diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr.yml b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
index 0ac935a..1e989ec 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: "3.11"
 
+      - name: Install Rust
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
       - name: Install uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
 
@@ -22,6 +25,13 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           uv sync --locked --all-groups
 
+      - name: Build & install native extension (maturin develop)
+        uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
+        with:
+          command: develop
+          args: --release
+          manylinux: "2_28"
+
       - name: Run linters
         run: |
           make check-linting
@@ -37,6 +47,9 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: "3.11"
 
+      - name: Install Rust
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
       - name: Install uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
 
@@ -44,10 +57,21 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           uv sync --locked --all-groups
 
+      - name: Build & install native extension (maturin develop)
+        uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
+        with:
+          command: develop
+          args: --release
+          manylinux: "2_28"
+
+      - name: Sanity check (import Rust extension)
+        run: |
+          uv run python -c "import typeid; import typeid._base32; print('Rust extension OK')"
+
       - name: Run tests
         run: |
           make test
-      
+
       - name: Run doc tests
         run: |
           make test-docs
diff --git a/.github/workflows/publish.yml b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
index 94cd41a..2c1bd8c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/publish.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/publish.yml
@@ -8,14 +8,83 @@ permissions:
   contents: write
   id-token: write
 
+env:
+  PROJECT_NAME: typeid-python
+
 jobs:
   test:
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/test.yml
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          fetch-depth: 9
+          submodules: false
+
+      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+
+      - name: Install uv
+        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
+
+      - name: Sync dependencies (locked)
+        run: |
+          uv sync --locked --all-groups
+
+      - name: Run tests
+        run: |
+          make test
+
+      - name: Run linters
+        run: |
+          make check-linting
+
+  test-native:
+    name: Build + import native extension (${{ matrix.os }}, py${{ matrix.python-version }})
+    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
+    needs:
+      - test
+    strategy:
+      fail-fast: false
+      matrix:
+        os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
+        python-version: ["3.11"]
+
+    steps:
+      - name: Checkout
+        uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
+        with:
+          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
+
+      - name: Install Rust
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
+
+      # Build & install the package in-place with the extension
+      - name: Build & install (maturin develop)
+        uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
+        with:
+          command: develop
+          args: --release
+
+      - name: Sanity check (import extension)
+        run: |
+          python -c "import typeid; import typeid._base32; print('native ext OK')"
+
 
   build-wheels:
-    name: Build wheels (${{ matrix.os }})
+    name: Build wheels (${{ matrix.os }}, py${{ matrix.python-version }})
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
-    needs: test
+    needs: test-native
     strategy:
       fail-fast: false
       matrix:
@@ -36,10 +105,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install Rust
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
-      - name: Install uv
-        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
-
-      - name: Build wheels (Rust-enabled)
+      # Build typeid-python wheel (includes rust extension)
+      - name: Build wheels (maturin)
         uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
         with:
           command: build
@@ -51,7 +118,7 @@ jobs:
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: wheels-${{ matrix.os }}-py${{ matrix.python-version }}
-          path: rust-base32/dist/*.whl
+          path: dist/*.whl
 
   build-sdist:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -67,49 +134,25 @@ jobs:
         with:
           python-version: "3.11"
 
-      - name: Install uv
-        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
-
-      - name: Sync deps (including build tools)
-        run: |
-          uv sync --all-extras --dev
-
-      - name: Build sdist
-        run: |
-          make build-sdist
+      - name: Install Rust
+        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
 
-      - name: Upload sdist
-        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
-        with:
-          name: sdist
-          path: dist/*.tar.gz
-    
-  build-rust-sdist:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: test
-    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: "3.11"
-      - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
-      - name: Build rust sdist
+      # Build typeid-python sdist (maturin)
+      - name: Build sdist (maturin)
         uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
         with:
           command: sdist
           args: --out dist
-          working-directory: rust-base32
 
-      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
+      - name: Upload sdist
+        uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
-          name: rust-sdist
-          path: rust-base32/dist/*.tar.gz
+          name: sdist
+          path: dist/*.tar.gz
 
   publish-package:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    needs: 
-      - build-sdist
-      - build-rust-sdist
+    needs: build-sdist
     permissions:
       contents: read
       id-token: write
@@ -149,4 +192,4 @@ jobs:
           uv sync --locked --all-groups
 
