diff --git a/.github/workflows/race.yaml b/.github/workflows/race.yaml
index b992b7b15..27847217e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/race.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/race.yaml
@@ -46,4 +46,4 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           git checkout "${{ env.run_on }}"
           git status
-          go test -race ./...
+          go test -timeout 20m -race ./...
diff --git a/app/protocol/common/common.go b/app/protocol/common/common.go
index 03061da14..3ab1d49b1 100644
--- a/app/protocol/common/common.go
+++ b/app/protocol/common/common.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 // DefaultTimeout is the default duration to wait for enqueuing/dequeuing
 // to/from routes.
-const DefaultTimeout = 30 * time.Second
+const DefaultTimeout = 120 * time.Second
 
 // ErrPeerWithSameIDExists signifies that a peer with the same ID already exist.
 var ErrPeerWithSameIDExists = errors.New("ready peer with the same ID already exists")
diff --git a/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_pruning_point_and_its_anticone_requests.go b/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_pruning_point_and_its_anticone_requests.go
index 809b85454..168d0b34b 100644
--- a/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_pruning_point_and_its_anticone_requests.go
+++ b/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_pruning_point_and_its_anticone_requests.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/app/appmessage"
 	peerpkg "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/app/protocol/peer"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain"
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/network/netadapter/router"
 )
 
@@ -40,13 +41,13 @@ func HandlePruningPointAndItsAnticoneRequests(context PruningPointAndItsAnticone
 			return err
 		}
 
-		blocks, err := context.Domain().Consensus().PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData()
+		pointAndItsAnticone, err := context.Domain().Consensus().PruningPointAndItsAnticone()
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		for _, block := range blocks {
-			err = outgoingRoute.Enqueue(appmessage.DomainBlockWithTrustedDataToBlockWithTrustedData(block))
+		for _, blockHash := range pointAndItsAnticone {
+			err := sendBlockWithTrustedData(context, outgoingRoute, blockHash)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -60,3 +61,17 @@ func HandlePruningPointAndItsAnticoneRequests(context PruningPointAndItsAnticone
 		log.Debugf("Sent pruning point and its anticone to %s", peer)
 	}
 }
+
+func sendBlockWithTrustedData(context PruningPointAndItsAnticoneRequestsContext, outgoingRoute *router.Route, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) error {
+	blockWithTrustedData, err := context.Domain().Consensus().BlockWithTrustedData(blockHash)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = outgoingRoute.Enqueue(appmessage.DomainBlockWithTrustedDataToBlockWithTrustedData(blockWithTrustedData))
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_request_pruning_point_utxo_set.go b/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_request_pruning_point_utxo_set.go
index 8bfca3895..4d1ed41f2 100644
--- a/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_request_pruning_point_utxo_set.go
+++ b/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/handle_request_pruning_point_utxo_set.go
@@ -70,7 +70,8 @@ func (flow *handleRequestPruningPointUTXOSetFlow) waitForRequestPruningPointUTXO
 	}
 	msgRequestPruningPointUTXOSet, ok := message.(*appmessage.MsgRequestPruningPointUTXOSet)
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, protocolerrors.Errorf(true, "received unexpected message type. "+
+		// TODO: Change to shouldBan: true once we fix the bug of getting redundant messages
+		return nil, protocolerrors.Errorf(false, "received unexpected message type. "+
 			"expected: %s, got: %s", appmessage.CmdRequestPruningPointUTXOSet, message.Command())
 	}
 	return msgRequestPruningPointUTXOSet, nil
@@ -123,7 +124,8 @@ func (flow *handleRequestPruningPointUTXOSetFlow) sendPruningPointUTXOSet(
 			}
 			_, ok := message.(*appmessage.MsgRequestNextPruningPointUTXOSetChunk)
 			if !ok {
-				return protocolerrors.Errorf(true, "received unexpected message type. "+
+				// TODO: Change to shouldBan: true once we fix the bug of getting redundant messages
+				return protocolerrors.Errorf(false, "received unexpected message type. "+
 					"expected: %s, got: %s", appmessage.CmdRequestNextPruningPointUTXOSetChunk, message.Command())
 			}
 
diff --git a/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/ibd_with_headers_proof.go b/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/ibd_with_headers_proof.go
index ab0e65f24..732ce2b2c 100644
--- a/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/ibd_with_headers_proof.go
+++ b/app/protocol/flows/blockrelay/ibd_with_headers_proof.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func (flow *handleRelayInvsFlow) downloadHeadersAndPruningUTXOSet(highHash *exte
 		return err
 	}
 
-	log.Debugf("Headers downloaded from peer %s", flow.peer)
+	log.Infof("Headers downloaded from peer %s", flow.peer)
 
 	highHashInfo, err := flow.Domain().StagingConsensus().GetBlockInfo(highHash)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/app/rpc/rpchandlers/submit_block.go b/app/rpc/rpchandlers/submit_block.go
index 388443ed5..52abfb9af 100644
--- a/app/rpc/rpchandlers/submit_block.go
+++ b/app/rpc/rpchandlers/submit_block.go
@@ -14,9 +14,14 @@ import (
 func HandleSubmitBlock(context *rpccontext.Context, _ *router.Router, request appmessage.Message) (appmessage.Message, error) {
 	submitBlockRequest := request.(*appmessage.SubmitBlockRequestMessage)
 
-	if context.ProtocolManager.IsIBDRunning() {
+	isSynced, err := context.ProtocolManager.ShouldMine()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if !context.Config.AllowSubmitBlockWhenNotSynced && !isSynced {
 		return &appmessage.SubmitBlockResponseMessage{
-			Error:        appmessage.RPCErrorf("Block not submitted - IBD is running"),
+			Error:        appmessage.RPCErrorf("Block not submitted - node is not synced"),
 			RejectReason: appmessage.RejectReasonIsInIBD,
 		}, nil
 	}
diff --git a/build_and_test.sh b/build_and_test.sh
index 30f70b0b7..886eddab6 100755
--- a/build_and_test.sh
+++ b/build_and_test.sh
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ golint -set_exit_status ./...
 
 staticcheck -checks SA4006,SA4008,SA4009,SA4010,SA5003,SA1004,SA1014,SA1021,SA1023,SA1024,SA1025,SA1026,SA1027,SA1028,SA2000,SA2001,SA2003,SA4000,SA4001,SA4003,SA4004,SA4011,SA4012,SA4013,SA4014,SA4015,SA4016,SA4017,SA4018,SA4019,SA4020,SA4021,SA4022,SA4023,SA5000,SA5002,SA5004,SA5005,SA5007,SA5008,SA5009,SA5010,SA5011,SA5012,SA6001,SA6002,SA9001,SA9002,SA9003,SA9004,SA9005,SA9006,ST1019 ./...
 
-go vet -composites=false $FLAGS ./...
-
 go build $FLAGS -o kaspad .
 
 if [ -n "${NO_PARALLEL}" ]
diff --git a/cmd/kaspawallet/create.go b/cmd/kaspawallet/create.go
index 3e8f5286f..a6df708d1 100644
--- a/cmd/kaspawallet/create.go
+++ b/cmd/kaspawallet/create.go
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ func create(conf *createConfig) error {
 	}
 
 	file := keys.File{
+		Version:            keys.LastVersion,
 		EncryptedMnemonics: encryptedMnemonics,
 		ExtendedPublicKeys: extendedPublicKeys,
 		MinimumSignatures:  conf.MinimumSignatures,
diff --git a/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/create.go b/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/create.go
index 340a4a41b..f9fed6bc5 100644
--- a/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/create.go
+++ b/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/create.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func encryptMnemonic(mnemonic string, password []byte) (*EncryptedMnemonic, erro
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	aead, err := getAEAD(password, salt)
+	aead, err := getAEAD(defaultNumThreads, password, salt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/keys.go b/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/keys.go
index b88e81bda..bd7a41dd6 100644
--- a/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/keys.go
+++ b/cmd/kaspawallet/keys/keys.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
+	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/dagconfig"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/util"
@@ -22,6 +23,9 @@ var (
 	defaultAppDir = util.AppDir("kaspawallet", false)
 )
 
