diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4071a55..7cd86e9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,39 +2,38 @@
 
 A simple python implementation of an EVM compatible faucet.
 
-## API
+## Python API
 
 ### Requirements
 
-Python +3.x, NodeJS v18.x
+Python +3.x
 
-### Python API
+### Installation
 
 ```
 cd api
 python3 -m venv .venv
 . .venv/bin/activate
-pip3 install -r requirements.txt
-
-python3 -m flask --app api run --port 8000
+pip3 install -r requirements-dev.txt
 ```
 
-#### Run application
+### Run application
+
+Check .env.example for reference.
 
 ```
 cd api
 python3 -m flask --app api run --port 8000
 ```
 
-
-#### Run tests
+### Run tests
 
 ```
 cd api
 python3 -m pytest -s
 ```
 
-#### Run Flake8 and isort
+### Run Flake8 and isort
 
 ```
 cd api
@@ -43,7 +42,13 @@ isort **/*.py --atomic
 python3 -m flake8
 ```
 
-### ReactJS Frontend
+## ReactJS Frontend
+
+### Requirements
+
+NodeJS v18.x
+
+### Installation
 
 ```
 nvm use
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ cd app
 yarn
 ```
 
-#### Run application
+### Run application
 
 ```
 cd app
diff --git a/api/tox.ini b/api/.tox.ini
similarity index 100%
rename from api/tox.ini
rename to api/.tox.ini
diff --git a/api/api/const.py b/api/api/const.py
index ec46c65..5c6a67e 100644
--- a/api/api/const.py
+++ b/api/api/const.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-NATIVE_TOKEN_ADDRESS = 'native'
+NATIVE_TOKEN_ADDRESS='native'
diff --git a/api/api/routes.py b/api/api/routes.py
index c7d444d..157eb37 100644
--- a/api/api/routes.py
+++ b/api/api/routes.py
@@ -127,4 +127,4 @@ def cli_ask():
         validation_errors.append('Access denied')
         return jsonify(errors=validation_errors), 403
 
-    return _ask(request.get_json(), validate_captcha=False)
+    return _ask(request.get_json(), validate_captcha=False)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/api/services/cache.py b/api/api/services/cache.py
index aff61b9..00a3317 100644
--- a/api/api/services/cache.py
+++ b/api/api/services/cache.py
@@ -30,4 +30,4 @@ def ttl(self, hours=False):
         if hours:
             # 3600 seconds = 1h
             return self._ttl // 3600
-        return self._ttl
+        return self._ttl
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/api/settings.py b/api/api/settings.py
index bbcdf82..97e6210 100644
--- a/api/api/settings.py
+++ b/api/api/settings.py
@@ -37,4 +37,4 @@
 CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS = os.getenv('CORS_ALLOWED_ORIGINS', '*')
 
 CAPTCHA_VERIFY_ENDPOINT = os.getenv('CAPTCHA_VERIFY_ENDPOINT')
-CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY = os.getenv('CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY')
+CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY = os.getenv('CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY')
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/api/utils.py b/api/api/utils.py
index 1827d19..2440279 100644
--- a/api/api/utils.py
+++ b/api/api/utils.py
@@ -63,4 +63,4 @@ def is_amount_valid(amount, token_address, tokens_list):
 def generate_access_key():
     access_key_id = secrets.token_hex(8)  # returns a 16 chars long string
     secret_access_key = secrets.token_hex(16)  # returns a 32 chars long string
-    return access_key_id, secret_access_key
+    return access_key_id, secret_access_key
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/migrations/README b/api/migrations/README
deleted file mode 100644
index 0e04844..0000000
--- a/api/migrations/README
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-Single-database configuration for Flask.
diff --git a/api/migrations/alembic.ini b/api/migrations/alembic.ini
deleted file mode 100644
index ec9d45c..0000000
--- a/api/migrations/alembic.ini
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-# A generic, single database configuration.
-
-[alembic]
-# template used to generate migration files
-# file_template = %%(rev)s_%%(slug)s
-
-# set to 'true' to run the environment during
-# the 'revision' command, regardless of autogenerate
-# revision_environment = false
-
-
-# Logging configuration
-[loggers]
-keys = root,sqlalchemy,alembic,flask_migrate
-
-[handlers]
-keys = console
-
-[formatters]
-keys = generic
-
-[logger_root]
-level = WARN
-handlers = console
-qualname =
