Crew chat: frame built-in E2E chat as the default, Cordn as honest opt-in

Decision (per Marmot/Concord/Cordn analysis): a semi-public, socially-verified
skate crew fits Concord-style shared-key chat, not MLS. The built-in NIP-17
giftwrap group chat is already the right answer and works with zero setup — so
stop implying a coordinator is required and stop over-claiming MLS guarantees
the code doesn't yet provide.

- CrewCoordinatorCard: default state now reassures that private E2E chat is
  already ON (no setup) for everyone, instead of prompting founders to "set up a
  coordinator". Founders get a small, honestly-labeled advanced link to the
  self-hosted Cordn option. Fixed the "E2E · MLS / forward secrecy" badge — the
  coordinator path is NIP-44 group encryption routed over ContextVM, not an MLS
  ratchet.
- CrewForm: the coordinator field is now clearly "experimental · self-host",
  states you don't need it, and links to the Cordn repo.
- NIP.md: reworded the crew-chat section + tag/profile descriptions to match the
  honest crypto seam (NIP-44 group today; MLS a future upgrade), so docs no
  longer claim forward secrecy that isn't shipped.

Co-authored-by: shakespeare.diy <assistant@shakespeare.diy>

NIP.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ other clients, and preserved on edit:
 | `noffer` | string | CLINK Offer code (`noffer1…`) — self-custodial Bitcoin tip code. |
 | `bitcoin_silent_payment` | string | Bitcoin Silent Payment address (BIP-352, `sp1…`) — a reusable, private on-chain address. |
 | `sponsors` | string | Freeform highlight of the skater's sponsors / supporters (brands, shops, people). |
-| `cordn` | string | A Cordn (cordn.net) contact URL for private, MLS-encrypted messaging. |
+| `cordn` | string | A Cordn (cordn.net) contact URL for private, end-to-end encrypted messaging via a self-hosted coordinator. |
 
 `lud16` (Lightning address) is standard NIP-01 but is also editable directly in
 the SkateSpots profile form for convenience.
@@ -2128,7 +2128,7 @@ bare `p` tag on the crew is only a claim until the member self-labels.
 | `goal` | Optional **crew treasury** — the event id of a NIP-75 Zap Goal (kind `9041`) the crew is raising funds for. See Crew Treasury below. |
 | `looking-for` | Optional **open call** — a Lab craft the crew is hiring for. Repeatable. Slugs: `filmer`, `photographer`, `editor`, `coach`, `builder`, `artist`, `musician`, `members`. Surfaces the crew's needs so matching Lab providers can reach out. |
 | `sponsor` | Optional **sponsoring shop** — a NIP-15 stall coordinate (`30017:pubkey:d`) for a local skate shop that backs the crew. Renders a "Sponsored by [Shop]" banner linking to the shop. Only shown when the shop resolves. |
-| `coordinator` | Optional **encrypted-chat coordinator** for the crew's private group. Shape: `["coordinator", <url>, <coordinatorPubkey?>, <operatorPubkey?>]`. `<url>` is an `http(s)`/`wss` endpoint of a **Cordn** coordinator (an MLS / RFC 9420 Delivery Service reached over ContextVM). The crew event stays public and discoverable; message content, membership secrets and MLS ratchets live client-side. Nothing crew-specific is published to public relays. `<coordinatorPubkey>` is the coordinator service pubkey (hex) for ContextVM addressing; `<operatorPubkey>` is the human (hex) who runs it, if delegated. |
+| `coordinator` | Optional, **advanced/self-host**: routes the crew's private chat through a founder-run **Cordn** coordinator instead of the built-in NIP-17 chat. Shape: `["coordinator", <url>, <coordinatorPubkey?>, <operatorPubkey?>]`. `<url>` is an `http(s)`/`wss` endpoint of a Cordn coordinator (a Delivery Service reached over ContextVM). The crew event stays public and discoverable; message content and keys live client-side; nothing crew-specific is published to public relays. `<coordinatorPubkey>` is the coordinator service pubkey (hex) for ContextVM addressing; `<operatorPubkey>` is the human (hex) who runs it, if delegated. Not required — every crew has E2E chat without it. |
 | `video` | Optional **crew video / montage** ("The Part") — a **YouTube** or **Instagram** URL, rendered as the crew's headline embed. Only these two sources are accepted (skate parts live on YouTube, clips on Instagram); any other URL is ignored. No native/self-hosted video. Clients must parse it to a known embed (YouTube video id / Instagram shortcode) and reject anything else rather than render an untrusted iframe. |
 | `crew-role` | Optional **skate role** assigned to a roster member. Shape: `["crew-role", <memberPubkey>, <role>]`, repeatable (a member may hold several). `<role>` ∈ the full Lab-craft set — `filmer`, `photographer`, `editor`, `coach`, `builder`, `artist`, `graffiti`, `tattoo`, `trainer`, `musician`, `judge` — plus the crew-specific `manager` and `og`. The Lab-craft roles mirror the Lab profession kinds (35001–35012), so a crew's "filmer" speaks the same language as a Lab Filmer profile. These are the *functions* on a skate team (the filmer is as vital as the skaters) and are purely a **flex/label** — they grant **no powers** (only the `admin` marker does). Only honoured for the founder or a listed member; roles on non-roster pubkeys are ignored. |
 
