diff --git a/js/models/core/Message.js b/js/models/core/Message.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b281eecd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/models/core/Message.js
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var imports = require('soop').imports();
+var bitcore = require('bitcore');
+
+/* Encrypted, authenticated messages to be shared between copayers */
+var Message = function() {
+};
+
+Message.encode = function(topubkey, fromkey, payload) {
+  var version = new Buffer([0]);
+  var toencrypt = Buffer.concat([version, payload]);
+  var encrypted = Message._encrypt(topubkey, toencrypt);
+  var sig = Message._sign(fromkey, encrypted);
+  var encoded = {
+    pubkey: fromkey.public.toString('hex'),
+    sig: sig.toString('hex'),
+    encrypted: encrypted.toString('hex')
+  };
+  return encoded;
+};
+
+Message.decode = function(key, encoded) {
+  try {
+    var frompubkey = new Buffer(encoded.pubkey, 'hex');
+  } catch (e) {
+    throw new Error('Error decoding public key: ' + e);
+  }
+
+  try {
+    var sig = new Buffer(encoded.sig, 'hex');
+    var encrypted = new Buffer(encoded.encrypted, 'hex');
+  } catch (e) {
+    throw new Error('Error decoding data: ' + e);
+  }
+  
+  try {
+    var v = Message._verify(frompubkey, sig, encrypted);
+  } catch (e) {
+    throw new Error('Error verifying signature: ' + e);
+  }
+
+  if (!v)
+    throw new Error('Invalid signature');
+
+  try {
+    var decrypted = Message._decrypt(key.private, encrypted);
+  } catch (e) {
+    throw new Error('Cannot decrypt data: ' + e);
+  }
+
+  if (decrypted[0] !== 0)
+    throw new Error('Invalid version number');
+
+  if (decrypted.length === 0)
+    throw new Error('No data present');
+
+  var payload = decrypted.slice(1);
+  return payload;
+};
+
+Message._encrypt = function(topubkey, payload, r, iv) {
+  var encrypted = bitcore.ECIES.encrypt(topubkey, payload, r, iv);
+  return encrypted;
+};
+
+Message._decrypt = function(privkey, encrypted) {
+  var decrypted = bitcore.ECIES.decrypt(privkey, encrypted);
+  return decrypted;
+};
+
+Message._sign = function(key, payload) {
+  var sig = bitcore.Message.sign(payload, key);
+  return sig;
+};
+
+Message._verify = function(pubkey, signature, payload) {
+  var v = bitcore.Message.verifyWithPubKey(pubkey, payload, signature);
+  return v;
+};
+
+module.exports = require('soop')(Message);
diff --git a/js/models/core/PrivateKey.js b/js/models/core/PrivateKey.js
index ff8b70e79..b1149f28b 100644
--- a/js/models/core/PrivateKey.js
+++ b/js/models/core/PrivateKey.js
@@ -32,9 +32,17 @@ PrivateKey.prototype.getIdPriv = function() {
   return this.idpriv;
 };
 
+PrivateKey.prototype.getIdKey = function() {
+  if (!this.idkey) {
+    this.cacheId();
+  }
+  return this.idkey;
+};
+
 PrivateKey.prototype.cacheId = function() {
   var path = Structure.IdFullBranch;
   var idhk = this.bip.derive(path);
+  this.idkey = idhk.eckey;
   this.id = idhk.eckey.public.toString('hex');
   this.idpriv = idhk.eckey.private.toString('hex');
 };
diff --git a/js/models/core/Wallet.js b/js/models/core/Wallet.js
index 0bfa3dcf4..eb84b1f8c 100644
--- a/js/models/core/Wallet.js
+++ b/js/models/core/Wallet.js
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ Wallet.prototype.netStart = function(callback) {
 
   var myId = self.getMyCopayerId();
   var myIdPriv = self.getMyCopayerIdPriv();
+
   var startOpts = {
     copayerId: myId,
     privkey: myIdPriv,
diff --git a/js/models/core/WalletFactory.js b/js/models/core/WalletFactory.js
index 03d59e2ea..b7ccc60e0 100644
--- a/js/models/core/WalletFactory.js
+++ b/js/models/core/WalletFactory.js
@@ -222,7 +222,8 @@ WalletFactory.prototype.joinCreateSession = function(secret, nickname, passphras
   this.log('\t### PrivateKey Initialized');
   var opts = {
     copayerId: privateKey.getId(),
-    privkey: privateKey.getIdPriv()
+    privkey: privateKey.getIdPriv(),
+    key: privateKey.getIdKey()
   };
   self.network.cleanUp();
   self.network.start(opts, function() {
diff --git a/js/models/network/WebRTC.js b/js/models/network/WebRTC.js
index 98e660a7a..e56134c14 100644
--- a/js/models/network/WebRTC.js
+++ b/js/models/network/WebRTC.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ var EventEmitter = imports.EventEmitter || require('events').EventEmitter;
 var bitcore = require('bitcore');
 var util = bitcore.util;
 var extend = require('util')._extend;
+var Message = require('../core/Message');
 /*
  * Emits
  *  'connect'
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ Network.prototype.cleanUp = function() {
   this.connectedPeers = [];
   this.peerId = null;
   this.privkey = null; //TODO: hide privkey in a closure
+  this.key = null;
   this.copayerId = null;
   this.signingKey = null;
   this.allowedCopayerIds = null;
@@ -151,16 +153,30 @@ Network.prototype._addConnectedCopayer = function(copayerId, isInbound) {
   this.emit('connect', copayerId);
 };
 