       - name: Deploy to Pages
-        run: uv run mkdocs gh-deploy --force
\ No newline at end of file
+        run: uv run mkdocs gh-deploy --force
diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 784fcba..0000000
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,94 +0,0 @@
-name: Run Tests
-
-on:
-  workflow_call:
-
-  push:
-    branches: [main]
-    paths-ignore:
-      - '**.md'
-
-env:
-  PROJECT_NAME: typeid-python
-
-jobs:
-  test:
-    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        python-version: ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-        with:
-          fetch-depth: 9
-          submodules: false
-
-      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-
-      - name: Install uv
-        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
-
-      - name: Sync dependencies (locked)
-        run: |
-          uv sync --locked --all-groups
-
-      - name: Run tests
-        run: |
-          make test
-
-      - name: Run linters
-        run: |
-          make check-linting
-
-  test-rust-accel:
-    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
-    needs:
-      - test
-    strategy:
-      fail-fast: false
-      matrix:
-        os: [ubuntu-latest, macos-latest, windows-latest]
-        python-version: ["3.11"]
-
-    steps:
-      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@v4
-
-      - name: Set up Python ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-        uses: actions/setup-python@v5
-        with:
-          python-version: ${{ matrix.python-version }}
-
-      - name: Install Rust
-        uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
-
-      - name: Install uv
-        uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v3
-
-      - name: Sync deps (locked, no extras)
-        run: |
-          uv sync --locked --all-groups
-
-      - name: Build & install Rust extension (maturin develop)
-        uses: PyO3/maturin-action@v1
-        with:
-          command: develop
-          args: --release
-          working-directory: rust-base32
-
-      # Install the remaining deps of the rust extra WITHOUT trying to fetch typeid-base32
-      - name: Install rust extra deps (without fetching typeid-base32)
-        shell: bash
-        run: |
-          uv pip install "uuid-utils>=0.12.0"
-          uv pip install -e ".[rust]" --no-deps
-
-      - name: Sanity check (import extension)
-        run: |
-          uv run python -c "import typeid_base32; print('typeid_base32 OK')"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 41d406d..6d52f35 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,25 +56,17 @@ See [`Docs: Performance`](https://akhundmurad.github.io/typeid-python/performanc
 
 ## Installation
 
-### Core (pure Python)
+### Core
 
 ```console
 $ pip install typeid-python
 ```
 
-### With Rust acceleration (recommended)
-
-```console
-$ pip install typeid-python[rust]
-```
-
-This enables:
+Included:
 
 * Rust base32 encode/decode
 * `uuid-utils` for fast UUIDv7 generation
 
-If Rust is unavailable, TypeID automatically falls back to the pure-Python implementation.
-
 ### Other optional extras
 
 ```console
@@ -111,7 +103,7 @@ assert tid.prefix == "user"
 
 ```python
 from typeid import TypeID
-from uuid6 import uuid7
+from uuid_utils import uuid7
 
 u = uuid7()
 tid = TypeID.from_uuid(prefix="user", suffix=u)
diff --git a/bench/README.md b/bench/README.md
index 3758842..d7ad9e8 100644
--- a/bench/README.md
+++ b/bench/README.md
@@ -17,9 +17,7 @@ Benchmarks were run with:
 - OS: macOS / Linux
 - CPU: Apple Silicon / x86_64
 - Tooling: `pytest-benchmark`
-- UUID backends:
-  - `uuid-utils` (Rust, optional)
-  - `uuid6` (Python, legacy comparison)
+- UUID backend: `uuid-utils` (Rust)
 
 Exact environment details are embedded in each JSON result file.
 
@@ -64,7 +62,7 @@ These files are the **source of truth**.
 
 ## Comparison summary (mean time, µs)
 
-| Benchmark           | 0001 – Before Rust | 0002 – Rust + optimizations | Speedup (0004 vs 0001) |
+| Benchmark           | 0001 – Before Rust | 0002 – Rust + optimizations | Speedup (0002 vs 0001) |
 | ------------------- | -----------------: | --------------------------: | ---------------------: |
 | **TypeID generate** |           3.467 µs |                **0.701 µs** |       **4.94× faster** |
 | **TypeID parse**    |           2.076 µs |                **1.296 µs** |       **1.60× faster** |
@@ -88,24 +86,6 @@ These files are the **source of truth**.
 
 Result: parse and workflow became faster than the original Python baseline.
 
-## UUID backend comparison (context)
-
-These numbers represent the approximate lower bound:
-
-| Operation | uuid-utils |    uuid6 |
-| --------- | ---------: | -------: |
-| Generate  |   ~0.08 µs | ~1.51 µs |
-| Parse     |   ~0.12 µs | ~0.53 µs |
-
-TypeID adds overhead for:
-
-* base32 encoding
-* prefix handling
-* validation
-* safety guarantees
-
-This overhead is now reduced to approximately **1–2 µs**, depending on the operation.
-
 ## Cold path vs warm path
 
 All benchmarks measure cold-path performance: each iteration operates on a new identifier.
diff --git a/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_generate.py b/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_generate.py
index 8f02766..66c06ed 100644
--- a/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_generate.py
+++ b/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_generate.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 from typeid import TypeID
-import uuid6
+import uuid
 import uuid_utils
 
 
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ def test_typeid_generate(benchmark):
     benchmark(TypeID, "user")
 
 
-def test_uuid6_generate(benchmark):
-    benchmark(uuid6.uuid7)
+def test_uuid4_generate(benchmark):
+    benchmark(uuid.uuid4)
 
 
 def test_uuid_utils_generate(benchmark):
diff --git a/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_parse.py b/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_parse.py
index adaafec..3aa60bd 100644
--- a/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_parse.py
+++ b/bench/benchmarks/test_bench_parse.py
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 from typeid import TypeID
-import uuid6
+import uuid
 import uuid_utils
 
 
 TYPEID_STR = str(TypeID("user"))
-UUID_STR = str(uuid6.uuid7())
+UUID_STR = str(uuid_utils.uuid7())
 
 
 def test_typeid_parse(benchmark):
@@ -16,9 +16,5 @@ def test_typeid_parse_reuse(benchmark):
     benchmark(lambda: TypeID.from_string(s))
 
 
-def test_uuid6_parse(benchmark):
-    benchmark(uuid6.UUID, UUID_STR)
-
-
 def test_uuid_utils_parse(benchmark):
     benchmark(uuid_utils.UUID, UUID_STR)
diff --git a/docs/quickstart.md b/docs/quickstart.md
index 6dfbd7e..2643e17 100644
--- a/docs/quickstart.md
+++ b/docs/quickstart.md
@@ -10,18 +10,12 @@ It is intentionally short. The goal is to get you productive quickly, not to exp
 
 Install the package using your preferred tool.
 
