diff --git a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml
index cbc7bbd350..a3c03f90ec 100644
--- a/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml
+++ b/config/protocol.privnet.docker.single.yml
@@ -10,6 +10,12 @@ ProtocolConfiguration:
     - node_single:20333
   VerifyTransactions: true
   P2PSigExtensions: false
+  Hardforks:
+    Aspidochelone: 5
+    Basilisk: 10
+    Cockatrice: 15
+    Domovoi: 20
+    Echidna: 50
 
 ApplicationConfiguration:
   SkipBlockVerification: false
diff --git a/pkg/compiler/interop_test.go b/pkg/compiler/interop_test.go
index da46e78604..7bd6b61f5a 100644
--- a/pkg/compiler/interop_test.go
+++ b/pkg/compiler/interop_test.go
@@ -373,7 +373,7 @@ func TestAppCall(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	fc := fakechain.NewFakeChain()
-	ic := interop.NewContext(trigger.Application, fc, dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false),
+	ic := interop.NewContext(trigger.Application, fc, dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore()),
 		interop.DefaultBaseExecFee, native.DefaultStoragePrice, contractGetter, nil, nil, nil, nil, zaptest.NewLogger(t))
 
 	t.Run("valid script", func(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/pkg/consensus/consensus.go b/pkg/consensus/consensus.go
index 6472d46daa..d8a881f731 100644
--- a/pkg/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/pkg/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -753,17 +753,23 @@ func convertKeys(validators []dbft.PublicKey) (pubs []*keys.PublicKey) {
 }
 
 func (s *service) newBlockFromContext(ctx *dbft.Context[util.Uint256]) dbft.Block[util.Uint256] {
-	block := &neoBlock{network: s.ProtocolConfiguration.Magic}
+	var (
+		blockVersion = uint32(coreb.VersionInitial)
+		block        = &neoBlock{network: s.ProtocolConfiguration.Magic}
+	)
 
+	hfe, ok := s.ProtocolConfiguration.Hardforks[config.HFEchidna.String()]
+	if ok && hfe <= ctx.BlockIndex {
+		blockVersion = coreb.VersionEchidna
+	}
 	block.Block.Timestamp = ctx.Timestamp / nsInMs
 	block.Block.Nonce = ctx.Nonce
 	block.Block.Index = ctx.BlockIndex
-	if s.ProtocolConfiguration.StateRootInHeader {
+	if blockVersion > coreb.VersionInitial {
 		sr, err := s.Chain.GetStateRoot(ctx.BlockIndex - 1)
 		if err != nil {
 			s.log.Fatal(fmt.Sprintf("failed to get state root: %s", err.Error()))
 		}
-		block.StateRootEnabled = true
 		block.PrevStateRoot = sr.Root
 	}
 
@@ -784,7 +790,7 @@ func (s *service) newBlockFromContext(ctx *dbft.Context[util.Uint256]) dbft.Bloc
 	}
 	block.Block.NextConsensus = hash.Hash160(script)
 	block.Block.PrevHash = ctx.PrevHash
-	block.Block.Version = coreb.VersionInitial
+	block.Block.Version = blockVersion
 
 	primaryIndex := byte(ctx.PrimaryIndex)
 	block.Block.PrimaryIndex = primaryIndex
diff --git a/pkg/core/block/block.go b/pkg/core/block/block.go
index 3e451258f9..c147e79ebb 100644
--- a/pkg/core/block/block.go
+++ b/pkg/core/block/block.go
@@ -68,11 +68,8 @@ func (b *Block) RebuildMerkleRoot() {
 // This is commonly used to create a block from stored data.
 // Blocks created from trimmed data will have their Trimmed field
 // set to true.
-func NewTrimmedFromReader(stateRootEnabled bool, br *io.BinReader) (*Block, error) {
+func NewTrimmedFromReader(br *io.BinReader) (*Block, error) {
 	block := &Block{
-		Header: Header{
-			StateRootEnabled: stateRootEnabled,
-		},
 		Trimmed: true,
 	}
 
@@ -93,11 +90,11 @@ func NewTrimmedFromReader(stateRootEnabled bool, br *io.BinReader) (*Block, erro
 	return block, br.Err
 }
 
-// New creates a new blank block with proper state root setting.
-func New(stateRootEnabled bool) *Block {
+// New creates a new blank block of appropriate version.
+func New(version uint32) *Block {
 	return &Block{
 		Header: Header{
-			StateRootEnabled: stateRootEnabled,
+			Version: version,
 		},
 	}
 }
@@ -213,7 +210,7 @@ func (b *Block) GetExpectedBlockSizeWithoutTransactions(txCount int) int {
 	size := expectedHeaderSizeWithEmptyWitness - 1 - 1 + // 1 is for the zero-length (new(Header)).Script.Invocation/Verification
 		io.GetVarSize(&b.Script) +
 		io.GetVarSize(txCount)
-	if b.StateRootEnabled {
+	if b.Version > 0 {
 		size += util.Uint256Size
 	}
 	return size
@@ -233,7 +230,7 @@ func (b *Block) ToStackItem() stackitem.Item {
 		stackitem.NewByteArray(b.NextConsensus.BytesBE()),
 		stackitem.NewBigInteger(big.NewInt(int64(len(b.Transactions)))),
 	}
-	if b.StateRootEnabled {
+	if b.Version > 0 {
 		items = append(items, stackitem.NewByteArray(b.PrevStateRoot.BytesBE()))
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/core/block/block_test.go b/pkg/core/block/block_test.go
index f0e708f229..ea464b3702 100644
--- a/pkg/core/block/block_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/block/block_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestDecodeBlock1(t *testing.T) {
 	b, err := hex.DecodeString(data["raw"].(string))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	block := New(false)
+	block := &Block{}
 	assert.NoError(t, testserdes.DecodeBinary(b, block))
 
 	assert.Equal(t, uint32(data["index"].(float64)), block.Index)
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestTrimmedBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, buf.Err)
 
 	r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf.Bytes())
-	trimmedBlock, err := NewTrimmedFromReader(false, r)
+	trimmedBlock, err := NewTrimmedFromReader(r)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	assert.True(t, trimmedBlock.Trimmed)
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func TestBinBlockDecodeEncode(t *testing.T) {
 	rawblock := "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"
 	rawblockBytes, _ := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(rawblock)
 
-	b := New(false)
+	b := &Block{}
 
 	assert.NoError(t, testserdes.DecodeBinary(rawblockBytes, b))
 	expected := map[string]bool{ // 1 trans
@@ -144,12 +144,12 @@ func TestBinBlockDecodeEncode(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, rawblock, base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(data))
 
