Set Up a JSON Web Token Message Using Shared Secret Key Pairs {#restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro}
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> IMPORTANT  
> If you are using HTTP signature security for messaging, use this section to migrate your system to support JSON Web Token messaging. By **September 2026**, all merchants using HTTP signature messaging must migrate to JSON Web Token (JWT) messaging in order to support message-level encryption (MLE).  
> To set up JSON Web Token messaging using a *shared secret key pair*, you must complete the tasks described in this section.

#### Figure:

Set Up JSON Web Token a Messaging ![](/content/dam/documentation/cybs/en-us/topics/platform/rest/getting-started/images/flow-keys-sharedsecret-all-750x175.svg/jcr:content/renditions/original)

1. Sign up for a test account. See [Sign Up for a Sandbox Account](/docs/bofa/en-us/platform/developer/all/rest/rest-getting-started/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro/restgs-shared-secret-register.md "").
2. Create a shared secret key pair. See [Create a Shared Secret Key Pair](/docs/bofa/en-us/platform/developer/all/rest/rest-getting-started/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro/restgs-shared-secret-create-intro.md "").
3. Construct a message using a JSON web token. See [Construct Messages Using JSON Web Tokens](/docs/bofa/en-us/platform/developer/all/rest/rest-getting-started/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro/restgs-jwt-con-shared-secret-intro.md "").
4. Enable the optional message-level encryption (MLE) feature. See [Enable Message-Level Encryption](/docs/bofa/en-us/platform/developer/all/rest/rest-getting-started/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro/restgs-mle-shared-secret-intro.md "").
5. Test your REST transaction messages. See [Test Your Setup](/docs/bofa/en-us/platform/developer/all/rest/rest-getting-started/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-test.md "").
6. Go live by transitioning your sandbox account into a production account. See [Going Live](/docs/bofa/en-us/platform/developer/all/rest/rest-getting-started/restgs-jwt-shared-secret-intro/restgs-go-live-shared-secret-intro.md "").