diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 98a70afd7b..e0f32dda3d 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -4404,6 +4404,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-pemstore",
  "nym-sphinx-addressing",
  "nym-sphinx-params",
+ "nym-sphinx-routing",
  "nym-sphinx-types",
  "nym-topology",
  "rand 0.7.3",
@@ -4431,6 +4432,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-crypto",
  "nym-sphinx-addressing",
  "nym-sphinx-params",
+ "nym-sphinx-routing",
  "nym-sphinx-types",
  "nym-topology",
  "rand 0.7.3",
@@ -4462,6 +4464,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-sphinx-chunking",
  "nym-sphinx-forwarding",
  "nym-sphinx-params",
+ "nym-sphinx-routing",
  "nym-sphinx-types",
  "nym-topology",
  "rand 0.7.3",
diff --git a/clients/webassembly/Cargo.lock b/clients/webassembly/Cargo.lock
index c7792f6697..e87614acf9 100644
--- a/clients/webassembly/Cargo.lock
+++ b/clients/webassembly/Cargo.lock
@@ -2240,7 +2240,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-bin-common"
-version = "0.5.0"
+version = "0.6.0"
 dependencies = [
  "atty",
  "clap",
@@ -2255,7 +2255,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-client-core"
-version = "1.1.14"
+version = "1.1.15"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "base64 0.21.2",
@@ -2300,7 +2300,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-client-wasm"
-version = "1.1.0"
+version = "1.1.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-trait",
@@ -2884,6 +2884,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-service-provider-directory-common",
  "nym-vesting-contract",
  "nym-vesting-contract-common",
+ "openssl",
  "prost",
  "reqwest",
  "serde",
@@ -2974,6 +2975,15 @@ version = "0.1.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ff011a302c396a5197692431fc1948019154afc178baf7d8e37367442a4601cf"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "openssl-src"
+version = "111.26.0+1.1.1u"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "efc62c9f12b22b8f5208c23a7200a442b2e5999f8bdf80233852122b5a4f6f37"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "openssl-sys"
 version = "0.9.87"
@@ -2982,6 +2992,7 @@ checksum = "8e17f59264b2809d77ae94f0e1ebabc434773f370d6ca667bd223ea10e06cc7e"
 dependencies = [
  "cc",
  "libc",
+ "openssl-src",
  "pkg-config",
  "vcpkg",
 ]
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/Cargo.toml b/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/Cargo.toml
index a54f3d6fd0..95b3d8b30c 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,11 +15,12 @@ thiserror = { workspace = true }
 zeroize = { workspace = true }
 
 nym-crypto = { path = "../../crypto", features = ["symmetric", "rand"] }
+nym-pemstore = { path = "../../pemstore" }
 nym-sphinx-addressing = { path = "../addressing" }
 nym-sphinx-params = { path = "../params" }
+nym-sphinx-routing = { path = "../routing" }
 nym-sphinx-types = { path = "../types" }
-nym-pemstore = { path = "../../pemstore" }
 nym-topology = { path = "../../topology" }
 
 [features]
-serde = ["serde_crate", "generic-array"]
\ No newline at end of file
+serde = ["serde_crate", "generic-array"]
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/src/surb_ack.rs b/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/src/surb_ack.rs
index 6fb5b26c18..e623d4e738 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/src/surb_ack.rs
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/acknowledgements/src/surb_ack.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use nym_sphinx_addressing::nodes::{
 };
 use nym_sphinx_params::packet_sizes::PacketSize;
 use nym_sphinx_params::{PacketType, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS};
-use nym_sphinx_types::delays::{self, Delay};
+use nym_sphinx_types::delays::Delay;
 use nym_sphinx_types::{NymPacket, NymPacketError, MIN_PACKET_SIZE};
 use nym_topology::{NymTopology, NymTopologyError};
 use rand::{CryptoRng, RngCore};
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl SurbAck {
     {
         let route =
             topology.random_route_to_gateway(rng, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS, recipient.gateway())?;
-        let delays = delays::generate_from_average_duration(route.len(), average_delay);
+        let delays = nym_sphinx_routing::generate_hop_delays(average_delay, route.len());
         let destination = recipient.as_sphinx_destination();
 
