diff --git a/ansible/host_vars/fulcrum_box_local/main.yml b/ansible/host_vars/fulcrum_box_local/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2cf3c65
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/host_vars/fulcrum_box_local/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# fulcrum-box: the Electrum server.
+#
+# Read by the fulcrum role here and by the socket-proxy play on the edge host,
+# which publishes the port. See host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml for why this
+# lives in host_vars rather than in the role's defaults.
+fulcrum_ssl_port: 50002
diff --git a/ansible/host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml b/ansible/host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fb15905
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# knots-box: Bitcoin Knots and the DATUM Gateway.
+#
+# These ports are read twice: by the role that deploys the service here, and by
+# the socket-proxy / Caddy plays that run on the EDGE host and publish them.
+# A role default is invisible to that second play, which is why these live in
+# host_vars rather than roles/<svc>/defaults/ - the edge play reads them as
+# hostvars['knots_box_local'].<name>, and the role picks them up automatically
+# because host_vars outranks role defaults.
+#
+# They used to live in services_config.yml, a file 30 plays had to remember to
+# name in vars_files: and that four role defaults silently depended on.
+bitcoin_p2p_port: 8333
+datum_gateway_api_port: 7152
+datum_gateway_stratum_port: 23334
diff --git a/ansible/host_vars/mempool_box_local/main.yml b/ansible/host_vars/mempool_box_local/main.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f46a1a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/host_vars/mempool_box_local/main.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# mempool-box: the Mempool block explorer.
+#
+# Read by the mempool role here and by the Caddy play on the edge host, which
+# proxies to it. See host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml for why this lives in
+# host_vars rather than in the role's defaults.
+mempool_frontend_port: 8080
diff --git a/ansible/infra/410_disk_usage_alerts.yml b/ansible/infra/410_disk_usage_alerts.yml
index 85947d9..b286add 100644
--- a/ansible/infra/410_disk_usage_alerts.yml
+++ b/ansible/infra/410_disk_usage_alerts.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 - name: Deploy Disk Usage Monitoring
   hosts: managed
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../services_config.yml
 
   vars:
     disk_usage_threshold_percent: 80
diff --git a/ansible/infra/420_system_healthcheck.yml b/ansible/infra/420_system_healthcheck.yml
index a69b456..9813d0c 100644
--- a/ansible/infra/420_system_healthcheck.yml
+++ b/ansible/infra/420_system_healthcheck.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 - name: Deploy System Healthcheck Monitoring
   hosts: managed
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../services_config.yml
 
   vars:
     healthcheck_interval_seconds: 60  # Send healthcheck every 60 seconds (1 minute)
diff --git a/ansible/infra/430_cpu_temp_alerts.yml b/ansible/infra/430_cpu_temp_alerts.yml
index 048f216..2e00bdb 100644
--- a/ansible/infra/430_cpu_temp_alerts.yml
+++ b/ansible/infra/430_cpu_temp_alerts.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@
 - name: Deploy CPU Temperature Monitoring
   hosts: hypervisor
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../services_config.yml
 
   vars:
     temp_threshold_celsius: 80
diff --git a/ansible/infra/920_join_headscale_mesh.yml b/ansible/infra/920_join_headscale_mesh.yml
index 3a8641c..4decb5d 100644
--- a/ansible/infra/920_join_headscale_mesh.yml
+++ b/ansible/infra/920_join_headscale_mesh.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 - name: Join machine to headscale mesh network
   hosts: managed
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../services_config.yml
   vars:
     headscale_host_name: "spacey"
     headscale_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.headscale }}"
diff --git a/ansible/roles/bitcoin_knots/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/bitcoin_knots/defaults/main.yml
index cd9d9c1..3a12ad1 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/bitcoin_knots/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/bitcoin_knots/defaults/main.yml
@@ -15,9 +15,11 @@ bitcoin_conf_dir: /etc/bitcoin
 
 # Network
 bitcoin_rpc_port: 8332
-# Shared with the socket-proxy play on the edge host, so it lives in
-# services_config.yml rather than only here.
-bitcoin_p2p_port: "{{ service_settings.bitcoin.p2p_port }}"
+# The edge host's socket-proxy/Caddy play needs this too, and a role default is
+# invisible outside this role. The authoritative value for the live deployment is
+# in host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml, which outranks this; the value here is the
+# protocol standard, so the role still works standalone.
+bitcoin_p2p_port: 8333
 bitcoin_rpc_bind: "0.0.0.0"
 
 # Build options
diff --git a/ansible/roles/datum_gateway/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/datum_gateway/defaults/main.yml
index 3a8cac4..b9829f9 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/datum_gateway/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/datum_gateway/defaults/main.yml
@@ -14,8 +14,12 @@ datum_gateway_log_dir: /var/log/datum-gateway
 datum_gateway_bin_path: /usr/local/bin/datum_gateway
 
