diff --git a/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/chain.go b/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/chain.go
index 8c6d5cb836..6f813879ea 100644
--- a/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/chain.go
+++ b/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/chain.go
@@ -143,7 +143,11 @@ func (c *Chain) ForkID() forkid.ID {
 // TD calculates the total difficulty of the chain at the
 // chain head.
 func (c *Chain) TD() *big.Int {
-	return new(big.Int)
+	sum := new(big.Int)
+	for _, block := range c.blocks[:c.Len()] {
+		sum.Add(sum, block.Difficulty())
+	}
+	return sum
 }
 
 // GetBlock returns the block at the specified number.
diff --git a/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/suite.go b/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/suite.go
index 3f5458cb85..320ffeeee9 100644
--- a/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/suite.go
+++ b/cmd/devp2p/internal/ethtest/suite.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"crypto/rand"
 	"fmt"
+	"math/big"
 	"reflect"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -77,6 +78,7 @@ func (s *Suite) EthTests() []utesting.Test {
 		{Name: "GetBlockBodies", Fn: s.TestGetBlockBodies},
 		// // malicious handshakes + status
 		{Name: "MaliciousHandshake", Fn: s.TestMaliciousHandshake},
+		{Name: "MaliciousStatus", Fn: s.TestMaliciousStatus},
 		// test transactions
 		{Name: "LargeTxRequest", Fn: s.TestLargeTxRequest, Slow: true},
 		{Name: "Transaction", Fn: s.TestTransaction},
@@ -469,6 +471,42 @@ func (s *Suite) TestMaliciousHandshake(t *utesting.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (s *Suite) TestMaliciousStatus(t *utesting.T) {
+	t.Log(`This test sends a malicious eth Status message to the node and expects a disconnect.`)
+
+	conn, err := s.dial()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("dial failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+	if err := conn.handshake(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("handshake failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Create status with large total difficulty.
+	status := &eth.StatusPacket{
+		ProtocolVersion: uint32(conn.negotiatedProtoVersion),
+		NetworkID:       s.chain.config.ChainID.Uint64(),
+		TD:              new(big.Int).SetBytes(randBuf(2048)),
+		Head:            s.chain.Head().Hash(),
+		Genesis:         s.chain.GetBlock(0).Hash(),
+		ForkID:          s.chain.ForkID(),
+	}
+	if err := conn.statusExchange(s.chain, status); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("status exchange failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Wait for disconnect.
+	code, _, err := conn.Read()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error reading from connection: %v", err)
+	}
+	switch code {
+	case discMsg:
+		break
+	default:
+		t.Fatalf("expected disconnect, got: %d", code)
+	}
+}
+
 func (s *Suite) TestTransaction(t *utesting.T) {
 	t.Log(`This test sends a valid transaction to the node and checks if the
 transaction gets propagated.`)
diff --git a/cmd/utils/cmd.go b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
index 457f8ad575..5a3c675636 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
-	"math/big"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path/filepath"
@@ -455,10 +454,6 @@ func ExportHistory(bc *core.BlockChain, dir string, first, last, step uint64) er
 		buf       = bytes.NewBuffer(nil)
 		checksums []string
 	)
-	td := new(big.Int)
-	for i := uint64(0); i < first; i++ {
-		td.Add(td, bc.GetHeaderByNumber(i).Difficulty)
-	}
 	for i := first; i <= last; i += step {
 		err := func() error {
 			filename := filepath.Join(dir, era.Filename(network, int(i/step), common.Hash{}))
@@ -481,8 +476,11 @@ func ExportHistory(bc *core.BlockChain, dir string, first, last, step uint64) er
 				if receipts == nil {
 					return fmt.Errorf("export failed on #%d: receipts not found", n)
 				}
-				td.Add(td, block.Difficulty())
-				if err := w.Add(block, receipts, new(big.Int).Set(td)); err != nil {
+				td := bc.GetTd(block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+				if td == nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("export failed on #%d: total difficulty not found", n)
+				}
+				if err := w.Add(block, receipts, td); err != nil {
 					return err
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
index de28a6a36b..31d562b149 100644
--- a/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/beacon/consensus.go
@@ -93,55 +93,67 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) Author(header *types.Header) (common.Address, error) {
 // VerifyHeader checks whether a header conforms to the consensus rules of the
 // stock Ethereum consensus engine.
 func (beacon *Beacon) VerifyHeader(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header) error {
-	// During the live merge transition, the consensus engine used the terminal
-	// total difficulty to detect when PoW (PoA) switched to PoS. Maintaining the
-	// total difficulty values however require applying all the blocks from the
-	// genesis to build up the TD. This stops being a possibility if the tail of
-	// the chain is pruned already during sync.
-	//
-	// One heuristic that can be used to distinguish pre-merge and post-merge
-	// blocks is whether their *difficulty* is >0 or ==0 respectively. This of
-	// course would mean that we cannot prove anymore for a past chain that it
-	// truly transitioned at the correct TTD, but if we consider that ancient
-	// point in time finalized a long time ago, there should be no attempt from
-	// the consensus client to rewrite very old history.
-	//
-	// One thing that's probably not needed but which we can add to make this
-	// verification even stricter is to enforce that the chain can switch from
-	// >0 to ==0 TD only once by forbidding an ==0 to be followed by a >0.
-
-	// Verify that we're not reverting to pre-merge from post-merge
+	reached, err := IsTTDReached(chain, header.ParentHash, header.Number.Uint64()-1)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if !reached {
+		return beacon.ethone.VerifyHeader(chain, header)
+	}
+	// Short circuit if the parent is not known
 	parent := chain.GetHeader(header.ParentHash, header.Number.Uint64()-1)
 	if parent == nil {
 		return consensus.ErrUnknownAncestor
 	}
-	if parent.Difficulty.Sign() == 0 && header.Difficulty.Sign() > 0 {
-		return consensus.ErrInvalidTerminalBlock
-	}
-	// Check >0 TDs with pre-merge, --0 TDs with post-merge rules
-	if header.Difficulty.Sign() > 0 {
-		return beacon.ethone.VerifyHeader(chain, header)
-	}
+	// Sanity checks passed, do a proper verification
 	return beacon.verifyHeader(chain, header, parent)
 }
 
+// errOut constructs an error channel with prefilled errors inside.
+func errOut(n int, err error) chan error {
+	errs := make(chan error, n)
+	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+		errs <- err
+	}
+	return errs
+}
+
 // splitHeaders splits the provided header batch into two parts according to
-// the difficulty field.
-//
+// the configured ttd. It requires the parent of header batch along with its
+// td are stored correctly in chain. If ttd is not configured yet, all headers
+// will be treated legacy PoW headers.
 // Note, this function will not verify the header validity but just split them.
-func (beacon *Beacon) splitHeaders(headers []*types.Header) ([]*types.Header, []*types.Header) {
+func (beacon *Beacon) splitHeaders(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, headers []*types.Header) ([]*types.Header, []*types.Header, error) {
+	// TTD is not defined yet, all headers should be in legacy format.
+	ttd := chain.Config().TerminalTotalDifficulty
+	ptd := chain.GetTd(headers[0].ParentHash, headers[0].Number.Uint64()-1)
+	if ptd == nil {
+		return nil, nil, consensus.ErrUnknownAncestor
+	}
+	// The entire header batch already crosses the transition.
+	if ptd.Cmp(ttd) >= 0 {
+		return nil, headers, nil
+	}
 	var (
 		preHeaders  = headers
 		postHeaders []*types.Header
+		td          = new(big.Int).Set(ptd)
+		tdPassed    bool
 	)
 	for i, header := range headers {
-		if header.Difficulty.Sign() == 0 {
+		if tdPassed {
 			preHeaders = headers[:i]
 			postHeaders = headers[i:]
 			break
 		}
+		td = td.Add(td, header.Difficulty)
+		if td.Cmp(ttd) >= 0 {
+			// This is the last PoW header, it still belongs to
+			// the preHeaders, so we cannot split+break yet.
+			tdPassed = true
+		}
 	}
-	return preHeaders, postHeaders
+	return preHeaders, postHeaders, nil
 }
 
