diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 88d3ee7900..1790d35988 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.7
+1.8.8
diff --git a/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go b/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go
index 2b5c5fc4a4..7b605e1c1e 100644
--- a/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go
+++ b/accounts/abi/bind/backends/simulated.go
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@ type SimulatedBackend struct {
 // NewSimulatedBackend creates a new binding backend using a simulated blockchain
 // for testing purposes.
 func NewSimulatedBackend(alloc core.GenesisAlloc) *SimulatedBackend {
-	database, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	database := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := core.Genesis{Config: params.AllEthashProtocolChanges, Alloc: alloc}
 	genesis.MustCommit(database)
 	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(database, nil, genesis.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
@@ -159,7 +160,7 @@ func (b *SimulatedBackend) StorageAt(ctx context.Context, contract common.Addres
 
 // TransactionReceipt returns the receipt of a transaction.
 func (b *SimulatedBackend) TransactionReceipt(ctx context.Context, txHash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, error) {
-	receipt, _, _, _ := core.GetReceipt(b.database, txHash)
+	receipt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(b.database, txHash)
 	return receipt, nil
 }
 
@@ -430,11 +431,19 @@ func (fb *filterBackend) HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, block rpc.BlockNumb
 }
 
 func (fb *filterBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
-	return core.GetBlockReceipts(fb.db, hash, core.GetBlockNumber(fb.db, hash)), nil
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(fb.db, hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return rawdb.ReadReceipts(fb.db, hash, *number), nil
 }
 
 func (fb *filterBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
-	receipts := core.GetBlockReceipts(fb.db, hash, core.GetBlockNumber(fb.db, hash))
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(fb.db, hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(fb.db, hash, *number)
 	if receipts == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
diff --git a/accounts/keystore/keystore_passphrase.go b/accounts/keystore/keystore_passphrase.go
index eaec39f7df..da632fe345 100644
--- a/accounts/keystore/keystore_passphrase.go
+++ b/accounts/keystore/keystore_passphrase.go
@@ -108,9 +108,8 @@ func (ks keyStorePassphrase) StoreKey(filename string, key *Key, auth string) er
 func (ks keyStorePassphrase) JoinPath(filename string) string {
 	if filepath.IsAbs(filename) {
 		return filename
-	} else {
-		return filepath.Join(ks.keysDirPath, filename)
 	}
+	return filepath.Join(ks.keysDirPath, filename)
 }
 
 // EncryptKey encrypts a key using the specified scrypt parameters into a json
diff --git a/accounts/keystore/keystore_plain.go b/accounts/keystore/keystore_plain.go
index b490ca72b8..f62a133ce1 100644
--- a/accounts/keystore/keystore_plain.go
+++ b/accounts/keystore/keystore_plain.go
@@ -56,7 +56,6 @@ func (ks keyStorePlain) StoreKey(filename string, key *Key, auth string) error {
 func (ks keyStorePlain) JoinPath(filename string) string {
 	if filepath.IsAbs(filename) {
 		return filename
-	} else {
-		return filepath.Join(ks.keysDirPath, filename)
 	}
+	return filepath.Join(ks.keysDirPath, filename)
 }
diff --git a/bmt/bmt.go b/bmt/bmt.go
index 3408758675..c290223452 100644
--- a/bmt/bmt.go
+++ b/bmt/bmt.go
@@ -150,29 +150,29 @@ func NewTreePool(hasher BaseHasher, segmentCount, capacity int) *TreePool {
 }
 
 // Drain drains the pool until it has no more than n resources
-func (self *TreePool) Drain(n int) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	for len(self.c) > n {
-		<-self.c
-		self.count--
+func (p *TreePool) Drain(n int) {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	for len(p.c) > n {
+		<-p.c
+		p.count--
 	}
 }
 
 // Reserve is blocking until it returns an available Tree
 // it reuses free Trees or creates a new one if size is not reached
-func (self *TreePool) Reserve() *Tree {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
+func (p *TreePool) Reserve() *Tree {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
 	var t *Tree
-	if self.count == self.Capacity {
-		return <-self.c
+	if p.count == p.Capacity {
+		return <-p.c
 	}
 	select {
-	case t = <-self.c:
+	case t = <-p.c:
 	default:
-		t = NewTree(self.hasher, self.SegmentSize, self.SegmentCount)
-		self.count++
+		t = NewTree(p.hasher, p.SegmentSize, p.SegmentCount)
+		p.count++
 	}
 	return t
 }
@@ -180,8 +180,8 @@ func (self *TreePool) Reserve() *Tree {
 // Release gives back a Tree to the pool.
 // This Tree is guaranteed to be in reusable state
 // does not need locking
-func (self *TreePool) Release(t *Tree) {
-	self.c <- t // can never fail but...
+func (p *TreePool) Release(t *Tree) {
+	p.c <- t // can never fail but...
 }
 
 // Tree is a reusable control structure representing a BMT
@@ -193,17 +193,17 @@ type Tree struct {
 }
 
 // Draw draws the BMT (badly)
-func (self *Tree) Draw(hash []byte, d int) string {
+func (t *Tree) Draw(hash []byte, d int) string {
 	var left, right []string
 	var anc []*Node
-	for i, n := range self.leaves {
+	for i, n := range t.leaves {
 		left = append(left, fmt.Sprintf("%v", hashstr(n.left)))
 		if i%2 == 0 {
 			anc = append(anc, n.parent)
 		}
 		right = append(right, fmt.Sprintf("%v", hashstr(n.right)))
 	}
-	anc = self.leaves
+	anc = t.leaves
 	var hashes [][]string
 	for l := 0; len(anc) > 0; l++ {
 		var nodes []*Node
@@ -277,42 +277,42 @@ func NewTree(hasher BaseHasher, segmentSize, segmentCount int) *Tree {
 // methods needed by hash.Hash
 
 // Size returns the size
-func (self *Hasher) Size() int {
-	return self.size
+func (h *Hasher) Size() int {
+	return h.size
 }
 
 // BlockSize returns the block size
-func (self *Hasher) BlockSize() int {
-	return self.blocksize
+func (h *Hasher) BlockSize() int {
+	return h.blocksize
 }
 
 // Sum returns the hash of the buffer
 // hash.Hash interface Sum method appends the byte slice to the underlying
 // data before it calculates and returns the hash of the chunk
-func (self *Hasher) Sum(b []byte) (r []byte) {
-	t := self.bmt
-	i := self.cur
+func (h *Hasher) Sum(b []byte) (r []byte) {
+	t := h.bmt
+	i := h.cur
 	n := t.leaves[i]
 	j := i
 	// must run strictly before all nodes calculate
 	// datanodes are guaranteed to have a parent
-	if len(self.segment) > self.size && i > 0 && n.parent != nil {
+	if len(h.segment) > h.size && i > 0 && n.parent != nil {
 		n = n.parent
 	} else {
 		i *= 2
 	}
-	d := self.finalise(n, i)
-	self.writeSegment(j, self.segment, d)
-	c := <-self.result
-	self.releaseTree()
+	d := h.finalise(n, i)
+	h.writeSegment(j, h.segment, d)
+	c := <-h.result
+	h.releaseTree()
 
 	// sha3(length + BMT(pure_chunk))
-	if self.blockLength == nil {
+	if h.blockLength == nil {
 		return c
 	}
-	res := self.pool.hasher()
+	res := h.pool.hasher()
 	res.Reset()
-	res.Write(self.blockLength)
+	res.Write(h.blockLength)
 	res.Write(c)
 	return res.Sum(nil)
 }
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ func (self *Hasher) Sum(b []byte) (r []byte) {
 
 // Hash waits for the hasher result and returns it
 // caller must call this on a BMT Hasher being written to
-func (self *Hasher) Hash() []byte {
-	return <-self.result
+func (h *Hasher) Hash() []byte {
+	return <-h.result
 }
 
 // Hasher implements the io.Writer interface
@@ -330,16 +330,16 @@ func (self *Hasher) Hash() []byte {
 // Write fills the buffer to hash
 // with every full segment complete launches a hasher go routine
 // that shoots up the BMT
-func (self *Hasher) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
+func (h *Hasher) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 	l := len(b)
 	if l <= 0 {
 		return 0, nil
 	}
-	s := self.segment
-	i := self.cur
-	count := (self.count + 1) / 2
-	need := self.count*self.size - self.cur*2*self.size
-	size := self.size
+	s := h.segment
+	i := h.cur
+	count := (h.count + 1) / 2
+	need := h.count*h.size - h.cur*2*h.size
+	size := h.size
 	if need > size {
 		size *= 2
 	}
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ func (self *Hasher) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 	// read full segments and the last possibly partial segment
 	for need > 0 && i < count-1 {
 		// push all finished chunks we read
-		self.writeSegment(i, s, self.depth)
+		h.writeSegment(i, s, h.depth)
 		need -= size
 		if need < 0 {
 			size += need
@@ -365,8 +365,8 @@ func (self *Hasher) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 		rest += size
 		i++
 	}
-	self.segment = s
-	self.cur = i
+	h.segment = s
+	h.cur = i
 	// otherwise, we can assume len(s) == 0, so all buffer is read and chunk is not yet full
 	return l, nil
 }
@@ -376,8 +376,8 @@ func (self *Hasher) Write(b []byte) (int, error) {
 // ReadFrom reads from io.Reader and appends to the data to hash using Write
 // it reads so that chunk to hash is maximum length or reader reaches EOF
 // caller must Reset the hasher prior to call
-func (self *Hasher) ReadFrom(r io.Reader) (m int64, err error) {
-	bufsize := self.size*self.count - self.size*self.cur - len(self.segment)
+func (h *Hasher) ReadFrom(r io.Reader) (m int64, err error) {
+	bufsize := h.size*h.count - h.size*h.cur - len(h.segment)
 	buf := make([]byte, bufsize)
 	var read int
 	for {
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ func (self *Hasher) ReadFrom(r io.Reader) (m int64, err error) {
 		n, err = r.Read(buf)
 		read += n
 		if err == io.EOF || read == len(buf) {
-			hash := self.Sum(buf[:n])
+			hash := h.Sum(buf[:n])
 			if read == len(buf) {
 				err = NewEOC(hash)
 			}
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func (self *Hasher) ReadFrom(r io.Reader) (m int64, err error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			break
 		}
-		n, err = self.Write(buf[:n])
+		n, err = h.Write(buf[:n])
 		if err != nil {
 			break
 		}
@@ -403,9 +403,9 @@ func (self *Hasher) ReadFrom(r io.Reader) (m int64, err error) {
 }
 
 // Reset needs to be called before writing to the hasher
-func (self *Hasher) Reset() {
-	self.getTree()
-	self.blockLength = nil
+func (h *Hasher) Reset() {
+	h.getTree()
+	h.blockLength = nil
 }
 
 // Hasher implements the SwarmHash interface
@@ -413,52 +413,52 @@ func (self *Hasher) Reset() {
 // ResetWithLength needs to be called before writing to the hasher
 // the argument is supposed to be the byte slice binary representation of
 // the length of the data subsumed under the hash
-func (self *Hasher) ResetWithLength(l []byte) {
-	self.Reset()
-	self.blockLength = l
+func (h *Hasher) ResetWithLength(l []byte) {
+	h.Reset()
+	h.blockLength = l
 }
 
 // Release gives back the Tree to the pool whereby it unlocks
 // it resets tree, segment and index
-func (self *Hasher) releaseTree() {
-	if self.bmt != nil {
-		n := self.bmt.leaves[self.cur]
+func (h *Hasher) releaseTree() {
+	if h.bmt != nil {
+		n := h.bmt.leaves[h.cur]
 		for ; n != nil; n = n.parent {
 			n.unbalanced = false
 			if n.parent != nil {
 				n.root = false
 			}
 		}
-		self.pool.Release(self.bmt)
-		self.bmt = nil
+		h.pool.Release(h.bmt)
+		h.bmt = nil
 
 	}
-	self.cur = 0
-	self.segment = nil
+	h.cur = 0
+	h.segment = nil
 }
 
-func (self *Hasher) writeSegment(i int, s []byte, d int) {
-	h := self.pool.hasher()
-	n := self.bmt.leaves[i]
+func (h *Hasher) writeSegment(i int, s []byte, d int) {
+	hash := h.pool.hasher()
+	n := h.bmt.leaves[i]
 
-	if len(s) > self.size && n.parent != nil {
+	if len(s) > h.size && n.parent != nil {
 		go func() {
-			h.Reset()
-			h.Write(s)
-			s = h.Sum(nil)
+			hash.Reset()
+			hash.Write(s)
+			s = hash.Sum(nil)
 
 			if n.root {
-				self.result <- s
+				h.result <- s
 				return
 			}
-			self.run(n.parent, h, d, n.index, s)
+			h.run(n.parent, hash, d, n.index, s)
 		}()
 		return
 	}
-	go self.run(n, h, d, i*2, s)
+	go h.run(n, hash, d, i*2, s)
 }
 
-func (self *Hasher) run(n *Node, h hash.Hash, d int, i int, s []byte) {
+func (h *Hasher) run(n *Node, hash hash.Hash, d int, i int, s []byte) {
 	isLeft := i%2 == 0
 	for {
 		if isLeft {
@@ -470,18 +470,18 @@ func (self *Hasher) run(n *Node, h hash.Hash, d int, i int, s []byte) {
 			return
 		}
 		if !n.unbalanced || !isLeft || i == 0 && d == 0 {
-			h.Reset()
-			h.Write(n.left)
-			h.Write(n.right)
-			s = h.Sum(nil)
+			hash.Reset()
+			hash.Write(n.left)
+			hash.Write(n.right)
+			s = hash.Sum(nil)
 
 		} else {
 			s = append(n.left, n.right...)
 		}
 
-		self.hash = s
+		h.hash = s
 		if n.root {
-			self.result <- s
+			h.result <- s
 			return
 		}
 
@@ -492,20 +492,20 @@ func (self *Hasher) run(n *Node, h hash.Hash, d int, i int, s []byte) {
 }
 
 // getTree obtains a BMT resource by reserving one from the pool
-func (self *Hasher) getTree() *Tree {
-	if self.bmt != nil {
-		return self.bmt
+func (h *Hasher) getTree() *Tree {
+	if h.bmt != nil {
+		return h.bmt
 	}
-	t := self.pool.Reserve()
-	self.bmt = t
+	t := h.pool.Reserve()
+	h.bmt = t
 	return t
 }
 
 // atomic bool toggle implementing a concurrent reusable 2-state object
 // atomic addint with %2 implements atomic bool toggle
 // it returns true if the toggler just put it in the active/waiting state
-func (self *Node) toggle() bool {
-	return atomic.AddInt32(&self.state, 1)%2 == 1
+func (n *Node) toggle() bool {
+	return atomic.AddInt32(&n.state, 1)%2 == 1
 }
 
 func hashstr(b []byte) string {
@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ func depth(n int) (d int) {
 
 // finalise is following the zigzags on the tree belonging
 // to the final datasegment
-func (self *Hasher) finalise(n *Node, i int) (d int) {
+func (h *Hasher) finalise(n *Node, i int) (d int) {
 	isLeft := i%2 == 0
 	for {
 		// when the final segment's path is going via left segments
@@ -550,8 +550,8 @@ type EOC struct {
 }
 
 // Error returns the error string
-func (self *EOC) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("hasher limit reached, chunk hash: %x", self.Hash)
+func (e *EOC) Error() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("hasher limit reached, chunk hash: %x", e.Hash)
 }
 
 // NewEOC creates new end of chunk error with the hash
diff --git a/build/ci.go b/build/ci.go
index 204c206752..79dcc146c3 100644
--- a/build/ci.go
+++ b/build/ci.go
@@ -755,14 +755,18 @@ func doAndroidArchive(cmdline []string) {
 	os.Rename(archive, meta.Package+".aar")
 	if *signer != "" && *deploy != "" {
 		// Import the signing key into the local GPG instance
-		if b64key := os.Getenv(*signer); b64key != "" {
-			key, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(b64key)
-			if err != nil {
-				log.Fatalf("invalid base64 %s", *signer)
-			}
-			gpg := exec.Command("gpg", "--import")
-			gpg.Stdin = bytes.NewReader(key)
-			build.MustRun(gpg)
+		b64key := os.Getenv(*signer)
+		key, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(b64key)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("invalid base64 %s", *signer)
+		}
+		gpg := exec.Command("gpg", "--import")
+		gpg.Stdin = bytes.NewReader(key)
+		build.MustRun(gpg)
+
+		keyID, err := build.PGPKeyID(string(key))
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Fatal(err)
 		}
 		// Upload the artifacts to Sonatype and/or Maven Central
 		repo := *deploy + "/service/local/staging/deploy/maven2"
@@ -771,6 +775,7 @@ func doAndroidArchive(cmdline []string) {
 		}
 		build.MustRunCommand("mvn", "gpg:sign-and-deploy-file", "-e", "-X",
 			"-settings=build/mvn.settings", "-Durl="+repo, "-DrepositoryId=ossrh",
+			"-Dgpg.keyname="+keyID,
 			"-DpomFile="+meta.Package+".pom", "-Dfile="+meta.Package+".aar")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/clef/main.go b/cmd/clef/main.go
index 9a1ae91acb..348bcb22f6 100644
--- a/cmd/clef/main.go
+++ b/cmd/clef/main.go
@@ -47,11 +47,11 @@ import (
 	"gopkg.in/urfave/cli.v1"
 )
 
-// ExternalApiVersion -- see extapi_changelog.md
-const ExternalApiVersion = "2.0.0"
+// ExternalAPIVersion -- see extapi_changelog.md
+const ExternalAPIVersion = "2.0.0"
 
-// InternalApiVersion -- see intapi_changelog.md
-const InternalApiVersion = "2.0.0"
+// InternalAPIVersion -- see intapi_changelog.md
+const InternalAPIVersion = "2.0.0"
 
 const legalWarning = `
 WARNING! 
@@ -398,10 +398,10 @@ func signer(c *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	// register signer API with server
 	var (
-		extapiUrl = "n/a"
-		ipcApiUrl = "n/a"
+		extapiURL = "n/a"
+		ipcapiURL = "n/a"
 	)
-	rpcApi := []rpc.API{
+	rpcAPI := []rpc.API{
 		{
 			Namespace: "account",
 			Public:    true,
@@ -415,12 +415,12 @@ func signer(c *cli.Context) error {
 
 		// start http server
 		httpEndpoint := fmt.Sprintf("%s:%d", c.String(utils.RPCListenAddrFlag.Name), c.Int(rpcPortFlag.Name))
-		listener, _, err := rpc.StartHTTPEndpoint(httpEndpoint, rpcApi, []string{"account"}, cors, vhosts)
+		listener, _, err := rpc.StartHTTPEndpoint(httpEndpoint, rpcAPI, []string{"account"}, cors, vhosts)
 		if err != nil {
 			utils.Fatalf("Could not start RPC api: %v", err)
 		}
-		extapiUrl = fmt.Sprintf("http://%s", httpEndpoint)
-		log.Info("HTTP endpoint opened", "url", extapiUrl)
+		extapiURL = fmt.Sprintf("http://%s", httpEndpoint)
+		log.Info("HTTP endpoint opened", "url", extapiURL)
 
 		defer func() {
 			listener.Close()
@@ -430,19 +430,19 @@ func signer(c *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	if !c.Bool(utils.IPCDisabledFlag.Name) {
 		if c.IsSet(utils.IPCPathFlag.Name) {
-			ipcApiUrl = c.String(utils.IPCPathFlag.Name)
+			ipcapiURL = c.String(utils.IPCPathFlag.Name)
 		} else {
-			ipcApiUrl = filepath.Join(configDir, "clef.ipc")
+			ipcapiURL = filepath.Join(configDir, "clef.ipc")
 		}
 
-		listener, _, err := rpc.StartIPCEndpoint(ipcApiUrl, rpcApi)
+		listener, _, err := rpc.StartIPCEndpoint(ipcapiURL, rpcAPI)
 		if err != nil {
 			utils.Fatalf("Could not start IPC api: %v", err)
 		}
-		log.Info("IPC endpoint opened", "url", ipcApiUrl)
+		log.Info("IPC endpoint opened", "url", ipcapiURL)
 		defer func() {
 			listener.Close()
-			log.Info("IPC endpoint closed", "url", ipcApiUrl)
+			log.Info("IPC endpoint closed", "url", ipcapiURL)
 		}()
 
 	}
@@ -453,10 +453,10 @@ func signer(c *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	ui.OnSignerStartup(core.StartupInfo{
 		Info: map[string]interface{}{
-			"extapi_version": ExternalApiVersion,
-			"intapi_version": InternalApiVersion,
-			"extapi_http":    extapiUrl,
-			"extapi_ipc":     ipcApiUrl,
+			"extapi_version": ExternalAPIVersion,
+			"intapi_version": InternalAPIVersion,
+			"extapi_http":    extapiURL,
+			"extapi_ipc":     ipcapiURL,
 		},
 	})
 
diff --git a/cmd/evm/json_logger.go b/cmd/evm/json_logger.go
index 0e7a911896..f16424fbe6 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/json_logger.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/json_logger.go
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ type JSONLogger struct {
 	cfg     *vm.LogConfig
 }
 
+// NewJSONLogger creates a new EVM tracer that prints execution steps as JSON objects
+// into the provided stream.
 func NewJSONLogger(cfg *vm.LogConfig, writer io.Writer) *JSONLogger {
 	return &JSONLogger{json.NewEncoder(writer), cfg}
 }
diff --git a/cmd/evm/runner.go b/cmd/evm/runner.go
index 99919304ae..7138a9ddd4 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/runner.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/runner.go
@@ -98,14 +98,13 @@ func runCmd(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	}
 	if ctx.GlobalString(GenesisFlag.Name) != "" {
 		gen := readGenesis(ctx.GlobalString(GenesisFlag.Name))
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		genesis := gen.ToBlock(db)
 		statedb, _ = state.New(genesis.Root(), state.NewDatabase(db))
 		chainConfig = gen.Config
 		blockNumber = gen.Number
 	} else {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	}
 	if ctx.GlobalString(SenderFlag.Name) != "" {
 		sender = common.HexToAddress(ctx.GlobalString(SenderFlag.Name))
diff --git a/cmd/evm/staterunner.go b/cmd/evm/staterunner.go
index 071ea94ad0..6d5ff069f6 100644
--- a/cmd/evm/staterunner.go
+++ b/cmd/evm/staterunner.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ var stateTestCommand = cli.Command{
 	ArgsUsage: "<file>",
 }
 
+// StatetestResult contains the execution status after running a state test, any
+// error that might have occurred and a dump of the final state if requested.
 type StatetestResult struct {
 	Name  string      `json:"name"`
 	Pass  bool        `json:"pass"`
diff --git a/cmd/geth/accountcmd.go b/cmd/geth/accountcmd.go
index 0db5c4ce0f..071be85397 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/accountcmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/accountcmd.go
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ func importWallet(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if len(keyfile) == 0 {
 		utils.Fatalf("keyfile must be given as argument")
 	}
-	keyJson, err := ioutil.ReadFile(keyfile)
+	keyJSON, err := ioutil.ReadFile(keyfile)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("Could not read wallet file: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -349,7 +349,7 @@ func importWallet(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	passphrase := getPassPhrase("", false, 0, utils.MakePasswordList(ctx))
 
 	ks := stack.AccountManager().Backends(keystore.KeyStoreType)[0].(*keystore.KeyStore)
-	acct, err := ks.ImportPreSaleKey(keyJson, passphrase)
+	acct, err := ks.ImportPreSaleKey(keyJSON, passphrase)
 	if err != nil {
 		utils.Fatalf("%v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go b/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go
index 51187ac90e..7e9a8ccc70 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/bugcmd.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ var bugCommand = cli.Command{
 	Category:  "MISCELLANEOUS COMMANDS",
 }
 
-const issueUrl = "https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/issues/new"
+const issueURL = "https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/issues/new"
 
 // reportBug reports a bug by opening a new URL to the go-ethereum GH issue
 // tracker and setting default values as the issue body.
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ func reportBug(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	fmt.Fprintln(&buff, header)
 
 	// open a new GH issue
-	if !browser.Open(issueUrl + "?body=" + url.QueryEscape(buff.String())) {
-		fmt.Printf("Please file a new issue at %s using this template:\n\n%s", issueUrl, buff.String())
+	if !browser.Open(issueURL + "?body=" + url.QueryEscape(buff.String())) {
+		fmt.Printf("Please file a new issue at %s using this template:\n\n%s", issueURL, buff.String())
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/geth/dao_test.go b/cmd/geth/dao_test.go
index a8dbc51630..52983ff2af 100644
--- a/cmd/geth/dao_test.go
+++ b/cmd/geth/dao_test.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
@@ -131,8 +131,8 @@ func testDAOForkBlockNewChain(t *testing.T, test int, genesis string, expectBloc
 	if genesis != "" {
 		genesisHash = daoGenesisHash
 	}
-	config, err := core.GetChainConfig(db, genesisHash)
-	if err != nil {
+	config := rawdb.ReadChainConfig(db, genesisHash)
+	if config == nil {
 		t.Errorf("test %d: failed to retrieve chain config: %v", test, err)
 		return // we want to return here, the other checks can't make it past this point (nil panic).
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/utils/cmd.go b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
index c0af4c13e7..58d72f32ba 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/cmd.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"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"
@@ -271,15 +272,13 @@ func ImportPreimages(db *ethdb.LDBDatabase, fn string) error {
 		// Accumulate the preimages and flush when enough ws gathered
 		preimages[crypto.Keccak256Hash(blob)] = common.CopyBytes(blob)
 		if len(preimages) > 1024 {
-			if err := core.WritePreimages(db, 0, preimages); err != nil {
-				return err
-			}
+			rawdb.WritePreimages(db, 0, preimages)
 			preimages = make(map[common.Hash][]byte)
 		}
 	}
 	// Flush the last batch preimage data
 	if len(preimages) > 0 {
-		return core.WritePreimages(db, 0, preimages)
+		rawdb.WritePreimages(db, 0, preimages)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/cmd/wnode/main.go b/cmd/wnode/main.go
index 988c50ce3d..5031a088cb 100644
--- a/cmd/wnode/main.go
+++ b/cmd/wnode/main.go
@@ -271,7 +271,9 @@ func initialize() {
 
 	if *mailServerMode {
 		shh.RegisterServer(&mailServer)
-		mailServer.Init(shh, *argDBPath, msPassword, *argServerPoW)
+		if err := mailServer.Init(shh, *argDBPath, msPassword, *argServerPoW); err != nil {
+			utils.Fatalf("Failed to init MailServer: %s", err)
+		}
 	}
 
 	server = &p2p.Server{
diff --git a/common/bytes.go b/common/bytes.go
index ba00e8a4b2..e2adc80059 100644
--- a/common/bytes.go
+++ b/common/bytes.go
@@ -87,15 +87,13 @@ func Hex2BytesFixed(str string, flen int) []byte {
 	h, _ := hex.DecodeString(str)
 	if len(h) == flen {
 		return h
-	} else {
-		if len(h) > flen {
-			return h[len(h)-flen:]
-		} else {
-			hh := make([]byte, flen)
-			copy(hh[flen-len(h):flen], h[:])
-			return hh
-		}
 	}
+	if len(h) > flen {
+		return h[len(h)-flen:]
+	}
+	hh := make([]byte, flen)
+	copy(hh[flen-len(h):flen], h[:])
+	return hh
 }
 
 func RightPadBytes(slice []byte, l int) []byte {
diff --git a/consensus/clique/snapshot_test.go b/consensus/clique/snapshot_test.go
index 8b51e6e094..29a8379832 100644
--- a/consensus/clique/snapshot_test.go
+++ b/consensus/clique/snapshot_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"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"
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ func (r *testerChainReader) GetBlock(common.Hash, uint64) *types.Block   { panic
 func (r *testerChainReader) GetHeaderByHash(common.Hash) *types.Header   { panic("not supported") }
 func (r *testerChainReader) GetHeaderByNumber(number uint64) *types.Header {
 	if number == 0 {
-		return core.GetHeader(r.db, core.GetCanonicalHash(r.db, 0), 0)
+		return rawdb.ReadHeader(r.db, rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(r.db, 0), 0)
 	}
 	panic("not supported")
 }
@@ -351,7 +352,7 @@ func TestVoting(t *testing.T) {
 			copy(genesis.ExtraData[extraVanity+j*common.AddressLength:], signer[:])
 		}
 		// Create a pristine blockchain with the genesis injected
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		genesis.Commit(db)
 
 		// Assemble a chain of headers from the cast votes
diff --git a/consensus/ethash/ethash.go b/consensus/ethash/ethash.go
index 1b3dcee302..ac049f9c36 100644
--- a/consensus/ethash/ethash.go
+++ b/consensus/ethash/ethash.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ type lru struct {
 	futureItem interface{}
 }
 
-// newlru create a new least-recently-used cache for ither the verification caches
+// newlru create a new least-recently-used cache for either the verification caches
 // or the mining datasets.
 func newlru(what string, maxItems int, new func(epoch uint64) interface{}) *lru {
 	if maxItems <= 0 {
diff --git a/core/bench_test.go b/core/bench_test.go
index e23f0d19d1..748aebe407 100644
--- a/core/bench_test.go
+++ b/core/bench_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
@@ -148,7 +149,7 @@ func benchInsertChain(b *testing.B, disk bool, gen func(int, *BlockGen)) {
 	// Create the database in memory or in a temporary directory.
 	var db ethdb.Database
 	if !disk {
-		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	} else {
 		dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "eth-core-bench")
 		if err != nil {
@@ -234,13 +235,15 @@ func makeChainForBench(db ethdb.Database, full bool, count uint64) {
 			ReceiptHash: types.EmptyRootHash,
 		}
 		hash = header.Hash()
-		WriteHeader(db, header)
-		WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, n)
-		WriteTd(db, hash, n, big.NewInt(int64(n+1)))
+
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(db, header)
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, n)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(db, hash, n, big.NewInt(int64(n+1)))
+
 		if full || n == 0 {
 			block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(header)
-			WriteBody(db, hash, n, block.Body())
-			WriteBlockReceipts(db, hash, n, nil)
+			rawdb.WriteBody(db, hash, n, block.Body())
+			rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, hash, n, nil)
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -292,11 +295,10 @@ func benchReadChain(b *testing.B, full bool, count uint64) {
 			header := chain.GetHeaderByNumber(n)
 			if full {
 				hash := header.Hash()
-				GetBody(db, hash, n)
-				GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, n)
+				rawdb.ReadBody(db, hash, n)
+				rawdb.ReadReceipts(db, hash, n)
 			}
 		}
-
 		chain.Stop()
 		db.Close()
 	}
diff --git a/core/block_validator_test.go b/core/block_validator_test.go
index e334b3c3cd..2a171218e3 100644
--- a/core/block_validator_test.go
+++ b/core/block_validator_test.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 func TestHeaderVerification(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a simple chain to verify
 	var (
-		testdb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		testdb    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec     = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 		genesis   = gspec.MustCommit(testdb)
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), testdb, 8, nil)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func TestHeaderConcurrentVerification32(t *testing.T) { testHeaderConcurrentVeri
 func testHeaderConcurrentVerification(t *testing.T, threads int) {
 	// Create a simple chain to verify
 	var (
-		testdb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		testdb    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec     = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 		genesis   = gspec.MustCommit(testdb)
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), testdb, 8, nil)
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func TestHeaderConcurrentAbortion32(t *testing.T) { testHeaderConcurrentAbortion
 func testHeaderConcurrentAbortion(t *testing.T, threads int) {
 	// Create a simple chain to verify
 	var (
-		testdb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		testdb    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec     = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 		genesis   = gspec.MustCommit(testdb)
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), testdb, 1024, nil)
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index b33eb85a44..f74a0f5b27 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/mclock"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -202,7 +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.db)
+	head := rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(bc.db)
 	if head == (common.Hash{}) {
 		// Corrupt or empty database, init from scratch
 		log.Warn("Empty database, resetting chain")
@@ -228,7 +229,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 
 	// Restore the last known head header
 	currentHeader := currentBlock.Header()
-	if head := GetHeadHeaderHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadHeaderHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if header := bc.GetHeaderByHash(head); header != nil {
 			currentHeader = header
 		}
@@ -237,7 +238,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) loadLastState() error {
 
 	// Restore the last known head fast block
 	bc.currentFastBlock.Store(currentBlock)
-	if head := GetHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if block := bc.GetBlockByHash(head); block != nil {
 			bc.currentFastBlock.Store(block)
 		}
@@ -269,7 +270,7 @@ 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.db, hash, num)
+		rawdb.DeleteBody(bc.db, hash, num)
 	}
 	bc.hc.SetHead(head, delFn)
 	currentHeader := bc.hc.CurrentHeader()
@@ -303,12 +304,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) error {
 	}
 	currentBlock := bc.CurrentBlock()
 	currentFastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock()
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, currentBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to reset head full block", "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, currentFastBlock.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to reset head fast block", "err", err)
-	}
+
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, currentBlock.Hash())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, currentFastBlock.Hash())
+
 	return bc.loadLastState()
 }
 
@@ -406,9 +405,8 @@ 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.db, genesis); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(bc.db, genesis)
+
 	bc.genesisBlock = genesis
 	bc.insert(bc.genesisBlock)
 	bc.currentBlock.Store(bc.genesisBlock)
@@ -474,24 +472,19 @@ 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.db, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
+	updateHeads := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.NumberU64()) != block.Hash()
 
 	// Add the block to the canonical chain number scheme and mark as the head
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to insert block number", "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to insert head block hash", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(bc.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash())
+
 	bc.currentBlock.Store(block)
 
 	// If the block is better than our head or is on a different chain, force update heads
 	if updateHeads {
 		bc.hc.SetCurrentHeader(block.Header())
+		rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash())
 
-		if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-			log.Crit("Failed to insert head fast block hash", "err", err)
-		}
 		bc.currentFastBlock.Store(block)
 	}
 }
@@ -509,7 +502,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBody(hash common.Hash) *types.Body {
 		body := cached.(*types.Body)
 		return body
 	}
-	body := GetBody(bc.db, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := rawdb.ReadBody(bc.db, hash, *number)
 	if body == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -525,7 +522,11 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBodyRLP(hash common.Hash) rlp.RawValue {
 	if cached, ok := bc.bodyRLPCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return cached.(rlp.RawValue)
 	}
-	body := GetBodyRLP(bc.db, hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := rawdb.ReadBodyRLP(bc.db, hash, *number)
 	if len(body) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -539,8 +540,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) HasBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if bc.blockCache.Contains(hash) {
 		return true
 	}
-	ok, _ := bc.db.Has(blockBodyKey(hash, number))
-	return ok
+	return rawdb.HasBody(bc.db, hash, number)
 }
 
 // HasState checks if state trie is fully present in the database or not.
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ 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.db, hash, number)
+	block := rawdb.ReadBlock(bc.db, hash, number)
 	if block == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -578,13 +578,17 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlock(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 
 // GetBlockByHash retrieves a block from the database by hash, caching it if found.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByHash(hash common.Hash) *types.Block {
-	return bc.GetBlock(hash, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return bc.GetBlock(hash, *number)
 }
 
 // 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.db, number)
+	hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(bc.db, number)
 	if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -593,21 +597,28 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GetBlockByNumber(number uint64) *types.Block {
 
 // GetReceiptsByHash retrieves the receipts for all transactions in a given block.
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetReceiptsByHash(hash common.Hash) types.Receipts {
-	return GetBlockReceipts(bc.db, hash, GetBlockNumber(bc.db, hash))
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(bc.db, hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return rawdb.ReadReceipts(bc.db, hash, *number)
 }
 
 // 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) {
 	number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
-		block := bc.GetBlock(hash, number)
+		block := bc.GetBlock(hash, *number)
 		if block == nil {
 			break
 		}
 		blocks = append(blocks, block)
 		hash = block.ParentHash()
-		number--
+		*number--
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -712,12 +723,12 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) Rollback(chain []common.Hash) {
 		if currentFastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock(); currentFastBlock.Hash() == hash {
 			newFastBlock := bc.GetBlock(currentFastBlock.ParentHash(), currentFastBlock.NumberU64()-1)
 			bc.currentFastBlock.Store(newFastBlock)
-			WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, newFastBlock.Hash())
+			rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, newFastBlock.Hash())
 		}
 		if currentBlock := bc.CurrentBlock(); currentBlock.Hash() == hash {
 			newBlock := bc.GetBlock(currentBlock.ParentHash(), currentBlock.NumberU64()-1)
 			bc.currentBlock.Store(newBlock)
-			WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, newBlock.Hash())
+			rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(bc.db, newBlock.Hash())
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -802,15 +813,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to set receipts data: %v", err)
 		}
 		// 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)
-		}
-		if err := WriteBlockReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
-			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to write block receipts: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block); err != nil {
-			return i, fmt.Errorf("failed to write lookup metadata: %v", err)
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteBody(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+		rawdb.WriteReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts)
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block)
+
 		stats.processed++
 
 		if batch.ValueSize() >= ethdb.IdealBatchSize {
@@ -834,9 +840,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) InsertReceiptChain(blockChain types.Blocks, receiptChain [
 	if td := bc.GetTd(head.Hash(), head.NumberU64()); td != nil { // Rewind may have occurred, skip in that case
 		currentFastBlock := bc.CurrentFastBlock()
 		if bc.GetTd(currentFastBlock.Hash(), currentFastBlock.NumberU64()).Cmp(td) < 0 {
-			if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, head.Hash()); err != nil {
-				log.Crit("Failed to update head fast block hash", "err", err)
-			}
+			rawdb.WriteHeadFastBlockHash(bc.db, head.Hash())
 			bc.currentFastBlock.Store(head)
 		}
 	}
@@ -864,9 +868,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithoutState(block *types.Block, td *big.Int) (e
 	if err := bc.hc.WriteTd(block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), td); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if err := WriteBlock(bc.db, block); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(bc.db, block)
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -894,9 +897,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 	}
 	// Write other block data using a batch.
 	batch := bc.db.NewBatch()
-	if err := WriteBlock(batch, block); err != nil {
-		return NonStatTy, err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(batch, block)
+
 	root, err := state.Commit(bc.chainConfig.IsEIP158(block.Number()))
 	if err != nil {
 		return NonStatTy, err
@@ -953,9 +955,8 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts); err != nil {
-		return NonStatTy, err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteReceipts(batch, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts)
+
 	// 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
@@ -972,14 +973,10 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) WriteBlockWithState(block *types.Block, receipts []*types.
 				return NonStatTy, err
 			}
 		}
-		// Write the positional metadata for transaction and receipt lookups
-		if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block); err != nil {
-			return NonStatTy, err
-		}
-		// Write hash preimages
-		if err := WritePreimages(bc.db, block.NumberU64(), state.Preimages()); err != nil {
-			return NonStatTy, err
-		}
+		// Write the positional metadata for transaction/receipt lookups and preimages
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(batch, block)
+		rawdb.WritePreimages(batch, block.NumberU64(), state.Preimages())
+
 		status = CanonStatTy
 	} else {
 		status = SideStatTy
@@ -1256,9 +1253,13 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) reorg(oldBlock, newBlock *types.Block) error {
 		// collectLogs collects the logs that were generated during the
 		// processing of the block that corresponds with the given hash.
 		// These logs are later announced as deleted.
-		collectLogs = func(h common.Hash) {
+		collectLogs = func(hash common.Hash) {
 			// Coalesce logs and set 'Removed'.
-			receipts := GetBlockReceipts(bc.db, h, bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(h))
+			number := bc.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+			if number == nil {
+				return
+			}
+			receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(bc.db, hash, *number)
 			for _, receipt := range receipts {
 				for _, log := range receipt.Logs {
 					del := *log
@@ -1327,9 +1328,7 @@ 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.db, newChain[i]); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(bc.db, newChain[i])
 		addedTxs = append(addedTxs, newChain[i].Transactions()...)
 	}
 	// calculate the difference between deleted and added transactions
@@ -1337,7 +1336,7 @@ 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.db, tx.Hash())
+		rawdb.DeleteTxLookupEntry(bc.db, tx.Hash())
 	}
 	if len(deletedLogs) > 0 {
 		go bc.rmLogsFeed.Send(RemovedLogsEvent{deletedLogs})
diff --git a/core/blockchain_test.go b/core/blockchain_test.go
index 375823b57b..89c071174f 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -128,8 +129,8 @@ func testBlockChainImport(chain types.Blocks, blockchain *BlockChain) error {
 			return err
 		}
 		blockchain.mu.Lock()
-		WriteTd(blockchain.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTdByHash(block.ParentHash())))
-		WriteBlock(blockchain.db, block)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(blockchain.db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), new(big.Int).Add(block.Difficulty(), blockchain.GetTdByHash(block.ParentHash())))
+		rawdb.WriteBlock(blockchain.db, block)
 		statedb.Commit(false)
 		blockchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
@@ -146,8 +147,8 @@ 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.db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
-		WriteHeader(blockchain.db, header)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(blockchain.db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, blockchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(blockchain.db, header)
 		blockchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -173,7 +174,7 @@ func TestLastBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := blockchain.InsertChain(blocks); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to insert block: %v", err)
 	}
-	if blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash() != GetHeadBlockHash(blockchain.db) {
+	if blocks[len(blocks)-1].Hash() != rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(blockchain.db) {
 		t.Fatalf("Write/Get HeadBlockHash failed")
 	}
 }
@@ -568,11 +569,11 @@ func testInsertNonceError(t *testing.T, full bool) {
 func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		gendb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		key, _   = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
-		address  = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
-		funds    = big.NewInt(1000000000)
-		gspec    = &Genesis{
+		gendb   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		key, _  = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
+		address = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
+		funds   = big.NewInt(1000000000)
+		gspec   = &Genesis{
 			Config: params.TestChainConfig,
 			Alloc:  GenesisAlloc{address: {Balance: funds}},
 		}
@@ -598,7 +599,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 	// Import the chain as an archive node for the comparison baseline
-	archiveDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	archiveDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(archiveDb)
 	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer archive.Stop()
@@ -607,7 +608,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to process block %d: %v", n, err)
 	}
 	// Fast import the chain as a non-archive node to test
-	fastDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	fastDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(fastDb)
 	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer fast.Stop()
@@ -639,13 +640,13 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 		} else if types.CalcUncleHash(fblock.Uncles()) != types.CalcUncleHash(ablock.Uncles()) {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: uncles mismatch: have %v, want %v", num, hash, fblock.Uncles(), ablock.Uncles())
 		}
-		if freceipts, areceipts := GetBlockReceipts(fastDb, hash, GetBlockNumber(fastDb, hash)), GetBlockReceipts(archiveDb, hash, GetBlockNumber(archiveDb, hash)); types.DeriveSha(freceipts) != types.DeriveSha(areceipts) {
+		if freceipts, areceipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(fastDb, hash, *rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(fastDb, hash)), rawdb.ReadReceipts(archiveDb, hash, *rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(archiveDb, hash)); types.DeriveSha(freceipts) != types.DeriveSha(areceipts) {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d [%x]: receipts mismatch: have %v, want %v", num, hash, freceipts, areceipts)
 		}
 	}
 	// Check that the canonical chains are the same between the databases
 	for i := 0; i < len(blocks)+1; i++ {
-		if fhash, ahash := GetCanonicalHash(fastDb, uint64(i)), GetCanonicalHash(archiveDb, uint64(i)); fhash != ahash {
+		if fhash, ahash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(fastDb, uint64(i)), rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(archiveDb, uint64(i)); fhash != ahash {
 			t.Errorf("block #%d: canonical hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, fhash, ahash)
 		}
 	}
@@ -656,12 +657,12 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		gendb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		key, _   = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
-		address  = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
-		funds    = big.NewInt(1000000000)
-		gspec    = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig, Alloc: GenesisAlloc{address: {Balance: funds}}}
-		genesis  = gspec.MustCommit(gendb)
+		gendb   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		key, _  = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
+		address = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
+		funds   = big.NewInt(1000000000)
+		gspec   = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig, Alloc: GenesisAlloc{address: {Balance: funds}}}
+		genesis = gspec.MustCommit(gendb)
 	)
 	height := uint64(1024)
 	blocks, receipts := GenerateChain(gspec.Config, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), gendb, int(height), nil)
@@ -684,7 +685,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Import the chain as an archive node and ensure all pointers are updated
-	archiveDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	archiveDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(archiveDb)
 
