diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 9dd4ac2..c94766b 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ resolver = "3"
 members = ["crates/ksp-app-backfill-desk", "crates/ksp-app-config-desk", "crates/ksp-app-raw-transaction-ingest-desk", "crates/ksp-app-solprices-desk", "crates/ksp-app-store-desk", "crates/ksp-app-wallet-desk", "crates/ksp-config-lib", "crates/ksp-core-lib", "crates/ksp-interface-lib", "crates/ksp-job-api", "crates/ksp-job-backfill-lib", "crates/ksp-logging-lib", "crates/ksp-offchain-transport-lib", "crates/ksp-onchain-transport-lib", "crates/ksp-program-api", "crates/ksp-raw-transaction-lib", "crates/ksp-store-api", "crates/ksp-store-lib", "crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib", "crates/ksp-wallet-lib", "crates/ksp-worker-api", "crates/ksp-worker-raw-transaction-ingest-lib"]
 
 [workspace.package]
-version = "0.3.16-pre.3.fix.2"
+version = "0.3.16-pre.4"
 edition = "2024"
 license = "MIT"
 repository = "https://git.sasedev.com/Sasedev/khadhroony-solana-project"
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/lib.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/lib.rs
index 8e3f862..224a5b4 100644
--- a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/lib.rs
-// version: 27
+// version: 28
 #![warn(missing_docs)]
 #![deny(unreachable_pub)]
 #![forbid(unsafe_code)]
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 //! families without changing the physical schema or read-by-key contracts.
 //! `0.3.16-pre.003` layers additive V003 transaction-variant resources over the
 //! frozen V000-V002 registry without changing any prior migration resource bytes.
+//! `0.3.16-pre.004` wires acquisition writes into the V003 variant ledger with
+//! lazy canonical bootstrap, exact native-variant reuse and exact observation linkage.
 //!
 //! This crate depends on `ksp-store-api` and never on `ksp-store-lib`. The
 //! common facade consumes only this crate's narrow backend bridge and never
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/raw_transaction.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/raw_transaction.rs
index b77adc2..6e2741a 100644
--- a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/raw_transaction.rs
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/raw_transaction.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/src/raw_transaction.rs
-// version: 10
+// version: 11
 
 pub(crate) mod cursor;
 
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ const GET_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str = "SELECT transaction_row.signature, transaction
 const INSERT_ARCHIVE_PAYLOAD_SQL: &str = "INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads (signature, payload) VALUES ($1, $2)";
 const INSERT_OBSERVATION_SQL: &str = "INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transaction_observations (observation_key, transaction_signature, provider, protocol, acquisition_method, origin, received_at_unix_millis, capture_session_id, commitment, endpoint_id, filter_id, observed_at_unix_millis, source_payload_hash, source_payload_size_bytes) VALUES ($1, $2, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10, $11, $12, $13, $14) ON CONFLICT (observation_key) DO NOTHING RETURNING observation_key";
 const INSERT_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str = "INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transactions (signature, slot, block_time_unix_millis, format_id, format_version, content_hash, payload, retention_state) VALUES ($1, $2::TEXT::NUMERIC, $3, $4, $5, $6, $7, 'full') ON CONFLICT (signature) DO NOTHING RETURNING signature";
+const INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL: &str = "INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants (observation_key, transaction_signature, variant_id, linked_at_unix_millis) VALUES ($1, $2, $3::TEXT::NUMERIC, $4) RETURNING observation_key";
+const INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SELECTOR_SQL: &str = "INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors (transaction_signature, canonical_variant_id, canonical_revision, updated_at_unix_millis) VALUES ($1, $2::TEXT::NUMERIC, 1, $3)";
+const INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL: &str = "INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transaction_variants (transaction_signature, variant_id, origin_kind, slot, block_time_unix_millis, format_id, format_version, content_hash, payload, retention_state, created_at_unix_millis) VALUES ($1, $2::TEXT::NUMERIC, 'native', $3::TEXT::NUMERIC, $4, $5, $6, $7, $8, $9, $10)";
 const INSPECT_OBSERVATIONS_ASC_SQL: &str = "WITH filtered_count AS (SELECT COUNT(*)::TEXT AS filtered_count_text FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations WHERE ($1::BYTEA IS NULL OR transaction_signature = $1)), counts AS (SELECT filtered_count_text, CASE WHEN $1::BYTEA IS NULL THEN filtered_count_text ELSE (SELECT COUNT(*)::TEXT FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations) END AS total_count_text FROM filtered_count) SELECT counts.total_count_text, counts.filtered_count_text, page.observation_key IS NOT NULL AS page_present, page.observation_key, page.transaction_signature, page.provider, page.protocol, page.acquisition_method, page.origin, page.received_at_unix_millis, page.capture_session_id, page.commitment, page.endpoint_id, page.filter_id, page.observed_at_unix_millis, page.source_payload_hash, page.source_payload_size_bytes FROM counts LEFT JOIN LATERAL (SELECT observation_key, transaction_signature, provider, protocol, acquisition_method, origin, received_at_unix_millis, capture_session_id, commitment, endpoint_id, filter_id, observed_at_unix_millis, source_payload_hash, source_payload_size_bytes FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations WHERE ($1::BYTEA IS NULL OR transaction_signature = $1) ORDER BY received_at_unix_millis ASC, observation_key ASC LIMIT $2 OFFSET $3) AS page ON TRUE";
 const INSPECT_OBSERVATIONS_DESC_SQL: &str = "WITH filtered_count AS (SELECT COUNT(*)::TEXT AS filtered_count_text FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations WHERE ($1::BYTEA IS NULL OR transaction_signature = $1)), counts AS (SELECT filtered_count_text, CASE WHEN $1::BYTEA IS NULL THEN filtered_count_text ELSE (SELECT COUNT(*)::TEXT FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations) END AS total_count_text FROM filtered_count) SELECT counts.total_count_text, counts.filtered_count_text, page.observation_key IS NOT NULL AS page_present, page.observation_key, page.transaction_signature, page.provider, page.protocol, page.acquisition_method, page.origin, page.received_at_unix_millis, page.capture_session_id, page.commitment, page.endpoint_id, page.filter_id, page.observed_at_unix_millis, page.source_payload_hash, page.source_payload_size_bytes FROM counts LEFT JOIN LATERAL (SELECT observation_key, transaction_signature, provider, protocol, acquisition_method, origin, received_at_unix_millis, capture_session_id, commitment, endpoint_id, filter_id, observed_at_unix_millis, source_payload_hash, source_payload_size_bytes FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations WHERE ($1::BYTEA IS NULL OR transaction_signature = $1) ORDER BY received_at_unix_millis DESC, observation_key DESC LIMIT $2 OFFSET $3) AS page ON TRUE";