 // VerifyHeaders is similar to VerifyHeader, but verifies a batch of headers
@@ -149,7 +161,10 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) splitHeaders(headers []*types.Header) ([]*types.Header, []
 // a results channel to retrieve the async verifications.
 // VerifyHeaders expect the headers to be ordered and continuous.
 func (beacon *Beacon) VerifyHeaders(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, headers []*types.Header) (chan<- struct{}, <-chan error) {
-	preHeaders, postHeaders := beacon.splitHeaders(headers)
+	preHeaders, postHeaders, err := beacon.splitHeaders(chain, headers)
+	if err != nil {
+		return make(chan struct{}), errOut(len(headers), err)
+	}
 	if len(postHeaders) == 0 {
 		return beacon.ethone.VerifyHeaders(chain, headers)
 	}
@@ -329,7 +344,12 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) verifyHeaders(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, headers [
 // Prepare implements consensus.Engine, initializing the difficulty field of a
 // header to conform to the beacon protocol. The changes are done inline.
 func (beacon *Beacon) Prepare(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, header *types.Header) error {
-	if !isPostMerge(chain.Config(), header.Number.Uint64(), header.Time) {
+	// Transition isn't triggered yet, use the legacy rules for preparation.
+	reached, err := IsTTDReached(chain, header.ParentHash, header.Number.Uint64()-1)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if !reached {
 		return beacon.ethone.Prepare(chain, header)
 	}
 	header.Difficulty = beaconDifficulty
@@ -440,7 +460,8 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) SealHash(header *types.Header) common.Hash {
 // the difficulty that a new block should have when created at time
 // given the parent block's time and difficulty.
 func (beacon *Beacon) CalcDifficulty(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, time uint64, parent *types.Header) *big.Int {
-	if !isPostMerge(chain.Config(), parent.Number.Uint64()+1, time) {
+	// Transition isn't triggered yet, use the legacy rules for calculation
+	if reached, _ := IsTTDReached(chain, parent.Hash(), parent.Number.Uint64()); !reached {
 		return beacon.ethone.CalcDifficulty(chain, time, parent)
 	}
 	return beaconDifficulty
@@ -481,3 +502,14 @@ func (beacon *Beacon) SetThreads(threads int) {
 		th.SetThreads(threads)
 	}
 }
+
+// IsTTDReached checks if the TotalTerminalDifficulty has been surpassed on the `parentHash` block.
+// It depends on the parentHash already being stored in the database.
+// If the parentHash is not stored in the database a UnknownAncestor error is returned.
+func IsTTDReached(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, parentHash common.Hash, parentNumber uint64) (bool, error) {
+	td := chain.GetTd(parentHash, parentNumber)
+	if td == nil {
+		return false, consensus.ErrUnknownAncestor
+	}
+	return td.Cmp(chain.Config().TerminalTotalDifficulty) >= 0, nil
+}
diff --git a/consensus/beacon/faker.go b/consensus/beacon/faker.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..981e345e3e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/consensus/beacon/faker.go
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+// Copyright 2023 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package beacon
+
+import (
+	"math/big"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+)
+
+// NewFaker creates a fake consensus engine for testing.
+// The fake engine simulates a merged network.
+// It can not be used to test the merge transition.
+// This type is needed since the fakeChainReader can not be used with
+// a normal beacon consensus engine.
+func NewFaker() consensus.Engine {
+	return new(faker)
+}
+
+type faker struct {
+	Beacon
+}
+
+func (f *faker) CalcDifficulty(chain consensus.ChainHeaderReader, time uint64, parent *types.Header) *big.Int {
+	return beaconDifficulty
+}
diff --git a/consensus/consensus.go b/consensus/consensus.go
index 6e17cfd540..3e41cb52d7 100644
--- a/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ type ChainHeaderReader interface {
 
 	// GetHeaderByHash retrieves a block header from the database by its hash.
 	GetHeaderByHash(hash common.Hash) *types.Header
+
+	// GetTd retrieves the total difficulty from the database by hash and number.
+	GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int
 }
 
 // ChainReader defines a small collection of methods needed to access the local
diff --git a/core/bench_test.go b/core/bench_test.go
index 36eb3b07da..64714e098c 100644
--- a/core/bench_test.go
+++ b/core/bench_test.go
@@ -295,6 +295,7 @@ func makeChainForBench(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis, full bool, count uin
 
 		rawdb.WriteHeader(db, header)
 		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, n)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(db, hash, n, big.NewInt(int64(n+1)))
 
 		if n == 0 {
 			rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, hash, genesis.Config)
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index b657004630..a450245e94 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ const (
 	//
 	// - Version 9
 	//  The following incompatible database changes were added:
-	//  * Total difficulty has been removed from both the key-value store and the ancient store.
+	//  * (not applicable for bor) Total difficulty has been removed from both the key-value store and the ancient store.
 	//  * The metadata structure of freezer is changed by adding 'flushOffset'
 	BlockChainVersion uint64 = 9
 )
@@ -787,18 +787,23 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 	var (
 		currentSnapBlock  = bc.CurrentSnapBlock()
 		currentFinalBlock = bc.CurrentFinalBlock()
+
+		headerTd = bc.GetTd(headHeader.Hash(), headHeader.Number.Uint64())
+		blockTd  = bc.GetTd(headBlock.Hash(), headBlock.NumberU64())
 	)
 
 	if headHeader.Hash() != headBlock.Hash() {
-		log.Info("Loaded most recent local header", "number", headHeader.Number, "hash", headHeader.Hash(), "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(headHeader.Time), 0)))
+		log.Info("Loaded most recent local header", "number", headHeader.Number, "hash", headHeader.Hash(), "td", headerTd, "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(headHeader.Time), 0)))
 	}
-	log.Info("Loaded most recent local block", "number", headBlock.Number(), "hash", headBlock.Hash(), "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(headBlock.Time()), 0)))
+	log.Info("Loaded most recent local block", "number", headBlock.Number(), "hash", headBlock.Hash(), "td", blockTd, "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(headBlock.Time()), 0)))
 	if headBlock.Hash() != currentSnapBlock.Hash() {
-		log.Info("Loaded most recent local snap block", "number", currentSnapBlock.Number, "hash", currentSnapBlock.Hash(), "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(currentSnapBlock.Time), 0)))
+		snapTd := bc.GetTd(currentSnapBlock.Hash(), currentSnapBlock.Number.Uint64())
+		log.Info("Loaded most recent local snap block", "number", currentSnapBlock.Number, "hash", currentSnapBlock.Hash(), "td", snapTd, "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(currentSnapBlock.Time), 0)))
 	}
 
 	if currentFinalBlock != nil {
-		log.Info("Loaded most recent local finalized block", "number", currentFinalBlock.Number, "hash", currentFinalBlock.Hash(), "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(currentFinalBlock.Time), 0)))
+		finalTd := bc.GetTd(currentFinalBlock.Hash(), currentFinalBlock.Number.Uint64())
+		log.Info("Loaded most recent local finalized block", "number", currentFinalBlock.Number, "hash", currentFinalBlock.Hash(), "td", finalTd, "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(currentFinalBlock.Time), 0)))
 	}
 
 	if pivot := rawdb.ReadLastPivotNumber(bc.db); pivot != nil {
@@ -1248,6 +1253,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ResetWithGenesisBlock(genesis *types.Block) error {
 
 	// Prepare the genesis block and reinitialise the chain
 	batch := bc.db.NewBatch()
+	rawdb.WriteTd(batch, genesis.Hash(), genesis.NumberU64(), genesis.Difficulty())
 	rawdb.WriteBlock(batch, genesis)
 
 	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
@@ -1550,7 +1556,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 		// Ensure genesis is in ancients.
 		if first.NumberU64() == 1 {
 			if frozen, _ := bc.db.Ancients(); frozen == 0 {
-				writeSize, err := rawdb.WriteAncientBlocks(bc.db, []*types.Block{bc.genesisBlock}, []types.Receipts{nil})
+				td := bc.genesisBlock.Difficulty()
+				writeSize, err := rawdb.WriteAncientBlocks(bc.db, []*types.Block{bc.genesisBlock}, []types.Receipts{nil}, td)
 				if err != nil {
 					log.Error("Error writing genesis to ancients", "err", err)
 					return 0, err
@@ -1579,7 +1586,9 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 			headers = append(headers, block.Header())
 		}
 
-		writeSize, err := rawdb.WriteAncientBlocks(bc.db, blockChain, receiptChain)
+		// Write all chain data to ancients.
+		td := bc.GetTd(first.Hash(), first.NumberU64())
+		writeSize, err := rawdb.WriteAncientBlocks(bc.db, blockChain, receiptChain, td)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Error("Error importing chain data to ancients", "err", err)
 			return 0, err
@@ -1776,11 +1785,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 // writeBlockWithoutState writes only the block and its metadata to the database,
 // but does not write any state. This is used to construct competing side forks
 // up to the point where they exceed the canonical total difficulty.
-func (bc *BlockChain) writeBlockWithoutState(block *types.Block) (err error) {
+func (bc *BlockChain) writeBlockWithoutState(block *types.Block, td *big.Int) (err error) {
 	if bc.insertStopped() {
 		return errInsertionInterrupted
 	}
 	batch := bc.db.NewBatch()
+	rawdb.WriteTd(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), td)
 	rawdb.WriteBlock(batch, block)
 
 	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
@@ -1808,14 +1818,20 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) writeKnownBlock(block *types.Block) error {
 // writeBlockWithState writes block, metadata and corresponding state data to the
 // database.
 func (bc *BlockChain) writeBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.Receipt, logs []*types.Log, statedb *state.StateDB) ([]*types.Log, error) {
-	if !bc.HasHeader(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1) {
+	// Calculate the total difficulty of the block
+	ptd := bc.GetTd(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1)
+	if ptd == nil {
 		return consensus.ErrUnknownAncestor
 	}
+	// Make sure no inconsistent state is leaked during insertion
+	externTd := new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), ptd)
+
 	// Irrelevant of the canonical status, write the block itself to the database.
 	//
-	// Note all the components of block(hash->number map, header, body, receipts)
+	// Note all the components of block(td, hash->number map, header, body, receipts)
 	// should be written atomically. BlockBatch is used for containing all components.
 	blockBatch := bc.db.NewBatch()
+	rawdb.WriteTd(blockBatch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), externTd)
 	rawdb.WriteBlock(blockBatch, block)
 	rawdb.WriteReceipts(blockBatch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts)
 
@@ -2312,6 +2328,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertChain(chain types.Blocks, setHead bool, makeWitness
 			if bc.logger != nil && bc.logger.OnSkippedBlock != nil {
 				bc.logger.OnSkippedBlock(tracing.BlockEvent{
 					Block:     block,
+					TD:        bc.GetTd(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1),
 					Finalized: bc.CurrentFinalBlock(),
 					Safe:      bc.CurrentSafeBlock(),
 				})
@@ -2547,8 +2564,10 @@ type blockProcessingResult struct {
 // nolint : unused
 func (bc *BlockChain) processBlock(block *types.Block, statedb *state.StateDB, start time.Time, setHead bool) (_ *blockProcessingResult, blockEndErr error) {
 	if bc.logger != nil && bc.logger.OnBlockStart != nil {
+		td := bc.GetTd(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1)
 		bc.logger.OnBlockStart(tracing.BlockEvent{
 			Block:     block,
+			TD:        td,
 			Finalized: bc.CurrentFinalBlock(),
 			Safe:      bc.CurrentSafeBlock(),
 		})
@@ -2662,6 +2681,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertSideChain(block *types.Block, it *insertIterator, ma
 		lastBlock = block
 		current   = bc.CurrentBlock()
 		headers   []*types.Header
+		externTd  *big.Int
 	)
 
