diff --git a/block_pool.go b/block_pool.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3225bdff20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/block_pool.go
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+package eth
+
+import (
+	"math"
+	"math/big"
+	"sync"
+
+	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethchain"
+	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethutil"
+)
+
+type block struct {
+	peer  *Peer
+	block *ethchain.Block
+}
+
+type BlockPool struct {
+	mut sync.Mutex
+
+	eth *Ethereum
+
+	hashPool [][]byte
+	pool     map[string]*block
+
+	td *big.Int
+}
+
+func NewBlockPool(eth *Ethereum) *BlockPool {
+	return &BlockPool{
+		eth:  eth,
+		pool: make(map[string]*block),
+		td:   ethutil.Big0,
+	}
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) HasLatestHash() bool {
+	return self.pool[string(self.eth.BlockChain().CurrentBlock.Hash())] != nil
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) HasCommonHash(hash []byte) bool {
+	return self.eth.BlockChain().GetBlock(hash) != nil
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) AddHash(hash []byte) {
+	if self.pool[string(hash)] == nil {
+		self.pool[string(hash)] = &block{nil, nil}
+
+		self.hashPool = append([][]byte{hash}, self.hashPool...)
+	}
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) SetBlock(b *ethchain.Block) {
+	hash := string(b.Hash())
+
+	if self.pool[string(hash)] == nil {
+		self.pool[hash] = &block{nil, nil}
+	}
+
+	self.pool[hash].block = b
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) CheckLinkAndProcess(f func(block *ethchain.Block)) bool {
+	self.mut.Lock()
+	defer self.mut.Unlock()
+
+	if self.IsLinked() {
+		for i, hash := range self.hashPool {
+			block := self.pool[string(hash)].block
+			if block != nil {
+				f(block)
+
+				delete(self.pool, string(hash))
+			} else {
+				self.hashPool = self.hashPool[i:]
+
+				return false
+			}
+		}
+
+		return true
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) IsLinked() bool {
+	if len(self.hashPool) == 0 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	block := self.pool[string(self.hashPool[0])].block
+	if block != nil {
+		return self.eth.BlockChain().HasBlock(block.PrevHash)
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
+func (self *BlockPool) Take(amount int, peer *Peer) (hashes [][]byte) {
+	self.mut.Lock()
+	defer self.mut.Unlock()
+
+	num := int(math.Min(float64(amount), float64(len(self.pool))))
+	j := 0
+	for i := 0; i < len(self.hashPool) && j < num; i++ {
+		hash := string(self.hashPool[i])
+		if self.pool[hash].peer == nil || self.pool[hash].peer == peer {
+			self.pool[hash].peer = peer
+
+			hashes = append(hashes, self.hashPool[i])
+			j++
+		}
+	}
+
+	return
+}
diff --git a/ethchain/block_chain.go b/ethchain/block_chain.go
index 611735707a..3445bbb87d 100644
--- a/ethchain/block_chain.go
+++ b/ethchain/block_chain.go
@@ -208,6 +208,26 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) GenesisBlock() *Block {
 	return bc.genesisBlock
 }
 
+func (self *BlockChain) GetChainHashesFromHash(hash []byte, max uint64) (chain [][]byte) {
+	block := self.GetBlock(hash)
+	if block == nil {
+		return
+	}
+
+	// XXX Could be optimised by using a different database which only holds hashes (i.e., linked list)
+	for i := uint64(0); i < max; i++ {
+		chain = append(chain, block.Hash())
+
+		if block.Number.Cmp(ethutil.Big0) <= 0 {
+			break
+		}
+
+		block = self.GetBlock(block.PrevHash)
+	}
+
+	return
+}
+
 // Get chain return blocks from hash up to max in RLP format
 func (bc *BlockChain) GetChainFromHash(hash []byte, max uint64) []interface{} {
 	var chain []interface{}
diff --git a/ethchain/genesis.go b/ethchain/genesis.go
index 54a3bc7665..0ce53a6ee2 100644
--- a/ethchain/genesis.go
+++ b/ethchain/genesis.go
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 package ethchain
 
 import (
+	"math/big"
+
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethcrypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/eth-go/ethutil"
-	"math/big"
 )
 
