diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs b/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs
index f46c50fd..1ea2a5f5 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/lifecycle.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use std::path::Path;
 
 use anyhow::{Context, Result, bail};
-use hive_sh4re::priv_proto::BindMount;
+use hive_sh4re::priv_proto::{BindMount, CredentialMount};
 use tokio::process::Command;
 
 use crate::coordinator::{AgentPaths, HiveEnv};
@@ -1188,6 +1188,42 @@ fn bind_child_agent_dirs(child: &str, binds: &mut Vec<BindMount>) {
     });
 }
 
+/// Hive-wide secrets forwarded into every agent container via nspawn
+/// `--load-credential=<name>:<host_path>`. Currently just the OTEL
+/// auth-header secret, when `services.hyperhive.otel.headersCredential`
+/// is set (surfaced as `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL` on hive-c0re's
+/// unit env — the same host option meta.rs reads to inject
+/// `hyperhive.otel.headersCredential`). The inner harness unit reads it
+/// via `LoadCredential=otel-headers` (inherit). The secret never lands in
+/// a bind mount, the nix store, or the generated config.
+///
+/// A configured-but-missing file is skipped with a warning rather than
+/// forwarded (nspawn would refuse to start the container otherwise): a
+/// host-level secret typo shouldn't take down every agent's start; OTEL
+/// just exports without the auth header until the file appears.
+fn hive_load_credentials() -> Vec<CredentialMount> {
+    let mut out = Vec::new();
+    let Ok(path) = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL") else {
+        return out;
+    };
+    if path.is_empty() {
+        return out;
+    }
+    if std::path::Path::new(&path).is_file() {
+        out.push(CredentialMount {
+            name: "otel-headers".to_owned(),
+            host_path: path,
+        });
+    } else {
+        tracing::warn!(
+            %path,
+            "HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL is set but the file is missing; \
+             skipping --load-credential (OTEL will export without the auth header)"
+        );
+    }
+    out
+}
+
 #[allow(
     clippy::too_many_lines,
     reason = "one contiguous nspawn-flag assembly block; the length is the flag \
@@ -1234,6 +1270,10 @@ async fn set_nspawn_flags(
     // is needed here — the bind alone is enough.
     let claude_mount = container_claude_mount(agent_name);
 
+    // Hive-wide secrets forwarded into the container's credential store
+    // (currently just the OTEL auth-header). Same for every agent.
+    let load_creds = hive_load_credentials();
+
     let mut binds: Vec<BindMount> = vec![
         BindMount {
             host_path: runtime_dir.to_string_lossy().into_owned(),
@@ -1367,7 +1407,13 @@ async fn set_nspawn_flags(
                      (bad CIDR? prefix too narrow?); skipping PRIVATE_NETWORK write to \
                      avoid misconfigured isolation"
                 );
-                return crate::priv_client::write_nspawn_flags(container, &binds, None).await;
+                return crate::priv_client::write_nspawn_flags(
+                    container,
+                    &binds,
+                    None,
+                    &load_creds,
+                )
+                .await;
             };
             let Some(gateway_ip) = bridge_gateway_ip(&subnet) else {
                 tracing::warn!(
@@ -1376,7 +1422,13 @@ async fn set_nspawn_flags(
                      skipping PRIVATE_NETWORK write to avoid an isolated container with no \
                      default route or resolver"
                 );
-                return crate::priv_client::write_nspawn_flags(container, &binds, None).await;
+                return crate::priv_client::write_nspawn_flags(
+                    container,
+                    &binds,
+                    None,
+                    &load_creds,
+                )
+                .await;
             };
             tracing::info!(
                 %agent_name, %agent_ip, %gateway_ip, %bridge,
@@ -1393,7 +1445,7 @@ async fn set_nspawn_flags(
     };
 
     // Delegate the actual conf-file rewrite to hive-priv (runs as root).
-    crate::priv_client::write_nspawn_flags(container, &binds, isolation).await
+    crate::priv_client::write_nspawn_flags(container, &binds, isolation, &load_creds).await
 }
 
 /// Build the per-line callback for `create_container_streaming` /
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
index 29a3a3c2..c5da4c40 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/meta.rs
@@ -656,6 +656,48 @@ fn peer_ca_sources() -> Vec<String> {
         .collect()
 }
 
