diff --git a/pkg/consensus/payload.go b/pkg/consensus/payload.go
index 57b9ac32e..3b00979ad 100644
--- a/pkg/consensus/payload.go
+++ b/pkg/consensus/payload.go
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ type (
 		height         uint32
 
 		Witness transaction.Witness
+
+		hash       util.Uint256
+		signedHash util.Uint256
+		signedpart []byte
 	}
 )
 
@@ -106,11 +110,13 @@ func (p Payload) GetRecoveryMessage() payload.RecoveryMessage {
 }
 
 // MarshalUnsigned implements payload.ConsensusPayload interface.
-func (p Payload) MarshalUnsigned() []byte {
-	w := io.NewBufBinWriter()
-	p.encodeHashData(w.BinWriter)
-
-	return w.Bytes()
+func (p *Payload) MarshalUnsigned() []byte {
+	if p.signedpart == nil {
+		w := io.NewBufBinWriter()
+		p.encodeHashData(w.BinWriter)
+		p.signedpart = w.Bytes()
+	}
+	return p.signedpart
 }
 
 // UnmarshalUnsigned implements payload.ConsensusPayload interface.
@@ -179,7 +185,10 @@ func (p *Payload) EncodeBinaryUnsigned(w *io.BinWriter) {
 
 // EncodeBinary implements io.Serializable interface.
 func (p *Payload) EncodeBinary(w *io.BinWriter) {
-	p.EncodeBinaryUnsigned(w)
+	if p.signedpart == nil {
+		_ = p.MarshalUnsigned()
+	}
+	w.WriteBytes(p.signedpart[4:])
 
 	w.WriteB(1)
 	p.Witness.EncodeBinary(w)
@@ -193,10 +202,7 @@ func (p *Payload) encodeHashData(w *io.BinWriter) {
 // Sign signs payload using the private key.
 // It also sets corresponding verification and invocation scripts.
 func (p *Payload) Sign(key *privateKey) error {
-	sig, err := key.Sign(p.GetSignedPart())
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	sig := key.SignHash(p.GetSignedHash())
 
 	buf := io.NewBufBinWriter()
 	emit.Bytes(buf.BinWriter, sig)
@@ -224,15 +230,41 @@ func (p *Payload) DecodeBinaryUnsigned(r *io.BinReader) {
 	}
 }
 
+// GetSignedHash returns a hash of the payload used to verify it.
+func (p *Payload) GetSignedHash() util.Uint256 {
+	if p.signedHash.Equals(util.Uint256{}) {
+		if p.createHash() != nil {
+			panic("failed to compute hash!")
+		}
+	}
+	return p.signedHash
+}
+
 // Hash implements payload.ConsensusPayload interface.
 func (p *Payload) Hash() util.Uint256 {
-	w := io.NewBufBinWriter()
-	p.encodeHashData(w.BinWriter)
-	if w.Err != nil {
-		panic("failed to hash payload")
+	if p.hash.Equals(util.Uint256{}) {
+		if p.createHash() != nil {
+			panic("failed to compute hash!")
+		}
 	}
+	return p.hash
+}
 
-	return hash.DoubleSha256(w.Bytes())
+// createHash creates hashes of the payload.
+func (p *Payload) createHash() error {
+	b := p.GetSignedPart()
+	if b == nil {
+		return errors.New("failed to serialize hashable data")
+	}
+	p.updateHashes(b)
+	return nil
+}
+
+// updateHashes updates Payload's hashes based on the given buffer which should
+// be a signable data slice.
+func (p *Payload) updateHashes(b []byte) {
+	p.signedHash = hash.Sha256(b)
+	p.hash = hash.Sha256(p.signedHash.BytesBE())
 }
 
 // DecodeBinary implements io.Serializable interface.
diff --git a/pkg/consensus/payload_test.go b/pkg/consensus/payload_test.go
index e67400095..1724715c8 100644
--- a/pkg/consensus/payload_test.go
+++ b/pkg/consensus/payload_test.go
@@ -104,12 +104,14 @@ func TestConsensusPayload_Serializable(t *testing.T) {
 		require.Nil(t, actual.message)
 		// message should now be decoded from actual.data byte array
 		assert.NoError(t, actual.decodeData())
+		assert.NotNil(t, actual.MarshalUnsigned())
 		require.Equal(t, p, actual)
 
 		data = p.MarshalUnsigned()
 		pu := NewPayload(netmode.Magic(rand.Uint32()))
 		require.NoError(t, pu.UnmarshalUnsigned(data))
 		assert.NoError(t, pu.decodeData())
+		_ = pu.MarshalUnsigned()
 
 		p.Witness = transaction.Witness{}
 		require.Equal(t, p, pu)
@@ -153,6 +155,7 @@ func TestConsensusPayload_DecodeBinaryInvalid(t *testing.T) {
 	p := new(Payload)
 	require.NoError(t, testserdes.DecodeBinary(buf, p))
 	// decode `data` into `message`
+	_ = p.Hash()
 	assert.NoError(t, p.decodeData())
 	require.Equal(t, expected, p)
 
diff --git a/pkg/consensus/recovery_message_test.go b/pkg/consensus/recovery_message_test.go
index 6b0cba590..b5ef23ceb 100644
--- a/pkg/consensus/recovery_message_test.go
+++ b/pkg/consensus/recovery_message_test.go
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ func TestRecoveryMessage_Setters(t *testing.T) {
 
 		ps := r.GetPrepareResponses(p, pubs)
 		require.Len(t, ps, 1)
+		// Update hashes and serialized data.
+		_ = ps[0].Hash()
 		require.Equal(t, p2, ps[0])
 		ps0 := ps[0].(*Payload)
 		require.True(t, srv.validatePayload(ps0))
@@ -91,6 +93,8 @@ func TestRecoveryMessage_Setters(t *testing.T) {
 
 		ps := r.GetChangeViews(p, pubs)
 		require.Len(t, ps, 1)
+		// update hashes and serialized data.
+		_ = ps[0].Hash()
 		require.Equal(t, p3, ps[0])
 
 		ps0 := ps[0].(*Payload)
@@ -109,6 +113,8 @@ func TestRecoveryMessage_Setters(t *testing.T) {
 
 		ps := r.GetCommits(p, pubs)
 		require.Len(t, ps, 1)
+		// update hashes and serialized data.
+		_ = ps[0].Hash()
 		require.Equal(t, p4, ps[0])
 
 		ps0 := ps[0].(*Payload)
diff --git a/pkg/core/block/block_base.go b/pkg/core/block/block_base.go
index 0b5af8c95..259dcc4d5 100644
--- a/pkg/core/block/block_base.go
+++ b/pkg/core/block/block_base.go
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ func (b *Base) Hash() util.Uint256 {
 	return b.hash
 }
 
