diff --git a/beacon/engine/types.go b/beacon/engine/types.go
index e12531fbac..826e02384c 100644
--- a/beacon/engine/types.go
+++ b/beacon/engine/types.go
@@ -307,11 +307,7 @@ func ExecutableDataToBlockNoHash(data ExecutableData, versionedHashes []common.H
 
 	var blockAccessListHash *common.Hash
 	body := types.Body{Transactions: txs, Uncles: nil, Withdrawals: data.Withdrawals}
-	if data.BlockAccessList != nil {
-		body.AccessList = data.BlockAccessList
-		balHash := data.BlockAccessList.Hash()
-		blockAccessListHash = &balHash
-	}
+
 	header := &types.Header{
 		ParentHash:          data.ParentHash,
 		UncleHash:           types.EmptyUncleHash,
@@ -336,7 +332,16 @@ func ExecutableDataToBlockNoHash(data ExecutableData, versionedHashes []common.H
 		BlockAccessListHash: blockAccessListHash,
 		SlotNumber:          data.SlotNumber,
 	}
+
+	if data.BlockAccessList != nil {
+		balHash := data.BlockAccessList.Hash()
+		header.BlockAccessListHash = &balHash
+		block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(body).WithAccessList(data.BlockAccessList)
+		return block, nil
+	}
+
 	return types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(body), nil
+
 }
 
 // BlockToExecutableData constructs the ExecutableData structure by filling the
@@ -360,6 +365,10 @@ func BlockToExecutableData(block *types.Block, fees *big.Int, sidecars []*types.
 		Withdrawals:     block.Withdrawals(),
 		BlobGasUsed:     block.BlobGasUsed(),
 		ExcessBlobGas:   block.ExcessBlobGas(),
+<<<<<<< HEAD
+=======
+		BlockAccessList: block.AccessList(),
+>>>>>>> 959ade7689 (a bunch of changes.  mostly bal persistence and removing bal from block body object.  wip...)
 		SlotNumber:      block.SlotNumber(),
 		BlockAccessList: block.Body().AccessList,
 	}
diff --git a/build/checksums.txt b/build/checksums.txt
index fdf4453ec5..49a449f539 100644
--- a/build/checksums.txt
+++ b/build/checksums.txt
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@
 # https://github.com/ethereum/execution-spec-tests/releases/download/v5.1.0
 a3192784375acec7eaec492799d5c5d0c47a2909a3cc40178898e4ecd20cc416  fixtures_develop.tar.gz
 
-# version:spec-tests-bal v3.0.1
+# version:spec-tests-bal v5.0.0
 # https://github.com/ethereum/execution-spec-tests/releases
-# https://github.com/ethereum/execution-spec-tests/releases/download/bal%40v3.0.1
-57d0f109f0557ec33d6ecd6cbd77b55415a658aefe583c4035157e1021ae512a fixtures_bal.tar.gz
+# https://github.com/ethereum/execution-spec-tests/releases/download/bal%40v5.0.0
+17aecf8334da7f5d1025635c763a4be0dfbcdb0e659cc70a36e6a81bd3af06f2 fixtures_bal.tar.gz
 
 # version:golang 1.25.1
 # https://go.dev/dl/
diff --git a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
index 5cb637a81e..c458cbe21c 100644
--- a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package beacon
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types/bal"
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -357,9 +358,9 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) Finalize(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.
 
