diff --git a/internal/blocksync/reactor.go b/internal/blocksync/reactor.go
index f4d69b8b0..cf1a10623 100644
--- a/internal/blocksync/reactor.go
+++ b/internal/blocksync/reactor.go
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ type Reactor struct {
 
 	// immutable
 	initialState sm.State
+	// store
+	stateStore sm.Store
 
 	blockExec   *sm.BlockExecutor
 	store       *store.BlockStore
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ type Reactor struct {
 func NewReactor(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	logger log.Logger,
-	state sm.State,
+	stateStore sm.Store,
 	blockExec *sm.BlockExecutor,
 	store *store.BlockStore,
 	consReactor consensusReactor,
@@ -111,19 +113,6 @@ func NewReactor(
 	metrics *consensus.Metrics,
 	eventBus *eventbus.EventBus,
 ) (*Reactor, error) {
-
-	if state.LastBlockHeight != store.Height() {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("state (%v) and store (%v) height mismatch", state.LastBlockHeight, store.Height())
-	}
-
-	startHeight := store.Height() + 1
-	if startHeight == 1 {
-		startHeight = state.InitialHeight
-	}
-
-	requestsCh := make(chan BlockRequest, maxTotalRequesters)
-	errorsCh := make(chan peerError, maxPeerErrBuffer) // NOTE: The capacity should be larger than the peer count.
-
 	blockSyncCh, err := channelCreator(ctx, GetChannelDescriptor())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -131,20 +120,16 @@ func NewReactor(
 
 	r := &Reactor{
 		logger:               logger,
-		initialState:         state,
+		stateStore:           stateStore,
 		blockExec:            blockExec,
 		store:                store,
-		pool:                 NewBlockPool(logger, startHeight, requestsCh, errorsCh),
 		consReactor:          consReactor,
 		blockSync:            newAtomicBool(blockSync),
-		requestsCh:           requestsCh,
-		errorsCh:             errorsCh,
 		blockSyncCh:          blockSyncCh,
 		blockSyncOutBridgeCh: make(chan p2p.Envelope),
 		peerUpdates:          peerUpdates,
 		metrics:              metrics,
 		eventBus:             eventBus,
-		syncStartTime:        time.Time{},
 	}
 
 	r.BaseService = *service.NewBaseService(logger, "BlockSync", r)
@@ -159,6 +144,27 @@ func NewReactor(
 // If blockSync is enabled, we also start the pool and the pool processing
 // goroutine. If the pool fails to start, an error is returned.
 func (r *Reactor) OnStart(ctx context.Context) error {
+	state, err := r.stateStore.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	r.initialState = state
+
+	if state.LastBlockHeight != r.store.Height() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("state (%v) and store (%v) height mismatch", state.LastBlockHeight, r.store.Height())
+	}
+
+	startHeight := r.store.Height() + 1
+	if startHeight == 1 {
+		startHeight = state.InitialHeight
+	}
+
+	requestsCh := make(chan BlockRequest, maxTotalRequesters)
+	errorsCh := make(chan peerError, maxPeerErrBuffer) // NOTE: The capacity should be larger than the peer count.
+	r.pool = NewBlockPool(r.logger, startHeight, requestsCh, errorsCh)
+	r.requestsCh = requestsCh
+	r.errorsCh = errorsCh
+
 	if r.blockSync.IsSet() {
 		if err := r.pool.Start(ctx); err != nil {
 			return err
diff --git a/internal/blocksync/reactor_test.go b/internal/blocksync/reactor_test.go
index 68656fbc3..00ab14a86 100644
--- a/internal/blocksync/reactor_test.go
+++ b/internal/blocksync/reactor_test.go
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ func (rts *reactorTestSuite) addNode(
 	rts.reactors[nodeID], err = NewReactor(
 		ctx,
 		rts.logger.With("nodeID", nodeID),
-		state.Copy(),
+		stateStore,
 		blockExec,
 		blockStore,
 		nil,
diff --git a/internal/consensus/byzantine_test.go b/internal/consensus/byzantine_test.go
index 33e1dbf63..f0df502f9 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/byzantine_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/byzantine_test.go
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ func TestByzantinePrevoteEquivocation(t *testing.T) {
 				log.TestingLogger().With("module", "mempool"),
 				thisConfig.Mempool,
 				proxyAppConnMem,
-				0,
 			)
 			if thisConfig.Consensus.WaitForTxs() {
 				mempool.EnableTxsAvailable()
@@ -95,7 +94,8 @@ func TestByzantinePrevoteEquivocation(t *testing.T) {
 
