all: clean up and proerly abstract database access

31 files changed, 422 insertions, 209 deletions

diff --git a/core/bench_test.go b/core/bench_test.go
index 53cba0517..e0ccef788 100644
--- a/core/bench_test.go
+++ b/core/bench_test.go
@@ -150,14 +150,14 @@ func benchInsertChain(b *testing.B, disk bool, gen func(int, *BlockGen)) {
 	// Create the database in memory or in a temporary directory.
 	var db ethdb.Database
 	if !disk {
-		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	} else {
 		dir, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "eth-core-bench")
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("cannot create temporary directory: %v", err)
 		}
 		defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
-		db, err = ethdb.NewLDBDatabase(dir, 128, 128)
+		db, err = rawdb.NewLevelDBDatabase(dir, 128, 128, "")
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("cannot create temporary database: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ func benchWriteChain(b *testing.B, full bool, count uint64) {
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("cannot create temporary directory: %v", err)
 		}
-		db, err := ethdb.NewLDBDatabase(dir, 128, 1024)
+		db, err := rawdb.NewLevelDBDatabase(dir, 128, 1024, "")
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("error opening database at %v: %v", dir, err)
 		}
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func benchReadChain(b *testing.B, full bool, count uint64) {
 	}
 	defer os.RemoveAll(dir)
 
-	db, err := ethdb.NewLDBDatabase(dir, 128, 1024)
+	db, err := rawdb.NewLevelDBDatabase(dir, 128, 1024, "")
 	if err != nil {
 		b.Fatalf("error opening database at %v: %v", dir, err)
 	}
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func benchReadChain(b *testing.B, full bool, count uint64) {
 	b.ResetTimer()
 
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
-		db, err := ethdb.NewLDBDatabase(dir, 128, 1024)
+		db, err := rawdb.NewLevelDBDatabase(dir, 128, 1024, "")
 		if err != nil {
 			b.Fatalf("error opening database at %v: %v", dir, err)
 		}
diff --git a/core/block_validator_test.go b/core/block_validator_test.go
index 9319a7835..06e2ba1a4 100644
--- a/core/block_validator_test.go
+++ b/core/block_validator_test.go
@@ -22,9 +22,9 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import (
 func TestHeaderVerification(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a simple chain to verify
 	var (
-		testdb    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		testdb    = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec     = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 		genesis   = gspec.MustCommit(testdb)
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), testdb, 8, nil)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func TestHeaderConcurrentVerification32(t *testing.T) { testHeaderConcurrentVeri
 func testHeaderConcurrentVerification(t *testing.T, threads int) {
 	// Create a simple chain to verify
 	var (
-		testdb    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		testdb    = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec     = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 		genesis   = gspec.MustCommit(testdb)
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), testdb, 8, nil)
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func TestHeaderConcurrentAbortion32(t *testing.T) { testHeaderConcurrentAbortion
 func testHeaderConcurrentAbortion(t *testing.T, threads int) {
 	// Create a simple chain to verify
 	var (
-		testdb    = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		testdb    = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec     = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig}
 		genesis   = gspec.MustCommit(testdb)
 		blocks, _ = GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), testdb, 1024, nil)
diff --git a/core/blockchain.go b/core/blockchain.go
index 7b4f4b303..71e806e6e 100644
--- a/core/blockchain.go
+++ b/core/blockchain.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/golang-lru"
+	lru "github.com/hashicorp/golang-lru"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ func (bc *BlockChain) SetHead(head uint64) error {
 	defer bc.chainmu.Unlock()
 
 	// Rewind the header chain, deleting all block bodies until then
-	delFn := func(db rawdb.DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, num uint64) {
+	delFn := func(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, num uint64) {
 		rawdb.DeleteBody(db, hash, num)
 	}
 	bc.hc.SetHead(head, delFn)
diff --git a/core/blockchain_test.go b/core/blockchain_test.go
index 1ac7b03fc..c9e999cc9 100644
--- a/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ var (
 // header only chain.
 func newCanonical(engine consensus.Engine, n int, full bool) (ethdb.Database, *BlockChain, error) {
 	var (
-		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		genesis = new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 	)
 
