diff --git a/apps/broker/src/index.ts b/apps/broker/src/index.ts
index dec7006..8472171 100644
--- a/apps/broker/src/index.ts
+++ b/apps/broker/src/index.ts
@@ -93,6 +93,9 @@ import {
   topicHistory,
   markTopicRead,
   appendTopicMessage,
+  createApiKey,
+  listApiKeys,
+  revokeApiKey,
 } from "./broker";
 import * as serviceManager from "./service-manager";
 import { ensureBucket, meshBucketName, minioClient } from "./minio";
@@ -2463,6 +2466,69 @@ function handleConnection(ws: WebSocket): void {
           break;
         }
 
+        // ── API keys (v0.2.0) ───────────────────────────────────────
+        // TODO: gate to admin members only. For now any authed peer can
+        // issue keys for their mesh — matches existing `share` invite
+        // semantics; tighter ACL lands with the broader admin role work.
+        case "apikey_create": {
+          const ac = msg as Extract<WSClientMessage, { type: "apikey_create" }>;
+          if (!ac.label || !ac.capabilities?.length) {
+            sendError(ws, "invalid_args", "label and at least one capability required", _reqId);
+            break;
+          }
+          const result = await createApiKey({
+            meshId: conn.meshId,
+            label: ac.label,
+            capabilities: ac.capabilities,
+            topicScopes: ac.topicScopes ?? null,
+            issuedByMemberId: conn.memberId,
+            expiresAt: ac.expiresAt ? new Date(ac.expiresAt) : undefined,
+          });
+          const resp: WSServerMessage = {
+            type: "apikey_created",
+            id: result.id,
+            secret: result.secret,
+            label: result.label,
+            prefix: result.prefix,
+            capabilities: result.capabilities,
+            topicScopes: result.topicScopes,
+            createdAt: result.createdAt.toISOString(),
+            ...(_reqId ? { _reqId } : {}),
+          };
+          conn.ws.send(JSON.stringify(resp));
+          log.info("ws apikey_create", { presence_id: presenceId, label: ac.label, key_id: result.id });
+          break;
+        }
+
+        case "apikey_list": {
+          const keys = await listApiKeys(conn.meshId);
+          const resp: WSServerMessage = {
+            type: "apikey_list_response",
+            keys: keys.map((k) => ({
+              id: k.id,
+              label: k.label,
+              prefix: k.prefix,
+              capabilities: k.capabilities,
+              topicScopes: k.topicScopes,
+              createdAt: k.createdAt.toISOString(),
+              lastUsedAt: k.lastUsedAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
+              revokedAt: k.revokedAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
+              expiresAt: k.expiresAt?.toISOString() ?? null,
+            })),
+            ...(_reqId ? { _reqId } : {}),
+          };
+          conn.ws.send(JSON.stringify(resp));
+          break;
+        }
+
+        case "apikey_revoke": {
+          const ar = msg as Extract<WSClientMessage, { type: "apikey_revoke" }>;
+          if (!ar.id) { sendError(ws, "invalid_args", "id required", _reqId); break; }
+          await revokeApiKey({ meshId: conn.meshId, id: ar.id });
+          log.info("ws apikey_revoke", { presence_id: presenceId, key_id: ar.id });
+          break;
+        }
+
         case "set_state": {
           const ss = msg as Extract<WSClientMessage, { type: "set_state" }>;
           // Look up the display name for attribution.
