diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 39af7d3cf..2fc4fe836 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1104,6 +1104,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "hex",
  "hmac 0.13.0",
  "iroh",
+ "nostr",
  "postcard",
  "proptest",
  "redis",
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/Cargo.toml b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/Cargo.toml
index 33f901994..15d0c5ba3 100644
--- a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/Cargo.toml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ uuid         = { workspace = true }
 hmac         = { workspace = true }
 sha2         = { workspace = true }
 hex          = { workspace = true }
+nostr        = { workspace = true }
 bytes        = "1"
 futures-util = { workspace = true }
 
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/gossip.rs b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/gossip.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5da5cbbe5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/gossip.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+//! Scuttlebutt-style membership gossip over the mesh control stream.
+//!
+//! Gossip answers liveness/dialability questions only. It never elects owners,
+//! never transfers sessions, and never carries tunnel data bytes.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+use crate::{MeshError, RuntimeId};
+
+pub const GOSSIP_PAYLOAD_VERSION: u8 = 1;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct GossipRecord {
+    pub runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+    pub endpoint_addrs: Vec<String>,
+    pub proto_version: u16,
+    pub load: f32,
+    pub draining: bool,
+    pub capabilities: Vec<String>,
+    /// Per-runtime monotonic version. Only the owning runtime may increment its
+    /// own record; receivers apply last-version-wins.
+    pub version: u64,
+    pub heartbeat_millis: u64,
+}
+
+impl GossipRecord {
+    pub fn new(runtime_id: RuntimeId, endpoint_addrs: Vec<String>, proto_version: u16) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            runtime_id,
+            endpoint_addrs,
+            proto_version,
+            load: 0.0,
+            draining: false,
+            capabilities: Vec::new(),
+            version: 1,
+            heartbeat_millis: now_millis(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct GossipDigestEntry {
+    pub runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+    pub version: u64,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub enum GossipMessage {
+    Digest {
+        version: u8,
+        entries: Vec<GossipDigestEntry>,
+    },
+    Delta {
+        version: u8,
+        records: Vec<GossipRecord>,
+    },
+}
+
+pub fn encode_message(message: &GossipMessage) -> Result<Vec<u8>, MeshError> {
+    postcard::to_extend(message, Vec::new()).map_err(MeshError::Encode)
+}
+
+pub fn decode_message(bytes: &[u8]) -> Result<GossipMessage, MeshError> {
+    let message: GossipMessage = postcard::from_bytes(bytes).map_err(MeshError::Decode)?;
+    let version = match &message {
+        GossipMessage::Digest { version, .. } | GossipMessage::Delta { version, .. } => *version,
+    };
+    if version != GOSSIP_PAYLOAD_VERSION {
+        return Err(MeshError::Transport(format!(
+            "unknown gossip payload version {version}"
+        )));
+    }
+    Ok(message)
+}
+
+/// Pure scuttlebutt state: digest exchange + delta application.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct GossipState {
+    records: HashMap<RuntimeId, GossipRecord>,
+}
+
+impl GossipState {
+    pub fn new(local: GossipRecord) -> Self {
+        let mut records = HashMap::new();
+        records.insert(local.runtime_id, local);
+        Self { records }
+    }
+
+    pub fn records(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = &GossipRecord> {
+        self.records.values()
+    }
+
+    pub fn get(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) -> Option<&GossipRecord> {
+        self.records.get(&runtime_id)
+    }
+
+    pub fn update_local<F>(&mut self, runtime_id: RuntimeId, update: F) -> Option<GossipRecord>
+    where
+        F: FnOnce(&mut GossipRecord),
+    {
+        let record = self.records.get_mut(&runtime_id)?;
+        update(record);
+        record.version = record.version.saturating_add(1);
+        record.heartbeat_millis = now_millis();
+        Some(record.clone())
+    }
+
+    pub fn digest(&self) -> GossipMessage {
+        let mut entries: Vec<_> = self
+            .records
+            .values()
+            .map(|record| GossipDigestEntry {
+                runtime_id: record.runtime_id,
+                version: record.version,
+            })
+            .collect();
+        entries.sort_by_key(|entry| entry.runtime_id.to_hex());
+        GossipMessage::Digest {
+            version: GOSSIP_PAYLOAD_VERSION,
+            entries,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn delta_for(&self, digest: &[GossipDigestEntry]) -> GossipMessage {
+        let remote_versions: HashMap<_, _> = digest
+            .iter()
+            .map(|entry| (entry.runtime_id, entry.version))
+            .collect();
+        let mut records: Vec<_> = self
+            .records
+            .values()
+            .filter(|record| {
+                remote_versions
+                    .get(&record.runtime_id)
+                    .is_none_or(|remote| *remote < record.version)
+            })
+            .cloned()
+            .collect();
+        records.sort_by_key(|record| record.runtime_id.to_hex());
+        GossipMessage::Delta {
+            version: GOSSIP_PAYLOAD_VERSION,
+            records,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Applies records whose version is newer than the local copy. Returns the
+    /// runtime ids that changed.
