diff --git a/bin/node/src/commands/store.rs b/bin/node/src/commands/store.rs
index 7fb62278d..d3ea6038f 100644
--- a/bin/node/src/commands/store.rs
+++ b/bin/node/src/commands/store.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use miden_node_store::{DEFAULT_MAX_CONCURRENT_PROOFS, Store};
 use miden_node_utils::clap::{GrpcOptionsInternal, StorageOptions};
 use miden_node_utils::fs::ensure_empty_directory;
 use miden_node_utils::grpc::UrlExt;
-use miden_protocol::block::ProvenBlock;
+use miden_protocol::block::SignedBlock;
 use miden_protocol::utils::serde::Deserializable;
 use url::Url;
 
@@ -175,10 +175,10 @@ impl StoreCommand {
 pub fn bootstrap_store(data_directory: &Path, genesis_block_path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     // Read and deserialize the genesis block file.
     let bytes = fs_err::read(genesis_block_path).context("failed to read genesis block")?;
-    let proven_block = ProvenBlock::read_from_bytes(&bytes)
+    let signed_block = SignedBlock::read_from_bytes(&bytes)
         .context("failed to deserialize genesis block from file")?;
     let genesis_block =
-        GenesisBlock::try_from(proven_block).context("genesis block validation failed")?;
+        GenesisBlock::try_from(signed_block).context("genesis block validation failed")?;
 
     Store::bootstrap(genesis_block, data_directory)
 }
diff --git a/bin/stress-test/src/seeding/mod.rs b/bin/stress-test/src/seeding/mod.rs
index 0b860838c..79b461848 100644
--- a/bin/stress-test/src/seeding/mod.rs
+++ b/bin/stress-test/src/seeding/mod.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ use miden_protocol::block::{
     BlockNumber,
     FeeParameters,
     ProposedBlock,
-    ProvenBlock,
     SignedBlock,
 };
 use miden_protocol::crypto::dsa::ecdsa_k256_keccak::SecretKey as EcdsaSecretKey;
@@ -111,12 +110,12 @@ pub async fn seed_store(
     let accounts_filepath = data_directory.join(ACCOUNTS_FILENAME);
     let data_directory =
         miden_node_store::DataDirectory::load(data_directory).expect("data directory should exist");
-    let genesis_header = genesis_state.into_block().await.unwrap().into_inner();
+    let genesis_block = genesis_state.into_block().await.unwrap().into_inner();
     let metrics = generate_blocks(
         num_accounts,
         public_accounts_percentage,
         faucet,
-        genesis_header,
+        genesis_block,
         &store_client,
         data_directory,
         accounts_filepath,
@@ -137,7 +136,7 @@ async fn generate_blocks(
     num_accounts: usize,
     public_accounts_percentage: u8,
     mut faucet: Account,
-    genesis_block: ProvenBlock,
+    genesis_block: SignedBlock,
     store_client: &StoreClient,
     data_directory: DataDirectory,
     accounts_filepath: PathBuf,
diff --git a/crates/store/src/db/mod.rs b/crates/store/src/db/mod.rs
index 51e487cab..11bec1c1f 100644
--- a/crates/store/src/db/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/store/src/db/mod.rs
@@ -260,9 +260,8 @@ impl Db {
         // Run migrations.
         apply_migrations(&mut conn).context("failed to apply database migrations")?;
 
-        // Insert genesis block data. Deconstruct into signed block.
-        let (header, body, signature, _proof) = genesis.into_inner().into_parts();
-        let genesis_block = SignedBlock::new_unchecked(header, body, signature);
+        // Insert genesis block data.
+        let genesis_block = genesis.into_inner();
         conn.transaction(move |conn| models::queries::apply_block(conn, &genesis_block, &[], None))
             .context("failed to insert genesis block")?;
         Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/store/src/genesis/mod.rs b/crates/store/src/genesis/mod.rs
index 6c4624fb0..b875aa5f3 100644
--- a/crates/store/src/genesis/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/store/src/genesis/mod.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,8 @@ use miden_protocol::block::{
     BlockHeader,
     BlockNoteTree,
     BlockNumber,
-    BlockProof,
     FeeParameters,
-    ProvenBlock,
+    SignedBlock,
 };
 use miden_protocol::crypto::merkle::mmr::{Forest, MmrPeaks};
 use miden_protocol::crypto::merkle::smt::{LargeSmt, MemoryStorage, Smt};
@@ -35,23 +34,23 @@ pub struct GenesisState<S> {
 }
 
 /// A type-safety wrapper ensuring that genesis block data can only be created from
-/// [`GenesisState`] or validated from a [`ProvenBlock`] via [`GenesisBlock::try_from`].
-pub struct GenesisBlock(ProvenBlock);
+/// [`GenesisState`] or validated from a [`SignedBlock`] via [`GenesisBlock::try_from`].
+pub struct GenesisBlock(SignedBlock);
 
 impl GenesisBlock {
-    pub fn inner(&self) -> &ProvenBlock {
+    pub fn inner(&self) -> &SignedBlock {
         &self.0
     }
 
-    pub fn into_inner(self) -> ProvenBlock {
+    pub fn into_inner(self) -> SignedBlock {
         self.0
     }
 }
 
-impl TryFrom<ProvenBlock> for GenesisBlock {
+impl TryFrom<SignedBlock> for GenesisBlock {
     type Error = anyhow::Error;
 
-    fn try_from(block: ProvenBlock) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
+    fn try_from(block: SignedBlock) -> anyhow::Result<Self> {
         anyhow::ensure!(
             block.header().block_num() == BlockNumber::GENESIS,
             "expected genesis block number (0), got {}",
@@ -152,15 +151,11 @@ impl<S: BlockSigner> GenesisState<S> {
             empty_transactions,
         );
 
-        let block_proof = BlockProof::new_dummy();
-
         // Sign and assert verification for sanity (no mismatch between frontend and backend signing
         // impls).
         let signature = self.block_signer.sign(&header).await?;
         assert!(signature.verify(header.commitment(), &self.block_signer.public_key()));
-        // SAFETY: Header and accounts should be valid by construction.
-        // No notes or nullifiers are created at genesis, which is consistent with the above empty
-        // block note tree root and empty nullifier tree root.
-        Ok(GenesisBlock(ProvenBlock::new_unchecked(header, body, signature, block_proof)))
+        let signed_block = SignedBlock::new(header, body, signature)?;
+        Ok(GenesisBlock(signed_block))
     }
 }