 	// The first sidechain block error is already verified to be ErrPrunedAncestor.
@@ -2676,6 +2696,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertSideChain(block *types.Block, it *insertIterator, ma
 			canonical := bc.GetBlockByNumber(number)
 			if canonical != nil && canonical.Hash() == block.Hash() {
 				// Not a sidechain block, this is a re-import of a canon block which has it's state pruned
+
+				// Collect the TD of the block. Since we know it's a canon one,
+				// we can get it directly, and not (like further below) use
+				// the parent and then add the block on top
+				externTd = bc.GetTd(block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
 				continue
 			}
 
@@ -2695,9 +2720,14 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insertSideChain(block *types.Block, it *insertIterator, ma
 				return nil, it.index, errors.New("sidechain ghost-state attack")
 			}
 		}
+		if externTd == nil {
+			externTd = bc.GetTd(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1)
+		}
+		externTd = new(big.Int).Add(externTd, block.Difficulty())
+
 		if !bc.HasBlock(block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()) {
 			start := time.Now()
-			if err := bc.writeBlockWithoutState(block); err != nil {
+			if err := bc.writeBlockWithoutState(block, externTd); err != nil {
 				return nil, it.index, err
 			}
 
diff --git a/core/blockchain_reader.go b/core/blockchain_reader.go
index 85f45d7958..692c306c47 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_reader.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_reader.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
@@ -341,6 +342,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetTransactionLookup(hash common.Hash) (*rawdb.LegacyTxLoo
 	return lookup, tx, nil
 }
 
+// GetTd retrieves a block's total difficulty in the canonical chain from the
+// database by hash and number, caching it if found.
+func (bc *BlockChain) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	return bc.hc.GetTd(hash, number)
+}
+
 // HasState checks if state trie is fully present in the database or not.
 func (bc *BlockChain) HasState(hash common.Hash) bool {
 	_, err := bc.statedb.OpenTrie(hash)
diff --git a/core/blockchain_test.go b/core/blockchain_test.go
index 7e3b3e105a..51efbd6258 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func newGwei(n int64) *big.Int {
 }
 
 // Test fork of length N starting from block i
-func testFork(t *testing.T, blockchain *BlockChain, i, n int, full bool, scheme string) {
+func testFork(t *testing.T, blockchain *BlockChain, i, n int, full bool, comparator func(td1, td2 *big.Int), scheme string) {
 	// Copy old chain up to #i into a new db
 	genDb, _, blockchain2, err := newCanonical(ethash.NewFaker(), i, full, scheme)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -130,15 +130,27 @@ func testFork(t *testing.T, blockchain *BlockChain, i, n int, full bool, scheme
 		}
 	}
 	// Sanity check that the forked chain can be imported into the original
+	var tdPre, tdPost *big.Int
+
 	if full {
+		cur := blockchain.CurrentBlock()
+		tdPre = blockchain.GetTd(cur.Hash(), cur.Number.Uint64())
 		if err := testBlockChainImport(blockChainB, blockchain); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to import forked block chain: %v", err)
 		}
+		last := blockChainB[len(blockChainB)-1]
+		tdPost = blockchain.GetTd(last.Hash(), last.NumberU64())
 	} else {
+		cur := blockchain.CurrentHeader()
+		tdPre = blockchain.GetTd(cur.Hash(), cur.Number.Uint64())
 		if err := testHeaderChainImport(headerChainB, blockchain); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to import forked header chain: %v", err)
 		}
+		last := headerChainB[len(headerChainB)-1]
+		tdPost = blockchain.GetTd(last.Hash(), last.Number.Uint64())
 	}
+	// Compare the total difficulties of the chains
+	comparator(tdPre, tdPost)
 }
 
 // testBlockChainImport tries to process a chain of blocks, writing them into
@@ -179,6 +191,7 @@ func testBlockChainImport(chain types.Blocks, blockchain *BlockChain) error {
 		}
 
 		blockchain.chainmu.MustLock()
+		rawdb.WriteTd(blockchain.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTd(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1)))
 		rawdb.WriteBlock(blockchain.db, block)
 		statedb.Commit(block.NumberU64(), false, false)
 		blockchain.chainmu.Unlock()
@@ -296,6 +309,7 @@ func testHeaderChainImport(chain []*types.Header, blockchain *BlockChain) error
 		}
 		// Manually insert the header into the database, but don't reorganise (allows subsequent testing)
 		blockchain.chainmu.MustLock()
+		rawdb.WriteTd(blockchain.db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTd(header.ParentHash, header.Number.Uint64()-1)))
 		rawdb.WriteHeader(blockchain.db, header)
 		blockchain.chainmu.Unlock()
 	}
@@ -399,11 +413,17 @@ func testExtendCanonical(t *testing.T, full bool, scheme string) {
 	}
 	defer processor.Stop()
 
+	// Define the difficulty comparator
+	better := func(td1, td2 *big.Int) {
+		if td2.Cmp(td1) <= 0 {
+			t.Errorf("total difficulty mismatch: have %v, expected more than %v", td2, td1)
+		}
+	}
 	// Start fork from current height
-	testFork(t, processor, length, 1, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, length, 2, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, length, 5, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, length, 10, full, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, length, 1, full, better, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, length, 2, full, better, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, length, 5, full, better, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, length, 10, full, better, scheme)
 }
 
 // Tests that given a starting canonical chain of a given size, it can be extended
@@ -452,13 +472,19 @@ func testShorterFork(t *testing.T, full bool, scheme string) {
 	}
 	defer processor.Stop()
 
+	// Define the difficulty comparator
+	worse := func(td1, td2 *big.Int) {
+		if td2.Cmp(td1) >= 0 {
+			t.Errorf("total difficulty mismatch: have %v, expected less than %v", td2, td1)
+		}
+	}
 	// Sum of numbers must be less than `length` for this to be a shorter fork
-	testFork(t, processor, 0, 3, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 0, 7, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 1, 1, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 1, 7, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 5, 3, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 5, 4, full, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 0, 3, full, worse, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 0, 7, full, worse, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 1, 1, full, worse, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 1, 7, full, worse, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 5, 3, full, worse, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 5, 4, full, worse, scheme)
 }
 
 // Tests that given a starting canonical chain of a given size, creating shorter
@@ -569,13 +595,19 @@ func testEqualFork(t *testing.T, full bool, scheme string) {
 	}
 	defer processor.Stop()
 
+	// Define the difficulty comparator
+	equal := func(td1, td2 *big.Int) {
+		if td2.Cmp(td1) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("total difficulty mismatch: have %v, want %v", td2, td1)
+		}
+	}
 	// Sum of numbers must be equal to `length` for this to be an equal fork
-	testFork(t, processor, 0, 10, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 1, 9, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 2, 8, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 5, 5, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 6, 4, full, scheme)
-	testFork(t, processor, 9, 1, full, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 0, 10, full, equal, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 1, 9, full, equal, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 2, 8, full, equal, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 5, 5, full, equal, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 6, 4, full, equal, scheme)
+	testFork(t, processor, 9, 1, full, equal, scheme)
 }
 
 // Tests that given a starting canonical chain of a given size, creating equal
@@ -738,6 +770,19 @@ func testReorg(t *testing.T, first, second []int64, td int64, full bool, scheme
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	// Make sure the chain total difficulty is the correct one
+	want := new(big.Int).Add(blockchain.genesisBlock.Difficulty(), big.NewInt(td))
+	if full {
+		cur := blockchain.CurrentBlock()
+		if have := blockchain.GetTd(cur.Hash(), cur.Number.Uint64()); have.Cmp(want) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("total difficulty mismatch: have %v, want %v", have, want)
+		}
+	} else {
+		cur := blockchain.CurrentHeader()
+		if have := blockchain.GetTd(cur.Hash(), cur.Number.Uint64()); have.Cmp(want) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("total difficulty mismatch: have %v, want %v", have, want)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 // Tests chain insertions in the face of one entity containing an invalid nonce.
@@ -893,6 +938,12 @@ func testFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T, scheme string) {
 	for i := 0; i < len(blocks); i++ {
 		num, hash, time := blocks[i].NumberU64(), blocks[i].Hash(), blocks[i].Time()
 
+		if ftd, atd := fast.GetTd(hash, num), archive.GetTd(hash, num); ftd.Cmp(atd) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: td mismatch: fastdb %v, archivedb %v", num, hash, ftd, atd)
+		}
+		if antd, artd := ancient.GetTd(hash, num), archive.GetTd(hash, num); antd.Cmp(artd) != 0 {
+			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: td mismatch: ancientdb %v, archivedb %v", num, hash, antd, artd)
+		}
 		if fheader, aheader := fast.GetHeaderByHash(hash), archive.GetHeaderByHash(hash); fheader.Hash() != aheader.Hash() {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: header mismatch: fastdb %v, archivedb %v", num, hash, fheader, aheader)
 		}
@@ -4465,7 +4516,7 @@ func TestEIP3651(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		aa     = common.HexToAddress("0x000000000000000000000000000000000000aaaa")
 		bb     = common.HexToAddress("0x000000000000000000000000000000000000bbbb")
-		engine = beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+		engine = beacon.NewFaker()
 