 /*
@@ -26,7 +27,8 @@ var GenesisHeader = []interface{}{
 	// tx sha
 	"",
 	// Difficulty
-	ethutil.BigPow(2, 22),
+	//ethutil.BigPow(2, 22),
+	big.NewInt(4096),
 	// Number
 	ethutil.Big0,
 	// Block minimum gas price
diff --git a/ethereum.go b/ethereum.go
index c1c4c2f2f2..1e1891589d 100644
--- a/ethereum.go
+++ b/ethereum.go
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ type Ethereum struct {
 	txPool *ethchain.TxPool
 	// The canonical chain
 	blockChain *ethchain.BlockChain
+	// The block pool
+	blockPool *BlockPool
 	// Peers (NYI)
 	peers *list.List
 	// Nonce
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ func New(db ethutil.Database, clientIdentity ethwire.ClientIdentity, keyManager
 	}
 	ethereum.reactor = ethreact.New()
 
+	ethereum.blockPool = NewBlockPool(ethereum)
 	ethereum.txPool = ethchain.NewTxPool(ethereum)
 	ethereum.blockChain = ethchain.NewBlockChain(ethereum)
 	ethereum.stateManager = ethchain.NewStateManager(ethereum)
diff --git a/ethutil/bytes.go b/ethutil/bytes.go
index 63c1606c23..e38f894540 100644
--- a/ethutil/bytes.go
+++ b/ethutil/bytes.go
@@ -208,3 +208,11 @@ func Address(slice []byte) (addr []byte) {
 
 	return
 }
+
+func ByteSliceToInterface(slice [][]byte) (ret []interface{}) {
+	for _, i := range slice {
+		ret = append(ret, i)
+	}
+
+	return
+}
diff --git a/ethwire/messaging.go b/ethwire/messaging.go
index d114a1c9dd..7ac0188a16 100644
--- a/ethwire/messaging.go
+++ b/ethwire/messaging.go
@@ -27,33 +27,41 @@ const (
 	// Values are given explicitly instead of by iota because these values are
 	// defined by the wire protocol spec; it is easier for humans to ensure
 	// correctness when values are explicit.
-	MsgHandshakeTy  = 0x00
-	MsgDiscTy       = 0x01
-	MsgPingTy       = 0x02
-	MsgPongTy       = 0x03
-	MsgGetPeersTy   = 0x10
-	MsgPeersTy      = 0x11
-	MsgTxTy         = 0x12
-	MsgBlockTy      = 0x13
-	MsgGetChainTy   = 0x14
-	MsgNotInChainTy = 0x15
-	MsgGetTxsTy     = 0x16
+	MsgHandshakeTy      = 0x00
+	MsgDiscTy           = 0x01
+	MsgPingTy           = 0x02
+	MsgPongTy           = 0x03
+	MsgGetPeersTy       = 0x10
+	MsgPeersTy          = 0x11
+	MsgTxTy             = 0x12
+	MsgGetChainTy       = 0x14
+	MsgNotInChainTy     = 0x15
+	MsgGetTxsTy         = 0x16
+	MsgGetBlockHashesTy = 0x17
+	MsgBlockHashesTy    = 0x18
+	MsgGetBlocksTy      = 0x19
+	MsgBlockTy          = 0x13
+
+	MsgOldBlockTy = 0xbb
 
 	MsgTalkTy = 0xff
 )
 
 var msgTypeToString = map[MsgType]string{
-	MsgHandshakeTy:  "Handshake",
-	MsgDiscTy:       "Disconnect",
-	MsgPingTy:       "Ping",
-	MsgPongTy:       "Pong",
-	MsgGetPeersTy:   "Get peers",
-	MsgPeersTy:      "Peers",
-	MsgTxTy:         "Transactions",
-	MsgBlockTy:      "Blocks",
-	MsgGetChainTy:   "Get chain",
-	MsgGetTxsTy:     "Get Txs",
-	MsgNotInChainTy: "Not in chain",
+	MsgHandshakeTy:      "Handshake",
+	MsgDiscTy:           "Disconnect",
+	MsgPingTy:           "Ping",
+	MsgPongTy:           "Pong",
+	MsgGetPeersTy:       "Get peers",
+	MsgPeersTy:          "Peers",
+	MsgTxTy:             "Transactions",
+	MsgBlockTy:          "Blocks",
+	MsgGetChainTy:       "Get chain",
+	MsgGetTxsTy:         "Get Txs",
+	MsgNotInChainTy:     "Not in chain",
+	MsgGetBlockHashesTy: "Get block hashes",
+	MsgBlockHashesTy:    "Block hashes",
+	MsgGetBlocksTy:      "Get blocks",
 }
 
 func (mt MsgType) String() string {
diff --git a/peer.go b/peer.go
index 4cbe8b652b..4e6fc55d45 100644
--- a/peer.go
+++ b/peer.go
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"container/list"
 	"fmt"
+	"math"
+	"math/big"
 	"net"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -22,7 +24,7 @@ const (
 	// The size of the output buffer for writing messages
 	outputBufferSize = 50
 	// Current protocol version
-	ProtocolVersion = 26
+	ProtocolVersion = 27
 	// Interval for ping/pong message
 	pingPongTimer = 2 * time.Second
 )
@@ -125,9 +127,13 @@ type Peer struct {
 	lastPong          int64
 	lastBlockReceived time.Time
 
-	host []byte
-	port uint16
-	caps Caps
+	host             []byte
+	port             uint16
+	caps             Caps
+	td               *big.Int
+	bestHash         []byte
+	lastReceivedHash []byte
+	requestedHashes  [][]byte
 
 	// This peer's public key
 	pubkey []byte
@@ -345,7 +351,6 @@ func (p *Peer) HandleInbound() {
 		for _, msg := range msgs {
 			peerlogger.DebugDetailf("(%v) => %v %v\n", p.conn.RemoteAddr(), msg.Type, msg.Data)
 
