diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ec28a5a..d4e57fd 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -446,7 +446,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "hex",
  "jsonrpsee",
  "log",
- "openssl",
  "reqwest",
  "revm",
  "serde",
@@ -519,11 +518,9 @@ dependencies = [
  "ethers",
  "eyre",
  "hex",
- "openssl",
  "serde",
  "ssz-rs",
  "thiserror",
- "toml",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -552,13 +549,9 @@ dependencies = [
  "config",
  "ethers",
  "eyre",
- "futures",
  "hex",
- "jsonrpsee",
  "log",
- "openssl",
  "reqwest",
- "revm",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
  "ssz-rs",
@@ -1044,9 +1037,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "eyre",
  "futures",
  "hex",
- "jsonrpsee",
  "log",
- "openssl",
  "reqwest",
  "revm",
  "serde",
@@ -2231,15 +2222,6 @@ version = "0.1.5"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ff011a302c396a5197692431fc1948019154afc178baf7d8e37367442a4601cf"
 
-[[package]]
-name = "openssl-src"
-version = "111.22.0+1.1.1q"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "8f31f0d509d1c1ae9cada2f9539ff8f37933831fd5098879e482aa687d659853"
-dependencies = [
- "cc",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "openssl-sys"
 version = "0.9.75"
@@ -2249,7 +2231,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "autocfg",
  "cc",
  "libc",
- "openssl-src",
  "pkg-config",
  "vcpkg",
 ]
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index bda5ac4..e47aca6 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ bytes = "1.2.1"
 futures = "0.3.23"
 toml = "0.5.9"
 log = "0.4.17"
-openssl = { version = "0.10", features = ["vendored"] }
 
 common = { path = "../common" }
 consensus = { path = "../consensus" }
diff --git a/client/src/node.rs b/client/src/node.rs
index 9618dda..2433b7a 100644
--- a/client/src/node.rs
+++ b/client/src/node.rs
@@ -90,6 +90,8 @@ impl Node {
             self.payloads.pop_first();
         }
 
+        // only save one finalized block per epoch
+        // finality updates only occur on epoch boundries
         while self.finalized_payloads.len() > usize::max(self.history_size / 32, 1) {
             self.finalized_payloads.pop_first();
         }
@@ -172,6 +174,7 @@ impl Node {
             .await
     }
 
+    // assumes tip of 1 gwei to prevent having to prove out every tx in the block
     pub fn get_gas_price(&self) -> Result<U256> {
         self.check_head_age()?;
 
@@ -181,6 +184,7 @@ impl Node {
         Ok(base_fee + tip)
     }
 
+    // assumes tip of 1 gwei to prevent having to prove out every tx in the block
     pub fn get_priority_fee(&self) -> Result<U256> {
         let tip = U256::from(10_u64.pow(9));
         Ok(tip)
@@ -221,13 +225,13 @@ impl Node {
             .filter(|entry| &entry.1.block_hash.to_vec() == hash)
             .collect::<Vec<(&u64, &ExecutionPayload)>>();
 
-        match payloads.get(0) {
-            Some(payload_entry) => self
-                .execution
+        if let Some(payload_entry) = payloads.get(0) {
+            self.execution
                 .get_block(payload_entry.1, full_tx)
                 .await
-                .map(|b| Some(b)),
-            None => Ok(None),
+                .map(|b| Some(b))
+        } else {
+            Ok(None)
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/client/src/rpc.rs b/client/src/rpc.rs
index a3b7e1f..2201de5 100644
--- a/client/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/client/src/rpc.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use ethers::{
     types::{Address, Transaction, TransactionReceipt, H256},
 };
 use eyre::Result;
-use log::{debug, info, warn};
+use log::{info, warn};
 use std::{fmt::Display, net::SocketAddr, str::FromStr, sync::Arc};
 use tokio::sync::RwLock;
 
@@ -108,7 +108,6 @@ struct RpcInner {
 #[async_trait]
 impl EthRpcServer for RpcInner {
     async fn get_balance(&self, address: &str, block: BlockTag) -> Result<String, Error> {
-        debug!("eth_getBalance");
         let address = convert_err(Address::from_str(address))?;
         let node = self.node.read().await;
         let balance = convert_err(node.get_balance(&address, &block).await)?;
@@ -133,7 +132,6 @@ impl EthRpcServer for RpcInner {
     }
 
     async fn call(&self, opts: CallOpts, block: BlockTag) -> Result<String, Error> {
-        debug!("eth_call");
         let node = self.node.read().await;
         let res = convert_err(node.call(&opts, &block))?;
 
