diff --git a/go-libp2p-blossomsub/bitmask.go b/go-libp2p-blossomsub/bitmask.go
index 2b8f32e..5ab756b 100644
--- a/go-libp2p-blossomsub/bitmask.go
+++ b/go-libp2p-blossomsub/bitmask.go
@@ -160,7 +160,6 @@ func (t *Bitmask) Subscribe(opts ...SubOpt) (*Subscription, error) {
 	}
 
 	if sub.ch == nil {
-		// apply the default size
 		sub.ch = make(chan *Message, 128)
 	}
 
diff --git a/go-libp2p-blossomsub/blossomsub.go b/go-libp2p-blossomsub/blossomsub.go
index 3792156..b251a46 100644
--- a/go-libp2p-blossomsub/blossomsub.go
+++ b/go-libp2p-blossomsub/blossomsub.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math/rand"
 	"sort"
-	"sync"
 	"time"
 
 	pb "source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/go-libp2p-blossomsub/pb"
@@ -453,12 +452,6 @@ type BlossomSubRouter struct {
 	protos  []protocol.ID
 	feature BlossomSubFeatureTest
 
-	fanoutMx   sync.Mutex
-	lastpubMx  sync.Mutex
-	meshMx     sync.Mutex
-	peerhaveMx sync.Mutex
-	iaskedMx   sync.Mutex
-
 	mcache       *MessageCache
 	tracer       *pubsubTracer
 	score        *peerScore
@@ -664,9 +657,7 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) handleIHave(p peer.ID, ctl *pb.ControlMessage) []*pb
 	}
 
 	// IHAVE flood protection
-	bs.peerhaveMx.Lock()
 	bs.peerhave[p]++
-	bs.peerhaveMx.Unlock()
 	if bs.peerhave[p] > bs.params.MaxIHaveMessages {
 		log.Debugf("IHAVE: peer %s has advertised too many times (%d) within this heartbeat interval; ignoring", p, bs.peerhave[p])
 		return nil
@@ -718,9 +709,7 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) handleIHave(p peer.ID, ctl *pb.ControlMessage) []*pb
 
 	// truncate to the messages we are actually asking for and update the iasked counter
 	iwantlst = iwantlst[:iask]
-	bs.iaskedMx.Lock()
 	bs.iasked[p] += iask
-	bs.iaskedMx.Unlock()
 
 	bs.gossipTracer.AddPromise(p, iwantlst)
 
@@ -1055,9 +1044,7 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) Publish(msg *Message) {
 
 				if len(peers) > 0 {
 					gmap = peerListToMap(peers)
-					bs.fanoutMx.Lock()
 					bs.fanout[string(bitmask)] = gmap
-					bs.fanoutMx.Unlock()
 				}
 			}
 			bs.lastpub[string(bitmask)] = time.Now().UnixNano()
@@ -1114,15 +1101,9 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) Join(bitmask []byte) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		bs.meshMx.Lock()
 		bs.mesh[string(bitmask)] = gmap
-		bs.meshMx.Unlock()
-		bs.fanoutMx.Lock()
 		delete(bs.fanout, string(bitmask))
-		bs.fanoutMx.Unlock()
-		bs.lastpubMx.Lock()
 		delete(bs.lastpub, string(bitmask))
-		bs.lastpubMx.Unlock()
 	} else {
 		backoff := bs.backoff[string(bitmask)]
 		peers := bs.getPeers(bitmask, bs.params.D, func(p peer.ID) bool {
@@ -1151,9 +1132,7 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) Leave(bitmask []byte) {
 	log.Debugf("LEAVE %s", bitmask)
 	bs.tracer.Leave(bitmask)
 
-	bs.meshMx.Lock()
 	delete(bs.mesh, string(bitmask))
-	bs.meshMx.Unlock()
 
 	for p := range gmap {
 		log.Debugf("LEAVE: Remove mesh link to %s in %s", p, bitmask)
@@ -1604,12 +1583,8 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) heartbeat() {
 	now := time.Now().UnixNano()
 	for bitmask, lastpub := range bs.lastpub {
 		if lastpub+int64(bs.params.FanoutTTL) < now {
-			bs.fanoutMx.Lock()
 			delete(bs.fanout, bitmask)
-			bs.fanoutMx.Unlock()
-			bs.lastpubMx.Lock()
 			delete(bs.lastpub, bitmask)
-			bs.lastpubMx.Unlock()
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -1657,16 +1632,12 @@ func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) heartbeat() {
 func (bs *BlossomSubRouter) clearIHaveCounters() {
 	if len(bs.peerhave) > 0 {
 		// throw away the old map and make a new one
-		bs.peerhaveMx.Lock()
 		bs.peerhave = make(map[peer.ID]int)
-		bs.peerhaveMx.Unlock()
 	}
 
