diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.h b/src/avalanche/processor.h
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.h
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.h
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
     bool registerVotes(NodeId nodeid, const Response &response,
                        std::vector<BlockUpdate> &updates);
 
-    bool addNode(NodeId nodeid, const Proof &proof,
+    bool addNode(NodeId nodeid, std::shared_ptr<Proof> proof,
                  const Delegation &delegation);
     bool forNode(NodeId nodeid, std::function<bool(const Node &n)> func) const;
 
diff --git a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
--- a/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
+++ b/src/avalanche/processor.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@
 }
 
 struct Processor::PeerData {
-    Proof proof;
+    std::shared_ptr<Proof> proof;
     Delegation delegation;
 };
 
@@ -154,8 +154,7 @@
 
         if (m_processor->mustRegisterProof &&
             !::ChainstateActive().IsInitialBlockDownload()) {
-            m_processor->peerManager->getPeerId(
-                std::make_shared<Proof>(m_processor->peerData->proof));
+            m_processor->peerManager->getPeerId(m_processor->peerData->proof);
             m_processor->mustRegisterProof = false;
         }
 
@@ -216,14 +215,14 @@
         }
 
         peerData = std::make_unique<PeerData>();
-        if (!Proof::FromHex(peerData->proof, argsman.GetArg("-avaproof", ""),
-                            error)) {
+        Proof proof;
+        if (!Proof::FromHex(proof, argsman.GetArg("-avaproof", ""), error)) {
             // error is set by FromHex
             return nullptr;
         }
 
         ProofValidationState proof_state;
-        if (!peerData->proof.verify(proof_state)) {
+        if (!proof.verify(proof_state)) {
             switch (proof_state.GetResult()) {
                 case ProofValidationResult::NO_STAKE:
                     error = _("the avalanche proof has no stake");
@@ -250,10 +249,12 @@
         }
 
         // Generate the delegation to the session key.
-        DelegationBuilder dgb(peerData->proof);
-        if (sessionKey.GetPubKey() != peerData->proof.getMaster()) {
+        DelegationBuilder dgb(proof);
+        if (sessionKey.GetPubKey() != proof.getMaster()) {
             dgb.addLevel(masterKey, sessionKey.GetPubKey());
         }
+
+        peerData->proof = std::make_shared<Proof>(std::move(proof));
         peerData->delegation = dgb.build();
     }
 
@@ -442,11 +443,10 @@
     return true;
 }
 
-bool Processor::addNode(NodeId nodeid, const Proof &proof,
+bool Processor::addNode(NodeId nodeid, std::shared_ptr<Proof> proof,
                         const Delegation &delegation) {
     LOCK(cs_peerManager);
-    return peerManager->addNode(nodeid, std::make_shared<Proof>(proof),
-                                delegation);
+    return peerManager->addNode(nodeid, std::move(proof), delegation);
 }
 
 bool Processor::forNode(NodeId nodeid,
diff --git a/src/avalanche/test/processor_tests.cpp b/src/avalanche/test/processor_tests.cpp
--- a/src/avalanche/test/processor_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/avalanche/test/processor_tests.cpp
@@ -129,8 +129,9 @@
 
     bool addNode(NodeId nodeid) {
         Proof proof = GetProof();
-        return m_processor->addNode(nodeid, proof,
-                                    DelegationBuilder(proof).build());
+        const Delegation &dg = DelegationBuilder(proof).build();
+        return m_processor->addNode(
+            nodeid, std::make_shared<Proof>(std::move(proof)), dg);
     }
 
     std::array<CNode *, 8> ConnectNodes() {
diff --git a/src/rpc/avalanche.cpp b/src/rpc/avalanche.cpp
--- a/src/rpc/avalanche.cpp
+++ b/src/rpc/avalanche.cpp
@@ -91,8 +91,10 @@
         return false;
     }
 
-    return g_avalanche->addNode(nodeid, proof,
-                                avalanche::DelegationBuilder(proof).build());
+    const avalanche::Delegation &dg =
+        avalanche::DelegationBuilder(proof).build();
+    return g_avalanche->addNode(
+        nodeid, std::make_shared<avalanche::Proof>(std::move(proof)), dg);
 }
 
 static UniValue buildavalancheproof(const Config &config,