diff --git a/bitchat/App/AppArchitecture.swift b/bitchat/App/AppArchitecture.swift
index 65fcaebf..a0710673 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/AppArchitecture.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/AppArchitecture.swift
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ actor AppEventStream {
     }
 }
 
+/// Identity key for a direct conversation. Equality and hashing use the
+/// canonical `id` only; `routingPeerID` carries the transport-level peer ID
+/// the conversation is keyed under (see `ConversationID.directPeer`).
 struct PeerHandle: Sendable, Identifiable {
     let id: String
     let routingPeerID: PeerID
-    let displayName: String?
-    let noisePublicKeyHex: String?
-    let nostrPublicKey: String?
 }
 
 extension PeerHandle: Equatable {
@@ -100,310 +100,3 @@ enum ConversationID: Hashable, Sendable {
         }
     }
 }
-
-@MainActor
-final class IdentityResolver {
-    private var handlesByRoutingPeerID: [PeerID: PeerHandle] = [:]
-    private var handlesByNoiseKey: [String: PeerHandle] = [:]
-    private var handlesByNostrKey: [String: PeerHandle] = [:]
-
-    func register(peers: [BitchatPeer]) {
-        for peer in peers {
-            _ = register(peer: peer)
-        }
-    }
-
-    @discardableResult
-    func register(peer: BitchatPeer) -> PeerHandle {
-        let handle = buildHandle(
-            routingPeerID: peer.peerID,
-            displayName: peer.displayName,
-            noisePublicKeyHex: peer.noisePublicKey.isEmpty ? nil : peer.noisePublicKey.hexEncodedString().lowercased(),
-            nostrPublicKey: normalizedNostrKey(peer.nostrPublicKey)
-        )
-        cache(handle)
-        return handle
-    }
-
-    func canonicalHandle(for peerID: PeerID, displayName: String? = nil) -> PeerHandle {
-        if let handle = handlesByRoutingPeerID[peerID] {
-            return handle
-        }
-
-        if peerID.isNoiseKeyHex, let handle = handlesByNoiseKey[peerID.bare] {
-            return handle
-        }
-
-        if (peerID.isGeoDM || peerID.isGeoChat), let handle = handlesByNostrKey[peerID.bare] {
-            return handle
-        }
-
-        let handle = buildHandle(
-            routingPeerID: peerID,
-            displayName: displayName,
-            noisePublicKeyHex: peerID.isNoiseKeyHex ? peerID.bare : nil,
-            nostrPublicKey: (peerID.isGeoDM || peerID.isGeoChat) ? peerID.bare : nil
-        )
-        cache(handle)
-        return handle
-    }
-
-    private func buildHandle(
-        routingPeerID: PeerID,
-        displayName: String?,
-        noisePublicKeyHex: String?,
-        nostrPublicKey: String?
-    ) -> PeerHandle {
-        let canonicalID: String
-        if let noisePublicKeyHex {
-            canonicalID = "noise:\(noisePublicKeyHex)"
-        } else if let nostrPublicKey {
-            canonicalID = "nostr:\(nostrPublicKey)"
-        } else {
-            canonicalID = "mesh:\(routingPeerID.id)"
-        }
-
-        let normalizedDisplayName: String?
-        if let displayName, !displayName.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).isEmpty {
-            normalizedDisplayName = displayName
-        } else {
-            normalizedDisplayName = nil
-        }
-
-        return PeerHandle(
-            id: canonicalID,
-            routingPeerID: routingPeerID,
-            displayName: normalizedDisplayName,
-            noisePublicKeyHex: noisePublicKeyHex,
-            nostrPublicKey: nostrPublicKey
-        )
-    }
-
-    private func normalizedNostrKey(_ nostrPublicKey: String?) -> String? {
-        guard let nostrPublicKey else { return nil }
-        let trimmed = nostrPublicKey.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines).lowercased()
-        return trimmed.isEmpty ? nil : trimmed
-    }
-
-    private func cache(_ handle: PeerHandle) {
-        handlesByRoutingPeerID[handle.routingPeerID] = handle
-        if let noisePublicKeyHex = handle.noisePublicKeyHex {
-            handlesByNoiseKey[noisePublicKeyHex] = handle
-        }
-        if let nostrPublicKey = handle.nostrPublicKey {
-            handlesByNostrKey[nostrPublicKey] = handle
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-@MainActor
-final class LegacyConversationStore: ObservableObject {
-    @Published private(set) var activeChannel: ChannelID = .mesh
-    @Published private(set) var selectedPrivatePeerID: PeerID?
-    @Published private(set) var selectedConversationID: ConversationID = .mesh
-    @Published private(set) var unreadConversations: Set<ConversationID> = []
-    @Published private(set) var messagesByConversation: [ConversationID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
-
-    private var directHandlesByConversation: [ConversationID: PeerHandle] = [:]
-
-    func setActiveChannel(_ channelID: ChannelID) {
-        if activeChannel != channelID {
-            activeChannel = channelID
-        }
-        if selectedPrivatePeerID == nil {
-            let conversationID = ConversationID(channelID: channelID)
-            if selectedConversationID != conversationID {
-                selectedConversationID = conversationID
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    func setSelectedPeerID(
-        _ peerID: PeerID?,
-        activeChannel: ChannelID,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        if self.activeChannel != activeChannel {
-            self.activeChannel = activeChannel
-        }
-        if selectedPrivatePeerID != peerID {
-            selectedPrivatePeerID = peerID
-        }
-
-        if let peerID {
-            let conversationID = directConversationID(
-                for: peerID,
-                identityResolver: identityResolver
-            )
-            if selectedConversationID != conversationID {
-                selectedConversationID = conversationID
-            }
-        } else {
-            let conversationID = ConversationID(channelID: activeChannel)
-            if selectedConversationID != conversationID {
-                selectedConversationID = conversationID
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    func replaceMessages(_ messages: [BitchatMessage], for conversationID: ConversationID) {
-        let normalizedMessages = normalized(messages)
-        guard messagesByConversation[conversationID] != normalizedMessages else { return }
-        messagesByConversation[conversationID] = normalizedMessages
-    }
-
-    func replaceMessages(_ messages: [BitchatMessage], for channelID: ChannelID) {
-        replaceMessages(messages, for: ConversationID(channelID: channelID))
-    }
-
-    func synchronizePublicConversation(_ messages: [BitchatMessage], activeChannel: ChannelID) {
-        setActiveChannel(activeChannel)
-        replaceMessages(messages, for: activeChannel)
-    }
-
-    func messages(for conversationID: ConversationID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
-        messagesByConversation[conversationID] ?? []
-    }
-
-    func directMessages(
-        for peerID: PeerID,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) -> [BitchatMessage] {
-        messages(for: directConversationID(for: peerID, identityResolver: identityResolver))
-    }
-
-    func directMessagesByPeerID() -> [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] {
-        var messagesByPeerID: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
-
-        for (conversationID, handle) in directHandlesByConversation {
-            messagesByPeerID[handle.routingPeerID] = messages(for: conversationID)
-        }
-
-        return messagesByPeerID
-    }
-
-    func unreadDirectPeerIDs() -> Set<PeerID> {
-        unreadConversations.reduce(into: Set<PeerID>()) { result, conversationID in
-            guard case .direct(let handle) = conversationID else { return }
-            result.insert(directHandlesByConversation[conversationID]?.routingPeerID ?? handle.routingPeerID)
-        }
-    }
-
-    func synchronizeSelection(
-        activeChannel: ChannelID,
-        selectedPeerID: PeerID?,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        setSelectedPeerID(
-            selectedPeerID,
-            activeChannel: activeChannel,
-            identityResolver: identityResolver
-        )
-    }
-
-    func synchronizePrivateChats(
-        _ privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]],
-        unreadPeerIDs: Set<PeerID>,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        var liveConversations = Set<ConversationID>()
-
-        for (peerID, messages) in privateChats {
-            let handle = identityResolver.canonicalHandle(for: peerID, displayName: messages.last?.sender)
-            let conversationID = ConversationID.direct(handle)
-            liveConversations.insert(conversationID)
-            directHandlesByConversation[conversationID] = handle
-            replaceMessages(messages, for: conversationID)
-        }
-
-        let staleDirectConversations = messagesByConversation.keys.filter { conversationID in
-            guard case .direct = conversationID else { return false }
-            return !liveConversations.contains(conversationID)
-        }
-
-        for conversationID in staleDirectConversations {
-            messagesByConversation.removeValue(forKey: conversationID)
-            unreadConversations.remove(conversationID)
-            directHandlesByConversation.removeValue(forKey: conversationID)
-        }
-
-        let publicUnread = unreadConversations.filter { conversationID in
-            switch conversationID {
-            case .mesh, .geohash:
-                return true
-            case .direct:
-                return false
-            }
-        }
-
-        let nextUnreadConversations = unreadPeerIDs.reduce(into: publicUnread) { result, peerID in
-            let handle = identityResolver.canonicalHandle(for: peerID)
-            result.insert(.direct(handle))
-        }
-        if unreadConversations != nextUnreadConversations {
-            unreadConversations = nextUnreadConversations
-        }
-    }
-
-    func markRead(_ conversationID: ConversationID) {
-        unreadConversations.remove(conversationID)
-    }
-
-    func markRead(
-        peerID: PeerID,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        markRead(directConversationID(for: peerID, identityResolver: identityResolver))
-    }
-
-    // MARK: Migration step 2 bridge entry points (DELETE IN STEP 5)
-    // Used only by `LegacyConversationStoreBridge` to mirror single
-    // conversations out of the new `ConversationStore` without the
-    // full-dictionary `synchronizePrivateChats` pass.
-
-    func replaceDirectMessages(
-        _ messages: [BitchatMessage],
-        for peerID: PeerID,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        let handle = identityResolver.canonicalHandle(for: peerID, displayName: messages.last?.sender)
-        let conversationID = ConversationID.direct(handle)
-        directHandlesByConversation[conversationID] = handle
-        replaceMessages(messages, for: conversationID)
-    }
-
-    func markUnread(
-        peerID: PeerID,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        let conversationID = directConversationID(for: peerID, identityResolver: identityResolver)
-        if !unreadConversations.contains(conversationID) {
-            unreadConversations.insert(conversationID)
-        }
-    }
-
-    private func normalized(_ messages: [BitchatMessage]) -> [BitchatMessage] {
-        var uniqueMessages: [String: BitchatMessage] = [:]
-
-        for message in messages {
-            uniqueMessages[message.id] = message
-        }
-
-        return uniqueMessages.values.sorted { lhs, rhs in
-            if lhs.timestamp != rhs.timestamp {
-                return lhs.timestamp < rhs.timestamp
-            }
-            return lhs.id < rhs.id
-        }
-    }
-
-    private func directConversationID(
-        for peerID: PeerID,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) -> ConversationID {
-        let handle = identityResolver.canonicalHandle(for: peerID)
-        let conversationID = ConversationID.direct(handle)
-        directHandlesByConversation[conversationID] = handle
-        return conversationID
-    }
-}
diff --git a/bitchat/App/AppRuntime.swift b/bitchat/App/AppRuntime.swift
index db861132..071115d5 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/AppRuntime.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/AppRuntime.swift
@@ -14,11 +14,9 @@ import AppKit
 final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
     let chatViewModel: ChatViewModel
     let events = AppEventStream()
-    let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
-    /// Single source of truth for conversation message state
-    /// (docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md). The legacy store above keeps
-    /// feeding the feature models until step 5, mirrored from this one by
-    /// `LegacyConversationStoreBridge`.
+    /// Single source of truth for conversation message state and selection
+    /// (docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md). Owned here; the feature models
+    /// and `ChatViewModel` observe and mutate it through its intent API.
     let conversations: ConversationStore
     let peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore
     let locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore
@@ -47,13 +45,10 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
         idBridge: NostrIdentityBridge = NostrIdentityBridge()
     ) {
         self.idBridge = idBridge
-        let identityResolver = IdentityResolver()
-        let conversationStore = LegacyConversationStore()
         let conversations = ConversationStore()
         let peerIdentityStore = PeerIdentityStore()
         let locationPresenceStore = LocationPresenceStore()
         let locationManager = LocationChannelManager.shared
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
         self.conversations = conversations
         self.peerIdentityStore = peerIdentityStore
         self.locationPresenceStore = locationPresenceStore
@@ -61,19 +56,17 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
             keychain: keychain,
             idBridge: idBridge,
             identityManager: SecureIdentityStateManager(keychain),
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
             conversations: conversations,
-            identityResolver: identityResolver,
             peerIdentityStore: peerIdentityStore,
             locationPresenceStore: locationPresenceStore,
             locationManager: locationManager
         )
-        self.publicChatModel = PublicChatModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
-        self.privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
+        self.publicChatModel = PublicChatModel(conversations: conversations)
+        self.privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: conversations)
         self.locationChannelsModel = LocationChannelsModel(manager: locationManager)
         self.privateConversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
             chatViewModel: self.chatViewModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
+            conversations: conversations,
             locationChannelsModel: self.locationChannelsModel,
             peerIdentityStore: peerIdentityStore
         )
@@ -85,11 +78,11 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
         self.conversationUIModel = ConversationUIModel(
             chatViewModel: self.chatViewModel,
             privateConversationModel: self.privateConversationModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore
+            conversations: conversations
         )
         self.peerListModel = PeerListModel(
             chatViewModel: self.chatViewModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
+            conversations: conversations,
             locationChannelsModel: self.locationChannelsModel,
             peerIdentityStore: peerIdentityStore,
             locationPresenceStore: locationPresenceStore
@@ -226,7 +219,7 @@ final class AppRuntime: ObservableObject {
         userInfo: [AnyHashable: Any]
     ) async -> UNNotificationPresentationOptions {
         if identifier.hasPrefix("private-"), let peerID = PeerID(str: userInfo["peerID"] as? String) {
-            if conversationStore.selectedPrivatePeerID == peerID {
+            if conversations.selectedPrivatePeerID == peerID {
                 return []
             }
             return [.banner, .sound]
diff --git a/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift b/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift
index f7fff03a..da7a8dee 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/ConversationStore.swift
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@
 // `ConversationID`; all mutations flow through the store's intent API and
 // every mutation emits a `ConversationChange` after state is consistent.
 //
-// During migration the previous replace-based store lives on as
-// `LegacyConversationStore` (AppArchitecture.swift) and is deleted in the
-// final migration step.
+// The store also owns conversation selection: the active public channel and
+// the selected private peer (the two UI selection axes) plus the derived
+// `selectedConversationID`.
 //
 // This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
 // For more information, see <https://unlicense.org>
@@ -257,6 +257,16 @@ final class ConversationStore: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var selectedConversationID: ConversationID?
     @Published private(set) var unreadConversations: Set<ConversationID> = []
 
