diff --git a/bincio/serve/db.py b/bincio/serve/db.py
index 16d3b7f..d939ad4 100644
--- a/bincio/serve/db.py
+++ b/bincio/serve/db.py
@@ -45,6 +45,11 @@ CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS invites (
     used_at     INTEGER
 );
 
+CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS settings (
+    key   TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+    value TEXT NOT NULL
+);
+
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS sessions_handle ON sessions(handle);
 CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS invites_created_by ON invites(created_by);
 """
@@ -149,6 +154,28 @@ def delete_user(db: sqlite3.Connection, handle: str) -> None:
     db.commit()
 
 
+def count_users(db: sqlite3.Connection) -> int:
+    """Return the total number of registered users."""
+    row = db.execute("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users").fetchone()
+    return row[0] if row else 0
+
+
+# ── Settings ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+def get_setting(db: sqlite3.Connection, key: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    row = db.execute("SELECT value FROM settings WHERE key = ?", (key,)).fetchone()
+    return row["value"] if row else None
+
+
+def set_setting(db: sqlite3.Connection, key: str, value: str) -> None:
+    db.execute(
+        "INSERT INTO settings (key, value) VALUES (?, ?) "
+        "ON CONFLICT(key) DO UPDATE SET value = excluded.value",
+        (key, value),
+    )
+    db.commit()
+
+
 # ── Sessions ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 def create_session(db: sqlite3.Connection, handle: str) -> str: