diff --git a/api/keystore/codec.go b/api/keystore/codec.go
index df6c18ae9521..55346cb09da1 100644
--- a/api/keystore/codec.go
+++ b/api/keystore/codec.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ const (
 var c codec.Manager
 
 func init() {
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(maxSliceLength)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(maxSliceLength))
 	c = codec.NewManager(maxPackerSize)
 	if err := c.RegisterCodec(codecVersion, lc); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/codec/linearcodec/codec.go b/codec/linearcodec/codec.go
index d488b3a1d4c0..f0899d9a54e8 100644
--- a/codec/linearcodec/codec.go
+++ b/codec/linearcodec/codec.go
@@ -42,35 +42,71 @@ type linearCodec struct {
 	typeToTypeID map[reflect.Type]uint32
 }
 
-// New returns a new, concurrency-safe codec; it allow to specify
-// both tagNames and maxSlicelenght
-func New(tagNames []string, maxSliceLen uint32) Codec {
+// New returns a new, concurrency-safe codec.
+// tagNames and maxSlicelength must be specified.
+func New(opts ...Option) Codec {
+	o := &Options{}
+	o.applyOptions(opts)
+
 	hCodec := &linearCodec{
-		nextTypeID:   0,
+		nextTypeID:   o.nextTypeID,
 		typeIDToType: map[uint32]reflect.Type{},
 		typeToTypeID: map[reflect.Type]uint32{},
 	}
-	hCodec.Codec = reflectcodec.New(hCodec, tagNames, maxSliceLen)
+	hCodec.Codec = reflectcodec.New(hCodec, o.tagNames, o.maxSliceLen)
 	return hCodec
 }
 
-// NewDefault is a convenience constructor; it returns a new codec with reasonable default values
-func NewDefault() Codec {
-	return New([]string{reflectcodec.DefaultTagName}, defaultMaxSliceLength)
-}
-
-// NewCustomMaxLength is a convenience constructor; it returns a new codec with custom max length and default tags
-func NewCustomMaxLength(maxSliceLen uint32) Codec {
-	return New([]string{reflectcodec.DefaultTagName}, maxSliceLen)
+// NewDefault is a convenience constructor; it returns a new codec with reasonable default values.
+func NewDefault(opts ...Option) Codec {
+	return New(append([]Option{WithTagName(reflectcodec.DefaultTagName), WithMaxSliceLen(defaultMaxSliceLength)}, opts...)...)
 }
 
-// Skip some number of type IDs
+// DEPRECATED Skip some number of type IDs
 func (c *linearCodec) SkipRegistrations(num int) {
 	c.lock.Lock()
 	c.nextTypeID += uint32(num)
 	c.lock.Unlock()
 }
 
+type Option func(*Options)
+
+type Options struct {
+	tagNames    []string
+	maxSliceLen uint32
+	nextTypeID  uint32
+}
+
+func (o *Options) applyOptions(ops []Option) {
+	for _, op := range ops {
+		op(o)
+	}
+}
+
+func WithTagName(tagName string) Option {
+	return func(o *Options) {
+		o.tagNames = append(o.tagNames, tagName)
+	}
+}
+
+func WithTagNames(tagNames []string) Option {
+	return func(o *Options) {
+		o.tagNames = tagNames
+	}
+}
+
+func WithMaxSliceLen(maxSliceLen uint32) Option {
+	return func(o *Options) {
+		o.maxSliceLen = maxSliceLen
+	}
+}
+
+func WithNextTypeID(nextTypeID uint32) Option {
+	return func(o *Options) {
+		o.nextTypeID = nextTypeID
+	}
+}
+
 // RegisterType is used to register types that may be unmarshaled into an interface
 // [val] is a value of the type being registered
 func (c *linearCodec) RegisterType(val interface{}) error {
@@ -95,9 +131,8 @@ func (*linearCodec) PrefixSize(reflect.Type) int {
 
 func (c *linearCodec) PackPrefix(p *wrappers.Packer, valueType reflect.Type) error {
 	c.lock.RLock()
-	defer c.lock.RUnlock()
-
 	typeID, ok := c.typeToTypeID[valueType] // Get the type ID of the value being marshaled
+	c.lock.RUnlock()
 	if !ok {
 		return fmt.Errorf("can't marshal unregistered type %q", valueType)
 	}
@@ -106,18 +141,19 @@ func (c *linearCodec) PackPrefix(p *wrappers.Packer, valueType reflect.Type) err
 }
 
