diff --git a/cabal.project b/cabal.project
index fab9495dc..96cf5badd 100644
--- a/cabal.project
+++ b/cabal.project
@@ -1,6 +1,17 @@
 packages: .
+-- packages: . ../direct-sqlcipher ../sqlcipher-simple
 
 source-repository-package
     type: git
     location: https://github.com/simplex-chat/aeson.git
     tag: 3eb66f9a68f103b5f1489382aad89f5712a64db7
+
+source-repository-package
+    type: git
+    location: https://github.com/simplex-chat/direct-sqlcipher.git
+    tag: 34309410eb2069b029b8fc1872deb1e0db123294
+
+source-repository-package
+    type: git
+    location: https://github.com/simplex-chat/sqlcipher-simple.git
+    tag: 5e154a2aeccc33ead6c243ec07195ab673137221
diff --git a/package.yaml b/package.yaml
index f6999668c..e1aa08780 100644
--- a/package.yaml
+++ b/package.yaml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ dependencies:
   - cryptonite >= 0.27 && < 0.30
   - cryptostore == 0.2.*
   - data-default == 0.7.*
-  - direct-sqlite == 2.3.*
+  - direct-sqlcipher == 2.3.*
   - directory == 1.3.*
   - filepath == 1.4.*
   - http-types == 0.12.*
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ dependencies:
   - random >= 1.1 && < 1.3
   - simple-logger == 0.1.*
   - socks == 0.6.*
-  - sqlite-simple == 0.4.*
+  - sqlcipher-simple == 0.4.*
   - stm == 2.5.*
   - template-haskell == 2.16.*
   - text == 1.2.*
diff --git a/simplexmq.cabal b/simplexmq.cabal
index 88a1e1d02..52f0ee469 100644
--- a/simplexmq.cabal
+++ b/simplexmq.cabal
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ library
     , cryptonite >=0.27 && <0.30
     , cryptostore ==0.2.*
     , data-default ==0.7.*
-    , direct-sqlite ==2.3.*
+    , direct-sqlcipher ==2.3.*
     , directory ==1.3.*
     , filepath ==1.4.*
     , generic-random >=1.3 && <1.5
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ library
     , random >=1.1 && <1.3
     , simple-logger ==0.1.*
     , socks ==0.6.*
-    , sqlite-simple ==0.4.*
+    , sqlcipher-simple ==0.4.*
     , stm ==2.5.*
     , template-haskell ==2.16.*
     , text ==1.2.*
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ executable ntf-server
     , cryptonite >=0.27 && <0.30
     , cryptostore ==0.2.*
     , data-default ==0.7.*
-    , direct-sqlite ==2.3.*
+    , direct-sqlcipher ==2.3.*
     , directory ==1.3.*
     , filepath ==1.4.*
     , generic-random >=1.3 && <1.5
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ executable ntf-server
     , simple-logger ==0.1.*
     , simplexmq
     , socks ==0.6.*
-    , sqlite-simple ==0.4.*
+    , sqlcipher-simple ==0.4.*
     , stm ==2.5.*
     , template-haskell ==2.16.*
     , text ==1.2.*
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ executable smp-agent
     , cryptonite >=0.27 && <0.30
     , cryptostore ==0.2.*
     , data-default ==0.7.*
-    , direct-sqlite ==2.3.*
+    , direct-sqlcipher ==2.3.*
     , directory ==1.3.*
     , filepath ==1.4.*
     , generic-random >=1.3 && <1.5
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ executable smp-agent
     , simple-logger ==0.1.*
     , simplexmq
     , socks ==0.6.*
-    , sqlite-simple ==0.4.*
+    , sqlcipher-simple ==0.4.*
     , stm ==2.5.*
     , template-haskell ==2.16.*
     , text ==1.2.*
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ executable smp-server
     , cryptonite >=0.27 && <0.30
     , cryptostore ==0.2.*
     , data-default ==0.7.*
-    , direct-sqlite ==2.3.*
+    , direct-sqlcipher ==2.3.*
     , directory ==1.3.*
     , filepath ==1.4.*
     , generic-random >=1.3 && <1.5
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ executable smp-server
     , simple-logger ==0.1.*
     , simplexmq
     , socks ==0.6.*
-    , sqlite-simple ==0.4.*
+    , sqlcipher-simple ==0.4.*
     , stm ==2.5.*
     , template-haskell ==2.16.*
     , text ==1.2.*
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test-suite smp-server-test
     , cryptonite >=0.27 && <0.30
     , cryptostore ==0.2.*
     , data-default ==0.7.*
-    , direct-sqlite ==2.3.*
+    , direct-sqlcipher ==2.3.*
     , directory ==1.3.*
     , filepath ==1.4.*
     , generic-random >=1.3 && <1.5
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ test-suite smp-server-test
     , simple-logger ==0.1.*
     , simplexmq
     , socks ==0.6.*
-    , sqlite-simple ==0.4.*
+    , sqlcipher-simple ==0.4.*
     , stm ==2.5.*
     , template-haskell ==2.16.*
     , text ==1.2.*
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs
index c540c30b2..9a9b0e1c0 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Client.hs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ module Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Client
     logServer,
     removeSubscription,
     hasActiveSubscription,
-    agentDbPath,
+    agentStore,
     AgentOperation (..),
     AgentOpState (..),
     AgentState (..),
@@ -232,8 +232,8 @@ newAgentClient InitialAgentServers {smp, ntf, netCfg} agentEnv = do
   lock <- newTMVar ()
   return AgentClient {active, rcvQ, subQ, msgQ, smpServers, smpClients, ntfServers, ntfClients, useNetworkConfig, subscrConns, activeSubs, pendingSubs, connMsgsQueued, smpQueueMsgQueues, smpQueueMsgDeliveries, connCmdsQueued, asyncCmdQueues, asyncCmdProcesses, ntfNetworkOp, rcvNetworkOp, msgDeliveryOp, sndNetworkOp, databaseOp, agentState, getMsgLocks, reconnections, asyncClients, clientId, agentEnv, lock}
 
