diff --git a/radicle-fetch/src/lib.rs b/radicle-fetch/src/lib.rs
index f49f62f1f..5357880ce 100644
--- a/radicle-fetch/src/lib.rs
+++ b/radicle-fetch/src/lib.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub use state::{FetchLimit, FetchResult};
 pub use transport::Transport;
 
 use radicle::crypto::PublicKey;
-use radicle::storage::refs::RefsAt;
+use radicle::storage::refs::SignedRefsUpdate;
 use radicle::storage::ReadRepository as _;
 use state::FetchState;
 use thiserror::Error;
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub fn pull<S>(
     handle: &mut Handle<S>,
     limit: FetchLimit,
     remote: PublicKey,
-    refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
+    refs_at: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
 ) -> Result<FetchResult, Error>
 where
     S: transport::ConnectionStream,
diff --git a/radicle-fetch/src/sigrefs.rs b/radicle-fetch/src/sigrefs.rs
index 7f0b41b08..54d788b2d 100644
--- a/radicle-fetch/src/sigrefs.rs
+++ b/radicle-fetch/src/sigrefs.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
-use std::ops::{Deref, Not as _};
+use std::ops::{Deref, DerefMut, Not as _};
 
-pub use radicle::storage::refs::SignedRefsAt;
+pub use radicle::storage::refs::{DiffedRefs, SignedRefsAt};
 pub use radicle::storage::{git::Validation, Validations};
+
+use radicle::storage::refs;
 use radicle::{crypto::PublicKey, storage::ValidateRepository};
 
 use crate::state::Cached;
@@ -150,6 +152,67 @@ impl<'a> IntoIterator for &'a RemoteRefs {
     }
 }
 
+/// A set of [`DiffedRefs`] per remote `PublicKey`.
+///
+/// To construct use [`DiffedRefs::load`].
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
+pub struct RemoteDiffedRefs(BTreeMap<PublicKey, DiffedRefs>);
+
+impl RemoteDiffedRefs {
+    /// Given a set of [`refs::RefsUpdate`]s, compute its
+    /// [`DiffedRefs`] and use its [`refs::RefsUpdate::remote`] as the
+    /// key for the `RemoteDiffedRefs` entry.
+    ///
+    /// If the `remote` is in the `may` set, then it is allowed to
+    /// fail and will not be inserted in the set iff it does fail to
+    /// load.
+    ///
+    /// If the `remote` is in the `must` set, then this method will
+    /// fail iff loading the `DiffedRefs` fails.
+    pub(crate) fn load<S>(
+        cached: &Cached<S>,
+        updates: Vec<refs::SignedRefsUpdate>,
+        Select { must, may }: Select,
+    ) -> Result<Self, error::Load> {
+        updates
+            .into_iter()
+            .try_fold(Self::default(), |mut refs, update| {
+                match cached.load_diffed_refs(&update) {
+                    Ok(diff) => {
+                        refs.insert(update.remote, diff);
+                        Ok(refs)
+                    }
+                    Err(e) if must.contains(&update.remote) => Err(e),
+                    Err(_) if may.contains(&update.remote) => Ok(refs),
+                    Err(e) => Err(e),
+                }
+            })
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for RemoteDiffedRefs {
+    type Target = BTreeMap<PublicKey, DiffedRefs>;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl DerefMut for RemoteDiffedRefs {
+    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
+        &mut self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'a> IntoIterator for &'a RemoteDiffedRefs {
+    type Item = <&'a BTreeMap<PublicKey, DiffedRefs> as IntoIterator>::Item;
+    type IntoIter = <&'a BTreeMap<PublicKey, DiffedRefs> as IntoIterator>::IntoIter;
+
+    fn into_iter(self) -> Self::IntoIter {
+        self.0.iter()
+    }
+}
+
 pub struct Select<'a> {
     pub must: &'a BTreeSet<PublicKey>,
     pub may: &'a BTreeSet<PublicKey>,
diff --git a/radicle-fetch/src/stage.rs b/radicle-fetch/src/stage.rs
index 50b61f348..7c2031814 100644
--- a/radicle-fetch/src/stage.rs
+++ b/radicle-fetch/src/stage.rs
@@ -15,17 +15,18 @@
 //!      `rad/sigrefs`, for each configured namespace, i.e. followed
 //!      and delegate peers if the scope is "followed" and all peers is the
 //!      scope is all.
-//!   3. [`DataRefs`]: fetches the `Oid`s for each reference listed in
-//!      the `rad/sigrefs` for each fetched peer in the
-//!      [`SpecialRefs`] stage. Additionally, any references that have
-//!      been removed from `rad/sigrefs` are marked for deletion.
+//!   3. [`DataRefs`]/[`DiffedRefs`]: fetches the `Oid`s for each
+//!      reference listed in the `rad/sigrefs` for each fetched peer
+//!      in the [`SpecialRefs`] stage. Additionally, any references
+//!      that have been removed from `rad/sigrefs` are marked for
+//!      deletion.
 //!
 //! ### Pull
 //!
 //! A `pull` is split into two stages:
 //!
 //!   1. [`SpecialRefs`]: see above.
-//!   2. [`DataRefs`]: see above.
+//!   2. [`DataRefs`]/[`DiffedRefs`]: see above.
 
