diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 994a90c89..e0ce18126 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - run: npm run lint
 
   security:
@@ -26,9 +27,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: npm audit (high severity)
         run: npm audit --audit-level=high
         continue-on-error: true
@@ -39,7 +41,13 @@ jobs:
     needs: typecheck
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        node-version: [18.x, 20.x, 22.x]
+        # Node 18/20/22 dropped — all EOL by May 2026:
+        # - v18 EOL Apr 2025 (1+ year dead)
+        # - v20 (Iron) Maintenance EOL Mar 2026
+        # - v22 (Jod) Maintenance EOL May 2026 (this month)
+        # Active LTS = v24 (Krypton, until May 2027). v26 = Current.
+        # better-sqlite3 v12.10.0 prebuilds: v24 + v26 (v20/v23 removed).
+        node-version: [24.x, 26.x]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -47,6 +55,7 @@ jobs:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run core tests
         run: npx vitest run tests/core/ tests/agents/
         timeout-minutes: 5
@@ -57,7 +66,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: typecheck
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        node-version: [18.x, 20.x, 22.x]
+        node-version: [24.x, 26.x]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -65,6 +74,7 @@ jobs:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run orchestra tests
         # Orchestra suite is large (~118 test files) — historical OOM on default
         # 2GB heap. Bumped to 8GB + forks pool (isolated workers, no shared state).
@@ -80,7 +90,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: typecheck
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        node-version: [18.x, 20.x, 22.x]
+        node-version: [24.x, 26.x]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -88,6 +98,7 @@ jobs:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run CLI tests
         run: npx vitest run tests/cli/
         timeout-minutes: 10
@@ -98,7 +109,7 @@ jobs:
     needs: typecheck
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        node-version: [18.x, 20.x, 22.x]
+        node-version: [24.x, 26.x]
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
@@ -106,6 +117,7 @@ jobs:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run remaining tests
         run: npx vitest run tests/mcp/ tests/api/ tests/integration/ tests/security/ tests/providers/ tests/monitor/ tests/skills/ tests/analytics/ tests/github/
         timeout-minutes: 10
@@ -122,9 +134,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run docs and scripts tests
         run: npx vitest run tests/docs/ tests/scripts/ --pool=forks
         timeout-minutes: 5
@@ -137,9 +150,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Install dashboard dependencies
         run: npm install --prefix src/dashboard --ignore-scripts 2>/dev/null || true
       - name: Run dashboard tests
@@ -156,9 +170,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run core tests (Windows informational)
         run: npx vitest run tests/core/ tests/agents/
         timeout-minutes: 10
@@ -172,9 +187,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Run tests with coverage
         run: npm run test:coverage
         timeout-minutes: 20
@@ -193,9 +209,10 @@ jobs:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
       - name: Install dashboard dependencies
         run: npm install --prefix src/dashboard --ignore-scripts 2>/dev/null || true
       - run: npm run build
diff --git a/.github/workflows/cross-platform-e2e.yml b/.github/workflows/cross-platform-e2e.yml
index feecbff40..db4221be3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/cross-platform-e2e.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/cross-platform-e2e.yml
@@ -28,10 +28,11 @@ jobs:
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '20'
+          node-version: '24'
           cache: npm
 
       - run: npm ci
+      - run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
 
       - run: npm run build
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/dashboard-build.yml b/.github/workflows/dashboard-build.yml
index 376f3f5e0..32ed05f6f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/dashboard-build.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/dashboard-build.yml
@@ -33,12 +33,9 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
-        # Node 18 dropped: Tailwind 4 @tailwindcss/oxide native binding is
-        # delivered as a per-platform optionalDependency, npm bug #4828 fails
-        # to resolve it on Node 18 in CI. Tailwind 4 officially supports
-        # Node 20+. engines.node remains >=18 for the library; only the
-        # dashboard build needs 20+. Sprint 175 PR #16 CI confirmed.
-        node-version: [20.x, 22.x]
+        # Node 18/20/22 dropped: all EOL by May 2026. Tailwind 4 + better-
+        # sqlite3 12.10.0 prebuilds target Node 24 (Active LTS) + 26 (Current).
+        node-version: [24.x, 26.x]
     env:
       ARTIFACT_SIZE_LIMIT_BYTES: 5242880
     steps:
@@ -54,6 +51,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install root dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Rebuild native binding (better-sqlite3)
+        run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
+
       - name: Install dashboard dependencies
         run: npm install --prefix src/dashboard --ignore-scripts
 