 		// A sender who makes transactions, has some funds
 		key1, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
@@ -4585,7 +4636,7 @@ func TestPragueRequests(t *testing.T) {
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		config  = *params.MergedTestChainConfig
 		signer  = types.LatestSigner(&config)
-		engine  = beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+		engine  = beacon.NewFaker()
 	)
 	gspec := &Genesis{
 		Config: &config,
@@ -4663,7 +4714,7 @@ func TestEIP7702(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		config  = *params.MergedTestChainConfig
 		signer  = types.LatestSigner(&config)
-		engine  = beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+		engine  = beacon.NewFaker()
 		key1, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		key2, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("8a1f9a8f95be41cd7ccb6168179afb4504aefe388d1e14474d32c45c72ce7b7a")
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
diff --git a/core/chain_makers.go b/core/chain_makers.go
index 06ae05b0b0..0fe2467fb7 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers.go
@@ -764,3 +764,7 @@ func (cm *chainMaker) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
 func (cm *chainMaker) GetBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 	return cm.blockByNumber(number)
 }
+
+func (cm *chainMaker) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	return nil // not supported
+}
diff --git a/core/chain_makers_test.go b/core/chain_makers_test.go
index 16d84e42cd..16a7348818 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers_test.go
@@ -76,9 +76,8 @@ func TestGeneratePOSChain(t *testing.T) {
 		Code:    common.Hex2Bytes("600154600354"),
 	}
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(gendb, triedb.NewDatabase(gendb, triedb.HashDefaults))
-	engine := beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
 
-	genchain, genreceipts := GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, engine, gendb, 4, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {
+	genchain, genreceipts := GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, beacon.NewFaker(), gendb, 4, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {
 		gen.SetParentBeaconRoot(common.Hash{byte(i + 1)})
 
 		// Add value transfer tx.
@@ -121,7 +120,7 @@ func TestGeneratePOSChain(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	// Import the chain. This runs all block validation rules.
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec, nil, engine, vm.Config{}, nil, nil, nil)
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec, nil, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil, nil, nil)
 	defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 	if i, err := blockchain.InsertChain(genchain); err != nil {
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index 2cacb80f5b..209c6a5c70 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -576,6 +576,7 @@ func (g *Genesis) Commit(db ethdb.Database, triedb *triedb.Database) (*types.Blo
 	}
 	batch := db.NewBatch()
 	rawdb.WriteGenesisStateSpec(batch, block.Hash(), blob)
+	rawdb.WriteTd(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Difficulty())
 	rawdb.WriteBlock(batch, block)
 	rawdb.WriteReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), nil)
 	rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index 94ba39485f..fb9c032bee 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func TestGenesisHashes(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestGenesisCommit(t *testing.T) {
+func TestGenesis_Commit(t *testing.T) {
 	genesis := &Genesis{
 		BaseFee: big.NewInt(params.InitialBaseFee),
 		Config:  params.TestChainConfig,
@@ -221,6 +221,13 @@ func TestGenesisCommit(t *testing.T) {
 	if genesisBlock.Difficulty().Cmp(params.GenesisDifficulty) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("assumption wrong: want: %d, got: %v", params.GenesisDifficulty, genesisBlock.Difficulty())
 	}
+
+	// Expect the stored total difficulty to be the difficulty of the genesis block.
+	stored := rawdb.ReadTd(db, genesisBlock.Hash(), genesisBlock.NumberU64())
+
+	if stored.Cmp(genesisBlock.Difficulty()) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("inequal difficulty; stored: %v, genesisBlock: %v", stored, genesisBlock.Difficulty())
+	}
 }
 
 func TestReadWriteGenesisAlloc(t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/core/headerchain.go b/core/headerchain.go
index 66038e4dc9..eeacc13a5c 100644
--- a/core/headerchain.go
+++ b/core/headerchain.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package core
 import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	"math/big"
 	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"
 
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ import (
 
 const (
 	headerCacheLimit = 512
+	tdCacheLimit     = 1024
 	numberCacheLimit = 2048
 )
 
@@ -63,7 +65,8 @@ type HeaderChain struct {
 	currentHeaderHash common.Hash                  // Hash of the current head of the header chain (prevent recomputing all the time)
 
 	headerCache *lru.Cache[common.Hash, *types.Header]
-	numberCache *lru.Cache[common.Hash, uint64] // most recent block numbers
+	tdCache     *lru.Cache[common.Hash, *big.Int] // most recent total difficulties
+	numberCache *lru.Cache[common.Hash, uint64]   // most recent block numbers
 
 	procInterrupt func() bool
 	engine        consensus.Engine
@@ -76,6 +79,7 @@ func NewHeaderChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine c
 		config:        config,
 		chainDb:       chainDb,
 		headerCache:   lru.NewCache[common.Hash, *types.Header](headerCacheLimit),
+		tdCache:       lru.NewCache[common.Hash, *big.Int](tdCacheLimit),
 		numberCache:   lru.NewCache[common.Hash, uint64](numberCacheLimit),
 		procInterrupt: procInterrupt,
 		engine:        engine,
@@ -210,13 +214,15 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeaders(headers []*types.Header) (int, error) {
 	if len(headers) == 0 {
 		return 0, nil
 	}
-	if !hc.HasHeader(headers[0].ParentHash, headers[0].Number.Uint64()-1) {
+	ptd := hc.GetTd(headers[0].ParentHash, headers[0].Number.Uint64()-1)
+	if ptd == nil {
 		return 0, consensus.ErrUnknownAncestor
 	}
 
 	var (
-		inserted    []rawdb.NumberHash // Ephemeral lookup of number/hash for the chain
-		parentKnown = true             // Set to true to force hc.HasHeader check the first iteration
+		newTD       = new(big.Int).Set(ptd) // Total difficulty of inserted chain
+		inserted    []rawdb.NumberHash      // Ephemeral lookup of number/hash for the chain
+		parentKnown = true                  // Set to true to force hc.HasHeader check the first iteration
 		batch       = hc.chainDb.NewBatch()
 	)
 
@@ -232,11 +238,16 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeaders(headers []*types.Header) (int, error) {
 		}
 
 		number := header.Number.Uint64()
+		newTD.Add(newTD, header.Difficulty)
 
 		// If the parent was not present, store it
 		// If the header is already known, skip it, otherwise store
 		alreadyKnown := parentKnown && hc.HasHeader(hash, number)
 		if !alreadyKnown {
+			// Irrelevant of the canonical status, write the TD and header to the database.
+			rawdb.WriteTd(batch, hash, number, newTD)
+			hc.tdCache.Add(hash, new(big.Int).Set(newTD))
+
 			rawdb.WriteHeader(batch, header)
 
 			inserted = append(inserted, rawdb.NumberHash{Number: number, Hash: hash})
@@ -442,6 +453,22 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetAncestor(hash common.Hash, number, ancestor uint64, ma
 	return hash, number
 }
 
+// GetTd retrieves a block's total difficulty in the canonical chain from the
+// database by hash and number, caching it if found.
+func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	// Short circuit if the td's already in the cache, retrieve otherwise
+	if cached, ok := hc.tdCache.Get(hash); ok {
+		return cached
+	}
+	td := rawdb.ReadTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+	if td == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Cache the found body for next time and return
+	hc.tdCache.Add(hash, td)
+	return td
+}
+
 // GetHeader retrieves a block header from the database by hash and number,
 // caching it if found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
@@ -677,6 +704,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) setHead(headBlock uint64, headTime uint64, updateFn Updat
 				}
 
 				rawdb.DeleteHeader(batch, hash, num)
+				rawdb.DeleteTd(batch, hash, num)
 			}
 
 			rawdb.DeleteCanonicalHash(batch, num)
@@ -688,6 +716,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) setHead(headBlock uint64, headTime uint64, updateFn Updat
 	}
 	// Clear out any stale content from the caches
 	hc.headerCache.Purge()
+	hc.tdCache.Purge()
 	hc.numberCache.Purge()
 }
 
diff --git a/core/headerchain_test.go b/core/headerchain_test.go
index 962225be96..aabe5123e8 100644
--- a/core/headerchain_test.go
+++ b/core/headerchain_test.go
@@ -40,6 +40,10 @@ func verifyUnbrokenCanonchain(hc *HeaderChain) error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("Canon hash chain broken, block %d got %x, expected %x",
 				h.Number, canonHash[:8], exp[:8])
 		}
+		// Verify that we have the TD
+		if td := rawdb.ReadTd(hc.chainDb, canonHash, h.Number.Uint64()); td == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("Canon TD missing at block %d", h.Number)
+		}
 		if h.Number.Uint64() == 0 {
 			break
 		}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
index 950ae6ccb1..76131cb1e7 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
@@ -601,6 +601,54 @@ func DeleteBody(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	}
 }
 
+// ReadTdRLP retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash in RLP encoding.
+func ReadTdRLP(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	var data []byte
+	db.ReadAncients(func(reader ethdb.AncientReaderOp) error {
+		// Check if the data is in ancients
+		if isCanon(reader, number, hash) {
+			data, _ = reader.Ancient(ChainFreezerDifficultyTable, number)
+			return nil
+		}
+		// If not, try reading from leveldb
+		data, _ = db.Get(headerTDKey(number, hash))
+		return nil
+	})
+	return data
+}
+
+// ReadTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadTd(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	data := ReadTdRLP(db, hash, number)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	td := new(big.Int)
+	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, td); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block total difficulty RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return td
+}
+
+// WriteTd stores the total difficulty of a block into the database.
+func WriteTd(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) {
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+	if err := db.Put(headerTDKey(number, hash), data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteTd(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(headerTDKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // HasReceipts verifies the existence of all the transaction receipts belonging
 // to a block.
 func HasReceipts(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
@@ -801,8 +849,9 @@ func WriteBlock(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, block *types.Block) {
 }
 