 	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
@@ -698,7 +699,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	assert(t, "archive", archive, height/2, height/2, height/2)
 
 	// Import the chain as a non-archive node and ensure all pointers are updated
-	fastDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	fastDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(fastDb)
 	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer fast.Stop()
@@ -718,7 +719,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	assert(t, "fast", fast, height/2, height/2, 0)
 
 	// Import the chain as a light node and ensure all pointers are updated
-	lightDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	lightDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(lightDb)
 
 	light, _ := NewBlockChain(lightDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
@@ -741,7 +742,7 @@ func TestChainTxReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		addr2   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key2.PublicKey)
 		addr3   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key3.PublicKey)
-		db, _   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec   = &Genesis{
 			Config:   params.TestChainConfig,
 			GasLimit: 3141592,
@@ -821,28 +822,28 @@ func TestChainTxReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// removed tx
 	for i, tx := range (types.Transactions{pastDrop, freshDrop}) {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
 			t.Errorf("drop %d: tx %v found while shouldn't have been", i, txn)
 		}
-		if rcpt, _, _, _ := GetReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt != nil {
+		if rcpt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt != nil {
 			t.Errorf("drop %d: receipt %v found while shouldn't have been", i, rcpt)
 		}
 	}
 	// added tx
 	for i, tx := range (types.Transactions{pastAdd, freshAdd, futureAdd}) {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
 			t.Errorf("add %d: expected tx to be found", i)
 		}
-		if rcpt, _, _, _ := GetReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
+		if rcpt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
 			t.Errorf("add %d: expected receipt to be found", i)
 		}
 	}
 	// shared tx
 	for i, tx := range (types.Transactions{postponed, swapped}) {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
 			t.Errorf("share %d: expected tx to be found", i)
 		}
-		if rcpt, _, _, _ := GetReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
+		if rcpt, _, _, _ := rawdb.ReadReceipt(db, tx.Hash()); rcpt == nil {
 			t.Errorf("share %d: expected receipt to be found", i)
 		}
 	}
@@ -853,7 +854,7 @@ func TestLogReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		key1, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
-		db, _   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		// this code generates a log
 		code    = common.Hex2Bytes("60606040525b7f24ec1d3ff24c2f6ff210738839dbc339cd45a5294d85c79361016243157aae7b60405180905060405180910390a15b600a8060416000396000f360606040526008565b00")
 		gspec   = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig, Alloc: GenesisAlloc{addr1: {Balance: big.NewInt(10000000000000)}}}
@@ -897,7 +898,7 @@ func TestLogReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestReorgSideEvent(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
-		db, _   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		key1, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		gspec   = &Genesis{
@@ -997,14 +998,14 @@ 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(blockchain.db, block.NumberU64())
+				ch := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(blockchain.db, 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(blockchain.db, ch, block.NumberU64())
+				fb := rawdb.ReadBlock(blockchain.db, ch, block.NumberU64())
 				if fb == nil {
 					t.Fatalf("unable to retrieve block %d for canonical hash: %s", block.NumberU64(), ch.Hex())
 				}
@@ -1025,7 +1026,7 @@ func TestCanonicalBlockRetrieval(t *testing.T) {
 func TestEIP155Transition(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		key, _     = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		address    = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 		funds      = big.NewInt(1000000000)
@@ -1129,7 +1130,7 @@ func TestEIP155Transition(t *testing.T) {
 func TestEIP161AccountRemoval(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		db, _   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		key, _  = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		address = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 		funds   = big.NewInt(1000000000)
@@ -1201,7 +1202,7 @@ func TestBlockchainHeaderchainReorgConsistency(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate a canonical chain to act as the main dataset
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 64, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{1}) })
 
@@ -1217,7 +1218,7 @@ func TestBlockchainHeaderchainReorgConsistency(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Import the canonical and fork chain side by side, verifying the current block
 	// and current header consistency
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{})
@@ -1246,7 +1247,7 @@ func TestTrieForkGC(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate a canonical chain to act as the main dataset
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 2*triesInMemory, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{1}) })
 
@@ -1261,7 +1262,7 @@ func TestTrieForkGC(t *testing.T) {
 		forks[i] = fork[0]
 	}
 	// Import the canonical and fork chain side by side, forcing the trie cache to cache both
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{})
@@ -1292,7 +1293,7 @@ func TestLargeReorgTrieGC(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate the original common chain segment and the two competing forks
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 
 	shared, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 64, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{1}) })
@@ -1300,7 +1301,7 @@ func TestLargeReorgTrieGC(t *testing.T) {
 	competitor, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, shared[len(shared)-1], engine, db, 2*triesInMemory+1, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{3}) })
 
 	// Import the shared chain and the original canonical one
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{})
@@ -1360,7 +1361,7 @@ func benchmarkLargeNumberOfValueToNonexisting(b *testing.B, numTxs, numBlocks in
 	)
 	// Generate the original common chain segment and the two competing forks
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
 
 	blockGenerator := func(i int, block *BlockGen) {
@@ -1382,7 +1383,7 @@ func benchmarkLargeNumberOfValueToNonexisting(b *testing.B, numTxs, numBlocks in
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 		// Import the shared chain and the original canonical one
-		diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 		chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{})
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer.go b/core/chain_indexer.go
index 158ed83245..0b927116d0 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"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/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
@@ -206,7 +207,7 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) eventLoop(currentHeader *types.Header, events chan ChainE
 
 				// TODO(karalabe): This operation is expensive and might block, causing the event system to
 				// potentially also lock up. We need to do with on a different thread somehow.
-				if h := FindCommonAncestor(c.chainDb, prevHeader, header); h != nil {
+				if h := rawdb.FindCommonAncestor(c.chainDb, prevHeader, header); h != nil {
 					c.newHead(h.Number.Uint64(), true)
 				}
 			}
@@ -349,11 +350,11 @@ func (c *ChainIndexer) processSection(section uint64, lastHead common.Hash) (com
 	}
 
 	for number := section * c.sectionSize; number < (section+1)*c.sectionSize; number++ {
-		hash := GetCanonicalHash(c.chainDb, number)
+		hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(c.chainDb, number)
 		if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 			return common.Hash{}, fmt.Errorf("canonical block #%d unknown", number)
 		}
-		header := GetHeader(c.chainDb, hash, number)
+		header := rawdb.ReadHeader(c.chainDb, hash, number)
 		if header == nil {
 			return common.Hash{}, fmt.Errorf("block #%d [%x…] not found", number, hash[:4])
 		} else if header.ParentHash != lastHead {
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer_test.go b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
index 9fc09eda51..550caf5567 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"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/ethdb"
 )
@@ -47,7 +48,7 @@ func TestChainIndexerWithChildren(t *testing.T) {
 // multiple backends. The section size and required confirmation count parameters
 // are randomized.
 func testChainIndexer(t *testing.T, count int) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	defer db.Close()
 
 	// Create a chain of indexers and ensure they all report empty
@@ -92,10 +93,10 @@ func testChainIndexer(t *testing.T, count int) {
 	inject := func(number uint64) {
 		header := &types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(int64(number)), Extra: big.NewInt(rand.Int63()).Bytes()}
 		if number > 0 {
-			header.ParentHash = GetCanonicalHash(db, number-1)
+			header.ParentHash = rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, number-1)
 		}
-		WriteHeader(db, header)
-		WriteCanonicalHash(db, header.Hash(), number)
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(db, header)
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, header.Hash(), number)
 	}
 	// Start indexer with an already existing chain
 	for i := uint64(0); i <= 100; i++ {
diff --git a/core/chain_makers.go b/core/chain_makers.go
index 31c9e3fb77..fcba90bb87 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers.go
@@ -256,11 +256,12 @@ func makeHeader(chain consensus.ChainReader, parent *types.Block, state *state.S
 // chain. Depending on the full flag, if creates either a full block chain or a
 // header only chain.
 func newCanonical(engine consensus.Engine, n int, full bool) (ethdb.Database, *BlockChain, error) {
-	// Initialize a fresh chain with only a genesis block
-	gspec := new(Genesis)
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
+	var (
+		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		genesis = new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
+	)
 
+	// Initialize a fresh chain with only a genesis block
 	blockchain, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, params.AllEthashProtocolChanges, engine, vm.Config{})
 	// Create and inject the requested chain
 	if n == 0 {
diff --git a/core/chain_makers_test.go b/core/chain_makers_test.go
index 93be43ddce..5015d1f48e 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func ExampleGenerateChain() {
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		addr2   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key2.PublicKey)
 		addr3   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key3.PublicKey)
-		db, _   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	)
 
 	// Ensure that key1 has some funds in the genesis block.
diff --git a/core/dao_test.go b/core/dao_test.go
index e0a3e3ff37..284b1d98bd 100644
--- a/core/dao_test.go
+++ b/core/dao_test.go
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	forkBlock := big.NewInt(32)
 
 	// Generate a common prefix for both pro-forkers and non-forkers
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec := new(Genesis)
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	prefix, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, int(forkBlock.Int64()-1), func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
 
 	// Create the concurrent, conflicting two nodes
-	proDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	proDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(proDb)
 
 	proConf := *params.TestChainConfig
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	proBc, _ := NewBlockChain(proDb, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer proBc.Stop()
 
-	conDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	conDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(conDb)
 
 	conConf := *params.TestChainConfig
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	// Try to expand both pro-fork and non-fork chains iteratively with other camp's blocks
 	for i := int64(0); i < params.DAOForkExtraRange.Int64(); i++ {
 		// Create a pro-fork block, and try to feed into the no-fork chain
-		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(db)
 		bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 		defer bc.Stop()
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("contra-fork chain didn't accepted no-fork block: %v", err)
 		}
 		// Create a no-fork block, and try to feed into the pro-fork chain
-		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(db)
 		bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 		defer bc.Stop()
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Verify that contra-forkers accept pro-fork extra-datas after forking finishes
-	db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer bc.Stop()
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("contra-fork chain didn't accept pro-fork block post-fork: %v", err)
 	}
 	// Verify that pro-forkers accept contra-fork extra-datas after forking finishes
-	db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{})
 	defer bc.Stop()
diff --git a/core/database_util.go b/core/database_util.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 8c46989854..0000000000
--- a/core/database_util.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,652 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2015 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 core
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"encoding/binary"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
-	"fmt"
-	"math/big"
-
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
-)
-
-// DatabaseReader wraps the Get method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseReader interface {
-	Get(key []byte) (value []byte, err error)
-}
-
-// DatabaseDeleter wraps the Delete method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseDeleter interface {
-	Delete(key []byte) error
-}
-
-var (
-	headHeaderKey = []byte("LastHeader")
-	headBlockKey  = []byte("LastBlock")
-	headFastKey   = []byte("LastFast")
-	trieSyncKey   = []byte("TrieSync")
-
-	// Data item prefixes (use single byte to avoid mixing data types, avoid `i`).
-	headerPrefix        = []byte("h") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
-	tdSuffix            = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + tdSuffix -> td
-	numSuffix           = []byte("n") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + numSuffix -> hash
-	blockHashPrefix     = []byte("H") // blockHashPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
-	bodyPrefix          = []byte("b") // bodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
-	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r") // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
-	lookupPrefix        = []byte("l") // lookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
-	bloomBitsPrefix     = []byte("B") // bloomBitsPrefix + bit (uint16 big endian) + section (uint64 big endian) + hash -> bloom bits
-
-	preimagePrefix = "secure-key-"              // preimagePrefix + hash -> preimage
-	configPrefix   = []byte("ethereum-config-") // config prefix for the db
-
-	// Chain index prefixes (use `i` + single byte to avoid mixing data types).
-	BloomBitsIndexPrefix = []byte("iB") // BloomBitsIndexPrefix is the data table of a chain indexer to track its progress
-
-	// used by old db, now only used for conversion
-	oldReceiptsPrefix = []byte("receipts-")
-	oldTxMetaSuffix   = []byte{0x01}
-
-	ErrChainConfigNotFound = errors.New("ChainConfig not found") // general config not found error
-
-	preimageCounter    = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/total", nil)
-	preimageHitCounter = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/hits", nil)
-)
-
-// TxLookupEntry is a positional metadata to help looking up the data content of
-// a transaction or receipt given only its hash.
-type TxLookupEntry struct {
-	BlockHash  common.Hash
-	BlockIndex uint64
-	Index      uint64
-}
-
-// encodeBlockNumber encodes a block number as big endian uint64
-func encodeBlockNumber(number uint64) []byte {
-	enc := make([]byte, 8)
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(enc, number)
-	return enc
-}
-
-// GetCanonicalHash retrieves a hash assigned to a canonical block number.
-func GetCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// missingNumber is returned by GetBlockNumber if no header with the
-// given block hash has been stored in the database
-const missingNumber = uint64(0xffffffffffffffff)
-
-// GetBlockNumber returns the block number assigned to a block hash
-// if the corresponding header is present in the database
-func GetBlockNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) uint64 {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(blockHashPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-	if len(data) != 8 {
-		return missingNumber
-	}
-	return binary.BigEndian.Uint64(data)
-}
-
-// GetHeadHeaderHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block's
-// header. The difference between this and GetHeadBlockHash is that whereas the
-// last block hash is only updated upon a full block import, the last header
-// hash is updated already at header import, allowing head tracking for the
-// light synchronization mechanism.
-func GetHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headHeaderKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// GetHeadBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block.
-func GetHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headBlockKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// GetHeadFastBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block during
-// fast synchronization. The difference between this and GetHeadBlockHash is that
-// whereas the last block hash is only updated upon a full block import, the last
-// fast hash is updated when importing pre-processed blocks.
-func GetHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headFastKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}
-	}
-	return common.BytesToHash(data)
-}
-
-// GetTrieSyncProgress retrieves the number of tries nodes fast synced to allow
-// reportinc correct numbers across restarts.
-func GetTrieSyncProgress(db DatabaseReader) uint64 {
-	data, _ := db.Get(trieSyncKey)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return 0
-	}
-	return new(big.Int).SetBytes(data).Uint64()
-}
-
-// GetHeaderRLP retrieves a block header in its raw RLP database encoding, or nil
-// if the header's not found.
-func GetHeaderRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
-	data, _ := db.Get(headerKey(hash, number))
-	return data
-}
-
-// GetHeader retrieves the block header corresponding to the hash, nil if none
-// found.
-func GetHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
-	data := GetHeaderRLP(db, hash, number)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	header := new(types.Header)
-	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), header); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid block header RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return header
-}
-
-// GetBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
-func GetBodyRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
-	data, _ := db.Get(blockBodyKey(hash, number))
-	return data
-}
-
-func headerKey(hash common.Hash, number uint64) []byte {
-	return append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-}
-
-func blockBodyKey(hash common.Hash, number uint64) []byte {
-	return append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-}
-
-// GetBody retrieves the block body (transactons, uncles) corresponding to the
-// hash, nil if none found.
-func GetBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
-	data := GetBodyRLP(db, hash, number)
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	body := new(types.Body)
-	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), body); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid block body RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return body
-}
-
-// GetTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash, nil if
-// none found.
-func GetTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...), tdSuffix...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	td := new(big.Int)
-	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), td); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid block total difficulty RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	return td
-}
-
-// GetBlock retrieves an entire block corresponding to the hash, assembling it
-// back from the stored header and body. If either the header or body could not
-// be retrieved nil is returned.
-//
-// Note, due to concurrent download of header and block body the header and thus
-// canonical hash can be stored in the database but the body data not (yet).
-func GetBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
-	// Retrieve the block header and body contents
-	header := GetHeader(db, hash, number)
-	if header == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	body := GetBody(db, hash, number)
-	if body == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	// Reassemble the block and return
-	return types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(body.Transactions, body.Uncles)
-}
-
-// GetBlockReceipts retrieves the receipts generated by the transactions included
-// in a block given by its hash.
-func GetBlockReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	storageReceipts := []*types.ReceiptForStorage{}
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &storageReceipts); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid receipt array RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return nil
-	}
-	receipts := make(types.Receipts, len(storageReceipts))
-	for i, receipt := range storageReceipts {
-		receipts[i] = (*types.Receipt)(receipt)
-	}
-	return receipts
-}
-
-// GetTxLookupEntry retrieves the positional metadata associated with a transaction
-// hash to allow retrieving the transaction or receipt by hash.
-func GetTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
-	// Load the positional metadata from disk and bail if it fails
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(lookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	// Parse and return the contents of the lookup entry
-	var entry TxLookupEntry
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &entry); err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid lookup entry RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	return entry.BlockHash, entry.BlockIndex, entry.Index
-}
-
-// GetTransaction retrieves a specific transaction from the database, along with
-// its added positional metadata.
-func GetTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
-	// Retrieve the lookup metadata and resolve the transaction from the body
-	blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex := GetTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
-
-	if blockHash != (common.Hash{}) {
-		body := GetBody(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
-		if body == nil || len(body.Transactions) <= int(txIndex) {
-			log.Error("Transaction referenced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", txIndex)
-			return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-		}
-		return body.Transactions[txIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex
-	}
-	// Old transaction representation, load the transaction and it's metadata separately
-	data, _ := db.Get(hash.Bytes())
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	var tx types.Transaction
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &tx); err != nil {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	// Retrieve the blockchain positional metadata
-	data, _ = db.Get(append(hash.Bytes(), oldTxMetaSuffix...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	var entry TxLookupEntry
-	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &entry); err != nil {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	return &tx, entry.BlockHash, entry.BlockIndex, entry.Index
-}
-
-// GetReceipt retrieves a specific transaction receipt from the database, along with
-// its added positional metadata.
-func GetReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
-	// Retrieve the lookup metadata and resolve the receipt from the receipts
-	blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex := GetTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
-
-	if blockHash != (common.Hash{}) {
-		receipts := GetBlockReceipts(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
-		if len(receipts) <= int(receiptIndex) {
-			log.Error("Receipt refereced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", receiptIndex)
-			return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-		}
-		return receipts[receiptIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex
-	}
-	// Old receipt representation, load the receipt and set an unknown metadata
-	data, _ := db.Get(append(oldReceiptsPrefix, hash[:]...))
-	if len(data) == 0 {
-		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-	}
-	var receipt types.ReceiptForStorage
-	err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &receipt)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Error("Invalid receipt RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
-	}
-	return (*types.Receipt)(&receipt), common.Hash{}, 0, 0
-}
-
-// GetBloomBits retrieves the compressed bloom bit vector belonging to the given
-// section and bit index from the.
-func GetBloomBits(db DatabaseReader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
-	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
-
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
-
-	return db.Get(key)
-}
-
-// WriteCanonicalHash stores the canonical hash for the given block number.
-func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) error {
-	key := append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the head header's hash.
-func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash) error {
-	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash) error {
-	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the fast head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash) error {
-	if err := db.Put(headFastKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteTrieSyncProgress stores the fast sync trie process counter to support
-// retrieving it across restarts.
-func WriteTrieSyncProgress(db ethdb.Putter, count uint64) error {
-	if err := db.Put(trieSyncKey, new(big.Int).SetUint64(count).Bytes()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store fast sync trie progress", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteHeader serializes a block header into the database.
-func WriteHeader(db ethdb.Putter, header *types.Header) error {
-	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(header)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	hash := header.Hash().Bytes()
-	num := header.Number.Uint64()
-	encNum := encodeBlockNumber(num)
-	key := append(blockHashPrefix, hash...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, encNum); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store hash to number mapping", "err", err)
-	}
-	key = append(append(headerPrefix, encNum...), hash...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store header", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBody serializes the body of a block into the database.
-func WriteBody(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) error {
-	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(body)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return WriteBodyRLP(db, hash, number, data)
-}
-
-// WriteBodyRLP writes a serialized body of a block into the database.
-func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) error {
-	key := append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, rlp); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteTd serializes the total difficulty of a block into the database.
-func WriteTd(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) error {
-	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), tdSuffix...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store block total difficulty", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
-func WriteBlock(db ethdb.Putter, block *types.Block) error {
-	// Store the body first to retain database consistency
-	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	// Store the header too, signaling full block ownership
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, block.Header()); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBlockReceipts stores all the transaction receipts belonging to a block
-// as a single receipt slice. This is used during chain reorganisations for
-// rescheduling dropped transactions.
-func WriteBlockReceipts(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) error {
-	// Convert the receipts into their storage form and serialize them
-	storageReceipts := make([]*types.ReceiptForStorage, len(receipts))
-	for i, receipt := range receipts {
-		storageReceipts[i] = (*types.ReceiptForStorage)(receipt)
-	}
-	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(storageReceipts)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	// Store the flattened receipt slice
-	key := append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
-	if err := db.Put(key, bytes); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store block receipts", "err", err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteTxLookupEntries stores a positional metadata for every transaction from
-// a block, enabling hash based transaction and receipt lookups.
-func WriteTxLookupEntries(db ethdb.Putter, block *types.Block) error {
-	// Iterate over each transaction and encode its metadata
-	for i, tx := range block.Transactions() {
-		entry := TxLookupEntry{
-			BlockHash:  block.Hash(),
-			BlockIndex: block.NumberU64(),
-			Index:      uint64(i),
-		}
-		data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(entry)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if err := db.Put(append(lookupPrefix, tx.Hash().Bytes()...), data); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// WriteBloomBits writes the compressed bloom bits vector belonging to the given
-// section and bit index.
-func WriteBloomBits(db ethdb.Putter, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
-	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
-
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
-	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
-
-	if err := db.Put(key, bits); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to store bloom bits", "err", err)
-	}
-}
-
-// DeleteCanonicalHash removes the number to hash canonical mapping.
-func DeleteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseDeleter, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), numSuffix...))
-}
-
-// DeleteHeader removes all block header data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteHeader(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(blockHashPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-	db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBody(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(bodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), tdSuffix...))
-}
-
-// DeleteBlock removes all block data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBlock(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	DeleteBlockReceipts(db, hash, number)
-	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
-	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
-	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
-}
-
-// DeleteBlockReceipts removes all receipt data associated with a block hash.
-func DeleteBlockReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	db.Delete(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// DeleteTxLookupEntry removes all transaction data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash) {
-	db.Delete(append(lookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
-}
-
-// PreimageTable returns a Database instance with the key prefix for preimage entries.
-func PreimageTable(db ethdb.Database) ethdb.Database {
-	return ethdb.NewTable(db, preimagePrefix)
-}
-
-// WritePreimages writes the provided set of preimages to the database. `number` is the
-// current block number, and is used for debug messages only.
-func WritePreimages(db ethdb.Database, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash][]byte) error {
-	table := PreimageTable(db)
-	batch := table.NewBatch()
-	hitCount := 0
-	for hash, preimage := range preimages {
-		if _, err := table.Get(hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
-			batch.Put(hash.Bytes(), preimage)
-			hitCount++
-		}
-	}
-	preimageCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
-	preimageHitCounter.Inc(int64(hitCount))
-	if hitCount > 0 {
-		if err := batch.Write(); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("preimage write fail for block %d: %v", number, err)
-		}
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// GetBlockChainVersion reads the version number from db.
-func GetBlockChainVersion(db DatabaseReader) int {
-	var vsn uint
-	enc, _ := db.Get([]byte("BlockchainVersion"))
-	rlp.DecodeBytes(enc, &vsn)
-	return int(vsn)
-}
-
-// WriteBlockChainVersion writes vsn as the version number to db.
-func WriteBlockChainVersion(db ethdb.Putter, vsn int) {
-	enc, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes(uint(vsn))
-	db.Put([]byte("BlockchainVersion"), enc)
-}
-
-// WriteChainConfig writes the chain config settings to the database.
-func WriteChainConfig(db ethdb.Putter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) error {
-	// short circuit and ignore if nil config. GetChainConfig
-	// will return a default.
-	if cfg == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-
-	jsonChainConfig, err := json.Marshal(cfg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	return db.Put(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...), jsonChainConfig)
-}
-
-// GetChainConfig will fetch the network settings based on the given hash.
-func GetChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*params.ChainConfig, error) {
-	jsonChainConfig, _ := db.Get(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...))
-	if len(jsonChainConfig) == 0 {
-		return nil, ErrChainConfigNotFound
-	}
-
-	var config params.ChainConfig
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(jsonChainConfig, &config); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return &config, nil
-}
-
-// FindCommonAncestor returns the last common ancestor of two block headers
-func FindCommonAncestor(db DatabaseReader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
-	for bn := b.Number.Uint64(); a.Number.Uint64() > bn; {
-		a = GetHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if a == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	for an := a.Number.Uint64(); an < b.Number.Uint64(); {
-		b = GetHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if b == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	for a.Hash() != b.Hash() {
-		a = GetHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if a == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-		b = GetHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
-		if b == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-	}
-	return a
-}
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index 403d75173d..7a0dcad35a 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -155,7 +156,7 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 	}
 
 	// Just commit the new block if there is no stored genesis block.
-	stored := GetCanonicalHash(db, 0)
+	stored := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, 0)
 	if (stored == common.Hash{}) {
 		if genesis == nil {
 			log.Info("Writing default main-net genesis block")
@@ -177,14 +178,11 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 
 	// Get the existing chain configuration.
 	newcfg := genesis.configOrDefault(stored)
-	storedcfg, err := GetChainConfig(db, stored)
-	if err != nil {
-		if err == ErrChainConfigNotFound {
-			// This case happens if a genesis write was interrupted.
-			log.Warn("Found genesis block without chain config")
-			err = WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
-		}
-		return newcfg, stored, err
+	storedcfg := rawdb.ReadChainConfig(db, stored)
+	if storedcfg == nil {
+		log.Warn("Found genesis block without chain config")
+		rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
+		return newcfg, stored, nil
 	}
 	// Special case: don't change the existing config of a non-mainnet chain if no new
 	// config is supplied. These chains would get AllProtocolChanges (and a compat error)
@@ -195,15 +193,16 @@ func SetupGenesisBlock(db ethdb.Database, genesis *Genesis) (*params.ChainConfig
 
 	// Check config compatibility and write the config. Compatibility errors
 	// are returned to the caller unless we're already at block zero.
-	height := GetBlockNumber(db, GetHeadHeaderHash(db))
-	if height == missingNumber {
+	height := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, rawdb.ReadHeadHeaderHash(db))
+	if height == nil {
 		return newcfg, stored, fmt.Errorf("missing block number for head header hash")
 	}
-	compatErr := storedcfg.CheckCompatible(newcfg, height)
-	if compatErr != nil && height != 0 && compatErr.RewindTo != 0 {
+	compatErr := storedcfg.CheckCompatible(newcfg, *height)
+	if compatErr != nil && *height != 0 && compatErr.RewindTo != 0 {
 		return newcfg, stored, compatErr
 	}
-	return newcfg, stored, WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
+	rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, stored, newcfg)
+	return newcfg, stored, nil
 }
 
 func (g *Genesis) configOrDefault(ghash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
@@ -227,7 +226,7 @@ func (g *Genesis) configOrDefault(ghash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
 // to the given database (or discards it if nil).
 func (g *Genesis) ToBlock(db ethdb.Database) *types.Block {
 	if db == nil {
-		db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	}
 	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
 	for addr, account := range g.Alloc {
@@ -271,29 +270,19 @@ func (g *Genesis) Commit(db ethdb.Database) (*types.Block, error) {
 	if block.Number().Sign() != 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("can't commit genesis block with number > 0")
 	}
-	if err := WriteTd(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), g.Difficulty); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteBlock(db, block); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), nil); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteTd(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), g.Difficulty)
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(db, block)
+	rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), nil)
+	rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash())
+	rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, block.Hash())
+
 	config := g.Config
 	if config == nil {
 		config = params.AllEthashProtocolChanges
 	}
-	return block, WriteChainConfig(db, block.Hash(), config)
+	rawdb.WriteChainConfig(db, block.Hash(), config)
+	return block, nil
 }
 
 // MustCommit writes the genesis block and state to db, panicking on error.
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index 052ded6991..2d7f94f8f8 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/davecgh/go-spew/spew"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ func TestSetupGenesis(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		config, hash, err := test.fn(db)
 		// Check the return values.
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(err, test.wantErr) {
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ func TestSetupGenesis(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%s: returned hash %s, want %s", test.name, hash.Hex(), test.wantHash.Hex())
 		} else if err == nil {
 			// Check database content.
-			stored := GetBlock(db, test.wantHash, 0)
+			stored := rawdb.ReadBlock(db, test.wantHash, 0)
 			if stored.Hash() != test.wantHash {
 				t.Errorf("%s: block in DB has hash %s, want %s", test.name, stored.Hash(), test.wantHash)
 			}
diff --git a/core/headerchain.go b/core/headerchain.go
index 2d1b0a2a18..2ac0cccc72 100644
--- a/core/headerchain.go
+++ b/core/headerchain.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -97,7 +98,7 @@ func NewHeaderChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine c
 	}
 
 	hc.currentHeader.Store(hc.genesisHeader)
-	if head := GetHeadBlockHash(chainDb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(chainDb); head != (common.Hash{}) {
 		if chead := hc.GetHeaderByHash(head); chead != nil {
 			hc.currentHeader.Store(chead)
 		}
@@ -109,13 +110,14 @@ func NewHeaderChain(chainDb ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, engine c
 
 // GetBlockNumber retrieves the block number belonging to the given hash
 // from the cache or database
-func (hc *HeaderChain) GetBlockNumber(hash common.Hash) uint64 {
+func (hc *HeaderChain) GetBlockNumber(hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
 	if cached, ok := hc.numberCache.Get(hash); ok {
-		return cached.(uint64)
+		number := cached.(uint64)
+		return &number
 	}
-	number := GetBlockNumber(hc.chainDb, hash)
-	if number != missingNumber {
-		hc.numberCache.Add(hash, number)
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(hc.chainDb, hash)
+	if number != nil {
+		hc.numberCache.Add(hash, *number)
 	}
 	return number
 }
@@ -147,20 +149,19 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeader(header *types.Header) (status WriteStatus, er
 	if err := hc.WriteTd(hash, number, externTd); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to write header total difficulty", "err", err)
 	}
-	if err := WriteHeader(hc.chainDb, header); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to write header content", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteHeader(hc.chainDb, header)
+
 	// 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
 	if externTd.Cmp(localTd) > 0 || (externTd.Cmp(localTd) == 0 && mrand.Float64() < 0.5) {
 		// Delete any canonical number assignments above the new head
 		for i := number + 1; ; i++ {
-			hash := GetCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
+			hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
 			if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 				break
 			}
-			DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
+			rawdb.DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
 		}
 		// Overwrite any stale canonical number assignments
 		var (
@@ -168,20 +169,17 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteHeader(header *types.Header) (status WriteStatus, er
 			headNumber = header.Number.Uint64() - 1
 			headHeader = hc.GetHeader(headHash, headNumber)
 		)
-		for GetCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headNumber) != headHash {
-			WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headHash, headNumber)
+		for rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headNumber) != headHash {
+			rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, headHash, headNumber)
 
 			headHash = headHeader.ParentHash
 			headNumber = headHeader.Number.Uint64() - 1
 			headHeader = hc.GetHeader(headHash, headNumber)
 		}
 		// Extend the canonical chain with the new header
-		if err := WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, hash, number); err != nil {
-			log.Crit("Failed to insert header number", "err", err)
-		}
-		if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hash); err != nil {
-			log.Crit("Failed to insert head header hash", "err", err)
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+		rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hash)
+
 		hc.currentHeaderHash = hash
 		hc.currentHeader.Store(types.CopyHeader(header))
 
@@ -316,7 +314,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 	if cached, ok := hc.tdCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return cached.(*big.Int)
 	}
-	td := GetTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+	td := rawdb.ReadTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
 	if td == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -328,15 +326,17 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 // GetTdByHash retrieves a block's total difficulty in the canonical chain from the
 // database by hash, caching it if found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetTdByHash(hash common.Hash) *big.Int {
-	return hc.GetTd(hash, hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return hc.GetTd(hash, *number)
 }
 
 // WriteTd stores a block's total difficulty into the database, also caching it
 // along the way.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) WriteTd(hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) error {
-	if err := WriteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number, td); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, number, td)
 	hc.tdCache.Add(hash, new(big.Int).Set(td))
 	return nil
 }
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header
 	if header, ok := hc.headerCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return header.(*types.Header)
 	}
-	header := GetHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
+	header := rawdb.ReadHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
 	if header == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -360,7 +360,11 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header
 // GetHeaderByHash retrieves a block header from the database by hash, caching it if
 // found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeaderByHash(hash common.Hash) *types.Header {
-	return hc.GetHeader(hash, hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return hc.GetHeader(hash, *number)
 }
 
 // HasHeader checks if a block header is present in the database or not.
@@ -368,14 +372,13 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) HasHeader(hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if hc.numberCache.Contains(hash) || hc.headerCache.Contains(hash) {
 		return true
 	}
-	ok, _ := hc.chainDb.Has(headerKey(hash, number))
-	return ok
+	return rawdb.HasHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, number)
 }
 
 // GetHeaderByNumber retrieves a block header from the database by number,
 // caching it (associated with its hash) if found.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) GetHeaderByNumber(number uint64) *types.Header {
-	hash := GetCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, number)
+	hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, number)
 	if hash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -390,9 +393,8 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) CurrentHeader() *types.Header {
 
 // SetCurrentHeader sets the current head header of the canonical chain.
 func (hc *HeaderChain) SetCurrentHeader(head *types.Header) {
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, head.Hash()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to insert head header hash", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, head.Hash())
+
 	hc.currentHeader.Store(head)
 	hc.currentHeaderHash = head.Hash()
 }
@@ -416,13 +418,14 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) SetHead(head uint64, delFn DeleteCallback) {
 		if delFn != nil {
 			delFn(hash, num)
 		}
-		DeleteHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
-		DeleteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
+		rawdb.DeleteHeader(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
+		rawdb.DeleteTd(hc.chainDb, hash, num)
+
 		hc.currentHeader.Store(hc.GetHeader(hdr.ParentHash, hdr.Number.Uint64()-1))
 	}
 	// Roll back the canonical chain numbering
 	for i := height; i > head; i-- {
-		DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
+		rawdb.DeleteCanonicalHash(hc.chainDb, i)
 	}
 	// Clear out any stale content from the caches
 	hc.headerCache.Purge()
@@ -434,9 +437,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) SetHead(head uint64, delFn DeleteCallback) {
 	}
 	hc.currentHeaderHash = hc.CurrentHeader().Hash()
 
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hc.currentHeaderHash); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to reset head header hash", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteHeadHeaderHash(hc.chainDb, hc.currentHeaderHash)
 }
 
