diff --git a/cmd/utils/hc.pb.go b/cmd/utils/hc.pb.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..88f4fbcb19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/utils/hc.pb.go
@@ -0,0 +1,228 @@
+// Code generated by protoc-gen-go. DO NOT EDIT.
+// versions:
+// 	protoc-gen-go v1.35.1
+// 	protoc        v5.28.2
+// source: cmd/utils/hc.proto
+
+package utils
+
+import (
+	common "github.com/dominant-strategies/go-quai/common"
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+)
+
+const (
+	// Verify that this generated code is sufficiently up-to-date.
+	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(20 - protoimpl.MinVersion)
+	// Verify that runtime/protoimpl is sufficiently up-to-date.
+	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(protoimpl.MaxVersion - 20)
+)
+
+type ProtoNode struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	Hash     *common.ProtoHash     `protobuf:"bytes,1,opt,name=hash,proto3,oneof" json:"hash,omitempty"`
+	Number   [][]byte              `protobuf:"bytes,2,rep,name=number,proto3" json:"number,omitempty"`
+	Location *common.ProtoLocation `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=location,proto3,oneof" json:"location,omitempty"`
+	Entropy  []byte                `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=entropy,proto3,oneof" json:"entropy,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) Reset() {
+	*x = ProtoNode{}
+	mi := &file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes[0]
+	ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+	ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*ProtoNode) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes[0]
+	if x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use ProtoNode.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*ProtoNode) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{0}
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) GetHash() *common.ProtoHash {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Hash
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) GetNumber() [][]byte {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Number
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) GetLocation() *common.ProtoLocation {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Location
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNode) GetEntropy() []byte {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Entropy
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+type ProtoNodeSet struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	NodeSet map[string]*ProtoNode `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=node_set,json=nodeSet,proto3" json:"node_set,omitempty" protobuf_key:"bytes,1,opt,name=key,proto3" protobuf_val:"bytes,2,opt,name=value,proto3"`
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNodeSet) Reset() {
+	*x = ProtoNodeSet{}
+	mi := &file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes[1]
+	ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+	ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNodeSet) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*ProtoNodeSet) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *ProtoNodeSet) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes[1]
+	if x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use ProtoNodeSet.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*ProtoNodeSet) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{1}
+}
+
+func (x *ProtoNodeSet) GetNodeSet() map[string]*ProtoNode {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.NodeSet
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+var File_cmd_utils_hc_proto protoreflect.FileDescriptor
+
+var file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
+	0x0a, 0x12, 0x63, 0x6d, 0x64, 0x2f, 0x75, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6c, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x68, 0x63, 0x2e, 0x70,
+	0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x12, 0x02, 0x68, 0x63, 0x1a, 0x19, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x6d, 0x6f, 0x6e,
+	0x2f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x5f, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x6d, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x2e, 0x70, 0x72,
+	0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x22, 0xc8, 0x01, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x4e, 0x6f, 0x64,
+	0x65, 0x12, 0x2a, 0x0a, 0x04, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32,
+	0x11, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x6d, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x2e, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x48, 0x61,
+	0x73, 0x68, 0x48, 0x00, 0x52, 0x04, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x88, 0x01, 0x01, 0x12, 0x16, 0x0a,
+	0x06, 0x6e, 0x75, 0x6d, 0x62, 0x65, 0x72, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0c, 0x52, 0x06, 0x6e,
+	0x75, 0x6d, 0x62, 0x65, 0x72, 0x12, 0x36, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x63, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f,
+	0x6e, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x15, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x6d, 0x6f, 0x6e,
+	0x2e, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x4c, 0x6f, 0x63, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x48, 0x01,
+	0x52, 0x08, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x63, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6f, 0x6e, 0x88, 0x01, 0x01, 0x12, 0x1d, 0x0a,
+	0x07, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x70, 0x79, 0x18, 0x04, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0c, 0x48, 0x02,
+	0x52, 0x07, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x70, 0x79, 0x88, 0x01, 0x01, 0x42, 0x07, 0x0a, 0x05,