+    pub fn apply_delta(&mut self, records: Vec<GossipRecord>) -> Vec<RuntimeId> {
+        let mut changed = Vec::new();
+        for record in records {
+            let should_apply = self
+                .records
+                .get(&record.runtime_id)
+                .is_none_or(|existing| record.version > existing.version);
+            if should_apply {
+                changed.push(record.runtime_id);
+                self.records.insert(record.runtime_id, record);
+            }
+        }
+        changed
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct PhiAccrual {
+    samples: Vec<Duration>,
+    last_heartbeat: Option<SystemTime>,
+    max_samples: usize,
+}
+
+impl Default for PhiAccrual {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new(100)
+    }
+}
+
+impl PhiAccrual {
+    pub fn new(max_samples: usize) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            samples: Vec::new(),
+            last_heartbeat: None,
+            max_samples: max_samples.max(1),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn observe(&mut self, at: SystemTime) {
+        if let Some(prev) = self.last_heartbeat {
+            if let Ok(interval) = at.duration_since(prev) {
+                if !interval.is_zero() {
+                    self.samples.push(interval);
+                    if self.samples.len() > self.max_samples {
+                        self.samples.remove(0);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        self.last_heartbeat = Some(at);
+    }
+
+    pub fn phi_at(&self, now: SystemTime) -> Option<f64> {
+        let last = self.last_heartbeat?;
+        if self.samples.is_empty() {
+            return None;
+        }
+        let elapsed = now.duration_since(last).ok()?.as_secs_f64();
+        let mean = self.mean_secs();
+        if mean <= f64::EPSILON {
+            return None;
+        }
+        // Exponential approximation: phi = -log10(e^(-elapsed/mean)).
+        Some((elapsed / mean) / std::f64::consts::LN_10)
+    }
+
+    pub fn mean_secs(&self) -> f64 {
+        let total: f64 = self.samples.iter().map(Duration::as_secs_f64).sum();
+        total / self.samples.len() as f64
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn now_millis() -> u64 {
+    SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .as_millis()
+        .min(u128::from(u64::MAX)) as u64
+}
+
+pub fn system_time_from_millis(millis: u64) -> SystemTime {
+    UNIX_EPOCH + Duration::from_millis(millis)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn rid(byte: u8) -> RuntimeId {
+        RuntimeId([byte; 32])
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn digest_delta_only_sends_newer_records() {
+        let mut a = GossipState::new(GossipRecord::new(rid(1), vec!["a".into()], 1));
+        a.apply_delta(vec![GossipRecord::new(rid(2), vec!["b".into()], 1)]);
+
+        let b_digest = [GossipDigestEntry {
+            runtime_id: rid(1),
+            version: 1,
+        }];
+
+        let GossipMessage::Delta { records, .. } = a.delta_for(&b_digest) else {
+            panic!("expected delta")
+        };
+        assert_eq!(records.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(records[0].runtime_id, rid(2));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn apply_delta_ignores_stale_versions() {
+        let mut state = GossipState::new(GossipRecord::new(rid(1), vec![], 1));
+        let newer = GossipRecord {
+            version: 10,
+            ..GossipRecord::new(rid(2), vec!["new".into()], 1)
+        };
+        assert_eq!(state.apply_delta(vec![newer.clone()]), vec![rid(2)]);
+        let stale = GossipRecord {
+            version: 9,
+            endpoint_addrs: vec!["stale".into()],
+            ..newer
+        };
+        assert!(state.apply_delta(vec![stale]).is_empty());
+        assert_eq!(state.get(rid(2)).unwrap().endpoint_addrs, vec!["new"]);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn gossip_payload_roundtrips() {
+        let message = GossipMessage::Digest {
+            version: GOSSIP_PAYLOAD_VERSION,
+            entries: vec![GossipDigestEntry {
+                runtime_id: rid(9),
+                version: 3,
+            }],
+        };
+        assert_eq!(
+            decode_message(&encode_message(&message).unwrap()).unwrap(),
+            message
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn phi_rises_as_heartbeats_age() {
+        let start = UNIX_EPOCH + Duration::from_secs(1_000);
+        let mut phi = PhiAccrual::default();
+        phi.observe(start);
+        phi.observe(start + Duration::from_secs(1));
+        phi.observe(start + Duration::from_secs(2));
+        let early = phi.phi_at(start + Duration::from_secs(3)).unwrap();
+        let late = phi.phi_at(start + Duration::from_secs(12)).unwrap();
+        assert!(late > early);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/lib.rs b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/lib.rs
index f4c5e10e1..42c02b67a 100644
--- a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/lib.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,10 @@
 //! **The law:** mesh membership is a hint; the Redis fenced generation is the
 //! arbiter. Nothing in this crate grants ownership — see [`wire::FencedHeader`].