 	if len(bs.iasked) > 0 {
 		// throw away the old map and make a new one
-		bs.iaskedMx.Lock()
 		bs.iasked = make(map[peer.ID]int)
-		bs.iaskedMx.Unlock()
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/go-libp2p-blossomsub/pubsub.go b/go-libp2p-blossomsub/pubsub.go
index caa883b..a28c96b 100644
--- a/go-libp2p-blossomsub/pubsub.go
+++ b/go-libp2p-blossomsub/pubsub.go
@@ -979,7 +979,10 @@ func (p *PubSub) notifySubs(msg *Message) {
 	for f := range subs {
 		select {
 		case f.ch <- msg:
-		default:
+		case <-time.After(15 * time.Millisecond):
+			// it's unreasonable to immediately fall over because a subscriber didn't
+			// answer, message delivery sometimes lands next nanosecond and dropping
+			// it when there's room is absurd.
 			p.tracer.UndeliverableMessage(msg)
 			log.Infof("Can't deliver message to subscription for bitmask %x; subscriber too slow", bitmask)
 		}
@@ -1308,7 +1311,7 @@ func (p *PubSub) Subscribe(bitmask []byte, opts ...SubOpt) (*Subscription, error
 }
 
 // WithBufferSize is a Subscribe option to customize the size of the subscribe output buffer.
-// The default length is 1000 but it can be configured to avoid dropping messages if the consumer is not reading fast
+// The default length is 128 but it can be configured to avoid dropping messages if the consumer is not reading fast
 // enough.
 func WithBufferSize(size int) SubOpt {
 	return func(sub *Subscription) error {
diff --git a/node/consensus/ceremony/broadcast_messaging.go b/node/consensus/ceremony/broadcast_messaging.go
index 437b01a..66ef533 100644
--- a/node/consensus/ceremony/broadcast_messaging.go
+++ b/node/consensus/ceremony/broadcast_messaging.go
@@ -96,12 +96,12 @@ func (e *CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine) handleMessage(
 
 	switch any.TypeUrl {
 	case protobufs.ClockFrameType:
-		e.peerMapMx.Lock()
+		e.peerMapMx.RLock()
 		if peer, ok := e.peerMap[string(message.From)]; !ok ||
 			bytes.Compare(peer.version, consensus.GetMinimumVersion()) < 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
-		e.peerMapMx.Unlock()
+		e.peerMapMx.RUnlock()
 		if err := e.handleClockFrameData(
 			message.From,
 			msg.Address,
@@ -134,13 +134,6 @@ func (e *CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine) handleCeremonyPeerListAnnounce(
 	}
 
 	for _, p := range announce.PeerList {
-		e.peerMapMx.Lock()
-		if _, ok := e.uncooperativePeersMap[string(p.PeerId)]; ok {
-			e.peerMapMx.Unlock()
-			continue
-		}
-		e.peerMapMx.Unlock()
-
 		if bytes.Equal(p.PeerId, e.pubSub.GetPeerID()) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -197,13 +190,20 @@ func (e *CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine) handleCeremonyPeerListAnnounce(
 			}
 		}
 
+		e.peerMapMx.RLock()
+		if _, ok := e.uncooperativePeersMap[string(p.PeerId)]; ok {
+			e.peerMapMx.RUnlock()
+			continue
+		}
+		e.peerMapMx.RUnlock()
+
 		multiaddr := e.pubSub.GetMultiaddrOfPeer(p.PeerId)
 
 		e.pubSub.SetPeerScore(p.PeerId, 10)
 
-		e.peerMapMx.Lock()
+		e.peerMapMx.RLock()
 		existing, ok := e.peerMap[string(p.PeerId)]
-		e.peerMapMx.Unlock()
+		e.peerMapMx.RUnlock()
 
 		if ok {
 			if existing.signature != nil && p.Signature == nil {
diff --git a/node/consensus/ceremony/ceremony_data_clock_consensus_engine.go b/node/consensus/ceremony/ceremony_data_clock_consensus_engine.go
index 5a8db09..d67fb03 100644
--- a/node/consensus/ceremony/ceremony_data_clock_consensus_engine.go
+++ b/node/consensus/ceremony/ceremony_data_clock_consensus_engine.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ type CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine struct {
 	engineMx                       sync.Mutex
 	dependencyMapMx                sync.Mutex
 	stagedLobbyStateTransitionsMx  sync.Mutex
-	peerMapMx                      sync.Mutex
+	peerMapMx                      sync.RWMutex
 	peerAnnounceMapMx              sync.Mutex
 	lastKeyBundleAnnouncementFrame uint64
 	peerMap                        map[string]*peerInfo
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ func (
 	e *CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine,
 ) GetPeerInfo() *protobufs.PeerInfoResponse {
 	resp := &protobufs.PeerInfoResponse{}
-	e.peerMapMx.Lock()
+	e.peerMapMx.RLock()
 	for _, v := range e.peerMap {
 		resp.PeerInfo = append(resp.PeerInfo, &protobufs.PeerInfo{
 			PeerId:        v.peerId,
@@ -602,6 +602,6 @@ func (
 			},
 		)
 	}
-	e.peerMapMx.Unlock()
+	e.peerMapMx.RUnlock()
 	return resp
 }
diff --git a/node/consensus/ceremony/consensus_frames.go b/node/consensus/ceremony/consensus_frames.go
index ea06eb2..425a294 100644
--- a/node/consensus/ceremony/consensus_frames.go
+++ b/node/consensus/ceremony/consensus_frames.go
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ func (e *CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine) GetMostAheadPeer() (
 