+// LastVersion is the most up to date file format version
+const LastVersion = 1
+
 func defaultKeysFile(netParams *dagconfig.Params) string {
 	return filepath.Join(defaultAppDir, netParams.Name, "keys.json")
 }
@@ -32,6 +36,8 @@ type encryptedPrivateKeyJSON struct {
 }
 
 type keysFileJSON struct {
+	Version               uint32                     `json:"version"`
+	NumThreads            uint8                      `json:"numThreads,omitempty"` // This field is ignored for versions different from 0. See more details at the function `numThreads`.
 	EncryptedPrivateKeys  []*encryptedPrivateKeyJSON `json:"encryptedMnemonics"`
 	ExtendedPublicKeys    []string                   `json:"publicKeys"`
 	MinimumSignatures     uint32                     `json:"minimumSignatures"`
@@ -49,6 +55,8 @@ type EncryptedMnemonic struct {
 
 // File holds all the data related to the wallet keys
 type File struct {
+	Version               uint32
+	NumThreads            uint8 // This field is ignored for versions different than 0
 	EncryptedMnemonics    []*EncryptedMnemonic
 	ExtendedPublicKeys    []string
 	MinimumSignatures     uint32
@@ -69,6 +77,8 @@ func (d *File) toJSON() *keysFileJSON {
 	}
 
 	return &keysFileJSON{
+		Version:               d.Version,
+		NumThreads:            d.NumThreads,
 		EncryptedPrivateKeys:  encryptedPrivateKeysJSON,
 		ExtendedPublicKeys:    d.ExtendedPublicKeys,
 		MinimumSignatures:     d.MinimumSignatures,
@@ -80,6 +90,8 @@ func (d *File) toJSON() *keysFileJSON {
 }
 
 func (d *File) fromJSON(fileJSON *keysFileJSON) error {
+	d.Version = fileJSON.Version
+	d.NumThreads = fileJSON.NumThreads
 	d.MinimumSignatures = fileJSON.MinimumSignatures
 	d.ECDSA = fileJSON.ECDSA
 	d.ExtendedPublicKeys = fileJSON.ExtendedPublicKeys
@@ -181,10 +193,20 @@ func (d *File) DecryptMnemonics(cmdLinePassword string) ([]string, error) {
 	if len(password) == 0 {
 		password = getPassword("Password:")
 	}
+
+	var numThreads uint8
+	if len(d.EncryptedMnemonics) > 0 {
+		var err error
+		numThreads, err = d.numThreads(password)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	privateKeys := make([]string, len(d.EncryptedMnemonics))
 	for i, encryptedPrivateKey := range d.EncryptedMnemonics {
 		var err error
-		privateKeys[i], err = decryptMnemonic(encryptedPrivateKey, password)
+		privateKeys[i], err = decryptMnemonic(numThreads, encryptedPrivateKey, password)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -278,13 +300,73 @@ func (d *File) Save() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func getAEAD(password, salt []byte) (cipher.AEAD, error) {
-	key := argon2.IDKey(password, salt, 1, 64*1024, uint8(runtime.NumCPU()), 32)
+const defaultNumThreads = 8
+
+func (d *File) numThreads(password []byte) (uint8, error) {
+	// There's a bug in v0 wallets where the number of threads
+	// was determined by the number of logical CPUs at the machine,
+	// which made the authentication non-deterministic across platforms.
+	// In order to solve it we introduce v1 where the number of threads
+	// is constant, and brute force the number of threads in v0. After we
+	// find the right amount via brute force we save the result to the file.
+
+	if d.Version != 0 {
+		return defaultNumThreads, nil
+	}
+
+	if d.NumThreads != 0 {
+		return d.NumThreads, nil
+	}
+
+	numThreads, err := d.detectNumThreads(password, d.EncryptedMnemonics[0].salt)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	d.NumThreads = numThreads
+	err = d.Save()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+
+	return numThreads, nil
+}
+
+func (d *File) detectNumThreads(password, salt []byte) (uint8, error) {
+	numCPU := uint8(runtime.NumCPU())
+	_, err := getAEAD(numCPU, password, salt)
+	if err != nil {
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "message authentication failed") {
+			return 0, err
+		}
+	} else {
+		return numCPU, nil
+	}
+
+	for i := uint8(1); ; i++ {
+		if i == numCPU {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		_, err := getAEAD(i, password, salt)
+		if err != nil {
+			const maxTries = 32
+			if i > maxTries || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "message authentication failed") {
+				return 0, err
+			}
+		} else {
+			return i, nil
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func getAEAD(threads uint8, password, salt []byte) (cipher.AEAD, error) {
+	key := argon2.IDKey(password, salt, 1, 64*1024, threads, 32)
 	return chacha20poly1305.NewX(key)
 }
 
-func decryptMnemonic(encryptedPrivateKey *EncryptedMnemonic, password []byte) (string, error) {
-	aead, err := getAEAD(password, encryptedPrivateKey.salt)
+func decryptMnemonic(numThreads uint8, encryptedPrivateKey *EncryptedMnemonic, password []byte) (string, error) {
+	aead, err := getAEAD(numThreads, password, encryptedPrivateKey.salt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/consensus.go b/domain/consensus/consensus.go
index 011315f0f..d3bb816ad 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -137,11 +137,18 @@ func (s *consensus) Init(skipAddingGenesis bool) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (s *consensus) PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData() ([]*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error) {
+func (s *consensus) PruningPointAndItsAnticone() ([]*externalapi.DomainHash, error) {
 	s.lock.Lock()
 	defer s.lock.Unlock()
 
-	return s.pruningManager.PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData()
+	return s.pruningManager.PruningPointAndItsAnticone()
+}
+
+func (s *consensus) BlockWithTrustedData(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error) {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	defer s.lock.Unlock()
+
+	return s.pruningManager.BlockWithTrustedData(model.NewStagingArea(), blockHash)
 }
 
 // BuildBlock builds a block over the current state, with the transactions
@@ -716,7 +723,10 @@ func (s *consensus) PopulateMass(transaction *externalapi.DomainTransaction) {
 func (s *consensus) ResolveVirtual() error {
 	// In order to prevent a situation that the consensus lock is held for too much time, we
 	// release the lock each time resolve 100 blocks.
-	for {
+	for i := 0; ; i++ {
+		if i%10 == 0 {
+			log.Infof("Resolving virtual. This may take some time...")
+		}
 		var isCompletelyResolved bool
 		var err error
 		func() {
@@ -730,6 +740,7 @@ func (s *consensus) ResolveVirtual() error {
 		}
 
 		if isCompletelyResolved {
+			log.Infof("Resolved virtual")
 			return nil
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/datastructures/reachabilitydatastore/reachability_data_store.go b/domain/consensus/datastructures/reachabilitydatastore/reachability_data_store.go
index 31f901f64..a1f5712fb 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/datastructures/reachabilitydatastore/reachability_data_store.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/datastructures/reachabilitydatastore/reachability_data_store.go
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/lrucache"
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/db/database"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/util/staging"
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
 var reachabilityDataBucketName = []byte("reachability-data")
@@ -50,6 +52,8 @@ func (rds *reachabilityDataStore) IsStaged(stagingArea *model.StagingArea) bool
 	return rds.stagingShard(stagingArea).isStaged()
 }
 
