diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
index 0516eeb..1120e95 100644
--- a/.dockerignore
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ target/
 *.pem
 *.key
 !public_key.pem
-!data/public_key.pem
 
 # Database files
 *.db
@@ -51,7 +50,6 @@ update_codebase.txt
 .idea/
 
 # Misc
-Cargo.lock
 generate_random_ascii.sh
 test/
 invalid_txs/
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 7195d1c..b312094 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -11,9 +11,8 @@ FROM rust:1.95-bookworm AS builder
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
     pkg-config \
     libssl-dev \
-    libsodium-dev \
     libzmq5-dev \
-    cmake \
+    libsqlite3-dev \
     && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/*
 
 WORKDIR /build
@@ -27,12 +26,14 @@ RUN mkdir -p src/bin && \
     echo '' > src/db.rs && \
     echo '' > src/xpub.rs && \
     echo '' > src/validation.rs && \
-    cargo build --release --bin bal-server --bin bal-pusher 2>/dev/null || true && \
+    cargo build --release --bin bal-server --no-default-features --features server 2>/dev/null || true && \
+    cargo build --release --bin bal-pusher --no-default-features --features pusher 2>/dev/null || true && \
     rm -rf src target/release/.fingerprint target/release/deps/*bal_server*
 
-# Copy real source and build
+# Copy real source and build each binary with only its required features
 COPY src/ src/
-RUN cargo build --release --bin bal-server --bin bal-pusher && \
+RUN cargo build --release --bin bal-server --no-default-features --features server && \
+    cargo build --release --bin bal-pusher --no-default-features --features pusher && \
     strip target/release/bal-server target/release/bal-pusher
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -43,7 +44,6 @@ FROM debian:bookworm-slim AS runtime
 # Install runtime dependencies + tini for PID 1
 RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
     libssl3 \
-    libsodium23 \
     libzmq5 \
     libsqlite3-0 \
     ca-certificates \
diff --git a/Dockerfile.release b/Dockerfile.release
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e3b56f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Dockerfile.release
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+# =============================================================================
+# Dockerfile.release — Downloads the latest pre-built release from Gitea
+# No Rust toolchain needed. Fast builds, minimal image.
+# =============================================================================
+
+FROM debian:bookworm-slim AS runtime
+
+ARG GITEA_API="https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/api/v1/repos/bitcoinafterlife/bal-server"
+ARG BAL_VERSION=""
+
+# Install runtime dependencies
+RUN apt-get update && apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
+    libssl3 \
+    libzmq5 \
+    libsqlite3-0 \
+    ca-certificates \
+    curl \
+    jq \
+    tini \
+    && rm -rf /var/lib/apt/lists/* \
+    && apt-get clean
+
+WORKDIR /tmp/bal-install
+
+# Download and verify release
+# If BAL_VERSION is set, fetch that specific tag; otherwise fetch latest
+RUN set -eux; \
+    if [ -n "$BAL_VERSION" ]; then \