+	0x5f, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x42, 0x0b, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x5f, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x63, 0x61, 0x74, 0x69,
+	0x6f, 0x6e, 0x42, 0x0a, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x5f, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x70, 0x79, 0x22, 0x93,
+	0x01, 0x0a, 0x0c, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x4e, 0x6f, 0x64, 0x65, 0x53, 0x65, 0x74, 0x12,
+	0x38, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x64, 0x65, 0x5f, 0x73, 0x65, 0x74, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28,
+	0x0b, 0x32, 0x1d, 0x2e, 0x68, 0x63, 0x2e, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x4e, 0x6f, 0x64, 0x65,
+	0x53, 0x65, 0x74, 0x2e, 0x4e, 0x6f, 0x64, 0x65, 0x53, 0x65, 0x74, 0x45, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x79,
+	0x52, 0x07, 0x6e, 0x6f, 0x64, 0x65, 0x53, 0x65, 0x74, 0x1a, 0x49, 0x0a, 0x0c, 0x4e, 0x6f, 0x64,
+	0x65, 0x53, 0x65, 0x74, 0x45, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x72, 0x79, 0x12, 0x10, 0x0a, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79,
+	0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x12, 0x23, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x76,
+	0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0b, 0x32, 0x0d, 0x2e, 0x68, 0x63, 0x2e,
+	0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x4e, 0x6f, 0x64, 0x65, 0x52, 0x05, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65,
+	0x3a, 0x02, 0x38, 0x01, 0x42, 0x32, 0x5a, 0x30, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63,
+	0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2f, 0x64, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x74, 0x2d, 0x73, 0x74, 0x72, 0x61,
+	0x74, 0x65, 0x67, 0x69, 0x65, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x67, 0x6f, 0x2d, 0x71, 0x75, 0x61, 0x69, 0x2f, 0x63,
+	0x6d, 0x64, 0x2f, 0x75, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6c, 0x73, 0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
+}
+
+var (
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescOnce sync.Once
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescData = file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDesc
+)
+
+func file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescGZIP() []byte {
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescOnce.Do(func() {
+		file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescData = protoimpl.X.CompressGZIP(file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescData)
+	})
+	return file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDescData
+}
+
+var file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 3)
+var file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_goTypes = []any{
+	(*ProtoNode)(nil),            // 0: hc.ProtoNode
+	(*ProtoNodeSet)(nil),         // 1: hc.ProtoNodeSet
+	nil,                          // 2: hc.ProtoNodeSet.NodeSetEntry
+	(*common.ProtoHash)(nil),     // 3: common.ProtoHash
+	(*common.ProtoLocation)(nil), // 4: common.ProtoLocation
+}
+var file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
+	3, // 0: hc.ProtoNode.hash:type_name -> common.ProtoHash
+	4, // 1: hc.ProtoNode.location:type_name -> common.ProtoLocation
+	2, // 2: hc.ProtoNodeSet.node_set:type_name -> hc.ProtoNodeSet.NodeSetEntry
+	0, // 3: hc.ProtoNodeSet.NodeSetEntry.value:type_name -> hc.ProtoNode
+	4, // [4:4] is the sub-list for method output_type
+	4, // [4:4] is the sub-list for method input_type
+	4, // [4:4] is the sub-list for extension type_name
+	4, // [4:4] is the sub-list for extension extendee
+	0, // [0:4] is the sub-list for field type_name
+}
+
+func init() { file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_init() }
+func file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_init() {
+	if File_cmd_utils_hc_proto != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes[0].OneofWrappers = []any{}
+	type x struct{}
+	out := protoimpl.TypeBuilder{
+		File: protoimpl.DescBuilder{
+			GoPackagePath: reflect.TypeOf(x{}).PkgPath(),
+			RawDescriptor: file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDesc,
+			NumEnums:      0,
+			NumMessages:   3,
+			NumExtensions: 0,
+			NumServices:   0,
+		},
+		GoTypes:           file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_goTypes,
+		DependencyIndexes: file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_depIdxs,
+		MessageInfos:      file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_msgTypes,
+	}.Build()
+	File_cmd_utils_hc_proto = out.File
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_rawDesc = nil
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_goTypes = nil
+	file_cmd_utils_hc_proto_depIdxs = nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/utils/hc.proto b/cmd/utils/hc.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7569970420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/utils/hc.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+package hc;
+option go_package = "github.com/dominant-strategies/go-quai/cmd/utils";
+
+import "common/proto_common.proto";
+
+message ProtoNode {
+    optional common.ProtoHash hash = 1;
+    repeated bytes number = 2;
+    optional common.ProtoLocation location = 3;
+    optional bytes entropy = 4;
+}
+
+message ProtoNodeSet {
+    map<string, ProtoNode> node_set = 1;
+}
diff --git a/cmd/utils/hierarchical_coordinator.go b/cmd/utils/hierarchical_coordinator.go
index a0b43ff5f8..39b58c6f09 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/hierarchical_coordinator.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/hierarchical_coordinator.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ const (
 
