diff --git a/cmd/chain/genesis/cmd.go b/cmd/chain/genesis/cmd.go
index c79f52b..c36507c 100644
--- a/cmd/chain/genesis/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/chain/genesis/cmd.go
@@ -4,12 +4,19 @@
 package genesis
 
 import (
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
-	"github.com/ava-labs/xsvm/genesis"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+
+	"github.com/ava-labs/avalanchego/utils/formatting"
+
+	"github.com/ava-labs/xsvm/genesis"
 )
 
+var errUnknownEncoding = errors.New("unknown encoding")
+
 func Command() *cobra.Command {
 	c := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:   "genesis",
@@ -23,16 +30,28 @@ func Command() *cobra.Command {
 
 func genesisFunc(c *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	flags := c.Flags()
-	g, err := ParseFlags(flags, args)
+	config, err := ParseFlags(flags, args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	genesisBytes, err := genesis.Codec.Marshal(genesis.Version, g)
+	genesisBytes, err := genesis.Codec.Marshal(genesis.Version, config.Genesis)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	_, err = os.Stdout.Write(genesisBytes)
-	return err
+	switch config.Encoding {
+	case binaryEncoding:
+		_, err = os.Stdout.Write(genesisBytes)
+		return err
+	case hexEncoding:
+		encoded, err := formatting.Encode(formatting.Hex, genesisBytes)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		_, err = fmt.Println(encoded)
+		return err
+	default:
+		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %q", errUnknownEncoding, config.Encoding)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/chain/genesis/flags.go b/cmd/chain/genesis/flags.go
index 600a68d..62c989f 100644
--- a/cmd/chain/genesis/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/chain/genesis/flags.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package genesis
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"time"
 
@@ -16,22 +17,28 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	TimeKey    = "time"
-	AddressKey = "address"
-	BalanceKey = "balance"
+	TimeKey     = "time"
+	AddressKey  = "address"
+	BalanceKey  = "balance"
+	EncodingKey = "encoding"
+
+	binaryEncoding = "binary"
+	hexEncoding    = "hex"
 )
 
 func AddFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet) {
 	flags.Int64(TimeKey, time.Now().Unix(), "Unix timestamp to include in the genesis")
 	flags.String(AddressKey, genesis.EWOQKey.Address().String(), "Address to fund in the genesis")
 	flags.Uint64(BalanceKey, math.MaxUint64, "Amount to provide the funded address in the genesis")
+	flags.String(EncodingKey, hexEncoding, fmt.Sprintf("Encoding to use for the genesis. Available values: %s or %s", hexEncoding, binaryEncoding))
 }
 
-func ParseFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet, args []string) (*xsgenesis.Genesis, error) {
-	if err := flags.Parse(args); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+type Config struct {
+	Genesis  *xsgenesis.Genesis
+	Encoding string
+}
 
+func ParseFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet, args []string) (*Config, error) {
 	if err := flags.Parse(args); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -56,13 +63,21 @@ func ParseFlags(flags *pflag.FlagSet, args []string) (*xsgenesis.Genesis, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return &xsgenesis.Genesis{
-		Timestamp: timestamp,
-		Allocations: []xsgenesis.Allocation{
-			{
-				Address: addr,
-				Balance: balance,
+	encoding, err := flags.GetString(EncodingKey)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	return &Config{
+		Genesis: &xsgenesis.Genesis{
+			Timestamp: timestamp,
+			Allocations: []xsgenesis.Allocation{
+				{
+					Address: addr,
+					Balance: balance,
+				},
 			},
 		},
+		Encoding: encoding,
 	}, nil
 }