 // SetGenesis sets a new genesis block header for the chain
diff --git a/core/helper_test.go b/core/helper_test.go
index 698a2924cb..051384d854 100644
--- a/core/helper_test.go
+++ b/core/helper_test.go
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ package core
 
 import (
 	"container/list"
-	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -77,18 +76,11 @@ func (tm *TestManager) Db() ethdb.Database {
 }
 
 func NewTestManager() *TestManager {
-	db, err := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Println("Could not create mem-db, failing")
-		return nil
-	}
-
 	testManager := &TestManager{}
 	testManager.eventMux = new(event.TypeMux)
-	testManager.db = db
+	testManager.db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	// testManager.txPool = NewTxPool(testManager)
 	// testManager.blockChain = NewBlockChain(testManager)
 	// testManager.stateManager = NewStateManager(testManager)
-
 	return testManager
 }
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a26a42ba7c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
@@ -0,0 +1,381 @@
+// Copyright 2018 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 rawdb
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/binary"
+	"math/big"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+// ReadCanonicalHash retrieves the hash assigned to a canonical block number.
+func ReadCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteCanonicalHash stores the hash assigned to a canonical block number.
+func WriteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	key := append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteCanonicalHash removes the number to hash canonical mapping.
+func DeleteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseDeleter, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), headerHashSuffix...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete number to hash mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeaderNumber returns the header number assigned to a hash.
+func ReadHeaderNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(headerNumberPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+	if len(data) != 8 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	number := binary.BigEndian.Uint64(data)
+	return &number
+}
+
+// ReadHeadHeaderHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head header.
+func ReadHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(headHeaderKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the hash of the current canonical head header.
+func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeadBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block.
+func ReadHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(headBlockKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
+func WriteHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeadFastBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current fast-sync head block.
+func ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+	data, _ := db.Get(headFastBlockKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}
+	}
+	return common.BytesToHash(data)
+}
+
+// WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the hash of the current fast-sync head block.
+func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+	if err := db.Put(headFastBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadFastTrieProgress retrieves the number of tries nodes fast synced to allow
+// reporting correct numbers across restarts.
+func ReadFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseReader) uint64 {
+	data, _ := db.Get(fastTrieProgressKey)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return new(big.Int).SetBytes(data).Uint64()
+}
+
+// WriteFastTrieProgress stores the fast sync trie process counter to support
+// retrieving it across restarts.
+func WriteFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseWriter, count uint64) {
+	if err := db.Put(fastTrieProgressKey, new(big.Int).SetUint64(count).Bytes()); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store fast sync trie progress", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadHeaderRLP retrieves a block header in its raw RLP database encoding.
+func ReadHeaderRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
+	return data
+}
+
+// HasHeader verifies the existence of a block header corresponding to the hash.
+func HasHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
+	if has, err := db.Has(key); !has || err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// ReadHeader retrieves the block header corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
+	data := ReadHeaderRLP(db, hash, number)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	header := new(types.Header)
+	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), header); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block header RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return header
+}
+
+// WriteHeader stores a block header into the database and also stores the hash-
+// to-number mapping.
+func WriteHeader(db DatabaseWriter, header *types.Header) {
+	// Write the hash -> number mapping
+	var (
+		hash    = header.Hash().Bytes()
+		number  = header.Number.Uint64()
+		encoded = encodeBlockNumber(number)
+	)
+	key := append(headerNumberPrefix, hash...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, encoded); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store hash to number mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+	// Write the encoded header
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(header)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode header", "err", err)
+	}
+	key = append(append(headerPrefix, encoded...), hash...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store header", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteHeader removes all block header data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteHeader(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete header", "err", err)
+	}
+	if err := db.Delete(append(headerNumberPrefix, hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete hash to number mapping", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
+func ReadBodyRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...))
+	return data
+}
+
+// WriteBodyRLP stores an RLP encoded block body into the database.
+func WriteBodyRLP(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) {
+	key := append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, rlp); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// HasBody verifies the existence of a block body corresponding to the hash.
+func HasBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+	key := append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+	if has, err := db.Has(key); !has || err != nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// ReadBody retrieves the block body corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
+	data := ReadBodyRLP(db, hash, number)
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := new(types.Body)
+	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), body); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block body RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return body
+}
+
+// WriteBody storea a block body into the database.
+func WriteBody(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) {
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(body)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode body", "err", err)
+	}
+	WriteBodyRLP(db, hash, number, data)
+}
+
+// DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteBody(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(blockBodyPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block body", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...), headerTDSuffix...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	td := new(big.Int)
+	if err := rlp.Decode(bytes.NewReader(data), td); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid block total difficulty RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return td
+}
+
+// WriteTd stores the total difficulty of a block into the database.
+func WriteTd(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) {
+	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+	key := append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), headerTDSuffix...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...), headerTDSuffix...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block total difficulty", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadReceipts retrieves all the transaction receipts belonging to a block.
+func ReadReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
+	// Retrieve the flattened receipt slice
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash[:]...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Convert the revceipts from their storage form to their internal representation
+	storageReceipts := []*types.ReceiptForStorage{}
+	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &storageReceipts); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid receipt array RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	receipts := make(types.Receipts, len(storageReceipts))
+	for i, receipt := range storageReceipts {
+		receipts[i] = (*types.Receipt)(receipt)
+	}
+	return receipts
+}
+
+// WriteReceipts stores all the transaction receipts belonging to a block.
+func WriteReceipts(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) {
+	// Convert the receipts into their storage form and serialize them
+	storageReceipts := make([]*types.ReceiptForStorage, len(receipts))
+	for i, receipt := range receipts {
+		storageReceipts[i] = (*types.ReceiptForStorage)(receipt)
+	}
+	bytes, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(storageReceipts)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to encode block receipts", "err", err)
+	}
+	// Store the flattened receipt slice
+	key := append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
+	if err := db.Put(key, bytes); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store block receipts", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteReceipts removes all receipt data associated with a block hash.
+func DeleteReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(append(append(blockReceiptsPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete block receipts", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadBlock retrieves an entire block corresponding to the hash, assembling it
+// back from the stored header and body. If either the header or body could not
+// be retrieved nil is returned.
+//
+// Note, due to concurrent download of header and block body the header and thus
+// canonical hash can be stored in the database but the body data not (yet).
+func ReadBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
+	header := ReadHeader(db, hash, number)
+	if header == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	body := ReadBody(db, hash, number)
+	if body == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return types.NewBlockWithHeader(header).WithBody(body.Transactions, body.Uncles)
+}
+
+// WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
+func WriteBlock(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
+	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+}
+
+// DeleteBlock removes all block data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteBlock(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
+}
+
+// FindCommonAncestor returns the last common ancestor of two block headers
+func FindCommonAncestor(db DatabaseReader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
+	for bn := b.Number.Uint64(); a.Number.Uint64() > bn; {
+		a = ReadHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if a == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	for an := a.Number.Uint64(); an < b.Number.Uint64(); {
+		b = ReadHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if b == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	for a.Hash() != b.Hash() {
+		a = ReadHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if a == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+		b = ReadHeader(db, b.ParentHash, b.Number.Uint64()-1)
+		if b == nil {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	return a
+}
diff --git a/core/database_util_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
similarity index 59%
rename from core/database_util_test.go
rename to core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
index aa87fa6f86..9ddae6e2b5 100644
--- a/core/database_util_test.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright 2015 The go-ethereum Authors
+// Copyright 2018 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
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 // 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 core
+package rawdb
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
@@ -30,23 +30,21 @@ import (
 
 // Tests block header storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestHeaderStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test header to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	header := &types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(42), Extra: []byte("test header")}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the header in the database
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, header); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write header into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
+	WriteHeader(db, header)
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored header not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != header.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved header mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, header)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeaderRLP(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeaderRLP(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored header RLP not found")
 	} else {
 		hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
@@ -58,14 +56,14 @@ func TestHeaderStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Delete the header and verify the execution
 	DeleteHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64())
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests block body storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test body to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	body := &types.Body{Uncles: []*types.Header{{Extra: []byte("test header")}}}
@@ -74,19 +72,17 @@ func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	rlp.Encode(hasher, body)
 	hash := common.BytesToHash(hasher.Sum(nil))
 
-	if entry := GetBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the body in the database
-	if err := WriteBody(db, hash, 0, body); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write body into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+	WriteBody(db, hash, 0, body)
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored body not found")
 	} else if types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(entry.Transactions)) != types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(body.Transactions)) || types.CalcUncleHash(entry.Uncles) != types.CalcUncleHash(body.Uncles) {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved body mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, body)
 	}
-	if entry := GetBodyRLP(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadBodyRLP(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored body RLP not found")
 	} else {
 		hasher := sha3.NewKeccak256()
@@ -98,14 +94,14 @@ func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Delete the body and verify the execution
 	DeleteBody(db, hash, 0)
-	if entry := GetBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests block storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test block to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{
@@ -114,50 +110,48 @@ func TestBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 		TxHash:      types.EmptyRootHash,
 		ReceiptHash: types.EmptyRootHash,
 	})
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the block in the database
-	if err := WriteBlock(db, block); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write block into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	WriteBlock(db, block)
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored block not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != block.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved block mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored header not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != block.Header().Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved header mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block.Header())
 	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored body not found")
 	} else if types.DeriveSha(types.Transactions(entry.Transactions)) != types.DeriveSha(block.Transactions()) || types.CalcUncleHash(entry.Uncles) != types.CalcUncleHash(block.Uncles()) {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved body mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block.Body())
 	}
 	// Delete the block and verify the execution
 	DeleteBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted header returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted body returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests that partial block contents don't get reassembled into full blocks.
 func TestPartialBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{
 		Extra:       []byte("test block"),
 		UncleHash:   types.EmptyUncleHash,
@@ -165,31 +159,24 @@ func TestPartialBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 		ReceiptHash: types.EmptyRootHash,
 	})
 	// Store a header and check that it's not recognized as a block
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, block.Header()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write header into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	DeleteHeader(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
 
 	// Store a body and check that it's not recognized as a block
-	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write body into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
+	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent block returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	DeleteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
 
 	// Store a header and a body separately and check reassembly
-	if err := WriteHeader(db, block.Header()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write header into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write body into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
+	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
+	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
+
+	if entry := ReadBlock(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored block not found")
 	} else if entry.Hash() != block.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved block mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, block)
@@ -198,142 +185,88 @@ func TestPartialBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests block total difficulty storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestTdStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test TD to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	hash, td := common.Hash{}, big.NewInt(314)
-	if entry := GetTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent TD returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the TD in the database
-	if err := WriteTd(db, hash, 0, td); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write TD into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetTd(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
+	WriteTd(db, hash, 0, td)
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored TD not found")
 	} else if entry.Cmp(td) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved TD mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, td)
 	}
 	// Delete the TD and verify the execution
 	DeleteTd(db, hash, 0)
-	if entry := GetTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
+	if entry := ReadTd(db, hash, 0); entry != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted TD returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests that canonical numbers can be mapped to hashes and retrieved.
 func TestCanonicalMappingStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test canonical number and assinged hash to move around
 	hash, number := common.Hash{0: 0xff}, uint64(314)
-	if entry := GetCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non existent canonical mapping returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Write and verify the TD in the database
-	if err := WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, number); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write canonical mapping into database: %v", err)
-	}
-	if entry := GetCanonicalHash(db, number); entry == (common.Hash{}) {
+	WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, number)
+	if entry := ReadCanonicalHash(db, number); entry == (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Stored canonical mapping not found")
 	} else if entry != hash {
 		t.Fatalf("Retrieved canonical mapping mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, hash)
 	}
 	// Delete the TD and verify the execution
 	DeleteCanonicalHash(db, number)
-	if entry := GetCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadCanonicalHash(db, number); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Deleted canonical mapping returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 }
 
 // Tests that head headers and head blocks can be assigned, individually.
 func TestHeadStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	blockHead := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{Extra: []byte("test block header")})
 	blockFull := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{Extra: []byte("test block full")})
 	blockFast := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{Extra: []byte("test block fast")})
 
 	// Check that no head entries are in a pristine database
-	if entry := GetHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non head header entry returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadHeadBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non head block entry returned: %v", entry)
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
+	if entry := ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != (common.Hash{}) {
 		t.Fatalf("Non fast head block entry returned: %v", entry)
 	}
 	// Assign separate entries for the head header and block
-	if err := WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, blockHead.Hash()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write head header hash: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadBlockHash(db, blockFull.Hash()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write head block hash: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db, blockFast.Hash()); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to write fast head block hash: %v", err)
-	}
+	WriteHeadHeaderHash(db, blockHead.Hash())
+	WriteHeadBlockHash(db, blockFull.Hash())
+	WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db, blockFast.Hash())
+
 	// Check that both heads are present, and different (i.e. two heads maintained)
-	if entry := GetHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != blockHead.Hash() {
+	if entry := ReadHeadHeaderHash(db); entry != blockHead.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Head header hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, blockHead.Hash())
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadBlockHash(db); entry != blockFull.Hash() {
+	if entry := ReadHeadBlockHash(db); entry != blockFull.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Head block hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, blockFull.Hash())
 	}
-	if entry := GetHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != blockFast.Hash() {
+	if entry := ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db); entry != blockFast.Hash() {
 		t.Fatalf("Fast head block hash mismatch: have %v, want %v", entry, blockFast.Hash())
 	}
 }
 
-// Tests that positional lookup metadata can be stored and retrieved.
-func TestLookupStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-
-	tx1 := types.NewTransaction(1, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x11}), big.NewInt(111), 1111, big.NewInt(11111), []byte{0x11, 0x11, 0x11})
-	tx2 := types.NewTransaction(2, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x22}), big.NewInt(222), 2222, big.NewInt(22222), []byte{0x22, 0x22, 0x22})
-	tx3 := types.NewTransaction(3, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x33}), big.NewInt(333), 3333, big.NewInt(33333), []byte{0x33, 0x33, 0x33})
-	txs := []*types.Transaction{tx1, tx2, tx3}
-
-	block := types.NewBlock(&types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(314)}, txs, nil, nil)
-
-	// Check that no transactions entries are in a pristine database
-	for i, tx := range txs {
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: non existent transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
-		}
-	}
-	// Insert all the transactions into the database, and verify contents
-	if err := WriteBlock(db, block); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to write block contents: %v", err)
-	}
-	if err := WriteTxLookupEntries(db, block); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to write transactions: %v", err)
-	}
-	for i, tx := range txs {
-		if txn, hash, number, index := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
-			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction not found", i, tx.Hash())
-		} else {
-			if hash != block.Hash() || number != block.NumberU64() || index != uint64(i) {
-				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: positional metadata mismatch: have %x/%d/%d, want %x/%v/%v", i, tx.Hash(), hash, number, index, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), i)
-			}
-			if tx.Hash() != txn.Hash() {
-				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn, tx)
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	// Delete the transactions and check purge
-	for i, tx := range txs {
-		DeleteTxLookupEntry(db, tx.Hash())
-		if txn, _, _, _ := GetTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: deleted transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 // Tests that receipts associated with a single block can be stored and retrieved.
 func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 
 	receipt1 := &types.Receipt{
 		Status:            types.ReceiptStatusFailed,
@@ -361,14 +294,12 @@ func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check that no receipt entries are in a pristine database
 	hash := common.BytesToHash([]byte{0x03, 0x14})
-	if rs := GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
+	if rs := ReadReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("non existent receipts returned: %v", rs)
 	}
 	// Insert the receipt slice into the database and check presence
-	if err := WriteBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0, receipts); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to write block receipts: %v", err)
-	}
-	if rs := GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) == 0 {
+	WriteReceipts(db, hash, 0, receipts)
+	if rs := ReadReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) == 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("no receipts returned")
 	} else {
 		for i := 0; i < len(receipts); i++ {
@@ -381,8 +312,8 @@ func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Delete the receipt slice and check purge
-	DeleteBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0)
-	if rs := GetBlockReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
+	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, 0)
+	if rs := ReadReceipts(db, hash, 0); len(rs) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("deleted receipts returned: %v", rs)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9abad14e0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+// Copyright 2018 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 rawdb
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+// ReadTxLookupEntry retrieves the positional metadata associated with a transaction
+// hash to allow retrieving the transaction or receipt by hash.
+func ReadTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(txLookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	var entry TxLookupEntry
+	if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(data, &entry); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid transaction lookup entry RLP", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	return entry.BlockHash, entry.BlockIndex, entry.Index
+}
+
+// WriteTxLookupEntries stores a positional metadata for every transaction from
+// a block, enabling hash based transaction and receipt lookups.
+func WriteTxLookupEntries(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
+	for i, tx := range block.Transactions() {
+		entry := TxLookupEntry{
+			BlockHash:  block.Hash(),
+			BlockIndex: block.NumberU64(),
+			Index:      uint64(i),
+		}
+		data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(entry)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Crit("Failed to encode transaction lookup entry", "err", err)
+		}
+		if err := db.Put(append(txLookupPrefix, tx.Hash().Bytes()...), data); err != nil {
+			log.Crit("Failed to store transaction lookup entry", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// DeleteTxLookupEntry removes all transaction data associated with a hash.
+func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash) {
+	db.Delete(append(txLookupPrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+}
+
+// ReadTransaction retrieves a specific transaction from the database, along with
+// its added positional metadata.
+func ReadTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+	blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex := ReadTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
+	if blockHash == (common.Hash{}) {
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	body := ReadBody(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
+	if body == nil || len(body.Transactions) <= int(txIndex) {
+		log.Error("Transaction referenced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", txIndex)
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	return body.Transactions[txIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, txIndex
+}
+
+// ReadReceipt retrieves a specific transaction receipt from the database, along with
+// its added positional metadata.
+func ReadReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+	blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex := ReadTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
+	if blockHash == (common.Hash{}) {
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	receipts := ReadReceipts(db, blockHash, blockNumber)
+	if len(receipts) <= int(receiptIndex) {
+		log.Error("Receipt refereced missing", "number", blockNumber, "hash", blockHash, "index", receiptIndex)
+		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
+	}
+	return receipts[receiptIndex], blockHash, blockNumber, receiptIndex
+}
+
+// ReadBloomBits retrieves the compressed bloom bit vector belonging to the given
+// section and bit index from the.
+func ReadBloomBits(db DatabaseReader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
+
+	return db.Get(key)
+}
+
+// WriteBloomBits stores the compressed bloom bits vector belonging to the given
+// section and bit index.
+func WriteBloomBits(db DatabaseWriter, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
+	key := append(append(bloomBitsPrefix, make([]byte, 10)...), head.Bytes()...)
+
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint16(key[1:], uint16(bit))
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(key[3:], section)
+
+	if err := db.Put(key, bits); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store bloom bits", "err", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d9c10e1490
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+// Copyright 2018 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 rawdb
+
+import (
+	"math/big"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
+)
+
+// Tests that positional lookup metadata can be stored and retrieved.
+func TestLookupStorage(t *testing.T) {
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+
+	tx1 := types.NewTransaction(1, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x11}), big.NewInt(111), 1111, big.NewInt(11111), []byte{0x11, 0x11, 0x11})
+	tx2 := types.NewTransaction(2, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x22}), big.NewInt(222), 2222, big.NewInt(22222), []byte{0x22, 0x22, 0x22})
+	tx3 := types.NewTransaction(3, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x33}), big.NewInt(333), 3333, big.NewInt(33333), []byte{0x33, 0x33, 0x33})
+	txs := []*types.Transaction{tx1, tx2, tx3}
+
+	block := types.NewBlock(&types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(314)}, txs, nil, nil)
+
+	// Check that no transactions entries are in a pristine database
+	for i, tx := range txs {
+		if txn, _, _, _ := ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: non existent transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
+		}
+	}
+	// Insert all the transactions into the database, and verify contents
+	WriteBlock(db, block)
+	WriteTxLookupEntries(db, block)
+
+	for i, tx := range txs {
+		if txn, hash, number, index := ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn == nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction not found", i, tx.Hash())
+		} else {
+			if hash != block.Hash() || number != block.NumberU64() || index != uint64(i) {
+				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: positional metadata mismatch: have %x/%d/%d, want %x/%v/%v", i, tx.Hash(), hash, number, index, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), i)
+			}
+			if tx.Hash() != txn.Hash() {
+				t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: transaction mismatch: have %v, want %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn, tx)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	// Delete the transactions and check purge
+	for i, tx := range txs {
+		DeleteTxLookupEntry(db, tx.Hash())
+		if txn, _, _, _ := ReadTransaction(db, tx.Hash()); txn != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("tx #%d [%x]: deleted transaction returned: %v", i, tx.Hash(), txn)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..73ab983f2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
@@ -0,0 +1,90 @@
+// Copyright 2018 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 rawdb
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
+)
+
+// ReadDatabaseVersion retrieves the version number of the database.
+func ReadDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseReader) int {
+	var version int
+
+	enc, _ := db.Get(databaseVerisionKey)
+	rlp.DecodeBytes(enc, &version)
+
+	return version
+}
+
+// WriteDatabaseVersion stores the version number of the database
+func WriteDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseWriter, version int) {
+	enc, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes(version)
+	if err := db.Put(databaseVerisionKey, enc); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store the database version", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadChainConfig retrieves the consensus settings based on the given genesis hash.
+func ReadChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...))
+	if len(data) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	var config params.ChainConfig
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &config); err != nil {
+		log.Error("Invalid chain config JSON", "hash", hash, "err", err)
+		return nil
+	}
+	return &config
+}
+
+// WriteChainConfig writes the chain config settings to the database.
+func WriteChainConfig(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) {
+	if cfg == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	data, err := json.Marshal(cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to JSON encode chain config", "err", err)
+	}
+	if err := db.Put(append(configPrefix, hash[:]...), data); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to store chain config", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
+// ReadPreimage retrieves a single preimage of the provided hash.
+func ReadPreimage(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) []byte {
+	data, _ := db.Get(append(preimagePrefix, hash.Bytes()...))
+	return data
+}
+
+// WritePreimages writes the provided set of preimages to the database. `number` is the
+// current block number, and is used for debug messages only.
+func WritePreimages(db DatabaseWriter, number uint64, preimages map[common.Hash][]byte) {
+	for hash, preimage := range preimages {
+		if err := db.Put(append(preimagePrefix, hash.Bytes()...), preimage); err != nil {
+			log.Crit("Failed to store trie preimage", "err", err)
+		}
+	}
+	preimageCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
+	preimageHitCounter.Inc(int64(len(preimages)))
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/interfaces.go b/core/rawdb/interfaces.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3bdf55124a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/interfaces.go
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright 2018 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 rawdb
+
+// DatabaseReader wraps the Has and Get method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseReader interface {
+	Has(key []byte) (bool, error)
+	Get(key []byte) ([]byte, error)
+}
+
+// DatabaseWriter wraps the Put method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseWriter interface {
+	Put(key []byte, value []byte) error
+}
+
+// DatabaseDeleter wraps the Delete method of a backing data store.
+type DatabaseDeleter interface {
+	Delete(key []byte) error
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/schema.go b/core/rawdb/schema.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a4b1596fde
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/schema.go
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+// Copyright 2018 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 rawdb contains a collection of low level database accessors.
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"encoding/binary"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/metrics"
+)
+
+// The fields below define the low level database schema prefixing.
+var (
+	// databaseVerisionKey tracks the current database version.
+	databaseVerisionKey = []byte("DatabaseVersion")
+
+	// headHeaderKey tracks the latest know header's hash.
+	headHeaderKey = []byte("LastHeader")
+
+	// headBlockKey tracks the latest know full block's hash.
+	headBlockKey = []byte("LastBlock")
+
+	// headFastBlockKey tracks the latest known incomplete block's hash duirng fast sync.
+	headFastBlockKey = []byte("LastFast")
+
+	// fastTrieProgressKey tracks the number of trie entries imported during fast sync.
+	fastTrieProgressKey = []byte("TrieSync")
+
+	// Data item prefixes (use single byte to avoid mixing data types, avoid `i`, used for indexes).
+	headerPrefix       = []byte("h") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> header
+	headerTDSuffix     = []byte("t") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash + headerTDSuffix -> td
+	headerHashSuffix   = []byte("n") // headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + headerHashSuffix -> hash
+	headerNumberPrefix = []byte("H") // headerNumberPrefix + hash -> num (uint64 big endian)
+
+	blockBodyPrefix     = []byte("b") // blockBodyPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block body
+	blockReceiptsPrefix = []byte("r") // blockReceiptsPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash -> block receipts
+
+	txLookupPrefix  = []byte("l") // txLookupPrefix + hash -> transaction/receipt lookup metadata
+	bloomBitsPrefix = []byte("B") // bloomBitsPrefix + bit (uint16 big endian) + section (uint64 big endian) + hash -> bloom bits
+
+	preimagePrefix = []byte("secure-key-")      // preimagePrefix + hash -> preimage
+	configPrefix   = []byte("ethereum-config-") // config prefix for the db
+
+	// Chain index prefixes (use `i` + single byte to avoid mixing data types).
+	BloomBitsIndexPrefix = []byte("iB") // BloomBitsIndexPrefix is the data table of a chain indexer to track its progress
+
+	preimageCounter    = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/total", nil)
+	preimageHitCounter = metrics.NewRegisteredCounter("db/preimage/hits", nil)
+)
+
+// TxLookupEntry is a positional metadata to help looking up the data content of
+// a transaction or receipt given only its hash.
+type TxLookupEntry struct {
+	BlockHash  common.Hash
+	BlockIndex uint64
+	Index      uint64
+}
+
+// encodeBlockNumber encodes a block number as big endian uint64
+func encodeBlockNumber(number uint64) []byte {
+	enc := make([]byte, 8)
+	binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(enc, number)
+	return enc
+}
diff --git a/core/state/managed_state_test.go b/core/state/managed_state_test.go
index 1cfdd3a890..3d9c4e8676 100644
--- a/core/state/managed_state_test.go
+++ b/core/state/managed_state_test.go
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ import (
 var addr = common.BytesToAddress([]byte("test"))
 
 func create() (*ManagedState, *account) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	ms := ManageState(statedb)
 	ms.StateDB.SetNonce(addr, 100)
 	ms.accounts[addr] = newAccount(ms.StateDB.getStateObject(addr))
diff --git a/core/state/state_test.go b/core/state/state_test.go
index 6d42d63d82..12778f6f12 100644
--- a/core/state/state_test.go
+++ b/core/state/state_test.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func (s *StateSuite) TestDump(c *checker.C) {
 }
 
 func (s *StateSuite) SetUpTest(c *checker.C) {
-	s.db, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	s.db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	s.state, _ = New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(s.db))
 }
 
@@ -133,8 +133,7 @@ func (s *StateSuite) TestSnapshotEmpty(c *checker.C) {
 // use testing instead of checker because checker does not support
 // printing/logging in tests (-check.vv does not work)
 func TestSnapshot2(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
+	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 
 	stateobjaddr0 := toAddr([]byte("so0"))
 	stateobjaddr1 := toAddr([]byte("so1"))
diff --git a/core/state/statedb_test.go b/core/state/statedb_test.go
index 420ca745cc..e2b349de86 100644
--- a/core/state/statedb_test.go
+++ b/core/state/statedb_test.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ import (
 // actually committing the state.
 func TestUpdateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create an empty state database
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
 
 	// Update it with some accounts
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ func TestUpdateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 // only the one right before the commit.
 func TestIntermediateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create two state databases, one transitioning to the final state, the other final from the beginning
-	transDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	finalDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	transDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	finalDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	transState, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(transDb))
 	finalState, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(finalDb))
 
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@ func TestIntermediateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 // https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/pull/15549.
 func TestCopy(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a random state test to copy and modify "independently"
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	orig, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
+	orig, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 
 	for i := byte(0); i < 255; i++ {
 		obj := orig.GetOrNewStateObject(common.BytesToAddress([]byte{i}))
@@ -334,8 +333,7 @@ func (test *snapshotTest) String() string {
 func (test *snapshotTest) run() bool {
 	// Run all actions and create snapshots.
 	var (
-		db, _        = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		state, _     = New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
+		state, _     = New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 		snapshotRevs = make([]int, len(test.snapshots))
 		sindex       = 0
 	)
@@ -426,8 +424,7 @@ func (s *StateSuite) TestTouchDelete(c *check.C) {
 // TestCopyOfCopy tests that modified objects are carried over to the copy, and the copy of the copy.
 // See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/pull/15225#issuecomment-380191512
 func TestCopyOfCopy(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	sdb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
+	sdb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	addr := common.HexToAddress("aaaa")
 	sdb.SetBalance(addr, big.NewInt(42))
 
diff --git a/core/state/sync_test.go b/core/state/sync_test.go
index 8f14a44e7a..3177401608 100644
--- a/core/state/sync_test.go
+++ b/core/state/sync_test.go
@@ -38,8 +38,7 @@ type testAccount struct {
 // makeTestState create a sample test state to test node-wise reconstruction.
 func makeTestState() (Database, common.Hash, []*testAccount) {
 	// Create an empty state
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	db := NewDatabase(diskdb)
+	db := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, db)
 
 	// Fill it with some arbitrary data
@@ -125,8 +124,7 @@ func checkStateConsistency(db ethdb.Database, root common.Hash) error {
 // Tests that an empty state is not scheduled for syncing.
 func TestEmptyStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	empty := common.HexToHash("56e81f171bcc55a6ff8345e692c0f86e5b48e01b996cadc001622fb5e363b421")
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	if req := NewStateSync(empty, db).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
+	if req := NewStateSync(empty, ethdb.NewMemDatabase()).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("content requested for empty state: %v", req)
 	}
 }
@@ -141,7 +139,7 @@ func testIterativeStateSync(t *testing.T, batch int) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(batch)...)
@@ -173,7 +171,7 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(0)...)
@@ -210,7 +208,7 @@ func testIterativeRandomStateSync(t *testing.T, batch int) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
@@ -250,7 +248,7 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
@@ -297,7 +295,7 @@ func TestIncompleteStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	checkTrieConsistency(srcDb.TrieDB().DiskDB().(ethdb.Database), srcRoot)
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	added := []common.Hash{}
diff --git a/core/tx_pool_test.go b/core/tx_pool_test.go
index f0f86415d4..e7f52075e5 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool_test.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool_test.go
@@ -78,8 +78,7 @@ func pricedTransaction(nonce uint64, gaslimit uint64, gasprice *big.Int, key *ec
 }
 
 func setupTxPool() (*TxPool, *ecdsa.PrivateKey) {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(diskdb))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	key, _ := crypto.GenerateKey()
@@ -158,8 +157,7 @@ func (c *testChain) State() (*state.StateDB, error) {
 	// a state change between those fetches.
 	stdb := c.statedb
 	if *c.trigger {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		c.statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		c.statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 		// simulate that the new head block included tx0 and tx1
 		c.statedb.SetNonce(c.address, 2)
 		c.statedb.SetBalance(c.address, new(big.Int).SetUint64(params.Ether))
@@ -175,10 +173,9 @@ func TestStateChangeDuringTransactionPoolReset(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	var (
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		key, _     = crypto.GenerateKey()
 		address    = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
-		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 		trigger    = false
 	)
 
@@ -332,8 +329,7 @@ func TestTransactionChainFork(t *testing.T) {
 
 	addr := crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 	resetState := func() {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 		statedb.AddBalance(addr, big.NewInt(100000000000000))
 
 		pool.chain = &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
@@ -362,8 +358,7 @@ func TestTransactionDoubleNonce(t *testing.T) {
 
 	addr := crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 	resetState := func() {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 		statedb.AddBalance(addr, big.NewInt(100000000000000))
 
 		pool.chain = &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
@@ -553,8 +548,7 @@ func TestTransactionPostponing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the postponing with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -769,8 +763,7 @@ func testTransactionQueueGlobalLimiting(t *testing.T, nolocals bool) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -858,8 +851,7 @@ func testTransactionQueueTimeLimiting(t *testing.T, nolocals bool) {
 	evictionInterval = time.Second
 
 	// Create the pool to test the non-expiration enforcement
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1013,8 +1005,7 @@ func TestTransactionPendingGlobalLimiting(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1060,8 +1051,7 @@ func TestTransactionCapClearsFromAll(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1095,8 +1085,7 @@ func TestTransactionPendingMinimumAllowance(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1144,8 +1133,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolRepricing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -1266,8 +1254,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolRepricingKeepsLocals(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -1329,8 +1316,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolUnderpricing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1436,8 +1422,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolStableUnderpricing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1503,8 +1488,7 @@ func TestTransactionReplacement(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -1598,8 +1582,7 @@ func testTransactionJournaling(t *testing.T, nolocals bool) {
 	os.Remove(journal)
 
 	// Create the original pool to inject transaction into the journal
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1697,8 +1680,7 @@ func TestTransactionStatusCheck(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the status retrievals with
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
diff --git a/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go b/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
index 5ac5464064..c8c5d34d9d 100644
--- a/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
+++ b/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
@@ -99,8 +99,7 @@ func Execute(code, input []byte, cfg *Config) ([]byte, *state.StateDB, error) {
 	setDefaults(cfg)
 
 	if cfg.State == nil {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	}
 	var (
 		address = common.BytesToAddress([]byte("contract"))
@@ -130,8 +129,7 @@ func Create(input []byte, cfg *Config) ([]byte, common.Address, uint64, error) {
 	setDefaults(cfg)
 
 	if cfg.State == nil {
-		db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	}
 	var (
 		vmenv  = NewEnv(cfg)
diff --git a/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go b/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
index 2c4dc50265..ef664bda30 100644
--- a/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
+++ b/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
@@ -94,8 +94,7 @@ func TestExecute(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCall(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	state, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+	state, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	address := common.HexToAddress("0x0a")
 	state.SetCode(address, []byte{
 		byte(vm.PUSH1), 10,
diff --git a/crypto/crypto.go b/crypto/crypto.go
index 1c4d5a2e02..76d1ffaf64 100644
--- a/crypto/crypto.go
+++ b/crypto/crypto.go
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	secp256k1_N, _  = new(big.Int).SetString("fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffebaaedce6af48a03bbfd25e8cd0364141", 16)
-	secp256k1_halfN = new(big.Int).Div(secp256k1_N, big.NewInt(2))
+	secp256k1N, _  = new(big.Int).SetString("fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffebaaedce6af48a03bbfd25e8cd0364141", 16)
+	secp256k1halfN = new(big.Int).Div(secp256k1N, big.NewInt(2))
 )
 
 // Keccak256 calculates and returns the Keccak256 hash of the input data.
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ func Keccak512(data ...[]byte) []byte {
 	return d.Sum(nil)
 }
 
-// Creates an ethereum address given the bytes and the nonce
+// CreateAddress creates an ethereum address given the bytes and the nonce
 func CreateAddress(b common.Address, nonce uint64) common.Address {
 	data, _ := rlp.EncodeToBytes([]interface{}{b, nonce})
 	return common.BytesToAddress(Keccak256(data)[12:])
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func toECDSA(d []byte, strict bool) (*ecdsa.PrivateKey, error) {
 	priv.D = new(big.Int).SetBytes(d)
 
 	// The priv.D must < N
-	if priv.D.Cmp(secp256k1_N) >= 0 {
+	if priv.D.Cmp(secp256k1N) >= 0 {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid private key, >=N")
 	}
 	// The priv.D must not be zero or negative.
@@ -184,11 +184,11 @@ func ValidateSignatureValues(v byte, r, s *big.Int, homestead bool) bool {
 	}
 	// reject upper range of s values (ECDSA malleability)
 	// see discussion in secp256k1/libsecp256k1/include/secp256k1.h
-	if homestead && s.Cmp(secp256k1_halfN) > 0 {
+	if homestead && s.Cmp(secp256k1halfN) > 0 {
 		return false
 	}
 	// Frontier: allow s to be in full N range
-	return r.Cmp(secp256k1_N) < 0 && s.Cmp(secp256k1_N) < 0 && (v == 0 || v == 1)
+	return r.Cmp(secp256k1N) < 0 && s.Cmp(secp256k1N) < 0 && (v == 0 || v == 1)
 }
 
 func PubkeyToAddress(p ecdsa.PublicKey) common.Address {
diff --git a/crypto/crypto_test.go b/crypto/crypto_test.go
index 8350354623..804de3fe22 100644
--- a/crypto/crypto_test.go
+++ b/crypto/crypto_test.go
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ func TestValidateSignatureValues(t *testing.T) {
 	minusOne := big.NewInt(-1)
 	one := common.Big1
 	zero := common.Big0
-	secp256k1nMinus1 := new(big.Int).Sub(secp256k1_N, common.Big1)
+	secp256k1nMinus1 := new(big.Int).Sub(secp256k1N, common.Big1)
 
 	// correct v,r,s
 	check(true, 0, one, one)
@@ -181,9 +181,9 @@ func TestValidateSignatureValues(t *testing.T) {
 	// correct sig with max r,s
 	check(true, 0, secp256k1nMinus1, secp256k1nMinus1)
 	// correct v, combinations of incorrect r,s at upper limit
-	check(false, 0, secp256k1_N, secp256k1nMinus1)
-	check(false, 0, secp256k1nMinus1, secp256k1_N)
-	check(false, 0, secp256k1_N, secp256k1_N)
+	check(false, 0, secp256k1N, secp256k1nMinus1)
+	check(false, 0, secp256k1nMinus1, secp256k1N)
+	check(false, 0, secp256k1N, secp256k1N)
 
 	// current callers ensures r,s cannot be negative, but let's test for that too
 	// as crypto package could be used stand-alone
diff --git a/crypto/secp256k1/curve.go b/crypto/secp256k1/curve.go
index f51be5e353..6fdf2be6a4 100644
--- a/crypto/secp256k1/curve.go
+++ b/crypto/secp256k1/curve.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func (BitCurve *BitCurve) Params() *elliptic.CurveParams {
 	}
 }
 
-// IsOnBitCurve returns true if the given (x,y) lies on the BitCurve.
+// IsOnCurve returns true if the given (x,y) lies on the BitCurve.
 func (BitCurve *BitCurve) IsOnCurve(x, y *big.Int) bool {
 	// y² = x³ + b
 	y2 := new(big.Int).Mul(y, y) //y²
diff --git a/crypto/secp256k1/secp256_test.go b/crypto/secp256k1/secp256_test.go
index f6582ecd54..b608bcfcf1 100644
--- a/crypto/secp256k1/secp256_test.go
+++ b/crypto/secp256k1/secp256_test.go
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func randSig() []byte {
 // tests for malleability
 // highest bit of signature ECDSA s value must be 0, in the 33th byte
 func compactSigCheck(t *testing.T, sig []byte) {
-	var b int = int(sig[32])
+	var b = int(sig[32])
 	if b < 0 {
 		t.Errorf("highest bit is negative: %d", b)
 	}
diff --git a/crypto/signature_nocgo.go b/crypto/signature_nocgo.go
index f636b23772..e8fa18ed47 100644
--- a/crypto/signature_nocgo.go
+++ b/crypto/signature_nocgo.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func VerifySignature(pubkey, hash, signature []byte) bool {
 		return false
 	}
 	// Reject malleable signatures. libsecp256k1 does this check but btcec doesn't.
-	if sig.S.Cmp(secp256k1_halfN) > 0 {
+	if sig.S.Cmp(secp256k1halfN) > 0 {
 		return false
 	}
 	return sig.Verify(hash, key)
diff --git a/eth/api.go b/eth/api.go
index a345b57e49..247ca7485c 100644
--- a/eth/api.go
+++ b/eth/api.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package eth
 import (
 	"compress/gzip"
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"math/big"
@@ -28,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -343,8 +345,10 @@ func NewPrivateDebugAPI(config *params.ChainConfig, eth *Ethereum) *PrivateDebug
 
 // Preimage is a debug API function that returns the preimage for a sha3 hash, if known.
 func (api *PrivateDebugAPI) Preimage(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (hexutil.Bytes, error) {
-	db := core.PreimageTable(api.eth.ChainDb())
-	return db.Get(hash.Bytes())
+	if preimage := rawdb.ReadPreimage(api.eth.ChainDb(), hash); preimage != nil {
+		return preimage, nil
+	}
+	return nil, errors.New("unknown preimage")
 }
 
 // GetBadBLocks returns a list of the last 'bad blocks' that the client has seen on the network
diff --git a/eth/api_backend.go b/eth/api_backend.go
index ecd5488a24..4ace9b5945 100644
--- a/eth/api_backend.go
+++ b/eth/api_backend.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -36,26 +37,26 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
 
-// EthApiBackend implements ethapi.Backend for full nodes
-type EthApiBackend struct {
+// EthAPIBackend implements ethapi.Backend for full nodes
+type EthAPIBackend struct {
 	eth *Ethereum
 	gpo *gasprice.Oracle
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) ChainConfig() *params.ChainConfig {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) ChainConfig() *params.ChainConfig {
 	return b.eth.chainConfig
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) CurrentBlock() *types.Block {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) CurrentBlock() *types.Block {
 	return b.eth.blockchain.CurrentBlock()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SetHead(number uint64) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SetHead(number uint64) {
 	b.eth.protocolManager.downloader.Cancel()
 	b.eth.blockchain.SetHead(number)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*types.Header, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*types.Header, error) {
 	// Pending block is only known by the miner
 	if blockNr == rpc.PendingBlockNumber {
 		block := b.eth.miner.PendingBlock()
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ func (b *EthApiBackend) HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNum
 	return b.eth.blockchain.GetHeaderByNumber(uint64(blockNr)), nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) BlockByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*types.Block, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) BlockByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*types.Block, error) {
 	// Pending block is only known by the miner
 	if blockNr == rpc.PendingBlockNumber {
 		block := b.eth.miner.PendingBlock()
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ func (b *EthApiBackend) BlockByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumb
 	return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByNumber(uint64(blockNr)), nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) StateAndHeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*state.StateDB, *types.Header, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) StateAndHeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*state.StateDB, *types.Header, error) {
 	// Pending state is only known by the miner
 	if blockNr == rpc.PendingBlockNumber {
 		block, state := b.eth.miner.Pending()
@@ -96,16 +97,23 @@ func (b *EthApiBackend) StateAndHeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.
 	return stateDb, header, err
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (*types.Block, error) {
-	return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByHash(blockHash), nil
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (*types.Block, error) {
+	return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByHash(hash), nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
-	return core.GetBlockReceipts(b.eth.chainDb, blockHash, core.GetBlockNumber(b.eth.chainDb, blockHash)), nil
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
+	if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.eth.chainDb, hash); number != nil {
+		return rawdb.ReadReceipts(b.eth.chainDb, hash, *number), nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
-	receipts := core.GetBlockReceipts(b.eth.chainDb, blockHash, core.GetBlockNumber(b.eth.chainDb, blockHash))
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.eth.chainDb, hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(b.eth.chainDb, hash, *number)
 	if receipts == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
@@ -116,11 +124,11 @@ func (b *EthApiBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) ([][
 	return logs, nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetTd(blockHash common.Hash) *big.Int {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetTd(blockHash common.Hash) *big.Int {
 	return b.eth.blockchain.GetTdByHash(blockHash)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, msg core.Message, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmCfg vm.Config) (*vm.EVM, func() error, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, msg core.Message, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmCfg vm.Config) (*vm.EVM, func() error, error) {
 	state.SetBalance(msg.From(), math.MaxBig256)
 	vmError := func() error { return nil }
 
