diff --git a/libp2p/__init__.py b/libp2p/__init__.py
index 88ae3b54..5c738ed7 100644
--- a/libp2p/__init__.py
+++ b/libp2p/__init__.py
@@ -154,9 +154,9 @@ async def new_node(
     # TODO routing unimplemented
     host: IHost  # If not explicitly typed, MyPy raises error
     if disc_opt:
-        host = RoutedHost(swarm_opt, disc_opt)
+        host = RoutedHost(key_pair.public_key, swarm_opt, disc_opt)
     else:
-        host = BasicHost(swarm_opt)
+        host = BasicHost(key_pair.public_key, swarm_opt)
 
     # Kick off cleanup job
     asyncio.ensure_future(cleanup_done_tasks())
diff --git a/libp2p/host/basic_host.py b/libp2p/host/basic_host.py
index 0a5dae7b..73218d32 100644
--- a/libp2p/host/basic_host.py
+++ b/libp2p/host/basic_host.py
@@ -46,9 +46,11 @@ class BasicHost(IHost):
 
     def __init__(
         self,
+        public_key: PublicKey,
         network: INetwork,
         default_protocols: "OrderedDict[TProtocol, StreamHandlerFn]" = None,
     ) -> None:
+        self._public_key = public_key
         self._network = network
         self._network.set_stream_handler(self._swarm_stream_handler)
         self.peerstore = self._network.peerstore
@@ -63,6 +65,9 @@ class BasicHost(IHost):
         """
         return self._network.get_peer_id()
 
+    def get_public_key(self) -> PublicKey:
+        return self._public_key
+
     def get_network(self) -> INetwork:
         """
         :return: network instance of host
diff --git a/libp2p/host/host_interface.py b/libp2p/host/host_interface.py
index 6a326b97..9e557969 100644
--- a/libp2p/host/host_interface.py
+++ b/libp2p/host/host_interface.py
@@ -17,6 +17,12 @@ class IHost(ABC):
         :return: peer_id of host
         """
 
+    @abstractmethod
+    def get_public_key(self) -> PublicKey:
+        """
+        :return: the public key belonging to the peer
+        """
+
     @abstractmethod
     def get_network(self) -> INetwork:
         """
diff --git a/libp2p/host/routed_host.py b/libp2p/host/routed_host.py
index 78b6fa54..e253ce1c 100644
--- a/libp2p/host/routed_host.py
+++ b/libp2p/host/routed_host.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from libp2p.crypto.keys import PublicKey
 from libp2p.host.basic_host import BasicHost
 from libp2p.host.exceptions import ConnectionFailure
 from libp2p.network.network_interface import INetwork
@@ -10,8 +11,8 @@ from libp2p.routing.interfaces import IPeerRouting
 class RoutedHost(BasicHost):
     _router: IPeerRouting
 
-    def __init__(self, network: INetwork, router: IPeerRouting):
-        super().__init__(network)
+    def __init__(self, public_key: PublicKey, network: INetwork, router: IPeerRouting):
+        super().__init__(public_key, network)
         self._router = router
 
     async def connect(self, peer_info: PeerInfo) -> None: