diff --git a/crates/sc-subspace-chain-specs/res/chain-spec-raw-gemini-3h.json b/crates/sc-subspace-chain-specs/res/chain-spec-raw-gemini-3h.json
index cba26cd265..286aa4d1e6 100644
--- a/crates/sc-subspace-chain-specs/res/chain-spec-raw-gemini-3h.json
+++ b/crates/sc-subspace-chain-specs/res/chain-spec-raw-gemini-3h.json
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
       "/dns/bootstrap-0.gemini-3h.subspace.network/tcp/30533/p2p/12D3KooWK7NuL4S6aEdy5gELnvhCGo6EyrWVARnBy7W4AJTVkaF1",
       "/dns/bootstrap-1.gemini-3h.subspace.network/tcp/30533/p2p/12D3KooWQK33n2raSXzjH8JyqbFtczBmbwZiK9Tpicdw3rveJesj"
     ],
-    "potExternalEntropy": null,
+    "potExternalEntropy": "000000000000000000037bbc7fae1cd2c91dba8312b65f71352630e938cc4dda",
     "ss58Format": 2254,
     "tokenDecimals": 18,
     "tokenSymbol": "tSSC"
diff --git a/crates/subspace-malicious-operator/src/bin/subspace-malicious-operator.rs b/crates/subspace-malicious-operator/src/bin/subspace-malicious-operator.rs
index 813e7437b5..55338d4161 100644
--- a/crates/subspace-malicious-operator/src/bin/subspace-malicious-operator.rs
+++ b/crates/subspace-malicious-operator/src/bin/subspace-malicious-operator.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use sc_consensus_slots::SlotProportion;
 use sc_network::config::MultiaddrWithPeerId;
 use sc_transaction_pool_api::OffchainTransactionPoolFactory;
 use sc_utils::mpsc::tracing_unbounded;
+use serde_json::Value;
 use sp_core::crypto::Ss58AddressFormat;
 use sp_core::traits::SpawnEssentialNamed;
 use sp_domains::DomainId;
@@ -133,12 +134,13 @@ fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
                 .chain_spec
                 .properties()
                 .get("potExternalEntropy")
-                .map(|d| serde_json::from_value(d.clone()))
-                .transpose()
-                .map_err(|error| {
-                    sc_service::Error::Other(format!("Failed to decode PoT initial key: {error:?}"))
-                })?
-                .flatten()
+                .map(|d| match d.clone() {
+                    Value::String(s) => Ok(s.into_bytes()),
+                    _ => Err(sc_service::Error::Other(
+                        "Failed to decode PoT initial key".to_string(),
+                    )),
+                })
+                .transpose()?
                 .unwrap_or_default();
 
             let dsn_config = {
diff --git a/crates/subspace-node/src/commands/run/consensus.rs b/crates/subspace-node/src/commands/run/consensus.rs
index ee5d1f6b2d..3c1d0e0e60 100644
--- a/crates/subspace-node/src/commands/run/consensus.rs
+++ b/crates/subspace-node/src/commands/run/consensus.rs
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@ use subspace_service::dsn::DsnConfig;
 use tempfile::TempDir;
 use tracing::warn;
 
-fn parse_pot_external_entropy(s: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, hex::FromHexError> {
-    hex::decode(s)
-}
-
 fn parse_timekeeper_cpu_cores(
     s: &str,
 ) -> Result<HashSet<usize>, Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>> {
@@ -276,8 +272,8 @@ pub(super) struct ConsensusChainOptions {
     force_authoring: bool,
 
     /// External entropy, used initially when PoT chain starts to derive the first seed
-    #[arg(long, value_parser = parse_pot_external_entropy)]
-    pot_external_entropy: Option<Vec<u8>>,
+    #[arg(long)]
+    pot_external_entropy: Option<String>,
 
     /// Options for DSN
     #[clap(flatten)]
diff --git a/crates/subspace-node/src/main.rs b/crates/subspace-node/src/main.rs
index 7311feee57..982de69886 100644
--- a/crates/subspace-node/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/subspace-node/src/main.rs
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ use frame_benchmarking_cli::BenchmarkCmd;
 use futures::future::TryFutureExt;
 use sc_cli::{ChainSpec, SubstrateCli};
 use sc_service::{Configuration, PartialComponents};
+use serde_json::Value;
 use sp_core::crypto::Ss58AddressFormat;
 use subspace_proof_of_space::chia::ChiaTable;
 use subspace_runtime::{Block, RuntimeApi};
@@ -95,18 +96,19 @@ where
 
 fn derive_pot_external_entropy(
     consensus_chain_config: &Configuration,
-    maybe_pot_external_entropy: Option<Vec<u8>>,
+    maybe_pot_external_entropy: Option<String>,
 ) -> Result<Vec<u8>, sc_service::Error> {
     let maybe_chain_spec_pot_external_entropy = consensus_chain_config
         .chain_spec
         .properties()
         .get("potExternalEntropy")
-        .map(|d| serde_json::from_value(d.clone()))
-        .transpose()
-        .map_err(|error| {
-            sc_service::Error::Other(format!("Failed to decode PoT initial key: {error:?}"))
-        })?
-        .flatten();
+        .map(|d| match d.clone() {
+            Value::String(s) => Ok(s),
+            _ => Err(sc_service::Error::Other(
+                "Failed to decode PoT initial key".to_string(),
+            )),
+        })
+        .transpose()?;
     if maybe_chain_spec_pot_external_entropy.is_some()
         && maybe_pot_external_entropy.is_some()
         && maybe_chain_spec_pot_external_entropy != maybe_pot_external_entropy
@@ -118,7 +120,8 @@ fn derive_pot_external_entropy(
     }
     Ok(maybe_chain_spec_pot_external_entropy
         .or(maybe_pot_external_entropy)
-        .unwrap_or_default())
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .into_bytes())
 }
 
 fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {