diff --git a/lib/git-crypt.sh b/lib/git-crypt.sh
index 3877c0c..ce64ad1 100644
--- a/lib/git-crypt.sh
+++ b/lib/git-crypt.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # =============================================================================
 # lib/git-crypt.sh
-# git-crypt lifecycle management (init, export, verify).
+# git-crypt lifecycle management (init, export, verify, rotate).
 # =============================================================================
 
 gcrypt_init() {
@@ -26,16 +26,130 @@ gcrypt_verify() {
   info "Verifying git-crypt status for ${genome_name}..."
   git-crypt lock
 
-  # Checking if the private marker is still encrypted (binary check)
   if file "raw/private/.gitkeep" 2>/dev/null | grep -q "data"; then
     success "Encryption verified: private/ directory is protected."
   else
-    warn "Encryption check inconclusive. Please run 'git-crypt status' manually."
+    warn "Encryption check inconclusive. Run 'git-crypt status' manually."
   fi
 
   [[ -f "$key_path" ]] && git-crypt unlock "$key_path"
 }
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# gcrypt_rotate_key <genome_name>
+# Rotates the git-crypt symmetric key for the current genome directory.
+#
+# WHAT THIS DOES:
+#   1. Unlocks the repo with the existing key (working tree is decrypted).
+#   2. Removes the old key material from .git/git-crypt/keys/.
+#   3. Runs git-crypt init to generate a new symmetric key.
+#   4. Stages and commits private files — they are re-encrypted with the new key.
+#   5. Exports the new key to KEYS_DIR for Vaultwarden upload.
+#
+# WHAT THIS DOES NOT DO (limitation):
+#   Git history still contains blobs encrypted with the OLD key. Anyone who
+#   has the old key and access to the git history can still decrypt those blobs.
+#   To purge old encrypted blobs from history entirely, run git-filter-repo
+#   separately after this function completes (manual step — not automated here
+#   because it rewrites all commit hashes and requires force-pushing).
+#
+# USAGE:
+#   source lib/git-crypt.sh
+#   cd ~/knowledge-genome-setup/genome-dev
+#   gcrypt_rotate_key "genome-dev"
+#
+# REQUIRES:
+#   - The old key file at KEYS_DIR/<genome_name>.key  OR  the repo is already unlocked.
+#   - Clean working tree (no uncommitted changes outside private/).
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+gcrypt_rotate_key() {
+  local genome_name="$1"
+  local old_key_path="${KEYS_DIR}/${genome_name}.key"
+  local new_key_name="${genome_name}-rotated-$(date +%Y%m%d)"
+
+  step "Key rotation: ${genome_name}"
+
+  warn "SCOPE: this rotates the key for future commits only."
+  warn "       Old git history retains blobs encrypted with the previous key."
+  warn "       See function header in git-crypt.sh for full purge instructions."
+  echo ""
+
+  # 1. Unlock with old key (if not already unlocked)
+  if git-crypt status 2>/dev/null | grep -q "encrypted"; then
+    info "Repository appears to be locked. Attempting unlock..."
+    if [[ -f "$old_key_path" ]]; then
+      git-crypt unlock "$old_key_path"
+      success "Unlocked with existing key."
+    else
+      error "Old key not found at: ${old_key_path}"
+      error "Unlock manually before rotating: git-crypt unlock /path/to/${genome_name}.key"
+      exit 1
+    fi
+  else
+    info "Repository is already unlocked — proceeding."
+  fi
+
+  # 2. Ensure working tree is clean (private files excluded — they will be re-staged)
+  if ! git diff --quiet -- ':!raw/private' ':!wiki/private' 2>/dev/null; then
+    error "Working tree has uncommitted changes outside private/. Commit or stash them first."
+    exit 1
+  fi
+
+  # 3. Remove old key material only (preserves .git/git-crypt/ structure)
+  info "Removing old key material..."
+  rm -rf .git/git-crypt/keys
+  success "Old key material removed."
+
+  # 4. Re-initialize git-crypt (generates a new symmetric key)
+  info "Initializing new symmetric key..."
+  git-crypt init
+  success "New key generated."
+
+  # 5. Re-stage private files so they are committed encrypted with the new key
+  local staged=0
+  if compgen -G "raw/private/*" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    git add raw/private/
+    staged=1
+  fi
+  if compgen -G "wiki/private/*" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+    git add wiki/private/
+    staged=1
+  fi
+
+  if [[ $staged -eq 1 ]]; then
+    # Exclude .gitkeep-only commits — only commit if real content exists
+    if ! git diff --cached --quiet; then
+      git commit -m "security: rotate git-crypt key for ${genome_name}"
+      success "Private files re-committed with new key."
+    else
+      info "Only .gitkeep files in private/ — no content commit needed."
+    fi
+  else
+    info "No private files found to re-encrypt."
+  fi
+
+  # 6. Export new key
+  gcrypt_export_key "$new_key_name"
+
+  echo ""
+  success "Key rotation complete for: ${genome_name}"
+  echo ""
+  warn "NEXT STEPS:"
+  echo "  1. Push the new commit:  git push origin main"
+  echo "  2. Upload the new key to Vaultwarden:"
+  echo "       base64 < ${KEYS_DIR}/${new_key_name}.key"
+  echo "       → Secure Note name: \"${genome_name} key\"  (replace existing)"
+  echo "  3. Delete both key files from disk:"
+  echo "       rm ${KEYS_DIR}/${genome_name}.key"
+  echo "       rm ${KEYS_DIR}/${new_key_name}.key"
+  echo "  4. Revoke access from any previous key holders."
+  echo "  5. For full history purge (removes old encrypted blobs from git history):"
+  echo "       git filter-repo --invert-paths --path raw/private --path wiki/private"
+  echo "       git push --force origin main"
+  echo "       (⚠ rewrites all commit hashes — coordinate with any collaborators)"
+  echo ""
+}
+
 gcrypt_print_key_instructions() {
   local genome_name="$1"
   local v_url="${VAULTWARDEN_URL:-https://your-vaultwarden.com}"