diff --git a/.dockerignore b/.dockerignore
index 247ac61ce..1497e83ce 100644
--- a/.dockerignore
+++ b/.dockerignore
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@
 /nimcache
 librln*
 **/vendor/*
+/nimbledeps
+/build
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim
index 6440a63ac..97abb83f3 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/logos_delivery_conf_json.nim
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ const
   # a flat blob before the WakuNodeConf walker sees them (it would reject them).
   KeyReliabilityEnabled = "reliabilityenabled"
   KeyReliability = "reliability"
+  KeySendConfirmation = "sendconfirmation"
+  KeySendConfirmationName = "send-confirmation"
 
 proc parseMode(s: string): Result[LogosDeliveryMode, string] =
   case s.strip().toLowerAscii()
@@ -52,7 +54,9 @@ proc parseFlatConf(
   ## `WakuNodeConf`. Full stack. Delete this proc and its call site to drop support.
   var messaging = MessagingClientConf()
   var reliabilityFields: Table[string, (string, JsonNode)]
-  for key in [KeyReliabilityEnabled, KeyReliability]:
+  for key in [
+    KeyReliabilityEnabled, KeyReliability, KeySendConfirmation, KeySendConfirmationName
+  ]:
     if topJsonNode.hasKey(key):
       reliabilityFields[key] = topJsonNode.getOrDefault(key)
       topJsonNode.del(key)
diff --git a/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim b/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
index a8c91acd7..9d06b953e 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf.nim
@@ -38,6 +38,9 @@ type MessagingClientConf* = object
     ## RLN epoch size, in seconds.
   reliabilityEnabled* {.name: "reliability".}: Opt[bool]
     ## Enable store-based send reliability.
+  sendConfirmation* {.name: "send-confirmation".}: Opt[string]
+    ## How MessageSent is confirmed: "store" (store witness, default) or
+    ## "propagation" (publish-path peer count; no store dependency).
   store*: Opt[bool] ## Enable the store protocol.
   storenode* {.name: "storenode".}: Opt[string]
   storeMessageDbUrl* {.name: "store-message-db-url".}: Opt[string]
diff --git a/logos_delivery/messaging/delivery_service/send_service/send_service.nim b/logos_delivery/messaging/delivery_service/send_service/send_service.nim
index 097bb0752..99ffeb7ea 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/messaging/delivery_service/send_service/send_service.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/messaging/delivery_service/send_service/send_service.nim
@@ -38,6 +38,10 @@ const ArchiveTime = chronos.seconds(3)
   ## Estimation of the time we wait until we start confirming that a message has been properly
   ## received and archived by a store node
 
+type SendConfirmationMode* {.pure.} = enum
+  Store ## MessageSent fires when a store node confirms the message (default)
+  Propagation ## MessageSent fires from the publish path (relay/lightpush peer count)
+
 type SendService* = ref object of RootObj
   brokerCtx: BrokerContext
   taskCache: seq[DeliveryTask]
@@ -48,6 +52,7 @@ type SendService* = ref object of RootObj
   sendProcessor: BaseSendProcessor
 
   waku: Waku
+  confirmationMode: SendConfirmationMode
   checkStoreForMessages: bool
   lastStoreCheckTime: Moment ## throttles store validation queries to ArchiveTime cadence
 
@@ -77,14 +82,19 @@ proc setupSendProcessorChain(
   return ok(processors[0])
 
 proc new*(
-    T: typedesc[SendService], preferP2PReliability: bool, waku: Waku
+    T: typedesc[SendService],
+    preferP2PReliability: bool,
+    waku: Waku,
+    confirmationMode = SendConfirmationMode.Store,
 ): Result[T, string] =
   if not waku.hasRelay() and not waku.hasLightpush():
     return err(
       "Could not create SendService. wakuRelay or wakuLightpushClient should be set"
     )
 
-  let checkStoreForMessages = preferP2PReliability and waku.isStoreMounted()
+  let checkStoreForMessages =
+    confirmationMode == SendConfirmationMode.Store and preferP2PReliability and
+    waku.isStoreMounted()
 
   let sendProcessorChain = setupSendProcessorChain(waku, waku.brokerCtx).valueOr:
     return err("failed to setup SendProcessorChain: " & $error)
@@ -95,6 +105,7 @@ proc new*(
     serviceLoopHandle: nil,
     sendProcessor: sendProcessorChain,
     waku: waku,
+    confirmationMode: confirmationMode,
     checkStoreForMessages: checkStoreForMessages,
     lastStoreCheckTime: Moment.now(),
   )
@@ -170,6 +181,13 @@ proc reportTaskResult(self: SendService, task: DeliveryTask) =
         self.brokerCtx, task.requestId, task.msgHash.to0xHex()
       )
       task.propagateEventEmitted = true
+    if self.confirmationMode == SendConfirmationMode.Propagation:
+      # The publish path is the confirmation signal: report sent right after
+      # propagation; the validated task is dropped by evaluateAndCleanUp.
+      info "Message successfully sent (propagation confirmed)",
+        requestId = task.requestId, msgHash = task.msgHash.to0xHex()
+      MessageSentEvent.emit(self.brokerCtx, task.requestId, task.msgHash.to0xHex())
+      task.state = DeliveryState.SuccessfullyValidated
     return
   of DeliveryState.SuccessfullyValidated:
     info "Message successfully sent",
@@ -276,5 +294,8 @@ proc send*(self: SendService, task: DeliveryTask) {.async.} =
 
   await self.sendProcessor.process(task)
   reportTaskResult(self, task)
-  if task.state != DeliveryState.FailedToDeliver:
+  # finalized tasks (failed, or already confirmed in propagation mode) must
+  # not enter the cache: the service loop would report them a second time
+  if task.state notin
+      {DeliveryState.FailedToDeliver, DeliveryState.SuccessfullyValidated}:
     self.addTask(task)
diff --git a/logos_delivery/messaging/messaging_client.nim b/logos_delivery/messaging/messaging_client.nim
index d883878fb..e7c9bd37c 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/messaging/messaging_client.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/messaging/messaging_client.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 ## Messaging layer core: the `MessagingClient` type plus its construction and
 ## lifecycle. The public operations (subscribe / unsubscribe / send) live in
 ## `messaging/api.nim`.
+import std/strutils
 import results, chronos, chronicles
 import
   logos_delivery/api/conf/messaging_conf,
@@ -24,7 +25,17 @@ proc new*(
   ## The messaging layer chains onto Waku: it drives the underlying Waku kernel
   ## for transport while exposing its own send/recv API.
   let reliability = conf.reliabilityEnabled.get(DefaultP2pReliability)
-  let sendService = ?SendService.new(reliability, waku)
+
+  let confirmationMode =
+    case conf.sendConfirmation.get("store").strip().toLowerAscii()
+    of "store":
+      SendConfirmationMode.Store
+    of "propagation":
+      SendConfirmationMode.Propagation
+    else:
+      return err("invalid send-confirmation mode: " & conf.sendConfirmation.get(""))
+
+  let sendService = ?SendService.new(reliability, waku, confirmationMode)
   let recvService = RecvService.new(waku)
   return ok(
     T(
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_service_conf_builder.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_service_conf_builder.nim
index abb37e7b8..651b4e814 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_service_conf_builder.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_service_conf_builder.nim
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import std/[strutils, sequtils], chronicles, results, chronos
-import ../waku_conf, ./store_sync_conf_builder
+import ../waku_conf
 
 logScope:
   topics = "waku conf builder store service"
@@ -24,10 +24,9 @@ type StoreServiceConfBuilder* = object
   maxNumDbConnections*: Opt[int]
   retentionPolicies*: seq[string]
   resume*: Opt[bool]
-  storeSyncConf*: StoreSyncConfBuilder
 
 proc init*(T: type StoreServiceConfBuilder): StoreServiceConfBuilder =
-  StoreServiceConfBuilder(storeSyncConf: StoreSyncConfBuilder.init())
+  StoreServiceConfBuilder()
 
 proc withEnabled*(b: var StoreServiceConfBuilder, enabled: bool) =
   b.enabled = Opt.some(enabled)
@@ -90,9 +89,6 @@ proc build*(b: StoreServiceConfBuilder): Result[Opt[StoreServiceConf], string] =
   if b.dbUrl.get("") == "":
     return err "store.dbUrl is not specified"
 
