diff --git a/config/CEREMONY.md b/config/CEREMONY.md
index 6e2be1042..21ecf2789 100644
--- a/config/CEREMONY.md
+++ b/config/CEREMONY.md
@@ -14,18 +14,17 @@ Offline, operator-only. Never commit secrets. Prefer `/root/.base-secrets/` (mod
 
 ### Design challenge enablement (post agent/hypertraining removal)
 
-Current committed `challenges.toml` has **two** rows: `prism` @ 10000 bps and `design` @ 0 bps.
-The `design` public key was generated with the **dev throwaway** `challenge-design.age` under
-`~/.base-secrets/`. Before production emission moves to design:
+Current committed `challenges.toml` has **two** rows: `design` @ 5000 bps and
+`prism` @ 5000 bps (50/50; sum = 10000). The `design` public key was generated
+with the **dev throwaway** `challenge-design.age` under `~/.base-secrets/`.
+A future production owner/key ceremony may still:
 
 1. Keygen a production `design_sk` (keep off-git; materialize as `deploy/secrets/design_sk`).
 2. Replace the `design` `public_key` row in `config/challenges.toml`.
-3. Optionally move bps from `prism` → `design` (sum must remain 10000).
+3. Optionally move bps between `prism` and `design` (sum must remain 10000).
 4. Re-sign with the **production** owner key (`sign --kind challenges`).
 5. Verify under `config/owner.pubkey` (or the production owner pubkey after rotation).
 
-Until that ceremony, prism alone covers E; design leaves (when the service ships) carry 0 weight.
-
 ## Secret layout (never git)
 
 | Path | Contents |
diff --git a/config/challenges.staging.toml b/config/challenges.staging.toml
index ba934d596..700edb322 100644
--- a/config/challenges.staging.toml
+++ b/config/challenges.staging.toml
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-# STAGING-ONLY trust root override (testnet 541): enables the design emission
-# share so the staging e2e can prove design weights end-to-end.
+# STAGING-ONLY trust root override (testnet 541): mirrors prod emission shares
+# so the staging e2e can prove design + prism weights end-to-end.
 #
-# Production remains `emission_share_bps = 0` for design until the owner
-# ceremony (see config/challenges.toml + CEREMONY.md) — this file is mounted
-# over /etc/base/config/challenges.toml by deploy/compose/env-staging.yml only.
-# Signed with the same throwaway owner key as config/challenges.toml
+# Mounted over /etc/base/config/challenges.toml by deploy/compose/env-staging.yml
+# only. Signed with the same throwaway owner key as config/challenges.toml
 # (config/owner.pubkey); re-sign after any edit (docs/runbooks/trust-root-rotation.md).
 version = 1
 introduced_epoch = 0
@@ -12,11 +10,11 @@ introduced_epoch = 0
 [[challenges]]
 id = "design"
 public_key = "3e27f87d8330006a73174001120c3455f16b95fee098bb8c2bab9d5053840418"
-emission_share_bps = 2000
+emission_share_bps = 5000
 policy = "all_metagraph_hotkeys"
 
 [[challenges]]
 id = "prism"
 public_key = "bcd50bb830e050ed4b011dd8f1d2f126fdb42dc55b45ece30a7d5c8ceb3c5219"
-emission_share_bps = 8000
+emission_share_bps = 5000
 policy = "all_metagraph_hotkeys"
diff --git a/config/challenges.staging.toml.sig b/config/challenges.staging.toml.sig
index 2117add99..2574dfa85 100644
--- a/config/challenges.staging.toml.sig
+++ b/config/challenges.staging.toml.sig
@@ -1 +1 @@
-4e532b0c449ee744bbc8877dc677647003e21176a0dd074026458f62fd9b486379aeea8736bddb16b04834ae2ec422409d18f1eac757633354a12919df1ec98c
+fae237ccecf24f35cc65fb0d56906db25f0909d016f36bc48bc9788ab6d3324f3c305dab54f0de76fa9700ec6a4cef1dfa5be02dde1a63a7e8260b1a1a440789
diff --git a/config/challenges.toml b/config/challenges.toml
index 3547717f6..5e33461b0 100644
--- a/config/challenges.toml
+++ b/config/challenges.toml
@@ -1,20 +1,20 @@
 # Owner-signed challenges trust root (D18/D23/D24).
 # Signed with throwaway owner key (see owner.pubkey). Production rotation: CEREMONY.md.
 #
-# Emission: design = 2000 bps, prism = 8000 bps (activated 2026-08-06, same
-# owner key + same challenge keys as the staging override; a future production
-# owner/key ceremony per CEREMONY.md remains pending).
+# Emission: design = 5000 bps, prism = 5000 bps (50/50; rebalanced 2026-08-07 from
+# design 2000 / prism 8000 activated 2026-08-06). Same owner key + challenge keys;
+# a future production owner/key ceremony per CEREMONY.md remains pending).
 version = 1
 introduced_epoch = 0
 
