What is Messaging Layer Security (MLS)?

Making MLS more decentralized

It’s no secret that we at Phoenix R&D are big fans of the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol, having helped it to come into existence. It’s a versatile group key agreement and messaging protocol that’s used to power both asynchronous and real-time applications. MLS is

OpenMLS

An open-source implementation of the Messaging Layer Security (MLS) protocol.

awslabs/mls-rs

An implementation of Messaging Layer Security (RFC 9420)

Investigation into Message Layer Security (MLS)

This article investigates Message Layer Security (MLS), the IETF standard protocol (RFC 9420) for Signal-style end-to-end encryption. Through a practical analysis of OpenMLS (the Rust reference implementation) and a demonstration CLI chat application (mls-chat), the post reveals the substantial gap between protocol specification and production deployment. Introduction MLS (Message Layer …

Decentralized Pairwise MLS — Germ Network

Today, MLS is predominantly used in a centralized context, where a central entity hosts group state. Germ now leverages this powerful technology for decentralized 1:1 conversations, by letting users cooperatively advance group state.

Autonomous Communicator (AC) Protocol — Germ Network

“Hi, I’m Mark, here’s how you can send a message to me.” Our Autonomous Communicator (AC) Protocol empowers people to autonomously define identities which they can exchange with others to form relationships for communicating over end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) messaging channels.

Air

Easy secure messaging.

Secure messaging, anywhere - Briar

Secure messaging, anywhere

XMPP - The universal messaging standard

XMPP is the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol, a set of open technologies for instant messaging, presence, multi-party chat, voice and video calls, collaboration, lightweight middleware, content syndication, and generalized routing of XML data.

MCP and LLM Security Research Briefing | Wiz Blog

Explore the evolving Model Context Protocol (MCP), its security risks, and how to prepare for safe adoption as LLMs connect to external systems.

Better Encrypted Group Chat

Broadly, an end-to-end encrypted messaging protocol is one that ensures that only the participants in a conversation, and no intermediate servers, routers, or relay systems, can read and write messages. An end-to-end encrypted group messaging protocol is one that ensures this for all participants in a conversation of three or more people. End-to-end encrypted group […]

Element | Secure collaboration and messaging

Element is a Matrix-based end-to-end encrypted messenger and secure collaboration app. It’s decentralised for digital sovereign self-hosting, or through a hosting service such as Element Matrix Services. Element operates on the open Matrix network to provide interoperability and easy connections.

The Future of Group Messaging

An analysis of modern messaging, and the evolutionary next steps.

maqp/tfc

Tinfoil Chat - Onion-routed, endpoint secure messaging system

DIDComm: The Future of Secure and Decentralized Communication

How the W3C-Defined DIDComm Protocol is Revolutionizing Digital Messaging