diff --git a/crates/chat/src/room.rs b/crates/chat/src/room.rs
index 7d48ac96..ad37fc8a 100644
--- a/crates/chat/src/room.rs
+++ b/crates/chat/src/room.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use instant::Duration;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use nip4e::DeviceRegistry;
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
-use person::{Directory, Person, PersonRegistry};
+use person::{Directory, Person};
 use settings::{RoomConfig, SignerKind};
 use state::{NostrRegistry, TIMEOUT, UniversalSigner};
 
@@ -431,9 +431,10 @@ impl Room {
         let sender = nostr.read(cx).current_user()?;
 
         // Construct a direct message rumor event
+        //
         // WARNING: never sign and send this event to relays
         let mut tags = self.conversation_tags(&replies, sender, cx);
-        tags.extend(PersonRegistry::emoji_tags(&content, cx));
+        tags.extend(self.member(&sender, cx).emoji_tags(&content));
 
         let mut event = EventBuilder::new(kind, content)
             .tags(tags)
diff --git a/crates/chat_ui/src/lib.rs b/crates/chat_ui/src/lib.rs
index c5d71642..7325fcf8 100644
--- a/crates/chat_ui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/chat_ui/src/lib.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use gpui::{
 };
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
-use person::{Directory, Person, PersonRegistry};
+use person::{Directory, Person};
 use regex::Regex;
 use settings::{AppSettings, SignerKind};
 use smallvec::{SmallVec, smallvec};
@@ -1770,7 +1770,18 @@ impl ChatPanel {
     }
 
     fn render_emoji_menu(&self, _window: &Window, cx: &Context<Self>) -> impl IntoElement {
-        let emojis = PersonRegistry::current_emojis(cx);
+        let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
+        let current_user = nostr.read(cx).current_user();
+
+        let emojis = current_user
+            .map(|current_user| {
+                self.directory
+                    .read(cx)
+                    .person(&current_user, cx)
+                    .emojis()
+                    .to_vec()
+            })
+            .unwrap_or_default();
 
         Button::new("emoji")
             .icon(IconName::Emoji)
diff --git a/crates/nip29/src/group.rs b/crates/nip29/src/group.rs
index 147173dc..23589d09 100644
--- a/crates/nip29/src/group.rs
+++ b/crates/nip29/src/group.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ use chat::Message;
 use common::emojis_from_tags;
 use gpui::{App, AppContext, Context, EventEmitter, SharedString, SharedUri, Task};
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
-use person::PersonRegistry;
 use smallvec::{SmallVec, smallvec};
 use state::NostrRegistry;
 
@@ -234,9 +233,9 @@ impl Group {
         &mut self,
         content: &str,
         replies: Vec<EventId>,
+        emojis: Vec<Tag>,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) -> Task<Result<()>> {
-        let emojis = PersonRegistry::emoji_tags(content, cx);
         self.dispatch(
             move |id, prev| id.message(content, &replies, &emojis, prev),
             cx,
@@ -247,9 +246,9 @@ impl Group {
         &mut self,
         target: EventId,
         emoji: String,
+        emojis: Vec<Tag>,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) -> Task<Result<()>> {
-        let emojis = PersonRegistry::emoji_tags(&emoji, cx);
         self.dispatch(
             move |id, prev| id.reaction(target, &emoji, &emojis, prev),
             cx,
diff --git a/crates/nip29_ui/src/lib.rs b/crates/nip29_ui/src/lib.rs
index ecb19bb3..71c550e4 100644
--- a/crates/nip29_ui/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/nip29_ui/src/lib.rs
@@ -532,11 +532,11 @@ impl GroupPanel {
         }
 
         let replies: Vec<EventId> = self.reply_to.take().into_iter().collect();
+        let emojis = self.emoji_tags(&content, cx);
 
-        let Ok(send) = self
-            .group
-            .update(cx, |group, cx| group.send_message(&content, replies, cx))
-        else {
+        let Ok(send) = self.group.update(cx, |group, cx| {
+            group.send_message(&content, replies, emojis, cx)
+        }) else {
             return;
         };
 
@@ -613,6 +613,18 @@ impl GroupPanel {
             .and_then(|group| Notice::of(group.read(cx)))
     }
 
+    /// The signed-in user's custom emoji tags referenced in `content`
+    fn emoji_tags(&self, content: &str, cx: &App) -> Vec<Tag> {
+        let Some(current_user) = NostrRegistry::global(cx).read(cx).current_user() else {
+            return Vec::new();
+        };
+
+        self.directory
+            .read(cx)
+            .person(&current_user, cx)
+            .emoji_tags(content)
+    }
+
     fn react(
         &mut self,
         group: WeakEntity<Group>,
@@ -621,7 +633,10 @@ impl GroupPanel {
         window: &mut Window,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) {
-        let Ok(react) = group.update(cx, |group, cx| group.send_reaction(id, emoji, cx)) else {
+        let emojis = self.emoji_tags(&emoji, cx);
+
+        let Ok(react) = group.update(cx, |group, cx| group.send_reaction(id, emoji, emojis, cx))
+        else {
             return;
         };
 
diff --git a/crates/nip29_ui/src/message.rs b/crates/nip29_ui/src/message.rs
index da5ac2e8..1286627f 100644
--- a/crates/nip29_ui/src/message.rs
+++ b/crates/nip29_ui/src/message.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use gpui::{
 };
 use nip29::{Activity, Group, Reaction};
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::{EventId, Kind};
-use person::{Directory, PersonRegistry};
+use person::Directory;
 use settings::AppSettings;
 use state::NostrRegistry;
 use theme::{ActiveTheme, TextStyle, Typeset as _};
@@ -164,7 +164,22 @@ fn react_menu(
         )
     });
 