-  let storeSyncConf = b.storeSyncConf.build().valueOr:
-    return err("Store Sync Conf failed to build")
-
   let retentionPolicies =
     if b.retentionPolicies.len == 0:
       @[DefaultStoreRetentionPolicy]
@@ -110,7 +106,6 @@ proc build*(b: StoreServiceConfBuilder): Result[Opt[StoreServiceConf], string] =
         maxNumDbConnections: b.maxNumDbConnections.get(DefaultStoreMaxNumDbConnections),
         retentionPolicies: retentionPolicies,
         resume: b.resume.get(DefaultStoreResume),
-        storeSyncConf: storeSyncConf,
       )
     )
   )
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_sync_conf_builder.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_sync_conf_builder.nim
index dca53ab71..607fd9e21 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_sync_conf_builder.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/store_sync_conf_builder.nim
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 import chronicles, results
-import ../waku_conf
+import ../waku_conf, ../../common/databases/dburl
 
 logScope:
   topics = "waku conf builder store sync"
 
-const DefaultStoreSyncEnabled: bool = false
+const
+  DefaultStoreSyncEnabled: bool = false
+  DefaultStoreSyncDbUrl*: string = "sqlite://:memory:"
 
 ##################################
 ## Store Sync Config Builder ##
@@ -15,6 +17,7 @@ type StoreSyncConfBuilder* = object
   rangeSec*: Opt[uint32]
   intervalSec*: Opt[uint32]
   relayJitterSec*: Opt[uint32]
+  dbUrl*: Opt[string]
 
 proc init*(T: type StoreSyncConfBuilder): StoreSyncConfBuilder =
   StoreSyncConfBuilder()
@@ -31,6 +34,9 @@ proc withIntervalSec*(b: var StoreSyncConfBuilder, intervalSec: uint32) =
 proc withRelayJitterSec*(b: var StoreSyncConfBuilder, relayJitterSec: uint32) =
   b.relayJitterSec = Opt.some(relayJitterSec)
 
+proc withDbUrl*(b: var StoreSyncConfBuilder, dbUrl: string) =
+  b.dbUrl = Opt.some(dbUrl)
+
 proc build*(b: StoreSyncConfBuilder): Result[Opt[StoreSyncConf], string] =
   if not b.enabled.get(DefaultStoreSyncEnabled):
     return ok(Opt.none(StoreSyncConf))
@@ -42,12 +48,22 @@ proc build*(b: StoreSyncConfBuilder): Result[Opt[StoreSyncConf], string] =
   if b.relayJitterSec.isNone():
     return err "store.relayJitterSec is not specified"
 
+  if b.rangeSec.get() == 0:
+    return err "store sync range must be greater than 0"
+
+  let dbUrl = b.dbUrl.get(DefaultStoreSyncDbUrl)
+  let engine = getDbEngine(dbUrl).valueOr:
+    return err "store sync dbUrl is invalid: " & error
+  if engine != "sqlite" and engine != "postgres":
+    return err "store sync dbUrl engine must be sqlite or postgres, got: " & engine
+
   return ok(
     Opt.some(
       StoreSyncConf(
         rangeSec: b.rangeSec.get(),
         intervalSec: b.intervalSec.get(),
         relayJitterSec: b.relayJitterSec.get(),
+        dbUrl: dbUrl,
       )
     )
   )
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/waku_conf_builder.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/waku_conf_builder.nim
index 469506e55..6d254090c 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/waku_conf_builder.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/conf_builder/waku_conf_builder.nim
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ const
   DefaultLightPush: bool = false
   DefaultPeerExchange: bool = false
     # historical confbuilder default; wakunode2 CLI deviates (true)
-  DefaultStoreSyncMount: bool = false
   DefaultRendezvous: bool = false
     # historical confbuilder default; wakunode2 CLI deviates (true)
   DefaultMix*: bool = false
@@ -117,6 +116,7 @@ type WakuConfBuilder* = object
   restServerConf*: RestServerConfBuilder
   rlnRelayConf*: RlnConfBuilder
   storeServiceConf*: StoreServiceConfBuilder
+  storeSyncConf*: StoreSyncConfBuilder
   mixConf*: MixConfBuilder
   webSocketConf*: WebSocketConfBuilder
   quicConf*: QuicConfBuilder
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ type WakuConfBuilder* = object
   relay: Opt[bool]
   lightPush: Opt[bool]
   peerExchange: Opt[bool]
-  storeSync: Opt[bool]
   relayPeerExchange: Opt[bool]
   mix: Opt[bool]
 
@@ -181,6 +180,7 @@ proc init*(T: type WakuConfBuilder): WakuConfBuilder =
     restServerConf: RestServerConfBuilder.init(),
     rlnRelayConf: RlnConfBuilder.init(),
     storeServiceConf: StoreServiceConfBuilder.init(),
+    storeSyncConf: StoreSyncConfBuilder.init(),
     webSocketConf: WebSocketConfBuilder.init(),
     quicConf: QuicConfBuilder.init(),
     rateLimitConf: RateLimitConfBuilder.init(),
@@ -221,9 +221,6 @@ proc withRelay*(b: var WakuConfBuilder, relay: bool) =
 proc withLightPush*(b: var WakuConfBuilder, lightPush: bool) =
   b.lightPush = Opt.some(lightPush)
 
-proc withStoreSync*(b: var WakuConfBuilder, storeSync: bool) =
-  b.storeSync = Opt.some(storeSync)
-
 proc withPeerExchange*(b: var WakuConfBuilder, peerExchange: bool) =
   b.peerExchange = Opt.some(peerExchange)
 
@@ -566,13 +563,6 @@ proc build*(
       warn "whether to mount peerExchange is not specified, defaulting to not mounting"
       DefaultPeerExchange
 
-  let storeSync =
-    if builder.storeSync.isSome():
-      builder.storeSync.get()
-    else:
-      warn "whether to mount storeSync is not specified, defaulting to not mounting"
-      DefaultStoreSyncMount
-
   let rendezvous =
     if builder.rendezvous.isSome():
       builder.rendezvous.get()
@@ -643,6 +633,9 @@ proc build*(
   let storeServiceConf = builder.storeServiceConf.build().valueOr:
     return err("Store Conf building failed: " & $error)
 
+  let storeSyncConf = builder.storeSyncConf.build().valueOr:
+    return err("Store Sync Conf building failed: " & $error)
+
   let mixConf = builder.mixConf.build().valueOr:
     return err("Mix Conf building failed: " & $error)
 
