diff --git a/src/StreamJsonRpc/MessagePackFormatter.cs b/src/StreamJsonRpc/MessagePackFormatter.cs
index e722b08c..ef805fad 100644
--- a/src/StreamJsonRpc/MessagePackFormatter.cs
+++ b/src/StreamJsonRpc/MessagePackFormatter.cs
@@ -168,6 +168,17 @@ private interface IJsonRpcMessagePackRetention
         set => base.MultiplexingStream = value;
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets a value indicating whether the W3C <c>traceparent</c> property
+    /// should be serialized as a string instead of a more compact binary format.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <value>The default value is <see langword="false"/>.</value>
+    public bool TraceParentAsW3CString { get; init; }
+
+    private IMessagePackFormatter<TraceParent> TraceParentFormatter => this.TraceParentAsW3CString
+        ? TraceParentAsStringFormatter.Instance
+        : TraceParentAsBinaryFormatter.Instance;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Sets the <see cref="MessagePackSerializerOptions"/> to use for serialization of user data.
     /// </summary>
@@ -367,7 +378,7 @@ private IFormatterResolver CreateTopLevelMessageResolver()
             new JsonRpcResultFormatter(this),
             new JsonRpcErrorFormatter(this),
             new JsonRpcErrorDetailFormatter(this),
-            new TraceParentFormatter(),
+            new TraceParentDelegatingFormatter(this),
         };
         var resolvers = new IFormatterResolver[]
         {
@@ -1527,7 +1538,7 @@ public Protocol.JsonRpcRequest Deserialize(ref MessagePackReader reader, Message
                 }
                 else if (TraceParentPropertyName.TryRead(stringKey))
                 {
-                    TraceParent traceParent = options.Resolver.GetFormatterWithVerify<TraceParent>().Deserialize(ref reader, options);
+                    TraceParent traceParent = this.formatter.TraceParentFormatter.Deserialize(ref reader, options);
                     result.TraceParent = traceParent.ToString();
                 }
                 else if (TraceStatePropertyName.TryRead(stringKey))
@@ -1620,7 +1631,7 @@ public void Serialize(ref MessagePackWriter writer, Protocol.JsonRpcRequest valu
             if (value.TraceParent?.Length > 0)
             {
                 TraceParentPropertyName.Write(ref writer);
-                options.Resolver.GetFormatterWithVerify<TraceParent>().Serialize(ref writer, new TraceParent(value.TraceParent), options);
+                this.formatter.TraceParentFormatter.Serialize(ref writer, new TraceParent(value.TraceParent), options);
 
                 if (value.TraceState?.Length > 0)
                 {
@@ -1933,8 +1944,23 @@ public EventArgs Deserialize(ref MessagePackReader reader, MessagePackSerializer
         }
     }
 
-    private class TraceParentFormatter : IMessagePackFormatter<TraceParent>
+    private class TraceParentDelegatingFormatter(MessagePackFormatter formatter) : IMessagePackFormatter<TraceParent>
+    {
+        public TraceParent Deserialize(ref MessagePackReader reader, MessagePackSerializerOptions options)
+        {
+            return formatter.TraceParentFormatter.Deserialize(ref reader, options);
+        }
+
+        public void Serialize(ref MessagePackWriter writer, TraceParent value, MessagePackSerializerOptions options)
+        {
+            formatter.TraceParentFormatter.Serialize(ref writer, value, options);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private class TraceParentAsBinaryFormatter : IMessagePackFormatter<TraceParent>
     {
+        internal static readonly TraceParentAsBinaryFormatter Instance = new();
+
         public unsafe TraceParent Deserialize(ref MessagePackReader reader, MessagePackSerializerOptions options)
         {
             if (reader.ReadArrayHeader() != 2)
@@ -1983,6 +2009,44 @@ public unsafe void Serialize(ref MessagePackWriter writer, TraceParent value, Me
         }
     }
 