 
+pub mod gossip;
+pub mod membership;
+pub mod registry;
+pub mod status;
 pub mod wire;
 
 // Lane modules — one owner per file (see the mesh thread for lane map):
@@ -32,6 +36,10 @@ use std::pin::Pin;
 
 use bytes::Bytes;
 
+pub use gossip::{GossipDigestEntry, GossipMessage, GossipRecord, GossipState, PhiAccrual};
+pub use membership::MeshMembership;
+pub use registry::{ReadyHeartbeat, ReadyRecord, ReadyRegistry, RuntimeAttestation};
+pub use status::{ConnectionState, MeshCounters, MeshPeerCounters, MeshPeerStatus, MeshStatus};
 pub use wire::{
     FencedHeader, GoodbyeReason, MeshDatagram, MeshStreamFrame, Profile, RuntimeId, StreamHello,
     StreamRole, ALPN, WIRE_VERSION,
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/membership.rs b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/membership.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bfe2c3172
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/membership.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,377 @@
+//! In-memory mesh membership table fed by Redis seed records and gossip.
+//!
+//! This module implements the relay-facing [`RelayMeshMembership`] seam. It is
+//! deliberately incapable of electing session owners: peers here are dial/routing
+//! hints only, and liveness disagreement never performs takeover.
+
+use std::collections::HashMap;
+use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, AtomicU64, Ordering};
+use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
+use std::time::SystemTime;
+
+use crate::gossip::{system_time_from_millis, GossipRecord, PhiAccrual};
+use crate::registry::ReadyRecord;
+use crate::status::{ConnectionState, MeshCounters, MeshPeerCounters, MeshPeerStatus, MeshStatus};
+use crate::{PeerInfo, RelayMeshMembership, RuntimeId};
+
+pub const DEFAULT_PHI_SUSPECT_THRESHOLD: f64 = 8.0;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+struct PeerState {
+    record: GossipRecord,
+    phi: PhiAccrual,
+    connection_state: ConnectionState,
+    counters: MeshPeerCounters,
+}
+
+/// Thread-safe membership view consumed by the relay.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct MeshMembership {
+    local_runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+    local_record: Arc<RwLock<GossipRecord>>,
+    peers: Arc<RwLock<HashMap<RuntimeId, PeerState>>>,
+    draining: Arc<AtomicBool>,
+    stale_generation_rejections: Arc<AtomicU64>,
+    phi_suspect_threshold: f64,
+}
+
+impl MeshMembership {
+    pub fn new(local_record: GossipRecord) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            local_runtime_id: local_record.runtime_id,
+            local_record: Arc::new(RwLock::new(local_record)),
+            peers: Arc::new(RwLock::new(HashMap::new())),
+            draining: Arc::new(AtomicBool::new(false)),
+            stale_generation_rejections: Arc::new(AtomicU64::new(0)),
+            phi_suspect_threshold: DEFAULT_PHI_SUSPECT_THRESHOLD,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn with_phi_suspect_threshold(mut self, threshold: f64) -> Self {
+        self.phi_suspect_threshold = threshold;
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn local_record(&self) -> GossipRecord {
+        self.local_record
+            .read()
+            .expect("local record lock poisoned")
+            .clone()
+    }
+
+    /// Apply Redis bootstrap records. Existing gossip records win when they are
+    /// newer; ready-registry records enter as version 1 hints.
+    pub fn apply_ready_records(&self, records: impl IntoIterator<Item = ReadyRecord>) {
+        for ready in records {
+            if ready.runtime_id == self.local_runtime_id {
+                continue;
+            }
+            if let Err(err) = ready.verify_attestation() {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    runtime_id = %ready.runtime_id,
+                    %err,
+                    "mesh membership rejected unauthenticated ready seed"
+                );
+                continue;
+            }
+            let mut record =
+                GossipRecord::new(ready.runtime_id, ready.endpoint_addrs, ready.proto_version);
+            record.capabilities = ready.capabilities;
+            self.apply_gossip_record(record);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Apply a gossiped record if it is newer than the local copy.
