diff --git a/doc/architecture/paperclip-runner-compatibility.md b/doc/architecture/paperclip-runner-compatibility.md
index effabc1eba4..59a047303e5 100644
--- a/doc/architecture/paperclip-runner-compatibility.md
+++ b/doc/architecture/paperclip-runner-compatibility.md
@@ -216,6 +216,24 @@ Catalog generation and production authorization are separate steps.
   effect.
 - Receipts redact credentials, private provider payloads, and hidden identity.
 
+## Durable journal proof reads
+
+The durable writer and controller accept the same 192 MiB raw journal limit.
+Identity, cleanup, warm-transition, and quiescent recovery reads scan the JSON
+with a fixed 48 KiB input buffer. They retain only the fields used to prove
+ownership, completion, and settled side effects. Generic tool output and task
+text do not become a second in-memory journal. One synchronous scan runs at a
+time; every retained node and string shares an 8 MiB conservative allocation
+budget, including fields materialized after command or event classification.
+
+Proof reads validate discarded JSON as well as retained fields. They preserve
+original types, duplicate-key last-wins behavior, complete semantic evidence,
+and complete `run.attach` commands and results. The full raw file digest covers
+all omitted bytes. Warm-transition fingerprints keep their existing byte-exact
+algorithm. Symlinks, changing files, invalid JSON, excessive nesting, or excess
+essential evidence fail closed. A projection is read-only evidence and must
+never be written back as a replacement journal.
+
 ## Required compatibility matrix
 
 Each runner-related pull request updates only rows that it can execute. The
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-journal-projection.test.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-journal-projection.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eef76ad4732
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-journal-projection.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import {
+  mkdtempSync,
+  mkdirSync,
+  readFileSync,
+  rmSync,
+  symlinkSync,
+  writeFileSync,
+} from "node:fs";
+import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
+import {
+  readNativeJournalProjection,
+  scanNativeStateFile,
+  NATIVE_JOURNAL_PROJECTION_BUDGET,
+} from "./native-journal-projection.js";
+import { runnerdStateProvesIncompleteBootstrap } from "./native-session-executor.js";
+const roots: string[] = [];
+afterEach(() => {
+  vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  for (const root of roots.splice(0))
+    rmSync(root, { recursive: true, force: true });
+});
+function fixture(raw: string) {
+  const root = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "journal-projection-"));
+  roots.push(root);
+  mkdirSync(join(root, "control-plane"));
+  const path = join(root, "control-plane/control-plane-state.json");
+  writeFileSync(path, raw);
+  return { root, path };
+}
+const event = (type: string, payload: unknown) => ({
+  eventType: type,
+  sourceSeq: 1,
+  sourceEventId: "event-1",
+  priority: 1,
+  deliveryCount: 1,
+  logicalEffectCount: 1,
+  envelope: {
+    runId: "run-1",
+    normalizedSessionId: "session-1",
+    payload: { eventType: type, runId: "run-1", payload },
+  },
+});
+describe("bounded native journal proof projection", () => {
+  it("does not materialize large tool history during a real controller admission read", () => {
+    const { root } = fixture(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schema: "paperclip.runner.durable.control-plane-state.v1",
+        identity: { runId: "run-1" },
+        connectionCount: 0,
+        commands: [],
+        committedEvents: [
+          event("item.completed", { text: "x".repeat(24 * 1024 * 1024) }),
+        ],
+      }),
+    );
+    const parse = JSON.parse;
+    const sizes: number[] = [];
+    vi.spyOn(JSON, "parse").mockImplementation((text, reviver) => {
+      sizes.push(text.length);
+      return parse(text, reviver);
+    });
+    expect(runnerdStateProvesIncompleteBootstrap(root)).toBe(false);
+    expect(Math.max(...sizes)).toBeLessThan(NATIVE_JOURNAL_PROJECTION_BUDGET);
+  });
+  it("hashes omitted bytes while retaining semantic and process proof", () => {
+    const semantic = {
+      semantic_tool: {
+        operationId: "paperclip_finish",
+        input: { summary: "exact" },