-		nextMsg:
 			switch msg.Type {
 			case ethwire.MsgHandshakeTy:
 				// Version message
@@ -354,6 +359,7 @@ func (p *Peer) HandleInbound() {
 				if p.caps.IsCap(CapPeerDiscTy) {
 					p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgGetPeersTy, ""))
 				}
+
 			case ethwire.MsgDiscTy:
 				p.Stop()
 				peerlogger.Infoln("Disconnect peer: ", DiscReason(msg.Data.Get(0).Uint()))
@@ -366,117 +372,6 @@ func (p *Peer) HandleInbound() {
 				// active.
 				p.lastPong = time.Now().Unix()
 				p.pingTime = time.Since(p.pingStartTime)
-			case ethwire.MsgBlockTy:
-				// Get all blocks and process them
-				//var block, lastBlock *ethchain.Block
-				//var err error
-
-				var (
-					block, lastBlock *ethchain.Block
-					blockChain       = p.ethereum.BlockChain()
-					err              error
-				)
-
-				// Make sure we are actually receiving anything
-				if msg.Data.Len()-1 > 1 && p.diverted {
-					// We requested blocks and now we need to make sure we have a common ancestor somewhere in these blocks so we can find
-					// common ground to start syncing from
-					lastBlock = ethchain.NewBlockFromRlpValue(msg.Data.Get(msg.Data.Len() - 1))
-					if p.lastRequestedBlock != nil && bytes.Compare(lastBlock.Hash(), p.lastRequestedBlock.Hash()) == 0 {
-						p.catchingUp = false
-						continue
-					}
-					p.lastRequestedBlock = lastBlock
-					peerlogger.Infof("Last block: %x. Checking if we have it locally.\n", lastBlock.Hash())
-					for i := msg.Data.Len() - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-						block = ethchain.NewBlockFromRlpValue(msg.Data.Get(i))
-						// Do we have this block on our chain? If so we can continue
-						if !blockChain.HasBlock(block.Hash()) {
-							// We don't have this block, but we do have a block with the same prevHash, diversion time!
-							if blockChain.HasBlockWithPrevHash(block.PrevHash) {
-								p.diverted = false
-								if !blockChain.FindCanonicalChainFromMsg(msg, block.PrevHash) {
-									p.SyncWithPeerToLastKnown()
-									break nextMsg
-								}
-								break
-							}
-						}
-					}
-					if !blockChain.HasBlock(lastBlock.Hash()) {
-						// If we can't find a common ancenstor we need to request more blocks.
-						// FIXME: At one point this won't scale anymore since we are not asking for an offset
-						// we just keep increasing the amount of blocks.
-						p.blocksRequested = p.blocksRequested * 2
-
-						peerlogger.Infof("No common ancestor found, requesting %d more blocks.\n", p.blocksRequested)
-						p.FindCommonParentBlock()
-						break nextMsg
-					}
-
-					p.catchingUp = false
-				}
-
-				for i := msg.Data.Len() - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
-					block = ethchain.NewBlockFromRlpValue(msg.Data.Get(i))
-
-					err = p.ethereum.StateManager().Process(block, false)
-					if err != nil {
-						if ethutil.Config.Debug {
-							peerlogger.Infof("Block %x failed\n", block.Hash())
-							peerlogger.Infof("%v\n", err)
-							peerlogger.Debugln(block)
-						}
-						break
-					} else {
-						lastBlock = block
-					}
-
-					p.lastBlockReceived = time.Now()
-				}
-
-				if msg.Data.Len() <= 1 {
-					// Set catching up to false if
-					// the peer has nothing left to give
-					p.catchingUp = false
-				}
-
-				if err != nil {
-					// If the parent is unknown try to catch up with this peer
-					if ethchain.IsParentErr(err) {
-						b := ethchain.NewBlockFromRlpValue(msg.Data.Get(0))
-
-						peerlogger.Infof("Attempting to catch (%x). Parent unknown\n", b.Hash())
-						p.catchingUp = false
-
-						p.CatchupWithPeer(b.PrevHash)
-
-						peerlogger.Infoln(b)
-
-						/*
-							peerlogger.Infoln("Attempting to catch. Parent known")
-								p.catchingUp = false
-								p.CatchupWithPeer(p.ethereum.BlockChain().CurrentBlock.Hash())
-						*/
-					} else if ethchain.IsValidationErr(err) {
-						fmt.Println("Err:", err)
-						p.catchingUp = false
-					}
-				} else {
-					// If we're catching up, try to catch up further.
-					if p.catchingUp && msg.Data.Len() > 1 {
-						if lastBlock != nil {
-							blockInfo := lastBlock.BlockInfo()
-							peerlogger.DebugDetailf("Synced chain to #%d %x %x\n", blockInfo.Number, lastBlock.Hash(), blockInfo.Hash)
-						}
-
-						p.catchingUp = false
-
-						hash := p.ethereum.BlockChain().CurrentBlock.Hash()
-						p.CatchupWithPeer(hash)
-					}
-				}
-
 			case ethwire.MsgTxTy:
 				// If the message was a transaction queue the transaction
 				// in the TxPool where it will undergo validation and
@@ -501,58 +396,6 @@ func (p *Peer) HandleInbound() {
 