 # Ports
-datum_gateway_stratum_port: "{{ service_settings.datum_gateway.stratum_port }}"
-datum_gateway_api_port: "{{ service_settings.datum_gateway.api_port }}"
+# The edge host's socket-proxy/Caddy play needs this too, and a role default is
+# invisible outside this role. The authoritative value for the live deployment is
+# in host_vars/knots_box_local/main.yml, which outranks this; the value here is the
+# protocol standard, so the role still works standalone.
+datum_gateway_stratum_port: 23334
+datum_gateway_api_port: 7152
 
 # Stratum settings
 datum_vardiff_min: 524288  # Minimum share difficulty (must be power of 2; OCEAN floor overrides if higher)
diff --git a/ansible/roles/fulcrum/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/fulcrum/defaults/main.yml
index 0d5c190..cc778d4 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/fulcrum/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/fulcrum/defaults/main.yml
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@ bitcoin_rpc_port: 8332  # Bitcoin Knots RPC port
 
 # Network - Fulcrum server
 fulcrum_tcp_port: 50001
-# Shared with the socket-proxy play on the edge host, so it lives in
-# services_config.yml rather than only here.
-fulcrum_ssl_port: "{{ service_settings.fulcrum.ssl_port }}"
+# The edge host's socket-proxy/Caddy play needs this too, and a role default is
+# invisible outside this role. The authoritative value for the live deployment is
+# in host_vars/fulcrum_box_local/main.yml, which outranks this; the value here is the
+# protocol standard, so the role still works standalone.
+fulcrum_ssl_port: 50002
 # Binding address for Fulcrum TCP/SSL server:
 #   - "127.0.0.1" = localhost only (use when Caddy is on the same box)
 #   - "0.0.0.0" = all interfaces (use when Caddy is on a different box)
diff --git a/ansible/roles/mempool/defaults/main.yml b/ansible/roles/mempool/defaults/main.yml
index 586b004..2f983c6 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/mempool/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/mempool/defaults/main.yml
@@ -22,9 +22,11 @@ fulcrum_tls: "false"
 mempool_network: "mainnet"
 
 # Container ports (internal)
-# Sourced from services_config.yml: the Caddy play on the edge host needs this
-# too, and a role default is not visible outside this role.
-mempool_frontend_port: "{{ service_settings.mempool.frontend_port }}"
+# The edge host's socket-proxy/Caddy play needs this too, and a role default is
+# invisible outside this role. The authoritative value for the live deployment is
+# in host_vars/mempool_box_local/main.yml, which outranks this; the value here is the
+# protocol standard, so the role still works standalone.
+mempool_frontend_port: 8080
 mempool_backend_port: 8999
 
