- .env.example: add the required at-rest identity secrets (SEED_FINGERPRINT_PEPPER,
REFRESH_TOKEN_PEPPER, IP_SALT). They were missing, so `cp .env.example .env` on a
fresh setup boot-failed closed on the first required-secret check.
- README: correct the first-admin bootstrap to `smirk-admin setup --pubkey`.
create-admin-wallet registers a pending key but does not latch, so on a fresh
instance it leaves the bootstrap uninitialized.
- docs/operations/OPERATOR_SETUP.md: full deployment guide — database, secrets,
per-chain backends, run + verify, admin bootstrap, registration policy, and
smoke-testing an instance (SMOKE_API_STYLE=namespaced).
Surfaced by a clean-room operator setup against a fresh instance.