+/// Hive-wide OTEL config injected into every agent's build, read off
+/// hive-c0re's own unit env (set from `services.hyperhive.otel.*` in
+/// `nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix`). A present, non-empty
+/// `HYPERHIVE_OTEL_ENDPOINT` is the enable signal — the host module
+/// asserts the endpoint is set whenever `otel.enable` is true, so
+/// "endpoint present" == "OTEL on". The optional fields map to the
+/// matching host options and are only carried when set.
+struct OtelConfig {
+    endpoint: String,
+    protocol: String,
+    extra_resource_attributes: Option<String>,
+    headers_credential: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// Read the hive-wide OTEL config from env, or `None` when OTEL is off.
+/// Mirrors `hive_ca_source` — host state surfaced to the meta renderer
+/// so it can bake build-time `hyperhive.otel.*` config into each agent
+/// (the per-agent options harness-base.nix consumes). Returns `None`
+/// when the endpoint signal is absent so the renderer emits no
+/// `hyperhive.otel.*` lines and agents keep the disabled default.
+fn otel_config() -> Option<OtelConfig> {
+    let endpoint = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_ENDPOINT")
+        .ok()
+        .filter(|v| !v.is_empty())?;
+    let protocol = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_PROTOCOL")
+        .ok()
+        .filter(|v| !v.is_empty())
+        .unwrap_or_else(|| "http/protobuf".to_owned());
+    let extra_resource_attributes = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES")
+        .ok()
+        .filter(|v| !v.is_empty());
+    let headers_credential = std::env::var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL")
+        .ok()
+        .filter(|v| !v.is_empty());
+    Some(OtelConfig {
+        endpoint,
+        protocol,
+        extra_resource_attributes,
+        headers_credential,
+    })
+}
+
 /// The ordered set of CA certs embedded next to the meta flake, as
 /// `(filename, host_source_path)`. The self-signed hive CA (when active)
 /// is `hive-ca.pem`; each peer CA is `peer-ca-<N>.pem` in declaration
@@ -907,6 +949,40 @@ where
             ca_refs.join(" ")
         );
     }
+    // Hive-wide OTEL stats export (`services.hyperhive.otel.*`): inject the
+    // build-time `hyperhive.otel.*` config harness-base.nix consumes (its
+    // otelEnv + otelExecStart wrapper + LoadCredential). Host-driven, so
+    // the same config lands on every agent; emitted only when enabled.
+    // Mirrors the CA-cert injection above — host state -> build-time agent
+    // module config.
+    if let Some(otel) = otel_config() {
+        let esc = |s: &str| s.replace('\\', "\\\\").replace('"', "\\\"");
+        out.push_str("              hyperhive.otel.enable = true;\n");
+        let _ = writeln!(
+            out,
+            "              hyperhive.otel.endpoint = \"{}\";",
+            esc(&otel.endpoint)
+        );
+        let _ = writeln!(
+            out,
+            "              hyperhive.otel.protocol = \"{}\";",
+            esc(&otel.protocol)
+        );
+        if let Some(attrs) = &otel.extra_resource_attributes {
+            let _ = writeln!(
+                out,
+                "              hyperhive.otel.extraResourceAttributes = \"{}\";",
+                esc(attrs)
+            );
+        }
+        if let Some(cred) = &otel.headers_credential {
+            let _ = writeln!(
+                out,
+                "              hyperhive.otel.headersCredential = \"{}\";",
+                esc(cred)
+            );
+        }
+    }
     out.push_str(
         r#"              # The harness service inside the container runs as a
               # non-root unix user named after the agent (`damocles`,
@@ -1445,4 +1521,89 @@ mod tests {
             "no certificateFiles reference without any CA signal:\n{without_ca}"
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn render_flake_injects_otel_when_signalled() {
+        // services.hyperhive.otel.* -> HYPERHIVE_OTEL_* on hive-c0re's unit
+        // -> injected as build-time hyperhive.otel.* into every agent. With
+        // no endpoint signal, no hyperhive.otel lines are emitted (agents
+        // keep the harness-base disabled default).
+        //
+        // SAFETY: single-threaded mutation of process env vars no other
+        // test asserts on; restored before returning.
+        let render = || {
+            render_flake(
+                "github:example/hyperhive",
+                "path:/nix/store/aaaa-nixpkgs-source",
+                "path:/nix/store/bbbb-nixpkgs-unstable-source",
+                8000,
+                "she/her",
+                &std::collections::HashMap::new(),
+                &[sample_spec("alice", false, 9001)],
+            )
+        };
+        unsafe {
+            std::env::remove_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES");
+            std::env::remove_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL");
+            std::env::set_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_ENDPOINT", "https://c.example/otel");
