diff --git a/cmd/gouroboros/chainsync.go b/cmd/gouroboros/chainsync.go
index f1184686..73100199 100644
--- a/cmd/gouroboros/chainsync.go
+++ b/cmd/gouroboros/chainsync.go
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ func chainSyncRollForwardHandler(
 		block = v
 	case ledger.BlockHeader:
 		blockSlot := v.SlotNumber()
-		blockHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(v.Hash())
+		blockHash := v.Hash().Bytes()
 		var err error
 		if oConn == nil {
 			return errors.New("empty ouroboros connection, aborting!")
diff --git a/ledger/allegra/allegra.go b/ledger/allegra/allegra.go
index ad3c80d0..e81969e1 100644
--- a/ledger/allegra/allegra.go
+++ b/ledger/allegra/allegra.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package allegra
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/blinklabs-io/gouroboros/cbor"
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ func (AllegraBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeAllegra
 }
 
-func (b *AllegraBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *AllegraBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ func (b *AllegraBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *AllegraBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *AllegraBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -108,7 +107,6 @@ func (b *AllegraBlock) Transactions() []common.Transaction {
 
 func (b *AllegraBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 	txs := []*utxorpc.Tx{}
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
 	for _, t := range b.Transactions() {
 		tx := t.Utxorpc()
 		txs = append(txs, tx)
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ func (b *AllegraBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 		Tx: txs,
 	}
 	header := &utxorpc.BlockHeader{
-		Hash:   tmpHash,
+		Hash:   b.Hash().Bytes(),
 		Height: b.BlockNumber(),
 		Slot:   b.SlotNumber(),
 	}
@@ -178,7 +176,7 @@ func (AllegraTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeAllegra
 }
 
-func (t AllegraTransaction) Hash() string {
+func (t AllegraTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return t.Body.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -280,7 +278,7 @@ func (t AllegraTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 		ret = append(
 			ret,
 			common.Utxo{
-				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 				Output: output,
 			},
 		)
diff --git a/ledger/alonzo/alonzo.go b/ledger/alonzo/alonzo.go
index ba2cfdfa..0450a96c 100644
--- a/ledger/alonzo/alonzo.go
+++ b/ledger/alonzo/alonzo.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package alonzo
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ func (AlonzoBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeAlonzo
 }
 
-func (b *AlonzoBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *AlonzoBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ func (b *AlonzoBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *AlonzoBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *AlonzoBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +116,6 @@ func (b *AlonzoBlock) Transactions() []common.Transaction {
 
 func (b *AlonzoBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 	txs := []*utxorpc.Tx{}
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
 	for _, t := range b.Transactions() {
 		tx := t.Utxorpc()
 		txs = append(txs, tx)
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ func (b *AlonzoBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 		Tx: txs,
 	}
 	header := &utxorpc.BlockHeader{
-		Hash:   tmpHash,
+		Hash:   b.Hash().Bytes(),
 		Height: b.BlockNumber(),
 		Slot:   b.SlotNumber(),
 	}
@@ -370,7 +368,7 @@ func (AlonzoTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeAlonzo
 }
 
-func (t AlonzoTransaction) Hash() string {
+func (t AlonzoTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return t.Body.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -477,7 +475,7 @@ func (t AlonzoTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 			ret = append(
 				ret,
 				common.Utxo{
-					Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+					Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 					Output: output,
 				},
 			)
diff --git a/ledger/babbage/babbage.go b/ledger/babbage/babbage.go
index 94854435..d0daf88f 100644
--- a/ledger/babbage/babbage.go
+++ b/ledger/babbage/babbage.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package babbage
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ func (BabbageBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeBabbage
 }
 
