diff --git a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/service.py b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/service.py
index 591e97cf..d074068b 100644
--- a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/service.py
+++ b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/service.py
@@ -110,12 +110,6 @@ class ValidatorService:
     _attested_slots: set[Slot] = field(default_factory=set, repr=False)
     """Slots for which we've already produced attestations (prevents duplicates)."""
 
-    _blocks_skipped_lag: int = field(default=0, repr=False)
-    """Block proposals skipped because the local view was too stale."""
-
-    _attestations_skipped_lag: int = field(default=0, repr=False)
-    """Attestations skipped because the local view was too stale."""
-
     _duty_gate_closed: bool = field(default=False, repr=False)
     """Hysteresis flag. True while signing is silenced."""
 
@@ -178,8 +172,6 @@ async def run(self) -> None:
                 logger.debug("ValidatorService: checking block production for slot %d", slot)
                 if self._is_synced_for_duties(slot, "block"):
                     await self._maybe_produce_block(slot)
-                else:
-                    self._blocks_skipped_lag += 1
                 logger.debug("ValidatorService: done block production check for slot %d", slot)
 
                 # Re-fetch interval after block production.
@@ -235,8 +227,6 @@ async def run(self) -> None:
                     # Older slots are no longer attestable.
                     prune_threshold = Slot(max(0, int(slot) - 4))
                     self._attested_slots = {s for s in self._attested_slots if s >= prune_threshold}
-                else:
-                    self._attestations_skipped_lag += 1
 
             # Intervals 2-4 have no additional validator duties.
 
diff --git a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/containers.py b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/containers.py
index 02ec1f85..2057bc6c 100644
--- a/src/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/containers.py
+++ b/src/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/containers.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ def _decode_secret_key(cls, value: object) -> object:
     @field_serializer("public_key", "secret_key", when_used="json")
     def _encode_hex(self, value: PublicKey | SecretKey) -> str:
         """Emit each half as plain hex in JSON mode only."""
-        return value.to_hex()
+        return value.encode_bytes().hex()
 
 
 class ValidatorKeyPair(StrictBaseModel):
diff --git a/src/lean_spec/types/container.py b/src/lean_spec/types/container.py
index 3f0718ea..a34dd4b4 100644
--- a/src/lean_spec/types/container.py
+++ b/src/lean_spec/types/container.py
@@ -240,7 +240,3 @@ def deserialize(cls, stream: IO[bytes], scope: int) -> Self:
     def from_hex(cls, value: str) -> Self:
         """Decode from a hex string with an optional "0x" prefix."""
         return cls.decode_bytes(bytes.fromhex(value.removeprefix("0x")))
-
-    def to_hex(self) -> str:
-        """Encode as a plain hex string (no "0x" prefix)."""
-        return self.encode_bytes().hex()
diff --git a/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/test_service.py b/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/test_service.py
index 458ef18d..f1bed1e7 100644
--- a/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/test_service.py
+++ b/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/validator/test_service.py
@@ -1446,25 +1446,10 @@ def test_hysteresis_prevents_flap(self, sync_service: SyncService) -> None:
         _add_block_at_slot(sync_service, Slot(20))
         assert service._is_synced_for_duties(Slot(15), "block")
 
-    def test_counters_split_block_and_attestation(self, sync_service: SyncService) -> None:
-        """Counters live on the loop, not on the gate."""
-
-        # Head 0, wall clock 20, fresh block at 20: gate closes.
-        _replace_head_at_slot(sync_service, Slot(0))
-        _add_block_at_slot(sync_service, Slot(20))
-        service = _build_gate_service(sync_service)
-
-        # Invariant: the gate never moves counters. Attribution belongs
-        # to the run loop. Querying the gate must leave them at zero.
-        assert not service._is_synced_for_duties(Slot(20), "block")
-        assert service._blocks_skipped_lag == 0
-        assert service._attestations_skipped_lag == 0
-        assert service._duty_gate_closed is True
-
     async def test_run_loop_skips_block_production_when_gated(
         self, sync_service: SyncService, key_manager: XmssKeyManager
     ) -> None:
-        """Closed gate at interval 0 skips block production and ticks only the block counter."""
+        """Closed gate at interval 0 skips block production."""
 