-agentDbPath :: AgentClient -> FilePath
-agentDbPath AgentClient {agentEnv = Env {store = SQLiteStore {dbFilePath}}} = dbFilePath
+agentStore :: AgentClient -> SQLiteStore
+agentStore AgentClient {agentEnv = Env {store}} = store
 
 class ProtocolServerClient msg where
   getProtocolServerClient :: AgentMonad m => AgentClient -> ProtoServer msg -> m (ProtocolClient msg)
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
index 5e85097d9..9004a2bd9 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Env/SQLite.hs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ module Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Env.SQLite
     defaultReconnectInterval,
     Env (..),
     newSMPAgentEnv,
+    createAgentStore,
     NtfSupervisor (..),
     NtfSupervisorCommand (..),
   )
@@ -65,6 +66,7 @@ data AgentConfig = AgentConfig
     connIdBytes :: Int,
     tbqSize :: Natural,
     dbFile :: FilePath,
+    dbKey :: String,
     yesToMigrations :: Bool,
     smpCfg :: ProtocolClientConfig,
     ntfCfg :: ProtocolClientConfig,
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@ defaultAgentConfig =
       connIdBytes = 12,
       tbqSize = 64,
       dbFile = "smp-agent.db",
+      dbKey = "",
       yesToMigrations = False,
       smpCfg = defaultClientConfig {defaultTransport = (show defaultSMPPort, transport @TLS)},
       ntfCfg = defaultClientConfig {defaultTransport = ("443", transport @TLS)},
@@ -139,14 +142,17 @@ data Env = Env
   }
 
 newSMPAgentEnv :: (MonadUnliftIO m, MonadRandom m) => AgentConfig -> m Env
-newSMPAgentEnv config@AgentConfig {dbFile, yesToMigrations} = do
+newSMPAgentEnv config@AgentConfig {dbFile, dbKey, yesToMigrations} = do
   idsDrg <- newTVarIO =<< drgNew
-  store <- liftIO $ createSQLiteStore dbFile Migrations.app yesToMigrations
+  store <- liftIO $ createAgentStore dbFile dbKey yesToMigrations
   clientCounter <- newTVarIO 0
   randomServer <- newTVarIO =<< liftIO newStdGen
   ntfSupervisor <- atomically . newNtfSubSupervisor $ tbqSize config
   return Env {config, store, idsDrg, clientCounter, randomServer, ntfSupervisor}
 
