diff --git a/modules/custom_indexer/src/chain_index.rs b/modules/custom_indexer/src/chain_index.rs
index 3bc151d52..e86fd83d0 100644
--- a/modules/custom_indexer/src/chain_index.rs
+++ b/modules/custom_indexer/src/chain_index.rs
@@ -5,17 +5,42 @@ use pallas::ledger::traverse::MultiEraTx;
 
 #[async_trait]
 pub trait ChainIndex: Send + Sync + 'static {
+    /// A human-readable identifier for the index.
+    /// Used for logging, error messages, and cursor store keys.
     fn name(&self) -> String;
 
+    /// High-level transaction handler.
+    ///
+    /// Most indexes override this
     async fn handle_onchain_tx(&mut self, info: &BlockInfo, tx: &MultiEraTx<'_>) -> Result<()> {
         let _ = (info, tx);
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Low-level raw-bytes handler.
+    ///
+    /// Default behavior:
+    ///   - decode the tx using Pallas
+    ///   - call the high-level handler
+    ///
+    /// Indexes that want raw bytes override this and bypass decoding entirely.
+    async fn handle_onchain_tx_bytes(&mut self, info: &BlockInfo, raw_tx: &[u8]) -> Result<()> {
+        let tx = MultiEraTx::decode(raw_tx)?;
+        self.handle_onchain_tx(info, &tx).await
+    }
+
+    /// Called when the chain rolls back to a point.
+    ///
+    /// Implementations must remove or revert any state derived from slots
+    /// greater than `point`. Failing to do so will corrupt index state.
     async fn handle_rollback(&mut self, point: &Point) -> Result<()> {
         let _ = point;
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Resets the index to a known chain point.
+    ///
+    /// Most implementations return `start` unchanged. However, more advanced
+    /// indexes may choose a different reset point based on internal state.
     async fn reset(&mut self, start: &Point) -> Result<Point>;
 }
diff --git a/modules/custom_indexer/src/custom_indexer.rs b/modules/custom_indexer/src/custom_indexer.rs
index 80431ceaa..bb5088708 100644
--- a/modules/custom_indexer/src/custom_indexer.rs
+++ b/modules/custom_indexer/src/custom_indexer.rs
@@ -247,13 +247,6 @@ async fn process_tx_responses<F: futures::Future<Output = IndexResponse> + Send>
             Ok(IndexResult::Success { entry }) => {
                 new_tips.insert(name, entry);
             }
-            Ok(IndexResult::DecodeError { entry, reason }) => {
-                error!(
-                    "Failed to decode tx at slot {} for index '{}': {}",
-                    block_slot, name, reason
-                );
-                new_tips.insert(name, entry);
-            }
             Ok(IndexResult::HandleError { entry, reason }) => {
                 error!(
                     "Failed to handle tx at slot {} for index '{}': {}",
diff --git a/modules/custom_indexer/src/index_actor.rs b/modules/custom_indexer/src/index_actor.rs
index 6f7177d97..5e2fb33a9 100644
--- a/modules/custom_indexer/src/index_actor.rs
+++ b/modules/custom_indexer/src/index_actor.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 use acropolis_common::{BlockInfo, Point};
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot};
 
-use pallas::ledger::traverse::MultiEraTx;
-
 use crate::{cursor_store::CursorEntry, IndexWrapper};
 
 pub enum IndexCommand {
@@ -22,7 +20,6 @@ pub enum IndexCommand {
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub enum IndexResult {
     Success { entry: CursorEntry },
-    DecodeError { entry: CursorEntry, reason: String },
     HandleError { entry: CursorEntry, reason: String },
     Reset { entry: CursorEntry },
     Halted,
@@ -71,20 +68,7 @@ async fn handle_apply_txs(
 
     // Decode the transactions and call handle_onchain_tx for each, halting if decode or the handler return an error
     for raw in txs {
-        let decoded = match MultiEraTx::decode(raw.as_ref()) {
-            Ok(tx) => tx,
-            Err(e) => {
-                wrapper.halted = true;
-                return IndexResult::DecodeError {
-                    entry: CursorEntry {
-                        tip: wrapper.tip.clone(),
-                        halted: true,
-                    },
-                    reason: e.to_string(),
-                };
-            }
-        };
-        if let Err(e) = wrapper.index.handle_onchain_tx(&block, &decoded).await {
+        if let Err(e) = wrapper.index.handle_onchain_tx_bytes(&block, &raw).await {
             wrapper.halted = true;
             return IndexResult::HandleError {
                 entry: CursorEntry {
@@ -305,24 +289,6 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
-    #[tokio::test]
-    async fn apply_txs_decode_error_sets_halt() {
-        let mock = MockIndex {
-            on_tx: None,
-            ..Default::default()
-        };
-
-        let (_indexer, sender) = setup_indexer(mock).await;
-
-        match send_apply(&sender, test_block(1), vec![Arc::from([0u8; 1].as_slice())]).await {
-            IndexResult::DecodeError { entry, reason } => {
-                assert!(entry.halted);
-                assert!(!reason.is_empty());
-            }
-            other => panic!("Expected DecodeError, got {:?}", other),
-        }
-    }
-
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn apply_txs_skips_when_halted() {
         let mock = MockIndex {