-func (b *BabbageBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *BabbageBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ func (b *BabbageBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *BabbageBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *BabbageBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -119,7 +118,6 @@ func (b *BabbageBlock) Transactions() []common.Transaction {
 
 func (b *BabbageBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 	txs := []*utxorpc.Tx{}
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
 	for _, t := range b.Transactions() {
 		tx := t.Utxorpc()
 		txs = append(txs, tx)
@@ -128,7 +126,7 @@ func (b *BabbageBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 		Tx: txs,
 	}
 	header := &utxorpc.BlockHeader{
-		Hash:   tmpHash,
+		Hash:   b.Hash().Bytes(),
 		Height: b.BlockNumber(),
 		Slot:   b.SlotNumber(),
 	}
@@ -142,7 +140,7 @@ func (b *BabbageBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 type BabbageBlockHeader struct {
 	cbor.StructAsArray
 	cbor.DecodeStoreCbor
-	hash      string
+	hash      *common.Blake2b256
 	Body      BabbageBlockHeaderBody
 	Signature []byte
 }
@@ -179,16 +177,16 @@ func (h *BabbageBlockHeader) UnmarshalCBOR(cborData []byte) error {
 	return h.UnmarshalCbor(cborData, h)
 }
 
-func (h *BabbageBlockHeader) Hash() string {
-	if h.hash == "" {
+func (h *BabbageBlockHeader) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	if h.hash == nil {
 		tmpHash := common.Blake2b256Hash(h.Cbor())
-		h.hash = hex.EncodeToString(tmpHash.Bytes())
+		h.hash = &tmpHash
 	}
-	return h.hash
+	return *h.hash
 }
 
-func (h *BabbageBlockHeader) PrevHash() string {
-	return h.Body.PrevHash.String()
+func (h *BabbageBlockHeader) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	return h.Body.PrevHash
 }
 
 func (h *BabbageBlockHeader) BlockNumber() uint64 {
@@ -282,10 +280,6 @@ func (b *BabbageTransactionBody) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Tx {
 		input := ri.Utxorpc()
 		txri = append(txri, input)
 	}
-	tmpHash, err := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
-	if err != nil {
-		return &utxorpc.Tx{}
-	}
 	tx := &utxorpc.Tx{
 		Inputs:  txi,
 		Outputs: txo,
@@ -299,7 +293,7 @@ func (b *BabbageTransactionBody) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Tx {
 		// Successful:   b.Successful(),
 		// Auxiliary:    b.AuxData(),
 		// Validity:     b.Validity(),
-		Hash: tmpHash,
+		Hash: b.Hash().Bytes(),
 	}
 	return tx
 }
@@ -523,7 +517,7 @@ func (BabbageTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeBabbage
 }
 
-func (t BabbageTransaction) Hash() string {
+func (t BabbageTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return t.Body.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -630,7 +624,7 @@ func (t BabbageTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 			ret = append(
 				ret,
 				common.Utxo{
-					Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+					Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 					Output: output,
 				},
 			)
@@ -642,7 +636,7 @@ func (t BabbageTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 		}
 		return []common.Utxo{
 			{
-				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), len(t.Outputs())),
+				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), len(t.Outputs())),
 				Output: t.CollateralReturn(),
 			},
 		}
diff --git a/ledger/babbage/babbage_test.go b/ledger/babbage/babbage_test.go
index 75d7f3b1..d59d3d7d 100644
--- a/ledger/babbage/babbage_test.go
+++ b/ledger/babbage/babbage_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package babbage
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/blinklabs-io/gouroboros/ledger/alonzo"
@@ -2747,8 +2746,7 @@ func TestBabbageBlock_Utxorpc(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, len(babbageBlock.TransactionBodies), len(utxoBlock.Body.Tx))
 
 	// Validate the header details
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(babbageBlock.Hash())
-	assert.Equal(t, tmpHash, utxoBlock.Header.Hash)
+	assert.Equal(t, babbageBlock.Hash().Bytes(), utxoBlock.Header.Hash)
 	assert.Equal(t, babbageBlock.BlockNumber(), utxoBlock.Header.Height)
 	assert.Equal(t, babbageBlock.SlotNumber(), utxoBlock.Header.Slot)
 
diff --git a/ledger/byron/byron.go b/ledger/byron/byron.go
index 9a13aec8..1200748f 100644
--- a/ledger/byron/byron.go
+++ b/ledger/byron/byron.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func init() {
 type ByronMainBlockHeader struct {
 	cbor.StructAsArray
 	cbor.DecodeStoreCbor
-	hash          string
+	hash          *common.Blake2b256
 	ProtocolMagic uint32
 	PrevBlock     common.Blake2b256
 	BodyProof     interface{}
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) UnmarshalCBOR(cborData []byte) error {
 	return h.UnmarshalCbor(cborData, h)
 }
 
