diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 1e015aa..ff3cc00 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -1,3 +1,110 @@
-# Contributing
+Welcome! and thanks for helping out.
 
-This is a guide to contributing to `scaffold-stellar-frontend` itself. Feel free to delete or modify it for your own project.
+## Before you start
+
+Claim an issue by commenting on it so two people don't build the same thing. Issues carry an area label (`contracts`, `frontend`, `keeper`, `ci`, `infra`) and a points label for rough size.
+
+Some issues say **"Blocked by #N"**. The contracts are being rebuilt in a set order, and starting a blocked issue early means rewriting it. If an issue you want is blocked, say so in a comment and we'll point you at something available.
+
+## Setup
+
+You need **Node 22** (see `.nvmrc`) and **Rust 1.89.0** with the `wasm32v1-none` target (pinned in `rust-toolchain.toml`).
+
+```bash
+git clone https://github.com/Lokt-In/loktin.git
+cd loktin
+cp .env.example .env
+
+npm install
+npm run install:contracts   # builds the generated contract clients in packages/
+npm run dev
+```
+
+`npm run install:contracts` is not optional. Our ESLint rules are type-aware and need the built types from `packages/*/dist`, so `npm run lint` fails without it.
+
+For contract contributions:
+
+```bash
+rustup target add wasm32v1-none
+cargo test --workspace
+```
+
+`.npmrc` sets `legacy-peer-deps=true` for React 19 peer conflicts. Don't remove it.
+
+## Repo layout
+
+```
+contracts/        Soroban contracts (Rust). One dir per contract:
+                  src/{lib,types,error,events,test}.rs
+crates/           Shared Rust crates used by the contracts
+packages/         GENERATED TypeScript contract clients — see below
+src/features/     Frontend, grouped by domain: components/ hooks/ lib/
+src/shared/       Cross-feature UI, layout and helpers
+src/pages/        Route components
+keeper/           Off-chain service that runs scheduled contract calls
+```
+
+New frontend code goes in `src/features/<domain>/`. Look at `src/features/targets/` or `src/features/locked/` for the shape we want — a page composes small components, data access lives in a hook, pure logic in `lib/`.
+
+## Don't edit `packages/`
+
+Those TypeScript clients are generated from _deployed_ contracts with `stellar contract bindings ts`, and they carry hardcoded contract IDs. Regenerating requires a deploy, so maintainers do it between phases.
+
+**Contract PRs stop at `cargo test --workspace` passing.** If your change alters a contract's public interface, say so in the PR description and we'll regenerate.
+
+`packages/` is excluded from ESLint and Prettier for the same reason.
+
+## Branches and commits
+
+**All PRs target `staging`.** That's our default branch. Don't open PRs against `main`.
+
+Branch naming follows what's already in the history: `feat/short-description`, `fix/short-description`, `chore/short-description`.
+
+We use Conventional Commits with a lowercase scope and description:
+
+```
+feat(spend-save): add percentage selector to enrollment flow
+fix(wallet): stop albedo opening a popup every second on connect
+chore(ci): run clippy on pull requests
+```
+
+Scopes in use: `landing`, `dashboard`, `wallet`, `targets`, `goals`, `onboarding`, `trustline`, `keeper`, `analytics`, `ci`, `npm`.
+
+A pre-commit hook runs `lint-staged`, which applies `eslint --fix` and `prettier --write` to staged files. If it rewrites something, stage the result and commit again.
+
+## Before you open the PR
+
+CI runs exactly this, so run it locally first:
+
+```bash
+npm run lint
+npx prettier . --check
+npm run build
+cargo test --workspace --locked      # contract changes only
+```
+
+For contract changes also confirm it still compiles to WebAssembly and fits the 128KB network limit:
+
+```bash
+cargo build --target wasm32v1-none --release
+```
+
+## What we look for in review
+
+- **Every acceptance-criteria box ticked**, or a note saying why not.
+- **Tests that would fail without your change.** For contract work involving user funds, that means a test with _more than one user_ — most of the bugs we're fixing only appear when two people share a contract.
+- **Scope held.** Fix the issue, not the surrounding code. Spotted something else? Open an issue.
+- **Follow the neighbouring code.** Match the patterns in the files you're touching rather than introducing a new style.
+- **Screenshots** for anything visual, before and after.
+
+## Testing on testnet
+
+Loktin runs on Stellar **testnet** only. To exercise the app you need a wallet with:
+
+1. XLM for fees — any testnet friendbot will fund you
+2. A USDC trustline — the app prompts you to add one
+3. Testnet USDC — from [Circle's faucet](https://faucet.circle.com/), selecting Stellar
+
+Contracts hold user funds. Treat balance and authorization changes carefully, and prefer failing closed.
+
+We hope you have a great time here!