diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/exe/Main.hs b/hydra-chain-observer/exe/Main.hs
index 0625e510d0b..2c53bbac429 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/exe/Main.hs
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/exe/Main.hs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 module Main where
 
+import Hydra.Prelude
+
 import Hydra.ChainObserver qualified
 import Hydra.ChainObserver.NodeClient (defaultObserverHandler)
-import Hydra.Prelude
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 
 main :: IO ()
-main = Hydra.ChainObserver.main defaultObserverHandler
+main = Hydra.ChainObserver.main serialisedScriptRegistry defaultObserverHandler
diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/hydra-chain-observer.cabal b/hydra-chain-observer/hydra-chain-observer.cabal
index 507f532a65f..150256039b0 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/hydra-chain-observer.cabal
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/hydra-chain-observer.cabal
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ executable hydra-chain-observer
   main-is:        Main.hs
   build-depends:
     , hydra-chain-observer
+    , hydra-plutus
     , hydra-prelude
 
 test-suite tests
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ test-suite tests
     , hydra-cardano-api
     , hydra-chain-observer
     , hydra-node
+    , hydra-plutus
     , hydra-prelude
     , hydra-test-utils
     , hydra-tx:testlib
diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Blockfrost/ChainObserver.hs b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Blockfrost/ChainObserver.hs
index 79894732dc7..40d048dc310 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Blockfrost/ChainObserver.hs
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Blockfrost/ChainObserver.hs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import Hydra.ChainObserver.NodeClient (
   observeAll,
  )
 import Hydra.Logging (Tracer, traceWith)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx (IsTx (..))
 
 data APIBlockfrostError
@@ -66,8 +67,9 @@ blockfrostClient ::
   Tracer IO ChainObserverLog ->
   FilePath ->
   Integer ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   NodeClient IO
-blockfrostClient tracer projectPath blockConfirmations = do
+blockfrostClient tracer projectPath blockConfirmations serialisedScriptRegistry = do
   NodeClient
     { follow = \startChainFrom observerHandler -> do
         prj <- Blockfrost.projectFromFile projectPath
@@ -100,7 +102,7 @@ blockfrostClient tracer projectPath blockConfirmations = do
         stateTVar <- newTVarIO (blockHash, mempty)
         void $
           retrying (retryPolicy blockTime) shouldRetry $ \_ -> do
-            loop tracer prj networkId blockTime observerHandler blockConfirmations stateTVar
+            loop tracer prj networkId blockTime serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler blockConfirmations stateTVar
               `catch` \(ex :: APIBlockfrostError) ->
                 pure $ Left ex
     }
@@ -121,15 +123,16 @@ loop ::
   Blockfrost.Project ->
   NetworkId ->
   DiffTime ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   ObserverHandler m ->
   Integer ->
   TVar m (Blockfrost.BlockHash, UTxO) ->
   m a
-loop tracer prj networkId blockTime observerHandler blockConfirmations stateTVar = do
+loop tracer prj networkId blockTime serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler blockConfirmations stateTVar = do
   current <- readTVarIO stateTVar
-  next <- rollForward tracer prj networkId observerHandler blockConfirmations current
+  next <- rollForward tracer prj networkId serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler blockConfirmations current
   atomically $ writeTVar stateTVar next
-  loop tracer prj networkId blockTime observerHandler blockConfirmations stateTVar
+  loop tracer prj networkId blockTime serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler blockConfirmations stateTVar
 
 -- | From the current block and UTxO view, we collect Hydra observations
 -- and yield the next block and adjusted UTxO view.
@@ -138,11 +141,12 @@ rollForward ::
   Tracer m ChainObserverLog ->
   Blockfrost.Project ->
   NetworkId ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   ObserverHandler m ->
   Integer ->
   (Blockfrost.BlockHash, UTxO) ->
   m (Blockfrost.BlockHash, UTxO)
-rollForward tracer prj networkId observerHandler blockConfirmations (blockHash, utxo) = do
+rollForward tracer prj networkId serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler blockConfirmations (blockHash, utxo) = do
   block@Blockfrost.Block
     { _blockHash
     , _blockConfirmations
@@ -172,7 +176,7 @@ rollForward tracer prj networkId observerHandler blockConfirmations (blockHash,
   traceWith tracer RollForward{point, receivedTxIds}
 
   -- Collect head observations
-  let (adjustedUTxO, observations) = observeAll networkId utxo receivedTxs
+  let (adjustedUTxO, observations) = observeAll networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo receivedTxs
   let onChainTxs = mapMaybe convertObservation observations
   forM_ onChainTxs (traceWith tracer . logOnChainTx)
 
diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver.hs b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver.hs
index ac21e82750b..1a95f752dc1 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver.hs
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver.hs
@@ -10,19 +10,20 @@ import Hydra.ChainObserver.Options (BlockfrostOptions (..), DirectOptions (..),
 import Hydra.Contract qualified as Contract
 import Hydra.Logging (Verbosity (..), traceWith, withTracer)
 import Hydra.Ouroborus.ChainObserver (ouroborusClient)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Options.Applicative (execParser)
 
-main :: ObserverHandler IO -> IO ()
-main observerHandler = do
+main :: SerialisedScriptRegistry -> ObserverHandler IO -> IO ()
+main serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler = do
   opts <- execParser hydraChainObserverOptions
   withTracer (Verbose "hydra-chain-observer") $ \tracer -> do
-    traceWith tracer KnownScripts{scriptInfo = Contract.scriptInfo}
+    traceWith tracer KnownScripts{scriptInfo = Contract.scriptInfo serialisedScriptRegistry}
     case opts of
       DirectOpts DirectOptions{networkId, nodeSocket, startChainFrom} -> do
-        let NodeClient{follow} = ouroborusClient tracer nodeSocket networkId
+        let NodeClient{follow} = ouroborusClient tracer nodeSocket networkId serialisedScriptRegistry
         follow startChainFrom observerHandler
       BlockfrostOpts BlockfrostOptions{projectPath, startChainFrom} -> do
         -- FIXME: should be configurable
         let blockConfirmations = 1
-            NodeClient{follow} = blockfrostClient tracer projectPath blockConfirmations
+            NodeClient{follow} = blockfrostClient tracer projectPath blockConfirmations serialisedScriptRegistry
         follow startChainFrom observerHandler
diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver/NodeClient.hs b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver/NodeClient.hs
index 4d034a70122..94d0007e064 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver/NodeClient.hs
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/ChainObserver/NodeClient.hs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import Hydra.Chain.Direct.Tx (
  )
 import Hydra.Contract (ScriptInfo)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano (adjustUTxO)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx.HeadId (HeadId (..))
 