@@ -128,31 +136,31 @@ func (b *EthApiBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, msg core.Message, state *sta
 	return vm.NewEVM(context, state, b.eth.chainConfig, vmCfg), vmError, nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(ch chan<- core.RemovedLogsEvent) event.Subscription {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(ch chan<- core.RemovedLogsEvent) event.Subscription {
 	return b.eth.BlockChain().SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(ch)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SubscribeChainEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainEvent) event.Subscription {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeChainEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainEvent) event.Subscription {
 	return b.eth.BlockChain().SubscribeChainEvent(ch)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SubscribeChainHeadEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainHeadEvent) event.Subscription {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeChainHeadEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainHeadEvent) event.Subscription {
 	return b.eth.BlockChain().SubscribeChainHeadEvent(ch)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SubscribeChainSideEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainSideEvent) event.Subscription {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeChainSideEvent(ch chan<- core.ChainSideEvent) event.Subscription {
 	return b.eth.BlockChain().SubscribeChainSideEvent(ch)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SubscribeLogsEvent(ch chan<- []*types.Log) event.Subscription {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeLogsEvent(ch chan<- []*types.Log) event.Subscription {
 	return b.eth.BlockChain().SubscribeLogsEvent(ch)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SendTx(ctx context.Context, signedTx *types.Transaction) error {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SendTx(ctx context.Context, signedTx *types.Transaction) error {
 	return b.eth.txPool.AddLocal(signedTx)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetPoolTransactions() (types.Transactions, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetPoolTransactions() (types.Transactions, error) {
 	pending, err := b.eth.txPool.Pending()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -164,56 +172,56 @@ func (b *EthApiBackend) GetPoolTransactions() (types.Transactions, error) {
 	return txs, nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetPoolTransaction(hash common.Hash) *types.Transaction {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetPoolTransaction(hash common.Hash) *types.Transaction {
 	return b.eth.txPool.Get(hash)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) GetPoolNonce(ctx context.Context, addr common.Address) (uint64, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) GetPoolNonce(ctx context.Context, addr common.Address) (uint64, error) {
 	return b.eth.txPool.State().GetNonce(addr), nil
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) Stats() (pending int, queued int) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) Stats() (pending int, queued int) {
 	return b.eth.txPool.Stats()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) TxPoolContent() (map[common.Address]types.Transactions, map[common.Address]types.Transactions) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) TxPoolContent() (map[common.Address]types.Transactions, map[common.Address]types.Transactions) {
 	return b.eth.TxPool().Content()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SubscribeTxPreEvent(ch chan<- core.TxPreEvent) event.Subscription {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SubscribeTxPreEvent(ch chan<- core.TxPreEvent) event.Subscription {
 	return b.eth.TxPool().SubscribeTxPreEvent(ch)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) Downloader() *downloader.Downloader {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) Downloader() *downloader.Downloader {
 	return b.eth.Downloader()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) ProtocolVersion() int {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) ProtocolVersion() int {
 	return b.eth.EthVersion()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) SuggestPrice(ctx context.Context) (*big.Int, error) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) SuggestPrice(ctx context.Context) (*big.Int, error) {
 	return b.gpo.SuggestPrice(ctx)
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) ChainDb() ethdb.Database {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) ChainDb() ethdb.Database {
 	return b.eth.ChainDb()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) EventMux() *event.TypeMux {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) EventMux() *event.TypeMux {
 	return b.eth.EventMux()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) AccountManager() *accounts.Manager {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) AccountManager() *accounts.Manager {
 	return b.eth.AccountManager()
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) BloomStatus() (uint64, uint64) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) BloomStatus() (uint64, uint64) {
 	sections, _, _ := b.eth.bloomIndexer.Sections()
 	return params.BloomBitsBlocks, sections
 }
 
-func (b *EthApiBackend) ServiceFilter(ctx context.Context, session *bloombits.MatcherSession) {
+func (b *EthAPIBackend) ServiceFilter(ctx context.Context, session *bloombits.MatcherSession) {
 	for i := 0; i < bloomFilterThreads; i++ {
 		go session.Multiplex(bloomRetrievalBatch, bloomRetrievalWait, b.eth.bloomRequests)
 	}
diff --git a/eth/api_test.go b/eth/api_test.go
index 900a82bb6a..47b062a40c 100644
--- a/eth/api_test.go
+++ b/eth/api_test.go
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ var dumper = spew.ConfigState{Indent: "    "}
 func TestStorageRangeAt(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a state where account 0x010000... has a few storage entries.
 	var (
-		db, _    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		state, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
+		state, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 		addr     = common.Address{0x01}
 		keys     = []common.Hash{ // hashes of Keys of storage
 			common.HexToHash("340dd630ad21bf010b4e676dbfa9ba9a02175262d1fa356232cfde6cb5b47ef2"),
diff --git a/eth/api_tracer.go b/eth/api_tracer.go
index 80a3ab719d..45a819022a 100644
--- a/eth/api_tracer.go
+++ b/eth/api_tracer.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/hexutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -533,7 +534,7 @@ func (api *PrivateDebugAPI) computeStateDB(block *types.Block, reexec uint64) (*
 // and returns them as a JSON object.
 func (api *PrivateDebugAPI) TraceTransaction(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash, config *TraceConfig) (interface{}, error) {
 	// Retrieve the transaction and assemble its EVM context
-	tx, blockHash, _, index := core.GetTransaction(api.eth.ChainDb(), hash)
+	tx, blockHash, _, index := rawdb.ReadTransaction(api.eth.ChainDb(), hash)
 	if tx == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("transaction %x not found", hash)
 	}
diff --git a/eth/backend.go b/eth/backend.go
index ffd5d85421..ea70e3826c 100644
--- a/eth/backend.go
+++ b/eth/backend.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
@@ -63,8 +64,7 @@ type Ethereum struct {
 	chainConfig *params.ChainConfig
 
 	// Channel for shutting down the service
-	shutdownChan  chan bool    // Channel for shutting down the Ethereum
-	stopDbUpgrade func() error // stop chain db sequential key upgrade
+	shutdownChan chan bool // Channel for shutting down the Ethereum
 
 	// Handlers
 	txPool          *core.TxPool
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ type Ethereum struct {
 	bloomRequests chan chan *bloombits.Retrieval // Channel receiving bloom data retrieval requests
 	bloomIndexer  *core.ChainIndexer             // Bloom indexer operating during block imports
 
-	ApiBackend *EthApiBackend
+	APIBackend *EthAPIBackend
 
 	miner     *miner.Miner
 	gasPrice  *big.Int
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-	stopDbUpgrade := upgradeDeduplicateData(chainDb)
 	chainConfig, genesisHash, genesisErr := core.SetupGenesisBlock(chainDb, config.Genesis)
 	if _, ok := genesisErr.(*params.ConfigCompatError); genesisErr != nil && !ok {
 		return nil, genesisErr
@@ -127,7 +126,6 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 		accountManager: ctx.AccountManager,
 		engine:         CreateConsensusEngine(ctx, &config.Ethash, chainConfig, chainDb),
 		shutdownChan:   make(chan bool),
-		stopDbUpgrade:  stopDbUpgrade,
 		networkId:      config.NetworkId,
 		gasPrice:       config.GasPrice,
 		etherbase:      config.Etherbase,
@@ -138,11 +136,11 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	log.Info("Initialising Ethereum protocol", "versions", ProtocolVersions, "network", config.NetworkId)
 
 	if !config.SkipBcVersionCheck {
-		bcVersion := core.GetBlockChainVersion(chainDb)
+		bcVersion := rawdb.ReadDatabaseVersion(chainDb)
 		if bcVersion != core.BlockChainVersion && bcVersion != 0 {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Blockchain DB version mismatch (%d / %d). Run geth upgradedb.\n", bcVersion, core.BlockChainVersion)
 		}
-		core.WriteBlockChainVersion(chainDb, core.BlockChainVersion)
+		rawdb.WriteDatabaseVersion(chainDb, core.BlockChainVersion)
 	}
 	var (
 		vmConfig    = vm.Config{EnablePreimageRecording: config.EnablePreimageRecording}
@@ -156,7 +154,7 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	if compat, ok := genesisErr.(*params.ConfigCompatError); ok {
 		log.Warn("Rewinding chain to upgrade configuration", "err", compat)
 		eth.blockchain.SetHead(compat.RewindTo)
-		core.WriteChainConfig(chainDb, genesisHash, chainConfig)
+		rawdb.WriteChainConfig(chainDb, genesisHash, chainConfig)
 	}
 	eth.bloomIndexer.Start(eth.blockchain)
 
@@ -171,12 +169,12 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *Config) (*Ethereum, error) {
 	eth.miner = miner.New(eth, eth.chainConfig, eth.EventMux(), eth.engine)
 	eth.miner.SetExtra(makeExtraData(config.ExtraData))
 
-	eth.ApiBackend = &EthApiBackend{eth, nil}
+	eth.APIBackend = &EthAPIBackend{eth, nil}
 	gpoParams := config.GPO
 	if gpoParams.Default == nil {
 		gpoParams.Default = config.GasPrice
 	}
-	eth.ApiBackend.gpo = gasprice.NewOracle(eth.ApiBackend, gpoParams)
+	eth.APIBackend.gpo = gasprice.NewOracle(eth.APIBackend, gpoParams)
 
 	return eth, nil
 }
@@ -244,7 +242,7 @@ func CreateConsensusEngine(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *ethash.Config, chai
 // APIs returns the collection of RPC services the ethereum package offers.
 // NOTE, some of these services probably need to be moved to somewhere else.
 func (s *Ethereum) APIs() []rpc.API {
-	apis := ethapi.GetAPIs(s.ApiBackend)
+	apis := ethapi.GetAPIs(s.APIBackend)
 
 	// Append any APIs exposed explicitly by the consensus engine
 	apis = append(apis, s.engine.APIs(s.BlockChain())...)
@@ -274,7 +272,7 @@ func (s *Ethereum) APIs() []rpc.API {
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "eth",
 			Version:   "1.0",
-			Service:   filters.NewPublicFilterAPI(s.ApiBackend, false),
+			Service:   filters.NewPublicFilterAPI(s.APIBackend, false),
 			Public:    true,
 		}, {
 			Namespace: "admin",
@@ -325,13 +323,13 @@ func (s *Ethereum) Etherbase() (eb common.Address, err error) {
 	return common.Address{}, fmt.Errorf("etherbase must be explicitly specified")
 }
 
-// set in js console via admin interface or wrapper from cli flags
-func (self *Ethereum) SetEtherbase(etherbase common.Address) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	self.etherbase = etherbase
-	self.lock.Unlock()
+// SetEtherbase sets the mining reward address.
+func (s *Ethereum) SetEtherbase(etherbase common.Address) {
+	s.lock.Lock()
+	s.etherbase = etherbase
+	s.lock.Unlock()
 
-	self.miner.SetEtherbase(etherbase)
+	s.miner.SetEtherbase(etherbase)
 }
 
 func (s *Ethereum) StartMining(local bool) error {
@@ -411,9 +409,6 @@ func (s *Ethereum) Start(srvr *p2p.Server) error {
 // Stop implements node.Service, terminating all internal goroutines used by the
 // Ethereum protocol.
 func (s *Ethereum) Stop() error {
-	if s.stopDbUpgrade != nil {
-		s.stopDbUpgrade()
-	}
 	s.bloomIndexer.Close()
 	s.blockchain.Stop()
 	s.protocolManager.Stop()
diff --git a/eth/bloombits.go b/eth/bloombits.go
index c5597391c5..954239d141 100644
--- a/eth/bloombits.go
+++ b/eth/bloombits.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/bitutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
@@ -60,8 +61,8 @@ func (eth *Ethereum) startBloomHandlers() {
 					task := <-request
 					task.Bitsets = make([][]byte, len(task.Sections))
 					for i, section := range task.Sections {
-						head := core.GetCanonicalHash(eth.chainDb, (section+1)*params.BloomBitsBlocks-1)
-						if compVector, err := core.GetBloomBits(eth.chainDb, task.Bit, section, head); err == nil {
+						head := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(eth.chainDb, (section+1)*params.BloomBitsBlocks-1)
+						if compVector, err := rawdb.ReadBloomBits(eth.chainDb, task.Bit, section, head); err == nil {
 							if blob, err := bitutil.DecompressBytes(compVector, int(params.BloomBitsBlocks)/8); err == nil {
 								task.Bitsets[i] = blob
 							} else {
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ func NewBloomIndexer(db ethdb.Database, size uint64) *core.ChainIndexer {
 		db:   db,
 		size: size,
 	}
-	table := ethdb.NewTable(db, string(core.BloomBitsIndexPrefix))
+	table := ethdb.NewTable(db, string(rawdb.BloomBitsIndexPrefix))
 
 	return core.NewChainIndexer(db, table, backend, size, bloomConfirms, bloomThrottling, "bloombits")
 }
@@ -137,7 +138,7 @@ func (b *BloomIndexer) Commit() error {
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
-		core.WriteBloomBits(batch, uint(i), b.section, b.head, bitutil.CompressBytes(bits))
+		rawdb.WriteBloomBits(batch, uint(i), b.section, b.head, bitutil.CompressBytes(bits))
 	}
 	return batch.Write()
 }
diff --git a/eth/db_upgrade.go b/eth/db_upgrade.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 96c584ac64..0000000000
--- a/eth/db_upgrade.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,135 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2016 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 eth implements the Ethereum protocol.
-package eth
-
-import (
-	"bytes"
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
-)
-
-var deduplicateData = []byte("dbUpgrade_20170714deduplicateData")
-
-// upgradeDeduplicateData checks the chain database version and
-// starts a background process to make upgrades if necessary.
-// Returns a stop function that blocks until the process has
-// been safely stopped.
-func upgradeDeduplicateData(db ethdb.Database) func() error {
-	// If the database is already converted or empty, bail out
-	data, _ := db.Get(deduplicateData)
-	if len(data) > 0 && data[0] == 42 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	if data, _ := db.Get([]byte("LastHeader")); len(data) == 0 {
-		db.Put(deduplicateData, []byte{42})
-		return nil
-	}
-	// Start the deduplication upgrade on a new goroutine
-	log.Warn("Upgrading database to use lookup entries")
-	stop := make(chan chan error)
-
-	go func() {
-		// Create an iterator to read the entire database and covert old lookup entires
-		it := db.(*ethdb.LDBDatabase).NewIterator()
-		defer func() {
-			if it != nil {
-				it.Release()
-			}
-		}()
-
-		var (
-			converted uint64
-			failed    error
-		)
-		for failed == nil && it.Next() {
-			// Skip any entries that don't look like old transaction meta entries (<hash>0x01)
-			key := it.Key()
-			if len(key) != common.HashLength+1 || key[common.HashLength] != 0x01 {
-				continue
-			}
-			// Skip any entries that don't contain metadata (name clash between <hash>0x01 and <some-prefix><hash>)
-			var meta struct {
-				BlockHash  common.Hash
-				BlockIndex uint64
-				Index      uint64
-			}
-			if err := rlp.DecodeBytes(it.Value(), &meta); err != nil {
-				continue
-			}
-			// Skip any already upgraded entries (clash due to <hash> ending with 0x01 (old suffix))
-			hash := key[:common.HashLength]
-
-			if hash[0] == byte('l') {
-				// Potential clash, the "old" `hash` must point to a live transaction.
-				if tx, _, _, _ := core.GetTransaction(db, common.BytesToHash(hash)); tx == nil || !bytes.Equal(tx.Hash().Bytes(), hash) {
-					continue
-				}
-			}
-			// Convert the old metadata to a new lookup entry, delete duplicate data
-			if failed = db.Put(append([]byte("l"), hash...), it.Value()); failed == nil { // Write the new lookup entry
-				if failed = db.Delete(hash); failed == nil { // Delete the duplicate transaction data
-					if failed = db.Delete(append([]byte("receipts-"), hash...)); failed == nil { // Delete the duplicate receipt data
-						if failed = db.Delete(key); failed != nil { // Delete the old transaction metadata
-							break
-						}
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			// Bump the conversion counter, and recreate the iterator occasionally to
-			// avoid too high memory consumption.
-			converted++
-			if converted%100000 == 0 {
-				it.Release()
-				it = db.(*ethdb.LDBDatabase).NewIterator()
-				it.Seek(key)
-
-				log.Info("Deduplicating database entries", "deduped", converted)
-			}
-			// Check for termination, or continue after a bit of a timeout
-			select {
-			case errc := <-stop:
-				errc <- nil
-				return
-			case <-time.After(time.Microsecond * 100):
-			}
-		}
-		// Upgrade finished, mark a such and terminate
-		if failed == nil {
-			log.Info("Database deduplication successful", "deduped", converted)
-			db.Put(deduplicateData, []byte{42})
-		} else {
-			log.Error("Database deduplication failed", "deduped", converted, "err", failed)
-		}
-		it.Release()
-		it = nil
-
-		errc := <-stop
-		errc <- failed
-	}()
-	// Assembly the cancellation callback
-	return func() error {
-		errc := make(chan error)
-		stop <- errc
-		return <-errc
-	}
-}
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader.go b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
index 43f0e3db97..dc23354929 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import (
 
 	ethereum "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ func New(mode SyncMode, stateDb ethdb.Database, mux *event.TypeMux, chain BlockC
 		stateCh:        make(chan dataPack),
 		stateSyncStart: make(chan *stateSync),
 		syncStatsState: stateSyncStats{
-			processed: core.GetTrieSyncProgress(stateDb),
+			processed: rawdb.ReadFastTrieProgress(stateDb),
 		},
 		trackStateReq: make(chan *stateReq),
 	}
diff --git a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
index e85e234c0e..d1a9a8694b 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/downloader_test.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ type downloadTester struct {
 
 // newTester creates a new downloader test mocker.
 func newTester() *downloadTester {
-	testdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	testdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	genesis := core.GenesisBlockForTesting(testdb, testAddress, big.NewInt(1000000000))
 
 	tester := &downloadTester{
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func newTester() *downloadTester {
 		peerChainTds:      make(map[string]map[common.Hash]*big.Int),
 		peerMissingStates: make(map[string]map[common.Hash]bool),
 	}
-	tester.stateDb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	tester.stateDb = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	tester.stateDb.Put(genesis.Root().Bytes(), []byte{0x00})
 
 	tester.downloader = New(FullSync, tester.stateDb, new(event.TypeMux), tester, nil, tester.dropPeer)
diff --git a/eth/downloader/fakepeer.go b/eth/downloader/fakepeer.go
index 5248e7fb0c..59832facaa 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/fakepeer.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/fakepeer.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 )
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ func (p *FakePeer) RequestBodies(hashes []common.Hash) error {
 		uncles [][]*types.Header
 	)
 	for _, hash := range hashes {
-		block := core.GetBlock(p.db, hash, p.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+		block := rawdb.ReadBlock(p.db, hash, *p.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
 
 		txs = append(txs, block.Transactions())
 		uncles = append(uncles, block.Uncles())
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ func (p *FakePeer) RequestBodies(hashes []common.Hash) error {
 func (p *FakePeer) RequestReceipts(hashes []common.Hash) error {
 	var receipts [][]*types.Receipt
 	for _, hash := range hashes {
-		receipts = append(receipts, core.GetBlockReceipts(p.db, hash, p.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)))
+		receipts = append(receipts, rawdb.ReadReceipts(p.db, hash, *p.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)))
 	}
 	p.dl.DeliverReceipts(p.id, receipts)
 	return nil
diff --git a/eth/downloader/statesync.go b/eth/downloader/statesync.go
index 521ee25a02..5b4b9ba1b7 100644
--- a/eth/downloader/statesync.go
+++ b/eth/downloader/statesync.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto/sha3"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -476,6 +476,6 @@ func (s *stateSync) updateStats(written, duplicate, unexpected int, duration tim
 		log.Info("Imported new state entries", "count", written, "elapsed", common.PrettyDuration(duration), "processed", s.d.syncStatsState.processed, "pending", s.d.syncStatsState.pending, "retry", len(s.tasks), "duplicate", s.d.syncStatsState.duplicate, "unexpected", s.d.syncStatsState.unexpected)
 	}
 	if written > 0 {
-		core.WriteTrieSyncProgress(s.d.stateDB, s.d.syncStatsState.processed)
+		rawdb.WriteFastTrieProgress(s.d.stateDB, s.d.syncStatsState.processed)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go b/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go
index 1e536fcacb..3d4f0d1e59 100644
--- a/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go
+++ b/eth/fetcher/fetcher_test.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
-	testdb, _    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	testdb       = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	testKey, _   = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 	testAddress  = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(testKey.PublicKey)
 	genesis      = core.GenesisBlockForTesting(testdb, testAddress, big.NewInt(1000000000))
diff --git a/eth/filters/api.go b/eth/filters/api.go
index ec403709c5..1297b74788 100644
--- a/eth/filters/api.go
+++ b/eth/filters/api.go
@@ -268,14 +268,8 @@ func (api *PublicFilterAPI) Logs(ctx context.Context, crit FilterCriteria) (*rpc
 }
 
 // FilterCriteria represents a request to create a new filter.
-//
-// TODO(karalabe): Kill this in favor of ethereum.FilterQuery.
-type FilterCriteria struct {
-	FromBlock *big.Int
-	ToBlock   *big.Int
-	Addresses []common.Address
-	Topics    [][]common.Hash
-}
+// Same as ethereum.FilterQuery but with UnmarshalJSON() method.
+type FilterCriteria ethereum.FilterQuery
 
 // NewFilter creates a new filter and returns the filter id. It can be
 // used to retrieve logs when the state changes. This method cannot be
diff --git a/eth/filters/bench_test.go b/eth/filters/bench_test.go
index 0a0929bc10..faffaa70b7 100644
--- a/eth/filters/bench_test.go
+++ b/eth/filters/bench_test.go
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/bitutil"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
@@ -71,20 +71,20 @@ func benchmarkBloomBits(b *testing.B, sectionSize uint64) {
 	if err != nil {
 		b.Fatalf("error opening database at %v: %v", benchDataDir, err)
 	}
-	head := core.GetHeadBlockHash(db)
+	head := rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(db)
 	if head == (common.Hash{}) {
 		b.Fatalf("chain data not found at %v", benchDataDir)
 	}
 
 	clearBloomBits(db)
 	fmt.Println("Generating bloombits data...")
-	headNum := core.GetBlockNumber(db, head)
-	if headNum < sectionSize+512 {
+	headNum := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, head)
+	if headNum == nil || *headNum < sectionSize+512 {
 		b.Fatalf("not enough blocks for running a benchmark")
 	}
 
 	start := time.Now()
-	cnt := (headNum - 512) / sectionSize
+	cnt := (*headNum - 512) / sectionSize
 	var dataSize, compSize uint64
 	for sectionIdx := uint64(0); sectionIdx < cnt; sectionIdx++ {
 		bc, err := bloombits.NewGenerator(uint(sectionSize))
@@ -93,14 +93,14 @@ func benchmarkBloomBits(b *testing.B, sectionSize uint64) {
 		}
 		var header *types.Header
 		for i := sectionIdx * sectionSize; i < (sectionIdx+1)*sectionSize; i++ {
-			hash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, i)
-			header = core.GetHeader(db, hash, i)
+			hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, i)
+			header = rawdb.ReadHeader(db, hash, i)
 			if header == nil {
 				b.Fatalf("Error creating bloomBits data")
 			}
 			bc.AddBloom(uint(i-sectionIdx*sectionSize), header.Bloom)
 		}
-		sectionHead := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, (sectionIdx+1)*sectionSize-1)
+		sectionHead := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, (sectionIdx+1)*sectionSize-1)
 		for i := 0; i < types.BloomBitLength; i++ {
 			data, err := bc.Bitset(uint(i))
 			if err != nil {
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func benchmarkBloomBits(b *testing.B, sectionSize uint64) {
 			comp := bitutil.CompressBytes(data)
 			dataSize += uint64(len(data))
 			compSize += uint64(len(comp))
-			core.WriteBloomBits(db, uint(i), sectionIdx, sectionHead, comp)
+			rawdb.WriteBloomBits(db, uint(i), sectionIdx, sectionHead, comp)
 		}
 		//if sectionIdx%50 == 0 {
 		//	fmt.Println(" section", sectionIdx, "/", cnt)
@@ -180,11 +180,11 @@ func BenchmarkNoBloomBits(b *testing.B) {
 	if err != nil {
 		b.Fatalf("error opening database at %v: %v", benchDataDir, err)
 	}
-	head := core.GetHeadBlockHash(db)
+	head := rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(db)
 	if head == (common.Hash{}) {
 		b.Fatalf("chain data not found at %v", benchDataDir)
 	}
-	headNum := core.GetBlockNumber(db, head)
+	headNum := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, head)
 
 	clearBloomBits(db)
 
@@ -192,10 +192,10 @@ func BenchmarkNoBloomBits(b *testing.B) {
 	start := time.Now()
 	mux := new(event.TypeMux)
 	backend := &testBackend{mux, db, 0, new(event.Feed), new(event.Feed), new(event.Feed), new(event.Feed)}
-	filter := New(backend, 0, int64(headNum), []common.Address{{}}, nil)
+	filter := New(backend, 0, int64(*headNum), []common.Address{{}}, nil)
 	filter.Logs(context.Background())
 	d := time.Since(start)
 	fmt.Println("Finished running filter benchmarks")
-	fmt.Println(" ", d, "total  ", d*time.Duration(1000000)/time.Duration(headNum+1), "per million blocks")
+	fmt.Println(" ", d, "total  ", d*time.Duration(1000000)/time.Duration(*headNum+1), "per million blocks")
 	db.Close()
 }
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_system.go b/eth/filters/filter_system.go
index f8097c7b95..bb11734a76 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_system.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_system.go
@@ -28,8 +28,10 @@ import (
 	ethereum "github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rpc"
 )
 
@@ -91,8 +93,21 @@ type EventSystem struct {
 	backend   Backend
 	lightMode bool
 	lastHead  *types.Header
-	install   chan *subscription // install filter for event notification
-	uninstall chan *subscription // remove filter for event notification
+
+	// Subscriptions
+	txSub         event.Subscription         // Subscription for new transaction event
+	logsSub       event.Subscription         // Subscription for new log event
+	rmLogsSub     event.Subscription         // Subscription for removed log event
+	chainSub      event.Subscription         // Subscription for new chain event
+	pendingLogSub *event.TypeMuxSubscription // Subscription for pending log event
+
+	// Channels
+	install   chan *subscription         // install filter for event notification
+	uninstall chan *subscription         // remove filter for event notification
+	txCh      chan core.TxPreEvent       // Channel to receive new transaction event
+	logsCh    chan []*types.Log          // Channel to receive new log event
+	rmLogsCh  chan core.RemovedLogsEvent // Channel to receive removed log event
+	chainCh   chan core.ChainEvent       // Channel to receive new chain event
 }
 
 // NewEventSystem creates a new manager that listens for event on the given mux,
@@ -108,10 +123,27 @@ func NewEventSystem(mux *event.TypeMux, backend Backend, lightMode bool) *EventS
 		lightMode: lightMode,
 		install:   make(chan *subscription),
 		uninstall: make(chan *subscription),
+		txCh:      make(chan core.TxPreEvent, txChanSize),
+		logsCh:    make(chan []*types.Log, logsChanSize),
+		rmLogsCh:  make(chan core.RemovedLogsEvent, rmLogsChanSize),
+		chainCh:   make(chan core.ChainEvent, chainEvChanSize),
+	}
+
+	// Subscribe events
+	m.txSub = m.backend.SubscribeTxPreEvent(m.txCh)
+	m.logsSub = m.backend.SubscribeLogsEvent(m.logsCh)
+	m.rmLogsSub = m.backend.SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(m.rmLogsCh)
+	m.chainSub = m.backend.SubscribeChainEvent(m.chainCh)
+	// TODO(rjl493456442): use feed to subscribe pending log event
+	m.pendingLogSub = m.mux.Subscribe(core.PendingLogsEvent{})
+
+	// Make sure none of the subscriptions are empty
+	if m.txSub == nil || m.logsSub == nil || m.rmLogsSub == nil || m.chainSub == nil ||
+		m.pendingLogSub.Closed() {
+		log.Crit("Subscribe for event system failed")
 	}
 
 	go m.eventLoop()
-
 	return m
 }
 
@@ -348,11 +380,11 @@ func (es *EventSystem) lightFilterNewHead(newHeader *types.Header, callBack func
 	for oldh.Hash() != newh.Hash() {
 		if oldh.Number.Uint64() >= newh.Number.Uint64() {
 			oldHeaders = append(oldHeaders, oldh)
-			oldh = core.GetHeader(es.backend.ChainDb(), oldh.ParentHash, oldh.Number.Uint64()-1)
+			oldh = rawdb.ReadHeader(es.backend.ChainDb(), oldh.ParentHash, oldh.Number.Uint64()-1)
 		}
 		if oldh.Number.Uint64() < newh.Number.Uint64() {
 			newHeaders = append(newHeaders, newh)
-			newh = core.GetHeader(es.backend.ChainDb(), newh.ParentHash, newh.Number.Uint64()-1)
+			newh = rawdb.ReadHeader(es.backend.ChainDb(), newh.ParentHash, newh.Number.Uint64()-1)
 			if newh == nil {
 				// happens when CHT syncing, nothing to do
 				newh = oldh
@@ -411,52 +443,37 @@ func (es *EventSystem) lightFilterLogs(header *types.Header, addresses []common.
 
 // eventLoop (un)installs filters and processes mux events.
 func (es *EventSystem) eventLoop() {
-	var (
-		index = make(filterIndex)
-		sub   = es.mux.Subscribe(core.PendingLogsEvent{})
-		// Subscribe TxPreEvent form txpool
-		txCh  = make(chan core.TxPreEvent, txChanSize)
-		txSub = es.backend.SubscribeTxPreEvent(txCh)
-		// Subscribe RemovedLogsEvent
-		rmLogsCh  = make(chan core.RemovedLogsEvent, rmLogsChanSize)
-		rmLogsSub = es.backend.SubscribeRemovedLogsEvent(rmLogsCh)
-		// Subscribe []*types.Log
-		logsCh  = make(chan []*types.Log, logsChanSize)
-		logsSub = es.backend.SubscribeLogsEvent(logsCh)
-		// Subscribe ChainEvent
-		chainEvCh  = make(chan core.ChainEvent, chainEvChanSize)
-		chainEvSub = es.backend.SubscribeChainEvent(chainEvCh)
-	)
-
-	// Unsubscribe all events
-	defer sub.Unsubscribe()
-	defer txSub.Unsubscribe()
-	defer rmLogsSub.Unsubscribe()
-	defer logsSub.Unsubscribe()
-	defer chainEvSub.Unsubscribe()
+	// Ensure all subscriptions get cleaned up
+	defer func() {
+		es.pendingLogSub.Unsubscribe()
+		es.txSub.Unsubscribe()
+		es.logsSub.Unsubscribe()
+		es.rmLogsSub.Unsubscribe()
+		es.chainSub.Unsubscribe()
+	}()
 
+	index := make(filterIndex)
 	for i := UnknownSubscription; i < LastIndexSubscription; i++ {
 		index[i] = make(map[rpc.ID]*subscription)
 	}
 
 	for {
 		select {
-		case ev, active := <-sub.Chan():
+		// Handle subscribed events
+		case ev := <-es.txCh:
+			es.broadcast(index, ev)
+		case ev := <-es.logsCh:
+			es.broadcast(index, ev)
+		case ev := <-es.rmLogsCh:
+			es.broadcast(index, ev)
+		case ev := <-es.chainCh:
+			es.broadcast(index, ev)
+		case ev, active := <-es.pendingLogSub.Chan():
 			if !active { // system stopped
 				return
 			}
 			es.broadcast(index, ev)
 
-		// Handle subscribed events
-		case ev := <-txCh:
-			es.broadcast(index, ev)
-		case ev := <-rmLogsCh:
-			es.broadcast(index, ev)
-		case ev := <-logsCh:
-			es.broadcast(index, ev)
-		case ev := <-chainEvCh:
-			es.broadcast(index, ev)
-
 		case f := <-es.install:
 			if f.typ == MinedAndPendingLogsSubscription {
 				// the type are logs and pending logs subscriptions
@@ -466,6 +483,7 @@ func (es *EventSystem) eventLoop() {
 				index[f.typ][f.id] = f
 			}
 			close(f.installed)
+
 		case f := <-es.uninstall:
 			if f.typ == MinedAndPendingLogsSubscription {
 				// the type are logs and pending logs subscriptions
@@ -477,13 +495,13 @@ func (es *EventSystem) eventLoop() {
 			close(f.err)
 
 		// System stopped
-		case <-txSub.Err():
+		case <-es.txSub.Err():
 			return
-		case <-rmLogsSub.Err():
+		case <-es.logsSub.Err():
 			return
-		case <-logsSub.Err():
+		case <-es.rmLogsSub.Err():
 			return
-		case <-chainEvSub.Err():
+		case <-es.chainSub.Err():
 			return
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go b/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go
index 61761151a2..b4df24b471 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_system_test.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
@@ -56,26 +57,37 @@ func (b *testBackend) EventMux() *event.TypeMux {
 }
 
 func (b *testBackend) HeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, blockNr rpc.BlockNumber) (*types.Header, error) {
-	var hash common.Hash
-	var num uint64
+	var (
+		hash common.Hash
+		num  uint64
+	)
 	if blockNr == rpc.LatestBlockNumber {
-		hash = core.GetHeadBlockHash(b.db)
-		num = core.GetBlockNumber(b.db, hash)
+		hash = rawdb.ReadHeadBlockHash(b.db)
+		number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.db, hash)
+		if number == nil {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+		num = *number
 	} else {
 		num = uint64(blockNr)
-		hash = core.GetCanonicalHash(b.db, num)
+		hash = rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(b.db, num)
 	}
-	return core.GetHeader(b.db, hash, num), nil
+	return rawdb.ReadHeader(b.db, hash, num), nil
 }
 
-func (b *testBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
-	number := core.GetBlockNumber(b.db, blockHash)
-	return core.GetBlockReceipts(b.db, blockHash, number), nil
+func (b *testBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
+	if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.db, hash); number != nil {
+		return rawdb.ReadReceipts(b.db, hash, *number), nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (b *testBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
-	number := core.GetBlockNumber(b.db, blockHash)
-	receipts := core.GetBlockReceipts(b.db, blockHash, number)
+func (b *testBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.db, hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(b.db, hash, *number)
 
 	logs := make([][]*types.Log, len(receipts))
 	for i, receipt := range receipts {
@@ -121,8 +133,8 @@ func (b *testBackend) ServiceFilter(ctx context.Context, session *bloombits.Matc
 				task.Bitsets = make([][]byte, len(task.Sections))
 				for i, section := range task.Sections {
 					if rand.Int()%4 != 0 { // Handle occasional missing deliveries
-						head := core.GetCanonicalHash(b.db, (section+1)*params.BloomBitsBlocks-1)
-						task.Bitsets[i], _ = core.GetBloomBits(b.db, task.Bit, section, head)
+						head := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(b.db, (section+1)*params.BloomBitsBlocks-1)
+						task.Bitsets[i], _ = rawdb.ReadBloomBits(b.db, task.Bit, section, head)
 					}
 				}
 				request <- task
@@ -141,7 +153,7 @@ func TestBlockSubscription(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var (
 		mux         = new(event.TypeMux)
-		db, _       = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db          = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		txFeed      = new(event.Feed)
 		rmLogsFeed  = new(event.Feed)
 		logsFeed    = new(event.Feed)
@@ -198,7 +210,7 @@ func TestPendingTxFilter(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var (
 		mux        = new(event.TypeMux)
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		txFeed     = new(event.Feed)
 		rmLogsFeed = new(event.Feed)
 		logsFeed   = new(event.Feed)
@@ -261,7 +273,7 @@ func TestPendingTxFilter(t *testing.T) {
 func TestLogFilterCreation(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		mux        = new(event.TypeMux)
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		txFeed     = new(event.Feed)
 		rmLogsFeed = new(event.Feed)
 		logsFeed   = new(event.Feed)
@@ -310,7 +322,7 @@ func TestInvalidLogFilterCreation(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var (
 		mux        = new(event.TypeMux)
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		txFeed     = new(event.Feed)
 		rmLogsFeed = new(event.Feed)
 		logsFeed   = new(event.Feed)
@@ -340,7 +352,7 @@ func TestLogFilter(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var (
 		mux        = new(event.TypeMux)
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		txFeed     = new(event.Feed)
 		rmLogsFeed = new(event.Feed)
 		logsFeed   = new(event.Feed)
@@ -459,7 +471,7 @@ func TestPendingLogsSubscription(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var (
 		mux        = new(event.TypeMux)
-		db, _      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		txFeed     = new(event.Feed)
 		rmLogsFeed = new(event.Feed)
 		logsFeed   = new(event.Feed)
diff --git a/eth/filters/filter_test.go b/eth/filters/filter_test.go
index 0018142c46..ccabe955cf 100644
--- a/eth/filters/filter_test.go
+++ b/eth/filters/filter_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"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"
@@ -84,16 +85,10 @@ func BenchmarkFilters(b *testing.B) {
 		}
 	})
 	for i, block := range chain {
-		core.WriteBlock(db, block)
-		if err := core.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := core.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-			b.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := core.WriteBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts[i]); err != nil {
-			b.Fatal("error writing block receipts:", err)
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteBlock(db, block)
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+		rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash())
+		rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts[i])
 	}
 	b.ResetTimer()
 
@@ -174,16 +169,10 @@ func TestFilters(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 	for i, block := range chain {
-		core.WriteBlock(db, block)
-		if err := core.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := core.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash()); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("failed to insert block number: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := core.WriteBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts[i]); err != nil {
-			t.Fatal("error writing block receipts:", err)
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteBlock(db, block)
+		rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64())
+		rawdb.WriteHeadBlockHash(db, block.Hash())
+		rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), receipts[i])
 	}
 
 	filter := New(backend, 0, -1, []common.Address{addr}, [][]common.Hash{{hash1, hash2, hash3, hash4}})
diff --git a/eth/handler.go b/eth/handler.go
index 4069359c9e..c8f7e13f16 100644
--- a/eth/handler.go
+++ b/eth/handler.go
@@ -725,25 +725,25 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) BroadcastTx(hash common.Hash, tx *types.Transaction)
 }
 
 // Mined broadcast loop
-func (self *ProtocolManager) minedBroadcastLoop() {
+func (pm *ProtocolManager) minedBroadcastLoop() {
 	// automatically stops if unsubscribe
-	for obj := range self.minedBlockSub.Chan() {
+	for obj := range pm.minedBlockSub.Chan() {
 		switch ev := obj.Data.(type) {
 		case core.NewMinedBlockEvent:
-			self.BroadcastBlock(ev.Block, true)  // First propagate block to peers
-			self.BroadcastBlock(ev.Block, false) // Only then announce to the rest
+			pm.BroadcastBlock(ev.Block, true)  // First propagate block to peers
+			pm.BroadcastBlock(ev.Block, false) // Only then announce to the rest
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (self *ProtocolManager) txBroadcastLoop() {
+func (pm *ProtocolManager) txBroadcastLoop() {
 	for {
 		select {
-		case event := <-self.txCh:
-			self.BroadcastTx(event.Tx.Hash(), event.Tx)
+		case event := <-pm.txCh:
+			pm.BroadcastTx(event.Tx.Hash(), event.Tx)
 
 		// Err() channel will be closed when unsubscribing.
-		case <-self.txSub.Err():
+		case <-pm.txSub.Err():
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -760,13 +760,13 @@ type NodeInfo struct {
 }
 