+    private class TraceParentAsStringFormatter : IMessagePackFormatter<TraceParent>
+    {
+        internal static readonly TraceParentAsStringFormatter Instance = new();
+
+        public TraceParent Deserialize(ref MessagePackReader reader, MessagePackSerializerOptions options)
+        {
+            ReadOnlySequence<byte> utf8Sequence = reader.ReadStringSequence() ?? throw new MessagePackSerializationException("Unexpected null value.");
+            if (utf8Sequence.Length != TraceParent.Length)
+            {
+                throw new MessagePackSerializationException("Unexpected length for traceparent string.");
+            }
+
+            Span<byte> utf8Bytes = stackalloc byte[TraceParent.Length];
+            utf8Sequence.CopyTo(utf8Bytes);
+
+            Span<char> chars = stackalloc char[TraceParent.Length];
+            if (!Encoding.UTF8.TryGetChars(utf8Bytes, chars, out int charsWritten))
+            {
+                throw new MessagePackSerializationException("Invalid UTF-8 in traceparent string.");
+            }
+
+            return new TraceParent(chars);
+        }
+
+        public void Serialize(ref MessagePackWriter writer, TraceParent value, MessagePackSerializerOptions options)
+        {
+            if (value.Version != 0)
+            {
+                throw new NotSupportedException("traceparent version " + value.Version + " is not supported.");
+            }
+
+            Span<char> chars = stackalloc char[TraceParent.Length];
+            value.WriteTo(chars);
+
+            writer.Write(chars.ToString());
+        }
+    }
+
     private class TopLevelPropertyBag : TopLevelPropertyBagBase
     {
         private readonly MessagePackSerializerOptions serializerOptions;
diff --git a/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.TraceParentConverter.cs b/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.TraceParentConverter.cs
index 9d9c1908..28ea9a80 100644
--- a/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.TraceParentConverter.cs
+++ b/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.TraceParentConverter.cs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
 
 using System.Buffers;
+using System.Text;
 using System.Text.Json.Nodes;
 using Nerdbank.MessagePack;
 using PolyType;
@@ -14,8 +15,10 @@ namespace StreamJsonRpc;
 /// </summary>
 public partial class NerdbankMessagePackFormatter
 {
-    internal class TraceParentConverter : MessagePackConverter<TraceParent>
+    internal class TraceParentAsBinaryConverter : MessagePackConverter<TraceParent>
     {
+        internal static readonly TraceParentAsBinaryConverter Instance = new();
+
         public unsafe override TraceParent Read(ref MessagePackReader reader, SerializationContext context)
         {
             context.DepthStep();
@@ -78,4 +81,47 @@ public unsafe override void Write(ref MessagePackWriter writer, in TraceParent v
 
         public override JsonObject? GetJsonSchema(JsonSchemaContext context, ITypeShape typeShape) => null;
     }
+
+    internal class TraceParentAsStringConverter : MessagePackConverter<TraceParent>
+    {
+        internal static readonly TraceParentAsStringConverter Instance = new();
+
+        public override TraceParent Read(ref MessagePackReader reader, SerializationContext context)
+        {
+            context.DepthStep();
+
+            ReadOnlySequence<byte> utf8Sequence = reader.ReadStringSequence() ?? throw new MessagePackSerializationException("Unexpected null value.");
+            if (utf8Sequence.Length != TraceParent.Length)
+            {
+                throw new MessagePackSerializationException("Unexpected length for traceparent string.");
+            }
+
+            Span<byte> utf8Bytes = stackalloc byte[TraceParent.Length];
+            utf8Sequence.CopyTo(utf8Bytes);
+
+            Span<char> chars = stackalloc char[TraceParent.Length];
+            if (!Encoding.UTF8.TryGetChars(utf8Bytes, chars, out int charsWritten))
+            {
+                throw new MessagePackSerializationException("Invalid UTF-8 in traceparent string.");
+            }
+
+            return new TraceParent(chars);
+        }
+
+        public override void Write(ref MessagePackWriter writer, in TraceParent value, SerializationContext context)
+        {
+            if (value.Version != 0)
+            {
+                throw new NotSupportedException("traceparent version " + value.Version + " is not supported.");
+            }
+
+            context.DepthStep();
+
+            Span<char> chars = stackalloc char[TraceParent.Length];
+            value.WriteTo(chars);
+            writer.Write(chars);
+        }
+
+        public override JsonObject? GetJsonSchema(JsonSchemaContext context, ITypeShape typeShape) => null;
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.cs b/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.cs
index f1e474b9..c8960c13 100644
--- a/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.cs
+++ b/src/StreamJsonRpc/NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.cs
@@ -167,6 +167,15 @@ public MessagePackSerializer UserDataSerializer
         }
     }
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets a value indicating whether the W3C <c>traceparent</c> property
+    /// should be serialized as a string instead of a more compact binary format.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <value>The default value is <see langword="false"/>.</value>
+    public bool TraceParentAsW3CString { get; init; }
+
+    private MessagePackConverter<TraceParent> TraceParentConverter => this.TraceParentAsW3CString ? TraceParentAsStringConverter.Instance : TraceParentAsBinaryConverter.Instance;
+
     /// <inheritdoc/>
     public JsonRpcMessage Deserialize(ReadOnlySequence<byte> contentBuffer)
     {
@@ -470,7 +479,7 @@ internal class JsonRpcRequestConverter : MessagePackConverter<Protocol.JsonRpcRe
                 }
                 else if (TraceParentPropertyName.TryRead(ref reader))
                 {
-                    TraceParent traceParent = context.GetConverter<TraceParent>(null).Read(ref reader, context);
+                    TraceParent traceParent = formatter.TraceParentConverter.Read(ref reader, context);
                     result.TraceParent = traceParent.ToString();
                 }
                 else if (TraceStatePropertyName.TryRead(ref reader))
@@ -577,7 +586,7 @@ public override void Write(ref MessagePackWriter writer, in Protocol.JsonRpcRequ
             if (value.TraceParent?.Length > 0)
             {
                 writer.Write(TraceParentPropertyName);
-                context.GetConverter<TraceParent>(Witness.GeneratedTypeShapeProvider).Write(ref writer, new TraceParent(value.TraceParent), context);
+                formatter.TraceParentConverter.Write(ref writer, new TraceParent(value.TraceParent), context);
 