 // WriteAncientBlocks writes entire block data into ancient store and returns the total written size.
-func WriteAncientBlocks(db ethdb.AncientWriter, blocks []*types.Block, receipts []types.Receipts, borReceipts []types.Receipts) (int64, error) {
+func WriteAncientBlocks(db ethdb.AncientWriter, blocks []*types.Block, receipts []types.Receipts, borReceipts []types.Receipts, td *big.Int) (int64, error) {
 	var (
+		tdSum         = new(big.Int).Set(td)
 		stReceipts    []*types.ReceiptForStorage
 		borStReceipts []*types.ReceiptForStorage
 	)
@@ -823,7 +872,10 @@ func WriteAncientBlocks(db ethdb.AncientWriter, blocks []*types.Block, receipts
 
 			header := block.Header()
 
-			if err := writeAncientBlock(op, block, header, stReceipts, borStReceipts); err != nil {
+			if i > 0 {
+				tdSum.Add(tdSum, header.Difficulty)
+			}
+			if err := writeAncientBlock(op, block, header, stReceipts, borStReceipts, tdSum); err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 		}
@@ -832,7 +884,7 @@ func WriteAncientBlocks(db ethdb.AncientWriter, blocks []*types.Block, receipts
 	})
 }
 
-func writeAncientBlock(op ethdb.AncientWriteOp, block *types.Block, header *types.Header, receipts []*types.ReceiptForStorage, borReceipts []*types.ReceiptForStorage) error {
+func writeAncientBlock(op ethdb.AncientWriteOp, block *types.Block, header *types.Header, receipts []*types.ReceiptForStorage, borReceipts []*types.ReceiptForStorage, td *big.Int) error {
 	num := block.NumberU64()
 	if err := op.AppendRaw(ChainFreezerHashTable, num, block.Hash().Bytes()); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("can't add block %d hash: %v", num, err)
@@ -854,6 +906,9 @@ func writeAncientBlock(op ethdb.AncientWriteOp, block *types.Block, header *type
 		return fmt.Errorf("can't append block %d borReceipts: %v", num, err)
 	}
 
+	if err := op.Append(ChainFreezerDifficultyTable, num, td); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("can't append block %d total difficulty: %v", num, err)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -862,6 +917,7 @@ func DeleteBlock(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
 
 	// delete bor receipt
 	DeleteBorReceipt(db, hash, number)
@@ -873,6 +929,7 @@ func DeleteBlockWithoutNumber(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, hash common.Hash, number
 	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, number)
 	deleteHeaderWithoutNumber(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
 
 	// delete bor receipt
 	DeleteBorReceipt(db, hash, number)
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
index 02de8e997c..efa3eec2ab 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
@@ -281,6 +281,29 @@ func TestBadBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+// Tests block total difficulty storage and retrieval operations.
+func TestTdStorage(t *testing.T) {
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
+
+	// Create a test TD to move around the database and make sure it's really new
+	hash, td := common.Hash{}, big.NewInt(314)
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Non existent TD returned: %v", entry)
+	}
+	// Write and verify the TD in the database
+	WriteTd(db, hash, 0, td)
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Stored TD not found")
+	} else if entry.Cmp(td) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("Retrieved TD mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, td)
+	}
+	// Delete the TD and verify the execution
+	DeleteTd(db, hash, 0)
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Deleted TD returned: %v", entry)
+	}
+}
+
 // Tests that canonical numbers can be mapped to hashes and retrieved.
 func TestCanonicalMappingStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
@@ -472,9 +495,12 @@ func TestAncientStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	if blob := ReadReceiptsRLP(db, hash, number); len(blob) > 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("non existent receipts returned")
 	}
+	if blob := ReadTdRLP(db, hash, number); len(blob) > 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("non existent td returned")
+	}
 
 	// Write and verify the header in the database
-	WriteAncientBlocks(db, []*types.Block{block}, []types.Receipts{nil}, []types.Receipts{nil})
+	WriteAncientBlocks(db, []*types.Block{block}, []types.Receipts{nil}, []types.Receipts{nil}, big.NewInt(100))
 
 	if blob := ReadHeaderRLP(db, hash, number); len(blob) == 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no header returned")
@@ -487,6 +513,9 @@ func TestAncientStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	if blob := ReadReceiptsRLP(db, hash, number); len(blob) == 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no receipts returned")
 	}
+	if blob := ReadTdRLP(db, hash, number); len(blob) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("no td returned")
+	}
 
 	// Use a fake hash for data retrieval, nothing should be returned.
 	fakeHash := common.BytesToHash([]byte{0x01, 0x02, 0x03})
@@ -501,6 +530,9 @@ func TestAncientStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	if blob := ReadReceiptsRLP(db, fakeHash, number); len(blob) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("invalid receipts returned")
 	}
+	if blob := ReadTdRLP(db, fakeHash, number); len(blob) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid td returned")
+	}
 }
 
 func TestCanonicalHashIteration(t *testing.T) {
@@ -526,6 +558,7 @@ func TestCanonicalHashIteration(t *testing.T) {
 	// Fill database with testing data.
 	for i := uint64(1); i <= 8; i++ {
 		WriteCanonicalHash(db, common.Hash{}, i)
+		WriteTd(db, common.Hash{}, i, big.NewInt(10)) // Write some interferential data
 	}
 
 	for i, c := range cases {
@@ -613,6 +646,7 @@ func BenchmarkWriteAncientBlocks(b *testing.B) {
 	// The benchmark loop writes batches of blocks, but note that the total block count is
 	// b.N. This means the resulting ns/op measurement is the time it takes to write a
 	// single block and its associated data.
+	var td = big.NewInt(55)
 	var totalSize int64
 
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i += batchSize {
@@ -624,7 +658,7 @@ func BenchmarkWriteAncientBlocks(b *testing.B) {
 		blocks := allBlocks[i : i+length]
 		receipts := batchReceipts[:length]
 
-		writeSize, err := WriteAncientBlocks(db, blocks, receipts, []types.Receipts{nil})
+		writeSize, err := WriteAncientBlocks(db, blocks, receipts, []types.Receipts{nil}, td)
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatal(err)
 		}
@@ -950,7 +984,7 @@ func TestHeadersRLPStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	var borReceipts []types.Receipts = make([]types.Receipts, 100)
 
 	// Write first half to ancients
-	WriteAncientBlocks(db, chain[:50], receipts[:50], borReceipts[:50])
+	WriteAncientBlocks(db, chain[:50], receipts[:50], borReceipts[:50], big.NewInt(100))
 	// Write second half to db
 	for i := 50; i < 100; i++ {
 		WriteCanonicalHash(db, chain[i].Hash(), chain[i].NumberU64())
diff --git a/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go b/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go
index 8d009c8ed2..628dde3f46 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ const (
 
 	// ChainFreezerReceiptTable indicates the name of the freezer receipts table.
 	ChainFreezerReceiptTable = "receipts"
+
+	// ChainFreezerDifficultyTable indicates the name of the freezer total difficulty table.
+	ChainFreezerDifficultyTable = "diffs"
 )
 
 // chainFreezerTableConfigs configures the settings for tables in the chain freezer.
@@ -42,11 +45,12 @@ const (
 // tail truncation is disabled for the header and hash tables, as these are intended
 // to be retained long-term.
 var chainFreezerTableConfigs = map[string]freezerTableConfig{
-	ChainFreezerHeaderTable:  {noSnappy: false, prunable: false},
-	ChainFreezerHashTable:    {noSnappy: true, prunable: false},
-	ChainFreezerBodiesTable:  {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
-	ChainFreezerReceiptTable: {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
-	freezerBorReceiptTable:   {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
+	ChainFreezerHeaderTable:     {noSnappy: false, prunable: false},
+	ChainFreezerHashTable:       {noSnappy: true, prunable: false},
+	ChainFreezerBodiesTable:     {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
+	ChainFreezerReceiptTable:    {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
+	ChainFreezerDifficultyTable: {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
+	freezerBorReceiptTable:      {noSnappy: false, prunable: true},
 }
 
 // freezerTableConfig contains the settings for a freezer table.
diff --git a/core/rawdb/chain_freezer.go b/core/rawdb/chain_freezer.go
index f2eb77fad9..4384d26dcd 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/chain_freezer.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/chain_freezer.go
@@ -348,6 +348,11 @@ func (f *chainFreezer) freezeRange(nfdb *nofreezedb, number, limit uint64) (hash
 			if len(receipts) == 0 {
 				return fmt.Errorf("block receipts missing, can't freeze block %d", number)
 			}
+			td := ReadTdRLP(nfdb, hash, number)
+			if len(td) == 0 {
+				return fmt.Errorf("total difficulty missing, can't freeze block %d", number)
+			}
+
 			// Write to the batch.
 			if err := op.AppendRaw(ChainFreezerHashTable, number, hash[:]); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("can't write hash to Freezer: %v", err)
@@ -371,6 +376,9 @@ func (f *chainFreezer) freezeRange(nfdb *nofreezedb, number, limit uint64) (hash
 				return fmt.Errorf("can't write bor-receipt to freezer: %v", err)
 			}
 
