diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 1c8a6a1..8078b18 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,24 @@ Format follows [Keep a Changelog](https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.1.0/).
 
 ---
 
+## [1.2.0] — 2026-05-18
+
+### Changed
+
+- Declared npm publication readiness for `@commandlayer/runtime-core` with release metadata aligned to `dist/` exports and packaged artifacts.
+- Canonical CLAS proof envelope documentation now explicitly tracks:
+  - `metadata.proof.canonicalization = "json.sorted_keys.v1"`
+  - `metadata.proof.hash.alg = "SHA-256"`
+  - `metadata.proof.signature.alg = "Ed25519"` (with legacy lowercase verification compatibility only)
+- README installation guidance now points to npm package installs rather than GitHub git/tarball installs.
+
+### Notes
+
+- This release is a **minor bump** (1.1.0 → 1.2.0) because it preserves current public runtime behavior while formalizing release packaging and documentation for downstream consumption.
+- A major bump (`2.0.0`) is not required here because no additional breaking API change is introduced beyond the already-landed 1.1.0 breaking changes.
+
+---
+
 ## [1.1.0] — 2026-05-12
 
 ### Breaking Changes
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 85c6248..0e76619 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@
 
 Canonical crypto and receipt verification primitives for CommandLayer CLAS.
 
+## Installation
+
+Install from npm (not GitHub tarball/git dependency):
+
+```bash
+npm install @commandlayer/runtime-core@1.2.0
+```
+
 ## Canonical proof envelope (CLAS)
 
 `signCommandLayerReceipt()` writes the canonical proof envelope:
diff --git a/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md b/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8718223
--- /dev/null
+++ b/RELEASE_CHECKLIST.md
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# Release Checklist — @commandlayer/runtime-core
+
+This checklist is for preparing npm releases of `@commandlayer/runtime-core`.
+
+## Package metadata
+
+- [ ] `package.json` name is `@commandlayer/runtime-core`
+- [ ] `package.json` version matches intended semver bump
+- [ ] `main`, `types`, and `exports` point to `dist/` outputs
+- [ ] `files` includes `dist/`, `README.md`, `LICENSE`, `CHANGELOG.md`
+
+## Protocol and API compatibility
+
+- [ ] CLAS canonicalization remains `json.sorted_keys.v1`
+- [ ] Hash algorithm remains `SHA-256`
+- [ ] Signature algorithm remains `Ed25519` (legacy lowercase only for compatibility in verification)
+- [ ] Verification remains fail-closed for malformed/invalid proofs
+- [ ] Any public API change is documented in `CHANGELOG.md`
+
+## Documentation
+
+- [ ] README install instructions use npm registry package (`npm install @commandlayer/runtime-core@<version>`)
+- [ ] README proof envelope docs match current implementation
+- [ ] CHANGELOG contains release entry with migration notes when needed
+
+## Local release-readiness checks
+
+Run and verify all pass:
+
+- [ ] `npm install`
+- [ ] `npm run build`
+- [ ] `npm test`
+- [ ] `npm run typecheck`
+- [ ] `npm pack --dry-run`
+
+## Package content review
+
+- [ ] Tarball includes only intended publish artifacts
+- [ ] Tarball excludes secrets, local env files, and irrelevant test/dev junk
+- [ ] Dist output contains JS and `.d.ts` for exported entry points
+
+## Finalization
+
+- [ ] Commit release-readiness updates
+- [ ] Open PR with checks/results and any publish blockers
+- [ ] Do **not** publish from this checklist workflow
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 92a6312..8423a96 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@commandlayer/runtime-core",
-  "version": "1.1.0",
+  "version": "1.2.0",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@commandlayer/runtime-core",
-      "version": "1.1.0",
+      "version": "1.2.0",
       "license": "Apache-2.0",
       "devDependencies": {
         "@types/node": "^20.0.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index da48153..dd5e29a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "@commandlayer/runtime-core",
-  "version": "1.1.0",
-  "description": "CommandLayer protocol core — canonicalization, Ed25519 crypto, receipt signing/verification, ENS resolution",
+  "version": "1.2.0",
+  "description": "CommandLayer protocol core \u2014 canonicalization, Ed25519 crypto, receipt signing/verification, ENS resolution",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
   "author": "CommandLayer <team@commandlayer.org>",
   "homepage": "https://commandlayer.org",
@@ -85,4 +85,4 @@
     "signing",
     "canonicalization"
   ]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}