diff --git a/.bumpy/npm-staged-publishing.md b/.bumpy/npm-staged-publishing.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10c2e5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.bumpy/npm-staged-publishing.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@varlock/bumpy': minor
+---
+
+Add `npmStaged` publish config option for npm staged publishing (`npm stage publish`), which stages packages on npmjs.com requiring manual 2FA approval before going live.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fff2bee..d0146f7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ Fixed locale fallback logic in utils.
 
 - **All package managers** - npm, pnpm, yarn, and bun workspaces
 - **Smart dependency propagation** - configurable rules for how version bumps cascade through your dependency graph (see [version propagation docs](https://github.com/dmno-dev/bumpy/blob/main/docs/version-propagation.md))
-- **Pack-then-publish** - by default, publishes to npm (resolving `workspace:` and `catalog:` protocols, with OIDC/provenance support). Per-package custom publish commands let you target anything - VSCode extensions, Docker images, JSR, private registries, etc.
+- **Pack-then-publish** - by default, publishes to npm (resolving `workspace:` and `catalog:` protocols, with OIDC/provenance support). Supports [npm staged publishing](https://docs.npmjs.com/about-staged-publishes) for 2FA-gated releases. Per-package custom publish commands let you target anything - VSCode extensions, Docker images, JSR, private registries, etc.
 - **Flexible package management** - include/exclude any package individually via per-package config, glob patterns, or `privatePackages` setting
 - **Non-interactive CLI** - `bumpy add` works fully non-interactively for CI/CD and AI-assisted development
 - **Aggregated GitHub releases** - optionally create a single consolidated release instead of one per package
diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 99976f9..f5b49b8 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -68,6 +68,25 @@ The `publish` object controls how packages are packed and published:
 | `publishManager`     | `string`               | `"npm"`  | Which tool runs `publish` (npm supports OIDC/provenance)              |
 | `publishArgs`        | `string[]`             | `[]`     | Extra args passed to publish (e.g., `["--provenance"]`)               |
 | `protocolResolution` | `"pack" \| "in-place"` | `"pack"` | How `workspace:` and `catalog:` protocols are resolved                |
+| `npmStaged`          | `boolean`              | `false`  | Use `npm stage publish` — requires 2FA approval on npmjs.com          |
+
+#### Staged publishing
+
+When `npmStaged` is enabled, bumpy uses `npm stage publish` instead of `npm publish`. This stages packages on npmjs.com, where they must be manually approved with 2FA before going live. This adds an extra security gate to your release process — even if CI credentials are compromised, packages can't be published without maintainer approval.
+
+Requirements:
+
+- `publishManager` must be `"npm"` (the default)
+- npm >= 11.5.1
+- [npm trusted publishing (OIDC)](https://docs.npmjs.com/trusted-publishers/) configured for your repo
+
+```json
+{
+  "publish": {
+    "npmStaged": true
+  }
+}
+```
 
 ### Version PR config
 
@@ -210,6 +229,9 @@ See the [Changelog Formatters](./changelog-formatters.md) docs for full details
   "dependencyBumpRules": {
     "peerDependencies": { "trigger": "minor", "bumpAs": "match" }
   },
+  "publish": {
+    "npmStaged": true
+  },
   "aggregateRelease": true,
   "packages": {
     "@myorg/vscode-extension": {
diff --git a/docs/github-actions.md b/docs/github-actions.md
index cd23231..b1543dd 100644
--- a/docs/github-actions.md
+++ b/docs/github-actions.md
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ jobs:
 
 **Trusted publishing setup:** Configure each package on [npmjs.com](https://docs.npmjs.com/trusted-publishers/) → Package Settings → Trusted Publishers → GitHub Actions. Specify your org/user, repo, and the workflow filename (`bumpy-release.yml`).
 
+> **Staged publishing:** For an extra layer of security, enable `npmStaged` in your [publish config](./configuration.md#staged-publishing). This uses `npm stage publish` to stage packages on npmjs.com, requiring manual 2FA approval before they go live — even if your CI credentials are compromised, nothing gets published without maintainer approval.
+
 ### Token-based auth (NPM_TOKEN)
 
 If you can't use trusted publishing, use an npm access token instead:
diff --git a/images/frog-clipboard.png b/images/frog-clipboard.png
index b77834d..df350e0 100644
Binary files a/images/frog-clipboard.png and b/images/frog-clipboard.png differ
diff --git a/packages/bumpy/src/core/publish-pipeline.ts b/packages/bumpy/src/core/publish-pipeline.ts
index 7281059..116279b 100644
--- a/packages/bumpy/src/core/publish-pipeline.ts
+++ b/packages/bumpy/src/core/publish-pipeline.ts
@@ -132,6 +132,24 @@ export async function publishPackages(
   // Set up npm authentication before publishing
   setupNpmAuth(rootDir, publishConfig.publishManager);
 
