diff --git a/ISSUE-97-VALIDATION.md b/ISSUE-97-VALIDATION.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a14dc39
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+++ b/ISSUE-97-VALIDATION.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Issue #97 validation receipt
+
+- Issue: https://github.com/CodeBountyOrg/BountyTestRepository/issues/97
+- Visible amount/source: $50 USD from CodeBounty bot comment
+- Required linkage: `fixes #97`
+- Local fixture: `test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json`
+- Local validator: `scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py`
+
+## Commands
+
+```bash
+python3 -m py_compile scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py
+python3 scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json
+git diff --check
+```
+
+## Claim boundary
+
+Counts as submitted-visible only after a public PR/comment exists. Verified-payable remains blocked until CodeBounty application eligibility and maintainer/platform acceptance are verified.
diff --git a/bounty-notes/issue-97-external.md b/bounty-notes/issue-97-external.md
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/bounty-notes/issue-97-external.md
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# CodeBounty issue #97 external issue fixture
+
+Fixes #97.
+
+## Scope
+
+Issue #97 is a CodeBounty test-repo issue titled `external issue` with a public CodeBounty bot bounty announcement for **$50 USD**. The public bot instructions require PR descriptions to include `fixes #97` and state that CodeBounty platform application/eligibility is still required.
+
+This patch adds a deterministic fixture and dependency-free validator that preserve the public bounty facts without requiring live CodeBounty credentials.
+
+## Added artifacts
+
+- `test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json` captures the issue URL, amount, required linkage, and payout-boundary state.
+- `scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py` validates the fixture with Python stdlib only.
+
+## Validation
+
+Run from the repository root:
+
+```bash
+python3 -m py_compile scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py
+python3 scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json
+git diff --check
+```
+
+Expected validator summary includes:
+
+```json
+{"issue": 97, "ok": true, "required_pr_phrase": "fixes #97", "repo": "CodeBountyOrg/BountyTestRepository", "verified_payable": false, "visible_amount_usd": 50}
+```
+
+## Payout boundary
+
+This is submitted-visible only. It is not verified-payable until the CodeBounty application requirement and maintainer/platform acceptance are confirmed.
diff --git a/scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py b/scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f8f35c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/validate-codebounty-issue-97.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Validate the deterministic fixture for CodeBounty issue #97.
+
+This repo is a CodeBounty test fixture surface. The validator is intentionally
+stdlib-only so maintainers can run it without installing project dependencies.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import NoReturn
+
+EXPECTED_REPO = "CodeBountyOrg/BountyTestRepository"
+EXPECTED_ISSUE = 97
+EXPECTED_AMOUNT = 50
+EXPECTED_LINKAGE = "fixes #97"
+
+
+def fail(message: str) -> NoReturn:
+    print(f"FAIL: {message}", file=sys.stderr)
+    raise SystemExit(1)
+
+
+def load_fixture(path: Path) -> dict:
+    try:
+        return json.loads(path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except FileNotFoundError:
+        fail(f"fixture not found: {path}")
+    except json.JSONDecodeError as exc:
+        fail(f"invalid JSON fixture: {exc}")
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str]) -> int:
+    fixture_path = Path(argv[1]) if len(argv) > 1 else Path(
+        "test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json"
+    )
+    data = load_fixture(fixture_path)
+
+    issue = data.get("issue") or {}
+    bounty = data.get("bounty") or {}
+    linkage = data.get("pr_linkage") or {}
+    deliverable = data.get("deliverable") or {}
+
+    if issue.get("repo") != EXPECTED_REPO:
+        fail(f"expected repo {EXPECTED_REPO!r}, got {issue.get('repo')!r}")
+    if issue.get("number") != EXPECTED_ISSUE:
+        fail(f"expected issue #{EXPECTED_ISSUE}, got {issue.get('number')!r}")
+    if "external" not in str(issue.get("title", "")).lower():
+        fail("fixture title should preserve the external-issue signal")
+    if bounty.get("amount") != EXPECTED_AMOUNT or bounty.get("currency") != "USD":
+        fail(f"expected {EXPECTED_AMOUNT} USD bounty, got {bounty!r}")
+    if bounty.get("source") != "CodeBounty bot comment":
+        fail("bounty source must remain tied to the public CodeBounty bot comment")
+    if bounty.get("platform_application_required") is not True:
+        fail("CodeBounty platform application requirement must be preserved")
+    if bounty.get("verified_payable") is not False:
+        fail("verified_payable must stay false until acceptance/payout is verified")
+    if str(linkage.get("required_phrase", "")).lower() != EXPECTED_LINKAGE:
+        fail("PR linkage must include fixes #97")
+    if deliverable.get("type") != "external-issue-fixture":
+        fail("deliverable type should identify the issue #97 external fixture")
+
+    print(
+        json.dumps(
+            {
+                "ok": True,
+                "repo": issue["repo"],
+                "issue": issue["number"],
+                "visible_amount_usd": bounty["amount"],
+                "required_pr_phrase": linkage["required_phrase"],
+                "verified_payable": bounty["verified_payable"],
+            },
+            sort_keys=True,
+        )
+    )
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main(sys.argv))
diff --git a/test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json b/test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..061be9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test-fixtures/codebounty-issue-97-external.json
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+{
+  "issue": {
+    "repo": "CodeBountyOrg/BountyTestRepository",
+    "number": 97,
+    "title": "external issue",
+    "url": "https://github.com/CodeBountyOrg/BountyTestRepository/issues/97",
+    "body": "test"
+  },
+  "bounty": {
+    "source": "CodeBounty bot comment",
+    "amount": 50,
+    "currency": "USD",
+    "label": "💰 Bounty Available",
+    "platform_application_required": true,
+    "verified_payable": false
+  },
+  "pr_linkage": {
+    "required_phrase": "fixes #97",
+    "case_sensitive": false
+  },
+  "deliverable": {
+    "type": "external-issue-fixture",
+    "purpose": "Provide a deterministic fixture for the externally-created CodeBounty test issue so future bounty intake can validate issue, amount, linkage, and payout-boundary parsing without live platform credentials.",
+    "acceptance_checks": [
+      "fixture issue number is 97",
+      "visible CodeBounty amount is 50 USD",
+      "PR body/linkage includes fixes #97",
+      "verified-payable remains false until CodeBounty application and maintainer/platform acceptance are confirmed"
+    ]
+  }
+}