diff --git a/app/routers/api_v3_actions_hosted_file.py b/app/routers/api_v3_actions_hosted_file.py
index 18aa29d..6ba7225 100644
--- a/app/routers/api_v3_actions_hosted_file.py
+++ b/app/routers/api_v3_actions_hosted_file.py
@@ -276,6 +276,50 @@ async def download_file_action(
     return FileResponse(full_file_path, filename=target_filename, media_type=media_type)
 
 
+@router.get('/hash/{sha256}/download')
+async def download_file_by_hash_action(
+        response: Response,
+        sha256: str = Path(min_length=64, max_length=64, regex='^[a-f0-9]{64}$'),
+        filename: Optional[str] = Query(None, min_length=4, max_length=255),
+        account: AccountContext = Depends(get_account_context_optional),
+        delay: DelayParams = Depends(),
+        ):
+    """
+    Direct hash-based download (Content-Addressable).
+    - Skips DB lookup for path resolution.
+    - Requires a valid API Key (via header or ?api_key=).
+    - Ideal for local caching systems like Events Launcher.
+    """
+    if delay.sleep_time_s > 0: await asyncio.sleep(delay.sleep_time_s)
+
+    # 1. Mandatory Auth Check
+    # For now, we strictly require a valid machine API key (auth_method will not be 'guest')
+    if account.auth_method == 'guest':
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, 
+            detail="Valid API Key required for hash-based downloads."
+        )
+
+    # 2. Path Resolution (Deterministic)
+    hosted_files_path = settings.FILES_PATH['hosted_files_root']
+    subdir = sha256[0:2]
+    hash_filename = f"{sha256}.file"
+    full_file_path = os.path.join(hosted_files_path, subdir, hash_filename)
+
+    if not os.path.exists(full_file_path):
+        # Fallback to root (legacy structure)
+        full_file_path = os.path.join(hosted_files_path, hash_filename)
+        if not os.path.exists(full_file_path):
+            log.error(f"Hash-based file not found: {sha256}")
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="File not found on server.")
+
+    # 3. Serve File
+    target_filename = filename or f"file_{sha256[:8]}.bin"
+    media_type = mimetypes.guess_type(target_filename)[0] or 'application/octet-stream'
+    
+    return FileResponse(full_file_path, filename=target_filename, media_type=media_type)
+
+
 @router.delete('/{hosted_file_id}', response_model=Resp_Body_Base)
 async def delete_file_action(
         hosted_file_id: str = Path(min_length=11, max_length=22),
diff --git a/app/routers/dependencies_v3.py b/app/routers/dependencies_v3.py
index 93b5ab6..c3ebb4d 100644
--- a/app/routers/dependencies_v3.py
+++ b/app/routers/dependencies_v3.py
@@ -21,9 +21,11 @@ def get_account_context_optional(
     x_no_account_id: Optional[str] = Header(None, min_length=3, max_length=100),
     x_no_account_id_token: Optional[str] = Query(None, alias='jwt', min_length=11),
     x_aether_api_key: Optional[str] = Header(None, min_length=11, max_length=22),
+    x_aether_api_key_query: Optional[str] = Query(None, alias='api_key', min_length=11, max_length=22),
 ) -> AccountContext:
     """
     Resolves the account context and enforces API Key validation.
+    Supports API Key in Header or Query param 'api_key'.
     Uses DEFERRED imports to prevent circular dependency at startup.
     """
     from app.db_sql import redis_lookup_id_random, sql_select
@@ -38,10 +40,12 @@ def get_account_context_optional(
     api_key_authorized = False
 
     # 1. Mandatory Machine Auth (API Key)
-    # This identifies the script/app, regardless of the user/account context.
-    if x_aether_api_key:
+    # Prefer header, fallback to query param
+    key_to_check = x_aether_api_key or x_aether_api_key_query
+
+    if key_to_check:
         sql = "SELECT * FROM api_key WHERE (public_key = :key OR secret_key = :key) LIMIT 1"
-        if api_key_results := sql_select(sql=sql, data={'key': x_aether_api_key}):
+        if api_key_results := sql_select(sql=sql, data={'key': key_to_check}):
             # sql_select returns a list when raw SQL is used
             api_key_rec = api_key_results[0] if isinstance(api_key_results, list) else api_key_results
             