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ func testInsertNonceError(t *testing.T, full bool) {
 func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		gendb   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		gendb   = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		key, _  = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		address = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 		funds   = big.NewInt(1000000000)
@@ -616,7 +616,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	})
 	// Import the chain as an archive node for the comparison baseline
-	archiveDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	archiveDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(archiveDb)
 	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 	defer archive.Stop()
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to process block %d: %v", n, err)
 	}
 	// Fast import the chain as a non-archive node to test
-	fastDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	fastDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(fastDb)
 	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 	defer fast.Stop()
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ func TestFastVsFullChains(t *testing.T) {
 func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		gendb   = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		gendb   = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		key, _  = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		address = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 		funds   = big.NewInt(1000000000)
@@ -702,7 +702,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Import the chain as an archive node and ensure all pointers are updated
-	archiveDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	archiveDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(archiveDb)
 
 	archive, _ := NewBlockChain(archiveDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	assert(t, "archive", archive, height/2, height/2, height/2)
 
 	// Import the chain as a non-archive node and ensure all pointers are updated
-	fastDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	fastDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(fastDb)
 	fast, _ := NewBlockChain(fastDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 	defer fast.Stop()
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ func TestLightVsFastVsFullChainHeads(t *testing.T) {
 	assert(t, "fast", fast, height/2, height/2, 0)
 
 	// Import the chain as a light node and ensure all pointers are updated
-	lightDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	lightDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(lightDb)
 
 	light, _ := NewBlockChain(lightDb, nil, gspec.Config, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -759,7 +759,7 @@ func TestChainTxReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		addr2   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key2.PublicKey)
 		addr3   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key3.PublicKey)
-		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec   = &Genesis{
 			Config:   params.TestChainConfig,
 			GasLimit: 3141592,
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ func TestLogReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		key1, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
-		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		// this code generates a log
 		code    = common.Hex2Bytes("60606040525b7f24ec1d3ff24c2f6ff210738839dbc339cd45a5294d85c79361016243157aae7b60405180905060405180910390a15b600a8060416000396000f360606040526008565b00")
 		gspec   = &Genesis{Config: params.TestChainConfig, Alloc: GenesisAlloc{addr1: {Balance: big.NewInt(10000000000000)}}}
@@ -915,7 +915,7 @@ func TestLogReorgs(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestReorgSideEvent(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
-		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		key1, _ = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		gspec   = &Genesis{
@@ -1043,7 +1043,7 @@ func TestCanonicalBlockRetrieval(t *testing.T) {
 func TestEIP155Transition(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		db         = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db         = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		key, _     = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		address    = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 		funds      = big.NewInt(1000000000)
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ func TestEIP155Transition(t *testing.T) {
 func TestEIP161AccountRemoval(t *testing.T) {
 	// Configure and generate a sample block chain
 	var (
-		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		key, _  = crypto.HexToECDSA("b71c71a67e1177ad4e901695e1b4b9ee17ae16c6668d313eac2f96dbcda3f291")
 		address = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 		funds   = big.NewInt(1000000000)
@@ -1218,7 +1218,7 @@ func TestBlockchainHeaderchainReorgConsistency(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate a canonical chain to act as the main dataset
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 64, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{1}) })
 
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ func TestBlockchainHeaderchainReorgConsistency(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Import the canonical and fork chain side by side, verifying the current block
 	// and current header consistency
-	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -1263,7 +1263,7 @@ func TestTrieForkGC(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate a canonical chain to act as the main dataset
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 2*triesInMemory, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{1}) })
 
@@ -1278,7 +1278,7 @@ func TestTrieForkGC(t *testing.T) {
 		forks[i] = fork[0]
 	}
 	// Import the canonical and fork chain side by side, forcing the trie cache to cache both
-	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -1309,7 +1309,7 @@ func TestLargeReorgTrieGC(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate the original common chain segment and the two competing forks
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
 
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 
 	shared, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 64, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{1}) })
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ func TestLargeReorgTrieGC(t *testing.T) {
 	competitor, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, shared[len(shared)-1], engine, db, 2*triesInMemory+1, func(i int, b *BlockGen) { b.SetCoinbase(common.Address{3}) })
 
