diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd5590b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+node_modules/
+.npmrc
+.env
+.env.*
+__tests__/
+coverage/
+.nyc_output/
+dist/
+build/
+.cache/
+*.log
+.DS_Store
+tmp/
+.tmp/
+__pycache__/
+*.pyc
+.venv/
+venv/
+*.egg-info/
+.pytest_cache/
+READY_TO_PUBLISH
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ea1ceb6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+# BeVault: Architecture and Contribution Guide
+
+Overview
+- BeVault is a modular backbone enforcing and proving Best Execution across multiple equity venues.
+- The MVP focuses on a Graph-of-Contracts (GoC) registry, two starter adapters, and deterministic delta-sync with signed deltas.
+
+Tech Stack (Production-Ready)
+- Language: Python 3.8+
+- Core: lightweight dataclasses for LocalArbProblem, SharedSignals, HedgeDelta, AuditLog, PrivacyBudget
+- Registry: GoCRegistry and GraphOfContracts with versioned adapters
+- Adapters: PriceFeedAdapter, BrokerAdapter (starter)
+- Crypto: HMAC-SHA256 based delta signing (pluggable key material)
+- Data Contracts: toy DSL seeds as Python dataclasses
+- Tests: pytest-based unit tests
+
+Project Structure
+- idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/
+  - __init__.py
+  - core.py
+  - signing.py
+  - registry.py
+  - adapters/
+    - __init__.py
+    - price_feed.py
+    - broker.py
+- tests/
+  - test_basic.py
+- README.md
+- AGENTS.md (this file)
+- test.sh
+- pyproject.toml
+- READY_TO_PUBLISH (empty when ready)
+
+How to contribute
+- Start with the MVP: wire two adapters and ensure delta-signing and delta-sync are deterministic.
+- Expand the GoC registry with new contracts/adapters following the toy DSL seeds.
+- Ensure tests cover core contracts, registry operations, and adapter conformance checks.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ba72b99..ef3c7df 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1 @@
-# idea172-bevault-verifiable-best
-
-Source logic for Idea #172
\ No newline at end of file
+# BeVault: Verifiable Best-Execution Backbone (MVP)
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/__init__.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1cce80b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+"""BeVault Verifiable Best-Execution Core (package init)."""
+
+from .core import LocalArbProblem, SharedSignals, HedgeDelta, AuditLog, PrivacyBudget
+from .registry import GoCRegistry, GraphOfContracts
+from .signing import sign_delta
+
+__all__ = [
+    "LocalArbProblem",
+    "SharedSignals",
+    "HedgeDelta",
+    "AuditLog",
+    "PrivacyBudget",
+    "GoCRegistry",
+    "GraphOfContracts",
+    "sign_delta",
+]
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/__init__.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42c5b2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+"""Adapter base package for BeVault MVP (price feed, broker)."""
+from .price_feed import PriceFeedAdapter
+from .broker import BrokerAdapter
+
+__all__ = ["PriceFeedAdapter", "BrokerAdapter"]
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/broker.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/broker.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1166a46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/broker.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"""Starter BrokerAdapter for BeVault MVP."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from ..core import HedgeDelta
+
+
+@dataclass
+class BrokerAdapter:
+    name: str = "broker-v1"
+    version: str = "0.1"
+
+    def send_delta(self, delta: HedgeDelta) -> bool:
+        # Placeholder: in real life this would push to venue/execution system
+        # Here we simply return True to indicate success
+        return True
+
+
+__all__ = ["BrokerAdapter"]
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/price_feed.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/price_feed.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c943158
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/adapters/price_feed.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+"""Starter PriceFeedAdapter for BeVault MVP."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+
+from ..core import HedgeDelta
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PriceFeedAdapter:
+    name: str = "price-feed-v1"
+    version: str = "0.1"
+
+    def generate_signal(self, asset: str, price: float, latency_ms: float) -> HedgeDelta:
+        # Produce a minimal HedgeDelta as a placeholder signal payload
+        # In a real system this would produce SharedSignals -> local arb -> delta
+        return HedgeDelta(asset=asset, hedge_size=price, timestamp=latency_ms, policy_tag="price-feed")
+
+
+__all__ = ["PriceFeedAdapter"]
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/core.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/core.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f45982d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/core.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+"""Core data contracts for BeVault MVP (toy DSL seeds)."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import List, Optional
+import time
+
+
+@dataclass
+class LocalArbProblem:
+    asset: str
+    objective: str  # e.g., 'min_cost', 'maximize_profit'
+    risk_budget: float
+    constraints: dict = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class SharedSignals:
+    asset: str
+    price: float
+    latency_ms: float
+    timestamp: float = field(default_factory=lambda: time.time())
+    metadata: dict = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+
+@dataclass
+class HedgeDelta:
+    asset: str
+    hedge_size: float
+    timestamp: float = field(default_factory=lambda: time.time())
+    policy_tag: str = "default"
+    signature: Optional[str] = None
+
+
+@dataclass
+class AuditLog:
+    events: List[str] = field(default_factory=list)
+    entry_ts: float = field(default_factory=lambda: time.time())
+
+
+@dataclass
+class PrivacyBudget:
+    asset: str
+    remaining: float
+    reset_epoch: float = field(default_factory=lambda: time.time())
+
+
+__all__ = [
+    "LocalArbProblem",
+    "SharedSignals",
+    "HedgeDelta",
+    "AuditLog",
+    "PrivacyBudget",
+]
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/registry.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/registry.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f891b78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/registry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+"""Graph-of-Contracts (GoC) registry and minimal adapters registry.
