diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 0b24a818e..b136137b1 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -3325,7 +3325,6 @@ version = "0.15.0"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "clap",
- "fs-err",
  "humantime",
  "miden-node-block-producer",
  "miden-node-proto",
@@ -3550,6 +3549,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "opentelemetry-otlp",
  "opentelemetry_sdk",
  "rand 0.9.4",
+ "reqwest",
  "thiserror 2.0.18",
  "tokio",
  "tonic",
@@ -3572,7 +3572,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "build-rs",
  "clap",
  "diesel",
- "fs-err",
  "futures",
  "humantime",
  "libsqlite3-sys",
diff --git a/bin/genesis/README.md b/bin/genesis/README.md
index 8b570b77f..5feafd48c 100644
--- a/bin/genesis/README.md
+++ b/bin/genesis/README.md
@@ -44,11 +44,13 @@ miden-validator bootstrap \
   --genesis-config-file ./genesis/genesis.toml \
   --validator.key.hex <validator_key>
 
-# 3. Bootstrap the store
-miden-node store bootstrap --data-directory ./data
+# 3. Bootstrap the node
+miden-node bootstrap \
+  --data-directory ./node-data \
+  --file ./data/genesis.dat
 
 # 4. Start the node
-miden-node bundled start --data-directory ./data ...
+miden-node sequencer --data-directory ./node-data ...
 ```
 
 ## TODO
diff --git a/bin/node/Cargo.toml b/bin/node/Cargo.toml
index 314bdaa73..8e1f76958 100644
--- a/bin/node/Cargo.toml
+++ b/bin/node/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ tracing-forest = ["miden-node-block-producer/tracing-forest"]
 [dependencies]
 anyhow                    = { workspace = true }
 clap                      = { features = ["env", "string"], workspace = true }
-fs-err                    = { workspace = true }
 humantime                 = { workspace = true }
 miden-node-block-producer = { workspace = true }
 miden-node-proto          = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/bin/node/src/commands/lifecycle.rs b/bin/node/src/commands/lifecycle.rs
index f53ba833b..a4d5956aa 100644
--- a/bin/node/src/commands/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/bin/node/src/commands/lifecycle.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,16 @@
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use anyhow::Context;
+use clap::ArgGroup;
 use miden_node_store::genesis::GenesisBlock;
 use miden_node_store::{DataDirectory, Db, State};
 use miden_node_utils::fs::ensure_empty_directory;
+use miden_node_utils::genesis::{
+    OfficialNetwork,
+    fetch_signed_genesis_block,
+    read_signed_genesis_block,
+};
 use miden_protocol::block::SignedBlock;
-use miden_protocol::utils::serde::Deserializable;
 
 use super::ENV_DATA_DIRECTORY;
 
@@ -13,28 +18,48 @@ use super::ENV_DATA_DIRECTORY;
 // ================================================================================================
 
 #[derive(clap::Args, Clone, Debug)]
+#[command(group(
+    ArgGroup::new("genesis_block_source")
+        .required(true)
+        .multiple(false)
+        .args(["genesis_block_file", "network"])
+))]
 pub struct BootstrapCommand {
     /// Directory to initialize with the node's local data storage.
     #[arg(long, env = ENV_DATA_DIRECTORY, value_name = "DIR")]
     data_directory: PathBuf,
 
-    /// Path to the trusted, signed genesis block file.
-    #[arg(long, value_name = "FILE")]
-    genesis_block: PathBuf,
+    /// Bootstrap from a trusted genesis block file.
+    #[arg(long = "file", value_name = "FILE")]
+    genesis_block_file: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+    /// Bootstrap for an official Miden network.
