diff --git a/cosmic_ledger/contracts.py b/cosmic_ledger/contracts.py
index 1942da7..3003bfa 100644
--- a/cosmic_ledger/contracts.py
+++ b/cosmic_ledger/contracts.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ class DataContractRegistry:
         self._contracts = {}
 
     def register(self, name: str, schema: dict, version: int = 1):
+        # Store contract with versioning and associated schema
         self._contracts[name] = {
             "version": version,
             "schema": schema,
@@ -15,3 +16,21 @@ class DataContractRegistry:
 
     def list_contracts(self):
         return {k: v for k, v in self._contracts.items()}
+
+    def conform(self, name: str, payload: dict) -> bool:
+        """Basic conformance check for a given payload against a registered contract.
+
+        If a contract is registered with a 'fields' list inside its schema, we
+        require that all those fields exist in the payload. Extra fields are
+        allowed for forward-compatibility.
+        """
+        contract = self._contracts.get(name)
+        if not contract:
+            # No contract defined; be permissive in MVP
+            return True
+        schema = contract.get("schema", {})
+        if isinstance(schema, dict) and "fields" in schema:
+            required = set(schema["fields"])
+            return required.issubset(set(payload.keys()))
+        # Fallback: no strict contract; assume conformant
+        return True
diff --git a/cosmic_ledger/ledger.py b/cosmic_ledger/ledger.py
index dd0b5d1..8f53325 100644
--- a/cosmic_ledger/ledger.py
+++ b/cosmic_ledger/ledger.py
@@ -72,6 +72,13 @@ class LocalLedger:
     def register_contract(self, name: str, schema: dict, version: int = 1):
         self.contracts.register(name, schema, version)
 
+    def anchor_delta_root(self, anchor: str) -> None:
+        """Anchor the current delta root to an external reference (cloud/ground).
+
+        This is optional in MVP and helps provide long-term verifiability.
+        """
+        self.delta_log.anchor_root(anchor)
+
     def add_entry(self, entry_type: str, payload: dict, signer_name: str = None, contract_name: str = None) -> LedgerEntry:
         if not self.contracts.get(entry_type) and contract_name is None:
             # Allow ad-hoc entry without contract in MVP for simplicity
@@ -79,6 +86,10 @@ class LocalLedger:
         else:
             contract = self.contracts.get(entry_type)
             contract_version = contract["version"] if contract else 1
+        # Enforce contract conformance if a contract is registered for this entry_type
+        if self.contracts.get(entry_type) is not None:
+            if not self.contracts.conform(entry_type, payload):
+                raise ValueError(f"Payload does not conform to contract for entry_type '{entry_type}'")
         ts = time.time()
         # Build a lightweight id: hash of type+ts+payload
         raw = json.dumps({"type": entry_type, "ts": ts, "payload": payload}, sort_keys=True).encode('utf-8')