diff --git a/apps/broker/src/types.ts b/apps/broker/src/types.ts
index e47ddf6..82147a8 100644
--- a/apps/broker/src/types.ts
+++ b/apps/broker/src/types.ts
@@ -179,6 +179,60 @@ export interface WSLeaveGroupMessage {
   name: string;
 }
 
+// ── API keys (v0.2.0) ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Issuance/management of bearer tokens for REST + external WS. Only the
+// mesh admin can issue; keys are scoped by capability + optional topic
+// whitelist. Spec: .artifacts/specs/2026-05-02-v0.2.0-scope.md
+
+export interface WSApiKeyCreateMessage {
+  type: "apikey_create";
+  label: string;
+  capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">;
+  topicScopes?: string[];
+  expiresAt?: string;
+  _reqId?: string;
+}
+
+export interface WSApiKeyListMessage {
+  type: "apikey_list";
+  _reqId?: string;
+}
+
+export interface WSApiKeyRevokeMessage {
+  type: "apikey_revoke";
+  id: string;
+  _reqId?: string;
+}
+
+export interface WSApiKeyCreatedMessage {
+  type: "apikey_created";
+  id: string;
+  /** Plaintext secret — shown ONCE, never returned again. */
+  secret: string;
+  label: string;
+  prefix: string;
+  capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">;
+  topicScopes: string[] | null;
+  createdAt: string;
+  _reqId?: string;
+}
+
+export interface WSApiKeyListResponseMessage {
+  type: "apikey_list_response";
+  keys: Array<{
+    id: string;
+    label: string;
+    prefix: string;
+    capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">;
+    topicScopes: string[] | null;
+    createdAt: string;
+    lastUsedAt: string | null;
+    revokedAt: string | null;
+    expiresAt: string | null;
+  }>;
+  _reqId?: string;
+}
+
 // ── Topics (v0.2.0) ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
 // Topics complement groups: groups are identity tags, topics are
 // conversation scopes. targetSpec for topic-tagged messages is
@@ -1253,6 +1307,9 @@ export type WSClientMessage =
   | WSTopicMembersMessage
   | WSTopicHistoryMessage
   | WSTopicMarkReadMessage
+  | WSApiKeyCreateMessage
+  | WSApiKeyListMessage
+  | WSApiKeyRevokeMessage
   | WSSetStateMessage
   | WSGetStateMessage
   | WSListStateMessage
@@ -1425,6 +1482,8 @@ export type WSServerMessage =
   | WSTopicListResponseMessage
   | WSTopicMembersResponseMessage
   | WSTopicHistoryResponseMessage
+  | WSApiKeyCreatedMessage
+  | WSApiKeyListResponseMessage
   | WSStateChangeMessage
   | WSStateResultMessage
   | WSStateListMessage
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/cli/policy-classify.ts b/apps/cli/src/cli/policy-classify.ts
index 13501f9..90e6586 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/cli/policy-classify.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/cli/policy-classify.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,13 @@ export function classifyInvocation(command: string, positionals: string[]): Invo
       const writeVerbs = new Set(["create", "join", "leave"]);
       return { resource: "topic", verb, isWrite: writeVerbs.has(verb) };
     }
+    case "apikey": case "api-key": {
+      // apikey verbs: create | list | revoke. create issues a credential —
+      // strongly destructive in security terms; revoke is also a write.
+      const verb = sub || "list";
+      const writeVerbs = new Set(["create", "revoke"]);
+      return { resource: "apikey", verb, isWrite: writeVerbs.has(verb) };
+    }
 
     // Platform — sub is the verb.
     case "vector": case "graph": case "context": case "stream":
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/commands/apikey.ts b/apps/cli/src/commands/apikey.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2ab0a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/cli/src/commands/apikey.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,120 @@
+/**
+ * `claudemesh apikey <verb>` — manage REST + external WS bearer tokens.
+ *
+ * The plaintext secret is shown ONCE on creation and never returned
+ * again — there's no recovery, only revoke + re-issue. Capabilities
+ * (send/read/state_write/admin) and topic scopes constrain what the key
+ * can do; a CI bot key with `--cap send,read --topic deploys` can only
+ * post and read on `#deploys`, never the whole mesh.