-- Standard installation (uses `uuid6` library):
+- Standard installation:
 
     ```console
     $ pip install typeid-python
     ```
 
-- Rust acceleration (`uuid-utils` + Rust base32 encode/decode):
-
-    ```console
-    $ pip install "typeid-python[rust]"
-    ```
-
 - YAML schemas support:
 
     ```console
@@ -125,14 +119,13 @@ tid.uuid
 ```
 
 > **_NOTE:_**
-> The exact Python type returned by `tid.uuid` depends on the available backend.
 > For time-related information, prefer `typeid explain` or derived properties (`.created_at`)
-> over backend-specific UUID attributes.
+> over specific UUID attributes.
 
 And you can always reconstruct a TypeID from a UUID:
 
 ```python
-from uuid6 import uuid7
+from uuid_utils import uuid7
 from typeid import TypeID
 
 u = uuid7()
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 10b775b..df57f67 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ license = "MIT"
 keywords = [
     "typeid",
     "uuid",
-    "uuid6",
+    "rust",
     "guid",
+    "uuid7",
 ]
 classifiers = [
     "Development Status :: 3 - Alpha",
@@ -22,12 +23,11 @@ classifiers = [
     "Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14",
     "Operating System :: OS Independent",
 ]
-dependencies = ["uuid6>=2024.7.10,<2026.0.0"]
+dependencies = ["uuid-utils>=0.12.0"]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 cli = ["click"]
 yaml = ["PyYAML"]
-rust = ["uuid-utils>=0.12.0", "typeid-base32>=0.3.5,<0.4.0"]
 
 [project.urls] 
 Homepage = "https://github.com/akhundMurad/typeid-python"
@@ -57,12 +57,12 @@ dev = [
     "maturin>=1.5; platform_system != 'Windows'"
 ]
 
-[tool.hatch.build.targets.sdist]
-include = ["typeid"]
-
-[tool.hatch.build.targets.wheel]
-include = ["typeid"]
-
 [build-system]
-requires = ["hatchling"]
-build-backend = "hatchling.build"
+requires = ["maturin>=1.5"]
+build-backend = "maturin"
+
+[tool.maturin]
+python-source = "."
+manifest-path = "rust-base32/Cargo.toml"
+module-name = "typeid._base32"
+features = ["pyo3/extension-module"]
diff --git a/rust-base32/pyproject.toml b/rust-base32/pyproject.toml
deleted file mode 100644
index 2404d8e..0000000
--- a/rust-base32/pyproject.toml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,20 +0,0 @@
-[build-system]
-requires = ["maturin>=1.5"]
-build-backend = "maturin"
-
-[project]
-name = "typeid-base32"
-version = "0.3.6"
-requires-python = ">=3.10"
-description = "Rust-accelerated base32 codec for typeid-python"
-license = { text = "MIT" }
-classifiers = [
-  "Programming Language :: Python",
-  "Programming Language :: Rust",
-  "Operating System :: OS Independent",
-]
-
-[tool.maturin]
-# This is the *import/module name* in Python: `import typeid_base32`
-module-name = "typeid_base32"
-features = ["pyo3/extension-module"]
diff --git a/rust-base32/src/lib.rs b/rust-base32/src/lib.rs
index 975ddd0..287c704 100644
--- a/rust-base32/src/lib.rs
+++ b/rust-base32/src/lib.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ fn decode(s: &str) -> PyResult<Vec<u8>> {
 }
 
 #[pymodule]
-fn typeid_base32(_py: Python<'_>, m: &Bound<'_, PyModule>) -> PyResult<()> {
+fn _base32(_py: Python<'_>, m: &Bound<'_, PyModule>) -> PyResult<()> {
     m.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(encode, m)?)?;
     m.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(decode, m)?)?;
     Ok(())
diff --git a/tests/test_base32.py b/tests/test_base32.py
index 47b7908..4b4cb36 100644
--- a/tests/test_base32.py
+++ b/tests/test_base32.py
@@ -1,8 +1,3 @@
-import builtins
-import importlib
-import sys
-
-import pytest
 from typeid.base32 import decode, encode
 
