diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-06-04-069-feat-json-scrape-run-summary-plan.md b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-069-feat-json-scrape-run-summary-plan.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1d75124d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-06-04-069-feat-json-scrape-run-summary-plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+---
+title: "feat: Optional JSON scrape run summary"
+type: feat
+status: complete
+date: 2026-06-04
+origin: /lfg — plan 038 deferred structured JSON run logs for operator validation and automation
+---
+
+# feat: Optional JSON scrape run summary
+
+## Summary
+
+When `DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON=1` and/or `DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE` is set, emit a machine-readable scrape summary alongside the existing human log summary in `run-discord-scrape.sh`.
+
+## Requirements
+
+| ID | Requirement |
+|----|-------------|
+| R1 | JSON includes version, finished_at, totals, and per-channel entries matching the text summary |
+| R2 | `DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON=1` logs one `DCE_JSON_SUMMARY:` line (compact JSON) |
+| R3 | `DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE` writes pretty-printed JSON when parent dir exists |
+| R4 | `scrape.env.example` documents both env vars |
+| R5 | `run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh` asserts valid JSON file with merged channel |
+| R6 | `DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh` → 21/21 |
+
+## Implementation Units
+
+### U1. JSON writer in run-discord-scrape.sh
+
+**Files:** `scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh`, `scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh`, `scrape.env.example`
+
+## Verification
+
+```bash
+./scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
+DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-all-smokes.sh
+```
+
+## Scope Boundaries
+
+### Deferred
+
+- Live KotOR catch-up on host
+- Host compose passthrough of summary file path (operators can grep `DCE_JSON_SUMMARY`)
diff --git a/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md b/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
index 605228da..54b05e3a 100644
--- a/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
+++ b/docs/recurring-scrape-merge-readiness.md
@@ -164,6 +164,8 @@ DCE_MIN_FREE_MB=0 ./scripts/run-operator-validation.sh \
 
 **Plan 068 (2026-06-04):** `verify-documents-archives` MEM column and `verify-operator-ready` target memory hints when global cap unset.
 
+**Plan 069 (2026-06-04):** Optional JSON scrape run summary via `DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON` / `DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE`.
+
 **Disk:** ~65 GiB free on `/home` (2026-05-30); large channel merges still need headroom.
 
 ## CI note (fork PRs)
diff --git a/scrape.env.example b/scrape.env.example
index 1dbefc2d..0c882261 100644
--- a/scrape.env.example
+++ b/scrape.env.example
@@ -25,3 +25,7 @@ DCE_USERNS_MODE=
 # Per-target: set container_memory on a target in config/scrape-targets.json (single --target runs).
 # Global override (wins over config): uncomment below.
 # DCE_CONTAINER_MEMORY=8g
+
+# Optional: machine-readable scrape summary (run-discord-scrape.sh).
+# DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON=1
+# DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE=/path/to/scrape-summary.json
diff --git a/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh b/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh
index 6791510d..4fc3d2ee 100755
--- a/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh
@@ -211,7 +211,79 @@ print_scrape_summary() {
 
