diff --git a/LICENSE b/LICENSE
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..13b103e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2026 Vero Core Engine contributors
+
+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 72ec61a..c725f5c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 > **Protocol-grade integration layer for the Stellar / Vero ecosystem.**
 > ZK-ready · Audit-first · Circuit-protected · Multi-sig governed
 
-[![License: Apache-2.0](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache_2.0-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
+[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](LICENSE)
 [![Stellar](https://img.shields.io/badge/Network-Stellar-7B61FF)](https://stellar.org)
 [![Status](https://img.shields.io/badge/Status-Active_Development-orange)](DEVELOPMENT_ROADMAP.md)
 
@@ -310,4 +310,4 @@ This project follows the [Contributor Covenant Code of Conduct](CODE_OF_CONDUCT.
 
 ## License
 
-Apache-2.0 — see [LICENSE](LICENSE).
+MIT — see [LICENSE](LICENSE).