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ jobs:
         run: npx vitest run tests/dashboard/dashboard-build-smoke.test.ts --config vitest.dashboard.config.ts
 
       - name: Upload dashboard artifact
-        if: matrix.node-version == '22.x'
+        if: matrix.node-version == '24.x'
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: dashboard-dist
@@ -102,12 +102,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node.js 22.x
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
 
       - name: Install root dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Rebuild native binding (better-sqlite3)
+        run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
+
       - name: Install dashboard dependencies
         run: npm install --prefix src/dashboard --ignore-scripts
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docs.yml b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
index a80418ce2..5206c9210 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docs.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docs.yml
@@ -33,12 +33,15 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Rebuild native binding (better-sqlite3)
+        run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
+
       - name: Install docs dependencies
         run: npm install --prefix docs
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 671d2e8f4..c06d0c80f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -22,13 +22,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
           registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Rebuild native binding (better-sqlite3)
+        run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
+
       - name: Type check
         run: npm run lint
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index a1c5b2792..dbbb4a11c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -22,13 +22,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Setup Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '22.x'
+          node-version: '24.x'
           cache: npm
           registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org'
 
       - name: Install dependencies
         run: npm ci
 
+      - name: Rebuild native binding (better-sqlite3)
+        run: npm run ci:rebuild-native
+
       - name: Type check (lint)
         run: npm run lint
 
diff --git a/.github/workflows/secret-scan.yml b/.github/workflows/secret-scan.yml
index d0839d1b4..60517fd3e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/secret-scan.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/secret-scan.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: '20'
+          node-version: '24'
       - name: Run secret scan
         run: node scripts/security/secret-baseline.mjs
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index fa14188c8..acbc682d2 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
         "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "^1.27.1",
         "@noble/ed25519": "^2.3.0",
         "@noble/hashes": "^1.8.0",
-        "better-sqlite3": "^12.9.0",
+        "better-sqlite3": "^12.10.0",
         "commander": "^13.0.0",
         "telegraf": "^4.16.0",
         "ws": "^8.18.0",
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
         "vitest": "^3.0.0"
       },
       "engines": {
-        "node": ">=18.0.0"
+        "node": ">=24.0.0"
       },
       "optionalDependencies": {
         "discord.js": "^14.26.3"
@@ -1835,9 +1835,9 @@
       "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/better-sqlite3": {
-      "version": "12.9.0",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/better-sqlite3/-/better-sqlite3-12.9.0.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-wqUv4Gm3toFpHDQmaKD4QhZm3g1DjUBI0yzS4UBl6lElUmXFYdTQmmEDpAFa5o8FiFiymURypEnfVHzILKaxqQ==",
+      "version": "12.10.0",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/better-sqlite3/-/better-sqlite3-12.10.0.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-CyzaZRQKyHkB2ZInfTTl2nvT33EbDpjkLEbE8/Zck3Ll6O0qqvuGdrJ45HgtH+HykRg88ITY3AdreBGN70aBSQ==",
       "hasInstallScript": true,
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
@@ -1845,7 +1845,7 @@
         "prebuild-install": "^7.1.1"
       },
       "engines": {
-        "node": "20.x || 22.x || 23.x || 24.x || 25.x"
+        "node": "20.x || 22.x || 23.x || 24.x || 25.x || 26.x"
       }
     },
     "node_modules/bindings": {
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 351c2ec00..676ac6c99 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     "lint:errors": "node scripts/check-error-handling.mjs",
     "lint:link": "node scripts/lint-links.mjs",
     "clean": "rm -rf dist",
+    "ci:rebuild-native": "npm rebuild better-sqlite3 --ignore-scripts=false",
     "validate:publish": "npx tsx scripts/validate-publish.ts",
     "docs:generate-cli": "npx tsx scripts/generate-cli-docs.ts",
     "docs:ref": "node scripts/gen-reference-docs.mjs --write",
@@ -64,14 +65,14 @@
     "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk": "^1.27.1",
     "@noble/ed25519": "^2.3.0",
     "@noble/hashes": "^1.8.0",
-    "better-sqlite3": "^12.9.0",
+    "better-sqlite3": "^12.10.0",
     "commander": "^13.0.0",
     "telegraf": "^4.16.0",
     "ws": "^8.18.0",
     "zod": "^3.25.0"
   },
   "engines": {
-    "node": ">=18.0.0"
+    "node": ">=24.0.0"
   },
   "files": [
     "dist",
diff --git a/src/cli/entry.ts b/src/cli/entry.ts
index af61d8e66..bcf43c332 100644
--- a/src/cli/entry.ts
+++ b/src/cli/entry.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import { killAllSessions } from '../orchestra/tmux.js';
 