-	testserdes.MarshalUnmarshalJSON(t, b, New(false))
+	testserdes.MarshalUnmarshalJSON(t, b, &Block{})
 }
 
 func TestJSONEmptyTx(t *testing.T) {
 	jblock := `{"hash":"0x5f3fbb43d1e516fe07771e2e873ebc9e2810662401acf603a775aace486220bd","version":0,"previousblockhash":"0x1f4d1defa46faa5e7b9b8d3f79a06bec777d7c26c4aa5f6f5899a291daa87c15","merkleroot":"0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000","time":1627894840919,"nonce":"BA8E021F1AEEA3F6","index":1,"nextconsensus":"NVg7LjGcUSrgxgjX3zEgqaksfMaiS8Z6e1","primary":0,"witnesses":[{"invocation":"DEAq7W/jUhpMon1t9muqXKfBvNyGwLfFFM1vAxrMKvUl6MqK+LL/lJAJP9uAk/cberIWWhSsdcxUtltkBLemg/VuDECQZGuvP93JlZga2ml8cnbe5cNiGgO0EMrbGYyzvgr8calP5SwMNPSYms10gIHxlsuXDU++EQpZu/vKxfHoxdC5DEDgsA3POVZdfN+i5+ekvtsaIvif42n0GC+dZi3Rp37ETmt4NtkoK2I2UXi+WIjm5yXLJsPhAvEV6cJSrvqBdsQBDEDTS6NU+kB+tgeBe9lWv+6y0L2qcUBIaUxiTCaNWZtLPghQICBvjDz1/9ttJRXG3I5N9CFDjjLKCpdIY842HW4/DEC+wlWjkCzVqzKslvpCKZbEPUGIf87CFAD88xqzl26m/TpTUcT0+D5oI2bVzAk0mcdBTPnyjcNbv17BFmr63+09","verification":"FQwhAkhv0VcCxEkKJnAxEqXMHQkj/Wl6M0Br1aHADgATsJpwDCECTHt/tsMQ/M8bozsIJRnYKWTqk4aNZ2Zi1KWa1UjfDn0MIQKq7DhHD2qtAELG6HfP2Ah9Jnaw9Rb93TYoAbm9OTY5ngwhA7IJ/U9TpxcOpERODLCmu2pTwr0BaSaYnPhfmw+6F6cMDCEDuNnVdx2PUTqghpucyNUJhkA7eMbaNokGOMPUalrc4EoMIQLKDidpe5wkj28W4IX9AGHib0TahbWO6DXBEMql7DulVAwhAt9I9g6PPgHEj/QLm38TENeosqGTGIvv4cLj33QOiVCTF0Ge0Nw6"}],"tx":[]}`
-	b := New(false)
+	b := &Block{}
 	require.NoError(t, json.Unmarshal([]byte(jblock), b))
 	s, err := json.Marshal(b)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func TestBlockSizeCalculation(t *testing.T) {
 	rawBlock := "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"
 	rawBlockBytes, _ := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(rawBlock)
 
-	b := New(false)
+	b := &Block{}
 	assert.NoError(t, testserdes.DecodeBinary(rawBlockBytes, b))
 
 	expected := []struct {
@@ -243,21 +243,27 @@ func TestGetExpectedBlockSize(t *testing.T) {
 	check := func(t *testing.T, stateRootEnabled bool) {
 		t.Run("without transactions", func(t *testing.T) {
 			b := newDumbBlock()
-			b.StateRootEnabled = stateRootEnabled
+			if stateRootEnabled {
+				b.Version = VersionEchidna
+			}
 			b.Transactions = []*transaction.Transaction{}
 			require.Equal(t, io.GetVarSize(b), b.GetExpectedBlockSize())
 			require.Equal(t, io.GetVarSize(b), b.GetExpectedBlockSizeWithoutTransactions(0))
 		})
 		t.Run("with one transaction", func(t *testing.T) {
 			b := newDumbBlock()
-			b.StateRootEnabled = stateRootEnabled
+			if stateRootEnabled {
+				b.Version = VersionEchidna
+			}
 			expected := io.GetVarSize(b)
 			require.Equal(t, expected, b.GetExpectedBlockSize())
 			require.Equal(t, expected-b.Transactions[0].Size(), b.GetExpectedBlockSizeWithoutTransactions(len(b.Transactions)))
 		})
 		t.Run("with multiple transactions", func(t *testing.T) {
 			b := newDumbBlock()
-			b.StateRootEnabled = stateRootEnabled
+			if stateRootEnabled {
+				b.Version = VersionEchidna
+			}
 			b.Transactions = make([]*transaction.Transaction, 123)
 			for i := range b.Transactions {
 				tx := transaction.New([]byte{byte(opcode.RET)}, int64(i))
diff --git a/pkg/core/block/header.go b/pkg/core/block/header.go
index b56e1cbbae..152d831632 100644
--- a/pkg/core/block/header.go
+++ b/pkg/core/block/header.go
@@ -13,8 +13,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/util"
 )
 
-// VersionInitial is the default Neo block version.
-const VersionInitial uint32 = 0
+const (
+	// VersionInitial is the initial Neo block version.
+	VersionInitial = iota
+	// VersionEchidna is StateRoot-enabled Neo block version
+	VersionEchidna
+)
 
 // Header holds the base info of a block.
 type Header struct {
@@ -45,8 +49,6 @@ type Header struct {
 	// Script used to validate the block
 	Script transaction.Witness
 
-	// StateRootEnabled specifies if the header contains state root.
-	StateRootEnabled bool
 	// PrevStateRoot is the state root of the previous block.
 	PrevStateRoot util.Uint256
 	// PrimaryIndex is the index of the primary consensus node for this block.
@@ -126,7 +128,7 @@ func (b *Header) encodeHashableFields(bw *io.BinWriter) {
 	bw.WriteU32LE(b.Index)
 	bw.WriteB(b.PrimaryIndex)
 	bw.WriteBytes(b.NextConsensus[:])
-	if b.StateRootEnabled {
+	if b.Version > 0 {
 		bw.WriteBytes(b.PrevStateRoot[:])
 	}
 }
@@ -142,7 +144,7 @@ func (b *Header) decodeHashableFields(br *io.BinReader) {
 	b.Index = br.ReadU32LE()
 	b.PrimaryIndex = br.ReadB()
 	br.ReadBytes(b.NextConsensus[:])
-	if b.StateRootEnabled {
+	if b.Version > 0 {
 		br.ReadBytes(b.PrevStateRoot[:])
 	}
 