 const INSPECT_TRANSACTIONS_ASC_SQL: &str = "WITH filtered_count AS (SELECT COUNT(*)::TEXT AS filtered_count_text FROM ksp_raw_transactions WHERE ($1::TEXT IS NULL OR slot >= $1::TEXT::NUMERIC) AND ($2::TEXT IS NULL OR slot <= $2::TEXT::NUMERIC)), counts AS (SELECT filtered_count_text, CASE WHEN $1::TEXT IS NULL AND $2::TEXT IS NULL THEN filtered_count_text ELSE (SELECT COUNT(*)::TEXT FROM ksp_raw_transactions) END AS total_count_text FROM filtered_count) SELECT counts.total_count_text, counts.filtered_count_text, page.signature IS NOT NULL AS page_present, page.signature, page.slot_text, page.block_time_unix_millis, page.format_id, page.format_version, page.content_hash, page.retention_state, page.payload_size_bytes, page.hot_payload_present, page.archive_payload_present FROM counts LEFT JOIN LATERAL (SELECT transaction_row.signature, transaction_row.slot::TEXT AS slot_text, transaction_row.block_time_unix_millis, transaction_row.format_id, transaction_row.format_version, transaction_row.content_hash, transaction_row.retention_state, CASE WHEN transaction_row.retention_state = 'full' THEN OCTET_LENGTH(transaction_row.payload)::BIGINT WHEN transaction_row.retention_state = 'archived' THEN OCTET_LENGTH(archive_row.payload)::BIGINT ELSE NULL END AS payload_size_bytes, transaction_row.payload IS NOT NULL AS hot_payload_present, archive_row.payload IS NOT NULL AS archive_payload_present FROM ksp_raw_transactions AS transaction_row LEFT JOIN ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads AS archive_row ON archive_row.signature = transaction_row.signature WHERE ($1::TEXT IS NULL OR transaction_row.slot >= $1::TEXT::NUMERIC) AND ($2::TEXT IS NULL OR transaction_row.slot <= $2::TEXT::NUMERIC) ORDER BY transaction_row.slot ASC, transaction_row.signature ASC LIMIT $3 OFFSET $4) AS page ON TRUE";
@@ -23,7 +26,6 @@ const LOCK_OBSERVATION_SQL: &str = "SELECT observation_key, transaction_signatur
 const LOCK_RETENTION_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str =
     "SELECT block_time_unix_millis, payload, retention_state FROM ksp_raw_transactions WHERE signature = $1 FOR UPDATE";
 const LOCK_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str = "SELECT signature, slot::text AS slot_text, block_time_unix_millis, format_id, format_version, content_hash, payload, retention_state, NULL::BYTEA AS archive_payload FROM ksp_raw_transactions WHERE signature = $1 FOR UPDATE";
-const LOCK_TRANSACTION_STATE_SQL: &str = "SELECT retention_state FROM ksp_raw_transactions WHERE signature = $1 FOR UPDATE";
 const RAW_TRANSACTION_CONTENT_CONFLICT_META_FIELDS: [&str; 15] = [
     "err",
     "status",
@@ -44,9 +46,17 @@ const RAW_TRANSACTION_CONTENT_CONFLICT_META_FIELDS: [&str; 15] = [
 const RAW_TRANSACTION_CONTENT_CONFLICT_PAYLOAD_FIELDS: [&str; 4] = ["transaction", "meta", "version", "transactionIndex"];
 const REHYDRATE_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str =
     "UPDATE ksp_raw_transactions SET block_time_unix_millis = $2, payload = $3, retention_state = 'full' WHERE signature = $1";
+const SELECT_CANONICAL_VARIANT_ID_SQL: &str =
+    "SELECT canonical_variant_id::TEXT AS canonical_variant_id_text FROM ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors WHERE transaction_signature = $1";
+const SELECT_EXACT_NATIVE_VARIANT_SQL: &str = "SELECT variant_id::TEXT AS variant_id_text FROM ksp_raw_transaction_variants WHERE transaction_signature = $1 AND origin_kind = 'native' AND slot = $2::TEXT::NUMERIC AND block_time_unix_millis IS NOT DISTINCT FROM $3 AND format_id = $4 AND format_version = $5 AND content_hash = $6 AND payload = $7 AND retention_state = 'full' ORDER BY variant_id ASC LIMIT 1";
+const SELECT_MAX_VARIANT_ID_SQL: &str =
+    "SELECT COALESCE(MAX(variant_id), 0)::TEXT AS variant_id_text FROM ksp_raw_transaction_variants WHERE transaction_signature = $1";
+const SELECT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL: &str =
+    "SELECT transaction_signature, variant_id::TEXT AS variant_id_text FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants WHERE observation_key = $1";
 const UPDATE_ARCHIVED_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str =
     "UPDATE ksp_raw_transactions SET payload = NULL, retention_state = 'archived' WHERE signature = $1 AND retention_state = 'full'";
 const UPDATE_PURGED_TRANSACTION_SQL: &str = "UPDATE ksp_raw_transactions SET block_time_unix_millis = NULL, payload = NULL, retention_state = 'purged' WHERE signature = $1 AND retention_state = 'archived'";
+const UPDATE_REHYDRATED_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL: &str = "UPDATE ksp_raw_transaction_variants SET block_time_unix_millis = $3, payload = $4, retention_state = 'full' WHERE transaction_signature = $1 AND variant_id = $2::TEXT::NUMERIC";
 
 struct RawLogMessagesContentConflictDiagnostic {
     available: bool,
@@ -157,6 +167,7 @@ struct RawRetentionDbRow {
     retention_state: std::string::String,
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone)]
 struct RawTransactionDbRow {
     archive_payload: std::option::Option<std::vec::Vec<u8>>,
     block_time_unix_millis: std::option::Option<i64>,
@@ -656,6 +667,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn persist_raw_transaction_acquisition(
     if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = input_result {
         return std::result::Result::Err(error);
     }
+    let linked_at = match raw_variant_timestamp(observation.provenance().received_at(), "raw_acquisition_variant_timestamp") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
     let client_result = pool.get().await;
     let mut client = match client_result {
         std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
@@ -671,15 +686,20 @@ pub(crate) async fn persist_raw_transaction_acquisition(
         std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
         std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
-    let entity_outcome = if inserted {
-        ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::Inserted
+    let locked_result = load_locked_transaction_row(&sql_transaction, raw_transaction.reference()).await;
+    let locked = match locked_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(value)) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_acquisition_conflict_missing")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    let canonical_variant_result = ensure_v003_transaction_variant_bootstrap(&sql_transaction, &locked, linked_at).await;
+    let canonical_variant_id = match canonical_variant_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    let (entity_outcome, observed_variant_id) = if inserted {
+        (ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::Inserted, canonical_variant_id)
     } else {
-        let locked_result = load_locked_transaction_row(&sql_transaction, raw_transaction.reference()).await;
-        let locked = match locked_result {
-            std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(value)) => value,
-            std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_acquisition_conflict_missing")),
-            std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
-        };
         let comparison_result = compare_existing_transaction(network, locked, &raw_transaction);
         let comparison = match comparison_result {
             std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
@@ -691,14 +711,26 @@ pub(crate) async fn persist_raw_transaction_acquisition(
             },
         };
         match comparison {
-            ExistingTransactionMatch::Active | ExistingTransactionMatch::ActiveIncomingTruncatedLogs => ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::AlreadyPresent,
+            ExistingTransactionMatch::Active => (ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::AlreadyPresent, canonical_variant_id),
+            ExistingTransactionMatch::ActiveIncomingTruncatedLogs => {
+                let variant_result = persist_or_reuse_native_transaction_variant(&sql_transaction, &raw_transaction, linked_at).await;
+                let variant_id = match variant_result {
+                    std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+                    std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+                };
+                (ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::AlreadyPresent, variant_id)
+            },
             ExistingTransactionMatch::Purged => {
                 if mode == ksp_store_api::RawTransactionAcquisitionMode::ForceRehydrate {
                     let rehydrate_result = rehydrate_transaction(&sql_transaction, &raw_transaction).await;
                     if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = rehydrate_result {
                         return std::result::Result::Err(error);
                     }
-                    ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::Rehydrated