 [[challenges]]
 id = "design"
 public_key = "3e27f87d8330006a73174001120c3455f16b95fee098bb8c2bab9d5053840418"
-emission_share_bps = 2000
+emission_share_bps = 5000
 policy = "all_metagraph_hotkeys"
 
 [[challenges]]
 id = "prism"
 public_key = "bcd50bb830e050ed4b011dd8f1d2f126fdb42dc55b45ece30a7d5c8ceb3c5219"
-emission_share_bps = 8000
+emission_share_bps = 5000
 policy = "all_metagraph_hotkeys"
diff --git a/config/challenges.toml.sig b/config/challenges.toml.sig
index 44107b397..8f8a4ee6d 100644
--- a/config/challenges.toml.sig
+++ b/config/challenges.toml.sig
@@ -1 +1 @@
-e68a49e313f41aa892898d50b99e94393424a5c173e6136b397e24c726f14d13f031f75f685213f3d84f791fc67836e4765e5a9c70f4f4c956022679fabac98f
+c0c1be58a06daa6713c482ac3619649354ae3229fdc307f212f401dc5d2c17318f8ac9f8d3f9be6ab605a525907b77d9e083cb47c37f4df8231285a4fc104f80
diff --git a/crates/site-api/src/handlers.rs b/crates/site-api/src/handlers.rs
index cb8928843..d6eb4019c 100644
--- a/crates/site-api/src/handlers.rs
+++ b/crates/site-api/src/handlers.rs
@@ -1042,7 +1042,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
         let st = st.with_weights(
             Arc::new(ChallengesBody {
-                challenges: vec![entry("design", 2_000), entry("prism", 8_000)],
+                challenges: vec![entry("design", 5_000), entry("prism", 5_000)],
             }),
             Arc::new(|| None),
         );
@@ -1050,8 +1050,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         let (s, v) = call(app.clone(), "/v1/site/arenas").await;
         assert_eq!(s, StatusCode::OK, "{v}");
-        assert_eq!(v[1]["emissionShare"], 0.2);
-        assert_eq!(v[2]["emissionShare"], 0.8);
+        assert_eq!(v[1]["emissionShare"], 0.5);
+        assert_eq!(v[2]["emissionShare"], 0.5);
         // Unsealed: effective weights stay 0.
         assert_eq!(v[1]["weight"], 0.0);
         assert_eq!(v[2]["weight"], 0.0);
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(v["sealed"], false);
         assert_eq!(v["burnShare"], 1.0);
         assert_eq!(v["emissionShares"][0]["arena"], "design");
-        assert_eq!(v["emissionShares"][0]["share"], 0.2);
+        assert_eq!(v["emissionShares"][0]["share"], 0.5);
         assert_eq!(v["emissionShares"][1]["arena"], "prism");
         assert!(v["hotkeyWeights"].as_array().unwrap().is_empty());
     }
diff --git a/crates/site-data/src/metrics.rs b/crates/site-data/src/metrics.rs
index d7ad8b088..c921750d7 100644
--- a/crates/site-data/src/metrics.rs
+++ b/crates/site-data/src/metrics.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ mod tests {
         design.agents = 4;
         let mut prism = prism_frame();
         prism.agents = 8;
-        prism.emission_share = 0.8;
+        prism.emission_share = 0.5;
         let rows = population_rows(&[design, prism]);
         assert_eq!(rows[1]["agents"], 8);
         assert!((rows[0]["ratio"].as_f64().unwrap() - 0.5).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
diff --git a/crates/site-data/src/weights.rs b/crates/site-data/src/weights.rs
index 9e8ea9000..74122bf55 100644
--- a/crates/site-data/src/weights.rs
+++ b/crates/site-data/src/weights.rs
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     fn trust_root() -> ChallengesBody {
         ChallengesBody {
-            challenges: vec![entry("design", 2_000), entry("prism", 8_000)],
+            challenges: vec![entry("design", 5_000), entry("prism", 5_000)],
         }
     }
 