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet, HashSet};
 
@@ -380,7 +381,7 @@ impl ProtocolStage for SigrefsAt {
 }
 
 /// The [`ProtocolStage`] for fetching data refs from the set of
-/// remotes in `trusted`.
+/// `remotes`.
 ///
 /// All refs that are listed in the `remotes` sigrefs are checked
 /// against our refdb/odb to build a set of `wants` and `haves`. The
@@ -493,6 +494,112 @@ impl ProtocolStage for DataRefs {
     }
 }
 
+/// The [`ProtocolStage`] that is similar to [`DataRefs`], however it
+/// is aware that it is an update of `rad/sigrefs`. This means that it
+/// will only compute `wants` and `haves` based on any modified
+/// `Oid`s.
+///
+/// All refs and objects are prepared for updating as per usual, since
+/// we keep track of in-memory references for validation.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct DiffedRefs {
+    /// The node that is being fetched from.
+    pub remote: PublicKey,
+    /// The set of signed references from each remote that was
+    /// fetched.
+    pub remotes: sigrefs::RemoteDiffedRefs,
+    /// The data limit for this stage of fetching.
+    pub limit: u64,
+}
+
+impl ProtocolStage for DiffedRefs {
+    fn ls_refs(&self) -> Option<NonEmpty<BString>> {
+        None
+    }
+
+    fn ref_filter(&self, _r: Ref) -> Option<ReceivedRef> {
+        None
+    }
+
+    fn pre_validate(&self, _refs: &[ReceivedRef]) -> Result<(), error::Layout> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn wants_haves(
+        &self,
+        refdb: &Repository,
+        _refs: &[ReceivedRef],
+    ) -> Result<WantsHaves, error::WantsHaves> {
+        let mut wants_haves = WantsHaves::default();
+
+        for (remote, refs) in &self.remotes {
+            wants_haves.add(
+                refdb,
+                refs.iter().filter_map(|(refname, up)| {
+                    let refname = Qualified::from_refstr(refname)
+                        .map(|refname| refname.with_namespace(Component::from(remote)))?;
+                    let tip = up.modified()?;
+                    Some((refname, *tip))
+                }),
+            )?;
+        }
+
+        Ok(wants_haves)
+    }
+
+    fn prepare_updates<'a>(
+        &self,
+        _s: &FetchState,
+        _repo: &Repository,
+        _refs: &'a [ReceivedRef],
+    ) -> Result<Updates<'a>, error::Prepare> {
+        use radicle::storage::refs::Update::{Added, Changed, Deleted, Same};
+
+        let mut updates = Updates::default();
+        let prefix_rad = refname!("refs/rad");
+
+        for (remote, refs) in &self.remotes {
+            for (name, up) in refs.iter() {
+                let is_refs_rad = name.starts_with(prefix_rad.as_str());
+                let tracking: Namespaced<'_> = Qualified::from_refstr(name)
+                    .and_then(|q| refs::ReceivedRefname::remote(*remote, q).to_namespaced())
+                    .expect("we checked sigrefs well-formedness in wants_refs already");
+                match up {
+                    Added { oid } | Changed { oid } => updates.add(
+                        *remote,
+                        Update::Direct {
+                            name: tracking,
+                            target: *oid,
+                            no_ff: Policy::Allow,
+                        },
+                    ),
+                    Deleted { oid } if !is_refs_rad => updates.add(
+                        *remote,
+                        Update::Prune {
+                            name: tracking,
+                            prev: either::Left(*oid),
+                        },
+                    ),
+                    // N.b. create an update for this reference so
+                    // that the in-memory refdb is updated.
+                    Same { oid } => updates.add(
+                        *remote,
+                        Update::Direct {
+                            name: tracking,
+                            target: *oid,
+                            no_ff: Policy::Allow,
+                        },
+                    ),
+                    // N.b. `refs/rad` is not subject to pruning.
+                    Deleted { .. } => continue,
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Ok(updates)
+    }
+}
+
 // N.b. the `delegates` are the delegates of the repository, with the
 // potential removal of the local peer in the case of a `pull`.
 fn special_refs_updates<'a>(
diff --git a/radicle-fetch/src/state.rs b/radicle-fetch/src/state.rs
index 2f6a4c418..f12f744ca 100644
--- a/radicle-fetch/src/state.rs
+++ b/radicle-fetch/src/state.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use radicle::identity::{Doc, DocError};
 