+                    let variant_result = rehydrate_canonical_transaction_variant(&sql_transaction, &raw_transaction, canonical_variant_id).await;
+                    if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = variant_result {
+                        return std::result::Result::Err(error);
+                    }
+                    (ksp_store_api::RawEntityWriteOutcome::Rehydrated, canonical_variant_id)
                 } else {
                     let commit_result = sql_transaction.commit().await;
                     if commit_result.is_err() {
@@ -717,6 +749,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn persist_raw_transaction_acquisition(
         std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
         std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
+    let link_result = persist_transaction_variant_link(&sql_transaction, &observation, observed_variant_id, observation_outcome, linked_at).await;
+    if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = link_result {
+        return std::result::Result::Err(error);
+    }
     let commit_result = sql_transaction.commit().await;
     if commit_result.is_err() {
         return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_acquisition_commit"));
@@ -734,6 +770,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn record_raw_transaction_observation(
     if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = network_result {
         return std::result::Result::Err(error);
     }
+    let linked_at = match raw_variant_timestamp(observation.provenance().received_at(), "raw_observation_variant_timestamp") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
     let client_result = pool.get().await;
     let mut client = match client_result {
         std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
@@ -744,21 +784,15 @@ pub(crate) async fn record_raw_transaction_observation(
         std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
         std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_observation_begin")),
     };
-    let signature = observation.transaction().signature();
-    let signature_bytes: &[u8] = signature.as_bytes();
-    let state_row_result = sql_transaction.query_opt(LOCK_TRANSACTION_STATE_SQL, &[&signature_bytes]).await;
-    let state_row = match state_row_result {
+    let locked_result = load_locked_transaction_row(&sql_transaction, observation.transaction()).await;
+    let locked = match locked_result {
         std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(value)) => value,
         std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => return std::result::Result::Err(reference_not_found("raw_observation_transaction")),
-        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_observation_lock_transaction")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
-    let state_result = state_row.try_get::<_, std::string::String>("retention_state");
-    let state = match state_result {
-        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => match decode_retention_state(value.as_str()) {
-            std::result::Result::Ok(decoded) => decoded,
-            std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
-        },
-        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_observation_transaction_state")),
+    let state = match decode_retention_state(locked.retention_state.as_str()) {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
     if state == ksp_store_api::RawRetentionState::Purged {
         let commit_result = sql_transaction.commit().await;
@@ -767,11 +801,20 @@ pub(crate) async fn record_raw_transaction_observation(
         }
         return std::result::Result::Ok(ksp_store_api::RawObservationWriteOutcome::NotRecorded);
     }
+    let canonical_variant_result = ensure_v003_transaction_variant_bootstrap(&sql_transaction, &locked, linked_at).await;
+    let canonical_variant_id = match canonical_variant_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
     let observation_result = persist_observation_row(&sql_transaction, network, &observation).await;
     let outcome = match observation_result {
         std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
         std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
+    let link_result = persist_transaction_variant_link(&sql_transaction, &observation, canonical_variant_id, outcome, linked_at).await;
+    if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = link_result {
+        return std::result::Result::Err(error);
+    }
     let commit_result = sql_transaction.commit().await;
     if commit_result.is_err() {
         return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_observation_commit"));
@@ -1024,6 +1067,261 @@ fn validate_retained_payload_bytes(payload: &[u8], phase: &'static str) -> std::
     return std::result::Result::Ok(());
 }
 
+async fn ensure_v003_transaction_variant_bootstrap(
+    sql_transaction: &deadpool_postgres::Transaction<'_>,
+    row: &RawTransactionDbRow,
+    created_at_unix_millis: i64,
+) -> std::result::Result<u64, crate::PostgresBackendError> {
+    let signature_bytes: &[u8] = row.signature.as_slice();
+    let selector_result = sql_transaction.query_opt(SELECT_CANONICAL_VARIANT_ID_SQL, &[&signature_bytes]).await;
+    match selector_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(selector_row)) => {
+            let variant_id_text = match selector_row.try_get::<_, std::string::String>("canonical_variant_id_text") {
+                std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+                std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_selector_id")),
+            };
+            return decode_u64_decimal(variant_id_text.as_str(), "raw_variant_selector_id");
+        },
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => {},
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_selector_query")),
+    }
+    let retention_state = match decode_retention_state(row.retention_state.as_str()) {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    let variant_payload: std::option::Option<&[u8]> = match retention_state {
+        ksp_store_api::RawRetentionState::Full => {
+            if row.archive_payload.is_some() {
+                return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_bootstrap_full_archive"));
+            }
+            match row.payload.as_ref() {
+                std::option::Option::Some(value) => std::option::Option::Some(value.as_slice()),
+                std::option::Option::None => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_bootstrap_full_payload")),
+            }
+        },
+        ksp_store_api::RawRetentionState::Archived => {
+            if row.payload.is_some() || row.archive_payload.is_none() {
+                return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_bootstrap_archived_shape"));
+            }
+            std::option::Option::None
+        },
+        ksp_store_api::RawRetentionState::Purged => {
+            if row.payload.is_some() || row.archive_payload.is_some() || row.block_time_unix_millis.is_some() {
+                return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_bootstrap_purged_shape"));
+            }
+            std::option::Option::None
+        },
+        _ => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_bootstrap_retention_state")),
+    };
+    let variant_id_text = "1";
+    let content_hash_bytes: &[u8] = row.content_hash.as_slice();
+    let insert_result = sql_transaction
+        .execute(
+            INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL,
+            &[
+                &signature_bytes,
+                &variant_id_text,
+                &row.slot_text.as_str(),
+                &row.block_time_unix_millis,
+                &row.format_id.as_str(),
+                &row.format_version,
+                &content_hash_bytes,
+                &variant_payload,
+                &row.retention_state.as_str(),
+                &created_at_unix_millis,
+            ],
+        )
+        .await;
+    match insert_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(1) => {},