 			// Make State
 			blockExec := sm.NewBlockExecutor(stateStore, log.TestingLogger(), proxyAppConnCon, mempool, evpool, blockStore)
-			cs := NewState(ctx, logger, thisConfig.Consensus, state, blockExec, blockStore, mempool, evpool)
+			cs, err := NewState(ctx, logger, thisConfig.Consensus, stateStore, blockExec, blockStore, mempool, evpool)
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 			// set private validator
 			pv := privVals[i]
 			cs.SetPrivValidator(ctx, pv)
@@ -105,14 +105,13 @@ func TestByzantinePrevoteEquivocation(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			cs.SetEventBus(eventBus)
 			evpool.SetEventBus(eventBus)
-
 			cs.SetTimeoutTicker(tickerFunc())
 
 			states[i] = cs
 		}()
 	}
 
-	rts := setup(ctx, t, nValidators, states, 100) // buffer must be large enough to not deadlock
+	rts := setup(ctx, t, nValidators, states, 512) // buffer must be large enough to not deadlock
 
 	var bzNodeID types.NodeID
 
@@ -238,8 +237,7 @@ func TestByzantinePrevoteEquivocation(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, reactor := range rts.reactors {
-		state := reactor.state.GetState()
-		reactor.SwitchToConsensus(ctx, state, false)
+		reactor.SwitchToConsensus(ctx, reactor.state.GetState(), false)
 	}
 
 	// Evidence should be submitted and committed at the third height but
@@ -248,20 +246,26 @@ func TestByzantinePrevoteEquivocation(t *testing.T) {
 
 	var wg sync.WaitGroup
 	i := 0
+	subctx, subcancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
+	defer subcancel()
 	for _, sub := range rts.subs {
 		wg.Add(1)
 
 		go func(j int, s eventbus.Subscription) {
 			defer wg.Done()
 			for {
-				if ctx.Err() != nil {
+				if subctx.Err() != nil {
+					return
+				}
+
+				msg, err := s.Next(subctx)
+				if subctx.Err() != nil {
 					return
 				}
 
-				msg, err := s.Next(ctx)
-				assert.NoError(t, err)
 				if err != nil {
-					cancel()
+					t.Errorf("waiting for subscription: %v", err)
+					subcancel()
 					return
 				}
 
@@ -273,12 +277,18 @@ func TestByzantinePrevoteEquivocation(t *testing.T) {
 				}
 			}
 		}(i, sub)
-
 		i++
 	}
 
 	wg.Wait()
 
+	// don't run more assertions if we've encountered a timeout
+	select {
+	case <-subctx.Done():
+		t.Fatal("encountered timeout")
+	default:
+	}
+
 	pubkey, err := bzNodeState.privValidator.GetPubKey(ctx)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
diff --git a/internal/consensus/common_test.go b/internal/consensus/common_test.go
index bd381ff7e..4a6b96b2d 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/common_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/common_test.go
@@ -469,7 +469,6 @@ func newStateWithConfigAndBlockStore(
 		logger.With("module", "mempool"),
 		thisConfig.Mempool,
 		proxyAppConnMem,
-		0,
 	)
 
 	if thisConfig.Consensus.WaitForTxs() {
@@ -484,15 +483,19 @@ func newStateWithConfigAndBlockStore(
 	require.NoError(t, stateStore.Save(state))
 
 	blockExec := sm.NewBlockExecutor(stateStore, logger, proxyAppConnCon, mempool, evpool, blockStore)
-	cs := NewState(ctx,
+	cs, err := NewState(ctx,
 		logger.With("module", "consensus"),
 		thisConfig.Consensus,
-		state,
+		stateStore,
 		blockExec,
 		blockStore,
 		mempool,
 		evpool,
 	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	cs.SetPrivValidator(ctx, pv)
 