-func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) Hash() string {
-	if h.hash == "" {
+func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	if h.hash == nil {
 		// Prepend bytes for CBOR list wrapper
 		// The block hash is calculated with these extra bytes, so we have to add them to
 		// get the correct value
@@ -95,13 +95,13 @@ func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) Hash() string {
 				h.Cbor()...,
 			),
 		)
-		h.hash = hex.EncodeToString(tmpHash.Bytes())
+		h.hash = &tmpHash
 	}
-	return h.hash
+	return *h.hash
 }
 
-func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) PrevHash() string {
-	return h.PrevBlock.String()
+func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	return h.PrevBlock
 }
 
 func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) BlockNumber() uint64 {
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ func (h *ByronMainBlockHeader) Era() common.Era {
 type ByronTransaction struct {
 	cbor.StructAsArray
 	cbor.DecodeStoreCbor
-	hash       string
+	hash       *common.Blake2b256
 	TxInputs   []ByronTransactionInput
 	TxOutputs  []ByronTransactionOutput
 	Attributes *cbor.LazyValue
@@ -146,12 +146,12 @@ func (ByronTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeByron
 }
 
-func (t *ByronTransaction) Hash() string {
-	if t.hash == "" {
+func (t *ByronTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	if t.hash == nil {
 		tmpHash := common.Blake2b256Hash(t.Cbor())
-		t.hash = hex.EncodeToString(tmpHash.Bytes())
+		t.hash = &tmpHash
 	}
-	return t.hash
+	return *t.hash
 }
 
 func (t *ByronTransaction) Inputs() []common.TransactionInput {
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ func (t *ByronTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 		ret = append(
 			ret,
 			common.Utxo{
-				Id:     NewByronTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+				Id:     NewByronTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 				Output: output,
 			},
 		)
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ func (b *ByronMainBlockBody) UnmarshalCBOR(data []byte) error {
 type ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader struct {
 	cbor.StructAsArray
 	cbor.DecodeStoreCbor
-	hash          string
+	hash          *common.Blake2b256
 	ProtocolMagic uint32
 	PrevBlock     common.Blake2b256
 	BodyProof     interface{}
@@ -516,8 +516,8 @@ func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) UnmarshalCBOR(cborData []byte) error {
 	return h.UnmarshalCbor(cborData, h)
 }
 
-func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) Hash() string {
-	if h.hash == "" {
+func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	if h.hash == nil {
 		// Prepend bytes for CBOR list wrapper
 		// The block hash is calculated with these extra bytes, so we have to add them to
 		// get the correct value
@@ -527,13 +527,13 @@ func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) Hash() string {
 				h.Cbor()...,
 			),
 		)
-		h.hash = hex.EncodeToString(tmpHash.Bytes())
+		h.hash = &tmpHash
 	}
-	return h.hash
+	return *h.hash
 }
 
-func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) PrevHash() string {
-	return h.PrevBlock.String()
+func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	return h.PrevBlock
 }
 
 func (h *ByronEpochBoundaryBlockHeader) BlockNumber() uint64 {
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ func (ByronMainBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeByronMain
 }
 
-func (b *ByronMainBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *ByronMainBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ func (b *ByronMainBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *ByronMainBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *ByronMainBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ func (ByronEpochBoundaryBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeByronEbb
 }
 
-func (b *ByronEpochBoundaryBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *ByronEpochBoundaryBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ func (b *ByronEpochBoundaryBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *ByronEpochBoundaryBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *ByronEpochBoundaryBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
diff --git a/ledger/common/block.go b/ledger/common/block.go
index b723a4b9..2ba4d9e9 100644
--- a/ledger/common/block.go
+++ b/ledger/common/block.go
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ type Block interface {
 }
 