+    // MARK: Selection state
+    // The two UI selection axes: which public channel is active, and which
+    // private chat (if any) is open on top of it. `selectedConversationID`
+    // is derived: the open private chat wins, otherwise the active public
+    // channel's conversation. Mutate via `setActiveChannel` /
+    // `setSelectedPrivatePeer` only.
+
+    @Published private(set) var activeChannel: ChannelID = .mesh
+    @Published private(set) var selectedPrivatePeerID: PeerID?
+
     private(set) var conversationsByID: [ConversationID: Conversation] = [:]
 
     /// Store-level message-ID → conversation-membership map for ID-only
@@ -391,6 +401,32 @@ final class ConversationStore: ObservableObject {
         selectedConversationID = id
     }
 
+    /// Switches the active public channel. While no private chat is open
+    /// the selection follows the channel.
+    func setActiveChannel(_ channelID: ChannelID) {
+        if activeChannel != channelID {
+            activeChannel = channelID
+        }
+        refreshDerivedSelection()
+    }
+
+    /// Opens a private chat (`nil` closes it, returning the selection to the
+    /// active public channel's conversation).
+    func setSelectedPrivatePeer(_ peerID: PeerID?) {
+        if selectedPrivatePeerID != peerID {
+            selectedPrivatePeerID = peerID
+        }
+        refreshDerivedSelection()
+    }
+
+    private func refreshDerivedSelection() {
+        if let peerID = selectedPrivatePeerID {
+            select(.directPeer(peerID))
+        } else {
+            select(ConversationID(channelID: activeChannel))
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Moves all messages from `source` into `destination` (the
     /// ephemeral↔stable peer-ID handoff): dedups by message ID, preserves
     /// timestamp order, carries unread state over, and hands off the
@@ -424,6 +460,13 @@ final class ConversationStore: ObservableObject {
         }
         if wasSelected {
             selectedConversationID = destination
+            // Keep the private-peer selection axis consistent with the
+            // handed-off selection.
+            if let peerID = selectedPrivatePeerID,
+               source == .directPeer(peerID),
+               case .direct(let destinationHandle) = destination {
+                selectedPrivatePeerID = destinationHandle.routingPeerID
+            }
         }
 
         changes.send(.migrated(from: source, to: destination))
@@ -532,32 +575,27 @@ final class ConversationStore: ObservableObject {
     }
 }
 
-// MARK: - Migration step 2 compatibility (raw per-peer keying + derived views)
+// MARK: - Direct-conversation keying + derived views
 
 extension ConversationID {
     /// Direct-conversation ID keyed by the *raw* routing peer ID.
     ///
-    /// Migration step 2 keeps one conversation per `PeerID` — exactly the
-    /// buckets the legacy `privateChats` dictionary had — so the
-    /// ephemeral/stable mirroring and consolidation coordinators keep their
-    /// current semantics. Step 5 canonicalizes direct conversations through
-    /// `IdentityResolver` and this helper goes away.
+    /// Direct conversations are deliberately keyed per `PeerID`, not per
+    /// resolved identity: the private-chat coordinators mirror messages into
+    /// both the ephemeral and stable peer's conversations
+    /// (`mirrorToEphemeralIfNeeded`) and consolidate/migrate between them
+    /// explicitly, so a raw lookup by whichever peer ID is selected always
+    /// finds the right timeline without an identity-resolution layer.
     static func directPeer(_ peerID: PeerID) -> ConversationID {
-        .direct(PeerHandle(
-            id: "peer:\(peerID.id)",
-            routingPeerID: peerID,
-            displayName: nil,
-            noisePublicKeyHex: nil,
-            nostrPublicKey: nil
-        ))
+        .direct(PeerHandle(id: "peer:\(peerID.id)", routingPeerID: peerID))
     }
 }
 
 extension ConversationStore {
     /// All direct conversations' messages keyed by routing peer ID — the
-    /// compat shape of the legacy `privateChats` dictionary. Values are the
-    /// conversations' backing arrays (COW), so building this is
-    /// O(#conversations), not O(#messages).
+    /// shape `ChatViewModel.privateChats` exposes to the coordinators.
+    /// Values are the conversations' backing arrays (COW), so building this
+    /// is O(#conversations), not O(#messages).
     func directMessagesByRoutingPeerID() -> [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] {
         var messagesByPeerID: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
         messagesByPeerID.reserveCapacity(conversationsByID.count)
@@ -568,8 +606,8 @@ extension ConversationStore {
         return messagesByPeerID
     }
 
-    /// Unread direct conversations as routing peer IDs — the compat shape of
-    /// the legacy `unreadPrivateMessages` set.
+    /// Unread direct conversations as routing peer IDs — the shape
+    /// `ChatViewModel.unreadPrivateMessages` exposes to the coordinators.
     func unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs() -> Set<PeerID> {
         var peerIDs = Set<PeerID>()
         for id in unreadConversations {
@@ -611,13 +649,11 @@ extension ConversationStore {
     }
 }
 
-// MARK: - Migration step 3 compatibility (public timeline derived views)
+// MARK: - Public timeline derived views
 
 extension ConversationStore {
     /// Removes a message by ID from whichever public (mesh/geohash)
-    /// conversation contains it — the compat shape of the legacy
-    /// `PublicTimelineStore.removeMessage(withID:)`. Returns the removed
-    /// message, if any.
+    /// conversation contains it. Returns the removed message, if any.
     @discardableResult
     func removePublicMessage(withID messageID: String) -> BitchatMessage? {
         for id in conversationIDs(forMessageID: messageID) {
diff --git a/bitchat/App/ConversationUIModel.swift b/bitchat/App/ConversationUIModel.swift
index 120077fb..29770e1a 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/ConversationUIModel.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/ConversationUIModel.swift
@@ -15,19 +15,19 @@ final class ConversationUIModel: ObservableObject {
 
     private let chatViewModel: ChatViewModel
     private let privateConversationModel: PrivateConversationModel
-    private let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+    private let conversations: ConversationStore
     private var activeChannel: ChannelID
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
 
     init(
         chatViewModel: ChatViewModel,
         privateConversationModel: PrivateConversationModel,
-        conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+        conversations: ConversationStore
     ) {
         self.chatViewModel = chatViewModel
         self.privateConversationModel = privateConversationModel
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
-        self.activeChannel = conversationStore.activeChannel
+        self.conversations = conversations
+        self.activeChannel = conversations.activeChannel
         self.currentNickname = chatViewModel.nickname
         self.isBatchingPublic = chatViewModel.isBatchingPublic
         self.showAutocomplete = chatViewModel.showAutocomplete
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ final class ConversationUIModel: ObservableObject {
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .assign(to: &$isBatchingPublic)
 
-        conversationStore.$activeChannel
+        conversations.$activeChannel
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] channel in
                 self?.activeChannel = channel
diff --git a/bitchat/App/LegacyConversationStoreBridge.swift b/bitchat/App/LegacyConversationStoreBridge.swift
deleted file mode 100644
index cf412298..00000000
--- a/bitchat/App/LegacyConversationStoreBridge.swift
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,160 +0,0 @@
-//
-// LegacyConversationStoreBridge.swift
-// bitchat
-//
-// Migration step 2 adapter (DELETE IN STEP 5, see
-// docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md §4).
-//
-// The new `ConversationStore` is the single writer for private (direct) AND
-// public (mesh/geohash) message state; the feature models
-// (`PrivateInboxModel`, `PrivateConversationModel`, `ConversationUIModel`,
-// `PeerListModel`, `PublicChatModel`) still read the replace-based
-// `LegacyConversationStore` until step 5. This bridge keeps Legacy fed from
-// the new store's `changes` subject: per-message changes mark the affected
-// conversation dirty and a `Task.yield`-coalesced flush mirrors only the
-// dirty conversations — a burst of N appends costs ONE Legacy replace (like
-// the old debounced sync) without the full-dict pass. Structural direct
-// changes (migration/removal) resynchronize immediately; public removals
-// mirror an empty timeline. Legacy is therefore eventually consistent within
-// one run-loop tick — the same visibility the old sinks and per-message
-// public syncs provided — while the new store stays synchronously
-// authoritative.
-//
-// This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
-// For more information, see <https://unlicense.org>
-//
-
-import BitFoundation
-import Combine
-import Foundation
-
-@MainActor
-final class LegacyConversationStoreBridge {
-    private let store: ConversationStore
-    private let legacyStore: LegacyConversationStore
-    private let identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    private var cancellable: AnyCancellable?
-
-    private var dirtyConversations: Set<ConversationID> = []
-    private var pendingFlushTask: Task<Void, Never>?
-
-    init(
-        store: ConversationStore,
-        legacyStore: LegacyConversationStore,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver
-    ) {
-        self.store = store
-        self.legacyStore = legacyStore
-        self.identityResolver = identityResolver
-
-        cancellable = store.changes.sink { [weak self] change in
-            self?.apply(change)
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Full resynchronization of every direct conversation into Legacy.
-    ///
-    /// Needed when `IdentityResolver` learns new peer associations (the
-    /// canonical handle for an existing conversation can change, re-keying
-    /// it in Legacy) and after structural store changes. This is the old
-    /// `synchronizePrivateChats` full pass — acceptable because it only runs
-    /// on peer-list changes and rare migrations, never per message.
-    func resynchronizeAll() {
-        // The full pass covers every direct conversation; pending direct
-        // per-conversation work is redundant. Dirty public conversations
-        // keep their scheduled mirror.
-        dirtyConversations = dirtyConversations.filter { !isDirect($0) }
-        legacyStore.synchronizePrivateChats(
-            store.directMessagesByRoutingPeerID(),
-            unreadPeerIDs: store.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs(),
-            identityResolver: identityResolver
-        )
-    }
-}
-
-private extension LegacyConversationStoreBridge {
-    func apply(_ change: ConversationChange) {
-        switch change {
-        case .appended(let id, _),
-             .updated(let id, _),
-             .statusChanged(let id, _, _),
-             .messageRemoved(let id, _),
-             .cleared(let id):
-            markDirty(id)
-
-        case .unreadChanged(let id, let isUnread):
-            guard case .direct(let handle) = id else { return }
-            if isUnread {
-                legacyStore.markUnread(peerID: handle.routingPeerID, identityResolver: identityResolver)
-            } else {
-                legacyStore.markRead(peerID: handle.routingPeerID, identityResolver: identityResolver)
-            }
-
-        case .migrated(let source, let destination):
-            guard isDirect(source) || isDirect(destination) else { return }
-            resynchronizeAll()
-
-        case .removed(let id):
-            if isDirect(id) {
-                resynchronizeAll()
-            } else {
-                // Public conversation removed (panic clear): mirror an empty
-                // timeline immediately so Legacy readers never show stale
-                // messages.
-                dirtyConversations.remove(id)
-                legacyStore.replaceMessages([], for: id)
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    func markDirty(_ id: ConversationID) {
-        dirtyConversations.insert(id)
-        scheduleFlush()
-    }
-
-    /// One pending flush at a time, exactly like the old
-    /// `schedulePrivateConversationStoreSynchronization` debounce: a
-    /// synchronous burst of mutations coalesces into a single flush on the
-    /// next main-actor turn.
-    func scheduleFlush() {
-        guard pendingFlushTask == nil else { return }
-        pendingFlushTask = Task { @MainActor [weak self] in
-            await Task.yield()
-            guard let self else { return }
-            self.pendingFlushTask = nil
-            self.flushDirtyConversations()
-        }
-    }
-
-    func flushDirtyConversations() {
-        guard !dirtyConversations.isEmpty else { return }
-        let dirty = dirtyConversations
-        dirtyConversations.removeAll()
-        for id in dirty {
-            mirrorConversation(id)
-        }
-    }
-
-    func mirrorConversation(_ id: ConversationID) {
-        guard let conversation = store.conversationsByID[id] else {
-            // Removed while dirty; the removal already resynchronized
-            // (direct) or mirrored an empty timeline (public).
-            return
-        }
-        switch id {
-        case .direct(let handle):
-            legacyStore.replaceDirectMessages(
-                conversation.messages,
-                for: handle.routingPeerID,
-                identityResolver: identityResolver
-            )
-        case .mesh, .geohash:
-            legacyStore.replaceMessages(conversation.messages, for: id)
-        }
-    }
-
-    func isDirect(_ id: ConversationID) -> Bool {
-        if case .direct = id { return true }
-        return false
-    }
-}
diff --git a/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift b/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift
index 90a8ea2b..38f20a1c 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/PeerListModel.swift
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var renderID = ""
 
     private let chatViewModel: ChatViewModel
-    private let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+    private let conversations: ConversationStore
     private let locationChannelsModel: LocationChannelsModel
     private let peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore
     private let locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
 
     init(
         chatViewModel: ChatViewModel,
-        conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore,
+        conversations: ConversationStore,
         locationChannelsModel: LocationChannelsModel? = nil,
         peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore? = nil,
         locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore? = nil
     ) {
         self.chatViewModel = chatViewModel
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
+        self.conversations = conversations
         self.locationChannelsModel = locationChannelsModel ?? LocationChannelsModel()
         self.peerIdentityStore = peerIdentityStore ?? chatViewModel.peerIdentityStore
         self.locationPresenceStore = locationPresenceStore ?? chatViewModel.locationPresenceStore
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ final class PeerListModel: ObservableObject {
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
-        conversationStore.$unreadConversations
+        conversations.$unreadConversations
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
                 self?.refresh()
diff --git a/bitchat/App/PrivateConversationModels.swift b/bitchat/App/PrivateConversationModels.swift
index cf50037f..71871984 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/PrivateConversationModels.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/PrivateConversationModels.swift
@@ -2,69 +2,93 @@ import BitFoundation
 import Combine
 import Foundation
 
