diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests-ci.yml b/.github/workflows/tests-ci.yml
index e13c4cb15..3bf4a3179 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests-ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests-ci.yml
@@ -85,12 +85,17 @@ jobs:
           CODECOV_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
 
   test-with-browsers:
-    name: test-with-browsers (${{ matrix.browser }})
+    name: test-with-browsers (group ${{ matrix.group }})
     # Run browser tests using macOS so that WebKit tests don't fail under a Linux environment
     runs-on: macos-latest
     strategy:
+      # parallelism strategy: agent takes as long as roughly all other pkgs combined.
       matrix:
-        browser: ['--group chromium', ' --group firefox', '--group webkit']
+        include:
+          - group: "A"
+            packages: "--workspace packages/agent --workspace packages/dids "
+          - group: "B"
+            packages: "--workspace packages/common --workspace packages/crypto --workspace packages/credentials --workspace packages/user-agent --workspace packages/proxy-agent --workspace packages/api --workspace packages/identity-agent"
     steps:
       - name: Checkout source
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
@@ -134,16 +139,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build esm
         run: npm run build:esm --ws
 
-      - name: Build browser bundles
-        run: npm run build:browser --ws
+      - name: Build browser for matrix ${{ matrix.group }}
+        run: npm run build:browser ${{ matrix.packages }}
 
       - name: Run dwn-server (background)
         run: |
           node node_modules/@web5/dwn-server/dist/esm/src/main.js &
           echo "DWN_SERVER_BACKGROUND_PROCESS=$!" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
-      - name: Run tests for matrix ${{ matrix.browser }} 
-        run: npm run test:browser --ws -- ${{ matrix.browser }}
+      - name: Run tests for matrix ${{ matrix.group }}
+        run: npm run test:browser ${{ matrix.packages }}
 
       - name: Terminate dwn-server
         run: kill $DWN_SERVER_BACKGROUND_PROCESS || true
diff --git a/packages/agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 47bdd14e3..1e3a26457 100644
--- a/packages/agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '30000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/api/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/api/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/api/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/api/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/common/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/common/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/common/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/common/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/credentials/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/credentials/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/credentials/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/credentials/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/crypto/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/crypto/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/crypto/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/crypto/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/dids/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/dids/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/dids/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/dids/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/identity-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/identity-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/identity-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/identity-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/proxy-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/proxy-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/proxy-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/proxy-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };
diff --git a/packages/user-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs b/packages/user-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
index 0837bf14c..e5adb980d 100644
--- a/packages/user-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
+++ b/packages/user-agent/web-test-runner.config.cjs
@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ const playwrightLauncher =
  * @type {import('@web/test-runner').TestRunnerConfig}
  */
 module.exports = {
-  playwright         : true,
-  nodeResolve        : true,
+  files       : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
+  playwright  : true,
+  nodeResolve : true,
+  browsers    : [
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'chromium',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'firefox',
+    }),
+    playwrightLauncher({
+      product: 'webkit',
+    }),
+  ],
   testsFinishTimeout : 300000,
   concurrentBrowsers : 2,
   testFramework      : {
@@ -15,33 +27,4 @@ module.exports = {
       timeout: '15000',
     },
   },
-  groups: [
-    {
-      name     : 'chromium',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'chromium',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'firefox',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'firefox',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-    {
-      name     : 'webkit',
-      files    : 'tests/compiled/**/*.spec.js',
-      browsers : [
-        playwrightLauncher({
-          product: 'webkit',
-        }),
-      ],
-    },
-  ],
 };