+			if err := op.AppendRaw(ChainFreezerDifficultyTable, number, td); err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("can't write td to Freezer: %v", err)
+			}
 			hashes = append(hashes, hash)
 		}
 
diff --git a/core/rawdb/database.go b/core/rawdb/database.go
index 3977cdac47..f2e02bdd08 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/database.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/database.go
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ func InspectDatabase(db ethdb.Database, keyPrefix, keyStart []byte) error {
 		{"Key-Value store", "Headers", headers.Size(), headers.Count()},
 		{"Key-Value store", "Bodies", bodies.Size(), bodies.Count()},
 		{"Key-Value store", "Receipt lists", receipts.Size(), receipts.Count()},
-		{"Key-Value store", "Difficulties (deprecated)", tds.Size(), tds.Count()},
+		{"Key-Value store", "Difficulties", tds.Size(), tds.Count()},
 		{"Key-Value store", "Block number->hash", numHashPairings.Size(), numHashPairings.Count()},
 		{"Key-Value store", "Block hash->number", hashNumPairings.Size(), hashNumPairings.Count()},
 		{"Key-Value store", "Transaction index", txLookups.Size(), txLookups.Count()},
diff --git a/core/rawdb/schema.go b/core/rawdb/schema.go
index 9a48c4471b..ecca1de152 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/schema.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/schema.go
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ var (
 
 	// Data item prefixes (use single byte to avoid mixing data types, avoid `i`, used for indexes).
 	headerPrefix       = []byte("h") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
-	headerTDSuffix     = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + headerTDSuffix -> td (deprecated)
+	headerTDSuffix     = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + headerTDSuffix -> td
 	headerHashSuffix   = []byte("n") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + headerHashSuffix -> hash
 	headerNumberPrefix = []byte("H") // headerNumberPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
 
@@ -181,6 +181,11 @@ func headerKey(number uint64, hash common.Hash) []byte {
 	return append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
 }
 
+// headerTDKey = headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + headerTDSuffix
+func headerTDKey(number uint64, hash common.Hash) []byte {
+	return append(headerKey(number, hash), headerTDSuffix...)
+}
+
 // headerHashKey = headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + headerHashSuffix
 func headerHashKey(number uint64) []byte {
 	return append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...)
diff --git a/core/tracing/hooks.go b/core/tracing/hooks.go
index 0485f7a3eb..41e39c583d 100644
--- a/core/tracing/hooks.go
+++ b/core/tracing/hooks.go
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ type VMContext struct {
 // It contains the block as well as consensus related information.
 type BlockEvent struct {
 	Block     *types.Block
+	TD        *big.Int
 	Finalized *types.Header
 	Safe      *types.Header
 }
diff --git a/core/txindexer_test.go b/core/txindexer_test.go
index 74559e6c7d..7a41db3cc4 100644
--- a/core/txindexer_test.go
+++ b/core/txindexer_test.go
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func TestTxIndexerRepair(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	for _, c := range cases {
 		db, _ := rawdb.NewDatabaseWithFreezer(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase(), "", "", false)
-		rawdb.WriteAncientBlocks(db, append([]*types.Block{gspec.ToBlock()}, blocks...), append([]types.Receipts{{}}, receipts...))
+		rawdb.WriteAncientBlocks(db, append([]*types.Block{gspec.ToBlock()}, blocks...), append([]types.Receipts{{}}, receipts...), big.NewInt(0))
 
 		// Index the initial blocks from ancient store
 		indexer := &txIndexer{
diff --git a/eth/api_backend.go b/eth/api_backend.go
index 8ae2d9f147..abf8157782 100644
--- a/eth/api_backend.go
+++ b/eth/api_backend.go
@@ -277,6 +277,13 @@ func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash, number ui
 	return rawdb.ReadLogs(b.eth.chainDb, hash, number), nil
 }
 
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetTd(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) *big.Int {
+	if header := b.eth.blockchain.GetHeaderByHash(hash); header != nil {
+		return b.eth.blockchain.GetTd(hash, header.Number.Uint64())
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmConfig *vm.Config, blockCtx *vm.BlockContext) *vm.EVM {
 	if vmConfig == nil {
 		vmConfig = b.eth.blockchain.GetVMConfig()
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api.go b/eth/catalyst/api.go
index 3b7ba7c44c..ef5d9f0e02 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api.go
@@ -364,12 +364,21 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) forkchoiceUpdated(update engine.ForkchoiceStateV1, payl
 	}
 	// Block is known locally, just sanity check that the beacon client does not
 	// attempt to push us back to before the merge.
-	if block.Difficulty().BitLen() > 0 && block.NumberU64() > 0 {
-		ph := api.eth.BlockChain().GetHeader(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1)
-		if ph == nil {
-			return engine.STATUS_INVALID, errors.New("parent unavailable for difficulty check")
+	if block.Difficulty().BitLen() > 0 || block.NumberU64() == 0 {
+		var (
+			td  = api.eth.BlockChain().GetTd(update.HeadBlockHash, block.NumberU64())
+			ptd = api.eth.BlockChain().GetTd(block.ParentHash(), block.NumberU64()-1)
+			ttd = api.eth.BlockChain().Config().TerminalTotalDifficulty
+		)
+		if td == nil || (block.NumberU64() > 0 && ptd == nil) {
+			log.Error("TDs unavailable for TTD check", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", update.HeadBlockHash, "td", td, "parent", block.ParentHash(), "ptd", ptd)
+			return engine.STATUS_INVALID, errors.New("TDs unavailable for TDD check")
 		}
-		if ph.Difficulty.Sign() == 0 && block.Difficulty().Sign() > 0 {
+		if td.Cmp(ttd) < 0 {
+			log.Error("Refusing beacon update to pre-merge", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", update.HeadBlockHash, "diff", block.Difficulty(), "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(block.Time()), 0)))
+			return engine.ForkChoiceResponse{PayloadStatus: engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK, PayloadID: nil}, nil
+		}
+		if block.NumberU64() > 0 && ptd.Cmp(ttd) >= 0 {
 			log.Error("Parent block is already post-ttd", "number", block.NumberU64(), "hash", update.HeadBlockHash, "diff", block.Difficulty(), "age", common.PrettyAge(time.Unix(int64(block.Time()), 0)))
 			return engine.ForkChoiceResponse{PayloadStatus: engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK, PayloadID: nil}, nil
 		}
@@ -893,6 +902,21 @@ func (api *ConsensusAPI) newPayload(params engine.ExecutableData, versionedHashe
 	if parent == nil {
 		return api.delayPayloadImport(block), nil
 	}
+	// We have an existing parent, do some sanity checks to avoid the beacon client
+	// triggering too early
+	var (
+		ptd  = api.eth.BlockChain().GetTd(parent.Hash(), parent.NumberU64())
+		ttd  = api.eth.BlockChain().Config().TerminalTotalDifficulty
+		gptd = api.eth.BlockChain().GetTd(parent.ParentHash(), parent.NumberU64()-1)
+	)
+	if ptd.Cmp(ttd) < 0 {
+		log.Warn("Ignoring pre-merge payload", "number", params.Number, "hash", params.BlockHash, "td", ptd, "ttd", ttd)
+		return engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK, nil
+	}
+	if parent.Difficulty().BitLen() > 0 && gptd != nil && gptd.Cmp(ttd) >= 0 {
+		log.Error("Ignoring pre-merge parent block", "number", params.Number, "hash", params.BlockHash, "td", ptd, "ttd", ttd)
+		return engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK, nil
+	}
 	if block.Time() <= parent.Time() {
 		log.Warn("Invalid timestamp", "parent", block.Time(), "block", block.Time())
 		return api.invalid(errors.New("invalid timestamp"), parent.Header()), nil
diff --git a/eth/catalyst/api_test.go b/eth/catalyst/api_test.go
index ff6e853bf9..8c9707e08c 100644
--- a/eth/catalyst/api_test.go
+++ b/eth/catalyst/api_test.go
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/beacon/engine"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/beacon"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
+	beaconConsensus "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/beacon"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
@@ -61,13 +62,10 @@ var (
 
 func generateMergeChain(n int, merged bool) (*core.Genesis, []*types.Block) {
 	config := *params.AllEthashProtocolChanges
-	engine := beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+	engine := consensus.Engine(beaconConsensus.New(ethash.NewFaker()))
 	if merged {
 		config.TerminalTotalDifficulty = common.Big0
-		config.MergeNetsplitBlock = common.Big0
-	} else {
-		// When !merged, the tests expect the next block after the generated chain to be in PoS.
-		config.MergeNetsplitBlock = big.NewInt(int64(n + 1))
+		engine = beaconConsensus.NewFaker()
 	}
 
 	genesis := &core.Genesis{
@@ -104,6 +102,7 @@ func generateMergeChain(n int, merged bool) (*core.Genesis, []*types.Block) {
 		}
 		config.TerminalTotalDifficulty = totalDifficulty
 	}
+
 	return genesis, blocks
 }
 