 use radicle::prelude::Verified;
 use radicle::storage;
-use radicle::storage::refs::{RefsAt, SignedRefs};
+use radicle::storage::refs::{RefsAt, SignedRefs, SignedRefsUpdate};
 use radicle::storage::{
     git::Validation, Remote, RemoteId, RemoteRepository, Remotes, ValidateRepository, Validations,
 };
@@ -273,18 +273,23 @@ impl FetchState {
         Ok(fetched)
     }
 
-    /// Fetch the set of special refs, depending on `refs_at`.
+    /// Fetch the set of special refs, depending on `refs_updates`.
     ///
-    /// If `refs_at` is `Some`, then run the [`SigrefsAt`] stage,
+    /// If `refs_updates` is `Some`, then run the [`SigrefsAt`] stage,
     /// which specifically fetches `rad/sigrefs` which are listed in
-    /// `refs_at`.
+    /// `refs_at`. It then runs the [`DiffedRefs`] stage to fetch the
+    /// difference between old references listed existing
+    /// `rad/sigrefs` and the new `rad/sigrefs` fetched in the
+    /// previous step.
     ///
-    /// If `refs_at` is `None`, then run the [`SpecialRefs`] stage,
-    /// which fetches `rad/sigrefs` and `rad/id` from all tracked and
-    /// delegate peers (scope dependent).
+    /// If `refs_updates` is `None`, then run the [`SpecialRefs`]
+    /// stage, which fetches `rad/sigrefs` and `rad/id` from all
+    /// tracked and delegate peers (scope dependent). It then runs the
+    /// [`DataRefs`] stage to fetch the references listed in the
+    /// `rad/sigrefs` fetched in the previous step.
     ///
-    /// The resulting [`sigrefs::RemoteRefs`] will be the set of
-    /// `rad/sigrefs` of the fetched remotes.
+    /// The resulting `Vec<PublicKey>` will be the set of fetched
+    /// remotes.
     fn run_special_refs<S>(
         &mut self,
         handle: &mut Handle<S>,
@@ -292,18 +297,19 @@ impl FetchState {
         delegates: BTreeSet<PublicKey>,
         limit: &FetchLimit,
         remote: PublicKey,
-        refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
-    ) -> Result<sigrefs::RemoteRefs, error::Protocol>
+        refs_updates: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
+    ) -> Result<Vec<PublicKey>, error::Protocol>
     where
         S: transport::ConnectionStream,
     {
-        match refs_at {
-            Some(refs_at) => {
-                let (must, may): (BTreeSet<PublicKey>, BTreeSet<PublicKey>) = refs_at
+        match refs_updates {
+            Some(refs_updates) => {
+                let (must, may): (BTreeSet<PublicKey>, BTreeSet<PublicKey>) = refs_updates
                     .iter()
                     .map(|refs_at| refs_at.remote)
                     .partition(|id| delegates.contains(id));
 