-
-[logger_sqlalchemy]
-level = WARN
-handlers =
-qualname = sqlalchemy.engine
-
-[logger_alembic]
-level = INFO
-handlers =
-qualname = alembic
-
-[logger_flask_migrate]
-level = INFO
-handlers =
-qualname = flask_migrate
-
-[handler_console]
-class = StreamHandler
-args = (sys.stderr,)
-level = NOTSET
-formatter = generic
-
-[formatter_generic]
-format = %(levelname)-5.5s [%(name)s] %(message)s
-datefmt = %H:%M:%S
diff --git a/api/migrations/env.py b/api/migrations/env.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0749ebf..0000000
--- a/api/migrations/env.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,112 +0,0 @@
-import logging
-from logging.config import fileConfig
-
-from alembic import context
-from flask import current_app
-
-# this is the Alembic Config object, which provides
-# access to the values within the .ini file in use.
-config = context.config
-
-# Interpret the config file for Python logging.
-# This line sets up loggers basically.
-fileConfig(config.config_file_name)
-logger = logging.getLogger('alembic.env')
-
-
-def get_engine():
-    try:
-        # this works with Flask-SQLAlchemy<3 and Alchemical
-        return current_app.extensions['migrate'].db.get_engine()
-    except (TypeError, AttributeError):
-        # this works with Flask-SQLAlchemy>=3
-        return current_app.extensions['migrate'].db.engine
-
-
-def get_engine_url():
-    try:
-        return get_engine().url.render_as_string(hide_password=False).replace(
-            '%', '%%')
-    except AttributeError:
-        return str(get_engine().url).replace('%', '%%')
-
-
-# add your model's MetaData object here
-# for 'autogenerate' support
-# from myapp import mymodel
-# target_metadata = mymodel.Base.metadata
-config.set_main_option('sqlalchemy.url', get_engine_url())
-target_db = current_app.extensions['migrate'].db
-
-# other values from the config, defined by the needs of env.py,
-# can be acquired:
-# my_important_option = config.get_main_option("my_important_option")
-# ... etc.
-
-
-def get_metadata():
-    if hasattr(target_db, 'metadatas'):
-        return target_db.metadatas[None]
-    return target_db.metadata
-
-
-def run_migrations_offline():
-    """Run migrations in 'offline' mode.
-
-    This configures the context with just a URL
-    and not an Engine, though an Engine is acceptable
-    here as well.  By skipping the Engine creation
-    we don't even need a DBAPI to be available.
-
-    Calls to context.execute() here emit the given string to the
-    script output.
-
-    """
-    url = config.get_main_option("sqlalchemy.url")
-    context.configure(
-        url=url, target_metadata=get_metadata(), literal_binds=True
-    )
-
-    with context.begin_transaction():
-        context.run_migrations()
-
-
-def run_migrations_online():
-    """Run migrations in 'online' mode.
-
-    In this scenario we need to create an Engine
-    and associate a connection with the context.
-
-    """
-
-    # this callback is used to prevent an auto-migration from being generated
-    # when there are no changes to the schema
-    # reference: http://alembic.zzzcomputing.com/en/latest/cookbook.html
-    def process_revision_directives(context, revision, directives):
-        if getattr(config.cmd_opts, 'autogenerate', False):
-            script = directives[0]
-            if script.upgrade_ops.is_empty():
-                directives[:] = []
-                logger.info('No changes in schema detected.')
-
-    conf_args = current_app.extensions['migrate'].configure_args
-    if conf_args.get("process_revision_directives") is None:
-        conf_args["process_revision_directives"] = process_revision_directives
-
-    connectable = get_engine()
-
-    with connectable.connect() as connection:
-        context.configure(
-            connection=connection,
-            target_metadata=get_metadata(),
-            **conf_args
-        )
-
-        with context.begin_transaction():
-            context.run_migrations()
-
-
-if context.is_offline_mode():
-    run_migrations_offline()
-else:
-    run_migrations_online()
diff --git a/api/migrations/script.py.mako b/api/migrations/script.py.mako
deleted file mode 100644
index 2c01563..0000000
--- a/api/migrations/script.py.mako
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-"""${message}
-