 // FinalizeAndAssemble implements consensus.Engine, setting the final state and
 // assembling the block.
-func (beacon *Beacon) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalization func()) (*types.Block, error) {
+func (beacon *Beacon) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalizeAccessList func() *bal.BlockAccessList) (*types.Block, error) {
 	if !beacon.IsPoSHeader(header) {
-		return beacon.ethone.FinalizeAndAssemble(chain, header, state, body, receipts, onFinalization)
+		return beacon.ethone.FinalizeAndAssemble(chain, header, state, body, receipts, nil)
 	}
 	shanghai := chain.Config().IsShanghai(header.Number, header.Time)
 	if shanghai {
@@ -379,12 +380,15 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, hea
 	// Assign the final state root to header.
 	header.Root = state.IntermediateRoot(true)
 
-	if onFinalization != nil {
-		onFinalization()
-	}
-
 	// Assemble the final block.
-	return types.NewBlock(header, body, receipts, trie.NewStackTrie(nil)), nil
+	if onFinalizeAccessList != nil {
+		al := onFinalizeAccessList()
+		alHash := al.Hash()
+		header.BlockAccessListHash = &alHash
+		return types.NewBlock(header, body, receipts, trie.NewStackTrie(nil)).WithAccessList(al), nil
+	} else {
+		return types.NewBlock(header, body, receipts, trie.NewStackTrie(nil)), nil
+	}
 }
 
 // Seal generates a new sealing request for the given input block and pushes
diff --git a/consensus/clique/clique.go b/consensus/clique/clique.go
index e2127deba1..8935893761 100644
--- a/consensus/clique/clique.go
+++ b/consensus/clique/clique.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types/bal"
 	"io"
 	"math/big"
 	"math/rand"
@@ -581,7 +582,7 @@ func (c *Clique) Finalize(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Heade
 
 // FinalizeAndAssemble implements consensus.Engine, ensuring no uncles are set,
 // nor block rewards given, and returns the final block.
-func (c *Clique) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalize func()) (*types.Block, error) {
+func (c *Clique) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalizeAccessList func() *bal.BlockAccessList) (*types.Block, error) {
 	if len(body.Withdrawals) > 0 {
 		return nil, errors.New("clique does not support withdrawals")
 	}
@@ -591,10 +592,9 @@ func (c *Clique) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *
 	// Assign the final state root to header.
 	header.Root = state.IntermediateRoot(chain.Config().IsEIP158(header.Number))
 
-	if onFinalize != nil {
-		onFinalize()
+	if onFinalizeAccessList != nil {
+		panic("access list embedding not enabled for clique consensus")
 	}
-
 	// Assemble and return the final block for sealing.
 	return types.NewBlock(header, &types.Body{Transactions: body.Transactions}, receipts, trie.NewStackTrie(nil)), nil
 }
diff --git a/consensus/consensus.go b/consensus/consensus.go
index e1120af36d..0fadbf5e22 100644
--- a/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package consensus
 
 import (
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types/bal"
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ type Engine interface {
 	//
 	// Note: The block header and state database might be updated to reflect any
 	// consensus rules that happen at finalization (e.g. block rewards).
-	FinalizeAndAssemble(chain ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalization func()) (*types.Block, error)
+	FinalizeAndAssemble(chain ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalizeAccessList func() *bal.BlockAccessList) (*types.Block, error)
 
 	// Seal generates a new sealing request for the given input block and pushes
 	// the result into the given channel.
diff --git a/consensus/ethash/consensus.go b/consensus/ethash/consensus.go
index 8d125da692..ab7485b7d2 100644
--- a/consensus/ethash/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/ethash/consensus.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package ethash
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types/bal"
 	"math/big"
 	"time"
 
@@ -513,7 +514,7 @@ func (ethash *Ethash) Finalize(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.
 
 // FinalizeAndAssemble implements consensus.Engine, accumulating the block and
 // uncle rewards, setting the final state and assembling the block.
-func (ethash *Ethash) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalize func()) (*types.Block, error) {
+func (ethash *Ethash) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header, state *state.StateDB, body *types.Body, receipts []*types.Receipt, onFinalizeAccessList func() *bal.BlockAccessList) (*types.Block, error) {
 	if len(body.Withdrawals) > 0 {
 		return nil, errors.New("ethash does not support withdrawals")
 	}
@@ -523,8 +524,8 @@ func (ethash *Ethash) FinalizeAndAssemble(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, hea
 	// Assign the final state root to header.
 	header.Root = state.IntermediateRoot(chain.Config().IsEIP158(header.Number))
 
