diff --git a/domain/consensus/database/serialization/block_ghostdag_data.go b/domain/consensus/database/serialization/block_ghostdag_data.go
index 29f9df9d6..f6afc6e29 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/database/serialization/block_ghostdag_data.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/database/serialization/block_ghostdag_data.go
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@ package serialization
 import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager"
 	"math/big"
 )
 
 // BlockGHOSTDAGDataToDBBlockGHOSTDAGData converts BlockGHOSTDAGData to DbBlockGhostdagData
-func BlockGHOSTDAGDataToDBBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) *DbBlockGhostdagData {
+func BlockGHOSTDAGDataToDBBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) *DbBlockGhostdagData {
 	var selectedParent *DbHash
 	if blockGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent() != nil {
 		selectedParent = DomainHashToDbHash(blockGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent())
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ func BlockGHOSTDAGDataToDBBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGData model.BlockGHOSTDA
 }
 
 // DBBlockGHOSTDAGDataToBlockGHOSTDAGData converts DbBlockGhostdagData to BlockGHOSTDAGData
-func DBBlockGHOSTDAGDataToBlockGHOSTDAGData(dbBlockGHOSTDAGData *DbBlockGhostdagData) (model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
+func DBBlockGHOSTDAGDataToBlockGHOSTDAGData(dbBlockGHOSTDAGData *DbBlockGhostdagData) (*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
 	var selectedParent *externalapi.DomainHash
 	if dbBlockGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent != nil {
 		var err error
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ func DBBlockGHOSTDAGDataToBlockGHOSTDAGData(dbBlockGHOSTDAGData *DbBlockGhostdag
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return ghostdagmanager.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(
+	return model.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(
 		dbBlockGHOSTDAGData.BlueScore,
 		new(big.Int).SetBytes(dbBlockGHOSTDAGData.BlueWork),
 		selectedParent,
diff --git a/domain/consensus/datastructures/ghostdagdatastore/ghostdagdatastore.go b/domain/consensus/datastructures/ghostdagdatastore/ghostdagdatastore.go
index c8b1a7c01..8c61ba06d 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/datastructures/ghostdagdatastore/ghostdagdatastore.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/datastructures/ghostdagdatastore/ghostdagdatastore.go
@@ -13,20 +13,20 @@ var bucket = dbkeys.MakeBucket([]byte("block-ghostdag-data"))
 
 // ghostdagDataStore represents a store of BlockGHOSTDAGData
 type ghostdagDataStore struct {
-	staging map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
+	staging map[externalapi.DomainHash]*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
 	cache   *lrucache.LRUCache
 }
 
 // New instantiates a new GHOSTDAGDataStore
 func New(cacheSize int) model.GHOSTDAGDataStore {
 	return &ghostdagDataStore{
-		staging: make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.BlockGHOSTDAGData),
+		staging: make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData),
 		cache:   lrucache.New(cacheSize),
 	}
 }
 
 // Stage stages the given blockGHOSTDAGData for the given blockHash
-func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Stage(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, blockGHOSTDAGData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) {
+func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Stage(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, blockGHOSTDAGData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) {
 	gds.staging[*blockHash] = blockGHOSTDAGData
 }
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) IsStaged() bool {
 }
 
 func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Discard() {
-	gds.staging = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.BlockGHOSTDAGData)
+	gds.staging = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData)
 }
 
 func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Commit(dbTx model.DBTransaction) error {
@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@ func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Commit(dbTx model.DBTransaction) error {
 }
 
 // Get gets the blockGHOSTDAGData associated with the given blockHash
-func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Get(dbContext model.DBReader, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
+func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) Get(dbContext model.DBReader, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
 	if blockGHOSTDAGData, ok := gds.staging[*blockHash]; ok {
 		return blockGHOSTDAGData, nil
 	}
 
 	if blockGHOSTDAGData, ok := gds.cache.Get(blockHash); ok {
-		return blockGHOSTDAGData.(model.BlockGHOSTDAGData), nil
+		return blockGHOSTDAGData.(*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData), nil
 	}
 
 	blockGHOSTDAGDataBytes, err := dbContext.Get(gds.hashAsKey(blockHash))
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) hashAsKey(hash *externalapi.DomainHash) model.DBKe
 	return bucket.Key(hash.ByteSlice())
 }
 