 	eventBus := eventbus.NewDefault(logger.With("module", "events"))
diff --git a/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go b/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go
index f01d013b3..ea9238a22 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/reactor_test.go
@@ -461,6 +461,7 @@ func TestReactorWithEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 		stateStore := sm.NewStore(stateDB)
 		state, err := sm.MakeGenesisState(genDoc)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.NoError(t, stateStore.Save(state))
 		thisConfig, err := ResetConfig(t.TempDir(), fmt.Sprintf("%s_%d", testName, i))
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
@@ -483,7 +484,6 @@ func TestReactorWithEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 			log.TestingLogger().With("module", "mempool"),
 			thisConfig.Mempool,
 			proxyAppConnMem,
-			0,
 		)
 
 		if thisConfig.Consensus.WaitForTxs() {
@@ -506,8 +506,9 @@ func TestReactorWithEvidence(t *testing.T) {
 
 		blockExec := sm.NewBlockExecutor(stateStore, log.TestingLogger(), proxyAppConnCon, mempool, evpool, blockStore)
 
-		cs := NewState(ctx, logger.With("validator", i, "module", "consensus"),
-			thisConfig.Consensus, state, blockExec, blockStore, mempool, evpool2)
+		cs, err := NewState(ctx, logger.With("validator", i, "module", "consensus"),
+			thisConfig.Consensus, stateStore, blockExec, blockStore, mempool, evpool2)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
 		cs.SetPrivValidator(ctx, pv)
 
 		eventBus := eventbus.NewDefault(log.TestingLogger().With("module", "events"))
diff --git a/internal/consensus/replay_file.go b/internal/consensus/replay_file.go
index 310eb0ab6..96de5ef28 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/replay_file.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/replay_file.go
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func (cs *State) ReplayFile(ctx context.Context, file string, console bool) erro
 		return err
 	}
 
-	pb := newPlayback(file, fp, cs, cs.state.Copy())
+	pb := newPlayback(file, fp, cs, cs.stateStore)
 	defer pb.fp.Close()
 
 	var nextN int // apply N msgs in a row
@@ -126,17 +126,17 @@ type playback struct {
 	count int // how many lines/msgs into the file are we
 
 	// replays can be reset to beginning
-	fileName     string   // so we can close/reopen the file
-	genesisState sm.State // so the replay session knows where to restart from
+	fileName   string // so we can close/reopen the file
+	stateStore sm.Store
 }
 
-func newPlayback(fileName string, fp *os.File, cs *State, genState sm.State) *playback {
+func newPlayback(fileName string, fp *os.File, cs *State, store sm.Store) *playback {
 	return &playback{
-		cs:           cs,
-		fp:           fp,
-		fileName:     fileName,
-		genesisState: genState,
-		dec:          NewWALDecoder(fp),
+		cs:         cs,
+		fp:         fp,
+		fileName:   fileName,
+		stateStore: store,
+		dec:        NewWALDecoder(fp),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -145,8 +145,11 @@ func (pb *playback) replayReset(ctx context.Context, count int, newStepSub event
 	pb.cs.Stop()
 	pb.cs.Wait()
 
-	newCS := NewState(ctx, pb.cs.logger, pb.cs.config, pb.genesisState.Copy(), pb.cs.blockExec,
+	newCS, err := NewState(ctx, pb.cs.logger, pb.cs.config, pb.stateStore, pb.cs.blockExec,
 		pb.cs.blockStore, pb.cs.txNotifier, pb.cs.evpool)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	newCS.SetEventBus(pb.cs.eventBus)
 	newCS.startForReplay()
 
@@ -345,9 +348,11 @@ func newConsensusStateForReplay(
 	mempool, evpool := emptyMempool{}, sm.EmptyEvidencePool{}
 	blockExec := sm.NewBlockExecutor(stateStore, logger, proxyApp.Consensus(), mempool, evpool, blockStore)
 
-	consensusState := NewState(ctx, logger, csConfig, state.Copy(), blockExec,
+	consensusState, err := NewState(ctx, logger, csConfig, stateStore, blockExec,
 		blockStore, mempool, evpool)
-
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	consensusState.SetEventBus(eventBus)
 	return consensusState, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/consensus/state.go b/internal/consensus/state.go
index 7f2045dcd..220cc0741 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/state.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/state.go
@@ -121,6 +121,9 @@ type State struct {
 	// store blocks and commits
 	blockStore sm.BlockStore
 
+	stateStore            sm.Store
+	initialStatePopulated bool
+
 	// create and execute blocks
 	blockExec *sm.BlockExecutor
 
