diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/inner.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/inner.rs
index bd8a1044..631e90d2 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/inner.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/inner.rs
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ pub(crate) struct ConsensusInner {
     pub(crate) secret_key: validator::SecretKey,
     /// A vector of public keys for all the validators in the network.
     pub(crate) validator_set: validator::ValidatorSet,
-    /// Current protocol version for the consensus messages.
-    pub(crate) protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion,
 }
 
 impl ConsensusInner {
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_commit.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_commit.rs
index f82e598a..b0af302f 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_commit.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_commit.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::StateMachine;
-use crate::{inner::ConsensusInner, metrics};
+use crate::{inner::ConsensusInner, metrics, Consensus};
 use tracing::instrument;
 use zksync_concurrency::{ctx, metrics::LatencyHistogramExt as _};
 use zksync_consensus_network::io::{ConsensusInputMessage, Target};
@@ -73,13 +73,10 @@ impl StateMachine {
         let author = &signed_message.key;
 
         // Check protocol version compatibility.
-        if !consensus
-            .protocol_version
-            .compatible(&message.protocol_version)
-        {
+        if !Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION.compatible(&message.protocol_version) {
             return Err(Error::IncompatibleProtocolVersion {
                 message_version: message.protocol_version,
-                local_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                local_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
             });
         }
 
@@ -181,7 +178,7 @@ impl StateMachine {
                 .secret_key
                 .sign_msg(validator::ConsensusMsg::LeaderCommit(
                     validator::LeaderCommit {
-                        protocol_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                        protocol_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
                         justification,
                     },
                 )),
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_prepare.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_prepare.rs
index 9982aee6..278ed033 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_prepare.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/leader/replica_prepare.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::StateMachine;
-use crate::{inner::ConsensusInner, metrics};
+use crate::{inner::ConsensusInner, metrics, Consensus};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use tracing::instrument;
 use zksync_concurrency::{ctx, error::Wrap};
@@ -99,13 +99,10 @@ impl StateMachine {
         let author = &signed_message.key;
 
         // Check protocol version compatibility.
-        if !consensus
-            .protocol_version
-            .compatible(&message.protocol_version)
-        {
+        if !Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION.compatible(&message.protocol_version) {
             return Err(Error::IncompatibleProtocolVersion {
                 message_version: message.protocol_version,
-                local_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                local_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
             });
         }
 
@@ -260,7 +257,7 @@ impl StateMachine {
                 .secret_key
                 .sign_msg(validator::ConsensusMsg::LeaderPrepare(
                     validator::LeaderPrepare {
-                        protocol_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                        protocol_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
                         view: self.view,
                         proposal,
                         proposal_payload: payload,
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/lib.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/lib.rs
index 840f905a..26029303 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/lib.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/lib.rs
@@ -56,12 +56,14 @@ pub struct Consensus {
 }
 
 impl Consensus {
+    /// Protocol version of this BFT implementation.
+    pub const PROTOCOL_VERSION: validator::ProtocolVersion = validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST;
+
     /// Creates a new Consensus struct.
     #[instrument(level = "trace", skip(payload_source))]
     pub async fn new(
         ctx: &ctx::Ctx,
         pipe: ActorPipe<InputMessage, OutputMessage>,
-        protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion,
         secret_key: validator::SecretKey,
         validator_set: validator::ValidatorSet,
         storage: ReplicaStore,
@@ -72,7 +74,6 @@ impl Consensus {
                 pipe,
                 secret_key,
                 validator_set,
-                protocol_version,
             },
             replica: replica::StateMachine::new(ctx, storage).await?,
             leader: leader::StateMachine::new(ctx, payload_source),
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_commit.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_commit.rs
index ebd4c282..370727fb 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_commit.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_commit.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::StateMachine;
-use crate::inner::ConsensusInner;
+use crate::{inner::ConsensusInner, Consensus};
 use tracing::instrument;
 use zksync_concurrency::{ctx, error::Wrap};
 use zksync_consensus_roles::validator::{self, ProtocolVersion};
@@ -74,13 +74,10 @@ impl StateMachine {
         let view = message.justification.message.view;
 