 	max := frame.FrameNumber
 	var peer []byte = nil
-	e.peerMapMx.Lock()
+	e.peerMapMx.RLock()
 	for _, v := range e.peerMap {
 		_, ok := e.uncooperativePeersMap[string(v.peerId)]
 		if v.maxFrame > max &&
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func (e *CeremonyDataClockConsensusEngine) GetMostAheadPeer() (
 			max = v.maxFrame
 		}
 	}
-	e.peerMapMx.Unlock()
+	e.peerMapMx.RUnlock()
 
 	if peer == nil {
 		return nil, 0, p2p.ErrNoPeersAvailable
diff --git a/node/consensus/master/broadcast_messaging.go b/node/consensus/master/broadcast_messaging.go
index fdd1d45..1736b96 100644
--- a/node/consensus/master/broadcast_messaging.go
+++ b/node/consensus/master/broadcast_messaging.go
@@ -2,17 +2,13 @@ package master
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"context"
-	"crypto/rand"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"strings"
-	"time"
 
 	"github.com/iden3/go-iden3-crypto/poseidon"
 	"github.com/mr-tron/base58"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
-	"golang.org/x/sync/errgroup"
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
 	"google.golang.org/protobuf/types/known/anypb"
 	"source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/go-libp2p-blossomsub/pb"
@@ -28,7 +24,6 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleMessage(message *pb.Message) error {
 		zap.Binary("signature", message.Signature),
 	)
 	msg := &protobufs.Message{}
-
 	if err := proto.Unmarshal(message.Data, msg); err != nil {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "handle message")
 	}
@@ -38,42 +33,6 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleMessage(message *pb.Message) error {
 		return errors.Wrap(err, "handle message")
 	}
 
-	eg := errgroup.Group{}
-	eg.SetLimit(len(e.executionEngines))
-	for name := range e.executionEngines {
-		name := name
-		eg.Go(func() error {
-			messages, err := e.executionEngines[name].ProcessMessage(
-				msg.Address,
-				msg,
-			)
-			if err != nil {
-				e.logger.Error(
-					"could not process message for engine",
-					zap.Error(err),
-					zap.String("engine_name", name),
-				)
-				return errors.Wrap(err, "handle message")
-			}
-			for _, m := range messages {
-				m := m
-				if err := e.publishMessage(m.Address, m); err != nil {
-					e.logger.Error(
-						"could not publish message for engine",
-						zap.Error(err),
-						zap.String("engine_name", name),
-					)
-					return errors.Wrap(err, "handle message")
-				}
-			}
-			return nil
-		})
-	}
-	if err := eg.Wait(); err != nil {
-		e.logger.Error("rejecting invalid message", zap.Error(err))
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "execution failed")
-	}
-
 	switch any.TypeUrl {
 	case protobufs.ClockFrameType:
 		if err := e.handleClockFrameData(
@@ -82,6 +41,7 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleMessage(message *pb.Message) error {
 		); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "handle message")
 		}
+		return nil
 	case protobufs.SelfTestReportType:
 		if err := e.handleSelfTestReport(
 			message.From,
@@ -89,9 +49,10 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleMessage(message *pb.Message) error {
 		); err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrap(err, "handle message")
 		}
+		return nil
 	}
 
-	return nil
+	return errors.Wrap(errors.New("invalid message"), "handle message")
 }
 
 func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleClockFrameData(
@@ -131,12 +92,19 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleClockFrameData(
 		zap.Int("proof_count", len(frame.AggregateProofs)),
 	)
 