@@ -141,7 +139,6 @@ impl EthRpcServer for RpcInner {
     }
 
     async fn estimate_gas(&self, opts: CallOpts) -> Result<String, Error> {
-        debug!("eth_estimateGas");
         let node = self.node.read().await;
         let gas = convert_err(node.estimate_gas(&opts))?;
 
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 71731ee..a73cd41 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -11,6 +11,4 @@ serde = { version = "1.0.143", features = ["derive"] }
 hex = "0.4.3"
 ssz-rs = { git = "https://github.com/ralexstokes/ssz-rs" }
 ethers = "0.17.0"
-toml = "0.5.9"
-openssl = { version = "0.10", features = ["vendored"] }
 thiserror = "1.0.37"
diff --git a/consensus/Cargo.toml b/consensus/Cargo.toml
index 35346fc..e87656b 100644
--- a/consensus/Cargo.toml
+++ b/consensus/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,15 +15,11 @@ hex = "0.4.3"
 ssz-rs = { git = "https://github.com/ralexstokes/ssz-rs" }
 blst = "0.3.10"
 ethers = "0.17.0"
-jsonrpsee = { version = "0.15.1", features = ["full"] }
-revm = "1.9.0"
 bytes = "1.2.1"
-futures = "0.3.23"
 toml = "0.5.9"
 async-trait = "0.1.57"
 log = "0.4.17"
 chrono = "0.4.22"
-openssl = { version = "0.10", features = ["vendored"] }
 thiserror = "1.0.37"
 
 common = { path = "../common" }
diff --git a/consensus/src/consensus.rs b/consensus/src/consensus.rs
index 2f5eb57..e6ed07c 100644
--- a/consensus/src/consensus.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/consensus.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ use std::cmp;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::UNIX_EPOCH;
 
-use blst::min_pk::{PublicKey, Signature};
-use blst::BLST_ERROR;
+use blst::min_pk::PublicKey;
 use chrono::Duration;
 use eyre::eyre;
 use eyre::Result;
@@ -16,18 +15,22 @@ use config::Config;
 
 use crate::errors::ConsensusError;
 
-use super::rpc::Rpc;
+use super::rpc::ConsensusRpc;
 use super::types::*;
+use super::utils::*;
 
-pub struct ConsensusClient<R: Rpc> {
+// https://github.com/ethereum/consensus-specs/blob/dev/specs/altair/light-client/sync-protocol.md
+// does not implement force updates
+
+pub struct ConsensusClient<R: ConsensusRpc> {
     rpc: R,
-    store: Store,
+    store: LightClientStore,
     pub last_checkpoint: Option<Vec<u8>>,
     pub config: Arc<Config>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
-struct Store {
+struct LightClientStore {
     finalized_header: Header,
     current_sync_committee: SyncCommittee,
     next_sync_committee: Option<SyncCommittee>,
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ struct Store {
     current_max_active_participants: u64,
 }
 
-impl<R: Rpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
+impl<R: ConsensusRpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
     pub async fn new(
         rpc: &str,
         checkpoint_block_root: &Vec<u8>,
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@ impl<R: Rpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
             return Err(ConsensusError::InvalidCurrentSyncCommitteeProof.into());
         }
 
-        let store = Store {
+        let store = LightClientStore {
             finalized_header: bootstrap.header.clone(),
             current_sync_committee: bootstrap.current_sync_committee,
             next_sync_committee: None,
@@ -167,6 +170,8 @@ impl<R: Rpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    // implements checks from validate_light_client_update and process_light_client_update in the
+    // specification
     fn verify_generic_update(&self, update: &GenericUpdate) -> Result<()> {
         let bits = get_bits(&update.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_bits);
         if bits == 0 {
@@ -237,13 +242,13 @@ impl<R: Rpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
 
         let pks =
             get_participating_keys(sync_committee, &update.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_bits)?;
-        let pks: Vec<&PublicKey> = pks.iter().map(|pk| pk).collect();
 