 type ObserverHandler m = [ChainObservation] -> m ()
@@ -79,19 +80,19 @@ logOnChainTx = \case
   OnAbortTx{headId} -> HeadAbortTx{headId}
   OnContestTx{headId} -> HeadContestTx{headId}
 
-observeTx :: NetworkId -> UTxO -> Tx -> (UTxO, Maybe HeadObservation)
-observeTx networkId utxo tx =
+observeTx :: NetworkId -> SerialisedScriptRegistry -> UTxO -> Tx -> (UTxO, Maybe HeadObservation)
+observeTx networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx =
   let utxo' = adjustUTxO tx utxo
-   in case observeHeadTx networkId utxo tx of
+   in case observeHeadTx networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx of
         NoHeadTx -> (utxo, Nothing)
         observation -> (utxo', pure observation)
 
-observeAll :: NetworkId -> UTxO -> [Tx] -> (UTxO, [HeadObservation])
-observeAll networkId utxo txs =
+observeAll :: NetworkId -> SerialisedScriptRegistry -> UTxO -> [Tx] -> (UTxO, [HeadObservation])
+observeAll networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo txs =
   second reverse $ foldr go (utxo, []) txs
  where
   go :: Tx -> (UTxO, [HeadObservation]) -> (UTxO, [HeadObservation])
   go tx (utxo'', observations) =
-    case observeTx networkId utxo'' tx of
+    case observeTx networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo'' tx of
       (utxo', Nothing) -> (utxo', observations)
       (utxo', Just observation) -> (utxo', observation : observations)
diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Ouroborus/ChainObserver.hs b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Ouroborus/ChainObserver.hs
index 2953267ce87..c9cb982b998 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Ouroborus/ChainObserver.hs
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/src/Hydra/Ouroborus/ChainObserver.hs
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ import Hydra.ChainObserver.NodeClient (
   observeAll,
  )
 import Hydra.Logging (Tracer, traceWith)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Ouroboros.Network.Protocol.ChainSync.Client (
   ChainSyncClient (..),
   ClientStIdle (..),
@@ -47,8 +48,9 @@ ouroborusClient ::
   Tracer IO ChainObserverLog ->
   SocketPath ->
   NetworkId ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   NodeClient IO
-ouroborusClient tracer nodeSocket networkId =
+ouroborusClient tracer nodeSocket networkId serialisedScriptRegistry =
   NodeClient
     { follow = \startChainFrom observerHandler -> do
         traceWith tracer ConnectingToNode{nodeSocket, networkId}
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ ouroborusClient tracer nodeSocket networkId =
         traceWith tracer StartObservingFrom{chainPoint}
         connectToLocalNode
           (connectInfo nodeSocket networkId)
-          (clientProtocols tracer networkId chainPoint observerHandler)
+          (clientProtocols tracer networkId chainPoint serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler)
     }
 
 type BlockType :: Type
@@ -79,11 +81,12 @@ clientProtocols ::
   Tracer IO ChainObserverLog ->
   NetworkId ->
   ChainPoint ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   ObserverHandler IO ->
   LocalNodeClientProtocols BlockType ChainPoint ChainTip slot tx txid txerr query IO
-clientProtocols tracer networkId startingPoint observerHandler =
+clientProtocols tracer networkId startingPoint serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler =
   LocalNodeClientProtocols
-    { localChainSyncClient = LocalChainSyncClient $ chainSyncClient tracer networkId startingPoint observerHandler
+    { localChainSyncClient = LocalChainSyncClient $ chainSyncClient tracer networkId startingPoint serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler
     , localTxSubmissionClient = Nothing
     , localStateQueryClient = Nothing
     , localTxMonitoringClient = Nothing
@@ -107,9 +110,10 @@ chainSyncClient ::
   Tracer m ChainObserverLog ->
   NetworkId ->
   ChainPoint ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   ObserverHandler m ->
   ChainSyncClient BlockType ChainPoint ChainTip m ()
-chainSyncClient tracer networkId startingPoint observerHandler =
+chainSyncClient tracer networkId startingPoint serialisedScriptRegistry observerHandler =
   ChainSyncClient $
     pure $
       SendMsgFindIntersect [startingPoint] clientStIntersect
@@ -142,7 +146,7 @@ chainSyncClient tracer networkId startingPoint observerHandler =
                 BlockInMode ConwayEra (Block _ conwayTxs) -> conwayTxs
                 _ -> []
 
