diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_filter/index.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_filter/index.ts
index a2f9c3c7d6..e09b9249ea 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_filter/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_filter/index.ts
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import type { Peer } from "@libp2p/interface-peer-store";
 import type { IncomingStreamData } from "@libp2p/interface-registrar";
 import type {
   Callback,
+  DecodedMessage,
   Decoder,
   Filter,
   Message,
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ export class WakuFilter implements Filter {
    * @param opts The FilterSubscriptionOpts used to narrow which messages are returned, and which peer to connect to.
    * @returns Unsubscribe function that can be used to end the subscription.
    */
-  async subscribe<T extends Message>(
+  async subscribe<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     callback: Callback<T>,
     opts?: ProtocolOptions
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ export class WakuFilter implements Filter {
     this.subscriptions.delete(requestId);
   }
 
-  private addDecoders<T extends Message>(
+  private addDecoders<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Map<string, Array<Decoder<T>>>
   ): void {
     decoders.forEach((decoders, contentTopic) => {
@@ -224,7 +225,7 @@ export class WakuFilter implements Filter {
     });
   }
 
-  private deleteDecoders<T extends Message>(
+  private deleteDecoders<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Map<string, Array<Decoder<T>>>
   ): void {
     decoders.forEach((decoders, contentTopic) => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_message/version_0.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_message/version_0.ts
index ac3dfd379a..ea2c1a3cbe 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_message/version_0.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_message/version_0.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import type {
+  DecodedMessage,
   Decoder,
   Encoder,
   Message,
@@ -15,7 +16,7 @@ const OneMillion = BigInt(1_000_000);
 export const Version = 0;
 export { proto };
 
-export class MessageV0 implements Message {
+export class MessageV0 implements DecodedMessage {
   constructor(protected proto: proto.WakuMessage) {}
 
   get _rawPayload(): Uint8Array | undefined {
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ export class EncoderV0 implements Encoder {
     return {
       payload: message.payload,
       version: Version,
-      contentTopic: message.contentTopic ?? this.contentTopic,
+      contentTopic: this.contentTopic,
       timestamp: BigInt(timestamp.valueOf()) * OneMillion,
       rateLimitProof: message.rateLimitProof,
     };
diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_relay/index.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_relay/index.ts
index 420bf10cbe..eb83314c2e 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_relay/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_relay/index.ts
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import type {
   Relay,
   SendResult,
 } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import { DecodedMessage } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import debug from "debug";
 
 import { DefaultPubSubTopic } from "../constants";
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ import * as constants from "./constants";
 
 const log = debug("waku:relay");
 
-export type Observer<T extends Message> = {
+export type Observer<T extends DecodedMessage> = {
   decoder: Decoder<T>;
   callback: Callback<T>;
 };
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ export type CreateOptions = {
  */
 export class WakuRelay extends GossipSub implements Relay {
   pubSubTopic: string;
-  defaultDecoder: Decoder<Message>;
+  defaultDecoder: Decoder<DecodedMessage>;
   public static multicodec: string = constants.RelayCodecs[0];
 
   /**
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ export class WakuRelay extends GossipSub implements Relay {
    *
    * @returns Function to delete the observer
    */
-  addObserver<T extends Message>(
+  addObserver<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoder: Decoder<T>,
     callback: Callback<T>
   ): () => void {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_store/index.ts b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_store/index.ts
index 9f02bec8dd..6bef492059 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/lib/waku_store/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/lib/waku_store/index.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { Connection } from "@libp2p/interface-connection";
 import type { PeerId } from "@libp2p/interface-peer-id";
 import { Peer } from "@libp2p/interface-peer-store";
-import { Decoder, Message } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import { DecodedMessage, Decoder } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import debug from "debug";
 import all from "it-all";
 import * as lp from "it-length-prefixed";
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export class WakuStore {
    * or if an error is encountered when processing the reply,
    * or if two decoders with the same content topic are passed.
    */
-  async queryOrderedCallback<T extends Message>(
+  async queryOrderedCallback<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     callback: (message: T) => Promise<void | boolean> | boolean | void,
     options?: QueryOptions
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ export class WakuStore {
    * or if an error is encountered when processing the reply,
    * or if two decoders with the same content topic are passed.
    */
-  async queryCallbackOnPromise<T extends Message>(
+  async queryCallbackOnPromise<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     callback: (
       message: Promise<T | undefined>
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ export class WakuStore {
    * or if an error is encountered when processing the reply,
    * or if two decoders with the same content topic are passed.
    */
-  async *queryGenerator<T extends Message>(
+  async *queryGenerator<T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     options?: QueryOptions
   ): AsyncGenerator<Promise<T | undefined>[]> {
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ export class WakuStore {
   }
 }
 
