diff --git a/scripts/surfer/crypto_funding_paper.py b/scripts/surfer/crypto_funding_paper.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..399bd93d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/surfer/crypto_funding_paper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Paper-forward harness for the crypto funding harvest (Phase 1 of the deployable spec).
+
+Daily, no-capital forward test. Pulls LIVE Binance USDT-perp funding (public API, no key),
+applies the validated filter (liquid + trailing-30d mean daily funding > 5bp), computes the
+intended equal-weight delta-neutral book, and tracks the funding that WOULD have accrued on
+yesterday's book -> builds a genuine forward track record on unseen future data.
+
+Modes: paper (run + log + persist state) | status (show current book/P&L).
+Cron (daily, after the 00:00 UTC funding settlement):
+  17 1 * * * /usr/bin/python3 /home/jgrusewski/Work/foxhunt/scripts/surfer/crypto_funding_paper.py paper >> /home/jgrusewski/Work/foxhunt/data/surfer/funding_paper_runs.log 2>&1
+
+Honest scope: tracks GROSS funding carry (the edge) + turnover (cost awareness). Does NOT model
+basis/tracking-error vol (needs live fills) or counterparty risk (un-simulable). It validates the
+ONE open quantitative question: does positive funding carry persist on unseen forward data?
+"""
+import datetime
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+import time
+import urllib.request
+
+_REPO = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))
+STATE = os.path.join(_REPO, "data/surfer/funding_paper_state.json")
+FAPI = "https://fapi.binance.com"
+
+HURDLE = 0.0005      # 5 bp/day trailing-30d mean funding (validated filter)
+EXIT_HURDLE = 0.0003  # hysteresis: keep held coins until they fall below 3 bp/day
+LIQ_USD = 5e6        # >$5M/day quote volume
+COST_RT = 0.0010     # 10 bp round-trip (for net-of-cost awareness)
+INTERVALS_PER_DAY = 3  # Binance funding settles every 8h
+
+
+def get(url, tries=4):
+    for a in range(tries):
+        try:
+            req = urllib.request.Request(url, headers={"User-Agent": "curl/8"})
+            return json.loads(urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30).read())
+        except Exception as e:
+            if a == tries - 1:
+                raise
+            time.sleep(2 * (a + 1))
+
+
+def universe():
+    """Liquid USDT perps: symbol -> 24h quote volume (USD)."""
+    t = get(f"{FAPI}/fapi/v1/ticker/24hr")
+    return {x["symbol"]: float(x["quoteVolume"]) for x in t
+            if x["symbol"].endswith("USDT") and float(x["quoteVolume"]) > LIQ_USD}
+
+
+def funding_hist(sym, limit=90):
+    """Last `limit` 8h funding rates for sym (90 ~= 30 days)."""
+    h = get(f"{FAPI}/fapi/v1/fundingRate?symbol={sym}&limit={limit}")
+    return [float(x["fundingRate"]) for x in h]
+
+
+def load_state():
+    if os.path.exists(STATE):
+        return json.load(open(STATE))
+    return {"positions": {}, "cum_gross": 0.0, "cum_net": 0.0, "days": 0}
+
+
+def main():
+    mode = sys.argv[1] if len(sys.argv) > 1 else "paper"
+    st = load_state()
+    if mode == "status":
+        print(f"funding-paper state: day {st['days']}, {len(st['positions'])} positions, "
+              f"cum gross {100*st['cum_gross']:+.2f}%  cum net {100*st['cum_net']:+.2f}%")
+        for c, w in sorted(st["positions"].items(), key=lambda kv: -kv[1])[:15]:
+            print(f"  {c:>14} w={w:.3f}")
+        return
+
+    today = datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).strftime("%Y-%m-%d")
+    liq = universe()
+    prev = st["positions"]
+    need = set(liq) | set(prev)                                    # fetch hist for new-universe + held coins
+    tf30, last24 = {}, {}
+    for i, sym in enumerate(sorted(need)):
+        try:
+            h = funding_hist(sym)
+        except Exception:
+            continue
+        if len(h) < 30:
+            continue
+        tf30[sym] = (sum(h) / len(h)) * INTERVALS_PER_DAY         # trailing mean DAILY funding
+        last24[sym] = sum(h[-INTERVALS_PER_DAY:])                 # last ~24h funding (3 settlements)
+        if i % 50 == 49:
+            time.sleep(0.5)
+
+    # realized funding on YESTERDAY's book (paper P&L for the period just elapsed)
+    realized = sum(w * last24.get(c, 0.0) for c, w in prev.items())
+
+    # new book: hysteresis filter (enter >HURDLE, keep if >EXIT_HURDLE)
+    qual = {}
+    for c in liq:
+        t = tf30.get(c)
+        if t is None:
+            continue
+        if t > HURDLE or (c in prev and t > EXIT_HURDLE):
+            qual[c] = t
+    n = len(qual)
+    newpos = {c: 1.0 / n for c in qual} if n else {}
+    turnover = sum(abs(newpos.get(c, 0) - prev.get(c, 0)) for c in set(newpos) | set(prev))
+    net = realized - turnover * (COST_RT / 2)
+
+    st["positions"] = newpos
+    st["cum_gross"] += realized
+    st["cum_net"] += net
+    st["days"] += 1
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(STATE), exist_ok=True)
+    json.dump(st, open(STATE, "w"))
+
+    top = sorted(qual.items(), key=lambda kv: -kv[1])[:5]
+    topstr = " ".join(f"{c}:{1e4*t:.0f}bp" for c, t in top)
+    print(f"{today} day={st['days']} | qualifying={n} liquid={len(liq)} | "
+          f"realized24h gross={100*realized:+.3f}% net={100*net:+.3f}% turn={turnover:.2f} | "
+          f"cum gross={100*st['cum_gross']:+.2f}% net={100*st['cum_net']:+.2f}% | top: {topstr}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()