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ func (b Header) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 		NextConsensus: address.Uint160ToString(b.NextConsensus),
 		Witnesses:     []transaction.Witness{b.Script},
 	}
-	if b.StateRootEnabled {
+	if b.Version > 0 {
 		aux.PrevStateRoot = &b.PrevStateRoot
 	}
 	return json.Marshal(aux)
@@ -206,7 +208,7 @@ func (b *Header) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
 	b.PrimaryIndex = aux.PrimaryIndex
 	b.NextConsensus = nextC
 	b.Script = aux.Witnesses[0]
-	if b.StateRootEnabled {
+	if b.Version > 0 {
 		if aux.PrevStateRoot == nil {
 			return errors.New("'previousstateroot' is empty")
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/core/block/header_test.go b/pkg/core/block/header_test.go
index 8a1d508221..965f8e2a30 100644
--- a/pkg/core/block/header_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/block/header_test.go
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ func testHeaderEncodeDecode(t *testing.T, stateRootEnabled bool) {
 		},
 	}
 	if stateRootEnabled {
-		header.StateRootEnabled = stateRootEnabled
+		header.Version = VersionEchidna
 		header.PrevStateRoot = random.Uint256()
 	}
 
 	_ = header.Hash()
-	headerDecode := &Header{StateRootEnabled: stateRootEnabled}
+	headerDecode := &Header{}
 	testserdes.EncodeDecodeBinary(t, &header, headerDecode)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, header.Version, headerDecode.Version, "expected both versions to be equal")
diff --git a/pkg/core/block/helper_test.go b/pkg/core/block/helper_test.go
index db61d299fd..d64f987ca7 100644
--- a/pkg/core/block/helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/block/helper_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func getDecodedBlock(t *testing.T, i int) *Block {
 	b, err := hex.DecodeString(data["raw"].(string))
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	block := New(false)
+	block := &Block{}
 	require.NoError(t, testserdes.DecodeBinary(b, block))
 
 	return block
diff --git a/pkg/core/blockchain.go b/pkg/core/blockchain.go
index f8c591f6b0..b14a01fa55 100644
--- a/pkg/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/pkg/core/blockchain.go
@@ -271,9 +271,6 @@ func NewBlockchain(s storage.Store, cfg config.Blockchain, log *zap.Logger) (*Bl
 			zap.Uint32("MaxValidUntilBlockIncrement", cfg.MaxValidUntilBlockIncrement))
 	}
 	if cfg.P2PStateExchangeExtensions {
-		if !cfg.StateRootInHeader {
-			return nil, errors.New("P2PStatesExchangeExtensions are enabled, but StateRootInHeader is off")
-		}
 		if cfg.KeepOnlyLatestState && !cfg.RemoveUntraceableBlocks {
 			return nil, errors.New("P2PStateExchangeExtensions can be enabled either on MPT-complete node (KeepOnlyLatestState=false) or on light GC-enabled node (RemoveUntraceableBlocks=true)")
 		}
@@ -308,8 +305,8 @@ func NewBlockchain(s storage.Store, cfg config.Blockchain, log *zap.Logger) (*Bl
 	}
 	bc := &Blockchain{
 		config:      cfg,
-		dao:         dao.NewSimple(s, cfg.StateRootInHeader),
-		persistent:  dao.NewSimple(s, cfg.StateRootInHeader),
+		dao:         dao.NewSimple(s),
+		persistent:  dao.NewSimple(s),
 		store:       s,
 		stopCh:      make(chan struct{}),
 		runToExitCh: make(chan struct{}),
@@ -411,7 +408,6 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) init() error {
 		bc.log.Info("no storage version found! creating genesis block")
 		ver = dao.Version{
 			StoragePrefix:              storage.STStorage,
-			StateRootInHeader:          bc.config.StateRootInHeader,
 			P2PSigExtensions:           bc.config.P2PSigExtensions,
 			P2PStateExchangeExtensions: bc.config.P2PStateExchangeExtensions,
 			KeepOnlyLatestState:        bc.config.Ledger.KeepOnlyLatestState,
@@ -434,10 +430,6 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) init() error {
 	if ver.Value != version {
 		return fmt.Errorf("storage version mismatch (expected=%s, actual=%s)", version, ver.Value)
 	}
-	if ver.StateRootInHeader != bc.config.StateRootInHeader {
-		return fmt.Errorf("StateRootInHeader setting mismatch (config=%t, db=%t)",
-			bc.config.StateRootInHeader, ver.StateRootInHeader)
-	}
 	if ver.P2PSigExtensions != bc.config.P2PSigExtensions {
 		return fmt.Errorf("P2PSigExtensions setting mismatch (old=%t, new=%t)",
 			ver.P2PSigExtensions, bc.config.P2PSigExtensions)
@@ -1485,10 +1477,6 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) AddBlock(block *block.Block) error {
 	if expectedHeight != block.Index {
 		return fmt.Errorf("expected %d, got %d: %w", expectedHeight, block.Index, ErrInvalidBlockIndex)
 	}
-	if bc.config.StateRootInHeader != block.StateRootEnabled {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %v != %v",
-			ErrHdrStateRootSetting, bc.config.StateRootInHeader, block.StateRootEnabled)
-	}
 
 	if block.Index == bc.HeaderHeight()+1 {
 		err := bc.addHeaders(!bc.config.SkipBlockVerification, &block.Header)
@@ -1749,7 +1737,8 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) storeBlock(block *block.Block, txpool *mempool.Pool) error
 		// because changes applied are the ones from HALTed transactions.
 		return fmt.Errorf("error while trying to apply MPT changes: %w", err)
 	}
-	if bc.config.StateRootInHeader && bc.HeaderHeight() > sr.Index {
+	var hfe = config.HFEchidna
+	if bc.isHardforkEnabled(&hfe, sr.Index) && bc.HeaderHeight() > sr.Index {
 		h, err := bc.GetHeader(bc.GetHeaderHash(sr.Index + 1))
 		if err != nil {
 			err = fmt.Errorf("failed to get next header: %w", err)
@@ -2509,12 +2498,10 @@ var (
 )
 
