diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Extensions/ServiceExtensions.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Extensions/ServiceExtensions.cs
index ce4cab83..b2a25870 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Extensions/ServiceExtensions.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Extensions/ServiceExtensions.cs
@@ -21,33 +21,35 @@ public static class ServiceExtensions {
 		//services.AddTransient<T>();
 
 		// Scoped = instantiated per request
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityRenderer>();
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.UserRenderer>();
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.NoteRenderer>();
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.UserResolver>();
-		services.AddScoped<UserService>();
-		services.AddScoped<NoteService>();
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityDeliverService>();
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityHandlerService>();
-		services.AddScoped<WebFingerService>();
-		services.AddScoped<ActivityPub.FederationControlService>();
-		services.AddScoped<AuthorizedFetchMiddleware>();
-		services.AddScoped<AuthenticationMiddleware>();
-
-		//TODO: make this prettier
-		services.AddScoped<UserRenderer>();
-		services.AddScoped<NoteRenderer>();
+		services
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityRenderer>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.UserRenderer>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.NoteRenderer>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.UserResolver>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ObjectResolver>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityDeliverService>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.FederationControlService>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityHandlerService>()
+			.AddScoped<ActivityPub.ActivityFetcherService>()
+			.AddScoped<UserService>()
+			.AddScoped<SystemUserService>()
+			.AddScoped<NoteService>()
+			.AddScoped<WebFingerService>()
+			.AddScoped<AuthorizedFetchMiddleware>()
+			.AddScoped<AuthenticationMiddleware>()
+			.AddScoped<UserRenderer>()
+			.AddScoped<NoteRenderer>();
 
 		// Singleton = instantiated once across application lifetime
-		services.AddSingleton<HttpClient>();
-		services.AddSingleton<HttpRequestService>();
-		services.AddSingleton<ActivityPub.ActivityFetcherService>();
-		services.AddSingleton<QueueService>();
-		services.AddSingleton<ErrorHandlerMiddleware>();
-		services.AddSingleton<RequestBufferingMiddleware>();
-		services.AddSingleton<AuthorizationMiddleware>();
-		services.AddSingleton<RequestVerificationMiddleware>();
-		services.AddSingleton<RequestDurationMiddleware>();
+		services
+			.AddSingleton<HttpClient>()
+			.AddSingleton<HttpRequestService>()
+			.AddSingleton<QueueService>()
+			.AddSingleton<ErrorHandlerMiddleware>()
+			.AddSingleton<RequestBufferingMiddleware>()
+			.AddSingleton<AuthorizationMiddleware>()
+			.AddSingleton<RequestVerificationMiddleware>()
+			.AddSingleton<RequestDurationMiddleware>();
 
 		// Hosted services = long running background tasks
 		// Note: These need to be added as a singleton as well to ensure data consistency
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityFetcherService.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityFetcherService.cs
index 8810cda3..f26ff777 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityFetcherService.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityFetcherService.cs
@@ -8,15 +8,16 @@ using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 
 namespace Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Federation.ActivityPub;
 
-//TODO: required attribute doesn't work with Newtonsoft.Json it appears
-//TODO: enforce @type values
-
-public class ActivityFetcherService(HttpClient client, HttpRequestService httpRqSvc) {
-	private static readonly JsonSerializerSettings JsonSerializerSettings =
-		new();
+public class ActivityFetcherService(HttpClient client, HttpRequestService httpRqSvc, SystemUserService systemUserSvc) {
+	private static readonly JsonSerializerSettings JsonSerializerSettings = new();
 	//FIXME: not doing this breaks ld signatures, but doing this breaks mapping the object to datetime properties
 	//new() { DateParseHandling = DateParseHandling.None };
 
