feat(sync): make outbound NIP-42 authentication optional and terminal on refusal

Outbound sync answers NIP-42 challenges with the relay owner key on
every connection. When no owner key is available, the previous code
panicked at registration (`.expect`), and the retry machinery would
still have reserved a one-shot authentication retry that nothing could
ever fulfil.

Approach: `RelayConnection::new{,_with_database}` now take
`Option<Keys>` and only attach the SDK authenticator when present,
exposing `answers_auth_challenges()`. Without an authenticator an
auth-required CLOSED is terminal like any other CLOSED: the terminal
listener retires the subscription, the data lane releases its live
permit, and `handle_subscription_closed` skips the one-retry
reservation and goes straight to retirement plus the
AuthenticationRequired policy refusal (24h probe). `register_relay`
degrades gracefully to an unauthenticated connection with a warning
instead of panicking.

Correctness assumptions: rust-nostr only retains auth-refused
subscriptions for post-authentication resubscription when an
authenticator is configured, so every has_authenticator branch mirrors
an SDK behavior split; a reserved retry without an authenticator would
dangle until disconnect cleanup.

Test infrastructure: new AuthGatingRelay helper - a NIP-42 gate in
front of a backend relay that serves a plain NIP-11 document,
challenges every session, refuses queries pre-auth, marks negentropy
unsupported, and either bridges (Admit) or answers `restricted:`
(Restricted) after a valid AUTH, recording authenticated pubkeys and
REQ counts.

Validation: integration tests prove (1) a public instance
authenticates to a gated ordinary relay with its owner key and the
retained subscription is answered after AUTH (announcement reaches
purgatory through the gate, the instance's only event source), and
(2) a restricted refusal after successful authentication parks the
work - the gate's REQ count holds still for a full 2s observation
window. cargo test --lib (789 passed) and --test sync
sync::outbound_auth pass.

src/sync/mod.rs

@@ -5332,11 +5332,20 @@ impl SyncManager {
                 }
             }
 
-            // Get relay owner keys for NIP-42 authentication
+            // The relay owner key answers outbound NIP-42 challenges. Sync
-            let keys = self
+            // must keep working without it, so a missing key degrades to an
-                .config
+            // unauthenticated connection instead of aborting registration.
-                .relay_owner_keys()
+            let keys = match self.config.relay_owner_keys() {
-                .expect("relay_owner_keys should be available");
+                Ok(keys) => Some(keys),
+                Err(error) => {
+                    tracing::warn!(
+                        relay = %relay_url,
+                        error = %error,
+                        "Relay owner key unavailable; outbound NIP-42 authentication disabled for this connection"
+                    );
+                    None
+                }
+            };
 
             let connection = RelayConnection::new_with_database(
                 relay_url.clone(),
@@ -7852,11 +7861,17 @@ impl SyncManager {
                 );
                 return;
             }
-            if reserve_authentication_retry(
+            // A retry is only worth reserving when the SDK will actually
-                &mut self.auth_required_attempts,
+            // answer the challenge and resubscribe; without an authenticator
-                relay_url,
+            // the subscription is already gone and a reserved retry would
-                &subscription_id,
+            // dangle until disconnect cleanup.
-            ) {
+            if connection.answers_auth_challenges()
+                && reserve_authentication_retry(
+                    &mut self.auth_required_attempts,
+                    relay_url,
+                    &subscription_id,
+                )
+            {
                 tracing::info!(
                     relay = %relay_url,
                     sub_id = %subscription_id,