+    pub fn apply_gossip_record(&self, record: GossipRecord) -> bool {
+        if record.runtime_id == self.local_runtime_id {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        let heartbeat = system_time_from_millis(record.heartbeat_millis);
+        let mut peers = self.peers.write().expect("membership lock poisoned");
+        match peers.get_mut(&record.runtime_id) {
+            Some(peer) if record.version <= peer.record.version => false,
+            Some(peer) => {
+                peer.record = record;
+                peer.connection_state = ConnectionState::Connected;
+                peer.phi.observe(heartbeat);
+                true
+            }
+            None => {
+                let mut phi = PhiAccrual::default();
+                phi.observe(heartbeat);
+                peers.insert(
+                    record.runtime_id,
+                    PeerState {
+                        counters: MeshPeerCounters {
+                            runtime_id: record.runtime_id.to_string(),
+                            ..MeshPeerCounters::default()
+                        },
+                        record,
+                        phi,
+                        connection_state: ConnectionState::Connected,
+                    },
+                );
+                true
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn mark_connection_state(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId, state: ConnectionState) {
+        if let Some(peer) = self
+            .peers
+            .write()
+            .expect("membership lock poisoned")
+            .get_mut(&runtime_id)
+        {
+            peer.connection_state = state;
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn update_local<F>(&self, update: F) -> GossipRecord
+    where
+        F: FnOnce(&mut GossipRecord),
+    {
+        let mut local = self
+            .local_record
+            .write()
+            .expect("local record lock poisoned");
+        update(&mut local);
+        local.version = local.version.saturating_add(1);
+        local.heartbeat_millis = crate::gossip::now_millis();
+        local.clone()
+    }
+
+    pub fn is_draining(&self) -> bool {
+        self.draining.load(Ordering::Relaxed)
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_stream_opened(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) {
+        self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+            c.streams_opened = c.streams_opened.saturating_add(1)
+        });
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_stream_received(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) {
+        self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+            c.streams_received = c.streams_received.saturating_add(1)
+        });
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_datagram_sent(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) {
+        self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+            c.datagrams_sent = c.datagrams_sent.saturating_add(1)
+        });
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_datagram_received(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) {
+        self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+            c.datagrams_received = c.datagrams_received.saturating_add(1)
+        });
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_gossip_frame_sent(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) {
+        self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+            c.gossip_frames_sent = c.gossip_frames_sent.saturating_add(1)
+        });
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_gossip_frame_received(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) {
+        self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+            c.gossip_frames_received = c.gossip_frames_received.saturating_add(1)
+        });
+    }
+
+    pub fn record_stale_generation_rejection(&self, runtime_id: Option<RuntimeId>) {
+        self.stale_generation_rejections
+            .fetch_add(1, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        if let Some(runtime_id) = runtime_id {
+            self.update_peer_counters(runtime_id, |c| {
+                c.stale_generation_rejections = c.stale_generation_rejections.saturating_add(1)
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn status(&self) -> MeshStatus {
+        let now = SystemTime::now();
+        let local = self.local_record();
+        let mut peers = self.peer_statuses(now);
+        peers.sort_by(|a, b| a.runtime_id.cmp(&b.runtime_id));
+        let counters = MeshCounters {
+            stale_generation_rejections: self.stale_generation_rejections.load(Ordering::Relaxed),
+            peers: peers.iter().map(|peer| peer.counters.clone()).collect(),
+        };
+        MeshStatus {
+            enabled: true,
+            local_runtime_id: local.runtime_id.to_string(),
+            draining: self.is_draining(),
+            peer_count: peers.len(),
+            peers,
+            counters,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn update_peer_counters<F>(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId, update: F)
+    where
+        F: FnOnce(&mut MeshPeerCounters),
+    {
+        if let Some(peer) = self
+            .peers
+            .write()
+            .expect("membership lock poisoned")
+            .get_mut(&runtime_id)
+        {
+            update(&mut peer.counters);
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn peer_statuses(&self, now: SystemTime) -> Vec<MeshPeerStatus> {
+        self.peers
+            .read()
+            .expect("membership lock poisoned")
+            .values()
+            .map(|peer| {
+                let phi = peer.phi.phi_at(now);