 func (bc *Blockchain) verifyHeader(currHeader, prevHeader *block.Header) error {
-	if bc.config.StateRootInHeader {
-		if bc.stateRoot.CurrentLocalHeight() == prevHeader.Index {
-			if sr := bc.stateRoot.CurrentLocalStateRoot(); currHeader.PrevStateRoot != sr {
-				return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s != %s",
-					ErrHdrInvalidStateRoot, currHeader.PrevStateRoot.StringLE(), sr.StringLE())
-			}
+	if currHeader.Version > block.VersionInitial {
+		if sr := bc.stateRoot.CurrentLocalStateRoot(); currHeader.PrevStateRoot != sr {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%w: %s != %s",
+				ErrHdrInvalidStateRoot, currHeader.PrevStateRoot.StringLE(), sr.StringLE())
 		}
 	}
 	if prevHeader.Hash() != currHeader.PrevHash {
@@ -2861,7 +2848,7 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) GetTestHistoricVM(t trigger.Type, tx *transaction.Transact
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to retrieve stateroot for height %d: %w", b.Index, err)
 	}
 	s := mpt.NewTrieStore(sr.Root, mode, storage.NewPrivateMemCachedStore(bc.dao.Store))
-	dTrie := dao.NewSimple(s, bc.config.StateRootInHeader)
+	dTrie := dao.NewSimple(s)
 	dTrie.Version = bc.dao.Version
 	// Initialize native cache before passing DAO to interop context constructor, because
 	// the constructor will call BaseExecFee/StoragePrice policy methods on the passed DAO.
@@ -2876,7 +2863,7 @@ func (bc *Blockchain) GetTestHistoricVM(t trigger.Type, tx *transaction.Transact
 
 // getFakeNextBlock returns fake block with the specified index and pre-filled Timestamp field.
 func (bc *Blockchain) getFakeNextBlock(nextBlockHeight uint32) (*block.Block, error) {
-	b := block.New(bc.config.StateRootInHeader)
+	b := &block.Block{}
 	b.Index = nextBlockHeight
 	hdr, err := bc.GetHeader(bc.GetHeaderHash(nextBlockHeight - 1))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/core/blockchain_neotest_test.go b/pkg/core/blockchain_neotest_test.go
index 10966375c1..6dba951faa 100644
--- a/pkg/core/blockchain_neotest_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/blockchain_neotest_test.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func TestBlockchain_StartFromExistingDB(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("mismatch storage version", func(t *testing.T) {
 		ps = newPS(t)
 		cache := storage.NewMemCachedStore(ps) // Extra wrapper to avoid good DB corruption.
-		d := dao.NewSimple(cache, bc.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader)
+		d := dao.NewSimple(cache)
 		d.PutVersion(dao.Version{
 			Value: "0.0.0",
 		})
@@ -108,15 +108,6 @@ func TestBlockchain_StartFromExistingDB(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Error(t, err)
 		require.True(t, strings.Contains(err.Error(), "storage version mismatch"), err)
 	})
-	t.Run("mismatch StateRootInHeader", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ps = newPS(t)
-		_, _, _, err := chain.NewMultiWithCustomConfigAndStoreNoCheck(t, func(c *config.Blockchain) {
-			customConfig(c)
-			c.StateRootInHeader = false
-		}, ps)
-		require.Error(t, err)
-		require.True(t, strings.Contains(err.Error(), "StateRootInHeader setting mismatch"), err)
-	})
 	t.Run("mismatch P2PSigExtensions", func(t *testing.T) {
 		ps = newPS(t)
 		_, _, _, err := chain.NewMultiWithCustomConfigAndStoreNoCheck(t, func(c *config.Blockchain) {
@@ -528,16 +519,10 @@ func TestBlockchain_AddBlockStateRoot(t *testing.T) {
 	sr, err := bc.GetStateModule().GetStateRoot(bc.BlockHeight())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	b := e.NewUnsignedBlock(t)
-	b.StateRootEnabled = false
-	b.PrevStateRoot = util.Uint256{}
-	e.SignBlock(b)
-	err = bc.AddBlock(b)
-	require.ErrorIs(t, err, core.ErrHdrStateRootSetting)
-
 	u := sr.Root
 	u[0] ^= 0xFF
-	b = e.NewUnsignedBlock(t)
+	b := e.NewUnsignedBlock(t)
+	b.Version = block.VersionEchidna
 	b.PrevStateRoot = u
 	e.SignBlock(b)
 	err = bc.AddBlock(b)
diff --git a/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go b/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go
index ee28448338..bcecbf2928 100644
--- a/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go
+++ b/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go
@@ -64,14 +64,12 @@ func Restore(bc DumperRestorer, r *io.BinReader, skip, count uint32, f func(b *b
 		}
 	}
 
-	stateRootInHeader := bc.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader
-
 	for ; i < skip+count; i++ {
 		buf, err := readBlock(r)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		b := block.New(stateRootInHeader)
+		b := &block.Block{}
 		r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf)
 		b.DecodeBinary(r)
 		if r.Err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/core/dao/dao.go b/pkg/core/dao/dao.go
index 579d355482..d1449e7c9f 100644
--- a/pkg/core/dao/dao.go
+++ b/pkg/core/dao/dao.go
@@ -68,16 +68,15 @@ type NativeContractCache interface {
 }
 
 // NewSimple creates a new simple dao using the provided backend store.
-func NewSimple(backend storage.Store, stateRootInHeader bool) *Simple {
+func NewSimple(backend storage.Store) *Simple {
 	st := storage.NewMemCachedStore(backend)
-	return newSimple(st, stateRootInHeader)
+	return newSimple(st)
 }
 
-func newSimple(st *storage.MemCachedStore, stateRootInHeader bool) *Simple {
+func newSimple(st *storage.MemCachedStore) *Simple {
 	return &Simple{
 		Version: Version{
-			StoragePrefix:     storage.STStorage,
-			StateRootInHeader: stateRootInHeader,
+			StoragePrefix: storage.STStorage,
 		},
 		Store:       st,
 		nativeCache: make(map[int32]NativeContractCache),
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ func (dao *Simple) GetBatch() *storage.MemBatch {
 // GetWrapped returns a new DAO instance with another layer of wrapped
 // MemCachedStore around the current DAO Store.
 func (dao *Simple) GetWrapped() *Simple {
-	d := NewSimple(dao.Store, dao.Version.StateRootInHeader)
+	d := NewSimple(dao.Store)
 	d.Version = dao.Version
 	d.nativeCachePS = dao
 	return d
@@ -275,7 +274,7 @@ func (dao *Simple) GetAppExecResults(hash util.Uint256, trig trigger.Type) ([]st
 	case storage.ExecBlock:
 		r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(bs)
 		_ = r.ReadB()
-		_, err = block.NewTrimmedFromReader(dao.Version.StateRootInHeader, r)
+		_, err = block.NewTrimmedFromReader(r)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -432,7 +431,7 @@ func (dao *Simple) getBlock(key []byte) (*block.Block, error) {
 		// It may be a transaction.
 		return nil, storage.ErrKeyNotFound
 	}
-	block, err := block.NewTrimmedFromReader(dao.Version.StateRootInHeader, r)
+	block, err := block.NewTrimmedFromReader(r)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -442,7 +441,6 @@ func (dao *Simple) getBlock(key []byte) (*block.Block, error) {
 // Version represents the current dao version.
 type Version struct {
 	StoragePrefix              storage.KeyPrefix
-	StateRootInHeader          bool
 	P2PSigExtensions           bool
 	P2PStateExchangeExtensions bool
 	KeepOnlyLatestState        bool
@@ -451,7 +449,7 @@ type Version struct {
 }
 