+	public async Task<IEnumerable<ASObject>> FetchActivityAsync(string url) {
+		var (actor, keypair) = await systemUserSvc.GetInstanceActorWithKeypairAsync();
+		return await FetchActivityAsync(url, actor, keypair);
+	}
+
 	public async Task<IEnumerable<ASObject>> FetchActivityAsync(string url, User actor, UserKeypair keypair) {
 		var request  = httpRqSvc.GetSigned(url, ["application/activity+json"], actor, keypair);
 		var response = await client.SendAsync(request);
@@ -42,8 +43,21 @@ public class ActivityFetcherService(HttpClient client, HttpRequestService httpRq
 		       throw new GracefulException("Failed to fetch actor");
 	}
 
+	public async Task<ASActor> FetchActorAsync(string uri) {
+		var (actor, keypair) = await systemUserSvc.GetInstanceActorWithKeypairAsync();
+		var activity = await FetchActivityAsync(uri, actor, keypair);
+		return activity.OfType<ASActor>().FirstOrDefault() ??
+		       throw new GracefulException("Failed to fetch actor");
+	}
+
 	public async Task<ASNote?> FetchNoteAsync(string uri, User actor, UserKeypair keypair) {
 		var activity = await FetchActivityAsync(uri, actor, keypair);
 		return activity.OfType<ASNote>().FirstOrDefault();
 	}
+
+	public async Task<ASNote?> FetchNoteAsync(string uri) {
+		var (actor, keypair) = await systemUserSvc.GetInstanceActorWithKeypairAsync();
+		var activity = await FetchActivityAsync(uri, actor, keypair);
+		return activity.OfType<ASNote>().FirstOrDefault();
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityHandlerService.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityHandlerService.cs
index 59f1f8fb..167d4327 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityHandlerService.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ActivityHandlerService.cs
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ public class ActivityHandlerService(
 	QueueService queueService,
 	ActivityRenderer activityRenderer,
 	IOptions<Config.InstanceSection> config,
-	FederationControlService federationCtrl
+	FederationControlService federationCtrl,
+	ObjectResolver resolver
 ) {
 	public async Task PerformActivityAsync(ASActivity activity, string? inboxUserId) {
 		logger.LogDebug("Processing activity: {activity}", activity.Id);
@@ -28,6 +29,11 @@ public class ActivityHandlerService(
 			throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Cannot perform activity as actor 'null'");
 		if (await federationCtrl.ShouldBlockAsync(activity.Actor.Id))
 			throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Instance is blocked");
+		if (activity.Object == null)
+			throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Activity object is null");
+		if (activity.Object.IsUnresolved)
+			activity.Object = await resolver.ResolveObject(activity.Object) ??
+			                  throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Failed to resolve activity object");
 