-// VerificationHash returns the hash of the block used to verify it.
-func (b *Base) VerificationHash() util.Uint256 {
+// GetSignedHash returns a hash of the block used to verify it.
+func (b *Base) GetSignedHash() util.Uint256 {
 	if b.verificationHash.Equals(util.Uint256{}) {
 		b.createHash()
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa.go b/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa.go
index faf5526f3..5f79e02ad 100644
--- a/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa.go
+++ b/pkg/core/interop/crypto/ecdsa.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto/hash"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto/keys"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/util"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/vm"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/vm/stackitem"
 )
@@ -30,15 +31,17 @@ func ECDSASecp256k1Verify(ic *interop.Context) error {
 // ecdsaVerify is internal representation of ECDSASecp256k1Verify and
 // ECDSASecp256r1Verify.
 func ecdsaVerify(ic *interop.Context, curve elliptic.Curve) error {
-	msg := getMessage(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
-	hashToCheck := hash.Sha256(msg).BytesBE()
+	hashToCheck, err := getMessageHash(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	keyb := ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Bytes()
 	signature := ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Bytes()
 	pkey, err := keys.NewPublicKeyFromBytes(keyb, curve)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	res := pkey.Verify(signature, hashToCheck)
+	res := pkey.Verify(signature, hashToCheck.BytesBE())
 	ic.VM.Estack().PushVal(res)
 	return nil
 }
@@ -58,8 +61,10 @@ func ECDSASecp256k1CheckMultisig(ic *interop.Context) error {
 // ecdsaCheckMultisig is internal representation of ECDSASecp256r1CheckMultisig and
 // ECDSASecp256k1CheckMultisig
 func ecdsaCheckMultisig(ic *interop.Context, curve elliptic.Curve) error {
-	msg := getMessage(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
-	hashToCheck := hash.Sha256(msg).BytesBE()
+	hashToCheck, err := getMessageHash(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	pkeys, err := ic.VM.Estack().PopSigElements()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("wrong parameters: %w", err)
@@ -76,23 +81,23 @@ func ecdsaCheckMultisig(ic *interop.Context, curve elliptic.Curve) error {
 	if len(pkeys) < len(sigs) {
 		return errors.New("more signatures than there are keys")
 	}
-	sigok := vm.CheckMultisigPar(ic.VM, curve, hashToCheck, pkeys, sigs)
+	sigok := vm.CheckMultisigPar(ic.VM, curve, hashToCheck.BytesBE(), pkeys, sigs)
 	ic.VM.Estack().PushVal(sigok)
 	return nil
 }
 
-func getMessage(ic *interop.Context, item stackitem.Item) []byte {
+func getMessageHash(ic *interop.Context, item stackitem.Item) (util.Uint256, error) {
 	var msg []byte
 	switch val := item.(type) {
 	case *stackitem.Interop:
-		msg = val.Value().(crypto.Verifiable).GetSignedPart()
+		return val.Value().(crypto.Verifiable).GetSignedHash(), nil
 	case stackitem.Null:
-		msg = ic.Container.GetSignedPart()
+		return ic.Container.GetSignedHash(), nil
 	default:
 		var err error
 		if msg, err = val.TryBytes(); err != nil {
-			return nil
+			return util.Uint256{}, err
 		}
 	}
-	return msg
+	return hash.Sha256(msg), nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/core/interop/crypto/hash.go b/pkg/core/interop/crypto/hash.go
index 106f545fd..f00efb3a3 100644
--- a/pkg/core/interop/crypto/hash.go
+++ b/pkg/core/interop/crypto/hash.go
@@ -2,20 +2,37 @@ package crypto
 
 import (
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/interop"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/crypto/hash"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/vm/stackitem"
 )
 
 // Sha256 returns sha256 hash of the data.
 func Sha256(ic *interop.Context) error {
-	msg := getMessage(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
-	h := hash.Sha256(msg).BytesBE()
-	ic.VM.Estack().PushVal(h)
+	h, err := getMessageHash(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	ic.VM.Estack().PushVal(h.BytesBE())
 	return nil
 }
 
 // RipeMD160 returns RipeMD160 hash of the data.
 func RipeMD160(ic *interop.Context) error {
-	msg := getMessage(ic, ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item())
+	var msg []byte
+
+	item := ic.VM.Estack().Pop().Item()
+	switch val := item.(type) {
+	case *stackitem.Interop:
+		msg = val.Value().(crypto.Verifiable).GetSignedPart()
+	case stackitem.Null:
+		msg = ic.Container.GetSignedPart()
+	default:
+		var err error
+		if msg, err = val.TryBytes(); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	h := hash.RipeMD160(msg).BytesBE()
 	ic.VM.Estack().PushVal(h)
 	return nil
diff --git a/pkg/core/interop_neo_test.go b/pkg/core/interop_neo_test.go
index ef5bbfa28..3ce5fd8cb 100644
--- a/pkg/core/interop_neo_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/interop_neo_test.go
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ func TestECDSAVerify(t *testing.T) {
 