+        std::result::Result::Ok(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_bootstrap_insert_count")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_bootstrap_insert")),
+    }
+    let selector_insert_result =
+        sql_transaction.execute(INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SELECTOR_SQL, &[&signature_bytes, &variant_id_text, &created_at_unix_millis]).await;
+    return match selector_insert_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(1) => std::result::Result::Ok(1),
+        std::result::Result::Ok(_) => std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_selector_insert_count")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_selector_insert")),
+    };
+}
+
+async fn persist_or_reuse_native_transaction_variant(
+    sql_transaction: &deadpool_postgres::Transaction<'_>,
+    raw_transaction: &ksp_store_api::RawTransaction,
+    created_at_unix_millis: i64,
+) -> std::result::Result<u64, crate::PostgresBackendError> {
+    let signature = raw_transaction.reference().signature();
+    let signature_bytes: &[u8] = signature.as_bytes();
+    let slot_text = raw_transaction.slot().to_string();
+    let block_time = match raw_transaction.block_time() {
+        std::option::Option::Some(value) => match i64::try_from(value.unix_millis()) {
+            std::result::Result::Ok(decoded) => std::option::Option::Some(decoded),
+            std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_block_time")),
+        },
+        std::option::Option::None => std::option::Option::None,
+    };
+    let format_version = i64::from(raw_transaction.payload().format_version());
+    let content_hash = raw_transaction.payload().content_hash();
+    let content_hash_bytes: &[u8] = content_hash.as_bytes();
+    let payload_bytes = raw_transaction.payload().bytes();
+    let exact_result = sql_transaction
+        .query_opt(
+            SELECT_EXACT_NATIVE_VARIANT_SQL,
+            &[
+                &signature_bytes,
+                &slot_text.as_str(),
+                &block_time,
+                &raw_transaction.payload().format_id().as_str(),
+                &format_version,
+                &content_hash_bytes,
+                &payload_bytes,
+            ],
+        )
+        .await;
+    match exact_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(row)) => {
+            let variant_id_text = match row.try_get::<_, std::string::String>("variant_id_text") {
+                std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+                std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_exact_id")),
+            };
+            return decode_u64_decimal(variant_id_text.as_str(), "raw_variant_exact_id");
+        },
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => {},
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_exact_query")),
+    }
+    let max_result = sql_transaction.query_one(SELECT_MAX_VARIANT_ID_SQL, &[&signature_bytes]).await;
+    let max_row = match max_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_max_query")),
+    };
+    let max_variant_id_text = match max_row.try_get::<_, std::string::String>("variant_id_text") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_max_id")),
+    };
+    let variant_id = match next_transaction_variant_id(max_variant_id_text.as_str()) {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    let variant_id_text = variant_id.to_string();
+    let variant_payload = std::option::Option::Some(payload_bytes);
+    let insert_result = sql_transaction
+        .execute(
+            INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL,
+            &[
+                &signature_bytes,
+                &variant_id_text.as_str(),
+                &slot_text.as_str(),
+                &block_time,
+                &raw_transaction.payload().format_id().as_str(),
+                &format_version,
+                &content_hash_bytes,
+                &variant_payload,
+                &"full",
+                &created_at_unix_millis,
+            ],
+        )
+        .await;
+    return match insert_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(1) => std::result::Result::Ok(variant_id),
+        std::result::Result::Ok(_) => std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_insert_count")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_insert")),
+    };
+}
+
+async fn persist_transaction_variant_link(
+    sql_transaction: &deadpool_postgres::Transaction<'_>,
+    observation: &ksp_store_api::RawTransactionObservation,
+    variant_id: u64,
+    observation_outcome: ksp_store_api::RawObservationWriteOutcome,
+    linked_at_unix_millis: i64,
+) -> std::result::Result<(), crate::PostgresBackendError> {
+    let observation_key = observation.observation_key();
+    let observation_key_bytes: &[u8] = observation_key.as_bytes();
+    let signature = observation.transaction().signature();
+    let signature_bytes: &[u8] = signature.as_bytes();
+    let variant_id_text = variant_id.to_string();
+    if observation_outcome == ksp_store_api::RawObservationWriteOutcome::Inserted {
+        let insert_result = sql_transaction
+            .query_opt(INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL, &[&observation_key_bytes, &signature_bytes, &variant_id_text.as_str(), &linked_at_unix_millis])
+            .await;
+        return match insert_result {
+            std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(_)) => std::result::Result::Ok(()),
+            std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_link_insert_count")),
+            std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_link_insert")),
+        };
+    }
+    if observation_outcome != ksp_store_api::RawObservationWriteOutcome::AlreadyPresent {
+        return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_link_observation_outcome"));
+    }
+    let existing_result = sql_transaction.query_opt(SELECT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL, &[&observation_key_bytes]).await;
+    let existing = match existing_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::Some(value)) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Ok(std::option::Option::None) => return std::result::Result::Ok(()),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_link_query")),
+    };
+    let existing_signature = match existing.try_get::<_, std::vec::Vec<u8>>("transaction_signature") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_link_signature")),
+    };
+    let existing_variant_id_text = match existing.try_get::<_, std::string::String>("variant_id_text") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_link_id")),
+    };
+    let existing_variant_id = match decode_u64_decimal(existing_variant_id_text.as_str(), "raw_variant_link_id") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    if existing_signature.as_slice() != signature_bytes || existing_variant_id != variant_id {
+        return std::result::Result::Err(conflict("raw_variant_link_conflict"));
+    }
+    return std::result::Result::Ok(());
+}
+
+async fn rehydrate_canonical_transaction_variant(
+    sql_transaction: &deadpool_postgres::Transaction<'_>,
+    raw_transaction: &ksp_store_api::RawTransaction,
+    canonical_variant_id: u64,
+) -> std::result::Result<(), crate::PostgresBackendError> {
+    let signature = raw_transaction.reference().signature();
+    let signature_bytes: &[u8] = signature.as_bytes();
+    let variant_id_text = canonical_variant_id.to_string();
+    let block_time = match raw_transaction.block_time() {
+        std::option::Option::Some(value) => match i64::try_from(value.unix_millis()) {
+            std::result::Result::Ok(decoded) => std::option::Option::Some(decoded),
+            std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_rehydrate_block_time")),
+        },
+        std::option::Option::None => std::option::Option::None,
+    };
+    let payload_bytes = raw_transaction.payload().bytes();
+    let update_result = sql_transaction
+        .execute(UPDATE_REHYDRATED_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL, &[&signature_bytes, &variant_id_text.as_str(), &block_time, &payload_bytes])