 
@@ -18,40 +13,3 @@ def test_encode_decode_logic() -> None:
     decoded_data = decode(encoded_data)
 
     assert decoded_data == original_data
-
-
-def _reload_base32():
-    sys.modules.pop("typeid.base32", None)
-    return importlib.import_module("typeid.base32")
-
-
-def test_uses_rust_if_available():
-    """
-    If the native module is importable, typeid.base32 should pick Rust backend.
-    If native module is not installed in this environment, skip (can't force it).
-    """
-    try:
-        import typeid_base32  # noqa: F401
-    except Exception:
-        pytest.skip("Rust extension typeid_base32 not installed in this environment")
-
-    base32 = _reload_base32()
-    assert base32._HAS_RUST
-
-
-def test_falls_back_to_python_when_rust_missing(monkeypatch):
-    """
-    Force ImportError for typeid_base32 and re-import typeid.base32.
-    This must select Python backend.
-    """
-    real_import = builtins.__import__
-
-    def blocked_import(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=(), level=0):
-        if name == "typeid_base32":
-            raise ImportError("blocked by test")
-        return real_import(name, globals, locals, fromlist, level)
-
-    monkeypatch.setattr(builtins, "__import__", blocked_import)
-
-    base32 = _reload_base32()
-    assert not base32._HAS_RUST
diff --git a/tests/test_spec.py b/tests/test_spec.py
index f009344..49d3a7a 100644
--- a/tests/test_spec.py
+++ b/tests/test_spec.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
-from uuid6 import UUID
+from uuid_utils import UUID
 
 from typeid import TypeID
 from typeid.errors import TypeIDException
diff --git a/tests/test_typeid.py b/tests/test_typeid.py
index 25cf011..835cbbb 100644
--- a/tests/test_typeid.py
+++ b/tests/test_typeid.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from uuid import UUID
 import pytest
-import uuid6
+import uuid_utils
 
 from typeid import TypeID
 from typeid.errors import SuffixValidationException
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def test_construct_type_from_invalid_string() -> None:
 
 
 def test_construct_type_from_uuid() -> None:
-    uuid = uuid6.uuid7()
+    uuid = uuid_utils.uuid7()
 
     typeid = TypeID.from_uuid(suffix=uuid, prefix="")
 
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ def test_construct_type_from_uuid() -> None:
 
 
 def test_construct_type_from_uuid_with_prefix() -> None:
-    uuid = uuid6.uuid7()
+    uuid = uuid_utils.uuid7()
     prefix = "prefix"
 
     typeid = TypeID.from_uuid(prefix=prefix, suffix=uuid)
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def test_hash_type_id() -> None:
 
 
 def test_uuid_property() -> None:
-    uuid = uuid6.uuid7()
+    uuid = uuid_utils.uuid7()
 
     typeid = TypeID.from_uuid(suffix=uuid)
     print(type(typeid.uuid))
diff --git a/tests/test_uuid_backend.py b/tests/test_uuid_backend.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 713b633..0000000
--- a/tests/test_uuid_backend.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,27 +0,0 @@
-import pytest
-
-from typeid._uuid_backend import get_uuid_backend
-
-
-@pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    "value,expected",
-    [
-        ("uuid6", "uuid6"),
-        ("uuid-utils", "uuid-utils"),
-    ],
-)
-def test_backend_forced(monkeypatch, value, expected):
-    try:
-        import uuid_utils  # noqa: F401
-    except Exception:
-        pytest.skip("Rust extension uuid_utils not installed in this environment")
-
-    monkeypatch.setenv("TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND", value)
-    backend = get_uuid_backend()
-    assert backend.name == expected
-
-
-def test_backend_invalid_value(monkeypatch):
-    monkeypatch.setenv("TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND", "nope")
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
-        get_uuid_backend()
diff --git a/tests/test_validation.py b/tests/test_validation.py
index 9260d59..cf71aa6 100644
--- a/tests/test_validation.py
+++ b/tests/test_validation.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import pytest
-from uuid6 import uuid7
+from uuid_utils import uuid7
 