+var errNotFound = errors.Wrap(database.ErrNotFound, "reachability data not found")
+
 // ReachabilityData returns the reachabilityData associated with the given blockHash
 func (rds *reachabilityDataStore) ReachabilityData(dbContext model.DBReader, stagingArea *model.StagingArea, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (model.ReachabilityData, error) {
 	stagingShard := rds.stagingShard(stagingArea)
@@ -59,10 +63,16 @@ func (rds *reachabilityDataStore) ReachabilityData(dbContext model.DBReader, sta
 	}
 
 	if reachabilityData, ok := rds.reachabilityDataCache.Get(blockHash); ok {
+		if reachabilityData == nil {
+			return nil, errNotFound
+		}
 		return reachabilityData.(model.ReachabilityData), nil
 	}
 
 	reachabilityDataBytes, err := dbContext.Get(rds.reachabilityDataBlockHashAsKey(blockHash))
+	if database.IsNotFoundError(err) {
+		rds.reachabilityDataCache.Add(blockHash, nil)
+	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -76,17 +86,15 @@ func (rds *reachabilityDataStore) ReachabilityData(dbContext model.DBReader, sta
 }
 
 func (rds *reachabilityDataStore) HasReachabilityData(dbContext model.DBReader, stagingArea *model.StagingArea, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (bool, error) {
-	stagingShard := rds.stagingShard(stagingArea)
-
-	if _, ok := stagingShard.reachabilityData[*blockHash]; ok {
-		return true, nil
+	_, err := rds.ReachabilityData(dbContext, stagingArea, blockHash)
+	if database.IsNotFoundError(err) {
+		return false, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
 	}
 
-	if rds.reachabilityDataCache.Has(blockHash) {
-		return true, nil
-	}
-
-	return dbContext.Has(rds.reachabilityDataBlockHashAsKey(blockHash))
+	return true, nil
 }
 
 // ReachabilityReindexRoot returns the current reachability reindex root
diff --git a/domain/consensus/factory.go b/domain/consensus/factory.go
index 25f30cbd7..1509969af 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/factory.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/factory.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/datastructures/daawindowstore"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/processes/blockparentbuilder"
+	parentssanager "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/processes/parentsmanager"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/constants"
 	"io/ioutil"
@@ -158,12 +159,17 @@ func (f *factory) NewConsensus(config *Config, db infrastructuredatabase.Databas
 	dagTraversalManager := dagTraversalManagers[0]
 
 	// Processes
+	parentsManager := parentssanager.New(config.GenesisHash, config.HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore)
 	blockParentBuilder := blockparentbuilder.New(
 		dbManager,
 		blockHeaderStore,
 		dagTopologyManager,
+		parentsManager,
 		reachabilityDataStore,
 		pruningStore,
+
+		config.HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore,
+		config.GenesisHash,
 	)
 	pastMedianTimeManager := f.pastMedianTimeConsructor(
 		config.TimestampDeviationTolerance,
@@ -316,6 +322,7 @@ func (f *factory) NewConsensus(config *Config, db infrastructuredatabase.Databas
 		finalityManager,
 		blockParentBuilder,
 		pruningManager,
+		parentsManager,
 
 		pruningStore,
 		blockStore,
@@ -403,6 +410,7 @@ func (f *factory) NewConsensus(config *Config, db infrastructuredatabase.Databas
 		ghostdagManagers,
 		reachabilityManagers,
 		dagTraversalManagers,
+		parentsManager,
 
 		ghostdagDataStores,
 		pruningStore,
@@ -581,7 +589,7 @@ func dagStores(config *Config,
 			ghostdagDataStores[i] = ghostdagdatastore.New(prefixBucket, ghostdagDataCacheSize, preallocateCaches)
 		} else {
 			blockRelationStores[i] = blockrelationstore.New(prefixBucket, 200, false)
-			reachabilityDataStores[i] = reachabilitydatastore.New(prefixBucket, 200, false)
+			reachabilityDataStores[i] = reachabilitydatastore.New(prefixBucket, 86400, false)
 			ghostdagDataStores[i] = ghostdagdatastore.New(prefixBucket, 200, false)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/block.go b/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/block.go
index 15fae9763..053115f9f 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/block.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/block.go
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ type BlockHeader interface {
 type BaseBlockHeader interface {
 	Version() uint16
 	Parents() []BlockLevelParents
-	ParentsAtLevel(level int) BlockLevelParents
 	DirectParents() BlockLevelParents
 	HashMerkleRoot() *DomainHash
 	AcceptedIDMerkleRoot() *DomainHash
@@ -70,6 +69,7 @@ type BaseBlockHeader interface {
 	BlueScore() uint64
 	BlueWork() *big.Int
 	PruningPoint() *DomainHash
+	BlockLevel() int
 	Equal(other BaseBlockHeader) bool
 }
 
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/consensus.go b/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/consensus.go
index f2eef017d..2430eb5c6 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/consensus.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/consensus.go
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ type Consensus interface {
 	GetVirtualUTXOs(expectedVirtualParents []*DomainHash, fromOutpoint *DomainOutpoint, limit int) ([]*OutpointAndUTXOEntryPair, error)
 	PruningPoint() (*DomainHash, error)
 	PruningPointHeaders() ([]BlockHeader, error)
-	PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData() ([]*BlockWithTrustedData, error)
+	PruningPointAndItsAnticone() ([]*DomainHash, error)
+	BlockWithTrustedData(blockHash *DomainHash) (*BlockWithTrustedData, error)
 	ClearImportedPruningPointData() error
 	AppendImportedPruningPointUTXOs(outpointAndUTXOEntryPairs []*OutpointAndUTXOEntryPair) error
 	ValidateAndInsertImportedPruningPoint(newPruningPoint *DomainHash) error
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_blockparentbuilder.go b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_blockparentbuilder.go
index fd42b2d3e..b865f6eec 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_blockparentbuilder.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_blockparentbuilder.go
@@ -5,5 +5,7 @@ import "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 // BlockParentBuilder exposes a method to build super-block parents for
 // a given set of direct parents
 type BlockParentBuilder interface {
-	BuildParents(stagingArea *StagingArea, directParentHashes []*externalapi.DomainHash) ([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, error)
+	BuildParents(stagingArea *StagingArea,
+		daaScore uint64,
+		directParentHashes []*externalapi.DomainHash) ([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, error)
 }
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_parentsmanager.go b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_parentsmanager.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4550fa86d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_parentsmanager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+package model
+
+import "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
+
+// ParentsManager lets is a wrapper above header parents that replaces empty parents with genesis when needed.
+type ParentsManager interface {
+	ParentsAtLevel(blockHeader externalapi.BlockHeader, level int) externalapi.BlockLevelParents
+	Parents(blockHeader externalapi.BlockHeader) []externalapi.BlockLevelParents
+}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_pruningmanager.go b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_pruningmanager.go
index 4b7cfe5b4..4646a225f 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_pruningmanager.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_pruningmanager.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ type PruningManager interface {
 	AppendImportedPruningPointUTXOs(outpointAndUTXOEntryPairs []*externalapi.OutpointAndUTXOEntryPair) error
 	UpdatePruningPointIfRequired() error
 	PruneAllBlocksBelow(stagingArea *StagingArea, pruningPointHash *externalapi.DomainHash) error
-	PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData() ([]*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error)
+	PruningPointAndItsAnticone() ([]*externalapi.DomainHash, error)
 	ExpectedHeaderPruningPoint(stagingArea *StagingArea, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.DomainHash, error)
+	BlockWithTrustedData(stagingArea *StagingArea, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error)
 }
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/block_builder.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/block_builder.go
index 745bc8809..12f5768e9 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/block_builder.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/block_builder.go
@@ -183,10 +183,16 @@ func (bb *blockBuilder) newBlockCoinbaseTransaction(stagingArea *model.StagingAr
 func (bb *blockBuilder) buildHeader(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, transactions []*externalapi.DomainTransaction,
 	newBlockPruningPoint *externalapi.DomainHash) (externalapi.BlockHeader, error) {
 
-	parents, err := bb.newBlockParents(stagingArea)
+	daaScore, err := bb.newBlockDAAScore(stagingArea)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+
+	parents, err := bb.newBlockParents(stagingArea, daaScore)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
 	timeInMilliseconds, err := bb.newBlockTime(stagingArea)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -204,10 +210,6 @@ func (bb *blockBuilder) buildHeader(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, transactions
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	daaScore, err := bb.newBlockDAAScore(stagingArea)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	blueWork, err := bb.newBlockBlueWork(stagingArea)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -233,12 +235,12 @@ func (bb *blockBuilder) buildHeader(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, transactions
 	), nil
 }
 