-              (utxo', observations) = observeAll networkId utxo txs
+              (utxo', observations) = observeAll networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo txs
               onChainTxs = mapMaybe convertObservation observations
 
           forM_ onChainTxs (traceWith tracer . logOnChainTx)
diff --git a/hydra-chain-observer/test/Hydra/ChainObserverSpec.hs b/hydra-chain-observer/test/Hydra/ChainObserverSpec.hs
index dcea24cabf5..d586ad57fd3 100644
--- a/hydra-chain-observer/test/Hydra/ChainObserverSpec.hs
+++ b/hydra-chain-observer/test/Hydra/ChainObserverSpec.hs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import Hydra.Chain.Direct.State qualified as Transition
 import Hydra.Chain.Direct.Tx (HeadObservation (..))
 import Hydra.ChainObserver.NodeClient (observeAll, observeTx)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano (genSequenceOfSimplePaymentTransactions)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Test.Hydra.Tx.Fixture (testNetworkId)
 import Test.QuickCheck (counterexample, forAll, forAllBlind, property, (=/=), (===))
 import Test.QuickCheck.Property (checkCoverage)
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ spec =
           genericCoverTable [transition] $
             counterexample (show transition) $
               let utxo = getKnownUTxO st <> utxoFromTx tx <> additionalUTxO
-               in case snd $ observeTx testNetworkId utxo tx of
+               in case snd $ observeTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx of
                     Just (Init{}) -> transition === Transition.Init
                     Just (Commit{}) -> transition === Transition.Commit
                     Just (CollectCom{}) -> transition === Transition.Collect
@@ -37,8 +38,8 @@ spec =
     prop "Updates UTxO state given transaction part of Head lifecycle" $
       forAllBlind genChainStateWithTx $ \(_ctx, st, additionalUTxO, tx, _transition) ->
         let utxo = getKnownUTxO st <> additionalUTxO
-         in fst (observeTx testNetworkId utxo tx) =/= utxo
+         in fst (observeTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx) =/= utxo
 
     prop "Does not updates UTxO state given transactions outside of Head lifecycle" $
       forAll genSequenceOfSimplePaymentTransactions $ \(utxo, txs) ->
-        fst (observeAll testNetworkId utxo txs) === utxo
+        fst (observeAll testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo txs) === utxo
diff --git a/hydra-node/bench/tx-cost/Main.hs b/hydra-node/bench/tx-cost/Main.hs
index 17d62cc5c36..c27caecb762 100644
--- a/hydra-node/bench/tx-cost/Main.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/bench/tx-cost/Main.hs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import Hydra.Cardano.Api (Coin (..), serialiseToRawBytesHexText)
 import Hydra.Contract (ScriptInfo (..), scriptInfo)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Evaluate (maxCpu, maxMem, maxTxSize)
 import Hydra.Plutus.Orphans ()
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Options.Applicative (
   Parser,
   ParserInfo,
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ scriptSizes =
     , headScriptSize
     , depositScriptHash
     , depositScriptSize
-    } = scriptInfo
+    } = scriptInfo serialisedScriptRegistry
 
 genFromSeed :: Gen a -> Int -> a
 genFromSeed (MkGen g) seed = g (mkQCGen seed) 30
diff --git a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Handlers.hs b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Handlers.hs
index ac65fd07512..d32698e1bdd 100644
--- a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Handlers.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Handlers.hs
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ import Hydra.Chain.Direct.Wallet (
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano (adjustUTxO, fromChainSlot)
 import Hydra.Logging (Tracer, traceWith)
 import Hydra.Plutus.Extras (posixToUTCTime)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx (
   CommitBlueprintTx (..),
   HeadParameters (..),
@@ -305,7 +306,7 @@ chainSyncHandler tracer callback getTimeHandle ctx localChainState =
 
   maybeObserveSomeTx point tx = atomically $ do
     ChainStateAt{spendableUTxO} <- getLatest
-    let observation = observeHeadTx networkId spendableUTxO tx
+    let observation = observeHeadTx networkId serialisedScriptRegistry spendableUTxO tx
     case convertObservation observation of
       Nothing -> pure Nothing
       Just observedTx -> do
diff --git a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/State.hs b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/State.hs
index 302de9f1195..f2eb3fb11c9 100644
--- a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/State.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/State.hs
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Evaluate (genPointInTimeBefore, genValidityBoundsFro
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Time (slotNoFromUTCTime)
 import Hydra.Plutus (commitValidatorScript, depositValidatorScript, initialValidatorScript)
 import Hydra.Plutus.Extras (posixToUTCTime)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx (
   CommitBlueprintTx (..),
   ConfirmedSnapshot (..),
@@ -778,7 +779,7 @@ observeInit ::
   Tx ->
   Either NotAnInitReason (OnChainTx Tx, InitialState)
 observeInit _ctx _allVerificationKeys tx = do
-  observation <- observeInitTx tx
+  observation <- observeInitTx serialisedScriptRegistry tx
   pure (toEvent observation, toState observation)
  where
   toEvent InitObservation{contestationPeriod, parties, headId, seedTxIn, participants} =
@@ -813,7 +814,7 @@ observeCommit ::
   Maybe (OnChainTx Tx, InitialState)
 observeCommit ctx st tx = do
   let utxo = getKnownUTxO st
-  observation <- observeCommitTx networkId utxo tx
+  observation <- observeCommitTx networkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx
   let CommitObservation{commitOutput, party, committed, headId = commitHeadId} = observation
   guard $ commitHeadId == headId
   let event = OnCommitTx{headId, party, committed}
@@ -844,7 +845,7 @@ observeCollect ::
   Maybe (OnChainTx Tx, OpenState)
 observeCollect st tx = do
   let utxo = getKnownUTxO st
-  observation <- observeCollectComTx utxo tx
+  observation <- observeCollectComTx serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx
   let CollectComObservation{threadOutput = threadOutput, headId = collectComHeadId, utxoHash} = observation
   guard (headId == collectComHeadId)
   -- REVIEW: is it enough to pass here just the 'openThreadUTxO' or we need also
@@ -874,7 +875,7 @@ observeClose ::
   Maybe (OnChainTx Tx, ClosedState)
 observeClose st tx = do
   let utxo = getKnownUTxO st
-  observation <- observeCloseTx utxo tx
+  observation <- observeCloseTx serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx
   let CloseObservation{threadOutput, headId = closeObservationHeadId, snapshotNumber} = observation
   guard (headId == closeObservationHeadId)
   let ClosedThreadOutput{closedContestationDeadline} = threadOutput
@@ -1155,7 +1156,7 @@ genRecoverTx ::
 genRecoverTx = do
   (_, _, depositedUTxO, txDeposit) <- genDepositTx maximumNumberOfParties
   let DepositObservation{deposited, deadline} =
-        fromJust $ observeDepositTx testNetworkId txDeposit
+        fromJust $ observeDepositTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry txDeposit
   let slotNo = slotNoFromUTCTime systemStart slotLength (posixToUTCTime deadline)
   slotNo' <- arbitrary
   let tx = recoverTx (getTxId $ getTxBody txDeposit) deposited (slotNo + slotNo')
@@ -1165,7 +1166,7 @@ genIncrementTx :: Int -> Gen (ChainContext, OpenState, UTxO, Tx)
 genIncrementTx numParties = do
   (ctx, st@OpenState{headId}, utxo, txDeposit) <- genDepositTx numParties
   cctx <- pickChainContext ctx
-  let DepositObservation{deposited, depositTxId, deadline} = fromJust $ observeDepositTx (ctxNetworkId ctx) txDeposit
+  let DepositObservation{deposited, depositTxId, deadline} = fromJust $ observeDepositTx (ctxNetworkId ctx) serialisedScriptRegistry txDeposit
   let openUTxO = getKnownUTxO st
   let version = 0
   snapshot <- genConfirmedSnapshot headId version 1 openUTxO (Just deposited) Nothing (ctxHydraSigningKeys ctx)
diff --git a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Tx.hs b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Tx.hs
index b1bdc9c29ed..4f65b411430 100644
--- a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Tx.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Chain/Direct/Tx.hs
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import Data.ByteString qualified as BS
 import GHC.IsList (IsList (..))
 import Hydra.Contract.Commit qualified as Commit
 import Hydra.Contract.Deposit qualified as Deposit
-import Hydra.Contract.Head qualified as Head
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadState qualified as Head
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadTokens qualified as HeadTokens
 import Hydra.Data.ContestationPeriod qualified as OnChain
@@ -28,6 +27,7 @@ import Hydra.Data.Party qualified as OnChain
 import Hydra.Plutus (commitValidatorScript, depositValidatorScript, initialValidatorScript)
 import Hydra.Plutus.Extras (posixToUTCTime)
 import Hydra.Plutus.Orphans ()
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry (..))
 import Hydra.Tx (
   HeadId (..),
   HeadSeed (..),
@@ -88,20 +88,20 @@ data HeadObservation
   deriving stock (Eq, Show, Generic)
 