                 if (value.TraceState?.Length > 0)
                 {
diff --git a/src/StreamJsonRpc/PolyfillMethods.cs b/src/StreamJsonRpc/PolyfillMethods.cs
deleted file mode 100644
index 18ccf5ba..00000000
--- a/src/StreamJsonRpc/PolyfillMethods.cs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
-// Licensed under the MIT license. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
-
-namespace StreamJsonRpc;
-
-internal static class PolyfillMethods
-{
-#if NETSTANDARD2_0
-    internal static void Deconstruct<TKey, TValue>(this KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> pair, out TKey key, out TValue value)
-        => (key, value) = (pair.Key, pair.Value);
-#endif
-}
diff --git a/src/StreamJsonRpc/Polyfills.cs b/src/StreamJsonRpc/Polyfills.cs
index 31072d76..192b2807 100644
--- a/src/StreamJsonRpc/Polyfills.cs
+++ b/src/StreamJsonRpc/Polyfills.cs
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ namespace StreamJsonRpc;
 
 internal static class Polyfills
 {
+#if NETSTANDARD2_0
+    internal static void Deconstruct<TKey, TValue>(this KeyValuePair<TKey, TValue> pair, out TKey key, out TValue value)
+        => (key, value) = (pair.Key, pair.Value);
+#endif
+
 #if !(NETSTANDARD2_1_OR_GREATER || NET)
     internal static unsafe string GetString(this Encoding encoding, ReadOnlySpan<byte> utf8Bytes)
     {
@@ -16,4 +21,26 @@ internal static unsafe string GetString(this Encoding encoding, ReadOnlySpan<byt
         }
     }
 #endif
+
+#if !NET
+    internal static unsafe bool TryGetChars(this Encoding encoding, ReadOnlySpan<byte> utf8Bytes, Span<char> chars, out int charsWritten)
+    {
+        fixed (byte* pBytes = utf8Bytes)
+        {
+            fixed (char* pChars = chars)
+            {
+                try
+                {
+                    charsWritten = encoding.GetChars(pBytes, utf8Bytes.Length, pChars, chars.Length);
+                    return true;
+                }
+                catch (ArgumentException)
+                {
+                    charsWritten = 0;
+                    return false;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+#endif
 }
diff --git a/src/StreamJsonRpc/Protocol/TraceParent.cs b/src/StreamJsonRpc/Protocol/TraceParent.cs
index 5089ae46..1ea77b05 100644
--- a/src/StreamJsonRpc/Protocol/TraceParent.cs
+++ b/src/StreamJsonRpc/Protocol/TraceParent.cs
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@
 // Licensed under the MIT license. See LICENSE file in the project root for full license information.
 
 using System.Diagnostics;
-using Nerdbank.MessagePack;
 
 namespace StreamJsonRpc.Protocol;
 
-[MessagePackConverter(typeof(NerdbankMessagePackFormatter.TraceParentConverter))]
 internal unsafe struct TraceParent
 {
     internal const int VersionByteCount = 1;
@@ -14,6 +12,14 @@ internal unsafe struct TraceParent
     internal const int TraceIdByteCount = 16;
     internal const int FlagsByteCount = 1;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The number of characters in a serialized traceparent value.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <devremarks>
+    /// When calculating the number of characters required, double each 'byte' we have to encode since we're using hex.
+    /// </devremarks>
+    internal const int Length = (VersionByteCount * 2) + 1 + (TraceIdByteCount * 2) + 1 + (ParentIdByteCount * 2) + 1 + (FlagsByteCount * 2);
+
     internal byte Version;
 
     internal fixed byte TraceId[TraceIdByteCount];
@@ -23,50 +29,55 @@ internal unsafe struct TraceParent
     internal TraceFlags Flags;
 
     internal TraceParent(string? traceparent)
+        : this(traceparent is null ? default : traceparent.AsSpan())
     {
-        if (traceparent is null)
+    }
+
+    internal TraceParent(ReadOnlySpan<char> traceparent)
+    {
+        if (traceparent is [])
         {
             this.Version = 0;
             this.Flags = TraceFlags.None;
             return;
         }
 
