diff --git a/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go b/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go
index 39548578aa..eae707604c 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func NewSimulatedBackend(alloc core.GenesisAlloc) *SimulatedBackend {
 	database, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := core.Genesis{Config: params.AllEthashProtocolChanges, Alloc: alloc}
 	genesis.MustCommit(database)
-	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(database, genesis.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(database, nil, genesis.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 
 	backend := &SimulatedBackend{
 		database:   database,
diff --git a/cmd/evm/runner.go b/cmd/evm/runner.go
index c9c330cc93..8e82270d8d 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/runner.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/runner.go
@@ -97,7 +97,9 @@ func runCmd(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	if ctx.GlobalString(GenesisFlag.Name) != "" {
 		gen := readGenesis(ctx.GlobalString(GenesisFlag.Name))
-		_, statedb, _ = gen.ToBlock()
+		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		genesis := gen.ToBlock(db)
+		statedb, _ = state.New(genesis.Root(), state.NewDatabase(trie.NewDatabase(db)))
 		chainConfig = gen.Config
 	} else {
 		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
diff --git a/cmd/geth/main.go b/cmd/geth/main.go
index b955bd243e..70e1e696c3 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/main.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/main.go
@@ -89,6 +89,9 @@ var (
 		utils.LightPeersFlag,
 		utils.LightKDFFlag,
 		utils.CacheFlag,
+		utils.CacheDatabaseFlag,
+		utils.CacheGCFlag,
+		utils.CacheGCTimeoutFlag,
 		utils.TrieCacheGenFlag,
 		utils.ListenPortFlag,
 		utils.MaxPeersFlag,
diff --git a/cmd/geth/usage.go b/cmd/geth/usage.go
index a834d5b7ae..e6109ee22b 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/usage.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/usage.go
@@ -22,10 +22,11 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"sort"
 
+	"strings"
+
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/cmd/utils"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/debug"
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
-	"strings"
 )
 
 // AppHelpTemplate is the test template for the default, global app help topic.
@@ -127,6 +128,9 @@ var AppHelpFlagGroups = []flagGroup{
 		Name: "PERFORMANCE TUNING",
 		Flags: []cli.Flag{
 			utils.CacheFlag,
+			utils.CacheDatabaseFlag,
+			utils.CacheGCFlag,
+			utils.CacheGCTimeoutFlag,
 			utils.TrieCacheGenFlag,
 		},
 	},
diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index 833cd95dec..d396c429c6 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"runtime"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/keystore"
@@ -293,8 +294,23 @@ var (
 	// Performance tuning settings
 	CacheFlag = cli.IntFlag{
 		Name:  "cache",
-		Usage: "Megabytes of memory allocated to internal caching (min 16MB / database forced)",
-		Value: 128,
+		Usage: "Megabytes of memory allocated to internal caching",
+		Value: 1024,
+	}
+	CacheDatabaseFlag = cli.IntFlag{
+		Name:  "cache.database",
+		Usage: "Percentage of cache memory allowance to use for database io",
+		Value: 75,
+	}
+	CacheGCFlag = cli.IntFlag{
+		Name:  "cache.gc",
+		Usage: "Percentage of cache memory allowance to use for trie pruning",
+		Value: 25,
+	}
+	CacheGCTimeoutFlag = cli.DurationFlag{
+		Name:  "cache.gc.timeout",
+		Usage: "Maximum time after which to flush memory-only tries to disk",
+		Value: 5 * time.Minute,
 	}
 	TrieCacheGenFlag = cli.IntFlag{
 		Name:  "trie-cache-gens",
@@ -1021,11 +1037,17 @@ func SetEthConfig(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node, cfg *eth.Config) {
 		cfg.NetworkId = ctx.GlobalUint64(NetworkIdFlag.Name)
 	}
 
-	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheFlag.Name) {
-		cfg.DatabaseCache = ctx.GlobalInt(CacheFlag.Name)
+	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheFlag.Name) || ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheDatabaseFlag.Name) {
+		cfg.DatabaseCache = ctx.GlobalInt(CacheFlag.Name) * ctx.GlobalInt(CacheDatabaseFlag.Name) / 100
 	}
 	cfg.DatabaseHandles = makeDatabaseHandles()
 
+	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheFlag.Name) || ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheGCFlag.Name) {
+		cfg.TrieCache = ctx.GlobalInt(CacheFlag.Name) * ctx.GlobalInt(CacheGCFlag.Name) / 100
+	}
+	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheGCTimeoutFlag.Name) {
+		cfg.TrieTimeout = ctx.GlobalDuration(CacheGCTimeoutFlag.Name)
+	}
 	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(MinerThreadsFlag.Name) {
 		cfg.MinerThreads = ctx.GlobalInt(MinerThreadsFlag.Name)
 	}
@@ -1157,7 +1179,7 @@ func SetupNetwork(ctx *cli.Context) {
 // MakeChainDatabase open an LevelDB using the flags passed to the client and will hard crash if it fails.
 func MakeChainDatabase(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node) ethdb.Database {
 	var (
-		cache   = ctx.GlobalInt(CacheFlag.Name)
+		cache   = ctx.GlobalInt(CacheFlag.Name) * ctx.GlobalInt(CacheDatabaseFlag.Name) / 100
 		handles = makeDatabaseHandles()
 	)
 	name := "chaindata"
@@ -1209,8 +1231,18 @@ func MakeChain(ctx *cli.Context, stack *node.Node) (chain *core.BlockChain, chai
 			})
 		}
 	}
+	cache := &core.CacheConfig{
+		TrieNodeLimit: eth.DefaultConfig.TrieCache,
+		TrieTimeLimit: eth.DefaultConfig.TrieTimeout,
+	}
+	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheFlag.Name) || ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheGCFlag.Name) {
+		cache.TrieNodeLimit = ctx.GlobalInt(CacheFlag.Name) * ctx.GlobalInt(CacheGCFlag.Name) / 100
+	}
+	if ctx.GlobalIsSet(CacheGCTimeoutFlag.Name) {
+		cache.TrieTimeLimit = ctx.GlobalDuration(CacheGCTimeoutFlag.Name)
+	}
 	vmcfg := vm.Config{EnablePreimageRecording: ctx.GlobalBool(VMEnableDebugFlag.Name)}
-	chain, err = core.NewBlockChain(chainDb, config, engine, vmcfg)
+	chain, err = core.NewBlockChain(chainDb, cache, config, engine, vmcfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		Fatalf("Can't create BlockChain: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/bench_test.go b/core/bench_test.go
index f976331d17..e23f0d19d1 100644
--- a/core/bench_test.go
+++ b/core/bench_test.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func benchInsertChain(b *testing.B, disk bool, gen func(int, *BlockGen)) {
 
 	// Time the insertion of the new chain.
 	// State and blocks are stored in the same DB.
-	chainman, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	chainman, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer chainman.Stop()
 	b.ReportAllocs()
 	b.ResetTimer()
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func benchReadChain(b *testing.B, full bool, count uint64) {
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("error opening database at %v: %v", dir, err)
 		}
-		chain, err := NewBlockChain(db, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+		chain, err := NewBlockChain(db, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("error creating chain: %v", err)
 		}
diff --git a/core/block_validator_test.go b/core/block_validator_test.go
index e668601f38..e334b3c3cd 100644
--- a/core/block_validator_test.go
+++ b/core/block_validator_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestHeaderVerification(t *testing.T) {
 		headers[i] = block.Header()
 	}
 	// Run the header checker for blocks one-by-one, checking for both valid and invalid nonces
-	chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer chain.Stop()
 
 	for i := 0; i < len(blocks); i++ {
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ func testHeaderConcurrentVerification(t *testing.T, threads int) {
 		var results <-chan error
 
 		if valid {
-			chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+			chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 			_, results = chain.engine.VerifyHeaders(chain, headers, seals)
 			chain.Stop()
 		} else {
-			chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFakeFailer(uint64(len(headers)-1)), vm.Config{})
+			chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFakeFailer(uint64(len(headers)-1)), vm.Config{})
 			_, results = chain.engine.VerifyHeaders(chain, headers, seals)
 			chain.Stop()
 		}
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func testHeaderConcurrentAbortion(t *testing.T, threads int) {
 	defer runtime.GOMAXPROCS(old)
 
 	// Start the verifications and immediately abort
-	chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFakeDelayer(time.Millisecond), vm.Config{})
+	chain, _ := NewBlockChain(testdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFakeDelayer(time.Millisecond), vm.Config{})
 	defer chain.Stop()
 
 	abort, results := chain.engine.VerifyHeaders(chain, headers, seals)
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 08e13bc5d6..f2f1e4ed85 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -56,11 +56,19 @@ const (
 	maxFutureBlocks     = 256
 	maxTimeFutureBlocks = 30
 	badBlockLimit       = 10
+	triesInMemory       = 128
 
 	// BlockChainVersion ensures that an incompatible database forces a resync from scratch.
 	BlockChainVersion = 3
 )
 
+// CacheConfig contains the configuration values for the trie caching/pruning
+// that's resident in a blockchain.
+type CacheConfig struct {
+	TrieNodeLimit int           // Memory limit (MB) at which to flush the current in-memory trie to disk
+	TrieTimeLimit time.Duration // Time limit after which to flush the current in-memory trie to disk
+}
+
 // BlockChain represents the canonical chain given a database with a genesis
 // block. The Blockchain manages chain imports, reverts, chain reorganisations.
 //
@@ -76,10 +84,13 @@ const (
 // included in the canonical one where as GetBlockByNumber always represents the
 // canonical chain.
 type BlockChain struct {
-	config *params.ChainConfig // chain & network configuration
+	chainConfig *params.ChainConfig // Chain & network configuration
+	cacheConfig *CacheConfig        // Cache configuration for pruning
+
+	diskdb ethdb.Database // Low level persistent database to store final content in
+	triedb *trie.Database // High level ephemeral database to store non-final tries in
 
 	hc            *HeaderChain
-	chainDb       ethdb.Database
 	rmLogsFeed    event.Feed
 	chainFeed     event.Feed
 	chainSideFeed event.Feed
@@ -121,17 +132,27 @@ type BlockChain struct {
 // NewBlockChain returns a fully initialised block chain using information
 // available in the database. It initialises the default Ethereum Validator and
 // Processor.
-func NewBlockChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine consensus.Engine, vmConfig vm.Config) (*BlockChain, error) {
+func NewBlockChain(diskdb ethdb.Database, cacheConfig *CacheConfig, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, engine consensus.Engine, vmConfig vm.Config) (*BlockChain, error) {
+	if cacheConfig == nil {
+		cacheConfig = &CacheConfig{
+			TrieNodeLimit: 256 * 1024 * 1024,
+			TrieTimeLimit: 5 * time.Minute,
+		}
+	}
 	bodyCache, _ := lru.New(bodyCacheLimit)
 	bodyRLPCache, _ := lru.New(bodyCacheLimit)
 	blockCache, _ := lru.New(blockCacheLimit)
 	futureBlocks, _ := lru.New(maxFutureBlocks)
 	badBlocks, _ := lru.New(badBlockLimit)
 
+	triedb := trie.NewDatabase(diskdb)
+
 	bc := &BlockChain{
-		config:       config,
-		chainDb:      chainDb,
-		stateCache:   state.NewDatabase(trie.NewDatabase(chainDb)),
+		chainConfig:  chainConfig,
+		cacheConfig:  cacheConfig,
+		diskdb:       diskdb,
+		triedb:       triedb,
+		stateCache:   state.NewDatabase(triedb),
 		quit:         make(chan struct{}),
 		bodyCache:    bodyCache,
 		bodyRLPCache: bodyRLPCache,
@@ -141,11 +162,11 @@ func NewBlockChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine co
 		vmConfig:     vmConfig,
 		badBlocks:    badBlocks,
 	}
-	bc.SetValidator(NewBlockValidator(config, bc, engine))
-	bc.SetProcessor(NewStateProcessor(config, bc, engine))
+	bc.SetValidator(NewBlockValidator(chainConfig, bc, engine))
+	bc.SetProcessor(NewStateProcessor(chainConfig, bc, engine))
 
 	var err error
-	bc.hc, err = NewHeaderChain(chainDb, config, engine, bc.getProcInterrupt)
+	bc.hc, err = NewHeaderChain(diskdb, chainConfig, engine, bc.getProcInterrupt)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -182,7 +203,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) getProcInterrupt() bool {
 // assumes that the chain manager mutex is held.
 func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 	// Restore the last known head block
-	head := GetHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb)
+	head := GetHeadBlockHash(bc.diskdb)
 	if head == (common.Hash{}) {
 		// Corrupt or empty database, init from scratch
 		log.Warn("Empty database, resetting chain")
@@ -206,7 +227,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 
 	// Restore the last known head header
 	currentHeader := bc.currentBlock.Header()
-	if head := GetHeadHeaderHash(bc.chainDb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := GetHeadHeaderHash(bc.diskdb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if header := bc.GetHeaderByHash(head); header != nil {
 			currentHeader = header
 		}
@@ -215,7 +236,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 
 	// Restore the last known head fast block
 	bc.currentFastBlock = bc.currentBlock
-	if head := GetHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := GetHeadFastBlockHash(bc.diskdb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if block := bc.GetBlockByHash(head); block != nil {
 			bc.currentFastBlock = block
 		}
@@ -245,7 +266,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) error {
 
 	// Rewind the header chain, deleting all block bodies until then
 	delFn := func(hash common.Hash, num uint64) {
-		DeleteBody(bc.chainDb, hash, num)
+		DeleteBody(bc.diskdb, hash, num)
 	}
 	bc.hc.SetHead(head, delFn)
 	currentHeader := bc.hc.CurrentHeader()
@@ -277,10 +298,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) error {
 	if bc.currentFastBlock == nil {
 		bc.currentFastBlock = bc.genesisBlock
 	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb, bc.currentBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
+	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.diskdb, bc.currentBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to reset head full block", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, bc.currentFastBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
+	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.diskdb, bc.currentFastBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to reset head fast block", "err", err)
 	}
 	return bc.loadLastState()
@@ -294,7 +315,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) FastSyncCommitHead(hash common.Hash) error {
 	if block == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("non existent block [%x…]", hash[:4])
 	}
-	if _, err := trie.NewSecure(block.Root(), bc.stateCache.TrieDB(), 0); err != nil {
+	if _, err := trie.NewSecure(block.Root(), bc.triedb, 0); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// If all checks out, manually set the head block
@@ -389,7 +410,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ResetWithGenesisBlock(genesis *types.Block) error {
 	if err := bc.hc.WriteTd(genesis.Hash(), genesis.NumberU64(), genesis.Difficulty()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block TD", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteBlock(bc.chainDb, genesis); err != nil {
+	if err := WriteBlock(bc.diskdb, genesis); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block", "err", err)
 	}
 	bc.genesisBlock = genesis
@@ -439,13 +460,13 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) ExportN(w io.Writer, first uint64, last uint64) error {
 // Note, this function assumes that the `mu` mutex is held!
 func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
 	// If the block is on a side chain or an unknown one, force other heads onto it too
-	updateHeads := GetCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
+	updateHeads := GetCanonicalHash(bc.diskdb, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
 
 	// Add the block to the canonical chain number scheme and mark as the head
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
+	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(bc.diskdb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to insert block number", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
+	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.diskdb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to insert head block hash", "err", err)
 	}
 	bc.currentBlock = block
@@ -454,7 +475,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) insert(block *types.Block) {
 	if updateHeads {
 		bc.hc.SetCurrentHeader(block.Header())
 
-		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
+		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.diskdb, block.Hash()); err != nil {
 			log.Crit("Failed to insert head fast block hash", "err", err)
 		}
 		bc.currentFastBlock = block
@@ -474,7 +495,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBody(hash common.Hash) *types.Body {
 		body := cached.(*types.Body)
 		return body
 	}
-	body := GetBody(bc.chainDb, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	body := GetBody(bc.diskdb, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
 	if body == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -490,7 +511,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBodyRLP(hash common.Hash) rlp.RawValue {
 	if cached, ok := bc.bodyRLPCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return cached.(rlp.RawValue)
 	}
-	body := GetBodyRLP(bc.chainDb, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	body := GetBodyRLP(bc.diskdb, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
 	if len(body) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -504,7 +525,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) HasBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if bc.blockCache.Contains(hash) {
 		return true
 	}
-	ok, _ := bc.chainDb.Has(blockBodyKey(hash, number))
+	ok, _ := bc.diskdb.Has(blockBodyKey(hash, number))
 	return ok
 }
 