         let surb_ack_payload = prepare_identifier(rng, ack_key, marshaled_fragment_id);
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/Cargo.toml b/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/Cargo.toml
index 39d16f0b50..49367da152 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ thiserror = "1"
 nym-crypto = { path = "../../crypto", features = ["symmetric", "rand"] }
 nym-sphinx-addressing = { path = "../addressing" }
 nym-sphinx-params = { path = "../params" }
+nym-sphinx-routing = { path = "../routing" }
 nym-sphinx-types = { path = "../types" }
 nym-topology = { path = "../../topology" }
 
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/src/reply_surb.rs b/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/src/reply_surb.rs
index 82fc8ea573..877e83023d 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/src/reply_surb.rs
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/anonymous-replies/src/reply_surb.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use nym_sphinx_addressing::clients::Recipient;
 use nym_sphinx_addressing::nodes::{NymNodeRoutingAddress, MAX_NODE_ADDRESS_UNPADDED_LEN};
 use nym_sphinx_params::packet_sizes::PacketSize;
 use nym_sphinx_params::{PacketType, ReplySurbKeyDigestAlgorithm, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS};
-use nym_sphinx_types::{delays, NymPacket, SURBMaterial, SphinxError, SURB};
+use nym_sphinx_types::{NymPacket, SURBMaterial, SphinxError, SURB};
 use nym_topology::{NymTopology, NymTopologyError};
 use rand::{CryptoRng, RngCore};
 use serde::de::{Error as SerdeError, Visitor};
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ impl ReplySurb {
     {
         let route =
             topology.random_route_to_gateway(rng, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS, recipient.gateway())?;
-        let delays = delays::generate_from_average_duration(route.len(), average_delay);
+        let delays = nym_sphinx_routing::generate_hop_delays(average_delay, route.len());
         let destination = recipient.as_sphinx_destination();
 
         let surb_material = SURBMaterial::new(route, delays, destination);
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/cover/Cargo.toml b/common/nymsphinx/cover/Cargo.toml
index f1558d3676..e700327c93 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/cover/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/cover/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@ nym-crypto = { path = "../../crypto" }
 nym-sphinx-acknowledgements = { path = "../acknowledgements" }
 nym-sphinx-addressing = { path = "../addressing" }
 nym-sphinx-chunking = { path = "../chunking" }
-nym-sphinx-params = { path = "../params" }
 nym-sphinx-forwarding = { path = "../forwarding" }
+nym-sphinx-params = { path = "../params" }
+nym-sphinx-routing = { path = "../routing" }
 nym-sphinx-types = { path = "../types" }
 nym-topology = { path = "../../topology" }
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/cover/src/lib.rs b/common/nymsphinx/cover/src/lib.rs
index bd2714c3ac..05f4cffe33 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/cover/src/lib.rs
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/cover/src/lib.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use nym_sphinx_params::packet_sizes::PacketSize;
 use nym_sphinx_params::{
     PacketEncryptionAlgorithm, PacketHkdfAlgorithm, PacketType, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS,
 };
-use nym_sphinx_types::{delays, NymPacket};
+use nym_sphinx_types::NymPacket;
 use nym_topology::{NymTopology, NymTopologyError};
 use rand::{CryptoRng, RngCore};
 use std::convert::TryFrom;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ where
 
     let route =
         topology.random_route_to_gateway(rng, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS, full_address.gateway())?;
-    let delays = delays::generate_from_average_duration(route.len(), average_packet_delay);
+    let delays = nym_sphinx_routing::generate_hop_delays(average_packet_delay, route.len());
     let destination = full_address.as_sphinx_destination();
 
     let first_hop_address =
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/routing/src/lib.rs b/common/nymsphinx/routing/src/lib.rs
index a7067f252c..e8881b409d 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/routing/src/lib.rs
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/routing/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 // Copyright 2023 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+use std::time::Duration;
+
 use nym_sphinx_addressing::clients::Recipient;
-use nym_sphinx_types::Node;
+use nym_sphinx_types::{delays, Delay, Node};
 use thiserror::Error;
 