+
+This is a lightweight, production-oriented scaffold for the MVP.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import Dict, Optional
+
+from .core import HedgeDelta
+# Import adapters to ensure their classes are discoverable when registry loads
+from .adapters.price_feed import PriceFeedAdapter
+from .adapters.broker import BrokerAdapter
+
+
+@dataclass
+class GoCRegistry:
+    """Registry for adapters and data contracts (toy GoC)."""
+    adapters: Dict[str, object] = field(default_factory=dict)
+
+    def __post_init__(self):
+        # Initialize to an empty mapping if not provided
+        if self.adapters is None:
+            self.adapters = {}
+
+    def register_adapter(self, adapter) -> None:
+        self.adapters[adapter.name] = adapter
+
+    def get_adapter(self, name: str) -> Optional[object]:
+        return self.adapters.get(name)
+
+
+class GraphOfContracts:
+    """Lightweight catalog for contract versions and replay metadata."""
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.contracts: Dict[str, str] = {}
+
+    def register_contract(self, name: str, version: str) -> None:
+        self.contracts[name] = version
+
+    def get_contract(self, name: str) -> Optional[str]:
+        return self.contracts.get(name)
+
+    def list_contracts(self):
+        return list(self.contracts.items())
+
+
+__all__ = ["GoCRegistry", "GraphOfContracts"]
diff --git a/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/signing.py b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/signing.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64209bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/idea172_bevault_verifiable_best/signing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+"""Delta signing utilities for BeVault MVP."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+import hmac
+import hashlib
+from .core import HedgeDelta
+
+
+def sign_delta(delta: HedgeDelta, key: bytes) -> str:
+    """Sign a HedgeDelta deterministically using HMAC-SHA256.
+
+    The signature is derived from the delta contents (asset, hedge_size, timestamp, policy_tag).
+    The resulting hex digest is stable for identical inputs and keys.
+    """
+    payload = f"{delta.asset}:{delta.hedge_size}:{delta.timestamp}:{delta.policy_tag}"
+    return hmac.new(key, payload.encode("utf-8"), hashlib.sha256).hexdigest()
+
+
+__all__ = ["sign_delta"]
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d73a492
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+[build-system]
+requires = ["setuptools>=42", "wheel"]
+build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
+
+[project]
+name = "idea172_bevault_verifiable_best"
+version = "0.1.0"
+description = "BeVault: verifiable best-execution backbone prototype with Cross-Venue GoC adapters"
+readme = "README.md"
+requires-python = ">=3.8"
+license = {text = "MIT"}
+authors = [ { name = "OpenCode Team" } ]
+
+[tool.setuptools.packages.find]
+where = ["."]
+include = ["idea172_bevault_verifiable_best", "idea172_bevault_verifiable_best.*"]
diff --git a/test.sh b/test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f6fbc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+echo "[BeVault] Running tests and packaging sanity checks..."
+
+# Ensure pip tooling is up to date
+python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel
+
+# Install the package in editable mode for testing imports
+python3 -m pip install -e .
+
+# Run tests
+pytest -q
+
+# Build the package to verify packaging metadata and directory structure
+python3 -m build
+
+echo "[BeVault] All tests passed and build succeeded."
diff --git a/tests/test_basic.py b/tests/test_basic.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c37b2f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+"""Basic tests for BeVault MVP components."""
+import pytest
+
+from idea172_bevault_verifiable_best.core import HedgeDelta
+from idea172_bevault_verifiable_best.signing import sign_delta
+from idea172_bevault_verifiable_best.registry import GoCRegistry
+from idea172_bevault_verifiable_best.adapters.price_feed import PriceFeedAdapter
+
+
+def test_sign_delta_deterministic():
+    delta = HedgeDelta(asset="AAPL", hedge_size=1.0, timestamp=1.0, policy_tag="test")
+    key = b"secret-key"
+    sig1 = sign_delta(delta, key)
+    sig2 = sign_delta(delta, key)
+    assert isinstance(sig1, str) and isinstance(sig2, str)
+    assert sig1 == sig2
+
+
+def test_registry_adapters_can_register_and_retrieve():
+    reg = GoCRegistry()
+    adapter = PriceFeedAdapter()
+    reg.register_adapter(adapter)
+    assert reg.get_adapter(adapter.name) is adapter