diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75bc2d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2026 StepFi
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 20f4d78..9ee15bb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,149 +1,176 @@
-# StepFi Contracts
+
+
+# StepFi-Contracts
-> Soroban smart contracts powering the StepFi BNPL protocol on Stellar — open-source, auditable, and built for learners.
+**Soroban smart contracts powering StepFi — reputation-based, collateral-light credit on Stellar.**
-## Live on Stellar Testnet ✅
+Credit, reputation, and a shared liquidity pool, enforced on-chain in Rust.
-All 5 contracts are deployed, initialized, and active on Stellar testnet.
+[](https://github.com/StepFi-app/StepFi-Contracts/actions/workflows/contracts-ci.yml)
+[](https://www.rust-lang.org)
+[](https://soroban.stellar.org)
+[](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet)
+[](#-build--test)
+[](./LICENSE)
-| Contract | Contract ID | Explorer |
-|---|---|---|
-| Creditline | `CAQDHYG3TALPNXG466SZUMJEPOI7VYV732LPFF3GHE4ASPBCNMIQBS3X` | [View ↗](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CAQDHYG3TALPNXG466SZUMJEPOI7VYV732LPFF3GHE4ASPBCNMIQBS3X) |
-| Reputation | `CC3BO57ZRJGA63QJBIBSOMI25Z3X2I5CYTARYRAUXUAILX6L3OWBL5SB` | [View ↗](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CC3BO57ZRJGA63QJBIBSOMI25Z3X2I5CYTARYRAUXUAILX6L3OWBL5SB) |
-| Liquidity Pool | `CACKE7ML2BTOAGQTAAW5NEARHCFX4PXXKGEO6GMU6NHFBVYQFZRJS2BT` | [View ↗](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CACKE7ML2BTOAGQTAAW5NEARHCFX4PXXKGEO6GMU6NHFBVYQFZRJS2BT) |
-| Vendor Registry | `CCZ6T6NYCDNI26VGTPXKKWQDR7JCIZZ24LCEG4MMYHZJAG6BPWIVAU2L` | [View ↗](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CCZ6T6NYCDNI26VGTPXKKWQDR7JCIZZ24LCEG4MMYHZJAG6BPWIVAU2L) |
-| Parameters | `CCAE72SKYX55C5L56DBEFIMFVXRUIJY6JYLBREHEWRFNOW7AX5NBIJ5B` | [View ↗](https://stellar.expert/explorer/testnet/contract/CCAE72SKYX55C5L56DBEFIMFVXRUIJY6JYLBREHEWRFNOW7AX5NBIJ5B) |
+[What is StepFi](#-what-is-stepfi) · [Contracts](#-the-contracts) · [How credit works](#-how-credit-works) · [Deployments](#-deployed-on-testnet) · [Build](#-build--test) · [Roadmap](#-roadmap)
-Deployer: `GCOYDYSEHRCFWGXUCMPSQ3ODEY2LGMBSVKKCOFH4NRIK4DEEDSETH7BF`
-Deployed: 2026-05-11 (Creditline redeployed 2026-05-12)
-Full deployment details: [`contracts/deployed-testnet.json`](./contracts/deployed-testnet.json)
+
---
-## Architecture
+## 📖 What is StepFi?
-StepFi uses 5 Soroban smart contracts that work together:
+StepFi extends small, uncollateralized loans to learners and interns based on an **on-chain reputation score** rather than assets. Sponsors fund a shared **liquidity pool**; borrowers draw loans sized and priced by their reputation, repay in installments, and grow their score — unlocking larger limits and lower rates. Vendors are paid directly and tracked in a registry. Everything that touches money or trust is enforced by the contracts in this repository.
-```
-┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
-│ StepFi Protocol │
-├──────────────┬──────────────┬────────────────────┤
-│ Creditline │ Reputation │ Liquidity Pool │
-│ (core BNPL) │ (scoring) │ (sponsor capital) │
-├──────────────┴──────────────┴────────────────────┤
-│ Vendor Registry │ Parameters │
-│ (vendor data) │ (protocol config) │
-└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
-```
+## 🗺️ Where it fits
-### Contract Responsibilities
-
-**Creditline** — The core lending contract:
-- `create_loan()` — initiates a new BNPL loan
-- `repay_installment()` — processes individual installment payments
-- `approve_loan()` — transitions loan from Pending → Active
-- Tracks LoanType (Standard, LearnerInstallment)
-- Per-installment paid/unpaid tracking with timestamps
-- Reentrancy guard on all mutating functions
-
-**Reputation** — On-chain credit scoring:
-- `get_score()` — returns borrower score (0-100)
-- `update_score()` — updates score after payment events
-- Score determines interest rate and credit limit:
- - 0-59 (Starter): 10% APR, $1,000 limit
- - 60-74 (Bronze): 8% APR, $2,500 limit
- - 75-89 (Silver): 6% APR, $5,000 limit
- - 90-100 (Gold): 4% APR, $10,000 limit
-
-**Liquidity Pool** — Sponsor capital management:
-- `deposit()` — sponsors add capital to the pool
-- `withdraw()` — sponsors withdraw with yield
-- `get_pool_info()` — returns pool stats
-
-**Vendor Registry** — Learning vendor management:
-- Stores verified vendor profiles
-- Tracks vendor categories (School, Bootcamp, Electronics)
-- Admin-controlled vendor approval
-
-**Parameters** — Protocol governance:
-- Base interest rates, penalty amounts
-- Minimum guarantee percent (20%)
-- Minimum reputation threshold (50)
-- Grace period and large loan thresholds
+This repo is the **settlement and trust layer** of the StepFi protocol. Clients ([StepFi-App](https://github.com/StepFi-app/StepFi-App), [StepFi-Web](https://github.com/StepFi-app/StepFi-Web)) and the [StepFi-API](https://github.com/StepFi-app/StepFi-API) build and submit transactions to these contracts on Stellar.
----
+