 var (
 	c_currentExpansionNumberKey = []byte("cexp")
+	c_bestNodeKey               = []byte("best")
 )
 
 type Node struct {
@@ -45,10 +46,61 @@ type Node struct {
 	entropy  *big.Int
 }
 
+func (ch *Node) ProtoEncode() *ProtoNode {
+	protoNumber := make([][]byte, common.HierarchyDepth)
+	for i, num := range ch.number {
+		protoNumber[i] = num.Bytes()
+	}
+	protoNode := &ProtoNode{
+		Hash:     ch.hash.ProtoEncode(),
+		Number:   protoNumber,
+		Location: ch.location.ProtoEncode(),
+		Entropy:  ch.entropy.Bytes(),
+	}
+	return protoNode
+}
+
+func (ch *Node) ProtoDecode(protoNode *ProtoNode) {
+	hash := &common.Hash{}
+	hash.ProtoDecode(protoNode.GetHash())
+	ch.hash = *hash
+
+	number := make([]*big.Int, common.HierarchyDepth)
+	for i, num := range protoNode.GetNumber() {
+		number[i] = new(big.Int).SetBytes(num)
+	}
+	ch.number = number
+
+	location := &common.Location{}
+	location.ProtoDecode(protoNode.GetLocation())
+	ch.location = *location
+
+	ch.entropy = new(big.Int).SetBytes(protoNode.GetEntropy())
+}
+
 type NodeSet struct {
 	nodes map[string]Node
 }
 
+func (ns *NodeSet) ProtoEncode() *ProtoNodeSet {
+	protoNodeSet := &ProtoNodeSet{}
+	protoNodeSet.NodeSet = make(map[string]*ProtoNode)
+
+	for loc, node := range ns.nodes {
+		node := node.ProtoEncode()
+		protoNodeSet.NodeSet[loc] = node
+	}
+	return protoNodeSet
+}
+
+func (ns *NodeSet) ProtoDecode(protoNodeSet *ProtoNodeSet) {
+	for loc, protoNode := range protoNodeSet.NodeSet {
+		node := &Node{}
+		node.ProtoDecode(protoNode)
+		ns.nodes[loc] = *node
+	}
+}
+
 func (ch *Node) Empty() bool {
 	return ch.hash == common.Hash{} && ch.location.Equal(common.Location{}) && ch.entropy == nil
 }
@@ -137,6 +189,8 @@ func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) InitPendingHeaders() {
 		}
 	}
 	hc.Add(new(big.Int).SetUint64(0), nodeSet, hc.pendingHeaders)
+
+	hc.LoadBestNodeSet()
 }
 
 func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) Add(entropy *big.Int, node NodeSet, newPendingHeaders *PendingHeaders) {
@@ -208,11 +262,14 @@ func (ns *NodeSet) Extendable(wo *types.WorkObject, order int) bool {
 func (ns *NodeSet) Entropy(numRegions int, numZones int) *big.Int {
 	entropy := new(big.Int)
 