 	// Import the shared chain and the original canonical one
-	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -1377,7 +1377,7 @@ func benchmarkLargeNumberOfValueToNonexisting(b *testing.B, numTxs, numBlocks in
 	)
 	// Generate the original common chain segment and the two competing forks
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
 
 	blockGenerator := func(i int, block *BlockGen) {
@@ -1399,7 +1399,7 @@ func benchmarkLargeNumberOfValueToNonexisting(b *testing.B, numTxs, numBlocks in
 	b.ResetTimer()
 	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
 		// Import the shared chain and the original canonical one
-		diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		diskdb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 		chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -1477,7 +1477,7 @@ func BenchmarkBlockChain_1x1000Executions(b *testing.B) {
 func TestLowDiffLongChain(t *testing.T) {
 	// Generate a canonical chain to act as the main dataset
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 
 	// We must use a pretty long chain to ensure that the fork doesn't overtake us
@@ -1488,7 +1488,7 @@ func TestLowDiffLongChain(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 
 	// Import the canonical chain
-	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{}, nil)
@@ -1531,12 +1531,12 @@ func testSideImport(t *testing.T, numCanonBlocksInSidechain, blocksBetweenCommon
 
 	// Generate a canonical chain to act as the main dataset
 	engine := ethash.NewFaker()
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	genesis := new(Genesis).MustCommit(db)
 
 	// Generate and import the canonical chain
 	blocks, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, engine, db, 2*triesInMemory, nil)
-	diskdb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	diskdb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	new(Genesis).MustCommit(diskdb)
 	chain, err := NewBlockChain(diskdb, nil, params.TestChainConfig, engine, vm.Config{}, nil)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer.go b/core/chain_indexer.go
index 1adde1fcb..26538260c 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer.go
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ type ChainIndexer struct {
 // NewChainIndexer creates a new chain indexer to do background processing on
 // chain segments of a given size after certain number of confirmations passed.
 // The throttling parameter might be used to prevent database thrashing.
-func NewChainIndexer(chainDb, indexDb ethdb.Database, backend ChainIndexerBackend, section, confirm uint64, throttling time.Duration, kind string) *ChainIndexer {
+func NewChainIndexer(chainDb ethdb.Database, indexDb ethdb.Database, backend ChainIndexerBackend, section, confirm uint64, throttling time.Duration, kind string) *ChainIndexer {
 	c := &ChainIndexer{
 		chainDb:     chainDb,
 		indexDb:     indexDb,
diff --git a/core/chain_indexer_test.go b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
index a029dec62..abf5b3cc1 100644
--- a/core/chain_indexer_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_indexer_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 )
 
 // Runs multiple tests with randomized parameters.
@@ -49,7 +48,7 @@ func TestChainIndexerWithChildren(t *testing.T) {
 // multiple backends. The section size and required confirmation count parameters
 // are randomized.
 func testChainIndexer(t *testing.T, count int) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	defer db.Close()
 
 	// Create a chain of indexers and ensure they all report empty
@@ -60,7 +59,7 @@ func testChainIndexer(t *testing.T, count int) {
 			confirmsReq = uint64(rand.Intn(10))
 		)
 		backends[i] = &testChainIndexBackend{t: t, processCh: make(chan uint64)}
-		backends[i].indexer = NewChainIndexer(db, ethdb.NewTable(db, string([]byte{byte(i)})), backends[i], sectionSize, confirmsReq, 0, fmt.Sprintf("indexer-%d", i))
+		backends[i].indexer = NewChainIndexer(db, rawdb.NewTable(db, string([]byte{byte(i)})), backends[i], sectionSize, confirmsReq, 0, fmt.Sprintf("indexer-%d", i))
 
 		if sections, _, _ := backends[i].indexer.Sections(); sections != 0 {
 			t.Fatalf("Canonical section count mismatch: have %v, want %v", sections, 0)
diff --git a/core/chain_makers_test.go b/core/chain_makers_test.go
index 64b64fd6a..32e3888d5 100644
--- a/core/chain_makers_test.go
+++ b/core/chain_makers_test.go
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ import (
 	"math/big"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func ExampleGenerateChain() {
 		addr1   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key1.PublicKey)
 		addr2   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key2.PublicKey)
 		addr3   = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key3.PublicKey)
-		db      = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db      = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	)
 
 	// Ensure that key1 has some funds in the genesis block.
diff --git a/core/dao_test.go b/core/dao_test.go
index 966139bce..4e8dba9e8 100644
--- a/core/dao_test.go
+++ b/core/dao_test.go
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/consensus/ethash"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	forkBlock := big.NewInt(32)
 
 	// Generate a common prefix for both pro-forkers and non-forkers
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec := new(Genesis)
 	genesis := gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	prefix, _ := GenerateChain(params.TestChainConfig, genesis, ethash.NewFaker(), db, int(forkBlock.Int64()-1), func(i int, gen *BlockGen) {})
 
 	// Create the concurrent, conflicting two nodes
-	proDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	proDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(proDb)
 
 	proConf := *params.TestChainConfig
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	proBc, _ := NewBlockChain(proDb, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 	defer proBc.Stop()
 
-	conDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	conDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(conDb)
 
 	conConf := *params.TestChainConfig
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 	// Try to expand both pro-fork and non-fork chains iteratively with other camp's blocks
 	for i := int64(0); i < params.DAOForkExtraRange.Int64(); i++ {
 		// Create a pro-fork block, and try to feed into the no-fork chain
-		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(db)
 		bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 		defer bc.Stop()
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Fatalf("contra-fork chain didn't accepted no-fork block: %v", err)
 		}
 		// Create a no-fork block, and try to feed into the pro-fork chain
-		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		gspec.MustCommit(db)
 		bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 		defer bc.Stop()
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Verify that contra-forkers accept pro-fork extra-datas after forking finishes
-	db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	bc, _ := NewBlockChain(db, nil, &conConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 	defer bc.Stop()
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func TestDAOForkRangeExtradata(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("contra-fork chain didn't accept pro-fork block post-fork: %v", err)
 	}
 	// Verify that pro-forkers accept contra-fork extra-datas after forking finishes
-	db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	gspec.MustCommit(db)
 	bc, _ = NewBlockChain(db, nil, &proConf, ethash.NewFaker(), vm.Config{}, nil)
 	defer bc.Stop()
diff --git a/core/genesis.go b/core/genesis.go
index cbb6eecd2..4aa129966 100644
--- a/core/genesis.go
+++ b/core/genesis.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ type GenesisMismatchError struct {
 }
 
 func (e *GenesisMismatchError) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("database already contains an incompatible genesis block (have %x, new %x)", e.Stored[:8], e.New[:8])
+	return fmt.Sprintf("database contains incompatible genesis (have %x, new %x)", e.Stored, e.New)
 }
 
 // SetupGenesisBlock writes or updates the genesis block in db.
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func (g *Genesis) configOrDefault(ghash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
 // to the given database (or discards it if nil).
 func (g *Genesis) ToBlock(db ethdb.Database) *types.Block {
 	if db == nil {
-		db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	}
 	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(db))
 	for addr, account := range g.Alloc {
diff --git a/core/genesis_test.go b/core/genesis_test.go
index c7d54f205..c6bcd0aa5 100644
--- a/core/genesis_test.go
+++ b/core/genesis_test.go
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func TestSetupGenesis(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	for _, test := range tests {
-		db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+		db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 		config, hash, err := test.fn(db)
 		// Check the return values.
 		if !reflect.DeepEqual(err, test.wantErr) {
diff --git a/core/headerchain.go b/core/headerchain.go
index 8904dd887..027cb798f 100644
--- a/core/headerchain.go
+++ b/core/headerchain.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/golang-lru"
+	lru "github.com/hashicorp/golang-lru"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ func (hc *HeaderChain) SetCurrentHeader(head *types.Header) {
 
 // DeleteCallback is a callback function that is called by SetHead before
 // each header is deleted.
-type DeleteCallback func(rawdb.DatabaseDeleter, common.Hash, uint64)
+type DeleteCallback func(ethdb.Deleter, common.Hash, uint64)
 
 // SetHead rewinds the local chain to a new head. Everything above the new head
 // will be deleted and the new one set.
diff --git a/core/helper_test.go b/core/helper_test.go
index 051384d85..e61c92dcd 100644
--- a/core/helper_test.go
+++ b/core/helper_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ package core
 import (
 	"container/list"
 
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ func (tm *TestManager) Db() ethdb.Database {
 func NewTestManager() *TestManager {
 	testManager := &TestManager{}
 	testManager.eventMux = new(event.TypeMux)
-	testManager.db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	testManager.db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	// testManager.txPool = NewTxPool(testManager)
 	// testManager.blockChain = NewBlockChain(testManager)
 	// testManager.stateManager = NewStateManager(testManager)
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
index 8a95dafe9..ea923f9d1 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain.go
@@ -23,12 +23,13 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
 // ReadCanonicalHash retrieves the hash assigned to a canonical block number.
-func ReadCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
+func ReadCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Reader, number uint64) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headerHashKey(number))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -37,21 +38,21 @@ func ReadCanonicalHash(db DatabaseReader, number uint64) common.Hash {
 }
 
 // WriteCanonicalHash stores the hash assigned to a canonical block number.
-func WriteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func WriteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	if err := db.Put(headerHashKey(number), hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store number to hash mapping", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // DeleteCanonicalHash removes the number to hash canonical mapping.
-func DeleteCanonicalHash(db DatabaseDeleter, number uint64) {
+func DeleteCanonicalHash(db ethdb.Deleter, number uint64) {
 	if err := db.Delete(headerHashKey(number)); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to delete number to hash mapping", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // ReadHeaderNumber returns the header number assigned to a hash.
-func ReadHeaderNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
+func ReadHeaderNumber(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headerNumberKey(hash))
 	if len(data) != 8 {
 		return nil
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ func ReadHeaderNumber(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *uint64 {
 }
 
 // ReadHeadHeaderHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head header.
-func ReadHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+func ReadHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Reader) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headHeaderKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -70,14 +71,14 @@ func ReadHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
 }
 
 // WriteHeadHeaderHash stores the hash of the current canonical head header.
-func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+func WriteHeadHeaderHash(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash) {
 	if err := db.Put(headHeaderKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store last header's hash", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // ReadHeadBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current canonical head block.
-func ReadHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+func ReadHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Reader) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headBlockKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -86,14 +87,14 @@ func ReadHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
 }
 
 // WriteHeadBlockHash stores the head block's hash.
-func WriteHeadBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+func WriteHeadBlockHash(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash) {
 	if err := db.Put(headBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store last block's hash", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // ReadHeadFastBlockHash retrieves the hash of the current fast-sync head block.
-func ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
+func ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Reader) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headFastBlockKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -102,7 +103,7 @@ func ReadHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseReader) common.Hash {
 }
 
 // WriteHeadFastBlockHash stores the hash of the current fast-sync head block.
-func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
+func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash) {
 	if err := db.Put(headFastBlockKey, hash.Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store last fast block's hash", "err", err)
 	}
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ func WriteHeadFastBlockHash(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash) {
 
 // ReadFastTrieProgress retrieves the number of tries nodes fast synced to allow
 // reporting correct numbers across restarts.
-func ReadFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseReader) uint64 {
+func ReadFastTrieProgress(db ethdb.Reader) uint64 {
 	data, _ := db.Get(fastTrieProgressKey)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return 0
@@ -120,20 +121,20 @@ func ReadFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseReader) uint64 {
 
 // WriteFastTrieProgress stores the fast sync trie process counter to support
 // retrieving it across restarts.
-func WriteFastTrieProgress(db DatabaseWriter, count uint64) {
+func WriteFastTrieProgress(db ethdb.Writer, count uint64) {
 	if err := db.Put(fastTrieProgressKey, new(big.Int).SetUint64(count).Bytes()); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store fast sync trie progress", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // ReadHeaderRLP retrieves a block header in its raw RLP database encoding.
-func ReadHeaderRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+func ReadHeaderRLP(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headerKey(number, hash))
 	return data
 }
 
 // HasHeader verifies the existence of a block header corresponding to the hash.
-func HasHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+func HasHeader(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if has, err := db.Has(headerKey(number, hash)); !has || err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ func HasHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 }
 
