diff --git a/grin/src/adapters.rs b/grin/src/adapters.rs
index 9e0cd3280..cc036fb50 100644
--- a/grin/src/adapters.rs
+++ b/grin/src/adapters.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
 use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};
 
+use cpupool::CpuPool;
+
 use chain::{self, ChainAdapter};
 use core::core::{self, Output};
 use core::core::block::BlockHeader;
@@ -36,9 +38,14 @@ pub struct NetToChainAdapter {
 	p2p_server: OneTime<Arc<p2p::Server>>,
 	tx_pool: Arc<RwLock<pool::TransactionPool<PoolToChainAdapter>>>,
 	syncing: AtomicBool,
+	cpu_pool: CpuPool,
 }
 
 impl NetAdapter for NetToChainAdapter {
+	fn cpu_pool(&self) -> CpuPool {
+		self.cpu_pool.clone()
+	}
+
 	fn total_difficulty(&self) -> Difficulty {
 		self.chain.total_difficulty()
 	}
@@ -275,6 +282,7 @@ impl NetToChainAdapter {
 			p2p_server: OneTime::new(),
 			tx_pool: tx_pool,
 			syncing: AtomicBool::new(true),
+			cpu_pool: CpuPool::new(1),
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/p2p/Cargo.toml b/p2p/Cargo.toml
index eca81a2ae..f34bdffce 100644
--- a/p2p/Cargo.toml
+++ b/p2p/Cargo.toml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ workspace = ".."
 bitflags = "^0.7.0"
 byteorder = "^0.5"
 futures = "^0.1.15"
+futures-cpupool = "^0.1.3"
 slog = { version = "^2.0.12", features = ["max_level_trace", "release_max_level_trace"] }
 net2 = "0.2.0"
 rand = "^0.3"
diff --git a/p2p/src/conn.rs b/p2p/src/conn.rs
index f41c71dbc..9b7e5c7dd 100644
--- a/p2p/src/conn.rs
+++ b/p2p/src/conn.rs
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
 
 use futures;
-use futures::{Future, Stream};
-use futures::stream;
+use futures::{Future, Stream, stream};
 use futures::sync::mpsc::{Sender, UnboundedReceiver, UnboundedSender};
+use futures_cpupool::CpuPool;
 use tokio_core::net::TcpStream;
 use tokio_io::{AsyncRead, AsyncWrite};
 use tokio_io::io::{read_exact, write_all};
@@ -94,6 +94,7 @@ impl Connection {
 	/// itself.
 	pub fn listen<F>(
 		conn: TcpStream,
+		pool: CpuPool,
 		handler: F,
 	) -> (Connection, Box<Future<Item = (), Error = Error>>)
 	where
@@ -124,10 +125,10 @@ impl Connection {
 		};
 
 		// setup the reading future, getting messages from the peer and processing them
-		let read_msg = me.read_msg(tx, reader, handler).map(|_| ());
+		let read_msg = me.read_msg(tx, reader, handler, pool).map(|_| ());
 
-		// setting the writing future, getting messages from our system and sending
-  // them out
+		// setting the writing future
+		// getting messages from our system and sending them out
 		let write_msg = me.write_msg(rx, writer).map(|_| ());
 
 		// select between our different futures and return them
@@ -154,16 +155,20 @@ impl Connection {
 		let sent_bytes = self.sent_bytes.clone();
 		let send_data = rx
 			.map_err(|_| Error::ConnectionClose)
-      .map(move |data| {
-        // add the count of bytes sent
+			.map(move |data| {
+				trace!(LOGGER, "write_msg: start");
+				// add the count of bytes sent
 				let mut sent_bytes = sent_bytes.lock().unwrap();
 				*sent_bytes += data.len() as u64;
 				data
 			})
-      // write the data and make sure the future returns the right types
+			// write the data and make sure the future returns the right types
 			.fold(writer, |writer, data| {
-        write_all(writer, data).map_err(|e| Error::Connection(e)).map(|(writer, _)| writer)
-      });
+				write_all(writer, data).map_err(|e| Error::Connection(e)).map(|(writer, _)| {
+					trace!(LOGGER, "write_msg: done");
+					writer
+				})
+			});
 		Box::new(send_data)
 	}
 
@@ -174,28 +179,37 @@ impl Connection {
 		sender: UnboundedSender<Vec<u8>>,
 		reader: R,
 		handler: F,
+		pool: CpuPool,
 	) -> Box<Future<Item = R, Error = Error>>
 	where
 		F: Handler + 'static,
-		R: AsyncRead + 'static,
+		R: AsyncRead + Send + 'static,
 	{
 		// infinite iterator stream so we repeat the message reading logic until the
-  // peer is stopped
+		// peer is stopped
 		let iter = stream::iter_ok(iter::repeat(()).map(Ok::<(), Error>));
 
