diff --git a/core/container/src/manifest.rs b/core/container/src/manifest.rs
index 85a51cf8..b1720350 100644
--- a/core/container/src/manifest.rs
+++ b/core/container/src/manifest.rs
@@ -279,6 +279,12 @@ pub struct DerivedEnv {
 pub struct SecretEnv {
     pub key: String,
     pub secret_file: String,
+    /// When true, a missing/unreadable/empty secret skips this entry instead
+    /// of failing the whole resolution. For integrations that exist on some
+    /// nodes only (btcpay's internal-LND connection string: nodes without
+    /// LND must still run btcpay, just without the internal node).
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub optional: bool,
 }
 
 /// A fully resolved secret env entry, produced at apply time. `value` lives
@@ -1353,10 +1359,18 @@ impl ContainerConfig {
     ) -> Result<Vec<(String, String)>, ManifestError> {
         let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(self.secret_env.len());
         for e in &self.secret_env {
-            let v = provider.read(&e.secret_file)?;
+            let v = match provider.read(&e.secret_file) {
+                Ok(v) => v,
+                Err(_) if e.optional => continue,
+                Err(err) => return Err(err),
+            };
             // An empty secret produces e.g. `-rpcpassword=` and crashes
-            // the container on auth before logs are useful. Fail loud.
+            // the container on auth before logs are useful. Fail loud —
+            // unless the entry is optional, where empty means "not set".
             if v.trim().is_empty() {
+                if e.optional {
+                    continue;
+                }
                 return Err(ManifestError::Invalid(format!(
                     "secret_env {} resolved to empty value (file: {})",
                     e.key, e.secret_file
@@ -2034,10 +2048,12 @@ app:
                 SecretEnv {
                     key: "FM_BITCOIND_PASSWORD".to_string(),
                     secret_file: "bitcoin-rpc-password".to_string(),
+                    optional: false,
                 },
                 SecretEnv {
                     key: "FM_GATEWAY_PASSWORD".to_string(),
                     secret_file: "fedimint-gateway-password".to_string(),
+                    optional: false,
                 },
             ],
             generated_secrets: vec![],
@@ -2079,6 +2095,7 @@ app:
             secret_env: vec![SecretEnv {
                 key: "BITCOIN_RPC_PASS".to_string(),
                 secret_file: "bitcoin-rpc-password".to_string(),
+                optional: false,
             }],
             generated_secrets: vec![],
             generated_certs: vec![],
@@ -2099,6 +2116,51 @@ app:
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn resolve_secret_env_skips_missing_or_empty_optional_entries() {
+        let c = ContainerConfig {
+            image: Some("x:latest".to_string()),
+            image_signature: None,
+            pull_policy: "if-not-present".to_string(),
+            build: None,
+            network: None,
+            network_aliases: vec![],
+            custom_args: vec![],
+            entrypoint: None,
+            derived_env: vec![],
+            secret_env: vec![
+                SecretEnv {
+                    key: "REQUIRED".to_string(),
+                    secret_file: "present".to_string(),
+                    optional: false,
+                },
+                SecretEnv {
+                    key: "OPT_MISSING".to_string(),
+                    secret_file: "does-not-exist".to_string(),
+                    optional: true,
+                },
+                SecretEnv {
+                    key: "OPT_EMPTY".to_string(),
+                    secret_file: "empty".to_string(),
+                    optional: true,
+                },
+            ],
+            generated_secrets: vec![],
+            generated_certs: vec![],
+            data_uid: None,
+            secret_env_refs: vec![],
+            secret_env_hash: None,
+        };
+        let p = MapSecretsProvider {
+            data: HashMap::from([
+                ("present".to_string(), "value".to_string()),
+                ("empty".to_string(), "  \n".to_string()),
+            ]),
+        };
+        let out = c.resolve_secret_env(&p).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(out, vec!["REQUIRED=value".to_string()]);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn unsafe_manifest_values_are_rejected() {
         let cases = [