diff --git a/.github/workflows/rust.yml b/.github/workflows/rust.yml
index 6bc1c89a9..fef2eb75f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/rust.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/rust.yml
@@ -255,14 +255,16 @@ jobs:
       - name: Ensure no panics in annotated code
         env:
           # Increase inlining threshold to make sure the compiler can see that some functions do not panic
-          RUSTFLAGS: ${{ env.RUSTFLAGS }} -Cllvm-args=--inline-threshold=2000
+          # Native CPU and LTO to allow compiler to apply more optimizations and prove lack of panics in more cases
+          RUSTFLAGS: ${{ env.RUSTFLAGS }} -Cllvm-args=--inline-threshold=3000 -C embed-bitcode -C lto=fat -Z dylib-lto -C target-cpu=native
         run: |
           cargo -Zgitoxide -Zgit build --release --all-targets --features no-panic
 
       - name: Ensure no panics in annotated code (various features)
         env:
           # Increase inlining threshold to make sure the compiler can see that some functions do not panic
-          RUSTFLAGS: ${{ env.RUSTFLAGS }} -Cllvm-args=--inline-threshold=2000
+          # Native CPU and LTO to allow compiler to apply more optimizations and prove lack of panics in more cases
+          RUSTFLAGS: ${{ env.RUSTFLAGS }} -Cllvm-args=--inline-threshold=3000 -C embed-bitcode -C lto=fat -Z dylib-lto -C target-cpu=native
         run: |
           # Ensure no panics with `guest` feature
           echo "Checking `no-panic` in contracts"
diff --git a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/Cargo.toml b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/Cargo.toml
index e1c350304..b290fa552 100644
--- a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/Cargo.toml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ aes = { workspace = true }
 no-panic = { workspace = true, optional = true }
 thiserror = { workspace = true }
 
-[target.'cfg(target_arch = "x86_64")'.dependencies]
+[target.'cfg(any(target_arch = "aarch64", target_arch = "x86_64"))'.dependencies]
 cpufeatures = { workspace = true }
 
 [dev-dependencies]
diff --git a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes.rs b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes.rs
index 5e7ae5264..0908ea4a5 100644
--- a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes.rs
+++ b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 //! AES related functionality.
 
+#[cfg(target_arch = "aarch64")]
+mod aarch64;
 #[cfg(target_arch = "x86_64")]
 mod x86_64;
 
@@ -21,6 +23,14 @@ pub(crate) fn create(seed: PotSeed, key: PotKey, checkpoint_iterations: u32) ->
             return unsafe { x86_64::create(seed.as_ref(), key.as_ref(), checkpoint_iterations) };
         }
     }
+    #[cfg(target_arch = "aarch64")]
+    {
+        cpufeatures::new!(has_aes, "aes");
+        if has_aes::get() {
+            // SAFETY: Checked `aes` feature
+            return unsafe { aarch64::create(seed.as_ref(), key.as_ref(), checkpoint_iterations) };
+        }
+    }
 
     create_generic(seed, key, checkpoint_iterations)
 }
@@ -89,6 +99,16 @@ pub(crate) fn verify_sequential(
             };
         }
     }
+    #[cfg(target_arch = "aarch64")]
+    {
+        cpufeatures::new!(has_aes, "aes");
+        if has_aes::get() {
+            // SAFETY: Checked `aes` feature
+            return unsafe {
+                aarch64::verify_sequential_aes(&seed, &key, checkpoints, checkpoint_iterations)
+            };
+        }
+    }
 
     verify_sequential_generic(seed, key, checkpoints, checkpoint_iterations)
 }
@@ -151,9 +171,8 @@ mod tests {
         checkpoint_iterations: u32,
     ) -> bool {
         let sequential = verify_sequential(seed, key, checkpoints, checkpoint_iterations);
-        let sequential_generic =
-            verify_sequential_generic(seed, key, checkpoints, checkpoint_iterations);
-        assert_eq!(sequential, sequential_generic);
+        let generic = verify_sequential_generic(seed, key, checkpoints, checkpoint_iterations);
+        assert_eq!(sequential, generic);
 