@@ -759,7 +752,7 @@ proc build*(
     filter = filterServiceConf.isSome,
     store = storeServiceConf.isSome,
     relay = relay,
-    sync = storeServiceConf.isSome() and storeServiceConf.get().storeSyncConf.isSome,
+    sync = storeSyncConf.isSome,
     mix = mix,
   )
 
@@ -780,6 +773,7 @@ proc build*(
   let wakuConf = WakuConf(
     # confs
     storeServiceConf: storeServiceConf,
+    storeSyncConf: storeSyncConf,
     filterServiceConf: filterServiceConf,
     discv5Conf: discv5Conf,
     rlnRelayConf: rlnRelayConf,
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/node_factory.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/node_factory.nim
index 5cd06b457..6eb6ad011 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/node_factory.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/node_factory.nim
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import
   ../waku_core/codecs,
   ../rln,
   ../discovery/waku_dnsdisc,
+  ../common/error_handling,
   ../waku_archive/retention_policy as policy,
   ../waku_archive/retention_policy/builder as policy_builder,
   ../waku_archive/driver as driver,
@@ -147,6 +148,30 @@ proc getAutoshards*(
     autoShards.add(shard)
   return ok(autoshards)
 
+proc setupArchive(
+    node: WakuNode,
+    dbUrl: string,
+    dbVacuum: bool,
+    dbMigration: bool,
+    maxNumDbConnections: int,
+    retentionPolicies: seq[string],
+    onFatalErrorAction: OnFatalErrorHandler,
+): Future[Result[void, string]] {.async.} =
+  let archiveDriver = (
+    await driver.ArchiveDriver.new(
+      dbUrl, dbVacuum, dbMigration, maxNumDbConnections, onFatalErrorAction
+    )
+  ).valueOr:
+    return err("failed to setup archive driver: " & error)
+
+  let retPolicies = policy.RetentionPolicy.new(retentionPolicies).valueOr:
+    return err("failed to create retention policy: " & error)
+
+  node.mountArchive(archiveDriver, retPolicies).isOkOr:
+    return err("failed to mount waku archive protocol: " & error)
+
+  return ok()
+
 proc setupProtocols(
     node: WakuNode, conf: WakuConf
 ): Future[Result[void, string]] {.async.} =
@@ -197,19 +222,14 @@ proc setupProtocols(
   if conf.storeServiceConf.isSome():
     let storeServiceConf = conf.storeServiceConf.get()
 
-    let archiveDriver = (
-      await driver.ArchiveDriver.new(
+    (
+      await node.setupArchive(
         storeServiceConf.dbUrl, storeServiceConf.dbVacuum, storeServiceConf.dbMigration,
-        storeServiceConf.maxNumDbConnections, onFatalErrorAction,
+        storeServiceConf.maxNumDbConnections, storeServiceConf.retentionPolicies,
+        onFatalErrorAction,
       )
-    ).valueOr:
-      return err("failed to setup archive driver: " & error)
-
-    let retPolicies = policy.RetentionPolicy.new(storeServiceConf.retentionPolicies).valueOr:
-      return err("failed to create retention policy: " & error)
-
-    node.mountArchive(archiveDriver, retPolicies).isOkOr:
-      return err("failed to mount waku archive protocol: " & error)
+    ).isOkOr:
+      return err(error)
 
     # Store setup
     try:
@@ -217,24 +237,41 @@ proc setupProtocols(
     except CatchableError:
       return err("failed to mount waku store protocol: " & getCurrentExceptionMsg())
 
-    if storeServiceConf.storeSyncConf.isSome():
-      let confStoreSync = storeServiceConf.storeSyncConf.get()
+  if conf.storeSyncConf.isSome():
+    let confStoreSync = conf.storeSyncConf.get()
 
+    if conf.storeServiceConf.isNone():
+      # No store service: back reconciliation & transfer with a small
+      # archive bounded to twice the sync window (pruned every 30 min,
+      # so it transiently holds up to 2 * range + 30 min of messages).
       (
-        await node.mountStoreSync(
-          conf.clusterId, conf.subscribeShards, conf.contentTopics,
-          confStoreSync.rangeSec, confStoreSync.intervalSec,
-          confStoreSync.relayJitterSec,
+        await node.setupArchive(
+          dbUrl = confStoreSync.dbUrl,
+          dbVacuum = false,
+          dbMigration = true,
+          maxNumDbConnections = 4,
+          retentionPolicies = @["time:" & $(2'u64 * confStoreSync.rangeSec)],
+          onFatalErrorAction = onFatalErrorAction,
         )
       ).isOkOr:
-        return err("failed to mount waku store sync protocol: " & $error)
+        return err(error)
 
-      if conf.remoteStoreNode.isSome():
-        let storeNode = parsePeerInfo(conf.remoteStoreNode.get()).valueOr:
-          return err("failed to set node waku store-sync peer: " & error)
+    (
+      await node.mountStoreSync(
+        conf.clusterId, conf.subscribeShards, conf.contentTopics,
+        confStoreSync.rangeSec, confStoreSync.intervalSec, confStoreSync.relayJitterSec,
+      )
+    ).isOkOr:
+      return err("failed to mount waku store sync protocol: " & $error)
 
-        node.peerManager.addServicePeer(storeNode, WakuReconciliationCodec)
-        node.peerManager.addServicePeer(storeNode, WakuTransferCodec)
+    if conf.storeServiceConf.isSome() and conf.remoteStoreNode.isSome():
+      let storeNode = parsePeerInfo(conf.remoteStoreNode.get()).valueOr:
+        return err("failed to set node waku store-sync peer: " & error)
+
+      node.peerManager.addServicePeer(storeNode, WakuReconciliationCodec)
+      node.peerManager.addServicePeer(storeNode, WakuTransferCodec)
+    elif conf.remoteStoreNode.isSome():
+      warn "storenode is not used by store-sync without the store service; sync peers are found via discovery"
 
   mountStoreClient(node)
   if conf.remoteStoreNode.isSome():
@@ -242,7 +279,10 @@ proc setupProtocols(
       return err("failed to set node waku store peer: " & error)
     node.peerManager.addServicePeer(storeNode, WakuStoreCodec)
 
-  if conf.storeServiceConf.isSome and conf.storeServiceConf.get().resume:
+  if (conf.storeServiceConf.isSome and conf.storeServiceConf.get().resume) or
+      conf.storeSyncConf.isSome():
+    # sync-enabled full nodes track last-online so the startup catch-up can
+    # choose between neighbour reconciliation and store resume
     node.setupStoreResume()
 
   if conf.shardingConf.kind == AutoSharding:
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/waku_conf.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/waku_conf.nim
index 614b1318f..7374f12e9 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/factory/waku_conf.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/factory/waku_conf.nim
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ type StoreSyncConf* {.requiresInit.} = object
   rangeSec*: uint32
   intervalSec*: uint32
   relayJitterSec*: uint32
+  dbUrl*: string
+    ## Backs reconciliation & transfer with a small bounded archive
+    ## when the store service is not enabled. Ignored otherwise.
 
