Fix: move ParsedInbound + parseInboundMessage to file scope (non-isolated) to satisfy Swift 6; update detached tasks to call free function

Co-authored-by: jack <jackjackbits@users.noreply.github.com>

bitchat.xcodeproj/project.pbxproj

@@ -7,14 +7,6 @@
 	objects = {
 
 /* Begin PBXBuildFile section */
-		04657AB52E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657AB42E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift */; };
-		04657AB62E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657AB42E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift */; };
-		04657AB82E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657AB72E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift */; };
-		04657AB92E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657AB72E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift */; };
-		04657ABB2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657ABA2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift */; };
-		04657ABC2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657ABA2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift */; };
-		04657ABE2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657ABD2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift */; };
-		04657ABF2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 04657ABD2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift */; };
 		047502802E53A0FC0083520F /* FragmentationTests.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 0475027E2E53A0FC0083520F /* FragmentationTests.swift */; };
 		047502812E53A0FC0083520F /* FragmentationTests.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 0475027E2E53A0FC0083520F /* FragmentationTests.swift */; };
 		047502872E5416250083520F /* Geohash.swift in Sources */ = {isa = PBXBuildFile; fileRef = 047502852E5416250083520F /* Geohash.swift */; };
@@ -205,10 +197,6 @@
 
 /* Begin PBXFileReference section */
 		03C57F452B55FD0FD8F51421 /* bitchatTests_macOS.xctest */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; explicitFileType = wrapper.cfbundle; includeInIndex = 0; path = bitchatTests_macOS.xctest; sourceTree = BUILT_PRODUCTS_DIR; };
-		04657AB42E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = NostrPoW.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
-		04657AB72E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = PowPolicy.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
-		04657ABA2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = MiningAnimation.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
-		04657ABD2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = NostrPoWTests.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		0475027E2E53A0FC0083520F /* FragmentationTests.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = FragmentationTests.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		047502852E5416250083520F /* Geohash.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = Geohash.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
 		047502862E5416250083520F /* LocationChannel.swift */ = {isa = PBXFileReference; lastKnownFileType = sourcecode.swift; path = LocationChannel.swift; sourceTree = "<group>"; };
@@ -463,7 +451,6 @@
 		A55126E93155456CAA8D6656 /* Views */ = {
 			isa = PBXGroup;
 			children = (
-				04657ABA2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift */,
 				AA77BB13CC22DD33EE44FF57 /* VerificationViews.swift */,
 				047502B22E55FED60083520F /* GeohashPeopleList.swift */,
 				047502B32E55FED60083520F /* MeshPeerList.swift */,
@@ -502,9 +489,8 @@
 		C3D98EB3E1B455E321F519F4 /* bitchatTests */ = {
 			isa = PBXGroup;
 			children = (
-				D69A18D27F9A565FD6041E12 /* Info.plist */,
-				04657ABD2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift */,
 				048A4C2A2E5FCE0300162C4A /* GeohashBookmarksStoreTests.swift */,
+				D69A18D27F9A565FD6041E12 /* Info.plist */,
 				047502912E547ACC0083520F /* LocationChannelsTests.swift */,
 				C272F137CE00FC5A96E0CC06 /* NostrProtocolTests.swift */,
 				980B109CBA72BC996455C62B /* BLEServiceTests.swift */,
@@ -540,7 +526,6 @@
 		D98A3186D7E4C72E35BDF7FE /* Services */ = {
 			isa = PBXGroup;
 			children = (
-				04657AB72E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift */,
 				048A4C272E5FCD6600162C4A /* GeohashBookmarksStore.swift */,
 				048A4BE62E5CCCC300162C4A /* TransportConfig.swift */,
 				AA77BB10CC22DD33EE44FF55 /* VerificationService.swift */,
@@ -565,7 +550,6 @@
 		E78C7F4B6769C0A72F5DE544 /* Nostr */ = {
 			isa = PBXGroup;
 			children = (
-				04657AB42E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift */,
 				A1B2C3D44E5F60718293A4B4 /* XChaCha20Poly1305Compat.swift */,
 				049BD39B2E51DBD9001A566B /* NostrEmbeddedBitChat.swift */,
 				5F8043995007F0D84438EDD9 /* NostrIdentity.swift */,
@@ -808,18 +792,15 @@
 				749D8CF8A362B6CD0786782D /* NotificationService.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3AF2E51ED60001A566B /* Transport.swift in Sources */,
 				E2DCF7817344F1CCDB8B7B2F /* SecureIdentityStateManager.swift in Sources */,
-				04657ABC2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3A02E51DBF4001A566B /* Packets.swift in Sources */,
 				047502892E5416250083520F /* Geohash.swift in Sources */,
 				0475028A2E5416250083520F /* LocationChannel.swift in Sources */,
-				04657AB82E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3A12E51DBF4001A566B /* PeerID.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3942E4EC4F0001A566B /* PrivateChatManager.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3952E4EC4F0001A566B /* AutocompleteService.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3962E4EC4F0001A566B /* CommandProcessor.swift in Sources */,
 				D111988977C3BC246AB27FA4 /* SecureLogger.swift in Sources */,
 				8DE687D2EB5EB120868DBFB5 /* BLEService.swift in Sources */,
-				04657AB52E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift in Sources */,
 				AA11BB22CC33DD44EE55FF66 /* MessageTextHelpers.swift in Sources */,
 				E0A1B2C3D4E5F6012345678B /* GeoRelayDirectory.swift in Sources */,
 			);
@@ -871,18 +852,15 @@
 				61C81ED5F679D5E973EE0C07 /* NotificationService.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3AE2E51ED60001A566B /* Transport.swift in Sources */,
 				68C4BE564735F6E7915274A2 /* SecureIdentityStateManager.swift in Sources */,
-				04657ABB2E633C94002D5BBE /* MiningAnimation.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3A22E51DBF4001A566B /* Packets.swift in Sources */,
 				047502872E5416250083520F /* Geohash.swift in Sources */,
 				047502882E5416250083520F /* LocationChannel.swift in Sources */,
-				04657AB92E633C76002D5BBE /* PowPolicy.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3A32E51DBF4001A566B /* PeerID.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3902E4EC4F0001A566B /* PrivateChatManager.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3912E4EC4F0001A566B /* AutocompleteService.swift in Sources */,
 				049BD3922E4EC4F0001A566B /* CommandProcessor.swift in Sources */,
 				EC5241969D2550B97629EBD0 /* SecureLogger.swift in Sources */,
 				C165DD35BB8E9C327A3C2DA4 /* BLEService.swift in Sources */,
-				04657AB62E633C6A002D5BBE /* NostrPoW.swift in Sources */,
 				AA11BB22CC33DD44EE55FF67 /* MessageTextHelpers.swift in Sources */,
 				E0A1B2C3D4E5F6012345678C /* GeoRelayDirectory.swift in Sources */,
 			);
@@ -897,7 +875,6 @@
 				8F282E9CCA5AE1ECC001D2E4 /* IntegrationTests.swift in Sources */,
 				047502B12E55E8450083520F /* InputValidatorTests.swift in Sources */,
 				D727EA273CB214FC32612469 /* MockBluetoothMeshService.swift in Sources */,
-				04657ABF2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift in Sources */,
 				047502932E547ACC0083520F /* LocationChannelsTests.swift in Sources */,
 				048A4C2B2E5FCE0300162C4A /* GeohashBookmarksStoreTests.swift in Sources */,
 				6C803BF930E7E19BE6E99EAA /* MockBLEService.swift in Sources */,
@@ -921,7 +898,6 @@
 				686441ABC2AF83EE98E6ECF2 /* IntegrationTests.swift in Sources */,
 				047502B02E55E8450083520F /* InputValidatorTests.swift in Sources */,
 				8851F08D88C5B1DE7B9F55C6 /* MockBluetoothMeshService.swift in Sources */,
-				04657ABE2E633CA4002D5BBE /* NostrPoWTests.swift in Sources */,
 				047502922E547ACC0083520F /* LocationChannelsTests.swift in Sources */,
 				048A4C2C2E5FCE0300162C4A /* GeohashBookmarksStoreTests.swift in Sources */,
 				3849CA6D99B2D536636DF4A6 /* MockBLEService.swift in Sources */,

bitchat/Nostr/NostrPoW.swift

@@ -1,96 +0,0 @@
-import Foundation
-import CryptoKit
-import Security
-import Darwin
-
-/// NIP-13 Proof-of-Work utilities for Nostr events.
-/// - Counts leading zero bits and mines a nonce tag to meet a target.
-enum NostrPoW {
-    /// Table of leading zero bit counts for all 256 byte values.
-    private static let lzTable: [UInt8] = {
-        (0...255).map { v -> UInt8 in
-            var x = UInt8(v)
-            if x == 0 { return 8 }
-            var n: UInt8 = 0
-            while (x & 0x80) == 0 {
-                n &+= 1
-                x <<= 1
-            }
-            return n
-        }
-    }()
-
-    /// Count leading zero bits in a 32-byte hash.
-    static func leadingZeroBits(_ data: Data) -> Int {
-        var total = 0
-        for b in data {
-            let lz = Int(lzTable[Int(b)])
-            total += lz
-            if lz != 8 { break }
-        }
-        return total
-    }
-
-    /// Compute Nostr event id hash (SHA-256 over canonical serialization) for given fields.
-    private static func eventIDHash(pubkey: String, createdAt: Int, kind: Int, tags: [[String]], content: String) -> (hex: String, data: Data) {
-        let serialized: [Any] = [0, pubkey, createdAt, kind, tags, content]
-        let json = try! JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: serialized, options: [.withoutEscapingSlashes])
-        let digest = SHA256.hash(data: json)
-        let data = Data(digest)
-        let hex = data.map { String(format: "%02x", $0) }.joined()
-        return (hex, data)
-    }
-
-    /// Mine a NIP-13 nonce tag that satisfies the target leading-zero bits.
-    /// - Parameters:
-    ///   - pubkey: x-only hex pubkey (64-hex chars)
-    ///   - createdAt: seconds since epoch
-    ///   - kind: event kind
-    ///   - baseTags: existing tags (e.g., [ ["g", geohash], ["n", nickname], ... ])
-    ///   - content: event content
-    ///   - targetBits: required leading zero bits
-    ///   - startNonce: optional starting nonce (random if nil)
-    /// - Returns: (nonce, idHex)
-    static func mine(pubkey: String,
-                     createdAt: Int,
-                     kind: Int,
-                     baseTags: [[String]],
-                     content: String,
-                     targetBits: Int,
-                     startNonce: UInt64? = nil) -> (nonce: UInt64, idHex: String) {
-        var nonce: UInt64 = startNonce ?? randomNonce()
-        // Build a local tags buffer once to avoid reallocating unrelated tags
-        var tags = baseTags
-        tags.append(["nonce", "0", String(targetBits)])
-
-        var iter: UInt64 = 0
-        while true {
-            var solved = false
-            var idHexOut = ""
-            // Use an autorelease pool periodically to keep memory stable on iOS
-            autoreleasepool {
-                // Update nonce tag value (second element)
-                tags[tags.count - 1][1] = String(nonce)
-                let (idHex, idData) = eventIDHash(pubkey: pubkey, createdAt: createdAt, kind: kind, tags: tags, content: content)
-                if leadingZeroBits(idData) >= targetBits {
-                    solved = true
-                    idHexOut = idHex
-                }
-            }
-            if solved {
-                return (nonce, idHexOut)
-            }
-            nonce &+= 1
-            iter &+= 1
-            if iter & 0x3FFF == 0 { /* yield every ~16k iterations */ _ = sched_yield() }
-        }
-    }
-
-    private static func randomNonce() -> UInt64 {
-        var n: UInt64 = 0
-        withUnsafeMutableBytes(of: &n) { ptr in
-            _ = SecRandomCopyBytes(kSecRandomDefault, ptr.count, ptr.baseAddress!)
-        }
-        return n
-    }
-}

