diff --git a/src/extensions/context.ts b/src/extensions/context.ts
index b1c6e8d6..f18891f5 100644
--- a/src/extensions/context.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/context.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,17 @@ export interface MainHandlerInterface {
   // Application management
   applicationManager: {
     getById(id: string): Promise<any>
+    PayAppUserInvoice(appId: string, req: {
+      amount: number
+      invoice: string
+      user_identifier: string
+      debit_npub?: string
+    }): Promise<{
+      preimage: string
+      amount_paid: number
+      network_fee: number
+      service_fee: number
+    }>
   }
 
   // Payment operations
@@ -41,6 +52,7 @@ export interface MainHandlerInterface {
       applicationId: string
       paymentRequest: string
       maxFeeSats?: number
+      userPubkey?: string
     }): Promise<{
       paymentHash: string
       feeSats: number
@@ -156,16 +168,19 @@ export class ExtensionContextImpl implements ExtensionContext {
 
   /**
    * Pay a Lightning invoice
+   * If userPubkey is provided, pays from that user's balance instead of app.owner
    */
   async payInvoice(
     applicationId: string,
     paymentRequest: string,
-    maxFeeSats?: number
+    maxFeeSats?: number,
+    userPubkey?: string
   ): Promise<{ paymentHash: string; feeSats: number }> {
     return this.mainHandler.paymentManager.payInvoice({
       applicationId,
       paymentRequest,
-      maxFeeSats
+      maxFeeSats,
+      userPubkey
     })
   }
 
diff --git a/src/extensions/mainHandlerAdapter.ts b/src/extensions/mainHandlerAdapter.ts
index eecc96b3..fec73c3f 100644
--- a/src/extensions/mainHandlerAdapter.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/mainHandlerAdapter.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ export function createMainHandlerAdapter(mainHandler: Main): MainHandlerInterfac
           // GetApplication throws if not found
           return null
         }
+      },
+
+      async PayAppUserInvoice(appId, req) {
+        return mainHandler.applicationManager.PayAppUserInvoice(appId, req)
       }
     },
 
@@ -73,6 +77,7 @@ export function createMainHandlerAdapter(mainHandler: Main): MainHandlerInterfac
         applicationId: string
         paymentRequest: string
         maxFeeSats?: number
+        userPubkey?: string
       }) {
         // Get the app to find the user ID and app reference
         const app = await mainHandler.storage.applicationStorage.GetApplication(params.applicationId)
@@ -80,19 +85,41 @@ export function createMainHandlerAdapter(mainHandler: Main): MainHandlerInterfac
           throw new Error(`Application not found: ${params.applicationId}`)
         }
 
-        // Pay invoice from the app's balance
+        if (params.userPubkey) {
+          // Resolve the Nostr user's ApplicationUser to get their identifier
+          const appUser = await mainHandler.storage.applicationStorage.GetOrCreateNostrAppUser(app, params.userPubkey)
+          console.log(`[MainHandlerAdapter] Paying via PayAppUserInvoice from Nostr user ${params.userPubkey.slice(0, 8)}... (identifier: ${appUser.identifier})`)
+
+          // Use applicationManager.PayAppUserInvoice so notifyAppUserPayment fires
+          // This sends LiveUserOperation events via Nostr for real-time balance updates
+          const result = await mainHandler.applicationManager.PayAppUserInvoice(
+            params.applicationId,
+            {
+              invoice: params.paymentRequest,
+              amount: 0, // Use invoice amount
+              user_identifier: appUser.identifier
+            }
+          )
+
+          return {
+            paymentHash: result.preimage || '',
+            feeSats: result.network_fee || 0
+          }
+        }
+
+        // Fallback: pay from app owner's balance (no Nostr user context)
         const result = await mainHandler.paymentManager.PayInvoice(
           app.owner.user_id,
           {
             invoice: params.paymentRequest,
-            amount: 0 // Use invoice amount
+            amount: 0
           },
-          app, // linkedApplication
+          app,
           {}
         )
 
         return {
-          paymentHash: result.preimage || '', // preimage serves as proof of payment
+          paymentHash: result.preimage || '',
           feeSats: result.network_fee || 0
         }
       },
diff --git a/src/extensions/types.ts b/src/extensions/types.ts
index 2027fb09..66a4c46a 100644
--- a/src/extensions/types.ts
+++ b/src/extensions/types.ts
@@ -140,8 +140,9 @@ export interface ExtensionContext {
 
   /**
    * Pay a Lightning invoice (requires sufficient balance)
+   * If userPubkey is provided, pays from that user's balance instead of app.owner
    */
-  payInvoice(applicationId: string, paymentRequest: string, maxFeeSats?: number): Promise<{
+  payInvoice(applicationId: string, paymentRequest: string, maxFeeSats?: number, userPubkey?: string): Promise<{
     paymentHash: string
     feeSats: number
   }>