diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/identity.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/identity.ts
index 20ed82a..371361d 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/identity.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/identity.ts
@@ -52,13 +52,22 @@ router.post("/identity/challenge", (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
 //   event.kind    — any (27235 recommended per NIP-98, but not enforced)
 
 router.post("/identity/verify", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
-  const { event } = req.body as { event?: unknown };
+  // Accept both { event } and { pubkey, event } shapes (pubkey is optional but asserted if present)
+  const { event, pubkey: explicitPubkey } = req.body as { event?: unknown; pubkey?: unknown };
 
   if (!event || typeof event !== "object") {
     res.status(400).json({ error: "Body must include 'event' (Nostr signed event)" });
     return;
   }
 
+  // If caller provided a top-level pubkey, validate it matches event.pubkey
+  if (explicitPubkey !== undefined) {
+    if (typeof explicitPubkey !== "string" || !/^[0-9a-f]{64}$/.test(explicitPubkey)) {
+      res.status(400).json({ error: "top-level 'pubkey' must be a 64-char hex string" });
+      return;
+    }
+  }
+
   // ── Validate event structure ──────────────────────────────────────────────
   const ev = event as Record<string, unknown>;
   const pubkey = ev["pubkey"];
@@ -69,6 +78,12 @@ router.post("/identity/verify", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
     return;
   }
 
+  // Assert top-level pubkey matches event.pubkey if both are provided
+  if (typeof explicitPubkey === "string" && explicitPubkey !== pubkey) {
+    res.status(400).json({ error: "top-level 'pubkey' does not match event.pubkey" });
+    return;
+  }
+
   if (typeof content !== "string" || content.trim().length === 0) {
     res.status(400).json({ error: "event.content must be the nonce string" });
     return;
diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
index 4abeea5..408d39f 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts
@@ -266,13 +266,20 @@ async function advanceJob(job: Job): Promise<Job | null> {
 
 // ── Resolve Nostr pubkey from token header or body ────────────────────────────
 
-function resolveNostrPubkey(req: Request): string | null {
+/** Resolves a Nostr token from the request.
+ * Returns `{ pubkey, rejected }` where:
+ *   rejected=false, pubkey=null  → no token supplied (anonymous)
+ *   rejected=true,  pubkey=null  → token supplied but invalid/expired → caller should 401
+ *   rejected=false, pubkey=str   → valid token
+ */
+function resolveNostrPubkey(req: Request): { pubkey: string | null; rejected: boolean } {
   const header = req.headers["x-nostr-token"];
   const bodyToken = req.body?.nostr_token;
   const raw = typeof header === "string" ? header : (typeof bodyToken === "string" ? bodyToken : null);
-  if (!raw) return null;
+  if (!raw) return { pubkey: null, rejected: false };
   const parsed = trustService.verifyToken(raw.trim());
-  return parsed?.pubkey ?? null;
+  if (!parsed) return { pubkey: null, rejected: true };
+  return { pubkey: parsed.pubkey, rejected: false };
 }
 
 router.post("/jobs", jobsLimiter, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
@@ -288,7 +295,12 @@ router.post("/jobs", jobsLimiter, async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
   const { request } = parseResult.data;
 
   // Optionally bind a Nostr identity — ensure row exists before FK insert
-  const nostrPubkey = resolveNostrPubkey(req);
+  const tokenResult = resolveNostrPubkey(req);
+  if (tokenResult.rejected) {
+    res.status(401).json({ error: "Invalid or expired nostr_token" });
+    return;
+  }
+  const nostrPubkey = tokenResult.pubkey;
   if (nostrPubkey) await trustService.getOrCreate(nostrPubkey);
 
   try {
diff --git a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts
index b0a1f83..4467ba3 100644
--- a/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts
+++ b/artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts
@@ -138,13 +138,20 @@ async function advanceTopup(session: Session): Promise<Session> {
 
 // ── Resolve Nostr pubkey from token header or body ────────────────────────────
 
-function resolveNostrPubkey(req: Request): string | null {
+/** Resolves a Nostr token from the request.
+ * Returns `{ pubkey, rejected }` where:
+ *   rejected=false, pubkey=null  → no token supplied (anonymous)
+ *   rejected=true,  pubkey=null  → token supplied but invalid/expired → caller should 401
+ *   rejected=false, pubkey=str   → valid token
+ */
+function resolveNostrPubkey(req: Request): { pubkey: string | null; rejected: boolean } {
   const header = req.headers["x-nostr-token"];
   const bodyToken = req.body?.nostr_token;
   const raw = typeof header === "string" ? header : (typeof bodyToken === "string" ? bodyToken : null);
-  if (!raw) return null;
+  if (!raw) return { pubkey: null, rejected: false };
   const parsed = trustService.verifyToken(raw.trim());
-  return parsed?.pubkey ?? null;
+  if (!parsed) return { pubkey: null, rejected: true };
+  return { pubkey: parsed.pubkey, rejected: false };
 }
 
 // ── POST /sessions ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -161,7 +168,12 @@ router.post("/sessions", sessionsLimiter, async (req: Request, res: Response) =>
   }
 
   // Optionally bind a Nostr identity — ensure row exists before FK insert
-  const nostrPubkey = resolveNostrPubkey(req);
+  const tokenResult = resolveNostrPubkey(req);
+  if (tokenResult.rejected) {
+    res.status(401).json({ error: "Invalid or expired nostr_token" });
+    return;
+  }
+  const nostrPubkey = tokenResult.pubkey;
   if (nostrPubkey) await trustService.getOrCreate(nostrPubkey);
 
   try {