-	if onFinalize != nil {
-		onFinalize()
+	if onFinalizeAccessList != nil {
+		panic("access list embedding not supported for ethash consenus")
 	}
 	// Header seems complete, assemble into a block and return
 	return types.NewBlock(header, &types.Body{Transactions: body.Transactions, Uncles: body.Uncles}, receipts, trie.NewStackTrie(nil)), nil
diff --git a/core/block_validator.go b/core/block_validator.go
index b0f7d0ac0d..5707e940c4 100644
--- a/core/block_validator.go
+++ b/core/block_validator.go
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ func (v *BlockValidator) ValidateBody(block *types.Block) error {
 			// TODO: verify that this check isn't also done elsewhere
 			return fmt.Errorf("block access list hash not set in header")
 		}
-		if block.Body().AccessList != nil {
-			if *block.Header().BlockAccessListHash != block.Body().AccessList.Hash() {
-				return fmt.Errorf("access list hash mismatch.  local: %x. remote: %x\n", block.Body().AccessList.Hash(), *block.Header().BlockAccessListHash)
-			} else if err := block.Body().AccessList.Validate(len(block.Transactions())); err != nil {
+		if block.AccessList() != nil {
+			if *block.Header().BlockAccessListHash != block.AccessList().Hash() {
+				return fmt.Errorf("access list hash mismatch.  local: %x. remote: %x\n", block.AccessList().Hash(), *block.Header().BlockAccessListHash)
+			} else if err := block.AccessList().Validate(len(block.Transactions())); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("invalid block access list: %v", err)
 			}
 		}
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func (v *BlockValidator) ValidateBody(block *types.Block) error {
 		}
 	} else {
 		// if experimental.bal is not enabled, block headers cannot have access list hash and bodies cannot have access lists.
-		if block.Body().AccessList != nil {
+		if block.AccessList() != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("access list not allowed in block body if not in amsterdam or experimental.bal is set")
 		} else if block.Header().BlockAccessListHash != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("access list hash in block header not allowed when experimental.bal is set")
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 80286a4ec0..2357faba01 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -2201,7 +2201,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ProcessBlock(parentRoot common.Hash, block *types.Block, s
 	}
 	// TODO: need to check that the block is also postcancun if it contained an access list?
 	// this should be checked during decoding (?)
-	blockHasAccessList := block.Body().AccessList != nil
+	blockHasAccessList := block.AccessList() != nil
 	// only construct and embed BALs in the block if:
 	// * it has been enabled for testing purposes (preAmsterdam/postCancun blocks with experimental.bal)
 	// * we are after Amsterdam and the block was provided with bal omitted
@@ -2276,7 +2276,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ProcessBlock(parentRoot common.Hash, block *types.Block, s
 			// Disable tracing for prefetcher executions.
 			vmCfg := bc.cfg.VmConfig
 			vmCfg.Tracer = nil
-			if block.Body().AccessList == nil {
+			if block.AccessList() == nil {
 				// only use the state prefetcher for non-BAL blocks.
 				bc.prefetcher.Prefetch(block, throwaway, vmCfg, &interrupt)
 			}
@@ -2369,13 +2369,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ProcessBlock(parentRoot common.Hash, block *types.Block, s
 			return nil, err
 
 		}
-		// very ugly... deepcopy the block body before setting the block access
-		// list on it to prevent mutating the block instance passed by the caller.
-		existingBody := block.Body()
-		block = block.WithBody(*existingBody)
-		existingBody = block.Body()
-		existingBody.AccessList = balTracer.AccessList().ToEncodingObj()
-		block = block.WithBody(*existingBody)
+		block = block.WithAccessList(balTracer.AccessList().ToEncodingObj())
 	} else if enableBALFork {
 
