diff --git a/yarn-project/aztec-node/package.json b/yarn-project/aztec-node/package.json
index 43c4c4e7ad5b..7cffccf39b2d 100644
--- a/yarn-project/aztec-node/package.json
+++ b/yarn-project/aztec-node/package.json
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@aztec/archiver": "workspace:^",
+    "@aztec/bb-prover": "workspace:^",
     "@aztec/circuit-types": "workspace:^",
     "@aztec/circuits.js": "workspace:^",
     "@aztec/ethereum": "workspace:^",
diff --git a/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/server.ts b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/server.ts
index 92e1ce631741..e043bf0307a2 100644
--- a/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/server.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/server.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 import { type ArchiveSource, Archiver, KVArchiverDataStore, createArchiverClient } from '@aztec/archiver';
+import { BBCircuitVerifier, TestCircuitVerifier } from '@aztec/bb-prover';
 import {
+  AggregateTxValidator,
   type AztecNode,
   type FromLogType,
   type GetUnencryptedLogsResponse,
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   type TxHash,
   TxReceipt,
   TxStatus,
+  type TxValidator,
   partitionReverts,
 } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
 import {
@@ -49,7 +52,7 @@ import { AztecLmdbStore } from '@aztec/kv-store/lmdb';
 import { initStoreForRollup, openTmpStore } from '@aztec/kv-store/utils';
 import { SHA256Trunc, StandardTree } from '@aztec/merkle-tree';
 import { AztecKVTxPool, type P2P, createP2PClient } from '@aztec/p2p';
-import { DummyProver, TxProver } from '@aztec/prover-client';
+import { TxProver } from '@aztec/prover-client';
 import { type GlobalVariableBuilder, SequencerClient, getGlobalVariableBuilder } from '@aztec/sequencer-client';
 import { PublicProcessorFactory, WASMSimulator } from '@aztec/simulator';
 import {
@@ -67,13 +70,15 @@ import {
 
 import { type AztecNodeConfig } from './config.js';
 import { getSimulationProvider } from './simulator-factory.js';
+import { MetadataTxValidator } from './tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.js';
+import { TxProofValidator } from './tx_validator/tx_proof_validator.js';
 
 /**
  * The aztec node.
  */
 export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
   constructor(
-    protected readonly config: AztecNodeConfig,
+    protected config: AztecNodeConfig,
     protected readonly p2pClient: P2P,
     protected readonly blockSource: L2BlockSource,
     protected readonly encryptedLogsSource: L2LogsSource,
@@ -86,7 +91,8 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
     protected readonly version: number,
     protected readonly globalVariableBuilder: GlobalVariableBuilder,
     protected readonly merkleTreesDb: AztecKVStore,
-    private readonly prover: ProverClient,
+    private readonly prover: ProverClient | undefined,
+    private txValidator: TxValidator,
     private log = createDebugLogger('aztec:node'),
   ) {
     const message =
@@ -145,9 +151,21 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
     // start both and wait for them to sync from the block source
     await Promise.all([p2pClient.start(), worldStateSynchronizer.start()]);
 
+    const proofVerifier = config.realProofs ? await BBCircuitVerifier.new(config) : new TestCircuitVerifier();
+    const txValidator = new AggregateTxValidator(
+      new MetadataTxValidator(config.chainId),
+      new TxProofValidator(proofVerifier),
+    );
+
     // start the prover if we have been told to
     const simulationProvider = await getSimulationProvider(config, log);
-    const prover = config.disableProver ? await DummyProver.new() : await TxProver.new(config, worldStateSynchronizer);
+    const prover = config.disableProver
+      ? undefined
+      : await TxProver.new(config, await proofVerifier.getVerificationKeys(), worldStateSynchronizer);
+
+    if (!prover && !config.disableSequencer) {
+      throw new Error("Can't start a sequencer without a prover");
+    }
 
     // now create the sequencer
     const sequencer = config.disableSequencer
@@ -159,7 +177,7 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
           archiver,
           archiver,
           archiver,
-          prover,
+          prover!,
           simulationProvider,
         );
 
@@ -178,6 +196,7 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
       getGlobalVariableBuilder(config),
       store,
       prover,
+      txValidator,
       log,
     );
   }
@@ -190,7 +209,7 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
     return this.sequencer;
   }
 
-  public getProver(): ProverClient {
+  public getProver(): ProverClient | undefined {
     return this.prover;
   }
 
@@ -292,6 +311,13 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
    */
   public async sendTx(tx: Tx) {
     this.log.info(`Received tx ${tx.getTxHash()}`);
+
+    const [_, invalidTxs] = await this.txValidator.validateTxs([tx]);
+    if (invalidTxs.length > 0) {
+      this.log.warn(`Rejecting tx ${tx.getTxHash()} because of validation errors`);
+      return;
+    }
+
     await this.p2pClient!.sendTx(tx);
   }
 