+                let refs_at = refs_updates.iter().map(RefsAt::from).collect();
                 let sigrefs_at = stage::SigrefsAt {
                     remote,
                     delegates,
@@ -314,14 +320,22 @@ impl FetchState {
                 log::trace!(target: "fetch", "{sigrefs_at:?}");
                 self.run_stage(handle, handshake, &sigrefs_at)?;
 
-                let signed_refs = sigrefs::RemoteRefs::load(
+                let remotes = sigrefs::RemoteDiffedRefs::load(
                     &self.as_cached(handle),
+                    refs_updates,
                     sigrefs::Select {
                         must: &must,
                         may: &may,
                     },
                 )?;
-                Ok(signed_refs)
+                let fetched = remotes.keys().copied().collect();
+                let refs = stage::DiffedRefs {
+                    remote,
+                    remotes,
+                    limit: limit.refs,
+                };
+                self.run_stage(handle, handshake, &refs)?;
+                Ok(fetched)
             }
             None => {
                 let followed = handle.allowed();
@@ -336,7 +350,7 @@ impl FetchState {
                 log::trace!(target: "fetch", "{special_refs:?}");
                 let fetched = self.run_stage(handle, handshake, &special_refs)?;
 
-                let signed_refs = sigrefs::RemoteRefs::load(
+                let remotes = sigrefs::RemoteRefs::load(
                     &self.as_cached(handle),
                     sigrefs::Select {
                         must: &delegates,
@@ -347,7 +361,14 @@ impl FetchState {
                             .collect(),
                     },
                 )?;
-                Ok(signed_refs)
+                let fetched = remotes.keys().copied().collect();
+                let refs = stage::DataRefs {
+                    remote,
+                    remotes,
+                    limit: limit.refs,
+                };
+                self.run_stage(handle, handshake, &refs)?;
+                Ok(fetched)
             }
         }
     }
@@ -374,7 +395,7 @@ impl FetchState {
         handshake: &handshake::Outcome,
         limit: FetchLimit,
         remote: PublicKey,
-        refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
+        refs_at: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
     ) -> Result<FetchResult, error::Protocol>
     where
         S: transport::ConnectionStream,
@@ -413,7 +434,7 @@ impl FetchState {
 
         log::trace!(target: "fetch", "Identity delegates {delegates:?}");
 
-        let signed_refs = self.run_special_refs(
+        let fetched = self.run_special_refs(
             handle,
             handshake,
             delegates.clone(),
@@ -421,23 +442,10 @@ impl FetchState {
             remote,
             refs_at,
         )?;
-        log::debug!(
-            target: "fetch",
-            "Fetched rad/sigrefs for {} remotes ({}ms)",
-            signed_refs.len(),
-            start.elapsed().as_millis()
-        );
-
-        let data_refs = stage::DataRefs {
-            remote,
-            remotes: signed_refs,
-            limit: limit.refs,
-        };
-        self.run_stage(handle, handshake, &data_refs)?;
         log::debug!(
             target: "fetch",
             "Fetched data refs for {} remotes ({}ms)",
-            data_refs.remotes.len(),
+            fetched.len(),
             start.elapsed().as_millis()
         );
 
@@ -459,7 +467,6 @@ impl FetchState {
         // added to `warnings`.
         let mut warnings = sigrefs::Validations::default();
         let mut failures = sigrefs::Validations::default();
-        let signed_refs = data_refs.remotes;
 
         // We may prune fetched remotes, so we keep track of
         // non-pruned, fetched remotes here.
@@ -467,7 +474,7 @@ impl FetchState {
 
         // TODO(finto): this might read better if it got its own
         // private function.
-        for remote in signed_refs.keys() {
+        for remote in &fetched {
             if handle.is_blocked(remote) {
                 continue;
             }
@@ -637,6 +644,13 @@ impl<'a, S> Cached<'a, S> {
         }
     }
 
+    pub fn load_diffed_refs(
+        &self,
+        update: &SignedRefsUpdate,
+    ) -> Result<storage::refs::DiffedRefs, sigrefs::error::Load> {
+        update.difference(&self.handle.repo)
+    }
+
     #[allow(dead_code)]
     pub(crate) fn inspect(&self) {
         self.state.refs.inspect()
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service.rs b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
index 433d46e40..2ff250f40 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service.rs
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ use radicle::node::routing::Store as _;
 use radicle::node::seed;
 use radicle::node::seed::Store as _;
 use radicle::node::{ConnectOptions, Penalty, Severity};
+use radicle::storage::refs::SignedRefsUpdate;
 use radicle::storage::RepositoryError;
 
 use crate::crypto;
@@ -250,7 +251,7 @@ struct FetchState {
     /// Node we're fetching from.
     from: NodeId,
     /// What refs we're fetching.
-    refs_at: Vec<RefsAt>,
+    refs_at: Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>,
     /// Channels waiting for fetch results.
     subscribers: Vec<chan::Sender<FetchResult>>,
 }
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ struct QueuedFetch {
     /// Peer being fetched from.
     from: NodeId,
     /// Refs being fetched.
-    refs_at: Vec<RefsAt>,
+    refs_at: Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>,
     /// Result channel.
     channel: Option<chan::Sender<FetchResult>>,
 }
@@ -806,7 +807,7 @@ where
         &mut self,
         rid: RepoId,
         from: NodeId,
-        refs: NonEmpty<RefsAt>,
+        refs: NonEmpty<SignedRefsUpdate>,
         timeout: time::Duration,
         channel: Option<chan::Sender<FetchResult>>,
     ) {
@@ -828,7 +829,7 @@ where
         &mut self,
         rid: RepoId,
         from: NodeId,
-        refs_at: Vec<RefsAt>,
+        refs_at: Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>,
         timeout: time::Duration,
         channel: Option<chan::Sender<FetchResult>>,
     ) {
@@ -883,7 +884,7 @@ where
         &mut self,
         rid: RepoId,
         from: &NodeId,
-        refs_at: Vec<RefsAt>,
+        refs_at: Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>,
         timeout: time::Duration,
     ) -> Result<&mut FetchState, TryFetchError> {
         let from = *from;
@@ -1043,6 +1044,7 @@ where
                 .seed_policy(&rid)
                 .expect("Service::dequeue_fetch: error accessing repo seeding configuration");
 
+            let refs_at = refs_at.iter().map(RefsAt::from).collect();
             match self.refs_status_of(rid, refs_at, &repo_entry.scope) {
                 Ok(status) => {
                     if let Some(refs) = NonEmpty::from_vec(status.fresh) {
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service/io.rs b/radicle-node/src/service/io.rs
index a4c9fc58c..b04daea5c 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service/io.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service/io.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::collections::VecDeque;
 use std::time;
 
 use log::*;
-use radicle::storage::refs::RefsAt;
+use radicle::storage::refs::SignedRefsUpdate;
 
 use crate::prelude::*;
 use crate::service::session::Session;
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ pub enum Io {
         /// Namespaces being fetched.
         namespaces: Namespaces,
         /// If the node is fetching specific `rad/sigrefs`.
-        refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
+        refs_at: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
         /// Fetch timeout.
         timeout: time::Duration,
     },
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ impl Outbox {
         remote: &mut Session,
         rid: RepoId,
         namespaces: Namespaces,
-        refs_at: Vec<RefsAt>,
+        refs_at: Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>,
         timeout: time::Duration,
     ) {
         remote.fetching(rid);
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs b/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
index be8e686a8..d748e1b17 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/service/message.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use std::{fmt, io, mem};
 
 use radicle::git;
-use radicle::storage::refs::RefsAt;
+use radicle::storage::refs::{RefsAt, SignedRefsUpdate};
 use radicle::storage::ReadRepository;
 