 		computedAccessList := balTracer.AccessList().ToEncodingObj()
@@ -2387,16 +2381,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ProcessBlock(parentRoot common.Hash, block *types.Block, s
 			bc.reportBadBlock(block, res, err)
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		if block.Body().AccessList == nil {
-			// very ugly... deep copy the block body before setting the block access
-			// list on it to prevent mutating the block instance passed by the caller.
-			existingBody := block.Body()
-			block = block.WithBody(*existingBody)
-			existingBody = block.Body()
-			existingBody.AccessList = computedAccessList
-			block = block.WithBody(*existingBody)
-		} else if block.Body().AccessList.Hash() != computedAccessListHash {
-			err := fmt.Errorf("block access list hash mismatch (remote=%x computed=%x)", block.Body().AccessList.Hash(), computedAccessListHash)
+		if block.AccessList() == nil {
+			// attach the computed access list to the block so it gets persisted
+			// when the block is written to disk
+			block = block.WithAccessList(computedAccessList)
+		} else if block.AccessList().Hash() != computedAccessListHash {
+			err := fmt.Errorf("block access list hash mismatch (remote=%x computed=%x)", block.AccessList().Hash(), computedAccessListHash)
 			bc.reportBadBlock(block, res, err)
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
index 6ae64fb2fd..2d216cee77 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types/bal"
 	"math/big"
 	"slices"
 
@@ -421,6 +422,17 @@ func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp
 	}
 }
 
+func WriteAccessListRLP(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) {
+	if err := db.Put(accessListKey(number, hash), rlp); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("failed to store block access list", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func ReadAccessListRLP(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	data, _ := db.Get(accessListKey(number, hash))
+	return data
+}
+
 // HasBody verifies the existence of a block body corresponding to the hash.
 func HasBody(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if isCanon(db, number, hash) {
@@ -455,6 +467,25 @@ func WriteBody(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *t
 	WriteBodyRLP(db, hash, number, data)
 }
 
+func ReadAccessList(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) (al *bal.BlockAccessList) {
+	data := ReadAccessListRLP(db, hash, number)
+	if data != nil {
+		err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, al)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Crit("failed to RLP decode access list", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+	return al
+}
+
+func WriteAccessList(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, al *bal.BlockAccessList) {
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(al)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("failed to RLP encode block access list", "err", err)
+	}
+	WriteAccessListRLP(db, hash, number, data)
+}
+
 // DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
 func DeleteBody(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	if err := db.Delete(blockBodyKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
@@ -659,13 +690,26 @@ func ReadBlock(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 	if body == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(*body)
+
+	block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(*body)
+
+	// TODO: only read the access list if the bal hash is set in the header.
+	// I do it here regardless in order to support --experimental.bal which
+	// doesn't expect bal hash to be set in header in order to be compatible
+	// with importing mainnet blocks augmented with BALs
+	accessList := ReadAccessList(db, hash, number)
+	if accessList != nil {
+		block = block.WithAccessList(accessList)
+	}
+
+	return block
 }
 
 // WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
 func WriteBlock(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, block *types.Block) {
 	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
 	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+	panic("TODO write access list if it exists")
 }
 
 // WriteAncientBlocks writes entire block data into ancient store and returns the total written size.
diff --git a/core/rawdb/schema.go b/core/rawdb/schema.go
index d9140c5fd6..f20cf06b8e 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/schema.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/schema.go
@@ -111,6 +111,7 @@ var (
 	headerNumberPrefix = []byte("H") // headerNumberPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
 
 	blockBodyPrefix     = []byte("b") // blockBodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
+	accessListPrefix    = []byte("z")
 	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r") // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
 
 	txLookupPrefix        = []byte("l") // txLookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
@@ -209,6 +210,11 @@ func blockBodyKey(number uint64, hash common.Hash) []byte {
 	return append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
 }
 
