The ONYX 2.0-beta messenger has transitioned to a fully decentralized architecture, removing the central server entirely. The application now integrates a Tor daemon for all network traffic, including messages and audio calls, ensuring that connections are established directly between devices via onion addresses.
User identity is managed through locally generated cryptographic keys, with account recovery supported by a 12-word seed phrase. Each user profile is stored locally and synchronized across devices using WardLink. Contacts are added via QR codes or onion addresses, and users must accept requests before communication can begin.
The update introduces audio calling functionality, which operates exclusively through the Tor network using an embedded local TURN server. While the system provides a 'View Circuit' feature to monitor connection paths, the lack of a central server means that message delivery depends on the recipient being online, with automatic retries for offline users.
This shift to decentralization resulted in the removal of several features, including support for HTTP/SOCKS5 proxies, link previews, and server-side media cache management. Developers note that the use of Tor introduces inherent latency, and the application is currently in a beta testing phase to identify stability issues.
