diff --git a/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go b/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go
index 4e91a4ff25..742eadd5f3 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/dbcmd.go
@@ -246,11 +246,17 @@ func removeDB(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		ancientDir = config.Node.ResolvePath(ancientDir)
 	}
 	// Delete state data
-	statePaths := []string{rootDir, filepath.Join(ancientDir, rawdb.StateFreezerName)}
+	statePaths := []string{
+		rootDir,
+		filepath.Join(ancientDir, rawdb.StateFreezerName),
+	}
 	confirmAndRemoveDB(statePaths, "state data", ctx, removeStateDataFlag.Name)
 
 	// Delete ancient chain
-	chainPaths := []string{filepath.Join(ancientDir, rawdb.ChainFreezerName)}
+	chainPaths := []string{filepath.Join(
+		ancientDir,
+		rawdb.ChainFreezerName,
+	)}
 	confirmAndRemoveDB(chainPaths, "ancient chain", ctx, removeChainDataFlag.Name)
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index 61be0bd252..31401e214c 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ func TestVerkleGenesisCommit(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected trie to be verkle")
 	}
 
-	if !rawdb.ExistsAccountTrieNode(db, nil) {
+	if !rawdb.HasAccountTrieNode(db, nil) {
 		t.Fatal("could not find node")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go
index e34b24fd76..f6f09bbfff 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_trie.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
 // HashScheme is the legacy hash-based state scheme with which trie nodes are
@@ -50,7 +49,7 @@ const PathScheme = "path"
 type hasher struct{ sha crypto.KeccakState }
 
 var hasherPool = sync.Pool{
-	New: func() interface{} { return &hasher{sha: sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(crypto.KeccakState)} },
+	New: func() interface{} { return &hasher{sha: crypto.NewKeccakState()} },
 }
 
 func newHasher() *hasher {
@@ -65,33 +64,15 @@ func (h *hasher) release() {
 	hasherPool.Put(h)
 }
 
-// ReadAccountTrieNode retrieves the account trie node and the associated node
-// hash with the specified node path.
-func ReadAccountTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, path []byte) ([]byte, common.Hash) {
-	data, err := db.Get(accountTrieNodeKey(path))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}
-	}
-	h := newHasher()
-	defer h.release()
-	return data, h.hash(data)
+// ReadAccountTrieNode retrieves the account trie node with the specified node path.
+func ReadAccountTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, path []byte) []byte {
+	data, _ := db.Get(accountTrieNodeKey(path))
+	return data
 }
 
-// HasAccountTrieNode checks the account trie node presence with the specified
-// node path and the associated node hash.
-func HasAccountTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, path []byte, hash common.Hash) bool {
-	data, err := db.Get(accountTrieNodeKey(path))
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	h := newHasher()
-	defer h.release()
-	return h.hash(data) == hash
-}
-
-// ExistsAccountTrieNode checks the presence of the account trie node with the
+// HasAccountTrieNode checks the presence of the account trie node with the
 // specified node path, regardless of the node hash.
-func ExistsAccountTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, path []byte) bool {
+func HasAccountTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, path []byte) bool {
 	has, err := db.Has(accountTrieNodeKey(path))
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
@@ -113,33 +94,15 @@ func DeleteAccountTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, path []byte) {
 	}
 }
 
-// ReadStorageTrieNode retrieves the storage trie node and the associated node
-// hash with the specified node path.
-func ReadStorageTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, accountHash common.Hash, path []byte) ([]byte, common.Hash) {
-	data, err := db.Get(storageTrieNodeKey(accountHash, path))
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}
-	}
-	h := newHasher()
-	defer h.release()
-	return data, h.hash(data)
+// ReadStorageTrieNode retrieves the storage trie node with the specified node path.
+func ReadStorageTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, accountHash common.Hash, path []byte) []byte {
+	data, _ := db.Get(storageTrieNodeKey(accountHash, path))
+	return data
 }
 
-// HasStorageTrieNode checks the storage trie node presence with the provided
-// node path and the associated node hash.
-func HasStorageTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, accountHash common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) bool {
-	data, err := db.Get(storageTrieNodeKey(accountHash, path))
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	h := newHasher()
-	defer h.release()
-	return h.hash(data) == hash
-}
-
-// ExistsStorageTrieNode checks the presence of the storage trie node with the
+// HasStorageTrieNode checks the presence of the storage trie node with the
 // specified account hash and node path, regardless of the node hash.
-func ExistsStorageTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, accountHash common.Hash, path []byte) bool {
+func HasStorageTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, accountHash common.Hash, path []byte) bool {
 	has, err := db.Has(storageTrieNodeKey(accountHash, path))
 	if err != nil {
 		return false
@@ -198,10 +161,18 @@ func HasTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash c
 	case HashScheme:
 		return HasLegacyTrieNode(db, hash)
 	case PathScheme:
+		var blob []byte
 		if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-			return HasAccountTrieNode(db, path, hash)
+			blob = ReadAccountTrieNode(db, path)
+		} else {
+			blob = ReadStorageTrieNode(db, owner, path)
 		}
-		return HasStorageTrieNode(db, owner, path, hash)
+		if len(blob) == 0 {
+			return false
+		}
+		h := newHasher()
+		defer h.release()
+		return h.hash(blob) == hash // exists but not match
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Unknown scheme %v", scheme))
 	}
@@ -209,28 +180,21 @@ func HasTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash c
 
 // ReadTrieNode retrieves the trie node from database with the provided node info
 // and associated node hash.
-// hashScheme-based lookup requires the following:
-//   - hash
-//
-// pathScheme-based lookup requires the following:
-//   - owner
-//   - path
 func ReadTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash, scheme string) []byte {
 	switch scheme {
 	case HashScheme:
 		return ReadLegacyTrieNode(db, hash)
 	case PathScheme:
-		var (
-			blob  []byte
-			nHash common.Hash
-		)
+		var blob []byte
 		if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-			blob, nHash = ReadAccountTrieNode(db, path)
+			blob = ReadAccountTrieNode(db, path)
 		} else {
-			blob, nHash = ReadStorageTrieNode(db, owner, path)
+			blob = ReadStorageTrieNode(db, owner, path)
 		}
-		if nHash != hash {
-			return nil
+		h := newHasher()
+		defer h.release()
+		if h.hash(blob) != hash {
+			return nil // exists but not match
 		}
 		return blob
 	default:
@@ -238,14 +202,10 @@ func ReadTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash
 	}
 }
 
-// WriteTrieNode writes the trie node into database with the provided node info
-// and associated node hash.
-// hashScheme-based lookup requires the following:
-//   - hash
+// WriteTrieNode writes the trie node into database with the provided node info.
 //
-// pathScheme-based lookup requires the following:
-//   - owner
-//   - path
+// hash-scheme requires the node hash as the identifier.
+// path-scheme requires the node owner and path as the identifier.
 func WriteTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash, node []byte, scheme string) {
 	switch scheme {
 	case HashScheme:
@@ -261,14 +221,10 @@ func WriteTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash
 	}
 }
 
-// DeleteTrieNode deletes the trie node from database with the provided node info
-// and associated node hash.
-// hashScheme-based lookup requires the following:
-//   - hash
+// DeleteTrieNode deletes the trie node from database with the provided node info.
 //
-// pathScheme-based lookup requires the following:
-//   - owner
-//   - path
+// hash-scheme requires the node hash as the identifier.
+// path-scheme requires the node owner and path as the identifier.
 func DeleteTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash, scheme string) {
 	switch scheme {
 	case HashScheme:
@@ -287,9 +243,8 @@ func DeleteTrieNode(db ethdb.KeyValueWriter, owner common.Hash, path []byte, has
 // ReadStateScheme reads the state scheme of persistent state, or none
 // if the state is not present in database.
 func ReadStateScheme(db ethdb.Reader) string {
-	// Check if state in path-based scheme is present
-	blob, _ := ReadAccountTrieNode(db, nil)
-	if len(blob) != 0 {
+	// Check if state in path-based scheme is present.
+	if HasAccountTrieNode(db, nil) {
 		return PathScheme
 	}
 	// The root node might be deleted during the initial snap sync, check
@@ -304,8 +259,7 @@ func ReadStateScheme(db ethdb.Reader) string {
 	if header == nil {
 		return "" // empty datadir
 	}
-	blob = ReadLegacyTrieNode(db, header.Root)
-	if len(blob) == 0 {
+	if !HasLegacyTrieNode(db, header.Root) {
 		return "" // no state in disk
 	}
 	return HashScheme
diff --git a/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go b/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go
index e88867af0e..ff315fb18d 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/ancient_scheme.go
@@ -77,5 +77,6 @@ var freezers = []string{ChainFreezerName, StateFreezerName}
 
 // NewStateFreezer initializes the freezer for state history.
 func NewStateFreezer(ancientDir string, readOnly bool) (*ResettableFreezer, error) {
-	return NewResettableFreezer(filepath.Join(ancientDir, StateFreezerName), "eth/db/state", readOnly, stateHistoryTableSize, stateFreezerNoSnappy)
+	name := filepath.Join(ancientDir, StateFreezerName)
+	return NewResettableFreezer(name, "eth/db/state", readOnly, stateHistoryTableSize, stateFreezerNoSnappy)
 }
diff --git a/core/rawdb/ancient_utils.go b/core/rawdb/ancient_utils.go
index 428cda544b..1c69639c9d 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/ancient_utils.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/ancient_utils.go
@@ -89,20 +89,17 @@ func inspectFreezers(db ethdb.Database) ([]freezerInfo, error) {
 			infos = append(infos, info)
 
 		case StateFreezerName:
-			if ReadStateScheme(db) != PathScheme {
-				continue
-			}
 			datadir, err := db.AncientDatadir()
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
 			f, err := NewStateFreezer(datadir, true)
 			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
+				continue // might be possible the state freezer is not existent
 			}
 			defer f.Close()
 
-			info, err := inspect(StateFreezerName, stateFreezerNoSnappy, f)
+			info, err := inspect(freezer, stateFreezerNoSnappy, f)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
diff --git a/eth/protocols/snap/sync.go b/eth/protocols/snap/sync.go
index 887a50775d..62f68cb37f 100644
--- a/eth/protocols/snap/sync.go
+++ b/eth/protocols/snap/sync.go
@@ -718,11 +718,11 @@ func (s *Syncer) Sync(root common.Hash, cancel chan struct{}) error {
 
 // cleanPath is used to remove the dangling nodes in the stackTrie.
 func (s *Syncer) cleanPath(batch ethdb.Batch, owner common.Hash, path []byte) {
-	if owner == (common.Hash{}) && rawdb.ExistsAccountTrieNode(s.db, path) {
+	if owner == (common.Hash{}) && rawdb.HasAccountTrieNode(s.db, path) {
 		rawdb.DeleteAccountTrieNode(batch, path)
 		deletionGauge.Inc(1)
 	}
-	if owner != (common.Hash{}) && rawdb.ExistsStorageTrieNode(s.db, owner, path) {
+	if owner != (common.Hash{}) && rawdb.HasStorageTrieNode(s.db, owner, path) {
 		rawdb.DeleteStorageTrieNode(batch, owner, path)
 		deletionGauge.Inc(1)
 	}
@@ -2201,11 +2201,16 @@ func (s *Syncer) processStorageResponse(res *storageResponse) {
 			// If the chunk's root is an overflown but full delivery,
 			// clear the heal request.
 			accountHash := res.accounts[len(res.accounts)-1]
-			if root == res.subTask.root && rawdb.HasStorageTrieNode(s.db, accountHash, nil, root) {
-				for i, account := range res.mainTask.res.hashes {
-					if account == accountHash {
-						res.mainTask.needHeal[i] = false
-						skipStorageHealingGauge.Inc(1)
+			if root == res.subTask.root {
+				// Ensure the root node with particular hash is present in disk
+				// before clearing.
+				blob := rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(s.db, accountHash, nil)
+				if len(blob) != 0 && crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob) == root {
+					for i, account := range res.mainTask.res.hashes {
+						if account == accountHash {
+							res.mainTask.needHeal[i] = false
+							skipStorageHealingGauge.Inc(1)
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
diff --git a/trie/sync.go b/trie/sync.go
index 589d28364b..f6b20b2240 100644
--- a/trie/sync.go
+++ b/trie/sync.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/prque"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
@@ -546,9 +547,9 @@ func (s *Sync) children(req *nodeRequest, object node) ([]*nodeRequest, error) {
 				// the performance impact negligible.
 				var exists bool
 				if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-					exists = rawdb.ExistsAccountTrieNode(s.database, append(inner, key[:i]...))
+					exists = rawdb.HasAccountTrieNode(s.database, append(inner, key[:i]...))
 				} else {
-					exists = rawdb.ExistsStorageTrieNode(s.database, owner, append(inner, key[:i]...))
+					exists = rawdb.HasStorageTrieNode(s.database, owner, append(inner, key[:i]...))
 				}
 				if exists {
 					s.membatch.delNode(owner, append(inner, key[:i]...))
@@ -691,13 +692,14 @@ func (s *Sync) hasNode(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) (exists
 	}
 	// If node is running with path scheme, check the presence with node path.
 	var blob []byte
-	var dbHash common.Hash
 	if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-		blob, dbHash = rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(s.database, path)
+		blob = rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(s.database, path)
 	} else {
-		blob, dbHash = rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(s.database, owner, path)
+		blob = rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(s.database, owner, path)
 	}
-	exists = hash == dbHash
+	h := newBlobHasher()
+	defer h.release()
+	exists = hash == h.hash(blob)
 	inconsistent = !exists && len(blob) != 0
 	return exists, inconsistent
 }
@@ -712,3 +714,23 @@ func ResolvePath(path []byte) (common.Hash, []byte) {
 	}
 	return owner, path
 }
+
+// blobHasher is used to compute the sha256 hash of the provided data.
+type blobHasher struct{ state crypto.KeccakState }
+
+// blobHasherPool is the pool for reusing pre-allocated hash state.
+var blobHasherPool = sync.Pool{
+	New: func() interface{} { return &blobHasher{state: crypto.NewKeccakState()} },
+}
+
+func newBlobHasher() *blobHasher {
+	return blobHasherPool.Get().(*blobHasher)
+}
+
+func (h *blobHasher) hash(data []byte) common.Hash {
+	return crypto.HashData(h.state, data)
+}
+
+func (h *blobHasher) release() {
+	blobHasherPool.Put(h)
+}
diff --git a/trie/trienode/node.go b/trie/trienode/node.go
index 95315c2e9a..49883ce7bb 100644
--- a/trie/trienode/node.go
+++ b/trie/trienode/node.go
@@ -32,11 +32,6 @@ type Node struct {
 	Blob []byte      // Encoded node blob, nil for the deleted node
 }
 