+// accessListKey = accessListPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash
+func accessListKey(number uint64, hash common.Hash) []byte {
+	return append(append(accessListPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+}
+
 // blockReceiptsKey = blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash
 func blockReceiptsKey(number uint64, hash common.Hash) []byte {
 	return append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
diff --git a/core/state/bal_reader.go b/core/state/bal_reader.go
index 3d76c290d6..c03788796b 100644
--- a/core/state/bal_reader.go
+++ b/core/state/bal_reader.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ type BALReader struct {
 // NewBALReader constructs a new reader from an access list. db is expected to have been instantiated with a reader.
 func NewBALReader(block *types.Block, reader Reader) *BALReader {
 	r := &BALReader{accesses: make(map[common.Address]*bal.AccountAccess), block: block}
-	for _, acctDiff := range *block.Body().AccessList {
+	for _, acctDiff := range *block.AccessList() {
 		r.accesses[acctDiff.Address] = &acctDiff
 	}
 	r.prestateReader.schedule(reader, r.ModifiedAccounts())
diff --git a/core/state_transition.go b/core/state_transition.go
index 934ff4fbf1..ce4c3ca2fe 100644
--- a/core/state_transition.go
+++ b/core/state_transition.go
@@ -462,6 +462,7 @@ func (st *stateTransition) execute() (*ExecutionResult, error) {
 	if t := st.evm.Config.Tracer; t != nil && t.OnGasChange != nil {
 		t.OnGasChange(st.gasRemaining, st.gasRemaining-gas, tracing.GasChangeTxIntrinsicGas)
 	}
+	fmt.Printf("gas used %d\n", gas)
 	st.gasRemaining -= gas
 
 	if rules.IsEIP4762 {
@@ -568,8 +569,10 @@ func (st *stateTransition) execute() (*ExecutionResult, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
+	fmt.Printf("2 used gas is %d, %d\n", st.gasUsed(), peakGasUsed)
+
 	return &ExecutionResult{
-		UsedGas:    st.gasUsed(),
+		UsedGas:    peakGasUsed,
 		MaxUsedGas: peakGasUsed,
 		Err:        vmerr,
 		ReturnData: ret,
diff --git a/core/types/bal/bal_test.go b/core/types/bal/bal_test.go
index b359300c84..a0538c2b95 100644
--- a/core/types/bal/bal_test.go
+++ b/core/types/bal/bal_test.go
@@ -93,7 +93,8 @@ func makeTestConstructionBAL() *AccessListBuilder {
 // TestBALEncoding tests that a populated access list can be encoded/decoded correctly.
 func TestBALEncoding(t *testing.T) {
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
-	bal := makeTestConstructionBAL()
+	balBuilder := makeTestConstructionBAL()
+	bal := balBuilder.FinalizedAccesses
 	err := bal.EncodeRLP(&buf)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("encoding failed: %v\n", err)
@@ -136,7 +137,7 @@ func makeTestAccountAccess(sort bool) AccountAccess {
 	}
 	if sort {
 		slices.SortFunc(storageWrites, func(a, b encodingSlotWrites) int {
-			return bytes.Compare(a.Slot[:], b.Slot[:])
+			return bytes.Compare(a.Slot.inner.Bytes(), b.Slot.inner.Bytes())
 		})
 	}
 
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ func makeTestAccountAccess(sort bool) AccountAccess {
 		})
 	}
 