 		// setup the reading future, getting messages from the peer and processing them
 		let recv_bytes = self.received_bytes.clone();
 		let handler = Arc::new(handler);
 
-		let read_msg = iter.fold(reader, move |reader, _| {
+		let mut count = 0;
+
+		let read_msg = iter.buffered(1).fold(reader, move |reader, _| {
+			count += 1;
+			trace!(LOGGER, "read_msg: count (per buffered fold): {}", count);
+
 			let recv_bytes = recv_bytes.clone();
 			let handler = handler.clone();
 			let sender_inner = sender.clone();
+			let pool = pool.clone();
 
 			// first read the message header
 			read_exact(reader, vec![0u8; HEADER_LEN as usize])
 				.from_err()
 				.and_then(move |(reader, buf)| {
+					trace!(LOGGER, "read_msg: start");
+
 					let header = try!(ser::deserialize::<MsgHeader>(&mut &buf[..]));
 					Ok((reader, header))
 				})
@@ -210,14 +224,16 @@ impl Connection {
 					let mut recv_bytes = recv_bytes.lock().unwrap();
 					*recv_bytes += header.serialized_len() + header.msg_len;
 
-					// and handle the different message types
-					let msg_type = header.msg_type;
-					if let Err(e) = handler.handle(sender_inner.clone(), header, buf) {
-						debug!(LOGGER, "Invalid {:?} message: {}", msg_type, e);
-						return Err(Error::Serialization(e));
-					}
+					pool.spawn_fn(move || {
+						let msg_type = header.msg_type;
+						if let Err(e) = handler.handle(sender_inner.clone(), header, buf) {
+							debug!(LOGGER, "Invalid {:?} message: {}", msg_type, e);
+							return Err(Error::Serialization(e));
+						}
 
-					Ok(reader)
+						trace!(LOGGER, "read_msg: done (via cpu_pool)");
+						Ok(reader)
+					})
 				})
 		});
 		Box::new(read_msg)
@@ -260,6 +276,7 @@ impl TimeoutConnection {
 	/// Same as Connection
 	pub fn listen<F>(
 		conn: TcpStream,
+		pool: CpuPool,
 		handler: F,
 	) -> (TimeoutConnection, Box<Future<Item = (), Error = Error>>)
 	where
@@ -270,7 +287,7 @@ impl TimeoutConnection {
 		// Decorates the handler to remove the "subscription" from the expected
 		// responses. We got our replies, so no timeout should occur.
 		let exp = expects.clone();
-		let (conn, fut) = Connection::listen(conn, move |sender, header: MsgHeader, data| {
+		let (conn, fut) = Connection::listen(conn, pool, move |sender, header: MsgHeader, data| {
 			let msg_type = header.msg_type;
 			let recv_h = try!(handler.handle(sender, header, data));
 
diff --git a/p2p/src/lib.rs b/p2p/src/lib.rs
index cf23fc837..01980e1ed 100644
--- a/p2p/src/lib.rs
+++ b/p2p/src/lib.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ extern crate bytes;
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate enum_primitive;
 extern crate futures;
+extern crate futures_cpupool;
+
 #[macro_use]
 extern crate grin_core as core;
 extern crate grin_store;
diff --git a/p2p/src/peer.rs b/p2p/src/peer.rs
index 9ad4b062c..aa0981adc 100644
--- a/p2p/src/peer.rs
+++ b/p2p/src/peer.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::sync::{Arc, RwLock};
 
 use futures::Future;
+use futures_cpupool::CpuPool;
 use tokio_core::net::TcpStream;
 