 from typeid import base32
 from typeid.errors import PrefixValidationException, SuffixValidationException
diff --git a/typeid/_uuid_backend.py b/typeid/_uuid_backend.py
deleted file mode 100644
index e6cfc30..0000000
--- a/typeid/_uuid_backend.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,62 +0,0 @@
-import os
-import uuid as std_uuid
-from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import Callable, Literal, Type
-
-
-BackendName = Literal["uuid-utils", "uuid6"]
-
-
-@dataclass(frozen=True)
-class UUIDBackend:
-    name: BackendName
-    uuid7: Callable[[], std_uuid.UUID]
-    UUID: Type[std_uuid.UUID]
-
-
-def _load_uuid_utils() -> UUIDBackend:
-    import uuid_utils as uuid  # type: ignore
-
-    return UUIDBackend(name="uuid-utils", uuid7=uuid.uuid7, UUID=uuid.UUID)  # type: ignore
-
-
-def _load_uuid6() -> UUIDBackend:
-    import uuid6  # type: ignore
-
-    return UUIDBackend(name="uuid6", uuid7=uuid6.uuid7, UUID=uuid6.UUID)  # type: ignore
-
-
-def get_uuid_backend() -> UUIDBackend:
-    """
-    Select UUIDv7 backend.
-
-    Selection order:
-      1) If TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND is set, force that backend (or fail with a clear error).
-      2) Otherwise prefer uuid-utils if installed, else fallback to uuid6.
-
-    Allowed values:
-      TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND=uuid-utils|uuid6
-    """
-    forced = os.getenv("TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND")
-    if forced:
-        forced = forced.strip()
-        if forced not in ("uuid-utils", "uuid6"):
-            raise RuntimeError(f"Invalid TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND={forced!r}. " "Allowed values: 'uuid-utils' or 'uuid6'.")
-        try:
-            return _load_uuid_utils() if forced == "uuid-utils" else _load_uuid6()
-        except Exception as e:
-            raise RuntimeError(
-                f"TYPEID_UUID_BACKEND is set to {forced!r}, but that backend "
-                "is not available. Install the required dependency."
-            ) from e
-
-    # Auto mode
-    try:
-        return _load_uuid_utils()
-    except Exception:
-        pass
-
-    try:
-        return _load_uuid6()
-    except Exception as e:
-        raise RuntimeError("No UUIDv7 backend available. Install one of: uuid-utils (recommended) or uuid6.") from e
diff --git a/typeid/base32.py b/typeid/base32.py
index f032224..94a7061 100644
--- a/typeid/base32.py
+++ b/typeid/base32.py
@@ -1,237 +1,9 @@
-try:
-    from typeid_base32 import encode as _encode_rust, decode as _decode_rust  # type: ignore
-
-    _HAS_RUST = True
-except Exception:
-    _HAS_RUST = False
-    _encode_rust = None
-    _decode_rust = None
-
-from typing import Union
-from typeid.constants import SUFFIX_LEN
-
-ALPHABET = "0123456789abcdefghjkmnpqrstvwxyz"
-
-# TABLE maps ASCII byte -> 0..31 or 0xFF if invalid
-TABLE = [
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0x00,
-    0x01,
-    0x02,
-    0x03,
-    0x04,
-    0x05,
-    0x06,
-    0x07,
-    0x08,
-    0x09,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0x0A,
-    0x0B,
-    0x0C,
-    0x0D,
-    0x0E,
-    0x0F,
-    0x10,
-    0x11,
-    0xFF,
-    0x12,
-    0x13,
-    0xFF,
-    0x14,
-    0x15,
-    0xFF,
-    0x16,
-    0x17,
-    0x18,
-    0x19,
-    0x1A,
-    0xFF,
-    0x1B,
-    0x1C,
-    0x1D,
-    0x1E,
-    0x1F,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0x0A,
-    0x0B,
-    0x0C,
-    0x0D,
-    0x0E,
-    0x0F,
-    0x10,
-    0x11,
-    0xFF,
-    0x12,
-    0x13,
-    0xFF,
-    0x14,
-    0x15,
-    0xFF,
-    0x16,
-    0x17,
-    0x18,
-    0x19,
-    0x1A,
-    0xFF,
-    0x1B,
-    0x1C,
-    0x1D,
-    0x1E,
-    0x1F,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-    0xFF,
-] + [0xFF] * (256 - 128)
-
-
-BytesLike = Union[bytes, bytearray, memoryview]
-
-
-def _encode_py(src: BytesLike) -> str:
-    mv = memoryview(src)
-    if mv.nbytes != 16:
-        raise RuntimeError("Invalid length.")
-
-    # Pre-allocate output chars
-    dst = [""] * SUFFIX_LEN
-
-    # Timestamp (6 bytes => 10 chars)
-    dst[0] = ALPHABET[(mv[0] & 0b11100000) >> 5]
-    dst[1] = ALPHABET[mv[0] & 0b00011111]
-    dst[2] = ALPHABET[(mv[1] & 0b11111000) >> 3]
-    dst[3] = ALPHABET[((mv[1] & 0b00000111) << 2) | ((mv[2] & 0b11000000) >> 6)]
-    dst[4] = ALPHABET[(mv[2] & 0b00111110) >> 1]
-    dst[5] = ALPHABET[((mv[2] & 0b00000001) << 4) | ((mv[3] & 0b11110000) >> 4)]
-    dst[6] = ALPHABET[((mv[3] & 0b00001111) << 1) | ((mv[4] & 0b10000000) >> 7)]
-    dst[7] = ALPHABET[(mv[4] & 0b01111100) >> 2]
-    dst[8] = ALPHABET[((mv[4] & 0b00000011) << 3) | ((mv[5] & 0b11100000) >> 5)]
-    dst[9] = ALPHABET[mv[5] & 0b00011111]
-
-    # Entropy (10 bytes => 16 chars)
-    dst[10] = ALPHABET[(mv[6] & 0b11111000) >> 3]
-    dst[11] = ALPHABET[((mv[6] & 0b00000111) << 2) | ((mv[7] & 0b11000000) >> 6)]
-    dst[12] = ALPHABET[(mv[7] & 0b00111110) >> 1]
-    dst[13] = ALPHABET[((mv[7] & 0b00000001) << 4) | ((mv[8] & 0b11110000) >> 4)]
-    dst[14] = ALPHABET[((mv[8] & 0b00001111) << 1) | ((mv[9] & 0b10000000) >> 7)]
-    dst[15] = ALPHABET[(mv[9] & 0b01111100) >> 2]
-    dst[16] = ALPHABET[((mv[9] & 0b00000011) << 3) | ((mv[10] & 0b11100000) >> 5)]
-    dst[17] = ALPHABET[mv[10] & 0b00011111]
-    dst[18] = ALPHABET[(mv[11] & 0b11111000) >> 3]
-    dst[19] = ALPHABET[((mv[11] & 0b00000111) << 2) | ((mv[12] & 0b11000000) >> 6)]
-    dst[20] = ALPHABET[(mv[12] & 0b00111110) >> 1]
-    dst[21] = ALPHABET[((mv[12] & 0b00000001) << 4) | ((mv[13] & 0b11110000) >> 4)]
-    dst[22] = ALPHABET[((mv[13] & 0b00001111) << 1) | ((mv[14] & 0b10000000) >> 7)]
-    dst[23] = ALPHABET[(mv[14] & 0b01111100) >> 2]
-    dst[24] = ALPHABET[((mv[14] & 0b00000011) << 3) | ((mv[15] & 0b11100000) >> 5)]
-    dst[25] = ALPHABET[mv[15] & 0b00011111]
-
-    return "".join(dst)
-
-
-def _decode_py(s: str) -> bytes:
-    if len(s) != SUFFIX_LEN:
-        raise RuntimeError("Invalid length.")
-
-    v = s.encode("utf-8")
-    tbl = TABLE
-
-    for b in v:
-        if tbl[b] == 0xFF:
-            raise RuntimeError("Invalid base32 character")
-
-    out = bytearray(16)
-
-    # 6 bytes timestamp (48 bits)
-    out[0] = (tbl[v[0]] << 5) | tbl[v[1]]
-    out[1] = (tbl[v[2]] << 3) | (tbl[v[3]] >> 2)
-    out[2] = ((tbl[v[3]] & 3) << 6) | (tbl[v[4]] << 1) | (tbl[v[5]] >> 4)
-    out[3] = ((tbl[v[5]] & 15) << 4) | (tbl[v[6]] >> 1)
-    out[4] = ((tbl[v[6]] & 1) << 7) | (tbl[v[7]] << 2) | (tbl[v[8]] >> 3)
-    out[5] = ((tbl[v[8]] & 7) << 5) | tbl[v[9]]
-
-    # 10 bytes entropy (80 bits)
-    out[6] = (tbl[v[10]] << 3) | (tbl[v[11]] >> 2)
-    out[7] = ((tbl[v[11]] & 3) << 6) | (tbl[v[12]] << 1) | (tbl[v[13]] >> 4)
-    out[8] = ((tbl[v[13]] & 15) << 4) | (tbl[v[14]] >> 1)
-    out[9] = ((tbl[v[14]] & 1) << 7) | (tbl[v[15]] << 2) | (tbl[v[16]] >> 3)
-    out[10] = ((tbl[v[16]] & 7) << 5) | tbl[v[17]]
-    out[11] = (tbl[v[18]] << 3) | (tbl[v[19]] >> 2)
-    out[12] = ((tbl[v[19]] & 3) << 6) | (tbl[v[20]] << 1) | (tbl[v[21]] >> 4)
-    out[13] = ((tbl[v[21]] & 15) << 4) | (tbl[v[22]] >> 1)
-    out[14] = ((tbl[v[22]] & 1) << 7) | (tbl[v[23]] << 2) | (tbl[v[24]] >> 3)
-    out[15] = ((tbl[v[24]] & 7) << 5) | tbl[v[25]]
-
-    return bytes(out)
+from typeid._base32 import encode as _encode_rust, decode as _decode_rust  # type: ignore
 