-	if err := e.frameProver.VerifyMasterClockFrame(frame); err != nil {
-		e.logger.Error("could not verify clock frame", zap.Error(err))
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "handle clock frame data")
-	}
-
-	e.masterTimeReel.Insert(frame)
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case e.frameValidationCh <- frame:
+		default:
+			e.logger.Debug(
+				"dropped frame due to overwhelmed queue",
+				zap.Binary("sender", peerID),
+				zap.Binary("filter", frame.Filter),
+				zap.Uint64("frame_number", frame.FrameNumber),
+				zap.Int("proof_count", len(frame.AggregateProofs)),
+			)
+		}
+	}()
 
 	return nil
 }
@@ -206,86 +174,9 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) handleSelfTestReport(
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	cc, err := e.pubSub.GetDirectChannel(peerID, "validation")
-	if err != nil {
-		e.logger.Debug(
-			"could not connect for validation",
-			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
-			zap.Uint32("difficulty", report.Difficulty),
-			zap.Int64("difficulty_metric", report.DifficultyMetric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_16_metric", report.Commit_16Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_128_metric", report.Commit_128Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_1024_metric", report.Commit_1024Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_65536_metric", report.Commit_65536Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_16_metric", report.Proof_16Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_128_metric", report.Proof_128Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_1024_metric", report.Proof_1024Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_65536_metric", report.Proof_65536Metric),
-			zap.Uint32("cores", report.Cores),
-			zap.Uint64("memory", memory),
-			zap.Uint64("storage", binary.BigEndian.Uint64(report.Storage)),
-		)
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "handle self test report")
-	}
-	client := protobufs.NewValidationServiceClient(cc)
-	verification := make([]byte, 1048576)
-	rand.Read(verification)
-	start := time.Now().UnixMilli()
-	validation, err := client.PerformValidation(
-		context.Background(),
-		&protobufs.ValidationMessage{
-			Validation: verification,
-		},
-	)
-	end := time.Now().UnixMilli()
-	if err != nil {
-		cc.Close()
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "handle self test report")
-	}
-	cc.Close()
-
-	if !bytes.Equal(verification, validation.Validation) {
-		e.logger.Debug(
-			"provided invalid verification",
-			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
-			zap.Uint32("difficulty", report.Difficulty),
-			zap.Int64("difficulty_metric", report.DifficultyMetric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_16_metric", report.Commit_16Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_128_metric", report.Commit_128Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_1024_metric", report.Commit_1024Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_65536_metric", report.Commit_65536Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_16_metric", report.Proof_16Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_128_metric", report.Proof_128Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_1024_metric", report.Proof_1024Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_65536_metric", report.Proof_65536Metric),
-			zap.Uint32("cores", report.Cores),
-			zap.Uint64("memory", memory),
-			zap.Uint64("storage", binary.BigEndian.Uint64(report.Storage)),
-		)
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	if end-start > 2000 {
-		e.logger.Debug(
-			"slow bandwidth, scoring out",
-			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
-			zap.Uint32("difficulty", report.Difficulty),
-			zap.Int64("difficulty_metric", report.DifficultyMetric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_16_metric", report.Commit_16Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_128_metric", report.Commit_128Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_1024_metric", report.Commit_1024Metric),
-			zap.Int64("commit_65536_metric", report.Commit_65536Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_16_metric", report.Proof_16Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_128_metric", report.Proof_128Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_1024_metric", report.Proof_1024Metric),
-			zap.Int64("proof_65536_metric", report.Proof_65536Metric),
-			zap.Uint32("cores", report.Cores),
-			zap.Uint64("memory", memory),
-			zap.Uint64("storage", binary.BigEndian.Uint64(report.Storage)),
-		)
-		// tag: dusk – nuke this peer for now
-		e.pubSub.SetPeerScore(peerID, -1000)
-	}
+	go func() {
+		e.bandwidthTestCh <- peerID
+	}()
 
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/node/consensus/master/master_clock_consensus_engine.go b/node/consensus/master/master_clock_consensus_engine.go
index c554029..e6c4082 100644
--- a/node/consensus/master/master_clock_consensus_engine.go
+++ b/node/consensus/master/master_clock_consensus_engine.go
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 package master
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
 	"encoding/hex"
+	"io"
 	"math/big"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/mr-tron/base58"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
@@ -54,8 +58,10 @@ type MasterClockConsensusEngine struct {
 	clockStore                  store.ClockStore
 	masterTimeReel              *qtime.MasterTimeReel
 	report                      *protobufs.SelfTestReport
-	peerMapMx                   sync.Mutex
+	peerMapMx                   sync.RWMutex
 	peerMap                     map[string]*protobufs.SelfTestReport
+	frameValidationCh           chan *protobufs.ClockFrame
+	bandwidthTestCh             chan []byte
 	currentReceivingSyncPeers   int
 	currentReceivingSyncPeersMx sync.Mutex
 }
@@ -117,6 +123,8 @@ func NewMasterClockConsensusEngine(
 		masterTimeReel:      masterTimeReel,
 		report:              report,
 		peerMap:             map[string]*protobufs.SelfTestReport{},
+		frameValidationCh:   make(chan *protobufs.ClockFrame, 10),
+		bandwidthTestCh:     make(chan []byte),
 	}
 
 	e.peerMap[string(e.pubSub.GetPeerID())] = report
@@ -150,6 +158,22 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) Start() <-chan error {
 
 	e.buildHistoricFrameCache(frame)
 