@@ -166,6 +165,24 @@ func TestEth2AssembleBlockWithAnotherBlocksTxs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestSetHeadBeforeTotalDifficulty(t *testing.T) {
+	genesis, blocks := generateMergeChain(10, false)
+	n, ethservice := startEthService(t, genesis, blocks)
+	defer n.Close()
+
+	api := NewConsensusAPI(ethservice)
+	fcState := engine.ForkchoiceStateV1{
+		HeadBlockHash:      blocks[5].Hash(),
+		SafeBlockHash:      common.Hash{},
+		FinalizedBlockHash: common.Hash{},
+	}
+	if resp, err := api.ForkchoiceUpdatedV1(fcState, nil); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("fork choice updated should not error: %v", err)
+	} else if resp.PayloadStatus.Status != engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK.Status {
+		t.Errorf("fork choice updated before total terminal difficulty should be INVALID")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestEth2PrepareAndGetPayload(t *testing.T) {
 	genesis, blocks := generateMergeChain(10, false)
 	// We need to properly set the terminal total difficulty
@@ -887,6 +904,70 @@ func TestInvalidBloom(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNewPayloadOnInvalidTerminalBlock(t *testing.T) {
+	genesis, preMergeBlocks := generateMergeChain(100, false)
+	n, ethservice := startEthService(t, genesis, preMergeBlocks)
+	defer n.Close()
+	api := NewConsensusAPI(ethservice)
+
+	// Test parent already post TTD in FCU
+	parent := preMergeBlocks[len(preMergeBlocks)-2]
+	fcState := engine.ForkchoiceStateV1{
+		HeadBlockHash:      parent.Hash(),
+		SafeBlockHash:      common.Hash{},
+		FinalizedBlockHash: common.Hash{},
+	}
+	resp, err := api.ForkchoiceUpdatedV1(fcState, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error sending forkchoice, err=%v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.PayloadStatus != engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK {
+		t.Fatalf("error sending invalid forkchoice, invalid status: %v", resp.PayloadStatus.Status)
+	}
+
+	// Test parent already post TTD in NewPayload
+	args := &miner.BuildPayloadArgs{
+		Parent:       parent.Hash(),
+		Timestamp:    parent.Time() + 1,
+		Random:       crypto.Keccak256Hash([]byte{byte(1)}),
+		FeeRecipient: parent.Coinbase(),
+	}
+	payload, err := api.eth.Miner().BuildPayload(args, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error preparing payload, err=%v", err)
+	}
+	data := *payload.Resolve().ExecutionPayload
+	// We need to recompute the blockhash, since the miner computes a wrong (correct) blockhash
+	txs, _ := decodeTransactions(data.Transactions)
+	header := &types.Header{
+		ParentHash:  data.ParentHash,
+		UncleHash:   types.EmptyUncleHash,
+		Coinbase:    data.FeeRecipient,
+		Root:        data.StateRoot,
+		TxHash:      types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(txs), trie.NewStackTrie(nil)),
+		ReceiptHash: data.ReceiptsRoot,
+		Bloom:       types.BytesToBloom(data.LogsBloom),
+		Difficulty:  common.Big0,
+		Number:      new(big.Int).SetUint64(data.Number),
+		GasLimit:    data.GasLimit,
+		GasUsed:     data.GasUsed,
+		Time:        data.Timestamp,
+		BaseFee:     data.BaseFeePerGas,
+		Extra:       data.ExtraData,
+		MixDigest:   data.Random,
+	}
+	block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(types.Body{Transactions: txs})
+	data.BlockHash = block.Hash()
+	// Send the new payload
+	resp2, err := api.NewPayloadV1(data)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error sending NewPayload, err=%v", err)
+	}
+	if resp2 != engine.INVALID_TERMINAL_BLOCK {
+		t.Fatalf("error sending invalid forkchoice, invalid status: %v", resp.PayloadStatus.Status)
+	}
+}
+
 // TestSimultaneousNewBlock does several parallel inserts, both as
 // newPayLoad and forkchoiceUpdate. This is to test that the api behaves
 // well even of the caller is not being 'serial'.
diff --git a/eth/downloader/bor_downloader.go b/eth/downloader/bor_downloader.go
index 522cd19387..09a82605c1 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/bor_downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/bor_downloader.go
@@ -186,6 +186,9 @@ type LightChain interface {
 	// CurrentHeader retrieves the head header from the local chain.
 	CurrentHeader() *types.Header
 
+	// GetTd returns the total difficulty of a local block.
+	GetTd(common.Hash, uint64) *big.Int
+
 	// InsertHeaderChain inserts a batch of headers into the local chain.
 	InsertHeaderChain([]*types.Header) (int, error)
 
diff --git a/eth/downloader/peer.go b/eth/downloader/peer.go
index 5e59b3080d..0a11bca05d 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/peer.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/peer.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package downloader
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	"math/big"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ type peerConnection struct {
 
 // Peer encapsulates the methods required to synchronise with a remote full peer.
 type Peer interface {
+	Head() (common.Hash, *big.Int)
 	RequestHeadersByHash(common.Hash, int, int, bool, chan *eth.Response) (*eth.Request, error)
 	RequestHeadersByNumber(uint64, int, int, bool, chan *eth.Response) (*eth.Request, error)
 
diff --git a/eth/gasprice/gasprice_test.go b/eth/gasprice/gasprice_test.go
index bc3a0dfeff..c7d0e48587 100644
--- a/eth/gasprice/gasprice_test.go
+++ b/eth/gasprice/gasprice_test.go
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ func newTestBackend(t *testing.T, londonBlock *big.Int, cancunBlock *big.Int, pe
 	// 	config.MergeNetsplitBlock = cancunBlock
 	// }
 	// engine := beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+	config.TerminalTotalDifficulty = common.Big0
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
 	// if cancunBlock != nil {
diff --git a/eth/handler.go b/eth/handler.go
index 379cebd87f..e793844328 100644
--- a/eth/handler.go
+++ b/eth/handler.go
@@ -321,9 +321,10 @@ func (h *handler) runEthPeer(peer *eth.Peer, handler eth.Handler) error {
 		head    = h.chain.CurrentHeader()
 		hash    = head.Hash()
 		number  = head.Number.Uint64()
+		td      = h.chain.GetTd(hash, number)
 	)
 	forkID := forkid.NewID(h.chain.Config(), genesis, number, head.Time)
-	if err := peer.Handshake(h.networkID, hash, genesis.Hash(), forkID, h.forkFilter); err != nil {
+	if err := peer.Handshake(h.networkID, td, hash, genesis.Hash(), forkID, h.forkFilter); err != nil {
 		peer.Log().Debug("Ethereum handshake failed", "err", err)
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/eth/handler_eth_test.go b/eth/handler_eth_test.go
index 690bf26921..2c641c9d55 100644
--- a/eth/handler_eth_test.go
+++ b/eth/handler_eth_test.go
@@ -272,8 +272,9 @@ func testRecvTransactions(t *testing.T, protocol uint) {
 	var (
 		genesis = handler.chain.Genesis()
 		head    = handler.chain.CurrentBlock()
+		td      = handler.chain.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.Number.Uint64())
 	)
-	if err := src.Handshake(1, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.NewIDWithChain(handler.chain), forkid.NewFilter(handler.chain)); err != nil {
+	if err := src.Handshake(1, td, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.NewIDWithChain(handler.chain), forkid.NewFilter(handler.chain)); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to run protocol handshake")
 	}
 	// Send the transaction to the sink and verify that it's added to the tx pool
@@ -332,8 +333,9 @@ func testSendTransactions(t *testing.T, protocol uint) {
 	var (
 		genesis = handler.chain.Genesis()
 		head    = handler.chain.CurrentBlock()
+		td      = handler.chain.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.Number.Uint64())
 	)
-	if err := sink.Handshake(1, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.NewIDWithChain(handler.chain), forkid.NewFilter(handler.chain)); err != nil {
+	if err := sink.Handshake(1, td, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.NewIDWithChain(handler.chain), forkid.NewFilter(handler.chain)); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to run protocol handshake")
 	}
 	// After the handshake completes, the source handler should stream the sink
diff --git a/eth/protocols/eth/handler.go b/eth/protocols/eth/handler.go
index b2fc0461e8..ad56f89c82 100644
--- a/eth/protocols/eth/handler.go
+++ b/eth/protocols/eth/handler.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ package eth
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"math/big"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -124,10 +125,11 @@ func MakeProtocols(backend Backend, network uint64, disc enode.Iterator) []p2p.P
 // NodeInfo represents a short summary of the `eth` sub-protocol metadata
 // known about the host peer.
 type NodeInfo struct {
-	Network uint64              `json:"network"` // Ethereum network ID (1=Mainnet, Holesky=17000)
-	Genesis common.Hash         `json:"genesis"` // SHA3 hash of the host's genesis block
-	Config  *params.ChainConfig `json:"config"`  // Chain configuration for the fork rules
-	Head    common.Hash         `json:"head"`    // Hex hash of the host's best owned block
+	Network    uint64              `json:"network"`    // Ethereum network ID (1=Mainnet, Holesky=17000)
+	Difficulty *big.Int            `json:"difficulty"` // Total difficulty of the host's blockchain
+	Genesis    common.Hash         `json:"genesis"`    // SHA3 hash of the host's genesis block
+	Config     *params.ChainConfig `json:"config"`     // Chain configuration for the fork rules
+	Head       common.Hash         `json:"head"`       // Hex hash of the host's best owned block
 }
 
 // nodeInfo retrieves some `eth` protocol metadata about the running host node.
@@ -136,10 +138,11 @@ func nodeInfo(chain *core.BlockChain, network uint64) *NodeInfo {
 	hash := head.Hash()
 
 	return &NodeInfo{
-		Network: network,
-		Genesis: chain.Genesis().Hash(),
-		Config:  chain.Config(),
-		Head:    hash,
+		Network:    network,
+		Difficulty: chain.GetTd(hash, head.Number.Uint64()),
+		Genesis:    chain.Genesis().Hash(),
+		Config:     chain.Config(),
+		Head:       hash,
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go b/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go
index 9ac4d8d2fc..3a9797946c 100644
--- a/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go
+++ b/eth/protocols/eth/handler_test.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/beacon"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
@@ -74,10 +75,11 @@ func newTestBackend(blocks int) *testBackend {
 func newTestBackendWithGenerator(blocks int, shanghai bool, cancun bool, generator func(int, *core.BlockGen)) *testBackend {
 	var (
 		// Create a database pre-initialize with a genesis block
-		db     = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
-		config = params.TestChainConfig
-		engine = beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+		db                      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
+		config                  = params.TestChainConfig
+		engine consensus.Engine = ethash.NewFaker()
 	)
+
 	if shanghai {
 		config = &params.ChainConfig{
 			ChainID:                 big.NewInt(1),
@@ -102,6 +104,7 @@ func newTestBackendWithGenerator(blocks int, shanghai bool, cancun bool, generat
 			Ethash:                  new(params.EthashConfig),
 			Bor:                     params.TestChainConfig.Bor,
 		}
+		engine = beacon.NewFaker()
 	}
 
 	gspec := &core.Genesis{
diff --git a/eth/protocols/eth/handshake.go b/eth/protocols/eth/handshake.go
index 63b05bdb27..5ed587b0df 100644
--- a/eth/protocols/eth/handshake.go
+++ b/eth/protocols/eth/handshake.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ const (
 