 // ReadHeader retrieves the block header corresponding to the hash.
-func ReadHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
+func ReadHeader(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Header {
 	data := ReadHeaderRLP(db, hash, number)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -156,7 +157,7 @@ func ReadHeader(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Heade
 
 // WriteHeader stores a block header into the database and also stores the hash-
 // to-number mapping.
-func WriteHeader(db DatabaseWriter, header *types.Header) {
+func WriteHeader(db ethdb.Writer, header *types.Header) {
 	// Write the hash -> number mapping
 	var (
 		hash    = header.Hash()
@@ -179,30 +180,36 @@ func WriteHeader(db DatabaseWriter, header *types.Header) {
 }
 
 // DeleteHeader removes all block header data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteHeader(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
-	if err := db.Delete(headerKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
-		log.Crit("Failed to delete header", "err", err)
-	}
+func DeleteHeader(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	deleteHeaderWithoutNumber(db, hash, number)
 	if err := db.Delete(headerNumberKey(hash)); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to delete hash to number mapping", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
+// deleteHeaderWithoutNumber removes only the block header but does not remove
+// the hash to number mapping.
+func deleteHeaderWithoutNumber(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	if err := db.Delete(headerKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
+		log.Crit("Failed to delete header", "err", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // ReadBodyRLP retrieves the block body (transactions and uncles) in RLP encoding.
-func ReadBodyRLP(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+func ReadBodyRLP(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
 	data, _ := db.Get(blockBodyKey(number, hash))
 	return data
 }
 
 // WriteBodyRLP stores an RLP encoded block body into the database.
-func WriteBodyRLP(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) {
+func WriteBodyRLP(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash, number uint64, rlp rlp.RawValue) {
 	if err := db.Put(blockBodyKey(number, hash), rlp); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store block body", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
 // HasBody verifies the existence of a block body corresponding to the hash.
-func HasBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+func HasBody(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if has, err := db.Has(blockBodyKey(number, hash)); !has || err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
@@ -210,7 +217,7 @@ func HasBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 }
 
 // ReadBody retrieves the block body corresponding to the hash.
-func ReadBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
+func ReadBody(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
 	data := ReadBodyRLP(db, hash, number)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -224,7 +231,7 @@ func ReadBody(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Body {
 }
 
 // WriteBody storea a block body into the database.
-func WriteBody(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) {
+func WriteBody(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.Body) {
 	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(body)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode body", "err", err)
@@ -233,15 +240,21 @@ func WriteBody(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, body *types.B
 }
 
 // DeleteBody removes all block body data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBody(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteBody(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	if err := db.Delete(blockBodyKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to delete block body", "err", err)
 	}
 }
 
-// ReadTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash.
-func ReadTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+// ReadTdRLP retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash in RLP encoding.
+func ReadTdRLP(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
 	data, _ := db.Get(headerTDKey(number, hash))
+	return data
+}
+
+// ReadTd retrieves a block's total difficulty corresponding to the hash.
+func ReadTd(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
+	data := ReadTdRLP(db, hash, number)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -254,7 +267,7 @@ func ReadTd(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *big.Int {
 }
 
 // WriteTd stores the total difficulty of a block into the database.
-func WriteTd(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) {
+func WriteTd(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) {
 	data, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(td)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to RLP encode block total difficulty", "err", err)
@@ -265,7 +278,7 @@ func WriteTd(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, td *big.Int) {
 }
 
 // DeleteTd removes all block total difficulty data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteTd(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	if err := db.Delete(headerTDKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to delete block total difficulty", "err", err)
 	}
@@ -273,17 +286,23 @@ func DeleteTd(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 
 // HasReceipts verifies the existence of all the transaction receipts belonging
 // to a block.
-func HasReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
+func HasReceipts(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) bool {
 	if has, err := db.Has(blockReceiptsKey(number, hash)); !has || err != nil {
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
 }
 