@@ -189,18 +192,19 @@ func NewState(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	logger log.Logger,
 	cfg *config.ConsensusConfig,
-	state sm.State,
+	store sm.Store,
 	blockExec *sm.BlockExecutor,
 	blockStore sm.BlockStore,
 	txNotifier txNotifier,
 	evpool evidencePool,
 	options ...StateOption,
-) *State {
+) (*State, error) {
 	cs := &State{
 		logger:           logger,
 		config:           cfg,
 		blockExec:        blockExec,
 		blockStore:       blockStore,
+		stateStore:       store,
 		txNotifier:       txNotifier,
 		peerMsgQueue:     make(chan msgInfo, msgQueueSize),
 		internalMsgQueue: make(chan msgInfo, msgQueueSize),
@@ -220,6 +224,31 @@ func NewState(
 	cs.doPrevote = cs.defaultDoPrevote
 	cs.setProposal = cs.defaultSetProposal
 
+	if err := cs.updateStateFromStore(ctx); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	// NOTE: we do not call scheduleRound0 yet, we do that upon Start()
+	cs.BaseService = *service.NewBaseService(logger, "State", cs)
+	for _, option := range options {
+		option(cs)
+	}
+
+	return cs, nil
+}
+
+func (cs *State) updateStateFromStore(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if cs.initialStatePopulated {
+		return nil
+	}
+	state, err := cs.stateStore.Load()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("loading state: %w", err)
+	}
+	if state.IsEmpty() {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	// We have no votes, so reconstruct LastCommit from SeenCommit.
 	if state.LastBlockHeight > 0 {
 		cs.reconstructLastCommit(state)
@@ -227,14 +256,8 @@ func NewState(
 
 	cs.updateToState(ctx, state)
 
-	// NOTE: we do not call scheduleRound0 yet, we do that upon Start()
-
-	cs.BaseService = *service.NewBaseService(logger, "State", cs)
-	for _, option := range options {
-		option(cs)
-	}
-
-	return cs
+	cs.initialStatePopulated = true
+	return nil
 }
 
 // SetEventBus sets event bus.
@@ -365,6 +388,10 @@ func (cs *State) LoadCommit(height int64) *types.Commit {
 // OnStart loads the latest state via the WAL, and starts the timeout and
 // receive routines.
 func (cs *State) OnStart(ctx context.Context) error {
+	if err := cs.updateStateFromStore(ctx); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	// We may set the WAL in testing before calling Start, so only OpenWAL if its
 	// still the nilWAL.
 	if _, ok := cs.wal.(nilWAL); ok {
diff --git a/internal/consensus/wal_generator.go b/internal/consensus/wal_generator.go
index b10feb828..493ec1840 100644
--- a/internal/consensus/wal_generator.go
+++ b/internal/consensus/wal_generator.go
@@ -83,7 +83,11 @@ func WALGenerateNBlocks(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, logger log.Logger, wr
 	mempool := emptyMempool{}
 	evpool := sm.EmptyEvidencePool{}
 	blockExec := sm.NewBlockExecutor(stateStore, log.TestingLogger(), proxyApp.Consensus(), mempool, evpool, blockStore)
-	consensusState := NewState(ctx, logger, cfg.Consensus, state.Copy(), blockExec, blockStore, mempool, evpool)
+	consensusState, err := NewState(ctx, logger, cfg.Consensus, stateStore, blockExec, blockStore, mempool, evpool)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	consensusState.SetEventBus(eventBus)
 	if privValidator != nil && privValidator != (*privval.FilePV)(nil) {
 		consensusState.SetPrivValidator(ctx, privValidator)
diff --git a/internal/mempool/mempool.go b/internal/mempool/mempool.go
index 21429721d..26f039de4 100644
--- a/internal/mempool/mempool.go
+++ b/internal/mempool/mempool.go
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ func NewTxMempool(
 	logger log.Logger,
 	cfg *config.MempoolConfig,
 	proxyAppConn proxy.AppConnMempool,
-	height int64,
 	options ...TxMempoolOption,
 ) *TxMempool {
 