@@ -528,7 +549,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 	if block, ok := bc.blockCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return block.(*types.Block)
 	}
-	block := GetBlock(bc.chainDb, hash, number)
+	block := GetBlock(bc.diskdb, hash, number)
 	if block == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -545,13 +566,18 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByHash(hash common.Hash) *types.Block {
 // GetBlockByNumber retrieves a block from the database by number, caching it
 // (associated with its hash) if found.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByNumber(number uint64) *types.Block {
-	hash := GetCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, number)
+	hash := GetCanonicalHash(bc.diskdb, number)
 	if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return bc.GetBlock(hash, number)
 }
 
+// GetReceiptsByHash retrieves the receipts for all transactions in a given block.
+func (bc *BlockChain) GetReceiptsByHash(hash common.Hash) types.Receipts {
+	return GetBlockReceipts(bc.diskdb, hash, GetBlockNumber(bc.diskdb, hash))
+}
+
 // GetBlocksFromHash returns the block corresponding to hash and up to n-1 ancestors.
 // [deprecated by eth/62]
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlocksFromHash(hash common.Hash, n int) (blocks []*types.Block) {
@@ -579,6 +605,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetUnclesInChain(block *types.Block, length int) []*types.
 	return uncles
 }
 
+// TrieNode retrieves a blob of data associated with a trie node (or code hash)
+// either from ephemeral in-memory cache, or from persistent storage.
+func (bc *BlockChain) TrieNode(hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+	return bc.triedb.Node(hash)
+}
+
 // Stop stops the blockchain service. If any imports are currently in progress
 // it will abort them using the procInterrupt.
 func (bc *BlockChain) Stop() {
@@ -595,13 +627,9 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Stop() {
 	// Ensure the state of the latest block is also stored to disk
 	root := bc.CurrentHeader().Root
 
-	batch := bc.chainDb.NewBatch()
-	if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(root, batch); err != nil {
+	if err := bc.triedb.Commit(root); err != nil {
 		log.Error("Failed to commit latest state trie", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Failed to write latest state trie", "err", err)
-	}
 	log.Info("Blockchain manager stopped")
 }
 
@@ -646,11 +674,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Rollback(chain []common.Hash) {
 		}
 		if bc.currentFastBlock.Hash() == hash {
 			bc.currentFastBlock = bc.GetBlock(bc.currentFastBlock.ParentHash(), bc.currentFastBlock.NumberU64()-1)
-			WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, bc.currentFastBlock.Hash())
+			WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.diskdb, bc.currentFastBlock.Hash())
 		}
 		if bc.currentBlock.Hash() == hash {
 			bc.currentBlock = bc.GetBlock(bc.currentBlock.ParentHash(), bc.currentBlock.NumberU64()-1)
-			WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.chainDb, bc.currentBlock.Hash())
+			WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.diskdb, bc.currentBlock.Hash())
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -709,7 +737,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 		stats = struct{ processed, ignored int32 }{}
 		start = time.Now()
 		bytes = 0
-		batch = bc.chainDb.NewBatch()
+		batch = bc.diskdb.NewBatch()
 	)
 	for i, block := range blockChain {
 		receipts := receiptChain[i]
@@ -727,7 +755,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 			continue
 		}
 		// Compute all the non-consensus fields of the receipts
-		SetReceiptsData(bc.config, block, receipts)
+		SetReceiptsData(bc.chainConfig, block, receipts)
 		// Write all the data out into the database
 		if err := WriteBody(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
 			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to write block body: %v", err)
@@ -760,7 +788,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 	head := blockChain[len(blockChain)-1]
 	if td := bc.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.NumberU64()); td != nil { // Rewind may have occurred, skip in that case
 		if bc.GetTd(bc.currentFastBlock.Hash(), bc.currentFastBlock.NumberU64()).Cmp(td) < 0 {
-			if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.chainDb, head.Hash()); err != nil {
+			if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.diskdb, head.Hash()); err != nil {
 				log.Crit("Failed to update head fast block hash", "err", err)
 			}
 			bc.currentFastBlock = head
@@ -802,46 +830,38 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockAndState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.R
 		return NonStatTy, err
 	}
 	// Write other block data using a batch.
-	batch := bc.chainDb.NewBatch()
+	batch := bc.diskdb.NewBatch()
 	if err := WriteBlock(batch, block); err != nil {
 		return NonStatTy, err
 	}
-	root, err := state.Commit(bc.config.IsEIP158(block.Number()))
+	root, err := state.Commit(bc.chainConfig.IsEIP158(block.Number()))
 	if err != nil {
 		return NonStatTy, err
 	}
-	db := bc.stateCache.TrieDB()
 
-	var (
-		writeRetention  = uint64(128)                          // Number of trie nodes we need to retain in memory
-		memoryAllowance = common.StorageSize(64 * 1024 * 1024) // Memory allowance below which to avoid writing to disk
-		timeAllowance   = 3 * time.Minute                      // Time allowance below which to avoid writing to disk
-	)
-	db.Reference(root, common.Hash{}) // metadata reference to keep trie alive
-
-	if current := block.NumberU64(); current > writeRetention {
+	bc.triedb.Reference(root, common.Hash{}) // metadata reference to keep trie alive
+	if current := block.NumberU64(); current > triesInMemory {
 		// Find the next state trie we need to get rid of or commit
-		header := bc.GetHeaderByNumber(current - writeRetention)
+		header := bc.GetHeaderByNumber(current - triesInMemory)
 		chosen := header.Number.Uint64()
 
 		// Only write to disk if we exceeded our memory allowance *and* also have at
 		// least a given number of tries gapped.
-		if (db.Size() > memoryAllowance || bc.procTime > timeAllowance) && chosen >= lastWrite+writeRetention {
-			db.Commit(header.Root, batch)
+		if (bc.triedb.Size()/(1024*1024) > common.StorageSize(bc.cacheConfig.TrieNodeLimit) || bc.procTime > bc.cacheConfig.TrieTimeLimit) && chosen >= lastWrite+triesInMemory {
+			bc.triedb.Commit(header.Root)
 			lastWrite = chosen
 			bc.procTime = 0
 		}
 		// Garbage collect anything below our required write retention
-		db.Dereference(header.Root, common.Hash{})
+		bc.triedb.Dereference(header.Root, common.Hash{})
 
 		if current%10000 == 0 {
-			log.Warn("Current trie pruning state", "size", db.Size(), "elapsed", bc.procTime)
+			log.Debug("Current trie pruning state", "size", bc.triedb.Size(), "elapsed", bc.procTime)
 		}
 	}
 	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
 		return NonStatTy, err
 	}
-
 	// If the total difficulty is higher than our known, add it to the canonical chain
 	// Second clause in the if statement reduces the vulnerability to selfish mining.
 	// Please refer to http://www.cs.cornell.edu/~ie53/publications/btcProcFC.pdf
@@ -862,7 +882,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockAndState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.R
 			return NonStatTy, err
 		}
 		// Write hash preimages
-		if err := WritePreimages(bc.chainDb, block.NumberU64(), state.Preimages()); err != nil {
+		if err := WritePreimages(bc.diskdb, block.NumberU64(), state.Preimages()); err != nil {
 			return NonStatTy, err
 		}
 		status = CanonStatTy
@@ -1106,7 +1126,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 		// These logs are later announced as deleted.
 		collectLogs = func(h common.Hash) {
 			// Coalesce logs and set 'Removed'.
-			receipts := GetBlockReceipts(bc.chainDb, h, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(h))
+			receipts := GetBlockReceipts(bc.diskdb, h, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(h))
 			for _, receipt := range receipts {
 				for _, log := range receipt.Logs {
 					del := *log
@@ -1175,7 +1195,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 		// insert the block in the canonical way, re-writing history
 		bc.insert(newChain[i])
 		// write lookup entries for hash based transaction/receipt searches
-		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(bc.chainDb, newChain[i]); err != nil {
+		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(bc.diskdb, newChain[i]); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		addedTxs = append(addedTxs, newChain[i].Transactions()...)
@@ -1185,7 +1205,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 	// When transactions get deleted from the database that means the
 	// receipts that were created in the fork must also be deleted
 	for _, tx := range diff {
-		DeleteTxLookupEntry(bc.chainDb, tx.Hash())
+		DeleteTxLookupEntry(bc.diskdb, tx.Hash())
 	}
 	if len(deletedLogs) > 0 {
 		go bc.rmLogsFeed.Send(RemovedLogsEvent{deletedLogs})
@@ -1277,7 +1297,7 @@ Hash: 0x%x
 