 use crate::crypto;
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ pub struct RefsAnnouncement {
 pub struct RefsStatus {
     /// The `rad/sigrefs` was missing or it's ahead of the local
     /// `rad/sigrefs`.
-    pub fresh: Vec<RefsAt>,
+    pub fresh: Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>,
     /// The `rad/sigrefs` has been seen before.
     pub stale: Vec<RefsAt>,
 }
@@ -188,10 +188,18 @@ impl RefsStatus {
             // announcement "fresh", since we obviously don't
             // have the refs.
             Err(e) if e.is_not_found() => {
+                let fresh = refs
+                    .into_iter()
+                    .map(|RefsAt { remote, at }| SignedRefsUpdate {
+                        remote,
+                        old: None,
+                        new: at,
+                    })
+                    .collect();
                 return Ok(RefsStatus {
-                    fresh: refs.clone(),
+                    fresh,
                     stale: Vec::new(),
-                })
+                });
             }
             Err(e) => return Err(e),
             Ok(r) => r,
@@ -212,12 +220,20 @@ impl RefsStatus {
         match RefsAt::new(repo, theirs.remote) {
             Ok(ours) => {
                 if Self::is_fresh(repo, theirs.at, ours.at)? {
-                    self.fresh.push(theirs);
+                    self.fresh.push(SignedRefsUpdate {
+                        remote: theirs.remote,
+                        old: Some(ours.at),
+                        new: theirs.at,
+                    });
                 } else {
                     self.stale.push(theirs);
                 }
             }
-            Err(e) if git::is_not_found_err(&e) => self.fresh.push(theirs),
+            Err(e) if git::is_not_found_err(&e) => self.fresh.push(SignedRefsUpdate {
+                remote: theirs.remote,
+                old: None,
+                new: theirs.at,
+            }),
             Err(e) => {
                 log::warn!(
                     target: "service",
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/worker.rs b/radicle-node/src/worker.rs
index 2db99c89f..6c97020ed 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/worker.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/worker.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use crossbeam_channel as chan;
 use radicle::identity::RepoId;
 use radicle::node::notifications;
 use radicle::prelude::NodeId;
-use radicle::storage::refs::RefsAt;
+use radicle::storage::refs::SignedRefsUpdate;
 use radicle::storage::{ReadRepository, ReadStorage};
 use radicle::{cob, crypto, Storage};
 use radicle_fetch::FetchLimit;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ pub enum FetchRequest {
         /// Remote peer we are interacting with.
         remote: NodeId,
         /// If this fetch is for a particular set of `rad/sigrefs`.
-        refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
+        refs_at: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
         /// Fetch timeout.
         timeout: time::Duration,
     },
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ impl Worker {
         &mut self,
         rid: RepoId,
         remote: NodeId,
-        refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
+        refs_at: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
         channels: channels::ChannelsFlush,
         notifs: notifications::StoreWriter,
         mut cache: cob::cache::StoreWriter,
diff --git a/radicle-node/src/worker/fetch.rs b/radicle-node/src/worker/fetch.rs
index eef99370f..aeceebfbc 100644
--- a/radicle-node/src/worker/fetch.rs
+++ b/radicle-node/src/worker/fetch.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use localtime::LocalTime;
 
 use radicle::crypto::PublicKey;
 use radicle::prelude::RepoId;
-use radicle::storage::refs::RefsAt;
+use radicle::storage::refs::SignedRefsUpdate;
 use radicle::storage::{
     ReadRepository, ReadStorage as _, RefUpdate, RemoteRepository, WriteRepository as _,
 };
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ impl Handle {
         cache: &mut cob::cache::StoreWriter,
         limit: FetchLimit,
         remote: PublicKey,
-        refs_at: Option<Vec<RefsAt>>,
+        refs_at: Option<Vec<SignedRefsUpdate>>,
     ) -> Result<FetchResult, error::Fetch> {
         let (result, notifs) = match self {
             Self::Clone { mut handle, tmp } => {
diff --git a/radicle/src/storage/refs.rs b/radicle/src/storage/refs.rs
index f5cd33afd..37d259535 100644
--- a/radicle/src/storage/refs.rs
+++ b/radicle/src/storage/refs.rs
@@ -437,6 +437,156 @@ impl Deref for SignedRefsAt {
     }
 }
 