-        let header_root =
-            bytes_to_bytes32(update.attested_header.clone().hash_tree_root()?.as_bytes());
-        let signing_root = self.compute_committee_sign_root(header_root, update.signature_slot)?;
-        let sig = &update.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_signature;
-        let is_valid_sig = is_aggregate_valid(sig, signing_root.as_bytes(), &pks);
+        let is_valid_sig = self.verify_sync_committee_signture(
+            &pks,
+            &update.attested_header,
+            &update.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_signature,
+            update.signature_slot,
+        );
 
         if !is_valid_sig {
             return Err(ConsensusError::InvalidSignature.into());
@@ -267,13 +272,15 @@ impl<R: Rpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
         self.verify_generic_update(&update)
     }
 
+    // implements state changes from apply_light_client_update and process_light_client_update in
+    // the specification
     fn apply_generic_update(&mut self, update: &GenericUpdate) {
         let committee_bits = get_bits(&update.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_bits);
 
         self.store.current_max_active_participants =
             u64::max(self.store.current_max_active_participants, committee_bits);
 
-        let should_update_optimistic = committee_bits > self.safety_theshhold()
+        let should_update_optimistic = committee_bits > self.safety_threshold()
             && update.attested_header.slot > self.store.optimistic_header.slot;
 
         if should_update_optimistic {
@@ -393,13 +400,36 @@ impl<R: Rpc> ConsensusClient<R> {
         update.next_sync_committee.is_some() && update.next_sync_committee_branch.is_some()
     }
 
-    fn safety_theshhold(&self) -> u64 {
+    fn safety_threshold(&self) -> u64 {
         cmp::max(
             self.store.current_max_active_participants,
             self.store.previous_max_active_participants,
         ) / 2
     }
 
+    fn verify_sync_committee_signture(
+        &self,
+        pks: &Vec<PublicKey>,
+        attested_header: &Header,
+        signature: &SignatureBytes,
+        signature_slot: u64,
+    ) -> bool {
+        let res: Result<bool> = (move || {
+            let pks: Vec<&PublicKey> = pks.iter().map(|pk| pk).collect();
+            let header_root =
+                bytes_to_bytes32(attested_header.clone().hash_tree_root()?.as_bytes());
+            let signing_root = self.compute_committee_sign_root(header_root, signature_slot)?;
+
+            Ok(is_aggregate_valid(signature, signing_root.as_bytes(), &pks))
+        })();
+
+        if let Ok(is_valid) = res {
+            is_valid
+        } else {
+            false
+        }
+    }
+
     fn compute_committee_sign_root(&self, header: Bytes32, slot: u64) -> Result<Node> {
         let genesis_root = self.config.chain.genesis_root.to_vec().try_into().unwrap();
 
@@ -479,42 +509,12 @@ fn get_bits(bitfield: &Bitvector<512>) -> u64 {
     count
 }
 
-fn is_aggregate_valid(sig_bytes: &SignatureBytes, msg: &[u8], pks: &[&PublicKey]) -> bool {
-    let dst: &[u8] = b"BLS_SIG_BLS12381G2_XMD:SHA-256_SSWU_RO_POP_";
-    let sig_res = Signature::from_bytes(&sig_bytes);
-    match sig_res {
-        Ok(sig) => sig.fast_aggregate_verify(true, msg, dst, &pks) == BLST_ERROR::BLST_SUCCESS,
-        Err(_) => false,
-    }
-}
-
 fn is_finality_proof_valid(
     attested_header: &Header,
     finality_header: &mut Header,
     finality_branch: &Vec<Bytes32>,
 ) -> bool {
-    let finality_header_hash_res = finality_header.hash_tree_root();
-    if finality_header_hash_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    let attested_header_state_root_res = bytes32_to_node(&attested_header.state_root);
-    if attested_header_state_root_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    let finality_branch_res = branch_to_nodes(finality_branch.clone());
-    if finality_branch_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    is_valid_merkle_branch(
-        &finality_header_hash_res.unwrap(),
-        finality_branch_res.unwrap().iter(),
-        6,
-        41,
-        &attested_header_state_root_res.unwrap(),
-    )
+    is_proof_valid(attested_header, finality_header, finality_branch, 6, 41)
 }
 