 				// Connect to the list of peers
 				p.ethereum.ProcessPeerList(peers)
-			case ethwire.MsgGetChainTy:
-				var parent *ethchain.Block
-				// Length minus one since the very last element in the array is a count
-				l := msg.Data.Len() - 1
-				// Ignore empty get chains
-				if l == 0 {
-					break
-				}
-
-				// Amount of parents in the canonical chain
-				//amountOfBlocks := msg.Data.Get(l).AsUint()
-				amountOfBlocks := uint64(100)
-
-				// Check each SHA block hash from the message and determine whether
-				// the SHA is in the database
-				for i := 0; i < l; i++ {
-					if data := msg.Data.Get(i).Bytes(); p.ethereum.StateManager().BlockChain().HasBlock(data) {
-						parent = p.ethereum.BlockChain().GetBlock(data)
-						break
-					}
-				}
-
-				// If a parent is found send back a reply
-				if parent != nil {
-					peerlogger.DebugDetailf("Found canonical block, returning chain from: %x ", parent.Hash())
-					chain := p.ethereum.BlockChain().GetChainFromHash(parent.Hash(), amountOfBlocks)
-					if len(chain) > 0 {
-						//peerlogger.Debugf("Returning %d blocks: %x ", len(chain), parent.Hash())
-						p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgBlockTy, chain))
-					} else {
-						p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgBlockTy, []interface{}{}))
-					}
-
-				} else {
-					//peerlogger.Debugf("Could not find a similar block")
-					// If no blocks are found we send back a reply with msg not in chain
-					// and the last hash from get chain
-					if l > 0 {
-						lastHash := msg.Data.Get(l - 1)
-						//log.Printf("Sending not in chain with hash %x\n", lastHash.AsRaw())
-						p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgNotInChainTy, []interface{}{lastHash.Raw()}))
-					}
-				}
-			case ethwire.MsgNotInChainTy:
-				peerlogger.DebugDetailf("Not in chain: %x\n", msg.Data.Get(0).Bytes())
-				if p.diverted == true {
-					// If were already looking for a common parent and we get here again we need to go deeper
-					p.blocksRequested = p.blocksRequested * 2
-				}
-				p.diverted = true
-				p.catchingUp = false
-				p.FindCommonParentBlock()
 			case ethwire.MsgGetTxsTy:
 				// Get the current transactions of the pool
 				txs := p.ethereum.TxPool().CurrentTransactions()
@@ -564,15 +407,103 @@ func (p *Peer) HandleInbound() {
 				// Broadcast it back to the peer
 				p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgTxTy, txsInterface))
 
-				// Unofficial but fun nonetheless
-			case ethwire.MsgTalkTy:
-				peerlogger.Infoln("%v says: %s\n", p.conn.RemoteAddr(), msg.Data.Str())
+			case ethwire.MsgGetBlockHashesTy:
+				if msg.Data.Len() < 2 {
+					peerlogger.Debugln("err: argument length invalid ", msg.Data.Len())
+				}
+
+				hash := msg.Data.Get(0).Bytes()
+				amount := msg.Data.Get(1).Uint()
+
+				hashes := p.ethereum.BlockChain().GetChainHashesFromHash(hash, amount)
+
+				p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgBlockHashesTy, ethutil.ByteSliceToInterface(hashes)))
+
+			case ethwire.MsgGetBlocksTy:
+				// Limit to max 300 blocks
+				max := int(math.Min(float64(msg.Data.Len()), 300.0))
+				var blocks []interface{}
+
+				for i := 0; i < max; i++ {
+					hash := msg.Data.Get(i).Bytes()
+					block := p.ethereum.BlockChain().GetBlock(hash)
+					if block != nil {
+						blocks = append(blocks, block.Value().Raw())
+					}
+				}
+
+				p.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgBlockTy, blocks))
+
+			case ethwire.MsgBlockHashesTy:
+				blockPool := p.ethereum.blockPool
+
+				foundCommonHash := false
+
+				it := msg.Data.NewIterator()
+				for it.Next() {
+					hash := it.Value().Bytes()
+
+					if blockPool.HasCommonHash(hash) {
+						foundCommonHash = true
+
+						break
+					}
+
+					blockPool.AddHash(hash)
+
+					p.lastReceivedHash = hash
+				}
+
+				if foundCommonHash {
+					p.FetchBlocks()
+				} else {
+					p.FetchHashes()
+				}
+			case ethwire.MsgBlockTy:
+				blockPool := p.ethereum.blockPool
+
+				it := msg.Data.NewIterator()
+
+				for it.Next() {
+					block := ethchain.NewBlockFromRlpValue(it.Value())
+					blockPool.SetBlock(block)
+				}
+
+				linked := blockPool.CheckLinkAndProcess(func(block *ethchain.Block) {
+					p.ethereum.StateManager().Process(block, false)
+				})
+
+				if !linked {
+					p.FetchBlocks()
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
+
 	p.Stop()
 }
 