+Network.prototype.getKey = function() {
+  if (!this.key) {
+    var key = new bitcore.Key();
+    key.private = new Buffer(this.privkey, 'hex');
+    key.regenerateSync();
+    this.key = key;
+  }
+  return this.key;
+};
+
 Network.prototype._onData = function(enchex, isInbound, peerId) {
   var sig, payload;
   var encUint8Array = new Uint8Array(enchex);
   var encbuf = new Buffer(encUint8Array);
+  var encstr = encbuf.toString();
 
   var privkey = this.privkey;
+  var key = this.getKey();
 
   try {
-    var data = this._decrypt(privkey, encbuf);
-    payload = JSON.parse(data);
+    var encoded = JSON.parse(encstr);
+    var databuf = this._decode(key, encoded);
+    var datastr = databuf.toString();
+    payload = JSON.parse(datastr);
   } catch (e) {
     this._deletePeer(peerId);
     return;
@@ -349,18 +365,19 @@ Network.prototype.getPeer = function() {
   return this.peer;
 };
 
-Network.prototype._encrypt = function(pubkey, payload) {
-  var encrypted = bitcore.ECIES.encrypt(pubkey, payload);
-  return encrypted;
+Network.prototype._encode = function(topubkey, fromkey, payload) {
+  var encoded = Message.encode(topubkey, fromkey, payload);
+  return encoded;
 };
 
 
-Network.prototype._decrypt = function(privkey, encrypted) {
-  var decrypted = bitcore.ECIES.decrypt(privkey, encrypted);
-  return decrypted;
+Network.prototype._decode = function(key, encoded) {
+  var payload = Message.decode(key, encoded);
+  return payload;
 };
 
 Network.prototype._sendToOne = function(copayerId, payload, sig, cb) {
+  console.log('payload: ' + payload);
   var peerId = this.peerFromCopayer(copayerId);
   if (peerId !== this.peerId) {
     var dataConn = this.connections[peerId];
@@ -391,7 +408,7 @@ Network.prototype.send = function(copayerIds, payload, cb) {
   var i = 0;
   copayerIds.forEach(function(copayerId) {
     var copayerIdBuf = new Buffer(copayerId, 'hex');
-    var encPayload = self._encrypt(copayerIdBuf, payloadBuf);
+    var encPayload = self._encode(copayerIdBuf, self.getKey(), payloadBuf);
     self._sendToOne(copayerId, encPayload, sig, function() {
       if (++i === l && typeof cb === 'function') cb();
     });
diff --git a/test/index.html b/test/index.html
index 127df85f3..120a98b2b 100644
--- a/test/index.html
+++ b/test/index.html
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
     <script src="../lib/bitcore/browser/bundle.js"></script> 
     <script src="../js/copayBundle.js"></script>
     <script src="test.blockchain.Insight.js"></script>
+    <script src="test.Message.js"></script>
     <script src="test.network.WebRTC.js"></script>
     <script src="test.PrivateKey.js"></script>
     <script src="test.PublicKeyRing.js"></script>
diff --git a/test/test.Message.js b/test/test.Message.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd71458ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test.Message.js
@@ -0,0 +1,85 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var chai = chai || require('chai');
+var should = chai.should();
+var sinon = require('sinon');
+var Message = require('../js/models/core/Message');
+var bitcore = bitcore || require('bitcore');
+var Buffer = bitcore.Buffer;
+
+describe('Message model', function() {
+  var key = new bitcore.Key();
+  key.private = bitcore.util.sha256(new Buffer('test'));
+  key.regenerateSync();
+
+  var key2 = new bitcore.Key();
+  key2.private = bitcore.util.sha256(new Buffer('test 2'));
+  key2.regenerateSync();
+
+  describe('#encode', function() {
+    
+    it('should encode a message', function() {
+      var message = new Buffer('message');
+      var encoded = Message.encode(key2.public, key, message);
+      should.exist(encoded.pubkey);
+      should.exist(encoded.sig);
+      should.exist(encoded.encrypted);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('#decode', function() {
+    var message = new Buffer('message');
+    var messagehex = message.toString('hex');
+    var encoded = Message.encode(key2.public, key, message);
+    
+    it('should decode an encoded message', function() {
+      var decoded = Message.decode(key2, encoded);
+      decoded.toString('hex').should.equal(messagehex);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('#_encrypt', function() {
+    
+    it('should encrypt data', function() {
+      var payload = new Buffer('payload');
+      var encrypted = Message._encrypt(key.public, payload);
+      encrypted.length.should.equal(129);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('#_decrypt', function() {
+    var payload = new Buffer('payload');
+    var payloadhex = payload.toString('hex');
+    
+    it('should decrypt encrypted data', function() {
+      var encrypted = Message._encrypt(key.public, payload);
+      var decrypted = Message._decrypt(key.private, encrypted);
+      decrypted.toString('hex').should.equal(payloadhex);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('#_sign', function() {
+    
+    it('should sign data', function() {
+      var payload = new Buffer('payload');
+      var sig = Message._sign(key, payload);
+      sig.length.should.be.greaterThan(60);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('#_verify', function() {
+    var payload = new Buffer('payload');
+    var sig = Message._sign(key, payload);
+    
+    it('should verify signed data', function() {
+      Message._verify(key.public, sig, payload).should.equal(true);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+});
diff --git a/test/test.network.WebRTC.js b/test/test.network.WebRTC.js
index d880d006d..8297762bf 100644
--- a/test/test.network.WebRTC.js
+++ b/test/test.network.WebRTC.js
@@ -46,26 +46,28 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
 