src/sync/relay_connection.rs

@@ -588,6 +588,10 @@ pub struct RelayConnection {
     policy: OutboundTargetPolicy,
     /// The underlying nostr-sdk client
     client: Client,
+    /// Whether a NIP-42 authenticator was attached to the client. Without
+    /// one the SDK never answers AUTH challenges and never retains
+    /// auth-refused subscriptions for a post-authentication retry.
+    has_authenticator: bool,
     /// Local database for negentropy comparison (used for NIP-77 sync)
     database: Option<SharedDatabase>,
     /// Whether we've logged NIP-77 not supported for this relay (log once)
@@ -712,24 +716,29 @@ impl RelayConnection {
     ///
     /// # Arguments
     /// * `url` - The relay URL to connect to (with or without scheme, e.g., "relay.example.com" or "wss://relay.example.com")
-    /// * `keys` - Cryptographic keys for NIP-42 authentication (typically the relay operator's keys)
+    /// * `keys` - Keys for answering NIP-42 challenges (typically the relay
+    ///   operator's keys); `None` disables outbound authentication entirely
     /// * `source` - Whether the URL is operator-configured or event-directed
     /// * `policy` - Outbound target policy enforced before event-directed dials
     pub fn new(
         url: String,
-        keys: Keys,
+        keys: Option<Keys>,
         source: RelayTargetSource,
         policy: OutboundTargetPolicy,
     ) -> Self {
         let normalized_url = Self::normalize_url(&url);
-        let client = Client::builder()
+        let has_authenticator = keys.is_some();
-            .authenticator(SignerAuthenticator::new(keys))
+        let mut builder = Client::builder();
-            .build();
+        if let Some(keys) = keys {
+            builder = builder.authenticator(SignerAuthenticator::new(keys));
+        }
+        let client = builder.build();
         Self {
             url: normalized_url,
             source,
             policy,
             client,
+            has_authenticator,
             database: None,
             nip77_warning_logged: std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool::new(false)),
             nip77_supported: std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicU8::new(0)),
@@ -778,25 +787,30 @@ impl RelayConnection {
     /// # Arguments
     /// * `url` - The relay URL to connect to (with or without scheme, e.g., "relay.example.com" or "wss://relay.example.com")
     /// * `database` - Shared database for local event comparison during negentropy sync
-    /// * `keys` - Cryptographic keys for NIP-42 authentication (typically the relay operator's keys)
+    /// * `keys` - Keys for answering NIP-42 challenges (typically the relay
+    ///   operator's keys); `None` disables outbound authentication entirely
     /// * `source` - Whether the URL is operator-configured or event-directed
     /// * `policy` - Outbound target policy enforced before event-directed dials
     pub fn new_with_database(
         url: String,
         database: SharedDatabase,
-        keys: Keys,
+        keys: Option<Keys>,
         source: RelayTargetSource,
         policy: OutboundTargetPolicy,
     ) -> Self {
         let normalized_url = Self::normalize_url(&url);
-        let client = Client::builder()
+        let has_authenticator = keys.is_some();
-            .authenticator(SignerAuthenticator::new(keys))
+        let mut builder = Client::builder();
-            .build();
+        if let Some(keys) = keys {
+            builder = builder.authenticator(SignerAuthenticator::new(keys));
+        }
+        let client = builder.build();
         Self {
             url: normalized_url,
             source,
             policy,
             client,
+            has_authenticator,
             database: Some(database),
             nip77_warning_logged: std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicBool::new(false)),
             nip77_supported: std::sync::Arc::new(std::sync::atomic::AtomicU8::new(0)),
@@ -1700,7 +1714,13 @@ impl RelayConnection {
                             message,
                         } => {
                             let subscription_id = subscription_id.into_owned();
-                            if !is_auth_required_message(&message) {
+                            // An auth-required CLOSED is only a retry signal
+                            // when an authenticator can actually answer the
+                            // challenge; otherwise it is terminal like any
+                            // other CLOSED.
+                            if !terminal_connection.has_authenticator
+                                || !is_auth_required_message(&message)
+                            {
                                 terminal_connection
                                     .retire_peer_closed_subscription(&subscription_id)
                                     .await;
@@ -1801,19 +1821,22 @@ impl RelayConnection {
                         // this processor-facing path retains live restoration.
                         let subscription_id = subscription_id.into_owned();
                         // rust-nostr needs the same subscription and ledger
-                        // slot alive while it answers a first NIP-42 challenge.
+                        // slot alive while it answers a first NIP-42
-                        let released_live = if is_auth_required_message(&msg) {
+                        // challenge. Without an authenticator there is no
-                            self.live_req_permits_held
+                        // challenge to answer, so release like any CLOSED.
-                                .lock()
+                        let released_live =
-                                .expect("live permit map poisoned")
+                            if self.has_authenticator && is_auth_required_message(&msg) {
-                                .get(&subscription_id)
+                                self.live_req_permits_held
-                                .map(|held| ReleasedLiveSubscription {
+                                    .lock()
-                                    generation: held.generation,
+                                    .expect("live permit map poisoned")
-                                    filter_count: held.filters.len(),
+                                    .get(&subscription_id)
-                                })
+                                    .map(|held| ReleasedLiveSubscription {
-                        } else {
+                                        generation: held.generation,
-                            self.release_live_req_permit(&subscription_id)
+                                        filter_count: held.filters.len(),
-                        };
+                                    })
+                            } else {
+                                self.release_live_req_permit(&subscription_id)
+                            };
                         if is_query_rate_limit_message(&msg) {
                             self.record_query_rate_limit();
                         }
@@ -2211,6 +2234,15 @@ impl RelayConnection {
         &self.url
     }
 
