diff --git a/crates/api/src/fetch.rs b/crates/api/src/fetch.rs
index 01397a5..fef1b90 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/fetch.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/fetch.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
+use bytes::Bytes;
 use prost::Message;
 
 use crate::{
@@ -25,6 +26,12 @@ impl From<OpIds> for Vec<OpId> {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<Ops> for Vec<Bytes> {
+    fn from(value: Ops) -> Self {
+        value.op_list.into_iter().map(|op| op.data).collect()
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<Vec<MetaOp>> for Ops {
     fn from(value: Vec<MetaOp>) -> Self {
         Self {
diff --git a/crates/api/src/op_store.rs b/crates/api/src/op_store.rs
index bd19773..8935b44 100644
--- a/crates/api/src/op_store.rs
+++ b/crates/api/src/op_store.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 use crate::{
     builder, config, BoxFut, DhtArc, K2Result, OpId, SpaceId, Timestamp,
 };
+use bytes::Bytes;
 use futures::future::BoxFuture;
 use std::cmp::Ordering;
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -29,6 +30,12 @@ impl From<MetaOp> for Op {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<MetaOp> for Bytes {
+    fn from(value: MetaOp) -> Self {
+        value.op_data.into()
+    }
+}
+
 /// An op that has been stored by the Kitsune host.
 ///
 /// This is the basic unit of data that the host is expected to store. Whether that storage is
@@ -68,7 +75,7 @@ pub trait OpStore: 'static + Send + Sync + std::fmt::Debug {
     /// if it is able to process them.
     fn process_incoming_ops(
         &self,
-        op_list: Vec<MetaOp>,
+        op_list: Vec<Bytes>,
     ) -> BoxFuture<'_, K2Result<()>>;
 
     /// Retrieve a batch of ops from the host by time range.
diff --git a/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/request_queue.rs b/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/request_queue.rs
index e95988e..43f255c 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/request_queue.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/request_queue.rs
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ async fn fetch_queue() {
     let mut num_requests_sent = requests_sent.lock().unwrap().len();
 
     // Wait for tasks to settle all requests.
-    tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_millis(20), async {
+    tokio::time::timeout(Duration::from_millis(30), async {
         loop {
             tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(1)).await;
             let current_num_requests_sent = requests_sent.lock().unwrap().len();
diff --git a/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/response_queue.rs b/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/response_queue.rs
index 4901ff9..3d868bb 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/response_queue.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/factories/core_fetch/test/response_queue.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ use crate::{
         Kitsune2MemoryOp, MemOpStoreFactory,
     },
 };
+use bytes::Bytes;
 use kitsune2_api::{
     fetch::{serialize_op_ids, Ops},
     id::Id,
@@ -19,9 +20,9 @@ use std::{
     time::Duration,
 };
 
-type ResponsesSent = Vec<(Vec<MetaOp>, Url)>;
+type ResponsesSent = Vec<(Vec<Bytes>, Url)>;
 
-const SPACE_ID: SpaceId = SpaceId(Id(bytes::Bytes::from_static(b"space_id")));
+const SPACE_ID: SpaceId = SpaceId(Id(Bytes::from_static(b"space_id")));
 
 fn hash_op(input: &bytes::Bytes) -> OpId {
     use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
@@ -32,17 +33,9 @@ fn hash_op(input: &bytes::Bytes) -> OpId {
     hash_bytes.into()
 }
 
-fn make_op(data: Vec<u8>) -> MetaOp {
+fn make_op(data: Vec<u8>) -> Kitsune2MemoryOp {
     let op_id = hash_op(&data.clone().into());
-    MetaOp {
-        op_id: op_id.clone(),
-        op_data: serde_json::to_vec(&Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
-            op_id,
-            Timestamp::now(),
-            data,
-        ))
-        .unwrap(),
-    }
+    Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(op_id, Timestamp::now(), data)
 }
 