 		//TODO: validate inboxUserId
 
@@ -40,11 +46,22 @@ public class ActivityHandlerService(
 				return;
 			}
 			case ASDelete: {
-				//TODO: handle user deletes
-				if (activity.Object is not ASNote note)
+				if (activity.Object is not ASTombstone tombstone)
 					throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Delete activity object is invalid");
-				await noteSvc.DeleteNoteAsync(note, activity.Actor);
-				return;
+				if (await db.Notes.AnyAsync(p => p.Uri == tombstone.Id)) {
+					await noteSvc.DeleteNoteAsync(tombstone, activity.Actor);
+					return;
+				}
+
+				if (await db.Users.AnyAsync(p => p.Uri == tombstone.Id)) {
+					if (tombstone.Id != activity.Actor.Id)
+						throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Refusing to delete user: actor doesn't match");
+
+					//TODO: handle user deletes
+					throw new NotImplementedException("User deletes aren't supported yet");
+				}
+
+				throw GracefulException.UnprocessableEntity("Delete activity object is unknown or invalid");
 			}
 			case ASFollow: {
 				if (activity.Object is not { } obj)
@@ -73,7 +90,7 @@ public class ActivityHandlerService(
 			case ASUndo: {
 				//TODO: what other types of undo objects are there?
 				if (activity.Object is not ASActivity { Type: ASActivity.Types.Follow, Object: not null } undoActivity)
-					throw new NotImplementedException("Unsupported undo operation");
+					throw new NotImplementedException("Undo activity object is invalid");
 				await UnfollowAsync(undoActivity.Object, activity.Actor);
 				return;
 			}
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ObjectResolver.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ObjectResolver.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..88d16b79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityPub/ObjectResolver.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Database;
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Federation.ActivityStreams.Types;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+
+namespace Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Federation.ActivityPub;
+
+public class ObjectResolver(
+	ILogger<ObjectResolver> logger,
+	ActivityFetcherService fetchSvc,
+	DatabaseContext db,
+	FederationControlService federationCtrl
+) {
+	public async Task<ASObject?> ResolveObject(ASIdObject idObj) {
+		if (idObj is ASObject obj) return obj;
+		if (idObj.Id == null) {
+			logger.LogDebug("Refusing to resolve object with null id property");
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		if (await federationCtrl.ShouldBlockAsync(idObj.Id)) {
+			logger.LogDebug("Instance is blocked");
+			return null;
+		}
+
+		if (await db.Notes.AnyAsync(p => p.Uri == idObj.Id))
+			return new ASNote { Id = idObj.Id };
+		if (await db.Users.AnyAsync(p => p.Uri == idObj.Id))
+			return new ASActor { Id = idObj.Id };
+
+		try {
+			var result = await fetchSvc.FetchActivityAsync(idObj.Id);
+			return result.FirstOrDefault();
+		}
+		catch (Exception e) {
+			logger.LogDebug("Failed to resolve object {id}: {error}", idObj.Id, e);
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActivity.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActivity.cs
index 120b8d8a..f2eedf18 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActivity.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActivity.cs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ public class ASActivity : ASObject {
 	[JC(typeof(ASObjectConverter))]
 	public ASObject? Object { get; set; }
 
-	public static class Types {
+	public new static class Types {
 		private const string Ns = Constants.ActivityStreamsNs;
 
 		public const string Create   = $"{Ns}#Create";
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActor.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActor.cs
index 9a0e4596..d62c4196 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActor.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASActor.cs
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ public class ASActor : ASObject {
 		};
 	}
 
-	public static class Types {
+	public new static class Types {
 		private const string Ns = Constants.ActivityStreamsNs;
 
 		public const string Application  = $"{Ns}#Application";
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASIdObject.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASIdObject.cs
index 9991e199..41423338 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASIdObject.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASIdObject.cs
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@ using J = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonPropertyAttribute;
 
 namespace Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Federation.ActivityStreams.Types;
 
-//TODO: handle object | link correctly (we don't need to resolve it if it's already the full object)
 public class ASIdObject() {
-	public ASIdObject(string id) : this() {
+	public ASIdObject(string? id) : this() {
 		Id = id;
 	}
 
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASNote.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASNote.cs
index a56d91bf..f3c178b8 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASNote.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASNote.cs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public class ASNote : ASObject {
 		return Note.NoteVisibility.Specified;
 	}
 
-	public static class Types {
+	public new static class Types {
 		private const string Ns = Constants.ActivityStreamsNs;
 
 		public const string Note = $"{Ns}#Note";
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASObject.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASObject.cs
index 399c82ed..008e40e4 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASObject.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Federation/ActivityStreams/Types/ASObject.cs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Configuration;
 using Newtonsoft.Json;
 using Newtonsoft.Json.Linq;
 using J = Newtonsoft.Json.JsonPropertyAttribute;
@@ -8,11 +9,13 @@ namespace Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Federation.ActivityStreams.Types;
 
 public class ASObject : ASIdObject {
 	[J("@id")] [JR] public new required string Id { get; set; }
-	
+
 	[J("@type")]
 	[JC(typeof(LDTypeConverter))]
 	public string? Type { get; set; }
 
