perf(l1): run "engine_newPayload" block execution in a worker thread

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 ### 2025-10-27
 
+- Run "engine_newPayload" block execution in a dedicated worker thread. [#5051](https://github.com/lambdaclass/ethrex/pull/5051)
 - Reusing FindNode message per lookup loop instead of randomizing the key for each message. [#5047](https://github.com/lambdaclass/ethrex/pull/5047)
 
 ### 2025-10-23

benches/benches/build_block_benchmark.rs

@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ pub async fn bench_payload(input: &(Arc<Blockchain>, Block, &Store)) -> (Duratio
     // 3. engine_newPayload is called, this eventually calls Blockchain::add_block
     // which takes transactions from the mempool and fills the block with them.
     let since = Instant::now();
-    blockchain.add_block(block).await.unwrap();
+    blockchain.add_block(block).unwrap();
     let executed = Instant::now();
     // EXTRA: Sanity check to not benchmark n empty block.
     assert!(

cmd/ethrex/cli.rs

@@ -576,7 +576,6 @@ pub async fn import_blocks(
 
             blockchain
                 .add_block(block)
-                .await
                 .inspect_err(|err| match err {
                     // Block number 1's parent not found, the chain must not belong to the same network as the genesis file
                     ChainError::ParentNotFound if number == 1 => warn!("The chain file is not compatible with the genesis file. Are you sure you selected the correct network?"),

cmd/ethrex/initializers.rs

@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ pub async fn regenerate_head_state(
             .await?
             .ok_or_else(|| eyre::eyre!("Block {i} not found"))?;
 
-        blockchain.add_block(block).await?;
+        blockchain.add_block(block)?;
     }
 
     info!("Finished regenerating state");

crates/blockchain/blockchain.rs

@@ -139,14 +139,14 @@ impl Blockchain {
     }
 
     /// Executes a block withing a new vm instance and state
-    async fn execute_block(
+    fn execute_block(
         &self,
         block: &Block,
     ) -> Result<(BlockExecutionResult, Vec<AccountUpdate>), ChainError> {
         // Validate if it can be the new head and find the parent
         let Ok(parent_header) = find_parent_header(&block.header, &self.storage) else {
             // If the parent is not present, we store it as pending.
-            self.storage.add_pending_block(block.clone()).await?;
+            self.storage.add_pending_block(block.clone())?;
             return Err(ChainError::ParentNotFound);
         };
 
@@ -388,8 +388,7 @@ impl Blockchain {
             // We cannot ensure that the users of this function have the necessary
             // state stored, so in order for it to not assume anything, we update
             // the storage with the new state after re-execution
-            self.store_block(block.clone(), account_updates_list, execution_result)
-                .await?;
+            self.store_block(block.clone(), account_updates_list, execution_result)?;
 
             for (address, (witness, _storage_trie)) in storage_tries_after_update {
                 let mut witness = witness.lock().map_err(|_| {
@@ -499,7 +498,7 @@ impl Blockchain {
         })
     }
 
-    pub async fn store_block(
+    pub fn store_block(
         &self,
         block: Block,
         account_updates_list: AccountUpdatesList,
@@ -518,13 +517,12 @@ impl Blockchain {
 
         self.storage
             .store_block_updates(update_batch)
-            .await
             .map_err(|e| e.into())
     }
 
-    pub async fn add_block(&self, block: Block) -> Result<(), ChainError> {
+    pub fn add_block(&self, block: Block) -> Result<(), ChainError> {
         let since = Instant::now();
-        let (res, updates) = self.execute_block(&block).await?;
+        let (res, updates) = self.execute_block(&block)?;
         let executed = Instant::now();
 
         // Apply the account updates over the last block's state and compute the new state root
@@ -541,7 +539,7 @@ impl Blockchain {
         );
 
         let merkleized = Instant::now();
-        let result = self.store_block(block, account_updates_list, res).await;
+        let result = self.store_block(block, account_updates_list, res);
         let stored = Instant::now();
 
         if self.options.perf_logs_enabled {
@@ -727,7 +725,6 @@ impl Blockchain {
 
         self.storage
             .store_block_updates(update_batch)
-            .await
             .map_err(|e| (e.into(), None))?;
 
         let elapsed_seconds = interval.elapsed().as_secs_f64();

crates/blockchain/smoke_test.rs

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         // Add first block. We'll make it canonical.
         let block_1a = new_block(&store, &genesis_header).await;
         let hash_1a = block_1a.hash();
-        blockchain.add_block(block_1a.clone()).await.unwrap();
+        blockchain.add_block(block_1a.clone()).unwrap();
         store
             .forkchoice_update(None, 1, hash_1a, None, None)
             .await
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let hash_1b = block_1b.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_1b.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 1b.");
         let retrieved_1b = store.get_block_header_by_hash(hash_1b).unwrap().unwrap();
 