-	entropy.Add(entropy, ns.nodes[common.Location{}.Name()].entropy)
+	primeEntropy := ns.nodes[common.Location{}.Name()].entropy
+	entropy.Add(entropy, primeEntropy)
 	for i := 0; i < numRegions; i++ {
-		entropy.Add(entropy, ns.nodes[common.Location{byte(i)}.Name()].entropy)
+		regionEntropy := ns.nodes[common.Location{byte(i)}.Name()].entropy
+		entropy.Add(entropy, regionEntropy)
 		for j := 0; j < numZones; j++ {
-			entropy.Add(entropy, ns.nodes[common.Location{byte(i), byte(j)}.Name()].entropy)
+			zoneEntropy := ns.nodes[common.Location{byte(i), byte(j)}.Name()].entropy
+			entropy.Add(entropy, zoneEntropy)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -430,6 +487,7 @@ func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) Stop() {
 	for _, chainEventSub := range hc.chainSubs {
 		chainEventSub.Unsubscribe()
 	}
+	hc.StoreBestNodeSet()
 	hc.expansionSub.Unsubscribe()
 	hc.db.Close()
 	hc.wg.Wait()
@@ -602,44 +660,6 @@ func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) ChainEventLoop(chainEvent chan core.ChainEven
 	for {
 		select {
 		case head := <-chainEvent:
-			// If this is the first block we have after a restart, then we can
-			// add this block into the node set directly
-			// Since on startup we initialize the pending headers cache with the
-			// genesis block, we can check and see if we are in that state
-			// We can do that by checking the length of the pendding headers order
-			// cache length is 1
-			if len(hc.pendingHeaders.order) == 1 {
-				// create a nodeset on this block
-				nodeSet := NodeSet{
-					nodes: make(map[string]Node),
-				}
-
-				//Initialize for prime
-				backend := hc.GetBackend(common.Location{})
-				entropy := backend.TotalLogEntropy(head.Block)
-				newNode := Node{
-					hash:     head.Block.ParentHash(common.PRIME_CTX),
-					number:   head.Block.NumberArray(),
-					location: common.Location{},
-					entropy:  entropy,
-				}
-				nodeSet.nodes[common.Location{}.Name()] = newNode
-
-				regionLocation := common.Location{byte(head.Block.Location().Region())}
-				backend = hc.GetBackend(regionLocation)
-				newNode.hash = head.Block.ParentHash(common.REGION_CTX)
-				newNode.location = regionLocation
-				newNode.entropy = entropy
-				nodeSet.nodes[regionLocation.Name()] = newNode
-
-				zoneLocation := head.Block.Location()
-				backend = hc.GetBackend(zoneLocation)
-				newNode.hash = head.Block.ParentHash(common.ZONE_CTX)
-				newNode.location = zoneLocation
-				newNode.entropy = entropy
-				nodeSet.nodes[zoneLocation.Name()] = newNode
-				hc.Add(entropy, nodeSet, hc.pendingHeaders)
-			}
 
 			go hc.ReapplicationLoop(head)
 			go hc.ComputeMapPending(head)
@@ -1321,3 +1341,50 @@ func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) GetBackendForLocationAndOrder(location common
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) StoreBestNodeSet() {
+
+	log.Global.Info("Storing the best node set on stop")
+
+	bestNode, exists := hc.pendingHeaders.collection.Get(hc.bestEntropy.String())
+	if !exists {
+		log.Global.Error("best entropy node set doesnt exist in the pending headers collection")
+	}
+
+	protoBestNode := bestNode.ProtoEncode()
+
+	data, err := proto.Marshal(protoBestNode)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Global.Error("Error marshalling best node, err: ", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	err = hc.db.Put(c_bestNodeKey, data, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Global.Error("Error storing the best node key, err: ", err)
+		return
+	}
+}
+
+func (hc *HierarchicalCoordinator) LoadBestNodeSet() {
+	data, err := hc.db.Get(c_bestNodeKey, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Global.Error("Error loading the best node, err: ", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	protoNodeSet := &ProtoNodeSet{}
+	err = proto.Unmarshal(data, protoNodeSet)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Global.Error("Error unmarshalling the proto node set, err: ", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	nodeSet := NodeSet{}
+	nodeSet.nodes = make(map[string]Node)
+	nodeSet.ProtoDecode(protoNodeSet)
+
+	numRegions, numZones := common.GetHierarchySizeForExpansionNumber(hc.currentExpansionNumber)
+	hc.bestEntropy = nodeSet.Entropy(int(numRegions), int(numZones))
+	hc.Add(hc.bestEntropy, nodeSet, hc.pendingHeaders)
+}
diff --git a/core/headerchain.go b/core/headerchain.go
index da1408817e..aff75c4aa3 100644
--- a/core/headerchain.go
+++ b/core/headerchain.go
@@ -1224,7 +1224,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) ComputeExpansionNumber(parent *types.WorkObject) (uint8,
 	}
 