+    /// Whether this connection can answer NIP-42 AUTH challenges.
+    ///
+    /// Without an authenticator the SDK removes auth-refused subscriptions
+    /// instead of retaining them, so no post-authentication retry can ever
+    /// happen and callers must treat auth-required CLOSED as terminal.
+    pub fn answers_auth_challenges(&self) -> bool {
+        self.has_authenticator
+    }
+
     /// Get the number of active subscriptions on this connection
     ///
     /// Returns the count of subscriptions tracked by the underlying nostr-sdk client.
@@ -2819,7 +2851,7 @@ mod tests {
     fn permissive_connection(url: &str, keys: Keys) -> RelayConnection {
         RelayConnection::new(
             url.to_string(),
-            keys,
+            Some(keys),
             RelayTargetSource::EventDirected,
             OutboundTargetPolicy {
                 allow_non_global: true,
@@ -3067,7 +3099,7 @@ mod tests {
         // the strict default policy, mirroring the bootstrap-relay exception.
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             configured.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3125,7 +3157,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3172,7 +3204,7 @@ mod tests {
         relay.run().await.expect("start empty relay");
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3219,7 +3251,7 @@ mod tests {
         relay.run().await.expect("start registry relay");
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3254,7 +3286,7 @@ mod tests {
         relay.run().await.expect("start query-limited relay");
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3417,7 +3449,7 @@ mod tests {
     async fn event_directed_connect_rejects_loopback_before_dialling() {
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             "ws://127.0.0.1:1".to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::EventDirected,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3759,7 +3791,7 @@ mod tests {
         relay.run().await.expect("start local relay");
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3822,7 +3854,7 @@ mod tests {
         relay.run().await.expect("start local relay");
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );
@@ -3914,7 +3946,7 @@ mod tests {
         relay.run().await.expect("start local relay");
         let connection = RelayConnection::new(
             relay.url().await.to_string(),
-            Keys::generate(),
+            Some(Keys::generate()),
             RelayTargetSource::OperatorConfigured,
             OutboundTargetPolicy::default(),
         );

