diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 9fd5b99..dba60ac 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -13,13 +13,10 @@ jobs:
   
   contracts:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    defaults:
-      run:
-        working-directory: deploy
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: '20'
       - run: npm ci
-      - run: npx hardhat compile
+      - run: npm run compile
diff --git a/deploy/hardhat.config.js b/deploy/hardhat.config.js
index 7e1e1a1..0742081 100644
--- a/deploy/hardhat.config.js
+++ b/deploy/hardhat.config.js
@@ -2,8 +2,18 @@ require("@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox");
 
 module.exports = {
   solidity: {
-    version: "0.8.24",
-    settings: { optimizer: { enabled: true, runs: 200 } },
+    version: "0.8.26",
+    settings: {
+      optimizer: { enabled: true, runs: 200 },
+      evmVersion: "cancun",
+    },
+  },
+  paths: {
+    root: "..",
+    sources: "contracts",
+    tests: "tests/contracts",
+    cache: "deploy/cache",
+    artifacts: "deploy/artifacts",
   },
   networks: {
     hardhat: {},
diff --git a/deploy/package.json b/deploy/package.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 006cf37..0000000
--- a/deploy/package.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,19 +0,0 @@
-{
-  "name": "@kcolbchain/meridian-contracts",
-  "version": "0.1.0",
-  "scripts": {
-    "compile": "hardhat compile",
-    "test": "hardhat test",
-    "deploy:local": "hardhat run deploy.js --network localhost",
-    "deploy:base-sepolia": "hardhat run deploy.js --network base-sepolia",
-    "deploy:op-sepolia": "hardhat run deploy.js --network op-sepolia",
-    "deploy:fuji": "hardhat run deploy.js --network fuji"
-  },
-  "dependencies": {
-    "@openzeppelin/contracts": "^5.0.0"
-  },
-  "devDependencies": {
-    "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox": "^4.0.0",
-    "hardhat": "^2.19.0"
-  }
-}
diff --git a/deploy/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
similarity index 100%
rename from deploy/package-lock.json
rename to package-lock.json
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f6ca4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+{
+  "name": "@kcolbchain/meridian-contracts",
+  "version": "0.1.0",
+  "scripts": {
+    "compile": "hardhat --config deploy/hardhat.config.js compile",
+    "test": "hardhat --config deploy/hardhat.config.js test",
+    "deploy:local": "hardhat --config deploy/hardhat.config.js run deploy/deploy.js --network localhost",
+    "deploy:base-sepolia": "hardhat --config deploy/hardhat.config.js run deploy/deploy.js --network base-sepolia",
+    "deploy:op-sepolia": "hardhat --config deploy/hardhat.config.js run deploy/deploy.js --network op-sepolia",
+    "deploy:fuji": "hardhat --config deploy/hardhat.config.js run deploy/deploy.js --network fuji"
+  },
+  "dependencies": {
+    "@openzeppelin/contracts": "^5.0.0"
+  },
+  "devDependencies": {
+    "@nomicfoundation/hardhat-toolbox": "^4.0.0",
+    "hardhat": "^2.19.0"
+  }
+}