-// Size returns the total memory size used by this node.
-func (n *Node) Size() int {
-	return len(n.Blob) + common.HashLength
-}
-
 // IsDeleted returns the indicator if the node is marked as deleted.
 func (n *Node) IsDeleted() bool {
 	return len(n.Blob) == 0
@@ -130,16 +125,6 @@ func (set *NodeSet) Size() (int, int) {
 	return set.updates, set.deletes
 }
 
-// Hashes returns the hashes of all updated nodes. TODO(rjl493456442) how can
-// we get rid of it?
-func (set *NodeSet) Hashes() []common.Hash {
-	var ret []common.Hash
-	for _, node := range set.Nodes {
-		ret = append(ret, node.Hash)
-	}
-	return ret
-}
-
 // Summary returns a string-representation of the NodeSet.
 func (set *NodeSet) Summary() string {
 	var out = new(strings.Builder)
@@ -189,11 +174,17 @@ func (set *MergedNodeSet) Merge(other *NodeSet) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Flatten returns a two-dimensional map for internal nodes.
-func (set *MergedNodeSet) Flatten() map[common.Hash]map[string]*Node {
-	nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*Node)
+// Slim returns a node map by assembling nodes from the merged set while excluding
+// any other fields in the MergedNodeSet. The node blobs are referenced directly
+// without deep-copied due to the fact that they are immutable.
+func (set *MergedNodeSet) Slim() map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte {
+	nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
 	for owner, set := range set.Sets {
-		nodes[owner] = set.Nodes
+		subset := make(map[string][]byte)
+		for path, node := range set.Nodes {
+			subset[path] = node.Blob
+		}
+		nodes[owner] = subset
 	}
 	return nodes
 }
diff --git a/trie/triestate/state.go b/trie/triestate/state.go
index aa4d32f852..df3e71fe14 100644
--- a/trie/triestate/state.go
+++ b/trie/triestate/state.go
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ type context struct {
 // Apply traverses the provided state diffs, apply them in the associated
 // post-state and return the generated dirty trie nodes. The state can be
 // loaded via the provided trie loader.
-func Apply(prevRoot common.Hash, postRoot common.Hash, accounts map[common.Address][]byte, storages map[common.Address]map[common.Hash][]byte, loader TrieLoader) (map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, error) {
+func Apply(prevRoot common.Hash, postRoot common.Hash, accounts map[common.Address][]byte, storages map[common.Address]map[common.Hash][]byte, loader TrieLoader) (map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, error) {
 	tr, err := loader.OpenTrie(postRoot)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func Apply(prevRoot common.Hash, postRoot common.Hash, accounts map[common.Addre
 	if err := ctx.nodes.Merge(result); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	return ctx.nodes.Flatten(), nil
+	return ctx.nodes.Slim(), nil
 }
 
 // updateAccount the account was present in prev-state, and may or may not
diff --git a/triedb/database.go b/triedb/database.go
index 939a21f147..7b2abc6156 100644
--- a/triedb/database.go
+++ b/triedb/database.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
@@ -48,9 +49,6 @@ var HashDefaults = &Config{
 // backend defines the methods needed to access/update trie nodes in different
 // state scheme.
 type backend interface {
-	// Scheme returns the identifier of used storage scheme.
-	Scheme() string
-
 	// Initialized returns an indicator if the state data is already initialized
 	// according to the state scheme.
 	Initialized(genesisRoot common.Hash) bool
@@ -181,7 +179,10 @@ func (db *Database) Initialized(genesisRoot common.Hash) bool {
 
 // Scheme returns the node scheme used in the database.
 func (db *Database) Scheme() string {
-	return db.backend.Scheme()
+	if db.config.PathDB != nil {
+		return rawdb.PathScheme
+	}
+	return rawdb.HashScheme
 }
 
 // Close flushes the dangling preimages to disk and closes the trie database.
diff --git a/triedb/database/database.go b/triedb/database/database.go
index 18a8f454e2..f11c7e9bbd 100644
--- a/triedb/database/database.go
+++ b/triedb/database/database.go
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ type Reader interface {
 	// Node retrieves the trie node blob with the provided trie identifier,
 	// node path and the corresponding node hash. No error will be returned
 	// if the node is not found.
+	//
+	// Don't modify the returned byte slice since it's not deep-copied and
+	// still be referenced by database.
 	Node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error)
 }
 
diff --git a/triedb/hashdb/database.go b/triedb/hashdb/database.go
index 7d5499eb69..ebb5d72057 100644
--- a/triedb/hashdb/database.go
+++ b/triedb/hashdb/database.go
@@ -623,11 +623,6 @@ func (db *Database) Close() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Scheme returns the node scheme used in the database.
-func (db *Database) Scheme() string {
-	return rawdb.HashScheme
-}
-
 // Reader retrieves a node reader belonging to the given state root.
 // An error will be returned if the requested state is not available.
 func (db *Database) Reader(root common.Hash) (*reader, error) {
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/database.go b/triedb/pathdb/database.go
index 34941a274d..47e2960c6a 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/database.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/database.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
@@ -60,10 +61,11 @@ var (
 // public methods and some additional methods for internal usage.
 type layer interface {
 	// Node retrieves the trie node with the node info. An error will be returned
-	// if the read operation exits abnormally. For example, if the layer is already
-	// stale, or the associated state is regarded as corrupted. Notably, no error
-	// will be returned if the requested node is not found in database.
-	Node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error)
+	// if the read operation exits abnormally. Specifically, if the layer is
+	// already stale.
+	//
+	// Note, no error will be returned if the requested node is not found in database.
+	node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, depth int) ([]byte, *nodeLoc, error)
 