-    let emojis = PersonRegistry::current_emojis(cx);
+    let emojis = panel
+        .upgrade()
+        .and_then(|panel| {
+            let current_user = NostrRegistry::global(cx).read(cx).current_user()?;
+            Some(
+                panel
+                    .read(cx)
+                    .directory
+                    .read(cx)
+                    .person(&current_user, cx)
+                    .emojis()
+                    .to_vec(),
+            )
+        })
+        .unwrap_or_default();
+
     if emojis.is_empty() {
         return menu;
     }
diff --git a/crates/person/src/directory.rs b/crates/person/src/directory.rs
index fbe7314d..eb8588a9 100644
--- a/crates/person/src/directory.rs
+++ b/crates/person/src/directory.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::sync::RwLock;
 
 use anyhow::Error;
+use common::emojis_from_tags;
 use gpui::{App, AppContext, Context, Entity, Subscription, Task};
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
 use smallvec::{SmallVec, smallvec};
@@ -39,8 +40,11 @@ impl Directory {
         })
     }
 
-    /// Track keys: load known profiles from the database, request the rest
+    /// Load known profiles from the database, request the rest
     pub fn track(&mut self, keys: impl IntoIterator<Item = PublicKey>, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
+        /// Profiles and emoji lists loaded from the database
+        type Loaded = (Vec<Person>, Vec<(PublicKey, Vec<(String, Url)>)>);
+
         let missing: Vec<PublicKey> = keys
             .into_iter()
             .filter(|key| {
@@ -54,29 +58,53 @@ impl Directory {
         }
 
         // Accept events that arrive while the database query is running
-        self.with_pending(|pending| pending.extend(missing.iter().copied()));
+        self.with_pending(|pending| {
+            pending.extend(missing.iter().copied());
+        });
 
         let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
         let client = nostr.read(cx).client();
         let authors = missing.clone();
 
-        let task: Task<Result<Vec<Person>, Error>> = cx.background_spawn(async move {
-            let filter = Filter::new().kind(Kind::Metadata).authors(authors);
-            let mut events: Vec<Event> =
-                client.database().query(filter).await?.into_iter().collect();
+        let task: Task<Result<Loaded, Error>> = cx.background_spawn(async move {
+            let mut metadata_events: Vec<Event> = client
+                .database()
+                .query(Filter::new().kind(Kind::Metadata).authors(authors.clone()))
+                .await?
+                .into_iter()
+                .collect();
 
             // Keep only the newest event per author
-            events.sort_by_key(|event| Reverse(event.created_at));
+            metadata_events.sort_by_key(|event| Reverse(event.created_at));
             let mut seen = HashSet::new();
 
-            Ok(events
+            let persons = metadata_events
                 .into_iter()
                 .filter(|event| seen.insert(event.pubkey))
                 .map(|event| {
                     let metadata = Metadata::from_json(event.content).unwrap_or_default();
                     Person::new(event.pubkey, metadata)
                 })
-                .collect())
+                .collect();
+
+            let mut emoji_events: Vec<Event> = client
+                .database()
+                .query(Filter::new().kind(Kind::Emojis).authors(authors))
+                .await?
+                .into_iter()
+                .collect();
+
+            // Keep only the newest event per author
+            emoji_events.sort_by_key(|event| Reverse(event.created_at));
+            let mut seen = HashSet::new();
+
+            let emojis = emoji_events
+                .into_iter()
+                .filter(|event| seen.insert(event.pubkey))
+                .map(|event| (event.pubkey, emojis_from_tags(&event.tags)))
+                .collect();
+
+            Ok((persons, emojis))
         });
 
         self.tasks.push(cx.spawn(async move |this, cx| {
@@ -84,17 +112,38 @@ impl Directory {
 
             this.update(cx, |this, cx| {
                 let remaining = match loaded {
-                    Ok(persons) => {
+                    Ok((persons, emojis)) => {
                         let found: HashSet<PublicKey> =
                             persons.iter().map(Person::public_key).collect();
                         this.bulk_insert(persons, cx);
+
+                        // Emojis apply on top of loaded or already received data
+                        let mut updated = false;
+
+                        for (public_key, emojis) in emojis {
+                            if emojis.is_empty() {
+                                continue;
+                            }
+
+                            let person = this
+                                .persons
+                                .entry(public_key)
+                                .or_insert_with(|| Person::new(public_key, Metadata::default()));
+                            person.set_emojis(emojis);
+                            updated = true;
+                        }
+
+                        if updated {
+                            cx.notify();
+                        }
+
                         missing
                             .into_iter()
                             .filter(|key| !found.contains(key))
                             .collect()
                     }
-                    Err(error) => {
-                        log::warn!("Failed to load persons from the local database: {error}");
+                    Err(e) => {
+                        log::warn!("Failed to load persons from the database: {e}");
                         missing
                     }
                 };
@@ -122,17 +171,36 @@ impl Directory {
         Person::new(*public_key, Metadata::default())
     }
 
