diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 327d05a..6c9f2eb 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 comparison.md
 .giga/
 
+furps.md
+
 README-task-master.md
 .cursor
 scripts
diff --git a/src/components/Header.tsx b/src/components/Header.tsx
index 560dece..26f7ed2 100644
--- a/src/components/Header.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Header.tsx
@@ -4,8 +4,9 @@ import { useAuth } from '@/contexts/useAuth';
 import { useForum } from '@/contexts/useForum';
 import { Button } from '@/components/ui/button';
 import { Badge } from '@/components/ui/badge';
-import { ShieldCheck, LogOut, Terminal, Wifi, WifiOff, AlertTriangle, CheckCircle, Key, RefreshCw, CircleSlash } from 'lucide-react';
+import {  LogOut, Terminal, Wifi, WifiOff, AlertTriangle, CheckCircle, Key, RefreshCw, CircleSlash } from 'lucide-react';
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '@/components/ui/tooltip';
+import { useToast } from '@/components/ui/use-toast';
 
 const Header = () => {
   const { 
@@ -17,9 +18,11 @@ const Header = () => {
     verifyOrdinal, 
     delegateKey, 
     isDelegationValid,
-    delegationTimeRemaining 
+    delegationTimeRemaining,
+    isWalletAvailable
   } = useAuth();
   const { isNetworkConnected, isRefreshing } = useForum();
+  const { toast } = useToast();
   
   const handleConnect = async () => {
     await connectWallet();
@@ -34,7 +37,20 @@ const Header = () => {
   };
 
   const handleDelegateKey = async () => {
-    await delegateKey();
+    try {
+      if (!isWalletAvailable()) {
+        toast({
+          title: "Wallet Not Available",
+          description: "Phantom wallet is not installed or not available. Please install Phantom wallet and try again.",
+          variant: "destructive",
+        });
+        return;
+      }
+
+      await delegateKey();
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Error in handleDelegateKey:', error);
+    }
   };
 
   const formatDelegationTime = () => {
@@ -72,7 +88,7 @@ const Header = () => {
           {hasValidDelegation ? (
             <p>Browser key active for ~{timeRemaining}. Wallet signatures not needed for most actions.</p>
           ) : (
-            <p>Delegate a browser key for 24h to avoid constant wallet signing.</p>
+            <p>Delegate a browser key for 24h to avoid constant wallet signing. If your wallet is disconnected, it will be reconnected automatically.</p>
           )}
         </TooltipContent>
       </Tooltip>
diff --git a/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx b/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
index 5c142d7..a156b25 100644
--- a/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
+++ b/src/contexts/AuthContext.tsx
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ interface AuthContextType {
   delegateKey: () => Promise<boolean>;
   isDelegationValid: () => boolean;
   delegationTimeRemaining: () => number;
+  isWalletAvailable: () => boolean;
   messageSigning: {
     signMessage: (message: OpchanMessage) => Promise<OpchanMessage | null>;
     verifyMessage: (message: OpchanMessage) => boolean;
@@ -220,6 +221,10 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
           errorMessage = "You declined the signature request. Key delegation is optional but improves your experience.";
         } else if (error.message.includes("timeout")) {
           errorMessage = "Wallet request timed out. Please try again and approve the signature promptly.";
+        } else if (error.message.includes("Failed to connect wallet")) {
+          errorMessage = "Unable to connect to Phantom wallet. Please ensure it's installed and unlocked, then try again.";
+        } else if (error.message.includes("Wallet is not connected")) {
+          errorMessage = "Wallet connection was lost. Please reconnect your wallet and try again.";
         } else {
           errorMessage = error.message;
         }
@@ -245,6 +250,10 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
     return authServiceRef.current.getDelegationTimeRemaining();
   };
 
+  const isWalletAvailable = (): boolean => {
+    return authServiceRef.current.getWalletInfo()?.type === 'phantom';
+  };
+
   return (
     <AuthContext.Provider
       value={{
@@ -258,6 +267,7 @@ export function AuthProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
         delegateKey,
         isDelegationValid,
         delegationTimeRemaining,
+        isWalletAvailable,
         messageSigning: {
           signMessage: (message: OpchanMessage) => authServiceRef.current.signMessage(message),
           verifyMessage: (message: OpchanMessage) => authServiceRef.current.verifyMessage(message),
diff --git a/src/lib/identity/services/AuthService.ts b/src/lib/identity/services/AuthService.ts
index 4ec1973..e494ba8 100644
--- a/src/lib/identity/services/AuthService.ts
+++ b/src/lib/identity/services/AuthService.ts
@@ -92,6 +92,14 @@ export class AuthService {
    */
   async delegateKey(user: User): Promise<AuthResult> {
     try {
+      const canConnect = await this.walletService.canConnectWallet('phantom');
+      if (!canConnect) {
+        return {
+          success: false,
+          error: 'Phantom wallet is not available or cannot be connected. Please ensure it is installed and unlocked.'
+        };
+      }
+
       const delegationInfo = await this.walletService.setupKeyDelegation(
         user.address,
         'phantom'
diff --git a/src/lib/identity/wallets/index.ts b/src/lib/identity/wallets/index.ts
index 113beab..9899d2f 100644
--- a/src/lib/identity/wallets/index.ts
+++ b/src/lib/identity/wallets/index.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,23 @@ export class WalletService {
   public isWalletAvailable(type: WalletType): boolean {
     return this.phantomAdapter.isInstalled();
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Check if wallet is available and can be connected
+   */
+  public async canConnectWallet(type: WalletType = 'phantom'): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (!this.isWalletAvailable(type)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      const isConnected = await this.phantomAdapter.isConnected();
+      return isConnected;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.debug('WalletService: Cannot connect wallet:', error);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
   
   /**
    * Connect to a specific wallet type
@@ -87,8 +104,31 @@ export class WalletService {
     walletType: WalletType,
     validityPeriod: number = WalletService.DEFAULT_DELEGATION_PERIOD
   ): Promise<Omit<DelegationInfo, 'browserPrivateKey'>> {
+    console.debug('WalletService: Starting key delegation for address:', bitcoinAddress);
+    
+    let isConnected = await this.phantomAdapter.isConnected();
+    console.debug('WalletService: Initial wallet connection check result:', isConnected);
+    
+    if (!isConnected) {
+      console.debug('WalletService: Wallet not connected, attempting to connect automatically');
+      try {
+        await this.phantomAdapter.connect();
+        isConnected = await this.phantomAdapter.isConnected();
+        console.debug('WalletService: Auto-connection result:', isConnected);
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error('WalletService: Failed to auto-connect wallet:', error);
+        throw new Error('Failed to connect wallet. Please ensure Phantom wallet is installed and try again.');
+      }
+    }
+    
+    if (!isConnected) {
+      console.error('WalletService: Wallet is still not connected after auto-connection attempt');
+      throw new Error('Wallet is not connected. Please connect your wallet first.');
+    }
+
     // Generate browser keypair
     const keypair = this.keyDelegation.generateKeypair();
+    console.debug('WalletService: Generated browser keypair');
     
     // Calculate expiry in hours
     const expiryHours = validityPeriod / (60 * 60 * 1000);
@@ -99,9 +139,12 @@ export class WalletService {
       bitcoinAddress,
       Date.now() + validityPeriod
     );
+    console.debug('WalletService: Created delegation message');
     
     // Sign the delegation message with the Bitcoin wallet
+    console.debug('WalletService: Requesting signature from wallet');
     const signature = await this.phantomAdapter.signMessage(delegationMessage);
+    console.debug('WalletService: Received signature from wallet');
     
     // Create and store the delegation
     const delegationInfo = this.keyDelegation.createDelegation(
@@ -113,6 +156,7 @@ export class WalletService {
     );
     
     this.keyDelegation.storeDelegation(delegationInfo);
+    console.debug('WalletService: Stored delegation info');
     