 type MixConf* = ref object
   mixKey*: Curve25519Key
@@ -68,7 +71,6 @@ type StoreServiceConf* = object
   maxNumDbConnections*: int
   retentionPolicies*: seq[string]
   resume*: bool
-  storeSyncConf*: Opt[StoreSyncConf]
 
 type FilterServiceConf* {.requiresInit.} = object
   maxPeersToServe*: uint32
@@ -113,6 +115,7 @@ type WakuConf* {.requiresInit.} = ref object
   dnsDiscoveryConf*: Opt[DnsDiscoveryConf]
   filterServiceConf*: Opt[FilterServiceConf]
   storeServiceConf*: Opt[StoreServiceConf]
+  storeSyncConf*: Opt[StoreSyncConf]
   rlnRelayConf*: Opt[RlnConf]
   restServerConf*: Opt[RestServerConf]
   metricsServerConf*: Opt[MetricsServerConf]
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node.nim
index b1448eb2a..3b10d5b7b 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node.nim
@@ -136,6 +136,8 @@ type
     wakuKademlia*: WakuKademlia
     ports*: BoundPorts
     relayReconnectFut*: Future[void]
+    storeCatchUpFut*: Future[void]
+    storeSyncRange*: timer.Duration
 
   SubscriptionManager* = ref object of RootObj
     node*: WakuNode
@@ -370,12 +372,17 @@ proc mountStoreSync*(
     storeSyncInterval: uint32,
     storeSyncRelayJitter: uint32,
 ): Future[Result[void, string]] {.async.} =
+  if node.wakuArchive.isNil():
+    return err("store sync requires a mounted archive")
+
   let idsChannel = newAsyncQueue[(SyncID, PubsubTopic, ContentTopic)](0)
   let wantsChannel = newAsyncQueue[(PeerId)](0)
   let needsChannel = newAsyncQueue[(PeerId, WakuMessageHash)](0)
 
   let pubsubTopics = shards.mapIt($RelayShard(clusterId: cluster, shardId: it))
 
+  node.storeSyncRange = storeSyncRange.seconds
+
   let recon = ?await SyncReconciliation.new(
     pubsubTopics, contentTopics, node.peerManager, node.wakuArchive,
     storeSyncRange.seconds, storeSyncInterval.seconds, storeSyncRelayJitter.seconds,
@@ -391,8 +398,35 @@ proc mountStoreSync*(
   reconMountRes.isOkOr:
     return err(error.msg)
 
+  let transferValidator: TransferValidator = proc(
+      msg: WakuMessage
+  ): Future[bool] {.async.} =
+    ## RLN mounts after store sync (but before the switch starts accepting
+    ## connections), so capture the node and check at call time; nil rln
+    ## means RLN is not configured on this network. Freshness is not
+    ## checked: synced messages are old by design. Known gaps: archives do
+    ## not persist RLN proofs, so archive-served messages arrive proofless
+    ## and can only be counted, not verified (enforcement needs proof
+    ## persistence); and proofs built against roots older than the
+    ## acceptable root window are rejected, bounding history sync across
+    ## heavy membership churn.
+    if node.rln.isNil():
+      return true
+
+    if msg.proof.len == 0:
+      total_transfer_messages_unverified.inc()
+      return true
+
+    let res = await node.rln.validateMessage(msg, checkFreshness = false)
+    return res == MessageValidationResult.Valid
+
   let transfer = SyncTransfer.new(
-    node.peerManager, node.wakuArchive, idsChannel, wantsChannel, needsChannel
+    node.peerManager,
+    node.wakuArchive,
+    idsChannel,
+    wantsChannel,
+    needsChannel,
+    msgValidator = Opt.some(transferValidator),
   )
 
   node.wakuStoreTransfer = transfer
@@ -590,6 +624,66 @@ proc stopProvidersAndListeners*(node: WakuNode) =
   RequestContentTopicsHealth.clearProvider(node.brokerCtx)
   RequestShardTopicsHealth.clearProvider(node.brokerCtx)
 
+func useSyncCatchUp*(
+    hasReconciliation: bool,
+    lastOnline: Timestamp,
+    now: Timestamp,
+    syncRange: timer.Duration,
+): bool =
+  ## Startup catch-up decision: inside the sync window neighbour
+  ## reconciliation repairs the gap; beyond it (or on fresh start, when no
+  ## last-online timestamp exists) store resume is needed.
+  hasReconciliation and lastOnline > 0 and now - lastOnline <= syncRange.nanos
+
+proc storeStartupCatchUp(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
+  ## Store as a startup-only dependency: estimate the offline gap from the
+  ## persisted last-online timestamp and catch up accordingly. Runs in the
+  ## background; node startup must not block on store or sync peers.
+  let lastOnline = node.wakuStoreResume.getLastOnlineTimestamp().valueOr:
+    error "catch-up: failed to read last online timestamp", error = error
+    Timestamp(0)
+
+  let now = getNowInNanosecondTime()
+
+  if useSyncCatchUp(
+    not node.wakuStoreReconciliation.isNil(), lastOnline, now, node.storeSyncRange
+  ):
+    info "offline gap within sync window, catching up via reconciliation",
+      gapSeconds = (now - lastOnline) div 1_000_000_000
+    # sleep first: the switch may not be started yet and discovery may still
+    # be warming up; retry failed attempts, the periodic sync loop remains
+    # the safety net if none succeeds within the budget
+    for _ in 0 ..< 24:
+      await sleepAsync(5.seconds)
+      if node.peerManager.selectPeer(WakuReconciliationCodec).isNone():
+        continue
+      (await node.wakuStoreReconciliation.storeSynchronization()).isOkOr:
+        error "startup reconciliation attempt failed", error = error
+        continue
+      return
+    warn "startup reconciliation did not complete; periodic sync remains the safety net"
+  else:
+    info "offline gap beyond sync window or fresh start, using store resume",
+      gapSeconds = (now - lastOnline) div 1_000_000_000
+    # don't burn resume tries against an empty peer store: wait (bounded)
+    # for a store peer to be discovered first
+    var peerWait = 24
+    var tries = 3
+    while tries > 0:
+      if node.peerManager.selectPeer(WakuStoreCodec).isNone():
+        peerWait -= 1
+        if peerWait <= 0:
+          warn "no store peer found for startup resume"
+          return
+        await sleepAsync(5.seconds)
+        continue
+      (await node.wakuStoreResume.autoStoreResume()).isOkOr:
+        tries -= 1
+        error "store resume failed", triesLeft = tries, error = $error
+        await sleepAsync(30.seconds)
+        continue
+      break
+
 proc start*(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
   ## Starts a created Waku Node and
   ## all its mounted protocols.
@@ -603,7 +697,9 @@ proc start*(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
       zeroPortPresent = true
 
   if not node.wakuStoreResume.isNil():
-    await node.wakuStoreResume.start()
+    # catch up in the background: startup must not block on store peers
+    node.storeCatchUpFut = node.storeStartupCatchUp()
+    node.wakuStoreResume.startPeriodicOnly()
 
   if not node.wakuRendezvousClient.isNil():
     await node.wakuRendezvousClient.start()
@@ -676,6 +772,12 @@ proc stop*(node: WakuNode) {.async.} =
   if not node.wakuArchive.isNil():
     await node.wakuArchive.stopWait()
 
+  if not node.storeCatchUpFut.isNil():
+    # in-flight store queries wrap awaits in results.catch, which can swallow
+    # the one cancellation delivery; bound shutdown instead of waiting for
+    # their natural completion
+    discard await node.storeCatchUpFut.cancelAndWait().withTimeout(5.seconds)
+
   if not node.wakuStoreResume.isNil():
     await node.wakuStoreResume.stopWait()
 