-    /// Accept events for tracked keys and drop the rest
+    /// Merge event data into the tracked person
     fn handle_event(&mut self, event: PersonEvent, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let PersonEvent::Updated(person) = event;
-        let public_key = person.public_key();
+        let public_key = match &event {
+            PersonEvent::Metadata(person) => person.public_key(),
+            PersonEvent::Emojis { public_key, .. }
+            | PersonEvent::Announcement { public_key, .. }
+            | PersonEvent::MessagingRelays { public_key, .. } => *public_key,
+        };
 
-        if self.persons.contains_key(&public_key)
-            || self.with_pending(|pending| pending.remove(&public_key))
+        if !self.persons.contains_key(&public_key)
+            && !self.with_pending(|pending| pending.remove(&public_key))
         {
-            self.persons.insert(public_key, person);
-            cx.notify();
+            return;
         }
+
+        let person = self
+            .persons
+            .entry(public_key)
+            .or_insert_with(|| Person::new(public_key, Metadata::default()));
+
+        match event {
+            PersonEvent::Metadata(updated) => person.set_metadata(updated.metadata()),
+            PersonEvent::Emojis { emojis, .. } => person.set_emojis(emojis),
+            PersonEvent::Announcement { announcement, .. } => {
+                person.set_announcement(announcement);
+            }
+            PersonEvent::MessagingRelays { relays, .. } => person.set_messaging_relays(relays),
+        }
+
+        cx.notify();
     }
 
     /// Insert loaded persons, keeping data already received from relays
@@ -161,7 +229,6 @@ impl Directory {
             Ok(pending) => pending,
             Err(poisoned) => poisoned.into_inner(),
         };
-
         then(&mut pending)
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/person/src/lib.rs b/crates/person/src/lib.rs
index 1a82e9cf..aec3cf1d 100644
--- a/crates/person/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/person/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-use std::cmp::Reverse;
 use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::sync::RwLock;
 
 use anyhow::{Error, anyhow};
-use common::{EventExt, emojis_from_tags};
+use common::emojis_from_tags;
 use gpui::{App, AppContext, Context, Entity, EventEmitter, Global, Subscription, Task};
 use instant::Duration;
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
@@ -27,7 +26,23 @@ impl Global for GlobalPersonRegistry {}
 /// A change to a person's data
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum PersonEvent {
-    Updated(Person),
+    /// Profile metadata
+    Metadata(Box<Person>),
+    /// Custom emoji list (NIP-30)
+    Emojis {
+        public_key: PublicKey,
+        emojis: Vec<(String, Url)>,
+    },
+    /// Profile encryption keys announcement (NIP-4e)
+    Announcement {
+        public_key: PublicKey,
+        announcement: Announcement,
+    },
+    /// Messaging relay list (NIP-65)
+    MessagingRelays {
+        public_key: PublicKey,
+        relays: Vec<RelayUrl>,
+    },
 }
 
 impl EventEmitter<PersonEvent> for PersonRegistry {}
@@ -43,10 +58,6 @@ enum Dispatch {
 /// Person Registry
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct PersonRegistry {
-    /// Collection of all persons (user profiles)
-    persons: HashMap<PublicKey, Entity<Person>>,
-    /// Set of public keys that have been seen
-    seen: RwLock<HashSet<PublicKey>>,
     /// Public keys with a metadata request in flight
     in_flight: RwLock<HashSet<PublicKey>>,
     sender: flume::Sender<PublicKey>,
@@ -69,7 +80,6 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
     fn new(cx: &mut Context<Self>) -> Self {
         let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
         let client = nostr.read(cx).client();
-        let entity = cx.entity().downgrade();
 
         // Channel for communication between nostr and gpui
         let (tx, rx) = flume::bounded::<Dispatch>(100);
@@ -115,17 +125,7 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
             }
         });
 