+    #[arg(long, value_enum, value_name = "NETWORK")]
+    network: Option<OfficialNetwork>,
 }
 
 impl BootstrapCommand {
-    pub fn handle(self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
+    pub async fn handle(self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         ensure_empty_directory(&self.data_directory)?;
-        bootstrap_store(&self.data_directory, &self.genesis_block)
+        let signed_block =
+            read_bootstrap_genesis_block(self.genesis_block_file.as_deref(), self.network).await?;
+        bootstrap_store(&self.data_directory, signed_block)
+    }
+}
+
+async fn read_bootstrap_genesis_block(
+    genesis_block_file: Option<&Path>,
+    network: Option<OfficialNetwork>,
+) -> anyhow::Result<SignedBlock> {
+    match (genesis_block_file, network) {
+        (Some(path), None) => read_signed_genesis_block(path),
+        (None, Some(network)) => fetch_signed_genesis_block(network).await,
+        _ => unreachable!("clap requires exactly one genesis block source"),
     }
 }
 
-/// Reads a genesis block from disk, validates it, and bootstraps the store.
-pub fn bootstrap_store(data_directory: &Path, genesis_block_path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
-    let bytes = fs_err::read(genesis_block_path).context("failed to read genesis block")?;
-    let signed_block = SignedBlock::read_from_bytes(&bytes)
-        .context("failed to deserialize genesis block from file")?;
+/// Validates a signed genesis block and bootstraps the store.
+pub fn bootstrap_store(data_directory: &Path, signed_block: SignedBlock) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
     let genesis_block =
         GenesisBlock::try_from(signed_block).context("genesis block validation failed")?;
 
diff --git a/bin/node/src/commands/mod.rs b/bin/node/src/commands/mod.rs
index e04db6375..66e23cd8d 100644
--- a/bin/node/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/bin/node/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ impl Command {
 
     pub(crate) async fn execute(self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         match self {
-            Command::Bootstrap(bootstrap_command) => bootstrap_command.handle(),
+            Command::Bootstrap(bootstrap_command) => bootstrap_command.handle().await,
             Command::Migrate(migrate_command) => migrate_command.handle().await,
             Command::Sequencer(sequencer_command) => sequencer_command.handle().await,
             Command::Full(full_node_command) => full_node_command.handle().await,
diff --git a/bin/ntx-builder/Cargo.toml b/bin/ntx-builder/Cargo.toml
index d7f49ac2d..dec37c203 100644
--- a/bin/ntx-builder/Cargo.toml
+++ b/bin/ntx-builder/Cargo.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ anyhow                     = { workspace = true }
 backon                     = { workspace = true }
 clap                       = { features = ["env", "string"], workspace = true }
 diesel                     = { features = ["numeric", "sqlite"], workspace = true }
-fs-err                     = { workspace = true }
 futures                    = { workspace = true }
 humantime                  = { workspace = true }
 libsqlite3-sys             = { workspace = true }
diff --git a/bin/ntx-builder/src/commands/mod.rs b/bin/ntx-builder/src/commands/mod.rs
index fc32efeeb..2a040a11c 100644
--- a/bin/ntx-builder/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/bin/ntx-builder/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -4,12 +4,16 @@ use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 use std::time::Duration;
 
 use anyhow::Context;
-use clap::Parser;
+use clap::{ArgGroup, Parser};
 use miden_node_utils::clap::duration_to_human_readable_string;
 use miden_node_utils::fs::ensure_empty_directory;
+use miden_node_utils::genesis::{
+    OfficialNetwork,
+    fetch_signed_genesis_block,
+    read_signed_genesis_block,
+};
 use miden_node_utils::logging::OpenTelemetry;
 use miden_protocol::block::SignedBlock;
-use miden_protocol::utils::serde::Deserializable;
 use tokio::net::TcpListener;
 use tonic::metadata::AsciiMetadataValue;
 use url::Url;
@@ -128,14 +132,24 @@ pub enum NtxBuilderCommand {
     ///
     /// This must be run once before `start` so that the database always contains at least the
     /// genesis block.
+    #[command(group(
+        ArgGroup::new("genesis_block_source")
+            .required(true)
+            .multiple(false)
+            .args(["genesis_block_file", "network"])
+    ))]
     Bootstrap {
         /// Directory for the ntx-builder's persistent database.
         #[arg(long = "data-directory", env = ENV_DATA_DIRECTORY, value_name = "DIR")]
         data_directory: PathBuf,
 
-        /// Path to the trusted, signed genesis block file.
-        #[arg(long, value_name = "FILE")]
-        genesis_block: PathBuf,
+        /// Bootstrap from a trusted genesis block file.
