diff --git a/crates/storage/src/store.rs b/crates/storage/src/store.rs
index b7e4e6b2..04b42745 100644
--- a/crates/storage/src/store.rs
+++ b/crates/storage/src/store.rs
@@ -261,6 +261,32 @@ impl PayloadBuffer {
             .collect()
     }
 
+    /// Prune payload entries whose attestation target slot is at or below `finalized_slot`.
+    ///
+    /// Mirrors leanSpec's `prune_stale_attestation_data`: an entry is stale once its
+    /// target checkpoint is finalized — it can no longer contribute to fork choice and
+    /// keeping it around only pollutes `existing_proofs_for_data` lookups, occasionally
+    /// forcing recursive aggregation when plain XMSS aggregation would suffice.
+    ///
+    /// Returns the number of data_root entries removed.
+    fn prune(&mut self, finalized_slot: u64) -> usize {
+        let before = self.data.len();
+        let total_proofs = &mut self.total_proofs;
+        self.data.retain(|_root, entry| {
+            if entry.data.target.slot > finalized_slot {
+                true
+            } else {
+                *total_proofs -= entry.proofs.len();
+                false
+            }
+        });
+        let pruned = before - self.data.len();
+        if pruned > 0 {
+            self.order.retain(|r| self.data.contains_key(r));
+        }
+        pruned
+    }
+
     /// Extract per-validator latest attestations from proofs' participation bits.
     ///
     /// Iterates entries in insertion order (via `self.order`) so that, when two
@@ -400,20 +426,20 @@ impl GossipSignatureBuffer {
     ///
     /// Returns the number of data_root entries pruned.
     fn prune(&mut self, finalized_slot: u64) -> usize {
-        let mut pruned_roots: HashSet<H256> = HashSet::new();
-        self.data.retain(|root, entry| {
+        let before = self.data.len();
+        self.data.retain(|_root, entry| {
             if entry.data.slot > finalized_slot {
                 true
             } else {
                 self.total_signatures -= entry.signatures.len();
-                pruned_roots.insert(*root);
                 false
             }
         });
-        if !pruned_roots.is_empty() {
-            self.order.retain(|r| !pruned_roots.contains(r));
+        let pruned = before - self.data.len();
+        if pruned > 0 {
+            self.order.retain(|r| self.data.contains_key(r));
         }
-        pruned_roots.len()
+        pruned
     }
 
     /// Returns a snapshot of all gossip signatures grouped by attestation data.
@@ -727,11 +753,12 @@ impl Store {
         {
             let pruned_chain = self.prune_live_chain(finalized.slot);
             let pruned_sigs = self.prune_gossip_signatures(finalized.slot);
+            let pruned_payloads = self.prune_stale_aggregated_payloads(finalized.slot);
 
-            if pruned_chain > 0 || pruned_sigs > 0 {
+            if pruned_chain > 0 || pruned_sigs > 0 || pruned_payloads > 0 {
                 info!(
                     finalized_slot = finalized.slot,
-                    pruned_chain, pruned_sigs, "Pruned finalized data"
+                    pruned_chain, pruned_sigs, pruned_payloads, "Pruned finalized data"
                 );
             }
         }
@@ -830,6 +857,18 @@ impl Store {
         gossip.prune(finalized_slot)
     }
 
+    /// Prune aggregated payload buffers (new + known) whose target slot is at or below
+    /// `finalized_slot`.
+    ///
+    /// Mirrors leanSpec's `prune_stale_attestation_data` for the two aggregated payload
+    /// pools (gossip signatures are pruned separately by `prune_gossip_signatures`).
+    /// Returns the total number of data_root entries removed across both buffers.
+    pub fn prune_stale_aggregated_payloads(&mut self, finalized_slot: u64) -> usize {
+        let pruned_new = self.new_payloads.lock().unwrap().prune(finalized_slot);
+        let pruned_known = self.known_payloads.lock().unwrap().prune(finalized_slot);
+        pruned_new + pruned_known
+    }
+
     /// Prune old states beyond the retention window.
     ///
     /// Keeps the most recent `STATES_TO_KEEP` states (by slot), plus any
@@ -2075,6 +2114,95 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(buf.total_proofs, 2);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn payload_buffer_prune_drops_entries_with_finalized_target() {
+        let mut buf = PayloadBuffer::new(10);
+        let target_a = H256([0xaa; 32]);
+        let target_b = H256([0xbb; 32]);
+        let target_c = H256([0xcc; 32]);
+
+        // Three entries at different target slots: 3, 5, 7.
+        let data_3 = make_att_data_for_target(3, target_a);
+        let data_5 = make_att_data_for_target(5, target_b);
+        let data_7 = make_att_data_for_target(7, target_c);
+        let root_3 = data_3.hash_tree_root();
+        let root_5 = data_5.hash_tree_root();
+        let root_7 = data_7.hash_tree_root();
+
+        buf.push(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(data_3),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[0]),
+        );
+        buf.push(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(data_5),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[1, 2]),
+        );
+        buf.push(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(data_7),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[3]),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(buf.total_proofs, 3);
+
+        // Finalized slot 5 prunes targets 3 and 5 (≤ 5), keeps target 7.
+        let pruned = buf.prune(5);
+        assert_eq!(pruned, 2);
+        assert!(!buf.data.contains_key(&root_3));
+        assert!(!buf.data.contains_key(&root_5));
+        assert!(buf.data.contains_key(&root_7));
+        assert_eq!(buf.total_proofs, 1);
+        assert_eq!(buf.order.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(buf.order.front(), Some(&root_7));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn payload_buffer_prune_noop_when_nothing_stale() {
+        let mut buf = PayloadBuffer::new(10);
+        let data = make_att_data_for_target(10, H256([0xaa; 32]));
+        buf.push(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(data),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[0]),
+        );
+
+        let pruned = buf.prune(5);
+        assert_eq!(pruned, 0);
+        assert_eq!(buf.total_proofs, 1);
+        assert_eq!(buf.order.len(), 1);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn store_prune_stale_aggregated_payloads_clears_both_buffers() {
+        let mut store = Store::test_store();
+
+        let stale = make_att_data_for_target(2, H256([0xaa; 32]));
+        let fresh = make_att_data_for_target(10, H256([0xbb; 32]));
+
+        store.insert_new_aggregated_payload(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(stale.clone()),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[0]),
+        );
+        store.insert_known_aggregated_payload(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(stale),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[1]),
+        );
+        store.insert_new_aggregated_payload(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(fresh.clone()),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[2]),
+        );
+        store.insert_known_aggregated_payload(
+            HashedAttestationData::new(fresh),
+            make_proof_for_validators(&[3]),
+        );
+
+        assert_eq!(store.new_aggregated_payloads_count(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(store.known_aggregated_payloads_count(), 2);
+
+        // Finalized slot 5: stale (target.slot == 2) is dropped from both buffers.
+        let pruned = store.prune_stale_aggregated_payloads(5);
+        assert_eq!(pruned, 2);
+        assert_eq!(store.new_aggregated_payloads_count(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(store.known_aggregated_payloads_count(), 1);
+    }
+
     /// Build an attestation message at `slot` whose target points at `target_root`,
     /// distinct from the default zero target so two such datas have different roots.
     fn make_att_data_for_target(slot: u64, target_root: H256) -> AttestationData {