 # MariaDB settings
diff --git a/ansible/services/bitcoin-knots/deploy_bitcoin_knots_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/bitcoin-knots/deploy_bitcoin_knots_playbook.yml
index 709cb30..0ca1e13 100644
--- a/ansible/services/bitcoin-knots/deploy_bitcoin_knots_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/bitcoin-knots/deploy_bitcoin_knots_playbook.yml
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@
 - name: Build and Deploy Bitcoin Knots from Source
   hosts: bitcoin
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     # Preserves the push URL this check has been reporting to. The role knows
     # nothing about Uptime Kuma — this is just "a URL that accepts a ping".
@@ -21,8 +19,6 @@
 - name: Setup public Bitcoin P2P forwarding on the edge host
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   tasks:
     - name: Expose Bitcoin P2P through a socket proxy
       ansible.builtin.include_role:
@@ -30,7 +26,7 @@
       vars:
         socket_proxy_name: bitcoin-p2p
         socket_proxy_description: "Bitcoin P2P"
-        socket_proxy_listen_port: "{{ service_settings.bitcoin.p2p_port }}"
+        socket_proxy_listen_port: "{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].bitcoin_p2p_port }}"
         socket_proxy_upstream_host: "{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].ansible_host }}"
         socket_proxy_documentation: "https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin"
         socket_proxy_free_bind: true
diff --git a/ansible/services/datum-gateway/deploy_datum_gateway_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/datum-gateway/deploy_datum_gateway_playbook.yml
index ebb9633..84de178 100644
--- a/ansible/services/datum-gateway/deploy_datum_gateway_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/datum-gateway/deploy_datum_gateway_playbook.yml
@@ -10,8 +10,6 @@
 - name: Deploy DATUM Gateway on the bitcoin host
   hosts: bitcoin
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     # Preserves the push URL this check reports to. The role knows nothing about
     # Uptime Kuma — this is just "a URL that accepts a ping".
@@ -22,8 +20,6 @@
 - name: Configure Caddy reverse proxy for the DATUM Gateway dashboard on the edge host
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   tasks:
     - name: Publish the DATUM Gateway dashboard through Caddy
       ansible.builtin.include_role:
@@ -31,7 +27,7 @@
       vars:
         caddy_site_name: datum-gateway
         caddy_site_domain: "{{ subdomains.datum_gateway }}.{{ root_domain }}"
-        caddy_site_upstream: "{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].ansible_host }}:{{ service_settings.datum_gateway.api_port }}"
+        caddy_site_upstream: "{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].ansible_host }}:{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].datum_gateway_api_port }}"
         caddy_site_resolvers: "100.100.100.100"
         caddy_site_basic_auth:
           - user: "{{ datum_dashboard_username }}"
@@ -47,8 +43,6 @@
 - name: Setup public Stratum port forwarding on the edge host
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   tasks:
     - name: Expose the DATUM Stratum port through a socket proxy
       ansible.builtin.include_role:
@@ -56,7 +50,7 @@
       vars:
         socket_proxy_name: datum-stratum
         socket_proxy_description: "DATUM Stratum"
-        socket_proxy_listen_port: "{{ service_settings.datum_gateway.stratum_port }}"
+        socket_proxy_listen_port: "{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].datum_gateway_stratum_port }}"
         socket_proxy_upstream_host: "{{ hostvars['knots_box_local'].ansible_host }}"
         # Matches the UFW comment already on the edge host; the derived default
         # would say "DATUM Stratum" and rewrite the rule.
diff --git a/ansible/services/forgejo-runner/deploy_forgejo_runner_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/forgejo-runner/deploy_forgejo_runner_playbook.yml
index 9195087..031f081 100644
--- a/ansible/services/forgejo-runner/deploy_forgejo_runner_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/forgejo-runner/deploy_forgejo_runner_playbook.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 - name: Install Forgejo Runner on Debian 13
   hosts: ci_runner
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     # Preserves the push URL this host has been reporting to all along, so the
     # move to a role changes no behaviour. The role itself knows nothing about
diff --git a/ansible/services/forgejo/deploy_forgejo_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/forgejo/deploy_forgejo_playbook.yml
index a929d42..04d7041 100644
--- a/ansible/services/forgejo/deploy_forgejo_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/forgejo/deploy_forgejo_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./forgejo_vars.yml
   vars:
     forgejo_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.forgejo }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/fulcrum/deploy_fulcrum_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/fulcrum/deploy_fulcrum_playbook.yml
index 6b8e207..8927aba 100644
--- a/ansible/services/fulcrum/deploy_fulcrum_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/fulcrum/deploy_fulcrum_playbook.yml
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 - name: Deploy Fulcrum Electrum Server
   hosts: electrum
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     # Preserves the push URL this check has been configured with. The role knows
     # nothing about Uptime Kuma — this is just "a URL that accepts a ping".
@@ -17,8 +15,6 @@
 - name: Setup public Fulcrum SSL forwarding on the edge host
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   tasks:
     - name: Expose Fulcrum SSL through a socket proxy
       ansible.builtin.include_role:
@@ -26,5 +22,5 @@
       vars:
         socket_proxy_name: fulcrum-ssl
         socket_proxy_description: "Fulcrum SSL"
-        socket_proxy_listen_port: "{{ service_settings.fulcrum.ssl_port }}"
+        socket_proxy_listen_port: "{{ hostvars['fulcrum_box_local'].fulcrum_ssl_port }}"
         socket_proxy_upstream_host: "{{ hostvars['fulcrum_box_local'].ansible_host }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/headscale/deploy_headscale_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/headscale/deploy_headscale_playbook.yml
index 4308b1e..11c967e 100644
--- a/ansible/services/headscale/deploy_headscale_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/headscale/deploy_headscale_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: vpn_control
   become: no
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./headscale_vars.yml
   vars:
     headscale_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.headscale }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/lnbits/deploy_lnbits_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/lnbits/deploy_lnbits_playbook.yml
index 3aa7a95..5d0c21d 100644
--- a/ansible/services/lnbits/deploy_lnbits_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/lnbits/deploy_lnbits_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./lnbits_vars.yml
   vars:
     lnbits_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.lnbits }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/memos/deploy_memos_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/memos/deploy_memos_playbook.yml
index e078d84..756ab4f 100644
--- a/ansible/services/memos/deploy_memos_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/memos/deploy_memos_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: memos
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./memos_vars.yml
   vars:
     memos_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.memos }}"
@@ -158,7 +157,6 @@
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./memos_vars.yml
   vars:
     memos_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.memos }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/mempool/deploy_mempool_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/mempool/deploy_mempool_playbook.yml
index c2c8f4f..76a3eb0 100644
--- a/ansible/services/mempool/deploy_mempool_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/mempool/deploy_mempool_playbook.yml
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@
 - name: Deploy Mempool Block Explorer with Docker
   hosts: mempool
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     # Preserves the three push URLs these checks have been reporting to all
     # along, so the move to a role changes no behaviour. The role knows nothing
@@ -19,8 +17,6 @@
 - name: Configure Caddy reverse proxy for Mempool on the edge host
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     mempool_domain: "{{ subdomains.mempool }}.{{ root_domain }}"
   tasks:
@@ -30,5 +26,5 @@
       vars:
         caddy_site_name: mempool
         caddy_site_domain: "{{ mempool_domain }}"
-        caddy_site_upstream: "mempool-box:{{ service_settings.mempool.frontend_port }}"
+        caddy_site_upstream: "{{ hostvars['mempool_box_local'].ansible_host }}:{{ hostvars['mempool_box_local'].mempool_frontend_port }}"
         caddy_site_resolvers: "100.100.100.100"
diff --git a/ansible/services/ntfy-emergency-app/deploy_ntfy_emergency_app_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/ntfy-emergency-app/deploy_ntfy_emergency_app_playbook.yml
index 1b53732..c759592 100644
--- a/ansible/services/ntfy-emergency-app/deploy_ntfy_emergency_app_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/ntfy-emergency-app/deploy_ntfy_emergency_app_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./ntfy_emergency_app_vars.yml
   vars:
     ntfy_emergency_app_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.ntfy_emergency_app }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/ntfy/deploy_ntfy_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/ntfy/deploy_ntfy_playbook.yml
index d6253b5..afd8e69 100644
--- a/ansible/services/ntfy/deploy_ntfy_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/ntfy/deploy_ntfy_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: monitoring
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./ntfy_vars.yml
   vars:
     ntfy_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.ntfy }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/ntfy/setup_ntfy_uptime_kuma_notification.yml b/ansible/services/ntfy/setup_ntfy_uptime_kuma_notification.yml
index 861bfa5..7588618 100644
--- a/ansible/services/ntfy/setup_ntfy_uptime_kuma_notification.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/ntfy/setup_ntfy_uptime_kuma_notification.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
   hosts: monitoring
   become: no
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./ntfy_vars.yml
 