 func (c *linearCodec) UnpackPrefix(p *wrappers.Packer, valueType reflect.Type) (reflect.Value, error) {
-	c.lock.RLock()
-	defer c.lock.RUnlock()
-
 	typeID := p.UnpackInt() // Get the type ID
 	if p.Err != nil {
 		return reflect.Value{}, fmt.Errorf("couldn't unmarshal interface: %w", p.Err)
 	}
+
 	// Get a type that implements the interface
+	c.lock.RLock()
 	implementingType, ok := c.typeIDToType[typeID]
+	c.lock.RUnlock()
 	if !ok {
 		return reflect.Value{}, fmt.Errorf("couldn't unmarshal interface: unknown type ID %d", typeID)
 	}
+
 	// Ensure type actually does implement the interface
 	if !implementingType.Implements(valueType) {
 		return reflect.Value{}, fmt.Errorf("couldn't unmarshal interface: %s %w %s",
diff --git a/codec/linearcodec/codec_test.go b/codec/linearcodec/codec_test.go
index 1e6b836abd37..7708fb049f33 100644
--- a/codec/linearcodec/codec_test.go
+++ b/codec/linearcodec/codec_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func TestVectors(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestMultipleTags(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, test := range codec.MultipleTagsTests {
-		c := New([]string{"tag1", "tag2"}, defaultMaxSliceLength)
+		c := New(WithTagName("tag1"), WithTagName("tag2"), WithMaxSliceLen(defaultMaxSliceLength))
 		test(c, t)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/database/linkeddb/codec.go b/database/linkeddb/codec.go
index 7780690b2e92..c56b2ee0d38a 100644
--- a/database/linkeddb/codec.go
+++ b/database/linkeddb/codec.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxUint32)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxUint32))
 	c = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
 
 	if err := c.RegisterCodec(codecVersion, lc); err != nil {
diff --git a/indexer/indexer.go b/indexer/indexer.go
index 8936e57ff1e2..b7c5dbd08e57 100644
--- a/indexer/indexer.go
+++ b/indexer/indexer.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func NewIndexer(config Config) (Indexer, error) {
 
 	if err := indexer.codec.RegisterCodec(
 		codecVersion,
-		linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxUint32),
+		linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxUint32)),
 	); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("couldn't register codec: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/snow/engine/avalanche/vertex/codec.go b/snow/engine/avalanche/vertex/codec.go
index 564d699a25e9..6ee421b299d4 100644
--- a/snow/engine/avalanche/vertex/codec.go
+++ b/snow/engine/avalanche/vertex/codec.go
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ const (
 var c codec.Manager
 
 func init() {
-	lc := linearcodec.New([]string{reflectcodec.DefaultTagName + "V0"}, maxSize)
-	lc2 := linearcodec.New([]string{reflectcodec.DefaultTagName + "V1"}, maxSize)
+	lc := linearcodec.New(linearcodec.WithTagName(reflectcodec.DefaultTagName+"V0"), linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(maxSize))
+	lc2 := linearcodec.New(linearcodec.WithTagName(reflectcodec.DefaultTagName+"V1"), linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(maxSize))
 
 	c = codec.NewManager(maxSize)
 	// for backward compatibility, still register the initial codec version
diff --git a/vms/avm/txs/parser.go b/vms/avm/txs/parser.go
index f5f16d59432e..471e34da05b2 100644
--- a/vms/avm/txs/parser.go
+++ b/vms/avm/txs/parser.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func NewCustomParser(
 	log logging.Logger,
 	fxs []fxs.Fx,
 ) (Parser, error) {
-	gc := linearcodec.New([]string{reflectcodec.DefaultTagName}, 1<<20)
+	gc := linearcodec.New(linearcodec.WithTagName(reflectcodec.DefaultTagName), linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(1<<20))
 	c := linearcodec.NewDefault()
 
