diff --git a/backend/src/federation/authenticateCommunities.ts b/backend/src/federation/authenticateCommunities.ts
index 6b8796fbf..b440b7c37 100644
--- a/backend/src/federation/authenticateCommunities.ts
+++ b/backend/src/federation/authenticateCommunities.ts
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export async function startCommunityAuthentication(
       // eslint-disable-next-line camelcase
       if (client instanceof V1_0_AuthenticationClient) {
         const args = new OpenConnectionArgs()
-        args.publicKey = homeCom.publicKey.toString('hex')
+        args.publicKey = homeCom.publicKey.toString()
         // TODO encrypt url with foreignCom.publicKey and sign it with homeCom.privateKey
         args.url = homeFedCom.endPoint.endsWith('/')
           ? homeFedCom.endPoint
diff --git a/federation/src/graphql/api/1_0/resolver/AuthenticationResolver.ts b/federation/src/graphql/api/1_0/resolver/AuthenticationResolver.ts
index ea942e0f4..d1595cd35 100644
--- a/federation/src/graphql/api/1_0/resolver/AuthenticationResolver.ts
+++ b/federation/src/graphql/api/1_0/resolver/AuthenticationResolver.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export class AuthenticationResolver {
 
     // first find with args.publicKey the community, which starts openConnection request
     const requestedCom = await DbCommunity.findOneBy({
-      publicKey: Buffer.from(args.publicKey, 'hex'),
+      publicKey: Buffer.from(args.publicKey),
     })
     if (!requestedCom) {
       throw new LogError(`unknown requesting community with publicKey`, args.publicKey)