diff --git a/nomos-mix/core/src/conn_maintenance.rs b/nomos-mix/core/src/conn_maintenance.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..70542c71
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nomos-mix/core/src/conn_maintenance.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+use std::{
+    collections::{HashMap, HashSet},
+    fmt::Debug,
+    hash::Hash,
+    time::Duration,
+};
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+pub struct ConnectionMaintenanceSettings {
+    /// Time interval to measure/evaluate the number of messages sent by each peer.
+    pub time_window: Duration,
+    /// The number of effective (data or cover) messages that a peer is expected to send in a given time window.
+    /// If the measured count is greater than (expected * (1 + tolerance)), the peer is considered malicious.
+    /// If the measured count is less than (expected * (1 - tolerance)), the peer is considered unhealthy.
+    pub expected_effective_messages: f32,
+    pub effective_message_tolerance: f32,
+    /// The number of drop messages that a peer is expected to send in a given time window.
+    /// If the measured count is greater than (expected * (1 + tolerance)), the peer is considered malicious.
+    /// If the measured count is less than (expected * (1 - tolerance)), the peer is considered unhealthy.
+    pub expected_drop_messages: f32,
+    pub drop_message_tolerance: f32,
+}
+
+/// Connection maintenance to detect malicious and unhealthy peers
+/// based on the number of messages sent by each peer in time windows
+pub struct ConnectionMaintenance<Peer> {
+    settings: ConnectionMaintenanceSettings,
+    /// Meters to count the number of effective and drop messages sent by each peer
+    meters: HashMap<Peer, ConnectionMeter>,
+}
+
+impl<Peer> ConnectionMaintenance<Peer>
+where
+    Peer: Debug + Eq + Hash + Clone,
+{
+    pub fn new(settings: ConnectionMaintenanceSettings) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            settings,
+            meters: HashMap::new(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Record a effective message sent by the [`peer`]
+    pub fn add_effective(&mut self, peer: Peer) {
+        self.meter(peer).effective_messages += 1;
+    }
+
+    /// Record a drop message sent by the [`peer`]
+    pub fn add_drop(&mut self, peer: Peer) {
+        self.meter(peer).drop_messages += 1;
+    }
+
+    fn meter(&mut self, peer: Peer) -> &mut ConnectionMeter {
+        self.meters.entry(peer).or_insert_with(ConnectionMeter::new)
+    }
+
+    /// Return malicious peers and unhealthy peers, and reset the counters of effective/drop messages.
+    /// This function must be called at the end of each time window.
+    /// The set of malicious peers doesn't have the intersection with the set of unhealthy peers.
+    pub fn reset(&mut self) -> (HashSet<Peer>, HashSet<Peer>) {
+        let mut malicious_peers = HashSet::new();
+        let mut unhealthy_peers = HashSet::new();
+
+        self.meters.iter().for_each(|(peer, meter)| {
+            if meter.is_malicious(&self.settings) {
+                malicious_peers.insert(peer.clone());
+            } else if meter.is_unhealthy(&self.settings) {
+                unhealthy_peers.insert(peer.clone());
+            }
+        });
+        self.meters.clear();
+
+        (malicious_peers, unhealthy_peers)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Meter to count the number of effective and drop messages sent by a peer
+#[derive(Debug)]
+struct ConnectionMeter {
+    effective_messages: usize,
+    drop_messages: usize,
+}
+
+impl ConnectionMeter {
+    fn new() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            effective_messages: 0,
+            drop_messages: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Check if the peer is malicious based on the number of effective and drop messages sent
+    fn is_malicious(&self, settings: &ConnectionMaintenanceSettings) -> bool {
+        let effective_threshold =