+        .await;
+    return match update_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(1) => std::result::Result::Ok(()),
+        std::result::Result::Ok(_) => std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_rehydrate_count")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(write_failed("raw_variant_rehydrate")),
+    };
+}
+
+fn next_transaction_variant_id(current_max: &str) -> std::result::Result<u64, crate::PostgresBackendError> {
+    let current = match decode_u64_decimal(current_max, "raw_variant_max_id") {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    return match current.checked_add(1) {
+        std::option::Option::Some(value) if value != 0 => std::result::Result::Ok(value),
+        _ => std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid("raw_variant_id_exhausted")),
+    };
+}
+
+fn raw_variant_timestamp(timestamp: ksp_store_api::RawTimestamp, phase: &'static str) -> std::result::Result<i64, crate::PostgresBackendError> {
+    return match i64::try_from(timestamp.unix_millis()) {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => std::result::Result::Ok(value),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(data_invalid(phase)),
+    };
+}
+
 async fn insert_canonical_transaction(
     sql_transaction: &deadpool_postgres::Transaction<'_>,
     raw_transaction: &ksp_store_api::RawTransaction,
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_foundation_live.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_foundation_live.rs
index c4362da..9c53da9 100644
--- a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_foundation_live.rs
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_foundation_live.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_foundation_live.rs
-// version: 4
+// version: 5
 
 #![warn(missing_docs)]
 #![deny(unreachable_pub)]
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@
 const LIVE_BOOTSTRAP_SQL: &str = include_str!("../migrations/v000_bootstrap/tables/001_ksp_store_schema_migrations.sql");
 const LIVE_BROKEN_CHECKSUM_A: &str = "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000";
 const LIVE_BROKEN_CHECKSUM_B: &str = "ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff";
-const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_DROP_SQL: &str = r#"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observations;
+const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_DROP_SQL: &str = r#"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_variants;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observations;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transactions;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_store_identity;
@@ -28,7 +32,11 @@ const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_EXISTS_SQL: &str = r#"SELECT EXISTS (
           'ksp_store_identity',
           'ksp_raw_transactions',
           'ksp_raw_transaction_observations',
-          'ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads'
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_variants',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts'
       )
       AND table_type = 'BASE TABLE'
 )"#;
@@ -153,7 +161,7 @@ async fn run_foundation_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &str,
     }
     *owns_schema = true;
     let initial_health = initial.health().await;
-    if !initial_health.is_ready() || initial_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2) || initial_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
+    if !initial_health.is_ready() || initial_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3) || initial_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("initial_health"));
     }
     let initial_close = close_backend(initial).await;
@@ -167,7 +175,7 @@ async fn run_foundation_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &str,
     };
     let idempotent_health = idempotent.health().await;
     if !idempotent_health.is_ready()
-        || idempotent_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2)
+        || idempotent_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3)
         || idempotent_health.pending_migration_count() != 0
     {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("idempotent_health"));
@@ -250,7 +258,7 @@ async fn run_foundation_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &str,
         std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
     let final_health = final_backend.health().await;
-    if !final_health.is_ready() || final_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2) || final_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
+    if !final_health.is_ready() || final_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3) || final_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("final_health"));
     }
     return close_backend(final_backend).await;
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_account_live.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_account_live.rs
index fbac2ff..8aa862c 100644
--- a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_account_live.rs
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_account_live.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_account_live.rs
-// version: 2
+// version: 3
 
 #![warn(missing_docs)]
 #![deny(unreachable_pub)]
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ const LIVE_ACCOUNT_STATE_EXISTS_SQL: &str =
     "SELECT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM ksp_raw_account_states WHERE pubkey = $1 AND slot = $2::TEXT::NUMERIC AND state_hash = $3)";
 const LIVE_CANCEL_WAIT: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_millis(300);
 const LIVE_LOCK_ACCOUNT_OBSERVATION_SQL: &str = "SELECT observation_key FROM ksp_raw_account_observations WHERE observation_key = $1 FOR UPDATE";
-const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_DROP_SQL: &str = r#"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_account_observations;
+const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_DROP_SQL: &str = r#"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_variants;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_account_observations;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_account_states;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observations;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads;
@@ -36,6 +40,10 @@ const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_EXISTS_SQL: &str = r#"SELECT EXISTS (
           'ksp_raw_transactions',
           'ksp_raw_transaction_observations',
           'ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_variants',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts',
           'ksp_raw_account_states',
           'ksp_raw_account_observations'
       )
@@ -152,7 +160,7 @@ async fn run_raw_account_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &str,
     };
     *owns_schema = true;
     let initial_health = initial.health().await;
-    if !initial_health.is_ready() || initial_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2) || initial_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
+    if !initial_health.is_ready() || initial_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3) || initial_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("initial_health"));
     }
     let wrong_network_result = open_backend_result(uri, "testnet", true, true).await;
@@ -211,7 +219,7 @@ async fn run_raw_account_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &str,
         std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
     let reopened_health = reopened.health().await;
-    if !reopened_health.is_ready() || reopened_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2) {
+    if !reopened_health.is_ready() || reopened_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3) {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("reopen_health"));
     }
     let reference = match account_reference(10, 100, 10) {
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_transaction_live.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_transaction_live.rs