 	// rootHash returns the root hash for which this layer was made.
 	rootHash() common.Hash
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ type layer interface {
 	// the provided dirty trie nodes along with the state change set.
 	//
 	// Note, the maps are retained by the method to avoid copying everything.
-	update(root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer
+	update(root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer
 
 	// journal commits an entire diff hierarchy to disk into a single journal entry.
 	// This is meant to be used during shutdown to persist the layer without
@@ -208,15 +210,6 @@ func New(diskdb ethdb.Database, config *Config) *Database {
 	return db
 }
 
-// Reader retrieves a layer belonging to the given state root.
-func (db *Database) Reader(root common.Hash) (layer, error) {
-	l := db.tree.get(root)
-	if l == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("state %#x is not available", root)
-	}
-	return l, nil
-}
-
 // Update adds a new layer into the tree, if that can be linked to an existing
 // old parent. It is disallowed to insert a disk layer (the origin of all). Apart
 // from that this function will flatten the extra diff layers at bottom into disk
@@ -298,7 +291,7 @@ func (db *Database) Enable(root common.Hash) error {
 	}
 	// Ensure the provided state root matches the stored one.
 	root = types.TrieRootHash(root)
-	_, stored := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db.diskdb, nil)
+	stored := crypto.Keccak256Hash(rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db.diskdb, nil))
 	if stored != root {
 		return fmt.Errorf("state root mismatch: stored %x, synced %x", stored, root)
 	}
@@ -471,11 +464,6 @@ func (db *Database) SetBufferSize(size int) error {
 	return db.tree.bottom().setBufferSize(db.bufferSize)
 }
 
-// Scheme returns the node scheme used in the database.
-func (db *Database) Scheme() string {
-	return rawdb.PathScheme
-}
-
 // modifyAllowed returns the indicator if mutation is allowed. This function
 // assumes the db.lock is already held.
 func (db *Database) modifyAllowed() error {
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/database_test.go b/triedb/pathdb/database_test.go
index a41cf4268a..b01f1842ad 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/database_test.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/database_test.go
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ func TestDisable(t *testing.T) {
 	tester := newTester(t, 0)
 	defer tester.release()
 
-	_, stored := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(tester.db.diskdb, nil)
+	stored := crypto.Keccak256Hash(rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(tester.db.diskdb, nil))
 	if err := tester.db.Disable(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal("Failed to deactivate database")
 	}
@@ -580,7 +580,9 @@ func TestCorruptedJournal(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("Failed to journal, err: %v", err)
 	}
 	tester.db.Close()
-	_, root := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(tester.db.diskdb, nil)
+
+	rootBlob := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(tester.db.diskdb, nil)
+	root := crypto.Keccak256Hash(rootBlob)
 
 	// Mutate the journal in disk, it should be regarded as invalid
 	blob := rawdb.ReadTrieJournal(tester.db.diskdb)
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/difflayer.go b/triedb/pathdb/difflayer.go
index 10567715d2..9e82b9cb2a 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/difflayer.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/difflayer.go
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/trienode"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/triestate"
 )
 
@@ -33,19 +32,19 @@ import (
 // made to the state, that have not yet graduated into a semi-immutable state.
 type diffLayer struct {
 	// Immutables
-	root   common.Hash                               // Root hash to which this layer diff belongs to
-	id     uint64                                    // Corresponding state id
-	block  uint64                                    // Associated block number
-	nodes  map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node // Cached trie nodes indexed by owner and path
-	states *triestate.Set                            // Associated state change set for building history
-	memory uint64                                    // Approximate guess as to how much memory we use
+	root   common.Hash                       // Root hash to which this layer diff belongs to
+	id     uint64                            // Corresponding state id
+	block  uint64                            // Associated block number
+	nodes  map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte // Cached trie nodes indexed by owner and path
+	states *triestate.Set                    // Associated state change set for building history
+	memory uint64                            // Approximate guess as to how much memory we use
 
 	parent layer        // Parent layer modified by this one, never nil, **can be changed**
 	lock   sync.RWMutex // Lock used to protect parent
 }
 
 // newDiffLayer creates a new diff layer on top of an existing layer.
-func newDiffLayer(parent layer, root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer {
+func newDiffLayer(parent layer, root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer {
 	var (
 		size  int64
 		count int
@@ -60,11 +59,11 @@ func newDiffLayer(parent layer, root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes
 	}
 	for _, subset := range nodes {
 		for path, n := range subset {
-			dl.memory += uint64(n.Size() + len(path))
-			size += int64(len(n.Blob) + len(path))
+			size += int64(len(n) + len(path))
 		}
 		count += len(subset)
 	}
+	dl.memory = uint64(size)
 	if states != nil {
 		dl.memory += uint64(states.Size())
 	}
@@ -95,10 +94,9 @@ func (dl *diffLayer) parentLayer() layer {
 	return dl.parent
 }
 