 -- | Observe any Hydra head transaction.
-observeHeadTx :: NetworkId -> UTxO -> Tx -> HeadObservation
-observeHeadTx networkId utxo tx =
+observeHeadTx :: NetworkId -> SerialisedScriptRegistry -> UTxO -> Tx -> HeadObservation
+observeHeadTx networkId serializedScripts utxo tx =
   fromMaybe NoHeadTx $
-    either (const Nothing) (Just . Init) (observeInitTx tx)
-      <|> Abort <$> observeAbortTx utxo tx
-      <|> Commit <$> observeCommitTx networkId utxo tx
-      <|> CollectCom <$> observeCollectComTx utxo tx
-      <|> Deposit <$> observeDepositTx networkId tx
-      <|> Recover <$> observeRecoverTx networkId utxo tx
-      <|> Increment <$> observeIncrementTx utxo tx
-      <|> Decrement <$> observeDecrementTx utxo tx
-      <|> Close <$> observeCloseTx utxo tx
-      <|> Contest <$> observeContestTx utxo tx
-      <|> Fanout <$> observeFanoutTx utxo tx
+    either (const Nothing) (Just . Init) (observeInitTx serializedScripts tx)
+      <|> Abort <$> observeAbortTx serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Commit <$> observeCommitTx networkId serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> CollectCom <$> observeCollectComTx serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Deposit <$> observeDepositTx networkId serializedScripts tx
+      <|> Recover <$> observeRecoverTx networkId serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Increment <$> observeIncrementTx serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Decrement <$> observeDecrementTx serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Close <$> observeCloseTx serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Contest <$> observeContestTx serializedScripts utxo tx
+      <|> Fanout <$> observeFanoutTx serializedScripts utxo tx
 
 -- | Data which can be observed from an `initTx`.
 data InitObservation = InitObservation
@@ -129,9 +129,10 @@ data NotAnInitReason
 -- | Identify a init tx by checking the output value for holding tokens that are
 -- valid head tokens (checked by seed + policy).
 observeInitTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   Tx ->
   Either NotAnInitReason InitObservation
-observeInitTx tx = do
+observeInitTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{initialScriptValidator, headScriptValidator} tx = do
   -- XXX: Lots of redundant information here
   (ix, headOut, headState) <-
     maybeLeft NoHeadOutput $
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ observeInitTx tx = do
     guard $ isScriptTxOut headScript out
     (ix,out,) <$> (fromScriptData =<< txOutScriptData out)
 
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 headScriptValidator
 
   indexedOutputs = zip [0 ..] (txOuts' tx)
 
@@ -184,7 +185,7 @@ observeInitTx tx = do
 
   isInitial = isScriptTxOut initialScript
 
-  initialScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 initialValidatorScript
+  initialScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 initialScriptValidator
 
   mintedTokenNames pid =
     [ assetName
@@ -212,12 +213,13 @@ data CommitObservation = CommitObservation
 -- - Reconstruct the committed UTxO from both values (tx input and output).
 observeCommitTx ::
   NetworkId ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   -- | A UTxO set to lookup tx inputs. Should at least contain the input
   -- spending from νInitial.
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe CommitObservation
-observeCommitTx networkId utxo tx = do
+observeCommitTx networkId SerialisedScriptRegistry{initialScriptValidator, commitScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   -- NOTE: Instead checking to spend from initial we could be looking at the
   -- seed:
   --
@@ -262,11 +264,11 @@ observeCommitTx networkId utxo tx = do
 
   initialAddress = mkScriptAddress @PlutusScriptV3 networkId initialScript
 
-  initialScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 initialValidatorScript
+  initialScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 initialScriptValidator
 
   commitAddress = mkScriptAddress networkId commitScript
 
-  commitScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 commitValidatorScript
+  commitScript = fromPlutusScript @PlutusScriptV3 commitScriptValidator
 