         // Check protocol version compatibility.
-        if !consensus
-            .protocol_version
-            .compatible(&message.protocol_version)
-        {
+        if !Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION.compatible(&message.protocol_version) {
             return Err(Error::IncompatibleProtocolVersion {
                 message_version: message.protocol_version,
-                local_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                local_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
             });
         }
 
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_prepare.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_prepare.rs
index 82d273cf..cdb02ed8 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_prepare.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/replica/leader_prepare.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::StateMachine;
-use crate::inner::ConsensusInner;
+use crate::{inner::ConsensusInner, Consensus};
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use tracing::instrument;
 use zksync_concurrency::{ctx, error::Wrap};
@@ -144,13 +144,10 @@ impl StateMachine {
         let view = message.view;
 
         // Check protocol version compatibility.
-        if !consensus
-            .protocol_version
-            .compatible(&message.protocol_version)
-        {
+        if !Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION.compatible(&message.protocol_version) {
             return Err(Error::IncompatibleProtocolVersion {
                 message_version: message.protocol_version,
-                local_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                local_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
             });
         }
 
@@ -300,7 +297,7 @@ impl StateMachine {
 
         // Create our commit vote.
         let commit_vote = validator::ReplicaCommit {
-            protocol_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+            protocol_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
             view,
             proposal: message.proposal,
         };
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/replica/new_view.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/replica/new_view.rs
index d8f98347..a5f117f6 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/replica/new_view.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/replica/new_view.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::StateMachine;
-use crate::ConsensusInner;
+use crate::{Consensus, ConsensusInner};
 use tracing::instrument;
 use zksync_concurrency::{ctx, error::Wrap as _};
 use zksync_consensus_network::io::{ConsensusInputMessage, Target};
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ impl StateMachine {
                 .secret_key
                 .sign_msg(validator::ConsensusMsg::ReplicaPrepare(
                     validator::ReplicaPrepare {
-                        protocol_version: consensus.protocol_version,
+                        protocol_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
                         view: next_view,
                         high_vote: self.high_vote,
                         high_qc: self.high_qc.clone(),
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/make.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/make.rs
index c87fbd78..18734e3c 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/make.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/make.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ pub async fn make_consensus(
     let consensus = Consensus::new(
         ctx,
         consensus_pipe,
-        genesis_block.justification.message.protocol_version,
         key.clone(),
         validator_set.clone(),
         ReplicaStore::from_store(Arc::new(storage)),
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ pub async fn make_consensus(
 /// and a validator set for the chain.
 pub fn make_genesis(
     keys: &[validator::SecretKey],
-    protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion,
     payload: validator::Payload,
     block_number: validator::BlockNumber,
 ) -> (validator::FinalBlock, validator::ValidatorSet) {
@@ -67,7 +65,7 @@ pub fn make_genesis(
         .iter()
         .map(|sk| {
             sk.sign_msg(validator::ReplicaCommit {
-                protocol_version,
+                protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
                 view: validator::ViewNumber(0),
                 proposal: header,
             })
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/run.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/run.rs
index 63384362..4cf0133c 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/run.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/run.rs
@@ -32,12 +32,8 @@ impl Test {
             .iter()
             .map(|node| node.consensus_config().key.clone())
             .collect();
-        let (genesis_block, _) = testonly::make_genesis(
-            &keys,
-            validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-            validator::Payload(vec![]),
-            validator::BlockNumber(0),
-        );
+        let (genesis_block, _) =
+            testonly::make_genesis(&keys, validator::Payload(vec![]), validator::BlockNumber(0));
         let nodes: Vec<_> = nodes
             .into_iter()
             .enumerate()
@@ -107,7 +103,6 @@ async fn run_nodes(ctx: &ctx::Ctx, network: Network, nodes: &[Node]) -> anyhow::
                     let consensus = Consensus::new(
                         ctx,
                         consensus_actor_pipe,
-                        validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
                         node.net.consensus_config().key.clone(),
                         validator_set,
                         storage,
diff --git a/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/ut_harness.rs b/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/ut_harness.rs
index 741b3088..300feeea 100644
--- a/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/ut_harness.rs
+++ b/node/actors/bft/src/testonly/ut_harness.rs
@@ -32,12 +32,8 @@ impl UTHarness {
     pub(crate) async fn new(ctx: &ctx::Ctx, num_validators: usize) -> UTHarness {
         let mut rng = ctx.rng();
         let keys: Vec<_> = (0..num_validators).map(|_| rng.gen()).collect();
-        let (genesis, val_set) = crate::testonly::make_genesis(
-            &keys,
-            validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-            Payload(vec![]),
-            validator::BlockNumber(0),
-        );
+        let (genesis, val_set) =
+            crate::testonly::make_genesis(&keys, Payload(vec![]), validator::BlockNumber(0));
         let (mut consensus, pipe) =
             crate::testonly::make_consensus(ctx, &keys[0], &val_set, &genesis).await;
 