-        // Load all user profiles from the database
-        cx.defer(move |cx| {
-            _ = entity.update(cx, |this, cx| {
-                this.load(cx);
-                this.load_emojis(cx);
-            });
-        });
-
         Self {
-            persons: HashMap::new(),
-            seen: RwLock::new(HashSet::new()),
             in_flight: RwLock::new(HashSet::new()),
             sender: metadata_tx,
             tasks,
@@ -159,12 +159,6 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
                             log::warn!("Channel closed, dropping metadata event");
                         }
                     }
-                    Kind::ContactList => {
-                        let public_keys = event.extract_public_keys();
-                        if let Err(e) = get_metadata(client, public_keys).await {
-                            log::warn!("Failed to get metadata for contact list: {e}");
-                        }
-                    }
                     Kind::InboxRelays => {
                         _ = tx.send_async(Dispatch::Relays(event.into_owned())).await;
                     }
@@ -211,72 +205,6 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Load all user profiles from the database
-    fn load(&mut self, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
-        let client = nostr.read(cx).client();
-
-        let task: Task<Result<Vec<Person>, Error>> = cx.background_spawn(async move {
-            let filter = Filter::new().kind(Kind::Metadata).limit(200);
-            let events = client.database().query(filter).await?;
-            let persons = events
-                .into_iter()
-                .map(|event| {
-                    let metadata = Metadata::from_json(event.content).unwrap_or_default();
-                    Person::new(event.pubkey, metadata)
-                })
-                .collect();
-
-            Ok(persons)
-        });
-
-        self.tasks.push(cx.spawn(async move |this, cx| {
-            if let Ok(persons) = task.await {
-                this.update(cx, |this, cx| {
-                    this.bulk_insert(persons, cx);
-                })
-                .ok();
-            }
-        }));
-    }
-
-    /// Load cached emoji lists from the database
-    fn load_emojis(&mut self, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
-        let client = nostr.read(cx).client();
-
-        type EmojiLists = Vec<(PublicKey, Vec<(String, Url)>)>;
-
-        let task: Task<Result<EmojiLists, Error>> = cx.background_spawn(async move {
-            let filter = Filter::new().kind(Kind::Emojis).limit(200);
-            let mut events: Vec<Event> =
-                client.database().query(filter).await?.into_iter().collect();
-
-            // Keep only the newest list per author
-            events.sort_by_key(|event| Reverse(event.created_at));
-            let mut seen = HashSet::new();
-
-            let lists = events
-                .into_iter()
-                .filter(|event| seen.insert(event.pubkey))
-                .map(|event| (event.pubkey, emojis_from_tags(&event.tags)))
-                .collect();
-
-            Ok(lists)
-        });
-
-        self.tasks.push(cx.spawn(async move |this, cx| {
-            if let Ok(lists) = task.await {
-                this.update(cx, |this, cx| {
-                    for (public_key, emojis) in lists {
-                        this.set_emojis_for(public_key, emojis, cx);
-                    }
-                })
-                .ok();
-            }
-        }));
-    }
-
     /// Subscribe to the signed-in user's emoji list
     fn get_emojis(&mut self, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
         let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
@@ -302,33 +230,18 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
             return;
         };
 
-        if let Some(person) = self.persons.get(&event.pubkey) {
-            person.update(cx, |person, cx| {
-                person.set_announcement(announcement);
-                cx.notify();
-            });
-            cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(person.read(cx).clone()));
-        } else {
-            let person =
-                Person::new(event.pubkey, Metadata::default()).with_announcement(announcement);
-            self.insert(person, cx);
-        }
+        cx.emit(PersonEvent::Announcement {
+            public_key: event.pubkey,
+            announcement,
+        });
     }
 
     /// Set messaging relays for a person
     fn set_messaging_relays(&mut self, event: &Event, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let urls: Vec<RelayUrl> = nip17::extract_relay_list(event).collect();
-
-        if let Some(person) = self.persons.get(&event.pubkey) {
-            person.update(cx, |person, cx| {
-                person.set_messaging_relays(urls);
-                cx.notify();
-            });
-            cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(person.read(cx).clone()));
-        } else {
-            let person = Person::new(event.pubkey, Metadata::default()).with_messaging_relays(urls);
-            self.insert(person, cx);
-        }
+        cx.emit(PersonEvent::MessagingRelays {
+            public_key: event.pubkey,
+            relays: nip17::extract_relay_list(event).collect(),
+        });
     }
 
     /// Set custom emoji for a person from their emoji list event
@@ -343,77 +256,15 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
         emojis: Vec<(String, Url)>,
         cx: &mut Context<Self>,
     ) {
-        if let Some(person) = self.persons.get(&public_key) {
-            person.update(cx, |person, cx| {
-                person.set_emojis(emojis);
-                cx.notify();
-            });
-            cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(person.read(cx).clone()));
-        } else {
-            let person = Person::new(public_key, Metadata::default()).with_emojis(emojis);
-            self.insert(person, cx);
-        }
+        cx.emit(PersonEvent::Emojis { public_key, emojis });
     }
 
-    /// Insert batch of persons
-    fn bulk_insert(&mut self, persons: Vec<Person>, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        for person in persons {
-            let public_key = person.public_key();
-
-            if self.persons.contains_key(&public_key) {
-                continue;
-            }
-
-            cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(person.clone()));
-            self.persons.insert(public_key, cx.new(|_| person));
-        }
-        cx.notify();
-    }
-
-    /// Insert or update a person
+    /// Publish a person's profile metadata to every directory
     pub fn insert(&mut self, person: Person, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
         let public_key = person.public_key();
         self.release_in_flight(&public_key);
 
