- Mullvad released a new WireGuard implementation based on Rust
- “GotaTun” replaces old software to improve stability and speed
- Mullvad is expected to completely drop support for the OpenVPN protocol on January 15, 2026.
If you’re looking for the best VPN for privacy, Mullvad has probably already crossed your radar. Known for its strict no-logs policy and anonymous sign-up process, the Swedish provider is now making significant changes behind the scenes to make its service faster and more reliable.
Mullvad announced the release of “GotaTun”, a new custom implementation of the WireGuard protocol written in the Rust programming language. While this may sound like a technicality, the real benefits for users are substantial: better performance, longer battery life on mobile, and far fewer app crashes.
The move marks a major shift from the widely used “wireguard-go” software that has powered Mullvad’s apps (and many other VPNs) for years. By moving to its own Rust-based solution, Mullvad is not only future-proofing its service, but also paving the way for a major transition in 2026: the complete withdrawal of OpenVPN protocol.
Why “GotaTun” is a game changer
Until now, Mullvad’s mobile applications relied on “wireguard-go” to manage connections. Although functional, mixing this Go-based code with Mullvad’s primarily Rust-based application structure caused friction. In In a recent blog post, the company revealed that “over 85% of all crashes” reported on its Android app came directly from this conflict between programming languages.
This is where GotaTun comes in. Coming from Cloudflare’s “BoringTun” project, GotaTun is a purpose-built library that integrates seamlessly with Mullvad’s existing code.
GotaTun is a WireGuard® implementation written in Rust aiming to be fast, efficient and reliable. Now available for all Android users, we plan to bring it to the remaining platforms next year. Learn more here: https://t.co/259UgRtTmsDecember 19, 2025
The results of the change were immediate. Since GotaTun rolled out to Android users in late November 2025, Mullvad reports that the user-perceived crash rate has increased from 0.40% to a negligible 0.01%. “So far, there have been no crashes due to GotaTun,” the team noted, adding that users are already reporting “better speeds and lower battery usage.”
Beyond stability, moving to Rust allows for “memory security” and “no-copy memory policies,” technical terms that essentially translate to a faster, more secure, and more efficient VPN experience that consumes less power on your phone.
Mullvad’s move to Rust echoes a similar move by ExpressVPN, which completely rebuilt its Lightway protocol in Rust earlier this year.
Preparing for a WireGuard-only Future
This technical overhaul is part of a broader strategy. Mullvad is currently in the process of phasing out the old OpenVPN protocol to concentrate its resources on WireGuard.
The company has set a firm deadline: January 15, 2026. On this date, OpenVPN support will be removed from all servers and applications.
By consolidating its efforts into a single, modern protocol like WireGuard, and now having its own implementation with GotaTun, Mullvad can iterate faster. The new engine already supports advanced privacy features like DAITA (which protects against traffic analysis attacks) and Multihop out of the box.
While GotaTun is currently available for Android users (version 2025.10 and later), Mullvad plans to introduce the new engine to desktop and iOS platforms throughout 2026. A third-party security audit of the new code is also planned for early next year, ensuring that the move to Rust maintains the vendor’s high security standards.
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