-	var encodedStorageReads []EncodedStorage
+	var encodedStorageReads []*EncodedStorage
 	for _, slot := range storageReads {
 		encodedStorageReads = append(encodedStorageReads, newEncodedStorageFromHash(slot))
 	}
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ func TestBlockAccessListCopy(t *testing.T) {
 	// Make sure the mutations on copy won't affect the origin
 	for _, aa := range cpyCpy {
 		for i := 0; i < len(aa.StorageReads); i++ {
-			aa.StorageReads[i] = testrand.Bytes(32)
+			aa.StorageReads[i] = &EncodedStorage{new(uint256.Int).SetBytes(testrand.Bytes(32))}
 		}
 	}
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(list, cpy) {
@@ -230,8 +231,9 @@ func TestBlockAccessListCopy(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestBlockAccessListValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	// Validate the block access list after RLP decoding
+	testBALMaxIndex := 8
 	enc := makeTestBAL(true)
-	if err := enc.Validate(); err != nil {
+	if err := enc.Validate(testBALMaxIndex); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected validation error: %v", err)
 	}
 	var buf bytes.Buffer
@@ -243,14 +245,14 @@ func TestBlockAccessListValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := dec.DecodeRLP(rlp.NewStream(bytes.NewReader(buf.Bytes()), 0)); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected RLP-decode error: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := dec.Validate(); err != nil {
+	if err := dec.Validate(testBALMaxIndex); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected validation error: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// Validate the derived block access list
-	cBAL := makeTestConstructionBAL()
+	cBAL := makeTestConstructionBAL().FinalizedAccesses
 	listB := cBAL.ToEncodingObj()
-	if err := listB.Validate(); err != nil {
+	if err := listB.Validate(testBALMaxIndex); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected validation error: %v", err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/core/types/block.go b/core/types/block.go
index 3597d7f49d..1bf003d1ea 100644
--- a/core/types/block.go
+++ b/core/types/block.go
@@ -182,8 +182,7 @@ func (h *Header) EmptyReceipts() bool {
 type Body struct {
 	Transactions []*Transaction
 	Uncles       []*Header
-	Withdrawals  []*Withdrawal        `rlp:"optional"`
-	AccessList   *bal.BlockAccessList `rlp:"optional,nil"`
+	Withdrawals  []*Withdrawal `rlp:"optional"`
 }
 
 // Block represents an Ethereum block.
@@ -287,15 +286,17 @@ func NewBlock(header *Header, body *Body, receipts []*Receipt, hasher ListHasher
 		b.withdrawals = slices.Clone(withdrawals)
 	}
 
-	if body.AccessList != nil {
-		balHash := body.AccessList.Hash()
-		b.header.BlockAccessListHash = &balHash
-		b.accessList = body.AccessList
-	}
-
 	return b
 }
 
+func NewBlockWithAccessList(header *Header, body *Body, receipts []*Receipt, accessList *bal.BlockAccessList, hasher ListHasher) *Block {
+	block := NewBlock(header, body, receipts, hasher)
+	block.accessList = accessList
+	balHash := accessList.Hash()
+	block.header.BlockAccessListHash = &balHash
+	return block
+}
+
 // CopyHeader creates a deep copy of a block header.
 func CopyHeader(h *Header) *Header {
 	cpy := *h
@@ -367,15 +368,16 @@ func (b *Block) EncodeRLP(w io.Writer) error {
 // Body returns the non-header content of the block.
 // Note the returned data is not an independent copy.
 func (b *Block) Body() *Body {
-	return &Body{b.transactions, b.uncles, b.withdrawals, b.accessList}
+	return &Body{b.transactions, b.uncles, b.withdrawals}
 }
 
 // Accessors for body data. These do not return a copy because the content
 // of the body slices does not affect the cached hash/size in block.
 
-func (b *Block) Uncles() []*Header          { return b.uncles }
-func (b *Block) Transactions() Transactions { return b.transactions }
-func (b *Block) Withdrawals() Withdrawals   { return b.withdrawals }
+func (b *Block) Uncles() []*Header                { return b.uncles }
+func (b *Block) Transactions() Transactions       { return b.transactions }
+func (b *Block) Withdrawals() Withdrawals         { return b.withdrawals }
+func (b *Block) AccessList() *bal.BlockAccessList { return b.accessList }
 
 func (b *Block) Transaction(hash common.Hash) *Transaction {
 	for _, transaction := range b.transactions {
@@ -522,16 +524,30 @@ func (b *Block) WithBody(body Body) *Block {
 		uncles:       make([]*Header, len(body.Uncles)),
 		withdrawals:  slices.Clone(body.Withdrawals),
 	}
-	if body.AccessList != nil {
-		balCopy := body.AccessList.Copy()
-		block.accessList = &balCopy
-	}
 	for i := range body.Uncles {
 		block.uncles[i] = CopyHeader(body.Uncles[i])
 	}
 	return block
 }
 