 // NodeInfo retrieves some protocol metadata about the running host node.
-func (self *ProtocolManager) NodeInfo() *NodeInfo {
-	currentBlock := self.blockchain.CurrentBlock()
+func (pm *ProtocolManager) NodeInfo() *NodeInfo {
+	currentBlock := pm.blockchain.CurrentBlock()
 	return &NodeInfo{
-		Network:    self.networkId,
-		Difficulty: self.blockchain.GetTd(currentBlock.Hash(), currentBlock.NumberU64()),
-		Genesis:    self.blockchain.Genesis().Hash(),
-		Config:     self.blockchain.Config(),
+		Network:    pm.networkId,
+		Difficulty: pm.blockchain.GetTd(currentBlock.Hash(), currentBlock.NumberU64()),
+		Genesis:    pm.blockchain.Genesis().Hash(),
+		Config:     pm.blockchain.Config(),
 		Head:       currentBlock.Hash(),
 	}
 }
diff --git a/eth/handler_test.go b/eth/handler_test.go
index e336dfa285..fee4114eb6 100644
--- a/eth/handler_test.go
+++ b/eth/handler_test.go
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ func testGetNodeData(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 			t.Errorf("data hash mismatch: have %x, want %x", hash, want)
 		}
 	}
-	statedb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	statedb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	for i := 0; i < len(data); i++ {
 		statedb.Put(hashes[i].Bytes(), data[i])
 	}
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ func testDAOChallenge(t *testing.T, localForked, remoteForked bool, timeout bool
 	var (
 		evmux         = new(event.TypeMux)
 		pow           = ethash.NewFaker()
-		db, _         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db            = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		config        = &params.ChainConfig{DAOForkBlock: big.NewInt(1), DAOForkSupport: localForked}
 		gspec         = &core.Genesis{Config: config}
 		genesis       = gspec.MustCommit(db)
diff --git a/eth/helper_test.go b/eth/helper_test.go
index 2b05cea801..8a0260fc95 100644
--- a/eth/helper_test.go
+++ b/eth/helper_test.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func newTestProtocolManager(mode downloader.SyncMode, blocks int, generator func
 	var (
 		evmux  = new(event.TypeMux)
 		engine = ethash.NewFaker()
-		db, _  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db     = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec  = &core.Genesis{
 			Config: params.TestChainConfig,
 			Alloc:  core.GenesisAlloc{testBank: {Balance: big.NewInt(1000000)}},
diff --git a/eth/protocol.go b/eth/protocol.go
index cd7db57f23..328d5b9939 100644
--- a/eth/protocol.go
+++ b/eth/protocol.go
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ const (
 	eth63 = 63
 )
 
-// Official short name of the protocol used during capability negotiation.
+// ProtocolName is the official short name of the protocol used during capability negotiation.
 var ProtocolName = "eth"
 
-// Supported versions of the eth protocol (first is primary).
+// ProtocolVersions are the upported versions of the eth protocol (first is primary).
 var ProtocolVersions = []uint{eth63, eth62}
 
-// Number of implemented message corresponding to different protocol versions.
+// ProtocolLengths are the number of implemented message corresponding to different protocol versions.
 var ProtocolLengths = []uint64{17, 8}
 
 const ProtocolMaxMsgSize = 10 * 1024 * 1024 // Maximum cap on the size of a protocol message
diff --git a/eth/tracers/tracers_test.go b/eth/tracers/tracers_test.go
index bf8120228f..d25fc459a1 100644
--- a/eth/tracers/tracers_test.go
+++ b/eth/tracers/tracers_test.go
@@ -159,8 +159,7 @@ func TestCallTracer(t *testing.T) {
 				GasLimit:    uint64(test.Context.GasLimit),
 				GasPrice:    tx.GasPrice(),
 			}
-			db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-			statedb := tests.MakePreState(db, test.Genesis.Alloc)
+			statedb := tests.MakePreState(ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), test.Genesis.Alloc)
 
 			// Create the tracer, the EVM environment and run it
 			tracer, err := New("callTracer")
diff --git a/ethdb/database_test.go b/ethdb/database_test.go
index 5e4a3ca34a..2deb50988c 100644
--- a/ethdb/database_test.go
+++ b/ethdb/database_test.go
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ func TestLDB_PutGet(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestMemoryDB_PutGet(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	testPutGet(db, t)
+	testPutGet(ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), t)
 }
 
 func testPutGet(db ethdb.Database, t *testing.T) {
@@ -131,8 +130,7 @@ func TestLDB_ParallelPutGet(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestMemoryDB_ParallelPutGet(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	testParallelPutGet(db, t)
+	testParallelPutGet(ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), t)
 }
 
 func testParallelPutGet(db ethdb.Database, t *testing.T) {
diff --git a/ethdb/memory_database.go b/ethdb/memory_database.go
index 8efd7bf845..c57042920a 100644
--- a/ethdb/memory_database.go
+++ b/ethdb/memory_database.go
@@ -31,16 +31,16 @@ type MemDatabase struct {
 	lock sync.RWMutex
 }
 
-func NewMemDatabase() (*MemDatabase, error) {
+func NewMemDatabase() *MemDatabase {
 	return &MemDatabase{
 		db: make(map[string][]byte),
-	}, nil
+	}
 }
 
-func NewMemDatabaseWithCap(size int) (*MemDatabase, error) {
+func NewMemDatabaseWithCap(size int) *MemDatabase {
 	return &MemDatabase{
 		db: make(map[string][]byte, size),
-	}, nil
+	}
 }
 
 func (db *MemDatabase) Put(key []byte, value []byte) error {
diff --git a/ethstats/ethstats.go b/ethstats/ethstats.go
index ae7e252654..a15d846150 100644
--- a/ethstats/ethstats.go
+++ b/ethstats/ethstats.go
@@ -689,7 +689,7 @@ func (s *Service) reportStats(conn *websocket.Conn) error {
 		sync := s.eth.Downloader().Progress()
 		syncing = s.eth.BlockChain().CurrentHeader().Number.Uint64() >= sync.HighestBlock
 
-		price, _ := s.eth.ApiBackend.SuggestPrice(context.Background())
+		price, _ := s.eth.APIBackend.SuggestPrice(context.Background())
 		gasprice = int(price.Uint64())
 	} else {
 		sync := s.les.Downloader().Progress()
diff --git a/event/event.go b/event/event.go
index 20d20d1f57..4232787314 100644
--- a/event/event.go
+++ b/event/event.go
@@ -180,6 +180,12 @@ func (s *TypeMuxSubscription) Unsubscribe() {
 	s.closewait()
 }
 
+func (s *TypeMuxSubscription) Closed() bool {
+	s.closeMu.Lock()
+	defer s.closeMu.Unlock()
+	return s.closed
+}
+
 func (s *TypeMuxSubscription) closewait() {
 	s.closeMu.Lock()
 	defer s.closeMu.Unlock()
diff --git a/event/feed.go b/event/feed.go
index 78fa3d98d8..f578f00c10 100644
--- a/event/feed.go
+++ b/event/feed.go
@@ -148,7 +148,9 @@ func (f *Feed) Send(value interface{}) (nsent int) {
 		f.sendCases[i].Send = rvalue
 	}
 
-	// Send until all channels except removeSub have been chosen.
+	// Send until all channels except removeSub have been chosen. 'cases' tracks a prefix
+	// of sendCases. When a send succeeds, the corresponding case moves to the end of
+	// 'cases' and it shrinks by one element.
 	cases := f.sendCases
 	for {
 		// Fast path: try sending without blocking before adding to the select set.
@@ -170,6 +172,7 @@ func (f *Feed) Send(value interface{}) (nsent int) {
 			index := f.sendCases.find(recv.Interface())
 			f.sendCases = f.sendCases.delete(index)
 			if index >= 0 && index < len(cases) {
+				// Shrink 'cases' too because the removed case was still active.
 				cases = f.sendCases[:len(cases)-1]
 			}
 		} else {
diff --git a/event/feed_test.go b/event/feed_test.go
index a82c103033..be8876932c 100644
--- a/event/feed_test.go
+++ b/event/feed_test.go
@@ -235,6 +235,45 @@ func TestFeedUnsubscribeBlockedPost(t *testing.T) {
 	wg.Wait()
 }
 
+// Checks that unsubscribing a channel during Send works even if that
+// channel has already been sent on.
+func TestFeedUnsubscribeSentChan(t *testing.T) {
+	var (
+		feed Feed
+		ch1  = make(chan int)
+		ch2  = make(chan int)
+		sub1 = feed.Subscribe(ch1)
+		sub2 = feed.Subscribe(ch2)
+		wg   sync.WaitGroup
+	)
+	defer sub2.Unsubscribe()
+
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		feed.Send(0)
+		wg.Done()
+	}()
+
+	// Wait for the value on ch1.
+	<-ch1
+	// Unsubscribe ch1, removing it from the send cases.
+	sub1.Unsubscribe()
+
+	// Receive ch2, finishing Send.
+	<-ch2
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	// Send again. This should send to ch2 only, so the wait group will unblock
+	// as soon as a value is received on ch2.
+	wg.Add(1)
+	go func() {
+		feed.Send(0)
+		wg.Done()
+	}()
+	<-ch2
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
 func TestFeedUnsubscribeFromInbox(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		feed Feed
diff --git a/event/filter/filter.go b/event/filter/filter.go
index b1fbf30ee4..a6fe46d6a0 100644
--- a/event/filter/filter.go
+++ b/event/filter/filter.go
@@ -45,37 +45,37 @@ func New() *Filters {
 	}
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Start() {
-	go self.loop()
+func (f *Filters) Start() {
+	go f.loop()
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Stop() {
-	close(self.quit)
+func (f *Filters) Stop() {
+	close(f.quit)
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Notify(filter Filter, data interface{}) {
-	self.ch <- FilterEvent{filter, data}
+func (f *Filters) Notify(filter Filter, data interface{}) {
+	f.ch <- FilterEvent{filter, data}
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Install(watcher Filter) int {
-	self.watchers[self.id] = watcher
-	self.id++
+func (f *Filters) Install(watcher Filter) int {
+	f.watchers[f.id] = watcher
+	f.id++
 
-	return self.id - 1
+	return f.id - 1
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Uninstall(id int) {
-	delete(self.watchers, id)
+func (f *Filters) Uninstall(id int) {
+	delete(f.watchers, id)
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) loop() {
+func (f *Filters) loop() {
 out:
 	for {
 		select {
-		case <-self.quit:
+		case <-f.quit:
 			break out
-		case event := <-self.ch:
-			for _, watcher := range self.watchers {
+		case event := <-f.ch:
+			for _, watcher := range f.watchers {
 				if reflect.TypeOf(watcher) == reflect.TypeOf(event.filter) {
 					if watcher.Compare(event.filter) {
 						watcher.Trigger(event.data)
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ out:
 	}
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Match(a, b Filter) bool {
+func (f *Filters) Match(a, b Filter) bool {
 	return reflect.TypeOf(a) == reflect.TypeOf(b) && a.Compare(b)
 }
 
-func (self *Filters) Get(i int) Filter {
-	return self.watchers[i]
+func (f *Filters) Get(i int) Filter {
+	return f.watchers[i]
 }
diff --git a/internal/build/pgp.go b/internal/build/pgp.go
index 79ab9c06f1..c7d0d23397 100644
--- a/internal/build/pgp.go
+++ b/internal/build/pgp.go
@@ -57,3 +57,15 @@ func PGPSignFile(input string, output string, pgpkey string) error {
 	// Generate the signature and return
 	return openpgp.ArmoredDetachSign(out, keys[0], in, nil)
 }
+
+// PGPKeyID parses an armored key and returns the key ID.
+func PGPKeyID(pgpkey string) (string, error) {
+	keys, err := openpgp.ReadArmoredKeyRing(bytes.NewBufferString(pgpkey))
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if len(keys) != 1 {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("key count mismatch: have %d, want %d", len(keys), 1)
+	}
+	return keys[0].PrimaryKey.KeyIdString(), nil
+}
diff --git a/internal/ethapi/api.go b/internal/ethapi/api.go
index e2bfbaf307..a524dbadd8 100644
--- a/internal/ethapi/api.go
+++ b/internal/ethapi/api.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
@@ -1006,7 +1007,7 @@ func (s *PublicTransactionPoolAPI) GetTransactionCount(ctx context.Context, addr
 // GetTransactionByHash returns the transaction for the given hash
 func (s *PublicTransactionPoolAPI) GetTransactionByHash(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) *RPCTransaction {
 	// Try to return an already finalized transaction
-	if tx, blockHash, blockNumber, index := core.GetTransaction(s.b.ChainDb(), hash); tx != nil {
+	if tx, blockHash, blockNumber, index := rawdb.ReadTransaction(s.b.ChainDb(), hash); tx != nil {
 		return newRPCTransaction(tx, blockHash, blockNumber, index)
 	}
 	// No finalized transaction, try to retrieve it from the pool
@@ -1022,7 +1023,7 @@ func (s *PublicTransactionPoolAPI) GetRawTransactionByHash(ctx context.Context,
 	var tx *types.Transaction
 
 	// Retrieve a finalized transaction, or a pooled otherwise
-	if tx, _, _, _ = core.GetTransaction(s.b.ChainDb(), hash); tx == nil {
+	if tx, _, _, _ = rawdb.ReadTransaction(s.b.ChainDb(), hash); tx == nil {
 		if tx = s.b.GetPoolTransaction(hash); tx == nil {
 			// Transaction not found anywhere, abort
 			return nil, nil
@@ -1034,7 +1035,7 @@ func (s *PublicTransactionPoolAPI) GetRawTransactionByHash(ctx context.Context,
 
 // GetTransactionReceipt returns the transaction receipt for the given transaction hash.
 func (s *PublicTransactionPoolAPI) GetTransactionReceipt(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (map[string]interface{}, error) {
-	tx, blockHash, blockNumber, index := core.GetTransaction(s.b.ChainDb(), hash)
+	tx, blockHash, blockNumber, index := rawdb.ReadTransaction(s.b.ChainDb(), hash)
 	if tx == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
diff --git a/les/api_backend.go b/les/api_backend.go
index 3fc5c33a44..1d3c995134 100644
--- a/les/api_backend.go
+++ b/les/api_backend.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -83,16 +84,22 @@ func (b *LesApiBackend) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (*t
 	return b.eth.blockchain.GetBlockByHash(ctx, blockHash)
 }
 
-func (b *LesApiBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
-	return light.GetBlockReceipts(ctx, b.eth.odr, blockHash, core.GetBlockNumber(b.eth.chainDb, blockHash))
+func (b *LesApiBackend) GetReceipts(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (types.Receipts, error) {
+	if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.eth.chainDb, hash); number != nil {
+		return light.GetBlockReceipts(ctx, b.eth.odr, hash, *number)
+	}
+	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (b *LesApiBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, blockHash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
-	return light.GetBlockLogs(ctx, b.eth.odr, blockHash, core.GetBlockNumber(b.eth.chainDb, blockHash))
+func (b *LesApiBackend) GetLogs(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
+	if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(b.eth.chainDb, hash); number != nil {
+		return light.GetBlockLogs(ctx, b.eth.odr, hash, *number)
+	}
+	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (b *LesApiBackend) GetTd(blockHash common.Hash) *big.Int {
-	return b.eth.blockchain.GetTdByHash(blockHash)
+func (b *LesApiBackend) GetTd(hash common.Hash) *big.Int {
+	return b.eth.blockchain.GetTdByHash(hash)
 }
 
 func (b *LesApiBackend) GetEVM(ctx context.Context, msg core.Message, state *state.StateDB, header *types.Header, vmCfg vm.Config) (*vm.EVM, func() error, error) {
diff --git a/les/backend.go b/les/backend.go
index 6a324cb04b..2d8ada7b0e 100644
--- a/les/backend.go
+++ b/les/backend.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/bloombits"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ func New(ctx *node.ServiceContext, config *eth.Config) (*LightEthereum, error) {
 	if compat, ok := genesisErr.(*params.ConfigCompatError); ok {
 		log.Warn("Rewinding chain to upgrade configuration", "err", compat)
 		leth.blockchain.SetHead(compat.RewindTo)
-		core.WriteChainConfig(chainDb, genesisHash, chainConfig)
+		rawdb.WriteChainConfig(chainDb, genesisHash, chainConfig)
 	}
 
 	leth.txPool = light.NewTxPool(leth.chainConfig, leth.blockchain, leth.relay)
diff --git a/les/distributor_test.go b/les/distributor_test.go
index 55defb69be..2891bcab49 100644
--- a/les/distributor_test.go
+++ b/les/distributor_test.go
@@ -97,9 +97,8 @@ func (p *testDistPeer) waitBefore(cost uint64) (time.Duration, float64) {
 	p.lock.RUnlock()
 	if sumCost < testDistBufLimit {
 		return 0, float64(testDistBufLimit-sumCost) / float64(testDistBufLimit)
-	} else {
-		return time.Duration(sumCost - testDistBufLimit), 0
 	}
+	return time.Duration(sumCost - testDistBufLimit), 0
 }
 
 func (p *testDistPeer) canQueue() bool {
diff --git a/les/fetcher.go b/les/fetcher.go
index e12a2c78a2..59d3a2aa3c 100644
--- a/les/fetcher.go
+++ b/les/fetcher.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/mclock"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/light"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ func (f *lightFetcher) announce(p *peer, head *announceData) {
 			// if one of root's children is canonical, keep it, delete other branches and root itself
 			var newRoot *fetcherTreeNode
 			for i, nn := range fp.root.children {
-				if core.GetCanonicalHash(f.pm.chainDb, nn.number) == nn.hash {
+				if rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(f.pm.chainDb, nn.number) == nn.hash {
 					fp.root.children = append(fp.root.children[:i], fp.root.children[i+1:]...)
 					nn.parent = nil
 					newRoot = nn
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ func (f *lightFetcher) peerHasBlock(p *peer, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bo
 	//
 	// when syncing, just check if it is part of the known chain, there is nothing better we
 	// can do since we do not know the most recent block hash yet
-	return core.GetCanonicalHash(f.pm.chainDb, fp.root.number) == fp.root.hash && core.GetCanonicalHash(f.pm.chainDb, number) == hash
+	return rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(f.pm.chainDb, fp.root.number) == fp.root.hash && rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(f.pm.chainDb, number) == hash
 }
 
 // requestAmount calculates the amount of headers to be downloaded starting
diff --git a/les/handler.go b/les/handler.go
index 9627f392be..22899eb1bc 100644
--- a/les/handler.go
+++ b/les/handler.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
@@ -528,9 +529,11 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 				break
 			}
 			// Retrieve the requested block body, stopping if enough was found
-			if data := core.GetBodyRLP(pm.chainDb, hash, core.GetBlockNumber(pm.chainDb, hash)); len(data) != 0 {
-				bodies = append(bodies, data)
-				bytes += len(data)
+			if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(pm.chainDb, hash); number != nil {
+				if data := rawdb.ReadBodyRLP(pm.chainDb, hash, *number); len(data) != 0 {
+					bodies = append(bodies, data)
+					bytes += len(data)
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		bv, rcost := p.fcClient.RequestProcessed(costs.baseCost + uint64(reqCnt)*costs.reqCost)
@@ -579,20 +582,22 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 		}
 		for _, req := range req.Reqs {
 			// Retrieve the requested state entry, stopping if enough was found
-			if header := core.GetHeader(pm.chainDb, req.BHash, core.GetBlockNumber(pm.chainDb, req.BHash)); header != nil {
-				statedb, err := pm.blockchain.State()
-				if err != nil {
-					continue
-				}
-				account, err := pm.getAccount(statedb, header.Root, common.BytesToHash(req.AccKey))
-				if err != nil {
-					continue
-				}
-				code, _ := statedb.Database().TrieDB().Node(common.BytesToHash(account.CodeHash))
+			if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(pm.chainDb, req.BHash); number != nil {
+				if header := rawdb.ReadHeader(pm.chainDb, req.BHash, *number); header != nil {
+					statedb, err := pm.blockchain.State()
+					if err != nil {
+						continue
+					}
+					account, err := pm.getAccount(statedb, header.Root, common.BytesToHash(req.AccKey))
+					if err != nil {
+						continue
+					}
+					code, _ := statedb.Database().TrieDB().Node(common.BytesToHash(account.CodeHash))
 
-				data = append(data, code)
-				if bytes += len(code); bytes >= softResponseLimit {
-					break
+					data = append(data, code)
+					if bytes += len(code); bytes >= softResponseLimit {
+						break
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -645,7 +650,10 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 				break
 			}
 			// Retrieve the requested block's receipts, skipping if unknown to us
-			results := core.GetBlockReceipts(pm.chainDb, hash, core.GetBlockNumber(pm.chainDb, hash))
+			var results types.Receipts
+			if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(pm.chainDb, hash); number != nil {
+				results = rawdb.ReadReceipts(pm.chainDb, hash, *number)
+			}
 			if results == nil {
 				if header := pm.blockchain.GetHeaderByHash(hash); header == nil || header.ReceiptHash != types.EmptyRootHash {
 					continue
@@ -705,28 +713,30 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 		}
 		for _, req := range req.Reqs {
 			// Retrieve the requested state entry, stopping if enough was found
-			if header := core.GetHeader(pm.chainDb, req.BHash, core.GetBlockNumber(pm.chainDb, req.BHash)); header != nil {
-				statedb, err := pm.blockchain.State()
-				if err != nil {
-					continue
-				}
-				var trie state.Trie
-				if len(req.AccKey) > 0 {
-					account, err := pm.getAccount(statedb, header.Root, common.BytesToHash(req.AccKey))
+			if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(pm.chainDb, req.BHash); number != nil {
+				if header := rawdb.ReadHeader(pm.chainDb, req.BHash, *number); header != nil {
+					statedb, err := pm.blockchain.State()
 					if err != nil {
 						continue
 					}
-					trie, _ = statedb.Database().OpenStorageTrie(common.BytesToHash(req.AccKey), account.Root)
-				} else {
-					trie, _ = statedb.Database().OpenTrie(header.Root)
-				}
-				if trie != nil {
-					var proof light.NodeList
-					trie.Prove(req.Key, 0, &proof)
+					var trie state.Trie
+					if len(req.AccKey) > 0 {
+						account, err := pm.getAccount(statedb, header.Root, common.BytesToHash(req.AccKey))
+						if err != nil {
+							continue
+						}
+						trie, _ = statedb.Database().OpenStorageTrie(common.BytesToHash(req.AccKey), account.Root)
+					} else {
+						trie, _ = statedb.Database().OpenTrie(header.Root)
+					}
+					if trie != nil {
+						var proof light.NodeList
+						trie.Prove(req.Key, 0, &proof)
 
-					proofs = append(proofs, proof)
-					if bytes += proof.DataSize(); bytes >= softResponseLimit {
-						break
+						proofs = append(proofs, proof)
+						if bytes += proof.DataSize(); bytes >= softResponseLimit {
+							break
+						}
 					}
 				}
 			}
@@ -763,9 +773,11 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 			if statedb == nil || req.BHash != lastBHash {
 				statedb, root, lastBHash = nil, common.Hash{}, req.BHash
 
-				if header := core.GetHeader(pm.chainDb, req.BHash, core.GetBlockNumber(pm.chainDb, req.BHash)); header != nil {
-					statedb, _ = pm.blockchain.State()
-					root = header.Root
+				if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(pm.chainDb, req.BHash); number != nil {
+					if header := rawdb.ReadHeader(pm.chainDb, req.BHash, *number); header != nil {
+						statedb, _ = pm.blockchain.State()
+						root = header.Root
+					}
 				}
 			}
 			if statedb == nil {
@@ -859,7 +871,7 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) handleMsg(p *peer) error {
 		trieDb := trie.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewTable(pm.chainDb, light.ChtTablePrefix))
 		for _, req := range req.Reqs {
 			if header := pm.blockchain.GetHeaderByNumber(req.BlockNum); header != nil {
-				sectionHead := core.GetCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, req.ChtNum*light.CHTFrequencyServer-1)
+				sectionHead := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, req.ChtNum*light.CHTFrequencyServer-1)
 				if root := light.GetChtRoot(pm.chainDb, req.ChtNum-1, sectionHead); root != (common.Hash{}) {
 					trie, err := trie.New(root, trieDb)
 					if err != nil {
@@ -1114,10 +1126,10 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) getAccount(statedb *state.StateDB, root, hash common.
 func (pm *ProtocolManager) getHelperTrie(id uint, idx uint64) (common.Hash, string) {
 	switch id {
 	case htCanonical:
-		sectionHead := core.GetCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, (idx+1)*light.CHTFrequencyClient-1)
+		sectionHead := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, (idx+1)*light.CHTFrequencyClient-1)
 		return light.GetChtV2Root(pm.chainDb, idx, sectionHead), light.ChtTablePrefix
 	case htBloomBits:
-		sectionHead := core.GetCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, (idx+1)*light.BloomTrieFrequency-1)
+		sectionHead := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, (idx+1)*light.BloomTrieFrequency-1)
 		return light.GetBloomTrieRoot(pm.chainDb, idx, sectionHead), light.BloomTrieTablePrefix
 	}
 	return common.Hash{}, ""
@@ -1128,8 +1140,8 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) getHelperTrieAuxData(req HelperTrieReq) []byte {
 	switch {
 	case req.Type == htCanonical && req.AuxReq == auxHeader && len(req.Key) == 8:
 		blockNum := binary.BigEndian.Uint64(req.Key)
-		hash := core.GetCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, blockNum)
-		return core.GetHeaderRLP(pm.chainDb, hash, blockNum)
+		hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(pm.chainDb, blockNum)
+		return rawdb.ReadHeaderRLP(pm.chainDb, hash, blockNum)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -1142,9 +1154,9 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) txStatus(hashes []common.Hash) []txStatus {
 
 		// If the transaction is unknown to the pool, try looking it up locally
 		if stat == core.TxStatusUnknown {
-			if block, number, index := core.GetTxLookupEntry(pm.chainDb, hashes[i]); block != (common.Hash{}) {
+			if block, number, index := rawdb.ReadTxLookupEntry(pm.chainDb, hashes[i]); block != (common.Hash{}) {
 				stats[i].Status = core.TxStatusIncluded
-				stats[i].Lookup = &core.TxLookupEntry{BlockHash: block, BlockIndex: number, Index: index}
+				stats[i].Lookup = &rawdb.TxLookupEntry{BlockHash: block, BlockIndex: number, Index: index}
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/les/handler_test.go b/les/handler_test.go
index 9468032f67..31aad3ed45 100644
--- a/les/handler_test.go
+++ b/les/handler_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"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/eth/downloader"
@@ -50,8 +51,7 @@ func TestGetBlockHeadersLes1(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockHeaders(t, 1) }
 func TestGetBlockHeadersLes2(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockHeaders(t, 2) }
 
 func testGetBlockHeaders(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, downloader.MaxHashFetch+15, nil, nil, nil, db)
+	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, downloader.MaxHashFetch+15, nil, nil, nil, ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
@@ -180,8 +180,7 @@ func TestGetBlockBodiesLes1(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockBodies(t, 1) }
 func TestGetBlockBodiesLes2(t *testing.T) { testGetBlockBodies(t, 2) }
 
 func testGetBlockBodies(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, downloader.MaxBlockFetch+15, nil, nil, nil, db)
+	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, downloader.MaxBlockFetch+15, nil, nil, nil, ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
@@ -258,8 +257,7 @@ func TestGetCodeLes2(t *testing.T) { testGetCode(t, 2) }
 
 func testGetCode(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 4, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
+	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 4, testChainGen, nil, nil, ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", protocol, pm, true)
 	defer peer.close()
@@ -292,7 +290,7 @@ func TestGetReceiptLes2(t *testing.T) { testGetReceipt(t, 2) }
 
 func testGetReceipt(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 4, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", protocol, pm, true)
@@ -304,7 +302,7 @@ func testGetReceipt(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		block := bc.GetBlockByNumber(i)
 
 		hashes = append(hashes, block.Hash())
-		receipts = append(receipts, core.GetBlockReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()))
+		receipts = append(receipts, rawdb.ReadReceipts(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64()))
 	}
 	// Send the hash request and verify the response
 	cost := peer.GetRequestCost(GetReceiptsMsg, len(hashes))
@@ -320,7 +318,7 @@ func TestGetProofsLes2(t *testing.T) { testGetProofs(t, 2) }
 
 func testGetProofs(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 4, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", protocol, pm, true)
@@ -383,7 +381,7 @@ func testGetCHTProofs(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 		frequency = uint64(light.CHTFrequencyServer)
 	}
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, int(frequency)+light.HelperTrieProcessConfirmations, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", protocol, pm, true)
@@ -451,7 +449,7 @@ func testGetCHTProofs(t *testing.T, protocol int) {
 // Tests that bloombits proofs can be correctly retrieved.
 func TestGetBloombitsProofs(t *testing.T) {
 	// Assemble the test environment
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, light.BloomTrieFrequency+256, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
 	bc := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	peer, _ := newTestPeer(t, "peer", 2, pm, true)
@@ -490,7 +488,7 @@ func TestGetBloombitsProofs(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTransactionStatusLes2(t *testing.T) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 0, nil, nil, nil, db)
 	chain := pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain)
 	config := core.DefaultTxPoolConfig
@@ -555,9 +553,9 @@ func TestTransactionStatusLes2(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// check if their status is included now
-	block1hash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, 1)
-	test(tx1, false, txStatus{Status: core.TxStatusIncluded, Lookup: &core.TxLookupEntry{BlockHash: block1hash, BlockIndex: 1, Index: 0}})
-	test(tx2, false, txStatus{Status: core.TxStatusIncluded, Lookup: &core.TxLookupEntry{BlockHash: block1hash, BlockIndex: 1, Index: 1}})
+	block1hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, 1)
+	test(tx1, false, txStatus{Status: core.TxStatusIncluded, Lookup: &rawdb.TxLookupEntry{BlockHash: block1hash, BlockIndex: 1, Index: 0}})
+	test(tx2, false, txStatus{Status: core.TxStatusIncluded, Lookup: &rawdb.TxLookupEntry{BlockHash: block1hash, BlockIndex: 1, Index: 1}})
 
 	// create a reorg that rolls them back
 	gchain, _ = core.GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, chain.GetBlockByNumber(0), ethash.NewFaker(), db, 2, func(i int, block *core.BlockGen) {})
diff --git a/les/odr_requests.go b/les/odr_requests.go
index 34d759dd2a..c7f06df94d 100644
--- a/les/odr_requests.go
+++ b/les/odr_requests.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"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"
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (r *BlockRequest) Validate(db ethdb.Database, msg *Msg) error {
 	body := bodies[0]
 
 	// Retrieve our stored header and validate block content against it
-	header := core.GetHeader(db, r.Hash, r.Number)
+	header := rawdb.ReadHeader(db, r.Hash, r.Number)
 	if header == nil {
 		return errHeaderUnavailable
 	}
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ func (r *ReceiptsRequest) Validate(db ethdb.Database, msg *Msg) error {
 	receipt := receipts[0]
 
 	// Retrieve our stored header and validate receipt content against it
-	header := core.GetHeader(db, r.Hash, r.Number)
+	header := rawdb.ReadHeader(db, r.Hash, r.Number)
 	if header == nil {
 		return errHeaderUnavailable
 	}
diff --git a/les/odr_test.go b/les/odr_test.go
index 88e121cda6..983f7262b0 100644
--- a/les/odr_test.go
+++ b/les/odr_test.go
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -63,9 +64,13 @@ func TestOdrGetReceiptsLes2(t *testing.T) { testOdr(t, 2, 1, odrGetReceipts) }
 func odrGetReceipts(ctx context.Context, db ethdb.Database, config *params.ChainConfig, bc *core.BlockChain, lc *light.LightChain, bhash common.Hash) []byte {
 	var receipts types.Receipts
 	if bc != nil {
-		receipts = core.GetBlockReceipts(db, bhash, core.GetBlockNumber(db, bhash))
+		if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, bhash); number != nil {
+			receipts = rawdb.ReadReceipts(db, bhash, *number)
+		}
 	} else {
-		receipts, _ = light.GetBlockReceipts(ctx, lc.Odr(), bhash, core.GetBlockNumber(db, bhash))
+		if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, bhash); number != nil {
+			receipts, _ = light.GetBlockReceipts(ctx, lc.Odr(), bhash, *number)
+		}
 	}
 	if receipts == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -160,8 +165,8 @@ func testOdr(t *testing.T, protocol int, expFail uint64, fn odrTestFn) {
 	peers := newPeerSet()
 	dist := newRequestDistributor(peers, make(chan struct{}))
 	rm := newRetrieveManager(peers, dist, nil)
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	ldb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	ldb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	odr := NewLesOdr(ldb, light.NewChtIndexer(db, true), light.NewBloomTrieIndexer(db, true), eth.NewBloomIndexer(db, light.BloomTrieFrequency), rm)
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 4, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
 	lpm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, true, 0, nil, peers, odr, ldb)
@@ -178,7 +183,7 @@ func testOdr(t *testing.T, protocol int, expFail uint64, fn odrTestFn) {
 
 	test := func(expFail uint64) {
 		for i := uint64(0); i <= pm.blockchain.CurrentHeader().Number.Uint64(); i++ {
-			bhash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, i)
+			bhash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, i)
 			b1 := fn(light.NoOdr, db, pm.chainConfig, pm.blockchain.(*core.BlockChain), nil, bhash)
 
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 200*time.Millisecond)
diff --git a/les/protocol.go b/les/protocol.go
index e1c4625bce..ee4c223988 100644
--- a/les/protocol.go
+++ b/les/protocol.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto/secp256k1"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
@@ -160,9 +161,8 @@ func (a *announceData) checkSignature(pubKey *ecdsa.PublicKey) error {
 	pbytes := elliptic.Marshal(pubKey.Curve, pubKey.X, pubKey.Y)
 	if bytes.Equal(pbytes, recPubkey) {
 		return nil
-	} else {
-		return errors.New("Wrong signature")
 	}
+	return errors.New("Wrong signature")
 }
 
 type blockInfo struct {
@@ -224,6 +224,6 @@ type proofsData [][]rlp.RawValue
 
 type txStatus struct {
 	Status core.TxStatus
-	Lookup *core.TxLookupEntry `rlp:"nil"`
+	Lookup *rawdb.TxLookupEntry `rlp:"nil"`
 	Error  string
 }
diff --git a/les/randselect.go b/les/randselect.go
index 1a9d0695bd..1cc1d3d3e0 100644
--- a/les/randselect.go
+++ b/les/randselect.go
@@ -118,17 +118,16 @@ func (n *wrsNode) insert(item wrsItem, weight int64) int {
 	if n.level == 0 {
 		n.items[branch] = item
 		return branch
-	} else {
-		var subNode *wrsNode
-		if n.items[branch] == nil {
-			subNode = &wrsNode{maxItems: n.maxItems / wrsBranches, level: n.level - 1}
-			n.items[branch] = subNode
-		} else {
-			subNode = n.items[branch].(*wrsNode)
-		}
-		subIdx := subNode.insert(item, weight)
-		return subNode.maxItems*branch + subIdx
 	}
+	var subNode *wrsNode
+	if n.items[branch] == nil {
+		subNode = &wrsNode{maxItems: n.maxItems / wrsBranches, level: n.level - 1}
+		n.items[branch] = subNode
+	} else {
+		subNode = n.items[branch].(*wrsNode)
+	}
+	subIdx := subNode.insert(item, weight)
+	return subNode.maxItems*branch + subIdx
 }
 
 // setWeight updates the weight of a certain item (which should exist) and returns
@@ -162,12 +161,10 @@ func (n *wrsNode) choose(val int64) (wrsItem, int64) {
 		if val < w {
 			if n.level == 0 {
 				return n.items[i].(wrsItem), n.weights[i]
-			} else {
-				return n.items[i].(*wrsNode).choose(val)
 			}
-		} else {
-			val -= w
+			return n.items[i].(*wrsNode).choose(val)
 		}
+		val -= w
 	}
 	panic(nil)
 }
diff --git a/les/request_test.go b/les/request_test.go
index c13625de8e..ba2f603d8b 100644
--- a/les/request_test.go
+++ b/les/request_test.go
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -58,15 +58,22 @@ func TestTrieEntryAccessLes1(t *testing.T) { testAccess(t, 1, tfTrieEntryAccess)
 func TestTrieEntryAccessLes2(t *testing.T) { testAccess(t, 2, tfTrieEntryAccess) }
 
 func tfTrieEntryAccess(db ethdb.Database, bhash common.Hash, number uint64) light.OdrRequest {
-	return &light.TrieRequest{Id: light.StateTrieID(core.GetHeader(db, bhash, core.GetBlockNumber(db, bhash))), Key: testBankSecureTrieKey}
+	if number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, bhash); number != nil {
+		return &light.TrieRequest{Id: light.StateTrieID(rawdb.ReadHeader(db, bhash, *number)), Key: testBankSecureTrieKey}
+	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func TestCodeAccessLes1(t *testing.T) { testAccess(t, 1, tfCodeAccess) }
 
 func TestCodeAccessLes2(t *testing.T) { testAccess(t, 2, tfCodeAccess) }
 
-func tfCodeAccess(db ethdb.Database, bhash common.Hash, number uint64) light.OdrRequest {
-	header := core.GetHeader(db, bhash, core.GetBlockNumber(db, bhash))
+func tfCodeAccess(db ethdb.Database, bhash common.Hash, num uint64) light.OdrRequest {
+	number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, bhash)
+	if number != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	header := rawdb.ReadHeader(db, bhash, *number)
 	if header.Number.Uint64() < testContractDeployed {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -80,8 +87,8 @@ func testAccess(t *testing.T, protocol int, fn accessTestFn) {
 	peers := newPeerSet()
 	dist := newRequestDistributor(peers, make(chan struct{}))
 	rm := newRetrieveManager(peers, dist, nil)
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	ldb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	ldb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	odr := NewLesOdr(ldb, light.NewChtIndexer(db, true), light.NewBloomTrieIndexer(db, true), eth.NewBloomIndexer(db, light.BloomTrieFrequency), rm)
 
 	pm := newTestProtocolManagerMust(t, false, 4, testChainGen, nil, nil, db)
@@ -99,7 +106,7 @@ func testAccess(t *testing.T, protocol int, fn accessTestFn) {
 
 	test := func(expFail uint64) {
 		for i := uint64(0); i <= pm.blockchain.CurrentHeader().Number.Uint64(); i++ {
-			bhash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, i)
+			bhash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, i)
 			if req := fn(ldb, bhash, i); req != nil {
 				ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 200*time.Millisecond)
 				defer cancel()
diff --git a/les/server.go b/les/server.go
index 28b87008a0..9eb8ee7f97 100644
--- a/les/server.go
+++ b/les/server.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -329,11 +330,11 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) blockLoop() {
 					header := ev.Block.Header()
 					hash := header.Hash()
 					number := header.Number.Uint64()
-					td := core.GetTd(pm.chainDb, hash, number)
+					td := rawdb.ReadTd(pm.chainDb, hash, number)
 					if td != nil && td.Cmp(lastBroadcastTd) > 0 {
 						var reorg uint64
 						if lastHead != nil {
-							reorg = lastHead.Number.Uint64() - core.FindCommonAncestor(pm.chainDb, header, lastHead).Number.Uint64()
+							reorg = lastHead.Number.Uint64() - rawdb.FindCommonAncestor(pm.chainDb, header, lastHead).Number.Uint64()
 						}
 						lastHead = header
 						lastBroadcastTd = td
diff --git a/les/serverpool.go b/les/serverpool.go
index da73b4b3c5..a39f883554 100644
--- a/les/serverpool.go
+++ b/les/serverpool.go
@@ -601,9 +601,8 @@ func (e *discoveredEntry) Weight() int64 {
 	t := time.Duration(mclock.Now() - e.lastDiscovered)
 	if t <= discoverExpireStart {
 		return 1000000000
-	} else {
-		return int64(1000000000 * math.Exp(-float64(t-discoverExpireStart)/float64(discoverExpireConst)))
 	}
+	return int64(1000000000 * math.Exp(-float64(t-discoverExpireStart)/float64(discoverExpireConst)))
 }
 
 // knownEntry implements wrsItem
diff --git a/les/sync.go b/les/sync.go
index c3d37e2f3f..1ac6455852 100644
--- a/les/sync.go
+++ b/les/sync.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/eth/downloader"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/light"
 )
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ func (pm *ProtocolManager) syncer() {
 
 func (pm *ProtocolManager) needToSync(peerHead blockInfo) bool {
 	head := pm.blockchain.CurrentHeader()
-	currentTd := core.GetTd(pm.chainDb, head.Hash(), head.Number.Uint64())
+	currentTd := rawdb.ReadTd(pm.chainDb, head.Hash(), head.Number.Uint64())
 	return currentTd != nil && peerHead.Td.Cmp(currentTd) > 0
 }
 
diff --git a/light/lightchain.go b/light/lightchain.go
index 2784615d35..9d0a4e4f73 100644
--- a/light/lightchain.go
+++ b/light/lightchain.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@ func (self *LightChain) Odr() OdrBackend {
 // loadLastState loads the last known chain state from the database. This method
 // assumes that the chain manager mutex is held.
 func (self *LightChain) loadLastState() error {
-	if head := core.GetHeadHeaderHash(self.chainDb); head == (common.Hash{}) {
+	if head := rawdb.ReadHeadHeaderHash(self.chainDb); head == (common.Hash{}) {
 		// Corrupt or empty database, init from scratch
 		self.Reset()
 	} else {
@@ -189,12 +190,9 @@ func (bc *LightChain) ResetWithGenesisBlock(genesis *types.Block) {
 	defer bc.mu.Unlock()
 