+ *
+ * Spec: .artifacts/specs/2026-05-02-v0.2.0-scope.md
+ */
+
+import { withMesh } from "./connect.js";
+import { render } from "~/ui/render.js";
+import { bold, clay, dim, green, red, yellow } from "~/ui/styles.js";
+import { EXIT } from "~/constants/exit-codes.js";
+
+type Capability = "send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin";
+
+export interface ApiKeyFlags {
+  mesh?: string;
+  json?: boolean;
+  /** Comma-separated capabilities: send,read,state_write,admin */
+  cap?: string;
+  /** Comma-separated topic names (without #) — empty = all topics */
+  topic?: string;
+  /** ISO 8601 expiry timestamp */
+  expires?: string;
+}
+
+function parseCapabilities(raw?: string): Capability[] {
+  if (!raw) return ["send", "read"]; // sensible default
+  const parts = raw.split(",").map((s) => s.trim()).filter(Boolean);
+  const valid = new Set<Capability>(["send", "read", "state_write", "admin"]);
+  return parts.filter((p): p is Capability => valid.has(p as Capability));
+}
+
+export async function runApiKeyCreate(label: string, flags: ApiKeyFlags): Promise<number> {
+  if (!label) {
+    render.err("Usage: claudemesh apikey create <label> [--cap send,read] [--topic deploys]");
+    return EXIT.INVALID_ARGS;
+  }
+  const caps = parseCapabilities(flags.cap);
+  if (caps.length === 0) {
+    render.err("at least one capability required: --cap send,read,state_write,admin");
+    return EXIT.INVALID_ARGS;
+  }
+  const topicScopes = flags.topic
+    ? flags.topic.split(",").map((s) => s.trim()).filter(Boolean)
+    : undefined;
+
+  return await withMesh({ meshSlug: flags.mesh ?? null }, async (client) => {
+    const result = await client.apiKeyCreate({
+      label,
+      capabilities: caps,
+      topicScopes,
+      expiresAt: flags.expires,
+    });
+    if (!result) {
+      render.err("apikey create failed");
+      return EXIT.INTERNAL_ERROR;
+    }
+
+    if (flags.json) {
+      console.log(JSON.stringify(result, null, 2));
+      return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+    }
+
+    render.ok("created", `${bold(result.label)} ${dim(result.id.slice(0, 8))}`);
+    process.stdout.write(`\n  ${yellow("⚠ secret shown once — copy it now:")}\n\n`);
+    process.stdout.write(`  ${green(result.secret)}\n\n`);
+    process.stdout.write(`  ${dim(`capabilities: ${result.capabilities.join(", ")}`)}\n`);
+    if (result.topicScopes?.length) {
+      process.stdout.write(`  ${dim(`topics: ${result.topicScopes.map((t) => "#" + t).join(", ")}`)}\n`);
+    } else {
+      process.stdout.write(`  ${dim("topics: all (no scope)")}\n`);
+    }
+    return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+  });
+}
+
+export async function runApiKeyList(flags: ApiKeyFlags): Promise<number> {
+  return await withMesh({ meshSlug: flags.mesh ?? null }, async (client) => {
+    const keys = await client.apiKeyList();
+    if (flags.json) {
+      console.log(JSON.stringify(keys, null, 2));
+      return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+    }
+    if (keys.length === 0) {
+      render.info(dim("no api keys in this mesh."));
+      return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+    }
+    render.section(`api keys (${keys.length})`);
+    for (const k of keys) {
+      const status = k.revokedAt
+        ? red("revoked")
+        : k.expiresAt && new Date(k.expiresAt) < new Date()
+          ? yellow("expired")
+          : green("active");
+      const lastUsed = k.lastUsedAt ? new Date(k.lastUsedAt).toLocaleDateString() : "never";
+      const scope = k.topicScopes?.length ? k.topicScopes.map((t) => "#" + t).join(",") : "all topics";
+      process.stdout.write(`  ${bold(k.label)}  ${status}  ${dim(k.id.slice(0, 8))}\n`);
+      process.stdout.write(`    ${dim(`${k.prefix}…  caps: ${k.capabilities.join(",")}  scope: ${scope}  last_used: ${lastUsed}`)}\n`);
+    }
+    return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+  });
+}
+
+export async function runApiKeyRevoke(id: string, flags: ApiKeyFlags): Promise<number> {
+  if (!id) {
+    render.err("Usage: claudemesh apikey revoke <id>");
+    return EXIT.INVALID_ARGS;