 pub trait SphinxRouteMaker {
@@ -41,3 +43,11 @@ impl SphinxRouteMaker for Vec<Node> {
         }
     }
 }
+
+pub fn generate_hop_delays(average_packet_delay: Duration, num_hops: usize) -> Vec<Delay> {
+    if average_packet_delay.is_zero() {
+        vec![nym_sphinx_types::Delay::new_from_millis(0); num_hops]
+    } else {
+        delays::generate_from_average_duration(num_hops, average_packet_delay)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/nymsphinx/src/preparer/mod.rs b/common/nymsphinx/src/preparer/mod.rs
index e97a9d011f..64b8de3ae4 100644
--- a/common/nymsphinx/src/preparer/mod.rs
+++ b/common/nymsphinx/src/preparer/mod.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use nym_sphinx_chunking::fragment::{Fragment, FragmentIdentifier};
 use nym_sphinx_forwarding::packet::MixPacket;
 use nym_sphinx_params::packet_sizes::PacketSize;
 use nym_sphinx_params::{PacketType, ReplySurbKeyDigestAlgorithm, DEFAULT_NUM_MIX_HOPS};
-use nym_sphinx_types::{delays, Delay, NymPacket};
+use nym_sphinx_types::{Delay, NymPacket};
 use nym_topology::{NymTopology, NymTopologyError};
 use rand::{CryptoRng, Rng};
 use std::convert::TryFrom;
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ pub trait FragmentPreparer {
 
         // including set of delays
         let delays =
-            delays::generate_from_average_duration(route.len(), self.average_packet_delay());
+            nym_sphinx_routing::generate_hop_delays(self.average_packet_delay(), route.len());
 
         // create the actual sphinx packet here. With valid route and correct payload size,
         // there's absolutely no reason for this call to fail.
diff --git a/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock b/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock
index a3e407020a..e15065fe12 100644
--- a/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock
+++ b/nym-connect/desktop/Cargo.lock
@@ -3220,7 +3220,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-bin-common"
-version = "0.5.0"
+version = "0.6.0"
 dependencies = [
  "atty",
  "clap",
@@ -3235,7 +3235,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-client-core"
-version = "1.1.14"
+version = "1.1.15"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "base64 0.21.2",
@@ -3365,6 +3365,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-credential-storage",
  "nym-crypto",
  "nym-socks5-client-core",
+ "nym-sphinx",
  "nym-task",
  "pretty_env_logger",
  "rand 0.8.5",
@@ -3906,6 +3907,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-service-provider-directory-common",
  "nym-vesting-contract",
  "nym-vesting-contract-common",
+ "openssl",
  "prost",
  "reqwest",
  "serde",
@@ -4045,6 +4047,15 @@ version = "0.1.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ff011a302c396a5197692431fc1948019154afc178baf7d8e37367442a4601cf"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "openssl-src"
+version = "111.26.0+1.1.1u"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "efc62c9f12b22b8f5208c23a7200a442b2e5999f8bdf80233852122b5a4f6f37"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "openssl-sys"
 version = "0.9.82"
@@ -4054,6 +4065,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "autocfg",
  "cc",
  "libc",
+ "openssl-src",
  "pkg-config",
  "vcpkg",
 ]
diff --git a/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml b/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
index a27c6ccc55..13324c003c 100644
--- a/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
+++ b/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/Cargo.toml
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ nym-crypto = { path = "../../../common/crypto" }
 nym-credential-storage = { path = "../../../common/credential-storage" }
 nym-bin-common = { path = "../../../common/bin-common"}
 nym-socks5-client-core = { path = "../../../common/socks5-client-core" }
+nym-sphinx = { path = "../../../common/nymsphinx" }
 nym-task = { path = "../../../common/task" }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
diff --git a/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/main.rs b/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/main.rs
index aef1f08fae..3ea171f279 100644
--- a/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/main.rs
+++ b/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/main.rs
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ mod tasks;
 mod window;
 
