diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2410c60e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Deployer private key (never commit the real key)
+PRIVATE_KEY=
+
+# RPC URLs
+BASE_SEPOLIA_RPC_URL=
+BASE_RPC_URL=
+CELO_RPC_URL=
+
+# Block explorer API keys (for contract verification)
+BASE_API_KEY=
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index b992f46f..921d7b9c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@
     "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-chai-matchers": "^1.0.6",
     "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-network-helpers": "^1.0.10",
     "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-verify": "^2.0.14",
-    "@nomiclabs/hardhat-etherscan": "^3.1.7",
     "@types/chai": "^4.3.4",
     "@types/chai-as-promised": "^7.1.4",
     "@types/mocha": "^10.0.1",