@@ -62,7 +58,7 @@ impl UTHarness {
     /// recovers after a timeout.
     pub(crate) async fn produce_block_after_timeout(&mut self, ctx: &ctx::Ctx) {
         let want = ReplicaPrepare {
-            protocol_version: self.consensus.inner.protocol_version,
+            protocol_version: self.protocol_version(),
             view: self.consensus.replica.view.next(),
             high_qc: self.consensus.replica.high_qc.clone(),
             high_vote: self.consensus.replica.high_vote,
@@ -81,7 +77,7 @@ impl UTHarness {
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn protocol_version(&self) -> validator::ProtocolVersion {
-        self.consensus.inner.protocol_version
+        Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION
     }
 
     pub(crate) fn incompatible_protocol_version(&self) -> validator::ProtocolVersion {
diff --git a/node/actors/executor/src/config/mod.rs b/node/actors/executor/src/config/mod.rs
index abf1fda9..600d8c5d 100644
--- a/node/actors/executor/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/node/actors/executor/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ pub struct ConsensusConfig {
     /// Public TCP address that other validators are expected to connect to.
     /// It is announced over gossip network.
     pub public_addr: net::SocketAddr,
-    /// Currently used protocol version for consensus messages.
-    pub protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion,
 }
 
 impl ProtoFmt for ConsensusConfig {
@@ -34,10 +32,6 @@ impl ProtoFmt for ConsensusConfig {
         Ok(Self {
             key: read_required_text(&proto.key).context("key")?,
             public_addr: read_required_text(&proto.public_addr).context("public_addr")?,
-            protocol_version: required(&proto.protocol_version)
-                .copied()
-                .and_then(validator::ProtocolVersion::try_from)
-                .context("protocol_version")?,
         })
     }
 
@@ -45,7 +39,6 @@ impl ProtoFmt for ConsensusConfig {
         Self::Proto {
             key: Some(self.key.encode()),
             public_addr: Some(self.public_addr.encode()),
-            protocol_version: Some(self.protocol_version.as_u32()),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/node/actors/executor/src/config/proto/mod.proto b/node/actors/executor/src/config/proto/mod.proto
index 71d75d57..8cfce427 100644
--- a/node/actors/executor/src/config/proto/mod.proto
+++ b/node/actors/executor/src/config/proto/mod.proto
@@ -48,8 +48,6 @@ message NodeAddr {
 message ConsensusConfig {
   optional string key = 1; // [required] ValidatorPublicKey
   optional string public_addr = 2; // [required] IpAddr
-  // Currently used protocol version for consensus messages.
-  optional uint32 protocol_version = 3; // [required]
 }
 