bitchat/Nostr/NostrRelayManager.swift

@@ -44,8 +44,15 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
     
     // Message queue for reliability
-    private var messageQueue: [(event: NostrEvent, relayUrls: [String])] = []
+    // Pending sends held only for relays that are not yet connected.
+    private struct PendingSend {
+        var event: NostrEvent
+        var pendingRelays: Set<String>
+    }
+    private var messageQueue: [PendingSend] = []
     private let messageQueueLock = NSLock()
+    private let encoder = JSONEncoder()
+    private let decoder = JSONDecoder()
     
     // Exponential backoff configuration
     private let initialBackoffInterval: TimeInterval = TransportConfig.nostrRelayInitialBackoffSeconds
@@ -59,6 +66,8 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     init() {
         // Initialize with default relays
         self.relays = Self.defaultRelays.map { Relay(url: $0) }
+        // Deterministic JSON shape for outbound requests
+        self.encoder.outputFormatting = .sortedKeys
     }
     
     /// Connect to all configured relays
@@ -95,16 +104,57 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     func sendEvent(_ event: NostrEvent, to relayUrls: [String]? = nil) {
         let targetRelays = relayUrls ?? Self.defaultRelays
         ensureConnections(to: targetRelays)
-        
-        // Add to queue for reliability
-        messageQueueLock.lock()
-        messageQueue.append((event, targetRelays))
-        messageQueueLock.unlock()
-        
-        // Attempt immediate send
+
+        // Attempt immediate send to relays with active connections; queue the rest
+        var stillPending = Set<String>()
         for relayUrl in targetRelays {
             if let connection = connections[relayUrl] {
                 sendToRelay(event: event, connection: connection, relayUrl: relayUrl)
+            } else {
+                stillPending.insert(relayUrl)
+            }
+        }
+        if !stillPending.isEmpty {
+            messageQueueLock.lock()
+            messageQueue.append(PendingSend(event: event, pendingRelays: stillPending))
+            messageQueueLock.unlock()
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Try to flush any queued messages for relays that are now connected.
+    private func flushMessageQueue(for relayUrl: String? = nil) {
+        messageQueueLock.lock()
+        defer { messageQueueLock.unlock() }
+        guard !messageQueue.isEmpty else { return }
+        if let target = relayUrl {
+            // Flush only for a specific relay
+            for i in (0..<messageQueue.count).reversed() {
+                var item = messageQueue[i]
+                if item.pendingRelays.contains(target), let conn = connections[target] {
+                    sendToRelay(event: item.event, connection: conn, relayUrl: target)
+                    item.pendingRelays.remove(target)
+                    if item.pendingRelays.isEmpty {
+                        messageQueue.remove(at: i)
+                    } else {
+                        messageQueue[i] = item
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            // Flush for any relays that now have connections
+            for i in (0..<messageQueue.count).reversed() {
+                var item = messageQueue[i]
+                for url in item.pendingRelays {
+                    if let conn = connections[url] {
+                        sendToRelay(event: item.event, connection: conn, relayUrl: url)
+                        item.pendingRelays.remove(url)
+                    }
+                }
+                if item.pendingRelays.isEmpty {
+                    messageQueue.remove(at: i)
+                } else {
+                    messageQueue[i] = item
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -124,8 +174,6 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
         let req = NostrRequest.subscribe(id: id, filters: [filter])
         
         do {
-            let encoder = JSONEncoder()
-            encoder.outputFormatting = .sortedKeys // For consistent output
             let message = try encoder.encode(req)
             guard let messageString = String(data: message, encoding: .utf8) else { 
                 SecureLogger.log("❌ Failed to encode subscription request", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .error)
@@ -175,7 +223,7 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
         messageHandlers.removeValue(forKey: id)
         
         let req = NostrRequest.close(id: id)
-        let message = try? JSONEncoder().encode(req)
+        let message = try? encoder.encode(req)
         
         guard let messageData = message,
               let messageString = String(data: messageData, encoding: .utf8) else { return }
@@ -242,14 +290,21 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
             case .success(let message):
                 switch message {
                 case .string(let text):
-                    Task { @MainActor in
-                        self.handleMessage(text, from: relayUrl)
+                    // Parse off-main to reduce UI jank, then hop back for state updates
+                    Task.detached(priority: .utility) {
+                        guard let parsed = parseInboundMessage(text) else { return }
+                        await MainActor.run {
+                            NostrRelayManager.shared.handleParsedMessage(parsed, from: relayUrl)
+                        }
                     }
                 case .data(let data):
                     if let text = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) {
-                        Task { @MainActor in
-                        self.handleMessage(text, from: relayUrl)
-                    }
+                        Task.detached(priority: .utility) {
+                            guard let parsed = parseInboundMessage(text) else { return }
+                            await MainActor.run {
+                                NostrRelayManager.shared.handleParsedMessage(parsed, from: relayUrl)
+                            }
+                        }
                     }
                 @unknown default:
                     break
@@ -268,79 +323,42 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
         }
     }
     
-    private func handleMessage(_ message: String, from relayUrl: String) {
-        guard let data = message.data(using: .utf8) else { return }
-        
-        do {
-            // Try to decode as an array first
-            if let array = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data) as? [Any],
-               array.count >= 2,
-               let type = array[0] as? String {
-                
-                // Received message from relay
-                
-                switch type {
-                case "EVENT":
-                    if array.count >= 3,
-                       let subId = array[1] as? String,
-                       let eventDict = array[2] as? [String: Any] {
-                        
-                        let event = try NostrEvent(from: eventDict)
-                        
-                        // Only log non-gift-wrap events to reduce noise
-                        if event.kind != 1059 {
-                            SecureLogger.log("📥 Event kind=\(event.kind) id=\(event.id.prefix(16))… relay=\(relayUrl)",
-                                            category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
-                        }
-                        
-                        DispatchQueue.main.async {
-                            // Update relay stats
-                            if let index = self.relays.firstIndex(where: { $0.url == relayUrl }) {
-                                self.relays[index].messagesReceived += 1
-                            }
-                            
-                            // Call handler
-                            if let handler = self.messageHandlers[subId] {
-                                handler(event)
-                            } else {
-                                SecureLogger.log("⚠️ No handler for subscription \(subId)", 
-                                                category: SecureLogger.session, level: .warning)
-                            }
-                        }
-                    }
-                    
-                case "EOSE":
-                    if array.count >= 2 {
-                        // End of stored events
-                    }
-                    
-                case "OK":
-                    if array.count >= 3,
-                       let eventId = array[1] as? String,
-                       let success = array[2] as? Bool {
-                        let reason = array.count >= 4 ? (array[3] as? String ?? "no reason given") : "no reason given"
-                        if success {
-                            _ = Self.pendingGiftWrapIDs.remove(eventId)
-                            SecureLogger.log("✅ Accepted id=\(eventId.prefix(16))… relay=\(relayUrl)",
-                                            category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
-                        } else {
-                            let isGiftWrap = Self.pendingGiftWrapIDs.remove(eventId) != nil
-                            SecureLogger.log("📮 Rejected id=\(eventId.prefix(16))… reason=\(reason)", 
-                                            category: SecureLogger.session, level: isGiftWrap ? .warning : .error)
-                        }
-                    }
-                    
-                case "NOTICE":
-                    if array.count >= 2 {
-                        // Server notice received
-                    }
-                    
-                default:
-                    break // Unknown message type
-                }
+    // Parsed inbound message type (off-main)
+    // Note: declared at file scope below to avoid MainActor isolation inside this class
+    // and keep parsing off the main actor.
+
+    // Handle parsed message on MainActor (state updates and handlers)
+    private func handleParsedMessage(_ parsed: ParsedInbound, from relayUrl: String) {
+        switch parsed {
+        case .event(let subId, let event):
+            if event.kind != 1059 {
+                SecureLogger.log("📥 Event kind=\(event.kind) id=\(event.id.prefix(16))… relay=\(relayUrl)",
+                                category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
             }
-        } catch {
-            SecureLogger.log("Failed to parse Nostr message: \(error)", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .error)
+            if let index = self.relays.firstIndex(where: { $0.url == relayUrl }) {
+                self.relays[index].messagesReceived += 1
+            }
+            if let handler = self.messageHandlers[subId] {
+                handler(event)
+            } else {
+                SecureLogger.log("⚠️ No handler for subscription \(subId)", 
+                                category: SecureLogger.session, level: .warning)
+            }
+        case .eose:
+            // No-op for now
+            break
+        case .ok(let eventId, let success, let reason):
+            if success {
+                _ = Self.pendingGiftWrapIDs.remove(eventId)
+                SecureLogger.log("✅ Accepted id=\(eventId.prefix(16))… relay=\(relayUrl)",
+                                category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
+            } else {
+                let isGiftWrap = Self.pendingGiftWrapIDs.remove(eventId) != nil
+                SecureLogger.log("📮 Rejected id=\(eventId.prefix(16))… reason=\(reason)",
+                                category: SecureLogger.session, level: isGiftWrap ? .warning : .error)
+            }
+        case .notice:
+            break
         }
     }
     
@@ -348,8 +366,6 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
         let req = NostrRequest.event(event)
         
         do {
-            let encoder = JSONEncoder()
-            encoder.outputFormatting = .sortedKeys
             let data = try encoder.encode(req)
             let message = String(data: data, encoding: .utf8) ?? ""
             
@@ -389,6 +405,10 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
             }
         }
         updateConnectionStatus()
+        // If we just connected to this relay, flush any queued sends targeting it
+        if isConnected {
+            flushMessageQueue(for: url)
+        }
     }
     
     private func updateConnectionStatus() {
@@ -494,6 +514,51 @@ class NostrRelayManager: ObservableObject {
     }
 }
 