@@ -327,7 +353,7 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
     await this.p2pClient.stop();
     await this.worldStateSynchronizer.stop();
     await this.blockSource.stop();
-    await this.prover.stop();
+    await this.prover?.stop();
     this.log.info(`Stopped`);
   }
 
@@ -684,8 +710,24 @@ export class AztecNodeService implements AztecNode {
   }
 
   public async setConfig(config: Partial<SequencerConfig & ProverConfig>): Promise<void> {
+    const newConfig = { ...this.config, ...config };
     this.sequencer?.updateSequencerConfig(config);
-    await this.prover.updateProverConfig(config);
+    await this.prover?.updateProverConfig(config);
+
+    if (newConfig.realProofs !== this.config.realProofs) {
+      const proofVerifier = config.realProofs ? await BBCircuitVerifier.new(newConfig) : new TestCircuitVerifier();
+
+      this.txValidator = new AggregateTxValidator(
+        new MetadataTxValidator(this.chainId),
+        new TxProofValidator(proofVerifier),
+      );
+
+      await this.prover?.updateProverConfig({
+        vks: await proofVerifier.getVerificationKeys(),
+      });
+    }
+
+    this.config = newConfig;
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.test.ts b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..2f825258f6d2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { mockTx, mockTxForRollup } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { Fr } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
+
+import { MetadataTxValidator } from './tx_metadata_validator.js';
+
+describe('MetadataTxValidator', () => {
+  let chainId: Fr;
+  let validator: MetadataTxValidator;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    chainId = Fr.random();
+    validator = new MetadataTxValidator(chainId);
+  });
+
+  it('allows only transactions for the right chain', async () => {
+    const goodTxs = [mockTx(1), mockTxForRollup(2)];
+    const badTxs = [mockTx(3), mockTxForRollup(4)];
+
+    goodTxs.forEach(tx => {
+      tx.data.constants.txContext.chainId = chainId;
+    });
+
+    badTxs.forEach(tx => {
+      tx.data.constants.txContext.chainId = chainId.add(new Fr(1));
+    });
+
+    await expect(validator.validateTxs([...goodTxs, ...badTxs])).resolves.toEqual([goodTxs, badTxs]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.ts b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..46c6ae0ed2fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_metadata_validator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { Tx, type TxValidator } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { Fr } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
+import { createDebugLogger } from '@aztec/foundation/log';
+
+export class MetadataTxValidator implements TxValidator<Tx> {
+  #log = createDebugLogger('aztec:sequencer:tx_validator:tx_metadata');
+  #chainId: Fr;
+
+  constructor(chainId: number | Fr) {
+    this.#chainId = new Fr(chainId);
+  }
+
+  validateTxs(txs: Tx[]): Promise<[validTxs: Tx[], invalidTxs: Tx[]]> {
+    const validTxs: Tx[] = [];
+    const invalidTxs: Tx[] = [];
+    for (const tx of txs) {
+      if (!this.#hasCorrectChainId(tx)) {
+        invalidTxs.push(tx);
+        continue;
+      }
+
+      validTxs.push(tx);
+    }
+
+    return Promise.resolve([validTxs, invalidTxs]);
+  }
+
+  #hasCorrectChainId(tx: Tx): boolean {
+    if (!tx.data.constants.txContext.chainId.equals(this.#chainId)) {
+      this.#log.warn(
+        `Rejecting tx ${Tx.getHash(
+          tx,
+        )} because of incorrect chain ${tx.data.constants.txContext.chainId.toNumber()} != ${this.#chainId.toNumber()}`,
+      );
+      return false;
+    } else {
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_proof_validator.ts b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_proof_validator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..030743256cf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yarn-project/aztec-node/src/aztec-node/tx_validator/tx_proof_validator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { type ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier, Tx, type TxValidator } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { createDebugLogger } from '@aztec/foundation/log';
+
+export class TxProofValidator implements TxValidator<Tx> {
+  #log = createDebugLogger('aztec:sequencer:tx_validator:private_proof');
+
+  constructor(private verifier: ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier) {}
+
+  async validateTxs(txs: Tx[]): Promise<[validTxs: Tx[], invalidTxs: Tx[]]> {
+    const validTxs: Tx[] = [];
+    const invalidTxs: Tx[] = [];
+
+    for (const tx of txs) {
+      if (await this.verifier.verifyProof(tx)) {
+        validTxs.push(tx);
+      } else {
+        this.#log.warn(`Rejecting tx ${Tx.getHash(tx)} for invalid proof`);
+        invalidTxs.push(tx);
+      }
+    }
+
+    return [validTxs, invalidTxs];
+  }
+
+  validateTx(tx: Tx): Promise<boolean> {
+    return this.verifier.verifyProof(tx);
+  }
+}
diff --git a/yarn-project/aztec/src/cli/cmds/start_node.ts b/yarn-project/aztec/src/cli/cmds/start_node.ts
index 925871cda171..9245bd327083 100644
--- a/yarn-project/aztec/src/cli/cmds/start_node.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/aztec/src/cli/cmds/start_node.ts
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ export const startNode = async (
   services.push({ node: nodeServer });
 