 	// Prepare the genesis block and reinitialise the chain
-	if err := core.WriteTd(bc.chainDb, genesis.Hash(), genesis.NumberU64(), genesis.Difficulty()); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block TD", "err", err)
-	}
-	if err := core.WriteBlock(bc.chainDb, genesis); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to write genesis block", "err", err)
-	}
+	rawdb.WriteTd(bc.chainDb, genesis.Hash(), genesis.NumberU64(), genesis.Difficulty())
+	rawdb.WriteBlock(bc.chainDb, genesis)
+
 	bc.genesisBlock = genesis
 	bc.hc.SetGenesis(bc.genesisBlock.Header())
 	bc.hc.SetCurrentHeader(bc.genesisBlock.Header())
@@ -223,7 +221,11 @@ func (self *LightChain) GetBody(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (*types.B
 		body := cached.(*types.Body)
 		return body, nil
 	}
-	body, err := GetBody(ctx, self.odr, hash, self.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := self.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("unknown block")
+	}
+	body, err := GetBody(ctx, self.odr, hash, *number)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -239,7 +241,11 @@ func (self *LightChain) GetBodyRLP(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (rlp.R
 	if cached, ok := self.bodyRLPCache.Get(hash); ok {
 		return cached.(rlp.RawValue), nil
 	}
-	body, err := GetBodyRLP(ctx, self.odr, hash, self.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := self.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("unknown block")
+	}
+	body, err := GetBodyRLP(ctx, self.odr, hash, *number)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -274,7 +280,11 @@ func (self *LightChain) GetBlock(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash, number u
 // GetBlockByHash retrieves a block from the database or ODR service by hash,
 // caching it if found.
 func (self *LightChain) GetBlockByHash(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash) (*types.Block, error) {
-	return self.GetBlock(ctx, hash, self.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash))
+	number := self.hc.GetBlockNumber(hash)
+	if number == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("unknown block")
+	}
+	return self.GetBlock(ctx, hash, *number)
 }
 
 // GetBlockByNumber retrieves a block from the database or ODR service by
diff --git a/light/lightchain_test.go b/light/lightchain_test.go
index 0af7551d41..c0aa51da29 100644
--- a/light/lightchain_test.go
+++ b/light/lightchain_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ func makeHeaderChain(parent *types.Header, n int, db ethdb.Database, seed int) [
 // chain. Depending on the full flag, if creates either a full block chain or a
 // header only chain.
 func newCanonical(n int) (ethdb.Database, *LightChain, error) {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec := core.Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	blockchain, _ := NewLightChain(&dummyOdr{db: db}, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker())
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ func newCanonical(n int) (ethdb.Database, *LightChain, error) {
 
 // newTestLightChain creates a LightChain that doesn't validate anything.
 func newTestLightChain() *LightChain {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gspec := &core.Genesis{
 		Difficulty: big.NewInt(1),
 		Config:     params.TestChainConfig,
@@ -122,8 +123,8 @@ func testHeaderChainImport(chain []*types.Header, lightchain *LightChain) error
 		}
 		// Manually insert the header into the database, but don't reorganize (allows subsequent testing)
 		lightchain.mu.Lock()
-		core.WriteTd(lightchain.chainDb, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, lightchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
-		core.WriteHeader(lightchain.chainDb, header)
+		rawdb.WriteTd(lightchain.chainDb, header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64(), new(big.Int).Add(header.Difficulty, lightchain.GetTdByHash(header.ParentHash)))
+		rawdb.WriteHeader(lightchain.chainDb, header)
 		lightchain.mu.Unlock()
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/light/odr.go b/light/odr.go
index e2c3d9c5a4..8f1e50b817 100644
--- a/light/odr.go
+++ b/light/odr.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 )
@@ -112,7 +113,7 @@ type BlockRequest struct {
 
 // StoreResult stores the retrieved data in local database
 func (req *BlockRequest) StoreResult(db ethdb.Database) {
-	core.WriteBodyRLP(db, req.Hash, req.Number, req.Rlp)
+	rawdb.WriteBodyRLP(db, req.Hash, req.Number, req.Rlp)
 }
 
 // ReceiptsRequest is the ODR request type for retrieving block bodies
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ type ReceiptsRequest struct {
 
 // StoreResult stores the retrieved data in local database
 func (req *ReceiptsRequest) StoreResult(db ethdb.Database) {
-	core.WriteBlockReceipts(db, req.Hash, req.Number, req.Receipts)
+	rawdb.WriteReceipts(db, req.Hash, req.Number, req.Receipts)
 }
 
 // ChtRequest is the ODR request type for state/storage trie entries
@@ -140,11 +141,11 @@ type ChtRequest struct {
 
 // StoreResult stores the retrieved data in local database
 func (req *ChtRequest) StoreResult(db ethdb.Database) {
-	// if there is a canonical hash, there is a header too
-	core.WriteHeader(db, req.Header)
 	hash, num := req.Header.Hash(), req.Header.Number.Uint64()
-	core.WriteTd(db, hash, num, req.Td)
-	core.WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, num)
+
+	rawdb.WriteHeader(db, req.Header)
+	rawdb.WriteTd(db, hash, num, req.Td)
+	rawdb.WriteCanonicalHash(db, hash, num)
 }
 
 // BloomRequest is the ODR request type for retrieving bloom filters from a CHT structure
@@ -161,11 +162,11 @@ type BloomRequest struct {
 // StoreResult stores the retrieved data in local database
 func (req *BloomRequest) StoreResult(db ethdb.Database) {
 	for i, sectionIdx := range req.SectionIdxList {
-		sectionHead := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, (sectionIdx+1)*BloomTrieFrequency-1)
+		sectionHead := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, (sectionIdx+1)*BloomTrieFrequency-1)
 		// if we don't have the canonical hash stored for this section head number, we'll still store it under
 		// a key with a zero sectionHead. GetBloomBits will look there too if we still don't have the canonical
 		// hash. In the unlikely case we've retrieved the section head hash since then, we'll just retrieve the
 		// bit vector again from the network.
-		core.WriteBloomBits(db, req.BitIdx, sectionIdx, sectionHead, req.BloomBits[i])
+		rawdb.WriteBloomBits(db, req.BitIdx, sectionIdx, sectionHead, req.BloomBits[i])
 	}
 }
diff --git a/light/odr_test.go b/light/odr_test.go
index d3f9374fd8..3e7ac10118 100644
--- a/light/odr_test.go
+++ b/light/odr_test.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/math"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
@@ -70,9 +71,15 @@ func (odr *testOdr) Retrieve(ctx context.Context, req OdrRequest) error {
 	}
 	switch req := req.(type) {
 	case *BlockRequest:
-		req.Rlp = core.GetBodyRLP(odr.sdb, req.Hash, core.GetBlockNumber(odr.sdb, req.Hash))
+		number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(odr.sdb, req.Hash)
+		if number != nil {
+			req.Rlp = rawdb.ReadBodyRLP(odr.sdb, req.Hash, *number)
+		}
 	case *ReceiptsRequest:
-		req.Receipts = core.GetBlockReceipts(odr.sdb, req.Hash, core.GetBlockNumber(odr.sdb, req.Hash))
+		number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(odr.sdb, req.Hash)
+		if number != nil {
+			req.Receipts = rawdb.ReadReceipts(odr.sdb, req.Hash, *number)
+		}
 	case *TrieRequest:
 		t, _ := trie.New(req.Id.Root, trie.NewDatabase(odr.sdb))
 		nodes := NewNodeSet()
@@ -108,9 +115,15 @@ func TestOdrGetReceiptsLes1(t *testing.T) { testChainOdr(t, 1, odrGetReceipts) }
 func odrGetReceipts(ctx context.Context, db ethdb.Database, bc *core.BlockChain, lc *LightChain, bhash common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
 	var receipts types.Receipts
 	if bc != nil {
-		receipts = core.GetBlockReceipts(db, bhash, core.GetBlockNumber(db, bhash))
+		number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, bhash)
+		if number != nil {
+			receipts = rawdb.ReadReceipts(db, bhash, *number)
+		}
 	} else {
-		receipts, _ = GetBlockReceipts(ctx, lc.Odr(), bhash, core.GetBlockNumber(db, bhash))
+		number := rawdb.ReadHeaderNumber(db, bhash)
+		if number != nil {
+			receipts, _ = GetBlockReceipts(ctx, lc.Odr(), bhash, *number)
+		}
 	}
 	if receipts == nil {
 		return nil, nil
@@ -232,8 +245,8 @@ func testChainGen(i int, block *core.BlockGen) {
 
 func testChainOdr(t *testing.T, protocol int, fn odrTestFn) {
 	var (
-		sdb, _  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		ldb, _  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		sdb     = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		ldb     = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec   = core.Genesis{Alloc: core.GenesisAlloc{testBankAddress: {Balance: testBankFunds}}}
 		genesis = gspec.MustCommit(sdb)
 	)
@@ -260,7 +273,7 @@ func testChainOdr(t *testing.T, protocol int, fn odrTestFn) {
 
 	test := func(expFail int) {
 		for i := uint64(0); i <= blockchain.CurrentHeader().Number.Uint64(); i++ {
-			bhash := core.GetCanonicalHash(sdb, i)
+			bhash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(sdb, i)
 			b1, err := fn(NoOdr, sdb, blockchain, nil, bhash)
 			if err != nil {
 				t.Fatalf("error in full-node test for block %d: %v", i, err)
diff --git a/light/odr_util.go b/light/odr_util.go
index d56330e36b..620af63835 100644
--- a/light/odr_util.go
+++ b/light/odr_util.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"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/rlp"
@@ -31,10 +32,10 @@ var sha3_nil = crypto.Keccak256Hash(nil)
 
 func GetHeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, number uint64) (*types.Header, error) {
 	db := odr.Database()
-	hash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, number)
+	hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, number)
 	if (hash != common.Hash{}) {
 		// if there is a canonical hash, there is a header too
-		header := core.GetHeader(db, hash, number)
+		header := rawdb.ReadHeader(db, hash, number)
 		if header == nil {
 			panic("Canonical hash present but header not found")
 		}
@@ -47,14 +48,14 @@ func GetHeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, number uint64) (*typ
 	)
 	if odr.ChtIndexer() != nil {
 		chtCount, sectionHeadNum, sectionHead = odr.ChtIndexer().Sections()
-		canonicalHash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
+		canonicalHash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
 		// if the CHT was injected as a trusted checkpoint, we have no canonical hash yet so we accept zero hash too
 		for chtCount > 0 && canonicalHash != sectionHead && canonicalHash != (common.Hash{}) {
 			chtCount--
 			if chtCount > 0 {
 				sectionHeadNum = chtCount*CHTFrequencyClient - 1
 				sectionHead = odr.ChtIndexer().SectionHead(chtCount - 1)
-				canonicalHash = core.GetCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
+				canonicalHash = rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ func GetHeaderByNumber(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, number uint64) (*typ
 }
 
 func GetCanonicalHash(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, number uint64) (common.Hash, error) {
-	hash := core.GetCanonicalHash(odr.Database(), number)
+	hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(odr.Database(), number)
 	if (hash != common.Hash{}) {
 		return hash, nil
 	}
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ func GetCanonicalHash(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, number uint64) (commo
 
 // GetBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
 func GetBodyRLP(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, number uint64) (rlp.RawValue, error) {
-	if data := core.GetBodyRLP(odr.Database(), hash, number); data != nil {
+	if data := rawdb.ReadBodyRLP(odr.Database(), hash, number); data != nil {
 		return data, nil
 	}
 	r := &BlockRequest{Hash: hash, Number: number}
@@ -111,7 +112,7 @@ func GetBody(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, number uint6
 // back from the stored header and body.
 func GetBlock(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, number uint64) (*types.Block, error) {
 	// Retrieve the block header and body contents
-	header := core.GetHeader(odr.Database(), hash, number)
+	header := rawdb.ReadHeader(odr.Database(), hash, number)
 	if header == nil {
 		return nil, ErrNoHeader
 	}
@@ -127,7 +128,7 @@ func GetBlock(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, number uint
 // in a block given by its hash.
 func GetBlockReceipts(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, number uint64) (types.Receipts, error) {
 	// Retrieve the potentially incomplete receipts from disk or network
-	receipts := core.GetBlockReceipts(odr.Database(), hash, number)
+	receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(odr.Database(), hash, number)
 	if receipts == nil {
 		r := &ReceiptsRequest{Hash: hash, Number: number}
 		if err := odr.Retrieve(ctx, r); err != nil {
@@ -141,13 +142,13 @@ func GetBlockReceipts(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, num
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		genesis := core.GetCanonicalHash(odr.Database(), 0)
-		config, _ := core.GetChainConfig(odr.Database(), genesis)
+		genesis := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(odr.Database(), 0)
+		config := rawdb.ReadChainConfig(odr.Database(), genesis)
 
 		if err := core.SetReceiptsData(config, block, receipts); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		core.WriteBlockReceipts(odr.Database(), hash, number, receipts)
+		rawdb.WriteReceipts(odr.Database(), hash, number, receipts)
 	}
 	return receipts, nil
 }
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ func GetBlockReceipts(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, num
 // block given by its hash.
 func GetBlockLogs(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, hash common.Hash, number uint64) ([][]*types.Log, error) {
 	// Retrieve the potentially incomplete receipts from disk or network
-	receipts := core.GetBlockReceipts(odr.Database(), hash, number)
+	receipts := rawdb.ReadReceipts(odr.Database(), hash, number)
 	if receipts == nil {
 		r := &ReceiptsRequest{Hash: hash, Number: number}
 		if err := odr.Retrieve(ctx, r); err != nil {
@@ -187,24 +188,24 @@ func GetBloomBits(ctx context.Context, odr OdrBackend, bitIdx uint, sectionIdxLi
 	)
 	if odr.BloomTrieIndexer() != nil {
 		bloomTrieCount, sectionHeadNum, sectionHead = odr.BloomTrieIndexer().Sections()
-		canonicalHash := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
+		canonicalHash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
 		// if the BloomTrie was injected as a trusted checkpoint, we have no canonical hash yet so we accept zero hash too
 		for bloomTrieCount > 0 && canonicalHash != sectionHead && canonicalHash != (common.Hash{}) {
 			bloomTrieCount--
 			if bloomTrieCount > 0 {
 				sectionHeadNum = bloomTrieCount*BloomTrieFrequency - 1
 				sectionHead = odr.BloomTrieIndexer().SectionHead(bloomTrieCount - 1)
-				canonicalHash = core.GetCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
+				canonicalHash = rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, sectionHeadNum)
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	for i, sectionIdx := range sectionIdxList {
-		sectionHead := core.GetCanonicalHash(db, (sectionIdx+1)*BloomTrieFrequency-1)
+		sectionHead := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(db, (sectionIdx+1)*BloomTrieFrequency-1)
 		// if we don't have the canonical hash stored for this section head number, we'll still look for
 		// an entry with a zero sectionHead (we store it with zero section head too if we don't know it
 		// at the time of the retrieval)
-		bloomBits, err := core.GetBloomBits(db, bitIdx, sectionIdx, sectionHead)
+		bloomBits, err := rawdb.ReadBloomBits(db, bitIdx, sectionIdx, sectionHead)
 		if err == nil {
 			result[i] = bloomBits
 		} else {
diff --git a/light/postprocess.go b/light/postprocess.go
index 702eb53c86..8b9a029112 100644
--- a/light/postprocess.go
+++ b/light/postprocess.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common/bitutil"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -161,7 +162,7 @@ func (c *ChtIndexerBackend) Process(header *types.Header) {
 	hash, num := header.Hash(), header.Number.Uint64()
 	c.lastHash = hash
 
-	td := core.GetTd(c.diskdb, hash, num)
+	td := rawdb.ReadTd(c.diskdb, hash, num)
 	if td == nil {
 		panic(nil)
 	}
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@ func (b *BloomTrieIndexerBackend) Commit() error {
 		binary.BigEndian.PutUint64(encKey[2:10], b.section)
 		var decomp []byte
 		for j := uint64(0); j < b.bloomTrieRatio; j++ {
-			data, err := core.GetBloomBits(b.diskdb, i, b.section*b.bloomTrieRatio+j, b.sectionHeads[j])
+			data, err := rawdb.ReadBloomBits(b.diskdb, i, b.section*b.bloomTrieRatio+j, b.sectionHeads[j])
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/light/trie_test.go b/light/trie_test.go
index 0d6b2cc1d8..84c6f162fb 100644
--- a/light/trie_test.go
+++ b/light/trie_test.go
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ import (
 
 func TestNodeIterator(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
-		fulldb, _  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		lightdb, _ = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		gspec      = core.Genesis{Alloc: core.GenesisAlloc{testBankAddress: {Balance: testBankFunds}}}
-		genesis    = gspec.MustCommit(fulldb)
+		fulldb  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		lightdb = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		gspec   = core.Genesis{Alloc: core.GenesisAlloc{testBankAddress: {Balance: testBankFunds}}}
+		genesis = gspec.MustCommit(fulldb)
 	)
 	gspec.MustCommit(lightdb)
 	blockchain, _ := core.NewBlockChain(fulldb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, ethash.NewFullFaker(), vm.Config{})
diff --git a/light/txpool.go b/light/txpool.go
index ca41490bdc..94c8139cbd 100644
--- a/light/txpool.go
+++ b/light/txpool.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
@@ -183,9 +184,8 @@ func (pool *TxPool) checkMinedTxs(ctx context.Context, hash common.Hash, number
 		if _, err := GetBlockReceipts(ctx, pool.odr, hash, number); err != nil { // ODR caches, ignore results
 			return err
 		}
-		if err := core.WriteTxLookupEntries(pool.chainDb, block); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
+		rawdb.WriteTxLookupEntries(pool.chainDb, block)
+
 		// Update the transaction pool's state
 		for _, tx := range list {
 			delete(pool.pending, tx.Hash())
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) rollbackTxs(hash common.Hash, txc txStateChanges) {
 	if list, ok := pool.mined[hash]; ok {
 		for _, tx := range list {
 			txHash := tx.Hash()
-			core.DeleteTxLookupEntry(pool.chainDb, txHash)
+			rawdb.DeleteTxLookupEntry(pool.chainDb, txHash)
 			pool.pending[txHash] = tx
 			txc.setState(txHash, false)
 		}
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ func (pool *TxPool) reorgOnNewHead(ctx context.Context, newHeader *types.Header)
 		idx2 := idx - txPermanent
 		if len(pool.mined) > 0 {
 			for i := pool.clearIdx; i < idx2; i++ {
-				hash := core.GetCanonicalHash(pool.chainDb, i)
+				hash := rawdb.ReadCanonicalHash(pool.chainDb, i)
 				if list, ok := pool.mined[hash]; ok {
 					hashes := make([]common.Hash, len(list))
 					for i, tx := range list {
diff --git a/light/txpool_test.go b/light/txpool_test.go
index 13d7d3cebb..ccbd83a943 100644
--- a/light/txpool_test.go
+++ b/light/txpool_test.go
@@ -81,8 +81,8 @@ func TestTxPool(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	var (
-		sdb, _  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		ldb, _  = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		sdb     = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		ldb     = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		gspec   = core.Genesis{Alloc: core.GenesisAlloc{testBankAddress: {Balance: testBankFunds}}}
 		genesis = gspec.MustCommit(sdb)
 	)
diff --git a/log/handler.go b/log/handler.go
index d5594b853d..41d5718ddb 100644
--- a/log/handler.go
+++ b/log/handler.go
@@ -234,9 +234,8 @@ func FailoverHandler(hs ...Handler) Handler {
 			err = h.Log(r)
 			if err == nil {
 				return nil
-			} else {
-				r.Ctx = append(r.Ctx, fmt.Sprintf("failover_err_%d", i), err)
 			}
+			r.Ctx = append(r.Ctx, fmt.Sprintf("failover_err_%d", i), err)
 		}
 
 		return err
@@ -320,13 +319,12 @@ func evaluateLazy(lz Lazy) (interface{}, error) {
 	results := value.Call([]reflect.Value{})
 	if len(results) == 1 {
 		return results[0].Interface(), nil
-	} else {
-		values := make([]interface{}, len(results))
-		for i, v := range results {
-			values[i] = v.Interface()
-		}
-		return values, nil
 	}
+	values := make([]interface{}, len(results))
+	for i, v := range results {
+		values[i] = v.Interface()
+	}
+	return values, nil
 }
 
 // DiscardHandler reports success for all writes but does nothing.
diff --git a/metrics/librato/client.go b/metrics/librato/client.go
index 8c0c850e38..1f8920cb1a 100644
--- a/metrics/librato/client.go
+++ b/metrics/librato/client.go
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ type Batch struct {
 	Source      string        `json:"source"`
 }
 
-func (self *LibratoClient) PostMetrics(batch Batch) (err error) {
+func (c *LibratoClient) PostMetrics(batch Batch) (err error) {
 	var (
 		js   []byte
 		req  *http.Request
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func (self *LibratoClient) PostMetrics(batch Batch) (err error) {
 	}
 
 	req.Header.Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-	req.SetBasicAuth(self.Email, self.Token)
+	req.SetBasicAuth(c.Email, c.Token)
 
 	if resp, err = http.DefaultClient.Do(req); err != nil {
 		return
diff --git a/metrics/librato/librato.go b/metrics/librato/librato.go
index f8c8c9ecb7..2138e01ae8 100644
--- a/metrics/librato/librato.go
+++ b/metrics/librato/librato.go
@@ -40,14 +40,14 @@ func Librato(r metrics.Registry, d time.Duration, e string, t string, s string,
 	NewReporter(r, d, e, t, s, p, u).Run()
 }
 
-func (self *Reporter) Run() {
+func (rep *Reporter) Run() {
 	log.Printf("WARNING: This client has been DEPRECATED! It has been moved to https://github.com/mihasya/go-metrics-librato and will be removed from rcrowley/go-metrics on August 5th 2015")
-	ticker := time.Tick(self.Interval)
-	metricsApi := &LibratoClient{self.Email, self.Token}
+	ticker := time.Tick(rep.Interval)
+	metricsApi := &LibratoClient{rep.Email, rep.Token}
 	for now := range ticker {
 		var metrics Batch
 		var err error
-		if metrics, err = self.BuildRequest(now, self.Registry); err != nil {
+		if metrics, err = rep.BuildRequest(now, rep.Registry); err != nil {
 			log.Printf("ERROR constructing librato request body %s", err)
 			continue
 		}
@@ -79,21 +79,21 @@ func sumSquaresTimer(t metrics.Timer) float64 {
 	return sumSquares
 }
 
-func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot Batch, err error) {
+func (rep *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot Batch, err error) {
 	snapshot = Batch{
 		// coerce timestamps to a stepping fn so that they line up in Librato graphs
-		MeasureTime: (now.Unix() / self.intervalSec) * self.intervalSec,
-		Source:      self.Source,
+		MeasureTime: (now.Unix() / rep.intervalSec) * rep.intervalSec,
+		Source:      rep.Source,
 	}
 	snapshot.Gauges = make([]Measurement, 0)
 	snapshot.Counters = make([]Measurement, 0)
-	histogramGaugeCount := 1 + len(self.Percentiles)
+	histogramGaugeCount := 1 + len(rep.Percentiles)
 	r.Each(func(name string, metric interface{}) {
-		if self.Namespace != "" {
-			name = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", self.Namespace, name)
+		if rep.Namespace != "" {
+			name = fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", rep.Namespace, name)
 		}
 		measurement := Measurement{}
-		measurement[Period] = self.Interval.Seconds()
+		measurement[Period] = rep.Interval.Seconds()
 		switch m := metric.(type) {
 		case metrics.Counter:
 			if m.Count() > 0 {
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 				measurement[Sum] = float64(s.Sum())
 				measurement[SumSquares] = sumSquares(s)
 				gauges[0] = measurement
-				for i, p := range self.Percentiles {
+				for i, p := range rep.Percentiles {
 					gauges[i+1] = Measurement{
 						Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%.2f", measurement[Name], p),
 						Value:  s.Percentile(p),
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 				Measurement{
 					Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, "1min"),
 					Value:  m.Rate1(),
-					Period: int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
+					Period: int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
 					Attributes: map[string]interface{}{
 						DisplayUnitsLong:  Operations,
 						DisplayUnitsShort: OperationsShort,
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 				Measurement{
 					Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, "5min"),
 					Value:  m.Rate5(),
-					Period: int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
+					Period: int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
 					Attributes: map[string]interface{}{
 						DisplayUnitsLong:  Operations,
 						DisplayUnitsShort: OperationsShort,
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 				Measurement{
 					Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, "15min"),
 					Value:  m.Rate15(),
-					Period: int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
+					Period: int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
 					Attributes: map[string]interface{}{
 						DisplayUnitsLong:  Operations,
 						DisplayUnitsShort: OperationsShort,
@@ -184,15 +184,15 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 					Max:        float64(m.Max()),
 					Min:        float64(m.Min()),
 					SumSquares: sumSquaresTimer(m),
-					Period:     int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
-					Attributes: self.TimerAttributes,
+					Period:     int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
+					Attributes: rep.TimerAttributes,
 				}
-				for i, p := range self.Percentiles {
+				for i, p := range rep.Percentiles {
 					gauges[i+1] = Measurement{
 						Name:       fmt.Sprintf("%s.timer.%2.0f", name, p*100),
 						Value:      m.Percentile(p),
-						Period:     int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
-						Attributes: self.TimerAttributes,
+						Period:     int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
+						Attributes: rep.TimerAttributes,
 					}
 				}
 				snapshot.Gauges = append(snapshot.Gauges, gauges...)
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 					Measurement{
 						Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, "rate.1min"),
 						Value:  m.Rate1(),
-						Period: int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
+						Period: int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
 						Attributes: map[string]interface{}{
 							DisplayUnitsLong:  Operations,
 							DisplayUnitsShort: OperationsShort,
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 					Measurement{
 						Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, "rate.5min"),
 						Value:  m.Rate5(),
-						Period: int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
+						Period: int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
 						Attributes: map[string]interface{}{
 							DisplayUnitsLong:  Operations,
 							DisplayUnitsShort: OperationsShort,
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func (self *Reporter) BuildRequest(now time.Time, r metrics.Registry) (snapshot
 					Measurement{
 						Name:   fmt.Sprintf("%s.%s", name, "rate.15min"),
 						Value:  m.Rate15(),
-						Period: int64(self.Interval.Seconds()),
+						Period: int64(rep.Interval.Seconds()),
 						Attributes: map[string]interface{}{
 							DisplayUnitsLong:  Operations,
 							DisplayUnitsShort: OperationsShort,
diff --git a/mobile/types.go b/mobile/types.go
index 196c7839f5..f32b4918f3 100644
--- a/mobile/types.go
+++ b/mobile/types.go
@@ -329,6 +329,7 @@ func (r *Receipt) EncodeJSON() (string, error) {
 	return string(data), err
 }
 
+func (r *Receipt) GetStatus() int               { return int(r.receipt.Status) }
 func (r *Receipt) GetPostState() []byte         { return r.receipt.PostState }
 func (r *Receipt) GetCumulativeGasUsed() int64  { return int64(r.receipt.CumulativeGasUsed) }
 func (r *Receipt) GetBloom() *Bloom             { return &Bloom{r.receipt.Bloom} }
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 83b6c4c07e..c4368189f7 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ func (n *Node) EventMux() *event.TypeMux {
 // ephemeral, a memory database is returned.
 func (n *Node) OpenDatabase(name string, cache, handles int) (ethdb.Database, error) {
 	if n.config.DataDir == "" {
-		return ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		return ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), nil
 	}
 	return ethdb.NewLDBDatabase(n.config.resolvePath(name), cache, handles)
 }
diff --git a/node/service.go b/node/service.go
index 55062a5004..afc43e8486 100644
--- a/node/service.go
+++ b/node/service.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ type ServiceContext struct {
 // node is an ephemeral one, a memory database is returned.
 func (ctx *ServiceContext) OpenDatabase(name string, cache int, handles int) (ethdb.Database, error) {
 	if ctx.config.DataDir == "" {
-		return ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		return ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), nil
 	}
 	db, err := ethdb.NewLDBDatabase(ctx.config.resolvePath(name), cache, handles)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/p2p/discover/table_test.go b/p2p/discover/table_test.go
index 3ce48d2995..f2d3f9a2ad 100644
--- a/p2p/discover/table_test.go
+++ b/p2p/discover/table_test.go
@@ -582,26 +582,26 @@ func (*preminedTestnet) ping(toid NodeID, toaddr *net.UDPAddr) error { return ni
 
 // mine generates a testnet struct literal with nodes at
 // various distances to the given target.
-func (n *preminedTestnet) mine(target NodeID) {
-	n.target = target
-	n.targetSha = crypto.Keccak256Hash(n.target[:])
+func (tn *preminedTestnet) mine(target NodeID) {
+	tn.target = target
+	tn.targetSha = crypto.Keccak256Hash(tn.target[:])
 	found := 0
 	for found < bucketSize*10 {
 		k := newkey()
 		id := PubkeyID(&k.PublicKey)
 		sha := crypto.Keccak256Hash(id[:])
-		ld := logdist(n.targetSha, sha)
-		if len(n.dists[ld]) < bucketSize {
-			n.dists[ld] = append(n.dists[ld], id)
+		ld := logdist(tn.targetSha, sha)
+		if len(tn.dists[ld]) < bucketSize {
+			tn.dists[ld] = append(tn.dists[ld], id)
 			fmt.Println("found ID with ld", ld)
 			found++
 		}
 	}
 	fmt.Println("&preminedTestnet{")
-	fmt.Printf("	target: %#v,\n", n.target)
-	fmt.Printf("	targetSha: %#v,\n", n.targetSha)
-	fmt.Printf("	dists: [%d][]NodeID{\n", len(n.dists))
-	for ld, ns := range n.dists {
+	fmt.Printf("	target: %#v,\n", tn.target)
+	fmt.Printf("	targetSha: %#v,\n", tn.targetSha)
+	fmt.Printf("	dists: [%d][]NodeID{\n", len(tn.dists))
+	for ld, ns := range tn.dists {
 		if len(ns) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/p2p/discv5/net_test.go b/p2p/discv5/net_test.go
index 369282ca9c..001d193cc9 100644
--- a/p2p/discv5/net_test.go
+++ b/p2p/discv5/net_test.go
@@ -336,26 +336,26 @@ func (*preminedTestnet) localAddr() *net.UDPAddr {
 
 // mine generates a testnet struct literal with nodes at
 // various distances to the given target.
-func (n *preminedTestnet) mine(target NodeID) {
-	n.target = target
-	n.targetSha = crypto.Keccak256Hash(n.target[:])
+func (tn *preminedTestnet) mine(target NodeID) {
+	tn.target = target
+	tn.targetSha = crypto.Keccak256Hash(tn.target[:])
 	found := 0
 	for found < bucketSize*10 {
 		k := newkey()
 		id := PubkeyID(&k.PublicKey)
 		sha := crypto.Keccak256Hash(id[:])
-		ld := logdist(n.targetSha, sha)
-		if len(n.dists[ld]) < bucketSize {
-			n.dists[ld] = append(n.dists[ld], id)
+		ld := logdist(tn.targetSha, sha)
+		if len(tn.dists[ld]) < bucketSize {
+			tn.dists[ld] = append(tn.dists[ld], id)
 			fmt.Println("found ID with ld", ld)
 			found++
 		}
 	}
 	fmt.Println("&preminedTestnet{")
-	fmt.Printf("	target: %#v,\n", n.target)
-	fmt.Printf("	targetSha: %#v,\n", n.targetSha)
-	fmt.Printf("	dists: [%d][]NodeID{\n", len(n.dists))
-	for ld, ns := range n.dists {
+	fmt.Printf("	target: %#v,\n", tn.target)
+	fmt.Printf("	targetSha: %#v,\n", tn.targetSha)
+	fmt.Printf("	dists: [%d][]NodeID{\n", len(tn.dists))
+	for ld, ns := range tn.dists {
 		if len(ns) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/p2p/discv5/node.go b/p2p/discv5/node.go
index fd88a55b15..3d47485122 100644
--- a/p2p/discv5/node.go
+++ b/p2p/discv5/node.go
@@ -315,11 +315,11 @@ func PubkeyID(pub *ecdsa.PublicKey) NodeID {
 
 // Pubkey returns the public key represented by the node ID.
 // It returns an error if the ID is not a point on the curve.
-func (id NodeID) Pubkey() (*ecdsa.PublicKey, error) {
+func (n NodeID) Pubkey() (*ecdsa.PublicKey, error) {
 	p := &ecdsa.PublicKey{Curve: crypto.S256(), X: new(big.Int), Y: new(big.Int)}
-	half := len(id) / 2
-	p.X.SetBytes(id[:half])
-	p.Y.SetBytes(id[half:])
+	half := len(n) / 2
+	p.X.SetBytes(n[:half])
+	p.Y.SetBytes(n[half:])
 	if !p.Curve.IsOnCurve(p.X, p.Y) {
 		return nil, errors.New("id is invalid secp256k1 curve point")
 	}
diff --git a/p2p/discv5/ticket.go b/p2p/discv5/ticket.go
index b3d1ac4baf..ae4b18e7cd 100644
--- a/p2p/discv5/ticket.go
+++ b/p2p/discv5/ticket.go
@@ -304,8 +304,8 @@ func (s ticketRefByWaitTime) Len() int {
 	return len(s)
 }
 
-func (r ticketRef) waitTime() mclock.AbsTime {
-	return r.t.regTime[r.idx] - r.t.issueTime
+func (ref ticketRef) waitTime() mclock.AbsTime {
+	return ref.t.regTime[ref.idx] - ref.t.issueTime
 }
 
 // Less reports whether the element with
diff --git a/p2p/discv5/topic.go b/p2p/discv5/topic.go
index e7a7f8e02a..609a41297f 100644
--- a/p2p/discv5/topic.go
+++ b/p2p/discv5/topic.go
@@ -271,15 +271,15 @@ func (t *topicTable) useTicket(node *Node, serialNo uint32, topics []Topic, idx
 	return false
 }
 
-func (topictab *topicTable) getTicket(node *Node, topics []Topic) *ticket {
-	topictab.collectGarbage()
+func (t *topicTable) getTicket(node *Node, topics []Topic) *ticket {
+	t.collectGarbage()
 
 	now := mclock.Now()
-	n := topictab.getOrNewNode(node)
+	n := t.getOrNewNode(node)
 	n.lastIssuedTicket++
-	topictab.storeTicketCounters(node)
+	t.storeTicketCounters(node)
 
-	t := &ticket{
+	tic := &ticket{
 		issueTime: now,
 		topics:    topics,
 		serial:    n.lastIssuedTicket,
@@ -287,15 +287,15 @@ func (topictab *topicTable) getTicket(node *Node, topics []Topic) *ticket {
 	}
 	for i, topic := range topics {
 		var waitPeriod time.Duration
-		if topic := topictab.topics[topic]; topic != nil {
+		if topic := t.topics[topic]; topic != nil {
 			waitPeriod = topic.wcl.waitPeriod
 		} else {
 			waitPeriod = minWaitPeriod
 		}
 
-		t.regTime[i] = now + mclock.AbsTime(waitPeriod)
+		tic.regTime[i] = now + mclock.AbsTime(waitPeriod)
 	}
-	return t
+	return tic
 }
 
 const gcInterval = time.Minute
diff --git a/p2p/message.go b/p2p/message.go
index 50b419970d..a4eac54d33 100644
--- a/p2p/message.go
+++ b/p2p/message.go
@@ -229,21 +229,20 @@ func ExpectMsg(r MsgReader, code uint64, content interface{}) error {
 	}
 	if content == nil {
 		return msg.Discard()
-	} else {
-		contentEnc, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(content)
-		if err != nil {
-			panic("content encode error: " + err.Error())
-		}
-		if int(msg.Size) != len(contentEnc) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("message size mismatch: got %d, want %d", msg.Size, len(contentEnc))
-		}
-		actualContent, err := ioutil.ReadAll(msg.Payload)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		if !bytes.Equal(actualContent, contentEnc) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("message payload mismatch:\ngot:  %x\nwant: %x", actualContent, contentEnc)
-		}
+	}
+	contentEnc, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(content)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic("content encode error: " + err.Error())
+	}
+	if int(msg.Size) != len(contentEnc) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("message size mismatch: got %d, want %d", msg.Size, len(contentEnc))
+	}
+	actualContent, err := ioutil.ReadAll(msg.Payload)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if !bytes.Equal(actualContent, contentEnc) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("message payload mismatch:\ngot:  %x\nwant: %x", actualContent, contentEnc)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -271,15 +270,15 @@ func newMsgEventer(rw MsgReadWriter, feed *event.Feed, peerID discover.NodeID, p
 
 // ReadMsg reads a message from the underlying MsgReadWriter and emits a
 // "message received" event
-func (self *msgEventer) ReadMsg() (Msg, error) {
-	msg, err := self.MsgReadWriter.ReadMsg()
+func (ev *msgEventer) ReadMsg() (Msg, error) {
+	msg, err := ev.MsgReadWriter.ReadMsg()
 	if err != nil {
 		return msg, err
 	}
-	self.feed.Send(&PeerEvent{
+	ev.feed.Send(&PeerEvent{
 		Type:     PeerEventTypeMsgRecv,
-		Peer:     self.peerID,
-		Protocol: self.Protocol,
+		Peer:     ev.peerID,
+		Protocol: ev.Protocol,
 		MsgCode:  &msg.Code,
 		MsgSize:  &msg.Size,
 	})
@@ -288,15 +287,15 @@ func (self *msgEventer) ReadMsg() (Msg, error) {
 
 // WriteMsg writes a message to the underlying MsgReadWriter and emits a
 // "message sent" event
-func (self *msgEventer) WriteMsg(msg Msg) error {
-	err := self.MsgReadWriter.WriteMsg(msg)
+func (ev *msgEventer) WriteMsg(msg Msg) error {
+	err := ev.MsgReadWriter.WriteMsg(msg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	self.feed.Send(&PeerEvent{
+	ev.feed.Send(&PeerEvent{
 		Type:     PeerEventTypeMsgSend,
-		Peer:     self.peerID,
-		Protocol: self.Protocol,
+		Peer:     ev.peerID,
+		Protocol: ev.Protocol,
 		MsgCode:  &msg.Code,
 		MsgSize:  &msg.Size,
 	})
@@ -305,8 +304,8 @@ func (self *msgEventer) WriteMsg(msg Msg) error {
 
 // Close closes the underlying MsgReadWriter if it implements the io.Closer
 // interface
-func (self *msgEventer) Close() error {
-	if v, ok := self.MsgReadWriter.(io.Closer); ok {
+func (ev *msgEventer) Close() error {
+	if v, ok := ev.MsgReadWriter.(io.Closer); ok {
 		return v.Close()
 	}
 	return nil
diff --git a/p2p/peer.go b/p2p/peer.go
index 73e33418ed..c3907349fc 100644
--- a/p2p/peer.go
+++ b/p2p/peer.go
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ loop:
 			reason = discReasonForError(err)
 			break loop
 		case err = <-p.disc:
+			reason = discReasonForError(err)
 			break loop
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/p2p/peer_error.go b/p2p/peer_error.go
index a1cddb707b..ab61bfef06 100644
--- a/p2p/peer_error.go
+++ b/p2p/peer_error.go
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func newPeerError(code int, format string, v ...interface{}) *peerError {
 	return err
 }
 
-func (self *peerError) Error() string {
-	return self.message
+func (pe *peerError) Error() string {
+	return pe.message
 }
 
 var errProtocolReturned = errors.New("protocol returned")
diff --git a/p2p/simulations/adapters/exec.go b/p2p/simulations/adapters/exec.go
index a566fb27d8..f381c11596 100644
--- a/p2p/simulations/adapters/exec.go
+++ b/p2p/simulations/adapters/exec.go
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 package adapters
 
 import (
-	"bufio"
 	"context"
 	"crypto/ecdsa"
 	"encoding/json"
@@ -29,7 +28,6 @@ import (
 	"os/exec"
 	"os/signal"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"syscall"
@@ -150,10 +148,6 @@ func (n *ExecNode) Client() (*rpc.Client, error) {
 	return n.client, nil
 }
 