-func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) serializeBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) ([]byte, error) {
+func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) serializeBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) ([]byte, error) {
 	return proto.Marshal(serialization.BlockGHOSTDAGDataToDBBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGData))
 }
 
-func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) deserializeBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGDataBytes []byte) (model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
+func (gds *ghostdagDataStore) deserializeBlockGHOSTDAGData(blockGHOSTDAGDataBytes []byte) (*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
 	dbBlockGHOSTDAGData := &serialization.DbBlockGhostdagData{}
 	err := proto.Unmarshal(blockGHOSTDAGDataBytes, dbBlockGHOSTDAGData)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/hash.go b/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/hash.go
index 02317d888..b6baa24e7 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/hash.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/externalapi/hash.go
@@ -105,3 +105,21 @@ func HashesEqual(a, b []*DomainHash) bool {
 	}
 	return true
 }
+
+func cmp(a, b *DomainHash) int {
+	// We compare the hashes backwards because Hash is stored as a little endian byte array.
+	for i := DomainHashSize - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		switch {
+		case a.hashArray[i] < b.hashArray[i]:
+			return -1
+		case a.hashArray[i] > b.hashArray[i]:
+			return 1
+		}
+	}
+	return 0
+}
+
+// Less returns true iff hash a is less than hash b
+func Less(a, b *DomainHash) bool {
+	return cmp(a, b) < 0
+}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/ghostdag.go b/domain/consensus/model/ghostdag.go
index efe5be5c9..5b77cd83d 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/ghostdag.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/ghostdag.go
@@ -6,16 +6,74 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 )
 