 Error: %v
 ##############################
-`, bc.config, block.Number(), block.Hash(), receiptString, err))
+`, bc.chainConfig, block.Number(), block.Hash(), receiptString, err))
 }
 
 // InsertHeaderChain attempts to insert the given header chain in to the local
@@ -1384,7 +1404,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetHeaderByNumber(number uint64) *types.Header {
 }
 
 // Config retrieves the blockchain's chain configuration.
-func (bc *BlockChain) Config() *params.ChainConfig { return bc.config }
+func (bc *BlockChain) Config() *params.ChainConfig { return bc.chainConfig }
 
 // Engine retrieves the blockchain's consensus engine.
 func (bc *BlockChain) Engine() consensus.Engine { return bc.engine }
diff --git a/core/blockchain_test.go b/core/blockchain_test.go
index ae20edb14a..cab4ecadf3 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func newTestBlockChain(fake bool) *BlockChain {
 	if !fake {
 		engine = ethash.NewTester()
 	}
-	blockchain, err := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, engine, vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, err := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, engine, vm.Config{})
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@ func testBlockChainImport(chain types.Blocks, blockchain *BlockChain) error {
 			return err
 		}
 		blockchain.mu.Lock()
-		WriteTd(blockchain.chainDb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTdByHash(block.ParentHash())))
-		WriteBlock(blockchain.chainDb, block)
+		WriteTd(blockchain.diskdb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTdByHash(block.ParentHash())))
+		WriteBlock(blockchain.diskdb, block)
 		statedb.Commit(false)
 		blockchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ func testHeaderChainImport(chain []*types.Header, blockchain *BlockChain) error
 		}
 		// Manually insert the header into the database, but don't reorganise (allows subsequent testing)
 		blockchain.mu.Lock()
-		WriteTd(blockchain.chainDb, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
-		WriteHeader(blockchain.chainDb, header)
+		WriteTd(blockchain.diskdb, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
+		WriteHeader(blockchain.diskdb, header)
 		blockchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ func TestLastBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	bchain := newTestBlockChain(false)
 	defer bchain.Stop()
 
-	block := makeBlockChain(bchain.CurrentBlock(), 1, ethash.NewFaker(), bchain.chainDb, 0)[0]
+	block := makeBlockChain(bchain.CurrentBlock(), 1, ethash.NewFaker(), bchain.diskdb, 0)[0]
 	bchain.insert(block)
-	if block.Hash() != GetHeadBlockHash(bchain.chainDb) {
+	if block.Hash() != GetHeadBlockHash(bchain.diskdb) {
 		t.Errorf("Write/Get HeadBlockHash failed")
 	}
 }
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ func testReorgBadHashes(t *testing.T, full bool) {
 	}
 
 	// Create a new BlockChain and check that it rolled back the state.
-	ncm, err := NewBlockChain(bc.chainDb, bc.config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	ncm, err := NewBlockChain(bc.diskdb, nil, bc.chainConfig, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to create new chain manager: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 	// Import the chain as an archive node for the comparison baseline
 	archiveDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(archiveDb)
-	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer archive.Stop()
 
 	if n, err := archive.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
@@ -618,7 +618,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 	// Fast import the chain as a non-archive node to test
 	fastDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(fastDb)
-	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer fast.Stop()
 
 	headers := make([]*types.Header, len(blocks))
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	archiveDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(archiveDb)
 
-	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	if n, err := archive.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to process block %d: %v", n, err)
 	}
@@ -709,7 +709,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	// Import the chain as a non-archive node and ensure all pointers are updated
 	fastDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(fastDb)
-	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer fast.Stop()
 
 	headers := make([]*types.Header, len(blocks))
@@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	lightDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(lightDb)
 
-	light, _ := NewBlockChain(lightDb, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	light, _ := NewBlockChain(lightDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	if n, err := light.InsertHeaderChain(headers, 1); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to insert header %d: %v", n, err)
 	}
@@ -799,7 +799,7 @@ func TestChainTxReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 	// Import the chain. This runs all block validation rules.
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	if i, err := blockchain.InsertChain(chain); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to insert original chain[%d]: %v", i, err)
 	}
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ func TestLogReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 		signer  = types.NewEIP155Signer(gspec.Config.ChainId)
 	)
 
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 	rmLogsCh := make(chan RemovedLogsEvent)
@@ -917,7 +917,7 @@ func TestReorgSideEvent(t *testing.T) {
 		signer  = types.NewEIP155Signer(gspec.Config.ChainId)
 	)
 
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 	chain, _ := GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, 3, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
@@ -992,7 +992,7 @@ func TestCanonicalBlockRetrieval(t *testing.T) {
 	bc := newTestBlockChain(true)
 	defer bc.Stop()
 
-	chain, _ := GenerateChain(bc.config, bc.genesisBlock, ethash.NewFaker(), bc.chainDb, 10, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
+	chain, _ := GenerateChain(bc.chainConfig, bc.genesisBlock, ethash.NewFaker(), bc.diskdb, 10, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
 
 	var pend sync.WaitGroup
 	pend.Add(len(chain))
@@ -1003,14 +1003,14 @@ func TestCanonicalBlockRetrieval(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// try to retrieve a block by its canonical hash and see if the block data can be retrieved.
 			for {
-				ch := GetCanonicalHash(bc.chainDb, block.NumberU64())
+				ch := GetCanonicalHash(bc.diskdb, block.NumberU64())
 				if ch == (common.Hash{}) {
 					continue // busy wait for canonical hash to be written
 				}
 				if ch != block.Hash() {
 					t.Fatalf("unknown canonical hash, want %s, got %s", block.Hash().Hex(), ch.Hex())
 				}
-				fb := GetBlock(bc.chainDb, ch, block.NumberU64())
+				fb := GetBlock(bc.diskdb, ch, block.NumberU64())
 				if fb == nil {
 					t.Fatalf("unable to retrieve block %d for canonical hash: %s", block.NumberU64(), ch.Hex())
 				}
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ func TestEIP155Transition(t *testing.T) {
 		genesis = gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	)
 
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, 4, func(i int, block *BlockGen) {
@@ -1151,7 +1151,7 @@ func TestEIP161AccountRemoval(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		genesis = gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	)
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, 3, func(i int, block *BlockGen) {
@@ -1226,7 +1226,7 @@ func TestBlockchainHeaderchainReorgConsistency(t *testing.T) {
 	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
-	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{})
+	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to create tester chain: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/chain_makers.go b/core/chain_makers.go
index 9cf5433194..2a853a3106 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers.go
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func GenerateChain(config *params.ChainConfig, parent *types.Block, engine conse
 	genblock := func(i int, parent *types.Block, statedb *state.StateDB) (*types.Block, types.Receipts) {
 		// TODO(karalabe): This is needed for clique, which depends on multiple blocks.
 		// It's nonetheless ugly to spin up a blockchain here. Get rid of this somehow.
-		blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, config, engine, vm.Config{})
+		blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, config, engine, vm.Config{})
 		defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 		b := &BlockGen{i: i, parent: parent, chain: blocks, chainReader: blockchain, statedb: statedb, config: config, engine: engine}
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ func GenerateChain(config *params.ChainConfig, parent *types.Block, engine conse
 			if err != nil {
 				panic(fmt.Sprintf("state write error: %v", err))
 			}
-			if err := triedb.Commit(root, db); err != nil {
+			if err := triedb.Commit(root); err != nil {
 				panic(fmt.Sprintf("trie write error: %v", err))
 			}
 			return block, b.receipts
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ func newCanonical(engine consensus.Engine, n int, full bool) (ethdb.Database, *B
 	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
 