-// wsAddrPattern is a regex used to read the WebSocket address from the node's
-// log
-var wsAddrPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`ws://[\d.:]+`)
-
 // Start exec's the node passing the ID and service as command line arguments
 // and the node config encoded as JSON in the _P2P_NODE_CONFIG environment
 // variable
@@ -196,23 +190,9 @@ func (n *ExecNode) Start(snapshots map[string][]byte) (err error) {
 	n.Cmd = cmd
 
 	// read the WebSocket address from the stderr logs
-	var wsAddr string
-	wsAddrC := make(chan string)
-	go func() {
-		s := bufio.NewScanner(stderrR)
-		for s.Scan() {
-			if strings.Contains(s.Text(), "WebSocket endpoint opened:") {
-				wsAddrC <- wsAddrPattern.FindString(s.Text())
-			}
-		}
-	}()
-	select {
-	case wsAddr = <-wsAddrC:
-		if wsAddr == "" {
-			return errors.New("failed to read WebSocket address from stderr")
-		}
-	case <-time.After(10 * time.Second):
-		return errors.New("timed out waiting for WebSocket address on stderr")
+	wsAddr, err := findWSAddr(stderrR, 10*time.Second)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("error getting WebSocket address: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	// create the RPC client and load the node info
diff --git a/p2p/simulations/adapters/inproc.go b/p2p/simulations/adapters/inproc.go
index 48d7c17301..6d90b4a9fc 100644
--- a/p2p/simulations/adapters/inproc.go
+++ b/p2p/simulations/adapters/inproc.go
@@ -154,30 +154,30 @@ type SimNode struct {
 }
 
 // Addr returns the node's discovery address
-func (self *SimNode) Addr() []byte {
-	return []byte(self.Node().String())
+func (sn *SimNode) Addr() []byte {
+	return []byte(sn.Node().String())
 }
 
 // Node returns a discover.Node representing the SimNode
-func (self *SimNode) Node() *discover.Node {
-	return discover.NewNode(self.ID, net.IP{127, 0, 0, 1}, 30303, 30303)
+func (sn *SimNode) Node() *discover.Node {
+	return discover.NewNode(sn.ID, net.IP{127, 0, 0, 1}, 30303, 30303)
 }
 
 // Client returns an rpc.Client which can be used to communicate with the
 // underlying services (it is set once the node has started)
-func (self *SimNode) Client() (*rpc.Client, error) {
-	self.lock.RLock()
-	defer self.lock.RUnlock()
-	if self.client == nil {
+func (sn *SimNode) Client() (*rpc.Client, error) {
+	sn.lock.RLock()
+	defer sn.lock.RUnlock()
+	if sn.client == nil {
 		return nil, errors.New("node not started")
 	}
-	return self.client, nil
+	return sn.client, nil
 }
 
 // ServeRPC serves RPC requests over the given connection by creating an
 // in-memory client to the node's RPC server
-func (self *SimNode) ServeRPC(conn net.Conn) error {
-	handler, err := self.node.RPCHandler()
+func (sn *SimNode) ServeRPC(conn net.Conn) error {
+	handler, err := sn.node.RPCHandler()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -187,13 +187,13 @@ func (self *SimNode) ServeRPC(conn net.Conn) error {
 
 // Snapshots creates snapshots of the services by calling the
 // simulation_snapshot RPC method
-func (self *SimNode) Snapshots() (map[string][]byte, error) {
-	self.lock.RLock()
-	services := make(map[string]node.Service, len(self.running))
-	for name, service := range self.running {
+func (sn *SimNode) Snapshots() (map[string][]byte, error) {
+	sn.lock.RLock()
+	services := make(map[string]node.Service, len(sn.running))
+	for name, service := range sn.running {
 		services[name] = service
 	}
-	self.lock.RUnlock()
+	sn.lock.RUnlock()
 	if len(services) == 0 {
 		return nil, errors.New("no running services")
 	}
@@ -213,23 +213,23 @@ func (self *SimNode) Snapshots() (map[string][]byte, error) {
 }
 
 // Start registers the services and starts the underlying devp2p node
-func (self *SimNode) Start(snapshots map[string][]byte) error {
+func (sn *SimNode) Start(snapshots map[string][]byte) error {
 	newService := func(name string) func(ctx *node.ServiceContext) (node.Service, error) {
 		return func(nodeCtx *node.ServiceContext) (node.Service, error) {
 			ctx := &ServiceContext{
-				RPCDialer:   self.adapter,
+				RPCDialer:   sn.adapter,
 				NodeContext: nodeCtx,
-				Config:      self.config,
+				Config:      sn.config,
 			}
 			if snapshots != nil {
 				ctx.Snapshot = snapshots[name]
 			}
-			serviceFunc := self.adapter.services[name]
+			serviceFunc := sn.adapter.services[name]
 			service, err := serviceFunc(ctx)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
-			self.running[name] = service
+			sn.running[name] = service
 			return service, nil
 		}
 	}
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@ func (self *SimNode) Start(snapshots map[string][]byte) error {
 	// ensure we only register the services once in the case of the node
 	// being stopped and then started again
 	var regErr error
-	self.registerOnce.Do(func() {
-		for _, name := range self.config.Services {
-			if err := self.node.Register(newService(name)); err != nil {
+	sn.registerOnce.Do(func() {
+		for _, name := range sn.config.Services {
+			if err := sn.node.Register(newService(name)); err != nil {
 				regErr = err
 				return
 			}
@@ -249,54 +249,54 @@ func (self *SimNode) Start(snapshots map[string][]byte) error {
 		return regErr
 	}
 
-	if err := self.node.Start(); err != nil {
+	if err := sn.node.Start(); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	// create an in-process RPC client
-	handler, err := self.node.RPCHandler()
+	handler, err := sn.node.RPCHandler()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	self.client = rpc.DialInProc(handler)
-	self.lock.Unlock()
+	sn.lock.Lock()
+	sn.client = rpc.DialInProc(handler)
+	sn.lock.Unlock()
 
 	return nil
 }
 
 // Stop closes the RPC client and stops the underlying devp2p node
-func (self *SimNode) Stop() error {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	if self.client != nil {
-		self.client.Close()
-		self.client = nil
+func (sn *SimNode) Stop() error {
+	sn.lock.Lock()
+	if sn.client != nil {
+		sn.client.Close()
+		sn.client = nil
 	}
-	self.lock.Unlock()
-	return self.node.Stop()
+	sn.lock.Unlock()
+	return sn.node.Stop()
 }
 
 // Services returns a copy of the underlying services
-func (self *SimNode) Services() []node.Service {
-	self.lock.RLock()
-	defer self.lock.RUnlock()
-	services := make([]node.Service, 0, len(self.running))
-	for _, service := range self.running {
+func (sn *SimNode) Services() []node.Service {
+	sn.lock.RLock()
+	defer sn.lock.RUnlock()
+	services := make([]node.Service, 0, len(sn.running))
+	for _, service := range sn.running {
 		services = append(services, service)
 	}
 	return services
 }
 
 // Server returns the underlying p2p.Server
-func (self *SimNode) Server() *p2p.Server {
-	return self.node.Server()
+func (sn *SimNode) Server() *p2p.Server {
+	return sn.node.Server()
 }
 
 // SubscribeEvents subscribes the given channel to peer events from the
 // underlying p2p.Server
-func (self *SimNode) SubscribeEvents(ch chan *p2p.PeerEvent) event.Subscription {
-	srv := self.Server()
+func (sn *SimNode) SubscribeEvents(ch chan *p2p.PeerEvent) event.Subscription {
+	srv := sn.Server()
 	if srv == nil {
 		panic("node not running")
 	}
@@ -304,12 +304,12 @@ func (self *SimNode) SubscribeEvents(ch chan *p2p.PeerEvent) event.Subscription
 }
 
 // NodeInfo returns information about the node
-func (self *SimNode) NodeInfo() *p2p.NodeInfo {
-	server := self.Server()
+func (sn *SimNode) NodeInfo() *p2p.NodeInfo {
+	server := sn.Server()
 	if server == nil {
 		return &p2p.NodeInfo{
-			ID:    self.ID.String(),
-			Enode: self.Node().String(),
+			ID:    sn.ID.String(),
+			Enode: sn.Node().String(),
 		}
 	}
 	return server.NodeInfo()
diff --git a/p2p/simulations/adapters/state.go b/p2p/simulations/adapters/state.go
index 0d4ecfb0ff..78dfb11f95 100644
--- a/p2p/simulations/adapters/state.go
+++ b/p2p/simulations/adapters/state.go
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ type SimStateStore struct {
 	m map[string][]byte
 }
 
-func (self *SimStateStore) Load(s string) ([]byte, error) {
-	return self.m[s], nil
+func (st *SimStateStore) Load(s string) ([]byte, error) {
+	return st.m[s], nil
 }
 
-func (self *SimStateStore) Save(s string, data []byte) error {
-	self.m[s] = data
+func (st *SimStateStore) Save(s string, data []byte) error {
+	st.m[s] = data
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/p2p/simulations/adapters/ws.go b/p2p/simulations/adapters/ws.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..979a21709e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/p2p/simulations/adapters/ws.go
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+package adapters
+
+import (
+	"bufio"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"regexp"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// wsAddrPattern is a regex used to read the WebSocket address from the node's
+// log
+var wsAddrPattern = regexp.MustCompile(`ws://[\d.:]+`)
+
+func matchWSAddr(str string) (string, bool) {
+	if !strings.Contains(str, "WebSocket endpoint opened") {
+		return "", false
+	}
+
+	return wsAddrPattern.FindString(str), true
+}
+
+// findWSAddr scans through reader r, looking for the log entry with
+// WebSocket address information.
+func findWSAddr(r io.Reader, timeout time.Duration) (string, error) {
+	ch := make(chan string)
+
+	go func() {
+		s := bufio.NewScanner(r)
+		for s.Scan() {
+			addr, ok := matchWSAddr(s.Text())
+			if ok {
+				ch <- addr
+			}
+		}
+		close(ch)
+	}()
+
+	var wsAddr string
+	select {
+	case wsAddr = <-ch:
+		if wsAddr == "" {
+			return "", errors.New("empty result")
+		}
+	case <-time.After(timeout):
+		return "", errors.New("timed out")
+	}
+
+	return wsAddr, nil
+}
diff --git a/p2p/simulations/adapters/ws_test.go b/p2p/simulations/adapters/ws_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0bb9ed2b2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/p2p/simulations/adapters/ws_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package adapters
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+func TestFindWSAddr(t *testing.T) {
+	line := `t=2018-05-02T19:00:45+0200 lvl=info msg="WebSocket endpoint opened"  node.id=26c65a606d1125a44695bc08573190d047152b6b9a776ccbbe593e90f91444d9c1ebdadac6a775ad9fdd0923468a1d698ed3a842c1fb89c1bc0f9d4801f8c39c url=ws://127.0.0.1:59975`
+	buf := bytes.NewBufferString(line)
+	got, err := findWSAddr(buf, 10*time.Second)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to find addr: %v", err)
+	}
+	expected := `ws://127.0.0.1:59975`
+
+	if got != expected {
+		t.Fatalf("Expected to get '%s', but got '%s'", expected, got)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/p2p/simulations/network.go b/p2p/simulations/network.go
index caf428ece1..1a2c1e8ff4 100644
--- a/p2p/simulations/network.go
+++ b/p2p/simulations/network.go
@@ -74,22 +74,22 @@ func NewNetwork(nodeAdapter adapters.NodeAdapter, conf *NetworkConfig) *Network
 }
 
 // Events returns the output event feed of the Network.
-func (self *Network) Events() *event.Feed {
-	return &self.events
+func (net *Network) Events() *event.Feed {
+	return &net.events
 }
 
 // NewNode adds a new node to the network with a random ID
-func (self *Network) NewNode() (*Node, error) {
+func (net *Network) NewNode() (*Node, error) {
 	conf := adapters.RandomNodeConfig()
-	conf.Services = []string{self.DefaultService}
-	return self.NewNodeWithConfig(conf)
+	conf.Services = []string{net.DefaultService}
+	return net.NewNodeWithConfig(conf)
 }
 
 // NewNodeWithConfig adds a new node to the network with the given config,
 // returning an error if a node with the same ID or name already exists
-func (self *Network) NewNodeWithConfig(conf *adapters.NodeConfig) (*Node, error) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
+func (net *Network) NewNodeWithConfig(conf *adapters.NodeConfig) (*Node, error) {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
 
 	// create a random ID and PrivateKey if not set
 	if conf.ID == (discover.NodeID{}) {
@@ -100,31 +100,31 @@ func (self *Network) NewNodeWithConfig(conf *adapters.NodeConfig) (*Node, error)
 	id := conf.ID
 	if conf.Reachable == nil {
 		conf.Reachable = func(otherID discover.NodeID) bool {
-			_, err := self.InitConn(conf.ID, otherID)
+			_, err := net.InitConn(conf.ID, otherID)
 			return err == nil
 		}
 	}
 
 	// assign a name to the node if not set
 	if conf.Name == "" {
-		conf.Name = fmt.Sprintf("node%02d", len(self.Nodes)+1)
+		conf.Name = fmt.Sprintf("node%02d", len(net.Nodes)+1)
 	}
 
 	// check the node doesn't already exist
-	if node := self.getNode(id); node != nil {
+	if node := net.getNode(id); node != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("node with ID %q already exists", id)
 	}
-	if node := self.getNodeByName(conf.Name); node != nil {
+	if node := net.getNodeByName(conf.Name); node != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("node with name %q already exists", conf.Name)
 	}
 
 	// if no services are configured, use the default service
 	if len(conf.Services) == 0 {
-		conf.Services = []string{self.DefaultService}
+		conf.Services = []string{net.DefaultService}
 	}
 
 	// use the NodeAdapter to create the node
-	adapterNode, err := self.nodeAdapter.NewNode(conf)
+	adapterNode, err := net.nodeAdapter.NewNode(conf)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -133,27 +133,27 @@ func (self *Network) NewNodeWithConfig(conf *adapters.NodeConfig) (*Node, error)
 		Config: conf,
 	}
 	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("node %v created", id))
-	self.nodeMap[id] = len(self.Nodes)
-	self.Nodes = append(self.Nodes, node)
+	net.nodeMap[id] = len(net.Nodes)
+	net.Nodes = append(net.Nodes, node)
 
 	// emit a "control" event
-	self.events.Send(ControlEvent(node))
+	net.events.Send(ControlEvent(node))
 
 	return node, nil
 }
 
 // Config returns the network configuration
-func (self *Network) Config() *NetworkConfig {
-	return &self.NetworkConfig
+func (net *Network) Config() *NetworkConfig {
+	return &net.NetworkConfig
 }
 
 // StartAll starts all nodes in the network
-func (self *Network) StartAll() error {
-	for _, node := range self.Nodes {
+func (net *Network) StartAll() error {
+	for _, node := range net.Nodes {
 		if node.Up {
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := self.Start(node.ID()); err != nil {
+		if err := net.Start(node.ID()); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -161,12 +161,12 @@ func (self *Network) StartAll() error {
 }
 
 // StopAll stops all nodes in the network
-func (self *Network) StopAll() error {
-	for _, node := range self.Nodes {
+func (net *Network) StopAll() error {
+	for _, node := range net.Nodes {
 		if !node.Up {
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := self.Stop(node.ID()); err != nil {
+		if err := net.Stop(node.ID()); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -174,21 +174,21 @@ func (self *Network) StopAll() error {
 }
 
 // Start starts the node with the given ID
-func (self *Network) Start(id discover.NodeID) error {
-	return self.startWithSnapshots(id, nil)
+func (net *Network) Start(id discover.NodeID) error {
+	return net.startWithSnapshots(id, nil)
 }
 
 // startWithSnapshots starts the node with the given ID using the give
 // snapshots
-func (self *Network) startWithSnapshots(id discover.NodeID, snapshots map[string][]byte) error {
-	node := self.GetNode(id)
+func (net *Network) startWithSnapshots(id discover.NodeID, snapshots map[string][]byte) error {
+	node := net.GetNode(id)
 	if node == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("node %v does not exist", id)
 	}
 	if node.Up {
 		return fmt.Errorf("node %v already up", id)
 	}
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("starting node %v: %v using %v", id, node.Up, self.nodeAdapter.Name()))
+	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("starting node %v: %v using %v", id, node.Up, net.nodeAdapter.Name()))
 	if err := node.Start(snapshots); err != nil {
 		log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("start up failed: %v", err))
 		return err
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func (self *Network) startWithSnapshots(id discover.NodeID, snapshots map[string
 	node.Up = true
 	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("started node %v: %v", id, node.Up))
 
-	self.events.Send(NewEvent(node))
+	net.events.Send(NewEvent(node))
 
 	// subscribe to peer events
 	client, err := node.Client()
@@ -208,22 +208,22 @@ func (self *Network) startWithSnapshots(id discover.NodeID, snapshots map[string
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("error getting peer events for node %v: %s", id, err)
 	}
-	go self.watchPeerEvents(id, events, sub)
+	go net.watchPeerEvents(id, events, sub)
 	return nil
 }
 
 // watchPeerEvents reads peer events from the given channel and emits
 // corresponding network events
-func (self *Network) watchPeerEvents(id discover.NodeID, events chan *p2p.PeerEvent, sub event.Subscription) {
+func (net *Network) watchPeerEvents(id discover.NodeID, events chan *p2p.PeerEvent, sub event.Subscription) {
 	defer func() {
 		sub.Unsubscribe()
 
 		// assume the node is now down
-		self.lock.Lock()
-		node := self.getNode(id)
+		net.lock.Lock()
+		node := net.getNode(id)
 		node.Up = false
-		self.lock.Unlock()
-		self.events.Send(NewEvent(node))
+		net.lock.Unlock()
+		net.events.Send(NewEvent(node))
 	}()
 	for {
 		select {
@@ -235,16 +235,16 @@ func (self *Network) watchPeerEvents(id discover.NodeID, events chan *p2p.PeerEv
 			switch event.Type {
 
 			case p2p.PeerEventTypeAdd:
-				self.DidConnect(id, peer)
+				net.DidConnect(id, peer)
 
 			case p2p.PeerEventTypeDrop:
-				self.DidDisconnect(id, peer)
+				net.DidDisconnect(id, peer)
 
 			case p2p.PeerEventTypeMsgSend:
-				self.DidSend(id, peer, event.Protocol, *event.MsgCode)
+				net.DidSend(id, peer, event.Protocol, *event.MsgCode)
 
 			case p2p.PeerEventTypeMsgRecv:
-				self.DidReceive(peer, id, event.Protocol, *event.MsgCode)
+				net.DidReceive(peer, id, event.Protocol, *event.MsgCode)
 
 			}
 
@@ -258,8 +258,8 @@ func (self *Network) watchPeerEvents(id discover.NodeID, events chan *p2p.PeerEv
 }
 
 // Stop stops the node with the given ID
-func (self *Network) Stop(id discover.NodeID) error {
-	node := self.GetNode(id)
+func (net *Network) Stop(id discover.NodeID) error {
+	node := net.GetNode(id)
 	if node == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("node %v does not exist", id)
 	}
@@ -272,15 +272,15 @@ func (self *Network) Stop(id discover.NodeID) error {
 	node.Up = false
 	log.Info(fmt.Sprintf("stop node %v: %v", id, node.Up))
 
-	self.events.Send(ControlEvent(node))
+	net.events.Send(ControlEvent(node))
 	return nil
 }
 
 // Connect connects two nodes together by calling the "admin_addPeer" RPC
 // method on the "one" node so that it connects to the "other" node
-func (self *Network) Connect(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) error {
+func (net *Network) Connect(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) error {
 	log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("connecting %s to %s", oneID, otherID))
-	conn, err := self.InitConn(oneID, otherID)
+	conn, err := net.InitConn(oneID, otherID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -288,14 +288,14 @@ func (self *Network) Connect(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	self.events.Send(ControlEvent(conn))
+	net.events.Send(ControlEvent(conn))
 	return client.Call(nil, "admin_addPeer", string(conn.other.Addr()))
 }
 
 // Disconnect disconnects two nodes by calling the "admin_removePeer" RPC
 // method on the "one" node so that it disconnects from the "other" node
-func (self *Network) Disconnect(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) error {
-	conn := self.GetConn(oneID, otherID)
+func (net *Network) Disconnect(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) error {
+	conn := net.GetConn(oneID, otherID)
 	if conn == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("connection between %v and %v does not exist", oneID, otherID)
 	}
@@ -306,13 +306,13 @@ func (self *Network) Disconnect(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	self.events.Send(ControlEvent(conn))
+	net.events.Send(ControlEvent(conn))
 	return client.Call(nil, "admin_removePeer", string(conn.other.Addr()))
 }
 
 // DidConnect tracks the fact that the "one" node connected to the "other" node
-func (self *Network) DidConnect(one, other discover.NodeID) error {
-	conn, err := self.GetOrCreateConn(one, other)
+func (net *Network) DidConnect(one, other discover.NodeID) error {
+	conn, err := net.GetOrCreateConn(one, other)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("connection between %v and %v does not exist", one, other)
 	}
@@ -320,14 +320,14 @@ func (self *Network) DidConnect(one, other discover.NodeID) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%v and %v already connected", one, other)
 	}
 	conn.Up = true
-	self.events.Send(NewEvent(conn))
+	net.events.Send(NewEvent(conn))
 	return nil
 }
 
 // DidDisconnect tracks the fact that the "one" node disconnected from the
 // "other" node
-func (self *Network) DidDisconnect(one, other discover.NodeID) error {
-	conn := self.GetConn(one, other)
+func (net *Network) DidDisconnect(one, other discover.NodeID) error {
+	conn := net.GetConn(one, other)
 	if conn == nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("connection between %v and %v does not exist", one, other)
 	}
@@ -336,12 +336,12 @@ func (self *Network) DidDisconnect(one, other discover.NodeID) error {
 	}
 	conn.Up = false
 	conn.initiated = time.Now().Add(-dialBanTimeout)
-	self.events.Send(NewEvent(conn))
+	net.events.Send(NewEvent(conn))
 	return nil
 }
 
 // DidSend tracks the fact that "sender" sent a message to "receiver"
-func (self *Network) DidSend(sender, receiver discover.NodeID, proto string, code uint64) error {
+func (net *Network) DidSend(sender, receiver discover.NodeID, proto string, code uint64) error {
 	msg := &Msg{
 		One:      sender,
 		Other:    receiver,
@@ -349,12 +349,12 @@ func (self *Network) DidSend(sender, receiver discover.NodeID, proto string, cod
 		Code:     code,
 		Received: false,
 	}
-	self.events.Send(NewEvent(msg))
+	net.events.Send(NewEvent(msg))
 	return nil
 }
 
 // DidReceive tracks the fact that "receiver" received a message from "sender"
-func (self *Network) DidReceive(sender, receiver discover.NodeID, proto string, code uint64) error {
+func (net *Network) DidReceive(sender, receiver discover.NodeID, proto string, code uint64) error {
 	msg := &Msg{
 		One:      sender,
 		Other:    receiver,
@@ -362,36 +362,36 @@ func (self *Network) DidReceive(sender, receiver discover.NodeID, proto string,
 		Code:     code,
 		Received: true,
 	}
-	self.events.Send(NewEvent(msg))
+	net.events.Send(NewEvent(msg))
 	return nil
 }
 
 // GetNode gets the node with the given ID, returning nil if the node does not
 // exist
-func (self *Network) GetNode(id discover.NodeID) *Node {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	return self.getNode(id)
+func (net *Network) GetNode(id discover.NodeID) *Node {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
+	return net.getNode(id)
 }
 
 // GetNode gets the node with the given name, returning nil if the node does
 // not exist
-func (self *Network) GetNodeByName(name string) *Node {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	return self.getNodeByName(name)
+func (net *Network) GetNodeByName(name string) *Node {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
+	return net.getNodeByName(name)
 }
 
-func (self *Network) getNode(id discover.NodeID) *Node {
-	i, found := self.nodeMap[id]
+func (net *Network) getNode(id discover.NodeID) *Node {
+	i, found := net.nodeMap[id]
 	if !found {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return self.Nodes[i]
+	return net.Nodes[i]
 }
 
-func (self *Network) getNodeByName(name string) *Node {
-	for _, node := range self.Nodes {
+func (net *Network) getNodeByName(name string) *Node {
+	for _, node := range net.Nodes {
 		if node.Config.Name == name {
 			return node
 		}
@@ -400,40 +400,40 @@ func (self *Network) getNodeByName(name string) *Node {
 }
 
 // GetNodes returns the existing nodes
-func (self *Network) GetNodes() (nodes []*Node) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
+func (net *Network) GetNodes() (nodes []*Node) {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
 
-	nodes = append(nodes, self.Nodes...)
+	nodes = append(nodes, net.Nodes...)
 	return nodes
 }
 
 // GetConn returns the connection which exists between "one" and "other"
 // regardless of which node initiated the connection
-func (self *Network) GetConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) *Conn {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	return self.getConn(oneID, otherID)
+func (net *Network) GetConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) *Conn {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
+	return net.getConn(oneID, otherID)
 }
 
 // GetOrCreateConn is like GetConn but creates the connection if it doesn't
 // already exist
-func (self *Network) GetOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	return self.getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID)
+func (net *Network) GetOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
+	return net.getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID)
 }
 
-func (self *Network) getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
-	if conn := self.getConn(oneID, otherID); conn != nil {
+func (net *Network) getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
+	if conn := net.getConn(oneID, otherID); conn != nil {
 		return conn, nil
 	}
 
-	one := self.getNode(oneID)
+	one := net.getNode(oneID)
 	if one == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("node %v does not exist", oneID)
 	}
-	other := self.getNode(otherID)
+	other := net.getNode(otherID)
 	if other == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("node %v does not exist", otherID)
 	}
@@ -444,18 +444,18 @@ func (self *Network) getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, err
 		other: other,
 	}
 	label := ConnLabel(oneID, otherID)
-	self.connMap[label] = len(self.Conns)
-	self.Conns = append(self.Conns, conn)
+	net.connMap[label] = len(net.Conns)
+	net.Conns = append(net.Conns, conn)
 	return conn, nil
 }
 
-func (self *Network) getConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) *Conn {
+func (net *Network) getConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) *Conn {
 	label := ConnLabel(oneID, otherID)
-	i, found := self.connMap[label]
+	i, found := net.connMap[label]
 	if !found {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return self.Conns[i]
+	return net.Conns[i]
 }
 
 // InitConn(one, other) retrieves the connectiton model for the connection between
@@ -466,13 +466,13 @@ func (self *Network) getConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) *Conn {
 // it also checks whether there has been recent attempt to connect the peers
 // this is cheating as the simulation is used as an oracle and know about
 // remote peers attempt to connect to a node which will then not initiate the connection
-func (self *Network) InitConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
+func (net *Network) InitConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
 	if oneID == otherID {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("refusing to connect to self %v", oneID)
 	}
-	conn, err := self.getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID)
+	conn, err := net.getOrCreateConn(oneID, otherID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -491,28 +491,28 @@ func (self *Network) InitConn(oneID, otherID discover.NodeID) (*Conn, error) {
 }
 
 // Shutdown stops all nodes in the network and closes the quit channel
-func (self *Network) Shutdown() {
-	for _, node := range self.Nodes {
+func (net *Network) Shutdown() {
+	for _, node := range net.Nodes {
 		log.Debug(fmt.Sprintf("stopping node %s", node.ID().TerminalString()))
 		if err := node.Stop(); err != nil {
 			log.Warn(fmt.Sprintf("error stopping node %s", node.ID().TerminalString()), "err", err)
 		}
 	}
-	close(self.quitc)
+	close(net.quitc)
 }
 
 //Reset resets all network properties:
 //emtpies the nodes and the connection list
-func (self *Network) Reset() {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
+func (net *Network) Reset() {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
 
 	//re-initialize the maps
-	self.connMap = make(map[string]int)
-	self.nodeMap = make(map[discover.NodeID]int)
+	net.connMap = make(map[string]int)
+	net.nodeMap = make(map[discover.NodeID]int)
 
-	self.Nodes = nil
-	self.Conns = nil
+	net.Nodes = nil
+	net.Conns = nil
 }
 
 // Node is a wrapper around adapters.Node which is used to track the status
@@ -528,37 +528,37 @@ type Node struct {
 }
 
 // ID returns the ID of the node
-func (self *Node) ID() discover.NodeID {
-	return self.Config.ID
+func (n *Node) ID() discover.NodeID {
+	return n.Config.ID
 }
 
 // String returns a log-friendly string
-func (self *Node) String() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("Node %v", self.ID().TerminalString())
+func (n *Node) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Node %v", n.ID().TerminalString())
 }
 
 // NodeInfo returns information about the node
-func (self *Node) NodeInfo() *p2p.NodeInfo {
+func (n *Node) NodeInfo() *p2p.NodeInfo {
 	// avoid a panic if the node is not started yet
-	if self.Node == nil {
+	if n.Node == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	info := self.Node.NodeInfo()
-	info.Name = self.Config.Name
+	info := n.Node.NodeInfo()
+	info.Name = n.Config.Name
 	return info
 }
 
 // MarshalJSON implements the json.Marshaler interface so that the encoded
 // JSON includes the NodeInfo
-func (self *Node) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+func (n *Node) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	return json.Marshal(struct {
 		Info   *p2p.NodeInfo        `json:"info,omitempty"`
 		Config *adapters.NodeConfig `json:"config,omitempty"`
 		Up     bool                 `json:"up"`
 	}{
-		Info:   self.NodeInfo(),
-		Config: self.Config,
-		Up:     self.Up,
+		Info:   n.NodeInfo(),
+		Config: n.Config,
+		Up:     n.Up,
 	})
 }
 
@@ -580,19 +580,19 @@ type Conn struct {
 }
 
 // nodesUp returns whether both nodes are currently up
-func (self *Conn) nodesUp() error {
-	if !self.one.Up {
-		return fmt.Errorf("one %v is not up", self.One)
+func (c *Conn) nodesUp() error {
+	if !c.one.Up {
+		return fmt.Errorf("one %v is not up", c.One)
 	}
-	if !self.other.Up {
-		return fmt.Errorf("other %v is not up", self.Other)
+	if !c.other.Up {
+		return fmt.Errorf("other %v is not up", c.Other)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
 // String returns a log-friendly string
-func (self *Conn) String() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("Conn %v->%v", self.One.TerminalString(), self.Other.TerminalString())
+func (c *Conn) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Conn %v->%v", c.One.TerminalString(), c.Other.TerminalString())
 }
 
 // Msg represents a p2p message sent between two nodes in the network
@@ -605,8 +605,8 @@ type Msg struct {
 }
 
 // String returns a log-friendly string
-func (self *Msg) String() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("Msg(%d) %v->%v", self.Code, self.One.TerminalString(), self.Other.TerminalString())
+func (m *Msg) String() string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("Msg(%d) %v->%v", m.Code, m.One.TerminalString(), m.Other.TerminalString())
 }
 
 // ConnLabel generates a deterministic string which represents a connection
@@ -640,14 +640,14 @@ type NodeSnapshot struct {
 }
 
 // Snapshot creates a network snapshot
-func (self *Network) Snapshot() (*Snapshot, error) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
+func (net *Network) Snapshot() (*Snapshot, error) {
+	net.lock.Lock()
+	defer net.lock.Unlock()
 	snap := &Snapshot{
-		Nodes: make([]NodeSnapshot, len(self.Nodes)),
-		Conns: make([]Conn, len(self.Conns)),
+		Nodes: make([]NodeSnapshot, len(net.Nodes)),
+		Conns: make([]Conn, len(net.Conns)),
 	}
-	for i, node := range self.Nodes {
+	for i, node := range net.Nodes {
 		snap.Nodes[i] = NodeSnapshot{Node: *node}
 		if !node.Up {
 			continue
@@ -658,33 +658,33 @@ func (self *Network) Snapshot() (*Snapshot, error) {
 		}
 		snap.Nodes[i].Snapshots = snapshots
 	}
-	for i, conn := range self.Conns {
+	for i, conn := range net.Conns {
 		snap.Conns[i] = *conn
 	}
 	return snap, nil
 }
 
 // Load loads a network snapshot
-func (self *Network) Load(snap *Snapshot) error {
+func (net *Network) Load(snap *Snapshot) error {
 	for _, n := range snap.Nodes {
-		if _, err := self.NewNodeWithConfig(n.Node.Config); err != nil {
+		if _, err := net.NewNodeWithConfig(n.Node.Config); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 		if !n.Node.Up {
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := self.startWithSnapshots(n.Node.Config.ID, n.Snapshots); err != nil {
+		if err := net.startWithSnapshots(n.Node.Config.ID, n.Snapshots); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
 	for _, conn := range snap.Conns {
 
-		if !self.GetNode(conn.One).Up || !self.GetNode(conn.Other).Up {
+		if !net.GetNode(conn.One).Up || !net.GetNode(conn.Other).Up {
 			//in this case, at least one of the nodes of a connection is not up,
 			//so it would result in the snapshot `Load` to fail
 			continue
 		}
-		if err := self.Connect(conn.One, conn.Other); err != nil {
+		if err := net.Connect(conn.One, conn.Other); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
@@ -692,7 +692,7 @@ func (self *Network) Load(snap *Snapshot) error {
 }
 
 // Subscribe reads control events from a channel and executes them
-func (self *Network) Subscribe(events chan *Event) {
+func (net *Network) Subscribe(events chan *Event) {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case event, ok := <-events:
@@ -700,23 +700,23 @@ func (self *Network) Subscribe(events chan *Event) {
 				return
 			}
 			if event.Control {
-				self.executeControlEvent(event)
+				net.executeControlEvent(event)
 			}
-		case <-self.quitc:
+		case <-net.quitc:
 			return
 		}
 	}
 }
 
-func (self *Network) executeControlEvent(event *Event) {
+func (net *Network) executeControlEvent(event *Event) {
 	log.Trace("execute control event", "type", event.Type, "event", event)
 	switch event.Type {
 	case EventTypeNode:
-		if err := self.executeNodeEvent(event); err != nil {
+		if err := net.executeNodeEvent(event); err != nil {
 			log.Error("error executing node event", "event", event, "err", err)
 		}
 	case EventTypeConn:
-		if err := self.executeConnEvent(event); err != nil {
+		if err := net.executeConnEvent(event); err != nil {
 			log.Error("error executing conn event", "event", event, "err", err)
 		}
 	case EventTypeMsg:
@@ -724,21 +724,21 @@ func (self *Network) executeControlEvent(event *Event) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (self *Network) executeNodeEvent(e *Event) error {
+func (net *Network) executeNodeEvent(e *Event) error {
 	if !e.Node.Up {
-		return self.Stop(e.Node.ID())
+		return net.Stop(e.Node.ID())
 	}
 
-	if _, err := self.NewNodeWithConfig(e.Node.Config); err != nil {
+	if _, err := net.NewNodeWithConfig(e.Node.Config); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	return self.Start(e.Node.ID())
+	return net.Start(e.Node.ID())
 }
 
-func (self *Network) executeConnEvent(e *Event) error {
+func (net *Network) executeConnEvent(e *Event) error {
 	if e.Conn.Up {
-		return self.Connect(e.Conn.One, e.Conn.Other)
+		return net.Connect(e.Conn.One, e.Conn.Other)
 	} else {
-		return self.Disconnect(e.Conn.One, e.Conn.Other)
+		return net.Disconnect(e.Conn.One, e.Conn.Other)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/p2p/testing/peerpool.go b/p2p/testing/peerpool.go
index 45c6e61425..ed00396e23 100644
--- a/p2p/testing/peerpool.go
+++ b/p2p/testing/peerpool.go
@@ -39,29 +39,29 @@ func NewTestPeerPool() *TestPeerPool {
 	return &TestPeerPool{peers: make(map[discover.NodeID]TestPeer)}
 }
 
-func (self *TestPeerPool) Add(p TestPeer) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("pp add peer  %v", p.ID()))
-	self.peers[p.ID()] = p
+func (p *TestPeerPool) Add(peer TestPeer) {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("pp add peer  %v", peer.ID()))
+	p.peers[peer.ID()] = peer
 
 }
 
-func (self *TestPeerPool) Remove(p TestPeer) {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	delete(self.peers, p.ID())
+func (p *TestPeerPool) Remove(peer TestPeer) {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	delete(p.peers, peer.ID())
 }
 
-func (self *TestPeerPool) Has(id discover.NodeID) bool {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	_, ok := self.peers[id]
+func (p *TestPeerPool) Has(id discover.NodeID) bool {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	_, ok := p.peers[id]
 	return ok
 }
 
-func (self *TestPeerPool) Get(id discover.NodeID) TestPeer {
-	self.lock.Lock()
-	defer self.lock.Unlock()
-	return self.peers[id]
+func (p *TestPeerPool) Get(id discover.NodeID) TestPeer {
+	p.lock.Lock()
+	defer p.lock.Unlock()
+	return p.peers[id]
 }
diff --git a/p2p/testing/protocolsession.go b/p2p/testing/protocolsession.go
index 361285f06e..8f73bfa03e 100644
--- a/p2p/testing/protocolsession.go
+++ b/p2p/testing/protocolsession.go
@@ -78,10 +78,10 @@ type Disconnect struct {
 }
 
 // trigger sends messages from peers
-func (self *ProtocolSession) trigger(trig Trigger) error {
-	simNode, ok := self.adapter.GetNode(trig.Peer)
+func (s *ProtocolSession) trigger(trig Trigger) error {
+	simNode, ok := s.adapter.GetNode(trig.Peer)
 	if !ok {
-		return fmt.Errorf("trigger: peer %v does not exist (1- %v)", trig.Peer, len(self.IDs))
+		return fmt.Errorf("trigger: peer %v does not exist (1- %v)", trig.Peer, len(s.IDs))
 	}
 	mockNode, ok := simNode.Services()[0].(*mockNode)
 	if !ok {
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) trigger(trig Trigger) error {
 }
 
 // expect checks an expectation of a message sent out by the pivot node
-func (self *ProtocolSession) expect(exps []Expect) error {
+func (s *ProtocolSession) expect(exps []Expect) error {
 	// construct a map of expectations for each node
 	peerExpects := make(map[discover.NodeID][]Expect)
 	for _, exp := range exps {
@@ -120,9 +120,9 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) expect(exps []Expect) error {
 	// construct a map of mockNodes for each node
 	mockNodes := make(map[discover.NodeID]*mockNode)
 	for nodeID := range peerExpects {
-		simNode, ok := self.adapter.GetNode(nodeID)
+		simNode, ok := s.adapter.GetNode(nodeID)
 		if !ok {
-			return fmt.Errorf("trigger: peer %v does not exist (1- %v)", nodeID, len(self.IDs))
+			return fmt.Errorf("trigger: peer %v does not exist (1- %v)", nodeID, len(s.IDs))
 		}
 		mockNode, ok := simNode.Services()[0].(*mockNode)
 		if !ok {
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) expect(exps []Expect) error {
 }
 
 // TestExchanges tests a series of exchanges against the session
-func (self *ProtocolSession) TestExchanges(exchanges ...Exchange) error {
+func (s *ProtocolSession) TestExchanges(exchanges ...Exchange) error {
 	for i, e := range exchanges {
-		if err := self.testExchange(e); err != nil {
+		if err := s.testExchange(e); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("exchange #%d %q: %v", i, e.Label, err)
 		}
 		log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("exchange #%d %q: run successfully", i, e.Label))
@@ -214,14 +214,14 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) TestExchanges(exchanges ...Exchange) error {
 
 // testExchange tests a single Exchange.
 // Default timeout value is 2 seconds.
-func (self *ProtocolSession) testExchange(e Exchange) error {
+func (s *ProtocolSession) testExchange(e Exchange) error {
 	errc := make(chan error)
 	done := make(chan struct{})
 	defer close(done)
 
 	go func() {
 		for _, trig := range e.Triggers {
-			err := self.trigger(trig)
+			err := s.trigger(trig)
 			if err != nil {
 				errc <- err
 				return
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) testExchange(e Exchange) error {
 		}
 
 		select {
-		case errc <- self.expect(e.Expects):
+		case errc <- s.expect(e.Expects):
 		case <-done:
 		}
 	}()
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) testExchange(e Exchange) error {
 
 // TestDisconnected tests the disconnections given as arguments
 // the disconnect structs describe what disconnect error is expected on which peer
-func (self *ProtocolSession) TestDisconnected(disconnects ...*Disconnect) error {
+func (s *ProtocolSession) TestDisconnected(disconnects ...*Disconnect) error {
 	expects := make(map[discover.NodeID]error)
 	for _, disconnect := range disconnects {
 		expects[disconnect.Peer] = disconnect.Error
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func (self *ProtocolSession) TestDisconnected(disconnects ...*Disconnect) error
 	timeout := time.After(time.Second)
 	for len(expects) > 0 {
 		select {
-		case event := <-self.events:
+		case event := <-s.events:
 			if event.Type != p2p.PeerEventTypeDrop {
 				continue
 			}
diff --git a/p2p/testing/protocoltester.go b/p2p/testing/protocoltester.go
index a797412d60..636613c57a 100644
--- a/p2p/testing/protocoltester.go
+++ b/p2p/testing/protocoltester.go
@@ -101,24 +101,24 @@ func NewProtocolTester(t *testing.T, id discover.NodeID, n int, run func(*p2p.Pe
 }
 