-Revision ID: ${up_revision}
-Revises: ${down_revision | comma,n}
-Create Date: ${create_date}
-
-"""
-from alembic import op
-import sqlalchemy as sa
-${imports if imports else ""}
-
-# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
-revision = ${repr(up_revision)}
-down_revision = ${repr(down_revision)}
-branch_labels = ${repr(branch_labels)}
-depends_on = ${repr(depends_on)}
-
-
-def upgrade():
-    ${upgrades if upgrades else "pass"}
-
-
-def downgrade():
-    ${downgrades if downgrades else "pass"}
diff --git a/api/migrations/versions/71441c34724e_.py b/api/migrations/versions/71441c34724e_.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5360806
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/migrations/versions/71441c34724e_.py
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""empty message
+
+Revision ID: 71441c34724e
+Revises: 
+Create Date: 2024-02-28 14:11:13.601403
+
+"""
+import sqlalchemy as sa
+from alembic import op
+
+# revision identifiers, used by Alembic.
+revision = '71441c34724e'
+down_revision = None
+branch_labels = None
+depends_on = None
+
+
+def upgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.create_table('access_keys',
+    sa.Column('access_key_id', sa.String(length=16), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('secret_access_key', sa.String(length=32), nullable=False),
+    sa.Column('enabled', sa.Boolean(), nullable=False),
+    sa.PrimaryKeyConstraint('access_key_id')
+    )
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
+
+
+def downgrade():
+    # ### commands auto generated by Alembic - please adjust! ###
+    op.drop_table('access_keys')
+    # ### end Alembic commands ###
diff --git a/api/scripts/local_run_migrations.sh b/api/scripts/local_run_migrations.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..daa87d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/scripts/local_run_migrations.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -x
+
+# DB MIGRATIONS:
+FLASK_APP=api FAUCET_DATABASE_URI=sqlite:///:memory python3 -m flask db init  # only the first time we initialize the DB
+FLASK_APP=api FAUCET_DATABASE_URI=sqlite:///:memory python3 -m flask db migrate
+# Reflect migrations into the database:
+# FLASK_APP=api python3 -m flask db upgrade
+
+# Valid SQLite URL forms are:
+#  sqlite:///:memory: (or, sqlite://)
+#  sqlite:///relative/path/to/file.db
+#  sqlite:////absolute/path/to/file.db
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/scripts/production_run_api.sh b/api/scripts/production_run_api.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a749b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api/scripts/production_run_api.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+
+echo "==> $(date +%H:%M:%S) ==> Migrating DB models... "
+FLASK_APP=api python -m flask db upgrade
+
+echo "==> $(date +%H:%M:%S) ==> Running Gunicorn... "
+exec gunicorn --bind 0.0.0.0:8000 "api:create_app()"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/scripts/run.sh b/api/scripts/run.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 26db72c..0000000
--- a/api/scripts/run.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-python3 -m flask --app api run --port 8000
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/api/scripts/run_test_env.sh b/api/scripts/run_test_env.sh
deleted file mode 100644
index 9ca35df..0000000
--- a/api/scripts/run_test_env.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-touch /tmp/faucet_test.db
-
-# !! PRIVATE KEY FOR TEST PURPOSE ONLY !!
-# 0x21b1ae205147d4e2fcdee7b3fc762aa21f955f3dace8a185306ac104be797081
-# !! DO NOT USE IN ANY OTHER CONTEXTS !!
-
-FAUCET_RPC_URL=https://rpc.chiadochain.net \
-FAUCET_PRIVATE_KEY="0x21b1ae205147d4e2fcdee7b3fc762aa21f955f3dace8a185306ac104be797081" \
-FAUCET_CHAIN_ID=10200 \
-FAUCET_DATABASE_URI=sqlite:///tmp/faucet_test.db \
-CAPTCHA_VERIFY_ENDPOINT=localhost \
-CAPTCHA_SECRET_KEY=testkey \
-python3 -m flask --app api run --port 8000
-
-#   DB MIGRATIONS:
-##   Generate migrations
-###  ENV_VARIABLES python3 -m flask --app api db init
-###  ENV_VARIABLES python3 -m flask --app api db migrate
-
-# Valid SQLite URL forms are:
-#  sqlite:///:memory: (or, sqlite://)
-#  sqlite:///relative/path/to/file.db
-#  sqlite:////absolute/path/to/file.db
\ No newline at end of file