+// ReadReceiptsRLP retrieves all the transaction receipts belonging to a block in RLP encoding.
+func ReadReceiptsRLP(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) rlp.RawValue {
+	data, _ := db.Get(blockReceiptsKey(number, hash))
+	return data
+}
+
 // ReadReceipts retrieves all the transaction receipts belonging to a block.
-func ReadReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
+func ReadReceipts(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Receipts {
 	// Retrieve the flattened receipt slice
-	data, _ := db.Get(blockReceiptsKey(number, hash))
+	data := ReadReceiptsRLP(db, hash, number)
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -311,7 +330,7 @@ func ReadReceipts(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) types.Rece
 }
 
 // WriteReceipts stores all the transaction receipts belonging to a block.
-func WriteReceipts(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) {
+func WriteReceipts(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts types.Receipts) {
 	// Convert the receipts into their storage form and serialize them
 	storageReceipts := make([]*types.ReceiptForStorage, len(receipts))
 	for i, receipt := range receipts {
@@ -328,7 +347,7 @@ func WriteReceipts(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, number uint64, receipts
 }
 
 // DeleteReceipts removes all receipt data associated with a block hash.
-func DeleteReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteReceipts(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	if err := db.Delete(blockReceiptsKey(number, hash)); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to delete block receipts", "err", err)
 	}
@@ -340,7 +359,7 @@ func DeleteReceipts(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 //
 // Note, due to concurrent download of header and block body the header and thus
 // canonical hash can be stored in the database but the body data not (yet).
-func ReadBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
+func ReadBlock(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block {
 	header := ReadHeader(db, hash, number)
 	if header == nil {
 		return nil
@@ -353,21 +372,30 @@ func ReadBlock(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash, number uint64) *types.Block
 }
 
 // WriteBlock serializes a block into the database, header and body separately.
-func WriteBlock(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
+func WriteBlock(db ethdb.Writer, block *types.Block) {
 	WriteBody(db, block.Hash(), block.NumberU64(), block.Body())
 	WriteHeader(db, block.Header())
 }
 
 // DeleteBlock removes all block data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteBlock(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+func DeleteBlock(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
 	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteHeader(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
 	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
 }
 
+// deleteBlockWithoutNumber removes all block data associated with a hash, except
+// the hash to number mapping.
+func deleteBlockWithoutNumber(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash, number uint64) {
+	DeleteReceipts(db, hash, number)
+	deleteHeaderWithoutNumber(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteBody(db, hash, number)
+	DeleteTd(db, hash, number)
+}
+
 // FindCommonAncestor returns the last common ancestor of two block headers
-func FindCommonAncestor(db DatabaseReader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
+func FindCommonAncestor(db ethdb.Reader, a, b *types.Header) *types.Header {
 	for bn := b.Number.Uint64(); a.Number.Uint64() > bn; {
 		a = ReadHeader(db, a.ParentHash, a.Number.Uint64()-1)
 		if a == nil {
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
index 37e0d4fda..9f6e9cdb3 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_chain_test.go
@@ -23,14 +23,13 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 	"golang.org/x/crypto/sha3"
 )
 
 // Tests block header storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestHeaderStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test header to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	header := &types.Header{Number: big.NewInt(42), Extra: []byte("test header")}
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ func TestHeaderStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests block body storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test body to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	body := &types.Body{Uncles: []*types.Header{{Extra: []byte("test header")}}}
@@ -101,7 +100,7 @@ func TestBodyStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests block storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test block to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{
@@ -151,7 +150,7 @@ func TestBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests that partial block contents don't get reassembled into full blocks.
 func TestPartialBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 	block := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{
 		Extra:       []byte("test block"),
 		UncleHash:   types.EmptyUncleHash,
@@ -185,7 +184,7 @@ func TestPartialBlockStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests block total difficulty storage and retrieval operations.
 func TestTdStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test TD to move around the database and make sure it's really new
 	hash, td := common.Hash{}, big.NewInt(314)
@@ -208,7 +207,7 @@ func TestTdStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests that canonical numbers can be mapped to hashes and retrieved.
 func TestCanonicalMappingStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	// Create a test canonical number and assinged hash to move around
 	hash, number := common.Hash{0: 0xff}, uint64(314)
@@ -231,7 +230,7 @@ func TestCanonicalMappingStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests that head headers and head blocks can be assigned, individually.
 func TestHeadStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	blockHead := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{Extra: []byte("test block header")})
 	blockFull := types.NewBlockWithHeader(&types.Header{Extra: []byte("test block full")})
@@ -266,7 +265,7 @@ func TestHeadStorage(t *testing.T) {
 
