diff --git a/compose.testing.yml b/compose.testing.yml
index 36532d91..d734c447 100644
--- a/compose.testing.yml
+++ b/compose.testing.yml
@@ -19,10 +19,10 @@ services:
       - "ONION_URL=http://test.onion"
       - "CORS_ORIGINS=*"
       - "RECEIVE_LN_ADDRESS=test@routstr.com"
-      - "COST_PER_REQUEST=10"
-      - "COST_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=0"
-      - "COST_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=0"
-      - "MODEL_BASED_PRICING=true"
+      - "FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST=10"
+      - "FIXED_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=0"
+      - "FIXED_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=0"
+      - "FIXED_PRICING=false"
       - "NSEC=nsec1testkey1234567890abcdef"
       - "REFUND_PROCESSING_INTERVAL=3600"
       - "MINIMUM_PAYOUT=1000"
diff --git a/docs/advanced/custom-pricing.md b/docs/advanced/custom-pricing.md
index 1ab429c7..27d1f153 100644
--- a/docs/advanced/custom-pricing.md
+++ b/docs/advanced/custom-pricing.md
@@ -14,11 +14,11 @@ Routstr supports three pricing models:
 
 ### Configuration
 
-Enable model-based pricing:
+Enable model-based pricing (default behavior):
 
 ```bash
 # .env
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=true
+FIXED_PRICING=false
 MODELS_PATH=/app/config/models.json
 EXCHANGE_FEE=1.005         # 0.5% exchange fee
 UPSTREAM_PROVIDER_FEE=1.05  # 5% provider margin
@@ -118,14 +118,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
 ### Configuration
 
-Set up token-based pricing:
+Set up token-based pricing overrides:
 
 ```bash
 # .env
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=false
-COST_PER_REQUEST=1              # 1 sat base fee
-COST_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=5      # 5 sats per 1K input
-COST_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=15    # 15 sats per 1K output
+FIXED_PRICING=false                 # use model pricing
+FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST=1            # optional base fee
+FIXED_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=5         # optional override
+FIXED_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=15       # optional override
 ```
 
 ### Custom Token Counting
diff --git a/docs/api/endpoints.md b/docs/api/endpoints.md
index 345eed00..abff6d64 100644
--- a/docs/api/endpoints.md
+++ b/docs/api/endpoints.md
@@ -436,6 +436,27 @@ Authorization: Bearer sk-...
 
 ## Provider Discovery
 
+## Admin Settings
+
+These endpoints are protected by the Admin cookie (`admin_password` set to your configured admin password).
+
+### Get Settings
+
+```http
+GET /admin/api/settings
+```
+
+Returns the current application settings (sensitive values may be redacted).
+
+### Update Settings
+
+```http
+PATCH /admin/api/settings
+Content-Type: application/json
+```
+
+Body is a partial JSON of settings fields to update. Validated and persisted to the database.
+
 ### List Providers
 
 Get available upstream providers.
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/configuration.md b/docs/getting-started/configuration.md
index 904553b7..360437cc 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/configuration.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # Configuration
 
-Routstr Core is configured through environment variables. This guide covers all available options.
+Routstr Core is configured via a single settings row in the database. Environment variables are only used on first run to seed that row (with a few computed defaults like `ONION_URL`). After that, the database is the source of truth. You can update settings at runtime via the admin API. `DATABASE_URL` is always env-only.
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ Routstr Core is configured through environment variables. This guide covers all
 
 | Variable | Description | Default | Required |
 |----------|-------------|---------|----------|
-| `MODEL_BASED_PRICING` | Enable model-specific pricing from models.json | `false` | ❌ |
-| `COST_PER_REQUEST` | Fixed cost per API request in sats | `1` | ❌ |
-| `COST_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS` | Cost per 1000 input tokens in sats | `0` | ❌ |
-| `COST_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS` | Cost per 1000 output tokens in sats | `0` | ❌ |
+| `FIXED_PRICING` | Force fixed per-request pricing (ignore model token pricing) | `false` | ❌ |
+| `FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST` | Fixed cost per API request in sats | `1` | ❌ |
+| `FIXED_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS` | Optional override: sats per 1000 input tokens | `0` | ❌ |
+| `FIXED_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS` | Optional override: sats per 1000 output tokens | `0` | ❌ |
 | `EXCHANGE_FEE` | Exchange rate markup (1.005 = 0.5% fee) | `1.005` | ❌ |
 | `UPSTREAM_PROVIDER_FEE` | Provider fee markup (1.05 = 5% fee) | `1.05` | ❌ |
 
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ Routstr Core is configured through environment variables. This guide covers all
 |----------|-------------|---------|----------|
 | `CORS_ORIGINS` | Comma-separated list of allowed CORS origins | `*` | ❌ |
 | `TOR_PROXY_URL` | SOCKS5 proxy URL for Tor connections | `socks5://127.0.0.1:9050` | ❌ |
+| `RELAYS` | Comma-separated nostr relays for NIP-91 | defaults applied | ❌ |
+| `PROVIDERS_REFRESH_INTERVAL_SECONDS` | Provider cache refresh interval | `300` | ❌ |
 
 ### Logging Configuration
 
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ Routstr Core is configured through environment variables. This guide covers all
 |----------|-------------|---------|----------|
 | `CHAT_COMPLETIONS_API_VERSION` | Append `api-version` to `/chat/completions` (Azure OpenAI) | - | ❌ |
 | `DATABASE_URL` | SQLite database connection string | `sqlite+aiosqlite:///keys.db` | ❌ |
+| `REFUND_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS` | Cache TTL for refund responses (seconds) | `3600` | ❌ |
 
 ## Configuration Examples
 
@@ -78,7 +81,6 @@ ADMIN_PASSWORD=my-secure-password
 # .env
 UPSTREAM_BASE_URL=https://api.anthropic.com/v1
 UPSTREAM_API_KEY=your-anthropic-key
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=true
 MODELS_PATH=/app/config/anthropic-models.json
 ```
 