-// BlockGHOSTDAGData represents GHOSTDAG data for some block
-type BlockGHOSTDAGData interface {
-	BlueScore() uint64
-	BlueWork() *big.Int
-	SelectedParent() *externalapi.DomainHash
-	MergeSetBlues() []*externalapi.DomainHash
-	MergeSetReds() []*externalapi.DomainHash
-	MergeSet() []*externalapi.DomainHash
-	BluesAnticoneSizes() map[externalapi.DomainHash]KType
-}
-
 // KType defines the size of GHOSTDAG consensus algorithm K parameter.
 type KType byte
+
+// BlockGHOSTDAGData represents GHOSTDAG data for some block
+type BlockGHOSTDAGData struct {
+	blueScore          uint64
+	blueWork           *big.Int
+	selectedParent     *externalapi.DomainHash
+	mergeSetBlues      []*externalapi.DomainHash
+	mergeSetReds       []*externalapi.DomainHash
+	bluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]KType
+}
+
+// NewBlockGHOSTDAGData creates a new instance of BlockGHOSTDAGData
+func NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(
+	blueScore uint64,
+	blueWork *big.Int,
+	selectedParent *externalapi.DomainHash,
+	mergeSetBlues []*externalapi.DomainHash,
+	mergeSetReds []*externalapi.DomainHash,
+	bluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]KType) *BlockGHOSTDAGData {
+
+	return &BlockGHOSTDAGData{
+		blueScore:          blueScore,
+		blueWork:           blueWork,
+		selectedParent:     selectedParent,
+		mergeSetBlues:      mergeSetBlues,
+		mergeSetReds:       mergeSetReds,
+		bluesAnticoneSizes: bluesAnticoneSizes,
+	}
+}
+
+// BlueScore returns the BlueScore of the block
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) BlueScore() uint64 {
+	return bgd.blueScore
+}
+
+// BlueWork returns the BlueWork of the block
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) BlueWork() *big.Int {
+	return bgd.blueWork
+}
+
+// SelectedParent returns the SelectedParent of the block
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) SelectedParent() *externalapi.DomainHash {
+	return bgd.selectedParent
+}
+
+// MergeSetBlues returns the MergeSetBlues of the block (not a copy)
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) MergeSetBlues() []*externalapi.DomainHash {
+	return bgd.mergeSetBlues
+}
+
+// MergeSetReds returns the MergeSetReds of the block (not a copy)
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) MergeSetReds() []*externalapi.DomainHash {
+	return bgd.mergeSetReds
+}
+
+// BluesAnticoneSizes returns a map between the blocks in its MergeSetBlues and the size of their anticone
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) BluesAnticoneSizes() map[externalapi.DomainHash]KType {
+	return bgd.bluesAnticoneSizes
+}
+
+// MergeSet returns the whole MergeSet of the block (equivalent to MergeSetBlues+MergeSetReds)
+func (bgd *BlockGHOSTDAGData) MergeSet() []*externalapi.DomainHash {
+	mergeSet := make([]*externalapi.DomainHash, len(bgd.mergeSetBlues)+len(bgd.mergeSetReds))
+	copy(mergeSet, bgd.mergeSetBlues)
+	if len(bgd.mergeSetReds) > 0 {
+		copy(mergeSet[len(bgd.mergeSetBlues):], bgd.mergeSetReds)
+	}
+	return mergeSet
+}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/interface_datastructures_ghostdagdatastore.go b/domain/consensus/model/interface_datastructures_ghostdagdatastore.go
index 4e20e3408..13522feb1 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/interface_datastructures_ghostdagdatastore.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/interface_datastructures_ghostdagdatastore.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 // GHOSTDAGDataStore represents a store of BlockGHOSTDAGData
 type GHOSTDAGDataStore interface {
 	Store
-	Stage(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, blockGHOSTDAGData BlockGHOSTDAGData)
+	Stage(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, blockGHOSTDAGData *BlockGHOSTDAGData)
 	IsStaged() bool
-	Get(dbContext DBReader, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (BlockGHOSTDAGData, error)
+	Get(dbContext DBReader, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*BlockGHOSTDAGData, error)
 }
diff --git a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_ghostdagmanager.go b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_ghostdagmanager.go
index 1222d5565..f7cbab390 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_ghostdagmanager.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/model/interface_processes_ghostdagmanager.go
@@ -6,6 +6,6 @@ import "github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 type GHOSTDAGManager interface {
 	GHOSTDAG(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) error
 	ChooseSelectedParent(blockHashes ...*externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.DomainHash, error)
-	Less(blockHashA *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataA BlockGHOSTDAGData,
-		blockHashB *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataB BlockGHOSTDAGData) bool
+	Less(blockHashA *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataA *BlockGHOSTDAGData,
+		blockHashB *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataB *BlockGHOSTDAGData) bool
 }
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/calculate_past_utxo.go b/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/calculate_past_utxo.go
index 349f1ba5d..eccd1cc80 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/calculate_past_utxo.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/calculate_past_utxo.go
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func (csm *consensusStateManager) restorePastUTXO(blockHash *externalapi.DomainH
 }
 
 func (csm *consensusStateManager) applyMergeSetBlocks(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash,
-	selectedParentPastUTXODiff model.MutableUTXODiff, ghostdagData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (
+	selectedParentPastUTXODiff model.MutableUTXODiff, ghostdagData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (
 	externalapi.AcceptanceData, model.MutableUTXODiff, error) {
 
 	log.Debugf("applyMergeSetBlocks start for block %s", blockHash)
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/multisets.go b/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/multisets.go
index 644e4f687..8099ed49b 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/multisets.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/consensusstatemanager/multisets.go
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 func (csm *consensusStateManager) calculateMultiset(
-	acceptanceData externalapi.AcceptanceData, blockGHOSTDAGData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (model.Multiset, error) {
+	acceptanceData externalapi.AcceptanceData, blockGHOSTDAGData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (model.Multiset, error) {
 
 	log.Debugf("calculateMultiset start for block with selected parent %s", blockGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent())
 	defer log.Debugf("calculateMultiset end for block with selected parent %s", blockGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent())
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/block_heap.go b/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/block_heap.go
index a305e97f2..46b099c3b 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/block_heap.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/block_heap.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 type blockHeapNode struct {
 	hash         *externalapi.DomainHash
-	ghostdagData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
+	ghostdagData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
 }
 
 func (left *blockHeapNode) less(right *blockHeapNode, gm model.GHOSTDAGManager) bool {
@@ -152,12 +152,8 @@ func (sbh *sizedUpBlockHeap) pop() *externalapi.DomainHash {
 	return heap.Pop(&sbh.impl).(*blockHeapNode).hash
 }
 
-// tryPush tries to push the block onto the heap, if the heap is full and it's less than the minimum it rejects it
-func (sbh *sizedUpBlockHeap) tryPush(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (bool, error) {
-	ghostdagData, err := sbh.ghostdagStore.Get(sbh.dbContext, blockHash)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
+// tryPushWithGHOSTDAGData is just like tryPush but the caller provides the ghostdagData of the block.
+func (sbh *sizedUpBlockHeap) tryPushWithGHOSTDAGData(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (bool, error) {
 	node := &blockHeapNode{
 		hash:         blockHash,
 		ghostdagData: ghostdagData,
@@ -173,3 +169,12 @@ func (sbh *sizedUpBlockHeap) tryPush(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (bool, e
 	heap.Push(&sbh.impl, node)
 	return true, nil
 }
+
+// tryPush tries to push the block onto the heap, if the heap is full and it's less than the minimum it rejects it
+func (sbh *sizedUpBlockHeap) tryPush(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (bool, error) {
+	ghostdagData, err := sbh.ghostdagStore.Get(sbh.dbContext, blockHash)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+	return sbh.tryPushWithGHOSTDAGData(blockHash, ghostdagData)
+}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/window.go b/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/window.go
index b2c6439c9..a8d806a78 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/window.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/dagtraversalmanager/window.go
@@ -18,7 +18,11 @@ func (dtm *dagTraversalManager) BlueWindow(startingBlock *externalapi.DomainHash
 	windowHeap := dtm.newSizedUpHeap(windowSize)
 
 	for windowHeap.len() <= windowSize && currentGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent() != nil {
-		added, err := windowHeap.tryPush(currentGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent())
+		selectedParentGHOSTDAGData, err := dtm.ghostdagDataStore.Get(dtm.databaseContext, currentGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent())
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		added, err := windowHeap.tryPushWithGHOSTDAGData(currentGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent(), selectedParentGHOSTDAGData)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -55,10 +59,7 @@ func (dtm *dagTraversalManager) BlueWindow(startingBlock *externalapi.DomainHash
 			}
 		}
 		currentHash = currentGHOSTDAGData.SelectedParent()
-		currentGHOSTDAGData, err = dtm.ghostdagDataStore.Get(dtm.databaseContext, currentHash)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
+		currentGHOSTDAGData = selectedParentGHOSTDAGData
 	}
 
 	window := make([]*externalapi.DomainHash, 0, windowSize)
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/blockwindow.go b/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/blockwindow.go
index 3f795f140..9f070f286 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/blockwindow.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/blockwindow.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package difficultymanager
 import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/util"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/util/bigintpool"
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"math"
 	"math/big"
@@ -72,19 +71,14 @@ func (window *blockWindow) remove(n int) {
 	*window = (*window)[:len(*window)-1]
 }
 
-func (window blockWindow) averageTarget(averageTarget *big.Int) {
-	averageTarget.SetInt64(0)
-
-	target := bigintpool.Acquire(0)
-	defer bigintpool.Release(target)
+func (window blockWindow) averageTarget() *big.Int {
+	averageTarget := new(big.Int)
+	targetTmp := new(big.Int)
 	for _, block := range window {
-		util.CompactToBigWithDestination(block.Bits, target)
-		averageTarget.Add(averageTarget, target)
+		util.CompactToBigWithDestination(block.Bits, targetTmp)
+		averageTarget.Add(averageTarget, targetTmp)
 	}
-
-	windowLen := bigintpool.Acquire(int64(len(window)))
-	defer bigintpool.Release(windowLen)
-	averageTarget.Div(averageTarget, windowLen)
+	return averageTarget.Div(averageTarget, big.NewInt(int64(len(window))))
 }
 
 func (window blockWindow) medianTimestamp() (int64, error) {
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/difficultymanager.go b/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/difficultymanager.go
index 87939a8da..c82a6716a 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/difficultymanager.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/difficultymanager/difficultymanager.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/util"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/util/bigintpool"
 )
 
 // DifficultyManager provides a method to resolve the
@@ -74,24 +73,13 @@ func (dm *difficultyManager) RequiredDifficulty(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHas
 	}
 