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, params.AllEthashProtocolChanges, engine, vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, params.AllEthashProtocolChanges, engine, vm.Config{})
 	// Create and inject the requested chain
 	if n == 0 {
 		return db, blockchain, nil
diff --git a/core/chain_makers_test.go b/core/chain_makers_test.go
index a3b80da299..93be43ddce 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers_test.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func ExampleGenerateChain() {
 	})
 
 	// Import the chain. This runs all block validation rules.
-	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer blockchain.Stop()
 
 	if i, err := blockchain.InsertChain(chain); err != nil {
diff --git a/core/dao_test.go b/core/dao_test.go
index 0beb941db3..ae027a94c1 100644
--- a/core/dao_test.go
+++ b/core/dao_test.go
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	proConf.DAOForkBlock = forkBlock
 	proConf.DAOForkSupport = true
 
-	proBc, _ := NewBlockChain(proDb, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	proBc, _ := NewBlockChain(proDb, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer proBc.Stop()
 
 	conDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	conConf.DAOForkBlock = forkBlock
 	conConf.DAOForkSupport = false
 
-	conBc, _ := NewBlockChain(conDb, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	conBc, _ := NewBlockChain(conDb, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer conBc.Stop()
 
 	if _, err := proBc.InsertChain(prefix); err != nil {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		// Create a pro-fork block, and try to feed into the no-fork chain
 		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(db)
-		bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+		bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 		defer bc.Stop()
 
 		blocks := conBc.GetBlocksFromHash(conBc.CurrentBlock().Hash(), int(conBc.CurrentBlock().NumberU64()))
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		if _, err := bc.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to import contra-fork chain for expansion: %v", err)
 		}
-		if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root, db); err != nil {
+		if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit contra-fork head for expansion: %v", err)
 		}
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(&proConf, conBc.CurrentBlock(), ethash.NewFaker(), db, 1, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		// Create a no-fork block, and try to feed into the pro-fork chain
 		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(db)
-		bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+		bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 		defer bc.Stop()
 
 		blocks = proBc.GetBlocksFromHash(proBc.CurrentBlock().Hash(), int(proBc.CurrentBlock().NumberU64()))
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		if _, err := bc.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to import pro-fork chain for expansion: %v", err)
 		}
-		if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root, db); err != nil {
+		if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to commit pro-fork head for expansion: %v", err)
 		}
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(&conConf, proBc.CurrentBlock(), ethash.NewFaker(), db, 1, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	// Verify that contra-forkers accept pro-fork extra-datas after forking finishes
 	db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(db)
-	bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer bc.Stop()
 
 	blocks := conBc.GetBlocksFromHash(conBc.CurrentBlock().Hash(), int(conBc.CurrentBlock().NumberU64()))
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := bc.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to import contra-fork chain for expansion: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root, db); err != nil {
+	if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to commit contra-fork head for expansion: %v", err)
 	}
 	blocks, _ = GenerateChain(&proConf, conBc.CurrentBlock(), ethash.NewFaker(), db, 1, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	// Verify that pro-forkers accept contra-fork extra-datas after forking finishes
 	db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(db)
-	bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer bc.Stop()
 
 	blocks = proBc.GetBlocksFromHash(proBc.CurrentBlock().Hash(), int(proBc.CurrentBlock().NumberU64()))
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := bc.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to import pro-fork chain for expansion: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root, db); err != nil {
+	if err := bc.stateCache.TrieDB().Commit(bc.CurrentHeader().Root); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to commit pro-fork head for expansion: %v", err)
 	}
 	blocks, _ = GenerateChain(&conConf, proBc.CurrentBlock(), ethash.NewFaker(), db, 1, func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index d94f907d3c..0026bc9d3a 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -170,10 +170,9 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 
 	// Check whether the genesis block is already written.
 	if genesis != nil {
-		block, _, _ := genesis.ToBlock()
-		hash := block.Hash()
+		hash := genesis.ToBlock(nil).Hash()
 		if hash != stored {
-			return genesis.Config, block.Hash(), &GenesisMismatchError{stored, hash}
+			return genesis.Config, hash, &GenesisMismatchError{stored, hash}
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -221,10 +220,13 @@ func (g *Genesis) configOrDefault(ghash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
 	}
 }
 
-// ToBlock creates the block and state of a genesis specification.
-func (g *Genesis) ToBlock() (*types.Block, *state.StateDB, *trie.Database) {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedb := trie.NewDatabase(diskdb)
+// ToBlock creates the genesis block and writes state of a genesis specification
+// to the given database (or discards it if nil).
+func (g *Genesis) ToBlock(db ethdb.Database) *types.Block {
+	if db == nil {
+		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	}
+	triedb := trie.NewDatabase(db)
 	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(triedb))
 	for addr, account := range g.Alloc {
 		statedb.AddBalance(addr, account.Balance)
@@ -254,22 +256,19 @@ func (g *Genesis) ToBlock() (*types.Block, *state.StateDB, *trie.Database) {
 	if g.Difficulty == nil {
 		head.Difficulty = params.GenesisDifficulty
 	}
-	return types.NewBlock(head, nil, nil, nil), statedb, triedb
+	statedb.Commit(false)
+	triedb.Commit(root)
+
+	return types.NewBlock(head, nil, nil, nil)
 }
 
 // Commit writes the block and state of a genesis specification to the database.
 // The block is committed as the canonical head block.
 func (g *Genesis) Commit(db ethdb.Database) (*types.Block, error) {
-	block, statedb, triedb := g.ToBlock()
+	block := g.ToBlock(db)
 	if block.Number().Sign() != 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't commit genesis block with number > 0")
 	}
-	if _, err := statedb.Commit(false); err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot write state: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := triedb.Commit(block.Root(), db); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
 	if err := WriteTd(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), g.Difficulty); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index 2143af52e9..cd548d4b1d 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestDefaultGenesisBlock(t *testing.T) {
-	block, _, _ := DefaultGenesisBlock().ToBlock()
+	block := DefaultGenesisBlock().ToBlock(nil)
 	if block.Hash() != params.MainnetGenesisHash {
 		t.Errorf("wrong mainnet genesis hash, got %v, want %v", block.Hash(), params.MainnetGenesisHash)
 	}
-	block, _, _ = DefaultTestnetGenesisBlock().ToBlock()
+	block = DefaultTestnetGenesisBlock().ToBlock(nil)
 	if block.Hash() != params.TestnetGenesisHash {
 		t.Errorf("wrong testnet genesis hash, got %v, want %v", block.Hash(), params.TestnetGenesisHash)
 	}
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestSetupGenesis(t *testing.T) {
 				// Commit the 'old' genesis block with Homestead transition at #2.
 				// Advance to block #4, past the homestead transition block of customg.
 				genesis := oldcustomg.MustCommit(db)
-				bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, oldcustomg.Config, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
+				bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, oldcustomg.Config, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
 				defer bc.Stop()
 				bc.SetValidator(bproc{})
 				bc.InsertChain(makeBlockChainWithDiff(genesis, []int{2, 3, 4, 5}, 0))
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index bcd724c0c2..366408ebe5 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -144,9 +144,11 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 		}
 		core.WriteBlockChainVersion(chainDb, core.BlockChainVersion)
 	}
-
-	vmConfig := vm.Config{EnablePreimageRecording: config.EnablePreimageRecording}
-	eth.blockchain, err = core.NewBlockChain(chainDb, eth.chainConfig, eth.engine, vmConfig)
+	var (
+		vmConfig    = vm.Config{EnablePreimageRecording: config.EnablePreimageRecording}
+		cacheConfig = &core.CacheConfig{TrieNodeLimit: config.TrieCache, TrieTimeLimit: config.TrieTimeout}
+	)
+	eth.blockchain, err = core.NewBlockChain(chainDb, cacheConfig, eth.chainConfig, eth.engine, vmConfig)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/eth/config.go b/eth/config.go
index 2158c71bae..3064744c65 100644
--- a/eth/config.go
+++ b/eth/config.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"runtime"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
@@ -44,7 +45,9 @@ var DefaultConfig = Config{
 	},
 	NetworkId:     1,
 	LightPeers:    100,
-	DatabaseCache: 128,
+	DatabaseCache: 768,
+	TrieCache:     256,
+	TrieTimeout:   5 * time.Minute,
 	GasPrice:      big.NewInt(18 * params.Shannon),
 