+            settings.expected_effective_messages * (1.0 + settings.effective_message_tolerance);
+        let drop_threshold =
+            settings.expected_drop_messages * (1.0 + settings.drop_message_tolerance);
+        self.effective_messages as f32 > effective_threshold
+            || self.drop_messages as f32 > drop_threshold
+    }
+
+    /// Check if the peer is unhealthy based on the number of effective and drop messages sent
+    fn is_unhealthy(&self, settings: &ConnectionMaintenanceSettings) -> bool {
+        let effective_threshold =
+            settings.expected_effective_messages * (1.0 - settings.effective_message_tolerance);
+        let drop_threshold =
+            settings.expected_drop_messages * (1.0 - settings.drop_message_tolerance);
+        effective_threshold > self.effective_messages as f32
+            || drop_threshold > self.drop_messages as f32
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn malicious_and_unhealthy_by_effective() {
+        let settings = ConnectionMaintenanceSettings {
+            time_window: Duration::from_secs(1),
+            expected_effective_messages: 2.0,
+            effective_message_tolerance: 0.1,
+            expected_drop_messages: 0.0,
+            drop_message_tolerance: 0.0,
+        };
+        let mut maintenance = ConnectionMaintenance::<u8>::new(settings);
+        // Peer 0 sends 3 effective messages, more than expected
+        maintenance.add_effective(0);
+        maintenance.add_effective(0);
+        maintenance.add_effective(0);
+        // Peer 1 sends 2 effective messages, as expected
+        maintenance.add_effective(1);
+        maintenance.add_effective(1);
+        // Peer 2 sends 1 effective messages, less than expected
+        maintenance.add_effective(2);
+
+        let (malicious, unhealthy) = maintenance.reset();
+        assert_eq!(malicious, HashSet::from_iter(vec![0]));
+        assert_eq!(unhealthy, HashSet::from_iter(vec![2]));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn malicious_and_unhealthy_by_drop() {
+        let settings = ConnectionMaintenanceSettings {
+            time_window: Duration::from_secs(1),
+            expected_effective_messages: 0.0,
+            effective_message_tolerance: 0.0,
+            expected_drop_messages: 2.0,
+            drop_message_tolerance: 0.1,
+        };
+        let mut maintenance = ConnectionMaintenance::<u8>::new(settings);
+        // Peer 0 sends 3 drop messages, more than expected
+        maintenance.add_drop(0);
+        maintenance.add_drop(0);
+        maintenance.add_drop(0);
+        // Peer 1 sends 2 drop messages, as expected
+        maintenance.add_drop(1);
+        maintenance.add_drop(1);
+        // Peer 2 sends 1 drop messages, less than expected
+        maintenance.add_drop(2);
+
+        let (malicious, unhealthy) = maintenance.reset();
+        assert_eq!(malicious, HashSet::from_iter(vec![0]));
+        assert_eq!(unhealthy, HashSet::from_iter(vec![2]));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/nomos-mix/core/src/lib.rs b/nomos-mix/core/src/lib.rs
index 53f33bf1..650b4299 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/core/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+pub mod conn_maintenance;
 pub mod cover_traffic;
 pub mod membership;
 pub mod message_blend;
diff --git a/nomos-mix/core/src/membership.rs b/nomos-mix/core/src/membership.rs
index f1bda2ca..04dd8386 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/core/src/membership.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/core/src/membership.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
+use std::collections::HashSet;
+
 use multiaddr::Multiaddr;
 use nomos_mix_message::MixMessage;
-use rand::{seq::SliceRandom, Rng};
+use rand::{
+    seq::{IteratorRandom, SliceRandom},
+    Rng,
+};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
@@ -48,6 +53,18 @@ where
         self.remote_nodes.choose_multiple(rng, amount).collect()
     }
 