 const (
-	stateRootInHeaderBit = 1 << iota
+	unusedStateRootInHeaderBit = 1 << iota
 	p2pSigExtensionsBit
 	p2pStateExchangeExtensionsBit
 	keepOnlyLatestStateBit
@@ -478,7 +476,6 @@ func (v *Version) FromBytes(data []byte) error {
 
 	v.Value = string(data[:i])
 	v.StoragePrefix = storage.KeyPrefix(data[i+1])
-	v.StateRootInHeader = data[i+2]&stateRootInHeaderBit != 0
 	v.P2PSigExtensions = data[i+2]&p2pSigExtensionsBit != 0
 	v.P2PStateExchangeExtensions = data[i+2]&p2pStateExchangeExtensionsBit != 0
 	v.KeepOnlyLatestState = data[i+2]&keepOnlyLatestStateBit != 0
@@ -493,9 +490,6 @@ func (v *Version) FromBytes(data []byte) error {
 // Bytes encodes v to a byte-slice.
 func (v *Version) Bytes() []byte {
 	var mask byte
-	if v.StateRootInHeader {
-		mask |= stateRootInHeaderBit
-	}
 	if v.P2PSigExtensions {
 		mask |= p2pSigExtensionsBit
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/core/dao/dao_test.go b/pkg/core/dao/dao_test.go
index 9db364118d..897ed177b2 100644
--- a/pkg/core/dao/dao_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/dao/dao_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestPutGetAndDecode(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	serializable := &TestSerializable{field: random.String(4)}
 	hash := []byte{1}
 	require.NoError(t, dao.putWithBuffer(serializable, hash, io.NewBufBinWriter()))
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func (t *TestSerializable) DecodeBinary(reader *io.BinReader) {
 }
 
 func TestPutGetStorageItem(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	id := int32(random.Int(0, 1024))
 	key := []byte{0}
 	storageItem := state.StorageItem{}
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func TestPutGetStorageItem(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDeleteStorageItem(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	id := int32(random.Int(0, 1024))
 	key := []byte{0}
 	storageItem := state.StorageItem{}
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func TestDeleteStorageItem(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGetBlock_NotExists(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	hash := random.Uint256()
 	block, err := dao.GetBlock(hash)
 	require.Error(t, err)
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func TestGetBlock_NotExists(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPutGetBlock(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	b := &block.Block{
 		Header: block.Header{
 			Script: transaction.Witness{
@@ -110,19 +110,18 @@ func TestPutGetBlock(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGetVersion_NoVersion(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	version, err := dao.GetVersion()
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, "", version.Value)
 }
 
 func TestGetVersion(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	expected := Version{
-		StoragePrefix:     0x42,
-		P2PSigExtensions:  true,
-		StateRootInHeader: true,
-		Value:             "testVersion",
+		StoragePrefix:    0x42,
+		P2PSigExtensions: true,
+		Value:            "testVersion",
 	}
 	dao.PutVersion(expected)
 	actual, err := dao.GetVersion()
@@ -130,14 +129,14 @@ func TestGetVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, expected, actual)
 
 	t.Run("invalid", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 		dao.Store.Put([]byte{byte(storage.SYSVersion)}, []byte("0.1.2\x00x"))
 
 		_, err := dao.GetVersion()
 		require.Error(t, err)
 	})
 	t.Run("old format", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 		dao.Store.Put([]byte{byte(storage.SYSVersion)}, []byte("0.1.2"))
 
 		version, err := dao.GetVersion()
@@ -147,14 +146,14 @@ func TestGetVersion(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGetCurrentHeaderHeight_NoHeader(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	height, err := dao.GetCurrentBlockHeight()
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, uint32(0), height)
 }
 
 func TestGetCurrentHeaderHeight_Store(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	b := &block.Block{
 		Header: block.Header{
 			Script: transaction.Witness{
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ func TestGetCurrentHeaderHeight_Store(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestStoreAsTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("no conflicts", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 		tx := transaction.New([]byte{byte(opcode.PUSH1)}, 1)
 		tx.Signers = append(tx.Signers, transaction.Signer{})
 		tx.Scripts = append(tx.Scripts, transaction.Witness{})
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ func TestStoreAsTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	t.Run("with conflicts", func(t *testing.T) {
-		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+		dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 		conflictsH := util.Uint256{1, 2, 3}
 		signer1 := util.Uint160{1, 2, 3}
 		signer2 := util.Uint160{4, 5, 6}
@@ -354,7 +353,7 @@ func TestStoreAsTransaction(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkStoreAsTransaction(b *testing.B) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	tx := transaction.New([]byte{byte(opcode.PUSH1)}, 1)
 	tx.Attributes = []transaction.Attribute{
 		{
@@ -399,7 +398,7 @@ func BenchmarkStoreAsTransaction(b *testing.B) {
 func TestMakeStorageItemKey(t *testing.T) {
 	var id int32 = 5
 
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), true)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 
 	expected := []byte{byte(storage.STStorage), 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 2, 3}
 	binary.LittleEndian.PutUint32(expected[1:5], uint32(id))
@@ -418,7 +417,7 @@ func TestMakeStorageItemKey(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPutGetStateSyncPoint(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), true)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 
 	// empty store
 	_, err := dao.GetStateSyncPoint()
@@ -433,7 +432,7 @@ func TestPutGetStateSyncPoint(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestPutGetStateSyncCurrentBlockHeight(t *testing.T) {
-	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), true)
+	dao := NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 
 	// empty store
 	_, err := dao.GetStateSyncCurrentBlockHeight()
diff --git a/pkg/core/helper_test.go b/pkg/core/helper_test.go
index a2466d6e59..331085464e 100644
--- a/pkg/core/helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/helper_test.go
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func newBlockWithState(cfg config.ProtocolConfiguration, index uint32, prev util
 		b.Index = index
 