 	// find bluestParent
-	bluestParent := parents[0]
-	bluestGhostDAG, err := dm.ghostdagStore.Get(dm.databaseContext, bluestParent)
+	bluestParent, err := dm.ghostdagManager.ChooseSelectedParent(parents...)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
-	for i := 1; i < len(parents); i++ {
-		parentGhostDAG, err := dm.ghostdagStore.Get(dm.databaseContext, parents[i])
-		if err != nil {
-			return 0, err
-		}
-		newBluest, err := dm.ghostdagManager.ChooseSelectedParent(bluestParent, parents[i])
-		if err != nil {
-			return 0, err
-		}
-		if bluestParent != newBluest {
-			bluestParent = newBluest
-			bluestGhostDAG = parentGhostDAG
-		}
+	bluestGhostDAG, err := dm.ghostdagStore.Get(dm.databaseContext, bluestParent)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
 	}
 
 	// Not enough blocks for building a difficulty window.
@@ -113,20 +101,12 @@ func (dm *difficultyManager) RequiredDifficulty(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHas
 	// averageWindowTarget * (windowMinTimestamp / (targetTimePerBlock * windowSize))
 	// The result uses integer division which means it will be slightly
 	// rounded down.
-	newTarget := bigintpool.Acquire(0)
-	defer bigintpool.Release(newTarget)
-	windowTimeStampDifference := bigintpool.Acquire(windowMaxTimeStamp - windowMinTimestamp)
-	defer bigintpool.Release(windowTimeStampDifference)
-	targetTimePerBlock := bigintpool.Acquire(dm.targetTimePerBlock.Milliseconds())
-	defer bigintpool.Release(targetTimePerBlock)
-	difficultyAdjustmentWindowSize := bigintpool.Acquire(int64(dm.difficultyAdjustmentWindowSize))
-	defer bigintpool.Release(difficultyAdjustmentWindowSize)
-
-	targetsWindow.averageTarget(newTarget)
+	div := new(big.Int)
+	newTarget := targetsWindow.averageTarget()
 	newTarget.
-		Mul(newTarget, windowTimeStampDifference).
-		Div(newTarget, targetTimePerBlock).
-		Div(newTarget, difficultyAdjustmentWindowSize)
+		Mul(newTarget, div.SetInt64(windowMaxTimeStamp-windowMinTimestamp)).
+		Div(newTarget, div.SetInt64(dm.targetTimePerBlock.Milliseconds())).
+		Div(newTarget, div.SetUint64(uint64(dm.difficultyAdjustmentWindowSize)))
 	if newTarget.Cmp(dm.powMax) > 0 {
 		return util.BigToCompact(dm.powMax), nil
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdag2/ghostdagimpl.go b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdag2/ghostdagimpl.go
index 23773708b..0b6fee8eb 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdag2/ghostdagimpl.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdag2/ghostdagimpl.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package ghostdag2
 import (
 	"sort"
 
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager"
-
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
@@ -116,7 +114,7 @@ func (gh *ghostdagHelper) GHOSTDAG(blockCandidate *externalapi.DomainHash) error
 		myWork.Add(myWork, util.CalcWork(header.Bits()))
 	}
 
-	e := ghostdagmanager.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(myScore, myWork, selectedParent, mergeSetBlues, mergeSetReds, nil)
+	e := model.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(myScore, myWork, selectedParent, mergeSetBlues, mergeSetReds, nil)
 	gh.dataStore.Stage(blockCandidate, e)
 	return nil
 }
@@ -391,13 +389,13 @@ func (gh *ghostdagHelper) sortByBlueWork(arr []*externalapi.DomainHash) error {
 
 /* --------------------------------------------- */
 
-func (gh *ghostdagHelper) BlockData(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
+func (gh *ghostdagHelper) BlockData(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
 	return gh.dataStore.Get(gh.dbAccess, blockHash)
 }
 func (gh *ghostdagHelper) ChooseSelectedParent(blockHashes ...*externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.DomainHash, error) {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func (gh *ghostdagHelper) Less(blockHashA *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataA model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, blockHashB *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataB model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) bool {
+func (gh *ghostdagHelper) Less(blockHashA *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataA *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, blockHashB *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataB *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) bool {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/compare.go b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/compare.go
index d5143513c..3b0b3777a 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/compare.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/compare.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package ghostdagmanager
 import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/hashes"
 )
 
 func (gm *ghostdagManager) findSelectedParent(parentHashes []*externalapi.DomainHash) (*externalapi.DomainHash, error) {
@@ -53,16 +52,15 @@ func (gm *ghostdagManager) ChooseSelectedParent(blockHashes ...*externalapi.Doma
 	return selectedParent, nil
 }
 