@@ -2469,31 +2469,34 @@ by event id).
 #### Private Crew Chat (Cordn / MLS) — the `coordinator` tag
 
 A crew's **public** identity (roster, spots, events, treasury, sponsor) lives on
-Nostr as the kind-`35006` event above. A crew's **private** group chat is designed
+Nostr as the kind-`35006` event above.
-to run over **Cordn** — an MLS ([RFC 9420](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc9420/))
-Delivery Service coordinator, **one per group**, reached over ContextVM.
 
-A crew advertises its coordinator with the optional `coordinator` tag (see the
+**A crew's private group chat is end-to-end encrypted and on by default** — no
-Optional Tags table). This is intentionally just a **pointer**:
+setup. The built-in transport is **NIP-17 giftwrap group DM**: every message is
+sealed to each member's key and published as gift wraps, so only the founder and
+listed members can read it and relays see only ciphertext. This is the right fit
+for a semi-public, socially-verified skate crew (cf. Concord's shared-key model
+for "large casual rooms").
 
-- **On relays:** only the public crew event and a coordinator URL. No
+**Optionally**, a technical founder who **self-hosts a
-  protocol-specific messaging events (no per-message kinds) are ever published to
+[Cordn](https://github.com/Cordn-msg/cordn) coordinator** (an MLS
-  public relays, so there is nothing crew-specific to fingerprint or cluster.
+[RFC 9420](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/rfc9420/) Delivery Service reached
-- **Client-side / under MLS:** message content, the MLS member tree, epoch keys
+over ContextVM, one per group) can advertise it with the optional `coordinator`
-  and ratchets. Forward secrecy and post-compromise security hold; membership
+tag (see the Optional Tags table) to route chat through it instead. This is a
-  changes are O(log n).
+**pointer, not a requirement**:
+
+- **On relays:** only the public crew event and a coordinator URL. With the
+  coordinator path, no per-message events hit public relays at all, so there is
+  nothing crew-specific to fingerprint or cluster.
 - **The coordinator** routes sealed ContextVM traffic and never sees message
-  content, client IPs, or (for routine sends using ephemeral transport keys) who
+  content or client IPs. If it is unreachable, chat delivery stalls but the
-  is talking. If it is unreachable, chat delivery stalls but the group, its
+  group, its membership and its history on members' devices survive; groups can
-  membership and its history on members' devices survive; groups can migrate
+  migrate coordinators (per-group cursors preserve ordering).
-  coordinators (per-group cursors preserve ordering).
+- **Crypto status (honest):** the coordinator path currently uses the same
-
+  **NIP-44 group encryption** as the built-in chat (see the envelope's crypto
-Cordn is chosen over Marmot (fully decentralised MLS) and Concord (shared-key,
+  seam below) — real E2E confidentiality, but **not yet** an MLS ratchet, so
-no forward secrecy) because its **coordinator-per-group** model mirrors a crew's
+  forward secrecy / post-compromise security are a future upgrade, not a present
-**leader / coordinator** structure, it is browser/TypeScript-native, and it keeps
+  claim.
-the private chat un-fingerprintable next to an already-public, geolocated crew
-identity. Until a crew configures a coordinator, the built-in NIP-17 group-DM
-chat remains the fallback.
 
