diff --git a/cmd/wfctl/plugin.go b/cmd/wfctl/plugin.go
index 4f4b4b38..41751486 100644
--- a/cmd/wfctl/plugin.go
+++ b/cmd/wfctl/plugin.go
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ func runPlugin(args []string) error {
 		return runPluginInfo(args[1:])
 	case "deps":
 		return runPluginDeps(args[1:])
+	case "marketplace-verify":
+		return runPluginMarketplaceVerify(args[1:])
 	default:
 		return pluginUsage()
 	}
@@ -64,6 +66,7 @@ Subcommands:
   conformance Run executable plugin/host conformance checks
   info     Show details about an installed plugin
   deps     List dependencies for a plugin
+  marketplace-verify  Scan a GitHub org's wfctl.yaml files for plugin usage; suggests manifest status (verified | experimental)
 
 Use -plugin-dir to specify a custom plugin directory (replaces deprecated -data-dir).
 `)
diff --git a/cmd/wfctl/plugin_marketplace_verify.go b/cmd/wfctl/plugin_marketplace_verify.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b019fbbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/wfctl/plugin_marketplace_verify.go
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"flag"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+// runPluginMarketplaceVerify scans a GitHub org for merged main-branch wfctl.yaml files
+// that reference the given plugin. Reports whether the plugin's registry
+// status should be "verified" (>=1 active pin) or "experimental" (no pins).
+//
+// Backed by `gh api` (the official GitHub CLI) so the subcommand inherits the
+// operator's existing GitHub auth and rate-limit budget. No new auth surface.
+func runPluginMarketplaceVerify(args []string) error {
+	fs := flag.NewFlagSet("plugin verify", flag.ContinueOnError)
+	org := fs.String("org", "GoCodeAlone", "GitHub org to scan")
+	jsonOut := fs.Bool("json", false, "Output JSON instead of human-readable text")
+	fs.Usage = func() {
+		fmt.Fprintf(fs.Output(), `Usage: wfctl plugin verify [options] <plugin-name>
+
+Scan a GitHub org for merged main-branch wfctl.yaml files that pin the
+plugin. Reports the suggested registry status:
+
+  - "verified"     >=1 active pin in a main-branch wfctl.yaml
+  - "experimental" no active pins
+
+Options:
+`)
+		fs.PrintDefaults()
+	}
+	if err := fs.Parse(args); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if fs.NArg() < 1 {
+		fs.Usage()
+		return fmt.Errorf("plugin name is required")
+	}
+	pluginName := fs.Arg(0)
+
+	pins, err := searchOrgForPluginPins(context.Background(), *org, pluginName, ghAPICmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("search org: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	verdict := "experimental"
+	if len(pins) > 0 {
+		verdict = "verified"
+	}
+
+	if *jsonOut {
+		report := map[string]any{
+			"plugin":    pluginName,
+			"org":       *org,
+			"status":    verdict,
+			"pin_count": len(pins),
+			"pinned_in": pins,
+		}
+		enc := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout)
+		enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
+		return enc.Encode(report)
+	}
+
+	fmt.Printf("Plugin:  %s\n", pluginName)
+	fmt.Printf("Org:     %s\n", *org)
+	fmt.Printf("Pins:    %d\n", len(pins))
+	fmt.Printf("Verdict: %s\n", verdict)
+	if len(pins) > 0 {
+		fmt.Println("Pinned in:")
+		for _, p := range pins {
+			fmt.Printf("  - %s\n", p)
+		}
+	}
+	if verdict == "experimental" {
+		fmt.Println("\nNo active main-branch pins found. Manifest status should be 'experimental'.")
+	} else {
+		fmt.Println("\nActive pins found. Manifest status should be 'verified'.")
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// ghAPICmd is the indirection point so tests can inject a fake gh binary.
+// Default is the real `gh api` CLI.
+var ghAPICmd = func(ctx context.Context, endpoint string) ([]byte, error) {
+	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "gh", "api", endpoint)
+	return cmd.Output()
+}
+
+// searchOrgForPluginPins queries the GitHub code-search API for `name:
+// <plugin>` occurrences inside wfctl.yaml files within the org. Returns a
+// list of repo+path strings.