 	t.Run("invalid message", func(t *testing.T) {
 		sign := priv.Sign(msg)
-		runCase(t, false, false, sign, priv.PublicKey().Bytes(),
+		runCase(t, true, false, sign, priv.PublicKey().Bytes(),
 			stackitem.NewArray([]stackitem.Item{stackitem.NewByteArray(msg)}))
 	})
 }
diff --git a/pkg/core/state/mpt_root.go b/pkg/core/state/mpt_root.go
index dea3f62fa..f2c890781 100644
--- a/pkg/core/state/mpt_root.go
+++ b/pkg/core/state/mpt_root.go
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ func (s *MPTRootBase) GetSignedPart() []byte {
 	return buf.Bytes()
 }
 
+// GetSignedHash returns hash of MPTRootBase which needs to be signed.
+func (s *MPTRootBase) GetSignedHash() util.Uint256 {
+	buf := io.NewBufBinWriter()
+	s.EncodeBinary(buf.BinWriter)
+	return hash.Sha256(buf.Bytes())
+}
+
 // Equals checks if s == other.
 func (s *MPTRootBase) Equals(other *MPTRootBase) bool {
 	return s.Version == other.Version && s.Index == other.Index &&
diff --git a/pkg/core/transaction/transaction.go b/pkg/core/transaction/transaction.go
index 9e343c780..021708d67 100644
--- a/pkg/core/transaction/transaction.go
+++ b/pkg/core/transaction/transaction.go
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ func (t *Transaction) Hash() util.Uint256 {
 	return t.hash
 }
 
-// VerificationHash returns the hash of the transaction used to verify it.
-func (t *Transaction) VerificationHash() util.Uint256 {
+// GetSignedHash returns a hash of the transaction used to verify it.
+func (t *Transaction) GetSignedHash() util.Uint256 {
 	if t.verificationHash.Equals(util.Uint256{}) {
 		if t.createHash() != nil {
 			panic("failed to compute hash!")
diff --git a/pkg/crypto/keys/private_key.go b/pkg/crypto/keys/private_key.go
index 2771b80d7..c790980f2 100644
--- a/pkg/crypto/keys/private_key.go
+++ b/pkg/crypto/keys/private_key.go
@@ -128,15 +128,19 @@ func (p *PrivateKey) GetScriptHash() util.Uint160 {
 	return pk.GetScriptHash()
 }
 
-// Sign signs arbitrary length data using the private key.
+// Sign signs arbitrary length data using the private key. It uses SHA256 to
+// calculate hash and then SignHash to create a signature (so you can save on
+// hash calculation if you already have it).
 func (p *PrivateKey) Sign(data []byte) []byte {
-	var (
-		privateKey = &p.PrivateKey
-		digest     = sha256.Sum256(data)
-	)
+	var digest = sha256.Sum256(data)
 
-	r, s := rfc6979.SignECDSA(privateKey, digest[:], sha256.New)
-	return getSignatureSlice(privateKey.Curve, r, s)
+	return p.SignHash(digest)
+}
+
+// SignHash signs particular hash the private key.
+func (p *PrivateKey) SignHash(digest util.Uint256) []byte {
+	r, s := rfc6979.SignECDSA(&p.PrivateKey, digest[:], sha256.New)
+	return getSignatureSlice(p.PrivateKey.Curve, r, s)
 }
 
 func getSignatureSlice(curve elliptic.Curve, r, s *big.Int) []byte {
diff --git a/pkg/crypto/verifiable.go b/pkg/crypto/verifiable.go
index 341358f62..8be328d83 100644
--- a/pkg/crypto/verifiable.go
+++ b/pkg/crypto/verifiable.go
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 package crypto
 
+import "github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/util"
+
 // Verifiable represents an object which can be verified.
 type Verifiable interface {
 	GetSignedPart() []byte
+	GetSignedHash() util.Uint256
 }
 
 // VerifiableDecodable represents an object which can be both verified and