diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 979921fae..70b774064 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -3829,7 +3829,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "ethereum_ssz_derive",
  "hex",
  "serde",
- "serde_derive",
  "tree_hash",
 ]
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
index d0cfb3825..d1184cf75 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ pub struct ClientBuilder<T: BeaconChainTypes> {
     gossipsub_registry: Option<Registry>,
     db_path: Option<PathBuf>,
     freezer_db_path: Option<PathBuf>,
-    blobs_db_path: Option<PathBuf>,
     http_api_config: http_api::Config,
     http_metrics_config: http_metrics::Config,
     slasher: Option<Arc<Slasher<T::EthSpec>>>,
@@ -106,7 +105,6 @@ where
             gossipsub_registry: None,
             db_path: None,
             freezer_db_path: None,
-            blobs_db_path: None,
             http_api_config: <_>::default(),
             http_metrics_config: <_>::default(),
             slasher: None,
@@ -927,7 +925,6 @@ where
 
         self.db_path = Some(hot_path.into());
         self.freezer_db_path = Some(cold_path.into());
-        self.blobs_db_path = blobs_path.clone();
 
         let inner_spec = spec.clone();
         let deposit_contract_deploy_block = context
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/http.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/http.rs
index c68061710..ac7dfa57e 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/http.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/engine_api/http.rs
@@ -897,10 +897,9 @@ impl HttpJsonRpc {
                     .await?;
                 Ok(JsonGetPayloadResponse::V3(response).into())
             }
-            _ => Err(Error::UnsupportedForkVariant(format!(
-                "called get_payload_v3 with {}",
-                fork_name
-            ))),
+            ForkName::Base | ForkName::Altair | ForkName::Merge | ForkName::Capella => Err(
+                Error::UnsupportedForkVariant(format!("called get_payload_v3 with {}", fork_name)),
+            ),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
index 9eb19bb2b..034400487 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/lib.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ use types::{
     AbstractExecPayload, BeaconStateError, BlindedPayload, BlockType, ChainSpec, Epoch,
     ExecPayload, ExecutionPayloadCapella, ExecutionPayloadDeneb, ExecutionPayloadMerge,
 };
-use types::{ProposerPreparationData, PublicKeyBytes, Signature, Slot, Transaction};
+use types::{ProposerPreparationData, PublicKeyBytes, Signature, Slot};
 
 mod block_hash;
 mod engine_api;
@@ -2163,31 +2163,6 @@ fn timestamp_now() -> u64 {
         .as_secs()
 }
 
-fn static_valid_tx<T: EthSpec>() -> Result<Transaction<T::MaxBytesPerTransaction>, String> {
-    // This is a real transaction hex encoded, but we don't care about the contents of the transaction.
-    let transaction: EthersTransaction = serde_json::from_str(
-        r#"{
-            "blockHash":"0x1d59ff54b1eb26b013ce3cb5fc9dab3705b415a67127a003c3e61eb445bb8df2",
-            "blockNumber":"0x5daf3b",
-            "from":"0xa7d9ddbe1f17865597fbd27ec712455208b6b76d",
-            "gas":"0xc350",
-            "gasPrice":"0x4a817c800",
-            "hash":"0x88df016429689c079f3b2f6ad39fa052532c56795b733da78a91ebe6a713944b",
-            "input":"0x68656c6c6f21",
-            "nonce":"0x15",
-            "to":"0xf02c1c8e6114b1dbe8937a39260b5b0a374432bb",
-            "transactionIndex":"0x41",
-            "value":"0xf3dbb76162000",
-            "v":"0x25",
-            "r":"0x1b5e176d927f8e9ab405058b2d2457392da3e20f328b16ddabcebc33eaac5fea",
-            "s":"0x4ba69724e8f69de52f0125ad8b3c5c2cef33019bac3249e2c0a2192766d1721c"
-         }"#,
-    )
-    .unwrap();
-    VariableList::new(transaction.rlp().to_vec())
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to convert transaction to SSZ: {:?}", e))
-}
-
 fn noop<T: EthSpec>(
     _: &ExecutionLayer<T>,
     _: PayloadContentsRefTuple<T>,
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs
index ebfcd0875..6b638bb7f 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/execution_block_generator.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 use crate::engines::ForkchoiceState;
+use crate::EthersTransaction;
 use crate::{
     engine_api::{
         json_structures::{
@@ -6,13 +7,14 @@ use crate::{
         },
         ExecutionBlock, PayloadAttributes, PayloadId, PayloadStatusV1, PayloadStatusV1Status,
     },
-    static_valid_tx, ExecutionBlockWithTransactions,
+    ExecutionBlockWithTransactions,
 };
 use eth2::types::BlobsBundle;
 use kzg::Kzg;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 use rand::{rngs::StdRng, Rng, SeedableRng};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use ssz_types::VariableList;
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use tree_hash::TreeHash;
@@ -20,7 +22,7 @@ use tree_hash_derive::TreeHash;
 use types::{
     BlobSidecar, ChainSpec, EthSpec, ExecutionBlockHash, ExecutionPayload, ExecutionPayloadCapella,
     ExecutionPayloadDeneb, ExecutionPayloadHeader, ExecutionPayloadMerge, ForkName, Hash256,
-    Transactions, Uint256,
+    Transaction, Transactions, Uint256,
 };
 
