diff --git a/packages/interface/src/connection-gater/index.ts b/packages/interface/src/connection-gater/index.ts
index 1b59de4f38..fe618d7c88 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/connection-gater/index.ts
+++ b/packages/interface/src/connection-gater/index.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to prevent dialing the passed peer.
    */
-  denyDialPeer?(peerId: PeerId): Promise<boolean>
+  denyDialPeer?(peerId: PeerId): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyDialMultiaddr tests whether we're permitted to dial the specified
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to prevent dialing the passed peer on the passed multiaddr.
    */
-  denyDialMultiaddr?(multiaddr: Multiaddr): Promise<boolean>
+  denyDialMultiaddr?(multiaddr: Multiaddr): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyInboundConnection tests whether an incipient inbound connection is allowed.
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the incoming passed connection.
    */
-  denyInboundConnection?(maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean>
+  denyInboundConnection?(maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyOutboundConnection tests whether an incipient outbound connection is allowed.
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the incoming passed connection.
    */
-  denyOutboundConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean>
+  denyOutboundConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyInboundEncryptedConnection tests whether a given connection, now encrypted,
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the passed secured connection.
    */
-  denyInboundEncryptedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean>
+  denyInboundEncryptedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyOutboundEncryptedConnection tests whether a given connection, now encrypted,
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the passed secured connection.
    */
-  denyOutboundEncryptedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean>
+  denyOutboundEncryptedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyInboundUpgradedConnection tests whether a fully capable connection is allowed.
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the passed upgraded connection.
    */
-  denyInboundUpgradedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean>
+  denyInboundUpgradedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyOutboundUpgradedConnection tests whether a fully capable connection is allowed.
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the passed upgraded connection.
    */
-  denyOutboundUpgradedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean>
+  denyOutboundUpgradedConnection?(peerId: PeerId, maConn: MultiaddrConnection): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyInboundRelayReservation tests whether a remote peer is allowed make a
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the relay reservation.
    */
-  denyInboundRelayReservation?(source: PeerId): Promise<boolean>
+  denyInboundRelayReservation?(source: PeerId): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyOutboundRelayedConnection tests whether a remote peer is allowed to open a relayed
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the relayed connection.
    */
-  denyOutboundRelayedConnection?(source: PeerId, destination: PeerId): Promise<boolean>
+  denyOutboundRelayedConnection?(source: PeerId, destination: PeerId): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * denyInboundRelayedConnection tests whether a remote peer is allowed to open a relayed
@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ export interface ConnectionGater {
    *
    * Return true to deny the relayed connection.
    */
-  denyInboundRelayedConnection?(relay: PeerId, remotePeer: PeerId): Promise<boolean>
+  denyInboundRelayedConnection?(relay: PeerId, remotePeer: PeerId): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 
   /**
    * Used by the address book to filter passed addresses.
    *
    * Return true to allow storing the passed multiaddr for the passed peer.
    */
-  filterMultiaddrForPeer?(peer: PeerId, multiaddr: Multiaddr): Promise<boolean>
+  filterMultiaddrForPeer?(peer: PeerId, multiaddr: Multiaddr): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 }
diff --git a/packages/interface/src/index.ts b/packages/interface/src/index.ts
index eb1022925b..47b1402908 100644
--- a/packages/interface/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/interface/src/index.ts
@@ -684,15 +684,6 @@ export interface LoggerOptions {
   log: Logger
 }
 
-/**
- * Returns a new type with all fields marked optional.
- *
- * Borrowed from the tsdef module.
- */
-export type RecursivePartial<T> = {
-  [P in keyof T]?: T[P] extends Array<infer I> ? Array<RecursivePartial<I>> : T[P] extends (...args: any[]) => any ? T[P] : RecursivePartial<T[P]>
-}
-
 /**
  * When a routing operation involves reading values, these options allow
  * controlling where the values are read from. By default libp2p will check
diff --git a/packages/libp2p/src/config.ts b/packages/libp2p/src/config.ts
index 568f1bd985..606e4efa53 100644
--- a/packages/libp2p/src/config.ts
+++ b/packages/libp2p/src/config.ts
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ import { dnsaddrResolver } from '@multiformats/multiaddr/resolvers'
 import mergeOptions from 'merge-options'
 import { codes, messages } from './errors.js'
 import type { Libp2pInit } from './index.js'
-import type { ServiceMap, RecursivePartial } from '@libp2p/interface'
+import type { ServiceMap } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import type { Multiaddr } from '@multiformats/multiaddr'
 