+        URL="${GITEA_API}/releases/tags/${BAL_VERSION}"; \
+    else \
+        URL="${GITEA_API}/releases/latest"; \
+    fi; \
+    echo "==> Fetching release metadata from $URL"; \
+    RELEASE_JSON=$(curl -sfL "$URL") || { echo "ERROR: Failed to fetch release metadata"; exit 1; }; \
+    TAG=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r '.tag_name // empty'); \
+    if [ -z "$TAG" ]; then echo "ERROR: Could not determine release tag"; exit 1; fi; \
+    echo "==> Release tag: $TAG"; \
+    TARBALL_URL=$(echo "$RELEASE_JSON" | jq -r \
+      '.assets[] | select(.name | test("\\.tar\\.gz$")) | .browser_download_url' | head -1); \
+    if [ -z "$TARBALL_URL" ]; then echo "ERROR: No .tar.gz asset found"; exit 1; fi; \
+    ASSET_NAME=$(basename "$TARBALL_URL"); \
+    echo "==> Downloading $ASSET_NAME"; \
+    curl -sfL -o "$ASSET_NAME" "$TARBALL_URL" || { echo "ERROR: Download failed"; exit 1; }; \
+    echo "==> Downloading checksum"; \
+    curl -sfL -o "${ASSET_NAME}.sha256" "${TARBALL_URL}.sha256" 2>/dev/null || true; \
+    if [ -f "${ASSET_NAME}.sha256" ]; then \
+        echo "==> Verifying SHA-256 checksum"; \
+        sha256sum -c "${ASSET_NAME}.sha256" || { echo "ERROR: SHA-256 verification failed"; exit 1; }; \
+        echo "==> Checksum OK"; \
+    else \
+        echo "WARNING: No .sha256 file available — skipping checksum verification"; \
+    fi; \
+    echo "==> Extracting tarball"; \
+    tar -xzf "$ASSET_NAME"; \
+    EXTRACTED="$(basename "$ASSET_NAME" .tar.gz)"; \
+    for bin in bal-server bal-pusher; do \
+        if [ ! -f "$EXTRACTED/$bin" ]; then \
+            echo "ERROR: Binary '$bin' not found in archive"; \
+            exit 1; \
+        fi; \
+        echo "==> Installing $bin"; \
+        install -m 0755 -o root -g root "$EXTRACTED/$bin" /usr/local/bin/; \
+    done; \
+    echo "==> Cleanup"; \
+    rm -rf /tmp/bal-install
+
+# Create dedicated non-root user
+RUN groupadd -g 1000 bal && \
+    useradd -u 1000 -g bal -s /usr/sbin/nologin -M bal && \
+    mkdir -p /var/bal /var/bal/.bitcoin && \
+    chown -R bal:bal /var/bal && \
+    chmod 700 /var/bal
+
+# Copy entrypoint
+COPY docker/entrypoint.sh /usr/local/bin/entrypoint.sh
+RUN chmod +x /usr/local/bin/entrypoint.sh
+
+# Use tini as PID 1 for proper signal handling
+ENTRYPOINT ["/usr/bin/tini", "--"]
+CMD ["/usr/local/bin/entrypoint.sh"]
+
+# Data directory (mount as volume)
+VOLUME ["/var/bal"]
+
+# bal-server port
+EXPOSE 9137
+
+# Default environment (override at runtime)
+ENV RUST_LOG=info \
+    BAL_SERVER_BIND_ADDRESS=127.0.0.1 \
+    BAL_SERVER_BIND_PORT=9137 \
+    BAL_SERVER_DB_FILE=/var/bal/bal.db \
+    BAL_PUSHER_DB_FILE=/var/bal/bal.db \
+    BAL_SERVER_URL=http://127.0.0.1:9137 \
+    BAL_SERVER_PUB_KEY_PATH=/var/bal/public_key.pem \
+    SSL_KEY_PATH=/var/bal/private_key.pem
+
+# Health check
+HEALTHCHECK --interval=30s --timeout=5s --start-period=10s --retries=3 \
+    CMD curl -sf http://127.0.0.1:9137/ || exit 1
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d23c291..f8e48ee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,15 @@ sudo cp target/release/bal-server target/release/bal-pusher /usr/local/bin
 