         #[cfg(target_arch = "x86_64")]
         {
@@ -188,7 +207,7 @@ mod tests {
             cpufeatures::new!(has_aes_sse41, "aes", "sse4.1");
             if has_aes_sse41::get() {
                 // SAFETY: Checked `aes` and `sse4.1` features
-                let aes = unsafe {
+                let aes_sse41 = unsafe {
                     x86_64::verify_sequential_aes_sse41(
                         &seed,
                         &key,
@@ -196,6 +215,17 @@ mod tests {
                         checkpoint_iterations,
                     )
                 };
+                assert_eq!(sequential, aes_sse41);
+            }
+        }
+        #[cfg(target_arch = "aarch64")]
+        {
+            cpufeatures::new!(has_aes, "aes");
+            if has_aes::get() {
+                // SAFETY: Checked `aes` feature
+                let aes = unsafe {
+                    aarch64::verify_sequential_aes(&seed, &key, checkpoints, checkpoint_iterations)
+                };
                 assert_eq!(sequential, aes);
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/aarch64.rs b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/aarch64.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..97cd1ea6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/aarch64.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,175 @@
+use ab_core_primitives::pot::{PotCheckpoints, PotOutput};
+use core::arch::aarch64::*;
+use core::simd::u8x16;
+use core::slice;
+
+const NUM_ROUND_KEYS: usize = 11;
+
+/// Create PoT proof with checkpoints
+#[target_feature(enable = "aes")]
+#[inline]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "no-panic", no_panic::no_panic)]
+pub(super) fn create(
+    seed: &[u8; 16],
+    key: &[u8; 16],
+    checkpoint_iterations: u32,
+) -> PotCheckpoints {
+    let mut checkpoints = PotCheckpoints::default();
+
+    let keys = expand_key(key);
+    let xor_key = veorq_u8(keys[10], keys[0]);
+    let mut seed = uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(*seed));
+    seed = veorq_u8(seed, keys[10]);
+    for checkpoint in checkpoints.iter_mut() {
+        for _ in 0..checkpoint_iterations {
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, xor_key));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[1]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[2]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[3]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[4]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[5]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[6]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[7]));
+            seed = vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[8]));
+            seed = vaeseq_u8(seed, keys[9]);
+        }
+
+        let checkpoint_reg = veorq_u8(seed, keys[10]);
+        **checkpoint = u8x16::from(checkpoint_reg).to_array();
+    }
+
+    checkpoints
+}
+
+/// Verification mimics `create` function, but also has decryption half for better performance
+#[target_feature(enable = "aes")]
+#[inline]
+// TODO: Enable on all platforms once it works
+#[cfg_attr(all(feature = "no-panic", target_os = "linux"), no_panic::no_panic)]
+pub(super) fn verify_sequential_aes(
+    seed: &[u8; 16],
+    key: &[u8; 16],
+    checkpoints: &PotCheckpoints,
+    checkpoint_iterations: u32,
+) -> bool {
+    let checkpoints = PotOutput::repr_from_slice(checkpoints.as_slice());
+
+    let keys = expand_key(key);
+    let xor_key = veorq_u8(keys[10], keys[0]);
+
+    // Invert keys for decryption, the first and last element is not used below, hence they are
+    // copied as is from encryption keys (otherwise the first and last element would need to be
+    // swapped)
+    let mut inv_keys = keys;
+    for i in 1..10 {
+        inv_keys[i] = vaesimcq_u8(keys[10 - i]);
+    }
+
+    let mut inputs: [uint8x16_t; PotCheckpoints::NUM_CHECKPOINTS.get() as usize] = [
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(*seed)),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[0])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[1])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[2])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[3])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[4])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[5])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[6])),
