diff --git a/packages/interfaces/src/filter.ts b/packages/interfaces/src/filter.ts
index cf383fcf4e..279bc5870a 100644
--- a/packages/interfaces/src/filter.ts
+++ b/packages/interfaces/src/filter.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
-import type { IDecodedMessage, IDecoder } from "./message.js";
-import type { Callback } from "./protocols.js";
+import type { IDecodedMessage } from "./message.js";
+import { ContentTopic } from "./misc.js";
+import { IRoutingInfo } from "./sharding.js";
 
 export type IFilter = {
   readonly multicodec: string;
@@ -38,9 +39,10 @@ export type IFilter = {
    *   console.error("Failed to subscribe");
    * }
    */
-  subscribe<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoders: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[],
-    callback: Callback<T>
+  subscribe(
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo,
+    callback: (msg: IDecodedMessage) => void | Promise<void>
   ): Promise<boolean>;
 
   /**
@@ -64,8 +66,9 @@ export type IFilter = {
    *   console.error("Failed to unsubscribe");
    * }
    */
-  unsubscribe<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoders: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[]
+  unsubscribe(
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo
   ): Promise<boolean>;
 
   /**
diff --git a/packages/interfaces/src/message.ts b/packages/interfaces/src/message.ts
index caecb73aec..36b6bf67bc 100644
--- a/packages/interfaces/src/message.ts
+++ b/packages/interfaces/src/message.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ export interface IEncoder {
 export interface IDecoder<T extends IDecodedMessage> {
   contentTopic: string;
   pubsubTopic: PubsubTopic;
+  routingInfo: IRoutingInfo;
   fromWireToProtoObj: (bytes: Uint8Array) => Promise<IProtoMessage | undefined>;
   fromProtoObj: (
     pubsubTopic: string,
diff --git a/packages/interfaces/src/waku.ts b/packages/interfaces/src/waku.ts
index 71914755f7..9ffe536d25 100644
--- a/packages/interfaces/src/waku.ts
+++ b/packages/interfaces/src/waku.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import type { HealthStatus } from "./health_status.js";
 import type { Libp2p } from "./libp2p.js";
 import type { ILightPush } from "./light_push.js";
 import { IDecodedMessage, IDecoder, IEncoder } from "./message.js";
+import { ContentTopic } from "./misc.js";
 import type { Protocols } from "./protocols.js";
 import type { IRelay } from "./relay.js";
 import type { ShardId } from "./sharding.js";
@@ -54,7 +55,12 @@ export interface IWakuEvents {
   [WakuEvent.Health]: CustomEvent<HealthStatus>;
 }
 
+export interface IMessageEmitterEvents {
+  [contentTopic: string]: CustomEvent<Uint8Array>;
+}
+
 export type IWakuEventEmitter = TypedEventEmitter<IWakuEvents>;
+export type IMessageEmitter = TypedEventEmitter<IMessageEmitterEvents>;
 
 export interface IWaku {
   libp2p: Libp2p;
@@ -78,6 +84,20 @@ export interface IWaku {
    */
   events: IWakuEventEmitter;
 
+  /**
+   * Emits messages on their content topic. Messages may be coming from subscriptions
+   * or store queries (TODO). The payload is directly emitted
+   *
+   * @example
+   * ```typescript
+   * waku.messageEmitter.addEventListener("/some/0/content-topic/proto", (event) => {
+   *  const payload: UInt8Array = event.detail
+   *   MyDecoder.decode(payload);
+   * });
+   * ```
+   */
+  messageEmitter: IMessageEmitter;
+
   /**
    * Returns a unique identifier for a node on the network.
    *
@@ -251,6 +271,8 @@ export interface IWaku {
    */
   createEncoder(params: CreateEncoderParams): IEncoder;
 
+  subscribe(contentTopics: ContentTopic[]): Promise<void>;
+
   /**
    * @returns {boolean} `true` if the node was started and `false` otherwise
    */
diff --git a/packages/message-encryption/src/crypto/utils.ts b/packages/message-encryption/src/crypto/utils.ts
index fd57811bd4..15e9ed4b08 100644
--- a/packages/message-encryption/src/crypto/utils.ts
+++ b/packages/message-encryption/src/crypto/utils.ts
@@ -74,3 +74,32 @@ export async function sign(
 export function keccak256(input: Uint8Array): Uint8Array {
   return new Uint8Array(sha3.keccak256.arrayBuffer(input));
 }
+
+/**
+ * Compare two public keys, can be used to verify that a given signature matches
+ * expectations.
+ *
+ * @param publicKeyA - The first public key to compare
+ * @param publicKeyB - The second public key to compare
+ * @returns true if the public keys are the same
+ */
+export function comparePublicKeys(
+  publicKeyA: Uint8Array | undefined,
+  publicKeyB: Uint8Array | undefined
+): boolean {
+  if (!publicKeyA || !publicKeyB) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (publicKeyA.length !== publicKeyB.length) {
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  for (let i = 0; i < publicKeyA.length; i++) {
+    if (publicKeyA[i] !== publicKeyB[i]) {
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts b/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts
index 79b6753833..fdace3c8dc 100644
--- a/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/message-encryption/src/index.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,17 @@
 import {
+  comparePublicKeys,
   generatePrivateKey,
   generateSymmetricKey,
   getPublicKey
 } from "./crypto/index.js";
 import { DecodedMessage } from "./decoded_message.js";
 