-func (gm *ghostdagManager) Less(blockHashA *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataA model.BlockGHOSTDAGData,
-	blockHashB *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataB model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) bool {
-
+func (gm *ghostdagManager) Less(blockHashA *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataA *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData,
+	blockHashB *externalapi.DomainHash, ghostdagDataB *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) bool {
 	switch ghostdagDataA.BlueWork().Cmp(ghostdagDataB.BlueWork()) {
 	case -1:
 		return true
 	case 1:
 		return false
 	case 0:
-		return hashes.Less(blockHashA, blockHashB)
+		return externalapi.Less(blockHashA, blockHashB)
 	default:
 		panic("big.Int.Cmp is defined to always return -1/1/0 and nothing else")
 	}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag.go b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag.go
index 6eb056b6a..488dbf088 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag.go
@@ -8,6 +8,19 @@ import (
 	"math/big"
 )
 
+type blockGHOSTDAGData struct {
+	blueScore          uint64
+	blueWork           *big.Int
+	selectedParent     *externalapi.DomainHash
+	mergeSetBlues      []*externalapi.DomainHash
+	mergeSetReds       []*externalapi.DomainHash
+	bluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.KType
+}
+
+func (bg *blockGHOSTDAGData) toModel() *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData {
+	return model.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(bg.blueScore, bg.blueWork, bg.selectedParent, bg.mergeSetBlues, bg.mergeSetReds, bg.bluesAnticoneSizes)
+}
+
 // GHOSTDAG runs the GHOSTDAG protocol and calculates the block BlockGHOSTDAGData by the given parents.
 // The function calculates MergeSetBlues by iterating over the blocks in
 // the anticone of the new block selected parent (which is the parent with the
@@ -57,7 +70,7 @@ func (gm *ghostdagManager) GHOSTDAG(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) error {
 	}
 
 	for _, blueCandidate := range mergeSetWithoutSelectedParent {
-		isBlue, candidateAnticoneSize, candidateBluesAnticoneSizes, err := gm.checkBlueCandidate(newBlockData, blueCandidate)
+		isBlue, candidateAnticoneSize, candidateBluesAnticoneSizes, err := gm.checkBlueCandidate(newBlockData.toModel(), blueCandidate)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -96,22 +109,22 @@ func (gm *ghostdagManager) GHOSTDAG(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) error {
 		newBlockData.blueWork.SetUint64(0)
 	}
 
-	gm.ghostdagDataStore.Stage(blockHash, newBlockData)
+	gm.ghostdagDataStore.Stage(blockHash, newBlockData.toModel())
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 type chainBlockData struct {
 	hash      *externalapi.DomainHash
-	blockData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
+	blockData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
 }
 
-func (gm *ghostdagManager) checkBlueCandidate(newBlockData *blockGHOSTDAGData, blueCandidate *externalapi.DomainHash) (
+func (gm *ghostdagManager) checkBlueCandidate(newBlockData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, blueCandidate *externalapi.DomainHash) (
 	isBlue bool, candidateAnticoneSize model.KType, candidateBluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.KType, err error) {
 
 	// The maximum length of node.blues can be K+1 because
 	// it contains the selected parent.
-	if model.KType(len(newBlockData.mergeSetBlues)) == gm.k+1 {
+	if model.KType(len(newBlockData.MergeSetBlues())) == gm.k+1 {
 		return false, 0, nil, nil
 	}
 
@@ -153,7 +166,7 @@ func (gm *ghostdagManager) checkBlueCandidate(newBlockData *blockGHOSTDAGData, b
 	return true, candidateAnticoneSize, candidateBluesAnticoneSizes, nil
 }
 
