diff --git a/channels/channelMessages.pb.go b/channels/channelMessages.pb.go
index 9278da8a9a0bdc2bf16054baacfe5c365a9cb248..f9fe30584be5787e7b73924071839cb87ef233a9 100644
--- a/channels/channelMessages.pb.go
+++ b/channels/channelMessages.pb.go
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ type ChannelMessage struct {
 	// Payload is the actual message payload. It will be processed differently
 	// based on the PayloadType.
 	Payload []byte `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=Payload,proto3" json:"Payload,omitempty"`
+	// nickname is the name which the user is using for this message
+	// it will not be longer than 24 characters
+	Nickname string `protobuf:"bytes,5,opt,name=Nickname,proto3" json:"Nickname,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *ChannelMessage) Reset() {
@@ -106,6 +109,13 @@ func (x *ChannelMessage) GetPayload() []byte {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (x *ChannelMessage) GetNickname() string {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Nickname
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
 // UserMessage is a message sent by a user who is a member within the channel.
 type UserMessage struct {
 	state         protoimpl.MessageState
@@ -116,27 +126,14 @@ type UserMessage struct {
 	// end-user has submitted to the channel. This is a serialization of the
 	// ChannelMessage.
 	Message []byte `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=Message,proto3" json:"Message,omitempty"`
-	// ValidationSignature is the signature validating this user owns their
-	// username and may send messages to the channel under this username. This
-	// signature is provided by UD and may be validated by all members of the
-	// channel.
-	//
-	//  ValidationSignature = Sig(UD_ECCPrivKey, Username | ECCPublicKey | UsernameLease)
-	ValidationSignature []byte `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=ValidationSignature,proto3" json:"ValidationSignature,omitempty"`
 	// Signature is the signature proving this message has been sent by the
 	// owner of this user's public key.
 	//
 	//  Signature = Sig(User_ECCPublicKey, Message)
 	Signature []byte `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=Signature,proto3" json:"Signature,omitempty"`
-	// Username is the username the user has registered with the channel and
-	// with UD.
-	Username string `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=Username,proto3" json:"Username,omitempty"`
 	// ECCPublicKey is the user's EC Public key. This is provided by the
 	// network.
 	ECCPublicKey []byte `protobuf:"bytes,5,opt,name=ECCPublicKey,proto3" json:"ECCPublicKey,omitempty"`
-	// UsernameLease is the lease that has been provided to the username. This
-	// value is provide by UD.
-	UsernameLease int64 `protobuf:"varint,6,opt,name=UsernameLease,proto3" json:"UsernameLease,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *UserMessage) Reset() {
@@ -178,13 +175,6 @@ func (x *UserMessage) GetMessage() []byte {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (x *UserMessage) GetValidationSignature() []byte {
-	if x != nil {
-		return x.ValidationSignature
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
 func (x *UserMessage) GetSignature() []byte {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Signature
@@ -192,13 +182,6 @@ func (x *UserMessage) GetSignature() []byte {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (x *UserMessage) GetUsername() string {
-	if x != nil {
-		return x.Username
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
 func (x *UserMessage) GetECCPublicKey() []byte {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.ECCPublicKey
@@ -206,43 +189,31 @@ func (x *UserMessage) GetECCPublicKey() []byte {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (x *UserMessage) GetUsernameLease() int64 {
-	if x != nil {
-		return x.UsernameLease
-	}
-	return 0
-}
-
 var File_channelMessages_proto protoreflect.FileDescriptor
 
 var file_channelMessages_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
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 }
 
 var (