 	TxPool: core.DefaultTxPoolConfig,
@@ -87,6 +90,8 @@ type Config struct {
 	SkipBcVersionCheck bool `toml:"-"`
 	DatabaseHandles    int  `toml:"-"`
 	DatabaseCache      int
+	TrieCache          int
+	TrieTimeout        time.Duration
 
 	// Mining-related options
 	Etherbase    common.Address `toml:",omitempty"`
diff --git a/eth/handler.go b/eth/handler.go
index fcd53c5a6d..c2426544f6 100644
--- a/eth/handler.go
+++ b/eth/handler.go
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ type ProtocolManager struct {
 
 	txpool      txPool
 	blockchain  *core.BlockChain
-	chaindb     ethdb.Database
 	chainconfig *params.ChainConfig
 	maxPeers    int
 
@@ -106,7 +105,6 @@ func NewProtocolManager(config *params.ChainConfig, mode downloader.SyncMode, ne
 		eventMux:    mux,
 		txpool:      txpool,
 		blockchain:  blockchain,
-		chaindb:     chaindb,
 		chainconfig: config,
 		peers:       newPeerSet(),
 		newPeerCh:   make(chan *peer),
@@ -538,7 +536,7 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 				return errResp(ErrDecode, "msg %v: %v", msg, err)
 			}
 			// Retrieve the requested state entry, stopping if enough was found
-			if entry, err := pm.chaindb.Get(hash.Bytes()); err == nil {
+			if entry, err := pm.blockchain.TrieNode(hash); err == nil {
 				data = append(data, entry)
 				bytes += len(entry)
 			}
@@ -576,7 +574,7 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 				return errResp(ErrDecode, "msg %v: %v", msg, err)
 			}
 			// Retrieve the requested block's receipts, skipping if unknown to us
-			results := core.GetBlockReceipts(pm.chaindb, hash, core.GetBlockNumber(pm.chaindb, hash))
+			results := pm.blockchain.GetReceiptsByHash(hash)
 			if results == nil {
 				if header := pm.blockchain.GetHeaderByHash(hash); header == nil || header.ReceiptHash != types.EmptyRootHash {
 					continue
diff --git a/eth/handler_test.go b/eth/handler_test.go
index c211094e60..6465aa4475 100644
--- a/eth/handler_test.go
+++ b/eth/handler_test.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ func TestProtocolCompatibility(t *testing.T) {
 	for i, tt := range tests {
 		ProtocolVersions = []uint{tt.version}
 
-		pm, err := newTestProtocolManager(tt.mode, 0, nil, nil)
+		pm, _, err := newTestProtocolManager(tt.mode, 0, nil, nil)
 		if pm != nil {
 			defer pm.Stop()
 		}
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func TestGetBlockHeaders62(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockHeaders(t, 62) }
 func TestGetBlockHeaders63(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockHeaders(t, 63) }
 
 func testGetBlockHeaders(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, downloader.MaxHashFetch+15, nil, nil)
+	pm, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, downloader.MaxHashFetch+15, nil, nil)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer("peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
 
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ func TestGetBlockBodies62(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockBodies(t, 62) }
 func TestGetBlockBodies63(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockBodies(t, 63) }
 
 func testGetBlockBodies(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, downloader.MaxBlockFetch+15, nil, nil)
+	pm, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, downloader.MaxBlockFetch+15, nil, nil)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer("peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
 
@@ -338,13 +338,13 @@ func testGetNodeData(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 4, generator, nil)
+	pm, db := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 4, generator, nil)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer("peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
 
 	// Fetch for now the entire chain db
 	hashes := []common.Hash{}
-	for _, key := range pm.chaindb.(*ethdb.MemDatabase).Keys() {
+	for _, key := range db.Keys() {
 		if len(key) == len(common.Hash{}) {
 			hashes = append(hashes, common.BytesToHash(key))
 		}
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ func testGetReceipt(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 4, generator, nil)
+	pm, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 4, generator, nil)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer("peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
 
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ func testGetReceipt(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		block := pm.blockchain.GetBlockByNumber(i)
 
 		hashes = append(hashes, block.Hash())
-		receipts = append(receipts, core.GetBlockReceipts(pm.chaindb, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()))
+		receipts = append(receipts, pm.blockchain.GetReceiptsByHash(block.Hash()))
 	}
 	// Send the hash request and verify the response
 	p2p.Send(peer.app, 0x0f, hashes)
@@ -473,7 +473,7 @@ func testDAOChallenge(t *testing.T, localForked, remoteForked bool, timeout bool
 		config        = &params.ChainConfig{DAOForkBlock: big.NewInt(1), DAOForkSupport: localForked}
 		gspec         = &core.Genesis{Config: config}
 		genesis       = gspec.MustCommit(db)
-		blockchain, _ = core.NewBlockChain(db, config, pow, vm.Config{})
+		blockchain, _ = core.NewBlockChain(db, nil, config, pow, vm.Config{})
 	)
 	pm, err := NewProtocolManager(config, downloader.FullSync, DefaultConfig.NetworkId, evmux, new(testTxPool), pow, blockchain, db)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/eth/helper_test.go b/eth/helper_test.go
index 9a4dc90101..2b05cea801 100644
--- a/eth/helper_test.go
+++ b/eth/helper_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ var (
 // newTestProtocolManager creates a new protocol manager for testing purposes,
 // with the given number of blocks already known, and potential notification
 // channels for different events.
-func newTestProtocolManager(mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func(int, *core.BlockGen), newtx chan<- []*types.Transaction) (*ProtocolManager, error) {
+func newTestProtocolManager(mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func(int, *core.BlockGen), newtx chan<- []*types.Transaction) (*ProtocolManager, *ethdb.MemDatabase, error) {
 	var (
 		evmux  = new(event.TypeMux)
 		engine = ethash.NewFaker()
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func newTestProtocolManager(mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func
 			Alloc:  core.GenesisAlloc{testBank: {Balance: big.NewInt(1000000)}},
 		}
 		genesis       = gspec.MustCommit(db)
-		blockchain, _ = core.NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, engine, vm.Config{})
+		blockchain, _ = core.NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, engine, vm.Config{})
 	)
 	chain, _ := core.GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, blocks, generator)
 	if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(chain); err != nil {
@@ -68,22 +68,22 @@ func newTestProtocolManager(mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func
 
 	pm, err := NewProtocolManager(gspec.Config, mode, DefaultConfig.NetworkId, evmux, &testTxPool{added: newtx}, engine, blockchain, db)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 	pm.Start(1000)
-	return pm, nil
+	return pm, db, nil
 }
 
 // newTestProtocolManagerMust creates a new protocol manager for testing purposes,
 // with the given number of blocks already known, and potential notification
 // channels for different events. In case of an error, the constructor force-
 // fails the test.
-func newTestProtocolManagerMust(t *testing.T, mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func(int, *core.BlockGen), newtx chan<- []*types.Transaction) *ProtocolManager {
-	pm, err := newTestProtocolManager(mode, blocks, generator, newtx)
+func newTestProtocolManagerMust(t *testing.T, mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func(int, *core.BlockGen), newtx chan<- []*types.Transaction) (*ProtocolManager, *ethdb.MemDatabase) {
+	pm, db, err := newTestProtocolManager(mode, blocks, generator, newtx)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create protocol manager: %v", err)
 	}
-	return pm
+	return pm, db
 }
 
 // testTxPool is a fake, helper transaction pool for testing purposes
diff --git a/eth/protocol_test.go b/eth/protocol_test.go
index 7cbcba5713..b2f93d8dd1 100644
--- a/eth/protocol_test.go
+++ b/eth/protocol_test.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func TestStatusMsgErrors62(t *testing.T) { testStatusMsgErrors(t, 62) }
 func TestStatusMsgErrors63(t *testing.T) { testStatusMsgErrors(t, 63) }
 
 func testStatusMsgErrors(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 0, nil, nil)
+	pm, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 0, nil, nil)
 	var (
 		genesis = pm.blockchain.Genesis()
 		head    = pm.blockchain.CurrentHeader()
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func TestRecvTransactions63(t *testing.T) { testRecvTransactions(t, 63) }
 
 func testRecvTransactions(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	txAdded := make(chan []*types.Transaction)
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 0, nil, txAdded)
+	pm, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 0, nil, txAdded)
 	pm.acceptTxs = 1 // mark synced to accept transactions
 	p, _ := newTestPeer("peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer pm.Stop()
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func TestSendTransactions62(t *testing.T) { testSendTransactions(t, 62) }
 func TestSendTransactions63(t *testing.T) { testSendTransactions(t, 63) }
 
 func testSendTransactions(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 0, nil, nil)
+	pm, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FullSync, 0, nil, nil)
 	defer pm.Stop()
 