   if (!nodeConfig.disableProver) {
-    const provingJobSource = createProvingJobSourceServer(node.getProver().getProvingJobSource());
+    const provingJobSource = createProvingJobSourceServer(node.getProver()!.getProvingJobSource());
     services.push({ provingJobSource });
   }
 
diff --git a/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/index.ts b/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/index.ts
index 17fafbb7289a..3f84ad27da1a 100644
--- a/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/index.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/index.ts
@@ -1 +1,2 @@
 export * from './test_circuit_prover.js';
+export * from './test_verifier.js';
diff --git a/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/test_verifier.ts b/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/test_verifier.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..03ca11cd2777
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/test/test_verifier.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import { type ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier, type Tx } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { type VerificationKeys, getMockVerificationKeys } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
+
+export class TestCircuitVerifier implements ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier {
+  verifyProof(_tx: Tx): Promise<boolean> {
+    return Promise.resolve(true);
+  }
+
+  getVerificationKeys(): Promise<VerificationKeys> {
+    return Promise.resolve(getMockVerificationKeys());
+  }
+}
diff --git a/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/verifier/bb_verifier.ts b/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/verifier/bb_verifier.ts
index a0b5d05d8ddc..6e1681fad338 100644
--- a/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/verifier/bb_verifier.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/bb-prover/src/verifier/bb_verifier.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
-import { type Proof, type VerificationKeyData } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
+import { type ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier, Tx } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { type Proof, type VerificationKeyData, type VerificationKeys } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
 import { runInDirectory } from '@aztec/foundation/fs';
 import { type DebugLogger, type LogFn, createDebugLogger } from '@aztec/foundation/log';
-import { type ProtocolArtifact, ProtocolCircuitArtifacts } from '@aztec/noir-protocol-circuits-types';
+import {
+  type ClientProtocolArtifact,
+  type ProtocolArtifact,
+  ProtocolCircuitArtifacts,
+} from '@aztec/noir-protocol-circuits-types';
 
 import * as fs from 'fs/promises';
 
@@ -9,7 +14,7 @@ import { BB_RESULT, generateContractForCircuit, generateKeyForNoirCircuit, verif
 import { type BBConfig } from '../config.js';
 import { extractVkData } from '../verification_key/verification_key_data.js';
 
-export class BBCircuitVerifier {
+export class BBCircuitVerifier implements ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier {
   private constructor(
     private config: BBConfig,
     private verificationKeys = new Map<ProtocolArtifact, Promise<VerificationKeyData>>(),
@@ -112,4 +117,30 @@ export class BBCircuitVerifier {
 
     return fs.readFile(result.contractPath!, 'utf-8');
   }
+
+  async verifyProof(tx: Tx): Promise<boolean> {
+    const { proof, enqueuedPublicFunctionCalls } = tx;
+    const expectedCircuit: ClientProtocolArtifact =
+      enqueuedPublicFunctionCalls.length > 0 ? 'PrivateKernelTailToPublicArtifact' : 'PrivateKernelTailArtifact';
+
+    try {
+      await this.verifyProofForCircuit(expectedCircuit, proof);
+      return true;
+    } catch (err) {
+      this.logger.warn(`Failed to verify ${expectedCircuit} proof for tx ${Tx.getHash(tx)}: ${String(err)}`);
+      return false;
+    }
+  }
+
+  async getVerificationKeys(): Promise<VerificationKeys> {
+    const [privateKernelCircuit, privateKernelToPublicCircuit] = await Promise.all([
+      this.getVerificationKeyData('PrivateKernelTailArtifact'),
+      this.getVerificationKeyData('PrivateKernelTailToPublicArtifact'),
+    ]);
+
+    return {
+      privateKernelCircuit,
+      privateKernelToPublicCircuit,
+    };
+  }
 }
diff --git a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/prover-client.ts b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/prover-client.ts
index cf5ef775d2e3..8fd148361f5f 100644
--- a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/prover-client.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/prover-client.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import { type VerificationKeys } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
+
 import { type BlockProver } from './block-prover.js';
 import { type ProvingJobSource } from './proving-job.js';
 
@@ -28,5 +30,5 @@ export interface ProverClient extends BlockProver {
 
   getProvingJobSource(): ProvingJobSource;
 