index 2a0439e..7b5c016 100644
--- a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_transaction_live.rs
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_transaction_live.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/postgres_raw_transaction_live.rs
-// version: 7
+// version: 9
 
 #![warn(missing_docs)]
 #![deny(unreachable_pub)]
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ const LIVE_INDEX_EXISTS_SQL: &str = r#"SELECT EXISTS (
       AND indexname = 'ix_ksp_raw_transactions_slot_signature'
 )"#;
 const LIVE_LOCK_OBSERVATION_SQL: &str = "SELECT observation_key FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations WHERE observation_key = $1 FOR UPDATE";
-const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_DROP_SQL: &str = r#"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_account_observations;
+const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_DROP_SQL: &str = r#"DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_variants;
+DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_account_observations;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_account_states;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_observations;
 DROP TABLE IF EXISTS ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads;
@@ -34,6 +38,10 @@ const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_EXISTS_SQL: &str = r#"SELECT EXISTS (
           'ksp_raw_transactions',
           'ksp_raw_transaction_observations',
           'ksp_raw_transaction_archive_payloads',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_variants',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants',
+          'ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts',
           'ksp_raw_account_states',
           'ksp_raw_account_observations'
       )
@@ -42,6 +50,7 @@ const LIVE_MANAGED_SCHEMA_EXISTS_SQL: &str = r#"SELECT EXISTS (
 const LIVE_MAX_URI_BYTES: usize = 4_096;
 const LIVE_OBSERVATION_EXISTS_SQL: &str = "SELECT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observations WHERE observation_key = $1)";
 const LIVE_TRANSACTION_EXISTS_SQL: &str = "SELECT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM ksp_raw_transactions WHERE signature = $1)";
+const LIVE_VARIANT_IDEMPOTENCE_SQL: &str = "SELECT (SELECT COUNT(*) = 1 FROM ksp_raw_transaction_variants WHERE transaction_signature = $1) AND (SELECT COUNT(*) = 1 FROM ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors WHERE transaction_signature = $1) AND (SELECT COUNT(*) = 1 FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants WHERE transaction_signature = $1) AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants AS mapping INNER JOIN ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors AS selector ON selector.transaction_signature = mapping.transaction_signature AND selector.canonical_variant_id = mapping.variant_id WHERE mapping.observation_key = $2 AND mapping.transaction_signature = $1)";
 
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
 struct LiveFailure {
@@ -157,7 +166,7 @@ async fn run_raw_transaction_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &
     };
     *owns_schema = true;
     let initial_health = initial.health().await;
-    if !initial_health.is_ready() || initial_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2) || initial_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
+    if !initial_health.is_ready() || initial_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3) || initial_health.pending_migration_count() != 0 {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("initial_health"));
     }
     let wrong_network_result = open_backend_result(uri, "testnet", true, true).await;
@@ -197,7 +206,7 @@ async fn run_raw_transaction_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &
     if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = backend_close {
         return std::result::Result::Err(error);
     }
-    let identical_result = prove_concurrent_identical_insert(uri).await;
+    let identical_result = prove_concurrent_identical_insert(admin, uri).await;
     if let std::result::Result::Err(error) = identical_result {
         return std::result::Result::Err(error);
     }
@@ -219,7 +228,7 @@ async fn run_raw_transaction_scenario(admin: &mut tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &
         std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
     };
     let reopened_health = reopened.health().await;
-    if !reopened_health.is_ready() || reopened_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(2) {
+    if !reopened_health.is_ready() || reopened_health.migration_version() != std::option::Option::Some(3) {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("reopen_health"));
     }
     let reference_result = raw_reference(10);
@@ -361,7 +370,7 @@ async fn prove_additional_observation_and_atomic_rollback(backend: &ksp_store_po
     return std::result::Result::Ok(());
 }
 
-async fn prove_concurrent_identical_insert(uri: &str) -> std::result::Result<(), LiveFailure> {
+async fn prove_concurrent_identical_insert(admin: &tokio_postgres::Client, uri: &str) -> std::result::Result<(), LiveFailure> {
     let first = tokio::spawn(persist_once(uri.to_owned(), 20, 2_000, 20, 20));
     let second = tokio::spawn(persist_once(uri.to_owned(), 20, 2_000, 20, 20));
     let first_result = match joined_persist(first.await, "concurrent_identical_first") {
@@ -378,6 +387,17 @@ async fn prove_concurrent_identical_insert(uri: &str) -> std::result::Result<(),
     if inserted != 1 || already != 1 {
         return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("concurrent_identical_outcome"));
     }
+    let reference = match raw_reference(20) {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    };
+    let key = ksp_store_api::RawObservationKey::new([20; 32]);
+    let projection_result = variant_projection_is_exact(admin, &reference, &key).await;
+    match projection_result {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(true) => {},
+        std::result::Result::Ok(false) => return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("concurrent_identical_variant_projection")),
+        std::result::Result::Err(error) => return std::result::Result::Err(error),
+    }
     return std::result::Result::Ok(());
 }
 
@@ -1256,3 +1276,21 @@ async fn observation_exists(client: &tokio_postgres::Client, key: &ksp_store_api
         std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("observation_exists_decode")),
     };
 }
+
+async fn variant_projection_is_exact(
+    client: &tokio_postgres::Client,
+    reference: &ksp_store_api::RawTransactionReference,
+    key: &ksp_store_api::RawObservationKey,
+) -> std::result::Result<bool, LiveFailure> {
+    let signature = reference.signature();
+    let signature_bytes: &[u8] = signature.as_bytes();
+    let key_bytes: &[u8] = key.as_bytes();
+    let row = match client.query_one(LIVE_VARIANT_IDEMPOTENCE_SQL, &[&signature_bytes, &key_bytes]).await {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => value,
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => return std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("variant_projection_probe")),
+    };
+    return match row.try_get::<usize, bool>(0) {
+        std::result::Result::Ok(value) => std::result::Result::Ok(value),
+        std::result::Result::Err(_) => std::result::Result::Err(LiveFailure::new("variant_projection_decode")),
+    };
+}
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/v003_variant_persistence.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/v003_variant_persistence.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2fc2f55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/v003_variant_persistence.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+// file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/tests/v003_variant_persistence.rs
+// version: 1
+
+#![warn(missing_docs)]
+#![deny(unreachable_pub)]
+#![forbid(unsafe_code)]
+
+//! Static completeness canaries for the first V003 variant-aware PostgreSQL write slice.