+	go func() {
+		for {
+			select {
+			case newFrame := <-e.frameValidationCh:
+				if err := e.frameProver.VerifyMasterClockFrame(newFrame); err != nil {
+					e.logger.Error("could not verify clock frame", zap.Error(err))
+					continue
+				}
+
+				e.masterTimeReel.Insert(newFrame)
+			case peerId := <-e.bandwidthTestCh:
+				e.performBandwidthTest(peerId)
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+
 	e.logger.Info("subscribing to pubsub messages")
 	e.pubSub.Subscribe(e.filter, e.handleMessage, true)
 
@@ -183,9 +207,10 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) Start() <-chan error {
 	}()
 
 	go func() {
-		for {
-			time.Sleep(30 * time.Second)
+		// Let it sit until we at least have a few more peers inbound
+		time.Sleep(30 * time.Second)
 
+		for {
 			e.logger.Info("broadcasting self-test info")
 			head, err := e.masterTimeReel.Head()
 			if err != nil {
@@ -197,6 +222,7 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) Start() <-chan error {
 			if err := e.publishMessage(e.filter, e.report); err != nil {
 				e.logger.Debug("error publishing message", zap.Error(err))
 			}
+			time.Sleep(30 * time.Minute)
 		}
 	}()
 
@@ -288,6 +314,71 @@ func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) Stop(force bool) <-chan error {
 	return errChan
 }
 
+func (e *MasterClockConsensusEngine) performBandwidthTest(peerID []byte) {
+	result := e.pubSub.GetMultiaddrOfPeer(peerID)
+	if result == "" {
+		go func() {
+			e.bandwidthTestCh <- peerID
+		}()
+		return
+	}
+
+	cc, err := e.pubSub.GetDirectChannel(peerID, "validation")
+	if err != nil {
+		e.logger.Info(
+			"could not connect for validation",
+			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
+		)
+		// tag: dusk – nuke this peer for now
+		e.pubSub.SetPeerScore(peerID, -1000)
+		return
+	}
+
+	client := protobufs.NewValidationServiceClient(cc)
+	verification := make([]byte, 1048576)
+	rand.Read(verification)
+	start := time.Now().UnixMilli()
+	validation, err := client.PerformValidation(
+		context.Background(),
+		&protobufs.ValidationMessage{
+			Validation: verification,
+		},
+	)
+	end := time.Now().UnixMilli()
+	if err != nil && err != io.EOF {
+		cc.Close()
+		e.logger.Info(
+			"peer returned error",
+			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
+			zap.Error(err),
+		)
+		// tag: dusk – nuke this peer for now
+		e.pubSub.SetPeerScore(peerID, -1000)
+		return
+	}
+	cc.Close()
+
+	if !bytes.Equal(verification, validation.Validation) {
+		e.logger.Info(
+			"provided invalid verification",
+			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
+		)
+		// tag: dusk – nuke this peer for now
+		e.pubSub.SetPeerScore(peerID, -1000)
+		return
+	}
+
+	if end-start > 2000 {
+		e.logger.Info(
+			"slow bandwidth, scoring out",
+			zap.String("peer_id", base58.Encode(peerID)),
+		)
+		// tag: dusk – nuke this peer for now
+		e.pubSub.SetPeerScore(peerID, -1000)
+		return
+	}
+}
+
 func (
 	e *MasterClockConsensusEngine,
 ) GetPeerManifests() *protobufs.PeerManifestsResponse {
diff --git a/node/consensus/time/data_time_reel.go b/node/consensus/time/data_time_reel.go
index 9d365f0..da8fa3d 100644
--- a/node/consensus/time/data_time_reel.go
+++ b/node/consensus/time/data_time_reel.go
@@ -127,7 +127,6 @@ func (d *DataTimeReel) Start() error {
 	}
 
 	if frame == nil {
-
 		d.head, d.proverTrie = d.createGenesisFrame()
 		d.totalDistance = big.NewInt(0)
 		d.headDistance = big.NewInt(0)
diff --git a/node/execution/intrinsics/ceremony/application/ceremony_application.go b/node/execution/intrinsics/ceremony/application/ceremony_application.go
index 34f773f..c76010c 100644
--- a/node/execution/intrinsics/ceremony/application/ceremony_application.go
+++ b/node/execution/intrinsics/ceremony/application/ceremony_application.go
@@ -571,6 +571,13 @@ func GetOutputsFromClockFrame(
 						return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "get outputs from clock frame")
 					}
 