-  updateProverConfig(config: Partial<ProverConfig>): Promise<void>;
+  updateProverConfig(config: Partial<ProverConfig & { vks: VerificationKeys }>): Promise<void>;
 }
diff --git a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/server_circuit_prover.ts b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/server_circuit_prover.ts
index 9a2b59e1c6bd..3c968d21a582 100644
--- a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/server_circuit_prover.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/interfaces/server_circuit_prover.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import {
   type PublicInputsAndProof,
   type PublicKernelNonTailRequest,
   type PublicKernelTailRequest,
+  type Tx,
 } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
 import {
   type BaseOrMergeRollupPublicInputs,
@@ -18,6 +19,7 @@ import {
   type RootParityInputs,
   type RootRollupInputs,
   type RootRollupPublicInputs,
+  type VerificationKeys,
 } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
 
 /**
@@ -104,3 +106,20 @@ export interface PublicProver {
    */
   getPublicKernelCircuitProof(publicInputs: PublicKernelCircuitPublicInputs): Promise<Proof>;
 }
+
+/**
+ * A verifier used by nodes to check tx proofs are valid.
+ */
+export interface ClientProtocolCircuitVerifier {
+  /**
+   * Verifies the private protocol circuit's proof.
+   * @param tx - The tx to verify the proof of
+   * @returns True if the proof is valid, false otherwise
+   */
+  verifyProof(tx: Tx): Promise<boolean>;
+
+  /**
+   * Returns the verification keys used to verify tx proofs.
+   */
+  getVerificationKeys(): Promise<VerificationKeys>;
+}
diff --git a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/index.ts b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/index.ts
index 6d69130adafa..0f134780c26c 100644
--- a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/index.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/index.ts
@@ -4,4 +4,5 @@ export * from './tx_hash.js';
 export * from './tx_receipt.js';
 export * from './processed_tx.js';
 export * from './public_simulation_output.js';
-export * from './tx_validator.js';
+export * from './validator/tx_validator.js';
+export * from './validator/aggregate_tx_validator.js';
diff --git a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/aggregate_tx_validator.test.ts b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/aggregate_tx_validator.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1eb7558bf25f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/aggregate_tx_validator.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+import { type AnyTx, Tx, type TxHash, type TxValidator, mockTx } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+
+import { AggregateTxValidator } from './aggregate_tx_validator.js';
+
+describe('AggregateTxValidator', () => {
+  it('allows txs that pass all validation', async () => {
+    const txs = [mockTx(0), mockTx(1), mockTx(2), mockTx(3), mockTx(4)];
+    const agg = new AggregateTxValidator(
+      new TxDenyList(txs[0].getTxHash(), txs[1].getTxHash()),
+      new TxDenyList(txs[2].getTxHash(), txs[3].getTxHash()),
+    );
+
+    await expect(agg.validateTxs(txs)).resolves.toEqual([[txs[4]], [txs[0], txs[1], txs[2], txs[3]]]);
+  });
+
+  class TxDenyList implements TxValidator<AnyTx> {
+    denyList: Set<string>;
+    constructor(...txHashes: TxHash[]) {
+      this.denyList = new Set(txHashes.map(hash => hash.toString()));
+    }
+
+    validateTxs(txs: AnyTx[]): Promise<[AnyTx[], AnyTx[]]> {
+      return Promise.resolve([
+        txs.filter(tx => !this.denyList.has(Tx.getHash(tx).toString())),
+        txs.filter(tx => this.denyList.has(Tx.getHash(tx).toString())),
+      ]);
+    }
+  }
+});
diff --git a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/aggregate_tx_validator.ts b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/aggregate_tx_validator.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..6e78b2bfcecc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/aggregate_tx_validator.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+import { type ProcessedTx } from '../processed_tx.js';
+import { type Tx } from '../tx.js';
+import { type TxValidator } from './tx_validator.js';
+
+export class AggregateTxValidator<T extends Tx | ProcessedTx> implements TxValidator<T> {
+  #validators: TxValidator<T>[];
+  constructor(...validators: TxValidator<T>[]) {
+    if (validators.length === 0) {
+      throw new Error('At least one validator must be provided');
+    }
+
+    this.#validators = validators;
+  }
+
+  async validateTxs(txs: T[]): Promise<[validTxs: T[], invalidTxs: T[]]> {
+    const invalidTxs: T[] = [];
+    let txPool = txs;
+    for (const validator of this.#validators) {
+      const [valid, invalid] = await validator.validateTxs(txPool);
+      invalidTxs.push(...invalid);
+      txPool = valid;
+    }
+
+    return [txPool, invalidTxs];
+  }
+}
diff --git a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/tx_validator.ts b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/tx_validator.ts
similarity index 64%
rename from yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/tx_validator.ts
rename to yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/tx_validator.ts
index c5bb16b561f4..336d36fe6480 100644
--- a/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/tx_validator.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/circuit-types/src/tx/validator/tx_validator.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-import { type ProcessedTx, type Tx } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
+import { type ProcessedTx } from '../processed_tx.js';
+import { type Tx } from '../tx.js';
 