 // ─── Node Version Guard ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 const [major] = process.versions.node.split('.').map(Number);
-if ((major ?? 0) < 18) {
+if ((major ?? 0) < 24) {
   process.stderr.write(
-    `deckent requires Node.js >= 18. Current version: ${process.versions.node}\n`,
+    `deckent requires Node.js >= 24 (Active LTS). Current version: ${process.versions.node}\n`,
   );
   process.exit(1);
 }
diff --git a/tests/cli/bin-entry-validation.test.ts b/tests/cli/bin-entry-validation.test.ts
index a8c9c1295..402db061d 100644
--- a/tests/cli/bin-entry-validation.test.ts
+++ b/tests/cli/bin-entry-validation.test.ts
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ describe('bin entry — package.json validation', () => {
     expect(pkg['type']).toBe('module');
   });
 
-  it('engines.node is >= 18 (matches entry.ts runtime guard)', () => {
+  it('engines.node is >= 24 (Active LTS — Node 18/20/22 EOL by May 2026)', () => {
     const engines = pkg['engines'] as Record<string, string>;
-    expect(engines['node']).toMatch(/^>=\s*18/);
+    expect(engines['node']).toMatch(/^>=\s*24/);
   });
 
   it('files array contains dist so bin target is published', () => {
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ describe('bin entry — src/cli/entry.ts source validation', () => {
     expect(source).toContain("'SIGTERM'");
   });
 
-  it('has Node version guard requiring >= 18', () => {
-    expect(source).toContain('< 18');
+  it('has Node version guard requiring >= 24 (Active LTS)', () => {
+    expect(source).toContain('< 24');
   });
 
   it('imports handleCliError from helpers/process', () => {
diff --git a/tests/cli/npx-compat.test.ts b/tests/cli/npx-compat.test.ts
index 65dc7cb95..43174d769 100644
--- a/tests/cli/npx-compat.test.ts
+++ b/tests/cli/npx-compat.test.ts
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ describe('npx deckent compatibility', () => {
     expect(pkg.type).toBe('module');
   });
 
-  it('package.json engines requires node >= 18', () => {
+  it('package.json engines requires node >= 24 (Active LTS)', () => {
     const pkg = JSON.parse(readFileSync(join(PROJECT_ROOT, 'package.json'), 'utf-8'));
-    expect(pkg.engines.node).toMatch(/>=\s*18/);
+    expect(pkg.engines.node).toMatch(/>=\s*24/);
   });
 
   it('package.json files includes dist', () => {
diff --git a/tests/core/nervous-enabled-integration.test.ts b/tests/core/nervous-enabled-integration.test.ts
index 5ea9e84ea..94097c813 100644
--- a/tests/core/nervous-enabled-integration.test.ts
+++ b/tests/core/nervous-enabled-integration.test.ts
@@ -4,17 +4,21 @@
 // and that new-project defaults remain safely disabled.
 