+    pub fn filter_and_choose_remote_nodes<R: Rng>(
+        &self,
+        rng: &mut R,
+        amount: usize,
+        exclude_addrs: &HashSet<Multiaddr>,
+    ) -> Vec<&Node<M::PublicKey>> {
+        self.remote_nodes
+            .iter()
+            .filter(|node| !exclude_addrs.contains(&node.address))
+            .choose_multiple(rng, amount)
+    }
+
     pub fn local_node(&self) -> &Node<M::PublicKey> {
         &self.local_node
     }
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/Cargo.toml b/nomos-mix/network/Cargo.toml
index c8dfdc24..837c68d7 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/Cargo.toml
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,5 +15,6 @@ sha2 = "0.10"
 
 [dev-dependencies]
 tokio = { version = "1", features = ["macros", "rt-multi-thread", "time"] }
+tokio-stream = "0.1"
 libp2p = { version = "0.53", features = ["ed25519", "tokio", "quic"] }
 tracing-subscriber = "0.3.18"
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs b/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs
index d2e04d84..200beebe 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use crate::{
     handler::{FromBehaviour, MixConnectionHandler, ToBehaviour},
 };
 use cached::{Cached, TimedCache};
+use futures::Stream;
 use libp2p::{
     core::Endpoint,
     swarm::{
@@ -11,21 +12,32 @@ use libp2p::{
     },
     Multiaddr, PeerId,
 };
+use nomos_mix::conn_maintenance::{ConnectionMaintenance, ConnectionMaintenanceSettings};
 use nomos_mix_message::MixMessage;
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::{
     collections::{HashMap, HashSet, VecDeque},
+    pin::pin,
     task::{Context, Poll, Waker},
 };
 
 /// A [`NetworkBehaviour`]:
 /// - forwards messages to all connected peers with deduplication.
 /// - receives messages from all connected peers.
-pub struct Behaviour<M> {
-    config: Config,
+pub struct Behaviour<M, Interval> {
+    config: Config<Interval>,
     /// Peers that support the mix protocol, and their connection IDs
     negotiated_peers: HashMap<PeerId, HashSet<ConnectionId>>,
+    /// Connection maintenance
+    /// NOTE: For now, this is optional because this may close too many connections
+    /// until we clearly figure out the optimal parameters.
+    conn_maintenance: Option<ConnectionMaintenance<PeerId>>,
+    /// Peers that should be excluded from connection establishments
+    blacklist_peers: HashSet<PeerId>,
+    /// To maintain address of peers because libp2p API uses only [`PeerId`] when handling
+    /// connection events. But, we need to know [`Multiaddr`] of peers to dial to them.
+    peer_addresses: HashMap<PeerId, Multiaddr>,
     /// Queue of events to yield to the swarm.
     events: VecDeque<ToSwarm<Event, FromBehaviour>>,
     /// Waker that handles polling
@@ -37,26 +49,48 @@ pub struct Behaviour<M> {
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct Config {
+pub struct Config<Interval> {
+    pub max_peering_degree: usize,
     pub duplicate_cache_lifespan: u64,
+    pub conn_maintenance_settings: Option<ConnectionMaintenanceSettings>,
+    pub conn_maintenance_interval: Option<Interval>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum Event {
     /// A message received from one of the peers.
     Message(Vec<u8>),
+    /// Request establishing the `[amount]` number of new connections,
+    /// excluding the peers with the given addresses.
+    EstabalishNewConnections {
+        amount: usize,
+        excludes: HashSet<Multiaddr>,
+    },
     Error(Error),
 }
 
-impl<M> Behaviour<M>
+impl<M, Interval> Behaviour<M, Interval>
 where
     M: MixMessage,
 {
-    pub fn new(config: Config) -> Self {
+    pub fn new(config: Config<Interval>) -> Self {
+        let Config {
+            conn_maintenance_settings,
+            conn_maintenance_interval,
+            ..
+        } = &config;
+        assert_eq!(
+            conn_maintenance_settings.is_some(),
+            conn_maintenance_interval.is_some()
+        );
+        let conn_maintenance = conn_maintenance_settings.map(ConnectionMaintenance::<PeerId>::new);
         let duplicate_cache = TimedCache::with_lifespan(config.duplicate_cache_lifespan);
         Self {
             config,
             negotiated_peers: HashMap::new(),
+            conn_maintenance,
+            peer_addresses: HashMap::new(),
+            blacklist_peers: HashSet::new(),
             events: VecDeque::new(),
             waker: None,
             duplicate_cache,
@@ -115,6 +149,8 @@ where
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Add a peer to the list of connected peers that have completed negotiations
+    /// to verify [`Behaviour`] support.
     fn add_negotiated_peer(&mut self, peer_id: PeerId, connection_id: ConnectionId) -> bool {
         tracing::debug!(
             "Adding to connected_peers: peer_id:{:?}, connection_id:{:?}",
@@ -127,20 +163,120 @@ where
             .insert(connection_id)
     }
 