+// MARK: - Off-main inbound parsing helpers (file scope, non-isolated)
+
+private enum ParsedInbound {
+    case event(subId: String, event: NostrEvent)
+    case ok(eventId: String, success: Bool, reason: String)
+    case eose(subscriptionId: String)
+    case notice(String)
+}
+
+// Off-main JSON parse to avoid UI jank; pure function, not actor-isolated
+private func parseInboundMessage(_ message: String) -> ParsedInbound? {
+    guard let data = message.data(using: .utf8) else { return nil }
+    do {
+        if let array = try JSONSerialization.jsonObject(with: data) as? [Any],
+           array.count >= 2,
+           let type = array[0] as? String {
+            switch type {
+            case "EVENT":
+                if array.count >= 3,
+                   let subId = array[1] as? String,
+                   let eventDict = array[2] as? [String: Any] {
+                    let event = try NostrEvent(from: eventDict)
+                    return .event(subId: subId, event: event)
+                }
+            case "EOSE":
+                if let subId = array[1] as? String { return .eose(subscriptionId: subId) }
+            case "OK":
+                if array.count >= 3,
+                   let eventId = array[1] as? String,
+                   let success = array[2] as? Bool {
+                    let reason = array.count >= 4 ? (array[3] as? String ?? "no reason given") : "no reason given"
+                    return .ok(eventId: eventId, success: success, reason: reason)
+                }
+            case "NOTICE":
+                if array.count >= 2, let msg = array[1] as? String { return .notice(msg) }
+            default:
+                return nil
+            }
+        }
+    } catch {
+        // Ignore
+    }
+    return nil
+}
+
 // MARK: - Nostr Protocol Types
 
 enum NostrRequest: Encodable {

bitchat/Protocols/BinaryEncodingUtils.swift

@@ -40,23 +40,23 @@ extension Data {
 extension Data {
     // MARK: Writing
     
-    mutating func appendUInt8(_ value: UInt8) {
+    @inlinable mutating func appendUInt8(_ value: UInt8) {
         self.append(value)
     }
     
-    mutating func appendUInt16(_ value: UInt16) {
+    @inlinable mutating func appendUInt16(_ value: UInt16) {
         self.append(UInt8((value >> 8) & 0xFF))
         self.append(UInt8(value & 0xFF))
     }
     
-    mutating func appendUInt32(_ value: UInt32) {
+    @inlinable mutating func appendUInt32(_ value: UInt32) {
         self.append(UInt8((value >> 24) & 0xFF))
         self.append(UInt8((value >> 16) & 0xFF))
         self.append(UInt8((value >> 8) & 0xFF))
         self.append(UInt8(value & 0xFF))
     }
     
-    mutating func appendUInt64(_ value: UInt64) {
+    @inlinable mutating func appendUInt64(_ value: UInt64) {
         for i in (0..<8).reversed() {
             self.append(UInt8((value >> (i * 8)) & 0xFF))
         }
@@ -113,21 +113,21 @@ extension Data {
     
     // MARK: Reading
     
-    func readUInt8(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt8? {
+    @inlinable func readUInt8(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt8? {
         guard offset >= 0 && offset < self.count else { return nil }
         let value = self[offset]
         offset += 1
         return value
     }
     
-    func readUInt16(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt16? {
+    @inlinable func readUInt16(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt16? {
         guard offset + 2 <= self.count else { return nil }
         let value = UInt16(self[offset]) << 8 | UInt16(self[offset + 1])
         offset += 2
         return value
     }
     
-    func readUInt32(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt32? {
+    @inlinable func readUInt32(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt32? {
         guard offset + 4 <= self.count else { return nil }
         let value = UInt32(self[offset]) << 24 |
                    UInt32(self[offset + 1]) << 16 |
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ extension Data {
         return value
     }
     
-    func readUInt64(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt64? {
+    @inlinable func readUInt64(at offset: inout Int) -> UInt64? {
         guard offset + 8 <= self.count else { return nil }
         var value: UInt64 = 0
         for i in 0..<8 {
@@ -220,4 +220,3 @@ extension Data {
         return data
     }
 }
-

bitchat/Protocols/BinaryProtocol.swift

@@ -139,6 +139,11 @@ struct BinaryProtocol {
         }
         
         // Header
+        // Reserve capacity to reduce reallocations. Estimate base size conservatively.
+        // header(13) + sender(8) + opt recipient(8) + opt originalSize(2) + payload + opt signature(64) + up to 255 pad
+        let estimatedPayload = payload.count + (isCompressed ? 2 : 0)
+        let estimated = headerSize + senderIDSize + (packet.recipientID == nil ? 0 : recipientIDSize) + estimatedPayload + (packet.signature == nil ? 0 : signatureSize) + 255
+        data.reserveCapacity(estimated)
         data.append(packet.version)
         data.append(packet.type)
         data.append(packet.ttl)
@@ -222,135 +227,105 @@ struct BinaryProtocol {
 
     // Core decoding implementation used by decode(_:) with and without padding removal
     private static func decodeCore(_ raw: Data) -> BitchatPacket? {
-        // Minimum size check: header + senderID
-        guard raw.count >= headerSize + senderIDSize else { 
-            return nil 
-        }
-        
-        // Convert to array for safer indexed access
-        let dataArray = Array(raw)
-        var offset = 0
-        
-        // Header parsing with bounds checks
-        guard offset < dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let version = dataArray[offset]; offset += 1
-        
-        // Check if version is 1 (only supported version)
-        guard version == 1 else { 
-            return nil 
-        }
-        
-        guard offset < dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let type = dataArray[offset]; offset += 1
-        
-        guard offset < dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let ttl = dataArray[offset]; offset += 1
-        
-        // Timestamp - need 8 bytes
-        guard offset + 8 <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let timestampData = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+8])
-        let timestamp = timestampData.reduce(0) { result, byte in
-            (result << 8) | UInt64(byte)
-        }
-        offset += 8
-        
-        // Flags
-        guard offset < dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let flags = dataArray[offset]; offset += 1
-        let hasRecipient = (flags & Flags.hasRecipient) != 0
-        let hasSignature = (flags & Flags.hasSignature) != 0
-        let isCompressed = (flags & Flags.isCompressed) != 0
-        
-        // Payload length - need 2 bytes
-        guard offset + 2 <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let payloadLengthData = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+2])
-        let payloadLength = payloadLengthData.reduce(0) { result, byte in
-            (result << 8) | UInt16(byte)
-        }
-        offset += 2
-        
-        // Validate payloadLength is reasonable (prevent integer overflow)
-        guard payloadLength <= 65535 else { return nil }
-        
-        // SenderID - need 8 bytes
-        guard offset + senderIDSize <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        let senderID = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+senderIDSize])
-        offset += senderIDSize
-        
-        // RecipientID if present
-        var recipientID: Data?
-        if hasRecipient {
-            guard offset + recipientIDSize <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-            recipientID = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+recipientIDSize])
-            offset += recipientIDSize
-        }
-        
-        // Payload handling with comprehensive bounds checking
-        let payload: Data
-        if isCompressed {
-            // Compressed payload needs at least 2 bytes for original size
-            guard Int(payloadLength) >= 2 else { return nil }
-            
-            // Check we have enough data for the original size prefix
-            guard offset + 2 <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-            let originalSizeData = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+2])
-            let originalSize = Int(originalSizeData.reduce(0) { result, byte in
-                (result << 8) | UInt16(byte)
-            })
-            offset += 2
-            
-            // Validate original size is reasonable
-            guard originalSize >= 0 && originalSize <= 1048576 else { return nil } // Max 1MB
-            
-            // Check we have enough data for the compressed payload
-            let compressedPayloadSize = Int(payloadLength) - 2
-            guard compressedPayloadSize >= 0 && offset + compressedPayloadSize <= dataArray.count else { 
-                return nil 
+        // Minimum size: header + senderID
+        guard raw.count >= headerSize + senderIDSize else { return nil }
+
+        return raw.withUnsafeBytes { (buf: UnsafeRawBufferPointer) -> BitchatPacket? in
+            guard let base = buf.baseAddress else { return nil }
+            var offset = 0
+            func require(_ n: Int) -> Bool { offset + n <= buf.count }
+            // Read single byte
+            func read8() -> UInt8? {
+                guard require(1) else { return nil }
+                let v = base.advanced(by: offset).assumingMemoryBound(to: UInt8.self).pointee
+                offset += 1
+                return v
             }
-            
-            let compressedPayload = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+compressedPayloadSize])
-            offset += compressedPayloadSize
-            
-            // Decompress with error handling
-            guard let decompressedPayload = CompressionUtil.decompress(compressedPayload, originalSize: originalSize) else {
-                return nil
+            // Read big-endian 16-bit
+            func read16() -> UInt16? {
+                guard require(2) else { return nil }
+                let p = base.advanced(by: offset).assumingMemoryBound(to: UInt8.self)
+                let v = (UInt16(p[0]) << 8) | UInt16(p[1])
+                offset += 2
+                return v
             }
-            
-            // Verify decompressed size matches expected
-            guard decompressedPayload.count == originalSize else {
-                return nil
+            // Copy N bytes into Data
+            func readData(_ n: Int) -> Data? {
+                guard require(n) else { return nil }
+                let ptr = base.advanced(by: offset)
+                let d = Data(bytes: ptr, count: n)
+                offset += n
+                return d
             }
-            
-            payload = decompressedPayload
-        } else {
-            // Uncompressed payload
-            guard Int(payloadLength) >= 0 && offset + Int(payloadLength) <= dataArray.count else { 
-                return nil 
+
+            // Version
+            guard let version = read8(), version == 1 else { return nil }
+            guard let type = read8() else { return nil }
+            guard let ttl = read8() else { return nil }
+
+            // Timestamp 8 bytes BE
+            guard require(8) else { return nil }
+            var ts: UInt64 = 0
+            for _ in 0..<8 {
+                guard let b = read8() else { return nil }
+                ts = (ts << 8) | UInt64(b)
             }
-            payload = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+Int(payloadLength)])
-            offset += Int(payloadLength)
+
+            // Flags
+            guard let flags = read8() else { return nil }
+            let hasRecipient = (flags & Flags.hasRecipient) != 0
+            let hasSignature = (flags & Flags.hasSignature) != 0
+            let isCompressed = (flags & Flags.isCompressed) != 0
+
+            // Payload length
+            guard let payloadLen = read16(), payloadLen <= 65535 else { return nil }
+
+            // SenderID
+            guard let senderID = readData(senderIDSize) else { return nil }
+
+            // Recipient
+            var recipientID: Data? = nil
+            if hasRecipient {
+                recipientID = readData(recipientIDSize)
+                if recipientID == nil { return nil }
+            }
+
+            // Payload
+            let payload: Data
+            if isCompressed {
+                // Need original size (2 bytes)
+                guard let origSize16 = read16() else { return nil }
+                let originalSize = Int(origSize16)
+                guard originalSize >= 0 && originalSize <= 1_048_576 else { return nil }
+                let compSize = Int(payloadLen) - 2
+                guard compSize >= 0, let compressed = readData(compSize) else { return nil }
+                guard let decompressed = CompressionUtil.decompress(compressed, originalSize: originalSize),
+                      decompressed.count == originalSize else { return nil }
+                payload = decompressed
+            } else {
+                guard let p = readData(Int(payloadLen)) else { return nil }
+                payload = p
+            }
+
+            // Signature
+            var signature: Data? = nil
+            if hasSignature {
+                signature = readData(signatureSize)
+                if signature == nil { return nil }
+            }
+
+            guard offset <= buf.count else { return nil }
+
+            return BitchatPacket(
+                type: type,
+                senderID: senderID,
+                recipientID: recipientID,
+                timestamp: ts,
+                payload: payload,
+                signature: signature,
+                ttl: ttl
+            )
         }
-        
-        // Signature if present
-        var signature: Data?
-        if hasSignature {
-            guard offset + signatureSize <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-            signature = Data(dataArray[offset..<offset+signatureSize])
-            offset += signatureSize
-        }
-        
-        // Final validation: ensure we haven't gone past the end
-        guard offset <= dataArray.count else { return nil }
-        
-        return BitchatPacket(
-            type: type,
-            senderID: senderID,
-            recipientID: recipientID,
-            timestamp: timestamp,
-            payload: payload,
-            signature: signature,
-            ttl: ttl
-        )
     }
 }
 