+createAgentStore :: FilePath -> String -> Bool -> IO SQLiteStore
+createAgentStore dbFilePath dbKey = createSQLiteStore dbFilePath dbKey Migrations.app
+
 data NtfSupervisor = NtfSupervisor
   { ntfTkn :: TVar (Maybe NtfToken),
     ntfSubQ :: TBQueue (ConnId, NtfSupervisorCommand),
diff --git a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs
index 50e752c57..3def1d5a2 100644
--- a/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs
+++ b/src/Simplex/Messaging/Agent/Store/SQLite.hs
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ module Simplex.Messaging.Agent.Store.SQLite
   ( SQLiteStore (..),
     createSQLiteStore,
     connectSQLiteStore,
+    closeSQLiteStore,
+    sqlString,
 
     -- * Queues and connections
     createNewConn,
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ import System.Directory (copyFile, createDirectoryIfMissing, doesFileExist)
 import System.Exit (exitFailure)
 import System.FilePath (takeDirectory)
 import System.IO (hFlush, stdout)
-import UnliftIO.Exception (bracket)
+import UnliftIO.Exception (bracket, onException)
 import qualified UnliftIO.Exception as E
 import UnliftIO.STM
 
@@ -158,28 +160,19 @@ import UnliftIO.STM
 
 data SQLiteStore = SQLiteStore
   { dbFilePath :: FilePath,
+    dbEncrypted :: TVar Bool,
     dbConnection :: TMVar DB.Connection,
     dbNew :: Bool
   }
 
-createSQLiteStore :: FilePath -> [Migration] -> Bool -> IO SQLiteStore
-createSQLiteStore dbFilePath migrations yesToMigrations = do
+createSQLiteStore :: FilePath -> String -> [Migration] -> Bool -> IO SQLiteStore
+createSQLiteStore dbFilePath dbKey migrations yesToMigrations = do
   let dbDir = takeDirectory dbFilePath
   createDirectoryIfMissing False dbDir
-  st <- connectSQLiteStore dbFilePath
-  checkThreadsafe st
-  migrateSchema st migrations yesToMigrations
+  st <- connectSQLiteStore dbFilePath dbKey
+  migrateSchema st migrations yesToMigrations `onException` closeSQLiteStore st
   pure st
 
-checkThreadsafe :: SQLiteStore -> IO ()
-checkThreadsafe st = withConnection st $ \db -> do
-  compileOptions <- DB.query_ db "pragma COMPILE_OPTIONS;" :: IO [[Text]]
-  let threadsafeOption = find (T.isPrefixOf "THREADSAFE=") (concat compileOptions)
-  case threadsafeOption of
-    Just "THREADSAFE=0" -> confirmOrExit "SQLite compiled with non-threadsafe code."
-    Nothing -> putStrLn "Warning: SQLite THREADSAFE compile option not found"
-    _ -> return ()
-
 migrateSchema :: SQLiteStore -> [Migration] -> Bool -> IO ()
 migrateSchema st migrations yesToMigrations = withConnection st $ \db -> do
   Migrations.initialize db
@@ -202,24 +195,38 @@ confirmOrExit s = do
   ok <- getLine
   when (map toLower ok /= "y") exitFailure
 
-connectSQLiteStore :: FilePath -> IO SQLiteStore
-connectSQLiteStore dbFilePath = do
+connectSQLiteStore :: FilePath -> String -> IO SQLiteStore
+connectSQLiteStore dbFilePath dbKey = do
   dbNew <- not <$> doesFileExist dbFilePath
-  dbConnection <- newTMVarIO =<< connectDB dbFilePath
-  pure SQLiteStore {dbFilePath, dbConnection, dbNew}
+  dbConnection <- newTMVarIO =<< connectDB dbFilePath dbKey
+  dbEncrypted <- newTVarIO . not $ null dbKey
+  pure SQLiteStore {dbFilePath, dbEncrypted, dbConnection, dbNew}
 