-    fn remove_negotiated_peer(&mut self, peer_id: &PeerId, connection_id: &ConnectionId) {
-        if let Some(connections) = self.negotiated_peers.get_mut(peer_id) {
-            tracing::debug!(
-                "Removing from connected_peers: peer:{:?}, connection_id:{:?}",
-                peer_id,
-                connection_id
-            );
-            connections.remove(connection_id);
-            if connections.is_empty() {
-                self.negotiated_peers.remove(peer_id);
-            }
+    /// Remove a peer from the list of connected peers.
+    /// If the peer (or the connection of the peer) is found and removed, return `false`.
+    /// If not, return `true`.
+    fn remove_negotiated_peer(
+        &mut self,
+        peer_id: &PeerId,
+        connection_id: Option<&ConnectionId>,
+    ) -> bool {
+        match connection_id {
+            Some(connection_id) => match self.negotiated_peers.get_mut(peer_id) {
+                Some(connections) => {
+                    tracing::debug!(
+                        "Removing from connected_peers: peer:{:?}, connection_id:{:?}",
+                        peer_id,
+                        connection_id
+                    );
+                    let removed = connections.remove(connection_id);
+                    if connections.is_empty() {
+                        self.negotiated_peers.remove(peer_id);
+                    }
+                    removed
+                }
+                None => false,
+            },
+            None => self.negotiated_peers.remove(peer_id).is_some(),
         }
     }
 
+    fn is_negotiated_peer(&self, peer_id: &PeerId) -> bool {
+        self.negotiated_peers.contains_key(peer_id)
+    }
+
+    /// Handle newly detected malicious and unhealthy peers and schedule new connection establishments.
+    /// This must be called at the end of each time window.
+    fn run_conn_maintenance(&mut self) {
+        if let Some(conn_maintenance) = self.conn_maintenance.as_mut() {
+            let (malicious_peers, unhealthy_peers) = conn_maintenance.reset();
+            let num_closed_malicious = self.handle_malicious_peers(malicious_peers);
+            let num_connected_unhealthy = self.handle_unhealthy_peers(unhealthy_peers);
+            let mut num_to_dial = num_closed_malicious + num_connected_unhealthy;
+            if num_to_dial + self.negotiated_peers.len() > self.config.max_peering_degree {
+                tracing::warn!(
+                    "Cannot establish {} new connections due to max_peering_degree:{}. connected_peers:{}",
+                    num_to_dial,
+                    self.config.max_peering_degree,
+                    self.negotiated_peers.len(),
+                );
+                num_to_dial = self.config.max_peering_degree - self.negotiated_peers.len();
+            }
+            self.schedule_dials(num_to_dial);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Add newly detected malicious peers to the blacklist,
+    /// and schedule connection closures if the connections exist.
+    /// This returns the number of connection closures that were actually scheduled.
+    fn handle_malicious_peers(&mut self, peers: HashSet<PeerId>) -> usize {
+        peers
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|peer_id| {
+                self.blacklist_peers.insert(peer_id);
+                // Close the connection only if the peer was already connected.
+                if self.remove_negotiated_peer(&peer_id, None) {
+                    self.events.push_back(ToSwarm::CloseConnection {
+                        peer_id,
+                        connection: libp2p::swarm::CloseConnection::All,
+                    });
+                    1
+                } else {
+                    0
+                }
+            })
+            .sum()
+    }
+
+    /// Add newly detected unhealthy peers to the blacklist,
+    /// and return the number of connections that actually exist to the unhealthy peers.
+    fn handle_unhealthy_peers(&mut self, peers: HashSet<PeerId>) -> usize {
+        peers
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|peer_id| {
+                self.blacklist_peers.insert(peer_id);
+                if self.is_negotiated_peer(&peer_id) {
+                    1
+                } else {
+                    0
+                }
+            })
+            .sum()
+    }
+
+    /// Schedule new connection establishments, excluding the blacklisted peers.
+    fn schedule_dials(&mut self, amount: usize) {
+        if amount == 0 {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        let excludes = self
+            .blacklist_peers
+            .iter()
+            .filter_map(|peer_id| self.peer_addresses.get(peer_id).cloned())
+            .collect();
+        tracing::info!(
+            "Scheduling {} new dialings: excludes:{:?}",
+            amount,
+            excludes
+        );
+        self.events
+            .push_back(ToSwarm::GenerateEvent(Event::EstabalishNewConnections {
+                amount,
+                excludes,
+            }));
+    }
+
     /// SHA-256 hash of the message
     fn message_id(message: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
         let mut hasher = Sha256::new();
@@ -155,9 +291,10 @@ where
     }
 }
 