 // Handshake executes the eth protocol handshake, negotiating version number,
 // network IDs, difficulties, head and genesis blocks.
-func (p *Peer) Handshake(network uint64, head common.Hash, genesis common.Hash, forkID forkid.ID, forkFilter forkid.Filter) error {
+func (p *Peer) Handshake(network uint64, td *big.Int, head common.Hash, genesis common.Hash, forkID forkid.ID, forkFilter forkid.Filter) error {
 	// Send out own handshake in a new thread
 	errc := make(chan error, 2)
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func (p *Peer) Handshake(network uint64, head common.Hash, genesis common.Hash,
 		errc <- p2p.Send(p.rw, StatusMsg, &StatusPacket{
 			ProtocolVersion: uint32(p.version),
 			NetworkID:       network,
-			TD:              new(big.Int), // unknown for post-merge tail=pruned networks
+			TD:              td,
 			Head:            head,
 			Genesis:         genesis,
 			ForkID:          forkID,
@@ -71,6 +71,13 @@ func (p *Peer) Handshake(network uint64, head common.Hash, genesis common.Hash,
 			return p2p.DiscReadTimeout
 		}
 	}
+	p.td, p.head = status.TD, status.Head
+
+	// TD at mainnet block #7753254 is 76 bits. If it becomes 100 million times
+	// larger, it will still fit within 100 bits
+	if tdlen := p.td.BitLen(); tdlen > 100 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("too large total difficulty: bitlen %d", tdlen)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/eth/protocols/eth/handshake_test.go b/eth/protocols/eth/handshake_test.go
index a9575aae9c..6089723e57 100644
--- a/eth/protocols/eth/handshake_test.go
+++ b/eth/protocols/eth/handshake_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package eth
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"math/big"
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
@@ -41,6 +40,7 @@ func testHandshake(t *testing.T, protocol uint) {
 	var (
 		genesis = backend.chain.Genesis()
 		head    = backend.chain.CurrentBlock()
+		td      = backend.chain.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.Number.Uint64())
 		forkID  = forkid.NewID(backend.chain.Config(), backend.chain.Genesis(), backend.chain.CurrentHeader().Number.Uint64(), backend.chain.CurrentHeader().Time)
 	)
 
@@ -54,19 +54,19 @@ func testHandshake(t *testing.T, protocol uint) {
 			want: errNoStatusMsg,
 		},
 		{
-			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{10, 1, new(big.Int), head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkID},
+			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{10, 1, td, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkID},
 			want: errProtocolVersionMismatch,
 		},
 		{
-			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{uint32(protocol), 999, new(big.Int), head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkID},
+			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{uint32(protocol), 999, td, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkID},
 			want: errNetworkIDMismatch,
 		},
 		{
-			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{uint32(protocol), 1, new(big.Int), head.Hash(), common.Hash{3}, forkID},
+			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{uint32(protocol), 1, td, head.Hash(), common.Hash{3}, forkID},
 			want: errGenesisMismatch,
 		},
 		{
-			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{uint32(protocol), 1, new(big.Int), head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.ID{Hash: [4]byte{0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03}}},
+			code: StatusMsg, data: StatusPacket{uint32(protocol), 1, td, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.ID{Hash: [4]byte{0x00, 0x01, 0x02, 0x03}}},
 			want: errForkIDRejected,
 		},
 	}
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func testHandshake(t *testing.T, protocol uint) {
 		// Send the junk test with one peer, check the handshake failure
 		go p2p.Send(app, test.code, test.data)
 
-		err := peer.Handshake(1, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkID, forkid.NewFilter(backend.chain))
+		err := peer.Handshake(1, td, head.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkID, forkid.NewFilter(backend.chain))
 		if err == nil {
 			t.Errorf("test %d: protocol returned nil error, want %q", i, test.want)
 		} else if !errors.Is(err, test.want) {
diff --git a/eth/tracers/api_test.go b/eth/tracers/api_test.go
index c63c6aecfc..6390a014da 100644
--- a/eth/tracers/api_test.go
+++ b/eth/tracers/api_test.go
@@ -1289,7 +1289,7 @@ func TestTraceChain(t *testing.T) {
 func newTestMergedBackend(t *testing.T, n int, gspec *core.Genesis, generator func(i int, b *core.BlockGen)) *testBackend {
 	backend := &testBackend{
 		chainConfig: gspec.Config,
-		engine:      beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker()),
+		engine:      beacon.NewFaker(),
 		chaindb:     rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase(),
 	}
 	// Generate blocks for testing
diff --git a/ethstats/ethstats.go b/ethstats/ethstats.go
index f412552af7..a68ffdbad7 100644
--- a/ethstats/ethstats.go
+++ b/ethstats/ethstats.go
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ type backend interface {
 	SubscribeNewTxsEvent(ch chan<- core.NewTxsEvent) event.Subscription
 	CurrentHeader() *types.Header
 	HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, number rpc.BlockNumber) (*types.Header, error)
+	GetTd(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) *big.Int
 	Stats() (pending int, queued int)
 	SyncProgress() ethereum.SyncProgress
 
@@ -707,6 +708,7 @@ func (s *Service) reportBlock(conn *connWrapper, header *types.Header) error {
 func (s *Service) assembleBlockStats(header *types.Header) *blockStats {
 	// Gather the block infos from the local blockchain
 	var (
+		td     *big.Int
 		txs    []txStats
 		uncles []*types.Header
 	)
@@ -722,6 +724,8 @@ func (s *Service) assembleBlockStats(header *types.Header) *blockStats {
 		if block == nil {
 			return nil
 		}
+		td = fullBackend.GetTd(context.Background(), header.Hash())
+
 		txs = make([]txStats, len(block.Transactions()))
 		for i, tx := range block.Transactions() {
 			txs[i].Hash = tx.Hash()
@@ -733,6 +737,7 @@ func (s *Service) assembleBlockStats(header *types.Header) *blockStats {
 		if header == nil {
 			header = s.backend.CurrentHeader()
 		}
+		td = s.backend.GetTd(context.Background(), header.Hash())
 		txs = []txStats{}
 	}
 	// Assemble and return the block stats
@@ -747,7 +752,7 @@ func (s *Service) assembleBlockStats(header *types.Header) *blockStats {
 		GasUsed:    header.GasUsed,
 		GasLimit:   header.GasLimit,
 		Diff:       header.Difficulty.String(),
-		TotalDiff:  "0", // unknown post-merge with pruned chain tail
+		TotalDiff:  td.String(),
 		Txs:        txs,
 		TxHash:     header.TxHash,
 		Root:       header.Root,
diff --git a/graphql/graphql_test.go b/graphql/graphql_test.go
index a0f0b1eda8..51c4bf2c1b 100644
--- a/graphql/graphql_test.go
+++ b/graphql/graphql_test.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/beacon"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
@@ -466,7 +467,7 @@ func newGQLService(t *testing.T, stack *node.Node, shanghai bool, gspec *core.Ge
 		RPCGasCap:      1000000,
 		StateScheme:    rawdb.HashScheme,
 	}
-	var engine = beacon.New(ethash.NewFaker())
+	var engine consensus.Engine = ethash.NewFaker()
 	if shanghai {
 		engine = beacon.NewFaker()
 		gspec.Config.TerminalTotalDifficulty = common.Big0
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api_test.go b/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
index 45383ee02d..b7e559cac6 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api_test.go
@@ -564,6 +564,12 @@ func (b testBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (types.R
 	receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(b.db, hash, header.Number.Uint64(), header.Time, b.chain.Config())
 	return receipts, nil
 }
+func (b testBackend) GetTd(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) *big.Int {
+	if b.pending != nil && hash == b.pending.Hash() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return big.NewInt(1)
+}
 func (b testBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmConfig *vm.Config, blockContext *vm.BlockContext) *vm.EVM {
 	if vmConfig == nil {
 		vmConfig = b.chain.GetVMConfig()
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go b/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go
index 667d34e494..a66f03ac40 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/transaction_args_test.go
@@ -380,6 +380,7 @@ func (b *backendMock) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash, number
 	//nolint:nilnil
 	return nil, nil
 }
+func (b *backendMock) GetTd(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) *big.Int { return nil }
 func (b *backendMock) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmConfig *vm.Config, blockCtx *vm.BlockContext) *vm.EVM {
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/tests/block_test.go b/tests/block_test.go
index 0d754bf902..7b37f234bc 100644
--- a/tests/block_test.go
+++ b/tests/block_test.go
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ func TestBlockchain(t *testing.T) {
 	bt.skipLoad(`.*InvalidBlocks*`)
 	bt.skipLoad(`.*TransitionTests*`)
 
-	// With chain history removal, TDs become unavailable, this transition tests based on TTD are unrunnable
-	bt.skipLoad(`.*bcArrowGlacierToParis/powToPosBlockRejection.json`)
+	// // With chain history removal, TDs become unavailable, this transition tests based on TTD are unrunnable
+	// bt.skipLoad(`.*bcArrowGlacierToParis/powToPosBlockRejection.json`)
 
 	// This directory contains no test.
 	bt.skipLoad(`.*\.meta/.*`)