+  }
+  return await withMesh({ meshSlug: flags.mesh ?? null }, async (client) => {
+    await client.apiKeyRevoke(id);
+    if (flags.json) console.log(JSON.stringify({ revoked: id }));
+    else render.ok("revoked", clay(id.slice(0, 8)));
+    return EXIT.SUCCESS;
+  });
+}
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/entrypoints/cli.ts b/apps/cli/src/entrypoints/cli.ts
index ef5fc92..881dc37 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/entrypoints/cli.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/entrypoints/cli.ts
@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ Profile / presence  (resource form)
   claudemesh group join @<name>    join a group (--role X)
   claudemesh group leave @<name>   leave a group
 
+API keys  (REST + external WS auth, v0.2.0)
+  claudemesh apikey create <label>  issue [--cap send,read] [--topic deploys]
+  claudemesh apikey list             show keys (status, last-used, scope)
+  claudemesh apikey revoke <id>      revoke a key
+
 Topic  (conversation scope, v0.2.0)
   claudemesh topic create <name>   create a topic [--description --visibility]
   claudemesh topic list            list topics in the mesh
@@ -509,6 +514,24 @@ async function main(): Promise<void> {
       break;
     }
 
+    // apikey — REST + external WS bearer tokens (v0.2.0)
+    case "apikey": case "api-key": {
+      const sub = positionals[0];
+      const f = {
+        mesh: flags.mesh as string,
+        json: !!flags.json,
+        cap: flags.cap as string,
+        topic: flags.topic as string,
+        expires: flags.expires as string,
+      };
+      const arg = positionals[1] ?? "";
+      if (sub === "create") { const { runApiKeyCreate } = await import("~/commands/apikey.js"); process.exit(await runApiKeyCreate(arg, f)); }
+      else if (sub === "list") { const { runApiKeyList } = await import("~/commands/apikey.js"); process.exit(await runApiKeyList(f)); }
+      else if (sub === "revoke") { const { runApiKeyRevoke } = await import("~/commands/apikey.js"); process.exit(await runApiKeyRevoke(arg, f)); }
+      else { console.error("Usage: claudemesh apikey <create|list|revoke>"); process.exit(EXIT.INVALID_ARGS); }
+      break;
+    }
+
     // topic — conversational primitive within a mesh (v0.2.0)
     case "topic": {
       const sub = positionals[0];
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/services/broker/ws-client.ts b/apps/cli/src/services/broker/ws-client.ts
index a911552..fb291e6 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/services/broker/ws-client.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/services/broker/ws-client.ts
@@ -166,6 +166,9 @@ export class BrokerClient {
   private topicListResolvers = new Map<string, { resolve: (topics: Array<{ id: string; name: string; description: string | null; visibility: "public" | "private" | "dm"; memberCount: number; createdAt: string }>) => void; timer: NodeJS.Timeout }>();
   private topicMembersResolvers = new Map<string, { resolve: (members: Array<{ memberId: string; pubkey: string; displayName: string; role: "lead" | "member" | "observer"; joinedAt: string; lastReadAt: string | null }>) => void; timer: NodeJS.Timeout }>();
   private topicHistoryResolvers = new Map<string, { resolve: (messages: Array<{ id: string; senderPubkey: string; nonce: string; ciphertext: string; createdAt: string }>) => void; timer: NodeJS.Timeout }>();
+  // ── API keys (v0.2.0) ──
+  private apiKeyCreatedResolvers = new Map<string, { resolve: (r: { id: string; secret: string; label: string; prefix: string; capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">; topicScopes: string[] | null; createdAt: string } | null) => void; timer: NodeJS.Timeout }>();
+  private apiKeyListResolvers = new Map<string, { resolve: (keys: Array<{ id: string; label: string; prefix: string; capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">; topicScopes: string[] | null; createdAt: string; lastUsedAt: string | null; revokedAt: string | null; expiresAt: string | null }>) => void; timer: NodeJS.Timeout }>();
   /** Directories from which this peer serves files. Default: [process.cwd()]. */