-func (bb *blockBuilder) newBlockParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea) ([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, error) {
+func (bb *blockBuilder) newBlockParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, daaScore uint64) ([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, error) {
 	virtualBlockRelations, err := bb.blockRelationStore.BlockRelation(bb.databaseContext, stagingArea, model.VirtualBlockHash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return bb.blockParentBuilder.BuildParents(stagingArea, virtualBlockRelations.Parents)
+	return bb.blockParentBuilder.BuildParents(stagingArea, daaScore, virtualBlockRelations.Parents)
 }
 
 func (bb *blockBuilder) newBlockTime(stagingArea *model.StagingArea) (int64, error) {
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/test_block_builder.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/test_block_builder.go
index 4796f9eab..8a87acc21 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/test_block_builder.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockbuilder/test_block_builder.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (bb *testBlockBuilder) buildUTXOInvalidHeader(stagingArea *model.StagingAre
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	parents, err := bb.blockParentBuilder.BuildParents(stagingArea, parentHashes)
+	parents, err := bb.blockParentBuilder.BuildParents(stagingArea, daaScore, parentHashes)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockparentbuilder/blockparentbuilder.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockparentbuilder/blockparentbuilder.go
index 6f3ceede3..d12fd41a7 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockparentbuilder/blockparentbuilder.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockparentbuilder/blockparentbuilder.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/consensushashing"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/hashset"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/pow"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
 
@@ -13,8 +12,12 @@ type blockParentBuilder struct {
 	databaseContext       model.DBManager
 	blockHeaderStore      model.BlockHeaderStore
 	dagTopologyManager    model.DAGTopologyManager
+	parentsManager        model.ParentsManager
 	reachabilityDataStore model.ReachabilityDataStore
 	pruningStore          model.PruningStore
+
+	hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore uint64
+	genesisHash                            *externalapi.DomainHash
 }
 
 // New creates a new instance of a BlockParentBuilder
@@ -22,20 +25,29 @@ func New(
 	databaseContext model.DBManager,
 	blockHeaderStore model.BlockHeaderStore,
 	dagTopologyManager model.DAGTopologyManager,
+	parentsManager model.ParentsManager,
+
 	reachabilityDataStore model.ReachabilityDataStore,
 	pruningStore model.PruningStore,
+
+	hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore uint64,
+	genesisHash *externalapi.DomainHash,
 ) model.BlockParentBuilder {
 	return &blockParentBuilder{
-		databaseContext:       databaseContext,
-		blockHeaderStore:      blockHeaderStore,
-		dagTopologyManager:    dagTopologyManager,
-		reachabilityDataStore: reachabilityDataStore,
-		pruningStore:          pruningStore,
+		databaseContext:    databaseContext,
+		blockHeaderStore:   blockHeaderStore,
+		dagTopologyManager: dagTopologyManager,
+		parentsManager:     parentsManager,
+
+		reachabilityDataStore:                  reachabilityDataStore,
+		pruningStore:                           pruningStore,
+		hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore: hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore,
+		genesisHash:                            genesisHash,
 	}
 }
 
 func (bpb *blockParentBuilder) BuildParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
-	directParentHashes []*externalapi.DomainHash) ([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, error) {
+	daaScore uint64, directParentHashes []*externalapi.DomainHash) ([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, error) {
 
 	// Late on we'll mutate direct parent hashes, so we first clone it.
 	directParentHashesCopy := make([]*externalapi.DomainHash, len(directParentHashes))
@@ -93,7 +105,7 @@ func (bpb *blockParentBuilder) BuildParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 	// all the block levels they occupy
 	for _, directParentHeader := range directParentHeaders {
 		directParentHash := consensushashing.HeaderHash(directParentHeader)
-		blockLevel := pow.BlockLevel(directParentHeader)
+		blockLevel := directParentHeader.BlockLevel()
 		for i := 0; i <= blockLevel; i++ {
 			if _, exists := candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[i]; !exists {
 				candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[i] = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash][]*externalapi.DomainHash)
@@ -116,7 +128,7 @@ func (bpb *blockParentBuilder) BuildParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 	}
 
 	for _, directParentHeader := range directParentHeaders {
-		for blockLevel, blockLevelParentsInHeader := range directParentHeader.Parents() {
+		for blockLevel, blockLevelParentsInHeader := range bpb.parentsManager.Parents(directParentHeader) {
 			isEmptyLevel := false
 			if _, exists := candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[blockLevel]; !exists {
 				candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[blockLevel] = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash][]*externalapi.DomainHash)
@@ -145,7 +157,7 @@ func (bpb *blockParentBuilder) BuildParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 				} else {
 					for childHash, childHeader := range virtualGenesisChildrenHeaders {
 						childHash := childHash // Assign to a new pointer to avoid `range` pointer reuse
-						if childHeader.ParentsAtLevel(blockLevel).Contains(parent) {
+						if bpb.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(childHeader, blockLevel).Contains(parent) {
 							referenceBlocks = append(referenceBlocks, &childHash)
 						}
 					}
@@ -203,14 +215,19 @@ func (bpb *blockParentBuilder) BuildParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 		}
 	}
 
-	parents := make([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, len(candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap))
+	parents := make([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, 0, len(candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap))
 	for blockLevel := 0; blockLevel < len(candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap); blockLevel++ {
+		if _, ok := candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[blockLevel][*bpb.genesisHash]; daaScore >= bpb.hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore && ok && len(candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[blockLevel]) == 1 {
+			break
+		}
+
 		levelBlocks := make(externalapi.BlockLevelParents, 0, len(candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[blockLevel]))
 		for block := range candidatesByLevelToReferenceBlocksMap[blockLevel] {
 			block := block // Assign to a new pointer to avoid `range` pointer reuse
 			levelBlocks = append(levelBlocks, &block)
 		}
-		parents[blockLevel] = levelBlocks
+
+		parents = append(parents, levelBlocks)
 	}
 	return parents, nil
 }
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockprocessor/validate_and_insert_imported_pruning_point_test.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockprocessor/validate_and_insert_imported_pruning_point_test.go
index 79b747034..b2fbde847 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockprocessor/validate_and_insert_imported_pruning_point_test.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockprocessor/validate_and_insert_imported_pruning_point_test.go
@@ -87,13 +87,18 @@ func TestValidateAndInsertImportedPruningPoint(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Fatalf("PruningPointHeaders: %+v", err)
 			}
 
-			pruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData, err := tcSyncer.PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData()
+			pruningPointAndItsAnticone, err := tcSyncer.PruningPointAndItsAnticone()
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData: %+v", err)
+				t.Fatalf("PruningPointAndItsAnticone: %+v", err)
 			}
 
-			for _, blockWithTrustedData := range pruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData {
-				_, err := synceeStaging.ValidateAndInsertBlockWithTrustedData(blockWithTrustedData, false)
+			for _, blockHash := range pruningPointAndItsAnticone {
+				blockWithTrustedData, err := tcSyncer.BlockWithTrustedData(blockHash)
+				if err != nil {
+					return
+				}
+
+				_, err = synceeStaging.ValidateAndInsertBlockWithTrustedData(blockWithTrustedData, false)
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Fatalf("ValidateAndInsertBlockWithTrustedData: %+v", err)
 				}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/block_header_in_context.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/block_header_in_context.go
index fe59bab11..587e5e8f5 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/block_header_in_context.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/block_header_in_context.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/ruleerrors"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/consensushashing"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/pow"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/logger"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 )
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ func (v *blockValidator) ValidateHeaderInContext(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 		return err
 	}
 	if !hasReachabilityData {
-		blockLevel := pow.BlockLevel(header)
+		blockLevel := header.BlockLevel()
 		for i := 0; i <= blockLevel; i++ {
 			err = v.reachabilityManagers[i].AddBlock(stagingArea, blockHash)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -195,7 +194,7 @@ func (v *blockValidator) checkMergeSizeLimit(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, has
 }
 