-export { generatePrivateKey, generateSymmetricKey, getPublicKey };
+export {
+  generatePrivateKey,
+  generateSymmetricKey,
+  getPublicKey,
+  comparePublicKeys
+};
 export type { DecodedMessage };
 
 export * as ecies from "./ecies.js";
diff --git a/packages/message-encryption/src/symmetric.ts b/packages/message-encryption/src/symmetric.ts
index 87fcbbb8fc..2f44ef8606 100644
--- a/packages/message-encryption/src/symmetric.ts
+++ b/packages/message-encryption/src/symmetric.ts
@@ -206,3 +206,105 @@ export function createDecoder(
 ): Decoder {
   return new Decoder(contentTopic, routingInfo, symKey);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Result of decrypting a message with AES symmetric encryption.
+ */
+export interface SymmetricDecryptionResult {
+  /** The decrypted payload */
+  payload: Uint8Array;
+  /** The signature if the message was signed */
+  signature?: Uint8Array;
+  /** The recovered public key if the message was signed */
+  signaturePublicKey?: Uint8Array;
+}
+
+/**
+ * AES symmetric encryption.
+ *
+ *
+ * Follows [26/WAKU2-PAYLOAD](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/26/) encryption standard.
+ */
+export class SymmetricEncryption {
+  /**
+   * Creates an AES Symmetric encryption instance.
+   *
+   * @param symKey - The symmetric key for encryption (32 bytes recommended)
+   * @param sigPrivKey - Optional private key to sign messages before encryption
+   */
+  public constructor(
+    private symKey: Uint8Array,
+    private sigPrivKey?: Uint8Array
+  ) {}
+
+  /**
+   * Encrypts a byte array payload.
+   *
+   * The encryption process:
+   * 1. Optionally signs the payload with the private key
+   * 2. Adds padding to obscure payload size
+   * 3. Encrypts using AES-256-GCM
+   *
+   * @param payload - The data to encrypt
+   * @returns The encrypted payload
+   */
+  public async encrypt(payload: Uint8Array): Promise<Uint8Array> {
+    const preparedPayload = await preCipher(payload, this.sigPrivKey);
+    return encryptSymmetric(preparedPayload, this.symKey);
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * AES symmetric decryption.
+ *
+ * Follows [26/WAKU2-PAYLOAD](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/26/) encryption standard.
+ */
+export class SymmetricDecryption {
+  /**
+   * Creates an AES Symmetric decryption instance.
+   *
+   * @param symKey - The symmetric key for decryption (must match encryption key)
+   */
+  public constructor(private symKey: Uint8Array) {}
+
+  /**
+   * Decrypts an encrypted byte array payload.
+   *
+   * The decryption process:
+   * 1. Decrypts using AES-256-GCM
+   * 2. Removes padding
+   * 3. Verifies and recovers signature if present
+   *
+   * @param encryptedPayload - The encrypted data (from [[SymmetricEncryption.encrypt]])
+   * @returns Object containing the decrypted payload and signature info, or undefined if decryption fails
+   */
+  public async decrypt(
+    encryptedPayload: Uint8Array
+  ): Promise<SymmetricDecryptionResult | undefined> {
+    try {
+      const decryptedData = await decryptSymmetric(
+        encryptedPayload,
+        this.symKey
+      );
+
+      if (!decryptedData) {
+        return undefined;
+      }
+
+      const result = postCipher(decryptedData);
+
+      if (!result) {
+        return undefined;
+      }
+
+      return {
+        payload: result.payload,
+        signature: result.sig?.signature,
+        signaturePublicKey: result.sig?.publicKey
+      };
+    } catch (error) {
+      log.error("Failed to decrypt payload", error);
+      return undefined;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.spec.ts b/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.spec.ts
index 4eabec6969..96577e0702 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.spec.ts
@@ -49,7 +49,11 @@ describe("Filter SDK", () => {
     const addStub = sinon.stub(Subscription.prototype, "add").resolves(true);
     const startStub = sinon.stub(Subscription.prototype, "start");
 
-    const result = await filter.subscribe(decoder, callback);
+    const result = await filter.subscribe(
+      [testContentTopic],
+      testRoutingInfo,
+      callback
+    );
 
     expect(result).to.be.true;
     expect(addStub.calledOnce).to.be.true;
@@ -57,7 +61,10 @@ describe("Filter SDK", () => {
   });
 
   it("should return false when unsubscribing from a non-existing subscription", async () => {
-    const result = await filter.unsubscribe(decoder);
+    const result = await filter.unsubscribe(
+      [testContentTopic],
+      testRoutingInfo
+    );
     expect(result).to.be.false;
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.ts b/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.ts
index 4d12f8d32d..f74361b7d9 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/filter/filter.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 import { FilterCore } from "@waku/core";
 import type {
-  Callback,
+  ContentTopic,
   FilterProtocolOptions,
   IDecodedMessage,
-  IDecoder,
-  IFilter
+  IFilter,
+  IRoutingInfo
 } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { WakuMessage } from "@waku/proto";
 import { Logger } from "@waku/utils";
@@ -61,31 +61,25 @@ export class Filter implements IFilter {
     this.subscriptions.clear();
   }
 
-  public async subscribe<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoder: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[],
-    callback: Callback<T>
+  public async subscribe(
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo,
+    callback: (msg: IDecodedMessage) => void | Promise<void>
   ): Promise<boolean> {
-    const decoders = Array.isArray(decoder) ? decoder : [decoder];
-
-    if (decoders.length === 0) {
-      throw Error("Cannot subscribe with 0 decoders.");
+    if (contentTopics.length === 0) {
+      throw Error("Cannot subscribe with 0 contentTopics.");
     }
 
-    const pubsubTopics = decoders.map((v) => v.pubsubTopic);
-    const singlePubsubTopic = pubsubTopics[0];
-
-    const contentTopics = decoders.map((v) => v.contentTopic);
+    const pubsubTopic = routingInfo.pubsubTopic;
 
     log.info(
-      `Subscribing to contentTopics: ${contentTopics}, pubsubTopic: ${singlePubsubTopic}`
+      `Subscribing to contentTopics: ${contentTopics}, pubsubTopic: ${pubsubTopic}`
     );
 
-    this.throwIfTopicNotSame(pubsubTopics);
-
-    let subscription = this.subscriptions.get(singlePubsubTopic);
+    let subscription = this.subscriptions.get(pubsubTopic);
     if (!subscription) {
       subscription = new Subscription({
-        pubsubTopic: singlePubsubTopic,
+        pubsubTopic,
         protocol: this.protocol,
         config: this.config,
         peerManager: this.peerManager
@@ -93,8 +87,8 @@ export class Filter implements IFilter {
       subscription.start();
     }
 
-    const result = await subscription.add(decoders, callback);
-    this.subscriptions.set(singlePubsubTopic, subscription);
+    const result = await subscription.add(contentTopics, routingInfo, callback);
+    this.subscriptions.set(pubsubTopic, subscription);
 
     log.info(
       `Subscription ${result ? "successful" : "failed"} for content topic: ${contentTopics}`
@@ -103,38 +97,31 @@ export class Filter implements IFilter {
     return result;
   }
 
-  public async unsubscribe<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoder: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[]
+  public async unsubscribe(
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo
   ): Promise<boolean> {
-    const decoders = Array.isArray(decoder) ? decoder : [decoder];
-
-    if (decoders.length === 0) {
-      throw Error("Cannot unsubscribe with 0 decoders.");
+    if (contentTopics.length === 0) {
+      throw Error("Cannot unsubscribe with 0 contentTopics.");
     }
-
-    const pubsubTopics = decoders.map((v) => v.pubsubTopic);
-    const singlePubsubTopic = pubsubTopics[0];
-
-    const contentTopics = decoders.map((v) => v.contentTopic);
+    const { pubsubTopic } = routingInfo;
 
     log.info(
-      `Unsubscribing from contentTopics: ${contentTopics}, pubsubTopic: ${singlePubsubTopic}`
+      `Unsubscribing from contentTopics: ${contentTopics}, pubsubTopic: ${pubsubTopic}`
     );
 
-    this.throwIfTopicNotSame(pubsubTopics);
-
-    const subscription = this.subscriptions.get(singlePubsubTopic);
+    const subscription = this.subscriptions.get(pubsubTopic);
     if (!subscription) {
       log.warn("No subscriptions associated with the decoder.");
       return false;
     }
 
-    const result = await subscription.remove(decoders);
+    const result = await subscription.remove(contentTopics);
 
     if (subscription.isEmpty()) {
       log.warn("Subscription has no decoders anymore, terminating it.");
       subscription.stop();
-      this.subscriptions.delete(singlePubsubTopic);
+      this.subscriptions.delete(pubsubTopic);
     }
 
     log.info(
@@ -162,16 +149,4 @@ export class Filter implements IFilter {
 
     subscription.invoke(message, peerId);
   }
-
-  // Limiting to one pubsubTopic for simplicity reasons, we can enable subscription for more than one PubsubTopic at once later when requested
-  private throwIfTopicNotSame(pubsubTopics: string[]): void {
-    const first = pubsubTopics[0];
-    const isSameTopic = pubsubTopics.every((t) => t === first);
-
-    if (!isSameTopic) {
-      throw Error(
-        `Cannot subscribe to more than one pubsub topic at the same time, got pubsubTopics:${pubsubTopics}`
-      );
-    }
-  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.spec.ts b/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.spec.ts
index 37f3d48ed3..94eb56ce8f 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.spec.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ describe("Filter Subscription", () => {
   let filterCore: FilterCore;
   let peerManager: PeerManager;
   let subscription: Subscription;
-  let decoder: IDecoder<IDecodedMessage>;
   let config: FilterProtocolOptions;
 
   beforeEach(() => {
@@ -37,8 +36,6 @@ describe("Filter Subscription", () => {
       config,
       peerManager
     });
-
-    decoder = mockDecoder();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.ts b/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.ts
index 3ab7273eb1..793b53a382 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/filter/subscription.ts
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ import {
 } from "@libp2p/interface";
 import { FilterCore, messageHashStr } from "@waku/core";
 import type {
-  Callback,
+  ContentTopic,
   FilterProtocolOptions,
   IDecodedMessage,
-  IDecoder,
   IProtoMessage,
+  IRoutingInfo,
   PeerIdStr
 } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { Protocols } from "@waku/interfaces";
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ export class Subscription {
   private readonly receivedMessages = new TTLSet<string>(60_000);
 
   private callbacks = new Map<
-    IDecoder<IDecodedMessage>,
-    EventHandler<CustomEvent<WakuMessage>>
+    ContentTopic,
+    EventHandler<CustomEvent<IDecodedMessage>>
   >();
   private messageEmitter = new TypedEventEmitter<SubscriptionEvents>();
 
@@ -63,9 +63,7 @@ export class Subscription {
   private keepAliveIntervalId: number | null = null;
 
   private get contentTopics(): string[] {
-    const allTopics = Array.from(this.callbacks.keys()).map(
-      (k) => k.contentTopic
-    );
+    const allTopics = Array.from(this.callbacks.keys());
     const uniqueTopics = new Set(allTopics).values();
 
     return Array.from(uniqueTopics);
@@ -131,14 +129,13 @@ export class Subscription {
     return this.callbacks.size === 0;
   }
 
-  public async add<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoder: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[],
-    callback: Callback<T>
+  public async add(
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo,
+    callback: (msg: IDecodedMessage) => void | Promise<void>
   ): Promise<boolean> {
-    const decoders = Array.isArray(decoder) ? decoder : [decoder];
-
-    for (const decoder of decoders) {
-      this.addSingle(decoder, callback);
+    for (const contentTopic of contentTopics) {
+      this.addSingle(contentTopic, routingInfo, callback);
     }
 
     return this.toSubscribeContentTopics.size > 0
@@ -146,13 +143,9 @@ export class Subscription {
       : true; // if content topic is not new - subscription, most likely exists
   }
 
-  public async remove<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoder: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[]
-  ): Promise<boolean> {
-    const decoders = Array.isArray(decoder) ? decoder : [decoder];
-
-    for (const decoder of decoders) {
-      this.removeSingle(decoder);
+  public async remove(contentTopics: ContentTopic[]): Promise<boolean> {
+    for (const contentTopic of contentTopics) {
+      this.removeSingle(contentTopic);
     }
 
     return this.toUnsubscribeContentTopics.size > 0
@@ -177,76 +170,63 @@ export class Subscription {
     );
   }
 
-  private addSingle<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    decoder: IDecoder<T>,
-    callback: Callback<T>
+  private addSingle(
+    contentTopic: ContentTopic,
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo,
+    callback: (msg: IDecodedMessage) => void | Promise<void>
   ): void {
-    log.info(`Adding subscription for contentTopic: ${decoder.contentTopic}`);
+    log.info(`Adding subscription for contentTopic: ${contentTopic}`);
 
-    const isNewContentTopic = !this.contentTopics.includes(
-      decoder.contentTopic
-    );
+    const isNewContentTopic = !this.contentTopics.includes(contentTopic);
 
     if (isNewContentTopic) {
-      this.toSubscribeContentTopics.add(decoder.contentTopic);
+      this.toSubscribeContentTopics.add(contentTopic);
     }
 
-    if (this.callbacks.has(decoder)) {
+    if (this.callbacks.has(contentTopic)) {
       log.warn(
-        `Replacing callback associated associated with decoder with pubsubTopic:${decoder.pubsubTopic} and contentTopic:${decoder.contentTopic}`
+        `Replacing callback associated associated with decoder with pubsubTopic:${routingInfo.pubsubTopic} and contentTopic:${contentTopic}`
       );
 
-      const callback = this.callbacks.get(decoder);
-      this.callbacks.delete(decoder);
-      this.messageEmitter.removeEventListener(decoder.contentTopic, callback);
+      const callback = this.callbacks.get(contentTopic);
+      this.callbacks.delete(contentTopic);
+      this.messageEmitter.removeEventListener(contentTopic, callback);
     }
 