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ mod tests {
             block_hash: [1u8; 32],
             metagraph_root: [2u8; 32],
             algorithm_version: bundle::ALGORITHM_VERSION,
-            emission_shares: vec![(b"design".to_vec(), 2_000), (b"prism".to_vec(), 8_000)],
+            emission_shares: vec![(b"design".to_vec(), 5_000), (b"prism".to_vec(), 5_000)],
             measurements_digest: [3u8; 32],
             uid_map: vec![([0xAAu8; 32], 0), ([0xBBu8; 32], 157)],
             leaves: vec![leaf("design", 0xBB), leaf("prism", 0xBB)],
@@ -206,9 +206,9 @@ mod tests {
     fn shares_come_from_trust_root() {
         let shares = configured_shares(Some(&trust_root()));
         assert_eq!(shares.len(), 2);
-        assert!((shares[0].1 - 0.2).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
+        assert!((shares[0].1 - 0.5).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
         assert_eq!(shares[0].0, "design");
-        assert!((shares[1].1 - 0.8).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
+        assert!((shares[1].1 - 0.5).abs() < f64::EPSILON);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -223,8 +223,8 @@ mod tests {
         // Arena weight = configured share × non-burn fraction.
         let root = trust_root();
         let latest = sealed_bundle();
-        assert!((arena_weight(Some(&root), Some(latest.clone()), "design") - 0.2).abs() < 0.001);
-        assert!((arena_weight(Some(&root), Some(latest), "prism") - 0.8).abs() < 0.001);
+        assert!((arena_weight(Some(&root), Some(latest.clone()), "design") - 0.5).abs() < 0.001);
+        assert!((arena_weight(Some(&root), Some(latest), "prism") - 0.5).abs() < 0.001);
         let w = site_weights(100, Some(&root), Some(sealed_bundle()));
         assert!(w.sealed);
         assert_eq!(w.hotkey_weights.len(), 1);
diff --git a/crates/trustroot/tests/trustroot_verify.rs b/crates/trustroot/tests/trustroot_verify.rs
index 56122153d..6488b1291 100644
--- a/crates/trustroot/tests/trustroot_verify.rs
+++ b/crates/trustroot/tests/trustroot_verify.rs
@@ -347,15 +347,15 @@ fn s9_repo_config_loads_when_present() {
     let (ch, ms) = load_config_dir(&root, 0, 3).expect("committed config must verify");
     let primary = ch.primary().unwrap();
     assert_eq!(primary.body.challenges.len(), 2);
-    // Emission activated 2026-08-06 (v3.3.0): design 2000 / prism 8000.
+    // Emission 50/50 (2026-08-07): design 5000 / prism 5000 (was 2000/8000).
     let design = primary.body.get(b"design").expect("design row");
-    assert_eq!(design.emission_share_bps, 2000);
+    assert_eq!(design.emission_share_bps, 5000);
     assert_eq!(
         encode_hex(&design.public_key),
         "3e27f87d8330006a73174001120c3455f16b95fee098bb8c2bab9d5053840418"
     );
     let prism = primary.body.get(b"prism").expect("prism row");
-    assert_eq!(prism.emission_share_bps, BPS_DENOM - 2000);
+    assert_eq!(prism.emission_share_bps, BPS_DENOM - 5000);
     assert_eq!(
         encode_hex(&prism.public_key),
         "bcd50bb830e050ed4b011dd8f1d2f126fdb42dc55b45ece30a7d5c8ceb3c5219"