 
 def encode(src: bytes) -> str:
-    if _HAS_RUST:
-        return _encode_rust(src)
-    return _encode_py(src)
+    return _encode_rust(src)
 
 
 def decode(s: str) -> bytes:
-    if _HAS_RUST:
-        return _decode_rust(s)
-    return _decode_py(s)
+    return _decode_rust(s)
diff --git a/typeid/cli.py b/typeid/cli.py
index 8706d3b..b6c9707 100644
--- a/typeid/cli.py
+++ b/typeid/cli.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from typing import Optional
 
 import click
-from uuid6 import UUID
+from uuid_utils import UUID
 
 from typeid import TypeID, base32, from_uuid, get_prefix_and_suffix
 from typeid.explain.discovery import discover_schema_path
diff --git a/typeid/constants.py b/typeid/constants.py
index 150f4df..af81b48 100644
--- a/typeid/constants.py
+++ b/typeid/constants.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 SUFFIX_LEN = 26
 
 PREFIX_MAX_LEN = 63
+
+ALPHABET = "0123456789abcdefghjkmnpqrstvwxyz"
diff --git a/typeid/explain/engine.py b/typeid/explain/engine.py
index b3dd6e6..98757af 100644
--- a/typeid/explain/engine.py
+++ b/typeid/explain/engine.py
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def explain(
     if enable_schema and schema_lookup is not None and parsed.prefix:
         try:
             schema = schema_lookup(parsed.prefix)
-        except Exception as e:  # never let schema backend break explain
+        except Exception as e:
             exp.warnings.append(f"Schema lookup failed: {e!s}")
             schema = None
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def _parse_typeid(id_str: str) -> ParsedTypeID:
         )
 