+                let connection_state = if phi.is_some_and(|p| p >= self.phi_suspect_threshold) {
+                    ConnectionState::Suspect
+                } else {
+                    peer.connection_state
+                };
+                MeshPeerStatus {
+                    runtime_id: peer.record.runtime_id.to_string(),
+                    endpoint_addrs: peer.record.endpoint_addrs.clone(),
+                    proto_version: peer.record.proto_version,
+                    draining: peer.record.draining,
+                    connection_state,
+                    phi,
+                    load: peer.record.load,
+                    record_version: peer.record.version,
+                    last_heartbeat_millis: peer.record.heartbeat_millis,
+                    counters: peer.counters.clone(),
+                }
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+}
+
+impl RelayMeshMembership for MeshMembership {
+    fn peers(&self) -> Vec<PeerInfo> {
+        let now = SystemTime::now();
+        self.peers
+            .read()
+            .expect("membership lock poisoned")
+            .values()
+            .filter_map(|peer| {
+                let phi = peer.phi.phi_at(now);
+                if phi.is_some_and(|p| p >= self.phi_suspect_threshold) {
+                    return None;
+                }
+                Some(PeerInfo {
+                    runtime_id: peer.record.runtime_id,
+                    draining: peer.record.draining,
+                    phi,
+                    load: peer.record.load,
+                })
+            })
+            .collect()
+    }
+
+    fn local_runtime_id(&self) -> RuntimeId {
+        self.local_runtime_id
+    }
+
+    fn begin_drain(&self) {
+        self.draining.store(true, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        self.update_local(|record| record.draining = true);
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::time::{Duration, UNIX_EPOCH};
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn rid(byte: u8) -> RuntimeId {
+        RuntimeId([byte; 32])
+    }
+
+    fn record(byte: u8, version: u64, heartbeat_secs: u64) -> GossipRecord {
+        GossipRecord {
+            runtime_id: rid(byte),
+            endpoint_addrs: vec![format!("127.0.0.{byte}:3478")],
+            proto_version: 1,
+            load: 0.25,
+            draining: false,
+            capabilities: vec!["reliable-stream".to_string()],
+            version,
+            heartbeat_millis: (UNIX_EPOCH + Duration::from_secs(heartbeat_secs))
+                .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+                .unwrap()
+                .as_millis() as u64,
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn relay_keys() -> nostr::Keys {
+        nostr::Keys::generate()
+    }
+
+    fn ready_record(byte: u8, endpoint_addr: &str) -> ReadyRecord {
+        ReadyRecord::new(
+            rid(byte),
+            &relay_keys(),
+            vec![endpoint_addr.into()],
+            1,
+            vec![],
+        )
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ready_records_seed_peers_but_skip_self() {
+        let membership = MeshMembership::new(record(1, 1, 1));
+        membership.apply_ready_records([ready_record(1, "self"), ready_record(2, "peer")]);
+        let peers = membership.peers();
+        assert_eq!(peers.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(peers[0].runtime_id, rid(2));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ready_records_must_have_valid_attestation() {
+        let membership = MeshMembership::new(record(1, 1, 1));
+        let mut tampered = ready_record(2, "peer");
+        tampered.runtime_id = rid(3);
+        tampered.runtime_pubkey = rid(3).to_hex();
+
+        membership.apply_ready_records([tampered]);
+        assert!(membership.peers().is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn stale_gossip_record_is_ignored() {
+        let membership = MeshMembership::new(record(1, 1, 1));
+        assert!(membership.apply_gossip_record(record(2, 5, 1)));
+        assert!(!membership.apply_gossip_record(record(2, 4, 2)));
+        assert_eq!(membership.status().peers[0].record_version, 5);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn counters_are_reflected_in_status() {
+        let membership = MeshMembership::new(record(1, 1, 1));
+        membership.apply_gossip_record(record(2, 1, 1));
+        membership.record_datagram_sent(rid(2));
+        membership.record_stale_generation_rejection(Some(rid(2)));
+        let status = membership.status();
+        assert_eq!(status.counters.stale_generation_rejections, 1);
+        assert_eq!(status.peers[0].counters.datagrams_sent, 1);
+        assert_eq!(status.peers[0].counters.stale_generation_rejections, 1);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn begin_drain_updates_local_record() {
+        let membership = MeshMembership::new(record(1, 1, 1));
+        membership.begin_drain();
+        assert!(membership.is_draining());
+        assert!(membership.local_record().draining);
+        assert_eq!(membership.local_record().version, 2);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/registry.rs b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/registry.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..635dff632
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/registry.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,385 @@
+//! Redis ready-registry bootstrap for the relay mesh.
+//!
+//! The registry is only the way into the mesh. Entries are membership hints:
+//! they tell a fresh runtime which peer endpoints to dial, but never decide
+//! session ownership or takeover. The fenced Redis session directory remains
+//! the arbiter for session generations.