 func (v *blockValidator) checkIndirectParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, header externalapi.BlockHeader) error {
-	expectedParents, err := v.blockParentBuilder.BuildParents(stagingArea, header.DirectParents())
+	expectedParents, err := v.blockParentBuilder.BuildParents(stagingArea, header.DAAScore(), header.DirectParents())
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/blockvalidator.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/blockvalidator.go
index acf6cf463..c39489f05 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/blockvalidator.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/blockvalidator.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ type blockValidator struct {
 	finalityManager       model.FinalityManager
 	blockParentBuilder    model.BlockParentBuilder
 	pruningManager        model.PruningManager
+	parentsManager        model.ParentsManager
 
 	blockStore          model.BlockStore
 	ghostdagDataStores  []model.GHOSTDAGDataStore
@@ -72,6 +73,7 @@ func New(powMax *big.Int,
 	finalityManager model.FinalityManager,
 	blockParentBuilder model.BlockParentBuilder,
 	pruningManager model.PruningManager,
+	parentsManager model.ParentsManager,
 
 	pruningStore model.PruningStore,
 	blockStore model.BlockStore,
@@ -108,6 +110,7 @@ func New(powMax *big.Int,
 		finalityManager:             finalityManager,
 		blockParentBuilder:          blockParentBuilder,
 		pruningManager:              pruningManager,
+		parentsManager:              parentsManager,
 
 		pruningStore:        pruningStore,
 		blockStore:          blockStore,
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/pruning_violation_proof_of_work_and_difficulty.go b/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/pruning_violation_proof_of_work_and_difficulty.go
index c511e80d7..142aa3e09 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/pruning_violation_proof_of_work_and_difficulty.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/blockvalidator/pruning_violation_proof_of_work_and_difficulty.go
@@ -67,9 +67,9 @@ func (v *blockValidator) setParents(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 	header externalapi.BlockHeader,
 	isBlockWithTrustedData bool) error {
 
-	for level := 0; level <= pow.BlockLevel(header); level++ {
+	for level := 0; level <= header.BlockLevel(); level++ {
 		var parents []*externalapi.DomainHash
-		for _, parent := range header.ParentsAtLevel(level) {
+		for _, parent := range v.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(header, level) {
 			_, err := v.ghostdagDataStores[level].Get(v.databaseContext, stagingArea, parent, false)
 			isNotFoundError := database.IsNotFoundError(err)
 			if !isNotFoundError && err != nil {
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func (v *blockValidator) validateDifficulty(stagingArea *model.StagingArea,
 		return err
 	}
 
-	blockLevel := pow.BlockLevel(header)
+	blockLevel := header.BlockLevel()
 	for i := 1; i <= blockLevel; i++ {
 		err = v.ghostdagManagers[i].GHOSTDAG(stagingArea, blockHash)
 		if err != nil {
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/resolve.go b/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/resolve.go
index 9ee6f65f6..685330b5b 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/resolve.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/resolve.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func (csm *consensusStateManager) ResolveVirtual(maxBlocksToResolve uint64) (boo
 	var selectedTip *externalapi.DomainHash
 	isCompletelyResolved := true
 	for _, tip := range tips {
-		log.Infof("Resolving tip %s", tip)
+		log.Debugf("Resolving tip %s", tip)
 		resolveStagingArea := model.NewStagingArea()
 		unverifiedBlocks, err := csm.getUnverifiedChainBlocks(resolveStagingArea, tip)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (csm *consensusStateManager) ResolveVirtual(maxBlocksToResolve uint64) (boo
 		hasMoreUnverifiedThanMax := maxBlocksToResolve != 0 && uint64(len(unverifiedBlocks)) > maxBlocksToResolve
 		if hasMoreUnverifiedThanMax {
 			resolveTip = unverifiedBlocks[uint64(len(unverifiedBlocks))-maxBlocksToResolve]
-			log.Infof("Has more than %d blocks to resolve. Changing the resolve tip to %s", maxBlocksToResolve, resolveTip)
+			log.Debugf("Has more than %d blocks to resolve. Changing the resolve tip to %s", maxBlocksToResolve, resolveTip)
 		}
 
 		blockStatus, reversalData, err := csm.resolveBlockStatus(resolveStagingArea, resolveTip, true)
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/parentsmanager/parentsmanager.go b/domain/consensus/processes/parentsmanager/parentsmanager.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bec3d648c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/parentsmanager/parentsmanager.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package parentssanager
+
+import (
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/constants"
+)
+
+type parentsManager struct {
+	hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore uint64
+	genesisHash                            *externalapi.DomainHash
+}
+
+// New instantiates a new ParentsManager
+func New(genesisHash *externalapi.DomainHash, hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore uint64) model.ParentsManager {
+	return &parentsManager{
+		genesisHash:                            genesisHash,
+		hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore: hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore,
+	}
+}
+
+func (pm *parentsManager) ParentsAtLevel(blockHeader externalapi.BlockHeader, level int) externalapi.BlockLevelParents {
+	var parentsAtLevel externalapi.BlockLevelParents
+	if len(blockHeader.Parents()) > level {
+		parentsAtLevel = blockHeader.Parents()[level]
+	}
+
+	if len(parentsAtLevel) == 0 && len(blockHeader.DirectParents()) > 0 && blockHeader.DAAScore() >= pm.hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore {
+		return externalapi.BlockLevelParents{pm.genesisHash}
+	}
+
+	return parentsAtLevel
+}
+
+func (pm *parentsManager) Parents(blockHeader externalapi.BlockHeader) []externalapi.BlockLevelParents {
+	numParents := len(blockHeader.Parents())
+	if blockHeader.DAAScore() >= pm.hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore {
+		numParents = constants.MaxBlockLevel + 1
+	}
+
+	parents := make([]externalapi.BlockLevelParents, numParents)
+	for i := 0; i < numParents; i++ {
+		parents[i] = pm.ParentsAtLevel(blockHeader, i)
+	}
+
+	return parents
+}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruning_test.go b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruning_test.go
index c006a5162..83fba86d8 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruning_test.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruning_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package pruningmanager_test
 
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/consensushashing"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/db/database"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ func TestPruning(t *testing.T) {
 			dagconfig.MainnetParams.Name: "502",
 			dagconfig.TestnetParams.Name: "502",
 			dagconfig.DevnetParams.Name:  "502",
-			dagconfig.SimnetParams.Name:  "502",
+			dagconfig.SimnetParams.Name:  "503",
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -140,12 +139,11 @@ func TestPruning(t *testing.T) {
 			// We expect blocks that are within the difficulty adjustment window size of
 			// the pruning point and its anticone to not get pruned
 			unprunedBlockHashesBelowPruningPoint := make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]struct{})
-			pruningPointAndItsAnticone, err := tc.PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData()
+			pruningPointAndItsAnticone, err := tc.PruningPointAndItsAnticone()
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("pruningPointAndItsAnticone: %+v", err)
 			}
-			for _, block := range pruningPointAndItsAnticone {
-				blockHash := consensushashing.BlockHash(block.Block)
+			for _, blockHash := range pruningPointAndItsAnticone {
 				unprunedBlockHashesBelowPruningPoint[*blockHash] = struct{}{}
 				blockWindow, err := tc.DAGTraversalManager().BlockWindow(stagingArea, blockHash, consensusConfig.DifficultyAdjustmentWindowSize)
 				if err != nil {
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruningmanager.go b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruningmanager.go
index 58a86e1a0..5b27685cc 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruningmanager.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningmanager/pruningmanager.go
@@ -907,8 +907,8 @@ func (pm *pruningManager) PruneAllBlocksBelow(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, pr
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (pm *pruningManager) PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData() ([]*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error) {
-	onEnd := logger.LogAndMeasureExecutionTime(log, "PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData")
+func (pm *pruningManager) PruningPointAndItsAnticone() ([]*externalapi.DomainHash, error) {
+	onEnd := logger.LogAndMeasureExecutionTime(log, "PruningPointAndItsAnticone")
 	defer onEnd()
 
 	stagingArea := model.NewStagingArea()
@@ -922,34 +922,32 @@ func (pm *pruningManager) PruningPointAndItsAnticoneWithTrustedData() ([]*extern
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	blocks := make([]*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, 0, len(pruningPointAnticone)+1)
-
-	pruningPointWithTrustedData, err := pm.blockWithTrustedData(stagingArea, pruningPoint)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	for _, blockHash := range pruningPointAnticone {
-		blockWithTrustedData, err := pm.blockWithTrustedData(stagingArea, blockHash)
+	// Sorting the blocks in topological order
+	var sortErr error
+	sort.Slice(pruningPointAnticone, func(i, j int) bool {
+		headerI, err := pm.blockHeaderStore.BlockHeader(pm.databaseContext, stagingArea, pruningPointAnticone[i])
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			sortErr = err
+			return false
 		}
 