 fn main() {
+    if std::env::var("NYM_CONNECT_ENABLE_MEDIUM").is_ok() {
+        std::env::set_var("NYM_CONNECT_DISABLE_COVER", "1");
+        std::env::set_var("NYM_CONNECT_ENABLE_MIXED_SIZE_PACKETS", "1");
+        std::env::set_var("NYM_CONNECT_DISABLE_PER_HOP_DELAYS", "1");
+    }
     setup_env(None);
     println!("Starting up...");
 
diff --git a/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/tasks.rs b/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/tasks.rs
index 9e70500dd0..1645bb5b60 100644
--- a/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/tasks.rs
+++ b/nym-connect/desktop/src-tauri/src/tasks.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ use nym_client_core::client::base_client::storage::{MixnetClientStorage, OnDiskP
 use nym_client_core::{config::GatewayEndpointConfig, error::ClientCoreStatusMessage};
 use nym_socks5_client_core::NymClient as Socks5NymClient;
 use nym_socks5_client_core::Socks5ControlMessageSender;
+use nym_sphinx::params::PacketSize;
 use nym_task::manager::TaskStatus;
 use std::sync::Arc;
+use std::time::Duration;
 use tap::TapFallible;
 use tokio::sync::RwLock;
 
@@ -39,7 +41,7 @@ pub async fn start_nym_socks5_client(
     GatewayEndpointConfig,
 )> {
     log::info!("Loading config from file: {id}");
-    let config = Config::read_from_default_path(id)
+    let mut config = Config::read_from_default_path(id)
         .tap_err(|_| log::warn!("Failed to load configuration file"))?;
 
     let storage =
@@ -53,6 +55,21 @@ pub async fn start_nym_socks5_client(
         .expect("failed to load gateway details")
         .into();
 
+    // Disable both the loop cover traffic that runs in the background as well as the Poisson
+    // process that injects cover traffic into the traffic stream.
+    if std::env::var("NYM_CONNECT_DISABLE_COVER").is_ok() {
+        config.core.base.set_no_cover_traffic();
+    }
+
+    if std::env::var("NYM_CONNECT_ENABLE_MIXED_SIZE_PACKETS").is_ok() {
+        config.core.base.debug.traffic.secondary_packet_size = Some(PacketSize::ExtendedPacket16);
+    }
+
+    if std::env::var("NYM_CONNECT_DISABLE_PER_HOP_DELAY").is_ok() {
+        config.core.base.debug.traffic.average_packet_delay = Duration::ZERO;
+        config.core.base.debug.acknowledgements.average_ack_delay = Duration::ZERO;
+    }
+
     log::info!("Starting socks5 client");
 
     // Channel to send control messages to the socks5 client
diff --git a/nym-wallet/Cargo.lock b/nym-wallet/Cargo.lock
index 218ce62300..70502fc84a 100644
--- a/nym-wallet/Cargo.lock
+++ b/nym-wallet/Cargo.lock
@@ -2915,7 +2915,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym-bin-common"
-version = "0.5.0"
+version = "0.6.0"
 dependencies = [
  "atty",
  "clap",
@@ -3220,6 +3220,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nym-service-provider-directory-common",
  "nym-vesting-contract",
  "nym-vesting-contract-common",
+ "openssl",
  "prost",
  "reqwest",
  "serde",
@@ -3297,7 +3298,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "nym_wallet"
-version = "1.2.4"
+version = "1.2.5"
 dependencies = [
  "async-trait",
  "base64 0.13.1",
@@ -3447,6 +3448,15 @@ version = "0.1.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ff011a302c396a5197692431fc1948019154afc178baf7d8e37367442a4601cf"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "openssl-src"
+version = "111.26.0+1.1.1u"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "efc62c9f12b22b8f5208c23a7200a442b2e5999f8bdf80233852122b5a4f6f37"
+dependencies = [
+ "cc",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "openssl-sys"
 version = "0.9.80"
@@ -3456,6 +3466,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "autocfg",
  "cc",
  "libc",
+ "openssl-src",
  "pkg-config",
  "vcpkg",
 ]