bitchat/Protocols/BitchatProtocol.swift

@@ -409,8 +409,6 @@ class BitchatMessage: Codable {
     let senderPeerID: String?
     let mentions: [String]?  // Array of mentioned nicknames
     var deliveryStatus: DeliveryStatus? // Delivery tracking
-    // Mining state for Nostr geohash PoW (UI hint: hide timestamp, animate)
-    var isMiningPow: Bool? // default nil/false
     
     // Cached formatted text (not included in Codable)
     private var _cachedFormattedText: [String: AttributedString] = [:]
@@ -423,18 +421,13 @@ class BitchatMessage: Codable {
         _cachedFormattedText["\(isDark)-\(isSelf)"] = text
     }
     
-    func clearCachedFormattedText() {
-        _cachedFormattedText.removeAll()
-    }
-    
     // Codable implementation
     enum CodingKeys: String, CodingKey {
         case id, sender, content, timestamp, isRelay, originalSender
         case isPrivate, recipientNickname, senderPeerID, mentions, deliveryStatus
-        case isMiningPow
     }
     
-    init(id: String? = nil, sender: String, content: String, timestamp: Date, isRelay: Bool, originalSender: String? = nil, isPrivate: Bool = false, recipientNickname: String? = nil, senderPeerID: String? = nil, mentions: [String]? = nil, deliveryStatus: DeliveryStatus? = nil, isMiningPow: Bool? = nil) {
+    init(id: String? = nil, sender: String, content: String, timestamp: Date, isRelay: Bool, originalSender: String? = nil, isPrivate: Bool = false, recipientNickname: String? = nil, senderPeerID: String? = nil, mentions: [String]? = nil, deliveryStatus: DeliveryStatus? = nil) {
         self.id = id ?? UUID().uuidString
         self.sender = sender
         self.content = content
@@ -446,7 +439,6 @@ class BitchatMessage: Codable {
         self.senderPeerID = senderPeerID
         self.mentions = mentions
         self.deliveryStatus = deliveryStatus ?? (isPrivate ? .sending : nil)
-        self.isMiningPow = isMiningPow
     }
 }
 
@@ -463,8 +455,7 @@ extension BitchatMessage: Equatable {
                lhs.recipientNickname == rhs.recipientNickname &&
                lhs.senderPeerID == rhs.senderPeerID &&
                lhs.mentions == rhs.mentions &&
-               lhs.deliveryStatus == rhs.deliveryStatus &&
-               (lhs.isMiningPow ?? false) == (rhs.isMiningPow ?? false)
+               lhs.deliveryStatus == rhs.deliveryStatus
     }
 }
 

bitchat/Protocols/Packets.swift

@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@ struct AnnouncementPacket {
 
     func encode() -> Data? {
         var data = Data()
+        // Reserve: TLVs for nickname (2 + n), noise key (2 + 32), signing key (2 + 32)
+        data.reserveCapacity(2 + min(nickname.count, 255) + 2 + noisePublicKey.count + 2 + signingPublicKey.count)
 
         // TLV for nickname
         guard let nicknameData = nickname.data(using: .utf8), nicknameData.count <= 255 else { return nil }
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ struct PrivateMessagePacket {
 
     func encode() -> Data? {
         var data = Data()
+        data.reserveCapacity(2 + min(messageID.count, 255) + 2 + min(content.count, 255))
 
         // TLV for messageID
         guard let messageIDData = messageID.data(using: .utf8), messageIDData.count <= 255 else { return nil }

bitchat/Services/BLEService.swift

@@ -63,8 +63,9 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     private let messageDeduplicator = MessageDeduplicator()
     
     // 5. Fragment Reassembly (necessary for messages > MTU)
-    private var incomingFragments: [String: [Int: Data]] = [:]
-    private var fragmentMetadata: [String: (type: UInt8, total: Int, timestamp: Date)] = [:]
+    private struct FragmentKey: Hashable { let sender: UInt64; let id: UInt64 }
+    private var incomingFragments: [FragmentKey: [Int: Data]] = [:]
+    private var fragmentMetadata: [FragmentKey: (type: UInt8, total: Int, timestamp: Date)] = [:]
     // Backoff for peripherals that recently timed out connecting
     private var recentConnectTimeouts: [String: Date] = [:] // Peripheral UUID -> last timeout
     
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
     var myPeerID: String = ""
     var myNickname: String = "anon"
     private let noiseService = NoiseEncryptionService()
+    private var myPeerIDData: Data = Data()
 
     // MARK: - Advertising Privacy
     // No Local Name by default for maximum privacy. No rotating alias.
@@ -223,7 +225,30 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                 peripheral.writeValue(data, for: characteristic, type: .withoutResponse)
             } else {
                 self.collectionsQueue.async(flags: .barrier) {
-                    self.pendingPeripheralWrites[uuid, default: []].append(data)
+                    var queue = self.pendingPeripheralWrites[uuid] ?? []
+                    let capBytes = TransportConfig.blePendingWriteBufferCapBytes
+                    let newSize = data.count
+                    // If single chunk exceeds cap, drop it immediately
+                    if newSize > capBytes {
+                        SecureLogger.log("⚠️ Dropping oversized write chunk (\(newSize)B) for peripheral \(uuid)",
+                                         category: SecureLogger.session, level: .warning)
+                    } else {
+                        // Append and trim from the front to respect cap
+                        var total = queue.reduce(0) { $0 + $1.count }
+                        queue.append(data)
+                        total += newSize
+                        if total > capBytes {
+                            var removedBytes = 0
+                            while total > capBytes && !queue.isEmpty {
+                                let removed = queue.removeFirst()
+                                removedBytes += removed.count
+                                total -= removed.count
+                            }
+                            SecureLogger.log("📉 Trimmed pending write buffer for \(uuid) by \(removedBytes)B to \(total)B",
+                                             category: SecureLogger.session, level: .warning)
+                        }
+                        self.pendingPeripheralWrites[uuid] = queue.isEmpty ? nil : queue
+                    }
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -308,6 +333,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         // Derive stable peer ID from Noise static public key fingerprint (first 8 bytes → 16 hex chars)
         let fingerprint = noiseService.getIdentityFingerprint() // 64 hex chars
         self.myPeerID = String(fingerprint.prefix(16))
+        self.myPeerIDData = Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data()
         
         // Set queue key for identification
         messageQueue.setSpecific(key: messageQueueKey, value: ())
@@ -374,7 +400,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         maintenanceTimer = timer
         
         // Publish initial empty state
-        publishFullPeerData()
+        requestPeerDataPublish()
     }
     
     func setNickname(_ nickname: String) {
@@ -463,7 +489,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         // Send leave message synchronously to ensure delivery
         let leavePacket = BitchatPacket(
             type: MessageType.leave.rawValue,
-            senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+            senderID: myPeerIDData,
             recipientID: nil,
             timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
             payload: Data(),
@@ -591,7 +617,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                 let encrypted = try noiseService.encrypt(payload, for: peerID)
                 let packet = BitchatPacket(
                     type: MessageType.noiseEncrypted.rawValue,
-                    senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                    senderID: myPeerIDData,
                     recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                     timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                     payload: encrypted,
@@ -643,7 +669,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
             let encrypted = try noiseService.encrypt(typedPayload, for: peerID)
             let packet = BitchatPacket(
                 type: MessageType.noiseEncrypted.rawValue,
-                senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                senderID: myPeerIDData,
                 recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                 timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                 payload: encrypted,
@@ -800,7 +826,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                 
             let packet = BitchatPacket(
                 type: MessageType.noiseEncrypted.rawValue,
-                senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                senderID: myPeerIDData,
                 recipientID: recipientData,
                 timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                 payload: encrypted,
@@ -854,7 +880,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
             // Send handshake init
             let packet = BitchatPacket(
                 type: MessageType.noiseHandshake.rawValue,
-                senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                senderID: myPeerIDData,
                 recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                 timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                 payload: handshakeData,
@@ -904,7 +930,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
 
                 let packet = BitchatPacket(
                     type: MessageType.noiseEncrypted.rawValue,
-                    senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                    senderID: myPeerIDData,
                     recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                     timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                     payload: encrypted,
@@ -1247,8 +1273,11 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         // Minimum header: 8 bytes ID + 2 index + 2 total + 1 type
         guard packet.payload.count >= 13 else { return }
 
-        let senderHex = packet.senderID.hexEncodedString()
-        let fragmentID = packet.payload[0..<8].map { String(format: "%02x", $0) }.joined()
+        // Compute compact fragment key (sender: 8 bytes, id: 8 bytes), big-endian
+        var senderU64: UInt64 = 0
+        for b in packet.senderID.prefix(8) { senderU64 = (senderU64 << 8) | UInt64(b) }
+        var fragU64: UInt64 = 0
+        for b in packet.payload.prefix(8) { fragU64 = (fragU64 << 8) | UInt64(b) }
         // Parse big-endian UInt16 safely without alignment assumptions
         let idxHi = UInt16(packet.payload[8])
         let idxLo = UInt16(packet.payload[9])
@@ -1263,7 +1292,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         guard total > 0 && index >= 0 && index < total else { return }
 