         # Wall clock at slot 10 interval 0, head stuck at slot 0.
         # Fresh local block at slot 10 makes the lag local, not network-wide.
@@ -1491,10 +1476,8 @@ async def stop_on_sleep(_d: float) -> None:
         ):
             await service.run()
 
-        # Block path bypassed, attestation counter untouched.
+        # Block path bypassed.
         assert block_calls == []
-        assert service._blocks_skipped_lag >= 1
-        assert service._attestations_skipped_lag == 0
 
     async def test_run_loop_skips_attestation_when_gated(
         self, sync_service: SyncService, key_manager: XmssKeyManager
@@ -1532,11 +1515,9 @@ async def stop_on_sleep(_d: float) -> None:
         ):
             await service.run()
 
-        # Attestation skipped, slot retryable, block counter untouched.
+        # Attestation skipped, slot retryable.
         assert attest_calls == []
         assert Slot(10) not in service._attested_slots
-        assert service._attestations_skipped_lag >= 1
-        assert service._blocks_skipped_lag == 0
 
     def test_gate_logs_only_on_transition(
         self, sync_service: SyncService, caplog: pytest.LogCaptureFixture
diff --git a/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/test_containers.py b/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/test_containers.py
index 5a624a64..c4c981df 100644
--- a/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/test_containers.py
+++ b/tests/lean_spec/subspecs/xmss/test_containers.py
@@ -27,12 +27,12 @@ def hex_dict(keypair_a: KeyPair, keypair_b: KeyPair) -> dict[str, dict[str, str]
     """Nested-hex JSON mapping that mirrors the on-disk format."""
     return {
         "attestation_keypair": {
-            "public_key": keypair_a.public_key.to_hex(),
-            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.to_hex(),
+            "public_key": keypair_a.public_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
+            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
         },
         "proposal_keypair": {
-            "public_key": keypair_b.public_key.to_hex(),
-            "secret_key": keypair_b.secret_key.to_hex(),
+            "public_key": keypair_b.public_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
+            "secret_key": keypair_b.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
         },
     }
 
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ def test_validator_accepts_mixed_inputs(keypair_a: KeyPair, keypair_b: KeyPair)
     data = {
         "attestation_keypair": keypair_a,
         "proposal_keypair": {
-            "public_key": keypair_b.public_key.to_hex(),
-            "secret_key": keypair_b.secret_key.to_hex(),
+            "public_key": keypair_b.public_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
+            "secret_key": keypair_b.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
         },
     }
     vkp = ValidatorKeyPair.model_validate(data)
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ def test_rejects_missing_public_key(
     """A role mapping without the public half fails to decode."""
     # KeyError on value["public_key"] surfaces as ValidationError.
     data = {
-        "attestation_keypair": {"secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.to_hex()},
+        "attestation_keypair": {"secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex()},
         "proposal_keypair": hex_dict["proposal_keypair"],
     }
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def test_rejects_missing_secret_key(
     """A role mapping without the secret half fails to decode."""
     # KeyError on value["secret_key"] surfaces as ValidationError.
     data = {
-        "attestation_keypair": {"public_key": keypair_a.public_key.to_hex()},
+        "attestation_keypair": {"public_key": keypair_a.public_key.encode_bytes().hex()},
         "proposal_keypair": hex_dict["proposal_keypair"],
     }
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
@@ -163,7 +163,10 @@ def test_rejects_non_string_hex_value(
     """Hex fields must be strings; an integer is rejected before SSZ decoding."""
     # AttributeError on int.removeprefix surfaces as ValidationError.
     data = {
-        "attestation_keypair": {"public_key": 12345, "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.to_hex()},
+        "attestation_keypair": {
+            "public_key": 12345,
+            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
+        },
         "proposal_keypair": hex_dict["proposal_keypair"],
     }
     with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
@@ -178,7 +181,7 @@ def test_rejects_invalid_hex_characters(
     data = {
         "attestation_keypair": {
             "public_key": "zz" * 26,
-            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.to_hex(),
+            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
         },
         "proposal_keypair": hex_dict["proposal_keypair"],
     }
@@ -192,7 +195,7 @@ def test_rejects_wrong_length_hex(keypair_a: KeyPair, hex_dict: dict[str, dict[s
     data = {
         "attestation_keypair": {
             "public_key": "deadbeef",
-            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.to_hex(),
+            "secret_key": keypair_a.secret_key.encode_bytes().hex(),
         },
         "proposal_keypair": hex_dict["proposal_keypair"],
     }