tests/common/auth_gating_relay.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,429 @@
+//! NIP-42 Gating Relay for Outbound Authentication Tests
+//!
+//! A WebSocket front-end that demands NIP-42 authentication before doing
+//! anything, standing in for an authenticated (but NOT GRASP-08) relay:
+//!
+//! - HTTP requests with `Accept: application/nostr+json` receive a minimal
+//!   NIP-11 document without a `supported_grasps` field, so a syncing
+//!   instance treats the gate as an ordinary relay.
+//! - Every WebSocket session is greeted with `["AUTH", <challenge>]`. Until
+//!   a valid AUTH event (kind 22242, verified signature, matching challenge
+//!   tag) arrives, `REQ`/`COUNT` receive an `auth-required:` CLOSED, `EVENT`
+//!   an `auth-required:` OK-false, and `NEG-OPEN` a `NEG-ERR` marking
+//!   negentropy unsupported (so sync falls back to plain REQs).
+//! - After a valid AUTH the session either bridges transparently to the
+//!   backend relay ([`GateMode::Admit`]) or keeps answering every `REQ` with
+//!   a `restricted:` CLOSED ([`GateMode::Restricted`]).
+//!
+//! Authenticated pubkeys and the number of `REQ` frames received are shared
+//! observable state for test assertions.
+
+use std::collections::HashSet;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
+use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
+
+use futures_util::stream::{SplitSink, SplitStream};
+use futures_util::{SinkExt, StreamExt};
+use http_body_util::Full;
+use hyper::body::Bytes;
+use hyper::header::{ACCEPT, CONNECTION, SEC_WEBSOCKET_ACCEPT, SEC_WEBSOCKET_KEY, UPGRADE};
+use hyper::server::conn::http1;
+use hyper::service::service_fn;
+use hyper::upgrade::Upgraded;
+use hyper::{Request, Response, StatusCode};
+use hyper_util::rt::TokioIo;
+use nostr_sdk::prelude::{Event, Keys, Kind, PublicKey};
+use tokio::net::TcpListener;
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
+use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::protocol::Role;
+use tokio_tungstenite::tungstenite::Message;
+use tokio_tungstenite::WebSocketStream;
+
+/// What an authenticated session is allowed to do.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum GateMode {
+    /// Bridge authenticated sessions transparently to the backend relay.
+    Admit,
+    /// Accept valid authentication but refuse every query with `restricted:`.
+    Restricted,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+struct GateState {
+    authenticated: Arc<Mutex<HashSet<PublicKey>>>,
+    req_count: Arc<AtomicUsize>,
+}
+
+/// NIP-42 gate in front of a backend relay. See the module docs.
+pub struct AuthGatingRelay {
+    url: String,
+    state: GateState,
+    shutdown_tx: Option<oneshot::Sender<()>>,
+    handle: Option<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>>,
+}
+
+impl AuthGatingRelay {
+    /// Start the gate on a random loopback port in front of `backend_url`.
+    pub async fn start(backend_url: &str, mode: GateMode) -> Self {
+        let listener = TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0")
+            .await
+            .expect("AuthGatingRelay failed to bind");
+        let port = listener
+            .local_addr()
+            .expect("AuthGatingRelay local_addr")
+            .port();
+
+        let state = GateState {
+            authenticated: Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashSet::new())),
+            req_count: Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0)),
+        };
+        let (shutdown_tx, mut shutdown_rx) = oneshot::channel::<()>();
+
+        let backend_url = backend_url.to_string();
+        let accept_state = state.clone();
+        let handle = tokio::spawn(async move {
+            loop {
+                tokio::select! {
+                    accepted = listener.accept() => {
+                        let Ok((stream, _)) = accepted else { break };
+                        let backend_url = backend_url.clone();
+                        let state = accept_state.clone();
+                        let io = TokioIo::new(stream);
+                        tokio::spawn(async move {
+                            let service = service_fn(move |req| {
+                                let backend_url = backend_url.clone();
+                                let state = state.clone();
+                                async move { handle_request(req, backend_url, mode, state).await }
+                            });
+                            // Errors are expected when clients disconnect.
+                            let _ = http1::Builder::new()
+                                .serve_connection(io, service)
+                                .with_upgrades()
+                                .await;
+                        });
+                    }
+                    _ = &mut shutdown_rx => break,
+                }
+            }
+        });
+
+        Self {
+            url: format!("ws://127.0.0.1:{port}"),
+            state,
+            shutdown_tx: Some(shutdown_tx),
+            handle: Some(handle),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The ws:// URL a syncing relay should use to reach the gate.
+    pub fn url(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.url
+    }
+
+    /// Pubkeys that completed a valid NIP-42 authentication.
+    pub fn authenticated_pubkeys(&self) -> HashSet<PublicKey> {
+        self.state
+            .authenticated
+            .lock()
+            .expect("authenticated set poisoned")
+            .clone()
+    }
+
+    /// Total `REQ` frames received across all sessions.
+    pub fn req_count(&self) -> usize {
+        self.state.req_count.load(Ordering::SeqCst)
+    }
+
+    /// Stop the gate.
+    pub async fn stop(mut self) {
+        if let Some(tx) = self.shutdown_tx.take() {
+            let _ = tx.send(());
+        }
+        if let Some(handle) = self.handle.take() {
+            let _ = handle.await;
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Drop for AuthGatingRelay {
+    fn drop(&mut self) {
+        if let Some(tx) = self.shutdown_tx.take() {
+            let _ = tx.send(());
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+async fn handle_request(
+    req: Request<hyper::body::Incoming>,
+    backend_url: String,
+    mode: GateMode,
+    state: GateState,
+) -> Result<Response<Full<Bytes>>, hyper::Error> {
+    let is_websocket = req
+        .headers()
+        .get(UPGRADE)
+        .map(|v| v.to_str().unwrap_or("").eq_ignore_ascii_case("websocket"))
+        .unwrap_or(false);
+
+    if is_websocket {
+        if let Some(key) = req
+            .headers()
+            .get(SEC_WEBSOCKET_KEY)
+            .and_then(|k| k.to_str().ok())
+            .map(str::to_string)
+        {
+            let accept_key = derive_accept_key(key.as_bytes());
+            tokio::spawn(async move {
+                match hyper::upgrade::on(req).await {
+                    Ok(upgraded) => {
+                        let ws = WebSocketStream::from_raw_socket(
+                            TokioIo::new(upgraded),
+                            Role::Server,
+                            None,
+                        )
+                        .await;
+                        if let Err(error) = run_session(ws, &backend_url, mode, state).await {
+                            eprintln!("AuthGatingRelay session ended: {error}");
+                        }
+                    }
+                    Err(error) => eprintln!("AuthGatingRelay upgrade error: {error}"),
+                }
+            });
+            return Ok(Response::builder()
+                .status(StatusCode::SWITCHING_PROTOCOLS)
+                .header(CONNECTION, "upgrade")
+                .header(UPGRADE, "websocket")
+                .header(SEC_WEBSOCKET_ACCEPT, accept_key)
+                .body(Full::new(Bytes::new()))
+                .unwrap());
+        }
+    }
+
+    if req
+        .headers()
+        .get(ACCEPT)
+        .and_then(|value| value.to_str().ok())
+        .is_some_and(|value| value.contains("application/nostr+json"))
+    {
+        // Deliberately no supported_grasps: the gate models an authenticated
+        // ordinary relay, not a GRASP-08 private service.
+        let document = serde_json::json!({
+            "name": "auth gating relay",
+            "supported_nips": [1, 11, 42],
+        });
+        return Ok(Response::builder()
+            .status(StatusCode::OK)
+            .header("Content-Type", "application/nostr+json")
+            .body(Full::new(Bytes::from(document.to_string())))
+            .unwrap());
+    }
+
+    Ok(Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::OK)
+        .header("Content-Type", "text/plain")
+        .body(Full::new(Bytes::from("AuthGatingRelay")))
+        .unwrap())
+}
+
+type ClientWs = WebSocketStream<TokioIo<Upgraded>>;
+type SharedClientSink = Arc<tokio::sync::Mutex<SplitSink<ClientWs, Message>>>;
+
+async fn send_json(sink: &SharedClientSink, value: serde_json::Value) -> Result<(), String> {
+    sink.lock()
+        .await
+        .send(Message::Text(value.to_string().into()))
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| format!("client write: {e}"))
+}
+
+async fn run_session(
+    ws: ClientWs,
+    backend_url: &str,
+    mode: GateMode,
+    state: GateState,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let (client_tx, mut client_rx) = ws.split();
+    let client_tx: SharedClientSink = Arc::new(tokio::sync::Mutex::new(client_tx));
+
+    // Challenge only needs to be unpredictable within the test process.
+    let challenge = Keys::generate().public_key().to_hex();
+    send_json(&client_tx, serde_json::json!(["AUTH", challenge])).await?;
+
+    let mut authenticated = false;
+    let mut backend: Option<SplitSink<_, Message>> = None;
+    let mut backend_task: Option<tokio::task::JoinHandle<()>> = None;
+
+    while let Some(message) = client_rx.next().await {
+        let message = message.map_err(|e| format!("client read: {e}"))?;
+        match message {
+            Message::Text(text) => {
+                let Ok(frame) = serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(text.as_str()) else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                let Some(kind) = frame.get(0).and_then(|v| v.as_str()) else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+
+                if kind == "AUTH" {
+                    handle_auth(&frame, &challenge, &state, &mut authenticated, &client_tx).await?;
+                    if authenticated && mode == GateMode::Admit && backend.is_none() {
+                        let (backend_ws, _) =
+                            tokio_tungstenite::connect_async(backend_url)
+                                .await
+                                .map_err(|e| format!("backend connect failed: {e}"))?;
+                        let (backend_tx, backend_rx) = backend_ws.split();
+                        backend = Some(backend_tx);
+                        backend_task = Some(spawn_backend_forwarder(backend_rx, client_tx.clone()));
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                if kind == "REQ" {
+                    state.req_count.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                }
+
+                if authenticated && mode == GateMode::Admit {
+                    if let Some(backend_tx) = backend.as_mut() {
+                        backend_tx
+                            .send(Message::Text(text))
+                            .await
+                            .map_err(|e| format!("backend write: {e}"))?;
+                    }
+                    continue;
+                }
+
+                // Pre-authentication, or authenticated in Restricted mode.
+                let refusal = if authenticated {
+                    "restricted: not a member"
+                } else {
+                    "auth-required: authentication required"
+                };
+                let sub_id = frame.get(1).and_then(|v| v.as_str()).unwrap_or_default();
+                match kind {
+                    "REQ" | "COUNT" => {
+                        send_json(&client_tx, serde_json::json!(["CLOSED", sub_id, refusal]))
+                            .await?;
+                    }
+                    // The "not supported" wording makes sync classify
+                    // negentropy as unsupported and fall back to REQs.
+                    "NEG-OPEN" => {
+                        send_json(
+                            &client_tx,
+                            serde_json::json!([
+                                "NEG-ERR",
+                                sub_id,
+                                "blocked: negentropy not supported"
+                            ]),
+                        )
+                        .await?;
+                    }
+                    "EVENT" => {
+                        let id = frame
+                            .get(1)
+                            .and_then(|event| event.get("id"))
+                            .and_then(|id| id.as_str())
+                            .unwrap_or_default();
+                        send_json(&client_tx, serde_json::json!(["OK", id, false, refusal]))
+                            .await?;
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                }
+            }
+            Message::Ping(payload) => {
+                client_tx
+                    .lock()
+                    .await
+                    .send(Message::Pong(payload))
+                    .await
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("client write: {e}"))?;
+            }
+            Message::Close(_) => break,
+            _ => {}
+        }
+    }
+
+    if let Some(task) = backend_task {
+        task.abort();
+    }
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+async fn handle_auth(
+    frame: &serde_json::Value,
+    challenge: &str,
+    state: &GateState,
+    authenticated: &mut bool,
+    client_tx: &SharedClientSink,
+) -> Result<(), String> {
+    let event = frame
+        .get(1)
+        .and_then(|value| Event::from_json(value.to_string()).ok());
+    let Some(event) = event else {
+        return send_json(
+            client_tx,
+            serde_json::json!(["OK", "", false, "auth-required: malformed AUTH"]),
+        )
+        .await;
+    };
+    let challenge_matches = event.tags.iter().any(|tag| {
+        let values = tag.as_slice();
+        values.first().is_some_and(|name| name == "challenge")
+            && values.get(1).is_some_and(|value| value == challenge)
+    });
+    let valid = event.kind == Kind::Authentication && event.verify().is_ok() && challenge_matches;
+    if valid {
+        *authenticated = true;
+        state
+            .authenticated
+            .lock()
+            .expect("authenticated set poisoned")
+            .insert(event.pubkey);
+    }
+    send_json(
+        client_tx,
+        serde_json::json!([
+            "OK",
+            event.id.to_hex(),
+            valid,
+            if valid {
+                ""
+            } else {
+                "auth-required: invalid AUTH"
+            }
+        ]),
+    )
+    .await
+}
+
+fn spawn_backend_forwarder(
+    mut backend_rx: SplitStream<
+        WebSocketStream<tokio_tungstenite::MaybeTlsStream<tokio::net::TcpStream>>,
+    >,
+    client_tx: SharedClientSink,
+) -> tokio::task::JoinHandle<()> {
+    tokio::spawn(async move {
+        while let Some(message) = backend_rx.next().await {
+            let Ok(message) = message else { break };
+            if client_tx.lock().await.send(message).await.is_err() {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+    })
+}
+
+/// Derive the Sec-WebSocket-Accept key from the request key.
+fn derive_accept_key(request_key: &[u8]) -> String {
+    use bitcoin_hashes::sha1::Hash as Sha1Hash;
+    use bitcoin_hashes::{Hash, HashEngine};
+
+    const WS_GUID: &[u8] = b"258EAFA5-E914-47DA-95CA-C5AB0DC85B11";
+
+    let mut engine = Sha1Hash::engine();
+    engine.input(request_key);
+    engine.input(WS_GUID);
+    let hash = Sha1Hash::from_engine(engine);
+    base64::Engine::encode(
+        &base64::engine::general_purpose::STANDARD,
+        hash.as_byte_array(),
+    )
+}

tests/common/mod.rs

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #![allow(dead_code)] // Test helpers may not be used in all test configurations
 #![allow(unused_imports)] // Re-exports may not be used in all test configurations
 
+pub mod auth_gating_relay;
 pub mod censoring_proxy;
 pub mod flapping_relay;
 pub mod git_server;
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@ pub mod setup_drop_relay;
 pub mod sync_helpers;
 pub mod upload_pack_counting_proxy;
 
+pub use auth_gating_relay::{AuthGatingRelay, GateMode};
 pub use git_server::{SimpleGitServer, SmartGitServer};
 pub use mock_relay::MockRelay;
 pub use nip09_helpers::*;

tests/common/relay.rs

@@ -229,6 +229,26 @@ impl TestRelay {
         .await
     }
 
+    /// Start a syncing relay on a caller-reserved port with user-index
+    /// identity publication disabled. See
+    /// [`Self::start_with_sync_without_user_index`] and
+    /// [`Self::start_on_reservation_with_options`] for the two concerns
+    /// this combines.
+    pub async fn start_on_reservation_with_sync_without_user_index(
+        reservation: PortReservation,
+        bootstrap_relay_url: Option<String>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self::start_internal(
+            reservation,
+            RelayOptions {
+                bootstrap_relay_url,
+                user_index_relays: Some(String::new()),
+                ..RelayOptions::default()
+            },
+        )
+        .await
+    }
+
     /// Start a syncing relay with a caller-chosen relay-owner identity.
     ///
     /// Lets tests stage owner-signed events on other relays before this

tests/sync/outbound_auth.rs

@@ -6,10 +6,18 @@
 //! - A PUBLIC instance recognizes a GRASP-08 private service from its NIP-11
 //!   document before dialing, and parks it without any WebSocket connection
 //!   or AUTH exchange.
+//! - A public instance answers NIP-42 challenges from an ordinary
+//!   authenticated relay with the relay owner key and syncs through it.
+//! - A `restricted:` CLOSED after successful authentication is terminal:
+//!   subscription work parks via the policy-refusal machinery instead of
+//!   retrying.
 
 use std::time::Duration;
 
-use crate::common::{wait_for_log_line, TestRelay};
+use crate::common::{
+    reserve_port, send_to_relay_url, wait_for_log_line, AuthGatingRelay, GateMode, MockRelay,
+    TestRelay,
+};
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
 