 	// Fill the pool with big transactions.
diff --git a/eth/sync_test.go b/eth/sync_test.go
index 9eaa1156fb..88c10c7f74 100644
--- a/eth/sync_test.go
+++ b/eth/sync_test.go
@@ -30,12 +30,12 @@ import (
 // imported into the blockchain.
 func TestFastSyncDisabling(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a pristine protocol manager, check that fast sync is left enabled
-	pmEmpty := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FastSync, 0, nil, nil)
+	pmEmpty, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FastSync, 0, nil, nil)
 	if atomic.LoadUint32(&pmEmpty.fastSync) == 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("fast sync disabled on pristine blockchain")
 	}
 	// Create a full protocol manager, check that fast sync gets disabled
-	pmFull := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FastSync, 1024, nil, nil)
+	pmFull, _ := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, downloader.FastSync, 1024, nil, nil)
 	if atomic.LoadUint32(&pmFull.fastSync) == 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("fast sync not disabled on non-empty blockchain")
 	}
diff --git a/les/helper_test.go b/les/helper_test.go
index 1c1de64ad8..bf08e1e2f7 100644
--- a/les/helper_test.go
+++ b/les/helper_test.go
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ func newTestProtocolManager(lightSync bool, blocks int, generator func(int, *cor
 	if lightSync {
 		chain, _ = light.NewLightChain(odr, gspec.Config, engine)
 	} else {
-		blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(db, gspec.Config, engine, vm.Config{})
+		blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(db, nil, gspec.Config, engine, vm.Config{})
 		gchain, _ := core.GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, blocks, generator)
 		if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(gchain); err != nil {
 			panic(err)
diff --git a/light/nodeset.go b/light/nodeset.go
index 233e508505..ffdb71bb79 100644
--- a/light/nodeset.go
+++ b/light/nodeset.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
 )
 
 // NodeSet stores a set of trie nodes. It implements trie.Database and can also
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func (db *NodeSet) NodeList() NodeList {
 }
 
 // Store writes the contents of the set to the given database
-func (db *NodeSet) Store(target trie.DatabaseWriter) {
+func (db *NodeSet) Store(target ethdb.Putter) {
 	db.lock.RLock()
 	defer db.lock.RUnlock()
 
@@ -108,11 +108,11 @@ func (db *NodeSet) Store(target trie.DatabaseWriter) {
 	}
 }
 
-// NodeList stores an ordered list of trie nodes. It implements trie.DatabaseWriter.
+// NodeList stores an ordered list of trie nodes. It implements ethdb.Putter.
 type NodeList []rlp.RawValue
 
 // Store writes the contents of the list to the given database
-func (n NodeList) Store(db trie.DatabaseWriter) {
+func (n NodeList) Store(db ethdb.Putter) {
 	for _, node := range n {
 		db.Put(crypto.Keccak256(node), node)
 	}
diff --git a/light/odr_test.go b/light/odr_test.go
index 93a11bfe30..71a2690a74 100644
--- a/light/odr_test.go
+++ b/light/odr_test.go
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ func testChainOdr(t *testing.T, protocol int, fn odrTestFn) {
 	)
 	gspec.MustCommit(ldb)
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(sdb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(sdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	gchain, _ := core.GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), sdb, 4, testChainGen)
 	if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(gchain); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/light/trie_test.go b/light/trie_test.go
index ee6c5120ce..d543a420b9 100644
--- a/light/trie_test.go
+++ b/light/trie_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestNodeIterator(t *testing.T) {
 		genesis    = gspec.MustCommit(fulldb)
 	)
 	gspec.MustCommit(lightdb)
-	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(fulldb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(fulldb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	gchain, _ := core.GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), fulldb, 4, testChainGen)
 	if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(gchain); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/light/txpool_test.go b/light/txpool_test.go
index b343f79b05..13d7d3cebb 100644
--- a/light/txpool_test.go
+++ b/light/txpool_test.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func TestTxPool(t *testing.T) {
 	)
 	gspec.MustCommit(ldb)
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(sdb, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
+	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(sdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	gchain, _ := core.GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), sdb, poolTestBlocks, txPoolTestChainGen)
 	if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(gchain); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/tests/block_test_util.go b/tests/block_test_util.go
index 4bfd6433f5..beba484833 100644
--- a/tests/block_test_util.go
+++ b/tests/block_test_util.go
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (t *BlockTest) Run() error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("genesis block state root does not match test: computed=%x, test=%x", gblock.Root().Bytes()[:6], t.json.Genesis.StateRoot[:6])
 	}
 
-	chain, err := core.NewBlockChain(db, config, ethash.NewShared(), vm.Config{})
+	chain, err := core.NewBlockChain(db, nil, config, ethash.NewShared(), vm.Config{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/tests/state_test_util.go b/tests/state_test_util.go
index f867ca1627..3b6789ce9b 100644
--- a/tests/state_test_util.go
+++ b/tests/state_test_util.go
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ func (t *StateTest) Run(subtest StateSubtest, vmconfig vm.Config) (*state.StateD
 	if !ok {
 		return nil, UnsupportedForkError{subtest.Fork}
 	}
-	block, _, _ := t.genesis(config).ToBlock()
+	block := t.genesis(config).ToBlock(nil)
 	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	statedb := MakePreState(db, t.json.Pre)
 
diff --git a/trie/database.go b/trie/database.go
index e264fad6bd..cfb2cbee91 100644
--- a/trie/database.go
+++ b/trie/database.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 )
 
@@ -39,18 +40,11 @@ type DatabaseReader interface {
 	Has(key []byte) (bool, error)
 }
 
-// DatabaseWriter wraps the Put method of a backing store for the trie.
-type DatabaseWriter interface {
-	// Put stores the mapping key->value in the database. Implementations must not
-	// hold onto the value as the trie will reuse the slice across calls to Put.
-	Put(key, value []byte) error
-}
-
 // Database is an intermediate write layer between the trie data structures and
 // the disk database. The aim is to accumulate trie writes in-memory and only
 // periodically flush a couple tries to disk, garbage collecting the remainder.
 type Database struct {
-	diskdb DatabaseReader // Persistent storage for matured trie nodes
+	diskdb ethdb.Database // Persistent storage for matured trie nodes
 
 	nodes    map[common.Hash][]byte                   // Cached data blocks of the trie nodes
 	parents  map[common.Hash]int                      // Number of live nodes referencing a given one
@@ -59,6 +53,9 @@ type Database struct {
 	preimages map[common.Hash][]byte // Preimages of nodes from the secure trie
 	seckeybuf [secureKeyLength]byte  // Ephemeral buffer for calculating preimage keys
 
+	nodeArena     map[common.Hash][]byte // Trie nodes actively being comitted (avoids locking during writes)
+	preimageArena map[common.Hash][]byte // Trie node preimages actively being comitted (avoids locking during writes)
+
 	gctime  time.Duration      // Time spent on garbage collection since last commit
 	gcnodes uint64             // Nodes garbage collected since last commit
 	gcsize  common.StorageSize // Data storage garbage collected since last commit
@@ -69,7 +66,7 @@ type Database struct {
 