+      },
+    };
+    const state = {
+      schema: "schema",
+      identity: { runId: "exact" },
+      commands: [
+        {
+          type: "run.attach",
+          payload: { nested: { prompt: "must retain" } },
+          result: { status: "completed" },
+        },
+        {
+          type: "turn.start",
+          payload: { prompt: "discard" },
+          result: { result: { providerTurnId: "turn" } },
+        },
+      ],
+      committedEvents: [
+        event("item.completed", {
+          text: "x".repeat(3 * 1024 * 1024),
+          processId: 42,
+        }),
+        event("semantic_tool.input", semantic),
+      ],
+    };
+    const raw = JSON.stringify(state),
+      { path } = fixture(raw),
+      proof = readNativeJournalProjection(path);
+    expect(proof.sha256).toBe(createHash("sha256").update(raw).digest("hex"));
+    expect(proof.retainedBudgetBytes).toBeLessThan(32 * 1024);
+    expect(proof.value).toMatchObject({
+      commands: [
+        {
+          payload: state.commands[0]!.payload,
+          result: state.commands[0]!.result,
+        },
+        { payload: {}, result: { result: { providerTurnId: "turn" } } },
+      ],
+      committedEvents: [
+        { envelope: { payload: { payload: { processId: 42 } } } },
+        { envelope: { payload: { payload: semantic } } },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(JSON.stringify(proof.value)).not.toContain('"text"');
+  });
+  it("preserves duplicate-key last-wins semantics and original malformed types", () => {
+    const { path } = fixture(
+      '{"schema":"old","schema":"new","identity":{"runId":"wrong","runId":"right","__proto__":{"polluted":true}},"commands":[{"type":"run.attach","payload":null,"result":[]},{"type":"turn.start","payload":"bad","result":false}],"committedEvents":[{"envelope":null}]}',
+    );
+    const proof = readNativeJournalProjection(path).value;
+    expect(proof).toMatchObject({
+      schema: "new",
+      identity: { runId: "right" },
+      commands: [
+        { payload: null, result: [] },
+        { payload: "bad", result: false },
+      ],
+      committedEvents: [{ envelope: null }],
+    });
+    expect(({} as Record<string, unknown>).polluted).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+  it.each([
+    '{"identity":{},"ignored":"bad\\q"}',
+    '{"identity":{},"ignored":[1,]}',
+    '{"identity":{},"ignored":01}',
+    '{"identity":{},"ignored":"unterminated}',
+    '{"identity":{}} trailing',
+    '{"identity":{},"ignored":{"x":1,}}',
+  ])("rejects malformed JSON even in discarded bytes: %s", (raw) => {
+    const { path } = fixture(raw);
+    expect(() => readNativeJournalProjection(path, "identity")).toThrow();
+  });
+  it("rejects excessive essential evidence before parsing a large token", () => {
+    const { path } = fixture(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schema: "s",
+        identity: { runId: "x".repeat(4 * 1024 * 1024) },
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(() => readNativeJournalProjection(path)).toThrow(
+      "native_journal_projection_budget_exceeded",
+    );
+  });
+  it("bounds complete semantic evidence without silently dropping it", () => {
+    const { path } = fixture(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        schema: "s",
+        commands: [
+          {
+            type: "semantic_tool.result",
+            payload: { input: "x".repeat(4 * 1024 * 1024) },
+            result: null,
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+    );
+    expect(() => readNativeJournalProjection(path)).toThrow(
+      "native_journal_projection_budget_exceeded",
+    );
+  });
+  it("keeps the turn identity without materializing unrelated turn result text", () => {
+    const { path } = fixture(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        commands: [
+          {
+            type: "turn.start",
+            payload: {},
+            result: {
+              result: {
+                providerTurnId: "turn-1",
+                output: "x".repeat(12 * 1024 * 1024),
+              },
+            },
+          },
+        ],
+      }),
+    );
+    const proof = readNativeJournalProjection(path);
+    expect(proof.value).toMatchObject({
+      commands: [{ result: { result: { providerTurnId: "turn-1" } } }],
+    });