@@ -57,7 +56,6 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let hash_2 = block_2.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_2.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 2.");
         let retrieved_2 = store.get_block_header_by_hash(hash_2).unwrap();
 
@@ -92,7 +90,7 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         // Build a single valid block.
         let block_1 = new_block(&store, &genesis_header).await;
         let hash_1 = block_1.hash();
-        blockchain.add_block(block_1.clone()).await.unwrap();
+        blockchain.add_block(block_1.clone()).unwrap();
         apply_fork_choice(&store, hash_1, H256::zero(), H256::zero())
             .await
             .unwrap();
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let mut block_2 = new_block(&store, &block_1.header).await;
         block_2.header.parent_hash = H256::random();
         let hash_2 = block_2.hash();
-        let result = blockchain.add_block(block_2.clone()).await;
+        let result = blockchain.add_block(block_2.clone());
         assert!(matches!(result, Err(ChainError::ParentNotFound)));
 
         // block 2 should now be pending.
@@ -127,7 +125,7 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         // Add first block. Not canonical.
         let block_1a = new_block(&store, &genesis_header).await;
         let hash_1a = block_1a.hash();
-        blockchain.add_block(block_1a.clone()).await.unwrap();
+        blockchain.add_block(block_1a.clone()).unwrap();
         let retrieved_1a = store.get_block_header_by_hash(hash_1a).unwrap().unwrap();
 
         assert!(!is_canonical(&store, 1, hash_1a).await.unwrap());
@@ -137,7 +135,6 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let hash_1b = block_1b.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_1b.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 1b.");
         apply_fork_choice(&store, hash_1b, genesis_hash, genesis_hash)
             .await
@@ -154,7 +151,6 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let hash_2 = block_2.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_2.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 2.");
         apply_fork_choice(&store, hash_2, genesis_hash, genesis_hash)
             .await
@@ -201,15 +197,13 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let hash_1 = block_1.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_1.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 1b.");
 
         // Add child at height 2.
         let block_2 = new_block(&store, &block_1.header).await;
         let hash_2 = block_2.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_2.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 2.");
 
         assert!(!is_canonical(&store, 1, hash_1).await.unwrap());
@@ -253,15 +247,13 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let block_1 = new_block(&store, &genesis_header).await;
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_1.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 1b.");
 
         // Add child at height 2.
         let block_2 = new_block(&store, &block_1.header).await;
         let hash_2 = block_2.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_2.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block 2.");
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -281,7 +273,6 @@ mod blockchain_integration_test {
         let hash_b = block_1b.hash();
         blockchain
             .add_block(block_1b.clone())
-            .await
             .expect("Could not add block b.");
 
         // The latest block should be the same.

crates/l2/based/block_fetcher.rs

@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ impl BlockFetcher {
 
     async fn store_batch(&mut self, batch: &[Block]) -> Result<(), BlockFetcherError> {
         for block in batch.iter() {
-            self.blockchain.add_block(block.clone()).await?;
+            self.blockchain.add_block(block.clone())?;
 
             let block_hash = block.hash();
 

crates/l2/networking/rpc/rpc.rs

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ pub async fn start_api(
     // TODO: Refactor how filters are handled,
     // filters are used by the filters endpoints (eth_newFilter, eth_getFilterChanges, ...etc)
     let active_filters = Arc::new(Mutex::new(HashMap::new()));
+    let block_worker_channel = ethrex_rpc::start_block_executor(blockchain.clone());
     let service_context = RpcApiContext {
         l1_ctx: ethrex_rpc::RpcApiContext {
             storage,
@@ -103,6 +104,7 @@ pub async fn start_api(
             gas_tip_estimator: Arc::new(TokioMutex::new(GasTipEstimator::new())),
             log_filter_handler,
             gas_ceil,
+            block_worker_channel,
         },
         valid_delegation_addresses,
         sponsor_pk,

crates/l2/sequencer/block_producer.rs

@@ -211,8 +211,7 @@ impl BlockProducer {
         let block_hash = block.hash();
         self.store_fee_config_by_block(block.header.number).await?;
         self.blockchain
-            .store_block(block, account_updates_list, execution_result)
-            .await?;
+            .store_block(block, account_updates_list, execution_result)?;
         info!(
             "Stored new block {:x}, transaction_count {}",
             block_hash, transactions_count

crates/l2/sequencer/l1_committer.rs

@@ -524,16 +524,14 @@ impl L1Committer {
                         "no account updated".to_owned(),
                     ))?;
 
