diff --git a/validator/.env.example b/validator/.env.example
deleted file mode 100644
index ece266c..0000000
--- a/validator/.env.example
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,9 +0,0 @@
-# Mnemosyne Validator — environment variables
-#
-# Copy to .env and adjust as needed. Loaded by Pallas at startup
-# (without overwriting already-set vars).
-#
-# OPENAI_BASE_URL is also set in fastagent.config.yaml; this is here for
-# parity with the standard Pallas-consumer layout.
-
-OPENAI_BASE_URL=http://nyx.helu.ca:22079/v1
diff --git a/validator/.gitignore b/validator/.gitignore
index c9e42f2..a7e961a 100644
--- a/validator/.gitignore
+++ b/validator/.gitignore
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 fastagent.secrets.yaml
-.env
 .venv/
 *.egg-info/
 __pycache__/
diff --git a/validator/README.md b/validator/README.md
index 4a116a8..0aaa211 100644
--- a/validator/README.md
+++ b/validator/README.md
@@ -11,26 +11,28 @@ validator/
 ├── pyproject.toml                 # pallas-mcp + fast-agent-mcp deps
 ├── agents.yaml                    # one-agent Pallas topology
 ├── fastagent.config.yaml          # default_model + mnemosyne MCP server
-├── fastagent.secrets.yaml.example # template for the bearer token
-├── .env.example                   # OPENAI_BASE_URL etc.
+├── fastagent.secrets.yaml.example # schema for the (gitignored) secrets file
 └── agents/
     └── mnemosyne_validator.py     # the FastAgent definition
 ```
 
+All configuration lives in the FastAgent YAML files — no `.env` is used. The
+real `fastagent.secrets.yaml` is gitignored; `fastagent.secrets.yaml.example`
+documents its shape and is checked in.
+
 ## Setup
 
 ```bash
 cd validator/
-uv venv .venv
+python3.13 -m venv .venv
 source .venv/bin/activate
-uv pip install -e .
+pip install -e .
 ```
 
-Copy and fill the secrets/env templates:
+Copy the secrets template and fill in the bearer token (see next section):
 
 ```bash
 cp fastagent.secrets.yaml.example fastagent.secrets.yaml
-cp .env.example .env
 ```
 
 ## Provision an MCP bearer token