diff --git a/nodes/nomos-node/src/config.rs b/nodes/nomos-node/src/config.rs
index 7ad35aad..80477700 100644
--- a/nodes/nomos-node/src/config.rs
+++ b/nodes/nomos-node/src/config.rs
@@ -279,8 +279,8 @@ pub fn update_mix(
         mix.backend.peering_degree = peering_degree;
     }
 
-    if let Some(num_mix_layers) = mix_num_mix_layers {
-        mix.backend.num_mix_layers = num_mix_layers;
+    if let Some(_num_mix_layers) = mix_num_mix_layers {
+        // TODO: Set num_mix_layers to the proper module setting
     }
 
     Ok(())
diff --git a/nomos-mix/message/src/lib.rs b/nomos-mix/message/src/lib.rs
index a7d81584..79b6a922 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/message/src/lib.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/message/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ pub use error::Error;
 use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 
 pub const MSG_SIZE: usize = 2048;
-pub const NOISE: [u8; MSG_SIZE] = [0; MSG_SIZE];
+pub const DROP_MESSAGE: [u8; MSG_SIZE] = [0; MSG_SIZE];
 
 /// A mock implementation of the Sphinx encoding.
 ///
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pub fn unwrap_message(message: &[u8]) -> Result<(Vec<u8>, bool), Error> {
     }
 }
 
-/// Check if the message is a noise message.
-pub fn is_noise(message: &[u8]) -> bool {
-    message == NOISE
+/// Check if the message is a drop message.
+pub fn is_drop_message(message: &[u8]) -> bool {
+    message == DROP_MESSAGE
 }
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs b/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs
index a83e5d38..93f55f42 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/src/behaviour.rs
@@ -12,14 +12,16 @@ use libp2p::{
     },
     Multiaddr, PeerId,
 };
-use nomos_mix_message::{message_id, unwrap_message};
+use nomos_mix_message::{is_drop_message, message_id};
 
 use crate::{
     error::Error,
     handler::{FromBehaviour, MixConnectionHandler, ToBehaviour},
 };
 
-/// A [`NetworkBehaviour`] that forwards messages between mix nodes.
+/// A [`NetworkBehaviour`]:
+/// - forwards messages to all connected peers with deduplication.
+/// - receives messages from all connected peers.
 pub struct Behaviour {
     config: Config,
     /// Peers that support the mix protocol, and their connection IDs
@@ -35,14 +37,13 @@ pub struct Behaviour {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Config {
-    pub transmission_rate: f64,
     pub duplicate_cache_lifespan: u64,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum Event {
-    /// A fully unwrapped message received from one of the peers.
-    FullyUnwrappedMessage(Vec<u8>),
+    /// A message received from one of the peers.
+    Message(Vec<u8>),
     Error(Error),
 }
 
@@ -58,39 +59,39 @@ impl Behaviour {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Publishs a message through the mix network.
-    ///
-    /// This function expects that the message was already encoded for the cryptographic mixing
-    /// (e.g. Sphinx encoding).
-    ///
-    /// The message is forward to all connected peers,
-    /// so that it can arrive in the mix node who can unwrap it one layer.
-    /// Fully unwrapped messages are returned as the [`MixBehaviourEvent::FullyUnwrappedMessage`].
+    /// Publish a message (data or drop) to all connected peers
     pub fn publish(&mut self, message: Vec<u8>) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        self.duplicate_cache.cache_set(message_id(&message), ());
-        self.forward_message(message, None)
+        if is_drop_message(&message) {
+            // Bypass deduplication for the drop message
+            return self.forward_message(message, None);
+        }
+
+        let msg_id = message_id(&message);
+        // If the message was already seen, don't forward it again
+        if self.duplicate_cache.cache_get(&msg_id).is_some() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
+
+        let result = self.forward_message(message, None);
+        // Add the message to the cache only if the forwarding was successfully triggered
+        if result.is_ok() {
+            self.duplicate_cache.cache_set(msg_id, ());
+        }
+        result
     }
 