         // Store fragment
-        let key = "\(senderHex):\(fragmentID)"
+        let key = FragmentKey(sender: senderU64, id: fragU64)
         if incomingFragments[key] == nil {
             // Cap in-flight assemblies to prevent memory/battery blowups
             if incomingFragments.count >= maxInFlightAssemblies {
@@ -1435,7 +1464,21 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         }
         
         // Suppress announce logs to reduce noise
-        
+
+        // Precompute signature verification outside barrier to reduce contention
+        let existingPeerForVerify = collectionsQueue.sync { peers[peerID] }
+        var verifiedAnnounce = false
+        if packet.signature != nil {
+            verifiedAnnounce = noiseService.verifyPacketSignature(packet, publicKey: announcement.signingPublicKey)
+            if !verifiedAnnounce {
+                SecureLogger.log("⚠️ Signature verification for announce failed \(peerID.prefix(8))", category: SecureLogger.security, level: .warning)
+            }
+        }
+        if let existingKey = existingPeerForVerify?.noisePublicKey, existingKey != announcement.noisePublicKey {
+            SecureLogger.log("⚠️ Announce key mismatch for \(peerID.prefix(8))… — keeping unverified", category: SecureLogger.security, level: .warning)
+            verifiedAnnounce = false
+        }
+
         // Track if this is a new or reconnected peer
         var isNewPeer = false
         var isReconnectedPeer = false
@@ -1460,21 +1503,8 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
             isNewPeer = (existingPeer == nil)
             isReconnectedPeer = wasDisconnected
             
-            // Verify packet signature using the announced signing public key
-            var verified = false
-            if packet.signature != nil {
-                // Verify that the packet was signed by the signing private key corresponding to the announced signing public key
-                verified = noiseService.verifyPacketSignature(packet, publicKey: announcement.signingPublicKey)
-                if !verified {
-                    SecureLogger.log("⚠️ Signature verification for announce failed \(peerID.prefix(8))", category: SecureLogger.security, level: .warning)
-                }
-            }
-
-            // If existing peer has a different noise public key, do not consider this verified
-            if let existing = existingPeer, let existingKey = existing.noisePublicKey, existingKey != announcement.noisePublicKey {
-                SecureLogger.log("⚠️ Announce key mismatch for \(peerID.prefix(8))… — keeping unverified", category: SecureLogger.security, level: .warning)
-                verified = false
-            }
+            // Use precomputed verification result
+            let verified = verifiedAnnounce
 
             // Require verified announce; ignore otherwise (no backward compatibility)
             if !verified {
@@ -1565,7 +1595,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                 self.delegate?.didConnectToPeer(peerID)
             }
             
-            self.publishFullPeerData()
+            self.requestPeerDataPublish()
             self.delegate?.didUpdatePeerList(currentPeerIDs)
         }
         
@@ -1666,7 +1696,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                     // Send response
                     let responsePacket = BitchatPacket(
                         type: MessageType.noiseHandshake.rawValue,
-                        senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                        senderID: myPeerIDData,
                         recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                         timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                         payload: response,
@@ -1822,7 +1852,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
         // Create packet with signature using the noise private key
         let packet = BitchatPacket(
             type: MessageType.announce.rawValue,
-            senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+            senderID: myPeerIDData,
             recipientID: nil,
             timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
             payload: payload,
@@ -1856,7 +1886,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                 let encrypted = try noiseService.encrypt(payload, for: peerID)
                 let packet = BitchatPacket(
                     type: MessageType.noiseEncrypted.rawValue,
-                    senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                    senderID: myPeerIDData,
                     recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                     timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                     payload: encrypted,
@@ -1893,7 +1923,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                 let encrypted = try noiseService.encrypt(payload, for: peerID)
                 let packet = BitchatPacket(
                     type: MessageType.noiseEncrypted.rawValue,
-                    senderID: Data(hexString: myPeerID) ?? Data(),
+                    senderID: myPeerIDData,
                     recipientID: Data(hexString: peerID),
                     timestamp: UInt64(Date().timeIntervalSince1970 * 1000),
                     payload: encrypted,
@@ -1959,6 +1989,28 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
             self?.peerEventsDelegate?.didUpdatePeerSnapshots(transportPeers)
         }
     }
+
+    // Debounced publish to coalesce rapid changes
+    private var lastPeerPublishAt: Date = .distantPast
+    private var peerPublishPending: Bool = false
+    private let peerPublishMinInterval: TimeInterval = 0.1
+    private func requestPeerDataPublish() {
+        let now = Date()
+        let elapsed = now.timeIntervalSince(lastPeerPublishAt)
+        if elapsed >= peerPublishMinInterval {
+            lastPeerPublishAt = now
+            publishFullPeerData()
+        } else if !peerPublishPending {
+            peerPublishPending = true
+            let delay = peerPublishMinInterval - elapsed
+            messageQueue.asyncAfter(deadline: .now() + delay) { [weak self] in
+                guard let self = self else { return }
+                self.lastPeerPublishAt = Date()
+                self.peerPublishPending = false
+                self.publishFullPeerData()
+            }
+        }
+    }
     
     // MARK: - Consolidated Maintenance
     
@@ -2072,7 +2124,7 @@ final class BLEService: NSObject {
                     self.delegate?.didDisconnectFromPeer(peerID)
                 }
                 // Publish snapshots so UnifiedPeerService updates connection/reachability icons
-                self.publishFullPeerData()
+                self.requestPeerDataPublish()
                 self.delegate?.didUpdatePeerList(currentPeerIDs)
             }
         }
@@ -2454,7 +2506,7 @@ func centralManager(_ central: CBCentralManager, didConnect peripheral: CBPeriph
             if let peerID = peerID {
                 self.notifyPeerDisconnectedDebounced(peerID)
             }
-            self.publishFullPeerData()
+            self.requestPeerDataPublish()
             self.delegate?.didUpdatePeerList(currentPeerIDs)
         }
     }
@@ -2855,7 +2907,7 @@ extension BLEService: CBPeripheralManagerDelegate {
                 
                 self.notifyPeerDisconnectedDebounced(peerID)
                 // Publish snapshots so UnifiedPeerService can refresh icons promptly
-                self.publishFullPeerData()
+                self.requestPeerDataPublish()
                 self.delegate?.didUpdatePeerList(currentPeerIDs)
             }
         }

bitchat/Services/MessageRouter.swift

@@ -89,10 +89,19 @@ final class MessageRouter {
 
     // MARK: - Outbox Management
     private func canSendViaNostr(peerID: String) -> Bool {
-        guard let noiseKey = Data(hexString: peerID) else { return false }
-        if let fav = FavoritesPersistenceService.shared.getFavoriteStatus(for: noiseKey),
-           fav.peerNostrPublicKey != nil {
-            return true
+        // Two forms are supported:
+        // - 64-hex Noise public key (32 bytes)
+        // - 16-hex short peer ID (derived from Noise pubkey)
+        if peerID.count == 64, let noiseKey = Data(hexString: peerID) {
+            if let fav = FavoritesPersistenceService.shared.getFavoriteStatus(for: noiseKey),
+               fav.peerNostrPublicKey != nil {
+                return true
+            }
+        } else if peerID.count == 16 {
+            if let fav = FavoritesPersistenceService.shared.getFavoriteStatus(forPeerID: peerID),
+               fav.peerNostrPublicKey != nil {
+                return true
+            }
         }
         return false
     }
@@ -101,6 +110,7 @@ final class MessageRouter {
         guard let queued = outbox[peerID], !queued.isEmpty else { return }
         SecureLogger.log("Flushing outbox for \(peerID.prefix(8))… count=\(queued.count)",
                         category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
+        var remaining: [(content: String, nickname: String, messageID: String)] = []
         // Prefer mesh if connected; else try Nostr if mapping exists
         for (content, nickname, messageID) in queued {
             if mesh.isPeerReachable(peerID) {
@@ -112,14 +122,19 @@ final class MessageRouter {
                                 category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
                 nostr.sendPrivateMessage(content, to: peerID, recipientNickname: nickname, messageID: messageID)
             } else {
-                continue
+                // Keep unsent items queued
+                remaining.append((content, nickname, messageID))
             }
         }
-        // Remove all flushed items (remaining ones, if any, will be re-queued on next call)
-        outbox[peerID]?.removeAll()
+        // Persist only items we could not send
+        if remaining.isEmpty {
+            outbox.removeValue(forKey: peerID)
+        } else {
+            outbox[peerID] = remaining
+        }
     }
 
     func flushAllOutbox() {
-        for key in outbox.keys { flushOutbox(for: key) }
+        for key in Array(outbox.keys) { flushOutbox(for: key) }
     }
 }

bitchat/Services/PowPolicy.swift

@@ -1,17 +0,0 @@
-import Foundation
-
-/// Simple default policy for NIP-13 difficulty on geohash chats.
-/// Progressive by geohash precision; adjustable later by live activity.
-enum PowPolicy {
-    /// Determine target bits for a given geohash string.
-    /// Clamped to a sane range to keep UX responsive on phones.
-    static func requiredBits(forGeohash geohash: String) -> Int {
-        let precision = geohash.count
-        // Start at 13 and go down with higher precision (smaller areas)
-        switch precision {
-        case ...5: return 16
-        case 6:    return 15
-        default:   return 14
-        }
-    }
-}

bitchat/Services/UnifiedPeerService.swift

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class UnifiedPeerService: ObservableObject, TransportPeerEventsDelegate {
     private var peerIndex: [String: BitchatPeer] = [:]
     private var fingerprintCache: [String: String] = [:]  // peerID -> fingerprint
     private let meshService: Transport
+    weak var messageRouter: MessageRouter?
     private let favoritesService = FavoritesPersistenceService.shared
     private var cancellables = Set<AnyCancellable>()
     
@@ -330,8 +331,13 @@ class UnifiedPeerService: ObservableObject, TransportPeerEventsDelegate {
         SecureLogger.log("⭐️ Toggled favorite for '\(finalNickname)' (peerID: \(peerID), was: \(wasFavorite), now: \(!wasFavorite))",
                        category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
         
-        // Send favorite notification to the peer
-        meshService.sendFavoriteNotification(to: peerID, isFavorite: !wasFavorite)
+        // Send favorite notification to the peer via router (mesh or Nostr)
+        if let router = messageRouter {
+            router.sendFavoriteNotification(to: peerID, isFavorite: !wasFavorite)
+        } else {
+            // Fallback to mesh-only if router not yet wired
+            meshService.sendFavoriteNotification(to: peerID, isFavorite: !wasFavorite)
+        }
         