 export type AnyTx = Tx | ProcessedTx;
 
diff --git a/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/composed/integration_l1_publisher.test.ts b/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/composed/integration_l1_publisher.test.ts
index cf89ebec9dae..abc6aedb478f 100644
--- a/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/composed/integration_l1_publisher.test.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/composed/integration_l1_publisher.test.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
   NUMBER_OF_L1_L2_MESSAGES_PER_ROLLUP,
   type Proof,
   PublicDataUpdateRequest,
+  getMockVerificationKeys,
   makeEmptyProof,
 } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
 import { fr, makeProof } from '@aztec/circuits.js/testing';
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ describe('L1Publisher integration', () => {
     };
     const worldStateSynchronizer = new ServerWorldStateSynchronizer(tmpStore, builderDb, blockSource, worldStateConfig);
     await worldStateSynchronizer.start();
-    builder = await TxProver.new(config, worldStateSynchronizer);
+    builder = await TxProver.new(config, getMockVerificationKeys(), worldStateSynchronizer);
     l2Proof = makeEmptyProof();
 
     publisher = getL1Publisher({
diff --git a/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover.test.ts b/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover.test.ts
index ace44568c50a..ef36701bfae8 100644
--- a/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover.test.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover.test.ts
@@ -1,26 +1,20 @@
-import { type Fr, type Tx } from '@aztec/aztec.js';
-import { type BBNativeProofCreator } from '@aztec/bb-prover';
+import { type Fr } from '@aztec/aztec.js';
 import { getTestData, isGenerateTestDataEnabled, writeTestData } from '@aztec/foundation/testing';
-import { type ClientProtocolArtifact } from '@aztec/noir-protocol-circuits-types';
 
 import { FullProverTest } from './e2e_prover_test.js';
 
 const TIMEOUT = 1_800_000;
 
-async function verifyProof(circuitType: ClientProtocolArtifact, tx: Tx, proofCreator: BBNativeProofCreator) {
-  await expect(proofCreator.verifyProofForProtocolCircuit(circuitType, tx.proof)).resolves.not.toThrow();
-}
-
 describe('full_prover', () => {
   const t = new FullProverTest('full_prover');
-  let { provenAssets, accounts, tokenSim, logger, proofCreator, wallets } = t;
+  let { provenAssets, accounts, tokenSim, logger, wallets } = t;
 
   beforeAll(async () => {
     await t.applyBaseSnapshots();
     await t.applyMintSnapshot();
     await t.setup();
     await t.deployVerifier();
-    ({ provenAssets, accounts, tokenSim, logger, proofCreator, wallets } = t);
+    ({ provenAssets, accounts, tokenSim, logger, wallets } = t);
   });
 
   afterAll(async () => {
@@ -60,11 +54,11 @@ describe('full_prover', () => {
 
       // This will recursively verify all app and kernel circuits involved in the private stage of this transaction!
       logger.info(`Verifying kernel tail to public proof`);
-      await verifyProof('PrivateKernelTailToPublicArtifact', publicTx, proofCreator!);
+      await expect(t.circuitProofVerifier?.verifyProof(publicTx)).resolves.not.toThrow();
 
       // This will recursively verify all app and kernel circuits involved in the private stage of this transaction!
       logger.info(`Verifying private kernel tail proof`);
-      await verifyProof('PrivateKernelTailArtifact', privateTx, proofCreator!);
+      await expect(t.circuitProofVerifier?.verifyProof(privateTx)).resolves.not.toThrow();
 