@@ -364,9 +364,9 @@ fn s9_repo_config_loads_when_present() {
     let shares = primary.body.emission_shares();
     assert_eq!(shares.len(), 2);
     assert_eq!(shares[0].0, b"design");
-    assert_eq!(shares[0].1, 2000);
+    assert_eq!(shares[0].1, 5000);
     assert_eq!(shares[1].0, b"prism");
-    assert_eq!(shares[1].1, BPS_DENOM - 2000);
+    assert_eq!(shares[1].1, BPS_DENOM - 5000);
     // base-agent CVM path removed — committed allowlist is empty (fail-closed).
     let entries = &ms.primary().unwrap().body.entries;
     assert!(
diff --git a/deploy/compose/env-staging.yml b/deploy/compose/env-staging.yml
index 1e668046f..9e19136e4 100644
--- a/deploy/compose/env-staging.yml
+++ b/deploy/compose/env-staging.yml
@@ -21,8 +21,7 @@ services:
       BASE_VALIDATOR_WALLET: base-validator
     volumes:
       - ./deploy/secrets/wallets:/run/base/wallets:ro
-      # Staging-only trust root: design emission share enabled (2000 bps) so
-      # the e2e lifecycle proof can see design weights. Prod keeps 0 bps.
+      # Staging-only trust root: mirrors prod emission (design/prism 5000/5000).
       - ./config/challenges.staging.toml:/etc/base/config/challenges.toml:ro
       - ./config/challenges.staging.toml.sig:/etc/base/config/challenges.toml.sig:ro
   gateway:
@@ -43,8 +42,8 @@ services:
     volumes:
       - ./deploy/secrets/wallets:/run/base/wallets:ro
       # The sealer must sign with the same staging trust root the validator
-      # verifies against (design 2000 bps), or /v1/weights/latest never shows
-      # design weight and the validator flags emission share mismatch (D23).
+      # verifies against (design/prism 5000/5000), or /v1/weights/latest never
+      # shows design weight and the validator flags emission share mismatch (D23).
       - ./config/challenges.staging.toml:/etc/base/config/challenges.toml:ro
       - ./config/challenges.staging.toml.sig:/etc/base/config/challenges.toml.sig:ro
   prism-challenge:
diff --git a/deploy/scripts/prod-burn-seal.sh b/deploy/scripts/prod-burn-seal.sh
index d9cc24479..cf445adc2 100755
--- a/deploy/scripts/prod-burn-seal.sh
+++ b/deploy/scripts/prod-burn-seal.sh
@@ -13,11 +13,11 @@
 # challenge mini-secrets stay at $BASE_CHALLENGE_SK_FILE / $BASE_DESIGN_SK_FILE
 # (mode 0400).
 #
-# D24 (exact-E): since the 2000/8000 trust-root activation, sealing requires a
-# complete leaf set from EVERY >0-bps challenge at the seal epoch. The design
-# pass therefore emits NoScore leaves first; its own seal attempt 409s until
-# the prism pass lands (tolerated), and the prism pass then seals the complete
-# set. All-NoScore still aggregates to the uid-0 burn vector.
+# D24 (exact-E): with both challenges at >0 bps (currently 5000/5000), sealing
+# requires a complete leaf set from EVERY >0-bps challenge at the seal epoch.
+# The design pass therefore emits NoScore leaves first; its own seal attempt
+# 409s until the prism pass lands (tolerated), and the prism pass then seals
+# the complete set. All-NoScore still aggregates to the uid-0 burn vector.
 set -euo pipefail
 