-// node retrieves the node with provided node information. It's the internal
-// version of Node function with additional accessed layer tracked. No error
-// will be returned if node is not found.
-func (dl *diffLayer) node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash, depth int) ([]byte, error) {
+// node implements the layer interface, retrieving the trie node blob with the
+// provided node information. No error will be returned if the node is not found.
+func (dl *diffLayer) node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, depth int) ([]byte, *nodeLoc, error) {
 	// Hold the lock, ensure the parent won't be changed during the
 	// state accessing.
 	dl.lock.RLock()
@@ -109,36 +107,19 @@ func (dl *diffLayer) node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash, dept
 	if ok {
 		n, ok := subset[string(path)]
 		if ok {
-			// If the trie node is not hash matched, or marked as removed,
-			// bubble up an error here. It shouldn't happen at all.
-			if n.Hash != hash {
-				dirtyFalseMeter.Mark(1)
-				log.Error("Unexpected trie node in diff layer", "owner", owner, "path", path, "expect", hash, "got", n.Hash)
-				return nil, newUnexpectedNodeError("diff", hash, n.Hash, owner, path, n.Blob)
-			}
 			dirtyHitMeter.Mark(1)
 			dirtyNodeHitDepthHist.Update(int64(depth))
-			dirtyReadMeter.Mark(int64(len(n.Blob)))
-			return n.Blob, nil
+			dirtyReadMeter.Mark(int64(len(n)))
+			return n, &nodeLoc{loc: locDiffLayer, depth: depth}, nil
 		}
 	}
 	// Trie node unknown to this layer, resolve from parent
-	if diff, ok := dl.parent.(*diffLayer); ok {
-		return diff.node(owner, path, hash, depth+1)
-	}
-	// Failed to resolve through diff layers, fallback to disk layer
-	return dl.parent.Node(owner, path, hash)
-}
-
-// Node implements the layer interface, retrieving the trie node blob with the
-// provided node information. No error will be returned if the node is not found.
-func (dl *diffLayer) Node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
-	return dl.node(owner, path, hash, 0)
+	return dl.parent.node(owner, path, depth+1)
 }
 
 // update implements the layer interface, creating a new layer on top of the
 // existing layer tree with the specified data items.
-func (dl *diffLayer) update(root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer {
+func (dl *diffLayer) update(root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer {
 	return newDiffLayer(dl, root, id, block, nodes, states)
 }
 
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/difflayer_test.go b/triedb/pathdb/difflayer_test.go
index 75890b8a83..3e557c221d 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/difflayer_test.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/difflayer_test.go
@@ -22,9 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/internal/testrand"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/trienode"
 )
 
 func emptyLayer() *diskLayer {
@@ -58,24 +56,21 @@ func BenchmarkSearch1Layer(b *testing.B) { benchmarkSearch(b, 127, 128) }
 func benchmarkSearch(b *testing.B, depth int, total int) {
 	var (
 		npath []byte
-		nhash common.Hash
 		nblob []byte
 	)
 	// First, we set up 128 diff layers, with 3K items each
 	fill := func(parent layer, index int) *diffLayer {
-		nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
-		nodes[common.Hash{}] = make(map[string]*trienode.Node)
+		nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
+		nodes[common.Hash{}] = make(map[string][]byte)
 		for i := 0; i < 3000; i++ {
 			var (
 				path = testrand.Bytes(32)
 				blob = testrand.Bytes(100)
-				node = trienode.New(crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob), blob)
 			)
-			nodes[common.Hash{}][string(path)] = trienode.New(node.Hash, node.Blob)
+			nodes[common.Hash{}][string(path)] = blob
 			if npath == nil && depth == index {
 				npath = common.CopyBytes(path)
-				nblob = common.CopyBytes(node.Blob)
-				nhash = node.Hash
+				nblob = common.CopyBytes(blob)
 			}
 		}
 		return newDiffLayer(parent, common.Hash{}, 0, 0, nodes, nil)
@@ -92,7 +87,7 @@ func benchmarkSearch(b *testing.B, depth int, total int) {
 		err  error
 	)
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		have, err = layer.Node(common.Hash{}, npath, nhash)
+		have, _, err = layer.node(common.Hash{}, npath, 0)
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatal(err)
 		}
@@ -110,15 +105,14 @@ func benchmarkSearch(b *testing.B, depth int, total int) {
 func BenchmarkPersist(b *testing.B) {
 	// First, we set up 128 diff layers, with 3K items each
 	fill := func(parent layer) *diffLayer {
-		nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
-		nodes[common.Hash{}] = make(map[string]*trienode.Node)
+		nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
+		nodes[common.Hash{}] = make(map[string][]byte)
 		for i := 0; i < 3000; i++ {
 			var (
 				path = testrand.Bytes(32)
 				blob = testrand.Bytes(100)
-				node = trienode.New(crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob), blob)
 			)
-			nodes[common.Hash{}][string(path)] = trienode.New(node.Hash, node.Blob)
+			nodes[common.Hash{}][string(path)] = blob
 		}
 		return newDiffLayer(parent, common.Hash{}, 0, 0, nodes, nil)
 	}
@@ -148,15 +142,14 @@ func BenchmarkJournal(b *testing.B) {
 
 	// First, we set up 128 diff layers, with 3K items each
 	fill := func(parent layer) *diffLayer {
-		nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
-		nodes[common.Hash{}] = make(map[string]*trienode.Node)
+		nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
+		nodes[common.Hash{}] = make(map[string][]byte)
 		for i := 0; i < 3000; i++ {
 			var (
 				path = testrand.Bytes(32)
 				blob = testrand.Bytes(100)
-				node = trienode.New(crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob), blob)
 			)
-			nodes[common.Hash{}][string(path)] = trienode.New(node.Hash, node.Blob)
+			nodes[common.Hash{}][string(path)] = blob
 		}
 		// TODO(rjl493456442) a non-nil state set is expected.
 		return newDiffLayer(parent, common.Hash{}, 0, 0, nodes, nil)
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/disklayer.go b/triedb/pathdb/disklayer.go
index 777e4ec8a7..8e87533b8f 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/disklayer.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/disklayer.go
@@ -23,11 +23,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/VictoriaMetrics/fastcache"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/trienode"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/triestate"
-	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
 // diskLayer is a low level persistent layer built on top of a key-value store.
@@ -94,27 +91,25 @@ func (dl *diskLayer) markStale() {
 	dl.stale = true
 }
 
-// Node implements the layer interface, retrieving the trie node with the
+// node implements the layer interface, retrieving the trie node with the
 // provided node info. No error will be returned if the node is not found.
-func (dl *diskLayer) Node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+func (dl *diskLayer) node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, depth int) ([]byte, *nodeLoc, error) {
 	dl.lock.RLock()
 	defer dl.lock.RUnlock()
 
 	if dl.stale {
-		return nil, errSnapshotStale
+		return nil, nil, errSnapshotStale
 	}
 	// Try to retrieve the trie node from the not-yet-written
 	// node buffer first. Note the buffer is lock free since
 	// it's impossible to mutate the buffer before tagging the
 	// layer as stale.
-	n, err := dl.buffer.node(owner, path, hash)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if n != nil {
+	n, found := dl.buffer.node(owner, path)
+	if found {
 		dirtyHitMeter.Mark(1)
-		dirtyReadMeter.Mark(int64(len(n.Blob)))
-		return n.Blob, nil
+		dirtyReadMeter.Mark(int64(len(n)))
+		dirtyNodeHitDepthHist.Update(int64(depth))
+		return n, &nodeLoc{loc: locDirtyCache, depth: depth}, nil
 	}
 	dirtyMissMeter.Mark(1)
 