 fn is_next_committee_proof_valid(
@@ -522,27 +522,12 @@ fn is_next_committee_proof_valid(
     next_committee: &mut SyncCommittee,
     next_committee_branch: &Vec<Bytes32>,
 ) -> bool {
-    let next_committee_hash_res = next_committee.hash_tree_root();
-    if next_committee_hash_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    let attested_header_state_root_res = bytes32_to_node(&attested_header.state_root);
-    if attested_header_state_root_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    let next_committee_branch_res = branch_to_nodes(next_committee_branch.clone());
-    if next_committee_branch_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    is_valid_merkle_branch(
-        &next_committee_hash_res.unwrap(),
-        next_committee_branch_res.unwrap().iter(),
+    is_proof_valid(
+        attested_header,
+        next_committee,
+        next_committee_branch,
         5,
         23,
-        &attested_header_state_root_res.unwrap(),
     )
 }
 
@@ -551,86 +536,15 @@ fn is_current_committee_proof_valid(
     current_committee: &mut SyncCommittee,
     current_committee_branch: &Vec<Bytes32>,
 ) -> bool {
-    let next_committee_hash_res = current_committee.hash_tree_root();
-    if next_committee_hash_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    let attested_header_state_root_res = bytes32_to_node(&attested_header.state_root);
-    if attested_header_state_root_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    let next_committee_branch_res = branch_to_nodes(current_committee_branch.clone());
-    if next_committee_branch_res.is_err() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    is_valid_merkle_branch(
-        &next_committee_hash_res.unwrap(),
-        next_committee_branch_res.unwrap().iter(),
+    is_proof_valid(
+        attested_header,
+        current_committee,
+        current_committee_branch,
         5,
         22,
-        &attested_header_state_root_res.unwrap(),
     )
 }
 
-fn calc_sync_period(slot: u64) -> u64 {
-    let epoch = slot / 32;
-    epoch / 256
-}
-
-fn branch_to_nodes(branch: Vec<Bytes32>) -> Result<Vec<Node>> {
-    branch
-        .iter()
-        .map(|elem| bytes32_to_node(elem))
-        .collect::<Result<Vec<Node>>>()
-}
-
-#[derive(SimpleSerialize, Default, Debug)]
-struct SigningData {
-    object_root: Bytes32,
-    domain: Bytes32,
-}
-
-#[derive(SimpleSerialize, Default, Debug)]
-struct ForkData {
-    current_version: Vector<u8, 4>,
-    genesis_validator_root: Bytes32,
-}
-
-fn compute_signing_root(object_root: Bytes32, domain: Bytes32) -> Result<Node> {
-    let mut data = SigningData {
-        object_root,
-        domain,
-    };
-    Ok(data.hash_tree_root()?)
-}
-
-fn compute_domain(
-    domain_type: &[u8],
-    fork_version: Vector<u8, 4>,
-    genesis_root: Bytes32,
-) -> Result<Bytes32> {
-    let fork_data_root = compute_fork_data_root(fork_version, genesis_root)?;
-    let start = domain_type;
-    let end = &fork_data_root.as_bytes()[..28];
-    let d = [start, end].concat();
-    Ok(d.to_vec().try_into().unwrap())
-}
-
-fn compute_fork_data_root(
-    current_version: Vector<u8, 4>,
-    genesis_validator_root: Bytes32,
-) -> Result<Node> {
-    let current_version = current_version.try_into()?;
-    let mut fork_data = ForkData {
-        current_version,
-        genesis_validator_root,
-    };
-    Ok(fork_data.hash_tree_root()?)
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -640,7 +554,7 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::{
         consensus::calc_sync_period,
         errors::ConsensusError,
-        rpc::{mock_rpc::MockRpc, Rpc},
+        rpc::{mock_rpc::MockRpc, ConsensusRpc},
         types::Header,
         ConsensusClient,
     };
@@ -688,7 +602,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn test_verify_upadate_invlaid_finality() {
+    async fn test_verify_update_invalid_finality() {
         let client = get_client().await;
         let period = calc_sync_period(client.store.finalized_header.slot);
         let updates = client.rpc.get_updates(period).await.unwrap();
@@ -730,7 +644,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn test_verify_finality_invlaid_finality() {
+    async fn test_verify_finality_invalid_finality() {
         let mut client = get_client().await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
@@ -745,7 +659,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[tokio::test]
-    async fn test_verify_finality_invlaid_sig() {
+    async fn test_verify_finality_invalid_sig() {
         let mut client = get_client().await;
         client.sync().await.unwrap();
 