-async function* paginate<T extends Message>(
+async function* paginate<T extends DecodedMessage>(
   connection: Connection,
   protocol: string,
   queryOpts: Params,
diff --git a/packages/interfaces/src/index.ts b/packages/interfaces/src/index.ts
index f95555a6aa..5551483137 100644
--- a/packages/interfaces/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/interfaces/src/index.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export type ProtocolOptions = {
 export type Callback<T extends Message> = (msg: T) => void | Promise<void>;
 
 export interface Filter extends PointToPointProtocol {
-  subscribe: <T extends Message>(
+  subscribe: <T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     callback: Callback<T>,
     opts?: ProtocolOptions
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export interface Filter extends PointToPointProtocol {
 export interface LightPush extends PointToPointProtocol {
   push: (
     encoder: Encoder,
-    message: Partial<Message>,
+    message: Message,
     opts?: ProtocolOptions
   ) => Promise<SendResult>;
 }
@@ -76,27 +76,27 @@ export type StoreQueryOptions = {
 } & ProtocolOptions;
 
 export interface Store extends PointToPointProtocol {
-  queryOrderedCallback: <T extends Message>(
+  queryOrderedCallback: <T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     callback: (message: T) => Promise<void | boolean> | boolean | void,
     options?: StoreQueryOptions
   ) => Promise<void>;
-  queryCallbackOnPromise: <T extends Message>(
+  queryCallbackOnPromise: <T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     callback: (
       message: Promise<T | undefined>
     ) => Promise<void | boolean> | boolean | void,
     options?: StoreQueryOptions
   ) => Promise<void>;
-  queryGenerator: <T extends Message>(
+  queryGenerator: <T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoders: Decoder<T>[],
     options?: StoreQueryOptions
   ) => AsyncGenerator<Promise<T | undefined>[]>;
 }
 
 export interface Relay extends GossipSub {
-  send: (encoder: Encoder, message: Partial<Message>) => Promise<SendResult>;
-  addObserver: <T extends Message>(
+  send: (encoder: Encoder, message: Message) => Promise<SendResult>;
+  addObserver: <T extends DecodedMessage>(
     decoder: Decoder<T>,
     callback: Callback<T>
   ) => () => void;
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ export interface RateLimitProof {
   rlnIdentifier: Uint8Array;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Interface matching the protobuf library.
+ * Field types matches the protobuf type over the wire
+ */
 export interface ProtoMessage {
   payload: Uint8Array | undefined;
   contentTopic: string | undefined;
@@ -163,20 +167,29 @@ export interface ProtoMessage {
   rateLimitProof: RateLimitProof | undefined;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Interface for messages to encode and send.
+ */
 export interface Message {
+  payload?: Uint8Array;
+  timestamp?: Date;
+  rateLimitProof?: RateLimitProof;
+}
+
+export interface Encoder {
+  contentTopic: string;
+  toWire: (message: Message) => Promise<Uint8Array | undefined>;
+  toProtoObj: (message: Message) => Promise<ProtoMessage | undefined>;
+}
+
+export interface DecodedMessage {
   payload: Uint8Array | undefined;
   contentTopic: string | undefined;
   timestamp: Date | undefined;
   rateLimitProof: RateLimitProof | undefined;
 }
 