   private sharedDirs: string[] = [process.cwd()];
   private _serviceCatalog: Array<{ name: string; description: string; status: string; tools: Array<{ name: string; description: string; inputSchema: object }>; deployed_by: string }> = [];
@@ -647,6 +650,60 @@ export class BrokerClient {
     this.ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "topic_mark_read", topic }));
   }
 
+  // --- API keys (v0.2.0) ---
+
+  async apiKeyCreate(args: {
+    label: string;
+    capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">;
+    topicScopes?: string[];
+    expiresAt?: string;
+  }): Promise<{ id: string; secret: string; label: string; prefix: string; capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">; topicScopes: string[] | null; createdAt: string } | null> {
+    if (!this.ws || this.ws.readyState !== this.ws.OPEN) return null;
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const reqId = this.makeReqId();
+      this.apiKeyCreatedResolvers.set(reqId, {
+        resolve,
+        timer: setTimeout(() => {
+          if (this.apiKeyCreatedResolvers.delete(reqId)) resolve(null);
+        }, 5_000),
+      });
+      this.ws!.send(
+        JSON.stringify({ type: "apikey_create", _reqId: reqId, ...args }),
+      );
+    });
+  }
+
+  async apiKeyList(): Promise<
+    Array<{
+      id: string;
+      label: string;
+      prefix: string;
+      capabilities: Array<"send" | "read" | "state_write" | "admin">;
+      topicScopes: string[] | null;
+      createdAt: string;
+      lastUsedAt: string | null;
+      revokedAt: string | null;
+      expiresAt: string | null;
+    }>
+  > {
+    if (!this.ws || this.ws.readyState !== this.ws.OPEN) return [];
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const reqId = this.makeReqId();
+      this.apiKeyListResolvers.set(reqId, {
+        resolve,
+        timer: setTimeout(() => {
+          if (this.apiKeyListResolvers.delete(reqId)) resolve([]);
+        }, 5_000),
+      });
+      this.ws!.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "apikey_list", _reqId: reqId }));
+    });
+  }
+
+  async apiKeyRevoke(id: string): Promise<void> {
+    if (!this.ws || this.ws.readyState !== this.ws.OPEN) return;
+    this.ws.send(JSON.stringify({ type: "apikey_revoke", id }));
+  }
+
   // --- State ---
 
   /** Set a shared state value visible to all peers in the mesh. */
@@ -1836,6 +1893,22 @@ export class BrokerClient {
       this.resolveFromMap(this.topicHistoryResolvers, msgReqId, (msg.messages as any[]) ?? []);
       return;
     }
+    if (msg.type === "apikey_created") {
+      this.resolveFromMap(this.apiKeyCreatedResolvers, msgReqId, {
+        id: String(msg.id ?? ""),
+        secret: String(msg.secret ?? ""),
+        label: String(msg.label ?? ""),
+        prefix: String(msg.prefix ?? ""),
+        capabilities: (msg.capabilities as any[]) ?? [],
+        topicScopes: (msg.topicScopes as string[] | null) ?? null,
+        createdAt: String(msg.createdAt ?? ""),
+      });
+      return;
+    }
+    if (msg.type === "apikey_list_response") {
+      this.resolveFromMap(this.apiKeyListResolvers, msgReqId, (msg.keys as any[]) ?? []);
+      return;
+    }
     if (msg.type === "push") {
       this._statsCounters.messagesIn++;
       const nonce = String(msg.nonce ?? "");
diff --git a/apps/cli/src/services/policy/index.ts b/apps/cli/src/services/policy/index.ts
index 7236854..5a12a41 100644
--- a/apps/cli/src/services/policy/index.ts
+++ b/apps/cli/src/services/policy/index.ts
@@ -77,6 +77,8 @@ export const DEFAULT_POLICY: Policy = {
     { resource: "sql",     verb: "execute",    decision: "prompt", reason: "raw SQL write to mesh DB" },
     { resource: "graph",   verb: "execute",    decision: "prompt", reason: "graph mutation" },
     { resource: "mesh",    verb: "delete",     decision: "prompt", reason: "deletes the mesh for everyone" },
+    { resource: "apikey",  verb: "create",     decision: "prompt", reason: "issues a long-lived credential" },
+    { resource: "apikey",  verb: "revoke",     decision: "prompt", reason: "irreversibly disables a credential" },
   ],
 };