 type BlockHeader interface {
-	Hash() string
-	PrevHash() string
+	Hash() Blake2b256
+	PrevHash() Blake2b256
 	BlockNumber() uint64
 	SlotNumber() uint64
 	IssuerVkey() IssuerVkey
diff --git a/ledger/common/tx.go b/ledger/common/tx.go
index 6595fa2c..20a19d61 100644
--- a/ledger/common/tx.go
+++ b/ledger/common/tx.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type Transaction interface {
 type TransactionBody interface {
 	Cbor() []byte
 	Fee() uint64
-	Hash() string
+	Hash() Blake2b256
 	Inputs() []TransactionInput
 	Outputs() []TransactionOutput
 	TTL() uint64
diff --git a/ledger/conway/conway.go b/ledger/conway/conway.go
index 7ce7d340..8e761605 100644
--- a/ledger/conway/conway.go
+++ b/ledger/conway/conway.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package conway
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/blinklabs-io/gouroboros/cbor"
@@ -64,7 +63,7 @@ func (ConwayBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeConway
 }
 
-func (b *ConwayBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *ConwayBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -72,7 +71,7 @@ func (b *ConwayBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *ConwayBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *ConwayBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -117,7 +116,6 @@ func (b *ConwayBlock) Transactions() []common.Transaction {
 
 func (b *ConwayBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 	txs := []*utxorpc.Tx{}
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
 	for _, t := range b.Transactions() {
 		tx := t.Utxorpc()
 		txs = append(txs, tx)
@@ -126,7 +124,7 @@ func (b *ConwayBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 		Tx: txs,
 	}
 	header := &utxorpc.BlockHeader{
-		Hash:   tmpHash,
+		Hash:   b.Hash().Bytes(),
 		Height: b.BlockNumber(),
 		Slot:   b.SlotNumber(),
 	}
@@ -325,7 +323,7 @@ func (ConwayTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeConway
 }
 
-func (t ConwayTransaction) Hash() string {
+func (t ConwayTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return t.Body.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -432,7 +430,7 @@ func (t ConwayTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 			ret = append(
 				ret,
 				common.Utxo{
-					Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+					Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 					Output: output,
 				},
 			)
@@ -444,7 +442,7 @@ func (t ConwayTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 		}
 		return []common.Utxo{
 			{
-				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), len(t.Outputs())),
+				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), len(t.Outputs())),
 				Output: t.CollateralReturn(),
 			},
 		}
diff --git a/ledger/mary/mary.go b/ledger/mary/mary.go
index c1ae7c2a..2324e398 100644
--- a/ledger/mary/mary.go
+++ b/ledger/mary/mary.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package mary
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ func (MaryBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeMary
 }
 
-func (b *MaryBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *MaryBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -71,7 +70,7 @@ func (b *MaryBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *MaryBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *MaryBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -110,7 +109,6 @@ func (b *MaryBlock) Transactions() []common.Transaction {
 
 func (b *MaryBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 	txs := []*utxorpc.Tx{}
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
 	for _, t := range b.Transactions() {
 		tx := t.Utxorpc()
 		txs = append(txs, tx)
@@ -119,7 +117,7 @@ func (b *MaryBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 		Tx: txs,
 	}
 	header := &utxorpc.BlockHeader{
-		Hash:   tmpHash,
+		Hash:   b.Hash().Bytes(),
 		Height: b.BlockNumber(),
 		Slot:   b.SlotNumber(),
 	}
@@ -189,7 +187,7 @@ func (MaryTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeMary
 }
 
-func (t MaryTransaction) Hash() string {
+func (t MaryTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return t.Body.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -291,7 +289,7 @@ func (t MaryTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 		ret = append(
 			ret,
 			common.Utxo{
-				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+				Id:     shelley.NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 				Output: output,
 			},
 		)
diff --git a/ledger/shelley/shelley.go b/ledger/shelley/shelley.go
index 25d1d866..ba13b494 100644
--- a/ledger/shelley/shelley.go
+++ b/ledger/shelley/shelley.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func (ShelleyBlock) Type() int {
 	return BlockTypeShelley
 }
 
-func (b *ShelleyBlock) Hash() string {
+func (b *ShelleyBlock) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ func (b *ShelleyBlock) Header() common.BlockHeader {
 	return b.BlockHeader
 }
 
-func (b *ShelleyBlock) PrevHash() string {
+func (b *ShelleyBlock) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return b.BlockHeader.PrevHash()
 }
 
