diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e33527b..b0009d9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -49,9 +49,12 @@ Verb routes return a JSON object with a signed `receipt` and optional unsigned `
 
 ```json
 {
+  "trace_id": "cltrace_...",
+  "steps": [{ "step": 1, "receipt": { "...": "signed receipt" } }],
+  "final_receipt": { "...": "same signed receipt" },
   "receipt": { "...": "signed receipt" },
   "runtime_metadata": {
-    "trace": { "...": "optional" },
+    "trace": { "trace_id": "cltrace_...", "...": "optional" },
     "actor": { "...": "optional" },
     "delegation_result": { "...": "optional" }
   }
@@ -60,6 +63,8 @@ Verb routes return a JSON object with a signed `receipt` and optional unsigned `
 
 The signed receipt is produced by `@commandlayer/runtime-core`. The runtime sets proof fields under `receipt.metadata.proof`, including:
 
+- `trace_id`
+- `receipt_id`
 - `alg`
 - `canonical`
 - `signer_id`
diff --git a/runtime/tests/runtime-signing.test.mjs b/runtime/tests/runtime-signing.test.mjs
index 1d70a66..75dd202 100644
--- a/runtime/tests/runtime-signing.test.mjs
+++ b/runtime/tests/runtime-signing.test.mjs
@@ -170,6 +170,14 @@ test("makeReceipt production path emits signed receipts with runtime kid and can
     const { receipt, runtimeMetadata } = unwrapReceiptResponse(response);
 
     assert.equal(runtimeMetadata?.trace?.provider, "runtime");
+    assert.match(response?.trace_id || "", /^cltrace_[a-f0-9]{32}$/);
+    assert.equal(response?.trace_id, runtimeMetadata?.trace?.trace_id);
+    assert.equal(response?.final_receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, receipt.metadata?.receipt_id);
+    assert.equal(response?.steps?.[0]?.receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, receipt.metadata?.receipt_id);
+    assert.equal(receipt.metadata?.trace_id, response?.trace_id);
+    assert.equal(receipt.metadata?.proof?.trace_id, response?.trace_id);
+    assert.match(receipt.metadata?.receipt_id || "", /^clrcpt_[a-f0-9]{32}$/);
+    assert.equal(receipt.metadata?.proof?.receipt_id, receipt.metadata?.receipt_id);
     assert.equal(receipt.metadata?.proof?.alg, "ed25519-sha256");
     assert.equal(receipt.metadata?.proof?.signer_id, "runtime.commandlayer.eth");
     assert.equal(receipt.metadata?.proof?.kid, keys.kid);
@@ -442,7 +450,7 @@ test("full chain clean -> summarize -> classify verifies with schema using parti
     SCHEMA_VALIDATE_BUDGET_MS: "3000",
   });
 
-  async function runVerb(base, verb, content) {
+  async function runVerb(base, verb, content, traceId = null) {
     const controller = new AbortController();
     const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 5000);
 
@@ -453,6 +461,7 @@ test("full chain clean -> summarize -> classify verifies with schema using parti
         body: JSON.stringify({
           x402: { verb, version: "1.1.0" },
           input: { content },
+          ...(traceId ? { trace: { trace_id: traceId } } : {}),
         }),
         signal: controller.signal,
       });
@@ -508,19 +517,36 @@ test("full chain clean -> summarize -> classify verifies with schema using parti
     const clean = await runVerb(srv.base, "clean", source);
     console.log("[chain] after clean response");
     assert.ok(clean?.receipt?.result?.cleaned_content, "clean step missing cleaned_content");
+    assert.match(clean?.trace_id || "", /^cltrace_[a-f0-9]{32}$/);
+    assert.match(clean?.receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id || "", /^clrcpt_[a-f0-9]{32}$/);
     const cleanText = clean.receipt.result.cleaned_content;
+    const traceId = clean.trace_id;
+    const receiptIds = new Set([clean.receipt.metadata.receipt_id]);
 
     console.log("[chain] before summarize request");
-    const summarize = await runVerb(srv.base, "summarize", cleanText);
+    const summarize = await runVerb(srv.base, "summarize", cleanText, traceId);
     console.log("[chain] after summarize response");
     assert.ok(summarize?.receipt?.result?.summary, "summarize step missing summary");
