diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 82200a5..a02ebef 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -264,17 +264,12 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-cocoapods-
 
       - name: Install cocoapods
-        # if: env.turbo_cache_hit != 1 && steps.cocoapods-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         run: |
           cd example/ios
           bundle exec pod install
         env:
           NO_FLIPPER: 1
 
-      # - name: Build example for iOS
-      #   run: |
-      #     yarn turbo run run:ios --cache-dir="${{ env.TURBO_CACHE_DIR }}"
-
       - name: run tests
         run: |
           ./scripts/test-ios.sh
diff --git a/cpp/bindings.cpp b/cpp/bindings.cpp
index 273fc60..f7f15f3 100644
--- a/cpp/bindings.cpp
+++ b/cpp/bindings.cpp
@@ -49,21 +49,20 @@ void install(jsi::Runtime &rt,
     std::string name = options.getProperty(rt, "name").asString(rt).utf8(rt);
     std::string path = std::string(_base_path);
     std::string location;
-    std::string encryptionKey;
+    std::string encryption_key;
 
     if (options.hasProperty(rt, "location")) {
       location = options.getProperty(rt, "location").asString(rt).utf8(rt);
     }
 
     if (options.hasProperty(rt, "encryptionKey")) {
-      encryptionKey =
+      encryption_key =
           options.getProperty(rt, "encryptionKey").asString(rt).utf8(rt);
     }
 
 #ifdef OP_SQLITE_USE_SQLCIPHER
-    if (encryptionKey.empty()) {
-      throw std::runtime_error(
-          "[OP SQLite] using SQLCipher encryption key is required");
+    if (encryption_key.empty()) {
+      log_to_console(rt, "Encryption key is missing for SQLCipher");
     }
 #endif
 
@@ -79,7 +78,7 @@ void install(jsi::Runtime &rt,
 
     std::shared_ptr<DBHostObject> db = std::make_shared<DBHostObject>(
         rt, path, invoker, name, path, _crsqlite_path, _sqlite_vec_path,
-        encryptionKey);
+        encryption_key);
     dbs.emplace_back(db);
     return jsi::Object::createFromHostObject(rt, db);
   });
@@ -107,8 +106,8 @@ void install(jsi::Runtime &rt,
     std::string auth_token =
         options.getProperty(rt, "authToken").asString(rt).utf8(rt);
 
-    std::shared_ptr<DBHostObject> db = std::make_shared<DBHostObject>(
-        rt, url, auth_token, invoker);
+    std::shared_ptr<DBHostObject> db =
+        std::make_shared<DBHostObject>(rt, url, auth_token, invoker);
     return jsi::Object::createFromHostObject(rt, db);
   });
 
diff --git a/cpp/bridge.cpp b/cpp/bridge.cpp
index a34b3fd..3080b94 100644
--- a/cpp/bridge.cpp
+++ b/cpp/bridge.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@ sqlite3 *opsqlite_open(std::string const &name, std::string const &path,
   }
 
 #ifdef OP_SQLITE_USE_SQLCIPHER
-  opsqlite_execute(db, "PRAGMA key = '" + encryption_key + "'", nullptr);
+  if(!encryption_key.empty()) {
+    opsqlite_execute(db, "PRAGMA key = '" + encryption_key + "'", nullptr);
+  }
 #endif
 
 #ifndef OP_SQLITE_USE_PHONE_VERSION
@@ -330,7 +332,7 @@ BridgeResult opsqlite_execute(sqlite3 *db, std::string const &query,
 
     if (status != SQLITE_OK) {
       errorMessage = sqlite3_errmsg(db);
-      throw std::runtime_error("[op-sqlite] SQL prepare error: " +
+      throw std::runtime_error("[op-sqlite] sqlite query error: " +
                                std::string(errorMessage));
     }
 
diff --git a/cpp/utils.cpp b/cpp/utils.cpp
index b89fe3b..a97866e 100644
--- a/cpp/utils.cpp
+++ b/cpp/utils.cpp
@@ -320,4 +320,10 @@ int mkdir(std::string const &path) {
   return 0;
 }
 
