diff --git a/hydra-cluster/src/Hydra/Cluster/Scenarios.hs b/hydra-cluster/src/Hydra/Cluster/Scenarios.hs
index de3312b4ee8..934073511eb 100644
--- a/hydra-cluster/src/Hydra/Cluster/Scenarios.hs
+++ b/hydra-cluster/src/Hydra/Cluster/Scenarios.hs
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import Hydra.API.HTTPServer (
   TransactionSubmitted (..),
  )
 import Hydra.Cardano.Api (
+  defaultTxBodyContent,
   Coin (..),
   File (File),
   Key (SigningKey),
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ import Hydra.Cluster.Fixture (Actor (..), actorName, alice, aliceSk, aliceVk, bo
 import Hydra.Cluster.Mithril (MithrilLog)
 import Hydra.Cluster.Options (Options)
 import Hydra.Cluster.Util (chainConfigFor, keysFor, modifyConfig, setNetworkId)
-import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano (addInputs, emptyTxBody, mkSimpleTx, mkTransferTx, unsafeBuildTransaction)
+import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano (addInputs, mkSimpleTx, mkTransferTx, unsafeBuildTransaction)
 import Hydra.Logging (Tracer, traceWith)
 import Hydra.Options (DirectChainConfig (..), networkId, startChainFrom)
 import Hydra.Tx (HeadId, IsTx (balance), Party, txId)
@@ -457,7 +458,7 @@ singlePartyCommitsScriptBlueprint tracer workDir node hydraScriptsTxId =
               mkScriptWitness serializedScript (mkScriptDatum ()) (toScriptData ())
     let spendingTx =
           unsafeBuildTransaction $
-            emptyTxBody
+            defaultTxBodyContent
               & addInputs [(scriptIn, scriptWitness)]
     pure
       ( Aeson.object
diff --git a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano.hs b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano.hs
index 6e3b13bcb07..cb524a303c6 100644
--- a/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano.hs
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ mkSimpleTx (txin, TxOut owner valueIn datum refScript) (recipient, valueOut) sk
   pure $ makeSignedTransaction witnesses body
  where
   bodyContent =
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       { txIns = [(txin, BuildTxWith $ KeyWitness KeyWitnessForSpending)]
       , txOuts = outs
       , txFee = TxFeeExplicit fee
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ mkRangedTx (txin, TxOut owner valueIn datum refScript) (recipient, valueOut) sk
   pure $ makeSignedTransaction witnesses body
  where
   bodyContent =
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       { txIns = [(txin, BuildTxWith $ KeyWitness KeyWitnessForSpending)]
       , txOuts =
           TxOut @CtxTx recipient valueOut TxOutDatumNone ReferenceScriptNone
diff --git a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs
index f08d9d55c5f..d4b603484b7 100644
--- a/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs
+++ b/hydra-node/test/Hydra/Chain/Direct/TxSpec.hs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import Hydra.Chain.Direct.Tx (
  )
 import Hydra.Contract.Dummy (dummyValidatorScript)
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadTokens (headPolicyId)
-import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (addInputs, addReferenceInputs, addVkInputs, emptyTxBody, unsafeBuildTransaction)
+import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (addInputs, addReferenceInputs, addVkInputs, unsafeBuildTransaction)
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Evaluate (propTransactionEvaluates)
 import Hydra.Tx.BlueprintTx (CommitBlueprintTx (..))
 import Hydra.Tx.Commit (commitTx)
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ propIsSubmapOf as bs =
 genBlueprintTxWithUTxO :: Gen (UTxO, Tx)
 genBlueprintTxWithUTxO =
   fmap (second unsafeBuildTransaction) $
-    spendingPubKeyOutput (mempty, emptyTxBody)
+    spendingPubKeyOutput (mempty, defaultTxBodyContent)
       >>= spendSomeScriptInputs
       >>= addSomeReferenceInputs
       >>= addValidityRange
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano/Builder.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano/Builder.hs
index bd996c69643..256c06f79a4 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano/Builder.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Ledger/Cardano/Builder.hs
@@ -34,50 +34,6 @@ data InvalidTransactionException = InvalidTransactionException
 
 instance Exception InvalidTransactionException
 
--- * Constructing
-
--- | An empty 'TxBodyContent' with all empty/zero values to be extended using
--- record updates.