 use super::DEFAULT_TERMINAL_BLOCK;
@@ -681,6 +683,31 @@ pub fn generate_random_blobs<T: EthSpec, R: Rng>(
     Ok((bundle, transactions.into()))
 }
 
+fn static_valid_tx<T: EthSpec>() -> Result<Transaction<T::MaxBytesPerTransaction>, String> {
+    // This is a real transaction hex encoded, but we don't care about the contents of the transaction.
+    let transaction: EthersTransaction = serde_json::from_str(
+        r#"{
+            "blockHash":"0x1d59ff54b1eb26b013ce3cb5fc9dab3705b415a67127a003c3e61eb445bb8df2",
+            "blockNumber":"0x5daf3b",
+            "from":"0xa7d9ddbe1f17865597fbd27ec712455208b6b76d",
+            "gas":"0xc350",
+            "gasPrice":"0x4a817c800",
+            "hash":"0x88df016429689c079f3b2f6ad39fa052532c56795b733da78a91ebe6a713944b",
+            "input":"0x68656c6c6f21",
+            "nonce":"0x15",
+            "to":"0xf02c1c8e6114b1dbe8937a39260b5b0a374432bb",
+            "transactionIndex":"0x41",
+            "value":"0xf3dbb76162000",
+            "v":"0x25",
+            "r":"0x1b5e176d927f8e9ab405058b2d2457392da3e20f328b16ddabcebc33eaac5fea",
+            "s":"0x4ba69724e8f69de52f0125ad8b3c5c2cef33019bac3249e2c0a2192766d1721c"
+         }"#,
+    )
+    .unwrap();
+    VariableList::new(transaction.rlp().to_vec())
+        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to convert transaction to SSZ: {:?}", e))
+}
+
 fn payload_id_from_u64(n: u64) -> PayloadId {
     n.to_le_bytes()
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/handle_rpc.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/handle_rpc.rs
index e50e6f8d3..9dff1ac00 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/handle_rpc.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/handle_rpc.rs
@@ -282,20 +282,6 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc<T: EthSpec>(
                     _ => unreachable!(),
                 }),
                 ENGINE_GET_PAYLOAD_V3 => Ok(match JsonExecutionPayload::from(response) {
-                    JsonExecutionPayload::V1(execution_payload) => {
-                        serde_json::to_value(JsonGetPayloadResponseV1 {
-                            execution_payload,
-                            block_value: DEFAULT_MOCK_EL_PAYLOAD_VALUE_WEI.into(),
-                        })
-                        .unwrap()
-                    }
-                    JsonExecutionPayload::V2(execution_payload) => {
-                        serde_json::to_value(JsonGetPayloadResponseV2 {
-                            execution_payload,
-                            block_value: DEFAULT_MOCK_EL_PAYLOAD_VALUE_WEI.into(),
-                        })
-                        .unwrap()
-                    }
                     JsonExecutionPayload::V3(execution_payload) => {
                         serde_json::to_value(JsonGetPayloadResponseV3 {
                             execution_payload,
@@ -310,6 +296,7 @@ pub async fn handle_rpc<T: EthSpec>(
                         })
                         .unwrap()
                     }
+                    _ => unreachable!(),
                 }),
                 _ => unreachable!(),
             }
diff --git a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs
index f1bd89868..2ba51bd67 100644
--- a/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/execution_layer/src/test_utils/mock_execution_layer.rs
@@ -103,14 +103,8 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> MockExecutionLayer<T> {
             justified_hash: None,
             finalized_hash: None,
         };
-        let payload_attributes = PayloadAttributes::new(
-            timestamp,
-            prev_randao,
-            Address::repeat_byte(42),
-            // FIXME: think about how to handle different forks here..
-            None,
-            None,
-        );
+        let payload_attributes =
+            PayloadAttributes::new(timestamp, prev_randao, Address::repeat_byte(42), None, None);
 