       const sentPrivateTx = privateInteraction.send();
       const sentPublicTx = publicInteraction.send();
@@ -98,4 +92,20 @@ describe('full_prover', () => {
     },
     TIMEOUT,
   );
+
+  it('rejects txs with invalid proofs', async () => {
+    const privateInteraction = t.fakeProofsAsset.methods.transfer(accounts[0].address, accounts[1].address, 1, 0);
+    const publicInteraction = t.fakeProofsAsset.methods.transfer_public(accounts[0].address, accounts[1].address, 1, 0);
+
+    const sentPrivateTx = privateInteraction.send();
+    const sentPublicTx = publicInteraction.send();
+
+    const results = await Promise.allSettled([
+      sentPrivateTx.wait({ timeout: 10, interval: 0.1 }),
+      sentPublicTx.wait({ timeout: 10, interval: 0.1 }),
+    ]);
+
+    expect(String((results[0] as PromiseRejectedResult).reason)).toMatch(/Tx dropped by P2P node/);
+    expect(String((results[1] as PromiseRejectedResult).reason)).toMatch(/Tx dropped by P2P node/);
+  });
 });
diff --git a/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover_test.ts b/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover_test.ts
index c73e905b4dad..d89787db10b1 100644
--- a/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover_test.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/end-to-end/src/e2e_prover/e2e_prover_test.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {
   createDebugLogger,
   deployL1Contract,
 } from '@aztec/aztec.js';
-import { BBCircuitVerifier, BBNativeProofCreator } from '@aztec/bb-prover';
+import { BBCircuitVerifier } from '@aztec/bb-prover';
 import { RollupAbi } from '@aztec/l1-artifacts';
 import { TokenContract } from '@aztec/noir-contracts.js';
 import { type PXEService } from '@aztec/pxe';
@@ -61,14 +61,13 @@ export class FullProverTest {
   keys: Array<[Fr, Fq]> = [];
   wallets: AccountWalletWithSecretKey[] = [];
   accounts: CompleteAddress[] = [];
-  asset!: TokenContract;
+  fakeProofsAsset!: TokenContract;
   tokenSim!: TokenSimulator;
   aztecNode!: AztecNode;
   pxe!: PXEService;
   private provenComponents: ProvenSetup[] = [];
   private bbConfigCleanup?: () => Promise<void>;
   private acvmConfigCleanup?: () => Promise<void>;
-  proofCreator?: BBNativeProofCreator;
   circuitProofVerifier?: BBCircuitVerifier;
   provenAssets: TokenContract[] = [];
   private context!: SubsystemsContext;
@@ -116,16 +115,16 @@ export class FullProverTest {
       },
       async ({ tokenContractAddress }) => {
         // Restore the token contract state.
-        this.asset = await TokenContract.at(tokenContractAddress, this.wallets[0]);
-        this.logger.verbose(`Token contract address: ${this.asset.address}`);
+        this.fakeProofsAsset = await TokenContract.at(tokenContractAddress, this.wallets[0]);
+        this.logger.verbose(`Token contract address: ${this.fakeProofsAsset.address}`);
 
         this.tokenSim = new TokenSimulator(
-          this.asset,
+          this.fakeProofsAsset,
           this.logger,
           this.accounts.map(a => a.address),
         );
 
-        expect(await this.asset.methods.admin().simulate()).toBe(this.accounts[0].address.toBigInt());
+        expect(await this.fakeProofsAsset.methods.admin().simulate()).toBe(this.accounts[0].address.toBigInt());
       },
     );
   }
@@ -160,24 +159,21 @@ export class FullProverTest {
       minTxsPerBlock: 2, // min 2 txs per block
     });
 
-    this.proofCreator = new BBNativeProofCreator(bbConfig.bbBinaryPath, bbConfig.bbWorkingDirectory);
-
     this.logger.debug(`Main setup completed, initializing full prover PXE and Node...`);
 
     for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
       const result = await setupPXEService(
         this.aztecNode,
         {
-          proverEnabled: false,
+          proverEnabled: true,
           bbBinaryPath: bbConfig?.bbBinaryPath,
           bbWorkingDirectory: bbConfig?.bbWorkingDirectory,
         },
         undefined,
         true,
-        this.proofCreator,
       );
-      this.logger.debug(`Contract address ${this.asset.address}`);
-      await result.pxe.registerContract(this.asset);
+      this.logger.debug(`Contract address ${this.fakeProofsAsset.address}`);
+      await result.pxe.registerContract(this.fakeProofsAsset);
 
       for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
         await waitRegisteredAccountSynced(
@@ -201,7 +197,7 @@ export class FullProverTest {
       });
 
       const provenWallet = await account.getWallet();
-      const asset = await TokenContract.at(this.asset.address, provenWallet);
+      const asset = await TokenContract.at(this.fakeProofsAsset.address, provenWallet);
       this.provenComponents.push({
         pxe: result.pxe,
         teardown: result.teardown,
@@ -236,7 +232,7 @@ export class FullProverTest {
     const extendedNote = new ExtendedNote(
       note,
       this.accounts[accountIndex].address,
-      this.asset.address,
+      this.fakeProofsAsset.address,
       TokenContract.storage.pending_shields.slot,
       TokenContract.notes.TransparentNote.id,
       txHash,
@@ -248,7 +244,7 @@ export class FullProverTest {
     await this.snapshotManager.snapshot(
       'mint',
       async () => {
-        const { asset, accounts } = this;
+        const { fakeProofsAsset: asset, accounts } = this;
         const amount = 10000n;
 