+/// Feature model for private (direct) conversations.
+///
+/// Reads the single-writer `ConversationStore` directly: `messages(for:)`
+/// returns the peer's conversation backing array (no mirror dictionary), and
+/// the store's typed `changes` subject drives invalidation — a change in the
+/// SELECTED peer's conversation republishes this model, while appends to
+/// other private chats only surface through the unread set. Direct
+/// conversations are keyed by raw routing peer ID; the coordinators'
+/// ephemeral/stable mirroring guarantees the selected peer's key always
+/// holds the full timeline (see `ConversationID.directPeer`).
 @MainActor
 final class PrivateInboxModel: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var selectedPeerID: PeerID?
     @Published private(set) var unreadPeerIDs: Set<PeerID> = []
-    @Published private(set) var messagesByPeerID: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
 
-    private let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+    private let conversations: ConversationStore
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
 
-    init(conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore) {
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
+    init(conversations: ConversationStore) {
+        self.conversations = conversations
+        self.selectedPeerID = conversations.selectedPrivatePeerID
+        self.unreadPeerIDs = conversations.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs()
 
         bind()
-        refreshMessages()
     }
 
     func messages(for peerID: PeerID?) -> [BitchatMessage] {
         guard let peerID else { return [] }
-        return messagesByPeerID[peerID] ?? []
+        return conversations.conversationsByID[.directPeer(peerID)]?.messages ?? []
     }
 
     private func bind() {
-        conversationStore.$selectedPrivatePeerID
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
+        conversations.$selectedPrivatePeerID
+            .dropFirst()
             .sink { [weak self] peerID in
-                self?.selectedPeerID = peerID
-                self?.refreshMessages()
+                guard let self, self.selectedPeerID != peerID else { return }
+                self.selectedPeerID = peerID
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
-        conversationStore.$unreadConversations
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
-            .sink { [weak self] _ in
-                self?.unreadPeerIDs = self?.conversationStore.unreadDirectPeerIDs() ?? []
-                self?.refreshMessages()
+        conversations.changes
+            .sink { [weak self] change in
+                self?.apply(change)
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
-
-        conversationStore.$messagesByConversation
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
-            .sink { [weak self] _ in
-                self?.refreshMessages()
-            }
-            .store(in: &cancellables)
-
-        selectedPeerID = conversationStore.selectedPrivatePeerID
-        unreadPeerIDs = conversationStore.unreadDirectPeerIDs()
     }
 
-    private func refreshMessages() {
-        var nextMessagesByPeerID = conversationStore.directMessagesByPeerID()
-        var peerIDs = Set(nextMessagesByPeerID.keys)
-        peerIDs.formUnion(conversationStore.unreadDirectPeerIDs())
-        if let selectedPeerID = conversationStore.selectedPrivatePeerID {
-            peerIDs.insert(selectedPeerID)
-        }
+    private func apply(_ change: ConversationChange) {
+        switch change {
+        case .appended(let id, _),
+             .updated(let id, _),
+             .statusChanged(let id, _, _),
+             .messageRemoved(let id, _),
+             .cleared(let id):
+            republishIfSelected(id)
 
-        for peerID in peerIDs where nextMessagesByPeerID[peerID] == nil {
-            nextMessagesByPeerID[peerID] = []
-        }
+        case .unreadChanged(let id, _):
+            guard isDirect(id) else { return }
+            refreshUnreadPeerIDs()
 
-        guard messagesByPeerID != nextMessagesByPeerID else { return }
-        messagesByPeerID = nextMessagesByPeerID
+        case .removed(let id):
+            guard isDirect(id) else { return }
+            refreshUnreadPeerIDs()
+            republishIfSelected(id)
+
+        case .migrated(let source, let destination):
+            guard isDirect(source) || isDirect(destination) else { return }
+            refreshUnreadPeerIDs()
+            republishIfSelected(source)
+            republishIfSelected(destination)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private func republishIfSelected(_ id: ConversationID) {
+        guard let selectedPeerID, id == .directPeer(selectedPeerID) else { return }
+        objectWillChange.send()
+    }
+
+    private func refreshUnreadPeerIDs() {
+        let next = conversations.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs()
+        guard unreadPeerIDs != next else { return }
+        unreadPeerIDs = next
+    }
+
+    private func isDirect(_ id: ConversationID) -> Bool {
+        if case .direct = id { return true }
+        return false
     }
 }
 
@@ -94,22 +118,22 @@ final class PrivateConversationModel: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var selectedHeaderState: PrivateConversationHeaderState?
 
     private let chatViewModel: ChatViewModel
-    private let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+    private let conversations: ConversationStore
     private let locationChannelsModel: LocationChannelsModel
     private let peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
 
     init(
         chatViewModel: ChatViewModel,
-        conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore,
+        conversations: ConversationStore,
         locationChannelsModel: LocationChannelsModel? = nil,
         peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore? = nil
     ) {
         self.chatViewModel = chatViewModel
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
+        self.conversations = conversations
         self.locationChannelsModel = locationChannelsModel ?? LocationChannelsModel()
         self.peerIdentityStore = peerIdentityStore ?? chatViewModel.peerIdentityStore
-        let initialPeerID = conversationStore.selectedPrivatePeerID
+        let initialPeerID = conversations.selectedPrivatePeerID
         self.selectedPeerID = initialPeerID
         self.selectedHeaderState = initialPeerID.flatMap { peerID in
             makeHeaderState(for: peerID)
@@ -154,7 +178,7 @@ final class PrivateConversationModel: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     private func bind() {
-        conversationStore.$selectedPrivatePeerID
+        conversations.$selectedPrivatePeerID
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak self] _ in
                 self?.refreshSelectedConversation()
@@ -198,7 +222,7 @@ final class PrivateConversationModel: ObservableObject {
     }
 
     private func refreshSelectedConversation() {
-        selectedPeerID = conversationStore.selectedPrivatePeerID
+        selectedPeerID = conversations.selectedPrivatePeerID
         selectedHeaderState = selectedPeerID.flatMap { peerID in
             makeHeaderState(for: peerID)
         }
diff --git a/bitchat/App/PublicChatModel.swift b/bitchat/App/PublicChatModel.swift
index 48159b71..fc9040ac 100644
--- a/bitchat/App/PublicChatModel.swift
+++ b/bitchat/App/PublicChatModel.swift
@@ -2,42 +2,76 @@ import BitFoundation
 import Combine
 import SwiftUI
 
+/// Feature model for the active public (mesh/geohash) timeline.
+///
+/// Observes ONE `Conversation` object in the single-writer
+/// `ConversationStore` — the active channel's — so appends to background
+/// conversations (other geohashes, private chats) never invalidate it.
+/// `messages` reads the observed conversation's backing array directly;
+/// there is no mirror copy.
 @MainActor
 final class PublicChatModel: ObservableObject {
     @Published private(set) var activeChannel: ChannelID
-    @Published private(set) var messages: [BitchatMessage] = []
 
-    private let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+    /// The active public conversation's timeline.
+    var messages: [BitchatMessage] { activeConversation.messages }
+
+    private let conversations: ConversationStore
+    private var activeConversation: Conversation
+    private var activeConversationCancellable: AnyCancellable?
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
 
-    init(conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore) {
-        self.activeChannel = conversationStore.activeChannel
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
+    init(conversations: ConversationStore) {
+        let channel = conversations.activeChannel
+        self.conversations = conversations
+        self.activeChannel = channel
+        self.activeConversation = conversations.conversation(for: ConversationID(channelID: channel))
 
+        observeActiveConversation()
         bind()
-        refreshMessages()
     }
 
     private func bind() {
-        conversationStore.$activeChannel
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
+        conversations.$activeChannel
+            .dropFirst()
             .sink { [weak self] channel in
-                self?.activeChannel = channel
-                self?.refreshMessages()
+                guard let self else { return }
+                self.activeChannel = channel
+                self.retargetActiveConversation(to: channel)
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
-        conversationStore.$messagesByConversation
-            .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
-            .sink { [weak self] _ in
-                self?.refreshMessages()
+        // The store replaces a conversation's object when it is removed
+        // (panic clear); retarget to the fresh instance so the observation
+        // never goes stale.
+        conversations.changes
+            .sink { [weak self] change in
+                guard let self,
+                      case .removed(let id) = change,
+                      id == self.activeConversation.id else { return }
+                self.retargetActiveConversation(to: self.activeChannel)
             }
             .store(in: &cancellables)
     }
 
-    private func refreshMessages() {
-        let nextMessages = conversationStore.messages(for: ConversationID(channelID: activeChannel))
-        guard messages != nextMessages else { return }
-        messages = nextMessages
+    private func retargetActiveConversation(to channel: ChannelID) {
+        let conversation = conversations.conversation(for: ConversationID(channelID: channel))
+        guard conversation !== activeConversation else {
+            // Same object (e.g. re-selected channel): keep the existing
+            // observation, but `messages` may still differ from what views
+            // last rendered, so republish.
+            objectWillChange.send()
+            return
+        }
+        objectWillChange.send()
+        activeConversation = conversation
+        observeActiveConversation()
+    }
+
+    private func observeActiveConversation() {
+        activeConversationCancellable = activeConversation.objectWillChange
+            .sink { [weak self] _ in
+                self?.objectWillChange.send()
+            }
     }
 }
diff --git a/bitchat/Services/CommandProcessor.swift b/bitchat/Services/CommandProcessor.swift
index f435d8e6..e9e81654 100644
--- a/bitchat/Services/CommandProcessor.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Services/CommandProcessor.swift
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ protocol CommandContextProvider: AnyObject {
     var activeChannel: ChannelID { get }
     var selectedPrivateChatPeer: PeerID? { get }
     var blockedUsers: Set<String> { get }
-    var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
     var idBridge: NostrIdentityBridge { get }
 
     // MARK: - Peer Lookup
diff --git a/bitchat/Services/PrivateChatManager.swift b/bitchat/Services/PrivateChatManager.swift
index 62a905d2..11c50d60 100644
--- a/bitchat/Services/PrivateChatManager.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Services/PrivateChatManager.swift
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@ import SwiftUI
 /// Manages private chat session policy (selection, read receipts,
 /// consolidation). Message storage lives in the single-writer
 /// `ConversationStore` (docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md); the
-/// `privateChats` / `unreadMessages` properties below are read-only compat
-/// views derived from it (migration step 2 — the manager shrinks to
-/// read-receipt policy in step 5).
+/// `privateChats` / `unreadMessages` properties below are read-only views
+/// derived from it.
 final class PrivateChatManager: ObservableObject {
     @Published var selectedPeer: PeerID? = nil
 
diff --git a/bitchat/Services/TransportConfig.swift b/bitchat/Services/TransportConfig.swift
index e78adb6f..7a6e069d 100644
--- a/bitchat/Services/TransportConfig.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Services/TransportConfig.swift
@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@ enum TransportConfig {
     static let nostrInboundEventLogInterval: Int = 100
 
     // UI thresholds
-    static let uiLateInsertThreshold: TimeInterval = 15.0
-    // Geohash public chats are more sensitive to ordering; use a tighter threshold
-    static let uiLateInsertThresholdGeo: TimeInterval = 0.0
     static let uiProcessedNostrEventsCap: Int = 2000
     static let uiChannelInactivityThresholdSeconds: TimeInterval = 9 * 60
     
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatLifecycleCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatLifecycleCoordinator.swift
index f13f057d..e93b7eb9 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatLifecycleCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatLifecycleCoordinator.swift
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ import Foundation
 protocol ChatLifecycleContext: AnyObject {
     // MARK: Chat & receipt state
     var messages: [BitchatMessage] { get }
-    var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
+    /// A single private chat's timeline (store-direct lookup on
+    /// `ChatViewModel`; no `privateChats` dictionary build).
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage]
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> { get }
     var selectedPrivateChatPeer: PeerID? { get }
     /// Appends a private message via the single-writer store intent.
@@ -73,7 +75,7 @@ protocol ChatLifecycleContext: AnyObject {
 }
 
 extension ChatViewModel: ChatLifecycleContext {
-    // `messages`, `privateChats`, `unreadPrivateMessages`,
+    // `messages`, `privateMessages(for:)`, `unreadPrivateMessages`,
     // `selectedPrivateChatPeer`, `sentReadReceipts`, `nickname`, `myPeerID`,
     // `activeChannel`, `nostrKeyMapping`, `markReadReceiptSent(_:)`,
     // `markPrivateMessagesAsRead(from:)`, `appendPrivateMessage(_:to:)`,
@@ -187,7 +189,7 @@ final class ChatLifecycleCoordinator {
            let recipientHex = context.nostrKeyMapping[peerID],
            case .location(let channel) = context.activeChannel,
            let identity = try? context.deriveNostrIdentity(forGeohash: channel.geohash) {
-            let messages = context.privateChats[peerID] ?? []
+            let messages = context.privateMessages(for: peerID)
             for message in messages where message.senderPeerID == peerID && !message.isRelay {
                 guard !context.sentReadReceipts.contains(message.id) else { continue }
 
@@ -253,14 +255,12 @@ final class ChatLifecycleCoordinator {
     func getPrivateChatMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
         var combined: [BitchatMessage] = []
 