 fn make_mock_transport(
@@ -57,21 +50,12 @@ fn make_mock_transport(
         move |peer, space, module, data| {
             assert_eq!(space, SPACE_ID);
             assert_eq!(module, crate::factories::core_fetch::MOD_NAME);
-            let ops = Ops::decode(data).unwrap();
-            let ops = ops
+            let ops = Ops::decode(data)
+                .unwrap()
                 .op_list
                 .into_iter()
-                .map(|op| {
-                    let op_data =
-                        serde_json::from_slice::<Kitsune2MemoryOp>(&op.data)
-                            .unwrap();
-                    let op_id = hash_op(&bytes::Bytes::from(op_data.payload));
-                    MetaOp {
-                        op_id,
-                        op_data: op.data.into(),
-                    }
-                })
-                .collect();
+                .map(|op| op.data)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>();
             responses_sent.lock().unwrap().push((ops, peer));
             Box::pin(async move { Ok(()) })
         }
@@ -100,11 +84,12 @@ async fn respond_to_multiple_requests() {
     let op_2 = make_op(vec![2; 128]);
     let op_3 = make_op(vec![3; 128]);
     // Insert op 1, 2, 3 into op store. Op 4 will not be returned in the response.
-    let stored_op = vec![op_1.clone(), op_2.clone(), op_3.clone()];
-    op_store
-        .process_incoming_ops(stored_op.clone())
-        .await
-        .unwrap();
+    let stored_ops = vec![
+        op_1.clone().into(),
+        op_2.clone().into(),
+        op_3.clone().into(),
+    ];
+    op_store.process_incoming_ops(stored_ops).await.unwrap();
 
     let fetch = CoreFetch::new(
         config.clone(),
@@ -151,12 +136,12 @@ async fn respond_to_multiple_requests() {
     assert!(responses_sent
         .lock()
         .unwrap()
-        .contains(&(vec![op_1, op_2], agent_url_1)));
+        .contains(&(vec![op_1.into(), op_2.into()], agent_url_1)));
     // Only op 3 is in op store.
     assert!(responses_sent
         .lock()
         .unwrap()
-        .contains(&(vec![op_3], agent_url_2)));
+        .contains(&(vec![op_3.into()], agent_url_2)));
 }
 
 #[tokio::test(flavor = "multi_thread")]
@@ -249,7 +234,7 @@ async fn fail_to_respond_once_then_succeed() {
 
     let op = make_op(vec![1; 128]);
     op_store
-        .process_incoming_ops(vec![op.clone()])
+        .process_incoming_ops(vec![op.clone().into()])
         .await
         .unwrap();
     let agent_url = Url::from_str("wss://127.0.0.1:1").unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/core/src/factories/mem_op_store.rs b/crates/core/src/factories/mem_op_store.rs
index 7399493..dbe541d 100644
--- a/crates/core/src/factories/mem_op_store.rs
+++ b/crates/core/src/factories/mem_op_store.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 //! The mem op store implementation provided by Kitsune2.
 
 use crate::factories::mem_op_store::time_slice_hash_store::TimeSliceHashStore;
+use bytes::Bytes;
 use futures::future::BoxFuture;
 use kitsune2_api::builder::Builder;
 use kitsune2_api::config::Config;
@@ -77,27 +78,18 @@ impl From<Kitsune2MemoryOp> for StoredOp {
     }
 }
 
-impl TryFrom<MetaOp> for Kitsune2MemoryOp {
-    type Error = serde_json::Error;
-
-    fn try_from(value: MetaOp) -> serde_json::Result<Self> {
-        let op = serde_json::from_slice(value.op_data.as_slice())?;
-
-        Ok(op)
+impl From<Bytes> for Kitsune2MemoryOp {
+    fn from(value: Bytes) -> Self {
+        serde_json::from_slice(&value)
+            .expect("failed to deserialize Kitsune2MemoryOp from Op")
     }
 }
 
-impl TryFrom<Kitsune2MemoryOp> for MetaOp {
-    type Error = K2Error;
-
-    fn try_from(value: Kitsune2MemoryOp) -> K2Result<Self> {
-        let op_data = serde_json::to_vec(&value).map_err(|e| {
-            K2Error::other_src("Failed to serialize Kitsune2MemoryOp", e)
-        })?;
-        Ok(MetaOp {
-            op_id: value.op_id,
-            op_data,
-        })
+impl From<Kitsune2MemoryOp> for Bytes {
+    fn from(value: Kitsune2MemoryOp) -> Self {
+        serde_json::to_vec(&value)
+            .expect("failed to serialize Op to Kitsune2MemoryOp")
+            .into()
     }
 }
 
@@ -133,13 +125,13 @@ struct Kitsune2MemoryOpStoreInner {
 impl OpStore for Kitsune2MemoryOpStore {
     fn process_incoming_ops(
         &self,
-        op_list: Vec<MetaOp>,
+        op_list: Vec<Bytes>,
     ) -> BoxFuture<'_, K2Result<()>> {
         Box::pin(async move {
             let ops_to_add = op_list
                 .iter()
                 .map(|op| -> serde_json::Result<(OpId, Kitsune2MemoryOp)> {
-                    let op = Kitsune2MemoryOp::try_from(op.clone())?;
+                    let op = Kitsune2MemoryOp::from(op.clone());
                     Ok((op.op_id.clone(), op))
                 })
                 .collect::<Result<Vec<_>, _>>().map_err(|e| {
diff --git a/crates/dht/src/dht/tests.rs b/crates/dht/src/dht/tests.rs
index 6522afa..e06cc01 100644
--- a/crates/dht/src/dht/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/dht/src/dht/tests.rs
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ async fn take_minimal_snapshot() {
             UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
             vec![],
         )
-        .try_into()
-        .unwrap()])
+        .into()])
         .await
         .unwrap();
 
