @@ Tags: `v1.25.0` (P0) → `v1.25.5` (P5 = milestone release).
   idempotent, finality = block commit.
 
 ### Phase P2 — consumer-contract-and-deploy (planned, tag v1.25.2)
+- REQ-322: `modules/l1/dynamodb/` — new L1 primitive (interface.json +
+  terraform/main.tf + README.md + instance.json + registry.json entry).
+  The single platform-side module build-out (ECS + S3 already exist;
+  the adapter is stateless/registry-driven). Lands in P2 W0 (before the
+  contract) so the contract's `dynamodb` block resolves at registry time.
 - REQ-313: `nova-blockchain-exchange/contract.yaml` + per-env variants
   (dev/qa/prod) — validated against `schemas/contract.schema.json`.
 - REQ-314: `nova-blockchain-exchange/.github/workflows/deploy.yml` +
@@ -2308,10 +2313,6 @@ Tags: `v1.25.0` (P0) → `v1.25.5` (P5 = milestone release).
   `nova-tfstate-581513795199-us-east-1`.
 - REQ-320: `adapters/kyverno-json/policies/pilot-readiness/no-placeholder-account.json`
   — declarative gate preventing apply against a placeholder account.
-- REQ-322: `modules/l1/dynamodb/` — new L1 primitive (interface.json +
-  terraform/main.tf + README.md + instance.json + registry.json entry).
-  The single platform-side module build-out (ECS + S3 already exist;
-  the adapter is stateless/registry-driven).
 
 ### Phase P4 — pilot-run-and-docs (planned, tag v1.25.4)
 - REQ-321: `adapters/README.md` (new consumer row) +