-        if let ephemeralMessages = context.privateChats[peerID] {
-            combined.append(contentsOf: ephemeralMessages)
-        }
+        combined.append(contentsOf: context.privateMessages(for: peerID))
 
         if let peer = context.unifiedPeer(for: peerID) {
             let noiseKeyHex = PeerID(hexData: peer.noisePublicKey)
-            if noiseKeyHex != peerID, let stableMessages = context.privateChats[noiseKeyHex] {
-                combined.append(contentsOf: stableMessages)
+            if noiseKeyHex != peerID {
+                combined.append(contentsOf: context.privateMessages(for: noiseKeyHex))
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatMediaTransferCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatMediaTransferCoordinator.swift
index d604f8f8..ce51abe9 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatMediaTransferCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatMediaTransferCoordinator.swift
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ protocol ChatMediaTransferContext: AnyObject {
     func currentPublicSender() -> (name: String, peerID: PeerID)
 
     // MARK: Message state
-    var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
     /// Appends a private message via the single-writer store intent.
     @discardableResult
     func appendPrivateMessage(_ message: BitchatMessage, to peerID: PeerID) -> Bool
@@ -52,7 +51,7 @@ protocol ChatMediaTransferContext: AnyObject {
 extension ChatViewModel: ChatMediaTransferContext {
     // `canSendMediaInCurrentContext`, `selectedPrivateChatPeer`, `nickname`,
     // `myPeerID`, `activeChannel`, `nicknameForPeer(_:)`,
-    // `currentPublicSender()`, `privateChats`,
+    // `currentPublicSender()`,
     // `appendPublicMessage(_:to:)`, `removeMessage(withID:cleanupFile:)`,
     // `addSystemMessage(_:)`, `notifyUIChanged()`,
     // `updateMessageDeliveryStatus(_:status:)`, `normalizedContentKey(_:)`,
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator.swift
index 2728afe3..645ac1ab 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator.swift
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ import Foundation
 protocol ChatPeerIdentityContext: AnyObject {
     // MARK: Conversation state
     var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
+    /// A single private chat's timeline. Witnessed by the store-direct
+    /// lookup on `ChatViewModel` (no `privateChats` dictionary build).
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage]
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> { get }
     /// Clears the peer's unread flag (single-writer store intent).
     func markPrivateChatRead(_ peerID: PeerID)
@@ -229,7 +232,7 @@ final class ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator {
     @MainActor
     func openMostRelevantPrivateChat() {
         let unreadSorted = context.unreadPrivateMessages
-            .map { ($0, context.privateChats[$0]?.last?.timestamp ?? Date.distantPast) }
+            .map { ($0, context.privateMessages(for: $0).last?.timestamp ?? Date.distantPast) }
             .sorted { $0.1 > $1.1 }
         if let target = unreadSorted.first?.0 {
             startPrivateChat(with: target)
@@ -563,7 +566,7 @@ private extension ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator {
     func migrateNoiseKeyUpdate(oldPeerID: PeerID, newPeerID: PeerID) {
         if context.selectedPrivateChatPeer == oldPeerID {
             SecureLogger.info("📱 Updating private chat peer ID due to key change: \(oldPeerID) -> \(newPeerID)", category: .session)
-        } else if context.privateChats[oldPeerID] != nil {
+        } else if !context.privateMessages(for: oldPeerID).isEmpty {
             SecureLogger.debug("📱 Migrating private chat messages from \(oldPeerID) to \(newPeerID)", category: .session)
         }
 
@@ -613,7 +616,7 @@ private extension ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator {
         }
 
         let currentStatus = context.favoriteRelationship(forNoiseKey: noisePublicKey)
-        let fallbackNickname = context.privateChats[peerID]?.first { $0.senderPeerID == peerID }?.sender
+        let fallbackNickname = context.privateMessages(for: peerID).first { $0.senderPeerID == peerID }?.sender
         let plan = ChatFavoriteTogglePolicy.plan(
             currentStatus: currentStatus.map(ChatFavoriteStatusSnapshot.init),
             fallbackNickname: fallbackNickname,
@@ -642,3 +645,11 @@ private extension ChatPeerIdentityCoordinator {
         }
     }
 }
+
+/// Default for conforming test contexts that model chats as a dictionary;
+/// `ChatViewModel` overrides with a store-direct lookup.
+extension ChatPeerIdentityContext {
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
+        privateChats[peerID] ?? []
+    }
+}
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerListCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerListCoordinator.swift
index 167401a6..593aaf83 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerListCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPeerListCoordinator.swift
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ import Foundation
 protocol ChatPeerListContext: AnyObject {
     // MARK: Connection & chat state
     var isConnected: Bool { get set }
-    var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
+    /// A single private chat's timeline (store-direct lookup on
+    /// `ChatViewModel`; no `privateChats` dictionary build).
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage]
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> { get }
     /// Clears the peer's unread flag (single-writer store intent).
     func markPrivateChatRead(_ peerID: PeerID)
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ protocol ChatPeerListContext: AnyObject {
 }
 
 extension ChatViewModel: ChatPeerListContext {
-    // `isConnected`, `privateChats`, `unreadPrivateMessages`,
+    // `isConnected`, `privateMessages(for:)`, `unreadPrivateMessages`,
     // `hasTrackedPrivateChatSelection`, `updatePrivateChatPeerIfNeeded()`,
     // `cleanupOldReadReceipts()`, `unifiedPeers`, `isPeerConnected(_:)`,
     // `isPeerReachable(_:)`, `registerEphemeralSession(peerID:)`, and
@@ -148,11 +150,11 @@ private extension ChatPeerListCoordinator {
         var idsToRemove: [PeerID] = []
 
         for staleID in staleIDs {
-            if staleID.isGeoDM, let messages = context.privateChats[staleID], !messages.isEmpty {
+            if staleID.isGeoDM, !context.privateMessages(for: staleID).isEmpty {
                 continue
             }
 
-            if staleID.isNoiseKeyHex, let messages = context.privateChats[staleID], !messages.isEmpty {
+            if staleID.isNoiseKeyHex, !context.privateMessages(for: staleID).isEmpty {
                 continue
             }
 
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator.swift
index 401536de..f1d9e1f7 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator.swift
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ import Foundation
 protocol ChatPrivateConversationContext: AnyObject {
     // MARK: Conversation state
     var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
+    /// A single private chat's timeline. Witnessed by the store-direct
+    /// lookup on `ChatViewModel` (no `privateChats` dictionary build).
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage]
     var sentReadReceipts: Set<String> { get }
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> { get }
     var selectedPrivateChatPeer: PeerID? { get }
@@ -588,8 +591,8 @@ final class ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator {
 
         if peerID.id.count == 16, let peerNoiseKey = context.noisePublicKey(for: peerID) {
             let stableKeyHex = PeerID(hexData: peerNoiseKey)
+            let nostrMessages = context.privateMessages(for: stableKeyHex)
             if stableKeyHex != peerID,
-               let nostrMessages = context.privateChats[stableKeyHex],
                !nostrMessages.isEmpty {
                 // Store migration dedups by ID, keeps timestamp order, and
                 // removes the stable-key chat.
@@ -767,7 +770,7 @@ final class ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator {
     func migratePrivateChatsIfNeeded(for peerID: PeerID, senderNickname: String) {
         let currentFingerprint = context.getFingerprint(for: peerID)
 
-        if context.privateChats[peerID] == nil || context.privateChats[peerID]?.isEmpty == true {
+        if context.privateMessages(for: peerID).isEmpty {
             // Chats migrated wholesale go through the store's
             // `migrateConversation` intent; partially-migrated chats keep
             // their non-recent tail, so the recent messages are copied in
@@ -876,3 +879,11 @@ final class ChatPrivateConversationCoordinator {
         return false
     }
 }
+
+/// Default for conforming test contexts that model chats as a dictionary;
+/// `ChatViewModel` overrides with a store-direct lookup.
+extension ChatPrivateConversationContext {
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
+        privateChats[peerID] ?? []
+    }
+}
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPublicConversationCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPublicConversationCoordinator.swift
index 4a6dab4a..d6777a71 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPublicConversationCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatPublicConversationCoordinator.swift
@@ -51,9 +51,8 @@ protocol ChatPublicConversationContext: AnyObject {
     func queueGeohashSystemMessage(_ content: String)
 
     // MARK: Private chats (block cleanup & message removal)
-    var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
     /// Removes the peer's chat entirely, including unread state
-    /// (single-writer store intent).
+    /// (single-writer store intent; no-op for unknown peers).
     func removePrivateChat(_ peerID: PeerID)
     /// Removes a message by ID from every private chat containing it,
     /// dropping chats that become empty. Returns the removed message.
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ protocol ChatPublicConversationContext: AnyObject {
 }
 
 extension ChatViewModel: ChatPublicConversationContext {
-    // `privateChats`, `unreadPrivateMessages`, `nostrKeyMapping`,
+    // `unreadPrivateMessages`, `nostrKeyMapping`,
     // `nickname`, `activeChannel`, `currentGeohash`, `geoNicknames`,
     // `myPeerID`, `isTeleported`, `notifyUIChanged()`,
     // `geoParticipantCount(for:)`, `isNostrBlocked(pubkeyHexLowercased:)`,
@@ -218,10 +217,8 @@ final class ChatPublicConversationCoordinator: PublicMessagePipelineDelegate {
             context.removePublicMessages(fromGeohash: gh, where: predicate)
         }
 
-        let conversationPeerID = PeerID(nostr_: hex)
-        if context.privateChats[conversationPeerID] != nil {
-            context.removePrivateChat(conversationPeerID)
-        }
+        // The store intent no-ops when no such chat exists.
+        context.removePrivateChat(PeerID(nostr_: hex))
 
         context.removeNostrKeyMappings(matchingPubkeyHexLowercased: hex)
 
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatTransportEventCoordinator.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatTransportEventCoordinator.swift
index 33e46b93..f803c89b 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatTransportEventCoordinator.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatTransportEventCoordinator.swift
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ protocol ChatTransportEventContext: AnyObject {
     var isConnected: Bool { get set }
     var nickname: String { get }
     var myPeerID: PeerID { get }
-    var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] { get }
+    /// A single private chat's timeline (store-direct lookup on
+    /// `ChatViewModel`; no `privateChats` dictionary build).
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage]
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> { get }
     var selectedPrivateChatPeer: PeerID? { get set }
     /// Appends a private message via the single-writer store intent;
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ protocol ChatTransportEventContext: AnyObject {
 }
 
 extension ChatViewModel: ChatTransportEventContext {
-    // `isConnected`, `nickname`, `myPeerID`, `privateChats`,
+    // `isConnected`, `nickname`, `myPeerID`, `privateMessages(for:)`,
     // `unreadPrivateMessages`, `selectedPrivateChatPeer`, `notifyUIChanged()`,
     // the inbound message handlers, `isPeerBlocked(_:)`,
     // `parseMentions(from:)`, `resolveNickname(for:)`,
@@ -233,12 +235,10 @@ final class ChatTransportEventCoordinator {
                 )
             }
 
-            if let messages = context.privateChats[peerID] {
-                let receiptIDs = messages
-                    .filter { $0.senderPeerID == peerID }
-                    .map(\.id)
-                context.unmarkReadReceiptsSent(receiptIDs)
-            }
+            let receiptIDs = context.privateMessages(for: peerID)
+                .filter { $0.senderPeerID == peerID }
+                .map(\.id)
+            context.unmarkReadReceiptsSent(receiptIDs)
 
             context.notifyUIChanged()
         }
@@ -261,8 +261,9 @@ private extension ChatTransportEventCoordinator {
     ) {
         let hadUnread = context.unreadPrivateMessages.contains(shortPeerID)
 
-        if let messages = context.privateChats[shortPeerID] {
-            for message in messages {
+        let shortPeerMessages = context.privateMessages(for: shortPeerID)
+        if !shortPeerMessages.isEmpty {
+            for message in shortPeerMessages {
                 // Rewrite senderPeerID to the stable key so read receipts
                 // keep working; store append dedups by ID and keeps order.
                 let migrated = BitchatMessage(
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
index 8be04fc0..2a15d59d 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift
@@ -120,11 +120,13 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     // MARK: - Published Properties
 
     /// Read-only derived view of the ACTIVE public channel's conversation in
-    /// the single-writer `ConversationStore` (migration step 3 shim; views
-    /// observe `Conversation` objects directly in step 5). Hot for rendering,
-    /// so the array is cached and invalidated from the store's `changes`
-    /// subject (filtered to the active conversation) and on channel switches.
-    /// `objectWillChange` fires on every store change via the sink in `init`.
+    /// the single-writer `ConversationStore`. SwiftUI renders through
+    /// `PublicChatModel` (which observes the `Conversation` object directly);
+    /// this view serves the coordinators/commands that need "the visible
+    /// timeline" plus tests. Hot enough that the array is cached and
+    /// invalidated from the store's `changes` subject (filtered to the
+    /// active conversation) and on channel switches. `objectWillChange`
+    /// fires on every store change via the sink in `init`.
     @MainActor
     var messages: [BitchatMessage] {
         if let cached = visibleMessagesCache { return cached }
@@ -180,13 +182,15 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     var connectedPeers: Set<PeerID> { unifiedPeerService.connectedPeerIDs }
     @Published var allPeers: [BitchatPeer] = []
 