+  // Validate staged publishing config
+  if (publishConfig.npmStaged) {
+    if (publishConfig.publishManager !== 'npm') {
+      log.warn('Staged publishing is only supported with publishManager "npm" — ignoring staged option');
+    } else {
+      const npmVersion = tryRunArgs(['npm', '--version']);
+      if (npmVersion) {
+        const [major, minor, patch] = npmVersion.split('.').map(Number);
+        const meetsMinVersion = major! > 11 || (major === 11 && (minor! > 5 || (minor === 5 && patch! >= 1)));
+        if (!meetsMinVersion) {
+          log.warn(`Staged publishing requires npm >= 11.5.1 (found ${npmVersion})`);
+        } else {
+          log.dim(`Staged publishing enabled — packages will require 2FA approval on npmjs.com`);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   // Resolve "auto" pack manager to detected PM
   const packManager = publishConfig.packManager === 'auto' ? detectedPm : publishConfig.packManager;
 
@@ -302,7 +320,9 @@ function buildPublishArgs(
   const args: string[] = [];
 
   // Base command
-  if (publishManager === 'yarn') {
+  if (config.publish.npmStaged && publishManager === 'npm') {
+    args.push('npm', 'stage', 'publish');
+  } else if (publishManager === 'yarn') {
     args.push('yarn', 'npm', 'publish');
   } else {
     args.push(publishManager, 'publish');
diff --git a/packages/bumpy/src/types.ts b/packages/bumpy/src/types.ts
index 5181ab6..3a82b99 100644
--- a/packages/bumpy/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/bumpy/src/types.ts
@@ -79,6 +79,13 @@ export interface PublishConfig {
    * Default: "pack"
    */
   protocolResolution: 'pack' | 'in-place' | 'none';
+  /**
+   * Use npm staged publishing (`npm stage publish`).
+   * Stages the publish on npmjs.com, requiring manual 2FA approval before going live.
+   * Only works with publishManager "npm" and requires npm >= 11.5.1.
+   * Default: false
+   */
+  npmStaged: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface BumpyConfig {
@@ -157,6 +164,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_PUBLISH_CONFIG: PublishConfig = {
   packManager: 'auto',
   publishManager: 'npm',
   publishArgs: [],
+  npmStaged: false,
   protocolResolution: 'pack',
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/bumpy/test/core/publish-pipeline.test.ts b/packages/bumpy/test/core/publish-pipeline.test.ts
index bae70ba..32ba4b4 100644
--- a/packages/bumpy/test/core/publish-pipeline.test.ts
+++ b/packages/bumpy/test/core/publish-pipeline.test.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { mkdtemp, rm } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import { tmpdir } from 'node:os';
 import { writeJson, readJson, ensureDir, writeText } from '../../src/utils/fs.ts';
 import { makePkg, gitInDir } from '../helpers.ts';
-import { installShellMock, uninstallShellMock } from '../helpers-shell-mock.ts';
+import { installShellMock, uninstallShellMock, addMockRule, getCallsMatching } from '../helpers-shell-mock.ts';
 import { DependencyGraph } from '../../src/core/dep-graph.ts';
 import { publishPackages } from '../../src/core/publish-pipeline.ts';
 import type { WorkspacePackage, ReleasePlan, BumpyConfig } from '../../src/types.ts';
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ const IN_PLACE_CONFIG: BumpyConfig = {
   publish: { ...DEFAULT_PUBLISH_CONFIG, protocolResolution: 'in-place' },
 };
 
+const STAGED_CONFIG: BumpyConfig = {
+  ...DEFAULT_CONFIG,
+  publish: { ...DEFAULT_PUBLISH_CONFIG, npmStaged: true, protocolResolution: 'in-place' },
+};
+
 describe('publishPackages', () => {
   let tmpDir: string;
 
@@ -266,4 +271,43 @@ describe('publishPackages', () => {
     expect(deps.react).toBe('^19.0.0');
     expect(deps.jest).toBe('^30.0.0');
   });
+
+  test('staged publishing uses npm stage publish', async () => {
+    const pkgDir = resolve(tmpDir, 'packages/staged-pkg');
+    await ensureDir(pkgDir);
+    await writeJson(resolve(pkgDir, 'package.json'), { name: 'staged-pkg', version: '1.0.0' });
+    await setupGitRepo();
+
+    // Mock npm --version (for staged validation) and the publish command
+    addMockRule({ match: 'npm --version', response: '11.5.1' });
+    addMockRule({ match: 'npm stage publish', response: '' });
+
+    const packages = new Map<string, WorkspacePackage>();
+    packages.set('staged-pkg', makePkg('staged-pkg', '1.0.0', { dir: pkgDir }));
+
+    const depGraph = new DependencyGraph(packages);
+    const plan: ReleasePlan = {
+      bumpFiles: [],
+      warnings: [],
+      releases: [
+        {
+          name: 'staged-pkg',
+          type: 'patch',
+          oldVersion: '1.0.0',
+          newVersion: '1.0.1',
+          bumpFiles: [],
+          isDependencyBump: false,
+          isCascadeBump: false,
+          isGroupBump: false,
+          bumpSources: [],
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    const result = await publishPackages(plan, packages, depGraph, STAGED_CONFIG, tmpDir, {});
+
+    expect(result.published).toHaveLength(1);
+    const publishCalls = getCallsMatching('npm stage publish');
+    expect(publishCalls.length).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+  });
 });