+// WithAccessList returns a copy of the block with the access list embedded.
+// It does not set the access list hash in the header of the returned block.
+// TODO: ^ when support for --experimental.bal is removed, this function should set the access list hash in the header
+func (b *Block) WithAccessList(accessList *bal.BlockAccessList) *Block {
+	alCopy := accessList.Copy()
+	block := &Block{
+		header:       b.header,
+		transactions: slices.Clone(b.transactions),
+		uncles:       make([]*Header, len(b.uncles)),
+		withdrawals:  slices.Clone(b.withdrawals),
+		accessList:   &alCopy,
+	}
+	for i := range b.uncles {
+		block.uncles[i] = CopyHeader(b.uncles[i])
+	}
+	return block
+}
+
 // Hash returns the keccak256 hash of b's header.
 // The hash is computed on the first call and cached thereafter.
 func (b *Block) Hash() common.Hash {
diff --git a/eth/api_backend.go b/eth/api_backend.go
index 2656395b22..a816512eb2 100644
--- a/eth/api_backend.go
+++ b/eth/api_backend.go
@@ -514,8 +514,8 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) BlockAccessListByNumberOrHash(number rpc.BlockNumberOrHa
 	if block == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("block not found")
 	}
-	if block.Body().AccessList == nil {
+	if block.AccessList() == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	return block.Body().AccessList.StringableRepresentation(), nil
+	return block.AccessList().StringableRepresentation(), nil
 }
diff --git a/eth/downloader/queue.go b/eth/downloader/queue.go
index 22290af2b5..29d9f3deda 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/queue.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/queue.go
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@ func (f *fetchResult) body() types.Body {
 		Transactions: f.Transactions,
 		Uncles:       f.Uncles,
 		Withdrawals:  f.Withdrawals,
-		AccessList:   f.AccessList,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index 25c5f4c788..079a540663 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -970,8 +970,8 @@ func RPCMarshalBlock(block *types.Block, inclTx bool, fullTx bool, config *param
 	if block.Withdrawals() != nil {
 		fields["withdrawals"] = block.Withdrawals()
 	}
-	if block.Body().AccessList != nil {
-		fields["accessList"] = block.Body().AccessList
+	if block.AccessList() != nil {
+		fields["accessList"] = block.AccessList()
 	}
 	return fields
 }
diff --git a/miner/worker.go b/miner/worker.go
index 4669c4db2e..d589c8513e 100644
--- a/miner/worker.go
+++ b/miner/worker.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/tracing"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types/bal"
 	"math/big"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
@@ -147,9 +148,6 @@ func (miner *Miner) generateWork(genParam *generateParams, witness bool) *newPay
 		}
 	}
 	body := types.Body{Transactions: work.txs, Withdrawals: genParam.withdrawals}
-	if work.alTracer != nil {
-		body.AccessList = work.alTracer.AccessList().ToEncodingObj()
-	}
 
 	allLogs := make([]*types.Log, 0)
 	for _, r := range work.receipts {
@@ -184,11 +182,12 @@ func (miner *Miner) generateWork(genParam *generateParams, witness bool) *newPay
 	// I considered trying to instantiate the beacon consensus engine with a tracer.
 	// however, the BAL tracer instance is used once per block, while the engine object
 	// lives for the entire time the client is running.
-	onBlockFinalization := func() {
+	onBlockFinalization := func() *bal.BlockAccessList {
 		if miner.chainConfig.IsAmsterdam(work.header.Number, work.header.Time) {
 			work.alTracer.OnBlockFinalization()
-			body.AccessList = work.alTracer.AccessList().ToEncodingObj()
+			return work.alTracer.AccessList().ToEncodingObj()
 		}
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	block, err := miner.engine.FinalizeAndAssemble(miner.chain, work.header, work.state, &body, work.receipts, onBlockFinalization)