diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index efba1995..b5a06a5b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -100,6 +100,11 @@ latest styles.
   - Central place for instance-specific values like the Super Admin npub and the
     default whitelist-only mode setting. Update the documented exports here when
     preparing a new deployment.
+  - Tune `PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT` (0–100) to keep a percentage of Lightning tips
+    and set `PLATFORM_LUD16_OVERRIDE` when you need a deployment-wide fallback
+    Lightning address. Leave the fee at `0` to pass through every satoshi.
+  - Populate `DEFAULT_RELAY_URLS_OVERRIDE` with WSS URLs to replace the bundled
+    relay bootstrap list. Keep it empty to stick with the upstream defaults.
 - **`config.js`**:
   - Toggle `isDevMode` for development (`true`) or production (`false`).
 - **`js/constants.js`**:
diff --git a/config/instance-config.js b/config/instance-config.js
index 6a1e86d4..eec179e2 100644
--- a/config/instance-config.js
+++ b/config/instance-config.js
@@ -25,6 +25,36 @@
 export const ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB =
   "npub15jnttpymeytm80hatjqcvhhqhzrhx6gxp8pq0wn93rhnu8s9h9dsha32lx";
 
+/**
+ * Percentage of every Lightning payment the platform retains as a fee.
+ *
+ * Accepts numbers between 0 and 100 (inclusive). Decimals are supported when
+ * you want to keep a fractional cut—e.g., `2.5` represents a 2.5% fee. The
+ * default of `0` disables the fee so creators receive the full payment.
+ */
+export const PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT = 0;
+
+/**
+ * Lightning address to fall back to when authors omit their own `lud16`.
+ *
+ * Supply a string like `"tips@example.com"` to force a deployment-wide
+ * fallback Lightning address, or leave the value as `null` to respect the
+ * creator’s configured profile metadata.
+ */
+export const PLATFORM_LUD16_OVERRIDE = null;
+
+/**
+ * Optional list of relays to seed new sessions with instead of the defaults.
+ *
+ * Provide WSS URLs (e.g., `"wss://relay.example.com"`). Leave the array empty
+ * to keep BitVid’s bundled defaults. Operators that need a custom bootstrap set
+ * should list the relays in priority order; entries later in the list are used
+ * as fallbacks when earlier relays fail.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_RELAY_URLS_OVERRIDE = Object.freeze([
+  // "wss://relay.example.com",
+]);
+
 /**
  * Storage key used to persist whitelist-only mode in the browser.
  *
diff --git a/config/validate-config.js b/config/validate-config.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fb9b78b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/validate-config.js
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+// config/validate-config.js
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Runtime validation helpers for instance-level configuration
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+import { ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB, PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT } from "./instance-config.js";
+
+function assertSuperAdminConfigured() {
+  if (typeof ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB !== "string") {
+    throw new Error(
+      "ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB must be a string exported from config/instance-config.js."
+    );
+  }
+
+  const trimmed = ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB.trim();
+  if (!trimmed) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB is required. Populate it with the Super Admin npub in config/instance-config.js."
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (!trimmed.startsWith("npub")) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB should be a bech32 npub (e.g., starting with 'npub')."
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+function assertPlatformFeeInRange() {
+  const value =
+    typeof PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT === "number"
+      ? PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT
+      : Number.parseFloat(PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT);
+
+  if (!Number.isFinite(value)) {
+    throw new Error(
+      "PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT must be a finite number between 0 and 100."
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (value < 0 || value > 100) {
+    throw new Error("PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT must be between 0 and 100 inclusive.");
+  }
+}
+
+export function validateInstanceConfig() {
+  assertSuperAdminConfigured();
+  assertPlatformFeeInRange();
+}
diff --git a/js/config.js b/js/config.js
index 9e342839..f9c70c20 100644
--- a/js/config.js
+++ b/js/config.js
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 import {
   ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB,
+  PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT,
+  PLATFORM_LUD16_OVERRIDE,
+  DEFAULT_RELAY_URLS_OVERRIDE,
   ADMIN_WHITELIST_MODE_STORAGE_KEY,
   DEFAULT_WHITELIST_MODE_ENABLED,
   WATCH_HISTORY_KIND,
@@ -26,6 +29,9 @@ export const isDevMode = true; // Set to false for production
 
 export const ADMIN_LIST_MODE = "nostr";
 export { ADMIN_SUPER_NPUB };
+export { PLATFORM_FEE_PERCENT };
+export { PLATFORM_LUD16_OVERRIDE };
+export { DEFAULT_RELAY_URLS_OVERRIDE };
 export const ADMIN_EDITORS_NPUBS = []; // Default moderators (optional)
 export const ADMIN_LIST_NAMESPACE = "bitvid:admin"; // Reserved for Nostr lists
 
diff --git a/js/index.js b/js/index.js
index ec507044..c1224d2f 100644
--- a/js/index.js
+++ b/js/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // js/index.js
 
+import { validateInstanceConfig } from "../config/validate-config.js";
 import "./bufferPolyfill.js";
 import Application from "./app.js";
 import { setApplication, setApplicationReady } from "./applicationContext.js";
@@ -7,6 +8,8 @@ import nostrService from "./services/nostrService.js";
 import r2Service from "./services/r2Service.js";
 import { loadView, viewInitRegistry } from "./viewManager.js";
 
+validateInstanceConfig();
+
 let application = null;
 let applicationReadyPromise = Promise.resolve();