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node/store.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node/store.nim
index 92d236a37..dca89d5df 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node/store.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node/store.nim
@@ -114,6 +114,19 @@ proc mountStore*(
 
   node.switch.mount(node.wakuStore, protocolMatcher(store_common.WakuStoreCodec))
 
+proc queryArchive*(
+    node: WakuNode, request: StoreQueryRequest
+): Future[StoreQueryResult] {.async.} =
+  ## Serves a store query directly from the local archive, for nodes that
+  ## carry an archive without mounting the store protocol (e.g. full nodes
+  ## running store sync standalone). Same conversion path as mountStore's
+  ## request handler, so pagination/cursor semantics are identical.
+  if node.wakuArchive.isNil():
+    return err(StoreError.new(300, "waku archive is not available"))
+
+  let response = await node.wakuArchive.findMessages(request.toArchiveQuery())
+  return response.toStoreResult()
+
 proc mountStoreClient*(node: WakuNode) =
   info "mounting store client"
 
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/rest_api/endpoint/store/handlers.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/rest_api/endpoint/store/handlers.nim
index aa0136922..deee32072 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/rest_api/endpoint/store/handlers.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/rest_api/endpoint/store/handlers.nim
@@ -179,6 +179,23 @@ proc retrieveMsgsFromSelfNode(
 
   return resp
 
+proc retrieveMsgsFromArchive(
+    self: WakuNode, storeQuery: StoreQueryRequest
+): Future[RestApiResponse] {.async.} =
+  ## Serves a local store query from the node's archive when the store
+  ## protocol is not mounted (e.g. store-sync standalone full nodes).
+
+  let storeResp = (await self.queryArchive(storeQuery)).valueOr:
+    return RestApiResponse.internalServerError($error)
+
+  let resp = RestApiResponse.jsonResponse(storeResp.toHex(), status = Http200).valueOr:
+    const msg = "Error building the json respose"
+    let e = $error
+    error msg, error = e
+    return RestApiResponse.internalServerError(fmt("{msg} [{e}]"))
+
+  return resp
+
 # Subscribes the rest handler to attend "/store/v1/messages" requests
 proc installStoreApiHandlers*(
     router: var RestRouter,
@@ -226,6 +243,13 @@ proc installStoreApiHandlers*(
       ## the local/self store node.
       return await node.retrieveMsgsFromSelfNode(storeQuery)
 
+    if peer.isNone() and not node.wakuArchive.isNil():
+      ## No peer given and no store protocol, but the node carries an archive
+      ## (store-sync standalone): serve the query from the local archive, like
+      ## a store node serving its own. Only the archive's retention window is
+      ## returned; pass peerAddr to query a remote store for deeper history.
+      return await node.retrieveMsgsFromArchive(storeQuery)
+
     # Parse the peer address parameter
     let parsedPeerAddr = parseUrlPeerAddr(peer).valueOr:
       return RestApiResponse.badRequest(error)
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/rln/rln.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/rln/rln.nim
index 633d433dd..3933f2aac 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/rln/rln.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/rln/rln.nim
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ proc stop*(rlnPeer: Rln) {.async: (raises: [Exception]).} =
   await rlnPeer.groupManager.stop()
 
 proc validateMessage*(
-    rlnPeer: Rln, msg: WakuMessage
+    rlnPeer: Rln, msg: WakuMessage, checkFreshness = true
 ): Future[MessageValidationResult] {.async.} =
   ## validate the supplied `msg` based on the waku-rln-relay routing protocol i.e.,
   ## the `msg`'s epoch is within MaxEpochGap of the current epoch
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ proc validateMessage*(
   ## the `msg` does not violate the rate limit
   ## `timeOption` indicates Unix epoch time (fractional part holds sub-seconds)
   ## if `timeOption` is supplied, then the current epoch is calculated based on that
+  ## `checkFreshness = false` skips the timestamp-recency bound: used for
+  ## messages that are legitimately old, e.g. received via store sync
+  ## transfer. Proof, root and timestamp/epoch binding are still verified.
 
   let proof = RateLimitProof.init(msg.proof).valueOr:
     return MessageValidationResult.Invalid
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ proc validateMessage*(
   info "time info",
     currentTime = currentTime, messageTime = messageTime, msgHash = msg.hash
 
-  if timeDiff > rlnPeer.rlnMaxTimestampGap:
+  if checkFreshness and timeDiff > rlnPeer.rlnMaxTimestampGap:
     warn "invalid message: timestamp difference exceeds threshold",
       timeDiff = timeDiff,
       maxTimestampGap = rlnPeer.rlnMaxTimestampGap,
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store/resume.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store/resume.nim
index 0f45b8a6b..4d380b30f 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store/resume.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store/resume.nim
@@ -197,19 +197,10 @@ proc periodicSetLastOnline(self: StoreResume) {.async.} =
     self.setLastOnlineTimestamp(ts).isOkOr:
       error "failed to set last online timestamp", error, time = ts
 
-proc start*(self: StoreResume) {.async.} =
-  # start resume process, will try thrice.
-  var tries = 3
-  while tries > 0:
-    (await self.autoStoreResume()).isOkOr:
-      tries -= 1
-      error "store resume failed", triesLeft = tries, error = $error
-      await sleepAsync(30.seconds)
-      continue
-
-    break
-
-  # starting periodic storage of last online timestamp
+proc startPeriodicOnly*(self: StoreResume) =
+  ## Starts only the periodic last-online bookkeeping; the catch-up decision
+  ## (neighbour sync within the window vs store resume beyond it) is made by
+  ## the node's startup catch-up.
   self.handle = self.periodicSetLastOnline()
 
 proc stopWait*(self: StoreResume) {.async.} =
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync.nim
index 03c1b33af..cadde72ea 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync.nim
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 {.push raises: [].}
 
 import
-  ./waku_store_sync/reconciliation, ./waku_store_sync/transfer, ./waku_store_sync/common
+  ./waku_store_sync/reconciliation,
+  ./waku_store_sync/transfer,
+  ./waku_store_sync/common,
+  ./waku_store_sync/protocols_metrics
 
-export reconciliation, transfer, common
+export reconciliation, transfer, common, protocols_metrics
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/protocols_metrics.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/protocols_metrics.nim
index 53595f931..f76db8b47 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/protocols_metrics.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/protocols_metrics.nim
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ declarePublicHistogram reconciliation_differences,
 declarePublicCounter total_bytes_exchanged,
   "the number of bytes sent and received by the protocols", ["protocol", "direction"]
 
+declarePublicCounter total_transfer_messages_rejected,
+  "number of received transfer messages dropped by validation"
+
+declarePublicCounter total_transfer_messages_unverified,
+  "number of received transfer messages accepted without proof verification (archives do not persist RLN proofs)"
+
 declarePublicCounter total_transfer_messages_exchanged,
   "the number of messages sent and received by the transfer protocol", ["direction"]
 
diff --git a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/transfer.nim b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/transfer.nim
index 5d20afb18..caa7b92a5 100644
--- a/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/transfer.nim
+++ b/logos_delivery/waku/waku_store_sync/transfer.nim
@@ -31,9 +31,14 @@ import
 logScope:
   topics = "waku transfer"
 