+    expect(proof.retainedBudgetBytes).toBeLessThan(4096);
+  });
+  it("rejects excessive nesting even in discarded history", () => {
+    const { path } = fixture(
+      '{"ignored":' + "[".repeat(130) + "0" + "]".repeat(130) + "}",
+    );
+    expect(() => readNativeJournalProjection(path, "identity")).toThrow(
+      "native_journal_projection_budget_exceeded",
+    );
+  });
+  it("rejects symlinks and detects file changes during incremental scans", () => {
+    const { path, root } = fixture('{"identity":{}}');
+    const link = join(root, "link");
+    symlinkSync(path, link);
+    expect(() => readNativeJournalProjection(link)).toThrow();
+    expect(() =>
+      scanNativeStateFile(path, 1024, () =>
+        writeFileSync(path, "changed and larger"),
+      ),
+    ).toThrow("native_state_file_changed");
+  });
+  it("streams byte-identical base64 chunks, including arbitrary tails", () => {
+    for (const size of [0, 1, 2, 3, 49151, 49152, 49153, 100000]) {
+      const { path } = fixture("x".repeat(size));
+      let encoded = "";
+      const proof = scanNativeStateFile(
+        path,
+        200000,
+        (chunk) => (encoded += chunk.toString("base64")),
+      );
+      expect(encoded).toBe(readFileSync(path).toString("base64"));
+      expect(proof.byteSize).toBe(size);
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-journal-projection.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-journal-projection.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b3f39b00365
--- /dev/null
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-journal-projection.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,389 @@
+import { createHash } from "node:crypto";
+import { closeSync, constants, fstatSync, openSync, readSync } from "node:fs";
+import { DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES } from "../../vendor/paperclip-runner/index.js";
+
+// These are read-only proof projections, never replacement journal contents.
+// The raw writer limit still applies, including to bytes omitted from the proof.
+export const NATIVE_JOURNAL_PROJECTION_BUDGET = 8 * 1024 * 1024;
+const CHUNK = 48 * 1024; // divisible by three for the existing base64 fingerprint
+const OMIT = Symbol("omitted");
+const REF = Symbol("raw JSON span");
+type Span = { [REF]: true; start: number; end: number };
+type Mode = "keep" | "skip" | "span";
+type Select = (path: string[]) => Mode;
+const object = (v: unknown): v is Record<string, unknown> =>
+  v !== null && typeof v === "object" && !Array.isArray(v);
+const isSpan = (v: unknown): v is Span => object(v) && REF in v;
+const full: Select = () => "keep";
+const stateFields = new Set([
+  "schema",
+  "identity",
+  "tickets",
+  "leases",
+  "commands",
+  "committedEvents",
+  "ackedSourceSeq",
+  "connectionCount",
+  "commandDeliveryCounts",
+  "runAttachTemplate",
+  "warmTransition",
+  "completedWarmTransition",
+  "replayDeliveries",
+  "duplicateCommandResults",
+  "freshBootstraps",
+  "malformedFrames",
+]);
+const essentialEvents = new Set([
+  "session.started",
+  "session.resumed",
+  "session.reconciled",
+  "turn.accepted",
+  "semantic_tool.input",
+  "semantic_tool.result",
+  "mcp_app.tool_input",
+  "harness.diagnostic",
+]);
+
+/** One synchronous scanner can execute at a time. All retained nodes/strings,
+ * including later materialized spans, share the same conservative byte budget. */
+class Budget {
+  used = 0;
+  charge(bytes: number) {
+    this.used += bytes;
+    if (this.used > NATIVE_JOURNAL_PROJECTION_BUDGET)
+      throw new Error("native_journal_projection_budget_exceeded");
+  }
+}
+
+class JsonScanner {
+  private buffer = Buffer.allocUnsafe(CHUNK);
+  private begin = -1;
+  private length = 0;
+  offset: number;
+  constructor(
+    private fd: number,
+    private end: number,
+    private budget: Budget,
+    start = 0,
+    private digest?: ReturnType<typeof createHash>,
+  ) {
+    this.offset = start;
+  }
+  private peek(): number {
+    if (this.offset >= this.end) return -1;
+    if (this.offset < this.begin || this.offset >= this.begin + this.length) {
+      this.begin = this.offset;
+      this.length = readSync(
+        this.fd,
+        this.buffer,
+        0,
+        Math.min(CHUNK, this.end - this.offset),
+        this.offset,
+      );
+      if (!this.length) throw new Error("native_state_file_changed");
+      this.digest?.update(this.buffer.subarray(0, this.length));
+    }
+    return this.buffer[this.offset - this.begin]!;
+  }
+  private space() {
+    while ([32, 9, 10, 13].includes(this.peek())) this.offset++;
+  }
+  private expect(byte: number) {
+    if (this.peek() !== byte) throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+    this.offset++;
+  }
+  private token(start: number, end: number, key = false): unknown {
+    const size = end - start;
+    if (key && size > 4096)
+      throw new Error("native_journal_projection_budget_exceeded");
+    this.budget.charge(size * 3 + 64);
+    const bytes = Buffer.allocUnsafe(size);
+    let count = 0;
+    while (count < size) {
+      const read = readSync(this.fd, bytes, count, size - count, start + count);
+      if (!read) throw new Error("native_state_file_changed");
+      count += read;
+    }
+    return JSON.parse(bytes.toString("utf8"));
+  }
+  private string(capture: boolean, key = false): unknown {
+    const start = this.offset;
+    this.expect(34);
+    for (;;) {
+      const c = this.peek();
+      this.offset++;
+      if (c === 34) break;
+      if (c < 32) throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+      if (c === 92) {
+        const escape = this.peek();
+        this.offset++;
+        if (escape === 117) {
+          for (let n = 0; n < 4; n++) {
+            const hex = this.peek();
+            if (
+              !(
+                (hex >= 48 && hex <= 57) ||
+                (hex >= 65 && hex <= 70) ||
+                (hex >= 97 && hex <= 102)
+              )
+            )
+              throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+            this.offset++;
+          }
+        } else if (![34, 92, 47, 98, 102, 110, 114, 116].includes(escape))
+          throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+      }
+    }
+    return capture ? this.token(start, this.offset, key) : OMIT;
+  }
+  value(path: string[], select: Select, depth = 0, forced?: Mode): unknown {
+    if (depth > 128)
+      throw new Error("native_journal_projection_budget_exceeded");
+    this.space();
+    const start = this.offset,
+      mode = forced ?? select(path),
+      c = this.peek();
+    if (mode === "span") {
+      this.value(path, select, depth, "skip");
+      this.budget.charge(96);
+      return { [REF]: true, start, end: this.offset } satisfies Span;
+    }
+    const keep = mode === "keep";
+    if (keep) this.budget.charge(64);
+    if (c === 34) return this.string(keep);
+    if (c === 123 || c === 91) {
+      const array = c === 91;
+      this.offset++;
+      this.space();
+      const result: unknown[] | Record<string, unknown> = array ? [] : {};
+      const close = array ? 93 : 125;
+      if (this.peek() === close) {
+        this.offset++;
+        return keep ? result : OMIT;
+      }
+      let index = 0;
+      for (;;) {
+        this.space();
+        let key: string;
+        if (array) key = String(index++);
+        else {
+          const parsed = this.string(keep, true);
+          key = keep ? (parsed as string) : "";
+          this.space();
+          this.expect(58);
+        }
+        const child = this.value(
+          keep ? [...path, key] : path,
+          select,
+          depth + 1,
+          keep ? undefined : "skip",
+        );
+        if (keep && child !== OMIT)
+          Object.defineProperty(result, key, {
+            value: child,
+            configurable: true,
+            enumerable: true,
+            writable: true,
+          });
+        this.space();
+        if (this.peek() === close) {
+          this.offset++;
+          return keep ? result : OMIT;
+        }
+        this.expect(44);
+      }
+    }
+    for (const [first, literal, value] of [
+      [116, "true", true],
+      [102, "false", false],
+      [110, "null", null],
+    ] as const) {
+      if (c === first) {
+        for (const ch of literal) this.expect(ch.charCodeAt(0));
+        return keep ? value : OMIT;
+      }
+    }
+    let number = "";
+    while (
+      this.peek() >= 0 &&
+      ![32, 9, 10, 13, 44, 93, 125].includes(this.peek())
+    ) {
+      if (number.length >= 128) throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+      number += String.fromCharCode(this.peek());
+      this.offset++;
+    }
