diff --git a/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh b/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh
index 75f47f9..a8f6df4 100755
--- a/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh
+++ b/files/etc/uci-defaults/99-parahub-mesh
@@ -47,8 +47,9 @@ GUEST_IP="10.${GUEST_O1}.${GUEST_O2}.1"
 # 3. KEY GENERATION
 # ============================================================================
 
-PRIVATE_KEY=$(head -c 64 /dev/urandom | tr -dc 'A-Za-z0-9' | head -c 12)
-MESH_KEY=$(head -c 64 /dev/urandom | tr -dc 'A-Za-z0-9' | head -c 16)
+PRIVATE_KEY=$(head -c 128 /dev/urandom | tr -dc 'A-Za-z0-9' | head -c 12)
+# Shared mesh SAE key — same across all Parahub nodes for auto-peering
+MESH_KEY="ndIPclyqSn9LaCki"
 
 mkdir -p /etc/parahub
 cat > /etc/parahub/keys <<KEYS_EOF