 ##### Message envelope (kind `4497`) & delivery
 

src/components/CrewForm.tsx

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import {
 import { useCrewGoal } from '@/hooks/useCrewGoal';
 import { useAppContext } from '@/hooks/useAppContext';
 import { cn } from '@/lib/utils';
-import { Users, Upload, X, Loader2, MapPin, Plus, ShieldCheck, AtSign, HardHat, Camera, GraduationCap, Sparkles, Target, Megaphone, Music, Palette, Dumbbell, Eye, Store, Lock, Film, Check, ArrowRight, ArrowLeft as ArrowLeftIcon } from 'lucide-react';
+import { Users, Upload, X, Loader2, MapPin, Plus, ShieldCheck, AtSign, HardHat, Camera, GraduationCap, Sparkles, Target, Megaphone, Music, Palette, Dumbbell, Eye, Store, Lock, Film, Check, ArrowRight, ArrowLeft as ArrowLeftIcon, Server } from 'lucide-react';
 
 const FOCUS_ORDER: CrewFocus[] = ['mixed', 'builder', 'photo', 'coaching', 'art', 'music', 'wellness'];
 const FOCUS_ICONS: Record<CrewFocus, typeof Users> = {
@@ -1082,14 +1082,24 @@ export function CrewForm({ existing }: CrewFormProps) {
   );
 
   const coordinatorBlock = (
-          <div className="space-y-2 rounded-lg border border-emerald-500/30 bg-emerald-500/[0.04] p-4">
+          <div className="space-y-2 rounded-lg border border-gray-700 bg-gray-900/60 p-4">
-            <Label htmlFor="crew-coordinator" className="flex items-center gap-2 text-emerald-400">
+            <Label htmlFor="crew-coordinator" className="flex items-center gap-2 text-gray-300">
-              <Lock className="h-4 w-4" /> Private Chat Coordinator <span className="font-normal text-gray-500">· advanced</span>
+              <Server className="h-4 w-4" /> Custom Chat Coordinator <span className="font-normal text-gray-500">· experimental · self-host</span>
             </Label>
             <p className="text-xs text-gray-500">
-              Most crews can skip this. If you run a <span className="font-semibold text-emerald-300">Cordn</span> coordinator
+              <span className="font-semibold text-gray-300">You don't need this.</span> Your crew already has private,
-              (an MLS delivery service reached over ContextVM), paste its URL to enable end-to-end encrypted group chat —
+              end-to-end encrypted group chat built in — no setup. This field is only for crews who{' '}
-              nothing crew-specific ever hits a public relay. Leave blank and your crew still gets a private group chat.
+              <span className="font-semibold text-gray-300">run their own</span>{' '}
+              <a
+                href="https://github.com/Cordn-msg/cordn"
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="text-teal-400 underline underline-offset-2 hover:text-teal-300"
+              >
+                Cordn coordinator
+              </a>{' '}
+              (a small self-hosted MLS delivery service). Paste its URL to route chat through it instead. Leave blank
+              to use the built-in chat.
             </p>
             <Input
               id="crew-coordinator"

src/components/crew/CrewCoordinatorCard.tsx

@@ -11,11 +11,15 @@ import { nip19 } from 'nostr-tools';
 /**
  * Shows the crew's encrypted-chat coordinator (Cordn / MLS Delivery Service).
  *
- * A crew's PUBLIC identity lives on Nostr; its PRIVATE group chat is designed to
+ * Every crew already has built-in end-to-end encrypted group chat (NIP-17
- * run over Cordn — an MLS (RFC 9420) coordinator, one per group, reached over
+ * giftwrap to the roster) — no setup required. This card:
- * ContextVM. This card surfaces which coordinator the crew uses, explains what
+ *   - by default, reassures the crew that private chat is already ON; and
- * the coordinator can and cannot see, and (for the leader) prompts to set one
+ *   - if a founder has opted into routing chat through their own self-hosted
- * when none is configured.
+ *     Cordn coordinator, surfaces which coordinator is in use.
+ *
+ * Note: the coordinator path currently provides NIP-44 group encryption routed
+ * over ContextVM (nothing crew-specific hits a public relay). It is NOT yet a
+ * full MLS ratchet, so we deliberately avoid claiming forward secrecy here.
  */
 export function CrewCoordinatorCard({
   crew,
@@ -27,28 +31,47 @@ export function CrewCoordinatorCard({
   const { coordinator } = crew;
 