+void log_to_console(jsi::Runtime &runtime, const std::string &message) {
+  auto console = runtime.global().getPropertyAsObject(runtime, "console");
+  auto log = console.getPropertyAsFunction(runtime, "log");
+  log.call(runtime, jsi::String::createFromUtf8(runtime, message));
+}
+
 } // namespace opsqlite
diff --git a/cpp/utils.h b/cpp/utils.h
index 030d59e..5389821 100644
--- a/cpp/utils.h
+++ b/cpp/utils.h
@@ -47,4 +47,6 @@ bool folder_exists(const std::string &name);
 
 bool file_exists(const std::string &path);
 
+void log_to_console(jsi::Runtime &rt, const std::string &message);
+
 } // namespace opsqlite
diff --git a/example/ios/Podfile.lock b/example/ios/Podfile.lock
index 71fbf9c..8bebf75 100644
--- a/example/ios/Podfile.lock
+++ b/example/ios/Podfile.lock
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ PODS:
     - DoubleConversion
     - glog
     - hermes-engine
+    - OpenSSL-Universal
     - RCT-Folly (= 2024.01.01.00)
     - RCTRequired
     - RCTTypeSafety
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ PODS:
     - ReactCommon/turbomodule/bridging
     - ReactCommon/turbomodule/core
     - Yoga
+  - OpenSSL-Universal (3.3.2000)
   - RCT-Folly (2024.01.01.00):
     - boost
     - DoubleConversion
@@ -1638,6 +1640,7 @@ DEPENDENCIES:
 SPEC REPOS:
   trunk:
     - GCDWebServer
+    - OpenSSL-Universal
     - SocketRocket
 
 EXTERNAL SOURCES:
@@ -1785,7 +1788,8 @@ SPEC CHECKSUMS:
   GCDWebServer: 2c156a56c8226e2d5c0c3f208a3621ccffbe3ce4
   glog: 08b301085f15bcbb6ff8632a8ebaf239aae04e6a
   hermes-engine: 06a9c6900587420b90accc394199527c64259db4
-  op-sqlite: 26d129a3be9edde9e3ba414ddcf97224df177d59
+  op-sqlite: c176293edd92dfe9f337e2a7b52b0b2cce1cc2c6
+  OpenSSL-Universal: b60a3702c9fea8b3145549d421fdb018e53ab7b4
   RCT-Folly: bf5c0376ffe4dd2cf438dcf86db385df9fdce648
   RCTDeprecation: fb7d408617e25d7f537940000d766d60149c5fea
   RCTRequired: 9aaf0ffcc1f41f0c671af863970ef25c422a9920
diff --git a/example/package.json b/example/package.json
index e4ebe33..e7d4cd5 100644
--- a/example/package.json
+++ b/example/package.json
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     "node": ">=18"
   },
   "op-sqlite": {
-    "sqlcipher": false,
+    "sqlcipher": true,
     "crsqlite": false,
     "performanceMode": true,
     "sqliteFlags": "-DSQLITE_TEMP_STORE=2",
diff --git a/example/src/server.ts b/example/src/server.ts
index c545189..b507d2c 100644
--- a/example/src/server.ts
+++ b/example/src/server.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,6 @@ export function setServerResults(r: any[]) {
 }
 
 export function setServerError(e: any) {
-  console.log('Setting server error');
+  console.error(`Setting server error: ${e}`);
   results = e;
 }
diff --git a/example/src/tests/dbsetup.spec.ts b/example/src/tests/dbsetup.spec.ts
index 2f98c52..44fea0f 100644
--- a/example/src/tests/dbsetup.spec.ts
+++ b/example/src/tests/dbsetup.spec.ts
@@ -219,4 +219,13 @@ export function dbSetupTests() {
     expect(path).to.exist;
     db.close();
   });
+
+  if (isSQLCipher()) {
+    it('Can open without encryption key', () => {
+      let db = open({
+        name: 'pathTest.sqlite',
+      });
+      db.close();
+    });
+  }
 }
diff --git a/example/src/tests/hooks.spec.ts b/example/src/tests/hooks.spec.ts
index a7862d4..1a9105b 100644
--- a/example/src/tests/hooks.spec.ts
+++ b/example/src/tests/hooks.spec.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import Chance from 'chance';
 
 import {type DB, open, isLibsql} from '@op-engineering/op-sqlite';
 import chai from 'chai';
-import {describe, it, beforeEach, afterAll} from './MochaRNAdapter';
+import {describe, it, beforeEach, afterEach} from './MochaRNAdapter';
 import {sleep} from './utils';
 
 const expect = chai.expect;
@@ -16,13 +16,12 @@ let db: DB;
 
 export function registerHooksTests() {
   describe('Hooks', () => {
+    if (isLibsql()) {
+      return;
+    }
+
     beforeEach(async () => {
       try {
-        if (db) {
-          db.close();
-          db.delete();
-        }
-
         db = open(DB_CONFIG);
 
         await db.execute('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS User;');
@@ -34,18 +33,11 @@ export function registerHooksTests() {
       }
     });
 