 		if prevState != nil {
-			b.StateRootEnabled = true
+			b.Version = block.VersionEchidna
 			b.PrevStateRoot = *prevState
 		}
 	}, txs...)
diff --git a/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa_test.go b/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa_test.go
index d789636b78..b9c774a92b 100644
--- a/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa_test.go
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func initCheckMultisigVMNoArgs(container *transaction.Transaction) *vm.VM {
 	ic := interop.NewContext(
 		trigger.Verification,
 		fakechain.NewFakeChain(),
-		dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false),
+		dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore()),
 		interop.DefaultBaseExecFee, native.DefaultStoragePrice, nil, nil, nil, nil,
 		container,
 		nil)
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func TestCheckSig(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	verifyFunc := ECDSASecp256r1CheckSig
-	d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	ic := &interop.Context{Network: uint32(netmode.UnitTestNet), DAO: d}
 	runCase := func(t *testing.T, isErr bool, result any, args ...any) {
 		ic.SpawnVM()
diff --git a/pkg/core/interop/runtime/engine_test.go b/pkg/core/interop/runtime/engine_test.go
index f5a5fe79c9..f52127808f 100644
--- a/pkg/core/interop/runtime/engine_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/interop/runtime/engine_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestPlatform(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestGetTime(t *testing.T) {
-	b := block.New(false)
+	b := &block.Block{}
 	b.Timestamp = rand.Uint64()
 	ic := &interop.Context{VM: vm.New(), Block: b}
 	require.NoError(t, GetTime(ic))
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func TestLog(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCurrentSigners(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("container is block", func(t *testing.T) {
-		b := block.New(false)
+		b := &block.Block{}
 		ic := &interop.Context{VM: vm.New(), Container: b}
 		require.NoError(t, CurrentSigners(ic))
 		checkStack(t, ic.VM, stackitem.Null{})
diff --git a/pkg/core/native/management_test.go b/pkg/core/native/management_test.go
index 73859507b1..013a1eaaa4 100644
--- a/pkg/core/native/management_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/native/management_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 func TestDeployGetUpdateDestroyContract(t *testing.T) {
 	mgmt := newManagement()
 	mgmt.Policy = newPolicy(false)
-	d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	ic := &interop.Context{DAO: d}
 	err := mgmt.Initialize(ic, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -81,12 +81,12 @@ func TestDeployGetUpdateDestroyContract(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestManagement_Initialize(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("good", func(t *testing.T) {
-		d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+		d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 		mgmt := newManagement()
 		require.NoError(t, mgmt.InitializeCache(0, d))
 	})
 	t.Run("invalid contract state", func(t *testing.T) {
-		d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+		d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 		mgmt := newManagement()
 		d.PutStorageItem(mgmt.ID, []byte{PrefixContract}, state.StorageItem{0xFF})
 		require.Error(t, mgmt.InitializeCache(0, d))
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func TestManagement_Initialize(t *testing.T) {
 func TestManagement_GetNEP17Contracts(t *testing.T) {
 	mgmt := newManagement()
 	mgmt.Policy = newPolicy(false)
-	d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore(), false)
+	d := dao.NewSimple(storage.NewMemoryStore())
 	err := mgmt.Initialize(&interop.Context{DAO: d}, nil, nil)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.NoError(t, mgmt.Policy.Initialize(&interop.Context{DAO: d}, nil, nil))
diff --git a/pkg/core/native_designate_test.go b/pkg/core/native_designate_test.go
index f2c4048e5a..1897d05386 100644
--- a/pkg/core/native_designate_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/native_designate_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ func TestDesignate_DesignateAsRole(t *testing.T) {
 
 	des := bc.contracts.Designate
 	tx := transaction.New([]byte{byte(opcode.PUSH1)}, 0)
-	bl := block.New(bc.config.StateRootInHeader)
+	bl := &block.Block{}
 	bl.Index = bc.BlockHeight() + 1
 	ic := bc.newInteropContext(trigger.Application, bc.dao, bl, tx)
 	ic.SpawnVM()
diff --git a/pkg/core/statesync/module.go b/pkg/core/statesync/module.go
index 4915a279fc..228fa127c4 100644
--- a/pkg/core/statesync/module.go
+++ b/pkg/core/statesync/module.go
@@ -320,9 +320,6 @@ func (s *Module) AddBlock(block *block.Block) error {
 	if expectedHeight != block.Index {
 		return fmt.Errorf("expected %d, got %d: invalid block index", expectedHeight, block.Index)
 	}
-	if s.bc.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader != block.StateRootEnabled {
-		return fmt.Errorf("stateroot setting mismatch: %v != %v", s.bc.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader, block.StateRootEnabled)
-	}
 	if !s.bc.GetConfig().SkipBlockVerification {
 		merkle := block.ComputeMerkleRoot()
 		if !block.MerkleRoot.Equals(merkle) {
diff --git a/pkg/core/statesync/module_test.go b/pkg/core/statesync/module_test.go
index 3ead29e43b..4db25030d5 100644
--- a/pkg/core/statesync/module_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/statesync/module_test.go
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestModule_PR2019_discussion_r689629704(t *testing.T) {
 		syncPoint:    1000500,
 		syncStage:    headersSynced,
 		syncInterval: 100500,
-		dao:          dao.NewSimple(actualStorage, true),
+		dao:          dao.NewSimple(actualStorage),
 		mptpool:      NewPool(),
 	}
 	stateSync.billet = mpt.NewBillet(sr, mpt.ModeLatest,
diff --git a/pkg/core/statesync/neotest_test.go b/pkg/core/statesync/neotest_test.go
index d69325a5ce..2f0357cdc9 100644
--- a/pkg/core/statesync/neotest_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/statesync/neotest_test.go
@@ -351,21 +351,12 @@ func TestStateSyncModule_RestoreBasicChain(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			require.Error(t, module.AddBlock(b))
 		})
-		t.Run("error: missing state root in block header", func(t *testing.T) {
-			b := &block.Block{
-				Header: block.Header{
-					Index:            uint32(stateSyncPoint) - maxTraceable + 1,
-					StateRootEnabled: false,
-				},
-			}
-			require.Error(t, module.AddBlock(b))
-		})
 		t.Run("error: invalid block merkle root", func(t *testing.T) {
 			b := &block.Block{
 				Header: block.Header{
-					Index:            uint32(stateSyncPoint) - maxTraceable + 1,
-					StateRootEnabled: true,
-					MerkleRoot:       util.Uint256{1, 2, 3},
+					Version:    block.VersionEchidna,
+					Index:      uint32(stateSyncPoint) - maxTraceable + 1,
+					MerkleRoot: util.Uint256{1, 2, 3},
 				},
 			}
 			require.Error(t, module.AddBlock(b))
diff --git a/pkg/core/util.go b/pkg/core/util.go
index 196a2c2f4f..0332935a09 100644
--- a/pkg/core/util.go
+++ b/pkg/core/util.go
@@ -69,9 +69,17 @@ func CreateGenesisBlock(cfg config.ProtocolConfiguration) (*block.Block, error)
 		})
 	}
 
