diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 2d76715..205cd07 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -78,6 +78,46 @@ jobs:
           kill $SERVER_PID || true
 
 
+      # JWT / Operator Auth
+      - name: Test JWT Auth
+        run: |
+          # 1. Install nsc (Tool to generate NATS JWTs)
+          curl -L https://github.com/nats-io/nsc/releases/download/v2.10.2/nsc-linux-amd64.zip -o nsc.zip
+          unzip nsc.zip
+          sudo mv nsc /usr/local/bin/
+
+          # 2. Setup PKI (Operator -> Account)
+          # Initialize a new Operator and Account locally
+          nsc init -n CI_OP --dir ./nsc_store
+          nsc add account -n CI_ACC
+          
+          # 3. Generate Server Config
+          # --mem-resolver embeds the Account JWT directly into the config file.
+          # This allows the server to validate users without needing an external URL/server.
+          nsc generate config --mem-resolver --config-file ./nsc_store/resolver.conf
+
+          # 4. Create a User Dynamically
+          # We mint a new user signed by the CI_ACC account
+          nsc add user -n CI_USER
+          nsc generate creds -a CI_ACC -n CI_USER > user.creds
+
+          # 5. Extract Credentials
+          # The .creds file contains the JWT (starts with 'eyJ') and the Seed (starts with 'S')
+          # We parse them out to pass as environment variables
+          JWT_VAL=$(grep -v '\-\-\-' user.creds | grep 'eyJ')
+          SEED_VAL=$(grep -v '\-\-\-' user.creds | grep '^S')
+
+          # 6. Start Server & Run Test
+          # Start NATS with the generated resolver config (Port 4226)
+          nats-server -c ./nsc_store/resolver.conf -p 4226 &
+          SERVER_PID=$!
+          sleep 2
+
+          # Run the test passing the extracted credentials
+          NATS_JWT="$JWT_VAL" NATS_NKEY_SEED="$SEED_VAL" zig build integration-test --summary all
+
+          kill $SERVER_PID || true
+
       # Run Unit Tests without NATS server
       # mem leaks removed & ConnError handled
       - name: Run Unit Tests without NATS Server
diff --git a/src/Conn.zig b/src/Conn.zig
index 7c834a8..6882653 100644
--- a/src/Conn.zig
+++ b/src/Conn.zig
@@ -132,7 +132,10 @@ fn _connect(cn: *Conn, allocator: Allocator, co: protocol.ConnectOpts) !void {
 
             // Extract public key from seed (returns base32-encoded with "U" prefix)
             // This is sent to server so it knows which key signed the nonce
-            nkey_pubkey = try nkeys.extractPublicKey(allocator, nkey_seed);
+            // If JWT is used, NKey public key is not sent
+            if (co.jwt == null) {
+                nkey_pubkey = try nkeys.extractPublicKey(allocator, nkey_seed);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/integration_tests.zig b/src/integration_tests.zig
index ee2ec56..d3bbdac 100644
--- a/src/integration_tests.zig
+++ b/src/integration_tests.zig
@@ -8,6 +8,30 @@ const protocol = @import("protocol.zig");
 const Conn = @import("Conn.zig");
 const Core = @import("Core.zig");
 
+test "Auth: JWT Authentication" {
+    const allocator = std.testing.allocator;
+
+    // 1. Read Env Vars
+    // Get environment variables
+    var envs = try std.process.getEnvMap(allocator);
+    defer envs.deinit();
+
+    const jwt = envs.get("NATS_JWT") orelse return error.SkipZigTest;
+    const seed = envs.get("NATS_NKEY_SEED") orelse return error.SkipZigTest;
+
+    // 2. Connect using both JWT and Seed
+    var core = Core{};
+    try core.CONNECT(allocator, .{
+        .addr = "127.0.0.1",
+        .port = 4226,
+        .jwt = jwt,
+        .nkey = seed, // The seed is needed to sign the nonce
+    });
+    defer core.DISCONNECT();
+    // 3. Verify connection by pinging the server
+    try core.PING();
+}
+
 test "Auth: Token Authentication" {
     const allocator = testing.allocator;
 
@@ -69,6 +93,7 @@ test "Auth: NKey Authentication" {
 
     // Only run if NATS_NKEY_SEED env var is set
     const seed = envs.get("NATS_NKEY_SEED") orelse return error.SkipZigTest;
+    if (envs.get("NATS_JWT") != null) return error.SkipZigTest;
 
     var core = Core{};
     try core.CONNECT(allocator, .{
diff --git a/src/protocol.zig b/src/protocol.zig
index 269edac..d1cdfcb 100644
--- a/src/protocol.zig
+++ b/src/protocol.zig
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ pub const ConnectOpts = struct {
     addr: ?[]const u8 = DefaultAddr,
     /// Server port.
     port: ?u16 = DefaultPort,
+    jwt: ?[]const u8 = null,
     auth_token: ?[]const u8 = null,
     user: ?[]const u8 = null,
     pass: ?[]const u8 = null,
@@ -52,6 +53,7 @@ const ConnectMessage = struct {
     verbose: bool = false,
     pedantic: bool = false,
     tls_required: bool = false,
+    jwt: ?[]const u8 = null,
     nkey: ?[]const u8 = null,
     sig: ?[]const u8 = null,
     auth_token: ?[]const u8 = null,
@@ -105,7 +107,10 @@ pub fn buildConnectString(
 
     // Build the message structure
     const message = ConnectMessage{
-        .nkey = nkey_pubkey,
+        .jwt = opts.jwt,
+        // if JWT is used, NKey public key is not sent
+        .nkey = if (opts.jwt != null) null else nkey_pubkey,
+        // nkey_pubkey,
         .sig = nkey_sig,
         .auth_token = opts.auth_token,
         .user = opts.user,