-    const eventHandler = (event: CustomEvent<WakuMessage>): void => {
-      void (async (): Promise<void> => {
-        try {
-          const message = await decoder.fromProtoObj(
-            decoder.pubsubTopic,
-            event.detail as IProtoMessage
-          );
-          void callback(message!);
-        } catch (err) {
-          log.error("Error decoding message", err);
-        }
-      })();
+    const eventHandler = (event: CustomEvent<IDecodedMessage>): void => {
+      void callback(event.detail);
     };
 
-    this.callbacks.set(decoder, eventHandler);
-    this.messageEmitter.addEventListener(decoder.contentTopic, eventHandler);
+    this.callbacks.set(contentTopic, eventHandler);
+    this.messageEmitter.addEventListener(contentTopic, eventHandler);
 
     log.info(
-      `Subscription added for contentTopic: ${decoder.contentTopic}, isNewContentTopic: ${isNewContentTopic}`
+      `Subscription added for contentTopic: ${contentTopic}, isNewContentTopic: ${isNewContentTopic}`
     );
   }
 
-  private removeSingle<T extends IDecodedMessage>(decoder: IDecoder<T>): void {
-    log.info(`Removing subscription for contentTopic: ${decoder.contentTopic}`);
+  private removeSingle(contentTopic: ContentTopic): void {
+    log.info(`Removing subscription for contentTopic: ${contentTopic}`);
 
-    const callback = this.callbacks.get(decoder);
+    const callback = this.callbacks.get(contentTopic);
 
     if (!callback) {
       log.warn(
-        `No callback associated with decoder with pubsubTopic:${decoder.pubsubTopic} and contentTopic:${decoder.contentTopic}`
+        `No callback associated with decoder with contentTopic: ${contentTopic}`
       );
     }
 
-    this.callbacks.delete(decoder);
-    this.messageEmitter.removeEventListener(decoder.contentTopic, callback);
+    this.callbacks.delete(contentTopic);
+    this.messageEmitter.removeEventListener(contentTopic, callback);
 
-    const isCompletelyRemoved = !this.contentTopics.includes(
-      decoder.contentTopic
-    );
+    const isCompletelyRemoved = !this.contentTopics.includes(contentTopic);
 
     if (isCompletelyRemoved) {
-      this.toUnsubscribeContentTopics.add(decoder.contentTopic);
+      this.toUnsubscribeContentTopics.add(contentTopic);
     }
 
     log.info(
-      `Subscription removed for contentTopic: ${decoder.contentTopic}, isCompletelyRemoved: ${isCompletelyRemoved}`
+      `Subscription removed for contentTopic: ${contentTopic}, isCompletelyRemoved: ${isCompletelyRemoved}`
     );
   }
 
@@ -383,8 +363,8 @@ export class Subscription {
   }
 
   private disposeHandlers(): void {
-    for (const [decoder, handler] of this.callbacks.entries()) {
-      this.messageEmitter.removeEventListener(decoder.contentTopic, handler);
+    for (const [contentTopic, handler] of this.callbacks.entries()) {
+      this.messageEmitter.removeEventListener(contentTopic, handler);
     }
     this.callbacks.clear();
   }
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/filter/types.ts b/packages/sdk/src/filter/types.ts
index 44326728d1..e748c9d93e 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/filter/types.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/filter/types.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 import type { FilterCore } from "@waku/core";
-import type { FilterProtocolOptions, Libp2p } from "@waku/interfaces";
-import type { WakuMessage } from "@waku/proto";
+import type {
+  FilterProtocolOptions,
+  IDecodedMessage,
+  Libp2p
+} from "@waku/interfaces";
 
 import type { PeerManager } from "../peer_manager/index.js";
 
@@ -11,7 +14,7 @@ export type FilterConstructorParams = {
 };
 
 export type SubscriptionEvents = {
-  [contentTopic: string]: CustomEvent<WakuMessage>;
+  [contentTopic: string]: CustomEvent<IDecodedMessage>;
 };
 
 export type SubscriptionParams = {
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/events.ts b/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/events.ts
index c79c2c0c0f..2382c73103 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/events.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/events.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { IDecodedMessage, ProtocolError } from "@waku/interfaces";
+import { ProtocolError } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import type { HistoryEntry, MessageId } from "@waku/sds";
 
 export const ReliableChannelEvent = {
@@ -56,8 +56,7 @@ export interface ReliableChannelEvents {
     possibleAckCount: number;
   }>;
   "message-acknowledged": CustomEvent<MessageId>;
-  // TODO probably T extends IDecodedMessage?
-  "message-received": CustomEvent<IDecodedMessage>;
+  "message-received": CustomEvent<Uint8Array>;
   "irretrievable-message": CustomEvent<HistoryEntry>;
   "sending-message-irrecoverable-error": CustomEvent<{
     messageId: MessageId;
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/reliable_channel.ts b/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/reliable_channel.ts
index 49b55aa495..8ea6b58a84 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/reliable_channel.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/reliable_channel/reliable_channel.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 import { TypedEventEmitter } from "@libp2p/interface";
 import { messageHash } from "@waku/core";
 import {
-  type Callback,
+  type ContentTopic,
   type IDecodedMessage,
   type IDecoder,
   type IEncoder,
   type IMessage,
+  type IRoutingInfo,
   ISendOptions,
   type IWaku,
   LightPushError,
@@ -132,8 +133,9 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
   ) => Promise<LightPushSDKResult>;
 