     // Return delegation info (excluding private key)
     return {
diff --git a/src/lib/identity/wallets/phantom.ts b/src/lib/identity/wallets/phantom.ts
index 452383d..0f8bd48 100644
--- a/src/lib/identity/wallets/phantom.ts
+++ b/src/lib/identity/wallets/phantom.ts
@@ -16,13 +16,71 @@ export class PhantomWalletAdapter {
 
   constructor() {
     this.checkWalletAvailability();
+    this.restoreConnectionState();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Restore connection state from existing wallet connection
+   */
+  private async restoreConnectionState(): Promise<void> {
+    if (typeof window === 'undefined' || !window?.phantom?.bitcoin) {
+      console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: No wallet available for connection restoration');
+      return;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: Attempting to restore connection state');
+      this.provider = window.phantom;
+      this.btcProvider = window.phantom.bitcoin;
+
+      // Check if wallet is already connected by trying to get accounts
+      if (this.btcProvider?.requestAccounts) {
+        const btcAccounts = await this.btcProvider.requestAccounts();
+        
+        if (btcAccounts && btcAccounts.length > 0) {
+          const ordinalAccount = btcAccounts.find(acc => acc.purpose === 'ordinals');
+          const account = ordinalAccount || btcAccounts[0];
+          
+          this.currentAccount = account.address;
+          this.connectionStatus = WalletConnectionStatus.Connected;
+          console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: Successfully restored connection for account:', account.address);
+        } else {
+          console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: No accounts found during connection restoration');
+        }
+      } else {
+        console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: requestAccounts method not available');
+      }
+    } catch (error) {
+      // If we can't restore the connection, that's okay - user will need to reconnect
+      console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: Could not restore existing wallet connection:', error);
+      this.connectionStatus = WalletConnectionStatus.Disconnected;
+    }
+  }
 
   public getStatus(): WalletConnectionStatus {
     return this.connectionStatus;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check if the wallet is actually connected by attempting to get accounts
+   */
+  public async isConnected(): Promise<boolean> {
+    if (!this.btcProvider) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    try {
+      if (this.btcProvider.requestAccounts) {
+        const accounts = await this.btcProvider.requestAccounts();
+        return accounts && accounts.length > 0;
+      }
+      return false;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.debug('Error checking wallet connection:', error);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
   public isInstalled(): boolean {
     if (typeof window === 'undefined') {
       return false;
@@ -88,11 +146,30 @@ export class PhantomWalletAdapter {
   }
 
   async signMessage(message: string): Promise<string> {
+    console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: signMessage called, btcProvider:', !!this.btcProvider, 'currentAccount:', this.currentAccount);
+    
+    if (!this.btcProvider && window?.phantom?.bitcoin) {
+      console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: Attempting to restore connection before signing');
+      await this.restoreConnectionState();
+    }
+
+    if (!this.btcProvider || !this.currentAccount) {
+      console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: Wallet not connected, attempting to connect automatically');
+      try {
+        await this.connect();
+      } catch (error) {
+        console.error('PhantomWalletAdapter: Failed to auto-connect wallet:', error);
+        throw new Error('Failed to connect wallet. Please ensure Phantom wallet is installed and try again.');
+      }
+    }
+
     if (!this.btcProvider) {
+      console.error('PhantomWalletAdapter: Wallet is not connected - no btcProvider');
       throw new Error('Wallet is not connected');
     }
 
     if (!this.currentAccount) {
+      console.error('PhantomWalletAdapter: No active account to sign with');
       throw new Error('No active account to sign with');
     }
 
@@ -101,6 +178,7 @@ export class PhantomWalletAdapter {
         throw new Error('signMessage method not available on wallet provider');
       }
       
+      console.debug('PhantomWalletAdapter: Signing message for account:', this.currentAccount);
       const messageBytes = new TextEncoder().encode(message);
       
       const { signature } = await this.btcProvider.signMessage(
@@ -115,7 +193,7 @@ export class PhantomWalletAdapter {
       
       return String(signature);
     } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Error signing message:', error);
+      console.error('PhantomWalletAdapter: Error signing message:', error);
       throw error;
     }
   }