-const DefaultConfig: Partial<Libp2pInit> = {
+const DefaultConfig: Libp2pInit = {
   addresses: {
     listen: [],
     announce: [],
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ const DefaultConfig: Partial<Libp2pInit> = {
   }
 }
 
-export async function validateConfig <T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> (opts: RecursivePartial<Libp2pInit<T>>): Promise<Libp2pInit<T>> {
-  const resultingOptions: Libp2pInit<T> = mergeOptions(DefaultConfig, opts)
+export async function validateConfig <T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> (opts: Libp2pInit<T>): Promise<Libp2pInit<T> & Required<Pick<Libp2pInit<T>, 'peerId'>>> {
+  const resultingOptions: Libp2pInit<T> & Required<Pick<Libp2pInit<T>, 'peerId'>> = mergeOptions(DefaultConfig, opts)
 
   if (resultingOptions.connectionProtector === null && globalThis.process?.env?.LIBP2P_FORCE_PNET != null) { // eslint-disable-line no-undef
     throw new CodeError(messages.ERR_PROTECTOR_REQUIRED, codes.ERR_PROTECTOR_REQUIRED)
   }
 
-  if (!(await peerIdFromKeys(resultingOptions.privateKey.public.bytes, resultingOptions.privateKey.bytes)).equals(resultingOptions.peerId)) {
+  if (resultingOptions.privateKey != null && !(await peerIdFromKeys(resultingOptions.privateKey.public.bytes, resultingOptions.privateKey.bytes)).equals(resultingOptions.peerId)) {
     throw new CodeError('Private key doesn\'t match peer id', codes.ERR_INVALID_KEY)
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/libp2p/src/index.ts b/packages/libp2p/src/index.ts
index 82542aa6f7..a123bd9e2b 100644
--- a/packages/libp2p/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/libp2p/src/index.ts
@@ -19,13 +19,13 @@ import type { AddressManagerInit } from './address-manager/index.js'
 import type { Components } from './components.js'
 import type { ConnectionManagerInit } from './connection-manager/index.js'
 import type { TransportManagerInit } from './transport-manager.js'
-import type { Libp2p, ServiceMap, RecursivePartial, ComponentLogger, NodeInfo, ConnectionProtector, ConnectionEncrypter, ConnectionGater, ContentRouting, Metrics, PeerDiscovery, PeerId, PeerRouting, StreamMuxerFactory, Transport, PrivateKey } from '@libp2p/interface'
+import type { Libp2p, ServiceMap, ComponentLogger, NodeInfo, ConnectionProtector, ConnectionEncrypter, ConnectionGater, ContentRouting, Metrics, PeerDiscovery, PeerId, PeerRouting, StreamMuxerFactory, Transport, PrivateKey } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import type { PersistentPeerStoreInit } from '@libp2p/peer-store'
 import type { DNS } from '@multiformats/dns'
 import type { Datastore } from 'interface-datastore'
 
 export type ServiceFactoryMap<T extends Record<string, unknown> = Record<string, unknown>> = {
-  [Property in keyof T]: (components: Components) => T[Property]
+  [Property in keyof T]: (components: Components & T) => T[Property]
 }
 
 /**
@@ -35,49 +35,49 @@ export interface Libp2pInit<T extends ServiceMap = { x: Record<string, unknown>
   /**
    * peerId instance (it will be created if not provided)
    */
-  peerId: PeerId
+  peerId?: PeerId
 
   /**
    * Private key associated with the peerId
    */
-  privateKey: PrivateKey
+  privateKey?: PrivateKey
 
   /**
    * Metadata about the node - implementation name, version number, etc
    */
-  nodeInfo: NodeInfo
+  nodeInfo?: NodeInfo
 
   /**
    * Addresses for transport listening and to advertise to the network
    */
-  addresses: AddressManagerInit
+  addresses?: AddressManagerInit
 
   /**
    * libp2p Connection Manager configuration
    */
-  connectionManager: ConnectionManagerInit
+  connectionManager?: ConnectionManagerInit
 
   /**
    * A connection gater can deny new connections based on user criteria
    */
-  connectionGater: ConnectionGater
+  connectionGater?: ConnectionGater
 