+            std::env::set_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_PROTOCOL", "grpc");
+        }
+        let on_minimal = render();
+        unsafe {
+            std::env::set_var(
+                "HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES",
+                "deployment.environment=prod",
+            );
+            std::env::set_var(
+                "HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL",
+                "/run/secrets/otel-headers",
+            );
+        }
+        let on_full = render();
+        unsafe {
+            std::env::remove_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_ENDPOINT");
+            std::env::remove_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_PROTOCOL");
+            std::env::remove_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES");
+            std::env::remove_var("HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL");
+        }
+        let off = render();
+
+        assert!(
+            on_minimal.contains("hyperhive.otel.enable = true;"),
+            "otel enable must be injected:\n{on_minimal}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            on_minimal.contains("hyperhive.otel.endpoint = \"https://c.example/otel\";"),
+            "otel endpoint must be injected:\n{on_minimal}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            on_minimal.contains("hyperhive.otel.protocol = \"grpc\";"),
+            "otel protocol must be injected:\n{on_minimal}"
+        );
+        // Optional fields absent when unset.
+        assert!(
+            !on_minimal.contains("hyperhive.otel.extraResourceAttributes"),
+            "extraResourceAttributes must not appear when unset:\n{on_minimal}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            !on_minimal.contains("hyperhive.otel.headersCredential"),
+            "headersCredential must not appear when unset:\n{on_minimal}"
+        );
+
+        assert!(
+            on_full.contains(
+                "hyperhive.otel.extraResourceAttributes = \"deployment.environment=prod\";"
+            ),
+            "extraResourceAttributes must be injected when set:\n{on_full}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            on_full.contains("hyperhive.otel.headersCredential = \"/run/secrets/otel-headers\";"),
+            "headersCredential must be injected when set:\n{on_full}"
+        );
+
+        assert!(
+            !off.contains("hyperhive.otel"),
+            "no otel lines when disabled:\n{off}"
+        );
+    }
 }
diff --git a/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs b/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs
index 87c92472..c8ac97af 100644
--- a/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs
+++ b/hive-c0re/src/priv_client.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 
 use anyhow::{Context as _, Result, bail};
 use hive_sh4re::priv_proto::{
-    BindMount, InfraAction, InfraContainer, JournalQuery, NetworkIsolation, PRIV_SOCK, PrivEvent,
-    PrivRequest, PrivResponse, PrivStream,
+    BindMount, CredentialMount, InfraAction, InfraContainer, JournalQuery, NetworkIsolation,
+    PRIV_SOCK, PrivEvent, PrivRequest, PrivResponse, PrivStream,
 };
 use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufReader};
 use tokio::net::UnixStream;
@@ -179,11 +179,13 @@ pub async fn write_nspawn_flags(
     container: &str,
     binds: &[BindMount],
     isolation: Option<NetworkIsolation>,
+    load_credentials: &[CredentialMount],
 ) -> Result<()> {
     ok(call(&PrivRequest::WriteNspawnFlags {
         container: container.to_owned(),
         binds: binds.to_vec(),
         isolation,
+        load_credentials: load_credentials.to_vec(),
     })
     .await?)
 }
diff --git a/hive-priv/src/main.rs b/hive-priv/src/main.rs
index f3980dc2..a03c747d 100644
--- a/hive-priv/src/main.rs
+++ b/hive-priv/src/main.rs
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::{Context as _, Result, bail};
 use hive_sh4re::priv_proto::{
-    AGENT_PREFIX, AGENT_STATE_ROOT, BindMount, InfraAction, InfraContainer, JournalQuery, META_DIR,
-    NetworkIsolation, PRIV_SOCK, PrivEvent, PrivRequest, PrivResponse, PrivStream, PrivStreamLine,
-    SIBLING_CONTAINERS,
+    AGENT_PREFIX, AGENT_STATE_ROOT, BindMount, CredentialMount, InfraAction, InfraContainer,
+    JournalQuery, META_DIR, NetworkIsolation, PRIV_SOCK, PrivEvent, PrivRequest, PrivResponse,
+    PrivStream, PrivStreamLine, SIBLING_CONTAINERS,
 };
 use tokio::io::{AsyncBufReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, BufReader};
 use tokio::net::unix::OwnedWriteHalf;
@@ -202,7 +202,8 @@ async fn exec(req: PrivRequest, writer: &mut OwnedWriteHalf) -> Result<(String,
             ref container,
             ref binds,
             ref isolation,
-        } => handle_write_nspawn_flags(container, binds, isolation.as_ref()),
+            ref load_credentials,
+        } => handle_write_nspawn_flags(container, binds, isolation.as_ref(), load_credentials),
 