-func (gm *ghostdagManager) checkBlueCandidateWithChainBlock(newBlockData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData,
+func (gm *ghostdagManager) checkBlueCandidateWithChainBlock(newBlockData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData,
 	chainBlock chainBlockData, blueCandidate *externalapi.DomainHash,
 	candidateBluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.KType,
 	candidateAnticoneSize *model.KType) (isBlue, isRed bool, err error) {
@@ -218,7 +231,7 @@ func (gm *ghostdagManager) checkBlueCandidateWithChainBlock(newBlockData model.B
 
 // blueAnticoneSize returns the blue anticone size of 'block' from the worldview of 'context'.
 // Expects 'block' to be in the blue set of 'context'
-func (gm *ghostdagManager) blueAnticoneSize(block *externalapi.DomainHash, context model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (model.KType, error) {
+func (gm *ghostdagManager) blueAnticoneSize(block *externalapi.DomainHash, context *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) (model.KType, error) {
 	for current := context; current != nil; {
 		if blueAnticoneSize, ok := current.BluesAnticoneSizes()[*block]; ok {
 			return blueAnticoneSize, nil
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_data.go b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_data.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 49fc39090..000000000
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_data.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,69 +0,0 @@
-package ghostdagmanager
-
-import (
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
-	"math/big"
-)
-
-type blockGHOSTDAGData struct {
-	blueScore          uint64
-	blueWork           *big.Int
-	selectedParent     *externalapi.DomainHash
-	mergeSetBlues      []*externalapi.DomainHash
-	mergeSetReds       []*externalapi.DomainHash
-	bluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.KType
-}
-
-// NewBlockGHOSTDAGData creates a new instance of model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
-func NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(
-	blueScore uint64,
-	blueWork *big.Int,
-	selectedParent *externalapi.DomainHash,
-	mergeSetBlues []*externalapi.DomainHash,
-	mergeSetReds []*externalapi.DomainHash,
-	bluesAnticoneSizes map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.KType) model.BlockGHOSTDAGData {
-
-	return &blockGHOSTDAGData{
-		blueScore:          blueScore,
-		blueWork:           blueWork,
-		selectedParent:     selectedParent,
-		mergeSetBlues:      mergeSetBlues,
-		mergeSetReds:       mergeSetReds,
-		bluesAnticoneSizes: bluesAnticoneSizes,
-	}
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) BlueScore() uint64 {
-	return bgd.blueScore
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) BlueWork() *big.Int {
-	return bgd.blueWork
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) SelectedParent() *externalapi.DomainHash {
-	return bgd.selectedParent
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) MergeSetBlues() []*externalapi.DomainHash {
-	return bgd.mergeSetBlues
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) MergeSetReds() []*externalapi.DomainHash {
-	return bgd.mergeSetReds
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) BluesAnticoneSizes() map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.KType {
-	return bgd.bluesAnticoneSizes
-}
-
-func (bgd *blockGHOSTDAGData) MergeSet() []*externalapi.DomainHash {
-	mergeSet := make([]*externalapi.DomainHash, len(bgd.mergeSetBlues)+len(bgd.mergeSetReds))
-	copy(mergeSet, bgd.mergeSetBlues)
-	if len(bgd.mergeSetReds) > 0 {
-		copy(mergeSet[len(bgd.mergeSetBlues):], bgd.mergeSetReds)
-	}
-
-	return mergeSet
-}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_test.go b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_test.go
index f5485da2f..f11de5c5e 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_test.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/processes/ghostdagmanager/ghostdag_test.go
@@ -63,14 +63,14 @@ func TestGHOSTDAG(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		ghostdagDataStore := &GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl{
-			dagMap: make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.BlockGHOSTDAGData),
+			dagMap: make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData),
 		}
 
 		blockHeadersStore := &blockHeadersStore{
 			dagMap: make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]externalapi.BlockHeader),
 		}
 
-		blockGHOSTDAGDataGenesis := ghostdagmanager.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(0, new(big.Int), nil, nil, nil, nil)
+		blockGHOSTDAGDataGenesis := model.NewBlockGHOSTDAGData(0, new(big.Int), nil, nil, nil, nil)
 		genesisHeader := params.GenesisBlock.Header
 		genesisWork := util.CalcWork(genesisHeader.Bits())
 