   /**
    * libp2p transport manager configuration
    */
-  transportManager: TransportManagerInit
+  transportManager?: TransportManagerInit
 
   /**
    * An optional datastore to persist peer information, DHT records, etc.
    *
    * An in-memory datastore will be used if one is not provided.
    */
-  datastore: Datastore
+  datastore?: Datastore
 
   /**
    * libp2p PeerStore configuration
    */
-  peerStore: PersistentPeerStoreInit
+  peerStore?: PersistentPeerStoreInit
 
   /**
    * An array that must include at least 1 compliant transport
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ export interface Libp2pInit<T extends ServiceMap = { x: Record<string, unknown>
   /**
    * Arbitrary libp2p modules
    */
-  services: ServiceFactoryMap<T>
+  services?: ServiceFactoryMap<T>
 
   /**
    * An optional logging implementation that can be used to write runtime logs.
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ export interface Libp2pInit<T extends ServiceMap = { x: Record<string, unknown>
 
 export type { Libp2p }
 
-export type Libp2pOptions<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> = RecursivePartial<Libp2pInit<T>> & { start?: boolean }
+export type Libp2pOptions<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> = Libp2pInit<T> & { start?: boolean }
 
 /**
  * Returns a new instance of the Libp2p interface, generating a new PeerId
diff --git a/packages/libp2p/src/libp2p.ts b/packages/libp2p/src/libp2p.ts
index 351460092e..424472a92e 100644
--- a/packages/libp2p/src/libp2p.ts
+++ b/packages/libp2p/src/libp2p.ts
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ export class Libp2pNode<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> extends
   public logger: ComponentLogger
   public status: Libp2pStatus
 
-  public components: Components
+  public components: Components & T[keyof T]
   private readonly log: Logger
 
-  constructor (init: Libp2pInit<T>) {
+  constructor (init: Libp2pInit<T> & Required<Pick<Libp2pInit<T>, 'peerId'>>) {
     super()
 
     this.status = 'stopped'
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ export class Libp2pNode<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> extends
     this.log = this.logger.forComponent('libp2p')
     // @ts-expect-error {} may not be of type T
     this.services = {}
+    // @ts-expect-error defaultComponents is missing component types added later
     const components = this.components = defaultComponents({
       peerId: init.peerId,
       privateKey: init.privateKey,
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ export class Libp2pNode<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> extends
     this.components.upgrader = new DefaultUpgrader(this.components, {
       connectionEncryption: (init.connectionEncryption ?? []).map((fn, index) => this.configureComponent(`connection-encryption-${index}`, fn(this.components))),
       muxers: (init.streamMuxers ?? []).map((fn, index) => this.configureComponent(`stream-muxers-${index}`, fn(this.components))),
-      inboundUpgradeTimeout: init.connectionManager.inboundUpgradeTimeout
+      inboundUpgradeTimeout: init.connectionManager?.inboundUpgradeTimeout
     })
 
     // Setup the transport manager
@@ -159,6 +160,7 @@ export class Libp2pNode<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> extends
     if (init.services != null) {
       for (const name of Object.keys(init.services)) {
         const createService = init.services[name]
+        // @ts-expect-error components type is not fully formed yet
         const service: any = createService(this.components)
 
         if (service == null) {
@@ -194,6 +196,7 @@ export class Libp2pNode<T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, unknown>> extends
       this.log.error('component %s was null or undefined', name)
     }
 
+    // @ts-expect-error cannot assign props
     this.components[name] = component
 
     return component
@@ -413,7 +416,7 @@ export async function createLibp2pNode <T extends ServiceMap = Record<string, un
     throw new CodeError('peer id was missing private key', 'ERR_MISSING_PRIVATE_KEY')
   }
 