+    if (!/^-?(?:0|[1-9]\d*)(?:\.\d+)?(?:[eE][+-]?\d+)?$/.test(number))
+      throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+    return keep ? JSON.parse(number) : OMIT;
+  }
+  parse(select: Select): unknown {
+    const result = this.value([], select);
+    this.space();
+    if (this.offset !== this.end)
+      throw new Error("native_journal_invalid_json");
+    return result;
+  }
+}
+
+function unchanged(
+  before: ReturnType<typeof fstatSync>,
+  after: ReturnType<typeof fstatSync>,
+) {
+  if (
+    before.size !== after.size ||
+    before.mtimeMs !== after.mtimeMs ||
+    before.ino !== after.ino
+  )
+    throw new Error("native_state_file_changed");
+}
+
+export function readNativeJournalProjection(
+  path: string,
+  purpose: "identity" | "evidence" = "evidence",
+) {
+  const fd = openSync(path, constants.O_RDONLY | constants.O_NOFOLLOW);
+  try {
+    const before = fstatSync(fd);
+    if (
+      !before.isFile() ||
+      before.size > DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES
+    )
+      throw new Error("native_journal_too_large");
+    const budget = new Budget(),
+      digest = createHash("sha256");
+    const select: Select = (parts) => {
+      if (
+        parts.length === 1 &&
+        (purpose === "identity"
+          ? !["schema", "identity"].includes(parts[0]!)
+          : !stateFields.has(parts[0]!))
+      )
+        return "skip";
+      if (
+        parts[0] === "commands" &&
+        parts.length === 3 &&
+        ["payload", "result"].includes(parts[2]!)
+      )
+        return "span";
+      if (
+        parts[0] === "committedEvents" &&
+        parts.length === 5 &&
+        parts.slice(2).join("/") === "envelope/payload/payload"
+      )
+        return "span";
+      return "keep";
+    };
+    const value = new JsonScanner(fd, before.size, budget, 0, digest).parse(
+      select,
+    );
+    const materialize = (v: unknown, selection: Select): unknown =>
+      isSpan(v)
+        ? new JsonScanner(fd, v.end, budget, v.start).parse(selection)
+        : v;
+    // A projection preserves original primitive/array/object types. It must not
+    // turn malformed authority into a valid empty object.
+    const fields =
+      (names: string[]): Select =>
+      (parts) =>
+        parts.length === 1 && !names.includes(parts[0]!) ? "skip" : "keep";
+    if (object(value)) {
+      if (Array.isArray(value.commands))
+        for (const command of value.commands) {
+          if (!object(command)) continue;
+          const complete =
+            command.type === "run.attach" ||
+            command.type === "semantic_tool.result";
+          if ("payload" in command)
+            command.payload = materialize(
+              command.payload,
+              complete
+                ? full
+                : fields(
+                    command.type === "run.prepare"
+                      ? ["completionContract"]
+                      : [],
+                  ),
+            );
+          if ("result" in command)
+            command.result = materialize(
+              command.result,
+              complete
+                ? full
+                : command.type === "turn.start"
+                  ? (parts) =>
+                      (parts.length === 1 && parts[0] !== "result") ||
+                      (parts.length === 2 && parts[1] !== "providerTurnId")
+                        ? "skip"
+                        : "keep"
+                  : fields([]),
+            );
+        }
+      if (Array.isArray(value.committedEvents))
+        for (const entry of value.committedEvents) {
+          if (
+            !object(entry) ||
+            !object(entry.envelope) ||
+            !object(entry.envelope.payload)
+          )
+            continue;
+          const event = entry.envelope.payload;
+          if ("payload" in event)
+            event.payload = materialize(
+              event.payload,
+              essentialEvents.has(String(event.eventType))
+                ? full
+                : fields(["processId"]),
+            );
+        }
+    }
+    unchanged(before, fstatSync(fd));
+    return {
+      value,
+      sha256: digest.digest("hex"),
+      byteSize: before.size,
+      retainedBudgetBytes: budget.used,
+    };
+  } finally {
+    closeSync(fd);
+  }
+}
+
+/** Hash the complete source, including discarded history, without retaining it. */