+func searchOrgForPluginPins(ctx context.Context, org, plugin string, ghAPI func(context.Context, string) ([]byte, error)) ([]string, error) {
+	query := fmt.Sprintf(`filename:wfctl.yaml org:%s "name: workflow-plugin-%s"`, org, plugin)
+	endpoint := fmt.Sprintf("search/code?q=%s&per_page=100", urlQueryEscape(query))
+
+	body, err := ghAPI(ctx, endpoint)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gh api search: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var result struct {
+		TotalCount int `json:"total_count"`
+		Items      []struct {
+			Path       string `json:"path"`
+			Repository struct {
+				FullName string `json:"full_name"`
+			} `json:"repository"`
+		} `json:"items"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &result); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("decode search response: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	pins := make([]string, 0, len(result.Items))
+	for _, item := range result.Items {
+		pins = append(pins, fmt.Sprintf("%s/%s", item.Repository.FullName, item.Path))
+	}
+	return pins, nil
+}
+
+// urlQueryEscape minimal escape for the GitHub code-search query string.
+// We rely on `gh api` to handle most encoding; only spaces, quotes, and
+// colons need percent-escaping for the endpoint URL.
+func urlQueryEscape(q string) string {
+	r := strings.NewReplacer(
+		" ", "%20",
+		`"`, "%22",
+		":", "%3A",
+	)
+	return r.Replace(q)
+}
diff --git a/cmd/wfctl/plugin_marketplace_verify_test.go b/cmd/wfctl/plugin_marketplace_verify_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..65a2fd49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/wfctl/plugin_marketplace_verify_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestSearchOrgForPluginPins_Verified(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := func(ctx context.Context, endpoint string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return []byte(`{
+			"total_count": 2,
+			"items": [
+				{"path": "wfctl.yaml", "repository": {"full_name": "GoCodeAlone/buymywishlist"}},
+				{"path": "wfctl.yaml", "repository": {"full_name": "GoCodeAlone/core-dump"}}
+			]
+		}`), nil
+	}
+	pins, err := searchOrgForPluginPins(context.Background(), "GoCodeAlone", "digitalocean", fake)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(pins) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 pins, got %d: %v", len(pins), pins)
+	}
+	if pins[0] != "GoCodeAlone/buymywishlist/wfctl.yaml" {
+		t.Errorf("pin[0]=%q want GoCodeAlone/buymywishlist/wfctl.yaml", pins[0])
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchOrgForPluginPins_Experimental(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := func(ctx context.Context, endpoint string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return []byte(`{"total_count": 0, "items": []}`), nil
+	}
+	pins, err := searchOrgForPluginPins(context.Background(), "GoCodeAlone", "aws", fake)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(pins) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 0 pins, got %d: %v", len(pins), pins)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchOrgForPluginPins_GHAPIError(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := func(ctx context.Context, endpoint string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return nil, errors.New("rate limit")
+	}
+	_, err := searchOrgForPluginPins(context.Background(), "GoCodeAlone", "aws", fake)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error, got nil")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchOrgForPluginPins_BadJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	fake := func(ctx context.Context, endpoint string) ([]byte, error) {
+		return []byte(`not json`), nil
+	}
+	_, err := searchOrgForPluginPins(context.Background(), "GoCodeAlone", "aws", fake)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected decode error, got nil")
+	}
+}
+
+func TestUrlQueryEscape(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		in, want string
+	}{
+		{"a b c", "a%20b%20c"},
+		{`"hello"`, "%22hello%22"},
+		{"org:GoCodeAlone", "org%3AGoCodeAlone"},
+		{`filename:wfctl.yaml org:X "name: workflow-plugin-aws"`,
+			`filename%3Awfctl.yaml%20org%3AX%20%22name%3A%20workflow-plugin-aws%22`},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		got := urlQueryEscape(tc.in)
+		if got != tc.want {
+			t.Errorf("escape(%q)=%q want %q", tc.in, got, tc.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSearchEndpoint_BuildsExpectedURL(t *testing.T) {
+	var captured string
+	fake := func(ctx context.Context, endpoint string) ([]byte, error) {
+		captured = endpoint
+		return []byte(`{"items":[]}`), nil
+	}
+	_, _ = searchOrgForPluginPins(context.Background(), "GoCodeAlone", "twilio", fake)
+	wantSub := "filename%3Awfctl.yaml%20org%3AGoCodeAlone"
+	wantPlugin := "workflow-plugin-twilio"
+	if captured == "" {
+		t.Fatal("endpoint not captured")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(captured, wantSub) {
+		t.Errorf("endpoint missing %q: %s", wantSub, captured)
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(captured, wantPlugin) {
+		t.Errorf("endpoint missing plugin name %q: %s", wantPlugin, captured)
+	}
+}