diff --git a/linera-client/src/config.rs b/linera-client/src/config.rs
index e6c2d145a93e..8729e2777f8e 100644
--- a/linera-client/src/config.rs
+++ b/linera-client/src/config.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ use linera_execution::{
 use linera_rpc::config::{
     ExporterServiceConfig, ValidatorInternalNetworkConfig, ValidatorPublicNetworkConfig,
 };
-use linera_storage::Storage;
+use linera_storage::{NetworkDescription, Storage};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ pub enum Error {
     Chain(#[from] linera_chain::ChainError),
     #[error("persistence error: {0}")]
     Persistence(Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>),
+    #[error("storage is already initialized: {0:?}")]
+    StorageIsAlreadyInitialized(NetworkDescription),
 }
 
 use crate::{
@@ -284,6 +286,13 @@ impl GenesisConfig {
     where
         S: Storage + Clone + Send + Sync + 'static,
     {
+        if let Some(description) = storage
+            .read_network_description()
+            .await
+            .map_err(linera_chain::ChainError::from)?
+        {
+            return Err(Error::StorageIsAlreadyInitialized(description));
+        }
         let committee = self.create_committee();
         let committees: BTreeMap<_, _> = [(
             Epoch::ZERO,
@@ -308,6 +317,15 @@ impl GenesisConfig {
             let description = ChainDescription::new(origin, config, self.timestamp);
             storage.create_chain(description).await?;
         }
+        let network_description = NetworkDescription {
+            name: self.network_name.clone(),
+            genesis_config_hash: CryptoHash::new(self),
+            genesis_timestamp: self.timestamp,
+        };
+        storage
+            .write_network_description(&network_description)
+            .await
+            .map_err(linera_chain::ChainError::from)?;
         Ok(())
     }
 
diff --git a/linera-core/src/node.rs b/linera-core/src/node.rs
index 6dd34f5e9d5a..d4ae5a2cb6f8 100644
--- a/linera-core/src/node.rs
+++ b/linera-core/src/node.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use linera_chain::{
     ChainError,
 };
 use linera_execution::{committee::Committee, ExecutionError};
+use linera_storage::NetworkDescription;
 use linera_version::VersionInfo;
 use linera_views::views::ViewError;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
@@ -92,8 +93,8 @@ pub trait ValidatorNode {
     /// Gets the version info for this validator node.
     async fn get_version_info(&self) -> Result<VersionInfo, NodeError>;
 
-    /// Gets the network's genesis config hash.
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(&self) -> Result<CryptoHash, NodeError>;
+    /// Gets the network's description.
+    async fn get_network_description(&self) -> Result<NetworkDescription, NodeError>;
 
     /// Subscribes to receiving notifications for a collection of chains.
     async fn subscribe(&self, chains: Vec<ChainId>) -> Result<Self::NotificationStream, NodeError>;
diff --git a/linera-core/src/unit_tests/test_utils.rs b/linera-core/src/unit_tests/test_utils.rs
index c9b394147e12..60e19acc0ce6 100644
--- a/linera-core/src/unit_tests/test_utils.rs
+++ b/linera-core/src/unit_tests/test_utils.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use linera_chain::{
     },
 };
 use linera_execution::{committee::Committee, ResourceControlPolicy, WasmRuntime};
-use linera_storage::{DbStorage, Storage, TestClock};
+use linera_storage::{DbStorage, NetworkDescription, Storage, TestClock};
 #[cfg(all(not(target_arch = "wasm32"), feature = "storage-service"))]
 use linera_storage_service::client::ServiceStoreClient;
 use linera_version::VersionInfo;
@@ -173,8 +173,12 @@ where
         Ok(Default::default())
     }
 
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(&self) -> Result<CryptoHash, NodeError> {
-        Ok(CryptoHash::test_hash("genesis config"))
+    async fn get_network_description(&self) -> Result<NetworkDescription, NodeError> {
+        Ok(NetworkDescription {
+            name: "test network".to_string(),
+            genesis_config_hash: CryptoHash::test_hash("genesis config"),
+            genesis_timestamp: Timestamp::default(),
+        })
     }
 
     async fn upload_blob(&self, content: BlobContent) -> Result<BlobId, NodeError> {
diff --git a/linera-rpc/proto/rpc.proto b/linera-rpc/proto/rpc.proto
index 270710c739b3..fb86f3998b4a 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/proto/rpc.proto
+++ b/linera-rpc/proto/rpc.proto
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ service ValidatorNode {
   // Request the node's version info.
   rpc GetVersionInfo(google.protobuf.Empty) returns (VersionInfo);
 
