artifacts/api-server/src/lib/event-bus.ts

@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ export type DebateEvent =
   | { type: "debate:argument"; jobId: string; agent: "Beta-A" | "Beta-B"; position: "accept" | "reject"; argument: string }
   | { type: "debate:verdict"; jobId: string; accepted: boolean; reason: string };
 
-export type BusEvent = JobEvent | SessionEvent | DebateEvent;
+export type CostEvent =
+  | { type: "cost:update"; jobId: string; sats: number; phase: "eval" | "work" | "session"; isFinal: boolean };
+
+export type BusEvent = JobEvent | SessionEvent | DebateEvent | CostEvent;
 
 class EventBus extends EventEmitter {
   emit(event: "bus", data: BusEvent): boolean;

artifacts/api-server/src/routes/events.ts

@@ -247,6 +247,16 @@ function translateEvent(ev: BusEvent): object | null {
       };
     }
 
+    // ── Real-time cost ticker (#68) ───────────────────────────────────────────
+    case "cost:update":
+      return {
+        type: "cost_update",
+        jobId: ev.jobId,
+        sats: ev.sats,
+        phase: ev.phase,
+        isFinal: ev.isFinal,
+      };
+
     default:
       return null;
   }

artifacts/api-server/src/routes/jobs.ts

@@ -205,6 +205,8 @@ async function runEvalInBackground(
       // to avoid economic DoS where pool is reserved before the user ever pays.
 
       eventBus.publish({ type: "job:state", jobId, state: "awaiting_work_payment" });
+      // Emit estimated cost so the UI ticker can show ~N sats before payment
+      eventBus.publish({ type: "cost:update", jobId, sats: invoiceSats, phase: "work", isFinal: false });
     } else {
       await db
         .update(jobs)
@@ -307,6 +309,10 @@ async function runWorkInBackground(
       refundState,
     });
     eventBus.publish({ type: "job:completed", jobId, result: workResult.result });
+    // Emit final actual cost for the UI cost ticker
+    if (!isFree && actualAmountSats > 0) {
+      eventBus.publish({ type: "cost:update", jobId, sats: actualAmountSats, phase: "work", isFinal: true });
+    }
 
     // Credit the generosity pool from paid interactions
     if (!isFree && workAmountSats > 0) {

artifacts/api-server/src/routes/sessions.ts

@@ -465,6 +465,11 @@ router.post("/sessions/:id/request", async (req: Request, res: Response) => {
       }
     });
 
+    // Emit real-time cost update for the UI cost ticker (#68)
+    if (finalState === "complete" && debitedSats > 0) {
+      eventBus.publish({ type: "cost:update", jobId: requestId, sats: debitedSats, phase: "session", isFinal: true });
+    }
+
     // ── Trust scoring ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
     if (session.nostrPubkey) {
       if (finalState === "complete") {

the-matrix/js/ui.js

@@ -132,6 +132,54 @@ function _scheduleCostPreview(text) {
   _estimateTimer = setTimeout(() => _fetchEstimate(text), 300);
 }
 
+// ── Live cost ticker ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Shown in the top-right HUD during active paid interactions.
+// Updated via WebSocket `cost_update` messages from the backend.
+
+let $costTicker = null;
+let _tickerHideTimer = null;
+
+function _ensureCostTicker() {
+  if ($costTicker) return $costTicker;
+  $costTicker = document.getElementById('timmy-cost-ticker');
+  if (!$costTicker) {
+    $costTicker = document.createElement('div');
+    $costTicker.id = 'timmy-cost-ticker';
+    $costTicker.style.cssText = [
+      'position:fixed;top:36px;right:16px',
+      'font-size:11px;font-family:"Courier New",monospace',
+      'color:#ffcc44;text-shadow:0 0 6px #aa8822',
+      'letter-spacing:1px',
+      'pointer-events:none;z-index:10',
+      'transition:opacity .4s;opacity:0',
+    ].join(';');
+    document.body.appendChild($costTicker);
+  }
+  return $costTicker;
+}
+
+export function showCostTicker(sats) {
+  clearTimeout(_tickerHideTimer);
+  const el = _ensureCostTicker();
+  el.textContent = `⚡ ~${sats} sats`;
+  el.style.opacity = '1';
+}
+
+export function updateCostTicker(sats, isFinal = false) {
+  clearTimeout(_tickerHideTimer);
+  const el = _ensureCostTicker();
+  el.textContent = isFinal ? `⚡ ${sats} sats charged` : `⚡ ~${sats} sats`;
+  el.style.opacity = '1';
+  if (isFinal) {
+    _tickerHideTimer = setTimeout(hideCostTicker, 5000);
+  }
+}
+
+export function hideCostTicker() {
+  if (!$costTicker) return;
+  $costTicker.style.opacity = '0';
+}
+
 // ── Input bar ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 export function initUI() {

the-matrix/js/websocket.js

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { setAgentState, setSpeechBubble, applyAgentStates, setMood } from './agents.js';
-import { appendSystemMessage, appendDebateMessage } from './ui.js';
+import { appendSystemMessage, appendDebateMessage, showCostTicker, updateCostTicker } from './ui.js';
 import { sentiment } from './edge-worker-client.js';
 import { setLabelState } from './hud-labels.js';
 
@@ -140,6 +140,17 @@ function handleMessage(msg) {
       break;
     }
 
+    case 'cost_update': {
+      // Real-time cost ticker (#68): show estimated cost when job starts,
+      // update to final charged amount when job completes.
+      if (msg.isFinal) {
+        updateCostTicker(msg.sats, true);
+      } else {
+        showCostTicker(msg.sats);
+      }
+      break;
+    }
+
     case 'agent_count':
     case 'visitor_count':
       break;