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_acquisition_orders_identity_lock_bootstrap_observation_and_variant_link_atomically() {
+    let source = include_str!("../src/raw_transaction.rs");
+    let start = source.find("pub(crate) async fn persist_raw_transaction_acquisition(");
+    let end = source.find("pub(crate) async fn record_raw_transaction_observation(");
+    let (start, end) = match (start, end) {
+        (std::option::Option::Some(start), std::option::Option::Some(end)) if start < end => (start, end),
+        _ => panic!("pre.004 acquisition function markers are missing"),
+    };
+    let body = &source[start..end];
+    let lock = body.find("load_locked_transaction_row");
+    let bootstrap = body.find("ensure_v003_transaction_variant_bootstrap");
+    let compare = body.find("compare_existing_transaction");
+    let observation = body.find("persist_observation_row");
+    let link = body.find("persist_transaction_variant_link");
+    assert!(matches!((lock, bootstrap, compare), (Some(lock), Some(bootstrap), Some(compare)) if lock < bootstrap && bootstrap < compare));
+    assert!(matches!((observation, link), (Some(observation), Some(link)) if observation < link));
+    assert!(body.contains("sql_transaction.commit().await"));
+    return;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_native_variant_reuse_is_exact_and_hash_is_only_a_prefilter() {
+    let source = include_str!("../src/raw_transaction.rs");
+    let exact_sql = source.find("const SELECT_EXACT_NATIVE_VARIANT_SQL");
+    let exact_helper = source.find("async fn persist_or_reuse_native_transaction_variant(");
+    assert!(exact_sql.is_some());
+    assert!(exact_helper.is_some());
+    assert!(source.contains("content_hash = $6 AND payload = $7"));
+    assert!(source.contains("block_time_unix_millis IS NOT DISTINCT FROM $3"));
+    assert!(source.contains("origin_kind = 'native'"));
+    assert!(!source.contains("UNIQUE (transaction_signature, content_hash)"));
+    return;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_legacy_observation_without_mapping_is_not_fabricated() {
+    let source = include_str!("../src/raw_transaction.rs");
+    let start = source.find("async fn persist_transaction_variant_link(");
+    let end = source.find("async fn rehydrate_canonical_transaction_variant(");
+    let (start, end) = match (start, end) {
+        (std::option::Option::Some(start), std::option::Option::Some(end)) if start < end => (start, end),
+        _ => panic!("pre.004 observation-variant link markers are missing"),
+    };
+    let body = &source[start..end];
+    assert!(body.contains("RawObservationWriteOutcome::Inserted"));
+    assert!(body.contains("RawObservationWriteOutcome::AlreadyPresent"));
+    assert!(body.contains("Ok(std::option::Option::None) => return std::result::Result::Ok(())"));
+    return;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_keeps_comparator_and_durable_conflict_scope_deferred() {
+    let source = include_str!("../src/raw_transaction.rs");
+    assert!(!source.contains("RawTransactionVariantRelation::"));
+    assert!(!source.contains("INSERT INTO ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts"));
+    assert!(!source.contains("UPDATE ksp_raw_transaction_canonical_selectors SET canonical_variant_id"));
+    return;
+}
diff --git a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/unit_tests/raw_transaction.rs b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/unit_tests/raw_transaction.rs
index 08dd226..a4fc746 100644
--- a/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/unit_tests/raw_transaction.rs
+++ b/crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/unit_tests/raw_transaction.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 // file: crates/ksp-store-postgres-lib/unit_tests/raw_transaction.rs
-// version: 10
+// version: 11
 
 fn network() -> ksp_store_api::RawNetworkId {
     return match ksp_store_api::RawNetworkId::new("devnet") {
@@ -817,3 +817,33 @@ fn pre_007_retained_payload_shape_rejects_empty_and_oversized_bytes() {
     assert_eq!(oversized.err().map(|value| return value.kind()), std::option::Option::Some(crate::PostgresBackendErrorKind::DataInvalid));
     return;
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_variant_id_allocation_is_monotonic_and_bounded() {
+    assert_eq!(super::next_transaction_variant_id("0"), std::result::Result::Ok(1));
+    assert_eq!(super::next_transaction_variant_id("1"), std::result::Result::Ok(2));
+    let exhausted = super::next_transaction_variant_id(u64::MAX.to_string().as_str()).err();
+    assert_eq!(exhausted.as_ref().map(|value| return value.kind()), std::option::Option::Some(crate::PostgresBackendErrorKind::DataInvalid));
+    assert_eq!(exhausted.as_ref().map(|value| return value.phase()), std::option::Option::Some("raw_variant_id_exhausted"));
+    return;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_variant_sql_uses_exact_content_and_identity_locking() {
+    assert!(super::LOCK_TRANSACTION_SQL.contains("FOR UPDATE"));
+    assert!(super::SELECT_EXACT_NATIVE_VARIANT_SQL.contains("content_hash = $6"));
+    assert!(super::SELECT_EXACT_NATIVE_VARIANT_SQL.contains("payload = $7"));
+    assert!(super::SELECT_EXACT_NATIVE_VARIANT_SQL.contains("origin_kind = 'native'"));
+    assert!(super::SELECT_MAX_VARIANT_ID_SQL.contains("MAX(variant_id)"));
+    assert!(!super::INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL.contains("ON CONFLICT"));
+    assert!(!super::INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_SQL.contains("UNIQUE"));
+    return;
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn v0_3_16_pre_004_variant_link_contract_keeps_legacy_observations_unfabricated() {
+    assert!(super::INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL.contains("ksp_raw_transaction_observation_variants"));
+    assert!(super::SELECT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL.contains("WHERE observation_key = $1"));
+    assert!(!super::INSERT_TRANSACTION_VARIANT_LINK_SQL.contains("ON CONFLICT"));
+    return;
+}
diff --git a/deltas/0.3.16/pre.004.md b/deltas/0.3.16/pre.004.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a1c0db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deltas/0.3.16/pre.004.md
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+<!-- file: deltas/0.3.16/pre.004.md -->
+<!-- version: 1 -->
+
+# Delta `0.3.16-pre.004` — persistance PostgreSQL V003 des variantes RAW
+
+## Base requise
+
+```text
+0.3.16-pre.003-fix.002 appliquée
+workspace.package.version = 0.3.16-pre.3.fix.2
+```
+
+Le gate opérateur de la base est confirmé propre : audits Rust/export/KSP/Markdown, `cargo check --workspace`, Clippy `-D warnings`, 82 tests unitaires `ksp-store-postgres-lib` et toutes les suites d'intégration ciblées passent. Les trois preuves PostgreSQL live restent opt-in.