         this.logger.verbose(`Minting ${amount} publicly...`);
@@ -268,7 +264,7 @@ export class FullProverTest {
       },
       async ({ amount }) => {
         const {
-          asset,
+          fakeProofsAsset: asset,
           accounts: [{ address }],
           tokenSim,
         } = this;
diff --git a/yarn-project/prover-client/src/dummy-prover.ts b/yarn-project/prover-client/src/dummy-prover.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index c24268344d7f..000000000000
--- a/yarn-project/prover-client/src/dummy-prover.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,86 +0,0 @@
-import {
-  type BlockResult,
-  L2Block,
-  PROVING_STATUS,
-  type ProcessedTx,
-  type ProverClient,
-  type ProverConfig,
-  type ProvingJob,
-  type ProvingJobSource,
-  type ProvingRequest,
-  type ProvingSuccess,
-  type ProvingTicket,
-} from '@aztec/circuit-types';
-import { type GlobalVariables, makeEmptyProof } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
-import { type Fr } from '@aztec/foundation/fields';
-
-export class DummyProver implements ProverClient {
-  jobs = new DummyProvingJobSource();
-
-  public start(): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-
-  public stop(): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-
-  public static new(): Promise<DummyProver> {
-    return Promise.resolve(new DummyProver());
-  }
-
-  startNewBlock(
-    _numTxs: number,
-    _globalVariables: GlobalVariables,
-    _newL1ToL2Messages: Fr[],
-    _emptyTx: ProcessedTx,
-  ): Promise<ProvingTicket> {
-    const result: ProvingSuccess = {
-      status: PROVING_STATUS.SUCCESS,
-    };
-    const ticket: ProvingTicket = {
-      provingPromise: Promise.resolve(result),
-    };
-    return Promise.resolve(ticket);
-  }
-
-  addNewTx(_tx: ProcessedTx): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-
-  cancelBlock(): void {}
-
-  finaliseBlock(): Promise<BlockResult> {
-    return Promise.resolve({
-      block: L2Block.empty(),
-      proof: makeEmptyProof(),
-      aggregationObject: [],
-    });
-  }
-
-  setBlockCompleted(): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-
-  getProvingJobSource(): ProvingJobSource {
-    return this.jobs;
-  }
-
-  updateProverConfig(_config: Partial<ProverConfig>): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-}
-
-class DummyProvingJobSource implements ProvingJobSource {
-  getProvingJob(): Promise<ProvingJob<ProvingRequest> | undefined> {
-    return Promise.resolve(undefined);
-  }
-
-  rejectProvingJob(): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-
-  resolveProvingJob(): Promise<void> {
-    return Promise.resolve();
-  }
-}
diff --git a/yarn-project/prover-client/src/index.ts b/yarn-project/prover-client/src/index.ts
index 79268e339e61..1c2f83414e56 100644
--- a/yarn-project/prover-client/src/index.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/prover-client/src/index.ts
@@ -2,4 +2,3 @@ export { ProverClient } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
 
 export * from './tx-prover/tx-prover.js';
 export * from './config.js';
-export * from './dummy-prover.js';
diff --git a/yarn-project/prover-client/src/tx-prover/tx-prover.ts b/yarn-project/prover-client/src/tx-prover/tx-prover.ts
index cdbd246960f7..3e57feac852c 100644
--- a/yarn-project/prover-client/src/tx-prover/tx-prover.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/prover-client/src/tx-prover/tx-prover.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { BBCircuitVerifier, type BBConfig, BBNativeRollupProver, TestCircuitProver } from '@aztec/bb-prover';
+import { BBNativeRollupProver, TestCircuitProver } from '@aztec/bb-prover';
 import { type ProcessedTx } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
 import {
   type BlockResult,
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ import {
   type ProvingTicket,
   type ServerCircuitProver,
 } from '@aztec/circuit-types/interfaces';
-import { type Fr, type GlobalVariables, type VerificationKeys, getMockVerificationKeys } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
-import { createDebugLogger } from '@aztec/foundation/log';
+import { type Fr, type GlobalVariables, type VerificationKeys } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
 import { NativeACVMSimulator } from '@aztec/simulator';
 import { type WorldStateSynchronizer } from '@aztec/world-state';
 
@@ -17,21 +16,6 @@ import { ProvingOrchestrator } from '../orchestrator/orchestrator.js';
 import { MemoryProvingQueue } from '../prover-agent/memory-proving-queue.js';
 import { ProverAgent } from '../prover-agent/prover-agent.js';
 
-const logger = createDebugLogger('aztec:tx-prover');
-
-const PRIVATE_KERNEL = 'PrivateKernelTailArtifact';
-const PRIVATE_KERNEL_TO_PUBLIC = 'PrivateKernelTailToPublicArtifact';
-
-async function retrieveRealPrivateKernelVerificationKeys(config: BBConfig) {
-  logger.info(`Retrieving private kernel verification keys`);
-  const bbVerifier = await BBCircuitVerifier.new(config, [PRIVATE_KERNEL, PRIVATE_KERNEL_TO_PUBLIC]);
-  const vks: VerificationKeys = {
-    privateKernelCircuit: await bbVerifier.getVerificationKeyData(PRIVATE_KERNEL),
-    privateKernelToPublicCircuit: await bbVerifier.getVerificationKeyData(PRIVATE_KERNEL_TO_PUBLIC),
-  };
-  return vks;
-}
-
 /**
  * A prover accepting individual transaction requests
  */
@@ -49,16 +33,16 @@ export class TxProver implements ProverClient {
     this.orchestrator = new ProvingOrchestrator(worldStateSynchronizer.getLatest(), this.queue);
   }
 