+
+use std::str::FromStr;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use nostr::secp256k1::schnorr::Signature;
+use nostr::secp256k1::{Message, XOnlyPublicKey};
+use nostr::PublicKey;
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
+
+use crate::{MeshError, RuntimeId};
+
+pub const READY_KEY_PREFIX: &str = "mesh:ready:";
+pub const DEFAULT_REGISTRY_REFRESH: Duration = Duration::from_secs(15);
+pub const REGISTRY_EXPIRY_MULTIPLIER: u64 = 3;
+pub const ATTESTATION_CONTEXT: &str = "buzz-relay-mesh-ready-v1";
+
+/// Relay-key-signed binding for a boot-unique runtime endpoint pubkey.
+///
+/// The relay public key is the deployment Nostr/secp256k1 identity. It never
+/// becomes the mesh runtime id; it only signs this Redis-published binding so
+/// peers can reject unauthenticated endpoint ids before dialing/accepting.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct RuntimeAttestation {
+    /// Nostr/secp256k1 relay public key, hex encoded.
+    pub relay_pubkey: String,
+    /// Schnorr signature by `relay_pubkey` over [`attestation_preimage`].
+    pub relay_sig: String,
+}
+
+impl RuntimeAttestation {
+    pub fn new(relay_keys: &nostr::Keys, runtime_id: RuntimeId) -> Self {
+        let relay_pubkey = relay_keys.public_key().to_hex();
+        let message = attestation_message(runtime_id, &relay_pubkey);
+        let relay_sig = relay_keys.sign_schnorr(&message).to_string();
+        Self {
+            relay_pubkey,
+            relay_sig,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn verify(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        verify_attestation(runtime_id, &self.relay_pubkey, &self.relay_sig)
+    }
+}
+
+fn verify_attestation(
+    runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+    relay_pubkey: &str,
+    relay_sig: &str,
+) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+    let relay_pubkey = PublicKey::from_hex(relay_pubkey).map_err(|err| {
+        MeshError::Transport(format!(
+            "ready registry attestation invalid relay_pubkey: {err}"
+        ))
+    })?;
+    let xonly: XOnlyPublicKey = relay_pubkey.xonly().map_err(|err| {
+        MeshError::Transport(format!(
+            "ready registry attestation relay_pubkey xonly conversion failed: {err}"
+        ))
+    })?;
+    let sig = Signature::from_str(relay_sig).map_err(|err| {
+        MeshError::Transport(format!(
+            "ready registry attestation invalid relay_sig: {err}"
+        ))
+    })?;
+    let message = attestation_message(runtime_id, &relay_pubkey.to_hex());
+    nostr::secp256k1::SECP256K1
+        .verify_schnorr(&sig, &message, &xonly)
+        .map_err(|err| {
+            MeshError::Transport(format!(
+                "ready registry attestation signature verification failed: {err}"
+            ))
+        })
+}
+
+/// Stable signed payload. Keep this textual and versioned so transport/relay
+/// integration can reproduce it exactly without depending on JSON key order.
+pub fn attestation_preimage(runtime_id: RuntimeId, relay_pubkey: &str) -> String {
+    format!(
+        "{ATTESTATION_CONTEXT}\nruntime_pubkey={}\nrelay_pubkey={relay_pubkey}",
+        runtime_id.to_hex()
+    )
+}
+
+fn attestation_message(runtime_id: RuntimeId, relay_pubkey: &str) -> Message {
+    let digest = Sha256::digest(attestation_preimage(runtime_id, relay_pubkey).as_bytes());
+    Message::from_digest(digest.into())
+}
+
+/// Value stored at `mesh:ready:{runtime_id}`.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ReadyRecord {
+    pub runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+    /// Explicit duplicate of `runtime_id` for the contract record shape: this
+    /// is the boot-unique ed25519/iroh endpoint pubkey being attested.
+    pub runtime_pubkey: String,
+    /// Nostr/secp256k1 relay public key that signs `runtime_pubkey`.
+    pub relay_pubkey: String,
+    /// Schnorr signature by `relay_pubkey` over [`attestation_preimage`].
+    pub relay_sig: String,
+    /// Dialable iroh endpoint addresses, serialized as strings so this layer
+    /// does not depend on transport internals.
+    pub endpoint_addrs: Vec<String>,
+    pub proto_version: u16,
+    pub capabilities: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+impl ReadyRecord {
+    pub fn new(
+        runtime_id: RuntimeId,
+        relay_keys: &nostr::Keys,
+        endpoint_addrs: Vec<String>,
+        proto_version: u16,
+        capabilities: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        let attestation = RuntimeAttestation::new(relay_keys, runtime_id);
+        Self {
+            runtime_id,
+            runtime_pubkey: runtime_id.to_hex(),
+            relay_pubkey: attestation.relay_pubkey,
+            relay_sig: attestation.relay_sig,
+            endpoint_addrs,
+            proto_version,
+            capabilities,
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn key(&self) -> String {
+        ready_key(self.runtime_id)
+    }
+
+    pub fn verify_attestation(&self) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        if self.runtime_pubkey != self.runtime_id.to_hex() {
+            return Err(MeshError::Transport(format!(
+                "ready registry runtime_id/runtime_pubkey mismatch: {} != {}",
+                self.runtime_id, self.runtime_pubkey
+            )));
+        }
+        verify_attestation(self.runtime_id, &self.relay_pubkey, &self.relay_sig)
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn ready_key(runtime_id: RuntimeId) -> String {
+    format!("{READY_KEY_PREFIX}{runtime_id}")
+}
+
+pub fn expiry_for(refresh: Duration) -> Duration {
+    refresh.saturating_mul(REGISTRY_EXPIRY_MULTIPLIER as u32)
+}
+
+/// Redis-backed mesh bootstrap registry.
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ReadyRegistry {
+    pool: deadpool_redis::Pool,
+    refresh: Duration,
+}
+
+impl ReadyRegistry {
+    pub fn new(pool: deadpool_redis::Pool, refresh: Duration) -> Self {
+        Self { pool, refresh }
+    }
+
+    pub fn refresh_interval(&self) -> Duration {
+        self.refresh
+    }
+
+    pub fn expiry(&self) -> Duration {
+        expiry_for(self.refresh)
+    }
+
+    /// Publish this runtime as ready. Callers MUST only invoke this after the
+    /// relay would pass readiness (shutdown=false, Postgres reachable, Redis
+    /// reachable). This method deliberately has no hidden readiness probe so the
+    /// rule stays explicit at the relay boundary.
+    pub async fn publish_ready(&self, record: &ReadyRecord) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        record.verify_attestation()?;
+        let mut conn = self.conn().await?;
+        let payload = serde_json::to_string(record)
+            .map_err(|e| MeshError::Transport(format!("ready registry encode: {e}")))?;
+        let ttl_secs = self.expiry().as_secs().max(1);
+        redis::cmd("SET")
+            .arg(record.key())
+            .arg(payload)
+            .arg("EX")
+            .arg(ttl_secs)
+            .query_async::<()>(&mut conn)
+            .await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Remove this runtime on clean shutdown. A crash is handled by TTL expiry.
+    pub async fn clear_ready(&self, runtime_id: RuntimeId) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        let mut conn = self.conn().await?;
+        redis::cmd("DEL")
+            .arg(ready_key(runtime_id))
+            .query_async::<()>(&mut conn)
+            .await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Scan all ready records. Malformed/stale/unauthenticated values are
+    /// skipped with a warn: a bad registry entry must not prevent bootstrap
+    /// from healthy peers.
+    pub async fn scan_ready(&self) -> Result<Vec<ReadyRecord>, MeshError> {
+        let mut conn = self.conn().await?;
+        let mut cursor = 0u64;
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+
+        loop {
+            let (next, keys): (u64, Vec<String>) = redis::cmd("SCAN")
+                .arg(cursor)
+                .arg("MATCH")
+                .arg(format!("{READY_KEY_PREFIX}*"))
+                .arg("COUNT")
+                .arg(100u32)
+                .query_async(&mut conn)
+                .await?;
+
+            for key in keys {
+                let raw: Option<String> =
+                    redis::cmd("GET").arg(&key).query_async(&mut conn).await?;
+                let Some(raw) = raw else { continue };
+                match serde_json::from_str::<ReadyRecord>(&raw) {
+                    Ok(record) if record.key() == key => match record.verify_attestation() {
+                        Ok(()) => out.push(record),
+                        Err(err) => tracing::warn!(
+                            key,
+                            runtime_id = %record.runtime_id,
+                            %err,
+                            "mesh ready registry attestation failed — skipping"
+                        ),
+                    },
+                    Ok(record) => tracing::warn!(
+                        key,
+                        runtime_id = %record.runtime_id,
+                        "mesh ready registry key/runtime mismatch — skipping"
+                    ),
+                    Err(err) => {
+                        tracing::warn!(key, %err, "mesh ready registry decode failed — skipping")
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if next == 0 {
+                break;
+            }
+            cursor = next;
+        }
+
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+
+    pub fn heartbeat(&self, record: ReadyRecord) -> ReadyHeartbeat {
+        ReadyHeartbeat {
+            registry: self.clone(),
+            record,
+            published: false,
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn conn(&self) -> Result<deadpool_redis::Connection, MeshError> {
+        self.pool
+            .get()
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| MeshError::Transport(format!("redis pool: {e}")))
+    }
+}
+
+/// Readiness-gated registry heartbeat.