-		blocks = append(blocks, blockWithTrustedData)
+		headerJ, err := pm.blockHeaderStore.BlockHeader(pm.databaseContext, stagingArea, pruningPointAnticone[j])
+		if err != nil {
+			sortErr = err
+			return false
+		}
+
+		return headerI.BlueWork().Cmp(headerJ.BlueWork()) < 0
+	})
+	if sortErr != nil {
+		return nil, sortErr
 	}
 
-	// Sorting the blocks in topological order
-	sort.Slice(blocks, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return blocks[i].Block.Header.BlueWork().Cmp(blocks[j].Block.Header.BlueWork()) < 0
-	})
-
 	// The pruning point should always come first
-	blocks = append([]*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData{pruningPointWithTrustedData}, blocks...)
-
-	return blocks, nil
+	return append([]*externalapi.DomainHash{pruningPoint}, pruningPointAnticone...), nil
 }
 
-func (pm *pruningManager) blockWithTrustedData(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error) {
+func (pm *pruningManager) BlockWithTrustedData(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.BlockWithTrustedData, error) {
 	block, err := pm.blocksStore.Block(pm.databaseContext, stagingArea, blockHash)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/log.go b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/log.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d3e4d9b05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/log.go
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+package pruningproofmanager
+
+import "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/logger"
+
+var log = logger.RegisterSubSystem("PPMN")
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/pruningproofmanager.go b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/pruningproofmanager.go
index 1d44d0a35..35c374d95 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/pruningproofmanager.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/pruningproofmanager/pruningproofmanager.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/consensushashing"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/constants"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/hashset"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/pow"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/db/database"
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/infrastructure/logger"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"math/big"
 )
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ type pruningProofManager struct {
 	ghostdagManagers     []model.GHOSTDAGManager
 	reachabilityManagers []model.ReachabilityManager
 	dagTraversalManagers []model.DAGTraversalManager
+	parentsManager       model.ParentsManager
 
 	ghostdagDataStores  []model.GHOSTDAGDataStore
 	pruningStore        model.PruningStore
@@ -39,6 +40,9 @@ type pruningProofManager struct {
 	genesisHash   *externalapi.DomainHash
 	k             externalapi.KType
 	pruningProofM uint64
+
+	cachedPruningPoint *externalapi.DomainHash
+	cachedProof        *externalapi.PruningPointProof
 }
 
 // New instantiates a new PruningManager
@@ -49,6 +53,7 @@ func New(
 	ghostdagManagers []model.GHOSTDAGManager,
 	reachabilityManagers []model.ReachabilityManager,
 	dagTraversalManagers []model.DAGTraversalManager,
+	parentsManager model.ParentsManager,
 
 	ghostdagDataStores []model.GHOSTDAGDataStore,
 	pruningStore model.PruningStore,
@@ -68,6 +73,7 @@ func New(
 		ghostdagManagers:     ghostdagManagers,
 		reachabilityManagers: reachabilityManagers,
 		dagTraversalManagers: dagTraversalManagers,
+		parentsManager:       parentsManager,
 
 		ghostdagDataStores:  ghostdagDataStores,
 		pruningStore:        pruningStore,
@@ -83,6 +89,33 @@ func New(
 }
 
 func (ppm *pruningProofManager) BuildPruningPointProof(stagingArea *model.StagingArea) (*externalapi.PruningPointProof, error) {
+	onEnd := logger.LogAndMeasureExecutionTime(log, "BuildPruningPointProof")
+	defer onEnd()
+
+	pruningPoint, err := ppm.pruningStore.PruningPoint(ppm.databaseContext, stagingArea)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if ppm.cachedPruningPoint != nil && ppm.cachedPruningPoint.Equal(pruningPoint) {
+		return ppm.cachedProof, nil
+	}
+
+	proof, err := ppm.buildPruningPointProof(stagingArea)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	ppm.cachedProof = proof
+	ppm.cachedPruningPoint = pruningPoint
+
+	return proof, nil
+}
+
+func (ppm *pruningProofManager) buildPruningPointProof(stagingArea *model.StagingArea) (*externalapi.PruningPointProof, error) {
+	onEnd := logger.LogAndMeasureExecutionTime(log, "buildPruningPointProof")
+	defer onEnd()
+
 	pruningPoint, err := ppm.pruningStore.PruningPoint(ppm.databaseContext, stagingArea)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -97,17 +130,33 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) BuildPruningPointProof(stagingArea *model.Stagin
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	maxLevel := len(pruningPointHeader.Parents()) - 1
+	maxLevel := len(ppm.parentsManager.Parents(pruningPointHeader)) - 1
 	headersByLevel := make(map[int][]externalapi.BlockHeader)
 	selectedTipByLevel := make([]*externalapi.DomainHash, maxLevel+1)
-	pruningPointLevel := pow.BlockLevel(pruningPointHeader)
+	pruningPointLevel := pruningPointHeader.BlockLevel()
 	for blockLevel := maxLevel; blockLevel >= 0; blockLevel-- {
 		var selectedTip *externalapi.DomainHash
 		if blockLevel <= pruningPointLevel {
 			selectedTip = pruningPoint
 		} else {
-			blockLevelParents := pruningPointHeader.ParentsAtLevel(blockLevel)
-			selectedTip, err = ppm.ghostdagManagers[blockLevel].ChooseSelectedParent(stagingArea, []*externalapi.DomainHash(blockLevelParents)...)
+			blockLevelParents := ppm.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(pruningPointHeader, blockLevel)
+			selectedTipCandidates := make([]*externalapi.DomainHash, 0, len(blockLevelParents))
+
+			// In a pruned node, some pruning point parents might be missing, but we're guaranteed that its
+			// selected parent is not missing.
+			for _, parent := range blockLevelParents {
+				_, err := ppm.ghostdagDataStores[blockLevel].Get(ppm.databaseContext, stagingArea, parent, false)
+				if database.IsNotFoundError(err) {
+					continue
+				}
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, err
+				}
+
+				selectedTipCandidates = append(selectedTipCandidates, parent)
+			}
+
+			selectedTip, err = ppm.ghostdagManagers[blockLevel].ChooseSelectedParent(stagingArea, selectedTipCandidates...)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -248,6 +297,9 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) blockAtDepth(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, gho
 }
 
 func (ppm *pruningProofManager) ValidatePruningPointProof(pruningPointProof *externalapi.PruningPointProof) error {
+	onEnd := logger.LogAndMeasureExecutionTime(log, "ValidatePruningPointProof")
+	defer onEnd()
+
 	stagingArea := model.NewStagingArea()
 
 	if len(pruningPointProof.Headers) == 0 {
@@ -257,8 +309,8 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) ValidatePruningPointProof(pruningPointProof *ext
 	level0Headers := pruningPointProof.Headers[0]
 	pruningPointHeader := level0Headers[len(level0Headers)-1]
 	pruningPoint := consensushashing.HeaderHash(pruningPointHeader)
-	pruningPointBlockLevel := pow.BlockLevel(pruningPointHeader)
-	maxLevel := len(pruningPointHeader.Parents()) - 1
+	pruningPointBlockLevel := pruningPointHeader.BlockLevel()
+	maxLevel := len(ppm.parentsManager.Parents(pruningPointHeader)) - 1
 	if maxLevel >= len(pruningPointProof.Headers) {
 		return errors.Wrapf(ruleerrors.ErrPruningProofEmpty, "proof has only %d levels while pruning point "+
 			"has parents from %d levels", len(pruningPointProof.Headers), maxLevel+1)
@@ -300,15 +352,15 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) ValidatePruningPointProof(pruningPointProof *ext
 		var selectedTip *externalapi.DomainHash
 		for i, header := range headers {
 			blockHash := consensushashing.HeaderHash(header)
-			if pow.BlockLevel(header) < blockLevel {
+			if header.BlockLevel() < blockLevel {
 				return errors.Wrapf(ruleerrors.ErrPruningProofWrongBlockLevel, "block %s level is %d when it's "+
-					"expected to be at least %d", blockHash, pow.BlockLevel(header), blockLevel)
+					"expected to be at least %d", blockHash, header.BlockLevel(), blockLevel)
 			}
 