+/// A snapshot of a `rad/sigrefs` update.
+///
+/// If `old` is `None` then this is a newly seen `rad/sigrefs`,
+/// otherwise it is an update from `old` to `new`.
+///
+/// The [`RefsUpdate::difference`] method will compute the difference
+/// between the two `Oid`s, returning [`DiffedRefs`].
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct SignedRefsUpdate {
+    /// The remote namespace of the `rad/sigrefs`.
+    pub remote: RemoteId,
+    /// The commit SHA of the previously seen `rad/sigrefs`.
+    pub old: Option<Oid>,
+    /// The commit SHA of the newly seen `rad/sigrefs`.
+    pub new: Oid,
+}
+
+/// A difference update between two references in a `rad/sigrefs`
+/// payload.
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum Update {
+    /// The reference was added and points to `oid`.
+    Added { oid: Oid },
+    /// The reference was changed to point to `oid`.
+    Changed { oid: Oid },
+    /// The reference was deleted and used to point to `oid`.
+    Deleted { oid: Oid },
+    /// The reference was not changed, and still points to `oid`.
+    Same { oid: Oid },
+}
+
+impl Update {
+    /// Return the `oid` of the update if it was `Added` or `Changed`.
+    pub fn modified(&self) -> Option<&Oid> {
+        match self {
+            Update::Added { oid } => Some(oid),
+            Update::Changed { oid } => Some(oid),
+            Update::Deleted { .. } | Update::Same { .. } => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Return the `oid` of the update.
+    fn oid(&self) -> &Oid {
+        match self {
+            Update::Added { oid } => oid,
+            Update::Changed { oid } => oid,
+            Update::Deleted { oid } => oid,
+            Update::Same { oid } => oid,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The set of [`Update`]s for a given [`git::RefString`].
+///
+/// To construct a `DiffedRefs` use [`RefsUpdate::difference`].
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Default)]
+pub struct DiffedRefs(BTreeMap<git::RefString, Update>);
+
+impl Deref for DiffedRefs {
+    type Target = BTreeMap<git::RefString, Update>;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl DerefMut for DiffedRefs {
+    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
+        &mut self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl SignedRefsUpdate {
+    /// Get the difference between [`RefsUpdate::old`], if it exists,
+    /// and [`RefsUpdate::new`].
+    ///
+    /// If `old` is `None`, then all `Updates`s are `Added`.
+    ///
+    /// Otherwise, they are computed to be:
+    ///    - `Added` if the reference only exists in `new`.
+    ///    - `Changed` if the reference exists in `old` and `new`,
+    ///       and the `oid`s are different.
+    ///    - `Deleted` if the reference only exists in `old`.
+    ///    - `Same` if the reference exists in `old` and `new`, and
+    ///      the `oid`s are the same.
+    pub fn difference<S>(&self, repo: &S) -> Result<DiffedRefs, Error>
+    where
+        S: ReadRepository,
+    {
+        let new = self.load_new(repo)?;
+        let mut refs = DiffedRefs(
+            new.iter()
+                .map(|(refname, oid)| (refname.clone(), Update::Added { oid: *oid }))
+                .collect::<BTreeMap<_, _>>(),
+        );
+
+        match self.load_old(repo)? {
+            None => Ok(refs),
+            Some(old) => {
+                for (refname, old) in old.sigrefs.iter() {
+                    refs.entry(refname.clone())
+                        .and_modify(|update| {
+                            // N.b. we rely on the fact that is always the
+                            // newly added Oid.
+                            let new = update.oid();
+                            if new == old {
+                                *update = Update::Same { oid: *new };
+                            } else {
+                                *update = Update::Changed { oid: *update.oid() };
+                            }
+                        })
+                        .or_insert(Update::Deleted { oid: *old });
+                }
+                Ok(refs)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn load_old<S>(&self, repo: &S) -> Result<Option<SignedRefsAt>, Error>
+    where
+        S: ReadRepository,
+    {
+        self.old
+            .map(|at| {
+                RefsAt {
+                    remote: self.remote,
+                    at,
+                }
+                .load(repo)
+            })
+            .transpose()
+    }
+
+    fn load_new<S>(&self, repo: &S) -> Result<SignedRefsAt, Error>
+    where
+        S: ReadRepository,
+    {
+        RefsAt::from(self).load(repo)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&SignedRefsUpdate> for RefsAt {
+    fn from(up: &SignedRefsUpdate) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            remote: up.remote,
+            at: up.new,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 pub mod canonical {
     use super::*;