-        match self.persons.get(&public_key) {
-            Some(this) => {
-                this.update(cx, |this, cx| {
-                    this.set_metadata(person.metadata());
-                    cx.notify();
-                });
-                cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(this.read(cx).clone()));
-            }
-            None => {
-                cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(person.clone()));
-                self.persons.insert(public_key, cx.new(|_| person));
-                // Views rendering a placeholder only observed this registry
-                cx.notify();
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// Get single person by public key
-    pub fn get(&self, public_key: &PublicKey, cx: &App) -> Person {
-        if let Some(person) = self.persons.get(public_key) {
-            return person.read(cx).clone();
-        }
-
-        let public_key = *public_key;
-
-        if self.seen.write().unwrap().insert(public_key) {
-            let sender = self.sender.clone();
-
-            // Spawn background task to request metadata
-            cx.background_spawn(async move {
-                if let Err(e) = sender.send_async(public_key).await {
-                    log::warn!("Failed to send public key for metadata request: {e}");
-                }
-            })
-            .detach();
-        }
-
-        // Return a temporary profile with default metadata
-        Person::new(public_key, Metadata::default())
+        cx.emit(PersonEvent::Metadata(Box::new(person)));
     }
 
     /// Queue a batched metadata request for keys without one in flight
@@ -450,29 +301,6 @@ impl PersonRegistry {
         };
         in_flight.remove(public_key);
     }
-
-    /// The signed-in user's custom emoji
-    pub fn current_emojis(cx: &App) -> Vec<(String, Url)> {
-        let registry = Self::global(cx);
-        let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
-
-        let Some(public_key) = nostr.read(cx).current_user() else {
-            return Vec::new();
-        };
-
-        registry.read(cx).get(&public_key, cx).emojis().to_vec()
-    }
-
-    /// An `emoji` tag for every signed-in user's custom emoji referenced.
-    pub fn emoji_tags(content: &str, cx: &App) -> Vec<Tag> {
-        let registry = Self::global(cx);
-        let nostr = NostrRegistry::global(cx);
-        let Some(public_key) = nostr.read(cx).current_user() else {
-            return Vec::new();
-        };
-
-        registry.read(cx).get(&public_key, cx).emoji_tags(content)
-    }
 }
 
 /// Get metadata for all public keys in a event
diff --git a/crates/person/src/person.rs b/crates/person/src/person.rs
index b88548c6..1cee8030 100644
--- a/crates/person/src/person.rs
+++ b/crates/person/src/person.rs
@@ -57,21 +57,6 @@ impl Person {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Build profile encryption keys announcement
-    pub(crate) fn with_announcement(mut self, announcement: Announcement) -> Self {
-        self.announcement = Some(announcement);
-        self
-    }
-
-    /// Build profile messaging relays
-    pub(crate) fn with_messaging_relays<I>(mut self, relays: I) -> Self
-    where
-        I: IntoIterator<Item = RelayUrl>,
-    {
-        self.messaging_relays = relays.into_iter().collect();
-        self
-    }
-
     /// Get profile public key
     pub fn public_key(&self) -> PublicKey {
         self.public_key
@@ -92,12 +77,6 @@ impl Person {
         self.emojis = emojis;
     }
 
-    /// Build custom emoji from the person's emoji list
-    pub(crate) fn with_emojis(mut self, emojis: Vec<(String, Url)>) -> Self {
-        self.emojis = emojis;
-        self
-    }
-
     /// An `emoji` tag for every custom emoji referenced as `:shortcode:` in `content`
     pub fn emoji_tags(&self, content: &str) -> Vec<Tag> {
         let mut tags = Vec::new();
diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/dialogs/profile.rs b/crates/workspace/src/dialogs/profile.rs
index 4683b8b9..fc8313ec 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/dialogs/profile.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/dialogs/profile.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use gpui::{
 };
 use instant::Duration;
 use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
-use person::{Person, PersonRegistry, shorten_pubkey};
+use person::{Directory, Person, PersonRegistry, shorten_pubkey};
 use settings::AppSettings;
 use state::{NostrRegistry, upload};
 use theme::{ActiveTheme, TextStyle, Typeset as _, button_radius};
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ struct ProfileDialog {
     public_key: PublicKey,
     /// Whether the profile belongs to the signed-in user
     is_current_user: bool,
+    /// Person directory for the profile
+    directory: Entity<Directory>,
     /// Whether the metadata inputs are shown
     editing: bool,
     /// User's name text input
@@ -74,9 +76,15 @@ impl ProfileDialog {
                 .placeholder("A short introduce about you.")
         });
 
+        let directory = Directory::new(cx);
+        directory.update(cx, |directory, cx| {
+            directory.track([public_key], cx);
+        });
+
         Self {
             public_key,
             is_current_user,
+            directory,
             editing: false,
             name_input,
             avatar_input,
@@ -90,8 +98,7 @@ impl ProfileDialog {
     }
 
     fn profile(&self, cx: &App) -> Person {
-        let persons = PersonRegistry::global(cx);
-        persons.read(cx).get(&self.public_key, cx)
+        self.directory.read(cx).person(&self.public_key, cx)
     }
 
     fn set_profile(&mut self, window: &mut Window, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
@@ -238,9 +245,8 @@ impl ProfileDialog {
     }
 
     fn save(&mut self, window: &mut Window, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let persons = PersonRegistry::global(cx);
         let public_key = self.public_key;
-        let old_metadata = persons.read(cx).get(&public_key, cx).metadata();
+        let old_metadata = self.directory.read(cx).person(&public_key, cx).metadata();
 