 BASE_HOME="${BASE_HOME:-/opt/base}"
diff --git a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
index 9e4348128..03ed30b20 100644
--- a/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+++ b/docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ Miner-facing docs (version-pinned): [`external-miner/`](./external-miner/).
 | `config/measurements.toml` + `.sig` | yes | every validator from **disk** |
 | Challenge / owner mini-secrets | **never** | challenge service / offline ceremony only |
 
-Current emission posture (until design ceremony): `prism = 10000` bps, `design = 0` bps.
+Current emission posture: `design = 5000` bps, `prism = 5000` bps (50/50; sum = 10000).
 
 Gateway DB is **routing only**. It is never a source of challenge keys, emission shares, or measurements (D18, D23).
 
diff --git a/docs/COMPLETENESS.md b/docs/COMPLETENESS.md
index 6e52a205e..8d69b91ef 100644
--- a/docs/COMPLETENESS.md
+++ b/docs/COMPLETENESS.md
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ Removed (replaced by design + prism HTTP paths; no Phala/CVM miner).
 | Binary (`bins/design-egress-proxy`) | done | Open egress proxy (internal blocklist) + budgeted LLM path. |
 | Spec + checklist | done | [`DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md`](DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md) + checklist; `xtask design-check`. |
 | Compose / images | in progress | deploy-wiring todo (port `28093` local). |
-| Emission | **0 bps** | Until owner ceremony; prism holds `10000` bps. |
+| Emission | **5000 bps** | Equal split with prism (50/50; sum `10000`). |
 
 ## prism-challenge
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Removed (replaced by design + prism HTTP paths; no Phala/CVM miner).
 | Compose service | done | Added to `docker-compose.yml` on `:8092`. |
 | Dockerfile target | done | `deploy/Dockerfile` target `prism-challenge`. |
 | GHCR image | done | Added to `images.yml` matrix and `ghcr-public.yml`. |
-| Emission | **10000 bps** | Sole share until design enablement ceremony. |
+| Emission | **5000 bps** | Equal split with design (50/50; sum `10000`). |
 
 ## Infrastructure
 
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ Agent/operator contracts: root [`AGENTS.md`](../AGENTS.md), [`deploy/AGENTS.md`]
 | DCAP verify holds the attest mutex | A cold Intel PCS fetch (up to 20 s) serialises attestation submissions. |
 | DCAP error classification | Matches on `anyhow` message text; re-run `cargo test -p attest-policy --features dcap` after any `dcap-qvl` bump. |
 | Design compose/images | deploy-wiring in progress; local port `28093` documented. |
-| Design emission ceremony | Owner must keygen prod `design_sk`, set bps, re-sign trust root. |
+| Design emission ceremony | Emission live at 5000/5000 with design; optional prod `design_sk` / owner key rotation still pending. |
 | Mainnet (netuid 100) | Owner wallet not yet on this machine, so prod runs with `BASE_GATEWAY_REQUIRE_OWNER=0`. |
 | Prod pin placeholders | `deploy/pins/prod.json` still ships zero-digests until the first successful promote; registry mode rejects placeholders. |
 | Spaces backup secrets | First prod promote is fail-closed without `BASE_BACKUP_ENDPOINT` + `SPACES_ACCESS_KEY_ID` / `SPACES_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY` (or AWS_* fallbacks) in GitHub. |
diff --git a/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md b/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md
index b571630bc..917c0825e 100644
--- a/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md
+++ b/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ Sandbox containers attach only to the internal Docker network
 | Listen port | `8093` (local overlay `28093`) |
 | Gateway proxy prefix | `/challenge/design/*` |
 | Bundle `protocol_version` | `1` ([`BUNDLE_SPEC.md`](./BUNDLE_SPEC.md)) |
-| `emission_share_bps` | **0** until owner ceremony (prism holds `10000`) |
+| `emission_share_bps` | **5000** (equal split with prism; sum `10000`) |
 | Policy | `all_metagraph_hotkeys` |
 | Round length | `ROUND_SECS = 8_640` (10 rounds / UTC day) |
 | Agent run timeout | `AGENT_RUN_TIMEOUT_SECS = 1_800` (30 min; distinct from round length) |
@@ -86,9 +86,10 @@ Staging knobs (defaults above are the prod pins and never change implicitly):
 override round length / run timeout / prompts per round (staging uses ~15-minute
 rounds; `env-staging.yml`).
 
-Emission posture: `emission_share_bps = 0` for design until the owner ceremony
-documented in [`runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md`](./runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md).
-Until then prism is the sole non-zero share (`10000` bps).
+Emission posture: `emission_share_bps = 5000` for design and `5000` for prism
+(50/50; sum `10000`). Rebalance via the owner ceremony in
+[`runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md`](./runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md)
+and [`config/challenges.toml`](../config/challenges.toml).
 
