diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 269455db7a..ff4ee206ce 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -55,4 +55,6 @@ cmd/ethkey/ethkey
 cmd/evm/evm
 cmd/geth/geth
 cmd/rlpdump/rlpdump
-cmd/workload/workload
\ No newline at end of file
+cmd/workload/workload
+
+devnet/
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hardhat/.gitignore b/hardhat/.gitignore
index 29dd748fce..3349e092df 100644
--- a/hardhat/.gitignore
+++ b/hardhat/.gitignore
@@ -13,23 +13,24 @@ node_modules
 /coverage
 /coverage.json
 
+# Hardhat Ignition default folder for deployments against a local node
+ignition/deployments/chain-1337/
+
+node_modules
+.env
+
+# Hardhat files
+/cache
+/artifacts
+
+# TypeChain files
+/typechain
+/typechain-types
+
+# solidity-coverage files
+/coverage
+/coverage.json
+
 # Hardhat Ignition default folder for deployments against a local node
 ignition/deployments/chain-31337
 
-node_modules
-.env
-
-# Hardhat files
-/cache
-/artifacts
-
-# TypeChain files
-/typechain
-/typechain-types
-
-# solidity-coverage files
-/coverage
-/coverage.json
-
-# Hardhat Ignition default folder for deployments against a local node
-ignition/deployments/chain-31337
diff --git a/hardhat/contracts/Greeter.sol b/hardhat/contracts/Greeter.sol
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d5135ff58b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hardhat/contracts/Greeter.sol
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: MIT
+pragma solidity ^0.8.20;
+
+contract Greeter {
+    string public greeting;
+
+    constructor(string memory _greeting) {
+        greeting = _greeting;
+    }
+
+    function greet() public view returns (string memory) {
+        return greeting;
+    }
+
+    function setGreeting(string memory _greeting) public {
+        greeting = _greeting;
+    }
+}
+
diff --git a/hardhat/eth.chainId b/hardhat/eth.chainId
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/hardhat/scripts/deploy.ts b/hardhat/scripts/deploy.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..37beda2d12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hardhat/scripts/deploy.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { ethers } from "hardhat";
+
+async function main() {
+  const [deployer] = await ethers.getSigners();
+  console.log("Deploying contract with account:", deployer.address);
+
+  const Greeter = await ethers.getContractFactory("Greeter");
+  const greeter = await Greeter.deploy("Hello from Geth Devnet!");
+
+  await greeter.waitForDeployment(); // <-- Ethers v6 method
+
+  console.log("Contract deployed to:", await greeter.getAddress());
+}
+
+main().catch((error) => {
+  console.error(error);
+  process.exitCode = 1;
+});
+