---
--- NOTE: 'makeTransactionBody' throws when one tries to build a transaction
--- with scripts but no collaterals. This is unfortunate because collaterals are
--- currently added after by our integrated wallet.
---
--- Similarly, 'makeTransactionBody' throws when building a transaction with
--- scripts and no protocol parameters (needed to compute the script integrity
--- hash). This is also added by our wallet at the moment and this ugly
--- work-around will be removed eventually (related item
--- [215](https://github.com/cardano-scaling/hydra/issues/215).
---
--- So we currently bypass this by having default but seemingly innofensive
--- values for collaterals and protocol params in the 'empty' value
-emptyTxBody :: TxBodyContent BuildTx
-emptyTxBody =
-  TxBodyContent
-    mempty -- inputs
-    (TxInsCollateral mempty)
-    TxInsReferenceNone
-    mempty -- outputs
-    TxTotalCollateralNone
-    TxReturnCollateralNone
-    (TxFeeExplicit 0)
-    TxValidityNoLowerBound
-    TxValidityNoUpperBound
-    TxMetadataNone
-    TxAuxScriptsNone
-    (BuildTxWith TxSupplementalDataNone)
-    TxExtraKeyWitnessesNone
-    (BuildTxWith $ Just $ LedgerProtocolParameters def)
-    TxWithdrawalsNone
-    TxCertificatesNone
-    TxUpdateProposalNone
-    TxMintValueNone
-    TxScriptValidityNone
-    Nothing
-    Nothing
-    Nothing
-    Nothing
-
 -- | Add new inputs to an ongoing builder.
 addInputs :: TxIns BuildTx -> TxBodyContent BuildTx -> TxBodyContent BuildTx
 addInputs ins tx =
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Abort.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Abort.hs
index f6817c27368..64034792d3c 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Abort.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Abort.hs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
   burnTokens,
-  emptyTxBody,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
 import Hydra.Plutus (commitValidatorScript, initialValidatorScript)
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ abortTx committedUTxO scriptRegistry vk (headInput, initialHeadOutput) headToken
   | otherwise =
       Right $
         unsafeBuildTransaction $
-          emptyTxBody
+          defaultTxBodyContent
             & addInputs ((headInput, headWitness) : initialInputs <> commitInputs)
             & addReferenceInputs ([headScriptRef, initialScriptRef] <> [commitScriptRef | not $ null commitInputs])
             & addOutputs reimbursedOutputs
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Close.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Close.hs
index bd0c4808bab..d183f34b145 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Close.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Close.hs
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addInputs,
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
-  emptyTxBody,
   setValidityLowerBound,
   setValidityUpperBound,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
@@ -69,7 +68,7 @@ closeTx ::
   Tx
 closeTx scriptRegistry vk headId openVersion confirmedSnapshot startSlotNo (endSlotNo, utcTime) openThreadOutput =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs [(headInput, headWitness)]
       & addReferenceInputs [headScriptRef]
       & addOutputs [headOutputAfter]
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/CollectCom.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/CollectCom.hs
index ad3848f5ab6..0becda0a34a 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/CollectCom.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/CollectCom.hs
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addInputs,
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
-  emptyTxBody,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
 import Hydra.Plutus (commitValidatorScript)
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ collectComTx ::
   Tx
 collectComTx networkId scriptRegistry vk headId headParameters (headInput, initialHeadOutput) commits utxoToCollect =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs ((headInput, headWitness) : (mkCommit <$> Map.keys commits))
       & addReferenceInputs [commitScriptRef, headScriptRef]
       & addOutputs [headOutput]
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Contest.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Contest.hs
index 519dbf809e9..7156b18564d 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Contest.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Contest.hs
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addInputs,
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
-  emptyTxBody,
   setValidityUpperBound,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