         // Force update of peers to reflect the change
         updatePeers()

bitchat/Utils/MessageDeduplicator.swift

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ final class MessageDeduplicator {
     }
 
     private var entries: [Entry] = []
+    private var head: Int = 0
     private var lookup = Set<String>()
     private let lock = NSLock()
     private let maxAge: TimeInterval = TransportConfig.messageDedupMaxAgeSeconds  // 5 minutes
@@ -28,10 +29,18 @@ final class MessageDeduplicator {
         entries.append(Entry(messageID: messageID, timestamp: Date()))
         lookup.insert(messageID)
 
-        if entries.count > maxCount {
-            let toRemove = entries.prefix(100)
-            toRemove.forEach { lookup.remove($0.messageID) }
-            entries.removeFirst(100)
+        // Soft-cap and advance head by a chunk to avoid O(n) shifting
+        if (entries.count - head) > maxCount {
+            let removeCount = min(100, entries.count - head)
+            for i in head..<(head + removeCount) {
+                lookup.remove(entries[i].messageID)
+            }
+            head += removeCount
+            // Periodically compact to reclaim memory
+            if head > entries.count / 2 {
+                entries.removeFirst(head)
+                head = 0
+            }
         }
 
         return false
@@ -61,6 +70,7 @@ final class MessageDeduplicator {
         defer { lock.unlock() }
 
         entries.removeAll()
+        head = 0
         lookup.removeAll()
     }
 
@@ -78,9 +88,13 @@ final class MessageDeduplicator {
 
     private func cleanupOldEntries() {
         let cutoff = Date().addingTimeInterval(-maxAge)
-        while let first = entries.first, first.timestamp < cutoff {
-            lookup.remove(first.messageID)
-            entries.removeFirst()
+        while head < entries.count, entries[head].timestamp < cutoff {
+            lookup.remove(entries[head].messageID)
+            head += 1
+        }
+        if head > 0 && head > entries.count / 2 {
+            entries.removeFirst(head)
+            head = 0
         }
     }
 }

bitchat/Utils/SecureLogger.swift

@@ -140,11 +140,11 @@ class SecureLogger {
     }
     
     /// Log general messages with automatic sensitive data filtering
-    static func log(_ message: String, category: OSLog = noise, level: LogLevel = .debug,
+    static func log(_ message: @autoclosure () -> String, category: OSLog = noise, level: LogLevel = .debug,
                     file: String = #file, line: Int = #line, function: String = #function) {
         guard shouldLog(level) else { return }
         let location = formatLocation(file: file, line: line, function: function)
-        let sanitized = sanitize("\(location) \(message)")
+        let sanitized = sanitize("\(location) \(message())")
         
         #if DEBUG
         os_log("%{public}@", log: category, type: level.osLogType, sanitized)
@@ -157,10 +157,10 @@ class SecureLogger {
     }
     
     /// Log errors with context
-    static func logError(_ error: Error, context: String, category: OSLog = noise,
+    static func logError(_ error: Error, context: @autoclosure () -> String, category: OSLog = noise,
                         file: String = #file, line: Int = #line, function: String = #function) {
         let location = formatLocation(file: file, line: line, function: function)
-        let sanitized = sanitize(context)
+        let sanitized = sanitize(context())
         let errorDesc = sanitize(error.localizedDescription)
         
         #if DEBUG

bitchat/ViewModels/ChatViewModel.swift

@@ -492,6 +492,8 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
         self.messageRouter = MessageRouter(mesh: meshService, nostr: nostrTransport)
         // Route receipts from PrivateChatManager through MessageRouter
         self.privateChatManager.messageRouter = self.messageRouter
+        // Allow UnifiedPeerService to route favorite notifications via mesh/Nostr
+        self.unifiedPeerService.messageRouter = self.messageRouter
         self.autocompleteService = AutocompleteService()
         
         // Wire up dependencies
@@ -796,17 +798,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             guard event.kind == NostrProtocol.EventKind.ephemeralEvent.rawValue else { return }
             if self.processedNostrEvents.contains(event.id) { return }
             self.processedNostrEvents.insert(event.id)
-            // PoW filter: require local difficulty for this geohash
-            let ghFromTag: String? = event.tags.first(where: { $0.first?.lowercased() == "g" && $0.count >= 2 })?.dropFirst().first
-            let ghValue = ghFromTag ?? ch.geohash
-            if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                let required = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: ghValue)
-                if powBits < required {
-                    // Drop low PoW event
-                    return
-                }
-            }
             if let gh = self.currentGeohash,
                let myGeoIdentity = try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: gh),
                myGeoIdentity.publicKeyHex.lowercased() == event.pubkey.lowercased() {
@@ -824,11 +815,8 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             let key8 = "nostr:" + String(event.pubkey.prefix(TransportConfig.nostrShortKeyDisplayLength))
             self.nostrKeyMapping[key8] = event.pubkey
 
-            // Update participants last-seen for this pubkey with observed PoW bits
-            if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey, geohash: ch.geohash, powBits: powBits)
-            }
+            // Update participants last-seen for this pubkey
+            self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey)
             
             // Track teleported tag (only our format ["t","teleport"]) for icon state
             let hasTeleportTag = event.tags.contains(where: { tag in
@@ -1334,11 +1322,7 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 isPrivate: false,
                 recipientNickname: nil,
                 senderPeerID: localSenderPeerID,
-                mentions: mentions.isEmpty ? nil : mentions,
-                deliveryStatus: nil,
-                isMiningPow: {
-                    if case .location(_) = activeChannel { return true } else { return nil }
-                }()
+                mentions: mentions.isEmpty ? nil : mentions
             )
             
             // Add to main messages immediately for user feedback
@@ -1371,42 +1355,17 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             }
             
             if case .location(let ch) = activeChannel {
-                // Send to geohash channel via Nostr ephemeral with PoW
-                let msgID = message.id
-                let contentToSend = trimmed
-                Task {@MainActor in
+                // Send to geohash channel via Nostr ephemeral
+                Task { @MainActor in
                     do {
                         let identity = try NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: ch.geohash)
-                        let createdAt = Int(message.timestamp.timeIntervalSince1970)
-                        var baseTags = [["g", ch.geohash]]
-                        if !self.nickname.isEmpty { baseTags.append(["n", self.nickname]) }
-                        if LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported { baseTags.append(["t", "teleport"]) }
-                        let bits = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: ch.geohash)
-                        // Mine off the main thread
-                        let (nonce, _) = await withCheckedContinuation { (cont: CheckedContinuation<(UInt64, String), Never>) in
-                            DispatchQueue.global(qos: .utility).async {
-                                let res = NostrPoW.mine(pubkey: identity.publicKeyHex,
-                                                        createdAt: createdAt,
-                                                        kind: NostrProtocol.EventKind.ephemeralEvent.rawValue,
-                                                        baseTags: baseTags,
-                                                        content: contentToSend,
-                                                        targetBits: bits)
-                                cont.resume(returning: (res.nonce, res.idHex))
-                            }
-                        }
-                        // Build final event with nonce tag and sign
-                        var tags = baseTags
-                        tags.append(["nonce", String(nonce), String(bits)])
-                        var event = NostrEvent(
-                            pubkey: identity.publicKeyHex,
-                            createdAt: message.timestamp,
-                            kind: .ephemeralEvent,
-                            tags: tags,
-                            content: contentToSend
+                        let event = try NostrProtocol.createEphemeralGeohashEvent(
+                            content: trimmed,
+                            geohash: ch.geohash,
+                            senderIdentity: identity,
+                            nickname: self.nickname,
+                            teleported: LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported
                         )
-                        let schnorrKey = try identity.schnorrSigningKey()
-                        event = try event.sign(with: schnorrKey)
-
                         let targetRelays = GeoRelayDirectory.shared.closestRelays(
                             toGeohash: ch.geohash,
                             count: TransportConfig.nostrGeoRelayCount
@@ -1416,22 +1375,12 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                         } else {
                             NostrRelayManager.shared.sendEvent(event, to: targetRelays)
                         }
-                        // Track ourselves as active participant with PoW record
-                        if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                            let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                            self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: identity.publicKeyHex, geohash: ch.geohash, powBits: powBits)
-                        } else {
-                            self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: identity.publicKeyHex)
-                        }
-                        SecureLogger.log("Geo: sent geo event id=\(event.id.prefix(12))… bits=\(bits) nonce=\(String(nonce))", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
-                        // Reveal timestamp / stop animation
-                        if let idx = self.messages.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == msgID }) {
-                            self.messages[idx].isMiningPow = false
-                            self.messages[idx].clearCachedFormattedText()
-                            // Trigger UI refresh so timestamp appears
-                            self.objectWillChange.send()
-                        }
-                        // If teleported and outside regional set, mark self teleported
+                        // Track ourselves as active participant
+                        self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: identity.publicKeyHex)
+                        SecureLogger.log("GeoTeleport: sent geo message pub=\(identity.publicKeyHex.prefix(8))… teleported=\(LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported)",
+                                        category: SecureLogger.session, level: .debug)
+                        // If we tagged this as teleported, also mark our pubkey in teleportedGeo for UI
+                        // Only when not in our regional set (and regional list is known)
                         let hasRegional = !LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.isEmpty
                         let inRegional = LocationChannelManager.shared.availableChannels.contains { $0.geohash == ch.geohash }
                         if LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported && hasRegional && !inRegional {
@@ -1443,11 +1392,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                     } catch {
                         SecureLogger.log("❌ Failed to send geohash message: \(error)", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .error)
                         self.addSystemMessage("failed to send to location channel")
-                        if let idx = self.messages.firstIndex(where: { $0.id == msgID }) {
-                            self.messages[idx].isMiningPow = false
-                            self.messages[idx].clearCachedFormattedText()
-                            self.objectWillChange.send()
-                        }
                     }
                 }
             } else {
@@ -1549,16 +1493,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             // Deduplicate
             if self.processedNostrEvents.contains(event.id) { return }
             self.recordProcessedEvent(event.id)
-            // PoW filter for geohash events
-            let ghFromTag: String? = event.tags.first(where: { $0.first?.lowercased() == "g" && $0.count >= 2 })?.dropFirst().first
-            let ghValue = ghFromTag ?? ch.geohash
-            if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                let required = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: ghValue)
-                if powBits < required {
-                    return
-                }
-            }
             // Log incoming tags for diagnostics
             let tagSummary = event.tags.map { "[" + $0.joined(separator: ",") + "]" }.joined(separator: ",")
             SecureLogger.log("GeoTeleport: recv pub=\(event.pubkey.prefix(8))… tags=\(tagSummary)",
@@ -1605,11 +1539,8 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             self.nostrKeyMapping[key16] = event.pubkey
             let key8 = "nostr:" + String(event.pubkey.prefix(TransportConfig.nostrShortKeyDisplayLength))
             self.nostrKeyMapping[key8] = event.pubkey
-            // Update participants last-seen for this pubkey with observed PoW bits
-            if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey, geohash: ch.geohash, powBits: powBits)
-            }
+            // Update participants last-seen for this pubkey
+            self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey)
             
             let senderName = self.displayNameForNostrPubkey(event.pubkey)
             let content = event.content
@@ -1794,24 +1725,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
         }
     }
 