@@ -115,36 +117,21 @@ ONION_URL=http://lightningai.onion
 CASHU_MINTS=https://mint1.com,https://mint2.com
 ```
 
-## Pricing Models
+## Pricing
 
-### Fixed Pricing
+- Default: pricing comes from your `models.json`.
+- Force fixed per-request pricing: set `FIXED_PRICING=true` and `FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST`.
+- Optional token overrides when using model pricing: set
+  `FIXED_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS` and/or `FIXED_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS`.
+- Legacy envs are still accepted and mapped automatically:
+  `MODEL_BASED_PRICING` → `!FIXED_PRICING`, `COST_PER_REQUEST` → `FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST`,
+  `COST_PER_1K_*` → `FIXED_PER_1K_*`.
 
-Simple per-request pricing:
+Example fixed pricing:
 
 ```bash
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=false
-COST_PER_REQUEST=10  # 10 sats per request
-```
-
-### Token-Based Pricing
-
-Charge based on token usage:
-
-```bash
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=false
-COST_PER_REQUEST=1  # 1 sat base fee
-COST_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=5   # 5 sats per 1k input
-COST_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=15  # 15 sats per 1k output
-```
-
-### Model-Based Pricing
-
-Use dynamic pricing from models.json:
-
-```bash
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=true
-EXCHANGE_FEE=1.01  # 1% exchange fee
-UPSTREAM_PROVIDER_FEE=1.00  # No additional markup
+FIXED_PRICING=true
+FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST=10
 ```
 
 ## Custom Models Configuration
diff --git a/docs/getting-started/docker.md b/docs/getting-started/docker.md
index 0620937f..9357a44f 100644
--- a/docs/getting-started/docker.md
+++ b/docs/getting-started/docker.md
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ NPUB=npub1...
 HTTP_URL=https://api.mynode.com
 ONION_URL=http://mynode.onion
 
-# Pricing
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=true
+# Pricing (optional)
+FIXED_PRICING=false
 EXCHANGE_FEE=1.005
 UPSTREAM_PROVIDER_FEE=1.05
 ```
diff --git a/docs/user-guide/models-pricing.md b/docs/user-guide/models-pricing.md
index 24ce7d6c..c5f08850 100644
--- a/docs/user-guide/models-pricing.md
+++ b/docs/user-guide/models-pricing.md
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ Routstr supports three pricing models:
 Simple per-request charging:
 
 ```bash
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=false
-COST_PER_REQUEST=10  # 10 sats per request
+FIXED_PRICING=true
+FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST=10  # 10 sats per request
 ```
 
 **Best for:**
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ COST_PER_REQUEST=10  # 10 sats per request
 Charge based on actual token usage:
 
 ```bash
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=false
-COST_PER_REQUEST=1              # 1 sat base fee
-COST_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=5      # 5 sats per 1K input
-COST_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=15    # 15 sats per 1K output
+FIXED_PRICING=false             # use model pricing
+FIXED_COST_PER_REQUEST=1        # optional base fee
+FIXED_PER_1K_INPUT_TOKENS=5     # optional override
+FIXED_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=15   # optional override
 ```
 
 **Best for:**
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ COST_PER_1K_OUTPUT_TOKENS=15    # 15 sats per 1K output
 Dynamic pricing based on model costs:
 
 ```bash
-MODEL_BASED_PRICING=true
+FIXED_PRICING=false
 EXCHANGE_FEE=1.005      # 0.5% exchange fee
 UPSTREAM_PROVIDER_FEE=1.05  # 5% provider fee
 ```