@@ -122,45 +117,29 @@ func (dl *diskLayer) Node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]b
 	key := cacheKey(owner, path)
 	if dl.cleans != nil {
 		if blob := dl.cleans.Get(nil, key); len(blob) > 0 {
-			h := newHasher()
-			defer h.release()
-
-			got := h.hash(blob)
-			if got == hash {
-				cleanHitMeter.Mark(1)
-				cleanReadMeter.Mark(int64(len(blob)))
-				return blob, nil
-			}
-			cleanFalseMeter.Mark(1)
-			log.Error("Unexpected trie node in clean cache", "owner", owner, "path", path, "expect", hash, "got", got)
+			cleanHitMeter.Mark(1)
+			cleanReadMeter.Mark(int64(len(blob)))
+			return blob, &nodeLoc{loc: locCleanCache, depth: depth}, nil
 		}
 		cleanMissMeter.Mark(1)
 	}
 	// Try to retrieve the trie node from the disk.
-	var (
-		nBlob []byte
-		nHash common.Hash
-	)
+	var blob []byte
 	if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-		nBlob, nHash = rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(dl.db.diskdb, path)
+		blob = rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(dl.db.diskdb, path)
 	} else {
-		nBlob, nHash = rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(dl.db.diskdb, owner, path)
+		blob = rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(dl.db.diskdb, owner, path)
 	}
-	if nHash != hash {
-		diskFalseMeter.Mark(1)
-		log.Error("Unexpected trie node in disk", "owner", owner, "path", path, "expect", hash, "got", nHash)
-		return nil, newUnexpectedNodeError("disk", hash, nHash, owner, path, nBlob)
+	if dl.cleans != nil && len(blob) > 0 {
+		dl.cleans.Set(key, blob)
+		cleanWriteMeter.Mark(int64(len(blob)))
 	}
-	if dl.cleans != nil && len(nBlob) > 0 {
-		dl.cleans.Set(key, nBlob)
-		cleanWriteMeter.Mark(int64(len(nBlob)))
-	}
-	return nBlob, nil
+	return blob, &nodeLoc{loc: locDiskLayer, depth: depth}, nil
 }
 
 // update implements the layer interface, returning a new diff layer on top
 // with the given state set.
-func (dl *diskLayer) update(root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer {
+func (dl *diskLayer) update(root common.Hash, id uint64, block uint64, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, states *triestate.Set) *diffLayer {
 	return newDiffLayer(dl, root, id, block, nodes, states)
 }
 
@@ -310,22 +289,3 @@ func (dl *diskLayer) resetCache() {
 		dl.cleans.Reset()
 	}
 }
-
-// hasher is used to compute the sha256 hash of the provided data.
-type hasher struct{ sha crypto.KeccakState }
-
-var hasherPool = sync.Pool{
-	New: func() interface{} { return &hasher{sha: sha3.NewLegacyKeccak256().(crypto.KeccakState)} },
-}
-
-func newHasher() *hasher {
-	return hasherPool.Get().(*hasher)
-}
-
-func (h *hasher) hash(data []byte) common.Hash {
-	return crypto.HashData(h.sha, data)
-}
-
-func (h *hasher) release() {
-	hasherPool.Put(h)
-}
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/errors.go b/triedb/pathdb/errors.go
index 78ee4459fe..86c4df6fce 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/errors.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/errors.go
@@ -18,10 +18,6 @@ package pathdb
 
 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -45,16 +41,4 @@ var (
 	// errStateUnrecoverable is returned if state is required to be reverted to
 	// a destination without associated state history available.
 	errStateUnrecoverable = errors.New("state is unrecoverable")
-
-	// errUnexpectedNode is returned if the requested node with specified path is
-	// not hash matched with expectation.
-	errUnexpectedNode = errors.New("unexpected node")
 )
-
-func newUnexpectedNodeError(loc string, expHash common.Hash, gotHash common.Hash, owner common.Hash, path []byte, blob []byte) error {
-	blobHex := "nil"
-	if len(blob) > 0 {
-		blobHex = hexutil.Encode(blob)
-	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("%w, loc: %s, node: (%x %v), %x!=%x, blob: %s", errUnexpectedNode, loc, owner, path, expHash, gotHash, blobHex)
-}
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/journal.go b/triedb/pathdb/journal.go
index 3a0b7ebae2..63247b267b 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/journal.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/journal.go
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/trienode"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/triestate"
 )
 