diff --git a/consensus/src/lib.rs b/consensus/src/lib.rs
index 2dbec4f..1162c64 100644
--- a/consensus/src/lib.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,3 +4,5 @@ pub mod types;
 
 mod consensus;
 pub use crate::consensus::*;
+
+mod utils;
diff --git a/consensus/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs b/consensus/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs
index b97ae43..b4eef3a 100644
--- a/consensus/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use std::{fs::read_to_string, path::PathBuf};
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use eyre::Result;
 
-use super::Rpc;
+use super::ConsensusRpc;
 use crate::types::{BeaconBlock, Bootstrap, FinalityUpdate, OptimisticUpdate, Update};
 
 pub struct MockRpc {
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ pub struct MockRpc {
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
-impl Rpc for MockRpc {
+impl ConsensusRpc for MockRpc {
     fn new(path: &str) -> Self {
         MockRpc {
             testdata: PathBuf::from(path),
diff --git a/consensus/src/rpc/mod.rs b/consensus/src/rpc/mod.rs
index edb4193..a042e71 100644
--- a/consensus/src/rpc/mod.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/rpc/mod.rs
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ use eyre::Result;
 
 use crate::types::{BeaconBlock, Bootstrap, FinalityUpdate, OptimisticUpdate, Update};
 
+// implements https://github.com/ethereum/beacon-APIs/tree/master/apis/beacon/light_client
 #[async_trait]
-pub trait Rpc {
+pub trait ConsensusRpc {
     fn new(path: &str) -> Self;
     async fn get_bootstrap(&self, block_root: &Vec<u8>) -> Result<Bootstrap>;
     async fn get_updates(&self, period: u64) -> Result<Vec<Update>>;
diff --git a/consensus/src/rpc/nimbus_rpc.rs b/consensus/src/rpc/nimbus_rpc.rs
index 9ea968c..0a5dead 100644
--- a/consensus/src/rpc/nimbus_rpc.rs
+++ b/consensus/src/rpc/nimbus_rpc.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use async_trait::async_trait;
 use common::errors::RpcError;
 use eyre::Result;
 
-use super::Rpc;
+use super::ConsensusRpc;
 use crate::types::*;
 
