diff --git a/src/api/mod.rs b/src/api/mod.rs
index 338b97a..1b19eb1 100644
--- a/src/api/mod.rs
+++ b/src/api/mod.rs
@@ -13,5 +13,6 @@ pub mod premium;
 pub mod prices;
 pub mod tips;
 pub mod users;
+pub mod verify;
 pub mod wallet;
 pub mod website;
diff --git a/src/api/verify.rs b/src/api/verify.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ca3d366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/api/verify.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,407 @@
+//! Delegated settlement verification for peer instances (moon.vote).
+//!
+//! `POST /api/v1/verify` — the server side of moon.vote's delegated settlement
+//! check. A peer instance asks this backend to confirm that a SPECIFIC on-chain
+//! transaction (`tx_ref`) paid at least `amount` base units to `dest_address` on
+//! the named coin, confirmed to this backend's per-asset depth. It verifies the
+//! named tx (mirroring the wallet's own `UtxoEsplora`/LWS semantics), not the
+//! aggregate funding of an address.
+//!
+//! UNAUTHENTICATED: the moon.vote client sends no bearer token, so this handler
+//! deliberately does NOT call `extract_user_id_from_token`. Exposure is contained
+//! at deploy time by an nginx allow-list to moon.vote's mesh IP; there is no code
+//! auth here on purpose (adding one would reject the fixed peer client).
+//!
+//! Response discipline: EVERY business outcome — including a failed check — is a
+//! `200 OK` carrying `{verified, sender, amount, reason}`, where `reason` is drawn
+//! from the fixed vocabulary in [`reason`] that the moon.vote client maps to typed
+//! errors. Only an INFRASTRUCTURE failure (chain disabled, node/LWS unreachable)
+//! returns a non-2xx [`AppError`]; moon.vote treats non-2xx as a retryable backend
+//! error, so a node being down must never surface as a false `{verified:false}`.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use axum::{extract::State, routing::post, Json, Router};
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use tracing::{instrument, warn};
+
+use crate::api::wallet::{validate_cn_address, validate_hex, validate_view_key};
+use crate::error::AppError;
+use crate::infra::electrum::ElectrumClient;
+use crate::infra::lws::LwsClient;
+use crate::models::tip_status::confirmations_for_asset;
+use crate::AppState;
+
+/// The fixed `reason` vocabulary shared with the moon.vote client, which maps
+/// each string to a typed error; ANY other string degrades to a generic error
+/// there, so these MUST stay exact. `WRONG_SENDER` / `REF_MISMATCH` are part of
+/// the shared contract but are not produced by the UTXO / CryptoNote paths here
+/// (both report `sender: null` and do not gate on `ref_id`); kept for fidelity.
+mod reason {
+    pub const NOT_FOUND: &str = "not_found";
+    pub const NOT_CONFIRMED: &str = "not_confirmed";
+    pub const AMOUNT_TOO_LOW: &str = "amount_too_low";
+    pub const DESTINATION_MISMATCH: &str = "destination_mismatch";
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    pub const WRONG_SENDER: &str = "wrong_sender";
+    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    pub const REF_MISMATCH: &str = "ref_mismatch";
+}
+
+// ── DTOs ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/// A delegated verification request. This is moon.vote's FIXED wire shape — do
+/// not rename or reshape these fields.
+//
+// Deliberately omits `Debug`: it carries the optional private `view_key`
+// (CryptoNote scan credential), matching the secret-bearing-request convention
+// in [`crate::api::wallet::xmr_wow`] so it can't be dumped via a stray `{:?}`.
+//
+// `#[allow(dead_code)]`: several fields (`network`, `destination`,
+// `expected_sender`, `ref_id`) are part of the fixed contract but are not
+// consumed by the families implemented here — the payment target is fully
+// specified by `dest_address` — so they are accepted for fidelity, not read.
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+#[allow(dead_code)]
+pub struct VerifyRequest {
+    /// Coin slug (`btc`/`ltc`/`xmr`/`wow`); selects the chain client.
+    pub coin: String,
+    /// Settlement family: `utxo` | `cryptonote` | `grin` (lowercase).
+    pub family: String,
+    /// Network label (e.g. `btc-mainnet`); informational.
+    pub network: String,
+    /// Transaction id to verify (hex).
+    pub tx_ref: String,
+    /// Expected amount in BASE UNITS as a decimal string (satoshis for BTC/LTC,
+    /// piconero/wownoshi for XMR/WOW).
+    pub amount: String,
+    /// `burn` | `pay_operator` | `pay_recipient`; the concrete target is
+    /// `dest_address`.
+    pub destination: String,
+    /// Address the payment must have gone to. May be null.
+    pub dest_address: Option<String>,
+    /// Expected sender address, or empty string when unconstrained.
+    pub expected_sender: String,
+    /// Optional 64-hex settlement reference id.
+    pub ref_id: Option<String>,
+    /// Private view key (CryptoNote scan credential). REQUIRED to verify
+    /// `xmr`/`wow`; absent for UTXO. Forwarded to the LWS; never stored or logged.
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub view_key: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// The verification outcome. On success `amount` is the observed base units and
+/// `reason` is omitted; on a business failure only `reason` is set (from
+/// [`reason`]). Absent optionals are omitted from the JSON.
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize)]
+pub struct VerifyResponse {
+    pub verified: bool,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub sender: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub amount: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(skip_serializing_if = "Option::is_none")]
+    pub reason: Option<String>,
+}
+
+impl VerifyResponse {
+    /// A verified payment: observed base units + optional sender (UTXO/CryptoNote
+    /// carry no single sender, so they pass `None`).
+    fn verified(amount: u64, sender: Option<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            verified: true,
+            sender,
+            amount: Some(amount.to_string()),
+            reason: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A business failure carrying one of the fixed [`reason`] strings.
+    fn failed(reason: &'static str) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            verified: false,
+            sender: None,
+            amount: None,
+            reason: Some(reason.to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// ── chain-client resolution (mirrors `electrum_for` / `lws_for`) ──────────────
+
+/// Resolve the Electrum client for a UTXO coin, or a validation error when the
+/// coin is unknown or not enabled on this instance.
+fn electrum_for<'a>(state: &'a AppState, coin: &str) -> Result<&'a ElectrumClient, AppError> {
+    let client = match coin {
+        "btc" => state.chains.btc.as_ref(),
+        "ltc" => state.chains.ltc.as_ref(),
+        other => {
+            return Err(AppError::ValidationError(format!(
+                "Invalid UTXO coin: {other} (expected btc or ltc)"
+            )))
+        }
+    };
+    client.ok_or_else(|| AppError::ValidationError(format!("{coin} not enabled")))
+}
+
+/// Resolve the LWS client for a CryptoNote coin, or a validation error when the
+/// coin is unknown or not enabled on this instance.
+fn lws_for<'a>(state: &'a AppState, coin: &str) -> Result<&'a LwsClient, AppError> {
+    let client = match coin {
+        "xmr" => state.chains.xmr.as_ref(),
+        "wow" => state.chains.wow.as_ref(),
+        other => {
+            return Err(AppError::ValidationError(format!(
+                "Invalid CryptoNote coin: {other} (expected xmr or wow)"
+            )))
+        }
+    };
+    client.ok_or_else(|| AppError::ValidationError(format!("{coin} not enabled")))
+}
+
+/// Pure amount decision for a UTXO payment to the destination. `0` received means
+/// the tx did not pay the destination at all (`destination_mismatch`); a positive
+/// receipt below `expected` is `amount_too_low`; otherwise the observed amount is
+/// returned. Split out so it is unit-testable without a live server.
+fn utxo_amount_outcome(paid_to_dest: u64, expected: u64) -> Result<u64, &'static str> {
+    if paid_to_dest == 0 {
+        Err(reason::DESTINATION_MISMATCH)
+    } else if paid_to_dest < expected {
+        Err(reason::AMOUNT_TOO_LOW)
+    } else {
+        Ok(paid_to_dest)
+    }
+}
+
+// ── per-family verification ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/// Verify a BTC/LTC payment named by `tx_ref` to `dest_address`.
+///
+/// `get_transaction_verbose` maps an unknown tx and a node outage to the SAME
+/// `NodeError`, so it cannot cleanly distinguish "the tx did not pay this
+/// address" from "the node is down". We therefore consult the server's per-address
+/// index first: `get_history(dest_address)` and look for `tx_ref`. Absent ⇒
+/// `not_found` (a business outcome). Present but unconfirmed (`height <= 0`) ⇒
+/// `not_confirmed`. Only then do we decode the tx to attribute the exact amount
+/// paid to the destination. Any node/index error propagates as a non-2xx.
+async fn verify_utxo(
+    state: &AppState,
+    coin: &str,
+    req: &VerifyRequest,
+    expected: u64,
+) -> Result<VerifyResponse, AppError> {
+    let electrum = electrum_for(state, coin)?;
+
+    let Some(dest_address) = req.dest_address.as_deref() else {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::DESTINATION_MISMATCH));
+    };
+    validate_hex(&req.tx_ref, "tx_ref", 64)?;
+
+    // Per-address index first: it distinguishes "did not pay this address" from a
+    // node error, which the verbose-tx fetch alone cannot.
+    let history = electrum.get_history(dest_address).await?;
+    let Some(entry) = history.iter().find(|e| e.tx_hash == req.tx_ref) else {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_FOUND));
+    };
+    // Confirmed = in a block (`height > 0`); `0`/negative is mempool.
+    if entry.height <= 0 {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_CONFIRMED));
+    }
+
+    let tx = electrum.get_transaction_verbose(&req.tx_ref).await?;
+    // Result-returning: a hostile/non-finite amount errors (non-2xx) rather than
+    // silently coercing — never a false verify.
+    let paid_to_dest = tx.total_received_at(dest_address)?;
+
+    match utxo_amount_outcome(paid_to_dest, expected) {
+        // UTXO has no single sender.
+        Ok(observed) => Ok(VerifyResponse::verified(observed, None)),
+        Err(r) => Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(r)),
+    }
+}
+
+/// Verify an XMR/WOW payment named by `tx_ref` to `dest_address`.
+///
+/// Monero/Wownero are address + view-key SCAN (not txid lookup), so a private
+/// view key is required; without it we cannot see the payment and return
+/// `not_found` (never a 500). We scan the destination's txs, match `tx_ref`, and
+/// require it be in a block AND confirmed to this coin's depth before comparing
+/// the received amount.
+async fn verify_cryptonote(
+    state: &AppState,
+    coin: &str,
+    req: &VerifyRequest,
+    expected: u64,
+) -> Result<VerifyResponse, AppError> {
+    let lws = lws_for(state, coin)?;
+
+    let Some(view_key) = req.view_key.as_deref() else {
+        warn!(
+            %coin,
+            "cryptonote verify requires a private view_key to scan the destination; none supplied — reporting not_found",
+        );
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_FOUND));
+    };
+    let Some(dest_address) = req.dest_address.as_deref() else {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::DESTINATION_MISMATCH));
+    };
+    validate_hex(&req.tx_ref, "tx_ref", 64)?;
+    validate_view_key(view_key)?;
+    validate_cn_address(dest_address)?;
+
+    let txs = lws.get_address_txs(dest_address, view_key).await?;
+    let Some(tx) = txs.transactions.iter().find(|t| t.hash == req.tx_ref) else {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_FOUND));
+    };
+    if tx.mempool || tx.height == 0 {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_CONFIRMED));
+    }
+
+    // Confirmation depth from the daemon (XMR 10, WOW 4). None / below threshold
+    // ⇒ not yet confirmed.
+    let needed = confirmations_for_asset(coin).max(0) as u64;
+    match lws.get_transaction_confirmations(&req.tx_ref).await? {
+        Some(n) if n >= needed => {}
+        _ => return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_CONFIRMED)),
+    }
+
+    if tx.total_received < expected {
+        return Ok(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::AMOUNT_TOO_LOW));
+    }
+    // CryptoNote receipts carry no single sender.
+    Ok(VerifyResponse::verified(tx.total_received, None))
+}
+
+// ── handler ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/// Delegated settlement verification. UNAUTHENTICATED (see module docs); network-
+/// restricted at deploy time.
+#[instrument(
+    skip_all,
+    fields(coin = %req.coin, family = %req.family, network = %req.network)
+)]
+pub async fn verify_handler(
+    State(state): State<Arc<AppState>>,
+    Json(req): Json<VerifyRequest>,
+) -> Result<Json<VerifyResponse>, AppError> {
+    let coin = req.coin.to_lowercase();
+    let family = req.family.to_lowercase();
+
+    // Base units are integers; a malformed amount is a client error, not a
+    // business outcome.
+    let expected: u64 = req
+        .amount
+        .parse()
+        .map_err(|_| AppError::ValidationError("amount must be a base-unit integer".into()))?;
+
+    let resp = match family.as_str() {
+        "utxo" => verify_utxo(&state, &coin, &req, expected).await?,
+        "cryptonote" => verify_cryptonote(&state, &coin, &req, expected).await?,
+        "grin" => {
+            warn!(%coin, "grin verify not yet implemented — reporting not_found");
+            VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_FOUND)
+        }
+        other => {
+            return Err(AppError::ValidationError(format!(
+                "unknown settlement family: {other}"
+            )))
+        }
+    };
+    Ok(Json(resp))
+}
+
+// ── router ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/// The verify route, RELATIVE to the `/api/v1` mount point.