-impl<M> NetworkBehaviour for Behaviour<M>
+impl<M, Interval> NetworkBehaviour for Behaviour<M, Interval>
 where
     M: MixMessage + 'static,
+    Interval: Stream + Unpin + 'static,
 {
     type ConnectionHandler = MixConnectionHandler;
     type ToSwarm = Event;
@@ -165,21 +302,25 @@ where
     fn handle_established_inbound_connection(
         &mut self,
         _: ConnectionId,
-        _: PeerId,
-        _: &Multiaddr,
+        peer_id: PeerId,
         _: &Multiaddr,
+        remote_addr: &Multiaddr,
     ) -> Result<THandler<Self>, ConnectionDenied> {
-        Ok(MixConnectionHandler::new(&self.config))
+        // Keep the address of the peer
+        self.peer_addresses.insert(peer_id, remote_addr.clone());
+        Ok(MixConnectionHandler::new())
     }
 
     fn handle_established_outbound_connection(
         &mut self,
         _: ConnectionId,
-        _: PeerId,
-        _: &Multiaddr,
+        peer_id: PeerId,
+        addr: &Multiaddr,
         _: Endpoint,
     ) -> Result<THandler<Self>, ConnectionDenied> {
-        Ok(MixConnectionHandler::new(&self.config))
+        // Keep the address of the peer
+        self.peer_addresses.insert(peer_id, addr.clone());
+        Ok(MixConnectionHandler::new())
     }
 
     /// Informs the behaviour about an event from the [`Swarm`].
@@ -190,7 +331,7 @@ where
             ..
         }) = event
         {
-            self.remove_negotiated_peer(&peer_id, &connection_id);
+            self.remove_negotiated_peer(&peer_id, Some(&connection_id));
         }
     }
 
@@ -207,9 +348,16 @@ where
             ToBehaviour::Message(message) => {
                 // Ignore drop message
                 if M::is_drop_message(&message) {
+                    if let Some(conn_maintenance) = self.conn_maintenance.as_mut() {
+                        conn_maintenance.add_drop(peer_id);
+                    }
                     return;
                 }
 
+                if let Some(conn_maintenance) = self.conn_maintenance.as_mut() {
+                    conn_maintenance.add_effective(peer_id);
+                }
+
                 // Add the message to the cache. If it was already seen, ignore it.
                 if self
                     .duplicate_cache
@@ -236,7 +384,7 @@ where
                 self.add_negotiated_peer(peer_id, connection_id);
             }
             ToBehaviour::NegotiationFailed => {
-                self.remove_negotiated_peer(&peer_id, &connection_id);
+                self.remove_negotiated_peer(&peer_id, Some(&connection_id));
             }
             ToBehaviour::IOError(error) => {
                 // TODO: Consider removing the peer from the connected_peers and closing the connection
@@ -257,6 +405,13 @@ where
         &mut self,
         cx: &mut Context<'_>,
     ) -> Poll<ToSwarm<Self::ToSwarm, THandlerInEvent<Self>>> {
+        // Run connection maintenance if the interval is reached.
+        if let Some(interval) = self.config.conn_maintenance_interval.as_mut() {
+            if pin!(interval).poll_next(cx).is_ready() {
+                self.run_conn_maintenance();
+            }
+        }
+
         if let Some(event) = self.events.pop_front() {
             Poll::Ready(event)
         } else {
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs b/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs
index e6bddc64..d0c36ba4 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ use libp2p::{
     Stream, StreamProtocol,
 };
 
-use crate::behaviour::Config;
-
 const PROTOCOL_NAME: StreamProtocol = StreamProtocol::new("/nomos/mix/0.1.0");
 