@@ -120,9 +119,10 @@ func (db *Database) loadJournal(diskRoot common.Hash) (layer, error) {
 // loadLayers loads a pre-existing state layer backed by a key-value store.
 func (db *Database) loadLayers() layer {
 	// Retrieve the root node of persistent state.
-	_, root := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db.diskdb, nil)
-	root = types.TrieRootHash(root)
-
+	var root = types.EmptyRootHash
+	if blob := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db.diskdb, nil); len(blob) > 0 {
+		root = crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob)
+	}
 	// Load the layers by resolving the journal
 	head, err := db.loadJournal(root)
 	if err == nil {
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@ func (db *Database) loadDiskLayer(r *rlp.Stream) (layer, error) {
 	if err := r.Decode(&encoded); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load disk nodes: %v", err)
 	}
-	nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
+	nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
 	for _, entry := range encoded {
-		subset := make(map[string]*trienode.Node)
+		subset := make(map[string][]byte)
 		for _, n := range entry.Nodes {
 			if len(n.Blob) > 0 {
-				subset[string(n.Path)] = trienode.New(crypto.Keccak256Hash(n.Blob), n.Blob)
+				subset[string(n.Path)] = n.Blob
 			} else {
-				subset[string(n.Path)] = trienode.NewDeleted()
+				subset[string(n.Path)] = nil
 			}
 		}
 		nodes[entry.Owner] = subset
@@ -200,14 +200,14 @@ func (db *Database) loadDiffLayer(parent layer, r *rlp.Stream) (layer, error) {
 	if err := r.Decode(&encoded); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("load diff nodes: %v", err)
 	}
-	nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
+	nodes := make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
 	for _, entry := range encoded {
-		subset := make(map[string]*trienode.Node)
+		subset := make(map[string][]byte)
 		for _, n := range entry.Nodes {
 			if len(n.Blob) > 0 {
-				subset[string(n.Path)] = trienode.New(crypto.Keccak256Hash(n.Blob), n.Blob)
+				subset[string(n.Path)] = n.Blob
 			} else {
-				subset[string(n.Path)] = trienode.NewDeleted()
+				subset[string(n.Path)] = nil
 			}
 		}
 		nodes[entry.Owner] = subset
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ func (dl *diskLayer) journal(w io.Writer) error {
 	for owner, subset := range dl.buffer.nodes {
 		entry := journalNodes{Owner: owner}
 		for path, node := range subset {
-			entry.Nodes = append(entry.Nodes, journalNode{Path: []byte(path), Blob: node.Blob})
+			entry.Nodes = append(entry.Nodes, journalNode{Path: []byte(path), Blob: node})
 		}
 		nodes = append(nodes, entry)
 	}
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ func (dl *diffLayer) journal(w io.Writer) error {
 	for owner, subset := range dl.nodes {
 		entry := journalNodes{Owner: owner}
 		for path, node := range subset {
-			entry.Nodes = append(entry.Nodes, journalNode{Path: []byte(path), Blob: node.Blob})
+			entry.Nodes = append(entry.Nodes, journalNode{Path: []byte(path), Blob: node})
 		}
 		nodes = append(nodes, entry)
 	}
@@ -361,14 +361,13 @@ func (db *Database) Journal(root common.Hash) error {
 	if err := rlp.Encode(journal, journalVersion); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	// The stored state in disk might be empty, convert the
-	// root to emptyRoot in this case.
-	_, diskroot := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db.diskdb, nil)
-	diskroot = types.TrieRootHash(diskroot)
-
 	// Secondly write out the state root in disk, ensure all layers
 	// on top are continuous with disk.
-	if err := rlp.Encode(journal, diskroot); err != nil {
+	diskRoot := types.EmptyRootHash
+	if blob := rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db.diskdb, nil); len(blob) > 0 {
+		diskRoot = crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob)
+	}
+	if err := rlp.Encode(journal, diskRoot); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	// Finally write out the journal of each layer in reverse order.
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/layertree.go b/triedb/pathdb/layertree.go
index d314779910..d3eb978093 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/layertree.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/layertree.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func (tree *layerTree) add(root common.Hash, parentRoot common.Hash, block uint6
 	if parent == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("triedb parent [%#x] layer missing", parentRoot)
 	}
-	l := parent.update(root, parent.stateID()+1, block, nodes.Flatten(), states)
+	l := parent.update(root, parent.stateID()+1, block, nodes.Slim(), states)
 
 	tree.lock.Lock()
 	tree.layers[l.rootHash()] = l
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/metrics.go b/triedb/pathdb/metrics.go
index 9e2b1dcbf5..a250f703cb 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/metrics.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/metrics.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ var (
 	cleanFalseMeter = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("pathdb/clean/false", nil)
 	dirtyFalseMeter = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("pathdb/dirty/false", nil)
 	diskFalseMeter  = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("pathdb/disk/false", nil)
+	diffFalseMeter  = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("pathdb/diff/false", nil)
 
 	commitTimeTimer  = metrics.NewRegisteredTimer("pathdb/commit/time", nil)
 	commitNodesMeter = metrics.NewRegisteredMeter("pathdb/commit/nodes", nil)
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/nodebuffer.go b/triedb/pathdb/nodebuffer.go
index 8f84c2b442..d1b17fbc40 100644
--- a/triedb/pathdb/nodebuffer.go
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/nodebuffer.go
@@ -17,37 +17,36 @@
 package pathdb
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/VictoriaMetrics/fastcache"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie/trienode"
 )
 
 // nodebuffer is a collection of modified trie nodes to aggregate the disk
 // write. The content of the nodebuffer must be checked before diving into
 // disk (since it basically is not-yet-written data).
 type nodebuffer struct {
-	layers uint64                                    // The number of diff layers aggregated inside
-	size   uint64                                    // The size of aggregated writes
-	limit  uint64                                    // The maximum memory allowance in bytes
-	nodes  map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node // The dirty node set, mapped by owner and path
+	layers uint64                            // The number of diff layers aggregated inside
+	size   uint64                            // The size of aggregated writes
+	limit  uint64                            // The maximum memory allowance in bytes
+	nodes  map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte // The aggregated node set, mapped by owner and path
 }
 
 // newNodeBuffer initializes the node buffer with the provided nodes.
-func newNodeBuffer(limit int, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, layers uint64) *nodebuffer {
+func newNodeBuffer(limit int, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, layers uint64) *nodebuffer {
 	if nodes == nil {
-		nodes = make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
+		nodes = make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
 	}
 	var size uint64
 	for _, subset := range nodes {
 		for path, n := range subset {
-			size += uint64(len(n.Blob) + len(path))
+			size += uint64(len(n) + len(path))
 		}
 	}
 	return &nodebuffer{
@@ -59,28 +58,22 @@ func newNodeBuffer(limit int, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, l
 }
 
 // node retrieves the trie node with given node info.
-func (b *nodebuffer) node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) (*trienode.Node, error) {
+func (b *nodebuffer) node(owner common.Hash, path []byte) ([]byte, bool) {
 	subset, ok := b.nodes[owner]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, nil
+		return nil, false
 	}
 	n, ok := subset[string(path)]
 	if !ok {
-		return nil, nil
+		return nil, false
 	}
-	if n.Hash != hash {
-		dirtyFalseMeter.Mark(1)
-		log.Error("Unexpected trie node in node buffer", "owner", owner, "path", path, "expect", hash, "got", n.Hash)
-		return nil, newUnexpectedNodeError("dirty", hash, n.Hash, owner, path, n.Blob)
-	}
-	return n, nil
+	return n, true
 }
 