-  // Request the genesis configuration hash of the network this node is part of.
-  rpc GetGenesisConfigHash(google.protobuf.Empty) returns (CryptoHash);
+  // Request the network description seen by this node.
+  rpc GetNetworkDescription(google.protobuf.Empty) returns (NetworkDescription);
 
   // Download a blob.
   rpc DownloadBlob(BlobId) returns (BlobContent);
@@ -120,6 +120,12 @@ message VersionInfo {
     string wit_hash = 6;
 }
 
+message NetworkDescription {
+    string name = 1;
+    CryptoHash genesis_config_hash = 2;
+    uint64 genesis_timestamp = 3;
+}
+
 // A request for client to subscribe to notifications for a given `ChainId`
 message SubscriptionRequest {
   repeated ChainId chain_ids = 1;
diff --git a/linera-rpc/src/client.rs b/linera-rpc/src/client.rs
index c8325156ca2b..c89f5b46dc10 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/src/client.rs
+++ b/linera-rpc/src/client.rs
@@ -160,12 +160,14 @@ impl ValidatorNode for Client {
         })
     }
 
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(&self) -> Result<CryptoHash, NodeError> {
+    async fn get_network_description(
+        &self,
+    ) -> Result<linera_storage::NetworkDescription, NodeError> {
         Ok(match self {
-            Client::Grpc(grpc_client) => grpc_client.get_genesis_config_hash().await?,
+            Client::Grpc(grpc_client) => grpc_client.get_network_description().await?,
 
             #[cfg(with_simple_network)]
-            Client::Simple(simple_client) => simple_client.get_genesis_config_hash().await?,
+            Client::Simple(simple_client) => simple_client.get_network_description().await?,
         })
     }
 
diff --git a/linera-rpc/src/grpc/client.rs b/linera-rpc/src/grpc/client.rs
index be62bd889688..c23c882d9f6a 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/src/grpc/client.rs
+++ b/linera-rpc/src/grpc/client.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use linera_core::{
     node::{CrossChainMessageDelivery, NodeError, NotificationStream, ValidatorNode},
     worker::Notification,
 };
+use linera_storage::NetworkDescription;
 use linera_version::VersionInfo;
 use tonic::{Code, IntoRequest, Request, Status};
 use tracing::{debug, error, info, instrument, warn};
@@ -346,9 +347,9 @@ impl ValidatorNode for GrpcClient {
     }
 
     #[instrument(target = "grpc_client", skip_all, err, fields(address = self.address))]
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(&self) -> Result<CryptoHash, NodeError> {
+    async fn get_network_description(&self) -> Result<NetworkDescription, NodeError> {
         let req = ();
-        Ok(client_delegate!(self, get_genesis_config_hash, req)?.try_into()?)
+        Ok(client_delegate!(self, get_network_description, req)?.try_into()?)
     }
 
     #[instrument(target = "grpc_client", skip(self), err, fields(address = self.address))]
diff --git a/linera-rpc/src/grpc/conversions.rs b/linera-rpc/src/grpc/conversions.rs
index 717beb4e704c..eb6509494fba 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/src/grpc/conversions.rs
+++ b/linera-rpc/src/grpc/conversions.rs
@@ -142,6 +142,40 @@ impl From<api::VersionInfo> for linera_version::VersionInfo {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<linera_storage::NetworkDescription> for api::NetworkDescription {
+    fn from(
+        linera_storage::NetworkDescription {
+            name,
+            genesis_config_hash,
+            genesis_timestamp,
+        }: linera_storage::NetworkDescription,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            name,
+            genesis_config_hash: Some(genesis_config_hash.into()),
+            genesis_timestamp: genesis_timestamp.micros(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl TryFrom<api::NetworkDescription> for linera_storage::NetworkDescription {
+    type Error = GrpcProtoConversionError;
+
+    fn try_from(
+        api::NetworkDescription {
+            name,
+            genesis_config_hash,
+            genesis_timestamp,
+        }: api::NetworkDescription,
+    ) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        Ok(Self {
+            name,
+            genesis_config_hash: try_proto_convert(genesis_config_hash)?,
+            genesis_timestamp: genesis_timestamp.into(),
+        })
+    }
+}
+
 impl TryFrom<Notification> for api::Notification {
     type Error = GrpcProtoConversionError;
 
diff --git a/linera-rpc/src/message.rs b/linera-rpc/src/message.rs
index 96b06446801e..acc4edd5f8ef 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/src/message.rs
+++ b/linera-rpc/src/message.rs
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ use linera_core::{
     data_types::{ChainInfoQuery, ChainInfoResponse, CrossChainRequest},
     node::NodeError,
 };
+use linera_storage::NetworkDescription;
 use linera_version::VersionInfo;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
@@ -42,14 +43,14 @@ pub enum RpcMessage {
     BlobLastUsedBy(Box<BlobId>),
     MissingBlobIds(Vec<BlobId>),
     VersionInfoQuery,
-    GenesisConfigHashQuery,
+    NetworkDescriptionQuery,
 
     // Outbound
     Vote(Box<LiteVote>),
     ChainInfoResponse(Box<ChainInfoResponse>),
     Error(Box<NodeError>),
     VersionInfoResponse(Box<VersionInfo>),
-    GenesisConfigHashResponse(Box<CryptoHash>),
+    NetworkDescriptionResponse(Box<NetworkDescription>),
     UploadBlobResponse(Box<BlobId>),
     DownloadBlobResponse(Box<BlobContent>),
     DownloadPendingBlobResponse(Box<BlobContent>),
@@ -84,8 +85,8 @@ impl RpcMessage {
             | ChainInfoResponse(_)
             | VersionInfoQuery
             | VersionInfoResponse(_)
-            | GenesisConfigHashQuery
-            | GenesisConfigHashResponse(_)
+            | NetworkDescriptionQuery
+            | NetworkDescriptionResponse(_)
             | UploadBlob(_)
             | UploadBlobResponse(_)
             | DownloadBlob(_)
@@ -113,7 +114,7 @@ impl RpcMessage {
 
         match self {
             VersionInfoQuery
-            | GenesisConfigHashQuery
+            | NetworkDescriptionQuery
             | UploadBlob(_)
             | DownloadBlob(_)
             | DownloadConfirmedBlock(_)
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ impl RpcMessage {
             | Error(_)
             | ChainInfoResponse(_)
             | VersionInfoResponse(_)
-            | GenesisConfigHashResponse(_)
+            | NetworkDescriptionResponse(_)
             | UploadBlobResponse(_)
             | DownloadPendingBlob(_)
             | DownloadPendingBlobResponse(_)
@@ -206,13 +207,22 @@ impl TryFrom<RpcMessage> for CryptoHash {
     fn try_from(message: RpcMessage) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
         match message {
             RpcMessage::BlobLastUsedByResponse(hash) => Ok(*hash),
-            RpcMessage::GenesisConfigHashResponse(hash) => Ok(*hash),
             RpcMessage::Error(error) => Err(*error),
             _ => Err(NodeError::UnexpectedMessage),
         }
     }
 }
 
+impl TryFrom<RpcMessage> for NetworkDescription {
+    type Error = NodeError;
+    fn try_from(message: RpcMessage) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        match message {
+            RpcMessage::NetworkDescriptionResponse(description) => Ok(*description),
+            _ => Err(NodeError::UnexpectedMessage),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl TryFrom<RpcMessage> for Vec<BlobId> {
     type Error = NodeError;
     fn try_from(message: RpcMessage) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
diff --git a/linera-rpc/src/simple/client.rs b/linera-rpc/src/simple/client.rs
index 1ae302564d78..5318398f9bfa 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/src/simple/client.rs
+++ b/linera-rpc/src/simple/client.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ use linera_core::{
     data_types::{ChainInfoQuery, ChainInfoResponse},
     node::{CrossChainMessageDelivery, NodeError, NotificationStream, ValidatorNode},
 };
+use linera_storage::NetworkDescription;
 use linera_version::VersionInfo;
 
 use super::{codec, transport::TransportProtocol};
@@ -156,8 +157,8 @@ impl ValidatorNode for SimpleClient {
         self.query(RpcMessage::VersionInfoQuery).await
     }
 