@@ -102,7 +101,7 @@ func NewTxMempool(
 		logger:        logger,
 		config:        cfg,
 		proxyAppConn:  proxyAppConn,
-		height:        height,
+		height:        -1,
 		cache:         NopTxCache{},
 		metrics:       NopMetrics(),
 		txStore:       NewTxStore(),
diff --git a/internal/mempool/mempool_test.go b/internal/mempool/mempool_test.go
index e2cf12e07..68eb5731b 100644
--- a/internal/mempool/mempool_test.go
+++ b/internal/mempool/mempool_test.go
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func setup(ctx context.Context, t testing.TB, cacheSize int, options ...TxMempoo
 		appConnMem.Wait()
 	})
 
-	return NewTxMempool(logger.With("test", t.Name()), cfg.Mempool, appConnMem, 0, options...)
+	return NewTxMempool(logger.With("test", t.Name()), cfg.Mempool, appConnMem, options...)
 }
 
 func checkTxs(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, txmp *TxMempool, numTxs int, peerID uint16) []testTx {
diff --git a/internal/state/execution.go b/internal/state/execution.go
index cdd6e009b..c67d9795a 100644
--- a/internal/state/execution.go
+++ b/internal/state/execution.go
@@ -360,8 +360,8 @@ func (blockExec *BlockExecutor) Commit(
 		block.Height,
 		block.Txs,
 		deliverTxResponses,
-		TxPreCheck(state),
-		TxPostCheck(state),
+		TxPreCheckForState(state),
+		TxPostCheckForState(state),
 	)
 
 	return res.Data, res.RetainHeight, err
diff --git a/internal/state/tx_filter.go b/internal/state/tx_filter.go
index 871e08ae6..11dd9ce67 100644
--- a/internal/state/tx_filter.go
+++ b/internal/state/tx_filter.go
@@ -1,22 +1,85 @@
 package state
 
 import (
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	abci "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/abci/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/internal/mempool"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 )
 
-// TxPreCheck returns a function to filter transactions before processing.
-// The function limits the size of a transaction to the block's maximum data size.
-func TxPreCheck(state State) mempool.PreCheckFunc {
-	maxDataBytes := types.MaxDataBytesNoEvidence(
-		state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes,
-		state.Validators.Size(),
+func cachingStateFetcher(store Store) func() (State, error) {
+	const ttl = time.Second
+
+	var (
+		last  time.Time
+		mutex = &sync.Mutex{}
+		cache State
+		err   error
 	)
-	return mempool.PreCheckMaxBytes(maxDataBytes)
+
+	return func() (State, error) {
+		mutex.Lock()
+		defer mutex.Unlock()
+
+		if time.Since(last) < ttl && cache.ChainID != "" {
+			return cache, nil
+		}
+
+		cache, err = store.Load()
+		if err != nil {
+			return State{}, err
+		}
+		last = time.Now()
+
+		return cache, nil
+	}
+
 }
 
-// TxPostCheck returns a function to filter transactions after processing.
-// The function limits the gas wanted by a transaction to the block's maximum total gas.
-func TxPostCheck(state State) mempool.PostCheckFunc {
-	return mempool.PostCheckMaxGas(state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxGas)
+// TxPreCheckFromStore returns a function to filter transactions before processing.
+// The function limits the size of a transaction to the block's maximum data size.
+func TxPreCheckFromStore(store Store) mempool.PreCheckFunc {
+	fetch := cachingStateFetcher(store)
+
+	return func(tx types.Tx) error {
+		state, err := fetch()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+
+		return TxPreCheckForState(state)(tx)
+	}
+}
+
+func TxPreCheckForState(state State) mempool.PreCheckFunc {
+	return func(tx types.Tx) error {
+		maxDataBytes := types.MaxDataBytesNoEvidence(
+			state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes,
+			state.Validators.Size(),
+		)
+		return mempool.PreCheckMaxBytes(maxDataBytes)(tx)
+	}
+
+}
+
+// TxPostCheckFromStore returns a function to filter transactions after processing.
+// The function limits the gas wanted by a transaction to the block's maximum total gas.
+func TxPostCheckFromStore(store Store) mempool.PostCheckFunc {
+	fetch := cachingStateFetcher(store)
+
+	return func(tx types.Tx, resp *abci.ResponseCheckTx) error {
+		state, err := fetch()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		return mempool.PostCheckMaxGas(state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxGas)(tx, resp)
+	}
+}
+
+func TxPostCheckForState(state State) mempool.PostCheckFunc {
+	return func(tx types.Tx, resp *abci.ResponseCheckTx) error {
+		return mempool.PostCheckMaxGas(state.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxGas)(tx, resp)
+	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/state/tx_filter_test.go b/internal/state/tx_filter_test.go
index 27af28a40..ac85543b2 100644
--- a/internal/state/tx_filter_test.go
+++ b/internal/state/tx_filter_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestTxFilter(t *testing.T) {
 		state, err := sm.MakeGenesisState(genDoc)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
-		f := sm.TxPreCheck(state)
+		f := sm.TxPreCheckForState(state)
 		if tc.isErr {
 			assert.NotNil(t, f(tc.tx), "#%v", i)
 		} else {
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 8970a29d7..3b30a2853 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -143,11 +143,8 @@ func makeNode(
 		return nil, combineCloseError(err, makeCloser(closers))
 	}
 