 pub struct NimbusRpc {
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ pub struct NimbusRpc {
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
-impl Rpc for NimbusRpc {
+impl ConsensusRpc for NimbusRpc {
     fn new(rpc: &str) -> Self {
         NimbusRpc {
             rpc: rpc.to_string(),
diff --git a/consensus/src/utils.rs b/consensus/src/utils.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b43f744
--- /dev/null
+++ b/consensus/src/utils.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+use blst::{
+    min_pk::{PublicKey, Signature},
+    BLST_ERROR,
+};
+use common::{types::Bytes32, utils::bytes32_to_node};
+use eyre::Result;
+use ssz_rs::prelude::*;
+
+use crate::types::{Header, SignatureBytes};
+
+pub fn calc_sync_period(slot: u64) -> u64 {
+    let epoch = slot / 32; // 32 slots per epoch
+    epoch / 256 // 256 epochs per sync committee
+}
+
+pub fn is_aggregate_valid(sig_bytes: &SignatureBytes, msg: &[u8], pks: &[&PublicKey]) -> bool {
+    let dst: &[u8] = b"BLS_SIG_BLS12381G2_XMD:SHA-256_SSWU_RO_POP_";
+    let sig_res = Signature::from_bytes(&sig_bytes);
+    match sig_res {
+        Ok(sig) => sig.fast_aggregate_verify(true, msg, dst, &pks) == BLST_ERROR::BLST_SUCCESS,
+        Err(_) => false,
+    }
+}
+
+pub fn is_proof_valid<L: Merkleized>(
+    attested_header: &Header,
+    leaf_object: &mut L,
+    branch: &Vec<Bytes32>,
+    depth: usize,
+    index: usize,
+) -> bool {
+    let res: Result<bool> = (move || {
+        let leaf_hash = leaf_object.hash_tree_root()?;
+        let state_root = bytes32_to_node(&attested_header.state_root)?;
+        let branch = branch_to_nodes(branch.to_vec())?;
+
+        let is_valid = is_valid_merkle_branch(&leaf_hash, branch.iter(), depth, index, &state_root);
+        Ok(is_valid)
+    })();
+
+    if let Ok(is_valid) = res {
+        is_valid
+    } else {
+        false
+    }
+}
+
+#[derive(SimpleSerialize, Default, Debug)]
+struct SigningData {
+    object_root: Bytes32,
+    domain: Bytes32,
+}
+
+#[derive(SimpleSerialize, Default, Debug)]
+struct ForkData {
+    current_version: Vector<u8, 4>,
+    genesis_validator_root: Bytes32,
+}
+
+pub fn compute_signing_root(object_root: Bytes32, domain: Bytes32) -> Result<Node> {
+    let mut data = SigningData {
+        object_root,
+        domain,
+    };
+    Ok(data.hash_tree_root()?)
+}
+
+pub fn compute_domain(
+    domain_type: &[u8],
+    fork_version: Vector<u8, 4>,
+    genesis_root: Bytes32,
+) -> Result<Bytes32> {
+    let fork_data_root = compute_fork_data_root(fork_version, genesis_root)?;
+    let start = domain_type;
+    let end = &fork_data_root.as_bytes()[..28];
+    let d = [start, end].concat();
+    Ok(d.to_vec().try_into().unwrap())
+}
+
+fn compute_fork_data_root(
+    current_version: Vector<u8, 4>,
+    genesis_validator_root: Bytes32,
+) -> Result<Node> {
+    let current_version = current_version.try_into()?;
+    let mut fork_data = ForkData {
+        current_version,
+        genesis_validator_root,
+    };
+    Ok(fork_data.hash_tree_root()?)
+}
+
+pub fn branch_to_nodes(branch: Vec<Bytes32>) -> Result<Vec<Node>> {
+    branch
+        .iter()
+        .map(|elem| bytes32_to_node(elem))
+        .collect::<Result<Vec<Node>>>()
+}
diff --git a/execution/Cargo.toml b/execution/Cargo.toml
index b6d2ca4..3ac8556 100644
--- a/execution/Cargo.toml
+++ b/execution/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,14 +15,12 @@ hex = "0.4.3"
 ssz-rs = { git = "https://github.com/ralexstokes/ssz-rs" }
 blst = "0.3.10"
 ethers = "0.17.0"
-jsonrpsee = { version = "0.15.1", features = ["full"] }
 revm = "1.9.0"
 bytes = "1.2.1"
 futures = "0.3.23"
 toml = "0.5.9"
 triehash-ethereum = { git = "https://github.com/openethereum/parity-ethereum" }
 async-trait = "0.1.57"
-openssl = { version = "0.10", features = ["vendored"] }
 log = "0.4.17"
 thiserror = "1.0.37"
 
diff --git a/execution/src/evm.rs b/execution/src/evm.rs
index bad11b4..cbfba71 100644
--- a/execution/src/evm.rs
+++ b/execution/src/evm.rs
@@ -15,18 +15,18 @@ use tokio::runtime::Runtime;
 use consensus::types::ExecutionPayload;
 
 use crate::{
-    rpc::Rpc,
+    rpc::ExecutionRpc,
     types::{Account, CallOpts},
 };
 
 use super::ExecutionClient;
 
-pub struct Evm<R: Rpc> {
+pub struct Evm<R: ExecutionRpc> {
     evm: EVM<ProofDB<R>>,
     chain_id: u64,
 }
 
-impl<R: Rpc> Evm<R> {
+impl<R: ExecutionRpc> Evm<R> {
     pub fn new(execution: ExecutionClient<R>, payload: ExecutionPayload, chain_id: u64) -> Self {
         let mut evm: EVM<ProofDB<R>> = EVM::new();
         let db = ProofDB::new(execution, payload);
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ impl<R: Rpc> Evm<R> {
             return Err(eyre::eyre!(err.clone()));
         }
 
+        // overestimate to avoid out of gas reverts
         let gas_scaled = (1.10 * gas as f64) as u64;
         Ok(gas_scaled)
     }
@@ -158,14 +159,14 @@ impl<R: Rpc> Evm<R> {
     }
 }
 