 // TODO: Consider replacing this struct with libp2p_stream ConnectionHandler
@@ -42,7 +40,7 @@ enum OutboundSubstreamState {
 }
 
 impl MixConnectionHandler {
-    pub fn new(_config: &Config) -> Self {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
         Self {
             inbound_substream: None,
             outbound_substream: None,
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs b/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs
index 6db526e4..417e7570 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,8 +14,10 @@ mod test {
         swarm::{dummy, NetworkBehaviour, SwarmEvent},
         Multiaddr, PeerId, Swarm, SwarmBuilder,
     };
+    use nomos_mix::conn_maintenance::ConnectionMaintenanceSettings;
     use nomos_mix_message::mock::MockMixMessage;
     use tokio::select;
+    use tokio_stream::wrappers::IntervalStream;
 
     use crate::{behaviour::Config, error::Error, Behaviour, Event};
 
@@ -116,11 +118,23 @@ mod test {
         }
     }
 
-    fn new_swarm(key: Keypair) -> Swarm<Behaviour<MockMixMessage>> {
+    fn new_swarm(key: Keypair) -> Swarm<Behaviour<MockMixMessage, IntervalStream>> {
+        let conn_maintenance_settings = ConnectionMaintenanceSettings {
+            time_window: Duration::from_secs(60),
+            expected_effective_messages: 1.0,
+            effective_message_tolerance: 0.1,
+            expected_drop_messages: 1.0,
+            drop_message_tolerance: 0.1,
+        };
+        let conn_maintenance_interval =
+            IntervalStream::new(tokio::time::interval(conn_maintenance_settings.time_window));
         new_swarm_with_behaviour(
             key,
             Behaviour::new(Config {
+                max_peering_degree: 10,
                 duplicate_cache_lifespan: 60,
+                conn_maintenance_settings: Some(conn_maintenance_settings),
+                conn_maintenance_interval: Some(conn_maintenance_interval),
             }),
         )
     }
diff --git a/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs b/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs
index 90c1d734..55f6bf7a 100644
--- a/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 use cryptarchia_consensus::LeaderConfig;
 // std
 use nomos_da_network_service::backends::libp2p::common::DaNetworkBackendSettings;
-use nomos_mix::membership::Node;
 use nomos_mix::message_blend::{
     CryptographicProcessorSettings, MessageBlendSettings, TemporalSchedulerSettings,
 };
+use nomos_mix::{conn_maintenance::ConnectionMaintenanceSettings, membership::Node};
 use nomos_mix_message::{sphinx::SphinxMessage, MixMessage};
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::time::Duration;
@@ -330,6 +330,14 @@ pub fn new_mix_configs(listening_addresses: Vec<Multiaddr>) -> Vec<TestMixSettin
                     listening_address: listening_address.clone(),
                     node_key: ed25519::SecretKey::generate(),
                     peering_degree: 1,
+                    max_peering_degree: 1,
+                    conn_maintenance: Some(ConnectionMaintenanceSettings {
+                        time_window: Duration::from_secs(600),
+                        expected_effective_messages: 600.0,
+                        effective_message_tolerance: 0.1,
+                        expected_drop_messages: 0.0,
+                        drop_message_tolerance: 0.0,
+                    }),
                 },
                 x25519_dalek::StaticSecret::random(),
             )
diff --git a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs
index 8aa4b2b1..836f0188 100644
--- a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
-use std::{io, pin::Pin, time::Duration};
+use std::{collections::HashSet, pin::Pin, time::Duration};
 
 use super::MixBackend;
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use futures::{Stream, StreamExt};
 use libp2p::{
-    core::transport::ListenerId,
     identity::{ed25519, Keypair},
     swarm::SwarmEvent,
-    Multiaddr, Swarm, SwarmBuilder, TransportError,
+    Multiaddr, Swarm, SwarmBuilder,
 };
-use nomos_libp2p::{secret_key_serde, DialError, DialOpts};
-use nomos_mix::membership::Membership;
+use nomos_libp2p::secret_key_serde;
+use nomos_mix::{conn_maintenance::ConnectionMaintenanceSettings, membership::Membership};
 use nomos_mix_message::sphinx::SphinxMessage;
 use overwatch_rs::overwatch::handle::OverwatchHandle;
 use rand::Rng;
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@ use tokio::{
     sync::{broadcast, mpsc},
     task::JoinHandle,
 };
-use tokio_stream::wrappers::BroadcastStream;
+use tokio_stream::wrappers::{BroadcastStream, IntervalStream};
 