 ---
 
diff --git a/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE_CHECKLIST.md b/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE_CHECKLIST.md
index 09751cf95..db1d898d3 100644
--- a/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE_CHECKLIST.md
+++ b/docs/DESIGN_CHALLENGE_CHECKLIST.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ pins without bumping `challenge_scoring_version`.
 |-----|-------------|-----------------|-------------------------------------|
 | (T) | Topology: master-only challenge + sandbox + egress; validator no exec | ## 1. What runs where (topology) | `## 1. What runs where (topology)` |
 | (I) | Identifiers and versions | ## 2. Identifiers and versions | `## 2. Identifiers and versions` |
-| (E) | Emission 0 bps posture | ## 2. Identifiers and versions | `emission_share_bps = 0` |
+| (E) | Emission 5000 bps (50/50 with prism) | ## 2. Identifiers and versions | `emission_share_bps = 5000` |
 | (H) | Miner harness contract (`agent.py` / `pyproject.toml`) | ## 3. Miner harness contract | `## 3. Miner harness contract` |
 | (S) | Sandbox hardening | ## 4. Sandbox hardening | `## 4. Sandbox hardening` |
 | (Z) | Sanitize rules | ## 5. Sanitize rules | `## 5. Sanitize rules` |
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ pins without bumping `challenge_scoring_version`.
 | scoring_version | `challenge_scoring_version` |
 | scoring_version_3 | `u16 = 3` |
 | bundle_protocol_version | `protocol_version = 1` |
-| emission_zero | `emission_share_bps = 0` |
-| prism_bps_sole | `10000` |
+| emission_share | `emission_share_bps = 5000` |
+| bps_sum | `10000` |
 | SCORE_MAX | `1_000_000` |
 | compose_port | `8093` |
 | round_secs | `8_640` |
diff --git a/docs/PRISM.md b/docs/PRISM.md
index 88e824fa7..2eac0b701 100644
--- a/docs/PRISM.md
+++ b/docs/PRISM.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 **scoring_version:** `2` (bpb-only; v1 blended a 0.3 LLM quality vote; the architecture competition below reallocates credits *inside* this same lattice — no chain-facing version change)  
 **recipe_version:** `1.2.0` (telemetry hooks 1.1.0 + architecture registry / training-only submissions 1.2.0)  
 **port:** `8092`  
-**emission_share_bps:** `10000` (sole share until design enablement ceremony; then rebalanced with `design`)  
+**emission_share_bps:** `5000` (equal split with `design`; sum `10000`)  
 **GPU path:** master-centralized **Lium** (no Phala CVM)
 
 ## What it is
diff --git a/docs/external-miner/prism.md b/docs/external-miner/prism.md
index 3a5d28fec..d6c37ed8b 100644
--- a/docs/external-miner/prism.md
+++ b/docs/external-miner/prism.md
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ The global-best model is published to
 | `GET /v1/jobs` | Active/recent pods (ops) |
 | `GET /health` | Liveness |
 
-Emission share for prism is owner-controlled via the trust root. Until the design
-enablement ceremony, prism typically holds the full `10000` bps share — see
+Emission share for prism is owner-controlled via the trust root. Current split is
+`5000` bps prism / `5000` bps design (50/50) — see
 [`../runbooks/prism-enable-lium-and-emission.md`](../runbooks/prism-enable-lium-and-emission.md)
 and [`../runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md`](../runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md).
diff --git a/docs/runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md b/docs/runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md
index 90d620a29..90ccf005e 100644
--- a/docs/runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md
+++ b/docs/runbooks/design-enable-and-emission.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Design challenge — enable real backends + emission unlock
 
-Design ships with `emission_share_bps = 0` until an explicit owner ceremony.
-Until then **prism holds `10000` bps** (sole weight source). See
+Design emission is owner-controlled via the trust root. Current committed
+shares are **design = 5000 bps**, **prism = 5000 bps** (50/50). See
 [`config/challenges.toml`](../../config/challenges.toml) and
 [`DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md`](../DESIGN_CHALLENGE.md).
 
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ Until then **prism holds `10000` bps** (sole weight source). See
    ```json
    { "challenge_id": "design", "base_url": "http://design-challenge:8093", "weight": 1 }
    ```
-6. Keep `emission_share_bps = 0` for design until ceremony. Leaves still emit
-   (D24 exact-E); they simply carry zero emission share.
+6. Emission share is independent of bringing the service up: leaves still emit
+   (D24 exact-E) even at `0` bps. Current prod/staging shares are 5000/5000.
 