-    /// Read-only compat view of all direct conversations in the new
-    /// `ConversationStore`, keyed by routing peer ID (migration step 2 shim;
-    /// views/feature models observe `Conversation` objects directly in
-    /// step 5). All mutations go through the private-chat intent ops below.
-    /// Rebuilt per access — O(#conversations) thanks to COW message arrays;
-    /// measured equal to a change-invalidated cache on
-    /// `pipeline.privateIngest`, so the simpler form wins.
+    /// Read-only derived view of all direct conversations in the
+    /// `ConversationStore`, keyed by routing peer ID. Serves the coordinator
+    /// reads that genuinely need the whole dictionary (migration scans,
+    /// unread resolution); simple per-peer reads go through
+    /// `privateMessages(for:)` instead. All mutations go through the
+    /// private-chat intent ops below. Rebuilt per access —
+    /// O(#conversations) thanks to COW message arrays; measured equal to a
+    /// change-invalidated cache on `pipeline.privateIngest`, so the simpler
+    /// form wins.
     @MainActor
     var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] {
         conversations.directMessagesByRoutingPeerID()
@@ -203,9 +207,8 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
             synchronizeConversationSelectionStore()
         }
     }
-    /// Read-only compat view of the store's unread direct conversations
-    /// (migration step 2 shim). Mutate via `markPrivateChatUnread(_:)` /
-    /// `markPrivateChatRead(_:)`.
+    /// Read-only derived view of the store's unread direct conversations.
+    /// Mutate via `markPrivateChatUnread(_:)` / `markPrivateChatRead(_:)`.
     @MainActor
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> {
         conversations.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs()
@@ -291,15 +294,10 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     let meshService: Transport
     let idBridge: NostrIdentityBridge
     let identityManager: SecureIdentityStateManagerProtocol
-    let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
-    /// Single source of truth for conversation message state
+    /// Single source of truth for conversation message state and selection
     /// (docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md). Owned by `AppRuntime` and passed
-    /// through, mirroring the legacy store's wiring.
+    /// through.
     let conversations: ConversationStore
-    /// Keeps `LegacyConversationStore` fed from `conversations` while feature
-    /// models still read Legacy (DELETE IN STEP 5).
-    private var legacyStoreBridge: LegacyConversationStoreBridge?
-    let identityResolver: IdentityResolver
     let peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore
     let locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore
     let locationManager: LocationChannelManager
@@ -310,12 +308,11 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     private let nicknameKey = "bitchat.nickname"
     // Location channel state (macOS supports manual geohash selection)
     var activeChannel: ChannelID {
-        get { conversationStore.activeChannel }
+        get { conversations.activeChannel }
         set {
-            guard conversationStore.activeChannel != newValue else { return }
-            conversationStore.setActiveChannel(newValue)
+            guard conversations.activeChannel != newValue else { return }
+            conversations.setActiveChannel(newValue)
             visibleMessagesCache = nil
-            synchronizeConversationSelectionStore()
             objectWillChange.send()
         }
     }
@@ -550,7 +547,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
     // The sole mutation paths for private (direct) message state. Each op
     // forwards to the single-writer `ConversationStore`
     // (docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md); the read-only `privateChats` /
-    // `unreadPrivateMessages` shims above are derived from the same store.
+    // `unreadPrivateMessages` views above are derived from the same store.
 
     /// Appends a private message in timestamp order. Returns `false` when a
     /// message with the same ID is already in that chat (O(1) dedup via the
@@ -610,6 +607,14 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         conversations.migrateConversation(from: .directPeer(oldPeerID), to: .directPeer(newPeerID))
     }
 
+    /// A single private chat's timeline, read straight from the store —
+    /// an O(1) lookup that skips the `privateChats` dictionary build. The
+    /// context protocols' simple per-peer reads dispatch here.
+    @MainActor
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
+        conversations.conversationsByID[.directPeer(peerID)]?.messages ?? []
+    }
+
     /// `true` when any private chat contains a message with `messageID`
     /// (O(1) per conversation via the store's ID indexes).
     @MainActor
@@ -724,23 +729,17 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         keychain: KeychainManagerProtocol,
         idBridge: NostrIdentityBridge,
         identityManager: SecureIdentityStateManagerProtocol,
-        conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore? = nil,
         conversations: ConversationStore? = nil,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver? = nil,
         peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore? = nil,
         locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore? = nil,
         locationManager: LocationChannelManager = .shared
     ) {
-        let conversationStore = conversationStore ?? LegacyConversationStore()
-        let identityResolver = identityResolver ?? IdentityResolver()
         self.init(
             keychain: keychain,
             idBridge: idBridge,
             identityManager: identityManager,
             transport: BLEService(keychain: keychain, idBridge: idBridge, identityManager: identityManager),
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
             conversations: conversations,
-            identityResolver: identityResolver,
             peerIdentityStore: peerIdentityStore ?? PeerIdentityStore(),
             locationPresenceStore: locationPresenceStore ?? LocationPresenceStore(),
             locationManager: locationManager
@@ -755,16 +754,12 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         idBridge: NostrIdentityBridge,
         identityManager: SecureIdentityStateManagerProtocol,
         transport: Transport,
-        conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore? = nil,
         conversations: ConversationStore? = nil,
-        identityResolver: IdentityResolver? = nil,
         peerIdentityStore: PeerIdentityStore? = nil,
         locationPresenceStore: LocationPresenceStore? = nil,
         locationManager: LocationChannelManager = .shared
     ) {
-        let conversationStore = conversationStore ?? LegacyConversationStore()
         let conversations = conversations ?? ConversationStore()
-        let identityResolver = identityResolver ?? IdentityResolver()
         let peerIdentityStore = peerIdentityStore ?? PeerIdentityStore()
         let locationPresenceStore = locationPresenceStore ?? LocationPresenceStore()
         let services = ChatViewModelServiceBundle(
@@ -777,9 +772,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         self.keychain = keychain
         self.idBridge = idBridge
         self.identityManager = identityManager
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
         self.conversations = conversations
-        self.identityResolver = identityResolver
         self.peerIdentityStore = peerIdentityStore
         self.locationPresenceStore = locationPresenceStore
         self.locationManager = locationManager
@@ -793,21 +786,12 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
         self.publicMessagePipeline = services.publicMessagePipeline
         self.sentReadReceipts = ChatViewModelBootstrapper.loadPersistedReadReceipts()
 
-        // Keep the legacy store fed from the new store until the feature
-        // models cut over (migration step 5).
-        self.legacyStoreBridge = LegacyConversationStoreBridge(
-            store: conversations,
-            legacyStore: conversationStore,
-            identityResolver: identityResolver
-        )
-
         // Republish on every store change so SwiftUI observers of the
         // view model refresh. This replaces the UI-update role of the old
         // `PrivateChatManager.@Published` dictionaries and the old
-        // `@Published var messages` (their debounced Legacy synchronization
-        // sinks are gone; the bridge above feeds Legacy instead). Changes
-        // touching the ACTIVE public conversation also invalidate the
-        // derived `messages` cache before observers re-read it.
+        // `@Published var messages`. Changes touching the ACTIVE public
+        // conversation also invalidate the derived `messages` cache before
+        // observers re-read it.
         conversations.changes
             .sink { [weak self] change in
                 guard let self else { return }
@@ -819,7 +803,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
             .store(in: &cancellables)
 
         ChatViewModelBootstrapper(viewModel: self).configure()
-        initializeConversationStore()
+        synchronizeConversationSelectionStore()
     }
 
     // MARK: - Deinitialization
@@ -1156,7 +1140,7 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
             bleService.resetIdentityForPanic(currentNickname: nickname)
         }
 
-        initializeConversationStore()
+        synchronizeConversationSelectionStore()
 
         // No need to force UserDefaults synchronization
 
@@ -1278,28 +1262,11 @@ final class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate, TransportEventDele
 
     // MARK: - Message Handling
 
-    @MainActor
-    func initializeConversationStore() {
-        conversationStore.setActiveChannel(activeChannel)
-        synchronizeConversationSelectionStore()
-    }
-
-    /// Full Legacy-store resynchronization from the new `ConversationStore`.
-    /// Needed when `IdentityResolver` learns new peer associations, which can
-    /// re-key a direct conversation's canonical handle in Legacy
-    /// (DELETE IN STEP 5 with the bridge).
-    @MainActor
-    func resynchronizeLegacyPrivateConversations() {
-        legacyStoreBridge?.resynchronizeAll()
-    }
-
+    /// Pushes the private-chat manager's selection into the store, which
+    /// derives `selectedConversationID` from it and the active channel.
     @MainActor
     func synchronizeConversationSelectionStore() {
-        conversationStore.setSelectedPeerID(
-            privateChatManager.selectedPeer,
-            activeChannel: activeChannel,
-            identityResolver: identityResolver
-        )
+        conversations.setSelectedPrivatePeer(privateChatManager.selectedPeer)
     }
 
     /// Invalidates the derived `messages` cache and notifies observers.
diff --git a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModelBootstrapper.swift b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModelBootstrapper.swift
index 9be99cfe..3ec15fa8 100644
--- a/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModelBootstrapper.swift
+++ b/bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModelBootstrapper.swift
@@ -90,10 +90,9 @@ private extension ChatViewModelBootstrapper {
             }
             .store(in: &viewModel.cancellables)
 
-        // Private message state now flows: store intent →
-        // `ConversationStore.changes` → `LegacyConversationStoreBridge` (and
-        // the ChatViewModel shim-cache sink), so the old `$privateChats` /
-        // `$unreadMessages` debounced synchronization sinks are gone.
+        // Private message state flows through the single-writer
+        // `ConversationStore` intents and its `changes` subject; only the
+        // selection still originates in `PrivateChatManager`.
         viewModel.privateChatManager.$selectedPeer
             .receive(on: DispatchQueue.main)
             .sink { [weak viewModel] _ in
@@ -159,7 +158,6 @@ private extension ChatViewModelBootstrapper {
                     guard let viewModel else { return }
 
                     viewModel.allPeers = peers
-                    viewModel.identityResolver.register(peers: peers)
 
                     var uniquePeers: [PeerID: BitchatPeer] = [:]
                     for peer in peers {
@@ -178,9 +176,6 @@ private extension ChatViewModelBootstrapper {
                         viewModel.updatePrivateChatPeerIfNeeded()
                     }
 
-                    // Peer registrations can change a conversation's
-                    // canonical handle in the legacy store; re-key it.
-                    viewModel.resynchronizeLegacyPrivateConversations()
                     viewModel.synchronizeConversationSelectionStore()
                 }
             }
diff --git a/bitchat/Views/Components/CommandSuggestionsView.swift b/bitchat/Views/Components/CommandSuggestionsView.swift
index 3ccc8f1e..95753611 100644
--- a/bitchat/Views/Components/CommandSuggestionsView.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Views/Components/CommandSuggestionsView.swift
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ struct CommandSuggestionsView: View {
     )
     let privateConversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
-        conversationStore: viewModel.conversationStore
+        conversations: viewModel.conversations
     )
     let locationChannelsModel = LocationChannelsModel()
     
diff --git a/bitchat/Views/Components/TextMessageView.swift b/bitchat/Views/Components/TextMessageView.swift
index 6b1be23a..3e01bfd8 100644
--- a/bitchat/Views/Components/TextMessageView.swift
+++ b/bitchat/Views/Components/TextMessageView.swift
@@ -76,12 +76,12 @@ struct TextMessageView: View {
     )
     let privateConversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
-        conversationStore: viewModel.conversationStore
+        conversations: viewModel.conversations
     )
     let conversationUIModel = ConversationUIModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
         privateConversationModel: privateConversationModel,
-        conversationStore: viewModel.conversationStore
+        conversations: viewModel.conversations
     )
     
     Group {
diff --git a/bitchatTests/AppArchitectureTests.swift b/bitchatTests/AppArchitectureTests.swift
index 095e864d..1308c637 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/AppArchitectureTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/AppArchitectureTests.swift
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import BitFoundation
+import Combine
 import Foundation
 import Testing
 @testable import bitchat
@@ -45,6 +46,27 @@ private func makeArchitectureSnapshot(
     )
 }
 
+@MainActor
+private func makeArchitectureMessage(
+    id: String,
+    timestamp: TimeInterval = 0,
+    content: String? = nil,
+    isPrivate: Bool = false,
+    senderPeerID: PeerID = PeerID(str: "peer-a")
+) -> BitchatMessage {
+    BitchatMessage(
+        id: id,
+        sender: "alice",
+        content: content ?? "message \(id)",
+        timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: timestamp),
+        isRelay: false,
+        originalSender: nil,
+        isPrivate: isPrivate,
+        recipientNickname: isPrivate ? "builder" : nil,
+        senderPeerID: senderPeerID
+    )
+}
+
 @MainActor
 private func waitUntil(
     timeoutNanoseconds: UInt64 = 3_000_000_000,
@@ -127,251 +149,119 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
 
     @Test("PeerHandle equality and hashing use the canonical identity only")
     func peerHandleEqualityUsesCanonicalIdentity() {
-        let first = PeerHandle(
-            id: "noise:abc123",
-            routingPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-a"),
-            displayName: "alice",
-            noisePublicKeyHex: "abc123",
-            nostrPublicKey: nil
-        )
-        let second = PeerHandle(
-            id: "noise:abc123",
-            routingPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-b"),
-            displayName: "alice-renamed",
-            noisePublicKeyHex: nil,
-            nostrPublicKey: "npub123"
-        )
+        let first = PeerHandle(id: "noise:abc123", routingPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-a"))
+        let second = PeerHandle(id: "noise:abc123", routingPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-b"))
 
         #expect(first == second)
         #expect(Set([first, second]).count == 1)
     }
 
-    @Test("LegacyConversationStore normalizes timeline ordering and duplicates")
+    @Test("ConversationStore orders timelines and replaces duplicates by message ID")
     @MainActor
-    func conversationStoreNormalizesMessages() {
-        let store = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let older = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "m1",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "first",
-            timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: 1),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: false,
-            recipientNickname: nil,
-            senderPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-a")
-        )
-        let newer = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "m2",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "second",
-            timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: 2),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: false,
-            recipientNickname: nil,
-            senderPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-a")
-        )
-        let replacement = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "m2",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "second-updated",
-            timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: 2),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: false,
-            recipientNickname: nil,
-            senderPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-a")
-        )
+    func conversationStoreOrdersAndDedupsMessages() {
+        let store = ConversationStore()
+        let older = makeArchitectureMessage(id: "m1", timestamp: 1, content: "first")
+        let newer = makeArchitectureMessage(id: "m2", timestamp: 2, content: "second")
+        let replacement = makeArchitectureMessage(id: "m2", timestamp: 2, content: "second-updated")
 