   if (!coordinator) {
-    // Only the leader sees the "set it up" prompt; others see nothing (keeps the
+    // Default state: private chat is ALREADY on for every crew (built-in NIP-17
-    // page clean for crews that just use the built-in feed chat for now).
+    // giftwrap group chat, no setup). We say so plainly rather than implying a
-    if (!isFounder) return null;
+    // coordinator is required. Founders get a small, honestly-labeled link to
+    // the experimental self-hosted-coordinator option.
     return (
-      <Card className="border-2 border-dashed border-emerald-500/25 bg-gradient-to-br from-emerald-500/[0.05] to-transparent">
+      <Card className="border-2 border-teal-500/25 bg-gradient-to-br from-teal-500/[0.06] to-black/90">
         <CardHeader className="pb-3">
           <CardTitle className="flex items-center gap-2 text-lg font-black uppercase text-white">
-            <Lock className="h-5 w-5 text-emerald-400" /> Private Crew Chat
+            <Lock className="h-5 w-5 text-teal-400" /> Private Crew Chat
+            <span className="ml-auto inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-teal-500/20 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-wide text-teal-300">
+              <ShieldCheck className="h-3 w-3" /> On
+            </span>
           </CardTitle>
         </CardHeader>
         <CardContent className="space-y-3">
           <p className="text-sm leading-relaxed text-gray-400">
-            Turn on <span className="font-bold text-emerald-300">end-to-end encrypted</span> group chat
+            The <span className="font-semibold text-gray-200">Chat</span> tab is{' '}
-            for your crew, powered by an MLS coordinator (Cordn). Forward secrecy, post-compromise
+            <span className="font-bold text-teal-300">end-to-end encrypted</span> for the founder and all
-            security, and nothing about your chat ever hits a public relay.
+            listed members — nothing to set up. Messages are sealed to each member's key (NIP-17), so only
+            your crew can read them.
           </p>
-          <Link
+          {isFounder && (
-            to={`/edit-crew/${crew.pubkey}/${crew.identifier}`}
+            <p className="text-[11px] leading-relaxed text-gray-600">
-            className="inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 rounded-xl border border-emerald-500/40 bg-emerald-500/10 px-3 py-2 text-sm font-bold text-emerald-300 transition-colors hover:bg-emerald-500/20"
+              Advanced: run your own{' '}
-          >
+              <a
-            <Settings className="h-4 w-4" /> Set up a coordinator
+                href="https://github.com/Cordn-msg/cordn"
-          </Link>
+                target="_blank"
+                rel="noopener noreferrer"
+                className="text-gray-400 underline underline-offset-2 hover:text-teal-300"
+              >
+                Cordn coordinator
+              </a>
+              ?{' '}
+              <Link
+                to={`/edit-crew/${crew.pubkey}/${crew.identifier}`}
+                className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 font-semibold text-gray-400 hover:text-teal-300"
+              >
+                <Settings className="h-3 w-3" /> Route chat through it
+              </Link>
+            </p>
+          )}
         </CardContent>
       </Card>
     );
@@ -60,7 +83,7 @@ export function CrewCoordinatorCard({
         <CardTitle className="flex items-center gap-2 text-lg font-black uppercase text-white">
           <Lock className="h-5 w-5 text-emerald-400" /> Private Crew Chat
           <span className="ml-auto inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-emerald-500/20 px-2 py-0.5 text-[10px] font-black uppercase tracking-wide text-emerald-300">
-            <ShieldCheck className="h-3 w-3" /> E2E · MLS
+            <Server className="h-3 w-3" /> Coordinator
           </span>
         </CardTitle>
       </CardHeader>
@@ -74,10 +97,10 @@ export function CrewCoordinatorCard({
             <Lock className="h-3.5 w-3.5" /> Private chat is live
           </p>
           <p className="mt-1 text-[11px] leading-relaxed text-gray-500">
-            The <span className="font-semibold text-gray-300">Chat</span> tab now runs through this
+            The <span className="font-semibold text-gray-300">Chat</span> tab runs through this
-            coordinator: messages are end-to-end encrypted and routed over ContextVM — the
+            coordinator: messages are end-to-end encrypted (NIP-44, sealed to each member) and routed
-            coordinator only ever handles sealed traffic, and nothing crew-specific is published to
+            over ContextVM, so the coordinator only ever handles sealed traffic and nothing
-            public relays.
+            crew-specific hits a public relay.
           </p>
         </div>