+					// apply a small fixup based on a pre-dusk bug showing up with dusk
+					// conventions
+					if frame.FrameNumber == 0 && len(output.Address) == 32 {
+						output.Address = append(output.Address, output.Output[:48]...)
+						output.Output = output.Output[48:]
+					}
+
 					lobbyState = &protobufs.CeremonyLobbyState{}
 					if err := proto.Unmarshal(output.Output, lobbyState); err != nil {
 						return nil, nil, errors.Wrap(err, "get outputs from clock frame")
diff --git a/node/main.go b/node/main.go
index ad1dba0..8999dc0 100644
--- a/node/main.go
+++ b/node/main.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import (
 	"source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/node/config"
 	qcrypto "source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/node/crypto"
 	"source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/node/crypto/kzg"
-	"source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/node/execution/intrinsics/ceremony/application"
 	"source.quilibrium.com/quilibrium/monorepo/node/rpc"
 )
 
@@ -150,7 +149,6 @@ func main() {
 	}
 
 	clearIfTestData(*configDirectory, nodeConfig)
-	migrate(*configDirectory, nodeConfig)
 
 	if *dbConsole {
 		console, err := app.NewDBConsole(nodeConfig)
@@ -435,36 +433,6 @@ func repair(configDir string, node *app.Node) {
 	}
 }
 
-func migrate(configDir string, nodeConfig *config.Config) {
-	_, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(configDir, "MIGRATIONS"))
-	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		fmt.Println("Deduplicating and compressing clock frame data...")
-		clock, err := app.NewClockStore(nodeConfig)
-		if err := clock.Deduplicate(application.CEREMONY_ADDRESS); err != nil {
-			panic(err)
-		}
-
-		migrationFile, err := os.OpenFile(
-			filepath.Join(configDir, "MIGRATIONS"),
-			os.O_CREATE|os.O_RDWR,
-			fs.FileMode(0600),
-		)
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
-		}
-
-		_, err = migrationFile.Write([]byte{0x00, 0x00, 0x01})
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
-		}
-
-		err = migrationFile.Close()
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(err)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func printPeerID(p2pConfig *config.P2PConfig) {
 	peerPrivKey, err := hex.DecodeString(p2pConfig.PeerPrivKey)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/node/p2p/blossomsub.go b/node/p2p/blossomsub.go
index e30fbfa..667dea2 100644
--- a/node/p2p/blossomsub.go
+++ b/node/p2p/blossomsub.go
@@ -35,15 +35,16 @@ import (
 )
 
 type BlossomSub struct {
-	ps          *blossomsub.PubSub
-	ctx         context.Context
-	logger      *zap.Logger
-	peerID      peer.ID
-	bitmaskMap  map[string]*blossomsub.Bitmask
-	h           host.Host
-	signKey     crypto.PrivKey
-	peerScore   map[string]int64
-	peerScoreMx sync.Mutex
+	ps              *blossomsub.PubSub
+	ctx             context.Context
+	logger          *zap.Logger
+	peerID          peer.ID
+	bitmaskMap      map[string]*blossomsub.Bitmask
+	h               host.Host
+	signKey         crypto.PrivKey
+	peerScore       map[string]int64
+	peerScoreMx     sync.Mutex
+	isBootstrapPeer bool
 }
 
 var _ PubSub = (*BlossomSub)(nil)
@@ -133,11 +134,12 @@ func NewBlossomSub(
 	}
 
 	bs := &BlossomSub{
-		ctx:        ctx,
-		logger:     logger,
-		bitmaskMap: make(map[string]*blossomsub.Bitmask),
-		signKey:    privKey,
-		peerScore:  make(map[string]int64),
+		ctx:             ctx,
+		logger:          logger,
+		bitmaskMap:      make(map[string]*blossomsub.Bitmask),
+		signKey:         privKey,
+		peerScore:       make(map[string]int64),
+		isBootstrapPeer: isBootstrapPeer,
 	}
 
 	h, err := libp2p.New(opts...)
@@ -267,6 +269,7 @@ func (b *BlossomSub) Subscribe(
 			"begin streaming from bitmask",
 			zap.Binary("bitmask", bitmask),
 		)
+
 		go func() {
 			for {
 				m, err := sub.Next(b.ctx)
@@ -276,7 +279,6 @@ func (b *BlossomSub) Subscribe(
 						zap.Error(err),
 					)
 				}
-
 				if err = handler(m.Message); err != nil {
 					b.logger.Debug("message handler returned error", zap.Error(err))
 				}
diff --git a/node/store/clock.go b/node/store/clock.go
index 51b1e03..011d425 100644
--- a/node/store/clock.go
+++ b/node/store/clock.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package store
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/binary"
-	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/cockroachdb/pebble"
 	"github.com/iden3/go-iden3-crypto/poseidon"
@@ -62,7 +61,6 @@ type ClockStore interface {
 		parentSelector []byte,
 		truncate bool,
 	) (*protobufs.ClockFrame, error)
-	Deduplicate(filter []byte) error
 	GetCompressedDataClockFrames(
 		filter []byte,
 		fromFrameNumber uint64,
@@ -186,11 +184,25 @@ func (p *PebbleClockIterator) TruncatedValue() (
 