   private readonly _subscribe: (
-    decoders: IDecoder<T> | IDecoder<T>[],
-    callback: Callback<T>
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    routingInfo: IRoutingInfo,
+    callback: (msg: IDecodedMessage) => void | Promise<void>
   ) => Promise<boolean>;
 
   private readonly _retrieve?: <T extends IDecodedMessage>(
@@ -324,10 +326,11 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
 
         const messageId = ReliableChannel.getMessageId(messagePayload);
 
-        // TODO: should the encoder give me the message hash?
-        // Encoding now to fail early, used later to get message hash
-        const protoMessage = await this.encoder.toProtoObj(wakuMessage);
-        if (!protoMessage) {
+        const retrievalHint = await computeRetrievalHint(
+          messagePayload,
+          this.encoder
+        );
+        if (!retrievalHint) {
           this.safeSendEvent("sending-message-irrecoverable-error", {
             detail: {
               messageId: messageId,
@@ -336,10 +339,6 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
           });
           return { success: false };
         }
-        const retrievalHint = messageHash(
-          this.encoder.pubsubTopic,
-          protoMessage
-        );
 
         this.safeSendEvent("sending-message", {
           detail: messageId
@@ -383,9 +382,13 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
 
   private async subscribe(): Promise<boolean> {
     this.assertStarted();
-    return this._subscribe(this.decoder, async (message: T) => {
-      await this.processIncomingMessage(message);
-    });
+    return this._subscribe(
+      [this.decoder.contentTopic],
+      this.decoder.routingInfo,
+      async (message: IDecodedMessage) => {
+        await this.processIncomingMessage(message);
+      }
+    );
   }
 
   /**
@@ -393,9 +396,7 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
    * @param msg
    * @private
    */
-  private async processIncomingMessage<T extends IDecodedMessage>(
-    msg: T
-  ): Promise<void> {
+  private async processIncomingMessage(msg: IDecodedMessage): Promise<void> {
     // New message arrives, we need to unwrap it first
     const sdsMessage = SdsMessage.decode(msg.payload);
 
@@ -422,25 +423,8 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
 
     if (sdsMessage.content && sdsMessage.content.length > 0) {
       // Now, process the message with callback
-
-      // Overrides msg.payload with unwrapped payload
-      // TODO: can we do better?
-      const { payload: _p, ...allButPayload } = msg;
-      const unwrappedMessage = Object.assign(allButPayload, {
-        payload: sdsMessage.content,
-        hash: msg.hash,
-        hashStr: msg.hashStr,
-        version: msg.version,
-        contentTopic: msg.contentTopic,
-        pubsubTopic: msg.pubsubTopic,
-        timestamp: msg.timestamp,
-        rateLimitProof: msg.rateLimitProof,
-        ephemeral: msg.ephemeral,
-        meta: msg.meta
-      });
-
       this.safeSendEvent("message-received", {
-        detail: unwrappedMessage as unknown as T
+        detail: sdsMessage.content
       });
     }
 
@@ -689,3 +673,16 @@ export class ReliableChannel<
     }
   }
 }
+
+async function computeRetrievalHint(
+  payload: Uint8Array,
+  encoder: IEncoder
+): Promise<Uint8Array | undefined> {
+  // TODO: should the encoder give me the message hash?
+  // Encoding now to fail early, used later to get message hash
+  const protoMessage = await encoder.toProtoObj({ payload });
+  if (!protoMessage) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
+  return messageHash(encoder.pubsubTopic, protoMessage);
+}
diff --git a/packages/sdk/src/waku/waku.ts b/packages/sdk/src/waku/waku.ts
index 7336b06df7..03366de5a2 100644
--- a/packages/sdk/src/waku/waku.ts
+++ b/packages/sdk/src/waku/waku.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@ import {
 } from "@libp2p/interface";
 import type { MultiaddrInput } from "@multiformats/multiaddr";
 import { ConnectionManager, createDecoder, createEncoder } from "@waku/core";
-import type {
+import {
+  ContentTopic,
   CreateDecoderParams,
   CreateEncoderParams,
   CreateNodeOptions,
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ import type {
   IEncoder,
   IFilter,
   ILightPush,
+  IMessageEmitter,
   IRelay,
   IRoutingInfo,
   IStore,
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ import {
   HealthStatus,
   Protocols
 } from "@waku/interfaces";
-import { createRoutingInfo, Logger } from "@waku/utils";
+import { createRoutingInfo, Logger, pushOrInitMapSet } from "@waku/utils";
 
 import { Filter } from "../filter/index.js";
 import { HealthIndicator } from "../health_indicator/index.js";
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ export class WakuNode implements IWaku {
   public lightPush?: ILightPush;
 
   public readonly events: IWakuEventEmitter = new TypedEventEmitter();
+  public readonly messageEmitter: IMessageEmitter = new TypedEventEmitter();
 
   private readonly networkConfig: NetworkConfig;
 
@@ -134,6 +137,37 @@ export class WakuNode implements IWaku {
     );
   }
 
+  public async subscribe(contentTopics: ContentTopic[]): Promise<void> {
+    // Group content topics via routing info in case they spread across several shards
+    const ctToRouting: Map<IRoutingInfo, Set<ContentTopic>> = new Map();
+    for (const contentTopic of contentTopics) {
+      const routingInfo = this.createRoutingInfo(contentTopic);
+      pushOrInitMapSet(ctToRouting, routingInfo, contentTopic);
+    }
+
+    const promises = [];
+    if (this.filter) {
+      for (const [routingInfo, contentTopics] of ctToRouting) {
+        // TODO: Returned bool from subscribe should be used
+        promises.push(
+          this.filter.subscribe(
+            Array.from(contentTopics),
+            routingInfo,
+            this.emitIncomingMessages.bind(this, Array.from(contentTopics))
+          )
+        );
+      }
+
+      await Promise.all(promises);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    if (this.relay) {
+      throw "not implemented";
+    }
+    throw "no subscribe protocol available";
+  }
+
   public get peerId(): PeerId {
     return this.libp2p.peerId;
   }
@@ -288,4 +322,20 @@ export class WakuNode implements IWaku {
   ): IRoutingInfo {
     return createRoutingInfo(this.networkConfig, { contentTopic, shardId });
   }
+
+  private emitIncomingMessages(
+    contentTopics: ContentTopic[],
+    message: {
+      contentTopic: ContentTopic;
+      payload: Uint8Array;
+    }
+  ): void {
+    if (contentTopics.includes(message.contentTopic)) {
+      this.messageEmitter.dispatchEvent(
+        new CustomEvent<Uint8Array>(message.contentTopic, {
+          detail: message.payload
+        })
+      );
+    }
+  }
 }
diff --git a/packages/tests/src/lib/index.ts b/packages/tests/src/lib/index.ts
index 85de368b23..742c09c092 100644
--- a/packages/tests/src/lib/index.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/src/lib/index.ts
@@ -124,14 +124,14 @@ export class ServiceNodesFleet {
 }
 
 class MultipleNodesMessageCollector {
-  public callback: (msg: IDecodedMessage) => void = () => {};
-  protected messageList: Array<IDecodedMessage> = [];
+  public callback: (msg: Partial<IDecodedMessage>) => void = () => {};
+  protected messageList: Array<Partial<IDecodedMessage>> = [];
   public constructor(
     private messageCollectors: MessageCollector[],
     private relayNodes?: ServiceNode[],
     private strictChecking: boolean = false
   ) {
-    this.callback = (msg: IDecodedMessage): void => {
+    this.callback = (msg: Partial<IDecodedMessage>): void => {
       log.info("Got a message");
       this.messageList.push(msg);
     };
@@ -153,7 +153,9 @@ class MultipleNodesMessageCollector {
     }
   }
 
-  public getMessage(index: number): MessageRpcResponse | IDecodedMessage {
+  public getMessage(
+    index: number
+  ): MessageRpcResponse | Partial<IDecodedMessage> {
     return this.messageList[index];
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts b/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts
index 9483bc8ba6..7565de86a6 100644
--- a/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/tests/waku.node.spec.ts
@@ -7,10 +7,17 @@ import type {
   RelayNode
 } from "@waku/interfaces";
 import { Protocols } from "@waku/interfaces";
-import { generateSymmetricKey } from "@waku/message-encryption";
+import {
+  comparePublicKeys,
+  generatePrivateKey,
+  generateSymmetricKey,
+  getPublicKey
+} from "@waku/message-encryption";
 import {
   createDecoder,
-  createEncoder
+  createEncoder,
+  SymmetricDecryption,
+  SymmetricDecryptionResult
 } from "@waku/message-encryption/symmetric";
 import { createRelayNode } from "@waku/relay";
 import {
@@ -29,8 +36,11 @@ import {
   makeLogFileName,
   NOISE_KEY_1,
   NOISE_KEY_2,
+  runMultipleNodes,
   ServiceNode,
-  tearDownNodes
+  ServiceNodesFleet,
+  tearDownNodes,
+  teardownNodesWithRedundancy
 } from "../src/index.js";
 