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(&self) -> Result<CryptoHash, NodeError> {
-        self.query(RpcMessage::GenesisConfigHashQuery).await
+    async fn get_network_description(&self) -> Result<NetworkDescription, NodeError> {
+        self.query(RpcMessage::NetworkDescriptionQuery).await
     }
 
     async fn upload_blob(&self, content: BlobContent) -> Result<BlobId, NodeError> {
diff --git a/linera-rpc/src/simple/server.rs b/linera-rpc/src/simple/server.rs
index d71bf5728f25..8a644a833fd6 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/src/simple/server.rs
+++ b/linera-rpc/src/simple/server.rs
@@ -391,8 +391,8 @@ where
             | RpcMessage::Error(_)
             | RpcMessage::ChainInfoResponse(_)
             | RpcMessage::VersionInfoResponse(_)
-            | RpcMessage::GenesisConfigHashQuery
-            | RpcMessage::GenesisConfigHashResponse(_)
+            | RpcMessage::NetworkDescriptionQuery
+            | RpcMessage::NetworkDescriptionResponse(_)
             | RpcMessage::DownloadBlob(_)
             | RpcMessage::DownloadBlobResponse(_)
             | RpcMessage::DownloadPendingBlobResponse(_)
diff --git a/linera-rpc/tests/snapshots/format__format.yaml.snap b/linera-rpc/tests/snapshots/format__format.yaml.snap
index de519a6f3a61..43d7e0f642c0 100644
--- a/linera-rpc/tests/snapshots/format__format.yaml.snap
+++ b/linera-rpc/tests/snapshots/format__format.yaml.snap
@@ -636,6 +636,13 @@ ModuleId:
         TYPENAME: CryptoHash
     - vm_runtime:
         TYPENAME: VmRuntime
+NetworkDescription:
+  STRUCT:
+    - name: STR
+    - genesis_config_hash:
+        TYPENAME: CryptoHash
+    - genesis_timestamp:
+        TYPENAME: Timestamp
 NodeError:
   ENUM:
     0:
@@ -984,7 +991,7 @@ RpcMessage:
     14:
       VersionInfoQuery: UNIT
     15:
-      GenesisConfigHashQuery: UNIT
+      NetworkDescriptionQuery: UNIT
     16:
       Vote:
         NEWTYPE:
@@ -1002,9 +1009,9 @@ RpcMessage:
         NEWTYPE:
           TYPENAME: VersionInfo
     20:
-      GenesisConfigHashResponse:
+      NetworkDescriptionResponse:
         NEWTYPE:
-          TYPENAME: CryptoHash
+          TYPENAME: NetworkDescription
     21:
       UploadBlobResponse:
         NEWTYPE:
diff --git a/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs b/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs
index 73c3d3000f07..f9c787570eeb 100644
--- a/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs
+++ b/linera-service/src/linera/main.rs
@@ -456,12 +456,15 @@ impl Runnable for Job {
                 }
 