-        store.replaceMessages([newer, older, replacement], for: ConversationID.mesh)
+        store.append(newer, to: .mesh)
+        store.append(older, to: .mesh)
+        store.upsertByID(replacement, in: .mesh)
 
-        let messages = store.messages(for: ConversationID.mesh)
+        let messages = store.conversation(for: .mesh).messages
         #expect(messages.map(\.id) == ["m1", "m2"])
         #expect(messages.last?.content == "second-updated")
     }
 
-    @Test("LegacyConversationStore tracks unread direct conversations with canonical IDs")
+    @Test("ConversationStore tracks unread direct conversations by routing peer ID")
     @MainActor
     func conversationStoreTracksUnreadDirectConversations() {
-        let store = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let resolver = IdentityResolver()
+        let store = ConversationStore()
         let peerID = PeerID(str: "peer-1")
-        let message = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "dm-1",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "hello",
-            timestamp: Date(),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: true,
-            recipientNickname: "bob",
-            senderPeerID: peerID
-        )
+        let message = makeArchitectureMessage(id: "dm-1", isPrivate: true, senderPeerID: peerID)
 
-        store.synchronizePrivateChats(
-            [peerID: [message]],
-            unreadPeerIDs: Set([peerID]),
-            identityResolver: resolver
-        )
+        store.append(message, to: .directPeer(peerID))
+        store.markUnread(.directPeer(peerID))
 
-        let conversationID = ConversationID.direct(
-            resolver.canonicalHandle(for: peerID, displayName: "alice")
-        )
+        #expect(store.conversation(for: .directPeer(peerID)).messages.map(\.id) == ["dm-1"])
+        #expect(store.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs() == Set([peerID]))
+        #expect(store.conversation(for: .directPeer(peerID)).isUnread)
 
-        #expect(store.messages(for: conversationID).map(\.id) == ["dm-1"])
-        #expect(store.unreadConversations.contains(conversationID))
-
-        store.markRead(conversationID)
-        #expect(!store.unreadConversations.contains(conversationID))
+        store.markRead(.directPeer(peerID))
+        #expect(store.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs().isEmpty)
+        #expect(!store.conversation(for: .directPeer(peerID)).isUnread)
     }
 
-    @Test("LegacyConversationStore tracks the selected app conversation context")
+    @Test("ConversationStore derives the selected conversation from channel and private peer")
     @MainActor
     func conversationStoreTracksSelectedConversationContext() {
-        let store = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let resolver = IdentityResolver()
-        let noiseKey = Data((0..<32).map(UInt8.init))
-        let shortPeerID = PeerID(str: "0011223344556677")
+        let store = ConversationStore()
+        let peerID = PeerID(str: "0011223344556677")
         let geohashChannel = ChannelID.location(GeohashChannel(level: .city, geohash: "9q8yy"))
-        let peer = BitchatPeer(
-            peerID: shortPeerID,
-            noisePublicKey: noiseKey,
-            nickname: "alice",
-            isConnected: true,
-            isReachable: true
-        )
 
-        resolver.register(peers: [peer])
-        store.synchronizeSelection(
-            activeChannel: geohashChannel,
-            selectedPeerID: shortPeerID,
-            identityResolver: resolver
-        )
-
-        let expectedConversationID = ConversationID.direct(
-            resolver.canonicalHandle(for: shortPeerID, displayName: "alice")
-        )
+        store.setActiveChannel(geohashChannel)
+        store.setSelectedPrivatePeer(peerID)
 
         #expect(store.activeChannel == geohashChannel)
-        #expect(store.selectedPrivatePeerID == shortPeerID)
-        #expect(store.selectedConversationID == expectedConversationID)
+        #expect(store.selectedPrivatePeerID == peerID)
+        // The open private chat wins the derived selection.
+        #expect(store.selectedConversationID == ConversationID.directPeer(peerID))
 
-        store.synchronizeSelection(
-            activeChannel: ChannelID.mesh,
-            selectedPeerID: nil,
-            identityResolver: resolver
-        )
+        store.setSelectedPrivatePeer(nil)
+        // Selection falls back to the active public channel.
+        #expect(store.selectedConversationID == ConversationID(channelID: geohashChannel))
 
+        store.setActiveChannel(.mesh)
         #expect(store.activeChannel == ChannelID.mesh)
         #expect(store.selectedPrivatePeerID == nil)
         #expect(store.selectedConversationID == ConversationID.mesh)
     }
 
-    @Test("LegacyConversationStore exposes direct conversations by the latest routing peer ID")
+    @Test("ConversationStore re-keys a direct conversation via the migrate intent")
     @MainActor
-    func conversationStoreExposesDirectConversationsByLatestRoutingPeerID() {
-        let store = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let resolver = IdentityResolver()
+    func conversationStoreMigratesDirectConversationsBetweenPeerIDs() {
+        let store = ConversationStore()
         let noiseKey = Data((0..<32).map(UInt8.init))
         let shortPeerID = PeerID(str: "0011223344556677")
         let fullPeerID = PeerID(hexData: noiseKey)
-        let firstMessage = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "dm-1",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "short id",
-            timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: 1),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: true,
-            recipientNickname: "builder",
-            senderPeerID: shortPeerID
-        )
-        let secondMessage = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "dm-2",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "full id",
-            timestamp: Date(timeIntervalSince1970: 2),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: true,
-            recipientNickname: "builder",
-            senderPeerID: fullPeerID
-        )
 
-        resolver.register(
-            peer: BitchatPeer(
-                peerID: shortPeerID,
-                noisePublicKey: noiseKey,
-                nickname: "alice",
-                isConnected: true,
-                isReachable: true
-            )
-        )
-        store.synchronizePrivateChats(
-            [shortPeerID: [firstMessage]],
-            unreadPeerIDs: Set([shortPeerID]),
-            identityResolver: resolver
+        store.append(
+            makeArchitectureMessage(id: "dm-1", timestamp: 1, isPrivate: true, senderPeerID: shortPeerID),
+            to: .directPeer(shortPeerID)
         )
+        store.markUnread(.directPeer(shortPeerID))
+        store.setSelectedPrivatePeer(shortPeerID)
 
-        resolver.register(
-            peer: BitchatPeer(
-                peerID: fullPeerID,
-                noisePublicKey: noiseKey,
-                nickname: "alice",
-                isConnected: true,
-                isReachable: true
-            )
-        )
-        store.synchronizePrivateChats(
-            [fullPeerID: [secondMessage]],
-            unreadPeerIDs: Set([fullPeerID]),
-            identityResolver: resolver
-        )
+        store.migrateConversation(from: .directPeer(shortPeerID), to: .directPeer(fullPeerID))
 
-        #expect(Set(store.directMessagesByPeerID().keys) == Set([fullPeerID]))
-        #expect(store.directMessagesByPeerID()[fullPeerID]?.map(\.id) == ["dm-2"])
-        #expect(store.unreadDirectPeerIDs() == Set([fullPeerID]))
+        // Raw keying: the old peer's conversation is gone, the new peer's
+        // conversation holds the timeline, unread and selection carried over.
+        #expect(store.conversationsByID[.directPeer(shortPeerID)] == nil)
+        #expect(Set(store.directMessagesByRoutingPeerID().keys) == Set([fullPeerID]))
+        #expect(store.directMessagesByRoutingPeerID()[fullPeerID]?.map(\.id) == ["dm-1"])
+        #expect(store.unreadDirectRoutingPeerIDs() == Set([fullPeerID]))
+        #expect(store.selectedPrivatePeerID == fullPeerID)
+        #expect(store.selectedConversationID == ConversationID.directPeer(fullPeerID))
     }
 
-    @Test("PrivateInboxModel mirrors direct message state from LegacyConversationStore")
+    @Test("PrivateInboxModel reads direct message state from the ConversationStore")
     @MainActor
-    func privateInboxModelMirrorsDirectMessageStateFromConversationStore() async {
-        let store = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let resolver = IdentityResolver()
-        let inboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversationStore: store)
+    func privateInboxModelReadsDirectMessageStateFromConversationStore() {
+        let store = ConversationStore()
+        let inboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: store)
         let messagePeerID = PeerID(str: "peer-1")
         let unreadOnlyPeerID = PeerID(str: "peer-2")
         let selectedOnlyPeerID = PeerID(str: "peer-3")
-        let message = BitchatMessage(
-            id: "dm-1",
-            sender: "alice",
-            content: "hello",
-            timestamp: Date(),
-            isRelay: false,
-            originalSender: nil,
-            isPrivate: true,
-            recipientNickname: "builder",
-            senderPeerID: messagePeerID
-        )
 
-        store.synchronizePrivateChats(
-            [messagePeerID: [message]],
-            unreadPeerIDs: Set([messagePeerID, unreadOnlyPeerID]),
-            identityResolver: resolver
-        )
-        store.synchronizeSelection(
-            activeChannel: ChannelID.mesh,
-            selectedPeerID: selectedOnlyPeerID,
-            identityResolver: resolver
+        store.append(
+            makeArchitectureMessage(id: "dm-1", isPrivate: true, senderPeerID: messagePeerID),
+            to: .directPeer(messagePeerID)
         )
+        store.markUnread(.directPeer(messagePeerID))
+        store.markUnread(.directPeer(unreadOnlyPeerID))
+        store.setSelectedPrivatePeer(selectedOnlyPeerID)
 
-        await waitUntil {
-            inboxModel.selectedPeerID == selectedOnlyPeerID &&
-            inboxModel.unreadPeerIDs == Set([messagePeerID, unreadOnlyPeerID]) &&
-            Set(inboxModel.messagesByPeerID.keys) == Set([messagePeerID, unreadOnlyPeerID, selectedOnlyPeerID])
-        }
-
+        // Reads are synchronous against the single-writer store.
         #expect(inboxModel.selectedPeerID == selectedOnlyPeerID)
         #expect(inboxModel.unreadPeerIDs == Set([messagePeerID, unreadOnlyPeerID]))
         #expect(inboxModel.messages(for: messagePeerID).map(\.id) == ["dm-1"])
@@ -379,13 +269,74 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
         #expect(inboxModel.messages(for: selectedOnlyPeerID).isEmpty)
     }
 
+    @Test("PrivateInboxModel republishes only for the selected conversation")
+    @MainActor
+    func privateInboxModelIsolatesBackgroundConversations() {
+        let store = ConversationStore()
+        let inboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: store)
+        let selectedPeerID = PeerID(str: "peer-selected")
+        let backgroundPeerID = PeerID(str: "peer-background")
+        store.setSelectedPrivatePeer(selectedPeerID)
+
+        var emissions = 0
+        let cancellable = inboxModel.objectWillChange.sink { _ in emissions += 1 }
+        defer { cancellable.cancel() }
+
+        let baseline = emissions
+        store.append(
+            makeArchitectureMessage(id: "dm-bg-1", isPrivate: true, senderPeerID: backgroundPeerID),
+            to: .directPeer(backgroundPeerID)
+        )
+        // An append to a background chat does not republish the model.
+        #expect(emissions == baseline)
+
+        store.append(
+            makeArchitectureMessage(id: "dm-sel-1", isPrivate: true, senderPeerID: selectedPeerID),
+            to: .directPeer(selectedPeerID)
+        )
+        #expect(emissions == baseline + 1)
+        #expect(inboxModel.messages(for: selectedPeerID).map(\.id) == ["dm-sel-1"])
+    }
+
+    @Test("PublicChatModel ignores appends to background conversations")
+    @MainActor
+    func publicChatModelIsolatesBackgroundConversations() {
+        let store = ConversationStore()
+        store.setActiveChannel(.mesh)
+        let model = PublicChatModel(conversations: store)
+
+        var emissions = 0
+        let cancellable = model.objectWillChange.sink { _ in emissions += 1 }
+        defer { cancellable.cancel() }
+
+        store.append(makeArchitectureMessage(id: "mesh-1"), to: .mesh)
+        let afterActiveAppend = emissions
+        #expect(afterActiveAppend >= 1)
+        #expect(model.messages.map(\.id) == ["mesh-1"])
+
+        // Appends to a background geohash channel and to a private chat do
+        // not invalidate the observer of the active conversation.
+        store.append(makeArchitectureMessage(id: "geo-1"), to: .geohash("u4pruyd"))
+        store.append(
+            makeArchitectureMessage(id: "dm-1", isPrivate: true),
+            to: .directPeer(PeerID(str: "peer-1"))
+        )
+        #expect(emissions == afterActiveAppend)
+        #expect(model.messages.map(\.id) == ["mesh-1"])
+
+        // Switching the channel retargets the observation.
+        store.setActiveChannel(.location(GeohashChannel(level: .neighborhood, geohash: "u4pruyd")))
+        #expect(model.messages.map(\.id) == ["geo-1"])
+        store.append(makeArchitectureMessage(id: "geo-2", timestamp: 1), to: .geohash("u4pruyd"))
+        #expect(model.messages.map(\.id) == ["geo-1", "geo-2"])
+    }
+
     @Test("AppChromeModel mirrors nickname and unread state through focused models")
     @MainActor
     func appChromeModelMirrorsNicknameAndUnreadState() async {
         let viewModel = makeArchitectureViewModel()
-        let conversationStore = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let resolver = IdentityResolver()
-        let privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
+        let conversations = ConversationStore()
+        let privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: conversations)
         let chromeModel = AppChromeModel(chatViewModel: viewModel, privateInboxModel: privateInboxModel)
 
         chromeModel.setNickname("builder")
@@ -398,11 +349,7 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
         #expect(!chromeModel.hasUnreadPrivateMessages)
 
         let peerID = PeerID(str: "peer-1")
-        conversationStore.synchronizePrivateChats(
-            [:],
-            unreadPeerIDs: Set([peerID]),
-            identityResolver: resolver
-        )
+        conversations.markUnread(.directPeer(peerID))
         await waitUntil {
             chromeModel.hasUnreadPrivateMessages
         }
@@ -414,8 +361,7 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
     @MainActor
     func appChromeModelOwnsPresentationState() {
         let viewModel = makeArchitectureViewModel()
-        let conversationStore = LegacyConversationStore()
-        let privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
+        let privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: ConversationStore())
         let chromeModel = AppChromeModel(chatViewModel: viewModel, privateInboxModel: privateInboxModel)
         let peerID = PeerID(str: "peer-2")
 