-        ReadOnlySpan<char> traceparentChars = traceparent.AsSpan();
-
         // Decode version
-        ReadOnlySpan<char> slice = Consume(ref traceparentChars, VersionByteCount * 2);
+        ReadOnlySpan<char> slice = Consume(ref traceparent, VersionByteCount * 2);
         fixed (byte* pVersion = &this.Version)
         {
             Hex.Decode(slice, new Span<byte>(pVersion, 1));
         }
 
-        ConsumeHyphen(ref traceparentChars);
+        ConsumeHyphen(ref traceparent);
 
         // Decode traceid
-        slice = Consume(ref traceparentChars, TraceIdByteCount * 2);
+        slice = Consume(ref traceparent, TraceIdByteCount * 2);
         fixed (byte* pTraceId = this.TraceId)
         {
             Hex.Decode(slice, new Span<byte>(pTraceId, TraceIdByteCount));
         }
 
-        ConsumeHyphen(ref traceparentChars);
+        ConsumeHyphen(ref traceparent);
 
         // Decode parentid
-        slice = Consume(ref traceparentChars, ParentIdByteCount * 2);
+        slice = Consume(ref traceparent, ParentIdByteCount * 2);
         fixed (byte* pParentId = this.ParentId)
         {
             Hex.Decode(slice, new Span<byte>(pParentId, ParentIdByteCount));
         }
 
-        ConsumeHyphen(ref traceparentChars);
+        ConsumeHyphen(ref traceparent);
 
         // Decode flags
-        slice = Consume(ref traceparentChars, FlagsByteCount * 2);
+        slice = Consume(ref traceparent, FlagsByteCount * 2);
         fixed (TraceFlags* pFlags = &this.Flags)
         {
             Hex.Decode(slice, new Span<byte>(pFlags, 1));
         }
 
+        Requires.Argument(traceparent is [], nameof(traceparent), "Expected traceparent to be fully consumed.");
+
         static void ConsumeHyphen(ref ReadOnlySpan<char> value)
         {
             if (value[0] != '-')
@@ -112,9 +123,22 @@ internal Guid TraceIdGuid
 
     public override string ToString()
     {
-        // When calculating the number of characters required, double each 'byte' we have to encode since we're using hex.
-        Span<char> traceparent = stackalloc char[(VersionByteCount * 2) + 1 + (TraceIdByteCount * 2) + 1 + (ParentIdByteCount * 2) + 1 + (FlagsByteCount * 2)];
-        Span<char> traceParentRemaining = traceparent;
+        Span<char> chars = stackalloc char[Length];
+        this.WriteTo(chars);
+        return chars.ToString();
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Serializes the <see cref="TraceParent"/> value as a string.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="destination">The span to write to. This must be at least <see cref="Length"/> in length.</param>
+    /// <returns>The number of characters written to <paramref name="destination"/>. Always equal to <see cref="Length"/>.</returns>
+    /// <exception cref="ArgumentException">Thrown if <paramref name="destination"/> is shorter than <see cref="Length"/>.</exception>
+    internal int WriteTo(Span<char> destination)
+    {
+        Requires.Argument(destination.Length >= Length, nameof(destination), $"Destination must be at least {Length} characters in length.");
+
+        Span<char> traceParentRemaining = destination;
 
         fixed (byte* pVersion = &this.Version)
         {
@@ -142,9 +166,9 @@ public override string ToString()
             Hex.Encode(new ReadOnlySpan<byte>(pFlags, 1), ref traceParentRemaining);
         }
 
-        Debug.Assert(traceParentRemaining.Length == 0, "Characters were not initialized.");
+        Debug.Assert(traceParentRemaining is [], "Characters were not initialized.");
 