+pub fn routes() -> Router<Arc<AppState>> {
+    Router::new().route("/verify", post(verify_handler))
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn utxo_amount_outcome_maps_to_reasons() {
+        // Zero received = the tx did not pay the destination.
+        assert_eq!(
+            utxo_amount_outcome(0, 100),
+            Err(reason::DESTINATION_MISMATCH)
+        );
+        // Positive but short.
+        assert_eq!(utxo_amount_outcome(99, 100), Err(reason::AMOUNT_TOO_LOW));
+        // Exact and over both verify, echoing the observed amount.
+        assert_eq!(utxo_amount_outcome(100, 100), Ok(100));
+        assert_eq!(utxo_amount_outcome(250, 100), Ok(250));
+        // A zero expectation still requires a non-zero receipt to the address.
+        assert_eq!(utxo_amount_outcome(0, 0), Err(reason::DESTINATION_MISMATCH));
+        assert_eq!(utxo_amount_outcome(1, 0), Ok(1));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn success_response_shape() {
+        // Verified with no sender: only verified + amount are present.
+        let v = serde_json::to_value(VerifyResponse::verified(12345, None)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(v["verified"], serde_json::json!(true));
+        assert_eq!(v["amount"], serde_json::json!("12345"));
+        assert!(v.get("sender").is_none(), "sender omitted when None");
+        assert!(v.get("reason").is_none(), "no reason on success");
+
+        // Verified with a sender includes it.
+        let v = serde_json::to_value(VerifyResponse::verified(1, Some("addr".into()))).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(v["sender"], serde_json::json!("addr"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn failure_response_shape() {
+        let v = serde_json::to_value(VerifyResponse::failed(reason::NOT_FOUND)).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(v["verified"], serde_json::json!(false));
+        assert_eq!(v["reason"], serde_json::json!("not_found"));
+        assert!(v.get("amount").is_none(), "no amount on failure");
+        assert!(v.get("sender").is_none(), "no sender on failure");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn reason_vocabulary_is_exact() {
+        // The moon.vote client maps these exact strings to typed errors.
+        assert_eq!(reason::NOT_FOUND, "not_found");
+        assert_eq!(reason::NOT_CONFIRMED, "not_confirmed");
+        assert_eq!(reason::AMOUNT_TOO_LOW, "amount_too_low");
+        assert_eq!(reason::DESTINATION_MISMATCH, "destination_mismatch");
+        assert_eq!(reason::WRONG_SENDER, "wrong_sender");
+        assert_eq!(reason::REF_MISMATCH, "ref_mismatch");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn request_deserializes_moonvote_wire_shape() {
+        // The exact UTXO request the fixed client sends (no view_key).
+        let req: VerifyRequest = serde_json::from_str(
+            r#"{
+                "coin":"btc","family":"utxo","network":"btc-mainnet",
+                "tx_ref":"deadbeef","amount":"1000","destination":"pay_operator",
+                "dest_address":"bc1qexample","expected_sender":"","ref_id":null
+            }"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(req.coin, "btc");
+        assert_eq!(req.family, "utxo");
+        assert_eq!(req.amount, "1000");
+        assert_eq!(req.dest_address.as_deref(), Some("bc1qexample"));
+        assert!(
+            req.view_key.is_none(),
+            "view_key defaults to None when absent"
+        );
+
+        // The later CryptoNote shape carries an optional view_key.
+        let req: VerifyRequest = serde_json::from_str(
+            r#"{
+                "coin":"xmr","family":"cryptonote","network":"xmr-mainnet",
+                "tx_ref":"abcd","amount":"42","destination":"pay_recipient",
+                "dest_address":"4Aexample","expected_sender":"","ref_id":null,
+                "view_key":"0f"
+            }"#,
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(req.view_key.as_deref(), Some("0f"));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 5a773c6..b42e509 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ pub fn build_router(state: Arc<AppState>) -> Router {
                 .merge(api::erasure::routes())
                 .merge(api::premium::routes())
                 .merge(api::tips::routes())
+                .merge(api::verify::routes())
                 .layer(normal),
         );