 	value := p.i.Value()
 	frame := &protobufs.ClockFrame{}
-	if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(
-			errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
-			"get candidate clock frame iterator value",
-		)
+	if len(value) == (len(p.i.Key()) + 32) {
+		frameValue, frameCloser, err := p.db.db.Get(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "get truncated clock frame iterator value")
+		}
+		if err := proto.Unmarshal(frameValue, frame); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(
+				errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
+				"get truncated clock frame iterator value",
+			)
+		}
+		frameCloser.Close()
+	} else {
+		if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(
+				errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
+				"get truncated clock frame iterator value",
+			)
+		}
 	}
 
 	return frame, nil
@@ -203,14 +215,34 @@ func (p *PebbleClockIterator) Value() (*protobufs.ClockFrame, error) {
 
 	value := p.i.Value()
 	frame := &protobufs.ClockFrame{}
-	if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
-		return nil, errors.Wrap(
-			errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
-			"get clock frame iterator value",
-		)
+	genesisFramePreIndex := false
+
+	// We do a bit of a cheap trick here while things are still stuck in the old
+	// ways: we use the size of the parent index key to determine if it's the new
+	// format, or the old raw frame
+	if len(value) == (len(p.i.Key()) + 32) {
+		frameValue, frameCloser, err := p.db.db.Get(value)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "get clock frame iterator value")
+		}
+		if err := proto.Unmarshal(frameValue, frame); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(
+				errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
+				"get clock frame iterator value",
+			)
+		}
+		defer frameCloser.Close()
+	} else {
+		if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
+			return nil, errors.Wrap(
+				errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
+				"get clock frame iterator value",
+			)
+		}
+		genesisFramePreIndex = frame.FrameNumber == 0
 	}
 
-	if err := p.db.fillAggregateProofs(frame, false); err != nil {
+	if err := p.db.fillAggregateProofs(frame, genesisFramePreIndex); err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(
 			errors.Wrap(err, ErrInvalidData.Error()),
 			"get clock frame iterator value",
@@ -647,20 +679,8 @@ func (p *PebbleClockStore) saveAggregateProofs(
 			p.db,
 			txn,
 			frame.AggregateProofs[i],
-			commit, func(typeUrl string, data []byte) ([][]byte, error) {
-				if typeUrl == protobufs.IntrinsicExecutionOutputType {
-					o := &protobufs.IntrinsicExecutionOutput{}
-					if err := proto.Unmarshal(data, o); err != nil {
-						return nil, err
-					}
-					leftBits := append([]byte{}, o.Address...)
-					leftBits = append(leftBits, o.Output...)
-					rightBits := o.Proof
-					return [][]byte{leftBits, rightBits}, nil
-				}
-
-				return [][]byte{data}, nil
-			})
+			commit,
+		)
 		if err != nil {
 			if err = txn.Abort(); err != nil {
 				return err
@@ -900,185 +920,6 @@ func (p *PebbleClockStore) RangeDataClockFrames(
 	return &PebbleClockIterator{i: iter, db: p}, nil
 }
 
