diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 84637359..0127a1e0 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -25,5 +25,4 @@ ios/Local.xcconfig
 cli/where_cli_state.json
 *.swp
 *.txt
-*.log
-TODO_SPEC_UPDATES.md
+.log
diff --git a/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/E2eeStore.kt b/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/E2eeStore.kt
index 31e6f917..3c9009ca 100644
--- a/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/E2eeStore.kt
+++ b/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/E2eeStore.kt
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ internal class E2eeStore(
                         database.invitesQueries.insertPendingInvite(
                             ekPub = invite.qrPayload.ekPub,
                             suggestedName = invite.qrPayload.suggestedName,
-                            fingerprint = invite.qrPayload.fingerprint,
+                            fingerprint = invite.qrPayload.fingerprint ?: "",
                             discoverySecret = invite.qrPayload.discoverySecret,
                             privKeyBlob = invite.aliceEkPriv,
                             createdAt = invite.createdAt,
diff --git a/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchange.kt b/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchange.kt
index 1eeb7e69..f1abf4c2 100644
--- a/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchange.kt
+++ b/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchange.kt
@@ -33,11 +33,10 @@ object KeyExchange {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Bob: verify the QR fingerprint, perform single-term DH, derive SK, compute
-     * key_confirmation HMAC, and return the KeyExchangeInit message plus the initial
-     * session state.
+     * Bob: perform single-term DH, derive SK, compute key_confirmation HMAC, and
+     * return the KeyExchangeInit message plus the initial session state.
      *
-     * Throws AuthenticationException if the fingerprint or key_confirmation fails.
+     * Throws AuthenticationException if key_confirmation fails.
      */
     fun bobProcessQr(
         qr: QrPayload,
@@ -48,12 +47,6 @@ object KeyExchange {
             throw ProtocolVersionException("Unsupported protocol version ${qr.protocolVersion}")
         }
 
-        // VERIFY FINGERPRINT (#157)
-        val expectedFp = qrFingerprint(qr.ekPub)
-        if (expectedFp != qr.fingerprint) {
-            throw AuthenticationException("QR code fingerprint mismatch — possible tampering or mis-scan")
-        }
-
         val ekB = generateX25519KeyPair()
         val sk = x25519(ekB.priv, qr.ekPub)
 
diff --git a/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/Types.kt b/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/Types.kt
index 7d01f0ef..ba43fe25 100644
--- a/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/Types.kt
+++ b/shared/src/commonMain/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/Types.kt
@@ -216,9 +216,9 @@ data class QrPayload(
     @Serializable(with = ByteArrayBase64Serializer::class) val ekPub: ByteArray,
     @SerialName("suggested_name")
     val suggestedName: String,
-    // hex(SHA-256(ekPub)[0:20])
+    // hex(SHA-256(ekPub)[0:20]); optional — ignored by receiver (Stage 1 of §4.2 removal)
     @SerialName("fingerprint")
-    val fingerprint: String,
+    val fingerprint: String? = null,
     // Fresh random 32-byte secret; HKDF IKM for the discovery token (§4.2).
     @SerialName("discovery_secret")
     @Serializable(with = ByteArrayBase64Serializer::class) val discoverySecret: ByteArray,
diff --git a/shared/src/commonTest/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchangeTest.kt b/shared/src/commonTest/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchangeTest.kt
index 9c21c5ea..5e955349 100644
--- a/shared/src/commonTest/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchangeTest.kt
+++ b/shared/src/commonTest/kotlin/net/af0/where/e2ee/KeyExchangeTest.kt
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class KeyExchangeTest {
         val (qr, ekPriv) = KeyExchange.aliceCreateQrPayload("Alice")
 
         assertEquals(32, qr.ekPub.size)
-        assertEquals(40, qr.fingerprint.length) // hex(SHA-256(ekPub)[0:20])
+        assertEquals(40, qr.fingerprint?.length) // hex(SHA-256(ekPub)[0:20]); still sent by Alice
 
         // ekPriv is 32 bytes and non-zero.
         assertEquals(32, ekPriv.size)
@@ -214,21 +214,6 @@ class KeyExchangeTest {
         sk.zeroize()
     }
 
-    @Test
-    fun `bobProcessQr rejects tampered fingerprint`() {
-        val (qr, _) = KeyExchange.aliceCreateQrPayload("Alice")
-        val badQr = qr.copy(fingerprint = "0".repeat(40)) // Tampered fingerprint
-
-        val threw =
-            try {
-                KeyExchange.bobProcessQr(badQr, "Bob")
-                false
-            } catch (_: AuthenticationException) {
-                true
-            }
-        assertTrue(threw, "Expected AuthenticationException for tampered fingerprint")
-    }
-
     @Test
     fun `name encryption and decryption works correctly`() {
         val (qr, aliceEkPriv) = KeyExchange.aliceCreateQrPayload("Alice")