diff --git a/src/channels/plugins/types.adapters.ts b/src/channels/plugins/types.adapters.ts
index ead7f68b2fa..f31f3b20284 100644
--- a/src/channels/plugins/types.adapters.ts
+++ b/src/channels/plugins/types.adapters.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import type { OpenClawConfig } from "../../config/config.js";
 import type { GroupToolPolicyConfig } from "../../config/types.tools.js";
 import type { OutboundDeliveryResult, OutboundSendDeps } from "../../infra/outbound/deliver.js";
 import type { OutboundIdentity } from "../../infra/outbound/identity.js";
+import type { PluginRuntime } from "../../plugins/runtime/types.js";
 import type { RuntimeEnv } from "../../runtime.js";
 import type {
   ChannelAccountSnapshot,
@@ -172,6 +173,68 @@ export type ChannelGatewayContext<ResolvedAccount = unknown> = {
   log?: ChannelLogSink;
   getStatus: () => ChannelAccountSnapshot;
   setStatus: (next: ChannelAccountSnapshot) => void;
+  /**
+   * Optional channel runtime helpers for external channel plugins.
+   *
+   * This field provides access to advanced Plugin SDK features that are
+   * available to external plugins but not to built-in channels (which can
+   * directly import internal modules).
+   *
+   * ## Available Features
+   *
+   * - **reply**: AI response dispatching, formatting, and delivery
+   * - **routing**: Agent route resolution and matching
+   * - **text**: Text chunking, markdown processing, and control command detection
+   * - **session**: Session management and metadata tracking
+   * - **media**: Remote media fetching and buffer saving
+   * - **commands**: Command authorization and control command handling
+   * - **groups**: Group policy resolution and mention requirements
+   * - **pairing**: Channel pairing and allow-from management
+   *
+   * ## Use Cases
+   *
+   * External channel plugins (e.g., email, SMS, custom integrations) that need:
+   * - AI-powered response generation and delivery
+   * - Advanced text processing and formatting
+   * - Session tracking and management
+   * - Agent routing and policy resolution
+   *
+   * ## Example
+   *
+   * ```typescript
+   * const emailGatewayAdapter: ChannelGatewayAdapter<EmailAccount> = {
+   *   startAccount: async (ctx) => {
+   *     // Check availability (for backward compatibility)
+   *     if (!ctx.channelRuntime) {
+   *       ctx.log?.warn?.("channelRuntime not available - skipping AI features");
+   *       return;
+   *     }
+   *
+   *     // Use AI dispatch
+   *     await ctx.channelRuntime.reply.dispatchReplyWithBufferedBlockDispatcher({
+   *       ctx: { ... },
+   *       cfg: ctx.cfg,
+   *       dispatcherOptions: {
+   *         deliver: async (payload) => {
+   *           // Send reply via email
+   *         },
+   *       },
+   *     });
+   *   },
+   * };
+   * ```
+   *
+   * ## Backward Compatibility
+   *
+   * - This field is **optional** - channels that don't need it can ignore it
+   * - Built-in channels (slack, discord, etc.) typically don't use this field
+   *   because they can directly import internal modules
+   * - External plugins should check for undefined before using
+   *
+   * @since Plugin SDK 2026.2.19
+   * @see {@link https://docs.openclaw.ai/plugins/developing-plugins | Plugin SDK documentation}
+   */
+  channelRuntime?: PluginRuntime["channel"];
 };
 
 export type ChannelLogoutResult = {
diff --git a/src/gateway/server-channels.ts b/src/gateway/server-channels.ts
index c5a4064e2f1..6c291541369 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server-channels.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server-channels.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { type BackoffPolicy, computeBackoff, sleepWithAbort } from "../infra/bac
 import { formatErrorMessage } from "../infra/errors.js";
 import { resetDirectoryCache } from "../infra/outbound/target-resolver.js";
 import type { createSubsystemLogger } from "../logging/subsystem.js";
+import type { PluginRuntime } from "../plugins/runtime/types.js";
 import { DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID } from "../routing/session-key.js";
 import type { RuntimeEnv } from "../runtime.js";
 
@@ -59,6 +60,36 @@ type ChannelManagerOptions = {
   loadConfig: () => OpenClawConfig;
   channelLogs: Record<ChannelId, SubsystemLogger>;
   channelRuntimeEnvs: Record<ChannelId, RuntimeEnv>;
+  /**
+   * Optional channel runtime helpers for external channel plugins.
+   *
+   * When provided, this value is passed to all channel plugins via the
+   * `channelRuntime` field in `ChannelGatewayContext`, enabling external
+   * plugins to access advanced Plugin SDK features (AI dispatch, routing,
+   * text processing, etc.).
+   *
+   * Built-in channels (slack, discord, telegram) typically don't use this
+   * because they can directly import internal modules from the monorepo.
+   *
+   * This field is optional - omitting it maintains backward compatibility
+   * with existing channels.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * ```typescript
+   * import { createPluginRuntime } from "../plugins/runtime/index.js";
+   *
+   * const channelManager = createChannelManager({
+   *   loadConfig,
+   *   channelLogs,
+   *   channelRuntimeEnvs,
+   *   channelRuntime: createPluginRuntime().channel,
+   * });
+   * ```
+   *
+   * @since Plugin SDK 2026.2.19
+   * @see {@link ChannelGatewayContext.channelRuntime}
+   */
+  channelRuntime?: PluginRuntime["channel"];
 };
 
 type StartChannelOptions = {
@@ -78,7 +109,7 @@ export type ChannelManager = {
 
 // Channel docking: lifecycle hooks (`plugin.gateway`) flow through this manager.
 export function createChannelManager(opts: ChannelManagerOptions): ChannelManager {
-  const { loadConfig, channelLogs, channelRuntimeEnvs } = opts;
+  const { loadConfig, channelLogs, channelRuntimeEnvs, channelRuntime } = opts;
 
   const channelStores = new Map<ChannelId, ChannelRuntimeStore>();
   // Tracks restart attempts per channel:account. Reset on successful start.
@@ -199,6 +230,7 @@ export function createChannelManager(opts: ChannelManagerOptions): ChannelManage
           log,
           getStatus: () => getRuntime(channelId, id),
           setStatus: (next) => setRuntime(channelId, id, next),
+          ...(channelRuntime ? { channelRuntime } : {}),
         });
         const trackedPromise = Promise.resolve(task)
           .catch((err) => {
diff --git a/src/gateway/server.impl.ts b/src/gateway/server.impl.ts
index 65c84593202..88354131859 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.impl.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.impl.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import { startDiagnosticHeartbeat, stopDiagnosticHeartbeat } from "../logging/di
 import { createSubsystemLogger, runtimeForLogger } from "../logging/subsystem.js";
 import { getGlobalHookRunner, runGlobalGatewayStopSafely } from "../plugins/hook-runner-global.js";
 import { createEmptyPluginRegistry } from "../plugins/registry.js";
+import { createPluginRuntime } from "../plugins/runtime/index.js";
 import type { PluginServicesHandle } from "../plugins/services.js";
 import { getTotalQueueSize } from "../process/command-queue.js";
 import type { RuntimeEnv } from "../runtime.js";
@@ -554,6 +555,7 @@ export async function startGatewayServer(
     loadConfig,
     channelLogs,
     channelRuntimeEnvs,
+    channelRuntime: createPluginRuntime().channel,
   });
   const { getRuntimeSnapshot, startChannels, startChannel, stopChannel, markChannelLoggedOut } =
     channelManager;