         // Insert a proposer to ensure the fork choice updated command works.
         let slot = Slot::new(0);
@@ -146,7 +140,6 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> MockExecutionLayer<T> {
                 &payload_attributes,
                 forkchoice_update_params,
                 builder_params,
-                // FIXME: do we need to consider other forks somehow?
                 ForkName::Merge,
                 &self.spec,
             )
@@ -181,7 +174,6 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> MockExecutionLayer<T> {
                 &payload_attributes,
                 forkchoice_update_params,
                 builder_params,
-                // FIXME: do we need to consider other forks somehow? What about withdrawals?
                 ForkName::Merge,
                 &self.spec,
             )
diff --git a/beacon_node/http_api/src/block_id.rs b/beacon_node/http_api/src/block_id.rs
index 545213ca8..45fc651f0 100644
--- a/beacon_node/http_api/src/block_id.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/http_api/src/block_id.rs
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ impl BlockId {
     }
 
     /// Return the `BlobSidecarList` identified by `self`.
-    pub async fn blob_sidecar_list<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
+    pub fn blob_sidecar_list<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         &self,
         chain: &BeaconChain<T>,
     ) -> Result<BlobSidecarList<T::EthSpec>, warp::Rejection> {
@@ -263,12 +263,12 @@ impl BlockId {
             .map_err(warp_utils::reject::beacon_chain_error)
     }
 
-    pub async fn blob_sidecar_list_filtered<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
+    pub fn blob_sidecar_list_filtered<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         &self,
         indices: BlobIndicesQuery,
         chain: &BeaconChain<T>,
     ) -> Result<BlobSidecarList<T::EthSpec>, warp::Rejection> {
-        let blob_sidecar_list = self.blob_sidecar_list(chain).await?;
+        let blob_sidecar_list = self.blob_sidecar_list(chain)?;
         let blob_sidecar_list_filtered = match indices.indices {
             Some(vec) => {
                 let list = blob_sidecar_list
diff --git a/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs
index 1b83b8531..05c678b25 100644
--- a/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/http_api/src/lib.rs
@@ -1729,16 +1729,18 @@ pub fn serve<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         .and(block_id_or_err)
         .and(warp::query::<api_types::BlobIndicesQuery>())
         .and(warp::path::end())
+        .and(task_spawner_filter.clone())
         .and(chain_filter.clone())
         .and(warp::header::optional::<api_types::Accept>("accept"))
-        .and_then(
+        .then(
             |block_id: BlockId,
              indices: api_types::BlobIndicesQuery,
+             task_spawner: TaskSpawner<T::EthSpec>,
              chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
              accept_header: Option<api_types::Accept>| {
-                async move {
+                task_spawner.blocking_response_task(Priority::P1, move || {
                     let blob_sidecar_list_filtered =
-                        block_id.blob_sidecar_list_filtered(indices, &chain).await?;
+                        block_id.blob_sidecar_list_filtered(indices, &chain)?;
                     match accept_header {
                         Some(api_types::Accept::Ssz) => Response::builder()
                             .status(200)
@@ -1755,7 +1757,7 @@ pub fn serve<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
                         ))
                         .into_response()),
                     }
-                }
+                })
             },
         );
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/http_api/src/publish_blocks.rs b/beacon_node/http_api/src/publish_blocks.rs
index cd9ccb6c5..e68691ce8 100644
--- a/beacon_node/http_api/src/publish_blocks.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/http_api/src/publish_blocks.rs
@@ -75,8 +75,7 @@ pub async fn publish_block<T: BeaconChainTypes, B: IntoGossipVerifiedBlockConten
             .unwrap_or_else(|| Duration::from_secs(0));
 