                 let genesis_config_hash = context.wallet().genesis_config().hash();
-                match node.get_genesis_config_hash().await {
-                    Ok(hash) if hash == genesis_config_hash => {}
-                    Ok(hash) => error!(
-                        "Validator's genesis config hash {} does not match our own: {}.",
-                        hash, genesis_config_hash
-                    ),
+                match node.get_network_description().await {
+                    Ok(description) => {
+                        if description.genesis_config_hash != genesis_config_hash {
+                            error!(
+                                "Validator's genesis config hash {} does not match our own: {}.",
+                                description.genesis_config_hash, genesis_config_hash
+                            );
+                        }
+                    }
                     Err(error) => {
                         error!(
                             "Failed to get genesis config hash for validator {address}:\n{error}"
@@ -631,16 +634,20 @@ impl Runnable for Job {
                         ),
                     }
                     let genesis_config_hash = context.wallet().genesis_config().hash();
-                    match node.get_genesis_config_hash().await {
-                        Ok(hash) if hash == genesis_config_hash => {}
-                        Ok(hash) => bail!(
-                            "Validator's genesis config hash {} does not match our own: {}.",
-                            hash,
-                            genesis_config_hash
-                        ),
-                        Err(error) => bail!(
-                            "Failed to get genesis config hash for validator {public_key:?} at {address}:\n{error}"
-                        ),
+                    match node.get_network_description().await {
+                        Ok(description) => {
+                            if description.genesis_config_hash != genesis_config_hash {
+                                error!(
+                                "Validator's genesis config hash {} does not match our own: {}.",
+                                description.genesis_config_hash, genesis_config_hash
+                            );
+                            }
+                        }
+                        Err(error) => {
+                            error!(
+                            "Failed to get genesis config hash for validator {address}:\n{error}"
+                        )
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 let chain_client = context
diff --git a/linera-service/src/proxy/grpc.rs b/linera-service/src/proxy/grpc.rs
index 39ee5f537cfe..43ed7a32a140 100644
--- a/linera-service/src/proxy/grpc.rs
+++ b/linera-service/src/proxy/grpc.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ use anyhow::Result;
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use futures::{future::BoxFuture, FutureExt as _};
 use linera_base::identifiers::ChainId;
-use linera_client::config::GenesisConfig;
 use linera_core::{notifier::ChannelNotifier, JoinSetExt as _};
 use linera_rpc::{
     config::{
@@ -33,8 +32,8 @@ use linera_rpc::{
             validator_worker_client::ValidatorWorkerClient,
             BlobContent, BlobId, BlobIds, BlockProposal, Certificate, CertificatesBatchRequest,
             CertificatesBatchResponse, ChainInfoQuery, ChainInfoResult, CryptoHash,
-            HandlePendingBlobRequest, LiteCertificate, Notification, PendingBlobRequest,
-            PendingBlobResult, SubscriptionRequest, VersionInfo,
+            HandlePendingBlobRequest, LiteCertificate, NetworkDescription, Notification,
+            PendingBlobRequest, PendingBlobResult, SubscriptionRequest, VersionInfo,
         },
         pool::GrpcConnectionPool,
         GrpcProtoConversionError, GrpcProxyable, GRPC_CHUNKED_MESSAGE_FILL_LIMIT,
@@ -150,7 +149,6 @@ pub struct GrpcProxy<S>(Arc<GrpcProxyInner<S>>);
 struct GrpcProxyInner<S> {
     public_config: ValidatorPublicNetworkConfig,
     internal_config: ValidatorInternalNetworkConfig,
-    genesis_config: GenesisConfig,
     worker_connection_pool: GrpcConnectionPool,
     notifier: ChannelNotifier<Result<Notification, Status>>,
     tls: TlsConfig,
@@ -164,7 +162,6 @@ where
     pub fn new(
         public_config: ValidatorPublicNetworkConfig,
         internal_config: ValidatorInternalNetworkConfig,
-        genesis_config: GenesisConfig,
         connect_timeout: Duration,
         timeout: Duration,
         tls: TlsConfig,
@@ -173,7 +170,6 @@ where
         Self(Arc::new(GrpcProxyInner {
             public_config,
             internal_config,
-            genesis_config,
             worker_connection_pool: GrpcConnectionPool::default()
                 .with_connect_timeout(connect_timeout)
                 .with_timeout(timeout),
@@ -470,11 +466,20 @@ where
     }
 
     #[instrument(skip_all, err(Display))]
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(
+    async fn get_network_description(
         &self,
         _request: Request<()>,
-    ) -> Result<Response<CryptoHash>, Status> {
-        Ok(Response::new(self.0.genesis_config.hash().into()))
+    ) -> Result<Response<NetworkDescription>, Status> {
+        let description = self
+            .0
+            .storage
+            .read_network_description()
+            .await
+            .map_err(Self::error_to_status)?
+            .ok_or(Status::not_found(
+                "Cannot find network description in the database",
+            ))?;
+        Ok(Response::new(description.into()))
     }
 
     #[instrument(skip_all, err(Display))]
diff --git a/linera-service/src/proxy/main.rs b/linera-service/src/proxy/main.rs
index 0aac808cfd6f..a45aa7ce57c9 100644
--- a/linera-service/src/proxy/main.rs
+++ b/linera-service/src/proxy/main.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 use std::{net::SocketAddr, path::PathBuf, time::Duration};
 