+	var genesisVersion = uint32(block.VersionInitial)
+
+	height, ok := cfg.Hardforks[config.HFEchidna.String()]
+	if ok && height == 0 {
+		genesisVersion = block.VersionEchidna
+	}
+
 	base := block.Header{
-		Version:       0,
+		Version:       genesisVersion,
 		PrevHash:      util.Uint256{},
+		PrevStateRoot: util.Uint256{},
 		Timestamp:     uint64(time.Date(2016, 7, 15, 15, 8, 21, 0, time.UTC).Unix()) * 1000, // Milliseconds.
 		Nonce:         2083236893,
 		Index:         0,
@@ -80,7 +88,6 @@ func CreateGenesisBlock(cfg config.ProtocolConfiguration) (*block.Block, error)
 			InvocationScript:   []byte{},
 			VerificationScript: []byte{byte(opcode.PUSH1)},
 		},
-		StateRootEnabled: cfg.StateRootInHeader,
 	}
 
 	b := &block.Block{
diff --git a/pkg/neotest/basic.go b/pkg/neotest/basic.go
index 1540af8624..b352cda73a 100644
--- a/pkg/neotest/basic.go
+++ b/pkg/neotest/basic.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/config/netmode"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/block"
@@ -347,6 +348,7 @@ func (e *Executor) NewUnsignedBlock(t testing.TB, txs ...*transaction.Transactio
 	lastBlock := e.TopBlock(t)
 	b := &block.Block{
 		Header: block.Header{
+			Index:         e.Chain.BlockHeight() + 1,
 			NextConsensus: e.Validator.ScriptHash(),
 			Script: transaction.Witness{
 				VerificationScript: e.Validator.Script(),
@@ -355,12 +357,12 @@ func (e *Executor) NewUnsignedBlock(t testing.TB, txs ...*transaction.Transactio
 		},
 		Transactions: txs,
 	}
-	if e.Chain.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader {
-		b.StateRootEnabled = true
+	hfe, ok := e.Chain.GetConfig().Hardforks[config.HFEchidna.String()]
+	if ok && hfe <= b.Index {
+		b.Version = block.VersionEchidna
 		b.PrevStateRoot = e.Chain.GetStateModule().CurrentLocalStateRoot()
 	}
 	b.PrevHash = lastBlock.Hash()
-	b.Index = e.Chain.BlockHeight() + 1
 	b.RebuildMerkleRoot()
 	return b
 }
diff --git a/pkg/network/message.go b/pkg/network/message.go
index 2142d6a413..f2c39896e4 100644
--- a/pkg/network/message.go
+++ b/pkg/network/message.go
@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ type Message struct {
 
 	// Compressed message payload.
 	compressedPayload []byte
-
-	// StateRootInHeader specifies if the state root is included in the block header.
-	// This is needed for correct decoding.
-	StateRootInHeader bool
 }
 
 // MessageFlag represents compression level of a message payload.
@@ -145,7 +141,7 @@ func (m *Message) decodePayload() error {
 	case CMDAddr:
 		p = &payload.AddressList{}
 	case CMDBlock:
-		p = block.New(m.StateRootInHeader)
+		p = &block.Block{}
 	case CMDExtensible:
 		p = payload.NewExtensible()
 	case CMDP2PNotaryRequest:
@@ -157,7 +153,7 @@ func (m *Message) decodePayload() error {
 	case CMDGetBlockByIndex:
 		p = &payload.GetBlockByIndex{}
 	case CMDHeaders:
-		p = &payload.Headers{StateRootInHeader: m.StateRootInHeader}
+		p = &payload.Headers{}
 	case CMDTX:
 		p, err := transaction.NewTransactionFromBytes(buf)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/network/message_test.go b/pkg/network/message_test.go
index 57cd82d75a..69459d9951 100644
--- a/pkg/network/message_test.go
+++ b/pkg/network/message_test.go
@@ -163,12 +163,6 @@ func TestEncodeDecodeBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("good", func(t *testing.T) {
 		testEncodeDecode(t, CMDBlock, newDummyBlock(12, 1))
 	})
-	t.Run("invalid state root enabled setting", func(t *testing.T) {
-		expected := NewMessage(CMDBlock, newDummyBlock(31, 1))
-		data, err := testserdes.Encode(expected)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		require.Error(t, testserdes.Decode(data, &Message{StateRootInHeader: true}))
-	})
 }
 
 func TestEncodeDecodeGetBlock(t *testing.T) {
@@ -334,7 +328,7 @@ func (f failSer) EncodeBinary(r *io.BinWriter) {
 func (failSer) DecodeBinary(w *io.BinReader) {}
 
 func newDummyBlock(height uint32, txCount int) *block.Block {
-	b := block.New(false)
+	b := &block.Block{}
 	b.Index = height
 	b.PrevHash = random.Uint256()
 	b.Timestamp = rand.Uint64()
diff --git a/pkg/network/payload/headers.go b/pkg/network/payload/headers.go
index 5d75279e0e..a7f746df7b 100644
--- a/pkg/network/payload/headers.go
+++ b/pkg/network/payload/headers.go
@@ -11,8 +11,6 @@ import (
 // Headers payload.
 type Headers struct {
 	Hdrs []*block.Header
-	// StateRootInHeader specifies whether the header contains a state root.
-	StateRootInHeader bool
 }
 
 // Users can at most request 2k headers.
@@ -46,7 +44,6 @@ func (p *Headers) DecodeBinary(br *io.BinReader) {
 
 	for i := 0; i < int(lenHeaders); i++ {
 		header := &block.Header{}
-		header.StateRootEnabled = p.StateRootInHeader
 		header.DecodeBinary(br)
 		p.Hdrs[i] = header
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/network/server_test.go b/pkg/network/server_test.go
index 9d2c6f20bf..09c0d5ffc7 100644
--- a/pkg/network/server_test.go
+++ b/pkg/network/server_test.go
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ func TestBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	s.chain.(*fakechain.FakeChain).Blockheight.Store(12344)
 	require.Equal(t, uint32(12344), s.chain.BlockHeight())
 