 data CollectComObservation = CollectComObservation
   { threadOutput :: OpenThreadOutput
@@ -278,11 +280,12 @@ data CollectComObservation = CollectComObservation
 -- | Identify a collectCom tx by lookup up the input spending the Head output
 -- and decoding its redeemer.
 observeCollectComTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   -- | A UTxO set to lookup tx inputs
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe CollectComObservation
-observeCollectComTx utxo tx = do
+observeCollectComTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   redeemer <- findRedeemerSpending tx headInput
@@ -307,7 +310,7 @@ observeCollectComTx utxo tx = do
           }
     _ -> Nothing
  where
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
   decodeUtxoHash datum =
     case fromScriptData datum of
       Just (Head.Open Head.OpenDatum{utxoHash}) -> Just $ fromBuiltin utxoHash
@@ -321,10 +324,11 @@ data IncrementObservation = IncrementObservation
   deriving stock (Show, Eq, Generic)
 
 observeIncrementTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe IncrementObservation
-observeIncrementTx utxo tx = do
+observeIncrementTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator, depositScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   (TxIn depositTxId _, depositOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 utxo depositScript
@@ -350,8 +354,8 @@ observeIncrementTx utxo tx = do
         _ -> Nothing
     _ -> Nothing
  where
-  depositScript = fromPlutusScript depositValidatorScript
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  depositScript = fromPlutusScript depositScriptValidator
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
 
 data DecrementObservation = DecrementObservation
   { headId :: HeadId
@@ -361,10 +365,11 @@ data DecrementObservation = DecrementObservation
   deriving stock (Show, Eq, Generic)
 
 observeDecrementTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe DecrementObservation
-observeDecrementTx utxo tx = do
+observeDecrementTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   redeemer <- findRedeemerSpending tx headInput
@@ -389,7 +394,7 @@ observeDecrementTx utxo tx = do
         _ -> Nothing
     _ -> Nothing
  where
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
 
 data CloseObservation = CloseObservation
   { threadOutput :: ClosedThreadOutput
@@ -401,11 +406,12 @@ data CloseObservation = CloseObservation
 -- | Identify a close tx by lookup up the input spending the Head output and
 -- decoding its redeemer.
 observeCloseTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   -- | A UTxO set to lookup tx inputs
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe CloseObservation
-observeCloseTx utxo tx = do
+observeCloseTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   redeemer <- findRedeemerSpending tx headInput
@@ -434,7 +440,7 @@ observeCloseTx utxo tx = do
           }
     _ -> Nothing
  where
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
 
 data ContestObservation = ContestObservation
   { contestedThreadOutput :: (TxIn, TxOut CtxUTxO)
@@ -448,11 +454,12 @@ data ContestObservation = ContestObservation
 -- | Identify a close tx by lookup up the input spending the Head output and
 -- decoding its redeemer.
 observeContestTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   -- | A UTxO set to lookup tx inputs
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe ContestObservation
-observeContestTx utxo tx = do
+observeContestTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   redeemer <- findRedeemerSpending tx headInput
@@ -474,7 +481,7 @@ observeContestTx utxo tx = do
           }
     _ -> Nothing
  where
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
 
   decodeDatum headDatum =
     case fromScriptData headDatum of
@@ -487,11 +494,12 @@ newtype FanoutObservation = FanoutObservation {headId :: HeadId} deriving stock
 -- | Identify a fanout tx by lookup up the input spending the Head output and
 -- decoding its redeemer.
 observeFanoutTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   -- | A UTxO set to lookup tx inputs
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe FanoutObservation
-observeFanoutTx utxo tx = do
+observeFanoutTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   headId <- findStateToken headOutput
@@ -500,18 +508,19 @@ observeFanoutTx utxo tx = do
       Head.Fanout{} -> pure FanoutObservation{headId}
       _ -> Nothing
  where
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
 
 newtype AbortObservation = AbortObservation {headId :: HeadId} deriving stock (Eq, Show, Generic)
 
 -- | Identify an abort tx by looking up the input spending the Head output and
 -- decoding its redeemer.
 observeAbortTx ::
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   -- | A UTxO set to lookup tx inputs
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe AbortObservation
-observeAbortTx utxo tx = do
+observeAbortTx SerialisedScriptRegistry{headScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (headInput, headOutput) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO headScript
   headId <- findStateToken headOutput
@@ -519,7 +528,7 @@ observeAbortTx utxo tx = do
     Head.Abort -> pure $ AbortObservation headId
     _ -> Nothing
  where
-  headScript = fromPlutusScript Head.validatorScript
+  headScript = fromPlutusScript headScriptValidator
 
 -- * Cardano specific identifiers
 
diff --git a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Options.hs b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Options.hs
index 8cff84c5d02..78564fd3da5 100644
--- a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Options.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Options.hs
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import Hydra.Contract qualified as Contract
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano ()
 import Hydra.Logging (Verbosity (..))
 import Hydra.Network (Host, NodeId (NodeId), PortNumber, readHost, readPort)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx.ContestationPeriod (ContestationPeriod (UnsafeContestationPeriod), fromNominalDiffTime)
 import Hydra.Version (embeddedRevision, gitRevision, unknownVersion)
 import Options.Applicative (
@@ -760,7 +761,7 @@ hydraNodeCommand =
 
   scriptInfo =
     infoOption
-      (decodeUtf8 $ encodePretty Contract.scriptInfo)
+      (decodeUtf8 $ encodePretty (Contract.scriptInfo serialisedScriptRegistry))
       (long "script-info" <> help "Dump script info as JSON")
 
 hydraNodeVersion :: Version
diff --git a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/StateSpec.hs b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/StateSpec.hs
index 607cebd5aeb..4f012f587b9 100644
--- a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/StateSpec.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/StateSpec.hs
@@ -112,6 +112,7 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Evaluate (
  )
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Time (slotNoFromUTCTime)
 import Hydra.Plutus (initialValidatorScript)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx.Contest (ClosedThreadOutput (closedContesters))
 import Hydra.Tx.ContestationPeriod (toNominalDiffTime)
 import Hydra.Tx.Deposit (DepositObservation (..), observeDepositTx)
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
         let utxo = UTxO.singleton (seedInput, seedTxOut)
         let (tx', utxo') = applyMutation mutation (tx, utxo)
 