@@ -109,7 +109,6 @@ func (b *ShelleyBlock) Transactions() []common.Transaction {
 
 func (b *ShelleyBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 	txs := []*utxorpc.Tx{}
-	tmpHash, _ := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
 	for _, t := range b.Transactions() {
 		tx := t.Utxorpc()
 		txs = append(txs, tx)
@@ -118,7 +117,7 @@ func (b *ShelleyBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 		Tx: txs,
 	}
 	header := &utxorpc.BlockHeader{
-		Hash:   tmpHash,
+		Hash:   b.Hash().Bytes(),
 		Height: b.BlockNumber(),
 		Slot:   b.SlotNumber(),
 	}
@@ -132,7 +131,7 @@ func (b *ShelleyBlock) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Block {
 type ShelleyBlockHeader struct {
 	cbor.StructAsArray
 	cbor.DecodeStoreCbor
-	hash      string
+	hash      *common.Blake2b256
 	Body      ShelleyBlockHeaderBody
 	Signature []byte
 }
@@ -159,16 +158,16 @@ func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) UnmarshalCBOR(cborData []byte) error {
 	return h.UnmarshalCbor(cborData, h)
 }
 
-func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) Hash() string {
-	if h.hash == "" {
+func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	if h.hash == nil {
 		tmpHash := common.Blake2b256Hash(h.Cbor())
-		h.hash = hex.EncodeToString(tmpHash.Bytes())
+		h.hash = &tmpHash
 	}
-	return h.hash
+	return *h.hash
 }
 
-func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) PrevHash() string {
-	return h.Body.PrevHash.String()
+func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) PrevHash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	return h.Body.PrevHash
 }
 
 func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) BlockNumber() uint64 {
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ func (h *ShelleyBlockHeader) Era() common.Era {
 
 type ShelleyTransactionBody struct {
 	cbor.DecodeStoreCbor
-	hash           string
+	hash           *common.Blake2b256
 	TxInputs       ShelleyTransactionInputSet  `cbor:"0,keyasint,omitempty"`
 	TxOutputs      []ShelleyTransactionOutput  `cbor:"1,keyasint,omitempty"`
 	TxFee          uint64                      `cbor:"2,keyasint,omitempty"`
@@ -212,12 +211,12 @@ func (b *ShelleyTransactionBody) UnmarshalCBOR(cborData []byte) error {
 	return b.UnmarshalCbor(cborData, b)
 }
 
-func (b *ShelleyTransactionBody) Hash() string {
-	if b.hash == "" {
+func (b *ShelleyTransactionBody) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
+	if b.hash == nil {
 		tmpHash := common.Blake2b256Hash(b.Cbor())
-		b.hash = hex.EncodeToString(tmpHash.Bytes())
+		b.hash = &tmpHash
 	}
-	return b.hash
+	return *b.hash
 }
 
 func (b *ShelleyTransactionBody) Inputs() []common.TransactionInput {
@@ -338,10 +337,6 @@ func (b *ShelleyTransactionBody) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Tx {
 		output := o.Utxorpc()
 		txo = append(txo, output)
 	}
-	tmpHash, err := hex.DecodeString(b.Hash())
-	if err != nil {
-		return &utxorpc.Tx{}
-	}
 	tx := &utxorpc.Tx{
 		Inputs:  txi,
 		Outputs: txo,
@@ -352,7 +347,7 @@ func (b *ShelleyTransactionBody) Utxorpc() *utxorpc.Tx {
 		// Validity:     b.Validity(),
 		// Successful:   b.Successful(),
 		// Auxiliary:    b.AuxData(),
-		Hash: tmpHash,
+		Hash: b.Hash().Bytes(),
 	}
 	return tx
 }
@@ -539,7 +534,7 @@ func (ShelleyTransaction) Type() int {
 	return TxTypeShelley
 }
 
-func (t ShelleyTransaction) Hash() string {
+func (t ShelleyTransaction) Hash() common.Blake2b256 {
 	return t.Body.Hash()
 }
 