         PrivRequest::WriteResourceLimits {
             ref container,
@@ -323,22 +324,44 @@ async fn container_flake_action(
     }
 }
 
-/// `WriteNspawnFlags` — validate the container + every bind path, then
-/// write the container's nspawn flag overrides.
+/// `WriteNspawnFlags` — validate the container + every bind path + every
+/// credential entry, then write the container's nspawn flag overrides.
 fn handle_write_nspawn_flags(
     container: &str,
     binds: &[BindMount],
     isolation: Option<&NetworkIsolation>,
+    load_credentials: &[CredentialMount],
 ) -> Result<(String, String)> {
     validate_container_system_name(container)?;
     for bind in binds {
         validate_bind_path(&bind.host_path)?;
         validate_bind_path(&bind.container_path)?;
     }
-    write_nspawn_flags(container, binds, isolation)?;
+    for cred in load_credentials {
+        validate_credential_name(&cred.name)?;
+        // Same path rules as binds (absolute, no colon/newline/quote/null):
+        // the colon ban is essential since `--load-credential=name:path`
+        // uses `:` as the name/path separator.
+        validate_bind_path(&cred.host_path)?;
+    }
+    write_nspawn_flags(container, binds, isolation, load_credentials)?;
     Ok((String::new(), String::new()))
 }
 
+/// A systemd credential id must be a short token — restrict to
+/// `[A-Za-z0-9_.-]` so it can't inject extra `--load-credential` argv or
+/// break the `name:path` shape.
+fn validate_credential_name(name: &str) -> Result<()> {
+    if name.is_empty()
+        || !name
+            .bytes()
+            .all(|b| b.is_ascii_alphanumeric() || matches!(b, b'_' | b'.' | b'-'))
+    {
+        bail!("invalid credential name {name:?}: must be non-empty [A-Za-z0-9_.-]");
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
 /// `RemoveServiceDropin` — remove the container service's drop-in dir
 /// if present (idempotent).
 fn remove_service_dropin(container: &str) -> Result<(String, String)> {
@@ -1306,6 +1329,7 @@ fn write_nspawn_flags(
     container: &str,
     binds: &[BindMount],
     isolation: Option<&NetworkIsolation>,
+    load_credentials: &[CredentialMount],
 ) -> Result<()> {
     use std::fmt::Write as _;
     let path = format!("/etc/nixos-containers/{container}.conf");
@@ -1350,13 +1374,23 @@ fn write_nspawn_flags(
         out.push_str("LOCAL_ADDRESS6=\n");
         out.push_str("HOST_BRIDGE=\n");
     }
-    let flags: Vec<String> = binds
+    let mut flags: Vec<String> = binds
         .iter()
         .map(|b| {
             let flag = if b.read_only { "--bind-ro" } else { "--bind" };
             format!("{flag}={}:{}", b.host_path, b.container_path)
         })
         .collect();
+    // Credential forwarding: nspawn loads each host secret into the
+    // container's credential store under `<name>`; inner units inherit it
+    // via `LoadCredential=<name>`. Validated (name charset + bind-path
+    // rules) in handle_write_nspawn_flags above.
+    for cred in load_credentials {
+        flags.push(format!(
+            "--load-credential={}:{}",
+            cred.name, cred.host_path
+        ));
+    }
     let flags_joined = flags.join(" ");
     let _ = writeln!(out, "EXTRA_NSPAWN_FLAGS=\"{flags_joined}\"");
     std::fs::write(&path, out).with_context(|| format!("write {path}"))?;
diff --git a/hive-sh4re/src/priv_proto.rs b/hive-sh4re/src/priv_proto.rs
index 8dba0c27..06556b7e 100644
--- a/hive-sh4re/src/priv_proto.rs
+++ b/hive-sh4re/src/priv_proto.rs
@@ -177,6 +177,23 @@ pub struct BindMount {
     pub read_only: bool,
 }
 