-export interface Encoder {
-  contentTopic: string;
-  toWire: (message: Partial<Message>) => Promise<Uint8Array | undefined>;
-  toProtoObj: (message: Partial<Message>) => Promise<ProtoMessage | undefined>;
-}
-
-export interface Decoder<T extends Message> {
+export interface Decoder<T extends DecodedMessage> {
   contentTopic: string;
   fromWireToProtoObj: (bytes: Uint8Array) => Promise<ProtoMessage | undefined>;
   fromProtoObj: (proto: ProtoMessage) => Promise<T | undefined>;
diff --git a/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts b/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts
index feb42d6115..ec84603f72 100644
--- a/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,13 @@ import {
   MessageV0,
   proto,
 } from "@waku/core/lib/waku_message/version_0";
-import type { Decoder, Encoder, Message, ProtoMessage } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import type {
+  DecodedMessage,
+  Decoder,
+  Encoder,
+  Message,
+  ProtoMessage,
+} from "@waku/interfaces";
 import debug from "debug";
 
 import { Symmetric } from "./constants.js";
@@ -38,7 +44,7 @@ export type Signature = {
   publicKey: Uint8Array | undefined;
 };
 
-export class MessageV1 extends MessageV0 implements Message {
+export class MessageV1 extends MessageV0 implements DecodedMessage {
   private readonly _decodedPayload: Uint8Array;
 
   constructor(
diff --git a/packages/tests/tests/filter.node.spec.ts b/packages/tests/tests/filter.node.spec.ts
index b5298d59de..01e29b6ce6 100644
--- a/packages/tests/tests/filter.node.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/tests/filter.node.spec.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { bytesToUtf8, utf8ToBytes } from "@waku/byte-utils";
 import { waitForRemotePeer } from "@waku/core/lib/wait_for_remote_peer";
 import { DecoderV0, EncoderV0 } from "@waku/core/lib/waku_message/version_0";
 import { createFullNode } from "@waku/create";
-import type { Message, WakuFull } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import type { DecodedMessage, WakuFull } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { Protocols } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { expect } from "chai";
 import debug from "debug";
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ describe("Waku Filter", () => {
     const messageText = "Filtering works!";
     const message = { payload: utf8ToBytes(messageText) };
 
-    const callback = (msg: Message): void => {
+    const callback = (msg: DecodedMessage): void => {
       log("Got a message");
       messageCount++;
       expect(msg.contentTopic).to.eq(TestContentTopic);
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ describe("Waku Filter", () => {
     this.timeout(10000);
 
     let messageCount = 0;
-    const callback = (msg: Message): void => {
+    const callback = (msg: DecodedMessage): void => {
       messageCount++;
       expect(msg.contentTopic).to.eq(TestContentTopic);
     };
diff --git a/packages/tests/tests/relay.node.spec.ts b/packages/tests/tests/relay.node.spec.ts
index 2ed42b7e13..babd43d204 100644
--- a/packages/tests/tests/relay.node.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/tests/relay.node.spec.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import {
   MessageV0,
 } from "@waku/core/lib/waku_message/version_0";
 import { createPrivacyNode } from "@waku/create";
-import type { Message, WakuPrivacy } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import type { DecodedMessage, WakuPrivacy } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { Protocols } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import {
   AsymDecoder,
@@ -118,9 +118,11 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
         timestamp: messageTimestamp,
       };
 
-      const receivedMsgPromise: Promise<Message> = new Promise((resolve) => {
-        waku2.relay.addObserver(TestDecoder, resolve);
-      });
+      const receivedMsgPromise: Promise<DecodedMessage> = new Promise(
+        (resolve) => {
+          waku2.relay.addObserver(TestDecoder, resolve);
+        }
+      );
 
       await waku1.relay.send(TestEncoder, message);
 