-            originalIsObserved = property $ isRight (observeInitTx tx)
+            originalIsObserved = property $ isRight (observeInitTx serialisedScriptRegistry tx)
 
             -- We expected mutated transaction to still be valid, but not observed.
             mutatedIsValid = property $
@@ -194,7 +195,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
                   | otherwise -> False
 
             mutatedIsNotObserved =
-              observeInitTx tx' === Left expected
+              observeInitTx serialisedScriptRegistry tx' === Left expected
 
         pure $
           conjoin
@@ -224,7 +225,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
           mutation <- pick $ genCommitTxMutation utxo tx
           let (tx', utxo') = applyMutation mutation (tx, utxo)
 
-              originalIsObserved = property $ isJust $ observeCommitTx testNetworkId utxo tx
+              originalIsObserved = property $ isJust $ observeCommitTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx
 
               -- We expected mutated transaction to still be valid, but not observed.
               mutatedIsValid =
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
                     | otherwise -> property False & counterexample (show ok)
 
               mutatedIsNotObserved =
-                isNothing $ observeCommitTx testNetworkId utxo' tx'
+                isNothing $ observeCommitTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo' tx'
 
           pure $
             conjoin
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
 
     prop "observes deposit" $
       forAllDeposit $ \utxo tx ->
-        case observeDepositTx testNetworkId tx of
+        case observeDepositTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry tx of
           Just DepositObservation{} -> property True
           Nothing ->
             False & counterexample ("observeDepositTx ignored transaction: " <> renderTxWithUTxO utxo tx)
@@ -343,7 +344,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
 
     prop "observes recover" $
       forAllRecover $ \utxo tx ->
-        case observeRecoverTx testNetworkId utxo tx of
+        case observeRecoverTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx of
           Just RecoverObservation{} -> property True
           Nothing ->
             False & counterexample ("observeRecoverTx ignored transaction: " <> renderTxWithUTxO utxo tx)
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ spec = parallel $ do
 
   prop "observes distributed outputs" $
     forAllDecrement' $ \toDistribute utxo tx ->
-      case observeDecrementTx utxo tx of
+      case observeDecrementTx serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx of
         Just DecrementObservation{distributedOutputs} ->
           distributedOutputs === toDistribute
         Nothing ->
@@ -451,7 +452,7 @@ prop_observeAnyTx =
         genericCoverTable [transition] $ do
           let expectedHeadId = chainStateHeadId st
               utxo = getKnownUTxO st <> getKnownUTxO otherSt <> additionalUTxO <> additionalUTxO'
-          case observeHeadTx (networkId ctx) utxo tx of
+          case observeHeadTx (networkId ctx) serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx of
             NoHeadTx ->
               False & counterexample ("observeHeadTx ignored transaction: " <> renderTxWithUTxO utxo tx)
             -- NOTE: we don't have the generated headId easily accessible in the initial state
diff --git a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs
index 40ed3140548..14aa35faa61 100644
--- a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ import Hydra.Contract.Dummy (dummyValidatorScript)
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadTokens (headPolicyId)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (addTxInsSpending, unsafeBuildTransaction)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Evaluate (propTransactionEvaluates)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx.BlueprintTx (CommitBlueprintTx (..))
 import Hydra.Tx.Commit (commitTx)
 import Hydra.Tx.HeadId (headIdToCurrencySymbol, mkHeadId)
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ spec =
             genericCoverTable [transition] $
               counterexample (show transition) $
                 let utxo = getKnownUTxO st <> additionalUTxO
-                 in case observeHeadTx testNetworkId utxo tx of
+                 in case observeHeadTx testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx of
                       NoHeadTx -> property False
                       Init{} -> transition === Transition.Init
                       Abort{} -> transition === Transition.Abort
diff --git a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxTraceSpec.hs b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxTraceSpec.hs
index c36635b6914..0eac5160961 100644
--- a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxTraceSpec.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxTraceSpec.hs
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import Hydra.Chain.Direct.Tx qualified as Tx
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadState qualified as Head
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano (Tx, adjustUTxO)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Evaluate (evaluateTx)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import Hydra.Tx (CommitBlueprintTx (..))
 import Hydra.Tx.ContestationPeriod qualified as CP
 import Hydra.Tx.Crypto (MultiSignature, aggregate, sign)
@@ -458,8 +459,7 @@ instance StateModel Model where
         && (if snapshot.version == currentVersion then snapshot.toCommit == mempty && snapshot.toDecommit == mempty else snapshot.toCommit /= mempty || snapshot.toDecommit /= mempty)
         && ( if snapshot.number == 0
               then snapshot.inHead == initialUTxOInHead
-              else
-                snapshot.version `elem` (currentVersion : [currentVersion - 1 | currentVersion > 0])
+              else snapshot.version `elem` (currentVersion : [currentVersion - 1 | currentVersion > 0])
            )
      where
       Model{utxoInHead = initialUTxOInHead} = initialState
@@ -508,8 +508,7 @@ instance StateModel Model where
         && (if snapshot.version == currentVersion then snapshot.toCommit == mempty && snapshot.toDecommit == mempty else snapshot.toCommit /= mempty || snapshot.toDecommit /= mempty)
         && ( if snapshot.number == 0
               then snapshot.inHead == initialUTxOInHead
-              else
-                snapshot.version `elem` (currentVersion : [currentVersion - 1 | currentVersion > 0])
+              else snapshot.version `elem` (currentVersion : [currentVersion - 1 | currentVersion > 0])
            )
      where
       Model{utxoInHead = initialUTxOInHead} = initialState
@@ -701,7 +700,7 @@ performTx action result =
                 Deposit{} -> (Just . getTxId . getTxBody $ tx, adjustUTxO tx utxo)
                 _ -> (depositTxId, adjustUTxO tx utxo)
         put adjusted
-      let observation = observeHeadTx Fixture.testNetworkId utxo tx
+      let observation = observeHeadTx Fixture.testNetworkId serialisedScriptRegistry utxo tx
       pure
         TxResult
           { constructedTx = Right tx
diff --git a/hydra-plutus/exe/inspect-script/Main.hs b/hydra-plutus/exe/inspect-script/Main.hs
index 56dbc710f30..8fb962a2eb5 100644
--- a/hydra-plutus/exe/inspect-script/Main.hs
+++ b/hydra-plutus/exe/inspect-script/Main.hs
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import Hydra.Contract.HeadState as Head
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadTokens qualified as HeadTokens
 import Hydra.Contract.Initial as Initial
 import Hydra.Plutus (initialValidatorScript)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 import PlutusLedgerApi.V3 (Data, SerialisedScript, toData)
 import PlutusTx (getPlc)
 import PlutusTx.Code (CompiledCode)
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ import Prettyprinter.Render.Text (renderStrict)
 main :: IO ()
 main = do
   putTextLn "Script info:"
-  putLBSLn $ encodePretty scriptInfo
+  putLBSLn $ encodePretty (scriptInfo serialisedScriptRegistry)
 