+export function scanNativeStateFile(
+  path: string,
+  maximum: number,
+  consume?: (chunk: Buffer) => void,
+) {
+  const fd = openSync(path, constants.O_RDONLY | constants.O_NOFOLLOW);
+  try {
+    const before = fstatSync(fd);
+    if (!before.isFile() || before.size > maximum)
+      throw new Error("native_state_file_too_large");
+    const buffer = Buffer.allocUnsafe(CHUNK),
+      digest = createHash("sha256");
+    let offset = 0;
+    while (offset < before.size) {
+      const length = Math.min(CHUNK, before.size - offset);
+      let count = 0;
+      while (count < length) {
+        const read = readSync(
+          fd,
+          buffer,
+          count,
+          length - count,
+          offset + count,
+        );
+        if (!read) throw new Error("native_state_file_changed");
+        count += read;
+      }
+      const chunk = buffer.subarray(0, count);
+      digest.update(chunk);
+      consume?.(chunk);
+      offset += count;
+    }
+    unchanged(before, fstatSync(fd));
+    return { sha256: digest.digest("hex"), byteSize: before.size };
+  } finally {
+    closeSync(fd);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts
index 9f79d00df23..b5ae041c94c 100644
--- a/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts
+++ b/server/src/services/native-runtime/native-session-executor.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import { readNativeJournalProjection, scanNativeStateFile } from "./native-journal-projection.js";
 import {
   isSupportedRemoteCodexVersion,
   parseCodexCliVersion,
@@ -1790,19 +1791,13 @@ function cleanupStateSnapshot(root: string, providerFile = "codex-provider-state
     throw new Error("native_cleanup_maintenance_unproven");
   }
   const files = [...CLEANUP_CANONICAL_FILES.slice(0, 2), `runner/${providerFile}`];
-  const bytes = files.map((file) =>
-    readBoundedNativeFile(
-      resolve(root, file),
-      nativeStateFileMaxBytes(file),
-      "native_cleanup_maintenance_unproven",
-    ),
+  const controlProof = readNativeJournalProjection(resolve(root, files[0]!));
+  const bytes = files.slice(1).map((file) =>
+    readBoundedNativeFile(resolve(root, file), NATIVE_RUNNER_STATE_MAX_BYTES, "native_cleanup_maintenance_unproven"),
   );
-  const [control, runner, provider] = bytes.map((value) =>
-    record(JSON.parse(value.toString("utf8"))),
-  );
-  const fileSha256 = bytes.map((value) =>
-    createHash("sha256").update(value).digest("hex"),
-  ) as [string, string, string];
+  const control = record(controlProof.value);
+  const [runner, provider] = bytes.map(value => record(JSON.parse(value.toString("utf8"))));
+  const fileSha256 = [controlProof.sha256, ...bytes.map(value => createHash("sha256").update(value).digest("hex"))] as [string, string, string];
   return {
     control: control!,
     runner: runner!,
@@ -4063,44 +4058,30 @@ async function verifyPriorRunnerdStateForSessionScope(input: {
 
 function hasRetainedWarmTransitionEvidence(root: string): boolean {
   for (const [directory, filename, maximum] of [
-    [
-      "control-plane",
-      "control-plane-state.json",
-      DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES,
-    ],
+    ["control-plane", "control-plane-state.json", DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES],
     ["runner", "runner-state.json", NATIVE_RUNNER_STATE_MAX_BYTES],
   ] as const) {
     const path = resolve(root, directory, filename);
     if (!lstatSync(path, { throwIfNoEntry: false })) continue;
-    let bytes: string;
     try {
-      bytes = readBoundedNativeFile(
-        path,
-        maximum,
-        "runner_state_too_large",
-      ).toString("utf8");
+      const state = record(directory === "control-plane"
+        ? readNativeJournalProjection(path).value
+        : JSON.parse(readBoundedNativeFile(path, maximum, "runner_state_too_large").toString("utf8")));
+      if (Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(state, "warmTransition")
+        || state.schema === "paperclip.runner.durable.control-plane-state.warm-transition.v1"
+        || state.schema === "paperclip.runner.durable.state.warm-transition.v1") return true;
     } catch {
-      // The ordinary verifier still owns unreadable legacy state. Inspect the
-      // other file before deciding whether this is a forward-protocol fence.