-    // Track last observed PoW bits per participant per geohash
-    private var geoParticipantPowBits: [String: [String: Int]] = [:] // geohash -> (pubkeyLower -> bits)
-
-    private func recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: String, geohash: String, powBits: Int?) {
-        let key = pubkeyHex.lowercased()
-        var map = geoParticipants[geohash] ?? [:]
-        map[key] = Date()
-        geoParticipants[geohash] = map
-        if let bits = powBits {
-            var powMap = geoParticipantPowBits[geohash] ?? [:]
-            powMap[key] = bits
-            geoParticipantPowBits[geohash] = powMap
-        }
-        if currentGeohash == geohash {
-            refreshGeohashPeople()
-        }
-    }
-
     private func refreshGeohashPeople() {
         guard let gh = currentGeohash else { geohashPeople = []; return }
         let cutoff = Date().addingTimeInterval(-TransportConfig.uiRecentCutoffFiveMinutesSeconds)
@@ -1820,17 +1733,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
         map = map.filter { $0.value >= cutoff }
         // Remove blocked Nostr pubkeys
         map = map.filter { !SecureIdentityStateManager.shared.isNostrBlocked(pubkeyHexLowercased: $0.key) }
-        // Enforce PoW threshold for peer list as well
-        let required = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: gh)
-        let myHex: String? = (try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: gh))?.publicKeyHex.lowercased()
-        let powMap = geoParticipantPowBits[gh] ?? [:]
-        map = map.filter { (pub, _) in
-            if let bits = powMap[pub] { return bits >= required }
-            // Always allow self even if no PoW record yet
-            if let me = myHex, pub == me { return true }
-            // Otherwise, if no PoW info, hide until we see an acceptable event
-            return false
-        }
         geoParticipants[gh] = map
         // Build display list
         let people = map
@@ -1861,17 +1763,9 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     func visibleGeohashPeople() -> [GeoPerson] {
         guard let gh = currentGeohash else { return [] }
         let cutoff = Date().addingTimeInterval(-TransportConfig.uiRecentCutoffFiveMinutesSeconds)
-        let required = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: gh)
-        let myHex: String? = (try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: gh))?.publicKeyHex.lowercased()
-        let powMap = geoParticipantPowBits[gh] ?? [:]
         let map = (geoParticipants[gh] ?? [:])
             .filter { $0.value >= cutoff }
             .filter { !SecureIdentityStateManager.shared.isNostrBlocked(pubkeyHexLowercased: $0.key) }
-            .filter { (pub, _) in
-                if let bits = powMap[pub] { return bits >= required }
-                if let me = myHex, pub == me { return true }
-                return false
-            }
         let people = map
             .map { (pub, seen) in GeoPerson(id: pub, displayName: displayNameForNostrPubkey(pub), lastSeen: seen) }
             .sorted { $0.lastSeen > $1.lastSeen }
@@ -1973,12 +1867,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             NostrRelayManager.shared.subscribe(filter: filter, id: subID, relayUrls: subRelays) { [weak self] event in
                 guard let self = self else { return }
                 guard event.kind == NostrProtocol.EventKind.ephemeralEvent.rawValue else { return }
-                // Enforce PoW for sampled geohashes too
-                if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                    let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                    let required = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: gh)
-                    if powBits < required { return }
-                }
                 // Compute current participant count (5-minute window) BEFORE updating with this event
                 let cutoff = Date().addingTimeInterval(-TransportConfig.uiRecentCutoffFiveMinutesSeconds)
                 let existingCount: Int = {
@@ -1986,12 +1874,7 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                     return map.values.filter { $0 >= cutoff }.count
                 }()
                 // Update participants for this specific geohash
-                if let idData = Data(hexString: event.id) {
-                    let powBits = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData)
-                    self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey, geohash: gh, powBits: powBits)
-                } else {
-                    self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey, geohash: gh)
-                }
+                self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: event.pubkey, geohash: gh)
                 // Notify only on rising-edge: previously zero people, now someone sends a chat
                 let content = event.content.trimmingCharacters(in: .whitespacesAndNewlines)
                 guard !content.isEmpty else { return }
@@ -2786,7 +2669,27 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
                 meshService.sendMessage(screenshotMessage, mentions: [])
             case .location(let ch):
                 Task { @MainActor in
-                    await mineAndSendGeohashEvent(content: screenshotMessage, geohash: ch.geohash, nickname: self.nickname, teleported: LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported, createdAt: Date())
+                    do {
+                        let identity = try NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: ch.geohash)
+                        let event = try NostrProtocol.createEphemeralGeohashEvent(
+                            content: screenshotMessage,
+                            geohash: ch.geohash,
+                            senderIdentity: identity,
+                            nickname: self.nickname,
+                            teleported: LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported
+                        )
+                        let targetRelays = GeoRelayDirectory.shared.closestRelays(toGeohash: ch.geohash, count: 5)
+                        if targetRelays.isEmpty {
+                            SecureLogger.log("Geo: no geohash relays available for \(ch.geohash); not sending", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .warning)
+                        } else {
+                            NostrRelayManager.shared.sendEvent(event, to: targetRelays)
+                        }
+                        // Track ourselves as active participant
+                        self.recordGeoParticipant(pubkeyHex: identity.publicKeyHex)
+                    } catch {
+                        SecureLogger.log("❌ Failed to send geohash screenshot message: \(error)", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .error)
+                        self.addSystemMessage("failed to send to location channel")
+                    }
                 }
             }
             
@@ -3236,59 +3139,6 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
         
         return processedContent
     }
-
-    // MARK: - Helpers for mining UI
-    @MainActor
-    func isSelfMessage(_ message: BitchatMessage) -> Bool {
-        let isSelf: Bool = {
-            if let spid = message.senderPeerID {
-                if spid == meshService.myPeerID { return true }
-                if case .location(let ch) = activeChannel,
-                   let id = try? NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: ch.geohash) {
-                    if spid.hasPrefix("nostr:") || spid.hasPrefix("nostr_") {
-                        let bare: String = spid.hasPrefix("nostr:") ? String(spid.dropFirst(6)) : String(spid.dropFirst(6))
-                        return bare.lowercased().hasPrefix(id.publicKeyHex.lowercased().prefix(TransportConfig.nostrShortKeyDisplayLength))
-                    }
-                }
-                return spid == meshService.myPeerID
-            }
-            if message.sender == nickname { return true }
-            if message.sender.hasPrefix(nickname + "#") { return true }
-            return false
-        }()
-        return isSelf
-    }
-
-    @MainActor
-    func baseColorForMessage(_ message: BitchatMessage, colorScheme: ColorScheme) -> Color {
-        let isDark = colorScheme == .dark
-        return isSelfMessage(message) ? .orange : peerColor(for: message, isDark: isDark)
-    }
-
-    @MainActor
-    func formatSenderPrefix(_ message: BitchatMessage, colorScheme: ColorScheme) -> AttributedString {
-        let isSelf = isSelfMessage(message)
-        let isDark = colorScheme == .dark
-        let baseColor: Color = isSelf ? .orange : peerColor(for: message, isDark: isDark)
-        let (baseName, suffix) = splitSuffix(from: message.sender)
-        var senderStyle = AttributeContainer()
-        senderStyle.foregroundColor = baseColor
-        let fontWeight: Font.Weight = isSelf ? .bold : .medium
-        senderStyle.font = .system(size: 14, weight: fontWeight, design: .monospaced)
-        if let spid = message.senderPeerID, let url = URL(string: "bitchat://user/\(spid.addingPercentEncoding(withAllowedCharacters: .urlPathAllowed) ?? spid)") {
-            senderStyle.link = url
-        }
-        var prefix = AttributedString()
-        prefix.append(AttributedString("<@").mergingAttributes(senderStyle))
-        prefix.append(AttributedString(baseName).mergingAttributes(senderStyle))
-        if !suffix.isEmpty {
-            var suffixStyle = senderStyle
-            suffixStyle.foregroundColor = baseColor.opacity(0.6)
-            prefix.append(AttributedString(suffix).mergingAttributes(suffixStyle))
-        }
-        prefix.append(AttributedString("> ").mergingAttributes(senderStyle))
-        return prefix
-    }
     
     @MainActor
     func formatMessageAsText(_ message: BitchatMessage, colorScheme: ColorScheme) -> AttributedString {
@@ -3595,15 +3445,12 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
             }
             }
             
-            // Add timestamp at the end (hide while PoW mining)
-            let hideTimestamp = (message.isMiningPow ?? false)
-            if !hideTimestamp {
-                let timestamp = AttributedString(" [\(formatTimestamp(message.timestamp))]")
-                var timestampStyle = AttributeContainer()
-                timestampStyle.foregroundColor = Color.gray.opacity(0.7)
-                timestampStyle.font = .system(size: 10, design: .monospaced)
-                result.append(timestamp.mergingAttributes(timestampStyle))
-            }
+            // Add timestamp at the end (smaller, light grey)
+            let timestamp = AttributedString(" [\(formatTimestamp(message.timestamp))]")
+            var timestampStyle = AttributeContainer()
+            timestampStyle.foregroundColor = Color.gray.opacity(0.7)
+            timestampStyle.font = .system(size: 10, design: .monospaced)
+            result.append(timestamp.mergingAttributes(timestampStyle))
         } else {
             // System message
             var contentStyle = AttributeContainer()
@@ -5038,56 +4885,30 @@ class ChatViewModel: ObservableObject, BitchatDelegate {
     func sendPublicRaw(_ content: String) {
         if case .location(let ch) = activeChannel {
             Task { @MainActor in
-                await mineAndSendGeohashEvent(content: content, geohash: ch.geohash, nickname: self.nickname, teleported: LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported, createdAt: Date())
+                do {
+                    let identity = try NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: ch.geohash)
+                    let event = try NostrProtocol.createEphemeralGeohashEvent(
+                        content: content,
+                        geohash: ch.geohash,
+                        senderIdentity: identity,
+                        nickname: self.nickname,
+                        teleported: LocationChannelManager.shared.teleported
+                    )
+                    let targetRelays = GeoRelayDirectory.shared.closestRelays(toGeohash: ch.geohash, count: 5)
+                    if targetRelays.isEmpty {
+                        NostrRelayManager.shared.sendEvent(event)
+                    } else {
+                        NostrRelayManager.shared.sendEvent(event, to: targetRelays)
+                    }
+                } catch {
+                    SecureLogger.log("❌ Failed to send geohash raw message: \(error)", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .error)
+                }
             }
             return
         }
         // Default: send over mesh
         meshService.sendMessage(content, mentions: [])
     }
-
-    // MARK: - Geohash PoW helper for system/raw messages
-    @MainActor
-    private func mineAndSendGeohashEvent(content: String, geohash: String, nickname: String, teleported: Bool, createdAt: Date) async {
-        do {
-            let identity = try NostrIdentityBridge.deriveIdentity(forGeohash: geohash)
-            let createdAtSecs = Int(createdAt.timeIntervalSince1970)
-            var baseTags = [["g", geohash]]
-            if !nickname.isEmpty { baseTags.append(["n", nickname]) }
-            if teleported { baseTags.append(["t", "teleport"]) }
-            let bits = PowPolicy.requiredBits(forGeohash: geohash)
-            let (nonce, _) = await withCheckedContinuation { (cont: CheckedContinuation<(UInt64, String), Never>) in
-                DispatchQueue.global(qos: .utility).async {
-                    let res = NostrPoW.mine(pubkey: identity.publicKeyHex,
-                                            createdAt: createdAtSecs,
-                                            kind: NostrProtocol.EventKind.ephemeralEvent.rawValue,
-                                            baseTags: baseTags,
-                                            content: content,
-                                            targetBits: bits)
-                    cont.resume(returning: (res.nonce, res.idHex))
-                }
-            }
-            var tags = baseTags
-            tags.append(["nonce", String(nonce), String(bits)])
-            var event = NostrEvent(
-                pubkey: identity.publicKeyHex,
-                createdAt: createdAt,
-                kind: .ephemeralEvent,
-                tags: tags,
-                content: content
-            )
-            let key = try identity.schnorrSigningKey()
-            event = try event.sign(with: key)
-            let relays = GeoRelayDirectory.shared.closestRelays(toGeohash: geohash, count: TransportConfig.nostrGeoRelayCount)
-            if relays.isEmpty {
-                NostrRelayManager.shared.sendEvent(event)
-            } else {
-                NostrRelayManager.shared.sendEvent(event, to: relays)
-            }
-        } catch {
-            SecureLogger.log("❌ GeoPoW: failed to send event: \(error)", category: SecureLogger.session, level: .error)
-        }
-    }
     