+/// One credential-forwarding entry for `WriteNspawnFlags`. hive-priv
+/// constructs `--load-credential=<name>:<host_path>` so systemd-nspawn
+/// loads the host secret file into the container's credential store; an
+/// inner unit then reads it via `LoadCredential=<name>` (inherit form).
+/// The secret never lands in a bind mount, the nix store, or the
+/// generated config — only its host path (validated like a bind path)
+/// crosses the wire. Used for the hive-wide OTEL auth-header credential.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct CredentialMount {
+    /// systemd credential id (e.g. `otel-headers`); inner units inherit
+    /// it by this name. Restricted to `[A-Za-z0-9_.-]` by hive-priv.
+    pub name: String,
+    /// Host path to the secret file, forwarded via nspawn
+    /// `--load-credential=<name>:<host_path>`.
+    pub host_path: String,
+}
+
 /// Network isolation parameters for `WriteNspawnFlags`. When `Some`,
 /// hive-priv writes `PRIVATE_NETWORK=1` + veth bridge wiring instead
 /// of the default `PRIVATE_NETWORK=0`.
@@ -273,6 +290,12 @@ pub enum PrivRequest {
         /// veth on the specified bridge (`PRIVATE_NETWORK=1`).
         #[serde(default)]
         isolation: Option<NetworkIsolation>,
+        /// Host secrets forwarded into the container's credential store via
+        /// nspawn `--load-credential=<name>:<host_path>`. Empty for agents
+        /// with no credentials configured (the common case). `#[serde(default)]`
+        /// so a hive-priv built before this field deserialises new requests.
+        #[serde(default)]
+        load_credentials: Vec<CredentialMount>,
     },
 
     /// Write `/run/systemd/system/container@<container>.service.d/hyperhive-limits.conf`
diff --git a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
index aae957bb..52fc2cd8 100644
--- a/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
+++ b/nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix
@@ -187,6 +187,78 @@ in
     '';
   };
 
+  # Hive-wide OTEL stats export. Set ONCE here at host level; the
+  # meta-flake renderer (`hive-c0re/src/meta.rs::otel_config`) reads the
+  # HYPERHIVE_OTEL_* env exported below off hive-c0re's unit and injects
+  # the matching `hyperhive.otel.*` build-time config into EVERY agent
+  # (mirroring the CA-cert injection), so each agent's harness exports
+  # its own Claude Code stats directly to the collector. There is no
+  # per-agent opt-in — this is the single switch for the whole hive.
+  options.services.hyperhive.otel = {
+    enable = lib.mkEnableOption ''
+      hive-wide export of every agent's Claude Code stats (token usage,
+      cost, tool calls) to an OTLP endpoint via Claude Code's built-in
+      OpenTelemetry. One switch for all agents; each harness exports
+      directly to the collector, so it keeps working even when hive-c0re
+      is down
+    '';
+
+    endpoint = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.str;
+      default = "";
+      example = "https://collector.example.com/otel";
+      description = ''
+        OTLP collector endpoint, set as `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT`
+        for every agent. Required when `enable` is true.
+      '';
+    };
+
+    protocol = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.enum [
+        "http/protobuf"
+        "http/json"
+        "grpc"
+      ];
+      default = "http/protobuf";
+      description = ''
+        OTLP wire protocol, set as `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_PROTOCOL`.
+      '';
+    };
+
+    headersCredential = lib.mkOption {
+      # `str`, not `path`: a `path`-typed relative literal is hash-copied
+      # into the world-readable nix store at eval time, defeating the
+      # point. Keep it a string + require an absolute runtime path so the
+      # secret is only ever read from disk by systemd at start.
+      type = lib.types.nullOr lib.types.str;
+      default = null;
+      example = "/run/secrets/otel-headers";
+      description = ''
+        Absolute path to an operator-provided secret file whose contents
+        become `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS` (e.g.
+        `Authorization=Bearer <token>`). hive-c0re forwards this host
+        file into each agent container's credential store via
+        systemd-nspawn `--load-credential=otel-headers:<path>`; the inner
+        harness unit inherits it by name (`LoadCredential`), so the token
+        is never copied into the nix store, the generated config, a bind
+        mount, or argv. Must be absolute. Leave null if the endpoint
+        needs no auth header. A configured-but-missing file is skipped
+        with a log warning (OTEL still exports, without the auth header).
+      '';
+    };
+
+    extraResourceAttributes = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.str;
+      default = "";
+      example = "deployment.environment=prod";
+      description = ''
+        Extra comma-separated entries appended to
+        `OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES` after the built-in
+        `service.name` / `agent` / `hive` / `swarm` labels.
+      '';
+    };
+  };
+
   # Peer hives in the same swarm. Each entry declares a remote hive
   # reachable from this host. Serialised to JSON and injected as
   # `HYPERHIVE_PEERS` into the hive-c0re service and forwarded to agent
@@ -720,24 +792,31 @@ in
       config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.listenPort
     ];
 