 /// The stable park warning emitted when a public instance excludes a
@@ -68,3 +76,108 @@ async fn public_instance_parks_grasp08_relay_without_dialing() {
     syncing.stop().await;
     private_service.stop().await;
 }
+
+/// A public instance answers an ordinary relay's NIP-42 challenge with the
+/// relay owner key and syncs through the authenticated session.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn public_instance_authenticates_to_gated_relay_and_syncs() {
+    let maintainer = Keys::generate();
+    let identifier = "outbound-auth-admit";
+
+    // The gate is the syncing relay's ONLY event source, so anything that
+    // reaches it must have crossed the authenticated bridge.
+    let backend = MockRelay::start().await;
+    let gate = AuthGatingRelay::start(backend.url(), GateMode::Admit).await;
+
+    // The syncing relay's address must appear in the announcement before it
+    // boots, so its port is reserved up front.
+    let reservation = reserve_port();
+    let syncing_domain = format!("127.0.0.1:{}", reservation.port());
+
+    // Announcement listing the syncing relay (in both clone and relays tags,
+    // for admission) plus the gate as the peer relay.
+    let npub = maintainer.public_key().to_bech32().expect("npub");
+    let clone_url = format!("http://{syncing_domain}/{npub}/{identifier}.git");
+    let announcement = EventBuilder::new(Kind::GitRepoAnnouncement, "")
+        .tags(vec![
+            Tag::identifier(identifier),
+            Tag::custom("clone", vec![clone_url]),
+            Tag::custom(
+                "relays",
+                vec![format!("ws://{syncing_domain}"), gate.url().to_string()],
+            ),
+        ])
+        .finalize(&maintainer)
+        .expect("signed announcement");
+    send_to_relay_url(backend.url(), &announcement)
+        .await
+        .expect("seed announcement on backend");
+
+    let syncing = TestRelay::start_on_reservation_with_sync_without_user_index(
+        reservation,
+        Some(gate.url().to_string()),
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    // The announcement is admitted to purgatory on the syncing relay - proof
+    // that a subscription refused pre-auth was answered after NIP-42.
+    let synced = wait_for_log_line(&syncing.log_path(), Duration::from_secs(60), |line| {
+        line.contains("Added announcement to purgatory") && line.contains(identifier)
+    })
+    .await;
+    assert!(
+        synced,
+        "announcement must sync through the authenticated gate"
+    );
+    assert!(
+        gate.authenticated_pubkeys()
+            .contains(&syncing.owner_keys().public_key()),
+        "syncing relay must authenticate with its owner key"
+    );
+
+    syncing.stop().await;
+    gate.stop().await;
+    backend.stop().await;
+}
+
+/// A `restricted:` CLOSED after valid authentication parks subscription work
+/// via the policy-refusal machinery: no retry storm follows.
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn restricted_after_authentication_is_terminal() {
+    let backend = MockRelay::start().await;
+    let gate = AuthGatingRelay::start(backend.url(), GateMode::Restricted).await;
+    let syncing = TestRelay::start_with_sync_without_user_index(Some(gate.url().to_string())).await;
+
+    let refused = wait_for_log_line(&syncing.log_path(), Duration::from_secs(60), |line| {
+        line.contains("Relay policy refused subscription") && line.contains("restricted")
+    })
+    .await;
+    assert!(
+        refused,
+        "restricted CLOSED must be recorded as a policy refusal"
+    );
+
+    // No retry storm: within a bounded settling deadline the gate's REQ count
+    // must hold still for one full 2s observation window.
+    let settle_deadline = tokio::time::Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(30);
+    let mut window_start = tokio::time::Instant::now();
+    let mut last_count = gate.req_count();
+    loop {
+        tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(100)).await;
+        let count = gate.req_count();
+        if count != last_count {
+            last_count = count;
+            window_start = tokio::time::Instant::now();
+        } else if window_start.elapsed() >= Duration::from_secs(2) {
+            break;
+        }
+        assert!(
+            tokio::time::Instant::now() < settle_deadline,
+            "REQ count kept growing after the restricted refusal (retry storm)"
+        );
+    }
+
+    syncing.stop().await;
+    gate.stop().await;
+    backend.stop().await;
+}