diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 6e80be1..7c62e66 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2703,6 +2703,8 @@ checksum = "a357d28ed41a50f9c765dbfe56cbc04a64e53e5fc58ba79fbc34c10ef3df831f"
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-balances-tx-payment"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "be09b48ab6e4cdf6316cd3faf036940c4517d149499f07c9e3ddfb70dcc71488"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-support",
@@ -2715,9 +2717,36 @@ dependencies = [
  "sp-runtime",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc"
+version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "8583b249b884e661790afe7a998562ce7028e83c6078013b23621dfa0c995bce"
+dependencies = [
+ "encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc-runtime-api",
+ "encointer-primitives",
+ "encointer-rpc",
+ "jsonrpsee",
+ "log",
+ "pallet-transaction-payment",
+ "pallet-transaction-payment-rpc",
+ "parity-scale-codec",
+ "parking_lot 0.12.1",
+ "sc-rpc",
+ "sc-rpc-api",
+ "sp-api",
+ "sp-blockchain",
+ "sp-core",
+ "sp-rpc",
+ "sp-runtime",
+ "thiserror",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc-runtime-api"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "817560882892e4527f08b152a300772057317725a335e15ce654a07adb60d9d8"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-support",
@@ -2730,6 +2759,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-ceremonies-assignment"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "06fb1e51610f1aedf130a9909977943e75de4d44218c60fc73f78b8b410ef872"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "sp-runtime",
@@ -2757,6 +2788,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "cumulus-relay-chain-inprocess-interface",
  "cumulus-relay-chain-interface",
  "cumulus-relay-chain-rpc-interface",
+ "encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc",
  "encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc-runtime-api",
  "encointer-kusama-runtime",
  "frame-benchmarking",
@@ -2823,6 +2855,7 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-kusama-runtime"
 version = "1.0.0"
+source = "git+https://github.com/encointer/runtimes.git?branch=ab/introduce_collator-selection#264d867610f6b9c8bb86598862a30bf92d12d62a"
 dependencies = [
  "cumulus-pallet-aura-ext",
  "cumulus-pallet-parachain-system",
@@ -2900,6 +2933,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-meetup-validation"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "4f7840e8d6e88ac1f2393f6cf5003471663585f8c43d94b26c2e3d4376248148"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "parity-scale-codec",
@@ -2912,6 +2947,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-primitives"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "bf4b67ace89f88af02b70f36c8668222bcfc3ac0cac48ac92007ed1218a7643e"
 dependencies = [
  "bs58 0.5.1",
  "crc",
@@ -2931,6 +2968,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "encointer-rpc"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "d2dd4255adcf89012e75724cc404000c9008bfe4d59eae12691b153fd87191e0"
 dependencies = [
  "jsonrpsee",
  "jsonrpsee-core",
@@ -3003,6 +3042,8 @@ checksum = "e48c92028aaa870e83d51c64e5d4e0b6981b360c522198c23959f219a4e1b15b"
 [[package]]
 name = "ep-core"
 version = "6.0.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "0b20f3b698c54e106bcb0533055bf99d64ae9c53261e7ed24366d1ca729a1259"
 dependencies = [
  "array-bytes 6.2.2",
  "impl-serde",
@@ -6539,6 +6580,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-balances"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "fb968c2b87c3ef3ef67e5da9237b6c9b32218762b9e69bf523ddea4f55a5f260"
 dependencies = [
  "approx",
  "encointer-primitives",