-      continue;
-    }
-    try {
-      const state = record(JSON.parse(bytes));
-      if (
-        Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(state, "warmTransition") ||
-        state.schema ===
-          "paperclip.runner.durable.control-plane-state.warm-transition.v1" ||
-        state.schema === "paperclip.runner.durable.state.warm-transition.v1"
-      )
-        return true;
-    } catch {
-      // This is detection only, never admission. A damaged forward receipt
-      // must remain available to its owner rather than become legacy state.
-      if (
-        bytes.includes("warm-transition.v1") ||
-        bytes.includes('"warmTransition"')
-      )
-        return true;
+      // Detection is never admission. Preserve the malformed-forward-receipt
+      // fence without materializing its potentially large discarded history.
+      let tail = "", found = false;
+      try {
+        scanNativeStateFile(path, maximum, chunk => {
+          const text = tail + chunk.toString("utf8");
+          if (text.includes("warm-transition.v1") || text.includes('"warmTransition"')) found = true;
+          tail = text.slice(-32);
+        });
+        if (found) return true;
+      } catch { /* The ordinary verifier owns unreadable legacy state. */ }
     }
   }
   return false;
@@ -4121,25 +4102,19 @@ function readWarmTransitionSnapshot(root: string) {
   ) {
     throw new Error("native_runner_warm_transition_recovery_unproven");
   }
-  const core = readBoundedNativeFile(
-    resolve(root, "control-plane", "control-plane-state.json"),
-    DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES,
-    "native_runner_warm_transition_recovery_unproven",
-  );
-  const runner = readBoundedNativeFile(
-    resolve(root, "runner", "runner-state.json"),
-    NATIVE_RUNNER_STATE_MAX_BYTES,
-    "native_runner_warm_transition_recovery_unproven",
-  );
   try {
-    return {
-      controlPlaneState: JSON.parse(core.toString("utf8")) as unknown,
-      runnerState: JSON.parse(runner.toString("utf8")) as unknown,
-      stateFingerprint: nativeSha256([
-        core.toString("base64"),
-        runner.toString("base64"),
-      ]),
-    };
+    const corePath = resolve(root, "control-plane", "control-plane-state.json");
+    const runnerPath = resolve(root, "runner", "runner-state.json");
+    const core = readNativeJournalProjection(corePath);
+    const runner = readBoundedNativeFile(runnerPath, NATIVE_RUNNER_STATE_MAX_BYTES, "native_runner_warm_transition_recovery_unproven");
+    // Preserve the original canonical JSON [base64(core), base64(runner)] hash.
