diff --git a/eth/protocol.go b/eth/protocol.go
index 2011e752b0..dfe8a8474a 100644
--- a/eth/protocol.go
+++ b/eth/protocol.go
@@ -35,10 +35,13 @@ const (
 	eth64   = 64
 	eth65   = 65
 	xdpos2  = 100 //xdpos2.1 = eth62+eth63
-	xdpos22 = 101 //xdpos2.2 = eth63+eth64+eth65
+	xdpos22 = 101 //xdpos2.2 = eth65
 )
 
-func supportsEth63(version int) bool {
+// XDC needs the below functions because direct number equality doesn't work (eg. version >= 63)
+// we should try to match protocols 1 to 1 from now on, bump xdpos along with any new eth (eg. eth66 = xdpos23 only)
+// try to follow the exact comparison from go-ethereum as much as possible (eg. version >= 63 <> isEth63OrHigher(version))
+func isEth63(version int) bool {
 	switch {
 	case version < 63:
 		return false
@@ -63,22 +66,39 @@ func supportsEth64(version int) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 }
-
-func supportsEth65(version int) bool {
+func isEth64(version int) bool {
 	switch {
 	case version < 65:
 		return false
 	case version < 100:
 		return true
-	case version == 100:
+	default:
 		return false
-	case version > 100:
+	}
+}
+func isEth65(version int) bool {
+	switch {
+	case version == 65:
+		return true
+	case version == 101:
 		return true
 	default:
 		return false
 	}
 }
 
+func isEth63OrHigher(version int) bool {
+	return isEth63(version) || isEth64(version) || isEth65(version)
+}
+
+func isEth64OrHigher(version int) bool {
+	return isEth64(version) || isEth65(version)
+}
+
+func isEth65OrHigher(version int) bool {
+	return isEth65(version)
+}
+
 // protocolName is the official short name of the protocol used during capability negotiation.
 const protocolName = "eth"
 
diff --git a/eth/protocol_test.go b/eth/protocol_test.go
index c5d1752280..99817e3aca 100644
--- a/eth/protocol_test.go
+++ b/eth/protocol_test.go
@@ -312,10 +312,10 @@ func testSendTransactions(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		}
 		for n := 0; n < len(alltxs) && !t.Failed(); {
 			var forAllHashes func(callback func(hash common.Hash))
-			switch protocol {
-			case 63:
+			switch  {
+			case isEth63(protocol):
 				fallthrough
-			case 64:
+			case isEth64(protocol):
 				msg, err := p.app.ReadMsg()
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Errorf("%v: read error: %v", p.Peer, err)
@@ -334,26 +334,7 @@ func testSendTransactions(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 						callback(tx.Hash())
 					}
 				}
-			case 65:
-				msg, err := p.app.ReadMsg()
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Errorf("%v: read error: %v", p.Peer, err)
-					continue
-				} else if msg.Code != NewPooledTransactionHashesMsg {
-					t.Errorf("%v: got code %d, want NewPooledTransactionHashesMsg", p.Peer, msg.Code)
-					continue
-				}
-				var hashes []common.Hash
-				if err := msg.Decode(&hashes); err != nil {
-					t.Errorf("%v: %v", p.Peer, err)
-					continue
-				}
-				forAllHashes = func(callback func(hash common.Hash)) {
-					for _, h := range hashes {
-						callback(h)
-					}
-				}
-			case 100:
+			case isEth65(protocol):
 				msg, err := p.app.ReadMsg()
 				if err != nil {
 					t.Errorf("%v: read error: %v", p.Peer, err)