+type TransferValidator* = proc(msg: WakuMessage): Future[bool] {.gcsafe, raises: [].}
+  ## Returns false when a received transfer message must be dropped
+  ## (e.g. failed RLN proof verification).
+
 type SyncTransfer* = ref object of LPProtocol
   wakuArchive: WakuArchive
   peerManager: PeerManager
+  msgValidator: Opt[TransferValidator]
 
   # Send IDs to reconciliation protocol for storage
   idsTx: AsyncQueue[(SyncID, PubsubTopic, ContentTopic)]
@@ -169,8 +174,24 @@ proc initProtocolHandler(self: SyncTransfer) =
 
       let hash = computeMessageHash(pubsub, msg)
 
+      if self.msgValidator.isSome():
+        let valid =
+          try:
+            await self.msgValidator.get()(msg)
+          except CancelledError as exc:
+            raise exc
+          except CatchableError:
+            error "transfer message validation error",
+              remote_peer_id = conn.peerId, error = getCurrentExceptionMsg()
+            false
+
+        if not valid:
+          total_transfer_messages_rejected.inc()
+          warn "transfer message failed validation, dropping",
+            remote_peer_id = conn.peerId
+          continue
+
       try:
-        #TODO verify msg RLN proof...
         (await self.wakuArchive.syncMessageIngress(hash, pubsub, msg)).isOkOr:
           error "failed to archive message", error = $error
           continue
@@ -202,6 +223,7 @@ proc new*(
     idsTx: AsyncQueue[(SyncID, PubsubTopic, ContentTopic)],
     localWantsRx: AsyncQueue[PeerId],
     remoteNeedsRx: AsyncQueue[(PeerId, WakuMessageHash)],
+    msgValidator: Opt[TransferValidator] = Opt.none(TransferValidator),
 ): T =
   var transfer = SyncTransfer(
     peerManager: peerManager,
@@ -209,6 +231,7 @@ proc new*(
     idsTx: idsTx,
     localWantsRx: localWantsRx,
     remoteNeedsRx: remoteNeedsRx,
+    msgValidator: msgValidator,
   )
 
   transfer.initProtocolHandler()
diff --git a/tests/api/test_api_send.nim b/tests/api/test_api_send.nim
index 6470b0168..5d852080c 100644
--- a/tests/api/test_api_send.nim
+++ b/tests/api/test_api_send.nim
@@ -319,6 +319,53 @@ suite "Waku API - Send":
     (await node.stop()).isOkOr:
       raiseAssert "Failed to stop node: " & error
 
+  asyncTest "Propagation mode: send confirmed without a store node":
+    ## send-confirmation=propagation: MessageSent fires from the publish path;
+    ## no store node is connected (same shape as "Send only propagates", which
+    ## in store mode never fires MessageSent).
+    var node: LogosDelivery
+    lockNewGlobalBrokerContext:
+      node = (
+        await LogosDelivery.new(
+          LogosDeliveryConf(
+            kernelConf: KernelConf(createApiNodeConf()),
+            messagingConf:
+              Opt.some(MessagingClientConf(sendConfirmation: Opt.some("propagation"))),
+            channelsConf: Opt.some(ReliableChannelManagerConf()),
+          )
+        )
+      ).valueOr:
+        raiseAssert error
+      (await node.start()).isOkOr:
+        raiseAssert "Failed to start Waku node: " & error
+
+      await node.waku.node.connectToNodes(@[relayNode1PeerInfo])
+
+    let eventManager = newSendEventListenerManager(node.waku.brokerCtx)
+    defer:
+      await eventManager.teardown()
+
+    let envelope = MessageEnvelope.init(
+      ContentTopic("/waku/2/default-content/proto"), "test payload"
+    )
+
+    let requestId = (await node.messagingClient.send(envelope)).valueOr:
+      raiseAssert error
+
+    const eventTimeout = 10.seconds
+    discard await eventManager.waitForEvents(eventTimeout)
+
+    eventManager.validate(
+      {SendEventOutcome.Sent, SendEventOutcome.Propagated}, requestId
+    )
+    # exactly one confirmation: the finalized task must not be re-reported
+    # by later service-loop ticks
+    check eventManager.sentCount == 1
+    check eventManager.propagatedCount == 1
+
+    (await node.stop()).isOkOr:
+      raiseAssert "Failed to stop node: " & error
+
   asyncTest "Send only propagates fallback to lightpush":
     var node: LogosDelivery
     lockNewGlobalBrokerContext:
diff --git a/tests/factory/test_all.nim b/tests/factory/test_all.nim
index 916610340..e0113f5eb 100644
--- a/tests/factory/test_all.nim
+++ b/tests/factory/test_all.nim
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {.used.}
 
-import ./test_waku_conf, ./test_node_factory
+import ./test_waku_conf, ./test_node_factory, ./test_store_sync_standalone
diff --git a/tests/factory/test_store_sync_standalone.nim b/tests/factory/test_store_sync_standalone.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4807f8756
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/factory/test_store_sync_standalone.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+{.used.}
+
+import results, testutils/unittests, chronos, libp2p/protocols/connectivity/relay/relay
+
+import
+  tests/testlib/[wakunode, wakucore],
+  logos_delivery/waku/[waku_node, waku_enr],
+  logos_delivery/waku/factory/[node_factory, conf_builder/conf_builder]
+
+suite "Store Sync standalone (no store service)":
+  asynctest "store-sync without store service mounts sync backed by a small archive":
+    var confBuilder = defaultTestWakuConfBuilder()
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withEnabled(true)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRangeSec(1800)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withIntervalSec(60)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRelayJitterSec(20)
+    let conf = confBuilder.build().value
+
+    check:
+      conf.storeSyncConf.isSome()
+      conf.storeServiceConf.isNone()
+      conf.wakuFlags.supportsCapability(Capabilities.Sync)
+
+    let node = (await setupNode(conf, relay = Relay.new())).valueOr:
+      raiseAssert error
+
+    check:
+      not node.isNil()
+      not node.wakuArchive.isNil()
+      not node.wakuStoreReconciliation.isNil()
+      not node.wakuStoreTransfer.isNil()
+      node.wakuStore.isNil()
+
+  asynctest "store service with store-sync keeps the store-node shape":
+    var confBuilder = defaultTestWakuConfBuilder()
+    confBuilder.storeServiceConf.withEnabled(true)
+    confBuilder.storeServiceConf.withDbUrl("sqlite://:memory:")
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withEnabled(true)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRangeSec(3600)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withIntervalSec(300)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRelayJitterSec(20)
+    let conf = confBuilder.build().value
+
+    check:
+      conf.storeServiceConf.isSome()
+      conf.storeSyncConf.isSome()
+      conf.wakuFlags.supportsCapability(Capabilities.Sync)
+      conf.wakuFlags.supportsCapability(Capabilities.Store)
+
+    let node = (await setupNode(conf, relay = Relay.new())).valueOr:
+      raiseAssert error
+
+    check:
+      not node.isNil()
+      not node.wakuStore.isNil()
+      not node.wakuArchive.isNil()
+      not node.wakuStoreReconciliation.isNil()
+      not node.wakuStoreTransfer.isNil()
+
+  test "store-sync disabled leaves conf empty and Sync capability unset":
+    let conf = defaultTestWakuConf()
+
+    check:
+      conf.storeSyncConf.isNone()
+      not conf.wakuFlags.supportsCapability(Capabilities.Sync)
+
+  test "store-sync rejects a zero sync range":
+    var confBuilder = defaultTestWakuConfBuilder()
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withEnabled(true)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRangeSec(0)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withIntervalSec(60)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRelayJitterSec(20)
+
+    check confBuilder.build().isErr()
+
+  test "store-sync rejects an unsupported db engine":
+    var confBuilder = defaultTestWakuConfBuilder()
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withEnabled(true)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRangeSec(1800)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withIntervalSec(60)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withRelayJitterSec(20)
+    confBuilder.storeSyncConf.withDbUrl("bogus://nope")
+
+    check confBuilder.build().isErr()
diff --git a/tests/waku_store_sync/test_all.nim b/tests/waku_store_sync/test_all.nim
index 82daa388b..bb53db6e5 100644
--- a/tests/waku_store_sync/test_all.nim
+++ b/tests/waku_store_sync/test_all.nim
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
 {.used.}
 