-    afterAll(() => {
+    afterEach(() => {
       if (db) {
-        db.close();
         db.delete();
-        // @ts-ignore
-        db = null;
       }
     });
-    // libsql does not support hooks
-    if (isLibsql()) {
-      return;
-    }
 
     it('update hook', async () => {
       let promiseResolve: any;
@@ -57,16 +49,6 @@ export function registerHooksTests() {
       }>(resolve => {
         promiseResolve = resolve;
       });
-      let db = open({
-        name: 'updateHookDb.sqlite',
-        encryptionKey: 'blah',
-      });
-
-      await db.execute('DROP TABLE IF EXISTS User;');
-
-      await db.execute(
-        'CREATE TABLE User ( id INT PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT NOT NULL, age INT, networth REAL) STRICT;',
-      );
 
       db.updateHook(data => {
         promiseResolve(data);
@@ -76,25 +58,24 @@ export function registerHooksTests() {
       const name = chance.name();
       const age = chance.integer();
       const networth = chance.floating();
-      await db.execute(
-        'INSERT INTO "User" (id, name, age, networth) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)',
-        [id, name, age, networth],
-      );
+      await db.transaction(async tx => {
+        await tx.execute(
+          'INSERT INTO "User" (id, name, age, networth) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)',
+          [id, name, age, networth],
+        );
+      });
 
       const data = await promise;
 
       expect(data.operation).to.equal('INSERT');
       expect(data.rowId).to.equal(1);
 
-      db.close();
+      db.updateHook(null);
     });
 
     it('remove update hook', async () => {
       const hookRes: string[] = [];
-      let db = open({
-        name: 'updateHookDb.sqlite',
-        encryptionKey: 'blah',
-      });
+
       db.updateHook(({operation}) => {
         hookRes.push(operation);
       });
@@ -103,22 +84,25 @@ export function registerHooksTests() {
       const name = chance.name();
       const age = chance.integer();
       const networth = chance.floating();
-      await db.execute(
-        'INSERT INTO "User" (id, name, age, networth) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)',
-        [id, name, age, networth],
-      );
+      await db.transaction(async tx => {
+        await tx.execute(
+          'INSERT INTO "User" (id, name, age, networth) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)',
+          [id, name, age, networth],
+        );
+      });
 
       db.updateHook(null);
 
-      await db.execute(
-        'INSERT INTO "User" (id, name, age, networth) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)',
-        [id + 1, name, age, networth],
-      );
+      await db.transaction(async tx => {
+        await tx.execute(
+          'INSERT INTO "User" (id, name, age, networth) VALUES(?, ?, ?, ?)',
+          [id + 1, name, age, networth],
+        );
+      });
 
       await sleep(0);
 
       expect(hookRes.length).to.equal(1);
-      db.close();
     });
 
     it('commit hook', async () => {
@@ -143,6 +127,7 @@ export function registerHooksTests() {
       });
 
       await promise;
+      db.commitHook(null);
     });
 
     it('remove commit hook', async () => {
diff --git a/scripts/turnOnSQLCipher.js b/scripts/turnOnSQLCipher.js
index 53f46b0..92d5110 100644
--- a/scripts/turnOnSQLCipher.js
+++ b/scripts/turnOnSQLCipher.js
@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 const fs = require('fs');
 
-console.log('Current working directory:', process.cwd());
-
 // Read the package.json file
 const packageJson = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync('./example/package.json'));
 
 // Modify the op-sqlite.sqlcipher key to true
 packageJson['op-sqlite']['sqlcipher'] = true;
 packageJson['op-sqlite']['libsql'] = false;
+packageJson['op-sqlite']['iosSqlite'] = false;
 
 // Save the updated package.json file
 fs.writeFileSync(