+func (self *Peer) FetchBlocks() {
+	blockPool := self.ethereum.blockPool
+
+	hashes := blockPool.Take(100, self)
+	if len(hashes) > 0 {
+		self.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgGetBlocksTy, ethutil.ByteSliceToInterface(hashes)))
+	}
+}
+
+func (self *Peer) FetchHashes() {
+	blockPool := self.ethereum.blockPool
+
+	if self.td.Cmp(blockPool.td) >= 0 {
+		peerlogger.Debugf("Requesting hashes from %x\n", self.lastReceivedHash)
+
+		if !blockPool.HasLatestHash() {
+			self.QueueMessage(ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgGetBlockHashesTy, []interface{}{self.lastReceivedHash, uint32(200)}))
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 // General update method
 func (self *Peer) update() {
 	serviceTimer := time.NewTicker(5 * time.Second)
@@ -643,6 +574,7 @@ func (p *Peer) pushHandshake() error {
 	pubkey := p.ethereum.KeyManager().PublicKey()
 	msg := ethwire.NewMessage(ethwire.MsgHandshakeTy, []interface{}{
 		uint32(ProtocolVersion), uint32(0), []byte(p.version), byte(p.caps), p.port, pubkey[1:],
+		p.ethereum.BlockChain().TD.Uint64(), p.ethereum.BlockChain().CurrentBlock.Hash(),
 	})
 
 	p.QueueMessage(msg)
@@ -728,10 +660,15 @@ func (p *Peer) handleHandshake(msg *ethwire.Msg) {
 		p.SetVersion(c.Get(2).Str())
 	}
 
+	// Get the td and last hash
+	p.td = c.Get(6).BigInt()
+	p.bestHash = c.Get(7).Bytes()
+	p.lastReceivedHash = p.bestHash
+
 	p.ethereum.PushPeer(p)
 	p.ethereum.reactor.Post("peerList", p.ethereum.Peers())
 
-	ethlogger.Infof("Added peer (%s) %d / %d\n", p.conn.RemoteAddr(), p.ethereum.Peers().Len(), p.ethereum.MaxPeers)
+	ethlogger.Infof("Added peer (%s) %d / %d (TD = %v ~ %x)\n", p.conn.RemoteAddr(), p.ethereum.Peers().Len(), p.ethereum.MaxPeers, p.td, p.bestHash)
 
 	/*
 		// Catch up with the connected peer
@@ -740,7 +677,12 @@ func (p *Peer) handleHandshake(msg *ethwire.Msg) {
 			time.Sleep(10 * time.Second)
 		}
 	*/
-	p.SyncWithPeerToLastKnown()
+	//p.SyncWithPeerToLastKnown()
+
+	if p.td.Cmp(p.ethereum.BlockChain().TD) > 0 {
+		p.ethereum.blockPool.AddHash(p.lastReceivedHash)
+		p.FetchHashes()
+	}
 
 	peerlogger.Debugln(p)
 }