@@ -637,7 +632,7 @@ func (t ShelleyTransaction) Produced() []common.Utxo {
 		ret = append(
 			ret,
 			common.Utxo{
-				Id:     NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash(), idx),
+				Id:     NewShelleyTransactionInput(t.Hash().String(), idx),
 				Output: output,
 			},
 		)
diff --git a/ledger/verify_block_body.go b/ledger/verify_block_body.go
index 4cb23d0f..e3949c61 100644
--- a/ledger/verify_block_body.go
+++ b/ledger/verify_block_body.go
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ func GetBlockOutput(
 	var regisCerts []RegisCert
 	var deRegisCerts []DeRegisCert
 	for txIndex, tx := range txBodies {
-		txHash := tx.Hash()
+		txHash := tx.Hash().String()
 		txOutputs := tx.Outputs()
 		for outputIndex, txOutput := range txOutputs {
 			cborDatum := []byte{}
diff --git a/protocol/blockfetch/client_test.go b/protocol/blockfetch/client_test.go
index 1cb19726..1a1c3a12 100644
--- a/protocol/blockfetch/client_test.go
+++ b/protocol/blockfetch/client_test.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestGetBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := cbor.Decode(blockCbor, &testBlock); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("received unexpected error: %s", err)
 	}
-	testBlockHash := test.DecodeHexString(testBlock.Hash())
+	testBlockHash := testBlock.Hash().Bytes()
 	wrappedBlock := blockfetch.WrappedBlock{
 		Type:     ledger.BlockTypeBabbage,
 		RawBlock: cbor.RawMessage(blockCbor),
diff --git a/protocol/chainsync/client.go b/protocol/chainsync/client.go
index 81486462..01d0e1f7 100644
--- a/protocol/chainsync/client.go
+++ b/protocol/chainsync/client.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 package chainsync
 
 import (
-	"encoding/hex"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"sync"
@@ -653,12 +652,7 @@ func (c *Client) handleRollForward(msgGeneric protocol.Message) error {
 				firstBlockChan <- clientPointResult{error: err}
 				return err
 			}
-			blockHash, err := hex.DecodeString(blockHeader.Hash())
-			if err != nil {
-				firstBlockChan <- clientPointResult{error: err}
-				return err
-			}
-			point := common.NewPoint(blockHeader.SlotNumber(), blockHash)
+			point := common.NewPoint(blockHeader.SlotNumber(), blockHeader.Hash().Bytes())
 			firstBlockChan <- clientPointResult{tip: msg.Tip, point: point}
 			return nil
 		}
@@ -700,12 +694,7 @@ func (c *Client) handleRollForward(msgGeneric protocol.Message) error {
 				firstBlockChan <- clientPointResult{error: err}
 				return err
 			}
-			blockHash, err := hex.DecodeString(block.Hash())
-			if err != nil {
-				firstBlockChan <- clientPointResult{error: err}
-				return err
-			}
-			point := common.NewPoint(block.SlotNumber(), blockHash)
+			point := common.NewPoint(block.SlotNumber(), block.Hash().Bytes())
 			firstBlockChan <- clientPointResult{tip: msg.Tip, point: point}
 			return nil
 		}
diff --git a/protocol/chainsync/client_test.go b/protocol/chainsync/client_test.go
index df735034..309757b3 100644
--- a/protocol/chainsync/client_test.go
+++ b/protocol/chainsync/client_test.go
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func TestGetAvailableBlockRange(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	expectedStart := ocommon.NewPoint(
 		testBlock.SlotNumber(),
-		test.DecodeHexString(testBlock.Hash()),
+		testBlock.Hash().Bytes(),
 	)
 	conversation := append(
 		conversationHandshakeFindIntersect,
diff --git a/protocol/localtxmonitor/server.go b/protocol/localtxmonitor/server.go
index 92dc562c..e6cfb8ba 100644
--- a/protocol/localtxmonitor/server.go
+++ b/protocol/localtxmonitor/server.go
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ func (s *Server) handleHasTx(msg protocol.Message) error {
 	txId := hex.EncodeToString(msgHasTx.TxId)
 	hasTx := false
 	for _, tx := range s.mempoolTxs {
-		if tx.txObj.Hash() == txId {
+		if tx.txObj.Hash().String() == txId {
 			hasTx = true
 			break
 		}