-	b := block.New(false)
+	b := &block.Block{}
 	b.Index = 12345
 	s.testHandleMessage(t, nil, CMDBlock, b)
 	require.Eventually(t, func() bool { return s.chain.BlockHeight() == 12345 }, 2*time.Second, time.Millisecond*500)
diff --git a/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go b/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go
index 496935d94d..63f148ab91 100644
--- a/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go
+++ b/pkg/network/tcp_peer.go
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func (p *TCPPeer) handleConn() {
 		r := io.NewBinReaderFromIO(p.conn)
 	loop:
 		for {
-			msg := &Message{StateRootInHeader: p.server.config.StateRootInHeader}
+			msg := &Message{}
 			err = msg.Decode(r)
 
 			if errors.Is(err, payload.ErrTooManyHeaders) {
diff --git a/pkg/rpcclient/rpc.go b/pkg/rpcclient/rpc.go
index 466d21d1db..e7eb3d00da 100644
--- a/pkg/rpcclient/rpc.go
+++ b/pkg/rpcclient/rpc.go
@@ -95,11 +95,7 @@ func (c *Client) getBlock(param any) (*block.Block, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(resp)
-	sr, err := c.stateRootInHeader()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	b = block.New(sr)
+	b = &block.Block{}
 	b.DecodeBinary(r)
 	if r.Err != nil {
 		return nil, r.Err
@@ -128,11 +124,6 @@ func (c *Client) getBlockVerbose(param any) (*result.Block, error) {
 		resp   = &result.Block{}
 		err    error
 	)
-	sr, err := c.stateRootInHeader()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	resp.Header.StateRootEnabled = sr
 	if err = c.performRequest("getblock", params, resp); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -163,13 +154,8 @@ func (c *Client) GetBlockHeader(hash util.Uint256) (*block.Header, error) {
 	if err := c.performRequest("getblockheader", params, &resp); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	sr, err := c.stateRootInHeader()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(resp)
 	h = new(block.Header)
-	h.StateRootEnabled = sr
 	h.DecodeBinary(r)
 	if r.Err != nil {
 		return nil, r.Err
@@ -874,18 +860,6 @@ func (c *Client) ValidateAddress(address string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// stateRootInHeader returns true if the state root is contained in the block header.
-// Requires Init() before use.
-func (c *Client) stateRootInHeader() (bool, error) {
-	c.cacheLock.RLock()
-	defer c.cacheLock.RUnlock()
-
-	if !c.cache.initDone {
-		return false, errNetworkNotInitialized
-	}
-	return c.cache.stateRootInHeader, nil
-}
-
 // TraverseIterator returns a set of iterator values (maxItemsCount at max) for
 // the specified iterator and session. If result contains no elements, then either
 // Iterator has no elements or session was expired and terminated by the server.
diff --git a/pkg/rpcclient/rpc_test.go b/pkg/rpcclient/rpc_test.go
index 26fb68ad33..69e18cf0f2 100644
--- a/pkg/rpcclient/rpc_test.go
+++ b/pkg/rpcclient/rpc_test.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func getResultBlock1() *result.Block {
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	b := block.New(false)
+	b := &block.Block{}
 	err = testserdes.DecodeBinary(binB, b)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/pkg/rpcclient/wsclient.go b/pkg/rpcclient/wsclient.go
index 069ebd0b26..1e65d9e746 100644
--- a/pkg/rpcclient/wsclient.go
+++ b/pkg/rpcclient/wsclient.go
@@ -551,13 +551,7 @@ readloop:
 			ntf := Notification{Type: event}
 			switch event {
 			case neorpc.BlockEventID:
-				sr, err := c.stateRootInHeader()
-				if err != nil {
-					// Client is not initialized.
-					connCloseErr = fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch StateRootInHeader: %w", err)
-					break readloop
-				}
-				ntf.Value = block.New(sr)
+				ntf.Value = &block.Block{}
 			case neorpc.TransactionEventID:
 				ntf.Value = &transaction.Transaction{}
 			case neorpc.NotificationEventID:
@@ -567,13 +561,7 @@ readloop:
 			case neorpc.NotaryRequestEventID:
 				ntf.Value = new(result.NotaryRequestEvent)
 			case neorpc.HeaderOfAddedBlockEventID:
-				sr, err := c.stateRootInHeader()
-				if err != nil {
-					// Client is not initialized.
-					connCloseErr = fmt.Errorf("failed to fetch StateRootInHeader: %w", err)
-					break readloop
-				}
-				ntf.Value = &block.New(sr).Header
+				ntf.Value = &block.Header{}
 			case neorpc.MissedEventID:
 				// No value.
 			default:
diff --git a/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server.go b/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server.go
index 24fcf52017..4d6d197de9 100644
--- a/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server.go
+++ b/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server.go
@@ -2620,7 +2620,7 @@ func (s *Server) submitBlock(reqParams params.Params) (any, *neorpc.Error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, neorpc.NewInvalidParamsError(fmt.Sprintf("missing parameter or not a base64: %s", err))
 	}
-	b := block.New(s.stateRootEnabled)
+	b := &block.Block{}
 	r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(blockBytes)
 	b.DecodeBinary(r)
 	if r.Err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server_helper_test.go b/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server_helper_test.go
index 3595bacd60..e6beaba9a6 100644
--- a/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server_helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/services/rpcsrv/server_helper_test.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func getTestBlocks(t *testing.T) []*block.Block {
 	blocks := make([]*block.Block, 0, int(nBlocks))
 	for i := 0; i < int(nBlocks); i++ {
 		_ = br.ReadU32LE()
-		b := block.New(false)
+		b := &block.Block{}
 		b.DecodeBinary(br)
 		require.Nil(t, br.Err)
 		blocks = append(blocks, b)
diff --git a/scripts/gendump/main.go b/scripts/gendump/main.go
index f211593836..08f614ab35 100644
--- a/scripts/gendump/main.go
+++ b/scripts/gendump/main.go
@@ -170,12 +170,15 @@ func newBlock(bc *core.Blockchain, lastBlock *block.Block, script []byte, txs ..
 		},
 		Transactions: txs,
 	}
-	if bc.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader {
+	hfe, ok := bc.GetConfig().Hardforks[config.HFEchidna.String()]
+	if ok && hfe <= b.Index {
+		b.Version = block.VersionEchidna
+	}
+	if b.Version > block.VersionInitial {
 		sr, err := bc.GetStateModule().GetStateRoot(bc.BlockHeight())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		b.StateRootEnabled = true
 		b.PrevStateRoot = sr.Root
 	}
 	b.RebuildMerkleRoot()