+    ];
+
+    let mut outputs: [uint8x16_t; PotCheckpoints::NUM_CHECKPOINTS.get() as usize] = [
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[0])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[1])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[2])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[3])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[4])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[5])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[6])),
+        uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[7])),
+    ];
+
+    inputs = inputs.map(|input| veorq_u8(input, keys[10]));
+    outputs = outputs.map(|output| veorq_u8(output, keys[0]));
+
+    for _ in 0..checkpoint_iterations / 2 {
+        inputs = inputs.map(|input| vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(input, xor_key)));
+        outputs = outputs.map(|output| vaesimcq_u8(vaesdq_u8(output, xor_key)));
+
+        for i in 1..9 {
+            inputs = inputs.map(|input| vaesmcq_u8(vaeseq_u8(input, keys[i])));
+            outputs = outputs.map(|output| vaesimcq_u8(vaesdq_u8(output, inv_keys[i])));
+        }
+
+        inputs = inputs.map(|input| vaeseq_u8(input, keys[9]));
+        outputs = outputs.map(|output| vaesdq_u8(output, inv_keys[9]));
+    }
+
+    inputs.into_iter().zip(outputs).all(|(input, output)| {
+        let diff = veorq_u8(input, output);
+        let cmp = vceqq_u8(diff, xor_key);
+        vminvq_u8(cmp) == u8::MAX
+    })
+}
+
+// Below code copied with minor changes from the following place under MIT/Apache-2.0 license by
+// Artyom Pavlov:
+// https://github.com/RustCrypto/block-ciphers/blob/fbb68f40b122909d92e40ee8a50112b6e5d0af8f/aes/src/armv8/expand.rs
+
+/// There are 4 AES words in a block.
+const BLOCK_WORDS: usize = 4;
+
+/// The AES (nee Rijndael) notion of a word is always 32-bits, or 4-bytes.
+const WORD_SIZE: usize = 4;
+
+/// AES round constants.
+const ROUND_CONSTS: [u32; 10] = [0x01, 0x02, 0x04, 0x08, 0x10, 0x20, 0x40, 0x80, 0x1b, 0x36];
+
+/// AES key expansion.
+#[target_feature(enable = "aes")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "no-panic", no_panic::no_panic)]
+fn expand_key(key: &[u8; 16]) -> [uint8x16_t; NUM_ROUND_KEYS] {
+    let mut expanded_keys = [uint8x16_t::from(u8x16::default()); NUM_ROUND_KEYS];
+
+    // Sanity check, as this is required in order for the subsequent conversion to be sound.
+    const _: () = assert!(align_of::<uint8x16_t>() >= align_of::<u32>());
+    let columns = unsafe {
+        slice::from_raw_parts_mut(
+            expanded_keys.as_mut_ptr().cast::<u32>(),
+            NUM_ROUND_KEYS * BLOCK_WORDS,
+        )
+    };
+
+    for (i, chunk) in key.array_chunks::<WORD_SIZE>().enumerate() {
+        columns[i] = u32::from_ne_bytes(*chunk);
+    }
+
+    // From "The Rijndael Block Cipher" Section 4.1:
+    // > The number of columns of the Cipher Key is denoted by `Nk` and is
+    // > equal to the key length divided by 32 [bits].
+    let nk = 16 / WORD_SIZE;
+
+    for i in nk..NUM_ROUND_KEYS * BLOCK_WORDS {
+        let mut word = columns[i - 1];
+
+        if i % nk == 0 {
+            word = sub_word(word).rotate_right(8) ^ ROUND_CONSTS[i / nk - 1];
+        } else if nk > 6 && i % nk == 4 {
+            word = sub_word(word);
+        }
+
+        columns[i] = columns[i - nk] ^ word;
+    }
+
+    expanded_keys
+}
+
+/// Sub bytes for a single AES word: used for key expansion
+#[target_feature(enable = "aes")]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "no-panic", no_panic::no_panic)]
+fn sub_word(input: u32) -> u32 {
+    let input = vreinterpretq_u8_u32(vdupq_n_u32(input));
+
+    // AES single round encryption (with a "round" key of all zeros)
+    let sub_input = vaeseq_u8(input, vdupq_n_u8(0));
+
+    vgetq_lane_u32::<0>(vreinterpretq_u32_u8(sub_input))
+}
diff --git a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/x86_64.rs b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/x86_64.rs
index 42c916d56..c7965b5a5 100644
--- a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/x86_64.rs
+++ b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/aes/x86_64.rs
@@ -16,25 +16,25 @@ pub(super) fn create(
 ) -> PotCheckpoints {
     let mut checkpoints = PotCheckpoints::default();
 