 /// A mix backend that uses the libp2p network stack.
 pub struct Libp2pMixBackend {
@@ -36,6 +35,8 @@ pub struct Libp2pMixBackendSettings {
     #[serde(with = "secret_key_serde", default = "ed25519::SecretKey::generate")]
     pub node_key: ed25519::SecretKey,
     pub peering_degree: usize,
+    pub max_peering_degree: usize,
+    pub conn_maintenance: Option<ConnectionMaintenanceSettings>,
 }
 
 const CHANNEL_SIZE: usize = 64;
@@ -44,38 +45,26 @@ const CHANNEL_SIZE: usize = 64;
 impl MixBackend for Libp2pMixBackend {
     type Settings = Libp2pMixBackendSettings;
 
-    fn new<R: Rng>(
+    fn new<R>(
         config: Self::Settings,
         overwatch_handle: OverwatchHandle,
         membership: Membership<SphinxMessage>,
-        mut rng: R,
-    ) -> Self {
+        rng: R,
+    ) -> Self
+    where
+        R: Rng + Send + 'static,
+    {
         let (swarm_message_sender, swarm_message_receiver) = mpsc::channel(CHANNEL_SIZE);
         let (incoming_message_sender, _) = broadcast::channel(CHANNEL_SIZE);
 
-        let keypair = Keypair::from(ed25519::Keypair::from(config.node_key.clone()));
         let mut swarm = MixSwarm::new(
-            keypair,
+            config,
             swarm_message_receiver,
             incoming_message_sender.clone(),
+            membership,
+            rng,
         );
 
-        swarm
-            .listen_on(config.listening_address)
-            .unwrap_or_else(|e| {
-                panic!("Failed to listen on Mix network: {e:?}");
-            });
-
-        // Randomly select peering_degree number of peers, and dial to them
-        membership
-            .choose_remote_nodes(&mut rng, config.peering_degree)
-            .iter()
-            .for_each(|node| {
-                if let Err(e) = swarm.dial(node.address.clone()) {
-                    tracing::error!("failed to dial to {:?}: {:?}", node.address, e);
-                }
-            });
-
         let task = overwatch_handle.runtime().spawn(async move {
             swarm.run().await;
         });
@@ -105,10 +94,15 @@ impl MixBackend for Libp2pMixBackend {
     }
 }
 
-struct MixSwarm {
-    swarm: Swarm<nomos_mix_network::Behaviour<SphinxMessage>>,
+struct MixSwarm<R>
+where
+    R: Send,
+{
+    swarm: Swarm<nomos_mix_network::Behaviour<SphinxMessage, IntervalStream>>,
     swarm_messages_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<MixSwarmMessage>,
     incoming_message_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
+    membership: Membership<SphinxMessage>,
+    rng: R,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -116,18 +110,30 @@ pub enum MixSwarmMessage {
     Publish(Vec<u8>),
 }
 
-impl MixSwarm {
+impl<R> MixSwarm<R>
+where
+    R: Rng + Send,
+{
     fn new(
-        keypair: Keypair,
+        config: Libp2pMixBackendSettings,
         swarm_messages_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<MixSwarmMessage>,
         incoming_message_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
+        membership: Membership<SphinxMessage>,
+        rng: R,
     ) -> Self {
-        let swarm = SwarmBuilder::with_existing_identity(keypair)
+        let keypair = Keypair::from(ed25519::Keypair::from(config.node_key.clone()));
+        let mut swarm = SwarmBuilder::with_existing_identity(keypair)
             .with_tokio()
             .with_quic()
             .with_behaviour(|_| {
+                let conn_maintenance_interval = config.conn_maintenance.map(|settings| {
+                    IntervalStream::new(tokio::time::interval(settings.time_window))
+                });
                 nomos_mix_network::Behaviour::new(nomos_mix_network::Config {
+                    max_peering_degree: config.max_peering_degree,
                     duplicate_cache_lifespan: 60,
+                    conn_maintenance_settings: config.conn_maintenance,
+                    conn_maintenance_interval,
                 })
             })
             .expect("Mix Behaviour should be built")
@@ -136,19 +142,31 @@ impl MixSwarm {
             })
             .build();
 