-    /// Forwards a message to all connected peers except the one that was received from.
+    /// Forwards a message to all connected peers except the excluded peer.
     ///
     /// Returns [`Error::NoPeers`] if there are no connected peers that support the mix protocol.
     fn forward_message(
         &mut self,
         message: Vec<u8>,
-        propagation_source: Option<PeerId>,
+        excluded_peer: Option<PeerId>,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        let peer_ids = self
-            .negotiated_peers
-            .keys()
-            .filter(|&peer_id| {
-                if let Some(propagation_source) = propagation_source {
-                    *peer_id != propagation_source
-                } else {
-                    true
-                }
-            })
-            .cloned()
-            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        let mut peer_ids: HashSet<_> = self.negotiated_peers.keys().collect();
+        if let Some(peer) = &excluded_peer {
+            peer_ids.remove(peer);
+        }
 
         if peer_ids.is_empty() {
             return Err(Error::NoPeers);
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ impl Behaviour {
         for peer_id in peer_ids.into_iter() {
             tracing::debug!("Registering event for peer {:?} to send msg", peer_id);
             self.events.push_back(ToSwarm::NotifyHandler {
-                peer_id,
+                peer_id: *peer_id,
                 handler: NotifyHandler::Any,
                 event: FromBehaviour::Message(message.clone()),
             });
@@ -189,6 +190,12 @@ impl NetworkBehaviour for Behaviour {
         match event {
             // A message was forwarded from the peer.
             ToBehaviour::Message(message) => {
+                // Ignore drop message
+                if is_drop_message(&message) {
+                    return;
+                }
+
+                // Add the message to the cache. If it was already seen, ignore it.
                 if self
                     .duplicate_cache
                     .cache_set(message_id(&message), ())
@@ -203,25 +210,10 @@ impl NetworkBehaviour for Behaviour {
                     tracing::error!("Failed to forward message: {e:?}");
                 }
 
-                // Try to unwrap the message.
-                // TODO: Abstract as Tier 2: Cryptographic Processor & Temporal Processor
-                match unwrap_message(&message) {
-                    Ok((unwrapped_msg, fully_unwrapped)) => {
-                        if fully_unwrapped {
-                            self.events.push_back(ToSwarm::GenerateEvent(
-                                Event::FullyUnwrappedMessage(unwrapped_msg),
-                            ));
-                        } else if let Err(e) = self.forward_message(unwrapped_msg, None) {
-                            tracing::error!("Failed to forward message: {:?}", e);
-                        }
-                    }
-                    Err(nomos_mix_message::Error::MsgUnwrapNotAllowed) => {
-                        tracing::debug!("Message cannot be unwrapped by this node");
-                    }
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        tracing::error!("Failed to unwrap message: {:?}", e);
-                    }
-                }
+                // Notify the swarm about the received message,
+                // so that it can be processed by the core protocol module.
+                self.events
+                    .push_back(ToSwarm::GenerateEvent(Event::Message(message)));
             }
             // The connection was fully negotiated by the peer,
             // which means that the peer supports the mix protocol.
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs b/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs
index 7271bdd7..09f45415 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/src/handler.rs
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@ use std::{
     collections::VecDeque,
     io,
     task::{Context, Poll, Waker},
-    time::Duration,
 };
 
 use futures::{future::BoxFuture, AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt, FutureExt};
-use futures_timer::Delay;
 use libp2p::{
     core::upgrade::ReadyUpgrade,
     swarm::{
@@ -15,20 +13,19 @@ use libp2p::{
     },
     Stream, StreamProtocol,
 };
-use nomos_mix_message::{is_noise, MSG_SIZE, NOISE};
-use nomos_mix_queue::{NonMixQueue, Queue};
+use nomos_mix_message::MSG_SIZE;
 
 use crate::behaviour::Config;
 
 const PROTOCOL_NAME: StreamProtocol = StreamProtocol::new("/nomos/mix/0.1.0");
 