   log "Totals: $created created, $merged merged, $unchanged unchanged, $skipped skipped; +$appended messages appended"
   if (( skipped_oom > 0 )); then
-    log "Hint: for OOM/aborted channels, set DCE_CONTAINER_MEMORY=8g in scrape.env, run --salvage-before-scrape, then retry with --channel."
+    log "Hint: for OOM/aborted channels, raise container memory (target container_memory in config or DCE_CONTAINER_MEMORY in scrape.env), run --salvage-before-scrape, then retry with --channel."
+  fi
+  write_scrape_summary_json "$created" "$merged" "$unchanged" "$skipped" "$skipped_oom" "$appended"
+}
+
+write_scrape_summary_json() {
+  local created=$1 merged=$2 unchanged=$3 skipped=$4 skipped_oom=$5 appended=$6
+  local entry target_name channel_id guild_label file_path action
+  local before_count fetched_count after_count delta channels_json='[]' summary_json
+
+  [[ "${DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON:-0}" == "1" || -n "${DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE:-}" ]] || return 0
+
+  for entry in "${SCRAPE_SUMMARY_ENTRIES[@]}"; do
+    IFS=$'\t' read -r target_name channel_id guild_label file_path action before_count fetched_count after_count <<<"$entry"
+    delta=$((after_count - before_count))
+    channels_json=$(
+      jq -cn \
+        --argjson arr "$channels_json" \
+        --arg target "$target_name" \
+        --arg channel_id "$channel_id" \
+        --arg guild_label "$guild_label" \
+        --arg file_path "$file_path" \
+        --arg action "$action" \
+        --argjson before_count "$before_count" \
+        --argjson fetched_count "$fetched_count" \
+        --argjson after_count "$after_count" \
+        --argjson delta "$delta" \
+        '$arr + [{
+          target: $target,
+          channel_id: $channel_id,
+          guild_label: $guild_label,
+          file_path: $file_path,
+          action: $action,
+          before_count: $before_count,
+          fetched_count: $fetched_count,
+          after_count: $after_count,
+          delta: $delta
+        }]'
+    )
+  done
+
+  summary_json=$(
+    jq -cn \
+      --arg finished_at "$(timestamp)" \
+      --argjson channels "$channels_json" \
+      --argjson created "$created" \
+      --argjson merged "$merged" \
+      --argjson unchanged "$unchanged" \
+      --argjson skipped "$skipped" \
+      --argjson skipped_oom "$skipped_oom" \
+      --argjson messages_appended "$appended" \
+      '{
+        version: 1,
+        finished_at: $finished_at,
+        totals: {
+          created: $created,
+          merged: $merged,
+          unchanged: $unchanged,
+          skipped: $skipped,
+          skipped_oom: $skipped_oom,
+          messages_appended: $messages_appended
+        },
+        channels: $channels
+      }'
+  )
+
+  if [[ "${DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON:-0}" == "1" ]]; then
+    log "DCE_JSON_SUMMARY: $(jq -c . <<<"$summary_json")"
+  fi
+  if [[ -n "${DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE:-}" ]]; then
+    mkdir -p "$(dirname "$DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE")"
+    jq . <<<"$summary_json" >"$DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE"
+    log "JSON summary written: $DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE"
   fi
 }
 
diff --git a/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh b/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
index bd227f9f..f36b5b50 100755
--- a/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
+++ b/scripts/tests/run-discord-scrape-smoke.sh
@@ -502,5 +502,33 @@ if ( commit_merged_export "$SHRINK_EXISTING" "$SHRINK_MERGED" >/dev/null 2>&1 );
 fi
 [[ "$(jq -r '.messages | length' "$SHRINK_EXISTING")" == "2" ]] || { echo "existing archive changed after rejected shrink merge" >&2; exit 1; }
 
+SUMMARY_JSON="$TMP_DIR/scrape-summary.json"
+DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE="$SUMMARY_JSON" \
+  DISCORD_TOKEN=dummy \
+  DCE_CLI_BIN="$FAKE_CLI" \
+  DCE_PRIMARY_CONFIG="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+  DCE_FALLBACK_CONFIG="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+  FAKE_DCE_FIXTURE_DIR="$FIXTURE_DIR" \
+  FAKE_DCE_MODE=append \
+  "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh" scrape --target idempotent 2>"$TMP_DIR/json-scrape.log"
+jq -e '.version == 1 and (.channels | length) >= 1 and (.totals.merged + .totals.unchanged) >= 1' "$SUMMARY_JSON" >/dev/null || {
+  echo "expected valid JSON scrape summary file" >&2
+  cat "$SUMMARY_JSON" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON=1 \
+  DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_FILE="$TMP_DIR/scrape-summary-inline.json" \
+  DISCORD_TOKEN=dummy \
+  DCE_CLI_BIN="$FAKE_CLI" \
+  DCE_PRIMARY_CONFIG="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+  DCE_FALLBACK_CONFIG="$CONFIG_PATH" \
+  FAKE_DCE_FIXTURE_DIR="$FIXTURE_DIR" \
+  FAKE_DCE_MODE=append \
+  "$REPO_ROOT/scripts/run-discord-scrape.sh" scrape --target idempotent 2>"$TMP_DIR/json-inline.log"
+grep -q 'DCE_JSON_SUMMARY:' "$TMP_DIR/json-inline.log" || {
+  echo "expected DCE_JSON_SUMMARY line when DCE_RUN_SUMMARY_JSON=1" >&2
+  exit 1
+}
+
 echo "U1: append-only merge test coverage passed"