diff --git a/apps/web/e2e/retirement.spec.ts b/apps/web/e2e/retirement.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3af8895
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/web/e2e/retirement.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,141 @@
+/**
+ * E2E scenarios for certificate retirement and post-retirement verification — issue #596.
+ *
+ * The retirement model (ADR-006) uses a contract-managed burn: the energy_token
+ * contract's `retire` function decrements the caller's balance permanently and
+ * records the event in audit_registry. The public verifier at /verify reflects
+ * the retired state.
+ *
+ * These tests mock the API layer so they run without a live Stellar network.
+ */
+
+import { expect, test } from '@playwright/test'
+
+// ── Shared fixture data ────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+const activeCertificate = {
+  certificate: {
+    id: 'cert-active-001',
+    kwh: 25,
+    issued_at: '2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z',
+    retired: false,
+    retired_at: null,
+    retired_by: null,
+  },
+  on_chain: {
+    anchor_tx: 'anchor_tx_active',
+    anchor_explorer: 'https://stellar.explorer/tx/anchor_tx_active',
+    mint_tx: 'mint_tx_active',
+    mint_explorer: 'https://stellar.explorer/tx/mint_tx_active',
+  },
+  meter_proof: {
+    meter_id: 'meter-001',
+    reading_hash: 'aabbccdd11223344',
+    signature_hex: 'deadbeefdeadbeef',
+    kwh: 25,
+    timestamp: '2025-06-01T00:00:00.000Z',
+    verified: true,
+  },
+}
+
+const retiredCertificate = {
+  certificate: {
+    id: 'cert-retired-002',
+    kwh: 50,
+    issued_at: '2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z',
+    retired: true,
+    retired_at: '2025-06-10T12:00:00.000Z',
+    retired_by: 'GABC1234RETIREDBYADDRESS',
+  },
+  on_chain: {
+    anchor_tx: 'anchor_tx_retired',
+    anchor_explorer: 'https://stellar.explorer/tx/anchor_tx_retired',
+    mint_tx: 'mint_tx_retired',
+    mint_explorer: 'https://stellar.explorer/tx/mint_tx_retired',
+    retire_tx: 'retire_tx_002',
+    retire_explorer: 'https://stellar.explorer/tx/retire_tx_002',
+  },
+  meter_proof: {
+    meter_id: 'meter-001',
+    reading_hash: '11223344aabbccdd',
+    signature_hex: 'cafebabecafebabe',
+    kwh: 50,
+    timestamp: '2025-05-01T00:00:00.000Z',
+    verified: true,
+  },
+}
+
+// ── Route helper ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+function mockVerifyRoute(
+  page: import('@playwright/test').Page,
+  responses: Record<string, object | null>
+) {
+  return page.route('**/api/verify**', async (route) => {
+    const id = new URL(route.request().url()).searchParams.get('id')
+    const body = id ? responses[id] : null
+    if (body) {
+      await route.fulfill({ status: 200, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify(body) })
+    } else {
+      await route.fulfill({ status: 404, contentType: 'application/json', body: JSON.stringify({ error: 'Certificate not found' }) })
+    }
+  })
+}
+
+// ── Tests ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+test.describe('Certificate retirement — verifier UI', () => {
+  test('active certificate shows no retirement indicator', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockVerifyRoute(page, { 'cert-active-001': activeCertificate })
+    await page.goto('/verify')
+    const input = page.locator('input[type="text"], input[placeholder*="certificate" i], input[placeholder*="ID" i]').first()
+    await input.fill('cert-active-001')
+    await Promise.all([
+      page.waitForResponse('**/api/verify**'),
+      page.click('button:has-text("Verify")'),
+    ])
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Certificate verified successfully.')).toBeVisible()
+    // Active certificate must NOT show a retirement notice
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Retired')).not.toBeVisible()
+    await expect(page.locator('text=retired')).not.toBeVisible()
+  })
+
+  test('retired certificate shows retirement status and retire tx link', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockVerifyRoute(page, { 'cert-retired-002': retiredCertificate })
+    await page.goto('/verify')
+    const input = page.locator('input[type="text"], input[placeholder*="certificate" i], input[placeholder*="ID" i]').first()
+    await input.fill('cert-retired-002')
+    await Promise.all([
+      page.waitForResponse('**/api/verify**'),
+      page.click('button:has-text("Verify")'),
+    ])
+    // Verifier must reflect the retired state
+    await expect(page.locator('text=/retired/i').first()).toBeVisible()
+  })
+
+  test('retired certificate still shows full chain-of-custody proof', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockVerifyRoute(page, { 'cert-retired-002': retiredCertificate })
+    await page.goto('/verify')
+    const input = page.locator('input[type="text"], input[placeholder*="certificate" i], input[placeholder*="ID" i]').first()
+    await input.fill('cert-retired-002')
+    await Promise.all([
+      page.waitForResponse('**/api/verify**'),
+      page.click('button:has-text("Verify")'),
+    ])
+    // On-chain proof and Ed25519 proof must still appear for retired certs
+    await expect(page.locator('text=On-chain proof')).toBeVisible()
+    await expect(page.locator('text=Ed25519 verified')).toBeVisible()
+  })
+
+  test('unknown certificate ID shows error state', async ({ page }) => {
+    await mockVerifyRoute(page, {})
+    await page.goto('/verify')
+    const input = page.locator('input[type="text"], input[placeholder*="certificate" i], input[placeholder*="ID" i]').first()
+    await input.fill('cert-does-not-exist')
+    await Promise.all([
+      page.waitForResponse('**/api/verify**'),
+      page.click('button:has-text("Verify")'),
+    ])
+    await expect(page.locator('div[role="alert"]')).toBeVisible()
+  })
+})