+// TODO: Consider replacing this struct with libp2p_stream ConnectionHandler
+//       because we don't implement persistent emission in the per-connection level anymore.
 /// A [`ConnectionHandler`] that handles the mix protocol.
 pub struct MixConnectionHandler {
     inbound_substream: Option<MsgRecvFuture>,
     outbound_substream: Option<OutboundSubstreamState>,
-    interval: Duration, // TODO: use absolute time
-    timer: Delay,
-    queue: Box<dyn Queue<Vec<u8>> + Send>,
+    outbound_msgs: VecDeque<Vec<u8>>,
     pending_events_to_behaviour: VecDeque<ToBehaviour>,
     waker: Option<Waker>,
 }
@@ -46,15 +43,11 @@ enum OutboundSubstreamState {
 }
 
 impl MixConnectionHandler {
-    pub fn new(config: &Config) -> Self {
-        let interval_sec = 1.0 / config.transmission_rate;
-        let interval = Duration::from_millis((interval_sec * 1000.0) as u64);
+    pub fn new(_config: &Config) -> Self {
         Self {
             inbound_substream: None,
             outbound_substream: None,
-            interval,
-            timer: Delay::new(interval),
-            queue: Box::new(NonMixQueue::new(NOISE.to_vec())),
+            outbound_msgs: VecDeque::new(),
             pending_events_to_behaviour: VecDeque::new(),
             waker: None,
         }
@@ -109,17 +102,17 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for MixConnectionHandler {
         }
 
         // Process inbound stream
+        // TODO: Measure message frequencies and compare them to the desired frequencies
+        //       for connection maintenance defined in the Tier 1 spec.
         tracing::debug!("Processing inbound stream");
         if let Some(msg_recv_fut) = self.inbound_substream.as_mut() {
             match msg_recv_fut.poll_unpin(cx) {
                 Poll::Ready(Ok((stream, msg))) => {
                     tracing::debug!("Received message from inbound stream. Notifying behaviour...");
                     self.inbound_substream = Some(recv_msg(stream).boxed());
-                    if !is_noise(&msg) {
-                        return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::NotifyBehaviour(
-                            ToBehaviour::Message(msg),
-                        ));
-                    }
+                    return Poll::Ready(ConnectionHandlerEvent::NotifyBehaviour(
+                        ToBehaviour::Message(msg),
+                    ));
                 }
                 Poll::Ready(Err(e)) => {
                     tracing::error!("Failed to receive message from inbound stream: {:?}", e);
@@ -140,21 +133,22 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for MixConnectionHandler {
                     return Poll::Pending;
                 }
                 // If the substream is idle, and if it's time to send a message, send it.
-                Some(OutboundSubstreamState::Idle(stream)) => match self.timer.poll_unpin(cx) {
-                    Poll::Ready(_) => {
-                        let msg = self.queue.pop();
-                        tracing::debug!("Sending message to outbound stream: {:?}", msg);
-                        self.outbound_substream = Some(OutboundSubstreamState::PendingSend(
-                            send_msg(stream, msg).boxed(),
-                        ));
-                        self.timer.reset(self.interval);
+                Some(OutboundSubstreamState::Idle(stream)) => {
+                    match self.outbound_msgs.pop_front() {
+                        Some(msg) => {
+                            tracing::debug!("Sending message to outbound stream: {:?}", msg);
+                            self.outbound_substream = Some(OutboundSubstreamState::PendingSend(
+                                send_msg(stream, msg).boxed(),
+                            ));
+                        }
+                        None => {
+                            tracing::debug!("Nothing to send to outbound stream");
+                            self.outbound_substream = Some(OutboundSubstreamState::Idle(stream));
+                            self.waker = Some(cx.waker().clone());
+                            return Poll::Pending;
+                        }
                     }
-                    Poll::Pending => {
-                        self.outbound_substream = Some(OutboundSubstreamState::Idle(stream));
-                        self.waker = Some(cx.waker().clone());
-                        return Poll::Pending;
-                    }
-                },
+                }
                 // If a message is being sent, check if it's done.
                 Some(OutboundSubstreamState::PendingSend(mut msg_send_fut)) => {
                     match msg_send_fut.poll_unpin(cx) {
@@ -191,7 +185,7 @@ impl ConnectionHandler for MixConnectionHandler {
     fn on_behaviour_event(&mut self, event: Self::FromBehaviour) {
         match event {
             FromBehaviour::Message(msg) => {
-                self.queue.push(msg);
+                self.outbound_msgs.push_back(msg);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs b/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs
index 4a5e3c94..1de9838c 100644
--- a/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs
+++ b/nomos-mix/network/src/lib.rs
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ mod test {
         swarm::{dummy, NetworkBehaviour, SwarmEvent},
         Multiaddr, PeerId, Swarm, SwarmBuilder,
     };
-    use nomos_mix_message::{new_message, MSG_SIZE};
+    use nomos_mix_message::MSG_SIZE;
     use tokio::select;
 