-  options.privateKey ??= await unmarshalPrivateKey(peerId.privateKey as Uint8Array)
+  options.privateKey ??= await unmarshalPrivateKey(peerId.privateKey)
 
   return new Libp2pNode(await validateConfig(options))
 }
diff --git a/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/direct.node.ts b/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/direct.node.ts
index a8abfb8b1d..271f85a594 100644
--- a/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/direct.node.ts
+++ b/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/direct.node.ts
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import fs from 'node:fs'
 import os from 'node:os'
 import path from 'node:path'
 import { yamux } from '@chainsafe/libp2p-yamux'
-import { type Connection, type ConnectionProtector, isConnection, type PeerId, type Stream } from '@libp2p/interface'
+import { type Connection, type ConnectionProtector, isConnection, type PeerId, type Stream, type Libp2p } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import { AbortError, ERR_TIMEOUT, TypedEventEmitter, start, stop } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import { mockConnection, mockConnectionGater, mockDuplex, mockMultiaddrConnection, mockUpgrader } from '@libp2p/interface-compliance-tests/mocks'
 import { defaultLogger } from '@libp2p/logger'
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ import { defaultComponents, type Components } from '../../src/components.js'
 import { DialQueue } from '../../src/connection-manager/dial-queue.js'
 import { DefaultConnectionManager } from '../../src/connection-manager/index.js'
 import { codes as ErrorCodes } from '../../src/errors.js'
-import { createLibp2pNode, type Libp2pNode } from '../../src/libp2p.js'
+import { createLibp2p } from '../../src/index.js'
+import { createLibp2pNode } from '../../src/libp2p.js'
 import { DefaultPeerRouting } from '../../src/peer-routing.js'
 import { DefaultTransportManager } from '../../src/transport-manager.js'
 import { ECHO_PROTOCOL, echo } from '../fixtures/echo-service.js'
@@ -281,8 +282,8 @@ describe('dialing (direct, TCP)', () => {
 describe('libp2p.dialer (direct, TCP)', () => {
   let peerId: PeerId
   let remotePeerId: PeerId
-  let libp2p: Libp2pNode
-  let remoteLibp2p: Libp2pNode
+  let libp2p: Libp2p
+  let remoteLibp2p: Libp2p
   let remoteAddr: Multiaddr
 
   beforeEach(async () => {
@@ -291,7 +292,7 @@ describe('libp2p.dialer (direct, TCP)', () => {
       createEd25519PeerId()
     ])
 
-    remoteLibp2p = await createLibp2pNode({
+    remoteLibp2p = await createLibp2p({
       peerId: remotePeerId,
       addresses: {
         listen: [listenAddr.toString()]
@@ -565,6 +566,7 @@ describe('libp2p.dialer (direct, TCP)', () => {
 
     const dials = 10
     const error = new Error('Boom')
+    // @ts-expect-error private field access
     Sinon.stub(libp2p.components.transportManager, 'dial').callsFake(async () => Promise.reject(error))
 
     await libp2p.peerStore.patch(remotePeerId, {
diff --git a/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/index.node.ts b/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/index.node.ts
index 39d2ee5bf0..cebad403d3 100644
--- a/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/index.node.ts
+++ b/packages/libp2p/test/connection-manager/index.node.ts
@@ -419,8 +419,8 @@ describe('libp2p.connections', () => {
   })
 
   describe('connection gater', () => {
-    let libp2p: Libp2pNode
-    let remoteLibp2p: Libp2pNode
+    let libp2p: Libp2p
+    let remoteLibp2p: Libp2p
 
     beforeEach(async () => {
       remoteLibp2p = await createNode({
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ describe('libp2p.connections', () => {
       await libp2p.peerStore.patch(remoteLibp2p.peerId, {
         multiaddrs: remoteLibp2p.getMultiaddrs()
       })
-      await libp2p.components.connectionManager.openConnection(remoteLibp2p.peerId)
+      await libp2p.dial(remoteLibp2p.peerId)
 
       for (const multiaddr of remoteLibp2p.getMultiaddrs()) {
         expect(denyDialMultiaddr.calledWith(multiaddr)).to.be.true()
diff --git a/packages/libp2p/test/registrar/protocols.spec.ts b/packages/libp2p/test/registrar/protocols.spec.ts
index 698cfcdd08..d1ba4ef0d9 100644
--- a/packages/libp2p/test/registrar/protocols.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/libp2p/test/registrar/protocols.spec.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,10 @@ import { expect } from 'aegir/chai'
 import pDefer from 'p-defer'
 import { createLibp2pNode } from '../../src/libp2p.js'
 import type { Components } from '../../src/components.js'
-import type { Libp2pNode } from '../../src/libp2p.js'
+import type { Libp2p } from '@libp2p/interface'
 
 describe('registrar protocols', () => {
-  let libp2p: Libp2pNode
+  let libp2p: Libp2p
 