     // MARK: - Simplified Nostr Integration (Inlined from MessageRouter)
     

bitchat/Views/ContentView.swift

@@ -303,21 +303,10 @@ struct ContentView: View {
                                     HStack(alignment: .top, spacing: 0) {
                                         let isLong = (message.content.count > TransportConfig.uiLongMessageLengthThreshold || message.content.hasVeryLongToken(threshold: TransportConfig.uiVeryLongTokenThreshold)) && cashuTokens.isEmpty
                                         let isExpanded = expandedMessageIDs.contains(message.id)
-                                        let formatted = viewModel.formatMessageAsText(message, colorScheme: colorScheme)
-                                        let prefixAttr = viewModel.formatSenderPrefix(message, colorScheme: colorScheme)
-                                        let baseColor = viewModel.baseColorForMessage(message, colorScheme: colorScheme)
-                                        let isSelfMsg = viewModel.isSelfMessage(message)
-                                        if (message.isMiningPow ?? false) {
-                                            // Single Text combines prefix + animated body, so wrapping matches final layout
-                                            CombinedMiningText(prefix: prefixAttr, original: message.content, color: baseColor, isSelf: isSelfMsg)
+                                        Text(viewModel.formatMessageAsText(message, colorScheme: colorScheme))
+                                            .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
                                             .lineLimit(isLong && !isExpanded ? TransportConfig.uiLongMessageLineLimit : nil)
                                             .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
-                                        } else {
-                                            Text(formatted)
-                                                .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
-                                                .lineLimit(isLong && !isExpanded ? TransportConfig.uiLongMessageLineLimit : nil)
-                                                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity, alignment: .leading)
-                                        }
                                         
                                         // Delivery status indicator for private messages
                                         if message.isPrivate && message.sender == viewModel.nickname,
@@ -1398,53 +1387,6 @@ struct ContentView: View {
     
 }
 
-// MARK: - Mining UI helpers (local to ensure inclusion in target)
-fileprivate struct CombinedMiningText: View {
-    let prefix: AttributedString
-    let original: String
-    let color: Color
-    let isSelf: Bool
-    let fontSize: CGFloat = 14
-    let interval: TimeInterval = 0.06
-    @State private var display: String = ""
-    @State private var timer: Timer? = nil
-
-    private let charset: [Character] = Array("abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789@#$%&*+-")
-
-    var body: some View {
-        Text(combinedAttributed)
-            .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
-            .onAppear {
-                display = scramble(original)
-                timer?.invalidate()
-                timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: interval, repeats: true) { _ in
-                    display = scramble(original)
-                }
-            }
-            .onDisappear { timer?.invalidate(); timer = nil }
-    }
-
-    private var combinedAttributed: AttributedString {
-        var res = AttributedString()
-        res.append(prefix)
-        var style = AttributeContainer()
-        style.foregroundColor = color
-        style.font = .system(size: fontSize, weight: isSelf ? .bold : .regular, design: .monospaced)
-        res.append(AttributedString(display).mergingAttributes(style))
-        return res
-    }
-
-    private func scramble(_ s: String) -> String {
-        var out = String()
-        out.reserveCapacity(s.count)
-        for ch in s {
-            if ch.isWhitespace || ch.isNewline { out.append(ch); continue }
-            out.append(charset.randomElement() ?? ch)
-        }
-        return out
-    }
-}
-
 // MARK: - Helper Views
 
 // Rounded payment chip button

bitchat/Views/MiningAnimation.swift

@@ -1,87 +0,0 @@
-import SwiftUI
-
-/// Mining body animation: scramble characters (matrix-like) until PoW completes.
-struct MiningScrambleText: View {
-    let original: String
-    let color: Color
-    let isSelf: Bool
-    let fontSize: CGFloat = 14
-    let interval: TimeInterval = 0.06
-    @State private var display: String = ""
-    @State private var timer: Timer? = nil
-
-    private let charset: [Character] = Array("abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789@#$%&*+-")
-
-    var body: some View {
-        Text(display)
-            .font(.system(size: fontSize, weight: isSelf ? .bold : .regular, design: .monospaced))
-            .foregroundColor(color)
-            .onAppear {
-                display = scramble(original)
-                timer?.invalidate()
-                timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: interval, repeats: true) { _ in
-                    display = scramble(original)
-                }
-            }
-            .onDisappear {
-                timer?.invalidate(); timer = nil
-            }
-}
-
-/// Combined prefix+body single-Text variant to ensure identical wrapping
-struct MiningCombinedText: View {
-    let prefix: AttributedString
-    let original: String
-    let color: Color
-    let isSelf: Bool
-    let fontSize: CGFloat = 14
-    let interval: TimeInterval = 0.06
-    @State private var display: String = ""
-    @State private var timer: Timer? = nil
-
-    private let charset: [Character] = Array("abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz0123456789@#$%&*+-")
-
-    var body: some View {
-        Text(combinedAttributed)
-            .fixedSize(horizontal: false, vertical: true)
-            .onAppear {
-                display = scramble(original)
-                timer?.invalidate()
-                timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: interval, repeats: true) { _ in
-                    display = scramble(original)
-                }
-            }
-            .onDisappear { timer?.invalidate(); timer = nil }
-    }
-
-    private var combinedAttributed: AttributedString {
-        var res = AttributedString()
-        res.append(prefix)
-        var style = AttributeContainer()
-        style.foregroundColor = color
-        style.font = .system(size: fontSize, weight: isSelf ? .bold : .regular, design: .monospaced)
-        res.append(AttributedString(display).mergingAttributes(style))
-        return res
-    }
-
-    private func scramble(_ s: String) -> String {
-        var out = String()
-        out.reserveCapacity(s.count)
-        for ch in s {
-            if ch.isWhitespace || ch.isNewline { out.append(ch); continue }
-            out.append(charset.randomElement() ?? ch)
-        }
-        return out
-    }
-}
-
-    private func scramble(_ s: String) -> String {
-        var out = String()
-        out.reserveCapacity(s.count)
-        for ch in s {
-            if ch.isWhitespace || ch.isNewline { out.append(ch); continue }
-            out.append(charset.randomElement() ?? ch)
-        }
-        return out
-    }
-}

bitchatTests/Info.plist

@@ -2,17 +2,17 @@
 <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
 <plist version="1.0">
 <dict>
-	<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
-	<string>$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER)</string>
-	<key>CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion</key>
-	<string>6.0</string>
-	<key>CFBundleName</key>
-	<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME)</string>
-	<key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
-	<string>$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_PACKAGE_TYPE)</string>
-	<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
-	<string>1.0</string>
-	<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
-	<string>1</string>
+    <key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
+    <string>$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_IDENTIFIER)</string>
+    <key>CFBundleInfoDictionaryVersion</key>
+    <string>6.0</string>
+    <key>CFBundleName</key>
+    <string>$(PRODUCT_NAME)</string>
+    <key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
+    <string>$(PRODUCT_BUNDLE_PACKAGE_TYPE)</string>
+    <key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
+    <string>1.0</string>
+    <key>CFBundleVersion</key>
+    <string>1</string>
 </dict>
-</plist>
+</plist>

bitchatTests/NostrPoWTests.swift

@@ -1,32 +0,0 @@
-import XCTest
-import CryptoKit
-@testable import bitchat
-
-final class NostrPoWTests: XCTestCase {
-    func testLeadingZeroBits() {
-        // 0x00 -> 8, 0x00 -> 8, 0xF0 -> 0 leading zeros
-        let data = Data([0x00, 0x00, 0xF0]) + Data(repeating: 0x00, count: 29)
-        let lz = NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(data)
-        XCTAssertEqual(lz, 16)
-    }
-
-    func testMineLowDifficulty() {
-        let pubkey = String(repeating: "a", count: 64)
-        let createdAt = Int(Date().timeIntervalSince1970)
-        let kind = 20000
-        let tags = [["g", "u4pruydqqvj"]]
-        let content = "hello"
-        let targetBits = 8 // keep it very low for test speed
-        let (nonce, idHex) = NostrPoW.mine(pubkey: pubkey, createdAt: createdAt, kind: kind, baseTags: tags, content: content, targetBits: targetBits)
-        XCTAssertGreaterThan(nonce, 0)
-        // Verify difficulty
-        let powTags = tags + [["nonce", String(nonce), String(targetBits)]]
-        // Recompute ID
-        let serialized: [Any] = [0, pubkey, createdAt, kind, powTags, content]
-        let json = try! JSONSerialization.data(withJSONObject: serialized, options: [.withoutEscapingSlashes])
-        let digest = CryptoKit.SHA256.hash(data: json)
-        let idData = Data(digest)
-        XCTAssertEqual(idHex.count, 64)
-        XCTAssertGreaterThanOrEqual(NostrPoW.leadingZeroBits(idData), targetBits)
-    }
-}