@@ -6557,6 +6600,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-bazaar"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c1a4f6a43dce9ec7470ce65716b7009e86eda70f18e3f7690a4841a05d471f10"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-benchmarking",
@@ -6573,6 +6618,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "1f6c04106fbea30496065f4fb6dab694d2ab302dbe2ac1fce102e71002843a90"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "encointer-rpc",
@@ -6592,6 +6639,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc-runtime-api"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "430c3a5bcaa9d2fd7ab314b8e50222c8645699b3157448eabed64b65ad4cf801"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-support",
@@ -6603,6 +6652,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-ceremonies"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "87c965513d515c8b74d1d526f999d58aad713462887e290c5295ae2ca13f4b97"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-ceremonies-assignment",
  "encointer-meetup-validation",
@@ -6627,6 +6678,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "bf89bf4659e84301332b12fd11688f4e8798b804a83c5701dae78bcb65fb4b68"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "encointer-rpc",
@@ -6646,6 +6699,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc-runtime-api"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "562c6c756d356318dead2e90710b1c7cee12a6e2ff9aa555e6782ba5202fcde0"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-support",
@@ -6657,6 +6712,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-communities"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "efdbb9bac32cd764992ced4055e76c6d09907f5ac3863d1d19f14edda7eaa3ac"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-benchmarking",
@@ -6675,6 +6732,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-communities-rpc"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "53da1621388859e89f8b067dca9ca6dcf587755b81ca9c455e7cc3332a8d2f3d"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "encointer-rpc",
@@ -6695,6 +6754,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-communities-rpc-runtime-api"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "c10de1b47024c9c7a957521eb29edcf7c9cf31d8c70eee7e991d11f43d137606"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "parity-scale-codec",
@@ -6705,6 +6766,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-faucet"
 version = "6.2.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "3024bc49c1fd7fffa68f4aa636b199c7a0772690049d0471a6b60d17080024d8"
 dependencies = [
  "approx",
  "encointer-primitives",
@@ -6724,6 +6787,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-reputation-commitments"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9029fcdd0cd76e41d067bcf7f09860b4018de9c5382ab1b8006823e2fa148ac5"
 dependencies = [
  "approx",
  "encointer-primitives",
@@ -6745,6 +6810,8 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "pallet-encointer-scheduler"
 version = "6.1.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "a13047a59df28111d0e6bd64ca45fa95fe1b97021ba244fe3f7fe3a2edbf2e2c"
 dependencies = [
  "encointer-primitives",
  "frame-benchmarking",
@@ -14944,11 +15011,3 @@ dependencies = [
  "cc",
  "pkg-config",
 ]
-
-[[patch.unused]]
-name = "kusama-runtime-constants"
-version = "1.0.0"
-
-[[patch.unused]]
-name = "encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc"
-version = "6.1.0"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 876a001..2c3664d 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -42,10 +42,11 @@ pallet-encointer-scheduler = { default-features = false, version = "~6.1.0" }
 pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc = "~6.1.0"
 pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc = "~6.1.0"
 pallet-encointer-communities-rpc = "~6.1.0"
+encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc = "~6.1.0"
 
