diff --git a/veilid-flutter/lib/veilid_crypto.dart b/veilid-flutter/lib/veilid_crypto.dart
index 647d368b..6801f6e5 100644
--- a/veilid-flutter/lib/veilid_crypto.dart
+++ b/veilid-flutter/lib/veilid_crypto.dart
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ String cryptoKindToString(CryptoKind kind) {
   return "${String.fromCharCode(kind & 0xFF)}${String.fromCharCode((kind >> 8) & 0xFF)}${String.fromCharCode((kind >> 16) & 0xFF)}${String.fromCharCode((kind >> 24) & 0xFF)}";
 }
 
+Uint8List cryptoKindToBytes(CryptoKind kind) {
+  var b = Uint8List(4);
+  b[0] = kind & 0xFF;
+  b[1] = (kind >> 8) & 0xFF;
+  b[2] = (kind >> 16) & 0xFF;
+  b[3] = (kind >> 24) & 0xFF;
+  return b;
+}
+
 CryptoKind cryptoKindFromString(String s) {
   if (s.codeUnits.length != 4) {
     throw const FormatException("malformed string");
@@ -59,6 +68,12 @@ class Typed<V extends EncodedString> extends Equatable {
     return Typed(kind: kind, value: value);
   }
 
+  Uint8List decode() {
+    var b = cryptoKindToBytes(kind);
+    b.addAll(value.decode());
+    return b;
+  }
+
   String toJson() => toString();
   factory Typed.fromJson(dynamic json) => Typed.fromString(json as String);
 }