 			blockHeaderStore.Stage(stagingArea, blockHash, header)
 
 			var parents []*externalapi.DomainHash
-			for _, parent := range header.ParentsAtLevel(blockLevel) {
+			for _, parent := range ppm.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(header, blockLevel) {
 				_, err := ghostdagDataStores[blockLevel].Get(ppm.databaseContext, stagingArea, parent, false)
 				if database.IsNotFoundError(err) {
 					continue
@@ -377,7 +429,7 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) ValidatePruningPointProof(pruningPointProof *ext
 			}
 		}
 
-		if !selectedTip.Equal(pruningPoint) && !pruningPointHeader.ParentsAtLevel(blockLevel).Contains(selectedTip) {
+		if !selectedTip.Equal(pruningPoint) && !ppm.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(pruningPointHeader, blockLevel).Contains(selectedTip) {
 			return errors.Wrapf(ruleerrors.ErrPruningProofMissesBlocksBelowPruningPoint, "the selected tip %s at "+
 				"level %d is not a parent of the pruning point", selectedTip, blockLevel)
 		}
@@ -395,7 +447,7 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) ValidatePruningPointProof(pruningPointProof *ext
 				return errors.Wrapf(ruleerrors.ErrPruningProofSelectedTipIsNotThePruningPoint, "the pruning "+
 					"proof selected tip %s at level %d is not the pruning point", selectedTip, blockLevel)
 			}
-		} else if !pruningPointHeader.ParentsAtLevel(blockLevel).Contains(selectedTip) {
+		} else if !ppm.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(pruningPointHeader, blockLevel).Contains(selectedTip) {
 			return errors.Wrapf(ruleerrors.ErrPruningProofSelectedTipNotParentOfPruningPoint, "the pruning "+
 				"proof selected tip %s at level %d is not a parent of the of the pruning point on the same "+
 				"level", selectedTip, blockLevel)
@@ -554,19 +606,22 @@ func (ppm *pruningProofManager) dagProcesses(
 }
 
 func (ppm *pruningProofManager) ApplyPruningPointProof(stagingArea *model.StagingArea, pruningPointProof *externalapi.PruningPointProof) error {
+	onEnd := logger.LogAndMeasureExecutionTime(log, "ApplyPruningPointProof")
+	defer onEnd()
+
 	for blockLevel, headers := range pruningPointProof.Headers {
 		var selectedTip *externalapi.DomainHash
 		for i, header := range headers {
 			blockHash := consensushashing.HeaderHash(header)
-			if pow.BlockLevel(header) < blockLevel {
+			if header.BlockLevel() < blockLevel {
 				return errors.Wrapf(ruleerrors.ErrPruningProofWrongBlockLevel, "block %s level is %d when it's "+
-					"expected to be at least %d", blockHash, pow.BlockLevel(header), blockLevel)
+					"expected to be at least %d", blockHash, header.BlockLevel(), blockLevel)
 			}
 
 			ppm.blockHeaderStore.Stage(stagingArea, blockHash, header)
 
 			var parents []*externalapi.DomainHash
-			for _, parent := range header.ParentsAtLevel(blockLevel) {
+			for _, parent := range ppm.parentsManager.ParentsAtLevel(header, blockLevel) {
 				_, err := ppm.ghostdagDataStores[blockLevel].Get(ppm.databaseContext, stagingArea, parent, false)
 				if database.IsNotFoundError(err) {
 					continue
diff --git a/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader.go b/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader.go
index c23f00303..029447405 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package blockheader
 
 import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
+	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/pow"
 	"math/big"
 )
 
@@ -18,6 +19,9 @@ type blockHeader struct {
 	blueScore            uint64
 	blueWork             *big.Int
 	pruningPoint         *externalapi.DomainHash
+
+	isBlockLevelCached bool
+	blockLevel         int
 }
 
 func (bh *blockHeader) BlueScore() uint64 {
@@ -41,10 +45,12 @@ func (bh *blockHeader) ToImmutable() externalapi.BlockHeader {
 }
 
 func (bh *blockHeader) SetNonce(nonce uint64) {
+	bh.isBlockLevelCached = false
 	bh.nonce = nonce
 }
 
 func (bh *blockHeader) SetTimeInMilliseconds(timeInMilliseconds int64) {
+	bh.isBlockLevelCached = false
 	bh.timeInMilliseconds = timeInMilliseconds
 }
 
@@ -56,16 +62,12 @@ func (bh *blockHeader) Parents() []externalapi.BlockLevelParents {
 	return bh.parents
 }
 
-func (bh *blockHeader) ParentsAtLevel(level int) externalapi.BlockLevelParents {
-	if len(bh.parents) <= level {
+func (bh *blockHeader) DirectParents() externalapi.BlockLevelParents {
+	if len(bh.parents) == 0 {
 		return externalapi.BlockLevelParents{}
 	}
 
-	return bh.parents[level]
-}
-
-func (bh *blockHeader) DirectParents() externalapi.BlockLevelParents {
-	return bh.ParentsAtLevel(0)
+	return bh.parents[0]
 }
 
 func (bh *blockHeader) HashMerkleRoot() *externalapi.DomainHash {
@@ -177,6 +179,15 @@ func (bh *blockHeader) ToMutable() externalapi.MutableBlockHeader {
 	return bh.clone()
 }
 
+func (bh *blockHeader) BlockLevel() int {
+	if !bh.isBlockLevelCached {
+		bh.blockLevel = pow.BlockLevel(bh)
+		bh.isBlockLevelCached = true
+	}
+
+	return bh.blockLevel
+}
+
 // NewImmutableBlockHeader returns a new immutable header
 func NewImmutableBlockHeader(
 	version uint16,
diff --git a/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader_test.go b/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader_test.go
index a5b7244f2..04fccaac2 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader_test.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/utils/blockheader/blockheader_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						8,
 						big.NewInt(9),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{10}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -55,6 +57,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 				9,
 				big.NewInt(10),
 				externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+				false,
+				0,
 			},
 			headersToCompareTo: []headerToCompare{
 				{
@@ -75,6 +79,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: true,
 				},
@@ -92,6 +98,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -111,6 +119,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -128,6 +138,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -145,6 +157,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -162,6 +176,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -179,6 +195,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -196,6 +214,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -213,6 +233,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -230,6 +252,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -247,6 +271,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -264,6 +290,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						100,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -281,6 +309,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(100),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{11}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
@@ -298,6 +328,8 @@ func TestDomainBlockHeader_Equal(t *testing.T) {
 						9,
 						big.NewInt(10),
 						externalapi.NewDomainHashFromByteArray(&[externalapi.DomainHashSize]byte{100}),
+						false,
+						0,
 					},
 					expectedResult: false,
 				},
diff --git a/domain/dagconfig/params.go b/domain/dagconfig/params.go
index 33a5224e5..7c92d5cd1 100644
--- a/domain/dagconfig/params.go
+++ b/domain/dagconfig/params.go
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ type Params struct {
 	FixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval uint64
 
 	FixedSubsidySwitchHashRateThreshold *big.Int
+
+	HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore uint64
 }
 
 // NormalizeRPCServerAddress returns addr with the current network default
@@ -264,6 +266,7 @@ var MainnetParams = Params{
 	PruningProofM:                           defaultPruningProofM,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval:  defaultFixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchHashRateThreshold:     big.NewInt(150_000_000_000),
+	HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore:  1265814,
 }
 