-// Should only need be run once, before starting
-func (p *PebbleClockStore) Deduplicate(filter []byte) error {
-	from := clockDataParentIndexKey(
-		filter,
-		1,
-		[]byte{
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-		},
-	)
-	to := clockDataParentIndexKey(
-		filter,
-		20000,
-		[]byte{
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-		},
-	)
-
-	iter, err := p.db.NewIter(from, to)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "deduplicate")
-	}
-
-	i := 0
-	for iter.First(); iter.Valid(); iter.Next() {
-		value := iter.Value()
-		frame := &protobufs.ClockFrame{}
-		if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := p.saveAggregateProofs(nil, frame); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		frame.AggregateProofs = []*protobufs.InclusionAggregateProof{}
-		newValue, err := proto.Marshal(frame)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		err = p.db.Set(iter.Key(), newValue)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		i++
-		if i%100 == 0 {
-			fmt.Println("Deduplicated 100 parent frames")
-		}
-	}
-
-	iter.Close()
-	if err := p.db.Compact(from, to, true); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	from = clockDataFrameKey(filter, 1)
-	to = clockDataFrameKey(filter, 20000)
-
-	iter, err = p.db.NewIter(from, to)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "deduplicate")
-	}
-
-	i = 0
-	for iter.First(); iter.Valid(); iter.Next() {
-		value := iter.Value()
-		frame := &protobufs.ClockFrame{}
-		if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := p.saveAggregateProofs(nil, frame); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		frame.AggregateProofs = []*protobufs.InclusionAggregateProof{}
-		newValue, err := proto.Marshal(frame)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		err = p.db.Set(iter.Key(), newValue)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		i++
-		if i%100 == 0 {
-			fmt.Println("Deduplicated 100 data frames")
-		}
-	}
-
-	iter.Close()
-	if err := p.db.Compact(from, to, true); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	from = clockDataCandidateFrameKey(
-		filter,
-		1,
-		[]byte{
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-		},
-		[]byte{
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-			0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00,
-		},
-	)
-	to = clockDataCandidateFrameKey(
-		filter,
-		20000,
-		[]byte{
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-		},
-		[]byte{
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-			0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff, 0xff,
-		},
-	)
-
-	iter, err = p.db.NewIter(from, to)
-	if err != nil {
-		return errors.Wrap(err, "deduplicate")
-	}
-
-	i = 0
-	for iter.First(); iter.Valid(); iter.Next() {
-		value := iter.Value()
-		frame := &protobufs.ClockFrame{}
-		if err := proto.Unmarshal(value, frame); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		if err := p.saveAggregateProofs(nil, frame); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		frame.AggregateProofs = []*protobufs.InclusionAggregateProof{}
-		newValue, err := proto.Marshal(frame)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		err = p.db.Set(iter.Key(), newValue)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-
-		i++
-		if i%100 == 0 {
-			fmt.Println("Deduplicated 100 candidate frames")
-		}
-	}
-
-	iter.Close()
-	if err := p.db.Compact(from, to, true); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	p.db.Close()
-
-	return nil
-}
-
 func (p *PebbleClockStore) GetCompressedDataClockFrames(
 	filter []byte,
 	fromFrameNumber uint64,
@@ -1103,8 +944,8 @@ func (p *PebbleClockStore) GetCompressedDataClockFrames(
 		genesisFramePreIndex := false
 
 		// We do a bit of a cheap trick here while things are still stuck in the old
-		// ways: we use the size of the parent index key to determine if it's the new
-		// format, or the old raw frame
+		// ways: we use the size of the parent index key to determine if it's the
+		// new format, or the old raw frame
 		if len(value) == (len(filter) + 42) {
 			frameValue, frameCloser, err := p.db.Get(value)
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/node/store/data_proof.go b/node/store/data_proof.go
index ad5f1a4..ec3722c 100644
--- a/node/store/data_proof.go
+++ b/node/store/data_proof.go
@@ -220,7 +220,6 @@ func internalPutAggregateProof(
 	txn Transaction,
 	aggregateProof *protobufs.InclusionAggregateProof,
 	commitment []byte,
-	inclusionSplitter func(typeUrl string, data []byte) ([][]byte, error),
 ) error {
 	buf := binary.BigEndian.AppendUint64(
 		nil,
@@ -229,9 +228,18 @@ func internalPutAggregateProof(
 	buf = append(buf, aggregateProof.Proof...)
 
 	for i, inc := range aggregateProof.InclusionCommitments {
-		segments, err := inclusionSplitter(inc.TypeUrl, inc.Data)
-		if err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrap(err, "get aggregate proof")
+		var segments [][]byte
+		if inc.TypeUrl == protobufs.IntrinsicExecutionOutputType {
+			o := &protobufs.IntrinsicExecutionOutput{}
+			if err := proto.Unmarshal(inc.Data, o); err != nil {
+				return errors.Wrap(err, "get aggregate proof")
+			}
+			leftBits := append([]byte{}, o.Address...)
+			leftBits = append(leftBits, o.Output...)
+			rightBits := o.Proof
+			segments = [][]byte{leftBits, rightBits}
+		} else {
+			segments = [][]byte{inc.Data}
 		}
 
 		urlLength := len(inc.TypeUrl)
@@ -244,7 +252,7 @@ func internalPutAggregateProof(
 
 		for _, segment := range segments {
 			hash := sha3.Sum256(segment)
-			if err = txn.Set(
+			if err := txn.Set(
 				dataProofSegmentKey(aggregateProof.Filter, hash[:]),
 				segment,
 			); err != nil {
@@ -253,7 +261,7 @@ func internalPutAggregateProof(
 			encoded = append(encoded, hash[:]...)
 		}
 
-		if err = txn.Set(
+		if err := txn.Set(
 			dataProofInclusionKey(aggregateProof.Filter, commitment, uint64(i)),
 			encoded,
 		); err != nil {
@@ -275,13 +283,11 @@ func (p *PebbleDataProofStore) PutAggregateProof(
 	txn Transaction,
 	aggregateProof *protobufs.InclusionAggregateProof,
 	commitment []byte,
-	inclusionSplitter func(typeUrl string, data []byte) ([][]byte, error),
 ) error {
 	return internalPutAggregateProof(
 		p.db,
 		txn,
 		aggregateProof,
 		commitment,
-		inclusionSplitter,
 	)
 }