diff --git a/crates/dht/src/dht/tests/harness.rs b/crates/dht/src/dht/tests/harness.rs
index e72b4f2..9a97570 100644
--- a/crates/dht/src/dht/tests/harness.rs
+++ b/crates/dht/src/dht/tests/harness.rs
@@ -53,10 +53,7 @@ impl DhtSyncHarness {
     ) -> K2Result<()> {
         self.store
             .process_incoming_ops(
-                op_list
-                    .iter()
-                    .map(|op| op.clone().try_into().unwrap())
-                    .collect(),
+                op_list.iter().map(|op| op.clone().into()).collect(),
             )
             .await?;
 
@@ -374,12 +371,17 @@ async fn transfer_ops(
     target_dht: &mut Dht,
     requested_ops: Vec<OpId>,
 ) -> K2Result<()> {
-    let selected = source.retrieve_ops(requested_ops).await?;
+    let selected = source
+        .retrieve_ops(requested_ops)
+        .await?
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(Into::into)
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
     target.process_incoming_ops(selected.clone()).await?;
 
     let stored_ops = selected
         .into_iter()
-        .map(|op| Kitsune2MemoryOp::try_from(op).unwrap().into())
+        .map(|op| Kitsune2MemoryOp::from(op).into())
         .collect::<Vec<StoredOp>>();
     target_dht.inform_ops_stored(stored_ops).await?;
 
diff --git a/crates/dht/src/hash.rs b/crates/dht/src/hash.rs
index 1f683fd..48f51cb 100644
--- a/crates/dht/src/hash.rs
+++ b/crates/dht/src/hash.rs
@@ -647,8 +647,7 @@ mod tests {
                     now,
                     end.to_be_bytes().to_vec(),
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap()])
+                .into()])
                 .await
                 .unwrap();
         }
diff --git a/crates/dht/src/time.rs b/crates/dht/src/time.rs
index 86b50f8..ae409e6 100644
--- a/crates/dht/src/time.rs
+++ b/crates/dht/src/time.rs
@@ -859,15 +859,13 @@ mod tests {
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![23; 32])),
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -948,15 +946,13 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![23; 32])),
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -1010,29 +1006,25 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![23; 32])),
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![11; 32])),
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![29; 32])),
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -1089,15 +1081,13 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![11; 32])),
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -1152,15 +1142,13 @@ mod tests {
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![29; 32])),
                     (current_time - UNIT_TIME).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -1185,8 +1173,7 @@ mod tests {
                 current_time,
                 vec![],
             )
-            .try_into()
-            .unwrap()])
+            .into()])
             .await
             .unwrap();
 
@@ -1224,15 +1211,13 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![23; 32])),
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -1264,8 +1249,7 @@ mod tests {
                 pt.full_slice_end_timestamp(), // Start of the next full slice
                 vec![],
             )
-            .try_into()
-            .unwrap()])
+            .into()])
             .await
             .unwrap();
 
@@ -1329,15 +1313,13 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![23; 32])),
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 // Store two new ops at the unix timestamp plus one full time slice,
                 // to go into the second complete slice
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
@@ -1345,15 +1327,13 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP + pt.full_slice_duration,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::from(vec![37; 32])),
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP + pt.full_slice_duration,
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -1431,8 +1411,7 @@ mod tests {
                 pt.full_slice_end_timestamp(),
                 vec![],
             )
-            .try_into()
-            .unwrap()])
+            .into()])
             .await
             .unwrap();
         // and compute the new state in the future
@@ -1508,8 +1487,7 @@ mod tests {
                 UNIX_TIMESTAMP,
                 vec![],
             )
-            .try_into()
-            .unwrap()])
+            .into()])
             .await
             .unwrap();
 
@@ -1614,15 +1592,13 @@ mod tests {
                     UNIX_TIMESTAMP + Duration::from_secs(10),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
                 Kitsune2MemoryOp::new(
                     OpId::from(bytes::Bytes::copy_from_slice(&[31, 0, 0, 0])),
                     (current_time - Duration::from_secs(30)).unwrap(),
                     vec![],
                 )
-                .try_into()
-                .unwrap(),
+                .into(),
             ])
             .await
             .unwrap();