-  async updateProverConfig(config: Partial<ProverClientConfig>): Promise<void> {
+  async updateProverConfig(config: Partial<ProverClientConfig & { vks: VerificationKeys }>): Promise<void> {
     const newConfig = { ...this.config, ...config };
 
-    if (newConfig.realProofs !== this.config.realProofs) {
-      this.vks = await (newConfig.realProofs
-        ? retrieveRealPrivateKernelVerificationKeys(newConfig)
-        : getMockVerificationKeys());
+    if (config.vks) {
+      this.vks = config.vks;
+    }
 
+    if (newConfig.realProofs !== this.config.realProofs && this.agent) {
       const circuitProver = await TxProver.buildCircuitProver(newConfig);
-      this.agent?.setCircuitProver(circuitProver);
+      this.agent.setCircuitProver(circuitProver);
     }
 
     if (this.config.proverAgentConcurrency !== newConfig.proverAgentConcurrency) {
@@ -93,12 +77,17 @@ export class TxProver implements ProverClient {
   }
 
   /**
-   *
+   * Creates a new prover client and starts it
    * @param config - The prover configuration.
+   * @param vks - The verification keys for the prover
    * @param worldStateSynchronizer - An instance of the world state
    * @returns An instance of the prover, constructed and started.
    */
-  public static async new(config: ProverClientConfig, worldStateSynchronizer: WorldStateSynchronizer) {
+  public static async new(
+    config: ProverClientConfig,
+    vks: VerificationKeys,
+    worldStateSynchronizer: WorldStateSynchronizer,
+  ) {
     const agent = config.proverAgentEnabled
       ? new ProverAgent(
           await TxProver.buildCircuitProver(config),
@@ -107,10 +96,6 @@ export class TxProver implements ProverClient {
         )
       : undefined;
 
-    const vks = await (config.realProofs
-      ? retrieveRealPrivateKernelVerificationKeys(config)
-      : getMockVerificationKeys());
-
     const prover = new TxProver(config, worldStateSynchronizer, vks, agent);
     await prover.start();
     return prover;
diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/client/sequencer-client.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/client/sequencer-client.ts
index 5ec55a03db9c..a8b4f6c8247c 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/client/sequencer-client.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/client/sequencer-client.ts
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export class SequencerClient {
       l2BlockSource,
       l1ToL2MessageSource,
       publicProcessorFactory,
-      new TxValidatorFactory(merkleTreeDb, contractDataSource, config.l1Contracts.gasPortalAddress),
+      new TxValidatorFactory(merkleTreeDb, contractDataSource),
       config,
     );
 
diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
index f08ba14dea47..3ea24887d2e0 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/sequencer/sequencer.test.ts
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ describe('sequencer', () => {
       l2BlockSource,
       l1ToL2MessageSource,
       publicProcessorFactory,
-      new TxValidatorFactory(merkleTreeOps, contractSource, EthAddress.random()),
+      new TxValidatorFactory(merkleTreeOps, contractSource),
     );
   });
 
diff --git a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/tx_validator/tx_validator_factory.ts b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/tx_validator/tx_validator_factory.ts
index 3a67e1a459d4..f31f2862680d 100644
--- a/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/tx_validator/tx_validator_factory.ts
+++ b/yarn-project/sequencer-client/src/tx_validator/tx_validator_factory.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { type AllowedFunction, type ProcessedTx, type Tx, type TxValidator } from '@aztec/circuit-types';
-import { type EthAddress, type GlobalVariables } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
+import { type GlobalVariables } from '@aztec/circuits.js';
 import { GasTokenAddress } from '@aztec/protocol-contracts/gas-token';
 import { WorldStateDB, WorldStatePublicDB } from '@aztec/simulator';
 import { type ContractDataSource } from '@aztec/types/contracts';
@@ -12,11 +12,7 @@ import { MetadataTxValidator } from './metadata_validator.js';
 import { PhasesTxValidator } from './phases_validator.js';
 
 export class TxValidatorFactory {
-  constructor(
-    private merkleTreeDb: MerkleTreeOperations,
-    private contractDataSource: ContractDataSource,
-    private gasPortalAddress: EthAddress,
-  ) {}
+  constructor(private merkleTreeDb: MerkleTreeOperations, private contractDataSource: ContractDataSource) {}
 
   validatorForNewTxs(globalVariables: GlobalVariables, setupAllowList: AllowedFunction[]): TxValidator<Tx> {
     return new AggregateTxValidator(