   });
 
-  describe('#_encrypt', function() {
+  describe('#_encode', function() {
 
-    it('should encrypt data successfully', function() {
+    it('should encode data successfully', function() {
       var n = new WebRTC();
-      var data = new bitcore.Buffer('my data to encrypt');
+      var data = new bitcore.Buffer('my data to encode');
       var privkeystr = new bitcore.Buffer('test privkey');
       var privkey = bitcore.util.sha256(privkeystr);
       var key = new bitcore.Key();
       key.private = privkey;
       key.regenerateSync();
-      var encrypted = n._encrypt(key.public, data);
-      encrypted.length.should.not.equal(0);
-      encrypted.length.should.equal(145);
+      var encoded = n._encode(key.public, key, data);
+      should.exist(encoded);
+      encoded.sig.length.should.not.equal(0);
+      encoded.pubkey.length.should.not.equal(0);
+      encoded.encrypted.length.should.not.equal(0);
     });
 
   });
 
-  describe('#_decrypt', function() {
+  describe('#_decode', function() {
 
-    it('should decrypt that which was encrypted', function() {
+    it('should decode that which was encoded', function() {
       var n = new WebRTC();
       var data = new bitcore.Buffer('my data to encrypt');
       var privkeystr = new bitcore.Buffer('test privkey');
@@ -73,10 +75,10 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
       var key = new bitcore.Key();
       key.private = privkey;
       key.regenerateSync();
-      var encrypted = n._encrypt(key.public, data);
-      var decrypted = n._decrypt(key.private, encrypted);
-      encrypted.length.should.not.equal(0);
-      decrypted.toString().should.equal('my data to encrypt');
+      var encoded = n._encode(key.public, key, data);
+      var decoded = n._decode(key, encoded);
+      encoded.sig.should.not.equal(0);
+      decoded.toString().should.equal('my data to encrypt');
     });
 
   });
@@ -85,6 +87,7 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
 
     it('should call _sendToOne for a copayer', function(done) {
       var n = new WebRTC();
+      n.privkey = bitcore.util.sha256('test');
 
       var data = new bitcore.Buffer('my data to send');
 
@@ -107,6 +110,7 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
 
     it('should call _sendToOne with encrypted data for a copayer', function(done) {
       var n = new WebRTC();
+      n.privkey = bitcore.util.sha256('test');
 
       var data = new bitcore.Buffer('my data to send');
 
@@ -118,7 +122,7 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
 
       var copayerId = key.public.toString('hex');
       n._sendToOne = function(a1, encPayload, a3, cb) {
-        encPayload.length.should.be.greaterThan(0);
+        encPayload.sig.length.should.be.greaterThan(0);
         cb();
       };
       var sig = undefined;
@@ -130,6 +134,7 @@ describe('Network / WebRTC', function() {
 
     it('should call _sendToOne for a list of copayers', function(done) {
       var n = new WebRTC();
+      n.privkey = bitcore.util.sha256('test');
 
       var data = new bitcore.Buffer('my data to send');
 
diff --git a/util/build.js b/util/build.js
index 2af0ca892..e7cf06fa5 100755
--- a/util/build.js
+++ b/util/build.js
@@ -84,6 +84,9 @@ var createBundle = function(opts) {
   b.require('./js/models/core/Passphrase', {
     expose: '../js/models/core/Passphrase'
   });
+  b.require('./js/models/core/Message', {
+    expose: '../js/models/core/Message'
+  });
 
   if (opts.dontminify) {
     //include dev dependencies