-    let keys_reg = expand_key(key);
-    let xor_key = _mm_xor_si128(keys_reg[10], keys_reg[0]);
-    let mut seed_reg = __m128i::from(u8x16::from_array(*seed));
-    seed_reg = _mm_xor_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[0]);
+    let keys = expand_key(key);
+    let xor_key = _mm_xor_si128(keys[10], keys[0]);
+    let mut seed = __m128i::from(u8x16::from_array(*seed));
+    seed = _mm_xor_si128(seed, keys[0]);
     for checkpoint in checkpoints.iter_mut() {
         for _ in 0..checkpoint_iterations {
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[1]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[2]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[3]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[4]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[5]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[6]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[7]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[8]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[9]);
-            seed_reg = _mm_aesenclast_si128(seed_reg, xor_key);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[1]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[2]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[3]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[4]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[5]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[6]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[7]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[8]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenc_si128(seed, keys[9]);
+            seed = _mm_aesenclast_si128(seed, xor_key);
         }
 
-        let checkpoint_reg = _mm_xor_si128(seed_reg, keys_reg[0]);
+        let checkpoint_reg = _mm_xor_si128(seed, keys[0]);
         **checkpoint = u8x16::from(checkpoint_reg).to_array();
     }
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ pub(super) fn verify_sequential_aes_sse41(
         inv_keys[i] = _mm_aesimc_si128(keys[10 - i]);
     }
 
-    let mut inputs: [__m128i; 8] = [
+    let mut inputs: [__m128i; PotCheckpoints::NUM_CHECKPOINTS.get() as usize] = [
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(*seed)),
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[0])),
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[1])),
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ pub(super) fn verify_sequential_aes_sse41(
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[6])),
     ];
 
-    let mut outputs: [__m128i; 8] = [
+    let mut outputs: [__m128i; PotCheckpoints::NUM_CHECKPOINTS.get() as usize] = [
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[0])),
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[1])),
         __m128i::from(u8x16::from(checkpoints[2])),
diff --git a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/lib.rs b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/lib.rs
index 3cfa429de..0e0085c51 100644
--- a/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/shared/ab-proof-of-time/src/lib.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 //! Proof of time implementation.
 
+#![cfg_attr(target_arch = "aarch64", feature(array_chunks, iter_array_chunks))]
 #![cfg_attr(target_arch = "x86_64", feature(stdarch_x86_avx512))]
 #![feature(portable_simd)]
 #![no_std]
diff --git a/subspace/docker/bootstrap-node.Dockerfile b/subspace/docker/bootstrap-node.Dockerfile
index a0d6c3731..6216f4075 100644
--- a/subspace/docker/bootstrap-node.Dockerfile
+++ b/subspace/docker/bootstrap-node.Dockerfile
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ RUN \
     ; fi && \
     if [ $TARGETARCH = "amd64" ] && [ "$RUSTFLAGS" = "" ]; then \
       case "$TARGETVARIANT" in \
-        # x86-64-v2 with AES-NI
+        # x86-64-v2
         "v2") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v2" ;; \
         # x86-64-v3 with AES-NI
         "v3") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v3 -C target-feature=+aes" ;; \
diff --git a/subspace/docker/farmer.Dockerfile b/subspace/docker/farmer.Dockerfile
index c69f26c91..7d675bc79 100644
--- a/subspace/docker/farmer.Dockerfile
+++ b/subspace/docker/farmer.Dockerfile
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ RUN \
     ; fi && \
     if [ $TARGETARCH = "amd64" ] && [ "$RUSTFLAGS" = "" ]; then \
       case "$TARGETVARIANT" in \
-        # x86-64-v2 with AES-NI
+        # x86-64-v2
         "v2") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v2" ;; \
         # x86-64-v3 with AES-NI
         "v3") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v3 -C target-feature=+aes" ;; \
diff --git a/subspace/docker/node.Dockerfile b/subspace/docker/node.Dockerfile
index e711cf598..2f6ad86c2 100644
--- a/subspace/docker/node.Dockerfile
+++ b/subspace/docker/node.Dockerfile
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ RUN \
     ; fi && \
     if [ $TARGETARCH = "amd64" ] && [ "$RUSTFLAGS" = "" ]; then \
       case "$TARGETVARIANT" in \
-        # x86-64-v2 with AES-NI
+        # x86-64-v2
         "v2") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v2" ;; \
         # x86-64-v3 with AES-NI
         "v3") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v3 -C target-feature=+aes" ;; \
diff --git a/subspace/docker/runtime.Dockerfile b/subspace/docker/runtime.Dockerfile
index 6046f1a7c..68ddbdcff 100644
--- a/subspace/docker/runtime.Dockerfile
+++ b/subspace/docker/runtime.Dockerfile
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ RUN \
     ; fi && \
     if [ $TARGETARCH = "amd64" ] && [ "$RUSTFLAGS" = "" ]; then \
       case "$TARGETVARIANT" in \
-        # x86-64-v2 with AES-NI
+        # x86-64-v2
         "v2") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v2" ;; \
         # x86-64-v3 with AES-NI
         "v3") export RUSTFLAGS="-C target-cpu=x86-64-v3 -C target-feature=+aes" ;; \