-        Self {
+        swarm
+            .listen_on(config.listening_address)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|e| {
+                panic!("Failed to listen on Mix network: {e:?}");
+            });
+
+        let mut mix_swarm = Self {
             swarm,
             swarm_messages_receiver,
             incoming_message_sender,
+            membership,
+            rng,
+        };
+
+        // Randomly select peering_degree number of peers, and dial to them
+        let num_dialed = mix_swarm.dial_to_peers(config.peering_degree, None);
+        if num_dialed < config.peering_degree {
+            tracing::warn!(
+                "Failed to dial to enough peers. Expected: {}, Dialed: {}",
+                config.peering_degree,
+                num_dialed
+            );
         }
-    }
 
-    fn listen_on(&mut self, addr: Multiaddr) -> Result<ListenerId, TransportError<io::Error>> {
-        self.swarm.listen_on(addr)
-    }
-
-    fn dial(&mut self, addr: Multiaddr) -> Result<(), DialError> {
-        self.swarm.dial(DialOpts::from(addr))
+        mix_swarm
     }
 
     async fn run(&mut self) {
@@ -182,6 +200,22 @@ impl MixSwarm {
                     tracing::error!("Failed to send incoming message to channel: {e}");
                 }
             }
+            SwarmEvent::Behaviour(nomos_mix_network::Event::EstabalishNewConnections {
+                amount,
+                excludes,
+            }) => {
+                tracing::debug!(
+                    "Establishing {amount} new connections excluding peers: {excludes:?}"
+                );
+                let successful_dials = self.dial_to_peers(amount, Some(&excludes));
+                if successful_dials < amount {
+                    tracing::warn!(
+                        "Tried to establish {} new connections, but only {} succeeded",
+                        amount,
+                        successful_dials
+                    );
+                }
+            }
             SwarmEvent::Behaviour(nomos_mix_network::Event::Error(e)) => {
                 tracing::error!("Received error from mix network: {e:?}");
             }
@@ -190,4 +224,29 @@ impl MixSwarm {
             }
         }
     }
+
+    fn dial_to_peers(&mut self, amount: usize, excludes: Option<&HashSet<Multiaddr>>) -> usize {
+        let mut successful_dials = 0;
+
+        let nodes = match excludes {
+            Some(excludes) => {
+                self.membership
+                    .filter_and_choose_remote_nodes(&mut self.rng, amount, excludes)
+            }
+            None => self.membership.choose_remote_nodes(&mut self.rng, amount),
+        };
+
+        nodes
+            .iter()
+            .for_each(|node| match self.swarm.dial(node.address.clone()) {
+                Ok(_) => {
+                    successful_dials += 1;
+                }
+                Err(e) => {
+                    tracing::error!("Failed to dial to {:?}: {e}", node.address);
+                }
+            });
+
+        successful_dials
+    }
 }
diff --git a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs
index 8c1ee8ef..da9dfc15 100644
--- a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ pub trait MixBackend {
         rng: R,
     ) -> Self
     where
-        R: Rng;
+        R: Rng + Send + 'static;
     /// Publish a message to the mix network.
     async fn publish(&self, msg: Vec<u8>);
     /// Listen to messages received from the mix network.
diff --git a/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs b/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs
index 16454b64..0017183a 100644
--- a/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs
+++ b/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ pub fn create_mix_configs(ids: &[[u8; 32]]) -> Vec<GeneralMixConfig> {
                     .unwrap(),
                     node_key,
                     peering_degree: 1,
+                    max_peering_degree: 3,
+                    conn_maintenance: None,
                 },
                 private_key: x25519_dalek::StaticSecret::random(),
                 membership: Vec::new(),