@@ -52,14 +56,17 @@ def get_account_context_optional(
                 if (not enable_from or enable_from <= now) and (not enable_to or now <= enable_to):
                     api_key_authorized = True
                 else:
-                    log.warning(f"Security: API Key {x_aether_api_key} expired/not yet valid.")
+                    log.error(f"Security: API Key {key_to_check} expired/not yet valid.")
             else:
-                log.warning(f"Security: API Key {x_aether_api_key} is disabled.")
+                log.error(f"Security: API Key {key_to_check} is disabled.")
         else:
-            log.warning(f"Security: API Key {x_aether_api_key} not found.")
+            log.error(f"Security: API Key {key_to_check} not found.")
 
     # 2. Context Resolution (Only if API Key is valid)
     if api_key_authorized:
+        # Default to machine auth if no account context is provided
+        auth_method = 'api_key'
+
         # A. Resolve via Account ID Header
         if x_account_id:
             resolved_account_id_random = x_account_id
@@ -85,7 +92,7 @@ def get_account_context_optional(
                     log.warning("Security: Failed to decode JWT token.")
             
             # Legacy Fallback (just a raw random ID string)
-            if auth_method == 'guest':
+            if auth_method in ['guest', 'api_key']:
                 resolved_account_id_random = x_no_account_id_token
                 if looked_up_id := redis_lookup_id_random(table_name='account', record_id_random=x_no_account_id_token):
                     resolved_account_id = looked_up_id
@@ -96,6 +103,8 @@ def get_account_context_optional(
             resolved_account_id = 1
             resolved_account_id_random = '--- NO ACCOUNT ---'
             auth_method = 'bypass'
+    
+    log.info(f"V3 Auth: method={auth_method}, authorized={api_key_authorized}, account={resolved_account_id_random}")
 
     is_admin = (auth_method == 'bypass')
     is_manager = (auth_method == 'bypass')
@@ -121,9 +130,10 @@ def get_account_context(
     x_no_account_id: Optional[str] = Header(None, min_length=3, max_length=100),
     x_no_account_id_token: Optional[str] = Query(None, alias='jwt', min_length=11),
     x_aether_api_key: Optional[str] = Header(None, min_length=11, max_length=22),
+    x_aether_api_key_query: Optional[str] = Query(None, alias='api_key', min_length=11, max_length=22),
 ) -> AccountContext:
     """Strict version of account context resolution."""
-    ctx = get_account_context_optional(x_account_id, x_no_account_id, x_no_account_id_token, x_aether_api_key)
+    ctx = get_account_context_optional(x_account_id, x_no_account_id, x_no_account_id_token, x_aether_api_key, x_aether_api_key_query)
     if ctx.auth_method == 'guest':
         raise HTTPException(status_code=status.HTTP_403_FORBIDDEN, detail='Account context required.')
     return ctx
diff --git a/documentation/GUIDE__V3_FRONTEND_API.md b/documentation/GUIDE__V3_FRONTEND_API.md
index 9ca8548..141e229 100644
--- a/documentation/GUIDE__V3_FRONTEND_API.md
+++ b/documentation/GUIDE__V3_FRONTEND_API.md
@@ -94,7 +94,15 @@ V3 uses specialized **"Action"** routes for binary operations to separate proces
 - **Auth Bypass:** Use `?site_key=<auth_key>` to download without an API Key header or JWT (useful for public kiosks).
 - **Testing:** Supports `delay_ms` query parameter.
 
-### C. Deletion & Cleanup Action
+### C. Hash-Based Download (Content-Addressable)
+**Path**: `GET /v3/action/hosted_file/hash/{sha256}/download`
+
+**Features:**
+- **Local Caching:** Ideal for systems like the Events Launcher that cache files locally by hash.
+- **Flexible Auth:** Supports `api_key` in the query parameter (e.g., `?api_key=<key>`) for simple machine-to-machine requests.
+- **Zero DB Lookup:** Resolves the physical path deterministically from the hash, bypassing database latency.
+
+### D. Deletion & Cleanup Action
 **Path**: `DELETE /v3/action/hosted_file/{id}`
 
 | Parameter | Type | Default | Description |