 	gcm := codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
diff --git a/vms/components/keystore/codec.go b/vms/components/keystore/codec.go
index 6e547c9e4f86..cf5ee0b51e6c 100644
--- a/vms/components/keystore/codec.go
+++ b/vms/components/keystore/codec.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ var (
 func init() {
 	c := linearcodec.NewDefault()
 	Codec = codec.NewDefaultManager()
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxUint32)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxUint32))
 	LegacyCodec = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
 
 	errs := wrappers.Errs{}
diff --git a/vms/components/message/codec.go b/vms/components/message/codec.go
index d41de9b2dd71..b10c067f9d6d 100644
--- a/vms/components/message/codec.go
+++ b/vms/components/message/codec.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ var c codec.Manager
 
 func init() {
 	c = codec.NewManager(maxMessageSize)
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(maxSliceLen)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(maxSliceLen))
 
 	errs := wrappers.Errs{}
 	errs.Add(
diff --git a/vms/platformvm/blocks/codec.go b/vms/platformvm/blocks/codec.go
index ac0f42da83f2..723e6eb7d859 100644
--- a/vms/platformvm/blocks/codec.go
+++ b/vms/platformvm/blocks/codec.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ var (
 func init() {
 	c := linearcodec.NewDefault()
 	Codec = codec.NewDefaultManager()
-	gc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxInt32)
+	gc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxInt32))
 	GenesisCodec = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
 
 	errs := wrappers.Errs{}
diff --git a/vms/platformvm/txs/codec.go b/vms/platformvm/txs/codec.go
index d3667b9406db..ac2ceecfad0e 100644
--- a/vms/platformvm/txs/codec.go
+++ b/vms/platformvm/txs/codec.go
@@ -28,18 +28,16 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	c := linearcodec.NewDefault()
+	// Order in which type are registered affect the byte representation
+	// generated by marshalling ops. To maintain codec type ordering,
+	// we skip positions for the blocks.
+	c := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithNextTypeID(5))
 	Codec = codec.NewDefaultManager()
-	gc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxInt32)
+	gc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxInt32), linearcodec.WithNextTypeID(5))
 	GenesisCodec = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
 
 	errs := wrappers.Errs{}
 	for _, c := range []linearcodec.Codec{c, gc} {
-		// Order in which type are registered affect the byte representation
-		// generated by marshalling ops. To maintain codec type ordering,
-		// we skip positions for the blocks.
-		c.SkipRegistrations(5)
-
 		errs.Add(RegisterUnsignedTxsTypes(c))
 	}
 	errs.Add(
diff --git a/vms/platformvm/warp/codec.go b/vms/platformvm/warp/codec.go
index 0213a6701c6e..67a2cd457302 100644
--- a/vms/platformvm/warp/codec.go
+++ b/vms/platformvm/warp/codec.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ var c codec.Manager
 
 func init() {
 	c = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt)
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxInt32)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxInt32))
 
 	errs := wrappers.Errs{}
 	errs.Add(
diff --git a/vms/proposervm/block/codec.go b/vms/proposervm/block/codec.go
index bf8089dbeb5a..fcf395c16c7f 100644
--- a/vms/proposervm/block/codec.go
+++ b/vms/proposervm/block/codec.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ const codecVersion = 0
 var c codec.Manager
 
 func init() {
-	linearCodec := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxUint32)
+	linearCodec := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxUint32))
 	c = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt)
 
 	errs := wrappers.Errs{}
diff --git a/vms/proposervm/state/codec.go b/vms/proposervm/state/codec.go
index f73523806e53..0d9176982498 100644
--- a/vms/proposervm/state/codec.go
+++ b/vms/proposervm/state/codec.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ const version = 0
 var c codec.Manager
 
 func init() {
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxUint32)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxUint32))
 	c = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
 
 	err := c.RegisterCodec(version, lc)
diff --git a/vms/proposervm/summary/codec.go b/vms/proposervm/summary/codec.go
index a71350f37d0f..9c2f59ae336a 100644
--- a/vms/proposervm/summary/codec.go
+++ b/vms/proposervm/summary/codec.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ var (
 )
 
 func init() {
-	lc := linearcodec.NewCustomMaxLength(math.MaxUint32)
+	lc := linearcodec.NewDefault(linearcodec.WithMaxSliceLen(math.MaxUint32))
 	c = codec.NewManager(math.MaxInt32)
 	if err := c.RegisterCodec(codecVersion, lc); err != nil {
 		panic(err)