 import { describe, it, expect } from 'vitest';
-import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { readFileSync, existsSync } from 'node:fs';
 import { join } from 'node:path';
 import { createDefaultConfig } from '../../src/core/config.js';
 
 // ─── Test 1: .deckent/config.json loads with enabled=true ──────────────────
 
 describe('nervous_system enabled=true pivot (Sprint 148 T-006)', () => {
-  it('project config .deckent/config.json has nervous_system.enabled === true', () => {
-    // Load the project config directly — simulates what loadConfig() does
-    const projectRoot = join(process.cwd());
-    const configPath = join(projectRoot, '.deckent', 'config.json');
+  // PR #16 made .deckent/config.json gitignored (it's a runtime file, not
+  // a tracked fixture). Skip the dogfood assertion when the file is absent
+  // (clean checkout / CI without a deckent init).
+  const projectRoot = join(process.cwd());
+  const configPath = join(projectRoot, '.deckent', 'config.json');
+  const hasProjectConfig = existsSync(configPath);
+
+  it.skipIf(!hasProjectConfig)('project config .deckent/config.json has nervous_system.enabled === true', () => {
     const raw = readFileSync(configPath, 'utf-8');
     const projectConfig = JSON.parse(raw) as { nervous_system?: { enabled?: boolean; mode?: string } };
 
diff --git a/tests/github/ci-workflow.test.ts b/tests/github/ci-workflow.test.ts
index 22ab23dcf..c5fbc3898 100644
--- a/tests/github/ci-workflow.test.ts
+++ b/tests/github/ci-workflow.test.ts
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ describe('CI Workflow (.github/workflows/ci.yml)', () => {
     });
 
     it('should still use matrix strategy for node versions', () => {
-      expect(content).toContain('node-version: [18.x, 20.x, 22.x]');
+      expect(content).toContain('node-version: [24.x, 26.x]');
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/tests/github/workflows/ci.test.ts b/tests/github/workflows/ci.test.ts
index d2432b2bf..860072d2f 100644
--- a/tests/github/workflows/ci.test.ts
+++ b/tests/github/workflows/ci.test.ts
@@ -39,14 +39,14 @@ describe('CI Workflow (.github/workflows/ci.yml)', () => {
       expect(workflowContent).toContain('npm run lint')
     })
 
-    it('should use Node.js 22.x', () => {
-      expect(workflowContent).toContain("node-version: '22.x'")
+    it('should use Node.js 24.x (Active LTS)', () => {
+      expect(workflowContent).toContain("node-version: '24.x'")
     })
   })
 
   describe('Test Jobs', () => {
     it('should test across multiple Node.js versions', () => {
-      expect(workflowContent).toContain('[18.x, 20.x, 22.x]')
+      expect(workflowContent).toContain('[24.x, 26.x]')
     })
 
     it('should depend on typecheck', () => {
diff --git a/tests/github/workflows/release.test.ts b/tests/github/workflows/release.test.ts
index ca44c1c30..bc5a8ae7f 100644
--- a/tests/github/workflows/release.test.ts
+++ b/tests/github/workflows/release.test.ts
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ describe('Release Workflow (.github/workflows/release.yml)', () => {
       expect(workflowContent).toContain("uses: actions/setup-node@v4")
     })
 
-    it('should specify node-version 22.x', () => {
-      expect(workflowContent).toMatch(/Setup Node\.js[\s\S]*?node-version: '22\.x'/)
+    it('should specify node-version 24.x (Active LTS)', () => {
+      expect(workflowContent).toMatch(/Setup Node\.js[\s\S]*?node-version: '24\.x'/)
     })
 
     it('should enable npm cache', () => {