-                one_time_checkpoint_blockchain
-                    .store_block(
-                        potential_batch_block.clone(),
-                        account_updates_list,
-                        BlockExecutionResult {
-                            receipts,
-                            requests: vec![],
-                        },
-                    )
-                    .await?;
+                one_time_checkpoint_blockchain.store_block(
+                    potential_batch_block.clone(),
+                    account_updates_list,
+                    BlockExecutionResult {
+                        receipts,
+                        requests: vec![],
+                    },
+                )?;
             }
 
             // Accumulate block data with the rest of the batch.
@@ -1257,7 +1255,6 @@ pub async fn regenerate_head_state(
 
         blockchain
             .add_block(block)
-            .await
             .map_err(|err| CommitterError::FailedToCreateCheckpoint(err.to_string()))?;
     }
 

crates/networking/p2p/rlpx/l2/l2_connection.rs

@@ -393,19 +393,15 @@ async fn process_new_block(
         let block = Arc::<Block>::try_unwrap(block).map_err(|_| {
             PeerConnectionError::InternalError("Failed to take ownership of block".to_string())
         })?;
-        established
-            .blockchain
-            .add_block(block)
-            .await
-            .inspect_err(|e| {
-                log_peer_error!(
-                    &established.node,
-                    &format!(
-                        "Error adding new block {} with hash {:?}, error: {e}",
-                        block_number, block_hash
-                    ),
-                );
-            })?;
+        established.blockchain.add_block(block).inspect_err(|e| {
+            log_peer_error!(
+                &established.node,
+                &format!(
+                    "Error adding new block {} with hash {:?}, error: {e}",
+                    block_number, block_hash
+                ),
+            );
+        })?;
 
         apply_fork_choice(&established.storage, block_hash, block_hash, block_hash)
             .await

crates/networking/p2p/sync.rs

@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ impl Syncer {
             let mut last_valid_hash = H256::default();
             for block in blocks {
                 let block_hash = block.hash();
-                blockchain.add_block(block).await.map_err(|e| {
+                blockchain.add_block(block).map_err(|e| {
                     (
                         e,
                         Some(BatchBlockProcessingFailure {

crates/networking/rpc/engine/payload.rs

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ use ethrex_common::{H256, U256};
 use ethrex_p2p::sync::SyncMode;
 use ethrex_rlp::error::RLPDecodeError;
 use serde_json::Value;
+use tokio::sync::oneshot;
 use tracing::{debug, error, info, warn};
 
 use crate::rpc::{RpcApiContext, RpcHandler};
@@ -678,6 +679,20 @@ fn validate_block_hash(payload: &ExecutionPayload, block: &Block) -> Result<(),
     Ok(())
 }
 
+pub async fn add_block(ctx: &RpcApiContext, block: Block) -> Result<(), ChainError> {
+    let (notify_send, notify_recv) = oneshot::channel();
+    ctx.block_worker_channel
+        .send((notify_send, block))
+        .map_err(|e| {
+            ChainError::Custom(format!(
+                "failed to send block execution request to worker: {e}"
+            ))
+        })?;
+    notify_recv
+        .await
+        .map_err(|e| ChainError::Custom(format!("failed to receive block execution result: {e}")))?
+}
+
 async fn try_execute_payload(
     block: Block,
     context: &RpcApiContext,
@@ -696,7 +711,7 @@ async fn try_execute_payload(
     // Execute and store the block
     info!(%block_hash, %block_number, "Executing payload");
 
-    match context.blockchain.add_block(block).await {
+    match add_block(context, block).await {
         Err(ChainError::ParentNotFound) => {
             // Start sync
             context.syncer.sync_to_head(block_hash);

crates/networking/rpc/lib.rs

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ pub mod types;
 pub mod utils;
 pub use clients::{EngineClient, EthClient};
 
-pub use rpc::start_api;
+pub use rpc::{start_api, start_block_executor};
 
 // TODO: These exports are needed by ethrex-l2-rpc, but we do not want to
 // export them in the public API of this crate.