-use anyhow::{bail, ensure, Result};
+use anyhow::{anyhow, bail, ensure, Result};
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use futures::{FutureExt as _, SinkExt, StreamExt};
 use linera_base::listen_for_shutdown_signals;
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ where
 
 struct ProxyContext {
     config: ValidatorServerConfig,
-    genesis_config: GenesisConfig,
     send_timeout: Duration,
     recv_timeout: Duration,
 }
@@ -118,12 +117,10 @@ struct ProxyContext {
 impl ProxyContext {
     pub fn from_options(options: &ProxyOptions) -> Result<Self> {
         let config = util::read_json(&options.config_path)?;
-        let genesis_config = util::read_json(&options.genesis_config_path)?;
         Ok(Self {
             config,
             send_timeout: options.send_timeout,
             recv_timeout: options.recv_timeout,
-            genesis_config,
         })
     }
 }
@@ -159,7 +156,6 @@ where
                 Self::Grpc(GrpcProxy::new(
                     context.config.validator.network,
                     context.config.internal_network,
-                    context.genesis_config,
                     context.send_timeout,
                     context.recv_timeout,
                     tls,
@@ -179,7 +175,6 @@ where
                     .validator
                     .network
                     .clone_with_protocol(public_transport),
-                genesis_config: context.genesis_config,
                 send_timeout: context.send_timeout,
                 recv_timeout: context.recv_timeout,
                 storage,
@@ -204,7 +199,6 @@ where
 {
     public_config: ValidatorPublicNetworkPreConfig<TransportProtocol>,
     internal_config: ValidatorInternalNetworkPreConfig<TransportProtocol>,
-    genesis_config: GenesisConfig,
     send_timeout: Duration,
     recv_timeout: Duration,
     storage: S,
@@ -316,9 +310,16 @@ where
                     linera_version::VersionInfo::default().into(),
                 )))
             }
-            GenesisConfigHashQuery => Ok(Some(RpcMessage::GenesisConfigHashResponse(Box::new(
-                self.genesis_config.hash(),
-            )))),
+            NetworkDescriptionQuery => {
+                let description = self
+                    .storage
+                    .read_network_description()
+                    .await?
+                    .ok_or(anyhow!("Cannot find network description in the database"))?;
+                Ok(Some(RpcMessage::NetworkDescriptionResponse(Box::new(
+                    description,
+                ))))
+            }
             UploadBlob(content) => {
                 let blob = Blob::new(*content);
                 let id = blob.id();
@@ -356,7 +357,7 @@ where
             | Error(_)
             | ChainInfoResponse(_)
             | VersionInfoResponse(_)
-            | GenesisConfigHashResponse(_)
+            | NetworkDescriptionResponse(_)
             | DownloadBlobResponse(_)
             | DownloadPendingBlob(_)
             | DownloadPendingBlobResponse(_)
diff --git a/linera-service/src/schema_export.rs b/linera-service/src/schema_export.rs
index 2c4d07eb5045..837dd603f89d 100644
--- a/linera-service/src/schema_export.rs
+++ b/linera-service/src/schema_export.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ use linera_core::{
 use linera_execution::committee::Committee;
 use linera_sdk::linera_base_types::ValidatorPublicKey;
 use linera_service::node_service::NodeService;
-use linera_storage::{DbStorage, Storage};
+use linera_storage::{DbStorage, NetworkDescription, Storage};
 use linera_version::VersionInfo;
 use linera_views::memory::MemoryStore;
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ impl ValidatorNode for DummyValidatorNode {
         Err(NodeError::UnexpectedMessage)
     }
 
-    async fn get_genesis_config_hash(&self) -> Result<CryptoHash, NodeError> {
+    async fn get_network_description(&self) -> Result<NetworkDescription, NodeError> {
         Err(NodeError::UnexpectedMessage)
     }
 
diff --git a/linera-storage/src/db_storage.rs b/linera-storage/src/db_storage.rs
index 28d6eaf5e09b..1d1dc7ec4544 100644
--- a/linera-storage/src/db_storage.rs
+++ b/linera-storage/src/db_storage.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ use {
     prometheus::{HistogramVec, IntCounterVec},
 };
 
-use crate::{ChainRuntimeContext, Clock, Storage};
+use crate::{ChainRuntimeContext, Clock, NetworkDescription, Storage};
 
 /// The metric counting how often a blob is tested for existence from storage
 #[cfg(with_metrics)]
@@ -216,6 +216,28 @@ pub static WRITE_EVENT_COUNTER: LazyLock<IntCounterVec> = LazyLock::new(|| {
     )
 });
 
+/// The metric counting how often the network description is read from storage.
+#[cfg(with_metrics)]
+#[doc(hidden)]
+pub static READ_NETWORK_DESCRIPTION: LazyLock<IntCounterVec> = LazyLock::new(|| {
+    register_int_counter_vec(
+        "network_description",
+        "The metric counting how often the network description is read from storage",
+        &[],
+    )
+});
+
+/// The metric counting how often the network description is written to storage.
+#[cfg(with_metrics)]
+#[doc(hidden)]
+pub static WRITE_NETWORK_DESCRIPTION: LazyLock<IntCounterVec> = LazyLock::new(|| {
+    register_int_counter_vec(
+        "write_event",
+        "The metric counting how often the network description is written to storage",
+        &[],
+    )
+});
+
 trait BatchExt {
     fn add_blob(&mut self, blob: &Blob) -> Result<(), ViewError>;
 
@@ -225,6 +247,11 @@ trait BatchExt {
         -> Result<(), ViewError>;
 
     fn add_event(&mut self, event_id: EventId, value: Vec<u8>) -> Result<(), ViewError>;
+
+    fn add_network_description(
+        &mut self,
+        information: &NetworkDescription,
+    ) -> Result<(), ViewError>;
 }
 
 impl BatchExt for Batch {
@@ -263,6 +290,17 @@ impl BatchExt for Batch {
         self.put_key_value_bytes(event_key.to_vec(), value);
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    fn add_network_description(
+        &mut self,
+        information: &NetworkDescription,
+    ) -> Result<(), ViewError> {
+        #[cfg(with_metrics)]
+        WRITE_NETWORK_DESCRIPTION.with_label_values(&[]).inc();
+        let key = bcs::to_bytes(&BaseKey::NetworkDescription)?;
+        self.put_key_value(key, information)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 /// Main implementation of the [`Storage`] trait.
@@ -285,6 +323,7 @@ enum BaseKey {
     BlobState(BlobId),
     Event(EventId),
     BlockExporterState(u32),
+    NetworkDescription,
 }
 
 const INDEX_CHAIN_ID: u8 = 0;
@@ -812,6 +851,24 @@ where
         self.write_batch(batch).await
     }
 
+    async fn read_network_description(&self) -> Result<Option<NetworkDescription>, ViewError> {
+        let key = bcs::to_bytes(&BaseKey::NetworkDescription)?;
+        let maybe_value = self.store.read_value(&key).await?;
+        #[cfg(with_metrics)]
+        READ_NETWORK_DESCRIPTION.with_label_values(&[]).inc();
+        Ok(maybe_value)
+    }
+
+    async fn write_network_description(
+        &self,
+        information: &NetworkDescription,
+    ) -> Result<(), ViewError> {
+        let mut batch = Batch::new();
+        batch.add_network_description(information)?;
+        self.write_batch(batch).await?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     fn wasm_runtime(&self) -> Option<WasmRuntime> {
         self.wasm_runtime
     }
diff --git a/linera-storage/src/lib.rs b/linera-storage/src/lib.rs
index 9c8a05c190d5..4d9c9f16cd7b 100644
--- a/linera-storage/src/lib.rs
+++ b/linera-storage/src/lib.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ use linera_views::{
     context::Context,
     views::{RootView, ViewError},
 };
+use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[cfg(with_testing)]
 pub use crate::db_storage::TestClock;
@@ -173,6 +174,15 @@ pub trait Storage: Sized {
         events: impl IntoIterator<Item = (EventId, Vec<u8>)> + Send,
     ) -> Result<(), ViewError>;
 
+    /// Reads the network description.
+    async fn read_network_description(&self) -> Result<Option<NetworkDescription>, ViewError>;
+
+    /// Writes the network description.
+    async fn write_network_description(
+        &self,
+        information: &NetworkDescription,
+    ) -> Result<(), ViewError>;
+
     /// Initializes a chain in a simple way (used for testing and to create a genesis state).
     ///
     /// # Notes
@@ -318,6 +328,16 @@ pub trait Storage: Sized {
     ) -> Result<Self::BlockExporterContext, ViewError>;
 }
 
+/// A description of the current Linera network to be stored in every node's database.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize)]
+#[cfg_attr(with_testing, derive(Eq, PartialEq))]
+pub struct NetworkDescription {
+    pub name: String,
+    pub genesis_config_hash: CryptoHash,
+    pub genesis_timestamp: Timestamp,
+}
+
+/// An implementation of `ExecutionRuntimeContext` suitable for the core protocol.
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct ChainRuntimeContext<S> {
     storage: S,