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func TestGHOSTDAG(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 				dagTopology.parentsMap = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash][]*externalapi.DomainHash)
 				dagTopology.parentsMap[genesisHash] = nil
-				ghostdagDataStore.dagMap = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.BlockGHOSTDAGData)
+				ghostdagDataStore.dagMap = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData)
 				ghostdagDataStore.dagMap[genesisHash] = blockGHOSTDAGDataGenesis
 				blockHeadersStore.dagMap = make(map[externalapi.DomainHash]externalapi.BlockHeader)
 				blockHeadersStore.dagMap[genesisHash] = genesisHeader
@@ -202,10 +202,10 @@ func StringToDomainHashSlice(stringIDArr []string) []*externalapi.DomainHash {
 
 /* ---------------------- */
 type GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl struct {
-	dagMap map[externalapi.DomainHash]model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
+	dagMap map[externalapi.DomainHash]*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData
 }
 
-func (ds *GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl) Stage(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, blockGHOSTDAGData model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) {
+func (ds *GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl) Stage(blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash, blockGHOSTDAGData *model.BlockGHOSTDAGData) {
 	ds.dagMap[*blockHash] = blockGHOSTDAGData
 }
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ func (ds *GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl) Commit(dbTx model.DBTransaction) error {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func (ds *GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl) Get(dbContext model.DBReader, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
+func (ds *GHOSTDAGDataStoreImpl) Get(dbContext model.DBReader, blockHash *externalapi.DomainHash) (*model.BlockGHOSTDAGData, error) {
 	v, ok := ds.dagMap[*blockHash]
 	if ok {
 		return v, nil
diff --git a/domain/consensus/utils/hashes/compare.go b/domain/consensus/utils/hashes/compare.go
deleted file mode 100644
index fdf16db18..000000000
--- a/domain/consensus/utils/hashes/compare.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
-package hashes
-
-import (
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
-)
-
-// cmp compares two hashes and returns:
-//
-//   -1 if a <  b
-//    0 if a == b
-//   +1 if a >  b
-//
-func cmp(a, b *externalapi.DomainHash) int {
-	aBytes := a.ByteArray()
-	bBytes := b.ByteArray()
-	// We compare the hashes backwards because Hash is stored as a little endian byte array.
-	for i := externalapi.DomainHashSize - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-		switch {
-		case aBytes[i] < bBytes[i]:
-			return -1
-		case aBytes[i] > bBytes[i]:
-			return 1
-		}
-	}
-	return 0
-}
-
-// Less returns true iff hash a is less than hash b
-func Less(a, b *externalapi.DomainHash) bool {
-	return cmp(a, b) < 0
-}
diff --git a/domain/consensus/utils/transactionid/compare.go b/domain/consensus/utils/transactionid/compare.go
index 918c54206..ab28853c2 100644
--- a/domain/consensus/utils/transactionid/compare.go
+++ b/domain/consensus/utils/transactionid/compare.go
@@ -2,10 +2,9 @@ package transactionid
 
 import (
 	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/model/externalapi"
-	"github.com/kaspanet/kaspad/domain/consensus/utils/hashes"
 )
 
 // Less returns true iff transaction ID a is less than hash b
 func Less(a, b *externalapi.DomainTransactionID) bool {
-	return hashes.Less((*externalapi.DomainHash)(a), (*externalapi.DomainHash)(b))
+	return externalapi.Less((*externalapi.DomainHash)(a), (*externalapi.DomainHash)(b))
 }
diff --git a/util/bigintpool/pool.go b/util/bigintpool/pool.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d2eab80ff..000000000
--- a/util/bigintpool/pool.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-package bigintpool
-
-import (
-	"math/big"
-	"sync"
-)
-
-var bigIntPool = sync.Pool{
-	New: func() interface{} {
-		return big.NewInt(0)
-	},
-}
-
-// Acquire acquires a big.Int from the pool and
-// initializes it to x.
-func Acquire(x int64) *big.Int {
-	bigInt := bigIntPool.Get().(*big.Int)
-	bigInt.SetInt64(x)
-	return bigInt
-}
-
-// Release returns the given big.Int to the pool.
-func Release(toRelease *big.Int) {
-	bigIntPool.Put(toRelease)
-}