diff --git a/compute_horde/compute_horde/fv_protocol/validator_requests.py b/compute_horde/compute_horde/fv_protocol/validator_requests.py
index e5258497c..04b83f3cb 100644
--- a/compute_horde/compute_horde/fv_protocol/validator_requests.py
+++ b/compute_horde/compute_horde/fv_protocol/validator_requests.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def from_keypair(cls, keypair: bittensor.Keypair) -> Self:
 
     def verify_signature(self) -> bool:
         public_key_bytes = bytes.fromhex(self.public_key)
-        keypair = bittensor.Keypair(public_key=public_key_bytes, ss58_format=42)
+        keypair = bittensor.Keypair(public_key=self.public_key, ss58_format=42)
         # make mypy happy
         valid: bool = keypair.verify(public_key_bytes, self.signature)
         return valid
@@ -34,9 +34,7 @@ def verify_signature(self) -> bool:
     @property
     def ss58_address(self) -> str:
         # make mypy happy
-        address: str = bittensor.Keypair(
-            public_key=bytes.fromhex(self.public_key), ss58_format=42
-        ).ss58_address
+        address: str = bittensor.Keypair(public_key=self.public_key, ss58_format=42).ss58_address
         return address
 
 
diff --git a/compute_horde/tests/test_signature.py b/compute_horde/tests/test_signature.py
index 58faab21b..416425319 100644
--- a/compute_horde/tests/test_signature.py
+++ b/compute_horde/tests/test_signature.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
     V2JobRequest,
     to_json_array,
 )
+from compute_horde.fv_protocol.validator_requests import V0AuthenticationRequest
 from compute_horde.signature import (
     SIGNERS_REGISTRY,
     VERIFIERS_REGISTRY,
@@ -200,3 +201,9 @@ def test_signed_fields__volumes_uploads():
         output_upload=uploads[0],
     )
     assert v2_job_request.get_signed_fields() == facilitator_signed_fields
+
+
+def test_authentication_request(keypair):
+    authentication_request = V0AuthenticationRequest.from_keypair(keypair)
+    assert authentication_request.verify_signature()
+    assert authentication_request.ss58_address == keypair.ss58_address