-	err = genDoc.ValidateAndComplete()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, combineCloseError(
-			fmt.Errorf("error in genesis doc: %w", err),
-			makeCloser(closers))
+	if err = genDoc.ValidateAndComplete(); err != nil {
+		return nil, combineCloseError(fmt.Errorf("error in genesis doc: %w", err), makeCloser(closers))
 	}
 
 	state, err := loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(stateStore, genDoc)
@@ -241,10 +238,6 @@ func makeNode(
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Determine whether we should do block sync. This must happen after the handshake, since the
-	// app may modify the validator set, specifying ourself as the only validator.
-	blockSync := !onlyValidatorIsUs(state, pubKey)
-
 	logNodeStartupInfo(state, pubKey, logger, cfg.Mode)
 
 	// TODO: Fetch and provide real options and do proper p2p bootstrapping.
@@ -271,14 +264,14 @@ func makeNode(
 	}
 
 	mpReactor, mp, err := createMempoolReactor(ctx,
-		cfg, proxyApp, state, nodeMetrics.mempool, peerManager, router, logger,
+		cfg, proxyApp, stateStore, nodeMetrics.mempool, peerManager, router, logger,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, combineCloseError(err, makeCloser(closers))
 	}
 
 	evReactor, evPool, err := createEvidenceReactor(ctx,
-		cfg, dbProvider, stateDB, blockStore, peerManager, router, logger, nodeMetrics.evidence, eventBus,
+		cfg, dbProvider, stateStore, blockStore, peerManager, router, logger, nodeMetrics.evidence, eventBus,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, combineCloseError(err, makeCloser(closers))
@@ -295,8 +288,12 @@ func makeNode(
 		sm.BlockExecutorWithMetrics(nodeMetrics.state),
 	)
 
+	// Determine whether we should do block sync. This must happen after the handshake, since the
+	// app may modify the validator set, specifying ourself as the only validator.
+	blockSync := !onlyValidatorIsUs(state, pubKey)
+
 	csReactor, csState, err := createConsensusReactor(ctx,
-		cfg, state, blockExec, blockStore, mp, evPool,
+		cfg, stateStore, blockExec, blockStore, mp, evPool,
 		privValidator, nodeMetrics.consensus, stateSync || blockSync, eventBus,
 		peerManager, router, logger,
 	)
@@ -308,7 +305,7 @@ func makeNode(
 	// doing a state sync first.
 	bcReactor, err := blocksync.NewReactor(ctx,
 		logger.With("module", "blockchain"),
-		state.Copy(),
+		stateStore,
 		blockExec,
 		blockStore,
 		csReactor,
@@ -730,10 +727,7 @@ func defaultMetricsProvider(cfg *config.InstrumentationConfig) metricsProvider {
 // loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider attempts to load the state from the
 // database, or creates one using the given genesisDocProvider. On success this also
 // returns the genesis doc loaded through the given provider.
-func loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(
-	stateStore sm.Store,
-	genDoc *types.GenesisDoc,
-) (sm.State, error) {
+func loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(stateStore sm.Store, genDoc *types.GenesisDoc) (sm.State, error) {
 
