Support compression configuration

**Description**
Currently core lacks proper serialization support.

**Proposed solution**
Add configurable serialization with sensible defaults.

**Priority**: Low/Medium

The issue does not name a file, test, or entry point. Start by locating the core serialization path and its configuration handling, then clarify which compression formats and defaults are required. Done means serialization compression can be configured and sensible defaults are covered by tests.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.