diff --git a/scripts/build/build-bundle.sh b/scripts/build/build-bundle.sh
index b9a71b2..03faf19 100755
--- a/scripts/build/build-bundle.sh
+++ b/scripts/build/build-bundle.sh
@@ -329,7 +329,6 @@ build_bundle::build_binaries() {
   if [ -n "${NOMOS_EXTRA_FEATURES:-}" ]; then
     FEATURES="${FEATURES},${NOMOS_EXTRA_FEATURES}"
   fi
-
   echo "==> Building binaries (platform=${PLATFORM})"
   mkdir -p "${NODE_SRC}"
   (
@@ -349,7 +348,14 @@ build_bundle::build_binaries() {
     if [ -z "${NOMOS_NODE_PATH}" ]; then
       build_bundle::apply_nomos_node_patches "${NODE_SRC}"
     fi
-
+    if [ -f "${CIRCUITS_DIR}/zksign/verification_key.json" ] \
+      || [ -f "${CIRCUITS_DIR}/pol/verification_key.json" ] \
+      || [ -f "${CIRCUITS_DIR}/poq/verification_key.json" ] \
+      || [ -f "${CIRCUITS_DIR}/poc/verification_key.json" ]; then
+      export CARGO_FEATURE_BUILD_VERIFICATION_KEY=1
+    else
+      unset CARGO_FEATURE_BUILD_VERIFICATION_KEY
+    fi
     if [ -n "${BUNDLE_RUSTUP_TOOLCHAIN}" ]; then
       RUSTFLAGS='--cfg feature="pol-dev-mode"' NOMOS_CIRCUITS="${CIRCUITS_DIR}" \
         RUSTUP_TOOLCHAIN="${BUNDLE_RUSTUP_TOOLCHAIN}" \
diff --git a/scripts/run/run-examples.sh b/scripts/run/run-examples.sh
index 0515d18..9a3d872 100755
--- a/scripts/run/run-examples.sh
+++ b/scripts/run/run-examples.sh
@@ -342,9 +342,11 @@ run_examples::bundle_matches_expected() {
     echo "Bundle ${tar_path} is for nomos-node rev ${tar_rev}, expected ${NOMOS_NODE_REV}; rebuilding." >&2
     return 1
   fi
-  if [ -n "${tar_head}" ] && [ "${tar_head}" != "${NOMOS_NODE_REV}" ]; then
-    echo "Bundle ${tar_path} is for nomos-node git head ${tar_head}, expected ${NOMOS_NODE_REV}; rebuilding." >&2
-    return 1
+  if [ -n "${tar_head}" ] && echo "${NOMOS_NODE_REV}" | grep -Eq '^[0-9a-f]{7,40}$'; then
+    if [ "${tar_head}" != "${NOMOS_NODE_REV}" ]; then
+      echo "Bundle ${tar_path} is for nomos-node git head ${tar_head}, expected ${NOMOS_NODE_REV}; rebuilding." >&2
+      return 1
+    fi
   fi
   return 0
 }
diff --git a/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/config/injection.rs b/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/config/injection.rs
index 817751b..7682010 100644
--- a/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/config/injection.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/config/injection.rs
@@ -44,6 +44,23 @@ pub fn inject_blend_non_ephemeral_signing_key_id(yaml_value: &mut Value) {
     blend.insert(key_id_key, Value::String(key_id));
 }
 
+/// Inject deployment chain sync protocol name when missing.
+pub fn inject_chain_sync_protocol_name(yaml_value: &mut Value) {
+    let Some(network) = deployment_network_section(yaml_value) else {
+        return;
+    };
+
+    let key = Value::String("chain_sync_protocol_name".into());
+    if network.contains_key(&key) {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    network.insert(
+        key,
+        Value::String("/integration/nomos/cryptarchia/sync/1.0.0".into()),
+    );
+}
+
 fn cryptarchia_section(yaml_value: &mut Value) -> Option<&mut Mapping> {
     yaml_value
         .as_mapping_mut()
@@ -58,6 +75,15 @@ fn blend_section(yaml_value: &mut Value) -> Option<&mut Mapping> {
         .and_then(Value::as_mapping_mut)
 }
 
+fn deployment_network_section(yaml_value: &mut Value) -> Option<&mut Mapping> {
+    yaml_value
+        .as_mapping_mut()
+        .and_then(|root| root.get_mut(&Value::String("deployment".into())))
+        .and_then(Value::as_mapping_mut)
+        .and_then(|deployment| deployment.get_mut(&Value::String("network".into())))
+        .and_then(Value::as_mapping_mut)
+}
+
 fn ensure_network_adapter(cryptarchia: &mut Mapping) {
     if cryptarchia.contains_key(&Value::String("network_adapter_settings".into())) {
         return;
diff --git a/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/node.rs b/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/node.rs
index 3b3fa59..89a4037 100644
--- a/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/node.rs
+++ b/testing-framework/core/src/nodes/common/node.rs
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ fn write_node_config<C: Serialize>(config: &C, config_path: &Path) -> Result<(),
     super::lifecycle::spawn::write_config_with_injection(config, config_path, |yaml| {
         crate::nodes::common::config::injection::inject_ibd_into_cryptarchia(yaml);
         crate::nodes::common::config::injection::inject_blend_non_ephemeral_signing_key_id(yaml);
+        crate::nodes::common::config::injection::inject_chain_sync_protocol_name(yaml);
     })
     .map_err(|source| SpawnNodeError::WriteConfig {
         path: config_path.to_path_buf(),