diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/core/conductor.py b/aries_cloudagent/core/conductor.py
index e31eacdd61..539dc5d4b4 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/core/conductor.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/core/conductor.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 from ..vc.ld_proofs.document_loader import DocumentLoader
 from ..wallet.did_info import DIDInfo
 from .dispatcher import Dispatcher
+from .util import STARTUP_EVENT_TOPIC, SHUTDOWN_EVENT_TOPIC
 
 LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -363,8 +364,14 @@ async def start(self) -> None:
             except Exception:
                 LOGGER.exception("Error accepting mediation invitation")
 
+        # notify protcols of startup status
+        await self.root_profile.notify(STARTUP_EVENT_TOPIC, {})
+
     async def stop(self, timeout=1.0):
         """Stop the agent."""
+        # notify protcols that we are shutting down
+        await self.root_profile.notify(SHUTDOWN_EVENT_TOPIC, {})
+
         shutdown = TaskQueue()
         if self.dispatcher:
             shutdown.run(self.dispatcher.complete())
diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/core/util.py b/aries_cloudagent/core/util.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d97a6cdac1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/core/util.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+"""Core utilities and constants."""
+
+import re
+
+
+CORE_EVENT_PREFIX = "acapy::CORE::"
+STARTUP_EVENT_TOPIC = CORE_EVENT_PREFIX + "STARTUP"
+STARTUP_EVENT_PATTERN = re.compile(f"^{STARTUP_EVENT_TOPIC}?$")
+SHUTDOWN_EVENT_TOPIC = CORE_EVENT_PREFIX + "SHUTDOWN"
+SHUTDOWN_EVENT_PATTERN = re.compile(f"^{SHUTDOWN_EVENT_TOPIC}?$")
diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/protocols/endorse_transaction/v1_0/routes.py b/aries_cloudagent/protocols/endorse_transaction/v1_0/routes.py
index ee55492e71..54aa2e091d 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/protocols/endorse_transaction/v1_0/routes.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/protocols/endorse_transaction/v1_0/routes.py
@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@
 
 from ....admin.request_context import AdminRequestContext
 from ....connections.models.conn_record import ConnRecord
+from ....core.event_bus import Event, EventBus
+from ....core.profile import Profile
+from ....core.util import STARTUP_EVENT_PATTERN, SHUTDOWN_EVENT_PATTERN
 from ....indy.issuer import IndyIssuerError
 from ....ledger.error import LedgerError
 from ....messaging.models.base import BaseModelError
@@ -694,6 +697,22 @@ async def transaction_write(request: web.BaseRequest):
     return web.json_response(tx_completed.serialize())
 
 
+def register_events(event_bus: EventBus):
+    """Subscribe to any events we need to support."""
+    event_bus.subscribe(STARTUP_EVENT_PATTERN, on_startup_event)
+    event_bus.subscribe(SHUTDOWN_EVENT_PATTERN, on_shutdown_event)
+
+
+async def on_startup_event(profile: Profile, event: Event):
+    """Handle any events we need to support."""
+    print(">>> Received STARTUP event")
+
+
+async def on_shutdown_event(profile: Profile, event: Event):
+    """Handle any events we need to support."""
+    print(">>> Received SHUTDOWN event")
+
+
 async def register(app: web.Application):
     """Register routes."""