     # Derived facts from the validated TypeID
-    uuid_obj = tid.uuid  # library returns a UUID object (uuid6.UUID)
+    uuid_obj = tid.uuid  # library returns a UUID object
     uuid_str = str(uuid_obj)
 
     ver = _uuid_version(uuid_obj)
@@ -173,7 +173,6 @@ def _uuid7_created_at(uuid_obj: Any) -> Optional[datetime]:
         UTC datetime or None if extraction fails.
     """
     try:
-        # uuid_obj is likely uuid6.UUID, but supports .int like uuid.UUID
         u_int = int(uuid_obj.int)
         unix_ms = u_int >> 80
         unix_s = unix_ms / 1000.0
@@ -251,7 +250,6 @@ def _apply_derived_provenance(exp: Explanation) -> None:
 
 def _uuid_version(u: Any) -> Optional[int]:
     try:
-        # uuid.UUID and uuid6.UUID both usually expose .version
         return int(u.version)
     except Exception:
         return None
diff --git a/typeid/explain/model.py b/typeid/explain/model.py
index e5cdb90..8295028 100644
--- a/typeid/explain/model.py
+++ b/typeid/explain/model.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class ParsedTypeID:
     errors: List[ParseError] = field(default_factory=list)
 
     # Derived (best-effort)
-    uuid: Optional[str] = None  # keep as string to avoid uuid/uuid6 typing bleed
+    uuid: Optional[str] = None
     created_at: Optional[datetime] = None
     sortable: Optional[bool] = None  # TypeIDs w/ UUIDv7 are typically sortable
 
diff --git a/typeid/typeid.py b/typeid/typeid.py
index 1b130a5..10fa6cc 100644
--- a/typeid/typeid.py
+++ b/typeid/typeid.py
@@ -1,31 +1,21 @@
 from datetime import datetime, timezone
 import warnings
+import uuid_utils
 from typing import Generic, Optional, TypeVar
 
-import uuid as std_uuid
-
 from typeid import base32
 from typeid.errors import InvalidTypeIDStringException
 from typeid.validation import validate_prefix, validate_suffix_and_decode
-from typeid._uuid_backend import get_uuid_backend
-
-_backend = get_uuid_backend()
 
 PrefixT = TypeVar("PrefixT", bound=str)
 
 
-def _uuid_from_bytes_v7(uuid_bytes: bytes) -> std_uuid.UUID:
+def _uuid_from_bytes_v7(uuid_bytes: bytes) -> uuid_utils.UUID:
     """
     Construct a UUID object from bytes.
-    Prefer uuid6 (if installed) to preserve UUIDv7 semantics like `.time`.
     """
-    try:
-        import uuid6  # type: ignore
-
-        uuid_int = int.from_bytes(uuid_bytes, "big")
-        return uuid6.UUID(int=uuid_int)
-    except Exception:
-        return std_uuid.UUID(bytes=uuid_bytes)
+    uuid_int = int.from_bytes(uuid_bytes, "big")
+    return uuid_utils.UUID(int=uuid_int)
 
 
 class TypeID(Generic[PrefixT]):
@@ -75,12 +65,12 @@ def __init__(self, prefix: Optional[PrefixT] = None, suffix: Optional[str] = Non
         self._prefix: Optional[PrefixT] = prefix
 
         self._str: Optional[str] = None
-        self._uuid: Optional[std_uuid.UUID] = None
+        self._uuid: Optional[uuid_utils.UUID] = None
         self._uuid_bytes: Optional[bytes] = None
 
         if not suffix:
             # generate uuid (fast path)
-            u = _backend.uuid7()
+            u = uuid_utils.uuid7()
             uuid_bytes = u.bytes
             suffix = base32.encode(uuid_bytes)
             # Cache UUID object (keep original type for user expectations)
@@ -117,7 +107,7 @@ def from_string(cls, string: str) -> "TypeID":
         return cls(suffix=suffix, prefix=prefix)
 
     @classmethod
-    def from_uuid(cls, suffix: std_uuid.UUID, prefix: Optional[PrefixT] = None) -> "TypeID":
+    def from_uuid(cls, suffix: uuid_utils.UUID, prefix: Optional[PrefixT] = None) -> "TypeID":
         """
         Construct a TypeID from an existing UUID.
 
@@ -142,7 +132,7 @@ def from_uuid(cls, suffix: std_uuid.UUID, prefix: Optional[PrefixT] = None) -> "
         obj._prefix = prefix
         obj._suffix = suffix_str
         obj._uuid_bytes = uuid_bytes
-        obj._uuid = suffix  # keep original object type (uuid6/uuid_utils/stdlib)
+        obj._uuid = suffix  # keep original object type
         obj._str = None
         return obj
 
@@ -172,7 +162,7 @@ def prefix(self) -> str:
         return self._prefix or ""
 
     @property
-    def uuid(self) -> std_uuid.UUID:
+    def uuid(self) -> uuid_utils.UUID:
         """
         The UUID represented by this TypeID.
 
@@ -194,9 +184,6 @@ def uuid_bytes(self) -> bytes:
         in this TypeID. The value is derived lazily from the suffix and cached
         on first access.
 