   it('should be able to register and unregister a handler', async () => {
     const deferred = pDefer<Components>()
diff --git a/packages/metrics-devtools/src/index.ts b/packages/metrics-devtools/src/index.ts
index a0118a4543..2148599596 100644
--- a/packages/metrics-devtools/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/metrics-devtools/src/index.ts
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { start, stop } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import { enable, disable } from '@libp2p/logger'
 import { simpleMetrics } from '@libp2p/simple-metrics'
 import { base64 } from 'multiformats/bases/base64'
-import type { ComponentLogger, Connection, Libp2pEvents, Logger, Metrics, MultiaddrConnection, PeerId, Peer as PeerStorePeer, PeerStore, PeerUpdate, Stream, TypedEventEmitter } from '@libp2p/interface'
+import type { ComponentLogger, Connection, Libp2pEvents, Logger, Metrics, MultiaddrConnection, PeerId, Peer as PeerStorePeer, PeerStore, PeerUpdate, Stream, TypedEventTarget } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import type { TransportManager, Registrar, ConnectionManager } from '@libp2p/interface-internal'
 
 export const SOURCE_DEVTOOLS = '@libp2p/devtools-metrics:devtools'
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ export interface DevToolsMetricsInit {
 
 export interface DevToolsMetricsComponents {
   logger: ComponentLogger
-  events: TypedEventEmitter<Libp2pEvents>
+  events: TypedEventTarget<Libp2pEvents>
   peerId: PeerId
   transportManager: TransportManager
   registrar: Registrar
diff --git a/packages/peer-store/src/index.ts b/packages/peer-store/src/index.ts
index 368def78c1..9c5e91d3dc 100644
--- a/packages/peer-store/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/peer-store/src/index.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ export interface PersistentPeerStoreComponents {
  * Return true to allow storing the passed multiaddr for the passed peer
  */
 export interface AddressFilter {
-  (peerId: PeerId, multiaddr: Multiaddr): Promise<boolean>
+  (peerId: PeerId, multiaddr: Multiaddr): Promise<boolean> | boolean
 }
 
 export interface PersistentPeerStoreInit {
diff --git a/packages/transport-circuit-relay-v2/src/server/reservation-store.ts b/packages/transport-circuit-relay-v2/src/server/reservation-store.ts
index f5873d838b..e3bc8192b7 100644
--- a/packages/transport-circuit-relay-v2/src/server/reservation-store.ts
+++ b/packages/transport-circuit-relay-v2/src/server/reservation-store.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { PeerMap } from '@libp2p/peer-collections'
 import { DEFAULT_DATA_LIMIT, DEFAULT_DURATION_LIMIT, DEFAULT_MAX_RESERVATION_CLEAR_INTERVAL, DEFAULT_MAX_RESERVATION_STORE_SIZE, DEFAULT_MAX_RESERVATION_TTL } from '../constants.js'
 import { type Limit, Status } from '../pb/index.js'
 import type { RelayReservation } from '../index.js'
-import type { RecursivePartial, PeerId, Startable } from '@libp2p/interface'
+import type { PeerId, Startable } from '@libp2p/interface'
 import type { Multiaddr } from '@multiformats/multiaddr'
 
 export type ReservationStatus = Status.OK | Status.PERMISSION_DENIED | Status.RESERVATION_REFUSED
@@ -34,8 +34,6 @@ export interface ReservationStoreInit {
   defaultDataLimit?: bigint
 }
 
-export type ReservationStoreOptions = RecursivePartial<ReservationStoreInit>
-
 export class ReservationStore implements Startable {
   public readonly reservations = new PeerMap<RelayReservation>()
   private _started = false
@@ -47,7 +45,7 @@ export class ReservationStore implements Startable {
   private readonly defaultDurationLimit: number
   private readonly defaultDataLimit: bigint
 
-  constructor (options: ReservationStoreOptions = {}) {
+  constructor (options: ReservationStoreInit = {}) {
     this.maxReservations = options.maxReservations ?? DEFAULT_MAX_RESERVATION_STORE_SIZE
     this.reservationClearInterval = options.reservationClearInterval ?? DEFAULT_MAX_RESERVATION_CLEAR_INTERVAL
     this.applyDefaultLimit = options.applyDefaultLimit !== false