+	public bool IsUnresolved => GetType() == typeof(ASObject) && Type == null;
+
 	//FIXME: don't recurse creates and co
 	public static ASObject? Deserialize(JToken token) {
 		return token.Type switch {
@@ -23,6 +26,7 @@ public class ASObject : ASIdObject {
 				ASActor.Types.Organization => token.ToObject<ASActor>(),
 				ASActor.Types.Application  => token.ToObject<ASActor>(),
 				ASNote.Types.Note          => token.ToObject<ASNote>(),
+				Types.Tombstone            => token.ToObject<ASTombstone>(),
 				ASActivity.Types.Create    => token.ToObject<ASCreate>(),
 				ASActivity.Types.Delete    => token.ToObject<ASDelete>(),
 				ASActivity.Types.Follow    => token.ToObject<ASFollow>(),
@@ -33,13 +37,24 @@ public class ASObject : ASIdObject {
 				ASActivity.Types.Like      => token.ToObject<ASActivity>(),
 				_                          => token.ToObject<ASObject>()
 			},
-			JTokenType.Array  => Deserialize(token.First()),
-			JTokenType.String => new ASObject { Id = token.Value<string>() ?? "" },
-			_                 => throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException()
+			JTokenType.Array => Deserialize(token.First()),
+			JTokenType.String => new ASObject {
+				Id = token.Value<string>() ??
+				     throw new Exception("Encountered JTokenType.String with Value<string> null")
+			},
+			_ => throw new Exception($"Encountered JTokenType {token.Type}, which is not valid at this point")
 		};
 	}
+
+	public static class Types {
+		private const string Ns = Constants.ActivityStreamsNs;
+
+		public const string Tombstone = $"{Ns}#Tombstone";
+	}
 }
 
+public class ASTombstone : ASObject;
+
 public sealed class LDTypeConverter : ASSerializer.ListSingleObjectConverter<string>;
 
 internal sealed class ASObjectConverter : JsonConverter {
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Middleware/AuthorizedFetchMiddleware.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Middleware/AuthorizedFetchMiddleware.cs
index da05ca8c..31a30ec1 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Middleware/AuthorizedFetchMiddleware.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Middleware/AuthorizedFetchMiddleware.cs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ public class AuthorizedFetchMiddleware(
 	IOptionsSnapshot<Config.SecuritySection> config,
 	DatabaseContext db,
 	ActivityPub.UserResolver userResolver,
-	UserService userSvc,
+	SystemUserService systemUserSvc,
 	ActivityPub.FederationControlService fedCtrlSvc,
 	ILogger<AuthorizedFetchMiddleware> logger) : IMiddleware {
 	public async Task InvokeAsync(HttpContext ctx, RequestDelegate next) {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public class AuthorizedFetchMiddleware(
 			var request = ctx.Request;
 
 			//TODO: cache this somewhere
-			var instanceActorUri = $"/users/{(await userSvc.GetInstanceActorAsync()).Id}";
+			var instanceActorUri = $"/users/{(await systemUserSvc.GetInstanceActorAsync()).Id}";
 			if (ctx.Request.Path.Value == instanceActorUri) {
 				await next(ctx);
 				return;
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/NoteService.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/NoteService.cs
index f2c233a3..d056c19e 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/NoteService.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/NoteService.cs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ public class NoteService(
 		return note;
 	}
 
-	public async Task DeleteNoteAsync(ASNote note, ASActor actor) {
+	public async Task DeleteNoteAsync(ASTombstone note, ASActor actor) {
 		// ReSharper disable once EntityFramework.NPlusOne.IncompleteDataQuery (it doesn't know about IncludeCommonProperties())
 		var dbNote = await db.Notes.IncludeCommonProperties().FirstOrDefaultAsync(p => p.Uri == note.Id);
 		if (dbNote == null) {
@@ -157,9 +157,7 @@ public class NoteService(
 		if (note != null) return note;
 
 		//TODO: should we fall back to a regular user's keypair if fetching with instance actor fails & a local user is following the actor?
-		var instanceActor        = await userSvc.GetInstanceActorAsync();
-		var instanceActorKeypair = await db.UserKeypairs.FirstAsync(p => p.User == instanceActor);
-		var fetchedNote          = await fetchSvc.FetchNoteAsync(uri, instanceActor, instanceActorKeypair);
+		var fetchedNote          = await fetchSvc.FetchNoteAsync(uri);
 		if (fetchedNote?.AttributedTo is not [{ Id: not null } attrTo]) {
 			logger.LogDebug("Invalid Note.AttributedTo, skipping");
 			return null;
@@ -171,7 +169,7 @@ public class NoteService(
 		}
 
 		//TODO: we don't need to fetch the actor every time, we can use userResolver here
-		var actor = await fetchSvc.FetchActorAsync(attrTo.Id, instanceActor, instanceActorKeypair);
+		var actor = await fetchSvc.FetchActorAsync(attrTo.Id);
 
 		try {
 			return await ProcessNoteAsync(fetchedNote, actor);
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/SystemUserService.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/SystemUserService.cs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f65df8a1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/SystemUserService.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+using System.Security.Cryptography;
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Database;
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Database.Tables;
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Extensions;
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Helpers;
+using Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Middleware;
+using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Distributed;
+
+namespace Iceshrimp.Backend.Core.Services;
+
+public class SystemUserService(ILogger<SystemUserService> logger, DatabaseContext db, IDistributedCache cache) {
+	public async Task<User> GetInstanceActorAsync() {
+		return await GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync("instance.actor");
+	}
+
+	public async Task<User> GetRelayActorAsync() {
+		return await GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync("relay.actor");
+	}
+	
+	public async Task<(User user, UserKeypair keypair)> GetInstanceActorWithKeypairAsync() {
+		return await GetOrCreateSystemUserAndKeypairAsync("instance.actor");
+	}
+
+	public async Task<(User user, UserKeypair keypair)> GetRelayActorWithKeypairAsync() {
+		return await GetOrCreateSystemUserAndKeypairAsync("relay.actor");
+	}
+
+	private async Task<(User user, UserKeypair keypair)> GetOrCreateSystemUserAndKeypairAsync(string username) {
+		var user    = await GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync(username);
+		var keypair = await db.UserKeypairs.FirstAsync(p => p.User == user); //TODO: cache this in redis as well
+		
+		return (user, keypair);
+	}
+
+	private async Task<User> GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync(string username) {
+		return await cache.FetchAsync($"systemUser:{username}", TimeSpan.FromHours(24), async () => {
+			logger.LogTrace("GetOrCreateSystemUser delegate method called for user {username}", username);
+			return await db.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(p => p.UsernameLower == username &&
+			                                               p.Host == null) ??
+			       await CreateSystemUserAsync(username);
+		});
+	}
+
+	private async Task<User> CreateSystemUserAsync(string username) {
+		if (await db.Users.AnyAsync(p => p.UsernameLower == username.ToLowerInvariant() && p.Host == null))
+			throw new GracefulException($"System user {username} already exists");
+
+		var keypair = RSA.Create(4096);
+		var user = new User {
+			Id            = IdHelpers.GenerateSlowflakeId(),
+			CreatedAt     = DateTime.UtcNow,
+			Username      = username,
+			UsernameLower = username.ToLowerInvariant(),
+			Host          = null,
+			IsAdmin       = false,
+			IsLocked      = true,
+			IsExplorable  = false,
+			IsBot         = true
+		};
+
+		var userKeypair = new UserKeypair {
+			UserId     = user.Id,
+			PrivateKey = keypair.ExportPkcs8PrivateKeyPem(),
+			PublicKey  = keypair.ExportSubjectPublicKeyInfoPem()
+		};
+
+		var userProfile = new UserProfile {
+			UserId             = user.Id,
+			AutoAcceptFollowed = false,
+			Password           = null
+		};
+
+		var usedUsername = new UsedUsername {
+			CreatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow,
+			Username  = username.ToLowerInvariant()
+		};
+
+		await db.AddRangeAsync(user, userKeypair, userProfile, usedUsername);
+		await db.SaveChangesAsync();
+
+		return user;
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/UserService.cs b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/UserService.cs
index 4167c235..97be72e2 100644
--- a/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/UserService.cs
+++ b/Iceshrimp.Backend/Core/Services/UserService.cs
@@ -52,9 +52,7 @@ public class UserService(
 