+        #[arg(long = "file", value_name = "FILE")]
+        genesis_block_file: Option<PathBuf>,
+
+        /// Bootstrap for an official Miden network.
+        #[arg(long, value_enum, value_name = "NETWORK")]
+        network: Option<OfficialNetwork>,
     },
 }
 
@@ -143,10 +157,15 @@ impl NtxBuilderCommand {
     pub async fn handle(self) -> anyhow::Result<()> {
         match self {
             Self::Start { .. } => self.start().await,
-            Self::Bootstrap { data_directory, genesis_block } => {
+            Self::Bootstrap {
+                data_directory,
+                genesis_block_file,
+                network,
+            } => {
                 ensure_empty_directory(&data_directory)?;
                 let database_filepath = data_directory.join("ntx-builder.sqlite3");
-                let genesis = read_genesis_block(&genesis_block)?;
+                let genesis =
+                    read_bootstrap_genesis_block(genesis_block_file.as_deref(), network).await?;
                 miden_ntx_builder::bootstrap(database_filepath, &genesis)
                     .await
                     .context("failed to bootstrap ntx-builder database")
@@ -209,10 +228,15 @@ impl NtxBuilderCommand {
     }
 }
 
-/// Reads a genesis block from disk and returns the signed block.
-fn read_genesis_block(genesis_block_path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<SignedBlock> {
-    let bytes = fs_err::read(genesis_block_path).context("failed to read genesis block")?;
-    SignedBlock::read_from_bytes(&bytes).context("failed to deserialize genesis block from file")
+async fn read_bootstrap_genesis_block(
+    genesis_block_file: Option<&Path>,
+    network: Option<OfficialNetwork>,
+) -> anyhow::Result<SignedBlock> {
+    match (genesis_block_file, network) {
+        (Some(path), None) => read_signed_genesis_block(path),
+        (None, Some(network)) => fetch_signed_genesis_block(network).await,
+        _ => unreachable!("clap requires exactly one genesis block source"),
+    }
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -254,16 +278,22 @@ mod tests {
             "bootstrap",
             "--data-directory",
             "/tmp/miden-ntx-builder",
-            "--genesis-block",
+            "--file",
             "/tmp/genesis.dat",
         ])
         .expect("command should parse");
 
-        let NtxBuilderCommand::Bootstrap { data_directory, genesis_block } = command else {
+        let NtxBuilderCommand::Bootstrap {
+            data_directory,
+            genesis_block_file,
+            network,
+        } = command
+        else {
             panic!("expected the bootstrap command");
         };
 
         assert_eq!(data_directory, PathBuf::from("/tmp/miden-ntx-builder"));
-        assert_eq!(genesis_block, PathBuf::from("/tmp/genesis.dat"));
+        assert_eq!(genesis_block_file, Some(PathBuf::from("/tmp/genesis.dat")));
+        assert_eq!(network, None);
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/utils/Cargo.toml b/crates/utils/Cargo.toml
index f3f677018..8364e3633 100644
--- a/crates/utils/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/utils/Cargo.toml
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ opentelemetry         = { workspace = true }
 opentelemetry-otlp    = { default-features = false, features = ["grpc-tonic", "tls-roots", "trace"], version = "0.31" }
 opentelemetry_sdk     = { features = ["rt-tokio", "testing"], version = "0.31" }
 rand                  = { workspace = true }
+reqwest               = { workspace = true }
 thiserror             = { workspace = true }
 tokio                 = { workspace = true }
 tonic                 = { default-features = true, workspace = true }
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/genesis.rs b/crates/utils/src/genesis.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7fda45e26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/utils/src/genesis.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+use std::fmt;
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use anyhow::Context;
+use miden_protocol::block::SignedBlock;
+use miden_protocol::utils::serde::Deserializable;
+
+/// Official Miden networks with a hosted genesis block.
+#[derive(clap::ValueEnum, Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+pub enum OfficialNetwork {
+    Devnet,
+    Testnet,
+}
+
+impl OfficialNetwork {
+    pub const fn as_str(self) -> &'static str {
+        match self {
+            Self::Devnet => "devnet",
+            Self::Testnet => "testnet",
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn genesis_block_url(self) -> String {
+        format!("https://genesis.{}.miden.io", self.as_str())
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for OfficialNetwork {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        f.write_str(self.as_str())
+    }
+}
+
+/// Reads a trusted, signed genesis block from disk.