@@ -441,11 +387,10 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
             Issue.record("Expected ChatViewModel meshService to be a MockTransport in architecture tests")
             return
         }
-        let conversationStore = viewModel.conversationStore
         let locationChannelsModel = LocationChannelsModel(manager: makeArchitectureLocationManager())
         let conversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
             chatViewModel: viewModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
+            conversations: viewModel.conversations,
             locationChannelsModel: locationChannelsModel
         )
 
@@ -493,18 +438,17 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
             return
         }
 
-        let conversationStore = viewModel.conversationStore
         locationManager.select(.mesh)
         let locationChannelsModel = LocationChannelsModel(manager: locationManager)
         let privateConversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
             chatViewModel: viewModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
+            conversations: viewModel.conversations,
             locationChannelsModel: locationChannelsModel
         )
         let uiModel = ConversationUIModel(
             chatViewModel: viewModel,
             privateConversationModel: privateConversationModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore
+            conversations: viewModel.conversations
         )
         let geohashChannel = ChannelID.location(GeohashChannel(level: .city, geohash: "9q8yy"))
         defer {
@@ -558,11 +502,10 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
 
         let peerID = PeerID(str: "0011223344556677")
         let fingerprint = "verified-fingerprint"
-        let conversationStore = viewModel.conversationStore
         let locationChannelsModel = LocationChannelsModel(manager: makeArchitectureLocationManager())
         let privateConversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
             chatViewModel: viewModel,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore,
+            conversations: viewModel.conversations,
             locationChannelsModel: locationChannelsModel
         )
         let verificationModel = VerificationModel(
@@ -664,7 +607,7 @@ struct AppArchitectureTests {
 
         let peerListModel = PeerListModel(
             chatViewModel: viewModel,
-            conversationStore: viewModel.conversationStore,
+            conversations: viewModel.conversations,
             locationChannelsModel: locationChannelsModel
         )
 
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ChatLifecycleCoordinatorContextTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ChatLifecycleCoordinatorContextTests.swift
index 8e5d2a88..be13d01e 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ChatLifecycleCoordinatorContextTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ChatLifecycleCoordinatorContextTests.swift
@@ -29,6 +29,10 @@ private final class MockChatLifecycleContext: ChatLifecycleContext {
     // Chat & receipt state
     var messages: [BitchatMessage] = []
     var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
+
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
+        privateChats[peerID] ?? []
+    }
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> = []
     var selectedPrivateChatPeer: PeerID?
     var sentReadReceipts: Set<String> = []
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ChatPeerListCoordinatorContextTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ChatPeerListCoordinatorContextTests.swift
index 8a81611c..e4abb1b3 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ChatPeerListCoordinatorContextTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ChatPeerListCoordinatorContextTests.swift
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@ private final class MockChatPeerListContext: ChatPeerListContext {
     // Connection & chat state
     var isConnected = false
     var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
+
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
+        privateChats[peerID] ?? []
+    }
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> = []
     var hasTrackedPrivateChatSelection = false
     private(set) var updatePrivateChatPeerIfNeededCount = 0
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ChatTransportEventCoordinatorContextTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ChatTransportEventCoordinatorContextTests.swift
index e9de3901..d7e6c863 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ChatTransportEventCoordinatorContextTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ChatTransportEventCoordinatorContextTests.swift
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ private final class MockChatTransportEventContext: ChatTransportEventContext {
     var nickname = "me"
     var myPeerID = PeerID(str: "0011223344556677")
     var privateChats: [PeerID: [BitchatMessage]] = [:]
+
+    func privateMessages(for peerID: PeerID) -> [BitchatMessage] {
+        privateChats[peerID] ?? []
+    }
     var unreadPrivateMessages: Set<PeerID> = []
     var selectedPrivateChatPeer: PeerID?
     private(set) var unmarkedReadReceiptBatches: [[String]] = []
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
index ecba96d0..8045feae 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ChatViewModelTests.swift
@@ -553,10 +553,7 @@ struct ChatViewModelNoisePayloadTests {
         }, timeout: TestConstants.defaultTimeout)
 
         let conversationStoreUpdated = await TestHelpers.waitUntil({
-            let messages = viewModel.conversationStore.directMessages(
-                for: peerID,
-                identityResolver: viewModel.identityResolver
-            )
+            let messages = viewModel.conversations.conversationsByID[.directPeer(peerID)]?.messages ?? []
             guard let status = messages.first?.deliveryStatus else { return false }
             if case .read = status {
                 return true
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift
index 3cd0f225..efb03a89 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ConversationStoreTests.swift
@@ -41,10 +41,7 @@ private func makeMessage(
 private func makeDirectConversationID(_ suffix: String) -> ConversationID {
     .direct(PeerHandle(
         id: "noise:\(suffix)",
-        routingPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-\(suffix)"),
-        displayName: "peer \(suffix)",
-        noisePublicKeyHex: suffix,
-        nostrPublicKey: nil
+        routingPeerID: PeerID(str: "peer-\(suffix)")
     ))
 }
 
diff --git a/bitchatTests/LegacyConversationStoreBridgeTests.swift b/bitchatTests/LegacyConversationStoreBridgeTests.swift
deleted file mode 100644
index 98d4b32d..00000000
--- a/bitchatTests/LegacyConversationStoreBridgeTests.swift
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,246 +0,0 @@
-//
-// LegacyConversationStoreBridgeTests.swift
-// bitchatTests
-//
-// Focused tests for migration step 2 (docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md §4):
-// the private write path goes through the single-writer `ConversationStore`
-// intents, and `LegacyConversationStoreBridge` keeps the replace-based
-// `LegacyConversationStore` consistent — per-message changes via a
-// `Task.yield`-coalesced per-conversation mirror, unread flips and
-// structural changes (migration/removal) synchronously — until the feature
-// models cut over in step 5.
-//
-// DELETE IN STEP 5 together with the bridge.
-//
-// This is free and unencumbered software released into the public domain.
-// For more information, see <https://unlicense.org>
-//
-
-import Testing
-import Foundation
-import BitFoundation
-@testable import bitchat
-
-@MainActor
-private func makeBridgedFixture() -> (
-    viewModel: ChatViewModel,
-    store: ConversationStore,
-    legacy: LegacyConversationStore,
-    transport: MockTransport
-) {
-    let keychain = MockKeychain()
-    let idBridge = NostrIdentityBridge(keychain: MockKeychainHelper())
-    let identityManager = MockIdentityManager(keychain)
-    let transport = MockTransport()
-    let legacy = LegacyConversationStore()
-    let store = ConversationStore()
-    let viewModel = ChatViewModel(
-        keychain: keychain,
-        idBridge: idBridge,
-        identityManager: identityManager,
-        transport: transport,
-        conversationStore: legacy,
-        conversations: store
-    )
-    return (viewModel, store, legacy, transport)
-}
-
-@MainActor
-private func makeInboundPrivateMessage(
-    id: String,
-    from peerID: PeerID,
-    sender: String = "alice",
-    content: String = "hello",
-    timestamp: Date = Date()
-) -> BitchatMessage {
-    BitchatMessage(
-        id: id,
-        sender: sender,
-        content: content,
-        timestamp: timestamp,
-        isRelay: false,
-        isPrivate: true,
-        recipientNickname: "me",
-        senderPeerID: peerID,
-        deliveryStatus: .delivered(to: "me", at: timestamp)
-    )
-}
-
-@Suite("LegacyConversationStoreBridge")
-struct LegacyConversationStoreBridgeTests {
-
-    @Test("inbound private message lands in the store and is mirrored into Legacy")
-    @MainActor
-    func inboundPrivateMessageLandsInStoreAndLegacy() async {
-        let (viewModel, store, legacy, _) = makeBridgedFixture()
-        // Stable Noise-key peer ID, like the perf pipeline fixture.
-        let peerID = PeerID(str: String(repeating: "ab", count: 32))
-        let message = makeInboundPrivateMessage(id: "bridge-pm-1", from: peerID)
-
-        viewModel.handlePrivateMessage(message)
-
-        // New store is the synchronous source of truth.
-        #expect(store.conversation(for: .directPeer(peerID)).messages.map(\.id) == ["bridge-pm-1"])
-        #expect(viewModel.privateChats[peerID]?.map(\.id) == ["bridge-pm-1"])
-        // Unread flips mirror into Legacy synchronously.
-        #expect(viewModel.unreadPrivateMessages.contains(peerID))
-        #expect(legacy.unreadDirectPeerIDs().contains(peerID))
-
-        // Message arrays mirror via the bridge's coalesced flush
-        // (one Legacy replace per burst, on the next main-actor turn).
-        let mirrored = await TestHelpers.waitUntil(
-            { legacy.directMessagesByPeerID()[peerID]?.map(\.id) == ["bridge-pm-1"] },
-            timeout: 1.0
-        )
-        #expect(mirrored)
-    }
-
-    @Test("store dedups a private message delivered twice")
-    @MainActor
-    func storeDedupsDuplicateInboundMessage() async {
-        let (viewModel, store, legacy, _) = makeBridgedFixture()
-        let peerID = PeerID(str: String(repeating: "cd", count: 32))
-        let message = makeInboundPrivateMessage(id: "bridge-dup-1", from: peerID)
-
-        viewModel.handlePrivateMessage(message)
-        viewModel.handlePrivateMessage(message)
-
-        #expect(store.conversation(for: .directPeer(peerID)).messages.count == 1)
-        #expect(viewModel.privateChats[peerID]?.count == 1)
-
-        // The intent itself reports the duplicate.
-        #expect(!viewModel.appendPrivateMessage(message, to: peerID))
-
-        let mirrored = await TestHelpers.waitUntil(
-            { legacy.directMessagesByPeerID()[peerID]?.count == 1 },
-            timeout: 1.0
-        )
-        #expect(mirrored)
-    }
-
-    @Test("peer-ID migration through store intents keeps Legacy consistent")
-    @MainActor
-    func migrationThroughStoreIntentsKeepsLegacyConsistent() {
-        let (viewModel, store, legacy, _) = makeBridgedFixture()
-        let oldPeerID = PeerID(str: "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa")
-        let newPeerID = PeerID(str: "bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb")
-
-        viewModel.seedPrivateChat(
-            [
-                makeInboundPrivateMessage(id: "mig-1", from: oldPeerID, timestamp: Date().addingTimeInterval(-60)),
-                makeInboundPrivateMessage(id: "mig-2", from: oldPeerID, timestamp: Date().addingTimeInterval(-30)),
-            ],
-            for: oldPeerID
-        )
-        viewModel.markPrivateChatUnread(oldPeerID)
-
-        viewModel.migratePrivateChat(from: oldPeerID, to: newPeerID)
-
-        // Store: messages moved in order, old chat gone, unread carried.
-        #expect(store.conversationsByID[.directPeer(oldPeerID)] == nil)
-        #expect(store.conversation(for: .directPeer(newPeerID)).messages.map(\.id) == ["mig-1", "mig-2"])
-        #expect(viewModel.unreadPrivateMessages == [newPeerID])
-
-        // Legacy: structural changes resynchronize immediately (stale
-        // messages removed, destination present, unread re-keyed). The old
-        // peer may linger as a registered-but-empty handle — Legacy has
-        // always kept handle registrations from markRead/selection around.
-        let legacyChats = legacy.directMessagesByPeerID()
-        #expect(legacyChats[oldPeerID] ?? [] == [])
-        #expect(legacyChats[newPeerID]?.map(\.id) == ["mig-1", "mig-2"])
-        #expect(legacy.unreadDirectPeerIDs() == [newPeerID])
-    }
-
-    @Test("coordinator chat migration uses the store migrate intent end to end")
-    @MainActor
-    func coordinatorMigrationFlowsThroughStore() {
-        let (viewModel, store, legacy, _) = makeBridgedFixture()
-        let oldPeerID = PeerID(str: "1111111111111111")
-        let newPeerID = PeerID(str: "2222222222222222")
-
-        // Recent messages from "alice" under the old peer ID; no fingerprints
-        // on either side → nickname-match migration path.
-        viewModel.seedPrivateChat(
-            [makeInboundPrivateMessage(id: "coord-mig-1", from: oldPeerID, timestamp: Date().addingTimeInterval(-5))],
-            for: oldPeerID
-        )
-
-        viewModel.migratePrivateChatsIfNeeded(for: newPeerID, senderNickname: "alice")
-
-        #expect(store.conversationsByID[.directPeer(oldPeerID)] == nil)
-        #expect(store.conversation(for: .directPeer(newPeerID)).messages.map(\.id) == ["coord-mig-1"])
-        // Migration resynchronizes Legacy immediately (the old peer may
-        // linger as a registered-but-empty handle, see above).
-        #expect(legacy.directMessagesByPeerID()[oldPeerID] ?? [] == [])
-        #expect(legacy.directMessagesByPeerID()[newPeerID]?.map(\.id) == ["coord-mig-1"])
-    }
-
-    // MARK: - Public mirroring (migration step 3)
-
-    @Test("public messages mirror into Legacy via the coalesced flush")
-    @MainActor
-    func publicMessagesMirrorIntoLegacy() async {
-        let (viewModel, store, legacy, _) = makeBridgedFixture()
-
-        viewModel.appendPublicMessage(
-            BitchatMessage(
-                id: "bridge-pub-1",
-                sender: "alice",
-                content: "hello mesh",
-                timestamp: Date(),
-                isRelay: false
-            ),
-            to: .mesh
-        )
-        viewModel.appendGeohashMessageIfAbsent(
-            BitchatMessage(
-                id: "bridge-geo-1",
-                sender: "bob#abcd",
-                content: "hello geohash",
-                timestamp: Date(),
-                isRelay: false
-            ),
-            toGeohash: "U4PRUYD"
-        )
-
-        // The new store is synchronously authoritative (geohash keys are
-        // normalized to lowercase).
-        #expect(store.conversation(for: .mesh).messages.map(\.id) == ["bridge-pub-1"])
-        #expect(store.conversation(for: .geohash("u4pruyd")).messages.map(\.id) == ["bridge-geo-1"])
-
-        // Legacy catches up within one coalesced flush.
-        let mirrored = await TestHelpers.waitUntil(
-            {
-                legacy.messages(for: .mesh).map(\.id) == ["bridge-pub-1"]
-                    && legacy.messages(for: .geohash("u4pruyd")).map(\.id) == ["bridge-geo-1"]
-            },
-            timeout: 1.0
-        )
-        #expect(mirrored)
-    }
-
-    @Test("removing a public conversation empties its Legacy mirror immediately")
-    @MainActor
-    func publicConversationRemovalClearsLegacy() async {
-        let (viewModel, store, legacy, _) = makeBridgedFixture()
-        viewModel.appendPublicMessage(
-            BitchatMessage(
-                id: "bridge-pub-2",
-                sender: "alice",
-                content: "soon gone",
-                timestamp: Date(),
-                isRelay: false
-            ),
-            to: .mesh
-        )
-        let mirrored = await TestHelpers.waitUntil(
-            { legacy.messages(for: .mesh).map(\.id) == ["bridge-pub-2"] },
-            timeout: 1.0
-        )
-        #expect(mirrored)
-
-        // Panic-style removal: Legacy must never show stale public messages.
-        store.removeConversation(.mesh)
-        #expect(legacy.messages(for: .mesh).isEmpty)
-    }
-}
diff --git a/bitchatTests/Performance/PerformanceBaselineTests.swift b/bitchatTests/Performance/PerformanceBaselineTests.swift
index 88189b27..f8954db5 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/Performance/PerformanceBaselineTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/Performance/PerformanceBaselineTests.swift
@@ -315,14 +315,13 @@ final class PerformanceBaselineTests: XCTestCase {
     // MARK: - 6a. End-to-end private ingest pipeline (current architecture)
 