 	public async Task<User> CreateUserAsync(string uri, string acct) {
 		logger.LogDebug("Creating user {acct} with uri {uri}", acct, uri);
-		var instanceActor        = await GetInstanceActorAsync();
-		var instanceActorKeypair = await db.UserKeypairs.FirstAsync(p => p.User == instanceActor);
-		var actor                = await fetchSvc.FetchActorAsync(uri, instanceActor, instanceActorKeypair);
+		var actor = await fetchSvc.FetchActorAsync(uri);
 		logger.LogDebug("Got actor: {url}", actor.Url);
 
 		actor.Normalize(uri, acct);
@@ -63,7 +61,7 @@ public class UserService(
 			Id            = IdHelpers.GenerateSlowflakeId(),
 			CreatedAt     = DateTime.UtcNow,
 			LastFetchedAt = DateTime.UtcNow,
-			DisplayName          = actor.DisplayName,
+			DisplayName   = actor.DisplayName,
 			IsLocked      = actor.IsLocked ?? false,
 			IsBot         = actor.IsBot,
 			Username      = actor.Username!,
@@ -153,62 +151,4 @@ public class UserService(
 
 		return user;
 	}
-
-
-	public async Task<User> GetInstanceActorAsync() {
-		return await GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync("instance.actor");
-	}
-
-	public async Task<User> GetRelayActorAsync() {
-		return await GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync("relay.actor");
-	}
-
-	private async Task<User> GetOrCreateSystemUserAsync(string username) {
-		return await cache.FetchAsync($"systemUser:{username}", TimeSpan.FromHours(24), async () => {
-			logger.LogTrace("GetOrCreateSystemUser delegate method called for user {username}", username);
-			return await db.Users.FirstOrDefaultAsync(p => p.UsernameLower == username &&
-			                                               p.Host == null) ??
-			       await CreateSystemUserAsync(username);
-		});
-	}
-
-	private async Task<User> CreateSystemUserAsync(string username) {
-		if (await db.Users.AnyAsync(p => p.UsernameLower == username.ToLowerInvariant() && p.Host == null))
-			throw new GracefulException($"System user {username} already exists");
-
-		var keypair = RSA.Create(4096);
-		var user = new User {
-			Id            = IdHelpers.GenerateSlowflakeId(),
-			CreatedAt     = DateTime.UtcNow,
-			Username      = username,
-			UsernameLower = username.ToLowerInvariant(),
-			Host          = null,
-			IsAdmin       = false,
-			IsLocked      = true,
-			IsExplorable  = false,
-			IsBot         = true
-		};
-
-		var userKeypair = new UserKeypair {
-			UserId     = user.Id,
-			PrivateKey = keypair.ExportPkcs8PrivateKeyPem(),
-			PublicKey  = keypair.ExportSubjectPublicKeyInfoPem()
-		};
-
-		var userProfile = new UserProfile {
-			UserId             = user.Id,
-			AutoAcceptFollowed = false,
-			Password           = null
-		};
-
-		var usedUsername = new UsedUsername {
-			CreatedAt = DateTime.UtcNow,
-			Username  = username.ToLowerInvariant()
-		};
-
-		await db.AddRangeAsync(user, userKeypair, userProfile, usedUsername);
-		await db.SaveChangesAsync();
-
-		return user;
-	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file