 ## Docker
 
-### Build
+### Quick Start (release download)
+
+Download the latest pre-built release — no Rust toolchain needed:
+
+```bash
+docker build -f Dockerfile.release -t bal-server .
+```
+
+### Build from source
 
 ```bash
 docker build -t bal-server .
@@ -37,6 +45,12 @@ docker run -d \
   bal-server
 ```
 
+### Pin a specific version
+
+```bash
+docker build -f Dockerfile.release --build-arg BAL_VERSION=v0.3.2 -t bal-server:0.3.2 .
+```
+
 ### Docker environment variables
 
 | Variable | Description | Default |
@@ -48,6 +62,7 @@ docker run -d \
 > **Note:** The container runs as a non-root `bal` user (uid 1000) with `tini` as PID 1.
 > The `/var/bal` volume stores the database. Mount Bitcoin Core's cookie file as read-only.
 > When using `--network host`, ensure only `127.0.0.1` is used for internal services.
+> `Dockerfile.release` fetches the latest release from the Gitea server and verifies its SHA-256 checksum.
 
 ## Configuration (bal-server)
 
@@ -111,7 +126,7 @@ The `bal-server` application can be configured using environment variables.
   zmqpubhashblock=tcp://127.0.0.1:28332
   ```
 - **Rust and Cargo**: [Rust Installation](https://www.rust-lang.org/tools/install)
-- **Libraries**: `libssl-dev`, `libsodium-dev`, `libzmq5-dev`, `libsqlite3-dev`
+- **Libraries**: `libssl-dev`, `libzmq5-dev`, `libsqlite3-dev`
 
 ## Running
 
diff --git a/docs/01_project_overview.md b/docs/01_project_overview.md
index 7e1c2f1..46a6ebb 100644
--- a/docs/01_project_overview.md
+++ b/docs/01_project_overview.md
@@ -39,7 +39,12 @@ The project uses Cargo feature flags to build each binary independently:
 
 ## Docker Support
 
-The project includes a multi-stage `Dockerfile` using `rust:1.95-bookworm` as the builder and `debian:bookworm-slim` as the runtime. The container runs as a non-root `bal` user (uid 1000) with `tini` as PID 1 and includes a healthcheck endpoint.
+Two Dockerfiles are provided:
+
+- **`Dockerfile.release`** (recommended for production): Downloads the latest pre-built release from the Gitea server. No Rust toolchain needed. Verifies SHA-256 checksum. Supports pinning a specific version via `BAL_VERSION` build arg.
+- **`Dockerfile`** (for development/custom builds): Multi-stage build using `rust:1.95-bookworm` as the builder and `debian:bookworm-slim` as the runtime. Each binary is compiled with only its required features (`--no-default-features --features server` / `--features pusher`).
+
+Both run as a non-root `bal` user (uid 1000) with `tini` as PID 1 and include a healthcheck endpoint.
 
 ## Mapping to Existing Documentation
 
diff --git a/docs/07_deployment_and_ops.md b/docs/07_deployment_and_ops.md
index f2c7fab..5a7176c 100644
--- a/docs/07_deployment_and_ops.md
+++ b/docs/07_deployment_and_ops.md
@@ -93,17 +93,38 @@ Default ports per network:
 
 ## Docker
 
-The project includes a multi-stage `Dockerfile`:
+The project provides two Dockerfiles:
 
-- **Builder stage:** `rust:1.95-bookworm` with full build.
+### `Dockerfile.release` — Download pre-built release (recommended for production)
+
+Downloads the latest release from the Gitea server. No Rust toolchain needed. Fast builds.
+
+```bash
+# Latest release
+docker build -f Dockerfile.release -t bal-server .
+
+# Specific version
+docker build -f Dockerfile.release --build-arg BAL_VERSION=v0.3.2 -t bal-server:0.3.2 .
+```
+
+- Fetches `.tar.gz` from `https://bitcoin-after.life/gitea/api/v1/repos/bitcoinafterlife/bal-server/releases/latest`.
+- Verifies SHA-256 checksum if available.
+- Single-stage image (`debian:bookworm-slim`), minimal size.
+- `BAL_VERSION` build arg: set to a tag (e.g., `v0.3.2`) to pin a specific release.
+
+### `Dockerfile` — Build from source
+
+Multi-stage build with the Rust toolchain. Use for development or custom builds.
+
+- **Builder stage:** `rust:1.95-bookworm` with full build. Each binary is compiled with only its required features (`--no-default-features --features server` / `--features pusher`).
 - **Runtime stage:** `debian:bookworm-slim` with minimal runtime.
 - **User:** Non-root `bal` user (uid 1000).
 - **PID 1:** `tini` for proper signal handling.
 - **Healthcheck:** `curl -f http://localhost:9137/ || exit 1`.
 
-Build and run:
+### Run (both Dockerfiles)
+
 ```bash
-docker build -t bal-server .
 docker run -d \
   --name bal-server \
   -v /var/bal:/var/bal \
diff --git a/docs/09_references_and_links.md b/docs/09_references_and_links.md
index e88adb7..3860096 100644
--- a/docs/09_references_and_links.md
+++ b/docs/09_references_and_links.md
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@
 | Contrib (install bitcoind) | `contrib/download_and_install_bitcoincore.sh` | Bitcoind download, GPG verify, systemd, config |
 | Contrib (install Tor) | `contrib/install_tor.sh` | Tor repository, `ControlPort 9051` |
 | Nginx template | `contrib/nginx/bal-server.conf` | TLS termination, security headers, rate limiting |
-| Dockerfile | `Dockerfile` | Multi-stage build, non-root user, tini, healthcheck |
+| Dockerfile | `Dockerfile` | Multi-stage build from source, non-root user, tini, healthcheck |
+| Dockerfile.release | `Dockerfile.release` | Download latest release from Gitea, SHA-256 verification |
 
 | Systemd Service | File | Purpose |
 |---|---|---|