-import ./test_protocol, ./test_storage, ./test_codec
+import
+  ./test_protocol,
+  ./test_storage,
+  ./test_codec,
+  ./test_full_node_sync,
+  ./test_startup_catchup
diff --git a/tests/waku_store_sync/test_full_node_sync.nim b/tests/waku_store_sync/test_full_node_sync.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f1377406
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/waku_store_sync/test_full_node_sync.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,180 @@
+{.used.}
+
+## Integration test for the "store as a startup-only dependency" experiment:
+## two full nodes (no store service) wired exactly like `mountStoreSync` —
+## reconciliation + transfer sharing one peer manager and the three async
+## queues, backed by small in-memory archives — must recover missed
+## messages from each other end to end.
+
+import results, testutils/unittests, chronos, chronicles
+import
+  ../../logos_delivery/waku/[
+    node/peer_manager,
+    waku_core,
+    waku_core/message/digest,
+    waku_store_sync/common,
+    waku_store_sync/reconciliation,
+    waku_store_sync/transfer,
+    waku_archive/archive,
+    waku_archive/driver,
+    waku_archive/common,
+  ],
+  ../testlib/[wakucore, testasync],
+  ../waku_archive/archive_utils
+
+type FullNode = object
+  switch: Switch
+  driver: ArchiveDriver
+  archive: WakuArchive
+  recon: SyncReconciliation
+  transfer: SyncTransfer
+  peerInfo: RemotePeerInfo
+  peerManager: PeerManager
+
+proc newFullNode(
+    msgValidator: Opt[TransferValidator] = Opt.none(TransferValidator)
+): Future[FullNode] {.async.} =
+  ## Mirrors the wiring of WakuNode.mountStoreSync: one peer manager and
+  ## three shared channels connect reconciliation and transfer.
+  let switch = newTestSwitch()
+  await switch.start()
+
+  let driver = newSqliteArchiveDriver()
+  let archive = newWakuArchive(driver)
+  let peerManager = PeerManager.new(switch)
+
+  let idsChannel = newAsyncQueue[(SyncID, PubsubTopic, ContentTopic)]()
+  let wantsChannel = newAsyncQueue[PeerId]()
+  let needsChannel = newAsyncQueue[(PeerId, WakuMessageHash)]()
+
+  let recon = (
+    await SyncReconciliation.new(
+      pubsubTopics = @[],
+      contentTopics = @[],
+      peerManager = peerManager,
+      wakuArchive = archive,
+      relayJitter = 0.seconds,
+      idsRx = idsChannel,
+      localWantsTx = wantsChannel,
+      remoteNeedsTx = needsChannel,
+    )
+  ).valueOr:
+    raiseAssert error
+
+  await recon.start()
+  switch.mount(recon)
+
+  let transfer = SyncTransfer.new(
+    peerManager = peerManager,
+    wakuArchive = archive,
+    idsTx = idsChannel,
+    localWantsRx = wantsChannel,
+    remoteNeedsRx = needsChannel,
+    msgValidator = msgValidator,
+  )
+
+  await transfer.start()
+  switch.mount(transfer)
+
+  return FullNode(
+    switch: switch,
+    driver: driver,
+    archive: archive,
+    recon: recon,
+    transfer: transfer,
+    peerInfo: switch.peerInfo.toRemotePeerInfo(),
+    peerManager: peerManager,
+  )
+
+proc stop(node: FullNode) {.async.} =
+  await node.transfer.stop()
+  await node.recon.stop()
+  await node.switch.stop()
+
+proc insertMessage(node: FullNode, msg: WakuMessage) =
+  ## Live-ingest path: relay would archive the message and feed the
+  ## reconciliation storage (subscription_manager archive + sync handlers).
+  discard node.driver.put(DefaultPubsubTopic, @[msg])
+  node.recon.messageIngress(DefaultPubsubTopic, msg)
+
+proc hasMessage(node: FullNode, hash: WakuMessageHash): Future[bool] {.async.} =
+  var query = ArchiveQuery()
+  query.includeData = true
+  query.hashes = @[hash]
+
+  let response = (await node.archive.findMessages(query)).valueOr:
+    raiseAssert $error
+
+  return response.messages.len > 0
+
+suite "Waku Sync: full node miss recovery":
+  var nodeA {.threadvar.}: FullNode
+  var nodeB {.threadvar.}: FullNode
+
+  asyncSetup:
+    nodeA = await newFullNode()
+    nodeB = await newFullNode()
+
+    nodeA.peerManager.addPeer(nodeB.peerInfo)
+    nodeB.peerManager.addPeer(nodeA.peerInfo)
+
+  asyncTeardown:
+    await nodeA.stop()
+    await nodeB.stop()
+
+  asyncTest "node recovers a missed message from a full-node peer":
+    let msg = fakeWakuMessage(contentTopic = DefaultContentTopic)
+    let hash = computeMessageHash(DefaultPubsubTopic, msg)
+
+    nodeA.insertMessage(msg)
+
+    check not await nodeB.hasMessage(hash)
+
+    let res = await nodeB.recon.storeSynchronization(Opt.some(nodeA.peerInfo))
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
+    # transfer of the missing message happens asynchronously after the
+    # reconciliation session ends
+    await sleepAsync(1.seconds)
+
+    check await nodeB.hasMessage(hash)
+
+  asyncTest "one session converges both nodes to the union":
+    let msgA = fakeWakuMessage(payload = @[byte 1], contentTopic = DefaultContentTopic)
+    let msgB = fakeWakuMessage(payload = @[byte 2], contentTopic = DefaultContentTopic)
+    let hashA = computeMessageHash(DefaultPubsubTopic, msgA)
+    let hashB = computeMessageHash(DefaultPubsubTopic, msgB)
+
+    nodeA.insertMessage(msgA)
+    nodeB.insertMessage(msgB)
+
+    let res = await nodeB.recon.storeSynchronization(Opt.some(nodeA.peerInfo))
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
+    await sleepAsync(1.seconds)
+
+    check:
+      await nodeA.hasMessage(hashB)
+      await nodeB.hasMessage(hashA)
+
+  asyncTest "messages failing transfer validation are not archived":
+    await nodeB.stop()
+
+    let rejectAll: TransferValidator = proc(msg: WakuMessage): Future[bool] {.async.} =
+      return false
+
+    nodeB = await newFullNode(msgValidator = Opt.some(rejectAll))
+    nodeA.peerManager.addPeer(nodeB.peerInfo)
+    nodeB.peerManager.addPeer(nodeA.peerInfo)
+
+    let msg = fakeWakuMessage(contentTopic = DefaultContentTopic)
+    let hash = computeMessageHash(DefaultPubsubTopic, msg)
+
+    nodeA.insertMessage(msg)
+
+    let res = await nodeB.recon.storeSynchronization(Opt.some(nodeA.peerInfo))
+    assert res.isOk(), $res.error
+
+    await sleepAsync(1.seconds)
+
+    check not await nodeB.hasMessage(hash)
diff --git a/tests/waku_store_sync/test_startup_catchup.nim b/tests/waku_store_sync/test_startup_catchup.nim
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a837f3fbf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/waku_store_sync/test_startup_catchup.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+{.used.}
+
+import testutils/unittests, chronos
+import
+  ../../logos_delivery/waku/node/waku_node, ../../logos_delivery/waku/waku_core/time
+
+suite "Startup catch-up decision (store as a startup-only dependency)":
+  const SyncRange = 1800.seconds # 30 min window
+  let now = getNowInNanosecondTime()
+
+  test "gap within the sync window uses reconciliation":
+    let lastOnline = now - 300 * 1_000_000_000'i64 # 5 min ago
+
+    check useSyncCatchUp(true, lastOnline, now, SyncRange)
+
+  test "gap at the window boundary uses reconciliation":
+    let lastOnline = now - 1800 * 1_000_000_000'i64
+
+    check useSyncCatchUp(true, lastOnline, now, SyncRange)
+
+  test "gap beyond the sync window falls back to store resume":
+    let lastOnline = now - 2700 * 1_000_000_000'i64 # 45 min ago
+
+    check not useSyncCatchUp(true, lastOnline, now, SyncRange)
+
+  test "fresh start (no last-online record) falls back to store resume":
+    check not useSyncCatchUp(true, Timestamp(0), now, SyncRange)
+
+  test "without reconciliation mounted always falls back to store resume":
+    let lastOnline = now - 300 * 1_000_000_000'i64
+
+    check not useSyncCatchUp(false, lastOnline, now, SyncRange)
diff --git a/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_store.nim b/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_store.nim
index 74847bf9b..f7534be7b 100644
--- a/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_store.nim
+++ b/tests/wakunode_rest/test_rest_store.nim
@@ -673,6 +673,82 @@ procSuite "Waku Rest API - Store v3":
       $response.contentType == $MIMETYPE_JSON
       response.data.messages.len == 0
 
