diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ddb241f..e1e54d4 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ Notes:
 
 \- [Peter Taoussanis](https://www.taoensso.com)
 
+---
+
 # `v3.4.1` (2024-05-02)
 
 > **Dep**: Nippy is [on Clojars](https://clojars.org/com.taoensso/nippy/versions/3.4.1).  
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 86dbde1..4cc9792 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <a href="https://www.taoensso.com/clojure" title="More stuff by @ptaoussanis at www.taoensso.com"><img src="https://www.taoensso.com/open-source.png" alt="Taoensso open source" width="340"/></a>  
-[**Documentation**](#documentation) | [Latest releases](#latest-releases) | [Get support][GitHub issues]
+[**API**][cljdoc docs] | [**Wiki**][GitHub wiki] | [Latest releases](#latest-releases) | [Get support][GitHub issues]
 
 # Nippy
 
diff --git a/src/taoensso/nippy.clj b/src/taoensso/nippy.clj
index 1ed420e..7dbbae0 100644
--- a/src/taoensso/nippy.clj
+++ b/src/taoensso/nippy.clj
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     PersistentQueue PersistentTreeMap PersistentTreeSet PersistentList
     MapEntry LazySeq IRecord ISeq IType]))
 
-(enc/assert-min-encore-version [3 112 0])
+(enc/assert-min-encore-version [3 127 0])
 
 (comment
   (set! *unchecked-math* :warn-on-boxed)
@@ -300,14 +300,14 @@
     - `payload-spec` examples:
       - nil                        ; No spec available (e.g. unpredictable payload)
       - []                         ; Type has no payload
-      - [[:bytes 4]]               ; Type has a payload of exactly 4 bytes
-      - [[:bytes 2] [:elements 2]] ; Type has a payload of exactly 2 bytes, then
-                                   ; 2 elements
+      - [[:bytes 4]]               ; Type has    payload of exactly 4 bytes
+      - [[:bytes 2] [:elements 2]] ; Type has    payload of exactly 2 bytes,
+                                   ; followed by 2 elements
 
       - [[:bytes    {:read 2}]
          [:elements {:read 4 :multiplier 2 :unsigned? true}]]
 
-        ; Type has payload of <short-count> bytes, then
+        ; Type has payload of <short-count> bytes, followed by
         ; <unsigned-int-count>*2 (multiplier) elements
 
       Note that `payload-spec` can be handy for skipping over items in
@@ -1254,7 +1254,7 @@
     - :compressor nil
     - :encryptor  nil
     - :no-header? true"
-  [x]
+  ^bytes [x]
   (let [baos (ByteArrayOutputStream. 64)
         dos  (DataOutputStream. baos)]
     (with-cache (-freeze-with-meta! x dos))
@@ -1263,11 +1263,13 @@
 (defn freeze
   "Serializes arg (any Clojure data type) to a byte array.
   To freeze custom types, extend the Clojure reader or see `extend-freeze`."
-  ([x] (freeze x nil))
-  ([x {:as   opts
-       :keys [compressor encryptor password serializable-allowlist incl-metadata?]
-       :or   {compressor :auto
-              encryptor  aes128-gcm-encryptor}}]
+  (^bytes [x] (freeze x nil))
+  (^bytes
+   [x
+    {:as   opts
+     :keys [compressor encryptor password serializable-allowlist incl-metadata?]
+     :or   {compressor :auto
+            encryptor  aes128-gcm-encryptor}}]
 
    (call-with-bindings :freeze opts
      (fn []
diff --git a/src/taoensso/nippy/tools.clj b/src/taoensso/nippy/tools.clj
index 63175d7..e36dd0f 100644
--- a/src/taoensso/nippy/tools.clj
+++ b/src/taoensso/nippy/tools.clj
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@
 (def ^:dynamic *thaw-opts*   nil)
 
 (do
-  (defmacro with-freeze-opts  [opts & body] `(binding [*freeze-opts*                               ~opts ] ~@body))
-  (defmacro with-freeze-opts+ [opts & body] `(binding [*freeze-opts* (enc/fast-merge *freeze-opts* ~opts)] ~@body))
-  (defmacro with-thaw-opts    [opts & body] `(binding [*thaw-opts*                                 ~opts ] ~@body))
-  (defmacro with-thaw-opts+   [opts & body] `(binding [*thaw-opts*   (enc/fast-merge *thaw-opts*   ~opts)] ~@body)))
+  (defmacro with-freeze-opts  [opts & body] `(binding [*freeze-opts*                          ~opts ] ~@body))
+  (defmacro with-freeze-opts+ [opts & body] `(binding [*freeze-opts* (enc/merge *freeze-opts* ~opts)] ~@body))
+  (defmacro with-thaw-opts    [opts & body] `(binding [*thaw-opts*                            ~opts ] ~@body))
+  (defmacro with-thaw-opts+   [opts & body] `(binding [*thaw-opts*   (enc/merge *thaw-opts*   ~opts)] ~@body)))
 
 (deftype WrappedForFreezing [val opts])
 (defn wrapped-for-freezing? [x] (instance? WrappedForFreezing x))
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
     See also `tools/freeze`."
   ([x          ] (wrap-for-freezing x nil))
   ([x wrap-opts]
-   (let [captured-opts (enc/fast-merge *freeze-opts* wrap-opts)] ; wrap > dynamic
+   (let [captured-opts (enc/merge *freeze-opts* wrap-opts)] ; wrap > dynamic
      (if (instance? WrappedForFreezing x)
        (let [^WrappedForFreezing x x]
          (if (= (.-opts x) captured-opts)
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@
     See also `tools/wrap-for-freezing`."
   ([x             ] (freeze x nil))
   ([x default-opts]
-   (let [default-opts (get default-opts :default-opts default-opts) ; Back compatibility
-         active-opts  (enc/fast-merge default-opts *freeze-opts*)] ; dynamic > default
+   (let [default-opts (get       default-opts :default-opts default-opts) ; Back compatibility
+         active-opts  (enc/merge default-opts *freeze-opts*)] ; dynamic > default
 
      (if (instance? WrappedForFreezing x)
        (let [^WrappedForFreezing x x]
-         (nippy/freeze (.-val x) (enc/fast-merge active-opts (.-opts x)))) ; captured > active!
-       (nippy/freeze          x                  active-opts)))))
+         (nippy/freeze (.-val x) (enc/merge active-opts (.-opts x)))) ; captured > active!
+       (nippy/freeze          x             active-opts)))))
 
 (defn thaw
   "Like `nippy/thaw` but uses as options the following, merged in
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@
       2. `tools/*thaw-opts*` dynamic value (default nil)."
   ([ba             ] (thaw ba nil))
   ([ba default-opts]
-   (let [default-opts (get default-opts :default-opts default-opts) ; Back compatibility
-         active-opts  (enc/fast-merge default-opts *thaw-opts*)] ; dynamic > default
+   (let [default-opts (get       default-opts :default-opts default-opts) ; Back compatibility
+         active-opts  (enc/merge default-opts *thaw-opts*)] ; dynamic > default
 
      (nippy/thaw ba active-opts))))