 	// 1. Attempt to load state form the database
 	state, err := stateStore.Load()
@@ -747,6 +741,12 @@ func loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(
 		if err != nil {
 			return sm.State{}, err
 		}
+
+		// 3. save the gensis document to the state store so
+		// its fetchable by other callers.
+		if err := stateStore.Save(state); err != nil {
+			return sm.State{}, err
+		}
 	}
 
 	return state, nil
diff --git a/node/node_test.go b/node/node_test.go
index 41cb1b6a9..5fbf80e00 100644
--- a/node/node_test.go
+++ b/node/node_test.go
@@ -292,7 +292,6 @@ func TestCreateProposalBlock(t *testing.T) {
 		logger.With("module", "mempool"),
 		cfg.Mempool,
 		proxyApp.Mempool(),
-		state.LastBlockHeight,
 	)
 
 	// Make EvidencePool
@@ -392,7 +391,6 @@ func TestMaxTxsProposalBlockSize(t *testing.T) {
 		logger.With("module", "mempool"),
 		cfg.Mempool,
 		proxyApp.Mempool(),
-		state.LastBlockHeight,
 	)
 
 	// fill the mempool with one txs just below the maximum size
@@ -457,7 +455,6 @@ func TestMaxProposalBlockSize(t *testing.T) {
 		logger.With("module", "mempool"),
 		cfg.Mempool,
 		proxyApp.Mempool(),
-		state.LastBlockHeight,
 	)
 
 	// fill the mempool with one txs just below the maximum size
diff --git a/node/setup.go b/node/setup.go
index e880cd5c4..bc071f3cf 100644
--- a/node/setup.go
+++ b/node/setup.go
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func createMempoolReactor(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	cfg *config.Config,
 	proxyApp proxy.AppConns,
-	state sm.State,
+	store sm.Store,
 	memplMetrics *mempool.Metrics,
 	peerManager *p2p.PeerManager,
 	router *p2p.Router,
@@ -184,10 +184,9 @@ func createMempoolReactor(
 		logger,
 		cfg.Mempool,
 		proxyApp.Mempool(),
-		state.LastBlockHeight,
 		mempool.WithMetrics(memplMetrics),
-		mempool.WithPreCheck(sm.TxPreCheck(state)),
-		mempool.WithPostCheck(sm.TxPostCheck(state)),
+		mempool.WithPreCheck(sm.TxPreCheckFromStore(store)),
+		mempool.WithPostCheck(sm.TxPostCheckFromStore(store)),
 	)
 
 	reactor, err := mempool.NewReactor(
@@ -214,7 +213,7 @@ func createEvidenceReactor(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	cfg *config.Config,
 	dbProvider config.DBProvider,
-	stateDB dbm.DB,
+	store sm.Store,
 	blockStore *store.BlockStore,
 	peerManager *p2p.PeerManager,
 	router *p2p.Router,
@@ -229,7 +228,7 @@ func createEvidenceReactor(
 
 	logger = logger.With("module", "evidence")
 
-	evidencePool, err := evidence.NewPool(logger, evidenceDB, sm.NewStore(stateDB), blockStore, metrics)
+	evidencePool, err := evidence.NewPool(logger, evidenceDB, store, blockStore, metrics)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("creating evidence pool: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -253,7 +252,7 @@ func createEvidenceReactor(
 func createConsensusReactor(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	cfg *config.Config,
-	state sm.State,
+	store sm.Store,
 	blockExec *sm.BlockExecutor,
 	blockStore sm.BlockStore,
 	mp mempool.Mempool,
@@ -268,16 +267,19 @@ func createConsensusReactor(
 ) (*consensus.Reactor, *consensus.State, error) {
 	logger = logger.With("module", "consensus")
 
-	consensusState := consensus.NewState(ctx,
+	consensusState, err := consensus.NewState(ctx,
 		logger,
 		cfg.Consensus,
-		state.Copy(),
+		store,
 		blockExec,
 		blockStore,
 		mp,
 		evidencePool,
 		consensus.StateMetrics(csMetrics),
 	)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
 
 	if privValidator != nil && cfg.Mode == config.ModeValidator {
 		consensusState.SetPrivValidator(ctx, privValidator)
diff --git a/test/fuzz/mempool/checktx.go b/test/fuzz/mempool/checktx.go
index ba60d72cc..a6e7006d0 100644
--- a/test/fuzz/mempool/checktx.go
+++ b/test/fuzz/mempool/checktx.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ func init() {
 				log.NewNopLogger(),
 				cfg,
 				appConnMem,
-				0,
 			)
 
 		}