diff --git a/bitchat/Services/GeohashParticipantTracker.swift b/bitchat/Services/GeohashParticipantTracker.swift
index be1ea35e..ac8d6226 100644
--- a/bitchat/Services/GeohashParticipantTracker.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Services/GeohashParticipantTracker.swift
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ final class GeohashParticipantTracker: ObservableObject {
     /// Record activity from a participant in a specific geohash
     func recordParticipant(pubkeyHex: String, geohash: String) {
         let key = pubkeyHex.lowercased()
+        guard context?.isBlocked(key) != true else { return }
+
         var map = participants[geohash] ?? [:]
         map[key] = Date()
         participants[geohash] = map
@@ -107,7 +109,9 @@ final class GeohashParticipantTracker: ObservableObject {
     func participantCount(for geohash: String) -> Int {
         let cutoff = Date().addingTimeInterval(activityCutoff)
         let map = participants[geohash] ?? [:]
-        return map.values.filter { $0 >= cutoff }.count
+        return map.filter { key, lastSeen in
+            lastSeen >= cutoff && context?.isBlocked(key) != true
+        }.count
     }
 
     /// Get the visible people list for the active geohash (read-only query)
diff --git a/bitchatTests/GeohashParticipantTrackerTests.swift b/bitchatTests/GeohashParticipantTrackerTests.swift
index d05b8171..fe9190cc 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/GeohashParticipantTrackerTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/GeohashParticipantTrackerTests.swift
@@ -131,6 +131,57 @@ struct GeohashParticipantTrackerTests {
         #expect(people.first?.id == "pubkey1")
     }
 
+    @Test func recordParticipant_ignoresBlockedParticipant() {
+        let tracker = GeohashParticipantTracker()
+        let context = MockParticipantContext()
+        context.blockedPubkeys = ["blocked"]
+        tracker.configure(context: context)
+        tracker.setActiveGeohash("abc123")
+
+        tracker.recordParticipant(pubkeyHex: "BLOCKED")
+
+        #expect(tracker.participantCount(for: "abc123") == 0)
+        #expect(tracker.getVisiblePeople().isEmpty)
+    }
+
+    @Test func participantCount_excludesParticipantBlockedAfterRecording() {
+        let tracker = GeohashParticipantTracker()
+        let context = MockParticipantContext()
+        tracker.configure(context: context)
+        tracker.setActiveGeohash("abc123")
+        tracker.recordParticipant(pubkeyHex: "later-blocked")
+
+        context.blockedPubkeys.insert("later-blocked")
+        tracker.refresh()
+
+        #expect(tracker.participantCount(for: "abc123") == 0)
+        #expect(tracker.visiblePeople.isEmpty)
+    }
+
+    @Test func participantCount_matchesVisiblePeopleWithMixedBlockStatus() {
+        let tracker = GeohashParticipantTracker()
+        let context = MockParticipantContext()
+        tracker.configure(context: context)
+        tracker.setActiveGeohash("abc123")
+        tracker.recordParticipant(pubkeyHex: "visible")
+        tracker.recordParticipant(pubkeyHex: "later-blocked")
+
+        context.blockedPubkeys.insert("later-blocked")
+        tracker.refresh()
+
+        #expect(tracker.participantCount(for: "abc123") == 1)
+        #expect(tracker.visiblePeople.count == 1)
+        #expect(tracker.visiblePeople.first?.id == "visible")
+    }
+
+    @Test func participantCount_withoutContext_preservesRecordedParticipants() {
+        let tracker = GeohashParticipantTracker()
+
+        tracker.recordParticipant(pubkeyHex: "participant", geohash: "abc123")
+
+        #expect(tracker.participantCount(for: "abc123") == 1)
+    }
+
     @Test func getVisiblePeople_usesDisplayNameFromContext() async {
         let tracker = GeohashParticipantTracker()
         let context = MockParticipantContext()