 	// If the Prime Terminus is genesis the expansion number is the genesis expansion number
-	if hc.IsGenesisHash(primeTerminusHash) && hc.NodeLocation().Equal(common.Location{0, 0}) {
+	if hc.IsGenesisHash(primeTerminusHash) && hc.NodeLocation().Equal(common.Location{0, 0}) || hc.config.StartingExpansionNumber != 0 {
 		return primeTerminus.ExpansionNumber(), nil
 	} else {
 		// check if the prime terminus is the block where the threshold count
diff --git a/params/config.go b/params/config.go
index dbb147558d..e0b527320d 100644
--- a/params/config.go
+++ b/params/config.go
@@ -112,9 +112,9 @@ var (
 	//
 	// This configuration is intentionally not using keyed fields to force anyone
 	// adding flags to the config to also have to set these fields.
-	AllProgpowProtocolChanges = &ChainConfig{big.NewInt(1337), "progpow", new(Blake3powConfig), new(ProgpowConfig), common.Location{}, common.Hash{}, false}
+	AllProgpowProtocolChanges = &ChainConfig{big.NewInt(1337), "progpow", new(Blake3powConfig), new(ProgpowConfig), common.Location{}, common.Hash{}, false, 0}
 
-	TestChainConfig = &ChainConfig{big.NewInt(1), "progpow", new(Blake3powConfig), new(ProgpowConfig), common.Location{}, common.Hash{}, false}
+	TestChainConfig = &ChainConfig{big.NewInt(1), "progpow", new(Blake3powConfig), new(ProgpowConfig), common.Location{}, common.Hash{}, false, 0}
 	TestRules       = TestChainConfig.Rules(new(big.Int))
 )
 
@@ -126,12 +126,13 @@ var (
 type ChainConfig struct {
 	ChainID *big.Int `json:"chainId"` // chainId identifies the current chain and is used for replay protection
 	// Various consensus engines
-	ConsensusEngine    string
-	Blake3Pow          *Blake3powConfig `json:"blake3pow,omitempty"`
-	Progpow            *ProgpowConfig   `json:"progpow,omitempty"`
-	Location           common.Location
-	DefaultGenesisHash common.Hash
-	IndexAddressUtxos  bool
+	ConsensusEngine         string
+	Blake3Pow               *Blake3powConfig `json:"blake3pow,omitempty"`
+	Progpow                 *ProgpowConfig   `json:"progpow,omitempty"`
+	Location                common.Location
+	DefaultGenesisHash      common.Hash
+	IndexAddressUtxos       bool
+	StartingExpansionNumber uint64
 }
 
 // SetLocation sets the location on the chain config
diff --git a/quai/backend.go b/quai/backend.go
index ce21140b0e..b46dde4557 100644
--- a/quai/backend.go
+++ b/quai/backend.go
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ func New(stack *node.Node, p2p NetworkingAPI, config *quaiconfig.Config, nodeCtx
 	chainConfig.Location = config.NodeLocation // TODO: See why this is necessary
 	chainConfig.DefaultGenesisHash = config.DefaultGenesisHash
 	chainConfig.IndexAddressUtxos = config.IndexAddressUtxos
+	chainConfig.StartingExpansionNumber = startingExpansionNumber
 	logger.WithFields(log.Fields{
 		"Ctx":          nodeCtx,
 		"NodeLocation": config.NodeLocation,