+pub fn read_signed_genesis_block(path: &Path) -> anyhow::Result<SignedBlock> {
+    let bytes = fs_err::read(path).context("failed to read genesis block file")?;
+    deserialize_signed_genesis_block(&bytes)
+}
+
+/// Downloads a trusted, signed genesis block for an official Miden network.
+pub async fn fetch_signed_genesis_block(network: OfficialNetwork) -> anyhow::Result<SignedBlock> {
+    let url = network.genesis_block_url();
+    let response = reqwest::get(url.as_str())
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("failed to fetch genesis block from {url}"))?
+        .error_for_status()
+        .with_context(|| format!("failed to fetch genesis block from {url}"))?;
+    let bytes = response
+        .bytes()
+        .await
+        .with_context(|| format!("failed to read genesis block response from {url}"))?;
+
+    deserialize_signed_genesis_block(&bytes)
+}
+
+fn deserialize_signed_genesis_block(bytes: &[u8]) -> anyhow::Result<SignedBlock> {
+    SignedBlock::read_from_bytes(bytes).context("failed to deserialize genesis block")
+}
diff --git a/crates/utils/src/lib.rs b/crates/utils/src/lib.rs
index 41e4f9ae6..e4807c506 100644
--- a/crates/utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ pub mod fee;
 pub mod fifo_cache;
 pub mod formatting;
 pub mod fs;
+pub mod genesis;
 pub mod grpc;
 pub mod limiter;
 pub mod logging;
diff --git a/docker-compose.yml b/docker-compose.yml
index 567343e81..488d33459 100644
--- a/docker-compose.yml
+++ b/docker-compose.yml
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ services:
         echo "Bootstrapping node..."
         miden-node bootstrap \
           --data-directory /data/node \
-          --genesis-block /data/genesis/genesis.dat
+          --file /data/genesis/genesis.dat
 
         touch /data/node/.bootstrapped
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ services:
         echo "Bootstrapping network transaction builder..."
         miden-ntx-builder bootstrap \
           --data-directory /data/ntx-builder \
-          --genesis-block /data/genesis/genesis.dat
+          --file /data/genesis/genesis.dat
 
         touch /data/ntx-builder/.bootstrapped
 
diff --git a/docs/external/src/operator/usage.md b/docs/external/src/operator/usage.md
index 87d35fede..2167c88ba 100644
--- a/docs/external/src/operator/usage.md
+++ b/docs/external/src/operator/usage.md
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ miden-validator bootstrap \
   --genesis-block-directory genesis-data \
   --accounts-directory accounts
 
-# Step 2: Store bootstrap — initialize the store database from the genesis block.
-miden-node store bootstrap \
+# Step 2: Node bootstrap — initialize the node database from the genesis block.
+miden-node bootstrap \
   --data-directory store-data \
-  --genesis-block genesis-data/genesis.dat
+  --file genesis-data/genesis.dat
 ```
 
 You can also configure the account and asset data in the genesis block by passing in a toml configuration file.
diff --git a/scripts/run-node.sh b/scripts/run-node.sh
index 930debdb3..078e8a2d5 100755
--- a/scripts/run-node.sh
+++ b/scripts/run-node.sh
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ bootstrap_node_data_dir() {
     echo "Bootstrapping $label..."
     "$NODE_BINARY" bootstrap \
         --data-directory "$data_dir" \
-        --genesis-block "$VALIDATOR_DIR/genesis.dat"
+        --file "$VALIDATOR_DIR/genesis.dat"
 }
 
 bootstrap_ntx_builder() {
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ bootstrap_ntx_builder() {
 
     "$NTX_BUILDER_BINARY" bootstrap \
         --data-directory "$NTX_BUILDER_DIR" \
-        --genesis-block "$VALIDATOR_DIR/genesis.dat"
+        --file "$VALIDATOR_DIR/genesis.dat"
 }
 
 node_resource_attributes() {