+    assert.equal(summarize?.trace_id, traceId);
+    assert.equal(summarize?.receipt?.metadata?.trace_id, traceId);
+    assert.equal(summarize?.receipt?.metadata?.proof?.trace_id, traceId);
+    assert.match(summarize?.receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id || "", /^clrcpt_[a-f0-9]{32}$/);
+    receiptIds.add(summarize.receipt.metadata.receipt_id);
     const summary = summarize.receipt.result.summary;
 
     console.log("[chain] before classify request");
-    const classify = await runVerb(srv.base, "classify", summary);
+    const classify = await runVerb(srv.base, "classify", summary, traceId);
     console.log("[chain] after classify response");
     assert.ok(classify?.receipt, "classify step missing receipt");
+    assert.equal(classify?.trace_id, traceId);
+    assert.equal(classify?.receipt?.metadata?.trace_id, traceId);
+    assert.equal(classify?.receipt?.metadata?.proof?.trace_id, traceId);
+    assert.match(classify?.receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id || "", /^clrcpt_[a-f0-9]{32}$/);
+    receiptIds.add(classify.receipt.metadata.receipt_id);
     const finalReceipt = classify.receipt;
+    assert.equal(receiptIds.size, 3, "each chain step must have a unique receipt_id");
+    assert.equal(classify?.steps?.[0]?.receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, finalReceipt.metadata?.receipt_id);
+    assert.equal(classify?.final_receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, finalReceipt.metadata?.receipt_id);
 
     assert.equal(finalReceipt.x402.entry, "x402://classifyagent.eth/classify/v1.1.0");
 
@@ -570,6 +596,9 @@ test("full chain clean -> summarize -> classify verifies with schema using parti
     assert.equal(verifyJson.checks.signature_valid, true);
     assert.equal(verifyJson.checks.hash_matches, true);
     assert.equal(verifyJson.checks.schema_valid, true);
+    assert.equal(finalReceipt.metadata?.proof?.signer_id, "runtime.commandlayer.eth");
+    assert.ok(finalReceipt.metadata?.proof?.hash_sha256);
+    assert.ok(finalReceipt.metadata?.proof?.signature_b64);
   } catch (err) {
     console.error("CHAIN FAILURE DEBUG:");
     console.error(err);
diff --git a/server.mjs b/server.mjs
index 26cd905..f06d7bb 100644
--- a/server.mjs
+++ b/server.mjs
@@ -1007,22 +1007,33 @@ function startWarmWorker() {
 // -----------------------
 // receipts (runtime-core: single source of truth)
 // -----------------------
-function makeReceipt({ x402, result, status = "success", error = null }) {
+function makeTraceId() {
+  return `cltrace_${crypto.randomUUID().replace(/-/g, "")}`;
+}
+
+function makeFlowReceiptId() {
+  return `clrcpt_${crypto.randomUUID().replace(/-/g, "")}`;
+}
+
+function makeReceipt({ x402, result, status = "success", error = null, traceId, receiptId }) {
   let receipt = {
     status,
     x402,
     ...(error ? { error } : {}),
     ...(status === "success" ? { result } : {}),
     metadata: {
+      ...(traceId ? { trace_id: traceId } : {}),
       proof: {
         alg: "ed25519-sha256",
         canonical: runtimeConfig.canonicalId,
         signer_id: runtimeConfig.signerId,
         kid: runtimeConfig.kid,
+        ...(traceId ? { trace_id: traceId } : {}),
+        ...(receiptId ? { receipt_id: receiptId } : {}),
         hash_sha256: null,
         signature_b64: null,
       },
-      receipt_id: "",
+      receipt_id: receiptId || "",
     },
   };
 
@@ -1042,10 +1053,25 @@ function makeReceipt({ x402, result, status = "success", error = null }) {
     receipt.metadata.proof.canonical_id = receipt.metadata.proof.canonical;
   }
 
+  if (receiptId) {
+    receipt.metadata.receipt_id = receiptId;
+    if (receipt.metadata?.proof && !receipt.metadata.proof.receipt_id) {
+      receipt.metadata.proof.receipt_id = receiptId;
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (traceId) {
+    receipt.metadata.trace_id = traceId;
+    if (receipt.metadata?.proof && !receipt.metadata.proof.trace_id) {
+      receipt.metadata.proof.trace_id = traceId;
+    }
+  }
+
   return receipt;
 }
 
 function wrapReceiptResponse(receipt, { trace = null, actor = null, delegation_result = null } = {}) {
+  const traceId = trace?.trace_id || receipt?.metadata?.trace_id || receipt?.metadata?.proof?.trace_id || null;
   const runtime_metadata = {
     ...(trace ? { trace } : {}),
     ...(actor ? { actor } : {}),
@@ -1053,6 +1079,13 @@ function wrapReceiptResponse(receipt, { trace = null, actor = null, delegation_r
   };
 
   return {
+    ...(traceId ? { trace_id: traceId } : {}),
+    ...(traceId
+      ? {
+          steps: [{ step: 1, receipt }],
+          final_receipt: receipt,
+        }
+      : {}),
     receipt,
     ...(Object.keys(runtime_metadata).length ? { runtime_metadata } : {}),
   };
@@ -1496,8 +1529,12 @@ async function handleVerb(verb, req, res) {
 
   const rawParent = req.body?.trace?.parent_trace_id ?? req.body?.x402?.extras?.parent_trace_id ?? null;
   const parentTraceId = typeof rawParent === "string" && rawParent.trim().length ? rawParent.trim() : null;
+  const rawTraceId =
+    req.body?.trace_id ?? req.body?.trace?.trace_id ?? req.body?.x402?.extras?.trace_id ?? req.body?.metadata?.trace_id ?? null;
+  const traceId = typeof rawTraceId === "string" && rawTraceId.trim().length ? rawTraceId.trim() : makeTraceId();
 
   const trace = {
+    trace_id: traceId,
     provider: process.env.RAILWAY_SERVICE_NAME || "runtime",
     ...(parentTraceId ? { parent_trace_id: parentTraceId } : {}),
   };
@@ -1522,7 +1559,7 @@ async function handleVerb(verb, req, res) {
 
 
     try {
-      const receipt = makeReceipt({ x402, result, status: "success" });
+      const receipt = makeReceipt({ x402, result, status: "success", traceId, receiptId: makeFlowReceiptId() });
       return res.json(wrapReceiptResponse(receipt, { trace, actor }));
     } catch (signErr) {
       return respondSigningError(res, signErr);
@@ -1548,7 +1585,7 @@ async function handleVerb(verb, req, res) {
 
 
     try {
-      const receipt = makeReceipt({ x402, status: "error", error: err });
+      const receipt = makeReceipt({ x402, status: "error", error: err, traceId, receiptId: makeFlowReceiptId() });
       return res.status(500).json(wrapReceiptResponse(receipt, { trace, actor }));
     } catch (signErr) {
       return respondSigningError(res, signErr);
diff --git a/tests/smoke.mjs b/tests/smoke.mjs
index 263f72f..f4fb416 100644
--- a/tests/smoke.mjs
+++ b/tests/smoke.mjs
@@ -202,6 +202,14 @@ async function main() {
     const { receipt, runtimeMetadata } = extractReceiptEnvelope(describe.json);
     assert.equal(receipt.status, "success", `describe receipt status must be success`);
     assert.equal(runtimeMetadata?.trace?.provider, "runtime", `runtime_metadata.trace.provider must be runtime`);
+    assert.equal(describe.json?.trace_id, runtimeMetadata?.trace?.trace_id, `top-level trace_id must match runtime metadata`);
+    assert.ok(/^cltrace_[a-f0-9]{32}$/.test(String(describe.json?.trace_id || "")), `trace_id must use cltrace_ format`);
+    assert.ok(/^clrcpt_[a-f0-9]{32}$/.test(String(receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id || "")), `receipt_id must use clrcpt_ format`);
+    assert.equal(receipt?.metadata?.trace_id, describe.json?.trace_id, `receipt metadata.trace_id must match top-level trace_id`);
+    assert.equal(receipt?.metadata?.proof?.trace_id, describe.json?.trace_id, `receipt proof.trace_id must match top-level trace_id`);
+    assert.equal(receipt?.metadata?.proof?.receipt_id, receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, `receipt proof.receipt_id must match metadata.receipt_id`);
+    assert.equal(describe.json?.steps?.[0]?.receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, `steps[0] receipt must mirror signed receipt`);
+    assert.equal(describe.json?.final_receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, receipt?.metadata?.receipt_id, `final_receipt must mirror signed receipt`);
 
     const proof = extractProof(receipt);