+
+## Version
+
+Cette tranche modifie le runtime PostgreSQL :
+
+```text
+workspace.package.version = 0.3.16-pre.4
+```
+
+## Portée
+
+Cette tranche branche la persistance RAW existante sur les surfaces V003 créées par `pre.003`, sans introduire encore le comparateur backend-neutral de `pre.005`, la promotion canonique de `pre.006` ni le dossier de conflit durable de `pre.007`.
+
+Le backend PostgreSQL fournit désormais :
+
+- un bootstrap paresseux V003 sous le verrou transactionnel de l'identité V001 ;
+- une variante bootstrap `variant_id = 1` représentant l'état canonique réellement disponible lorsqu'aucun selector V003 n'existe encore ;
+- un selector canonique initial de revision `1` créé atomiquement avec cette variante ;
+- la réutilisation d'une variante native uniquement après comparaison exacte de `slot`, `block_time`, format, version, `content_hash` et payload ;
+- `content_hash` comme préfiltre de recherche, jamais comme preuve d'égalité ;
+- une allocation monotone et bornée du prochain `variant_id` sous le verrou de l'identité ;
+- le rattachement atomique de toute nouvelle observation persistée à la variante réellement reçue ;
+- le rattachement des observations supplémentaires sans payload au selector canonique courant ;
+- la conservation explicite des observations legacy déjà présentes mais sans mapping V003 : aucune association historique n'est fabriquée ;
+- la réhydratation de la variante canonique bootstrap lorsqu'un tombstone legacy V001 est réhydraté avec preuve d'identité/hash existante.
+
+Le cas de compatibilité étroit déjà admis en `0.3.15`, `ActiveIncomingTruncatedLogs`, matérialise maintenant l'entrant tronqué comme variante native distincte et rattache son observation à cette variante sans modifier le canonique.
+
+## Atomicité et concurrence
+
+L'acquisition reste une seule transaction PostgreSQL :
+
+```text
+BEGIN
+insert/collision V001
+lock identité V001 FOR UPDATE
+bootstrap selector/variant V003 si absent
+comparaison canonique existante
+réutilisation/insertion exacte de variante native si nécessaire
+insertion/idempotence observation
+rattachement observation -> variante
+COMMIT
+```
+
+Le verrou de l'identité sérialise l'allocation de `variant_id` et empêche deux writers concurrents de créer deux variantes pour un même contenu exact.
+
+Une preuve PostgreSQL live existante est étendue : après deux acquisitions identiques concurrentes, elle exige exactement une variante, un selector canonique, un mapping d'observation et l'égalité entre la variante mappée et le selector.
+
+## Rétention
+
+Cette tranche ne met pas encore le ledger V003 sous une politique de rétention indépendante.
+
+Une variante native déjà matérialisée peut donc conserver ses bytes `full` même si la projection V001 canonique passe ensuite `archived` ou `purged`. Ce comportement est volontaire : la rétention, les pins, les purge guards et le rollback local des variantes sont réservés à `0.3.17-pre.003`.
+
+Pour une identité legacy bootstrapée alors que V001 est déjà `archived` ou `purged`, la variante bootstrap reflète uniquement l'état réellement disponible et ne prétend pas reconstruire des bytes perdus.
+
+## Hors scope maintenu
+
+Cette tranche n'ajoute pas :
+
+- `RawTransactionVariantRelation` dans le backend PostgreSQL ;
+- dominance `CompatibleLessComplete` / `CompatibleMoreComplete` générique ;
+- promotion ou remplacement du selector canonique ;
+- écriture dans `ksp_raw_transaction_conflicts` ;
+- dossier de conflit durable non terminal ;
+- Store retry Worker ;
+- inspection/résolution Store Desk ;
+- rétention propre aux variantes.
+
+Aucune ressource SQL V003 et aucun fichier historique `migration.rs` / `schema.rs` ne sont modifiés.
+
+## Tests et canaris
+
+Les tests unitaires ajoutés verrouillent :
+
+- allocation `variant_id` monotone et bornée ;
+- recherche exacte incluant le payload et ne reposant pas sur le hash seul ;
+- absence de `ON CONFLICT` masquant une collision d'identité de variante ;
+- absence de fabrication de mapping pour une observation legacy.
+
+Le canari d'intégration `v003_variant_persistence.rs` verrouille :
+
+- l'ordre lock -> bootstrap -> comparaison ;
+- l'ordre observation -> mapping -> commit ;
+- la comparaison exacte avant réutilisation ;
+- l'absence de promotion canonique et de conflit durable avant leurs tranches dédiées.
+
+Les trois tests PostgreSQL live existants sont alignés sur `migration_version = 3` et nettoient désormais aussi les quatre tables V003.
+
+## Validation exécutée lors de la génération
+
+Les scripts Python réels du checkout complet sont exécutés sur l'état final du delta avant archivage.
+
+Le toolchain Rust n'est pas disponible dans l'environnement de génération ; les gates Cargo restent opérateur.
+
+## Validation opérateur demandée
+
+```bash
+cargo fmt --all
+cargo fmt --all -- --check
+
+python3 scripts/audit_rust_workspace_rules.py
+python3 scripts/audit_markdown_tables.py README.md RULES.md ROADMAP.md CHANGELOG.md docs prompts crates deltas
+
+cargo check --workspace
+cargo clippy --workspace --all-targets --all-features -- -D warnings
+cargo test -p ksp-store-postgres-lib --all-targets --all-features
+```
+
+La preuve PostgreSQL réelle reste opt-in et peut être exécutée séparément sur une base dédiée lorsque souhaité.
+
+## Suite
+
+Après gate propre : `0.3.16-pre.005` — comparateur partagé backend-neutral `Exact | CompatibleLessComplete | CompatibleMoreComplete | Conflict | Incomparable`, avec canaris `logMessages` bidirectionnels et politique fail-closed sur les autres champs.