-    assertions = lib.mkIf config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.enable [
-      {
-        assertion = config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.privateKeyFile != null;
-        message = ''
-          services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.enable requires
-          services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.privateKeyFile to be set.
-          Generate a key: wg genkey > /etc/wireguard/hive.key
-        '';
-      }
-      {
-        assertion = config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.address != "";
-        message = ''
-          services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.enable requires
-          services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.address to be set
-          (e.g. "10.100.0.1/24").
-        '';
-      }
-    ];
+    assertions =
+      lib.optionals config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.enable [
+        {
+          assertion = config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.privateKeyFile != null;
+          message = ''
+            services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.enable requires
+            services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.privateKeyFile to be set.
+            Generate a key: wg genkey > /etc/wireguard/hive.key
+          '';
+        }
+        {
+          assertion = config.services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.address != "";
+          message = ''
+            services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.enable requires
+            services.hyperhive.swarm.wireguard.address to be set
+            (e.g. "10.100.0.1/24").
+          '';
+        }
+      ]
+      ++ lib.optionals config.services.hyperhive.otel.enable [
+        {
+          assertion = config.services.hyperhive.otel.endpoint != "";
+          message = "services.hyperhive.otel.enable is true but services.hyperhive.otel.endpoint is empty.";
+        }
+      ];
 
     systemd.services.hive-c0re = {
       description = "hyperhive coordinator daemon";
@@ -790,6 +869,26 @@ in
       // lib.optionalAttrs (config.services.hyperhive.swarmName != null) {
         HYPERHIVE_SWARM_NAME = config.services.hyperhive.swarmName;
       }
+      // lib.optionalAttrs config.services.hyperhive.otel.enable (
+        # Hive-wide OTEL config -> read by meta.rs::otel_config and
+        # injected as build-time `hyperhive.otel.*` into every agent.
+        # Endpoint presence is the enable signal on the meta side; the
+        # optional fields are only emitted when set so absent values
+        # don't render no-op env lines.
+        let
+          otel = config.services.hyperhive.otel;
+        in
+        {
+          HYPERHIVE_OTEL_ENDPOINT = otel.endpoint;
+          HYPERHIVE_OTEL_PROTOCOL = otel.protocol;
+        }
+        // lib.optionalAttrs (otel.extraResourceAttributes != "") {
+          HYPERHIVE_OTEL_EXTRA_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES = otel.extraResourceAttributes;
+        }
+        // lib.optionalAttrs (otel.headersCredential != null) {
+          HYPERHIVE_OTEL_HEADERS_CREDENTIAL = otel.headersCredential;
+        }
+      )
       // {
         # In-cluster forge URL — the gateway vhost (`forge.<domain>`), which
         # nginx proxies to forgejo. The forge is mandatory, so this is
diff --git a/nix/templates/harness-base.nix b/nix/templates/harness-base.nix
index dae0e750..c3367bf7 100644
--- a/nix/templates/harness-base.nix
+++ b/nix/templates/harness-base.nix
@@ -174,23 +174,34 @@ in
     visible = false;
   };
 