   putTextLn "Serialise scripts:"
   writeScripts scripts
diff --git a/hydra-plutus/hydra-plutus.cabal b/hydra-plutus/hydra-plutus.cabal
index 50fe0ac73d1..7f57139c0b1 100644
--- a/hydra-plutus/hydra-plutus.cabal
+++ b/hydra-plutus/hydra-plutus.cabal
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ library
     Hydra.Data.ContestationPeriod
     Hydra.Data.Party
     Hydra.Plutus
+    Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry
 
   hs-source-dirs:  src
   build-depends:
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ library
     , base
     , base16-bytestring
     , bytestring
+    , cborg
     , file-embed
     , hydra-cardano-api
     , hydra-plutus-extras
diff --git a/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract.hs b/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract.hs
index 85333b23fcd..d05450b8d64 100644
--- a/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract.hs
+++ b/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/Contract.hs
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import Hydra.Cardano.Api (
   pattern PlutusScript,
  )
 import Hydra.Cardano.Api.Prelude qualified as Api
-import Hydra.Contract.Head qualified as Head
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadTokens qualified as HeadTokens
 import Hydra.Plutus (commitValidatorScript, depositValidatorScript, initialValidatorScript)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry (..))
 import PlutusLedgerApi.V3 (TxId (..), TxOutRef (..), toBuiltin)
 
 -- | Information about relevant Hydra scripts.
@@ -39,21 +39,28 @@ data ScriptInfo = ScriptInfo
 
 -- | Gather 'ScriptInfo' from the current Hydra scripts. This is useful to
 -- determine changes in between version of 'hydra-plutus'.
-scriptInfo :: ScriptInfo
-scriptInfo =
+scriptInfo :: SerialisedScriptRegistry -> ScriptInfo
+scriptInfo serialisedScriptRegistry =
   ScriptInfo
     { mintingScriptHash = plutusScriptHash $ HeadTokens.mintingPolicyScript defaultOutRef
     , mintingScriptSize = scriptSize $ HeadTokens.mintingPolicyScript defaultOutRef
-    , initialScriptHash = hashScript $ Api.PlutusScript PlutusScriptV3 $ fromPlutusScript initialValidatorScript
-    , initialScriptSize = scriptSize initialValidatorScript
-    , commitScriptHash = hashScript $ Api.PlutusScript PlutusScriptV3 $ fromPlutusScript commitValidatorScript
-    , commitScriptSize = scriptSize commitValidatorScript
-    , headScriptHash = plutusScriptHash Head.validatorScript
-    , headScriptSize = scriptSize Head.validatorScript
-    , depositScriptHash = hashScript $ Api.PlutusScript PlutusScriptV3 $ fromPlutusScript depositValidatorScript
-    , depositScriptSize = scriptSize depositValidatorScript
+    , initialScriptHash = hashScript $ Api.PlutusScript PlutusScriptV3 $ fromPlutusScript initialScriptValidator
+    , initialScriptSize = scriptSize initialScriptValidator
+    , commitScriptHash = hashScript $ Api.PlutusScript PlutusScriptV3 $ fromPlutusScript commitScriptValidator
+    , commitScriptSize = scriptSize commitScriptValidator
+    , headScriptHash = plutusScriptHash headScriptValidator
+    , headScriptSize = scriptSize headScriptValidator
+    , depositScriptHash = hashScript $ Api.PlutusScript PlutusScriptV3 $ fromPlutusScript depositScriptValidator
+    , depositScriptSize = scriptSize depositScriptValidator
     }
  where
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry
+    { initialScriptValidator
+    , commitScriptValidator
+    , headScriptValidator
+    , depositScriptValidator
+    } = serialisedScriptRegistry
+
   plutusScriptHash =
     hashScript . PlutusScript . fromPlutusScript
 