 // NewDatabase creates a new trie database to store ephemeral trie content before
 // its written out to disk or garbage collected.
-func NewDatabase(diskdb DatabaseReader) *Database {
+func NewDatabase(diskdb ethdb.Database) *Database {
 	db := &Database{
 		diskdb:    diskdb,
 		nodes:     make(map[common.Hash][]byte),
@@ -124,6 +121,9 @@ func (db *Database) Node(hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
 	// Retrieve the node from cache if available
 	db.lock.RLock()
 	blob := db.nodes[hash]
+	if blob == nil && db.nodeArena != nil {
+		blob = db.nodeArena[hash]
+	}
 	db.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	if blob != nil {
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ func (db *Database) preimage(hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
 	// Retrieve the node from cache if available
 	db.lock.RLock()
 	preimage := db.preimages[hash]
+	if preimage == nil && db.preimageArena != nil {
+		preimage = db.preimageArena[hash]
+	}
 	db.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	if preimage != nil {
@@ -243,47 +246,75 @@ func (db *Database) dereference(child common.Hash, parent common.Hash) {
 // to disk, forcefully tearing down all references in both directions.
 //
 // As a side effect, all pre-images accumulated up to this point are also written.
-func (db *Database) Commit(node common.Hash, writer DatabaseWriter) error {
+func (db *Database) Commit(node common.Hash) error {
+	// Create a database batch to flush persistent data out. It is important that
+	// outside code doesn't see an inconsistent state (referenced data removed from
+	// memory cache during commit but not yet in persistent storage). This could be
+	// achieved by locking the entire database during commit, but a slow writer then
+	// would starve all readers. Instead, all data-to-be-committed is moved into a
+	// staging area, where it's temporarilly still accessible during write.
 	db.lock.Lock()
-	defer db.lock.Unlock()
 
-	// Write out all the accumulated trie node preimages
+	db.nodeArena = make(map[common.Hash][]byte)
+	db.preimageArena = make(map[common.Hash][]byte)
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	batch := db.diskdb.NewBatch()
+
+	// Move all of the accumulated preimages into a write batch and preimage staging area
 	for hash, preimage := range db.preimages {
-		if err := writer.Put(db.secureKey(hash[:]), preimage); err != nil {
-			log.Error("Failed to commit preimage from mempool", "err", err)
+		db.preimageArena[hash] = preimage
+		if err := batch.Put(db.secureKey(hash[:]), preimage); err != nil {
+			log.Error("Failed to commit preimage from trie database", "err", err)
+			db.lock.Unlock()
 			return err
 		}
 		db.size -= common.StorageSize(common.HashLength + len(preimage))
 	}
 	db.preimages = make(map[common.Hash][]byte)
 
-	// Write out the trie itself and dereference any flushed content
-	nodes, storage, start := len(db.nodes), db.size, time.Now()
-	if err := db.commit(node, writer); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Failed to commit trie from mempool", "err", err)
+	// Move the trie itself into the batch and staging area and dereference any reachable content
+	nodes, storage := len(db.nodes), db.size
+	if err := db.commit(node, batch); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Failed to commit trie from trie database", "err", err)
+		db.lock.Unlock()
 		return err
 	}
-	log.Debug("Persistend trie from memory database", "nodes", nodes-len(db.nodes), "size", storage-db.size, "time", time.Since(start),
+	// Write batch and staging area ready, unlock for readers during persistence
+	db.lock.Unlock()
+
+	if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Failed to write trie to disk", "err", err)
+		return err
+	}
+	// Write successful, clear out the staging area and return
+	db.lock.Lock()
+	defer db.lock.Unlock()
+
+	db.nodeArena, db.preimageArena = nil, nil
+	log.Debug("Persisted trie from memory database", "nodes", nodes-len(db.nodes), "size", storage-db.size, "time", time.Since(start),
 		"gcnodes", db.gcnodes, "gcsize", db.gcsize, "gctime", db.gctime, "livenodes", len(db.nodes), "livesize", db.size)
 
 	// Reset the garbage collection statistics
 	db.gcnodes, db.gcsize, db.gctime = 0, 0, 0
+
 	return nil
 }
 
 // commit is the private locked version of Commit.
-func (db *Database) commit(node common.Hash, writer DatabaseWriter) error {
+func (db *Database) commit(node common.Hash, batch ethdb.Batch) error {
 	// If the node does not exist, it's a previously comitted node.
 	blob, ok := db.nodes[node]
 	if !ok {
 		return nil
 	}
 	for child := range db.children[node] {
-		if err := db.commit(child, writer); err != nil {
+		if err := db.commit(child, batch); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
-	if err := writer.Put(node[:], blob); err != nil {
+	db.nodeArena[node] = blob
+	if err := batch.Put(node[:], blob); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	delete(db.nodes, node)
diff --git a/trie/iterator_test.go b/trie/iterator_test.go
index c67a409f2d..48b99fb944 100644
--- a/trie/iterator_test.go
+++ b/trie/iterator_test.go
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ func testIteratorContinueAfterError(t *testing.T, memonly bool) {
 	}
 	tr.Commit(nil)
 	if !memonly {
-		triedb.Commit(tr.Hash(), diskdb)
+		triedb.Commit(tr.Hash())
 	}
 	wantNodeCount := checkIteratorNoDups(t, tr.NodeIterator(nil), nil)
 
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ func testIteratorContinueAfterSeekError(t *testing.T, memonly bool) {
 	}
 	root, _ := ctr.Commit(nil)
 	if !memonly {
-		triedb.Commit(root, diskdb)
+		triedb.Commit(root)
 	}
 	barNodeHash := common.HexToHash("05041990364eb72fcb1127652ce40d8bab765f2bfe53225b1170d276cc101c2e")
 	var barNodeBlob []byte
diff --git a/trie/proof.go b/trie/proof.go
index 3673b7fe20..096aa4b908 100644
--- a/trie/proof.go
+++ b/trie/proof.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 // If the trie does not contain a value for key, the returned proof contains all
 // nodes of the longest existing prefix of the key (at least the root node), ending
 // with the node that proves the absence of the key.
-func (t *Trie) Prove(key []byte, fromLevel uint, proofDb DatabaseWriter) error {
+func (t *Trie) Prove(key []byte, fromLevel uint, proofDb ethdb.Putter) error {
 	// Collect all nodes on the path to key.
 	key = keybytesToHex(key)
 	nodes := []node{}
diff --git a/trie/sync.go b/trie/sync.go
index dbd4c351b4..b573a9f732 100644
--- a/trie/sync.go
+++ b/trie/sync.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"gopkg.in/karalabe/cookiejar.v2/collections/prque"
 )
 
@@ -212,7 +213,7 @@ func (s *TrieSync) Process(results []SyncResult) (bool, int, error) {
 
 // Commit flushes the data stored in the internal membatch out to persistent
 // storage, returning th enumber of items written and any occurred error.
-func (s *TrieSync) Commit(dbw DatabaseWriter) (int, error) {
+func (s *TrieSync) Commit(dbw ethdb.Putter) (int, error) {
 	// Dump the membatch into a database dbw
 	for i, key := range s.membatch.order {
 		if err := dbw.Put(key[:], s.membatch.batch[key]); err != nil {
diff --git a/trie/trie_test.go b/trie/trie_test.go
index 0689458751..84fc6eb63b 100644
--- a/trie/trie_test.go
+++ b/trie/trie_test.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func testMissingNode(t *testing.T, memonly bool) {
 	updateString(trie, "123456", "asdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdfasdf")
 	root, _ := trie.Commit(nil)
 	if !memonly {
-		triedb.Commit(root, diskdb)
+		triedb.Commit(root)
 	}
 
 	trie, _ = New(root, triedb)
@@ -319,13 +319,13 @@ func TestLargeValue(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 type countingDB struct {
-	DatabaseReader
+	ethdb.Database
 	gets map[string]int
 }
 
 func (db *countingDB) Get(key []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	db.gets[string(key)]++
-	return db.DatabaseReader.Get(key)
+	return db.Database.Get(key)
 }
 
 // TestCacheUnload checks that decoded nodes are unloaded after a
@@ -339,12 +339,12 @@ func TestCacheUnload(t *testing.T) {
 	updateString(trie, key2, "this is the branch of key2.")
 
 	root, _ := trie.Commit(nil)
-	trie.db.Commit(root, trie.db.diskdb.(DatabaseWriter))
+	trie.db.Commit(root)
 
 	// Commit the trie repeatedly and access key1.
 	// The branch containing it is loaded from DB exactly two times:
 	// in the 0th and 6th iteration.
-	db := &countingDB{DatabaseReader: trie.db.diskdb, gets: make(map[string]int)}
+	db := &countingDB{Database: trie.db.diskdb, gets: make(map[string]int)}
 	trie, _ = New(root, NewDatabase(db))
 	trie.SetCacheLimit(5)
 	for i := 0; i < 12; i++ {