 // Config of the gossip network.
diff --git a/node/actors/executor/src/config/tests.rs b/node/actors/executor/src/config/tests.rs
index 2c6d0262..3c18f072 100644
--- a/node/actors/executor/src/config/tests.rs
+++ b/node/actors/executor/src/config/tests.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ impl Distribution<ConsensusConfig> for Standard {
         ConsensusConfig {
             key: rng.gen::<validator::SecretKey>().public(),
             public_addr: make_addr(rng),
-            protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/node/actors/executor/src/lib.rs b/node/actors/executor/src/lib.rs
index a65857d6..01f3712e 100644
--- a/node/actors/executor/src/lib.rs
+++ b/node/actors/executor/src/lib.rs
@@ -181,7 +181,6 @@ impl<S: WriteBlockStore + 'static> Executor<S> {
             let consensus = Consensus::new(
                 ctx,
                 consensus_actor_pipe,
-                validator.config.protocol_version,
                 validator.key.clone(),
                 validator_set.clone(),
                 consensus_storage,
diff --git a/node/actors/executor/src/testonly.rs b/node/actors/executor/src/testonly.rs
index d88264cd..a57393fb 100644
--- a/node/actors/executor/src/testonly.rs
+++ b/node/actors/executor/src/testonly.rs
@@ -8,14 +8,10 @@ use zksync_consensus_network::{consensus, testonly::Instance};
 use zksync_consensus_roles::{node, validator};
 
 impl ConsensusConfig {
-    fn from_network_config(
-        src: consensus::Config,
-        protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion,
-    ) -> Self {
+    fn from_network_config(src: consensus::Config) -> Self {
         Self {
             key: src.key.public(),
             public_addr: src.public_addr,
-            protocol_version,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -36,11 +32,8 @@ pub struct FullValidatorConfig {
 
 impl FullValidatorConfig {
     /// Generates a validator config for a network with a single validator.
-    ///
-    /// `protocol_version` is used both for the genesis block and as the current protocol version.
     pub fn for_single_validator(
         rng: &mut impl Rng,
-        protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion,
         genesis_block_payload: validator::Payload,
         genesis_block_number: validator::BlockNumber,
     ) -> Self {
@@ -49,12 +42,10 @@ impl FullValidatorConfig {
         let net_config = net_configs.pop().unwrap();
         let consensus_config = net_config.consensus.unwrap();
         let validator_key = consensus_config.key.clone();
-        let consensus_config =
-            ConsensusConfig::from_network_config(consensus_config, protocol_version);
+        let consensus_config = ConsensusConfig::from_network_config(consensus_config);
 
         let (genesis_block, validators) = make_genesis(
             &[validator_key.clone()],
-            protocol_version,
             genesis_block_payload,
             genesis_block_number,
         );
diff --git a/node/actors/executor/src/tests.rs b/node/actors/executor/src/tests.rs
index 0e035355..94e87747 100644
--- a/node/actors/executor/src/tests.rs
+++ b/node/actors/executor/src/tests.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use rand::{thread_rng, Rng};
 use std::iter;
 use test_casing::test_casing;
 use zksync_concurrency::{sync, testonly::abort_on_panic, time};
-use zksync_consensus_bft::testonly::RandomPayloadSource;
+use zksync_consensus_bft::{testonly::RandomPayloadSource, Consensus};
 use zksync_consensus_roles::validator::{BlockNumber, FinalBlock, Payload};
 use zksync_consensus_storage::{BlockStore, InMemoryStorage};
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ impl FullValidatorConfig {
                 payload: payload.hash(),
             };
             let commit = self.validator_key.sign_msg(validator::ReplicaCommit {
-                protocol_version: validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
+                protocol_version: Consensus::PROTOCOL_VERSION,
                 view: validator::ViewNumber(header.number.0),
                 proposal: header,
             });
@@ -73,12 +73,8 @@ async fn executor_misconfiguration(name: &str, mutation: fn(&mut FinalBlock)) {
     let ctx = &ctx::root();
     let rng = &mut ctx.rng();
 