         // Extract all new metadata fields
         let avatar = self.avatar_input.read(cx).value();
@@ -274,9 +280,9 @@ impl ProfileDialog {
             match task.await {
                 Ok(_) => {
                     this.update_in(cx, |this, window, cx| {
-                        // Update the registry
-                        persons.update(cx, |this, cx| {
-                            this.insert(Person::new(public_key, new_metadata), cx);
+                        // Publish the new metadata to every directory
+                        PersonRegistry::global(cx).update(cx, |registry, cx| {
+                            registry.insert(Person::new(public_key, new_metadata), cx);
                         });
 
                         this.set_updating(false, cx);
diff --git a/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs b/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs
index 00ec1093..3b4e2fa8 100644
--- a/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/workspace/src/sidebar/mod.rs
@@ -142,15 +142,27 @@ impl Sidebar {
         );
 
         subscriptions.push(
-            cx.subscribe_in(&nostr, window, |this, _, event, window, cx| {
-                if let StateEvent::NoSigner = event {
-                    this.banner = onboarding::pick_banner();
-                    if this.search_open {
-                        this.toggle_search(window, cx);
+            cx.subscribe_in(
+                &nostr,
+                window,
+                |this, state, event, window, cx| match event {
+                    StateEvent::NoSigner => {
+                        this.banner = onboarding::pick_banner();
+                        if this.search_open {
+                            this.toggle_search(window, cx);
+                        }
+                        cx.notify();
                     }
-                    cx.notify();
-                }
-            }),
+                    StateEvent::SignerChanged => {
+                        if let Some(current_user) = state.read(cx).current_user() {
+                            this.directory.update(cx, |directory, cx| {
+                                directory.track([current_user], cx);
+                            });
+                        }
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                },
+            ),
         );
 