 const TestContentTopic = "/test/1/waku/utf8";
@@ -291,3 +301,148 @@ describe("User Agent", function () {
     );
   });
 });
+
+describe("Waku API", function () {
+  describe("WakuNode.subscribe (light node)", function () {
+    this.timeout(100000);
+    let waku: LightNode;
+    let serviceNodes: ServiceNodesFleet;
+    const messageText = "some message";
+    const messagePayload = utf8ToBytes(messageText);
+
+    beforeEachCustom(this, async () => {
+      [serviceNodes, waku] = await runMultipleNodes(
+        this.ctx,
+        TestRoutingInfo,
+        undefined
+      );
+    });
+
+    afterEachCustom(this, async () => {
+      await teardownNodesWithRedundancy(serviceNodes, waku);
+    });
+
+    it("Subscribe and receive messages on 2 different content topics", async function () {
+      // Subscribe to the first content topic and send a message.
+      waku.messageEmitter.addEventListener(TestContentTopic, (event) => {
+        // TODO: fix the callback type
+        serviceNodes.messageCollector.callback({
+          contentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+          payload: event.detail
+        });
+      });
+      await waku.subscribe([TestContentTopic]);
+
+      await waku.lightPush.send(TestEncoder, { payload: messagePayload });
+      expect(await serviceNodes.messageCollector.waitForMessages(1)).to.eq(
+        true,
+        "Waiting for the first message"
+      );
+      serviceNodes.messageCollector.verifyReceivedMessage(0, {
+        expectedMessageText: messageText,
+        expectedContentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+        expectedPubsubTopic: TestRoutingInfo.pubsubTopic
+      });
+
+      // Modify subscription to include a new content topic and send a message.
+      const newMessageText = "Filtering still works!";
+      const newContentTopic = "/test/2/waku-filter/default";
+      const newRoutingInfo = createRoutingInfo(DefaultTestNetworkConfig, {
+        contentTopic: newContentTopic
+      });
+      const newEncoder = createPlainEncoder({
+        contentTopic: newContentTopic,
+        routingInfo: newRoutingInfo
+      });
+      // subscribe to second content topic
+      waku.messageEmitter.addEventListener(newContentTopic, (event) => {
+        // TODO: fix the callback type
+        serviceNodes.messageCollector.callback({
+          contentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+          payload: event.detail
+        });
+      });
+      await waku.subscribe([newContentTopic]);
+
+      await waku.lightPush.send(newEncoder, {
+        payload: utf8ToBytes(newMessageText)
+      });
+      expect(await serviceNodes.messageCollector.waitForMessages(2)).to.eq(
+        true,
+        "Waiting for the second message"
+      );
+      serviceNodes.messageCollector.verifyReceivedMessage(1, {
+        expectedContentTopic: newContentTopic,
+        expectedMessageText: newMessageText,
+        expectedPubsubTopic: TestRoutingInfo.pubsubTopic
+      });
+
+      // Send another message on the initial content topic to verify it still works.
+      const thirdMessageText = "Filtering still works on first subscription!";
+      const thirdMessagePayload = { payload: utf8ToBytes(thirdMessageText) };
+      await waku.lightPush.send(TestEncoder, thirdMessagePayload);
+      expect(await serviceNodes.messageCollector.waitForMessages(3)).to.eq(
+        true,
+        "Waiting for the third message"
+      );
+      serviceNodes.messageCollector.verifyReceivedMessage(2, {
+        expectedMessageText: thirdMessageText,
+        expectedContentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+        expectedPubsubTopic: TestRoutingInfo.pubsubTopic
+      });
+    });
+
+    it("Subscribe and receive messages encrypted with AES", async function () {
+      const symKey = generateSymmetricKey();
+      const senderPrivKey = generatePrivateKey();
+      // TODO: For now, still using encoder
+      const newEncoder = createEncoder({
+        contentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+        routingInfo: TestRoutingInfo,
+        symKey,
+        sigPrivKey: senderPrivKey
+      });
+
+      // Setup payload decryption
+      const symDecryption = new SymmetricDecryption(symKey);
+
+      // subscribe to second content topic
+      waku.messageEmitter.addEventListener(TestContentTopic, (event) => {
+        const encryptedPayload = event.detail;
+        void symDecryption
+          .decrypt(encryptedPayload)
+          .then((decryptionResult: SymmetricDecryptionResult | undefined) => {
+            if (!decryptionResult) return;
+            serviceNodes.messageCollector.callback({
+              contentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+              payload: decryptionResult.payload
+            });
+
+            // TODO: probably best to adapt the message collector
+            expect(decryptionResult?.signature).to.not.be.undefined;
+            expect(
+              comparePublicKeys(
+                getPublicKey(senderPrivKey),
+                decryptionResult?.signaturePublicKey
+              )
+            );
+            // usually best to ignore decryption failure
+          });
+      });
+      await waku.subscribe([TestContentTopic]);
+
+      await waku.lightPush.send(newEncoder, {
+        payload: utf8ToBytes(messageText)
+      });
+      expect(await serviceNodes.messageCollector.waitForMessages(1)).to.eq(
+        true,
+        "Waiting for the message"
+      );
+      serviceNodes.messageCollector.verifyReceivedMessage(1, {
+        expectedContentTopic: TestContentTopic,
+        expectedMessageText: messageText,
+        expectedPubsubTopic: TestRoutingInfo.pubsubTopic
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});