-    let mut validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(
-        rng,
-        validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-        Payload(vec![]),
-        BlockNumber(0),
-    );
+    let mut validator =
+        FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(rng, Payload(vec![]), BlockNumber(0));
     let genesis_block = &mut validator.node_config.genesis_block;
     mutation(genesis_block);
     let storage = Arc::new(InMemoryStorage::new(genesis_block.clone()));
@@ -95,12 +91,7 @@ async fn genesis_block_mismatch() {
     let ctx = &ctx::root();
     let rng = &mut ctx.rng();
 
-    let validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(
-        rng,
-        validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-        Payload(vec![]),
-        BlockNumber(0),
-    );
+    let validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(rng, Payload(vec![]), BlockNumber(0));
     let mut genesis_block = validator.node_config.genesis_block.clone();
     genesis_block.header.number = BlockNumber(1);
     let storage = Arc::new(InMemoryStorage::new(genesis_block.clone()));
@@ -117,12 +108,7 @@ async fn executing_single_validator() {
     let ctx = &ctx::root();
     let rng = &mut ctx.rng();
 
-    let validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(
-        rng,
-        validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-        Payload(vec![]),
-        BlockNumber(0),
-    );
+    let validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(rng, Payload(vec![]), BlockNumber(0));
     let genesis_block = &validator.node_config.genesis_block;
     let storage = InMemoryStorage::new(genesis_block.clone());
     let storage = Arc::new(storage);
@@ -147,12 +133,8 @@ async fn executing_validator_and_full_node() {
     let ctx = &ctx::test_root(&ctx::AffineClock::new(20.0));
     let rng = &mut ctx.rng();
 
-    let mut validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(
-        rng,
-        validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-        Payload(vec![]),
-        BlockNumber(0),
-    );
+    let mut validator =
+        FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(rng, Payload(vec![]), BlockNumber(0));
     let full_node = validator.connect_full_node(rng);
 
     let genesis_block = &validator.node_config.genesis_block;
@@ -194,12 +176,8 @@ async fn syncing_full_node_from_snapshot(delay_block_storage: bool) {
     let ctx = &ctx::test_root(&ctx::AffineClock::new(20.0));
     let rng = &mut ctx.rng();
 
-    let mut validator = FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(
-        rng,
-        validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST,
-        Payload(vec![]),
-        BlockNumber(0),
-    );
+    let mut validator =
+        FullValidatorConfig::for_single_validator(rng, Payload(vec![]), BlockNumber(0));
     let mut full_node = validator.connect_full_node(rng);
 
     let genesis_block = &validator.node_config.genesis_block;
diff --git a/node/tools/src/bin/localnet_config.rs b/node/tools/src/bin/localnet_config.rs
index bbeffebf..81b80c86 100644
--- a/node/tools/src/bin/localnet_config.rs
+++ b/node/tools/src/bin/localnet_config.rs
@@ -65,11 +65,9 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let node_keys: Vec<node::SecretKey> = (0..addrs.len()).map(|_| rng.gen()).collect();
 
     // Generate the genesis block.
-    let protocol_version = validator::ProtocolVersion::EARLIEST;
     // TODO: generating genesis block shouldn't require knowing the private keys.
     let (genesis, validator_set) = testonly::make_genesis(
         &validator_keys,
-        protocol_version,
         validator::Payload(vec![]),
         validator::BlockNumber(0),
     );
@@ -114,7 +112,6 @@ fn main() -> anyhow::Result<()> {
             consensus: Some(ConsensusConfig {
                 key: validator_keys[i].public(),
                 public_addr: addrs[i],
-                protocol_version,
             }),
         };