+///
+/// The relay owns the readiness predicate; this helper owns the edge behavior:
+/// publish only while ready, clear on ready→not-ready, and clear on shutdown.
+pub struct ReadyHeartbeat {
+    registry: ReadyRegistry,
+    record: ReadyRecord,
+    published: bool,
+}
+
+impl ReadyHeartbeat {
+    pub fn record(&self) -> &ReadyRecord {
+        &self.record
+    }
+
+    pub fn published(&self) -> bool {
+        self.published
+    }
+
+    pub async fn tick(&mut self, ready: bool) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        if ready {
+            self.registry.publish_ready(&self.record).await?;
+            self.published = true;
+        } else if self.published {
+            self.registry.clear_ready(self.record.runtime_id).await?;
+            self.published = false;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    pub async fn shutdown(&mut self) -> Result<(), MeshError> {
+        if self.published {
+            self.registry.clear_ready(self.record.runtime_id).await?;
+            self.published = false;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn rid(byte: u8) -> RuntimeId {
+        RuntimeId([byte; 32])
+    }
+
+    fn relay_keys() -> nostr::Keys {
+        nostr::Keys::generate()
+    }
+
+    fn ready_record(byte: u8) -> ReadyRecord {
+        ReadyRecord::new(rid(byte), &relay_keys(), vec![], 1, vec![])
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ready_key_is_stable_and_namespaced() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            ready_key(rid(0xAB)),
+            format!("mesh:ready:{}", "ab".repeat(32))
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn expiry_is_three_refreshes() {
+        assert_eq!(expiry_for(Duration::from_secs(15)), Duration::from_secs(45));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn heartbeat_starts_unpublished() {
+        let pool = deadpool_redis::Config::from_url("redis://127.0.0.1:6379")
+            .create_pool(Some(deadpool_redis::Runtime::Tokio1))
+            .unwrap();
+        let registry = ReadyRegistry::new(pool, Duration::from_secs(15));
+        let heartbeat = registry.heartbeat(ready_record(1));
+        assert!(!heartbeat.published());
+        assert_eq!(heartbeat.record().runtime_id, rid(1));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ready_record_roundtrips_json() {
+        let record = ReadyRecord::new(
+            rid(7),
+            &relay_keys(),
+            vec!["127.0.0.1:3478".to_string()],
+            1,
+            vec!["realtime-media".to_string()],
+        );
+        let raw = serde_json::to_string(&record).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(serde_json::from_str::<ReadyRecord>(&raw).unwrap(), record);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn ready_record_attestation_verifies_and_binds_runtime_pubkey() {
+        let record = ready_record(9);
+        record.verify_attestation().unwrap();
+
+        let mut tampered = record.clone();
+        tampered.runtime_pubkey = rid(10).to_hex();
+        assert!(tampered.verify_attestation().is_err());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn attestation_rejects_signature_for_other_runtime() {
+        let mut record = ready_record(11);
+        record.runtime_id = rid(12);
+        record.runtime_pubkey = rid(12).to_hex();
+        assert!(record.verify_attestation().is_err());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/status.rs b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/status.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a05cb276f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/buzz-relay-mesh/src/status.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+//! `/_mesh` status data model.
+//!
+//! The relay's axum handler can serialize [`MeshStatus`] directly as JSON.
+
+use serde::Serialize;
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Serialize)]
+pub struct MeshStatus {
+    pub enabled: bool,
+    pub local_runtime_id: String,
+    pub draining: bool,
+    pub peer_count: usize,
+    pub peers: Vec<MeshPeerStatus>,
+    pub counters: MeshCounters,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize)]
+pub struct MeshPeerStatus {
+    pub runtime_id: String,
+    pub endpoint_addrs: Vec<String>,
+    pub proto_version: u16,
+    pub draining: bool,
+    pub connection_state: ConnectionState,
+    pub phi: Option<f64>,
+    pub load: f32,
+    pub record_version: u64,
+    pub last_heartbeat_millis: u64,
+    pub counters: MeshPeerCounters,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize)]
+#[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
+pub enum ConnectionState {
+    #[default]
+    Disconnected,
+    Connecting,
+    Connected,
+    Suspect,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Serialize)]
+pub struct MeshCounters {
+    pub stale_generation_rejections: u64,
+    pub peers: Vec<MeshPeerCounters>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default, Serialize)]
+pub struct MeshPeerCounters {
+    pub runtime_id: String,
+    pub streams_opened: u64,
+    pub streams_received: u64,
+    pub datagrams_sent: u64,
+    pub datagrams_received: u64,
+    pub gossip_frames_sent: u64,
+    pub gossip_frames_received: u64,
+    pub stale_generation_rejections: u64,
+}