diff --git a/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/SerialisedScriptRegistry.hs b/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/SerialisedScriptRegistry.hs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..171437f5485
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hydra-plutus/src/Hydra/SerialisedScriptRegistry.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+module Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry where
+
+import Hydra.Prelude
+
+import Codec.CBOR.Read qualified as CBOR
+import Data.ByteString.Base16 qualified as Base16
+
+import Data.ByteString.Lazy qualified as LBS
+import Data.ByteString.Short qualified as SBS
+import Hydra.Contract.Head qualified as Head
+import Hydra.Plutus (commitValidatorScript, depositValidatorScript, initialValidatorScript)
+import PlutusLedgerApi.Common (SerialisedScript)
+
+data SerialisedScriptRegistry = SerialisedScriptRegistry
+  { initialScriptValidator :: SerialisedScript
+  , commitScriptValidator :: SerialisedScript
+  , headScriptValidator :: SerialisedScript
+  , depositScriptValidator :: SerialisedScript
+  }
+  deriving stock (Eq, Show)
+
+serialisedScriptRegistry :: SerialisedScriptRegistry
+serialisedScriptRegistry =
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry
+    { initialScriptValidator = initialValidatorScript
+    , commitScriptValidator = commitValidatorScript
+    , headScriptValidator = Head.validatorScript
+    , depositScriptValidator = depositValidatorScript
+    }
+
+-- XXX: used to parse Aiken `compiledCode`.
+serialisedScriptFromText :: Text -> SerialisedScript
+serialisedScriptFromText base16Text =
+  case Base16.decode base16Bytes of
+    Left e -> error $ "Failed to decode initial validator: " <> show e
+    Right bytes -> toShort bytes
+ where
+  base16Bytes = encodeUtf8 base16Text
+
+-- XXX: used to parse Plutus `cborHex`.
+cborHexToSerialisedScript :: ByteString -> SerialisedScript
+cborHexToSerialisedScript cborHex = either (error . show) SBS.toShort $ do
+  bytes <- Base16.decode cborHex
+  (_, a) <- first show $ CBOR.deserialiseFromBytes @ByteString fromCBOR (LBS.fromStrict bytes)
+  pure a
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Deposit.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Deposit.hs
index 88913b65e0a..dd13120ed92 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Deposit.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Deposit.hs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import Hydra.Contract.Commit qualified as Commit
 import Hydra.Contract.Deposit qualified as Deposit
 import Hydra.Plutus (depositValidatorScript)
 import Hydra.Plutus.Extras.Time (posixFromUTCTime)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry (..))
 import Hydra.Tx (CommitBlueprintTx (..), HeadId, fromCurrencySymbol, headIdToCurrencySymbol)
 import Hydra.Tx.Utils (addMetadata, mkHydraHeadV1TxName)
 import PlutusLedgerApi.V3 (POSIXTime)
@@ -76,11 +77,12 @@ data DepositObservation = DepositObservation
 
 observeDepositTx ::
   NetworkId ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe DepositObservation
-observeDepositTx networkId tx = do
+observeDepositTx networkId SerialisedScriptRegistry{depositScriptValidator} tx = do
   -- TODO: could just use the first output and fail otherwise
-  (TxIn depositTxId _, depositOut) <- findTxOutByAddress (depositAddress networkId) tx
+  (TxIn depositTxId _, depositOut) <- findTxOutByAddress depositAddr tx
   (headId, deposited, deadline) <- observeDepositTxOut (networkIdToNetwork networkId) (toCtxUTxOTxOut depositOut)
   if all (`elem` txIns' tx) (UTxO.inputSet deposited)
     then
@@ -92,8 +94,15 @@ observeDepositTx networkId tx = do
           , deadline
           }
     else Nothing
+ where
+  depositScript = fromPlutusScript depositScriptValidator
+
+  depositAddr = mkScriptAddress @PlutusScriptV3 networkId depositScript
 
-observeDepositTxOut :: Network -> TxOut CtxUTxO -> Maybe (HeadId, UTxO, POSIXTime)
+observeDepositTxOut ::
+  Network ->
+  TxOut CtxUTxO ->
+  Maybe (HeadId, UTxO, POSIXTime)
 observeDepositTxOut network depositOut = do
   dat <- case txOutDatum depositOut of
     TxOutDatumInline d -> pure d
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs
index a18f03c6daa..41e2be18ef6 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
 import Hydra.Plutus (depositValidatorScript)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (SerialisedScriptRegistry (..))
 import Hydra.Tx (HeadId, mkHeadId)
 import Hydra.Tx.Utils (mkHydraHeadV1TxName)
 
@@ -52,10 +53,11 @@ data RecoverObservation = RecoverObservation
 
 observeRecoverTx ::
   NetworkId ->
+  SerialisedScriptRegistry ->
   UTxO ->
   Tx ->
   Maybe RecoverObservation
-observeRecoverTx networkId utxo tx = do
+observeRecoverTx networkId SerialisedScriptRegistry{depositScriptValidator} utxo tx = do
   let inputUTxO = resolveInputsUTxO utxo tx
   (TxIn depositTxId _, depositOut) <- findTxOutByScript @PlutusScriptV3 inputUTxO depositScript
   dat <- txOutScriptData $ toTxContext depositOut
@@ -77,4 +79,4 @@ observeRecoverTx networkId utxo tx = do
         )
     else Nothing
  where
-  depositScript = fromPlutusScript depositValidatorScript
+  depositScript = fromPlutusScript depositScriptValidator
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/ScriptRegistry.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/ScriptRegistry.hs
index 8f9f5247fe4..c3cfc4d035a 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/ScriptRegistry.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/ScriptRegistry.hs
@@ -4,20 +4,11 @@ module Hydra.Tx.ScriptRegistry where
 
 import Hydra.Prelude
 
-import Cardano.Api.UTxO (UTxO)
 import Cardano.Api.UTxO qualified as UTxO
 import Data.Map qualified as Map
-import Hydra.Cardano.Api (
-  CtxUTxO,
-  ScriptHash,
-  TxIn (..),
-  TxOut,
-  hashScriptInAnyLang,
-  txOutReferenceScript,
-  pattern ReferenceScript,
-  pattern ReferenceScriptNone,
- )
+import Hydra.Cardano.Api
 import Hydra.Contract (ScriptInfo (..), scriptInfo)
+import Hydra.SerialisedScriptRegistry (serialisedScriptRegistry)
 
 -- | Hydra scripts published as reference scripts at these UTxO.
 data ScriptRegistry = ScriptRegistry
@@ -70,7 +61,7 @@ newScriptRegistry =
     { initialScriptHash
     , commitScriptHash
     , headScriptHash
-    } = scriptInfo
+    } = scriptInfo serialisedScriptRegistry
 
 -- | Get the UTxO that corresponds to a script registry.
 --