Encryption

Vector's Supported Encryption Methods

Encryption Types

• secp256k1 for key exchange & signing

• XChaCha20-Poly1305 for message encryption

• AES-256-GCM for file encryption

• Argon2id for password protection

• ChaCha20-Poly1305 for local storage encryption

---

Symmetric Encryption

For Message/Data Protection

• XChaCha20-Poly1305: NIP-44 encrypted DMs (the main E2E encryption)

• AES-256-GCM: file/attachment encryption in DMs

• ChaCha20-Poly1305: local database encryption (messages, keys, secrets stored on-device)

---

Asymmetric Cryptography

For Identity & Signing

• secp256k1: Nostr keypair generation + event signing (ECDSA)

---

Key Derivation & Hashing

• Argon2id: password-based key derivation (150MB memory, 10 iterations — very strong)

• SHA-256: file hashing, various protocol operations

• BIP39: 12-word seed phrase generation for account recovery

---

Protocols

• NIP-44: modern encrypted DMs

• NIP-59: gift wrap (hides metadata with ephemeral keys)

• NIP-17: private DM delivery

• MLS Protocol: group messaging encryption (via White Noise/MDK)

---