-connectDB :: FilePath -> IO DB.Connection
-connectDB path = do
-  dbConn <- DB.open path
-  SQLite3.exec (DB.connectionHandle dbConn) . fromQuery $
-    [sql|
-      PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;
-      -- PRAGMA trusted_schema = OFF;
-      PRAGMA secure_delete = ON;
-      PRAGMA auto_vacuum = FULL;
-    |]
-  -- _printPragmas dbConn path
-  pure dbConn
+connectDB :: FilePath -> String -> IO DB.Connection
+connectDB path key = do
+  db <- DB.open path
+  prepare db `onException` DB.close db
+  -- _printPragmas db path
+  pure db
+  where
+    prepare db = do
+      let exec = SQLite3.exec $ DB.connectionHandle db
+      unless (null key) . exec $ "PRAGMA key = " <> sqlString key <> ";"
+      exec . fromQuery $
+        [sql|
+          PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON;
+          -- PRAGMA trusted_schema = OFF;
+          PRAGMA secure_delete = ON;
+          PRAGMA auto_vacuum = FULL;
+        |]
+
+closeSQLiteStore :: SQLiteStore -> IO ()
+closeSQLiteStore st = atomically (takeTMVar $ dbConnection st) >>= DB.close
+
+sqlString :: String -> Text
+sqlString s = quote <> T.replace quote "''" (T.pack s) <> quote
+  where
+    quote = "'"
 
 -- _printPragmas :: DB.Connection -> FilePath -> IO ()
 -- _printPragmas db path = do
diff --git a/stack.yaml b/stack.yaml
index 29af9bcdb..0cc68455c 100644
--- a/stack.yaml
+++ b/stack.yaml
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ extra-deps:
   - time-compat-1.9.6.1@sha256:42d8f2e08e965e1718917d54ad69e1d06bd4b87d66c41dc7410f59313dba4ed1,5033
   - github: simplex-chat/aeson
     commit: 3eb66f9a68f103b5f1489382aad89f5712a64db7
+  # - ../direct-sqlcipher
+  - github: simplex-chat/direct-sqlcipher
+    commit: 34309410eb2069b029b8fc1872deb1e0db123294
+  # - ../sqlcipher-simple
+  - github: simplex-chat/sqlcipher-simple
+    commit: 5e154a2aeccc33ead6c243ec07195ab673137221
   # - ../hs-tls/core
   # - github: simplex-chat/hs-tls
   #   commit: f6cc753611f80af300401cfae63846e9d7c40d9e
diff --git a/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs b/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs
index 6a79fdea2..84ae3e1aa 100644
--- a/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs
+++ b/tests/AgentTests/SQLiteTests.hs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ withStore2 = before connect2 . after (removeStore . fst)
     connect2 :: IO (SQLiteStore, SQLiteStore)
     connect2 = do
       s1 <- createStore
-      s2 <- connectSQLiteStore (dbFilePath s1)
+      s2 <- connectSQLiteStore (dbFilePath s1) ""
       pure (s1, s2)
 
 createStore :: IO SQLiteStore
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ createStore = do
   -- Randomize DB file name to avoid SQLite IO errors supposedly caused by asynchronous
   -- IO operations on multiple similarly named files; error seems to be environment specific
   r <- randomIO :: IO Word32
-  createSQLiteStore (testDB <> show r) Migrations.app True
+  createSQLiteStore (testDB <> show r) "" Migrations.app True
 
 removeStore :: SQLiteStore -> IO ()
 removeStore db = do
diff --git a/tests/AgentTests/SchemaDump.hs b/tests/AgentTests/SchemaDump.hs
index 03baa28b2..43c67a332 100644
--- a/tests/AgentTests/SchemaDump.hs
+++ b/tests/AgentTests/SchemaDump.hs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ schemaDumpTest =
 
 testVerifySchemaDump :: IO ()
 testVerifySchemaDump = do
-  void $ createSQLiteStore testDB Migrations.app False
+  void $ createSQLiteStore testDB "" Migrations.app False
   void $ readCreateProcess (shell $ "touch " <> schema) ""
   savedSchema <- readFile schema
   savedSchema `seq` pure ()