     use crate::{behaviour::Config, error::Error, Behaviour, Event};
 
-    /// Check that an wrapped message is forwarded through mix nodes and unwrapped successfully.
+    /// Check that a published messsage arrives in the peers successfully.
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn behaviour() {
         let k1 = libp2p::identity::Keypair::generate_ed25519();
@@ -33,23 +33,17 @@ mod test {
         let addr: Multiaddr = "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/5073/quic-v1".parse().unwrap();
         let addr_with_peer_id = addr.clone().with_p2p(peer_id1).unwrap();
 
-        // Spawn swarm1
-        tokio::spawn(async move {
-            swarm1.listen_on(addr).unwrap();
-            loop {
-                swarm1.select_next_some().await;
-            }
-        });
+        // Swarm1 listens on the address.
+        swarm1.listen_on(addr).unwrap();
 
         // Dial to swarm1 from swarm2
         tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
         swarm2.dial(addr_with_peer_id).unwrap();
         tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
 
-        // Prepare a task for swarm2 to publish a two-layer wrapped message,
-        // receive an one-layer unwrapped message from swarm1,
-        // and return a fully unwrapped message.
+        // Swamr2 publishes a message.
         let task = async {
+            let msg = vec![1; MSG_SIZE];
             let mut msg_published = false;
             let mut publish_try_interval = tokio::time::interval(Duration::from_secs(1));
             loop {
@@ -58,18 +52,18 @@ mod test {
                     // (It will fail until swarm2 is connected to swarm1 successfully.)
                     _ = publish_try_interval.tick() => {
                         if !msg_published {
-                            // Prepare a message wrapped in two layers
-                            let msg = new_message(&[1; MSG_SIZE - 1], 2).unwrap();
-                            msg_published = swarm2.behaviour_mut().publish(msg).is_ok();
+                            msg_published = swarm2.behaviour_mut().publish(msg.clone()).is_ok();
                         }
                     }
-                    // Proceed swarm2
-                    event = swarm2.select_next_some() => {
-                        if let SwarmEvent::Behaviour(Event::FullyUnwrappedMessage(message)) = event {
-                            println!("SWARM2 FULLY_UNWRAPPED_MESSAGE: {:?}", message);
+                    // Proceed swarm1
+                    event = swarm1.select_next_some() => {
+                        if let SwarmEvent::Behaviour(Event::Message(received_msg)) = event {
+                            assert_eq!(received_msg, msg);
                             break;
                         };
                     }
+                    // Proceed swarm2
+                    _ = swarm2.select_next_some() => {}
                 }
             }
         };
@@ -94,13 +88,8 @@ mod test {
         let addr: Multiaddr = "/ip4/127.0.0.1/udp/5074/quic-v1".parse().unwrap();
         let addr_with_peer_id = addr.clone().with_p2p(peer_id1).unwrap();
 
-        // Spawn swarm1
-        tokio::spawn(async move {
-            swarm1.listen_on(addr).unwrap();
-            loop {
-                swarm1.select_next_some().await;
-            }
-        });
+        // Swarm1 listens on the address.
+        swarm1.listen_on(addr).unwrap();
 
         // Dial to swarm1 from swarm2
         tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_secs(1)).await;
@@ -109,18 +98,19 @@ mod test {
 
         // Expect all publish attempts to fail with [`Error::NoPeers`]
         // because swarm2 doesn't have any peers that support the mix protocol.
+        let msg = vec![1; MSG_SIZE];
         let mut publish_try_interval = tokio::time::interval(Duration::from_secs(1));
         let mut publish_try_count = 0;
         loop {
             select! {
                 _ = publish_try_interval.tick() => {
-                    let msg = new_message(&[10; MSG_SIZE - 1], 1).unwrap();
-                    assert!(matches!(swarm2.behaviour_mut().publish(msg), Err(Error::NoPeers)));
+                    assert!(matches!(swarm2.behaviour_mut().publish(msg.clone()), Err(Error::NoPeers)));
                     publish_try_count += 1;
                     if publish_try_count >= 10 {
                         break;
                     }
                 }
+                _ = swarm1.select_next_some() => {}
                 _ = swarm2.select_next_some() => {}
             }
         }
@@ -130,7 +120,6 @@ mod test {
         new_swarm_with_behaviour(
             key,
             Behaviour::new(Config {
-                transmission_rate: 1.0,
                 duplicate_cache_lifespan: 60,
             }),
         )
diff --git a/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs b/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs
index 67716096..8ab1b94e 100644
--- a/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/data-availability/tests/src/common.rs
@@ -305,7 +305,6 @@ pub fn new_mix_configs(listening_addresses: Vec<Multiaddr>) -> Vec<Libp2pMixBack
             node_key: ed25519::SecretKey::generate(),
             membership: Vec::new(),
             peering_degree: 1,
-            num_mix_layers: 1,
         })
         .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
diff --git a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs
index 65d1448d..7a891d0b 100644
--- a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/libp2p.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub struct Libp2pMixBackend {
     #[allow(dead_code)]
     task: JoinHandle<()>,
     swarm_message_sender: mpsc::Sender<MixSwarmMessage>,
-    fully_unwrapped_message_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
+    incoming_message_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ pub struct Libp2pMixBackendSettings {
     pub node_key: ed25519::SecretKey,
     pub membership: Vec<Multiaddr>,
     pub peering_degree: usize,
-    pub num_mix_layers: usize,
 }
 
 const CHANNEL_SIZE: usize = 64;
@@ -47,15 +46,14 @@ impl MixBackend for Libp2pMixBackend {
 
     fn new(config: Self::Settings, overwatch_handle: OverwatchHandle) -> Self {
         let (swarm_message_sender, swarm_message_receiver) = mpsc::channel(CHANNEL_SIZE);
-        let (fully_unwrapped_message_sender, _) = broadcast::channel(CHANNEL_SIZE);
+        let (incoming_message_sender, _) = broadcast::channel(CHANNEL_SIZE);
 
         let keypair = Keypair::from(ed25519::Keypair::from(config.node_key.clone()));
         let local_peer_id = keypair.public().to_peer_id();
         let mut swarm = MixSwarm::new(
             keypair,
-            config.num_mix_layers,
             swarm_message_receiver,
-            fully_unwrapped_message_sender.clone(),
+            incoming_message_sender.clone(),
         );
 
         swarm
@@ -89,25 +87,23 @@ impl MixBackend for Libp2pMixBackend {
         Self {
             task,
             swarm_message_sender,
-            fully_unwrapped_message_sender,
+            incoming_message_sender,
         }
     }
 
-    async fn mix(&self, msg: Vec<u8>) {
+    async fn publish(&self, msg: Vec<u8>) {
         if let Err(e) = self
             .swarm_message_sender
-            .send(MixSwarmMessage::Mix(msg))
+            .send(MixSwarmMessage::Publish(msg))
             .await
         {
             tracing::error!("Failed to send message to MixSwarm: {e}");
         }
     }
 
-    fn listen_to_fully_unwrapped_messages(
-        &mut self,
-    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Vec<u8>> + Send>> {
+    fn listen_to_incoming_messages(&mut self) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Vec<u8>> + Send>> {
         Box::pin(
-            BroadcastStream::new(self.fully_unwrapped_message_sender.subscribe())
+            BroadcastStream::new(self.incoming_message_sender.subscribe())
                 .filter_map(|event| async { event.ok() }),
         )
     }
@@ -115,29 +111,26 @@ impl MixBackend for Libp2pMixBackend {
 
 struct MixSwarm {
     swarm: Swarm<nomos_mix_network::Behaviour>,
-    num_mix_layers: usize,
     swarm_messages_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<MixSwarmMessage>,
-    fully_unwrapped_messages_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
+    incoming_message_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum MixSwarmMessage {
-    Mix(Vec<u8>),
+    Publish(Vec<u8>),
 }
 
 impl MixSwarm {
     fn new(
         keypair: Keypair,
-        num_mix_layers: usize,
         swarm_messages_receiver: mpsc::Receiver<MixSwarmMessage>,
-        fully_unwrapped_messages_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
+        incoming_message_sender: broadcast::Sender<Vec<u8>>,
     ) -> Self {
         let swarm = SwarmBuilder::with_existing_identity(keypair)
             .with_tokio()
             .with_quic()
             .with_behaviour(|_| {
                 nomos_mix_network::Behaviour::new(nomos_mix_network::Config {
-                    transmission_rate: 1.0,
                     duplicate_cache_lifespan: 60,
                 })
             })
@@ -149,9 +142,8 @@ impl MixSwarm {
 
         Self {
             swarm,
-            num_mix_layers,
             swarm_messages_receiver,
-            fully_unwrapped_messages_sender,
+            incoming_message_sender,
         }
     }
 
@@ -178,18 +170,9 @@ impl MixSwarm {
 
     async fn handle_swarm_message(&mut self, msg: MixSwarmMessage) {
         match msg {
-            MixSwarmMessage::Mix(msg) => {
-                tracing::debug!("Wrap msg and send it to mix network: {msg:?}");
-                match nomos_mix_message::new_message(&msg, self.num_mix_layers.try_into().unwrap())
-                {
-                    Ok(wrapped_msg) => {
-                        if let Err(e) = self.swarm.behaviour_mut().publish(wrapped_msg) {
-                            tracing::error!("Failed to publish message to mix network: {e:?}");
-                        }
-                    }
-                    Err(e) => {
-                        tracing::error!("Failed to wrap message: {e:?}");
-                    }
+            MixSwarmMessage::Publish(msg) => {
+                if let Err(e) = self.swarm.behaviour_mut().publish(msg) {
+                    tracing::error!("Failed to publish message to mix network: {e:?}");
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -197,9 +180,9 @@ impl MixSwarm {
 
     fn handle_event(&mut self, event: SwarmEvent<nomos_mix_network::Event>) {
         match event {
-            SwarmEvent::Behaviour(nomos_mix_network::Event::FullyUnwrappedMessage(msg)) => {
-                tracing::debug!("Received fully unwrapped message: {msg:?}");
-                self.fully_unwrapped_messages_sender.send(msg).unwrap();
+            SwarmEvent::Behaviour(nomos_mix_network::Event::Message(msg)) => {
+                tracing::debug!("Received message from a peer: {msg:?}");
+                self.incoming_message_sender.send(msg).unwrap();
             }
             SwarmEvent::Behaviour(nomos_mix_network::Event::Error(e)) => {
                 tracing::error!("Received error from mix network: {e:?}");
diff --git a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs
index 24a8e960..f983b2f9 100644
--- a/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/mix/src/backends/mod.rs
@@ -12,9 +12,8 @@ pub trait MixBackend {
     type Settings: Clone + Debug + Send + Sync + 'static;
 