 // Stop stops the p2p server
-func (self *ProtocolTester) Stop() error {
-	self.Server.Stop()
+func (t *ProtocolTester) Stop() error {
+	t.Server.Stop()
 	return nil
 }
 
 // Connect brings up the remote peer node and connects it using the
 // p2p/simulations network connection with the in memory network adapter
-func (self *ProtocolTester) Connect(selfID discover.NodeID, peers ...*adapters.NodeConfig) {
+func (t *ProtocolTester) Connect(selfID discover.NodeID, peers ...*adapters.NodeConfig) {
 	for _, peer := range peers {
 		log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("start node %v", peer.ID))
-		if _, err := self.network.NewNodeWithConfig(peer); err != nil {
+		if _, err := t.network.NewNodeWithConfig(peer); err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("error starting peer %v: %v", peer.ID, err))
 		}
-		if err := self.network.Start(peer.ID); err != nil {
+		if err := t.network.Start(peer.ID); err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("error starting peer %v: %v", peer.ID, err))
 		}
 		log.Trace(fmt.Sprintf("connect to %v", peer.ID))
-		if err := self.network.Connect(selfID, peer.ID); err != nil {
+		if err := t.network.Connect(selfID, peer.ID); err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Sprintf("error connecting to peer %v: %v", peer.ID, err))
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/params/version.go b/params/version.go
index dd84368249..8b96f25167 100644
--- a/params/version.go
+++ b/params/version.go
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ import (
 )
 
 const (
-	VersionMajor = 1        // Major version component of the current release
-	VersionMinor = 8        // Minor version component of the current release
-	VersionPatch = 7        // Patch version component of the current release
-	VersionMeta  = "stable" // Version metadata to append to the version string
+	VersionMajor = 1          // Major version component of the current release
+	VersionMinor = 8          // Minor version component of the current release
+	VersionPatch = 8          // Patch version component of the current release
+	VersionMeta  = "unstable" // Version metadata to append to the version string
 )
 
 // Version holds the textual version string.
diff --git a/rlp/decode.go b/rlp/decode.go
index 60d9dab2b5..dbbe599597 100644
--- a/rlp/decode.go
+++ b/rlp/decode.go
@@ -29,6 +29,23 @@ import (
 )
 
 var (
+	// EOL is returned when the end of the current list
+	// has been reached during streaming.
+	EOL = errors.New("rlp: end of list")
+
+	// Actual Errors
+	ErrExpectedString   = errors.New("rlp: expected String or Byte")
+	ErrExpectedList     = errors.New("rlp: expected List")
+	ErrCanonInt         = errors.New("rlp: non-canonical integer format")
+	ErrCanonSize        = errors.New("rlp: non-canonical size information")
+	ErrElemTooLarge     = errors.New("rlp: element is larger than containing list")
+	ErrValueTooLarge    = errors.New("rlp: value size exceeds available input length")
+	ErrMoreThanOneValue = errors.New("rlp: input contains more than one value")
+
+	// internal errors
+	errNotInList     = errors.New("rlp: call of ListEnd outside of any list")
+	errNotAtEOL      = errors.New("rlp: call of ListEnd not positioned at EOL")
+	errUintOverflow  = errors.New("rlp: uint overflow")
 	errNoPointer     = errors.New("rlp: interface given to Decode must be a pointer")
 	errDecodeIntoNil = errors.New("rlp: pointer given to Decode must not be nil")
 )
@@ -274,9 +291,8 @@ func makeListDecoder(typ reflect.Type, tag tags) (decoder, error) {
 	if etype.Kind() == reflect.Uint8 && !reflect.PtrTo(etype).Implements(decoderInterface) {
 		if typ.Kind() == reflect.Array {
 			return decodeByteArray, nil
-		} else {
-			return decodeByteSlice, nil
 		}
+		return decodeByteSlice, nil
 	}
 	etypeinfo, err := cachedTypeInfo1(etype, tags{})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -555,29 +571,6 @@ func (k Kind) String() string {
 	}
 }
 
-var (
-	// EOL is returned when the end of the current list
-	// has been reached during streaming.
-	EOL = errors.New("rlp: end of list")
-
-	// Actual Errors
-	ErrExpectedString = errors.New("rlp: expected String or Byte")
-	ErrExpectedList   = errors.New("rlp: expected List")
-	ErrCanonInt       = errors.New("rlp: non-canonical integer format")
-	ErrCanonSize      = errors.New("rlp: non-canonical size information")
-	ErrElemTooLarge   = errors.New("rlp: element is larger than containing list")
-	ErrValueTooLarge  = errors.New("rlp: value size exceeds available input length")
-
-	// This error is reported by DecodeBytes if the slice contains
-	// additional data after the first RLP value.
-	ErrMoreThanOneValue = errors.New("rlp: input contains more than one value")
-
-	// internal errors
-	errNotInList    = errors.New("rlp: call of ListEnd outside of any list")
-	errNotAtEOL     = errors.New("rlp: call of ListEnd not positioned at EOL")
-	errUintOverflow = errors.New("rlp: uint overflow")
-)
-
 // ByteReader must be implemented by any input reader for a Stream. It
 // is implemented by e.g. bufio.Reader and bytes.Reader.
 type ByteReader interface {
diff --git a/rlp/encode.go b/rlp/encode.go
index 44592c2f53..445b4b5b21 100644
--- a/rlp/encode.go
+++ b/rlp/encode.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func Encode(w io.Writer, val interface{}) error {
 	return eb.toWriter(w)
 }
 
-// EncodeBytes returns the RLP encoding of val.
+// EncodeToBytes returns the RLP encoding of val.
 // Please see the documentation of Encode for the encoding rules.
 func EncodeToBytes(val interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
 	eb := encbufPool.Get().(*encbuf)
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ func EncodeToBytes(val interface{}) ([]byte, error) {
 	return eb.toBytes(), nil
 }
 
-// EncodeReader returns a reader from which the RLP encoding of val
+// EncodeToReader returns a reader from which the RLP encoding of val
 // can be read. The returned size is the total size of the encoded
 // data.
 //
@@ -151,11 +151,10 @@ func puthead(buf []byte, smalltag, largetag byte, size uint64) int {
 	if size < 56 {
 		buf[0] = smalltag + byte(size)
 		return 1
-	} else {
-		sizesize := putint(buf[1:], size)
-		buf[0] = largetag + byte(sizesize)
-		return sizesize + 1
 	}
+	sizesize := putint(buf[1:], size)
+	buf[0] = largetag + byte(sizesize)
+	return sizesize + 1
 }
 
 // encbufs are pooled.
@@ -218,7 +217,7 @@ func (w *encbuf) list() *listhead {
 func (w *encbuf) listEnd(lh *listhead) {
 	lh.size = w.size() - lh.offset - lh.size
 	if lh.size < 56 {
-		w.lhsize += 1 // length encoded into kind tag
+		w.lhsize++ // length encoded into kind tag
 	} else {
 		w.lhsize += 1 + intsize(uint64(lh.size))
 	}
@@ -322,10 +321,9 @@ func (r *encReader) next() []byte {
 			p := r.buf.str[r.strpos:head.offset]
 			r.strpos += sizebefore
 			return p
-		} else {
-			r.lhpos++
-			return head.encode(r.buf.sizebuf)
 		}
+		r.lhpos++
+		return head.encode(r.buf.sizebuf)
 
 	case r.strpos < len(r.buf.str):
 		// String data at the end, after all list headers.
@@ -576,9 +574,8 @@ func makePtrWriter(typ reflect.Type) (writer, error) {
 	writer := func(val reflect.Value, w *encbuf) error {
 		if val.IsNil() {
 			return nilfunc(w)
-		} else {
-			return etypeinfo.writer(val.Elem(), w)
 		}
+		return etypeinfo.writer(val.Elem(), w)
 	}
 	return writer, err
 }
diff --git a/rpc/http.go b/rpc/http.go
index 0c2e060fb4..feaa7348c4 100644
--- a/rpc/http.go
+++ b/rpc/http.go
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func (srv *Server) ServeHTTP(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	defer codec.Close()
 
 	w.Header().Set("content-type", contentType)
-	srv.ServeSingleRequest(codec, OptionMethodInvocation, ctx)
+	srv.ServeSingleRequest(ctx, codec, OptionMethodInvocation)
 }
 
 // validateRequest returns a non-zero response code and error message if the
diff --git a/rpc/inproc.go b/rpc/inproc.go
index 595a7ca651..cbe65d10e7 100644
--- a/rpc/inproc.go
+++ b/rpc/inproc.go
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"net"
 )
 
-// NewInProcClient attaches an in-process connection to the given RPC server.
+// DialInProc attaches an in-process connection to the given RPC server.
 func DialInProc(handler *Server) *Client {
 	initctx := context.Background()
 	c, _ := newClient(initctx, func(context.Context) (net.Conn, error) {
diff --git a/rpc/server.go b/rpc/server.go
index 0f29035edb..7f304d8d93 100644
--- a/rpc/server.go
+++ b/rpc/server.go
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (s *Server) RegisterName(name string, rcvr interface{}) error {
 // If singleShot is true it will process a single request, otherwise it will handle
 // requests until the codec returns an error when reading a request (in most cases
 // an EOF). It executes requests in parallel when singleShot is false.
-func (s *Server) serveRequest(codec ServerCodec, singleShot bool, options CodecOption, ctx context.Context) error {
+func (s *Server) serveRequest(ctx context.Context, codec ServerCodec, singleShot bool, options CodecOption) error {
 	var pend sync.WaitGroup
 
 	defer func() {
@@ -216,14 +216,14 @@ func (s *Server) serveRequest(codec ServerCodec, singleShot bool, options CodecO
 // stopped. In either case the codec is closed.
 func (s *Server) ServeCodec(codec ServerCodec, options CodecOption) {
 	defer codec.Close()
-	s.serveRequest(codec, false, options, context.Background())
+	s.serveRequest(context.Background(), codec, false, options)
 }
 
 // ServeSingleRequest reads and processes a single RPC request from the given codec. It will not
 // close the codec unless a non-recoverable error has occurred. Note, this method will return after
 // a single request has been processed!
-func (s *Server) ServeSingleRequest(codec ServerCodec, options CodecOption, ctx context.Context) {
-	s.serveRequest(codec, true, options, ctx)
+func (s *Server) ServeSingleRequest(ctx context.Context, codec ServerCodec, options CodecOption) {
+	s.serveRequest(ctx, codec, true, options)
 }
 
 // Stop will stop reading new requests, wait for stopPendingRequestTimeout to allow pending requests to finish,
diff --git a/signer/core/abihelper.go b/signer/core/abihelper.go
index 2674c7346a..1d4fbc7dc2 100644
--- a/signer/core/abihelper.go
+++ b/signer/core/abihelper.go
@@ -94,13 +94,12 @@ func parseCallData(calldata []byte, abidata string) (*decodedCallData, error) {
 	for n, argument := range method.Inputs {
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("Failed to decode argument %d (signature %v): %v", n, method.Sig(), err)
-		} else {
-			decodedArg := decodedArgument{
-				soltype: argument,
-				value:   v[n],
-			}
-			decoded.inputs = append(decoded.inputs, decodedArg)
 		}
+		decodedArg := decodedArgument{
+			soltype: argument,
+			value:   v[n],
+		}
+		decoded.inputs = append(decoded.inputs, decodedArg)
 	}
 
 	// We're finished decoding the data. At this point, we encode the decoded data to see if it matches with the
@@ -240,7 +239,7 @@ func (db *AbiDb) saveCustomAbi(selector, signature string) error {
 	return err
 }
 
-// Adds a signature to the database, if custom database saving is enabled.
+// AddSignature to the database, if custom database saving is enabled.
 // OBS: This method does _not_ validate the correctness of the data,
 // it is assumed that the caller has already done so
 func (db *AbiDb) AddSignature(selector string, data []byte) error {
diff --git a/signer/core/api.go b/signer/core/api.go
index 1387041cc3..45933284bf 100644
--- a/signer/core/api.go
+++ b/signer/core/api.go
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ func (api *SignerAPI) Export(ctx context.Context, addr common.Address) (json.Raw
 	return ioutil.ReadFile(wallet.URL().Path)
 }
 
-// Imports tries to import the given keyJSON in the local keystore. The keyJSON data is expected to be
+// Import tries to import the given keyJSON in the local keystore. The keyJSON data is expected to be
 // in web3 keystore format. It will decrypt the keyJSON with the given passphrase and on successful
 // decryption it will encrypt the key with the given newPassphrase and store it in the keystore.
 func (api *SignerAPI) Import(ctx context.Context, keyJSON json.RawMessage) (Account, error) {
diff --git a/signer/core/cliui.go b/signer/core/cliui.go
index 0d9b5f3d36..2f969669c2 100644
--- a/signer/core/cliui.go
+++ b/signer/core/cliui.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 //
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with go-ethereum. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
 package core
 
 import (
diff --git a/signer/core/types.go b/signer/core/types.go
index 8386bd44e7..2acc0a4f4a 100644
--- a/signer/core/types.go
+++ b/signer/core/types.go
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ type SendTxArgs struct {
 	Input *hexutil.Bytes `json:"input"`
 }
 
-func (t SendTxArgs) String() string {
-	s, err := json.Marshal(t)
+func (args SendTxArgs) String() string {
+	s, err := json.Marshal(args)
 	if err == nil {
 		return string(s)
 	}
diff --git a/signer/core/validation.go b/signer/core/validation.go
index 97bb3b6850..288456df87 100644
--- a/signer/core/validation.go
+++ b/signer/core/validation.go
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ func (v *Validator) validate(msgs *ValidationMessages, txargs *SendTxArgs, metho
 		if len(data) == 0 {
 			if txargs.Value.ToInt().Cmp(big.NewInt(0)) > 0 {
 				// Sending ether into black hole
-				return errors.New(`Tx will create contract with value but empty code!`)
+				return errors.New("Tx will create contract with value but empty code!")
 			}
 			// No value submitted at least
 			msgs.crit("Tx will create contract with empty code!")
diff --git a/signer/rules/rules.go b/signer/rules/rules.go
index fa270436df..711e2dddec 100644
--- a/signer/rules/rules.go
+++ b/signer/rules/rules.go
@@ -46,17 +46,17 @@ func consoleOutput(call otto.FunctionCall) otto.Value {
 	return otto.Value{}
 }
 
-// rulesetUi provides an implementation of SignerUI that evaluates a javascript
+// rulesetUI provides an implementation of SignerUI that evaluates a javascript
 // file for each defined UI-method
-type rulesetUi struct {
+type rulesetUI struct {
 	next        core.SignerUI // The next handler, for manual processing
 	storage     storage.Storage
 	credentials storage.Storage
 	jsRules     string // The rules to use
 }
 
-func NewRuleEvaluator(next core.SignerUI, jsbackend, credentialsBackend storage.Storage) (*rulesetUi, error) {
-	c := &rulesetUi{
+func NewRuleEvaluator(next core.SignerUI, jsbackend, credentialsBackend storage.Storage) (*rulesetUI, error) {
+	c := &rulesetUI{
 		next:        next,
 		storage:     jsbackend,
 		credentials: credentialsBackend,
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ func NewRuleEvaluator(next core.SignerUI, jsbackend, credentialsBackend storage.
 	return c, nil
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) Init(javascriptRules string) error {
+func (r *rulesetUI) Init(javascriptRules string) error {
 	r.jsRules = javascriptRules
 	return nil
 }
-func (r *rulesetUi) execute(jsfunc string, jsarg interface{}) (otto.Value, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) execute(jsfunc string, jsarg interface{}) (otto.Value, error) {
 
 	// Instantiate a fresh vm engine every time
 	vm := otto.New()
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) execute(jsfunc string, jsarg interface{}) (otto.Value, error
 	return vm.Run(call)
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) checkApproval(jsfunc string, jsarg []byte, err error) (bool, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) checkApproval(jsfunc string, jsarg []byte, err error) (bool, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
 	}
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) checkApproval(jsfunc string, jsarg []byte, err error) (bool,
 	return false, fmt.Errorf("Unknown response")
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse, error) {
 	jsonreq, err := json.Marshal(request)
 	approved, err := r.checkApproval("ApproveTx", jsonreq, err)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -158,11 +158,11 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse,
 	return core.SignTxResponse{Approved: false}, err
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) lookupPassword(address common.Address) string {
+func (r *rulesetUI) lookupPassword(address common.Address) string {
 	return r.credentials.Get(strings.ToLower(address.String()))
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDataResponse, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDataResponse, error) {
 	jsonreq, err := json.Marshal(request)
 	approved, err := r.checkApproval("ApproveSignData", jsonreq, err)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDat
 	return core.SignDataResponse{Approved: false, Password: ""}, err
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportResponse, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportResponse, error) {
 	jsonreq, err := json.Marshal(request)
 	approved, err := r.checkApproval("ApproveExport", jsonreq, err)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -188,13 +188,13 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportRespo
 	return core.ExportResponse{Approved: false}, err
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveImport(request *core.ImportRequest) (core.ImportResponse, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ApproveImport(request *core.ImportRequest) (core.ImportResponse, error) {
 	// This cannot be handled by rules, requires setting a password
 	// dispatch to next
 	return r.next.ApproveImport(request)
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse, error) {
 	jsonreq, err := json.Marshal(request)
 	approved, err := r.checkApproval("ApproveListing", jsonreq, err)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -207,22 +207,22 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse
 	return core.ListResponse{}, err
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ApproveNewAccount(request *core.NewAccountRequest) (core.NewAccountResponse, error) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ApproveNewAccount(request *core.NewAccountRequest) (core.NewAccountResponse, error) {
 	// This cannot be handled by rules, requires setting a password
 	// dispatch to next
 	return r.next.ApproveNewAccount(request)
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ShowError(message string) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ShowError(message string) {
 	log.Error(message)
 	r.next.ShowError(message)
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) ShowInfo(message string) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) ShowInfo(message string) {
 	log.Info(message)
 	r.next.ShowInfo(message)
 }
-func (r *rulesetUi) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
 	jsonInfo, err := json.Marshal(info)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warn("failed marshalling data", "data", info)
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ func (r *rulesetUi) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (r *rulesetUi) OnApprovedTx(tx ethapi.SignTransactionResult) {
+func (r *rulesetUI) OnApprovedTx(tx ethapi.SignTransactionResult) {
 	jsonTx, err := json.Marshal(tx)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warn("failed marshalling transaction", "tx", tx)
diff --git a/signer/rules/rules_test.go b/signer/rules/rules_test.go
index 6a04035004..b6060eba73 100644
--- a/signer/rules/rules_test.go
+++ b/signer/rules/rules_test.go
@@ -33,18 +33,18 @@ import (
 
 const JS = `
 /**
-This is an example implementation of a Javascript rule file. 
+This is an example implementation of a Javascript rule file.
 
-When the signer receives a request over the external API, the corresponding method is evaluated. 
-Three things can happen: 
+When the signer receives a request over the external API, the corresponding method is evaluated.
+Three things can happen:
 
-1. The method returns "Approve". This means the operation is permitted. 
-2. The method returns "Reject". This means the operation is rejected. 
+1. The method returns "Approve". This means the operation is permitted.
+2. The method returns "Reject". This means the operation is rejected.
 3. Anything else; other return values [*], method not implemented or exception occurred during processing. This means
-that the operation will continue to manual processing, via the regular UI method chosen by the user. 
+that the operation will continue to manual processing, via the regular UI method chosen by the user.
 
-[*] Note: Future version of the ruleset may use more complex json-based returnvalues, making it possible to not 
-only respond Approve/Reject/Manual, but also modify responses. For example, choose to list only one, but not all 
+[*] Note: Future version of the ruleset may use more complex json-based returnvalues, making it possible to not
+only respond Approve/Reject/Manual, but also modify responses. For example, choose to list only one, but not all
 accounts in a list-request. The points above will continue to hold for non-json based responses ("Approve"/"Reject").
 
 **/
@@ -72,49 +72,49 @@ func mixAddr(a string) (*common.MixedcaseAddress, error) {
 	return common.NewMixedcaseAddressFromString(a)
 }
 
-type alwaysDenyUi struct{}
+type alwaysDenyUI struct{}
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse, error) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse, error) {
 	return core.SignTxResponse{Transaction: request.Transaction, Approved: false, Password: ""}, nil
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDataResponse, error) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDataResponse, error) {
 	return core.SignDataResponse{Approved: false, Password: ""}, nil
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportResponse, error) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportResponse, error) {
 	return core.ExportResponse{Approved: false}, nil
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ApproveImport(request *core.ImportRequest) (core.ImportResponse, error) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ApproveImport(request *core.ImportRequest) (core.ImportResponse, error) {
 	return core.ImportResponse{Approved: false, OldPassword: "", NewPassword: ""}, nil
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse, error) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse, error) {
 	return core.ListResponse{Accounts: nil}, nil
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ApproveNewAccount(request *core.NewAccountRequest) (core.NewAccountResponse, error) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ApproveNewAccount(request *core.NewAccountRequest) (core.NewAccountResponse, error) {
 	return core.NewAccountResponse{Approved: false, Password: ""}, nil
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ShowError(message string) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ShowError(message string) {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) ShowInfo(message string) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) ShowInfo(message string) {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func (alwaysDenyUi) OnApprovedTx(tx ethapi.SignTransactionResult) {
+func (alwaysDenyUI) OnApprovedTx(tx ethapi.SignTransactionResult) {
 	panic("implement me")
 }
 
-func initRuleEngine(js string) (*rulesetUi, error) {
-	r, err := NewRuleEvaluator(&alwaysDenyUi{}, storage.NewEphemeralStorage(), storage.NewEphemeralStorage())
+func initRuleEngine(js string) (*rulesetUI, error) {
+	r, err := NewRuleEvaluator(&alwaysDenyUI{}, storage.NewEphemeralStorage(), storage.NewEphemeralStorage())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create js engine: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -196,59 +196,59 @@ func TestSignTxRequest(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-type dummyUi struct {
+type dummyUI struct {
 	calls []string
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse, error) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ApproveTx(request *core.SignTxRequest) (core.SignTxResponse, error) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ApproveTx")
 	return core.SignTxResponse{}, core.ErrRequestDenied
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDataResponse, error) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ApproveSignData(request *core.SignDataRequest) (core.SignDataResponse, error) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ApproveSignData")
 	return core.SignDataResponse{}, core.ErrRequestDenied
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportResponse, error) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ApproveExport(request *core.ExportRequest) (core.ExportResponse, error) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ApproveExport")
 	return core.ExportResponse{}, core.ErrRequestDenied
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ApproveImport(request *core.ImportRequest) (core.ImportResponse, error) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ApproveImport(request *core.ImportRequest) (core.ImportResponse, error) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ApproveImport")
 	return core.ImportResponse{}, core.ErrRequestDenied
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse, error) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ApproveListing(request *core.ListRequest) (core.ListResponse, error) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ApproveListing")
 	return core.ListResponse{}, core.ErrRequestDenied
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ApproveNewAccount(request *core.NewAccountRequest) (core.NewAccountResponse, error) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ApproveNewAccount(request *core.NewAccountRequest) (core.NewAccountResponse, error) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ApproveNewAccount")
 	return core.NewAccountResponse{}, core.ErrRequestDenied
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ShowError(message string) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ShowError(message string) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ShowError")
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) ShowInfo(message string) {
+func (d *dummyUI) ShowInfo(message string) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "ShowInfo")
 }
 
-func (d *dummyUi) OnApprovedTx(tx ethapi.SignTransactionResult) {
+func (d *dummyUI) OnApprovedTx(tx ethapi.SignTransactionResult) {
 	d.calls = append(d.calls, "OnApprovedTx")
 }
-func (d *dummyUi) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
+func (d *dummyUI) OnSignerStartup(info core.StartupInfo) {
 }
 
 //TestForwarding tests that the rule-engine correctly dispatches requests to the next caller
 func TestForwarding(t *testing.T) {
 
 	js := ""
-	ui := &dummyUi{make([]string, 0)}
+	ui := &dummyUI{make([]string, 0)}
 	jsBackend := storage.NewEphemeralStorage()
 	credBackend := storage.NewEphemeralStorage()
 	r, err := NewRuleEvaluator(ui, jsBackend, credBackend)
@@ -308,22 +308,22 @@ func TestStorage(t *testing.T) {
 	function testStorage(){
 		storage.Put("mykey", "myvalue")
 		a = storage.Get("mykey")
-		
+
 		storage.Put("mykey", ["a", "list"])  	// Should result in "a,list"
 		a += storage.Get("mykey")
 
-		
+
 		storage.Put("mykey", {"an": "object"}) 	// Should result in "[object Object]"
 		a += storage.Get("mykey")
 
-		
+
 		storage.Put("mykey", JSON.stringify({"an": "object"})) // Should result in '{"an":"object"}'
 		a += storage.Get("mykey")
 
 		a += storage.Get("missingkey")		//Missing keys should result in empty string
 		storage.Put("","missing key==noop") // Can't store with 0-length key
 		a += storage.Get("")				// Should result in ''
-		
+
 		var b = new BigNumber(2)
 		var c = new BigNumber(16)//"0xf0",16)
 		var d = b.plus(c)
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ const ExampleTxWindow = `
 		if(str.slice(0,2) == "0x"){ return new BigNumber(str.slice(2),16)}
 		return new BigNumber(str)
 	}
-	
+
 	// Time window: 1 week
 	var window = 1000* 3600*24*7;
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ const ExampleTxWindow = `
 
 	function isLimitOk(transaction){
 		var value = big(transaction.value)
-		// Start of our window function		
+		// Start of our window function
 		var windowstart = new Date().getTime() - window;
 
 		var txs = [];
@@ -382,17 +382,17 @@ const ExampleTxWindow = `
 		// First, remove all that have passed out of the time-window
 		var newtxs = txs.filter(function(tx){return tx.tstamp > windowstart});
 		console.log(txs, newtxs.length);
-	
+
 		// Secondly, aggregate the current sum
 		sum = new BigNumber(0)
 
 		sum = newtxs.reduce(function(agg, tx){ return big(tx.value).plus(agg)}, sum);
 		console.log("ApproveTx > Sum so far", sum);
 		console.log("ApproveTx > Requested", value.toNumber());
-		
+
 		// Would we exceed weekly limit ?
 		return sum.plus(value).lt(limit)
-		
+
 	}
 	function ApproveTx(r){
 		console.log(r)
@@ -405,14 +405,14 @@ const ExampleTxWindow = `
 
 	/**
 	* OnApprovedTx(str) is called when a transaction has been approved and signed. The parameter
- 	* 'response_str' contains the return value that will be sent to the external caller. 
-	* The return value from this method is ignore - the reason for having this callback is to allow the 
-	* ruleset to keep track of approved transactions. 
+ 	* 'response_str' contains the return value that will be sent to the external caller.
+	* The return value from this method is ignore - the reason for having this callback is to allow the
+	* ruleset to keep track of approved transactions.
 	*
-	* When implementing rate-limited rules, this callback should be used. 
+	* When implementing rate-limited rules, this callback should be used.
 	* If a rule responds with neither 'Approve' nor 'Reject' - the tx goes to manual processing. If the user
 	* then accepts the transaction, this method will be called.
-	* 
+	*
 	* TLDR; Use this method to keep track of signed transactions, instead of using the data in ApproveTx.
 	*/
  	function OnApprovedTx(resp){
diff --git a/signer/storage/aes_gcm_storage.go b/signer/storage/aes_gcm_storage.go
index 1ac3475588..225276667f 100644
--- a/signer/storage/aes_gcm_storage.go
+++ b/signer/storage/aes_gcm_storage.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 // You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
 // along with go-ethereum. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 //
+
 package storage
 
 import (
@@ -106,10 +107,8 @@ func (s *AESEncryptedStorage) readEncryptedStorage() (map[string]storedCredentia
 		if os.IsNotExist(err) {
 			// Doesn't exist yet
 			return creds, nil
-
-		} else {
-			log.Warn("Failed to read encrypted storage", "err", err, "file", s.filename)
 		}
+		log.Warn("Failed to read encrypted storage", "err", err, "file", s.filename)
 	}
 	if err = json.Unmarshal(raw, &creds); err != nil {
 		log.Warn("Failed to unmarshal encrypted storage", "err", err, "file", s.filename)
diff --git a/tests/block_test_util.go b/tests/block_test_util.go
index 579e783b10..a72799f6e2 100644
--- a/tests/block_test_util.go
+++ b/tests/block_test_util.go
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ func (t *BlockTest) Run() error {
 	}
 
 	// import pre accounts & construct test genesis block & state root
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	gblock, err := t.genesis(config).Commit(db)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/tests/state_test_util.go b/tests/state_test_util.go
index 3b761bd771..84581fae18 100644
--- a/tests/state_test_util.go
+++ b/tests/state_test_util.go
@@ -126,8 +126,7 @@ func (t *StateTest) Run(subtest StateSubtest, vmconfig vm.Config) (*state.StateD
 		return nil, UnsupportedForkError{subtest.Fork}
 	}
 	block := t.genesis(config).ToBlock(nil)
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb := MakePreState(db, t.json.Pre)
+	statedb := MakePreState(ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), t.json.Pre)
 
 	post := t.json.Post[subtest.Fork][subtest.Index]
 	msg, err := t.json.Tx.toMessage(post)
diff --git a/tests/vm_test_util.go b/tests/vm_test_util.go
index b365167a69..cb81c5b94e 100644
--- a/tests/vm_test_util.go
+++ b/tests/vm_test_util.go
@@ -79,8 +79,7 @@ type vmExecMarshaling struct {
 }
 
 func (t *VMTest) Run(vmconfig vm.Config) error {
-	db, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	statedb := MakePreState(db, t.json.Pre)
+	statedb := MakePreState(ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), t.json.Pre)
 	ret, gasRemaining, err := t.exec(statedb, vmconfig)
 
 	if t.json.GasRemaining == nil {
diff --git a/trie/iterator_test.go b/trie/iterator_test.go
index dce1c78b5d..2a510b1c2d 100644
--- a/trie/iterator_test.go
+++ b/trie/iterator_test.go
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ func TestIteratorContinueAfterErrorDisk(t *testing.T)    { testIteratorContinueA
 func TestIteratorContinueAfterErrorMemonly(t *testing.T) { testIteratorContinueAfterError(t, true) }
 
 func testIteratorContinueAfterError(t *testing.T, memonly bool) {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 
 	tr, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedb)
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ func TestIteratorContinueAfterSeekErrorMemonly(t *testing.T) {
 
 func testIteratorContinueAfterSeekError(t *testing.T, memonly bool) {
 	// Commit test trie to db, then remove the node containing "bars".
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 
 	ctr, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedb)
diff --git a/trie/proof_test.go b/trie/proof_test.go
index fff313d7fd..a3537787cc 100644
--- a/trie/proof_test.go
+++ b/trie/proof_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func TestProof(t *testing.T) {
 	trie, vals := randomTrie(500)
 	root := trie.Hash()
 	for _, kv := range vals {
-		proofs, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		proofs := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		if trie.Prove(kv.k, 0, proofs) != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("missing key %x while constructing proof", kv.k)
 		}
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func TestProof(t *testing.T) {
 func TestOneElementProof(t *testing.T) {
 	trie := new(Trie)
 	updateString(trie, "k", "v")
-	proofs, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	proofs := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	trie.Prove([]byte("k"), 0, proofs)
 	if len(proofs.Keys()) != 1 {
 		t.Error("proof should have one element")
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func TestVerifyBadProof(t *testing.T) {
 	trie, vals := randomTrie(800)
 	root := trie.Hash()
 	for _, kv := range vals {
-		proofs, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		proofs := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		trie.Prove(kv.k, 0, proofs)
 		if len(proofs.Keys()) == 0 {
 			t.Fatal("zero length proof")
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ func BenchmarkProve(b *testing.B) {
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 		kv := vals[keys[i%len(keys)]]
-		proofs, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		proofs := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		if trie.Prove(kv.k, 0, proofs); len(proofs.Keys()) == 0 {
 			b.Fatalf("zero length proof for %x", kv.k)
 		}
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ func BenchmarkVerifyProof(b *testing.B) {
 	var proofs []*ethdb.MemDatabase
 	for k := range vals {
 		keys = append(keys, k)
-		proof, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		proof := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 		trie.Prove([]byte(k), 0, proof)
 		proofs = append(proofs, proof)
 	}
diff --git a/trie/secure_trie_test.go b/trie/secure_trie_test.go
index aedf5a1cde..d16d999684 100644
--- a/trie/secure_trie_test.go
+++ b/trie/secure_trie_test.go
@@ -28,18 +28,14 @@ import (
 )
 
 func newEmptySecure() *SecureTrie {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
-
-	trie, _ := NewSecure(common.Hash{}, triedb, 0)
+	trie, _ := NewSecure(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()), 0)
 	return trie
 }
 
 // makeTestSecureTrie creates a large enough secure trie for testing.
 func makeTestSecureTrie() (*Database, *SecureTrie, map[string][]byte) {
 	// Create an empty trie
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
+	triedb := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 
 	trie, _ := NewSecure(common.Hash{}, triedb, 0)
 
diff --git a/trie/sync_test.go b/trie/sync_test.go
index 4a720612b6..142a6f5b1a 100644
--- a/trie/sync_test.go
+++ b/trie/sync_test.go
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ import (
 // makeTestTrie create a sample test trie to test node-wise reconstruction.
 func makeTestTrie() (*Database, *Trie, map[string][]byte) {
 	// Create an empty trie
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
+	triedb := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 	trie, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedb)
 
 	// Fill it with some arbitrary data
@@ -89,18 +88,13 @@ func checkTrieConsistency(db *Database, root common.Hash) error {
 
 // Tests that an empty trie is not scheduled for syncing.
 func TestEmptyTrieSync(t *testing.T) {
-	diskdbA, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedbA := NewDatabase(diskdbA)
-
-	diskdbB, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedbB := NewDatabase(diskdbB)
-
-	emptyA, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedbA)
-	emptyB, _ := New(emptyRoot, triedbB)
+	dbA := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
+	dbB := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
+	emptyA, _ := New(common.Hash{}, dbA)
+	emptyB, _ := New(emptyRoot, dbB)
 
 	for i, trie := range []*Trie{emptyA, emptyB} {
-		diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-		if req := NewTrieSync(trie.Hash(), diskdb, nil).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
+		if req := NewTrieSync(trie.Hash(), ethdb.NewMemDatabase(), nil).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
 			t.Errorf("test %d: content requested for empty trie: %v", i, req)
 		}
 	}
@@ -116,7 +110,7 @@ func testIterativeTrieSync(t *testing.T, batch int) {
 	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
 
 	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewTrieSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil)
 
@@ -149,7 +143,7 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedTrieSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
 
 	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewTrieSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil)
 
@@ -187,7 +181,7 @@ func testIterativeRandomTrieSync(t *testing.T, batch int) {
 	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
 
 	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewTrieSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil)
 
@@ -228,7 +222,7 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedTrieSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
 
 	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewTrieSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil)
 
@@ -275,7 +269,7 @@ func TestDuplicateAvoidanceTrieSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcTrie, srcData := makeTestTrie()
 
 	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewTrieSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil)
 
@@ -315,7 +309,7 @@ func TestIncompleteTrieSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcTrie, _ := makeTestTrie()
 
 	// Create a destination trie and sync with the scheduler
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 	sched := NewTrieSync(srcTrie.Hash(), diskdb, nil)
 
diff --git a/trie/trie_test.go b/trie/trie_test.go
index 9972226288..f8e5fd12a1 100644
--- a/trie/trie_test.go
+++ b/trie/trie_test.go
@@ -43,8 +43,7 @@ func init() {
 
 // Used for testing
 func newEmpty() *Trie {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	trie, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(diskdb))
+	trie, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	return trie
 }
 
@@ -68,8 +67,7 @@ func TestNull(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestMissingRoot(t *testing.T) {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	trie, err := New(common.HexToHash("0beec7b5ea3f0fdbc95d0dd47f3c5bc275da8a33"), NewDatabase(diskdb))
+	trie, err := New(common.HexToHash("0beec7b5ea3f0fdbc95d0dd47f3c5bc275da8a33"), NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
 	if trie != nil {
 		t.Error("New returned non-nil trie for invalid root")
 	}
@@ -82,7 +80,7 @@ func TestMissingNodeDisk(t *testing.T)    { testMissingNode(t, false) }
 func TestMissingNodeMemonly(t *testing.T) { testMissingNode(t, true) }
 
 func testMissingNode(t *testing.T, memonly bool) {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
 	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
 
 	trie, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedb)
@@ -413,8 +411,7 @@ func (randTest) Generate(r *rand.Rand, size int) reflect.Value {
 }
 
 func runRandTest(rt randTest) bool {
-	diskdb, _ := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	triedb := NewDatabase(diskdb)
+	triedb := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
 
 	tr, _ := New(common.Hash{}, triedb)
 	values := make(map[string]string) // tracks content of the trie
diff --git a/whisper/mailserver/mailserver.go b/whisper/mailserver/mailserver.go
index 57e6505ad1..d32eaddec3 100644
--- a/whisper/mailserver/mailserver.go
+++ b/whisper/mailserver/mailserver.go
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
 
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/cmd/utils"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
@@ -54,19 +53,19 @@ func NewDbKey(t uint32, h common.Hash) *DBKey {
 	return &k
 }
 
-func (s *WMailServer) Init(shh *whisper.Whisper, path string, password string, pow float64) {
+func (s *WMailServer) Init(shh *whisper.Whisper, path string, password string, pow float64) error {
 	var err error
 	if len(path) == 0 {
-		utils.Fatalf("DB file is not specified")
+		return fmt.Errorf("DB file is not specified")
 	}
 
 	if len(password) == 0 {
-		utils.Fatalf("Password is not specified for MailServer")
+		return fmt.Errorf("password is not specified")
 	}
 
 	s.db, err = leveldb.OpenFile(path, nil)
 	if err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("Failed to open DB file: %s", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("open DB file: %s", err)
 	}
 
 	s.w = shh
@@ -74,12 +73,13 @@ func (s *WMailServer) Init(shh *whisper.Whisper, path string, password string, p
 
 	MailServerKeyID, err := s.w.AddSymKeyFromPassword(password)
 	if err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("Failed to create symmetric key for MailServer: %s", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("create symmetric key: %s", err)
 	}
 	s.key, err = s.w.GetSymKey(MailServerKeyID)
 	if err != nil {
-		utils.Fatalf("Failed to save symmetric key for MailServer")
+		return fmt.Errorf("save symmetric key: %s", err)
 	}
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (s *WMailServer) Close() {
diff --git a/whisper/mailserver/server_test.go b/whisper/mailserver/server_test.go
index d5b993afb9..edb817cc75 100644
--- a/whisper/mailserver/server_test.go
+++ b/whisper/mailserver/server_test.go
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ func TestMailServer(t *testing.T) {
 	shh = whisper.New(&whisper.DefaultConfig)
 	shh.RegisterServer(&server)
 
-	server.Init(shh, dir, password, powRequirement)
+	err = server.Init(shh, dir, password, powRequirement)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
 	defer server.Close()
 
 	keyID, err = shh.AddSymKeyFromPassword(password)
diff --git a/whisper/shhclient/client.go b/whisper/shhclient/client.go
index 7b25e739e1..8e7085a0a6 100644
--- a/whisper/shhclient/client.go
+++ b/whisper/shhclient/client.go
@@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ func (sc *Client) AddSymmetricKey(ctx context.Context, key []byte) (string, erro
 }
 
 // GenerateSymmetricKeyFromPassword generates the key from password, stores it, and returns its identifier.
-func (sc *Client) GenerateSymmetricKeyFromPassword(ctx context.Context, passwd []byte) (string, error) {
+func (sc *Client) GenerateSymmetricKeyFromPassword(ctx context.Context, passwd string) (string, error) {
 	var id string
-	return id, sc.c.CallContext(ctx, &id, "shh_generateSymKeyFromPassword", hexutil.Bytes(passwd))
+	return id, sc.c.CallContext(ctx, &id, "shh_generateSymKeyFromPassword", passwd)
 }
 
 // HasSymmetricKey returns an indication if the key associated with the given id is stored in the node.