diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3f094ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package config
+
+import "os"
+
+// Config holds runtime configuration loaded from environment variables.
+type Config struct {
+	APIPort        string
+	DatabaseURL    string
+	RedisURL       string
+	StellarNetwork string
+}
+
+// Load reads configuration from environment variables.
+func Load() *Config {
+	return &Config{
+		APIPort:        getEnv("API_PORT", "8080"),
+		DatabaseURL:    getEnv("DATABASE_URL", ""),
+		RedisURL:       getEnv("REDIS_URL", ""),
+		StellarNetwork: getEnv("STELLAR_NETWORK", "testnet"),
+	}
+}
+
+func getEnv(key, fallback string) string {
+	if v := os.Getenv(key); v != "" {
+		return v
+	}
+	return fallback
+}
\ No newline at end of file