         info!(log, "Signed block published to network via HTTP API"; "slot" => block.slot(), "publish_delay" => ?publish_delay);
-        // Send the block, regardless of whether or not it is valid. The API
-        // specification is very clear that this is the desired behaviour.
+
         match block.as_ref() {
             SignedBeaconBlock::Base(_)
             | SignedBeaconBlock::Altair(_)
diff --git a/consensus/types/src/chain_spec.rs b/consensus/types/src/chain_spec.rs
index 680db57c2..ed0029785 100644
--- a/consensus/types/src/chain_spec.rs
+++ b/consensus/types/src/chain_spec.rs
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ pub struct Config {
     ejection_balance: u64,
     #[serde(with = "serde_utils::quoted_u64")]
     min_per_epoch_churn_limit: u64,
-    #[serde(default)]
+    #[serde(default = "default_max_per_epoch_activation_churn_limit")]
     #[serde(with = "serde_utils::quoted_u64")]
     max_per_epoch_activation_churn_limit: u64,
     #[serde(with = "serde_utils::quoted_u64")]
@@ -1106,6 +1106,10 @@ fn default_subnets_per_node() -> u8 {
     2u8
 }
 
+const fn default_max_per_epoch_activation_churn_limit() -> u64 {
+    8
+}
+
 const fn default_gossip_max_size() -> u64 {
     10485760
 }
diff --git a/crypto/kzg/Cargo.toml b/crypto/kzg/Cargo.toml
index b1e933795..d652ecb4c 100644
--- a/crypto/kzg/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crypto/kzg/Cargo.toml
@@ -7,18 +7,17 @@ edition = "2021"
 # See more keys and their definitions at https://doc.rust-lang.org/cargo/reference/manifest.html
 
 [dependencies]
-ethereum_ssz = "0.5.0"
-ethereum_ssz_derive = "0.5.3"
-tree_hash = "0.5.2"
-derivative = "2.1.1"
-serde = "1.0.116"
-serde_derive = "1.0.116"
-ethereum_serde_utils = "0.5.0"
-hex = "0.4.2"
-ethereum_hashing = "1.0.0-beta.2"
+arbitrary = { workspace = true }
+ethereum_ssz = { workspace = true }
+ethereum_ssz_derive = { workspace = true }
+tree_hash = { workspace = true }
+derivative = { workspace = true }
+serde = { workspace = true }
+ethereum_serde_utils = { workspace = true }
+hex = { workspace = true }
+ethereum_hashing = { workspace = true }
 c-kzg = { git = "https://github.com/ethereum/c-kzg-4844", rev = "f5f6f863d475847876a2bd5ee252058d37c3a15d" , features = ["mainnet-spec", "serde"]}
 c_kzg_min = { package = "c-kzg", git = "https://github.com/ethereum//c-kzg-4844", rev = "f5f6f863d475847876a2bd5ee252058d37c3a15d", features = ["minimal-spec", "serde"], optional = true }
-arbitrary = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"] }
 
 [features]
 # TODO(deneb): enabled by default for convenience, would need more cfg magic to disable