         subscriptions.push(cx.subscribe_in(
diff --git a/docs/person-directory-refactor.md b/docs/person-directory-refactor.md
deleted file mode 100644
index cc600f31..00000000
--- a/docs/person-directory-refactor.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,269 +0,0 @@
-# Per-view person directories
-
-Refactor plan for how user metadata is stored and observed. Today a single global
-`PersonRegistry` owns every profile and every render path reads through it. The
-proposal binds metadata to the panel/screen that renders it, and shrinks the
-global to a thin event pump.
-
-## Goal
-
-- A panel that renders profiles owns its metadata store (`Entity<Directory>`),
-  populated from the set of public keys that panel actually displays.
-- Re-renders are scoped: a metadata update only re-renders panels observing the
-  directory it landed in, not every view that ever read a global.
-- Cache lifetime follows view lifetime: directories drop with their panel, so
-  the global map never grows unbounded.
-- The global registry becomes thin: nostr notification pump, batched request
-  coordinator, and the signed-in user's own profile/emojis. No global person map.
-
-## Current behavior, and two latent bugs
-
-Flow today: render calls `PersonRegistry::global(cx).read(cx).get(&pk, cx)` →
-registry returns a cloned `Person` from its map, or a default placeholder and
-pushes the key to a batching channel → relay events arrive via
-`handle_notifications` → `insert()` updates or creates `Entity<Person>`.
-
-Bug 1 — updates never reach the UI reliably. `get()` returns a cloned value, so
-views observe the *registry*, never the `Entity<Person>` handles. But the
-mutation paths (`insert`, `set_announcement`, `set_messaging_relays`,
-`set_emojis_for`) only call `cx.notify()` on the **person entity** in the
-existing-person branch, and `insert` notifies nothing for new persons. So live
-metadata arriving for an already-rendered placeholder does not trigger a
-re-render; the UI is patched by unrelated renders (messages arriving, etc.).
-Only `bulk_insert` (startup DB load) notifies the registry.
-
-Bug 2 — the startup DB load is unscoped. `load()` queries
-`Filter::new().kind(Metadata).limit(200)` — any 200 metadata events in the local
-database, not the people the app will show.
-
-Both problems disappear when the store is bound to the view that reads it.
-
-## Proposed architecture
-
-```
-┌──────────────┐  notifications   ┌─────────────────────────────┐
-│ nostr Client │─────────────────▶│ PersonRegistry (thin, global)│
-└──────────────┘                  │  • pump → emits PersonEvent  │
-                                  │  • fetch(keys): dedupe +     │
-                                  │    batched relay subscribe   │
-                                  │  • current user's profile +  │
-                                  │    emojis (send paths)       │
-                                  └──────────┬──────────────────┘
-                            PersonEvent      │  fetch(keys)
-                    ┌────────────────────────┼───────────────────────┐
-                    ▼                        ▼                       ▼
-             Entity<Directory>        Entity<Directory>       Entity<Directory>
-             (ChatPanel)              (Sidebar)               (ContactListPanel)
-                    ▲                        ▲                       ▲
-                    └───────── panels read during render ────────────┘
-```
-
-New `Directory` type in `crates/person`:
-
-```rust
-pub struct Directory {
-    persons: HashMap<PublicKey, Person>,   // values, not entities
-    pending: HashSet<PublicKey>,           // on-miss dedupe, replaces global `seen`
-    tasks: SmallVec<[Task<()>; 2]>,
-    _subscriptions: SmallVec<[Subscription; 1]>, // PersonRegistry events
-}
-
-impl Directory {
-    pub fn new(cx: &mut App) -> Entity<Self>;
-    /// Diff against known keys, load missing from the local DB scoped by
-    /// author, request the rest through the registry coordinator.
-    pub fn track(&mut self, keys: impl IntoIterator<Item = PublicKey>, cx: &mut Context<Self>);
-    /// Hit returns the stored person, miss returns a default placeholder and
-    /// requests it (same ergonomics as `PersonRegistry::get` today).
-    pub fn person(&self, public_key: &PublicKey, cx: &App) -> Person;
-}
-```
-
-- Panels create a directory and call `track(authors)` whenever their key set
-  changes (room event appends messages, contacts load, members load). Render
-  swaps `PersonRegistry::global(cx).read(cx).get(...)` for
-  `self.directory.read(cx).person(...)`. Reading the directory during render is
-  enough for GPUI to re-render the panel when the directory notifies.
-- Store `Person` values, not `Entity<Person>`: nothing observes person entities
-  today, and a panel re-renders wholesale anyway. One `cx.notify()` per
-  incoming batch. Per-person entities can come later if fine-grained
-  invalidation is ever profiled as needed.
-- The registry emits `PersonEvent::Updated(Person)` for every metadata /
-  announcement / relay-list / emoji event it pumps. Directories merge events
-  for keys they track and notify.
-- `fetch(keys)` keeps the existing batching channel (20-key batches,
-  `TIMEOUT` timeout) plus an in-flight set so two panels tracking the same
-  person trigger one relay subscription. Results flow back through the pump,
-  so the coordinator stays stateless beyond in-flight tracking.
-
-### Event flow
-
-How a relay event becomes a panel re-render:
-
-1. The registry pump converts nostr notifications into events. `cx.emit` is
-   synchronous — subscribers run during the registry's update:
-
-```rust
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub enum PersonEvent {
-    Updated(Person), // metadata, emojis, announcement, or relays merged in
-}
-
-impl EventEmitter<PersonEvent> for PersonRegistry {}
-
-// inside the registry's foreground loop (Context<PersonRegistry>):
-match dispatch {
-    Dispatch::Person(person) => cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated(person)),
-    // announcements, relay lists, emojis merge into `person` upstream
-    ...
-}
-```
-
-2. Each directory subscribes at creation. The subscription lives in a field,
-   so it is dropped when the panel (and its directory) is dropped:
-
-```rust
-impl Directory {
-    pub fn new(cx: &mut App) -> Entity<Self> {
-        let registry = PersonRegistry::global(cx);
-        let subscription = cx.subscribe(&registry, |this, _registry, event, cx| {
-            this.handle_event(event.clone(), cx);
-        });
-
-        cx.new(|_| Self {
-            persons: HashMap::new(),
-            pending: HashSet::new(),
-            _subscriptions: smallvec![subscription],
-        })
-    }
-
-    fn handle_event(&mut self, event: PersonEvent, cx: &mut Context<Self>) {
-        let PersonEvent::Updated(person) = event;