-        return traceparent.ToString();
+        return Length;
 
         static void AddHyphen(ref Span<char> value)
         {
diff --git a/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/MessagePackFormatterTests.cs b/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/MessagePackFormatterTests.cs
index b7f932a4..13ca3786 100644
--- a/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/MessagePackFormatterTests.cs
+++ b/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/MessagePackFormatterTests.cs
@@ -335,6 +335,48 @@ public void CanDeserializeWithExtraProperty_JsonRpcError()
         Assert.Equal(dynamic.error.code, (int?)request.Error?.Code);
     }
 
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(false, MessagePackType.Array)]
+    [InlineData(true, MessagePackType.String)]
+    public void TraceParentAsW3CStringControlsSerializationFormat(
+        bool traceParentAsW3CString,
+        MessagePackType expectedMessagePackType)
+    {
+        const string TraceParent = "00-4bf92f3577b34da6a3ce929d0e0e4736-00f067aa0ba902b7-01";
+        MessagePackFormatter formatter = new() { TraceParentAsW3CString = traceParentAsW3CString };
+        var request = new JsonRpcRequest
+        {
+            Method = "something",
+            ArgumentsList = Array.Empty<object?>(),
+            TraceParent = TraceParent,
+        };
+
+        var sequence = new Sequence<byte>();
+        formatter.Serialize(sequence, request);
+
+        this.Logger.WriteLine(MessagePackSerializer.ConvertToJson(sequence, cancellationToken: this.TimeoutToken));
+
+        var reader = new MessagePackReader(sequence.AsReadOnlySequence);
+        int propertyCount = reader.ReadMapHeader();
+        bool foundTraceParent = false;
+        for (int i = 0; i < propertyCount; i++)
+        {
+            string? propertyName = reader.ReadString();
+            Assert.NotNull(propertyName);
+            if (propertyName == "traceparent")
+            {
+                Assert.Equal(expectedMessagePackType, reader.NextMessagePackType);
+                foundTraceParent = true;
+            }
+
+            reader.Skip();
+        }
+
+        Assert.True(foundTraceParent);
+        var actual = Assert.IsAssignableFrom<JsonRpcRequest>(formatter.Deserialize(sequence.AsReadOnlySequence));
+        Assert.Equal(TraceParent, actual.TraceParent);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void StringsInUserDataAreInterned()
     {
diff --git a/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/NerdbankMessagePackFormatterTests.cs b/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/NerdbankMessagePackFormatterTests.cs
index 93368f67..36904b57 100644
--- a/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/NerdbankMessagePackFormatterTests.cs
+++ b/test/StreamJsonRpc.Tests/NerdbankMessagePackFormatterTests.cs
@@ -326,6 +326,53 @@ public void CanDeserializeWithExtraProperty_JsonRpcError()
         Assert.Equal(dynamic.error.code, (int?)request.Error?.Code);
     }
 
+    [Theory]
+    [InlineData(false, MessagePackType.Array)]
+    [InlineData(true, MessagePackType.String)]
+    public void TraceParentAsW3CStringControlsSerializationFormat(
+        bool traceParentAsW3CString,
+        MessagePackType expectedMessagePackType)
+    {
+        const string TraceParent = "00-4bf92f3577b34da6a3ce929d0e0e4736-00f067aa0ba902b7-01";
+        NerdbankMessagePackFormatter formatter = new()
+        {
+            TraceParentAsW3CString = traceParentAsW3CString,
+            TypeShapeProvider = Witness.GeneratedTypeShapeProvider,
+        };
+        var request = new JsonRpcRequest
+        {
+            Method = "something",
+            ArgumentsList = Array.Empty<object?>(),
+            TraceParent = TraceParent,
+        };
+
+        var sequence = new Sequence<byte>();
+        formatter.Serialize(sequence, request);
+
+        this.Logger.WriteLine(formatter.UserDataSerializer.ConvertToJson(sequence, new MessagePackSerializer.JsonOptions { Indentation = "  " }));
+
+        var reader = new MessagePackReader(sequence.AsReadOnlySequence);
+        SerializationContext context = new();
+        int propertyCount = reader.ReadMapHeader();
+        bool foundTraceParent = false;
+        for (int i = 0; i < propertyCount; i++)
+        {
+            string? propertyName = reader.ReadString();
+            Assert.NotNull(propertyName);
+            if (propertyName == "traceparent")
+            {
+                Assert.Equal(expectedMessagePackType, reader.NextMessagePackType);
+                foundTraceParent = true;
+            }
+
+            reader.Skip(context);
+        }
+
+        Assert.True(foundTraceParent);
+        var actual = Assert.IsAssignableFrom<JsonRpcRequest>(formatter.Deserialize(sequence.AsReadOnlySequence));
+        Assert.Equal(TraceParent, actual.TraceParent);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void StringsInUserDataAreInterned()
     {