-        This property is backend-agnostic and independent of the concrete
-        UUID implementation used internally.
-
         Returns:
             A 16-byte ``bytes`` object representing the UUID.
         """
@@ -307,7 +294,7 @@ def from_string(string: str) -> TypeID:
     return TypeID.from_string(string=string)
 
 
-def from_uuid(suffix: std_uuid.UUID, prefix: Optional[str] = None) -> TypeID:
+def from_uuid(suffix: uuid_utils.UUID, prefix: Optional[str] = None) -> TypeID:
     warnings.warn("Consider TypeID.from_uuid instead.", DeprecationWarning)
     return TypeID.from_uuid(suffix=suffix, prefix=prefix)
 
diff --git a/typeid/validation.py b/typeid/validation.py
index 0fe30e1..e41b372 100644
--- a/typeid/validation.py
+++ b/typeid/validation.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import re
 
 from typeid import base32
-from typeid.constants import SUFFIX_LEN
+from typeid.constants import SUFFIX_LEN, ALPHABET
 from typeid.errors import PrefixValidationException, SuffixValidationException
 
 _PREFIX_RE = re.compile(r"^([a-z]([a-z0-9_]{0,61}[a-z0-9])?)?$")  # allow digits too (spec-like)
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def validate_suffix_and_decode(suffix: str) -> bytes:
         or suffix == ""
         or " " in suffix
         or (not suffix.isdigit() and not suffix.islower())
-        or any([symbol not in base32.ALPHABET for symbol in suffix])
+        or any([symbol not in ALPHABET for symbol in suffix])
         or suffix[0] > "7"
     ):
         raise SuffixValidationException(f"Invalid suffix: {suffix}.")
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock
index 46eba93..1241ccf 100644
--- a/uv.lock
+++ b/uv.lock
@@ -1297,31 +1297,18 @@ wheels = [
     { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/3a/7a/882d99539b19b1490cac5d77c67338d126e4122c8276bf640e411650c830/twine-6.2.0-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:418ebf08ccda9a8caaebe414433b0ba5e25eb5e4a927667122fbe8f829f985d8", size = 42727, upload-time = "2025-09-04T15:43:15.994Z" },
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "typeid-base32"
-version = "0.3.5"
-source = { registry = "https://pypi.org/simple" }
-wheels = [
-    { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/ac/dd/1dcc54960bb9a014dfcb646946e35ebf777e9b08b9da8ff8aca986a0ea1a/typeid_base32-0.3.5-cp311-cp311-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl", hash = "sha256:b4087efae9a82edec788aef1b31ee64bfd1a94d8d5a6b5da077e710d3c014ad6", size = 208486, upload-time = "2026-01-03T15:56:22.982Z" },
-    { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/02/8e/52c9468e49ac9db141ca85e5a31240fa63259e0e9982d38473ac28c40453/typeid_base32-0.3.5-cp311-cp311-win_amd64.whl", hash = "sha256:e7ef97f472d7cf166130d5f56711331fb6367283326d03750660fdf239493234", size = 99966, upload-time = "2026-01-03T15:56:24.363Z" },
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "typeid-python"
 version = "0.3.6"
 source = { editable = "." }
 dependencies = [
-    { name = "uuid6" },
+    { name = "uuid-utils" },
 ]
 
 [package.optional-dependencies]
 cli = [
     { name = "click" },
 ]
-rust = [
-    { name = "typeid-base32" },
-    { name = "uuid-utils" },
-]
 yaml = [
     { name = "pyyaml" },
 ]
@@ -1350,11 +1337,9 @@ dev = [
 requires-dist = [
     { name = "click", marker = "extra == 'cli'" },
     { name = "pyyaml", marker = "extra == 'yaml'" },
-    { name = "typeid-base32", marker = "extra == 'rust'", specifier = ">=0.3.5,<0.4.0" },
-    { name = "uuid-utils", marker = "extra == 'rust'", specifier = ">=0.12.0" },
-    { name = "uuid6", specifier = ">=2024.7.10,<2026.0.0" },
+    { name = "uuid-utils", specifier = ">=0.12.0" },
 ]
-provides-extras = ["cli", "yaml", "rust"]
+provides-extras = ["cli", "yaml"]
 
 [package.metadata.requires-dev]
 dev = [
@@ -1432,15 +1417,6 @@ wheels = [
     { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/6b/c7/e3f3ce05c5af2bf86a0938d22165affe635f4dcbfd5687b1dacc042d3e0e/uuid_utils-0.12.0-pp311-pypy311_pp73-manylinux_2_5_i686.manylinux1_i686.whl", hash = "sha256:84e5c0eba209356f7f389946a3a47b2cc2effd711b3fc7c7f155ad9f7d45e8a3", size = 360693, upload-time = "2025-12-01T17:29:54.558Z" },
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "uuid6"
-version = "2025.0.1"
-source = { registry = "https://pypi.org/simple" }
-sdist = { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/ca/b7/4c0f736ca824b3a25b15e8213d1bcfc15f8ac2ae48d1b445b310892dc4da/uuid6-2025.0.1.tar.gz", hash = "sha256:cd0af94fa428675a44e32c5319ec5a3485225ba2179eefcf4c3f205ae30a81bd", size = 13932, upload-time = "2025-07-04T18:30:35.186Z" }
-wheels = [
-    { url = "https://files.pythonhosted.org/packages/3d/b2/93faaab7962e2aa8d6e174afb6f76be2ca0ce89fde14d3af835acebcaa59/uuid6-2025.0.1-py3-none-any.whl", hash = "sha256:80530ce4d02a93cdf82e7122ca0da3ebbbc269790ec1cb902481fa3e9cc9ff99", size = 6979, upload-time = "2025-07-04T18:30:34.001Z" },
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "watchdog"
 version = "6.0.0"