     fn new(config: Self::Settings, overwatch_handle: OverwatchHandle) -> Self;
-    async fn mix(&self, msg: Vec<u8>);
-    /// Listen to fully unwrapped messages returned from the mix network
-    /// if this node is the last node that can unwrap the data message.
-    fn listen_to_fully_unwrapped_messages(&mut self)
-        -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Vec<u8>> + Send>>;
+    /// Publish a message to the mix network.
+    async fn publish(&self, msg: Vec<u8>);
+    /// Listen to messages received from the mix network.
+    fn listen_to_incoming_messages(&mut self) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = Vec<u8>> + Send>>;
 }
diff --git a/nomos-services/mix/src/lib.rs b/nomos-services/mix/src/lib.rs
index 225fbad7..d937b6c4 100644
--- a/nomos-services/mix/src/lib.rs
+++ b/nomos-services/mix/src/lib.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use backends::MixBackend;
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use network::NetworkAdapter;
 use nomos_core::wire;
+use nomos_mix_message::{new_message, unwrap_message};
 use nomos_network::NetworkService;
 use overwatch_rs::services::{
     handle::ServiceStateHandle,
@@ -80,16 +81,21 @@ where
         let network_relay = network_relay.connect().await?;
         let network_adapter = Network::new(network_relay);
 
-        // A channel to listen to fully unwrapped messages returned from the [`MixBackend`]
-        // if this node is the last node that can unwrap the data message.
-        let mut fully_unwrapped_messages_receiver = backend.listen_to_fully_unwrapped_messages();
+        // TODO: Spawn PersistentTransmission (Tier 1)
+        // TODO: Spawn Processor (Tier 2) and connect it to PersistentTransmission
+
+        // A channel to listen to messages received from the [`MixBackend`]
+        let mut incoming_message_stream = backend.listen_to_incoming_messages();
 
         let mut lifecycle_stream = service_state.lifecycle_handle.message_stream();
         loop {
             tokio::select! {
-                Some(msg) = fully_unwrapped_messages_receiver.next() => {
-                    tracing::debug!("Received fully unwrapped message from mix backend. Broadcasting it to the network service..");
-                    // Deserialize the received message to get the topic for broadcasting
+                Some(msg) = incoming_message_stream.next() => {
+                    // TODO: The following logic is wrong and temporary.
+                    //   Here we're unwrapping the message and broadcasting it,
+                    //   but the message should be handled by Processor and PersistentTransmission.
+                    let (msg, fully_unwrapped) = unwrap_message(&msg).unwrap();
+                    assert!(fully_unwrapped);
                     match wire::deserialize::<NetworkMessage<Network::BroadcastSettings>>(&msg) {
                         Ok(msg) => {
                             network_adapter.broadcast(msg.message, msg.broadcast_settings).await;
@@ -127,7 +133,11 @@ where
             ServiceMessage::Mix(msg) => {
                 // split sending in two steps to help the compiler understand we do not
                 // need to hold an instance of &I (which is not send) across an await point
-                let _send = backend.mix(wire::serialize(&msg).unwrap());
+                // TODO: The following logic is wrong and temporary.
+                //   Here we're wrapping the message here and publishing the message immediately,
+                //   but the message should be handled by Processor and PersistentTransmission.
+                let wrapped_msg = new_message(&wire::serialize(&msg).unwrap(), 1).unwrap();
+                let _send = backend.publish(wrapped_msg);
                 _send.await
             }
         }
diff --git a/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs b/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs
index abc396c9..318f2e85 100644
--- a/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs
+++ b/tests/src/topology/configs/mix.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ pub fn create_mix_configs(ids: &[[u8; 32]]) -> Vec<GeneralMixConfig> {
                     node_key,
                     membership: Vec::new(),
                     peering_degree: 1,
-                    num_mix_layers: 1,
                 },
             }
         })