@@ -148,12 +150,12 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
       const fooDecoder = new DecoderV0(fooContentTopic);
       const barDecoder = new DecoderV0(barContentTopic);
 
-      const fooMessages: Message[] = [];
+      const fooMessages: DecodedMessage[] = [];
       waku2.relay.addObserver(fooDecoder, (msg) => {
         fooMessages.push(msg);
       });
 
-      const barMessages: Message[] = [];
+      const barMessages: DecodedMessage[] = [];
       waku2.relay.addObserver(barDecoder, (msg) => {
         barMessages.push(msg);
       });
@@ -197,7 +199,7 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
       const asymDecoder = new AsymDecoder(asymTopic, privateKey);
       const symDecoder = new SymDecoder(symTopic, symKey);
 
-      const msgs: Message[] = [];
+      const msgs: DecodedMessage[] = [];
       waku2.relay.addObserver(asymDecoder, (wakuMsg) => {
         msgs.push(wakuMsg);
       });
@@ -228,7 +230,7 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
       const contentTopic = "added-then-deleted-observer";
 
       // The promise **fails** if we receive a message on this observer.
-      const receivedMsgPromise: Promise<Message> = new Promise(
+      const receivedMsgPromise: Promise<DecodedMessage> = new Promise(
         (resolve, reject) => {
           const deleteObserver = waku2.relay.addObserver(
             new DecoderV0(contentTopic),
@@ -304,7 +306,7 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
 
       const messageText = "Communicating using a custom pubsub topic";
 
-      const waku2ReceivedMsgPromise: Promise<Message> = new Promise(
+      const waku2ReceivedMsgPromise: Promise<DecodedMessage> = new Promise(
         (resolve) => {
           waku2.relay.addObserver(TestDecoder, resolve);
         }
@@ -312,7 +314,7 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
 
       // The promise **fails** if we receive a message on the default
       // pubsub topic.
-      const waku3NoMsgPromise: Promise<Message> = new Promise(
+      const waku3NoMsgPromise: Promise<DecodedMessage> = new Promise(
         (resolve, reject) => {
           waku3.relay.addObserver(TestDecoder, reject);
           setTimeout(resolve, 1000);
@@ -466,7 +468,7 @@ describe("Waku Relay [node only]", () => {
         const msgStr = "Hello there!";
         const message = { payload: utf8ToBytes(msgStr) };
 
-        const waku2ReceivedMsgPromise: Promise<Message> = new Promise(
+        const waku2ReceivedMsgPromise: Promise<DecodedMessage> = new Promise(
           (resolve) => {
             waku2.relay.addObserver(TestDecoder, resolve);
           }
diff --git a/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts b/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts
index 9c3965c6fb..3fb2ea024e 100644
--- a/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,12 @@ import { bytesToUtf8, utf8ToBytes } from "@waku/byte-utils";
 import { PeerDiscoveryStaticPeers } from "@waku/core/lib/peer_discovery_static_list";
 import { waitForRemotePeer } from "@waku/core/lib/wait_for_remote_peer";
 import { createLightNode, createPrivacyNode } from "@waku/create";
-import type { Message, Waku, WakuLight, WakuPrivacy } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import type {
+  DecodedMessage,
+  Waku,
+  WakuLight,
+  WakuPrivacy,
+} from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { Protocols } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import {
   generateSymmetricKey,
@@ -175,9 +180,11 @@ describe("Decryption Keys", () => {
       timestamp: messageTimestamp,
     };
 
-    const receivedMsgPromise: Promise<Message> = new Promise((resolve) => {
-      waku2.relay.addObserver(decoder, resolve);
-    });
+    const receivedMsgPromise: Promise<DecodedMessage> = new Promise(
+      (resolve) => {
+        waku2.relay.addObserver(decoder, resolve);
+      }
+    );
 
     await waku1.relay.send(encoder, message);