@@ -62,7 +61,7 @@ contestTx ::
   Tx
 contestTx scriptRegistry vk headId contestationPeriod openVersion Snapshot{number, utxo, utxoToDecommit, version} sig (slotNo, _) closedThreadOutput =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs [(headInput, headWitness)]
       & addReferenceInputs [headScriptRef]
       & addOutputs [headOutputAfter]
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Decrement.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Decrement.hs
index f1ea3b1793e..6c130faf07d 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Decrement.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Decrement.hs
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addInputs,
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
-  emptyTxBody,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
 import Hydra.Tx.ContestationPeriod (toChain)
@@ -43,7 +42,7 @@ decrementTx ::
   Tx
 decrementTx scriptRegistry vk headId headParameters (headInput, headOutput) snapshot signatures =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs [(headInput, headWitness)]
       & addReferenceInputs [headScriptRef]
       & addOutputs (headOutput' : map toTxContext decommitOutputs)
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Fanout.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Fanout.hs
index 4a5776f2db2..f60e37a9b1a 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Fanout.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Fanout.hs
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
   burnTokens,
-  emptyTxBody,
   setValidityLowerBound,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
@@ -37,7 +36,7 @@ fanoutTx ::
   Tx
 fanoutTx scriptRegistry utxo utxoToDecommit (headInput, headOutput) deadlineSlotNo headTokenScript =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs [(headInput, headWitness)]
       & addReferenceInputs [headScriptRef]
       & addOutputs (orderedTxOutsToFanout <> orderedTxOutsToDecommit)
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Increment.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Increment.hs
index 41e0f8ef1f1..c34e4d7441e 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Increment.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Increment.hs
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addInputs,
   addOutputs,
   addReferenceInputs,
-  emptyTxBody,
   setValidityUpperBound,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
@@ -48,7 +47,7 @@ incrementTx ::
   Tx
 incrementTx scriptRegistry vk headId headParameters (headInput, headOutput) snapshot depositScriptUTxO upperValiditySlot =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs [(headInput, headWitness), (depositIn, depositWitness)]
       & addReferenceInputs [headScriptRef]
       & addOutputs [headOutput']
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Init.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Init.hs
index 5edd0e859ac..9c5aa03dc4d 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Init.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Init.hs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import Hydra.Contract.HeadState qualified as Head
 import Hydra.Contract.HeadTokens qualified as HeadTokens
 import Hydra.Contract.Initial qualified as Initial
 import Hydra.Contract.MintAction (MintAction (..))
-import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (addOutputs, addVkInputs, emptyTxBody, mintTokens, unsafeBuildTransaction)
+import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (addOutputs, addVkInputs, mintTokens, unsafeBuildTransaction)
 import Hydra.Plutus (initialValidatorScript)
 import Hydra.Tx.ContestationPeriod (toChain)
 import Hydra.Tx.HeadParameters (HeadParameters (..))
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ initTx ::
   Tx
 initTx networkId seedTxIn participants parameters =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addVkInputs [seedTxIn]
       & addOutputs
         ( mkHeadOutputInitial networkId seedTxIn parameters
diff --git a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs
index 9505df15eab..10d2146e60b 100644
--- a/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs
+++ b/hydra-tx/src/Hydra/Tx/Recover.hs
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import Hydra.Contract.Deposit qualified as Deposit
 import Hydra.Ledger.Cardano.Builder (
   addInputs,
   addOutputs,
-  emptyTxBody,
   setValidityLowerBound,
   unsafeBuildTransaction,
  )
@@ -27,7 +26,7 @@ recoverTx ::
   Tx
 recoverTx depositTxId deposited lowerBoundSlot =
   unsafeBuildTransaction $
-    emptyTxBody
+    defaultTxBodyContent
       & addInputs recoverInputs
       & addOutputs depositOutputs
       & setValidityLowerBound lowerBoundSlot