 ## B. Keygen (`design_sk`)
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ Goal: move weight from prism → design (sum must remain exactly **10000** bps).
 5. Do **not** change design `challenge_scoring_version` or freeze pins in the
    same ceremony unless intentionally bumping the scoring contract.
 
-Default until this ceremony: **design = 0 bps**, **prism = 10000 bps**.
+Current committed default: **design = 5000 bps**, **prism = 5000 bps**.
 
 ## D. Admin winners tokens + OpenRouter
 
@@ -69,6 +69,6 @@ approval; Elo annotate is deprecated / unused on the leaf path).
 
 ## E. Rollback emission
 
-Re-sign challenges.toml with previous bps (design 0 / prism 10000), roll
-validators. Challenge service can keep running; emission share alone changes
-aggregation weight.
+Re-sign challenges.toml with previous bps (e.g. design 2000 / prism 8000, or
+design 0 / prism 10000), roll validators. Challenge service can keep running;
+emission share alone changes aggregation weight.
diff --git a/docs/runbooks/prism-enable-lium-and-emission.md b/docs/runbooks/prism-enable-lium-and-emission.md
index c4a90eb74..d001bbad9 100644
--- a/docs/runbooks/prism-enable-lium-and-emission.md
+++ b/docs/runbooks/prism-enable-lium-and-emission.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 ## Emission ceremony (shared with design)
 
-Trust root today: **`prism = 10000` bps**, **`design = 0` bps** (sum must stay
+Trust root today: **`prism = 5000` bps**, **`design = 5000` bps** (sum must stay
 exactly `10000`). See [`config/challenges.toml`](../../config/challenges.toml).
 
 To rebalance shares:
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ To rebalance shares:
 2. Edit `config/challenges.toml`, re-sign with owner key
    ([`trust-root-rotation.md`](./trust-root-rotation.md)).
 3. Roll validators with the new trust root (dual-accept if rotating).
-4. Prefer the design-facing checklist when unlocking design emission:
+4. Prefer the design-facing checklist when changing design emission:
    [`design-enable-and-emission.md`](./design-enable-and-emission.md).
 
-Default until a design unlock ceremony: **prism = 10000 bps**, **design = 0 bps**.
+Current committed default: **prism = 5000 bps**, **design = 5000 bps**.
diff --git a/xtask/src/design_check.rs b/xtask/src/design_check.rs
index b06e68033..3c5163114 100644
--- a/xtask/src/design_check.rs
+++ b/xtask/src/design_check.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ const CONTENT_PINS: &[(&str, &str)] = &[
     ("scoring_version", "challenge_scoring_version"),
     ("scoring_version_3", "u16 = 3"),
     ("bundle_protocol_version", "protocol_version = 1"),
-    ("emission_zero", "emission_share_bps = 0"),
-    ("prism_bps_sole", "10000"),
+    ("emission_share", "emission_share_bps = 5000"),
+    ("bps_sum", "10000"),
     ("SCORE_MAX", "1_000_000"),
     ("compose_port", "8093"),
     ("round_secs", "8_640"),
@@ -126,9 +126,11 @@ pub fn run(workspace_root: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
         failures.push("content pin no_latest_ban: spec must mention :latest as forbidden".into());
     }
 
-    // Emission must stay zero until ceremony.
-    if !body.contains("emission_share_bps = 0") {
-        failures.push("content pin emission_posture: need explicit design emission 0 bps".into());
+    // Emission split must be explicit (50/50 with prism; sum 10000).
+    if !body.contains("emission_share_bps = 5000") {
+        failures.push(
+            "content pin emission_posture: need explicit design emission_share_bps = 5000".into(),
+        );
     }
 
     // CSP sandbox without allow-scripts is the viewer guarantee.
@@ -189,7 +191,7 @@ mod tests {
             .any(|(n, v)| *n == "challenge_id" && *v == "design"));
         assert!(CONTENT_PINS
             .iter()
-            .any(|(n, v)| *n == "emission_zero" && *v == "emission_share_bps = 0"));
+            .any(|(n, v)| *n == "emission_share" && *v == "emission_share_bps = 5000"));
         assert!(CONTENT_PINS
             .iter()
             .any(|(n, v)| *n == "bank_v1" && *v == "bank_v1.json"));