 # fellowship runtimes. do not depend on fellow-runtimes directly, so we can upgrade at our own pace
-kusama-runtime-constants = { default-features = false, git = "https://github.com/encointer/runtimes.git", branch = "ab/upgrade-encointer-to-6.1" }
-parachain-runtime = { package = "encointer-kusama-runtime", git = "https://github.com/encointer/runtimes.git", branch = "ab/upgrade-encointer-to-6.1" }
+kusama-runtime-constants = { default-features = false, git = "https://github.com/encointer/runtimes.git", branch = "ab/introduce_collator-selection" }
+parachain-runtime = { package = "encointer-kusama-runtime", git = "https://github.com/encointer/runtimes.git", branch = "ab/introduce_collator-selection" }
 
 # polkadot-sdk [no_std]
 cumulus-pallet-aura-ext = { default-features = false, version = "0.8.0" }
@@ -144,26 +145,26 @@ substrate-build-script-utils = "11.0.0"
 substrate-prometheus-endpoint = "0.17.0"
 
 # ### only while debugging/developping
-[patch."https://github.com/encointer/runtimes"]
-kusama-runtime-constants = { path = "../runtimes/relay/kusama/constants" }
-parachain-runtime = { package = "encointer-kusama-runtime", path = "../runtimes/system-parachains/encointer" }
-
-[patch.crates-io]
-encointer-balances-tx-payment = { path = "../pallets/balances-tx-payment" }
-encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc = { path = "../pallets/balances-tx-payment/rpc" }
-encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/balances-tx-payment/rpc/runtime-api" }
-encointer-ceremonies-assignment = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies/assignment" }
-encointer-primitives = { path = "../pallets/primitives" }
-pallet-encointer-ceremonies = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies" }
-pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies/rpc" }
-pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies/rpc/runtime-api" }
-pallet-encointer-communities = { path = "../pallets/communities" }
-pallet-encointer-communities-rpc = { path = "../pallets/communities/rpc" }
-pallet-encointer-communities-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/communities/rpc/runtime-api" }
-pallet-encointer-balances = { path = "../pallets/balances" }
-pallet-encointer-scheduler = { path = "../pallets/scheduler" }
-pallet-encointer-bazaar = { path = "../pallets/bazaar" }
-pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc = { path = "../pallets/bazaar/rpc" }
-pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/bazaar/rpc/runtime-api" }
-pallet-encointer-faucet = { path = "../pallets/faucet" }
-pallet-encointer-reputation-commitments = { path = "../pallets/reputation-commitments" }
+#[patch."https://github.com/encointer/runtimes"]
+#kusama-runtime-constants = { path = "../runtimes/relay/kusama/constants" }
+#parachain-runtime = { package = "encointer-kusama-runtime", path = "../runtimes/system-parachains/encointer" }
+#
+#[patch.crates-io]
+#encointer-balances-tx-payment = { path = "../pallets/balances-tx-payment" }
+#encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc = { path = "../pallets/balances-tx-payment/rpc" }
+#encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/balances-tx-payment/rpc/runtime-api" }
+#encointer-ceremonies-assignment = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies/assignment" }
+#encointer-primitives = { path = "../pallets/primitives" }
+#pallet-encointer-ceremonies = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies" }
+#pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies/rpc" }
+#pallet-encointer-ceremonies-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/ceremonies/rpc/runtime-api" }
+#pallet-encointer-communities = { path = "../pallets/communities" }
+#pallet-encointer-communities-rpc = { path = "../pallets/communities/rpc" }
+#pallet-encointer-communities-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/communities/rpc/runtime-api" }
+#pallet-encointer-balances = { path = "../pallets/balances" }
+#pallet-encointer-scheduler = { path = "../pallets/scheduler" }
+#pallet-encointer-bazaar = { path = "../pallets/bazaar" }
+#pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc = { path = "../pallets/bazaar/rpc" }
+#pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc-runtime-api = { path = "../pallets/bazaar/rpc/runtime-api" }
+#pallet-encointer-faucet = { path = "../pallets/faucet" }
+#pallet-encointer-reputation-commitments = { path = "../pallets/reputation-commitments" }
diff --git a/node/Cargo.toml b/node/Cargo.toml
index d88a6e6..2353526 100644
--- a/node/Cargo.toml
+++ b/node/Cargo.toml
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ serde_json = { workspace = true }
 parachain-runtime = { workspace = true, features = ["std"] }
 
 # encointer dependencies
+encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc = { workspace = true }
 encointer-balances-tx-payment-rpc-runtime-api = { workspace = true, features = ["std"] }
 pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc = { workspace = true }
 pallet-encointer-bazaar-rpc-runtime-api = { workspace = true, features = ["std"] }
diff --git a/node/src/chain_spec.rs b/node/src/chain_spec.rs
index 8a708f2..f15a0b1 100644
--- a/node/src/chain_spec.rs
+++ b/node/src/chain_spec.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 use cumulus_primitives_core::ParaId;
 use parachain_runtime::{BalanceType, CeremonyPhaseType};
-use parachains_common::{AccountId, AuraId, Balance};
+use parachains_common::{AccountId, Balance};
 use parity_scale_codec::{Decode, Encode};
 use sc_chain_spec::{ChainSpecExtension, ChainSpecGroup};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
diff --git a/node/src/rpc.rs b/node/src/rpc.rs
index 91f5f98..28ec6ef 100644
--- a/node/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/node/src/rpc.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ where
 	TBackend: sc_client_api::Backend<Block>, // added by encointer
 	<TBackend as sc_client_api::Backend<Block>>::OffchainStorage: 'static, // added by encointer
 {
+	use encointer_balances_tx_payment_rpc::{BalancesTxPaymentApiServer, BalancesTxPaymentRpc};
 	use frame_rpc_system::{System, SystemApiServer};
 	use pallet_encointer_bazaar_rpc::{BazaarApiServer, BazaarRpc};
 	use pallet_encointer_ceremonies_rpc::{CeremoniesApiServer, CeremoniesRpc};
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ where
 
 	module.merge(System::new(client.clone(), pool, deny_unsafe).into_rpc())?;
 	module.merge(TransactionPayment::new(client.clone()).into_rpc())?;
+	module.merge(BalancesTxPaymentRpc::new(client.clone()).into_rpc())?;
 	module.merge(BazaarRpc::new(client.clone()).into_rpc())?;
 
 	match backend.offchain_storage() {