-struct ProofDB<R: Rpc> {
+struct ProofDB<R: ExecutionRpc> {
     execution: ExecutionClient<R>,
     payload: ExecutionPayload,
     accounts: HashMap<Address, Account>,
     error: Option<String>,
 }
 
-impl<R: Rpc> ProofDB<R> {
+impl<R: ExecutionRpc> ProofDB<R> {
     pub fn new(execution: ExecutionClient<R>, payload: ExecutionPayload) -> Self {
         ProofDB {
             execution,
@@ -205,7 +206,7 @@ impl<R: Rpc> ProofDB<R> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<R: Rpc> Database for ProofDB<R> {
+impl<R: ExecutionRpc> Database for ProofDB<R> {
     fn basic(&mut self, address: H160) -> AccountInfo {
         if is_precompile(&address) {
             return AccountInfo::default();
diff --git a/execution/src/execution.rs b/execution/src/execution.rs
index 17f3495..efbccfc 100644
--- a/execution/src/execution.rs
+++ b/execution/src/execution.rs
@@ -18,17 +18,17 @@ use crate::errors::ExecutionError;
 use crate::types::Transactions;
 
 use super::proof::{encode_account, verify_proof};
-use super::rpc::Rpc;
+use super::rpc::ExecutionRpc;
 use super::types::{Account, ExecutionBlock};
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
-pub struct ExecutionClient<R: Rpc> {
+pub struct ExecutionClient<R: ExecutionRpc> {
     pub rpc: R,
 }
 
-impl<R: Rpc> ExecutionClient<R> {
+impl<R: ExecutionRpc> ExecutionClient<R> {
     pub fn new(rpc: &str) -> Result<Self> {
-        let rpc = Rpc::new(rpc)?;
+        let rpc = ExecutionRpc::new(rpc)?;
         Ok(ExecutionClient { rpc })
     }
 
diff --git a/execution/src/rpc/http_rpc.rs b/execution/src/rpc/http_rpc.rs
index 5ccfa3c..74a9343 100644
--- a/execution/src/rpc/http_rpc.rs
+++ b/execution/src/rpc/http_rpc.rs
@@ -11,11 +11,10 @@ use ethers::types::{
     TransactionReceipt, H256, U256,
 };
 use eyre::Result;
-use log::trace;
 
 use crate::types::CallOpts;
 
-use super::Rpc;
+use super::ExecutionRpc;
 
 pub struct HttpRpc {
     url: String,
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ impl Clone for HttpRpc {
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
-impl Rpc for HttpRpc {
+impl ExecutionRpc for HttpRpc {
     fn new(rpc: &str) -> Result<Self> {
         let http = Http::from_str(rpc)?;
         let mut client = RetryClient::new(http, Box::new(HttpRateLimitRetryPolicy), 100, 250);
@@ -47,7 +46,6 @@ impl Rpc for HttpRpc {
         slots: &[H256],
         block: u64,
     ) -> Result<EIP1186ProofResponse> {
-        trace!("fetching proof");
         let block = Some(BlockId::from(block));
         let proof_response = self
             .provider
diff --git a/execution/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs b/execution/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs
index 41d9dc2..3133410 100644
--- a/execution/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs
+++ b/execution/src/rpc/mock_rpc.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use eyre::{eyre, Result};
 
 use crate::types::CallOpts;
 
-use super::Rpc;
+use super::ExecutionRpc;
 
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct MockRpc {
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub struct MockRpc {
 }
 
 #[async_trait]
-impl Rpc for MockRpc {
+impl ExecutionRpc for MockRpc {
     fn new(rpc: &str) -> Result<Self> {
         let path = PathBuf::from(rpc);
         Ok(MockRpc { path })
diff --git a/execution/src/rpc/mod.rs b/execution/src/rpc/mod.rs
index cf011b1..c3ede4b 100644
--- a/execution/src/rpc/mod.rs
+++ b/execution/src/rpc/mod.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ pub mod http_rpc;
 pub mod mock_rpc;
 
 #[async_trait]
-pub trait Rpc: Send + Clone + 'static {
+pub trait ExecutionRpc: Send + Clone + 'static {
     fn new(rpc: &str) -> Result<Self>
     where
         Self: Sized;