+    const digest = createHash("sha256").update('["');
+    const rawCore = scanNativeStateFile(corePath, DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES, chunk => { digest.update(chunk.toString("base64")); });
+    digest.update('","');
+    const rawRunner = scanNativeStateFile(runnerPath, NATIVE_RUNNER_STATE_MAX_BYTES, chunk => { digest.update(chunk.toString("base64")); });
+    digest.update('"]');
+    if (rawCore.sha256 !== core.sha256 || rawRunner.sha256 !== createHash("sha256").update(runner).digest("hex")) throw new Error("native_state_file_changed");
+    return { controlPlaneState: core.value, runnerState: JSON.parse(runner.toString("utf8")) as unknown, stateFingerprint: digest.digest("hex") };
   } catch {
     throw new Error("native_runner_warm_transition_recovery_unproven");
   }
@@ -4706,7 +4681,7 @@ async function recoverQuiescentRunnerdState(input: {
   const verified: Array<{
     root: string;
     runnerBytes: string;
-    controlBytes: string;
+    controlSha256: string;
     providerBytes: string;
     runner: Record<string, unknown>;
     runId: string;
@@ -4729,13 +4704,11 @@ async function recoverQuiescentRunnerdState(input: {
         ).toString("utf8");
       };
       const runnerBytes = readState("runner", "runner-state.json");
-      const controlBytes = readState(
-        "control-plane",
-        "control-plane-state.json",
-      );
+      const controlProof = readNativeJournalProjection(resolve(root, "control-plane", "control-plane-state.json"));
+      const controlSha256 = controlProof.sha256;
       const providerBytes = readState("runner", "codex-provider-state.json");
       const runner = record(JSON.parse(runnerBytes));
-      const control = record(JSON.parse(controlBytes));
+      const control = record(controlProof.value);
       const provider = record(JSON.parse(providerBytes));
       const commands = control.commands;
       const events = control.committedEvents;
@@ -4857,15 +4830,14 @@ async function recoverQuiescentRunnerdState(input: {
       // No mutation if any evidence changed while the database was read.
       if (
         runnerBytes !== readState("runner", "runner-state.json") ||
-        controlBytes !==
-          readState("control-plane", "control-plane-state.json") ||
+        controlSha256 !== scanNativeStateFile(resolve(root, "control-plane", "control-plane-state.json"), DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES).sha256 ||
         providerBytes !== readState("runner", "codex-provider-state.json")
       )
         continue;
       verified.push({
         root,
         runnerBytes,
-        controlBytes,
+        controlSha256,
         providerBytes,
         runner,
         runId: identity.runId,
@@ -4896,14 +4868,12 @@ async function recoverQuiescentRunnerdState(input: {
   for (const [relativePath, expected] of [
     ["runner/runner-state.json", candidate.runnerBytes],
     ["runner/codex-provider-state.json", candidate.providerBytes],
-    ["control-plane/control-plane-state.json", candidate.controlBytes],
+    ["control-plane/control-plane-state.json", candidate.controlSha256],
   ]) {
     if (
-      readBoundedNativeFile(
-        resolve(candidate.root, relativePath!),
-        nativeStateFileMaxBytes(relativePath!),
-        "recovery_state_too_large",
-      ).toString("utf8") !== expected
+      (relativePath === "control-plane/control-plane-state.json"
+        ? scanNativeStateFile(resolve(candidate.root, relativePath), DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES).sha256
+        : readBoundedNativeFile(resolve(candidate.root, relativePath!), NATIVE_RUNNER_STATE_MAX_BYTES, "recovery_state_too_large").toString("utf8")) !== expected
     ) {
       throw new Error("runner_state_identity_mismatch");
     }
@@ -4960,15 +4930,7 @@ export function runnerdStateProvesIncompleteBootstrap(root: string): boolean {
       "control-plane",
       "control-plane-state.json",
     );
-    const state = record(
-      JSON.parse(
-        readBoundedNativeFile(
-          statePath,
-          DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES,
-          "runner_durable_identity_too_large",
-        ).toString("utf8"),
-      ),
-    );
+    const state = record(readNativeJournalProjection(statePath).value);
     const commands = Array.isArray(state.commands)
       ? state.commands.map(record)
       : [];
@@ -5013,15 +4975,7 @@ function readRunnerdDurableIdentity(
   const statePath = resolve(controlPlaneRoot, "control-plane-state.json");
   if (!existsSync(statePath)) return null;
   try {
-    const state = record(
-      JSON.parse(
-        readBoundedNativeFile(
-          statePath,
-          DURABLE_PRP_CONTROL_PLANE_MAX_STATE_BYTES,
-          "runner_durable_identity_too_large",
-        ).toString("utf8"),
-      ),
-    );
+    const state = record(readNativeJournalProjection(statePath, "identity").value);
     if (state.schema !== RUNNERD_CONTROL_PLANE_STATE_SCHEMA) return null;
     return record(state.identity);
   } catch {