+  # OTEL stats export is configured ONCE at host level via
+  # `services.hyperhive.otel.*` (see nix/modules/hive-c0re.nix) and
+  # injected into every agent's build by the meta-flake renderer
+  # (`hive-c0re/src/meta.rs::otel_config`). These per-agent options are
+  # the build-time implementation surface that injection writes into;
+  # they are not meant to be set directly in an agent.nix. Marked
+  # `internal` so the host option is the only documented operator knob.
   options.hyperhive.otel = {
-    enable = lib.mkEnableOption ''
-      exporting this agent's Claude Code stats (token usage, cost, tool
-      calls) to an OTLP endpoint via Claude Code's built-in OpenTelemetry.
-      Each agent's harness exports its own stats directly to the collector,
-      so it keeps working even when hive-c0re is down. Meant to be enabled
-      hive-wide (one switch for every agent) - there is no per-agent
-      opt-in flag beyond this option
-    '';
+    enable = lib.mkOption {
+      type = lib.types.bool;
+      default = false;
+      internal = true;
+      description = ''
+        Export this agent's Claude Code stats (token usage, cost, tool
+        calls) to an OTLP endpoint via Claude Code's built-in
+        OpenTelemetry. Each agent's harness exports directly to the
+        collector, so it keeps working even when hive-c0re is down.
+        Host-driven: set `services.hyperhive.otel.enable` instead.
+      '';
+    };
 
     endpoint = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.str;
       default = "";
-      example = "https://collector.example.com/otel";
+      internal = true;
       description = ''
         OTLP collector endpoint, set as `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT`.
-        Required when `enable` is true.
+        Host-driven via `services.hyperhive.otel.endpoint`.
       '';
     };
 
@@ -201,8 +212,10 @@ in
         "grpc"
       ];
       default = "http/protobuf";
+      internal = true;
       description = ''
         OTLP wire protocol, set as `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_PROTOCOL`.
+        Host-driven via `services.hyperhive.otel.protocol`.
       '';
     };
 
@@ -214,27 +227,27 @@ in
       # is only ever read from disk by systemd at start, never nix-stored.
       type = lib.types.nullOr lib.types.str;
       default = null;
-      example = "/run/secrets/otel-headers";
+      internal = true;
       description = ''
         Absolute path to an operator-provided secret file whose contents
         become `OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_HEADERS` (e.g.
         `Authorization=Bearer <token>`). Loaded via systemd
         `LoadCredential` into the unit-private credential store at
         runtime, so the token is never copied into the nix store or
-        exposed in the process argv. Must be an absolute path (systemd
-        `LoadCredential` requires one). Leave null if the endpoint needs
-        no auth header.
+        exposed in the process argv. Host-driven via
+        `services.hyperhive.otel.headersCredential`.
       '';
     };
 
     extraResourceAttributes = lib.mkOption {
       type = lib.types.str;
       default = "";
-      example = "deployment.environment=prod";
+      internal = true;
       description = ''
         Extra comma-separated entries appended to
         `OTEL_RESOURCE_ATTRIBUTES` after the built-in
         `service.name` / `agent` / `hive` / `swarm` labels.
+        Host-driven via `services.hyperhive.otel.extraResourceAttributes`.
       '';
     };
   };
@@ -787,11 +800,6 @@ in
     '';
 
     assertions = [
-      # OTEL export needs an endpoint to point at.
-      {
-        assertion = !config.hyperhive.otel.enable || config.hyperhive.otel.endpoint != "";
-        message = "hyperhive.otel.enable is true but hyperhive.otel.endpoint is empty.";
-      }
       # Guard the inputs-routed-as-output pattern: the agent flake.nix is
       # expected to set `_module.args.flakeInputs = builtins.removeAttrs inputs ["self"]`.
       # If `self` leaks into flakeInputs the agent gets a spurious attrset
@@ -1778,7 +1786,13 @@ in
           Group = userName;
         }
         // lib.optionalAttrs (otel.enable && otel.headersCredential != null) {
-          LoadCredential = [ "otel-headers:${otel.headersCredential}" ];
+          # Inherit form (no `:path`): hive-c0re forwards the host file at
+          # `headersCredential` into this container's credential store via
+          # nspawn `--load-credential=otel-headers:<host path>` (see
+          # lifecycle.rs::hive_load_credentials). The path isn't reachable
+          # from inside the container, so we inherit the already-loaded
+          # credential by name rather than re-reading the host path here.
+          LoadCredential = [ "otel-headers" ];
         };
       };