+  asyncTest "retrieve messages from an archive-only node (no store protocol)":
+    ## Store-sync standalone nodes carry an archive without mounting the
+    ## store protocol; REST self-queries must be served from the archive.
+
+    # Given
+    let node = testWakuNode()
+    await node.start()
+
+    var restPort = Port(0)
+    let restAddress = parseIpAddress("0.0.0.0")
+    let restServer = WakuRestServerRef.init(restAddress, restPort).tryGet()
+    restPort = restServer.httpServer.address.port # update with bound port for client use
+
+    installStoreApiHandlers(restServer.router, node)
+    restServer.start()
+
+    # Archive only, deliberately no mountStore
+    let driver: ArchiveDriver = QueueDriver.new()
+    let mountArchiveRes = node.mountArchive(driver)
+    assert mountArchiveRes.isOk(), mountArchiveRes.error
+
+    require node.wakuStore.isNil()
+
+    let msgList = @[
+      fakeWakuMessage(@[byte 0], ts = 0),
+      fakeWakuMessage(@[byte 1], ts = 1),
+      fakeWakuMessage(@[byte 2], ts = 2),
+      fakeWakuMessage(@[byte 3], ts = 3),
+      fakeWakuMessage(@[byte 4], ts = 4),
+    ]
+    for msg in msgList:
+      require (await driver.put(DefaultPubsubTopic, msg)).isOk()
+
+    let client = newRestHttpClient(initTAddress(restAddress, restPort))
+
+    # Self-query without a peer address is served from the archive
+    let response = await client.getStoreMessagesV3(
+      includeData = "true", pubsubTopic = encodeUrl(DefaultPubsubTopic)
+    )
+
+    check:
+      response.status == 200
+      $response.contentType == $MIMETYPE_JSON
+      response.data.messages.len == 5
+
+    # Cursor pagination works through the archive fallback
+    var received = newSeq[WakuMessage]()
+    var reqCursor = ""
+    for page in 0 ..< 3:
+      let resp = await client.getStoreMessagesV3(
+        includeData = "true",
+        pubsubTopic = encodeUrl(DefaultPubsubTopic),
+        cursor = reqCursor,
+        ascending = "true",
+        pageSize = "2",
+      )
+
+      check:
+        resp.status == 200
+        $resp.contentType == $MIMETYPE_JSON
+
+      for element in resp.data.messages:
+        if element.message.isSome():
+          received.add(element.message.get())
+
+      if resp.data.paginationCursor.isSome():
+        reqCursor = resp.data.paginationCursor.get()
+      else:
+        break
+
+    check received == msgList
+
+    await restServer.stop()
+    await restServer.closeWait()
+    await node.stop()
+
   asyncTest "correct message fields are returned":
     # Given
     let node = testWakuNode()
diff --git a/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim b/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
index 1774f1445..2a0fb5012 100644
--- a/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
+++ b/tools/confutils/cli_args.nim
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ import ./envvar as confEnvvarDefs, ./envvar_net as confEnvvarNet
 
 export
   confTomlDefs, confTomlNet, confEnvvarDefs, confEnvvarNet, ProtectedShard,
-  DefaultMaxWakuMessageSizeStr, DefaultAgentString
+  DefaultMaxWakuMessageSizeStr, DefaultAgentString, DefaultStoreSyncDbUrl
 
 logScope:
   topics = "waku cli args"
@@ -428,6 +428,14 @@ hence would have reachability issues.""",
       name: "store-sync-relay-jitter"
     .}: uint32
 
+    storeSyncDbUrl* {.
+      hidden,
+      desc:
+        "Database connection URL backing store sync when the store service is disabled.",
+      defaultValue: DefaultStoreSyncDbUrl,
+      name: "store-sync-db-url"
+    .}: string
+
     ## Filter config
     filter* {.
       desc: "Enable filter protocol: true|false", defaultValue: true, name: "filter"
@@ -1110,10 +1118,11 @@ proc toWakuConf*(n: WakuNodeConf): ConfResult[WakuConf] =
   if n.peerExchangeNode != "":
     b.withRemotePeerExchangeNode(n.peerExchangeNode)
 
-  b.storeServiceConf.storeSyncConf.withEnabled(n.storeSync)
-  b.storeServiceConf.storeSyncConf.withIntervalSec(n.storeSyncInterval)
-  b.storeServiceConf.storeSyncConf.withRangeSec(n.storeSyncRange)
-  b.storeServiceConf.storeSyncConf.withRelayJitterSec(n.storeSyncRelayJitter)
+  b.storeSyncConf.withEnabled(n.storeSync)
+  b.storeSyncConf.withIntervalSec(n.storeSyncInterval)
+  b.storeSyncConf.withRangeSec(n.storeSyncRange)
+  b.storeSyncConf.withRelayJitterSec(n.storeSyncRelayJitter)
+  b.storeSyncConf.withDbUrl(n.storeSyncDbUrl)
 
   if n.mix.isSome():
     b.mixConf.withEnabled(n.mix.get())