-        let public_key = person.public_key();
-
-        // Only react to keys this panel actually renders
-        if self.persons.contains_key(&public_key) || self.pending.remove(&public_key) {
-            self.persons.insert(public_key, person);
-            cx.notify();
-        }
-    }
-}
-```
-
-   The `pending` check is the on-miss path: when `person()` was called during
-   render for an unknown key, it returned a placeholder, queued a fetch, and
-   marked the key pending. When the event lands, the key is accepted, merged,
-   and the directory notifies.
-
-3. The panel re-renders because it read the directory during render. GPUI
-   tracks entities read while rendering a view, so
-   `self.directory.read(cx).person(...)` registers the dependency implicitly.
-   When the directory calls `cx.notify()`, GPUI re-renders exactly the views
-   that read it — the chat panel, not the sidebar, not other rooms. Explicit
-   wiring is only needed if the panel must run *logic* on change (e.g. touch
-   `ListState` item heights): `cx.observe(&directory, |_, _, cx| cx.notify()).detach()`.
-
-```mermaid
-sequenceDiagram
-    participant Relay as Nostr relays
-    participant Pump as PersonRegistry (pump task)
-    participant Dir as Directory (owned by ChatPanel)
-    participant Panel as ChatPanel render
-
-    Panel->>Dir: person(&author) on miss
-    Dir->>Pump: fetch(key) via batching channel
-    Relay->>Pump: kind:0 metadata event
-    Pump->>Dir: cx.emit(PersonEvent::Updated)
-    Dir->>Dir: merge + cx.notify()
-    Panel->>Panel: re-render with real name/avatar
-```
-
-This is what fixes bug 1: today the same incoming metadata calls `cx.notify()`
-on the `Entity<Person>`, an entity nobody observes, and the update dies there.
-In the new design the notify lands on the directory, which the view observed
-when it read it during render.
-
-### Send paths
-
-`emoji_tags` / `current_emojis` are used when *signing* events
-(`chat::Room::rumor`, `nip29::Group::send_message/send_reaction`) and by emoji
-menus, regardless of which panel is visible. These keep reading the registry,
-which retains the signed-in user's own profile and emoji list. The API stays
-`PersonRegistry::current_emojis(cx)` / `::emoji_tags(content, cx)` so call
-sites don't change. The `Kind::ContactList` metadata warm-up moves out of the
-pump — panels fetch the keys they display.
-
-### Why this fits GPUI
-
-Observation becomes exact: a panel re-renders when its own directory changes.
-This is also what makes render caching (`cached_view`-style reuse) correct —
-which additionally requires `Person`'s `PartialEq` to compare *content*
-(metadata, emojis, announcement, relays), not just the public key as it does
-today, otherwise a cached render won't invalidate when a profile actually
-changes.
-
-## Migration
-
-Each phase compiles and ships independently.
-
-1. **Events + notify fix (small).** Add `EventEmitter<PersonEvent>` to
-   `PersonRegistry`, emit from every mutation path, and make `insert` notify
-   the registry for new persons (fixes bug 1 for the current design too). No
-   call site changes.
-2. **Add `Directory` (medium).** New type per the sketch above, subscribing to
-   registry events and fetching via the coordinator. Unit-testable in
-   `TestAppContext` by feeding events directly.
-3. **Convert call sites (bulk, mechanical).** One panel/screen at a time:
-   - `chat_ui::ChatPanel` — directory per panel, `track` in the room-event
-     handler; pass the directory into `chat_ui::text::rendered_text` instead of
-     `Entity<PersonRegistry>`.
-   - `nip29_ui` — `message::render`, `render_activity`, `replies`,
-     `GroupPanel::render_row` / `render_reply_target` take `&Entity<Directory>`
-     as a parameter; the panel owns the directory.
-   - `workspace` sidebar — one directory for the sidebar (`header::render_user`,
-     `rows::render_rows`, `group_view::member_row`).
-   - `workspace` dialogs — per-dialog directories: `contact_list.rs`,
-     `new_chat.rs`, `profile.rs`, `screening.rs`. They drop with the dialog.
-   - `chat::Room` render helpers (`display_member`, `merged_name`,
-     `conversation_tags`) — the room owns a directory or receives names from
-     the panel; send paths keep registry emoji helpers.
-   - `nip4e::DeviceRegistry::notification` — one-off name lookup for a
-     notification; give it a small directory or fetch-once (open question).
-4. **Slim the registry (small).** Delete the global person map, `seen`,
-   `bulk_insert`, and unscoped `load()` (fixes bug 2). Keep pump, `fetch`,
-   current-user profile/emojis. `person()`/`get()` on the registry goes away;
-   directories are the only read path for rendering.
-
-## Call site inventory
-
-| File | Functions |
-| --- | --- |
-| `crates/chat/src/room.rs` | `display_member`, `merged_name`, `conversation_tags`, `rumor`, `send` |
-| `crates/chat_ui/src/lib.rs` | `profile`, `render_message`, `render_report`, `render_reply`, `render_emoji_menu` |
-| `crates/chat_ui/src/text.rs` | `rendered_text` |
-| `crates/nip29/src/group.rs` | `send_message`, `send_reaction` (emoji tags only) |
-| `crates/nip29_ui/src/lib.rs` | `render_row`, `render_reply_target` |
-| `crates/nip29_ui/src/message.rs` | `render`, `react_menu`, `render_activity`, `replies` |
-| `crates/nip4e/src/lib.rs` | `DeviceRegistry::notification` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/dialogs/new_chat.rs` | `filtered_contacts`, `render_contacts`, `render_members` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/dialogs/profile.rs` | `profile`, `save` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/dialogs/screening.rs` | `profile`, `mutual_contacts` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/panels/contact_list.rs` | `render_list_items` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/sidebar/group_view.rs` | `member_row` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/sidebar/header.rs` | `render_user` |
-| `crates/workspace/src/sidebar/rows.rs` | `render_rows` (Contact/Profile/Message) |
-
-## Risks and open questions
-
-- **Duplicate relay traffic across panels** is solved by the coordinator's
-  in-flight set; if two panels want the same key after one subscription closed,
-  a second fetch is acceptable (ExitOnEOSE, batched). Revisit only if relays
-  complain.
-- **True `PartialEq` for `Person`** is required for cache correctness; cheap to
-  implement alongside the refactor.
-- **`ProfileDialog::save`** reads old metadata through the registry; it should
-  read the current user's profile from the registry's retained own-profile.
-- **Naming**: `Directory` vs `Roster` vs `Persons`. Keeping the `Person` value
-  type unchanged minimizes churn either way.
-- **wasm32** target: directories use the same primitives (`instant`, flume,
-  background spawns) the registry already uses — no new platform concerns.