diff --git a/src/bin/darkfid.rs b/src/bin/darkfid.rs
index 0d9503a5c..c99392011 100644
--- a/src/bin/darkfid.rs
+++ b/src/bin/darkfid.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ use drk::crypto::{
     nullifier::Nullifier,
     save_params, setup_mint_prover, setup_spend_prover,
 };
-use drk::serial::{deserialize, Decodable};
+use drk::serial::Decodable;
 use drk::service::{ClientProgramOptions, GatewayClient, Subscriber};
 use drk::state::{state_transition, ProgramState, StateUpdate};
 use drk::{tx, Result};
@@ -131,16 +131,14 @@ pub async fn subscribe(
     mut state: State,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     loop {
-        let slab_data: Vec<u8>;
-        slab_data = subscriber.fetch().await?;
 
-        let slab: Slab = deserialize(&slab_data)?;
+        let slab = subscriber.fetch::<Slab>().await?;
         let tx = tx::Transaction::decode(&slab.get_payload()[..])?;
 
         let update = state_transition(&state, tx)?;
         state.apply(update)?;
 
-        slabstore.put(slab_data)?;
+        slabstore.put(slab)?;
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/blockchain/slabstore.rs b/src/blockchain/slabstore.rs
index 34fd8c7ec..4a6589531 100644
--- a/src/blockchain/slabstore.rs
+++ b/src/blockchain/slabstore.rs
@@ -20,13 +20,12 @@ impl SlabStore {
         Ok(value)
     }
 
-    pub fn put(&self, value: Vec<u8>) -> Result<Option<u64>> {
-        let slab: Slab = deserialize(&value)?;
+    pub fn put(&self, slab: Slab) -> Result<Option<u64>> {
         let last_index = self.get_last_index()?;
         let key = last_index + 1;
 
         if slab.get_index() == key {
-            self.rocks.put(key.clone(), value)?;
+            self.rocks.put(key.clone(), slab)?;
             Ok(Some(key))
         } else {
             Ok(None)
diff --git a/src/service/gateway.rs b/src/service/gateway.rs
index f849c9f9a..35d5f5d72 100644
--- a/src/service/gateway.rs
+++ b/src/service/gateway.rs
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ impl GatewayService {
                 let slab = request.get_payload();
 
                 // add to slabstore
-                let error = slabstore.put(slab.clone())?;
+                let error = slabstore.put(deserialize(&slab)?)?;
 
                 let mut reply = Reply::from(&request, GatewayError::NoError as u32, vec![]);
 
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ impl GatewayClient {
             .await?;
 
         if let Some(slab) = rep {
-            self.slabstore.put(slab.clone())?;
+            self.slabstore.put(deserialize(&slab)?)?;
             return Ok(Some(slab));
         }
         Ok(None)
diff --git a/src/service/reqrep.rs b/src/service/reqrep.rs
index a507b21fb..09f774ea7 100644
--- a/src/service/reqrep.rs
+++ b/src/service/reqrep.rs
@@ -249,11 +249,12 @@ impl Subscriber {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub async fn fetch(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<u8>> {
+    pub async fn fetch<T: Decodable>(&mut self) -> Result<T> {
         let data = self.socket.recv().await?;
         match data.get(0) {
             Some(d) => {
                 let data = d.to_vec();
+                let data: T = deserialize(&data)?;
                 Ok(data)
             }
             None => Err(crate::Error::ZMQError(