   vars:
diff --git a/ansible/services/personal-blog/deploy_personal_blog_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/personal-blog/deploy_personal_blog_playbook.yml
index 968f423..5e3780d 100644
--- a/ansible/services/personal-blog/deploy_personal_blog_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/personal-blog/deploy_personal_blog_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./personal_blog_vars.yml
   vars:
     personal_blog_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.personal_blog }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services/phoenixd/deploy_phoenixd_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/phoenixd/deploy_phoenixd_playbook.yml
index 45bea3c..0df1223 100644
--- a/ansible/services/phoenixd/deploy_phoenixd_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/phoenixd/deploy_phoenixd_playbook.yml
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 - name: Deploy phoenixd on the edge host
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
-  vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
   vars:
     # phoenixd's health check has never reported anywhere since the Uptime Kuma
     # decommissioning — its systemd Environment= was left empty. Leaving it empty
diff --git a/ansible/services/vaultwarden/deploy_vaultwarden_playbook.yml b/ansible/services/vaultwarden/deploy_vaultwarden_playbook.yml
index 987fe27..d03363c 100644
--- a/ansible/services/vaultwarden/deploy_vaultwarden_playbook.yml
+++ b/ansible/services/vaultwarden/deploy_vaultwarden_playbook.yml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
   hosts: edge
   become: yes
   vars_files:
-    - ../../services_config.yml
     - ./vaultwarden_vars.yml
   vars:
     vaultwarden_subdomain: "{{ subdomains.vaultwarden }}"
diff --git a/ansible/services_config.yml b/ansible/services_config.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 531b824..0000000
--- a/ansible/services_config.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-# Cross-host service settings.
-#
-# These exist because a value is needed by the service's own role on one host
-# AND by a play that runs on the edge host. A role default is invisible to that
-# second play, so it cannot live in roles/<svc>/defaults/.
-#
-# Everything else that used to be here has moved:
-#   subdomains, ntfy topic, headscale namespace -> group_vars/all/main.yml
-#   caddy_sites_dir                             -> roles/caddy_site/defaults/
-#   *.tailscale_hostname                        -> deleted; inventory already
-#     holds each box's identity as ansible_host, and an edge play reads it with
-#     hostvars['<host>'].ansible_host. Three copies of one name is how
-#     bitcoin_rpc_host ended up labelled "knots_box" while pointing at
-#     fulcrum-box.
-service_settings:
-  mempool:
-    frontend_port: 8080
-  bitcoin:
-    p2p_port: 8333
-  datum_gateway:
-    api_port: 7152
-    stratum_port: 23334
-  fulcrum:
-    ssl_port: 50002