 // TestnetParams defines the network parameters for the test Kaspa network.
@@ -326,6 +329,7 @@ var TestnetParams = Params{
 	PruningProofM:                           defaultPruningProofM,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval:  defaultFixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchHashRateThreshold:     big.NewInt(150_000_000_000),
+	HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore:  2e6,
 }
 
 // SimnetParams defines the network parameters for the simulation test Kaspa
@@ -392,6 +396,7 @@ var SimnetParams = Params{
 	PruningProofM:                           defaultPruningProofM,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval:  defaultFixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchHashRateThreshold:     big.NewInt(150_000_000_000),
+	HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore:  5,
 }
 
 // DevnetParams defines the network parameters for the development Kaspa network.
@@ -454,6 +459,7 @@ var DevnetParams = Params{
 	PruningProofM:                           defaultPruningProofM,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval:  defaultFixedSubsidySwitchPruningPointInterval,
 	FixedSubsidySwitchHashRateThreshold:     big.NewInt(150_000_000_000),
+	HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore:  3000,
 }
 
 var (
diff --git a/infrastructure/config/config.go b/infrastructure/config/config.go
index a3f8bdc85..cb6365889 100644
--- a/infrastructure/config/config.go
+++ b/infrastructure/config/config.go
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ type Flags struct {
 	MaxUTXOCacheSize                uint64        `long:"maxutxocachesize" description:"Max size of loaded UTXO into ram from the disk in bytes"`
 	UTXOIndex                       bool          `long:"utxoindex" description:"Enable the UTXO index"`
 	IsArchivalNode                  bool          `long:"archival" description:"Run as an archival node: don't delete old block data when moving the pruning point (Warning: heavy disk usage)'"`
+	AllowSubmitBlockWhenNotSynced   bool          `long:"allow-submit-block-when-not-synced" hidden:"true" description:"Allow the node to accept blocks from RPC while not synced (this flag is mainly used for testing)"`
 	EnableSanityCheckPruningUTXOSet bool          `long:"enable-sanity-check-pruning-utxo" hidden:"true" description:"When moving the pruning point - check that the utxo set matches the utxo commitment"`
 	NetworkFlags
 	ServiceOptions *ServiceOptions
diff --git a/infrastructure/config/network.go b/infrastructure/config/network.go
index 75549b658..890c54667 100644
--- a/infrastructure/config/network.go
+++ b/infrastructure/config/network.go
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ type overrideDAGParamsConfig struct {
 	EnableNonNativeSubnetworks              *bool              `json:"enableNonNativeSubnetworks"`
 	DisableDifficultyAdjustment             *bool              `json:"disableDifficultyAdjustment"`
 	SkipProofOfWork                         *bool              `json:"skipProofOfWork"`
+	HardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDAAScore  *uint64            `json:"hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDaaScore"`
 }
 
 // ResolveNetwork parses the network command line argument and sets NetParams accordingly.
diff --git a/infrastructure/network/connmanager/connection_requests.go b/infrastructure/network/connmanager/connection_requests.go
index c01613678..f5161ffe9 100644
--- a/infrastructure/network/connmanager/connection_requests.go
+++ b/infrastructure/network/connmanager/connection_requests.go
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func (c *ConnectionManager) checkRequestedConnections(connSet connectionSet) {
 		log.Debugf("Connecting to connection request %s", connReq.address)
 		err := c.initiateConnection(connReq.address)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Infof("Couldn't connect to %s: %s", address, err)
+			log.Infof("Couldn't connect to requested connection %s: %s", address, err)
 			// if connection request is one try - remove from pending and ignore failure
 			if !connReq.isPermanent {
 				delete(c.pendingRequested, address)
diff --git a/infrastructure/network/connmanager/outgoing_connections.go b/infrastructure/network/connmanager/outgoing_connections.go
index 6951946e0..87328bc13 100644
--- a/infrastructure/network/connmanager/outgoing_connections.go
+++ b/infrastructure/network/connmanager/outgoing_connections.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (c *ConnectionManager) checkOutgoingConnections(connSet connectionSet) {
 
 		err := c.initiateConnection(addressString)
 		if err != nil {
-			log.Infof("Couldn't connect to %s: %s", addressString, err)
+			log.Debugf("Couldn't connect to %s: %s", addressString, err)
 			c.addressManager.MarkConnectionFailure(netAddress)
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/infrastructure/os/limits/limits_unix.go b/infrastructure/os/limits/limits_unix.go
index d993db9b9..0e99ff8d5 100644
--- a/infrastructure/os/limits/limits_unix.go
+++ b/infrastructure/os/limits/limits_unix.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by an ISC
 // license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
 
+//go:build !windows && !plan9
 // +build !windows,!plan9
 
 package limits
diff --git a/infrastructure/os/signal/signalsigterm.go b/infrastructure/os/signal/signalsigterm.go
index c6fb425c6..38ddcf360 100644
--- a/infrastructure/os/signal/signalsigterm.go
+++ b/infrastructure/os/signal/signalsigterm.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // Use of this source code is governed by an ISC
 // license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
 
+//go:build darwin || dragonfly || freebsd || linux || netbsd || openbsd || solaris
 // +build darwin dragonfly freebsd linux netbsd openbsd solaris
 
 package signal
diff --git a/stability-tests/many-tips/main.go b/stability-tests/many-tips/main.go
index e553f121e..8623f1dd3 100644
--- a/stability-tests/many-tips/main.go
+++ b/stability-tests/many-tips/main.go
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ func startNode() (teardown func(), err error) {
 		"--logdir", dataDir,
 		"--rpclisten", rpcAddress,
 		"--loglevel", "debug",
+		"--allow-submit-block-when-not-synced",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/stability-tests/netsync/fast-pruning-ibd-test/fast-pruning-ibd-test-params.json b/stability-tests/netsync/fast-pruning-ibd-test/fast-pruning-ibd-test-params.json
index df69961cb..d13694923 100644
--- a/stability-tests/netsync/fast-pruning-ibd-test/fast-pruning-ibd-test-params.json
+++ b/stability-tests/netsync/fast-pruning-ibd-test/fast-pruning-ibd-test-params.json
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"skipProofOfWork":true, "mergeSetSizeLimit": 30, "finalityDuration": 30000}
+{"skipProofOfWork":true, "mergeSetSizeLimit": 30, "finalityDuration": 30000, "hardForkOmitGenesisFromParentsDaaScore": 2505}
diff --git a/stability-tests/netsync/node.go b/stability-tests/netsync/node.go
index 52a0a4b36..0a5dade40 100644
--- a/stability-tests/netsync/node.go
+++ b/stability-tests/netsync/node.go
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ func startNode(name string, rpcAddress, listen, connect, profilePort, dataDir st
 		"--listen", listen,
 		"--profile", profilePort,
 		"--loglevel", "debug",
+		"--allow-submit-block-when-not-synced",
 	}
 	if connect != "" {
 		args = append(args, "--connect", connect)
diff --git a/stability-tests/simple-sync/start-nodes.go b/stability-tests/simple-sync/start-nodes.go
index 41399a514..3ccd0d38b 100644
--- a/stability-tests/simple-sync/start-nodes.go
+++ b/stability-tests/simple-sync/start-nodes.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ func startNodes() (teardown func(), err error) {
 		"--rpclisten", syncerRPCAddress,
 		"--listen", syncerListen,
 		"--loglevel", "debug",
+		"--allow-submit-block-when-not-synced",
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/testing/integration/config_test.go b/testing/integration/config_test.go
index c5365c9e2..5b8df58f8 100644
--- a/testing/integration/config_test.go
+++ b/testing/integration/config_test.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ func setConfig(t *testing.T, harness *appHarness) {
 	harness.config.Listeners = []string{harness.p2pAddress}
 	harness.config.RPCListeners = []string{harness.rpcAddress}
 	harness.config.UTXOIndex = harness.utxoIndex
+	harness.config.AllowSubmitBlockWhenNotSynced = true
 
 	if harness.overrideDAGParams != nil {
 		harness.config.ActiveNetParams = harness.overrideDAGParams