 // commit merges the dirty nodes into the nodebuffer. This operation won't take
 // the ownership of the nodes map which belongs to the bottom-most diff layer.
-// It will just hold the node references from the given map which are safe to
-// copy.
-func (b *nodebuffer) commit(nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node) *nodebuffer {
+// It will hold the node references from the given map which are safe to copy.
+func (b *nodebuffer) commit(nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte) *nodebuffer {
 	var (
 		delta         int64
 		overwrite     int64
@@ -94,22 +87,25 @@ func (b *nodebuffer) commit(nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node) *no
 			// The nodes belong to original diff layer are still accessible even
 			// after merging, thus the ownership of nodes map should still belong
 			// to original layer and any mutation on it should be prevented.
-			current = make(map[string]*trienode.Node)
+			current = make(map[string][]byte)
 			for path, n := range subset {
+				// node deep-copying is not worthwhile as they are immutable.
 				current[path] = n
-				delta += int64(len(n.Blob) + len(path))
+				delta += int64(len(n) + len(path))
 			}
 			b.nodes[owner] = current
 			continue
 		}
+		// Merge the node sets belonging to the same owner.
 		for path, n := range subset {
 			if orig, exist := current[path]; !exist {
-				delta += int64(len(n.Blob) + len(path))
+				delta += int64(len(n) + len(path))
 			} else {
-				delta += int64(len(n.Blob) - len(orig.Blob))
+				delta += int64(len(n) - len(orig))
 				overwrite++
-				overwriteSize += int64(len(orig.Blob) + len(path))
+				overwriteSize += int64(len(orig) + len(path))
 			}
+			// node deep-copying is not worthwhile as they are immutable.
 			current[path] = n
 		}
 		b.nodes[owner] = current
@@ -124,7 +120,7 @@ func (b *nodebuffer) commit(nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node) *no
 // revert is the reverse operation of commit. It also merges the provided nodes
 // into the nodebuffer, the difference is that the provided node set should
 // revert the changes made by the last state transition.
-func (b *nodebuffer) revert(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node) error {
+func (b *nodebuffer) revert(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte) error {
 	// Short circuit if no embedded state transition to revert.
 	if b.layers == 0 {
 		return errStateUnrecoverable
@@ -153,20 +149,21 @@ func (b *nodebuffer) revert(db ethdb.KeyValueReader, nodes map[common.Hash]map[s
 				//
 				// In case of database rollback, don't panic if this "clean"
 				// node occurs which is not present in buffer.
-				var nhash common.Hash
+				var blob []byte
 				if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-					_, nhash = rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db, []byte(path))
+					blob = rawdb.ReadAccountTrieNode(db, []byte(path))
 				} else {
-					_, nhash = rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(db, owner, []byte(path))
+					blob = rawdb.ReadStorageTrieNode(db, owner, []byte(path))
 				}
 				// Ignore the clean node in the case described above.
-				if nhash == n.Hash {
+				if bytes.Equal(blob, n) {
 					continue
 				}
-				panic(fmt.Sprintf("non-existent node (%x %v) blob: %v", owner, path, crypto.Keccak256Hash(n.Blob).Hex()))
+				panic(fmt.Sprintf("non-existent node (%x %v) blob: %v", owner, path, n))
 			}
+			// node deep-copying is not worthwhile as they are immutable.
 			current[path] = n
-			delta += int64(len(n.Blob)) - int64(len(orig.Blob))
+			delta += int64(len(n)) - int64(len(orig))
 		}
 	}
 	b.updateSize(delta)
@@ -189,7 +186,7 @@ func (b *nodebuffer) updateSize(delta int64) {
 func (b *nodebuffer) reset() {
 	b.layers = 0
 	b.size = 0
-	b.nodes = make(map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node)
+	b.nodes = make(map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte)
 }
 
 // empty returns an indicator if nodebuffer contains any state transition inside.
@@ -251,10 +248,10 @@ func (b *nodebuffer) flush(db ethdb.KeyValueStore, clean *fastcache.Cache, id ui
 // writeNodes writes the trie nodes into the provided database batch.
 // Note this function will also inject all the newly written nodes
 // into clean cache.
-func writeNodes(batch ethdb.Batch, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.Node, clean *fastcache.Cache) (total int) {
+func writeNodes(batch ethdb.Batch, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string][]byte, clean *fastcache.Cache) (total int) {
 	for owner, subset := range nodes {
 		for path, n := range subset {
-			if n.IsDeleted() {
+			if len(n) == 0 {
 				if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
 					rawdb.DeleteAccountTrieNode(batch, []byte(path))
 				} else {
@@ -265,12 +262,12 @@ func writeNodes(batch ethdb.Batch, nodes map[common.Hash]map[string]*trienode.No
 				}
 			} else {
 				if owner == (common.Hash{}) {
-					rawdb.WriteAccountTrieNode(batch, []byte(path), n.Blob)
+					rawdb.WriteAccountTrieNode(batch, []byte(path), n)
 				} else {
-					rawdb.WriteStorageTrieNode(batch, owner, []byte(path), n.Blob)
+					rawdb.WriteStorageTrieNode(batch, owner, []byte(path), n)
 				}
 				if clean != nil {
-					clean.Set(cacheKey(owner, []byte(path)), n.Blob)
+					clean.Set(cacheKey(owner, []byte(path)), n)
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/triedb/pathdb/reader.go b/triedb/pathdb/reader.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..90f7ed0bb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/triedb/pathdb/reader.go
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+// Copyright 2022 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 pathdb
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/triedb/database"
+)
+
+// The types of locations where the node is found.
+const (
+	locDirtyCache = "dirty" // dirty cache
+	locCleanCache = "clean" // clean cache
+	locDiskLayer  = "disk"  // persistent state
+	locDiffLayer  = "diff"  // diff layers
+)
+
+// nodeLoc is a helpful structure that contains the location where the node
+// is found, as it's useful for debugging purposes.
+type nodeLoc struct {
+	loc   string
+	depth int
+}
+
+// string returns the string representation of node location.
+func (loc *nodeLoc) string() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("loc: %s, depth: %d", loc.loc, loc.depth)
+}
+
+// reader implements the Reader interface, providing the functionalities to
+// retrieve trie nodes by wrapping the internal state layer.
+type reader struct {
+	layer layer
+	state crypto.KeccakState
+}
+
+// Node implements trie.Reader interface, retrieving the node with specified
+// node info. Don't modify the returned byte slice since it's not deep-copied
+// and still be referenced by database.
+func (r *reader) Node(owner common.Hash, path []byte, hash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+	blob, loc, err := r.layer.node(owner, path, 0)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if got := crypto.HashData(r.state, blob); got != hash {
+		// Location is always available even if the node
+		// is not found.
+		switch loc.loc {
+		case locCleanCache:
+			cleanFalseMeter.Mark(1)
+		case locDirtyCache:
+			dirtyFalseMeter.Mark(1)
+		case locDiffLayer:
+			diffFalseMeter.Mark(1)
+		case locDiskLayer:
+			diskFalseMeter.Mark(1)
+		}
+		log.Error("Unexpected trie node", "location", loc.loc, "owner", owner, "path", path, "expect", hash, "got", got)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unexpected node: (%x %v), %x!=%x, %s", owner, path, hash, got, loc.string())
+	}
+	return blob, nil
+}
+
+// Reader retrieves a layer belonging to the given state root.
+func (db *Database) Reader(root common.Hash) (database.Reader, error) {
+	layer := db.tree.get(root)
+	if layer == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("state %#x is not available", root)
+	}
+	return &reader{layer: layer, state: crypto.NewKeccakState()}, nil
+}