 use core::core;
@@ -221,6 +222,10 @@ impl TrackingAdapter {
 }
 
 impl NetAdapter for TrackingAdapter {
+	fn cpu_pool(&self) -> CpuPool {
+		self.adapter.cpu_pool()
+	}
+
 	fn total_difficulty(&self) -> Difficulty {
 		self.adapter.total_difficulty()
 	}
diff --git a/p2p/src/protocol.rs b/p2p/src/protocol.rs
index 9dcad8c14..cb5578104 100644
--- a/p2p/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/p2p/src/protocol.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ impl Protocol for ProtocolV1 {
 		adapter: Arc<NetAdapter>,
 		addr: SocketAddr,
 	) -> Box<Future<Item = (), Error = Error>> {
-		let (conn, listener) = TimeoutConnection::listen(conn, move |sender, header, data| {
+		let pool = adapter.cpu_pool();
+		let (conn, listener) = TimeoutConnection::listen(conn, pool, move |sender, header, data| {
 			let adapt = adapter.as_ref();
 			handle_payload(adapt, sender, header, data, addr)
 		});
@@ -152,7 +153,11 @@ fn handle_payload(
 				&MsgHeader::new(Type::Pong, body_data.len() as u64),
 			));
 			data.append(&mut body_data);
-			sender.unbounded_send(data).unwrap();
+
+			if let Err(e) = sender.unbounded_send(data) {
+				debug!(LOGGER, "handle_payload: Ping, error sending: {:?}", e);
+			}
+
 			Ok(None)
 		}
 		Type::Pong => {
@@ -180,13 +185,18 @@ fn handle_payload(
 					&MsgHeader::new(Type::Block, body_data.len() as u64),
 				));
 				data.append(&mut body_data);
-				sender.unbounded_send(data).unwrap();
+				if let Err(e) = sender.unbounded_send(data) {
+					debug!(LOGGER, "handle_payload: GetBlock, error sending: {:?}", e);
+				}
 			}
 			Ok(None)
 		}
 		Type::Block => {
 			let b = ser::deserialize::<core::Block>(&mut &buf[..])?;
 			let bh = b.hash();
+
+			debug!(LOGGER, "handle_payload: Block {}", bh);
+
 			adapter.block_received(b, addr);
 			Ok(Some(bh))
 		}
@@ -207,7 +217,9 @@ fn handle_payload(
 				&MsgHeader::new(Type::Headers, body_data.len() as u64),
 			));
 			data.append(&mut body_data);
-			sender.unbounded_send(data).unwrap();
+			if let Err(e) = sender.unbounded_send(data) {
+				debug!(LOGGER, "handle_payload: GetHeaders, error sending: {:?}", e);
+			}
 
 			Ok(None)
 		}
@@ -234,7 +246,9 @@ fn handle_payload(
 				&MsgHeader::new(Type::PeerAddrs, body_data.len() as u64),
 			));
 			data.append(&mut body_data);
-			sender.unbounded_send(data).unwrap();
+			if let Err(e) = sender.unbounded_send(data) {
+				debug!(LOGGER, "handle_payload: GetPeerAddrs, error sending: {:?}", e);
+			}
 
 			Ok(None)
 		}
diff --git a/p2p/src/server.rs b/p2p/src/server.rs
index 4327c139d..ce7478c32 100644
--- a/p2p/src/server.rs
+++ b/p2p/src/server.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 use futures;
 use futures::{Future, Stream};
 use futures::future::{self, IntoFuture};
+use futures_cpupool::CpuPool;
 use rand::{thread_rng, Rng};
 use tokio_core::net::{TcpListener, TcpStream};
 use tokio_core::reactor;
@@ -39,8 +40,22 @@ use types::*;
 use util::LOGGER;
 
 /// A no-op network adapter used for testing.
-pub struct DummyAdapter {}
+pub struct DummyAdapter {
+	cpu_pool: CpuPool,
+}
+
+impl DummyAdapter {
+	pub fn new() -> DummyAdapter {
+		DummyAdapter {
+			cpu_pool: CpuPool::new(1),
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 impl NetAdapter for DummyAdapter {
+	fn cpu_pool(&self) -> CpuPool {
+		self.cpu_pool.clone()
+	}
 	fn total_difficulty(&self) -> Difficulty {
 		Difficulty::one()
 	}
diff --git a/p2p/src/types.rs b/p2p/src/types.rs
index 1cf6a0b59..e19e6580c 100644
--- a/p2p/src/types.rs
+++ b/p2p/src/types.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ use std::net::{IpAddr, SocketAddr};
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use futures::Future;
+use futures_cpupool::CpuPool;
 use tokio_core::net::TcpStream;
 use tokio_timer::TimerError;
 
@@ -197,4 +198,7 @@ pub trait NetAdapter: Sync + Send {
 
 	/// Heard total_difficulty from a connected peer (via ping/pong).
 	fn peer_difficulty(&self, SocketAddr, Difficulty);
+
+	/// Central threadpool that we can use to handle requests from all our peers.
+	fn cpu_pool(&self) -> CpuPool;
 }
diff --git a/p2p/tests/peer_handshake.rs b/p2p/tests/peer_handshake.rs
index 5756761cd..a3d780c6b 100644
--- a/p2p/tests/peer_handshake.rs
+++ b/p2p/tests/peer_handshake.rs
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 // limitations under the License.
 
 extern crate futures;
+extern crate futures_cpupool;
 extern crate grin_core as core;
 extern crate grin_p2p as p2p;
 extern crate tokio_core;
@@ -36,7 +37,7 @@ fn peer_handshake() {
 	let mut evtlp = Core::new().unwrap();
 	let handle = evtlp.handle();
 	let p2p_conf = p2p::P2PConfig::default();
-	let net_adapter = Arc::new(p2p::DummyAdapter {});
+	let net_adapter = Arc::new(p2p::DummyAdapter::new());
 	let server = p2p::Server::new(
 		".grin".to_owned(),
 		p2p::UNKNOWN,