     /// Baseline for the full private-message ingest cycle through a real
-    /// `ChatViewModel`: `handlePrivateMessage` → `privateChats` passthrough →
-    /// `PrivateChatManager`'s `@Published` dict → bootstrapper Combine sink →
-    /// `Task.yield`-debounced `LegacyConversationStore.synchronizePrivateChats`
-    /// (full-dict replace) → `PrivateInboxModel.refreshMessages` (full
-    /// rebuild). Measures wall time from first ingest until the store AND the
-    /// feature model both reflect every message. The peer is not mesh-active
-    /// and no chat is selected, so notification/read-receipt side paths stay
-    /// cold (notifications are no-ops under test anyway).
+    /// `ChatViewModel`: `handlePrivateMessage` → `ConversationStore.append`
+    /// intent (ordered insert + ID-index dedup) → per-conversation publish +
+    /// `changes` emission → `PrivateInboxModel` (direct store reads).
+    /// Measures wall time from first ingest until the store AND the feature
+    /// model both reflect every message. The peer is not mesh-active and no
+    /// chat is selected, so notification/read-receipt side paths stay cold
+    /// (notifications are no-ops under test anyway).
     func testPipelinePrivateIngest() {
         let messageCount = 200
         // 64-hex (stable Noise key) peer ID: skips the short-ID consolidation
@@ -354,14 +353,14 @@ final class PerformanceBaselineTests: XCTestCase {
             for message in messages {
                 fixture.viewModel.handlePrivateMessage(message)
             }
-            // Drain the main queue until the debounced LegacyConversationStore sync
-            // ran and the PrivateInboxModel mirror caught up.
+            // Reads are synchronous against the single-writer store; the
+            // spin covers any coordinator main-actor hops.
             let consistent = spinMainRunLoop(timeout: 10) {
-                fixture.conversationStore.directMessagesByPeerID()[peerID]?.count == messageCount
-                    && fixture.privateInbox.messagesByPeerID[peerID]?.count == messageCount
+                fixture.conversations.conversationsByID[.directPeer(peerID)]?.messages.count == messageCount
+                    && fixture.privateInbox.messages(for: peerID).count == messageCount
             }
             samples.append(Date().timeIntervalSince(start))
-            XCTAssertTrue(consistent, "LegacyConversationStore/PrivateInboxModel never converged")
+            XCTAssertTrue(consistent, "ConversationStore/PrivateInboxModel never converged")
             XCTAssertEqual(fixture.viewModel.privateChats[peerID]?.count, messageCount)
         }
 
@@ -374,8 +373,8 @@ final class PerformanceBaselineTests: XCTestCase {
     /// `ChatViewModel`: `didReceivePublicMessage` (transport delegate entry,
     /// main-actor Task hop per message) → `handlePublicMessage` (rate limit,
     /// pipeline enqueue) → `PublicMessagePipeline` timer-batched flush into
-    /// the `ConversationStore` (derived `ChatViewModel.messages` view) →
-    /// coalesced `LegacyConversationStoreBridge` mirror → `PublicChatModel`.
+    /// the `ConversationStore` (derived `ChatViewModel.messages` view;
+    /// `PublicChatModel` observes the active `Conversation` directly).
     /// Measures until `messages` and the feature model reflect every message,
     /// so the pipeline's flush latency is part of the cycle. Senders are
     /// spread 4-per-peer to stay under the 5-token sender rate bucket.
@@ -419,8 +418,8 @@ final class PerformanceBaselineTests: XCTestCase {
             }
             // Drain the per-message main-actor hops and whichever surfacing
             // path wins (the pipeline's batched timer flush or the startup
-            // channel apply's `refreshVisibleMessages`, which pulls the whole
-            // timeline into `messages`), plus the PublicChatModel mirror.
+            // channel apply's `refreshVisibleMessages`); `PublicChatModel`
+            // reads the same conversation synchronously.
             let consistent = spinMainRunLoop(timeout: 10) {
                 fixture.viewModel.messages.count >= messageCount
                     && fixture.publicChat.messages.count >= messageCount
@@ -720,14 +719,14 @@ private final class PerfDeliveryContext: ChatDeliveryContext {
 
 /// A real `ChatViewModel` over `MockTransport` plus the AppRuntime-style
 /// feature models (`PrivateInboxModel` / `PublicChatModel`) bound to the same
-/// `LegacyConversationStore`, so end-to-end ingest benchmarks cover the full
-/// current store-synchronization chain. Mirrors the construction used by
+/// single-writer `ConversationStore`, so end-to-end ingest benchmarks cover
+/// the full ingest-to-feature-model chain. Mirrors the construction used by
 /// `ChatViewModelExtensionsTests`.
 @MainActor
 private final class PerfPipelineFixture {
     let viewModel: ChatViewModel
     let transport: MockTransport
-    let conversationStore: LegacyConversationStore
+    let conversations: ConversationStore
     let privateInbox: PrivateInboxModel
     let publicChat: PublicChatModel
 
@@ -736,19 +735,19 @@ private final class PerfPipelineFixture {
         let idBridge = NostrIdentityBridge(keychain: MockKeychainHelper())
         let identityManager = MockIdentityManager(keychain)
         let transport = MockTransport()
-        let conversationStore = LegacyConversationStore()
+        let conversations = ConversationStore()
 
         self.transport = transport
-        self.conversationStore = conversationStore
+        self.conversations = conversations
         self.viewModel = ChatViewModel(
             keychain: keychain,
             idBridge: idBridge,
             identityManager: identityManager,
             transport: transport,
-            conversationStore: conversationStore
+            conversations: conversations
         )
-        self.privateInbox = PrivateInboxModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
-        self.publicChat = PublicChatModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
+        self.privateInbox = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: conversations)
+        self.publicChat = PublicChatModel(conversations: conversations)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/bitchatTests/ViewSmokeTests.swift b/bitchatTests/ViewSmokeTests.swift
index 52ef76dd..06d5b1df 100644
--- a/bitchatTests/ViewSmokeTests.swift
+++ b/bitchatTests/ViewSmokeTests.swift
@@ -52,17 +52,17 @@ private func makeSmokeLocationManager() -> LocationChannelManager {
 @MainActor
 private func makeSmokeFeatureModels(for viewModel: ChatViewModel) -> SmokeFeatureModels {
     let locationManager = makeSmokeLocationManager()
-    let conversationStore = viewModel.conversationStore
-    let publicChatModel = PublicChatModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
+    let conversations = viewModel.conversations
+    let publicChatModel = PublicChatModel(conversations: conversations)
     let locationChannelsModel = LocationChannelsModel(manager: locationManager)
-    let privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversationStore: conversationStore)
+    let privateInboxModel = PrivateInboxModel(conversations: conversations)
     let appChromeModel = AppChromeModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
         privateInboxModel: privateInboxModel
     )
     let privateConversationModel = PrivateConversationModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
-        conversationStore: conversationStore,
+        conversations: conversations,
         locationChannelsModel: locationChannelsModel
     )
     let verificationModel = VerificationModel(
@@ -72,11 +72,11 @@ private func makeSmokeFeatureModels(for viewModel: ChatViewModel) -> SmokeFeatur
     let conversationUIModel = ConversationUIModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
         privateConversationModel: privateConversationModel,
-        conversationStore: conversationStore
+        conversations: conversations
     )
     let peerListModel = PeerListModel(
         chatViewModel: viewModel,
-        conversationStore: conversationStore,
+        conversations: conversations,
         locationChannelsModel: locationChannelsModel
     )
 
diff --git a/docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md b/docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md
index aa34b406..5aee3e46 100644
--- a/docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md
+++ b/docs/CONVERSATION-STORE-DESIGN.md
@@ -1,11 +1,39 @@
 # Conversation Store: Single Source of Truth
 
-**Status:** Steps 1–4 implemented (additive store, private cutover, public
-cutover, delivery via store; `PublicTimelineStore` and
-`ChatDeliveryCoordinator.messageLocationIndex` deleted). Baselines recorded in
-`bitchatTests/Performance/PerformanceBaselineTests.swift` (`pipeline.privateIngest`,
-`pipeline.publicIngest`, `store.append`, `delivery.incrementalUpdate`,
-`delivery.storeUpdate`).
+**Status: migration complete (steps 1–5).** `ConversationStore` is the sole
+holder of message state; the feature models (`PublicChatModel`,
+`PrivateInboxModel`, `PrivateConversationModel`, `PeerListModel`,
+`ConversationUIModel`) observe it directly — `PublicChatModel` observes the
+active `Conversation` object, so background appends never invalidate it.
+`LegacyConversationStore`, `LegacyConversationStoreBridge`, and
+`PublicTimelineStore` are deleted. Baselines recorded in
+`bitchatTests/Performance/PerformanceBaselineTests.swift`
+(`pipeline.privateIngest`, `pipeline.publicIngest`, `store.append`,
+`delivery.incrementalUpdate`, `delivery.storeUpdate`).
+
+Deviations from the plan below, chosen at cutover:
+
+- **No `IdentityResolver` canonicalization layer.** Direct conversations stay
+  keyed by raw routing `PeerID` (`ConversationID.directPeer`). The
+  coordinators' ephemeral↔stable mirroring/consolidation guarantees the
+  selected peer's key always holds the full timeline, and no view enumerates
+  direct conversations as a list — the legacy resolver-keyed dedup only ever
+  fed `isEmpty`-style badge checks (identity-aware unread resolution lives in
+  `ChatUnreadStateResolver`, which works on raw keys). `IdentityResolver` was
+  deleted with the legacy store; `PeerHandle` slimmed to `id` +
+  `routingPeerID`.
+- **Selection state lives in the store.** The legacy store also carried the
+  two UI selection axes (`activeChannel`, `selectedPrivatePeerID`); they
+  moved into `ConversationStore` (`setActiveChannel` /
+  `setSelectedPrivatePeer`, deriving `selectedConversationID`), and
+  `migrateConversation` hands the private-peer selection off with the
+  conversation.
+- **`ChatViewModel.messages` / `privateChats` / `unreadPrivateMessages`
+  survive as derived read-only views** (not stored properties): coordinators,
+  commands, and tests read them; the dict shape is only rebuilt where a
+  coordinator genuinely needs the whole dictionary (migration scans, unread
+  resolution). Simple per-peer reads dispatch through the store-direct
+  `privateMessages(for:)` context witness instead.
 
 ---
 
@@ -96,7 +124,7 @@ while a timer-batched `PublicMessagePipeline` mutates `messages` ~80 ms later
   is one copy, "await the sync" disappears: after `append` returns, every observer of
   that `Conversation` sees the message.
 
-## 3. Deleted at end state
+## 3. Deleted at end state (done)
 
 - `PublicTimelineStore` (`bitchat/ViewModels/PublicTimelineStore.swift`) — folded into
   `Conversation` cap/dedup policy.
@@ -113,7 +141,7 @@ while a timer-batched `PublicMessagePipeline` mutates `messages` ~80 ms later
   `PublicChatModel.messages` (they observe `Conversation` objects directly).
 - `ChatViewModel.messages` / `ChatViewModel.privateChats` as stored/owning properties.
 
-## 4. Migration plan
+## 4. Migration plan (complete)
 
 Each step lands green against the full suite plus the `PerformanceBaselineTests`
 numbers (no pipeline throughput regression at any step).