 // Tests that receipts associated with a single block can be stored and retrieved.
 func TestBlockReceiptStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	receipt1 := &types.Receipt{
 		Status:            types.ReceiptStatusFailed,
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
index e6f7782a1..d90a43012 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes.go
@@ -19,13 +19,14 @@ package rawdb
 import (
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
 // ReadTxLookupEntry retrieves the positional metadata associated with a transaction
 // hash to allow retrieving the transaction or receipt by hash.
-func ReadTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) common.Hash {
+func ReadTxLookupEntry(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash) common.Hash {
 	data, _ := db.Get(txLookupKey(hash))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return common.Hash{}
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ func ReadTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) common.Hash {
 
 // WriteTxLookupEntries stores a positional metadata for every transaction from
 // a block, enabling hash based transaction and receipt lookups.
-func WriteTxLookupEntries(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
+func WriteTxLookupEntries(db ethdb.Writer, block *types.Block) {
 	for _, tx := range block.Transactions() {
 		if err := db.Put(txLookupKey(tx.Hash()), block.Hash().Bytes()); err != nil {
 			log.Crit("Failed to store transaction lookup entry", "err", err)
@@ -53,13 +54,13 @@ func WriteTxLookupEntries(db DatabaseWriter, block *types.Block) {
 }
 
 // DeleteTxLookupEntry removes all transaction data associated with a hash.
-func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db DatabaseDeleter, hash common.Hash) {
+func DeleteTxLookupEntry(db ethdb.Deleter, hash common.Hash) {
 	db.Delete(txLookupKey(hash))
 }
 
 // ReadTransaction retrieves a specific transaction from the database, along with
 // its added positional metadata.
-func ReadTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+func ReadTransaction(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
 	blockHash := ReadTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
 	if blockHash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ func ReadTransaction(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Transaction, c
 
 // ReadReceipt retrieves a specific transaction receipt from the database, along with
 // its added positional metadata.
-func ReadReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
+func ReadReceipt(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Hash, uint64, uint64) {
 	blockHash := ReadTxLookupEntry(db, hash)
 	if blockHash == (common.Hash{}) {
 		return nil, common.Hash{}, 0, 0
@@ -105,13 +106,13 @@ func ReadReceipt(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) (*types.Receipt, common.Ha
 
 // ReadBloomBits retrieves the compressed bloom bit vector belonging to the given
 // section and bit index from the.
-func ReadBloomBits(db DatabaseReader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
+func ReadBloomBits(db ethdb.Reader, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash) ([]byte, error) {
 	return db.Get(bloomBitsKey(bit, section, head))
 }
 
 // WriteBloomBits stores the compressed bloom bits vector belonging to the given
 // section and bit index.
-func WriteBloomBits(db DatabaseWriter, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
+func WriteBloomBits(db ethdb.Writer, bit uint, section uint64, head common.Hash, bits []byte) {
 	if err := db.Put(bloomBitsKey(bit, section, head), bits); err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to store bloom bits", "err", err)
 	}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
index bed03a5e6..ca74ba6af 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_indexes_test.go
@@ -22,13 +22,12 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
 // Tests that positional lookup metadata can be stored and retrieved.
 func TestLookupStorage(t *testing.T) {
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := NewMemoryDatabase()
 
 	tx1 := types.NewTransaction(1, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x11}), big.NewInt(111), 1111, big.NewInt(11111), []byte{0x11, 0x11, 0x11})
 	tx2 := types.NewTransaction(2, common.BytesToAddress([]byte{0x22}), big.NewInt(222), 2222, big.NewInt(22222), []byte{0x22, 0x22, 0x22})
diff --git a/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go b/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
index 82e4bf045..1361b0d73 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/accessors_metadata.go
@@ -20,13 +20,14 @@ import (
 	"encoding/json"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/log"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 )
 
 // ReadDatabaseVersion retrieves the version number of the database.
-func ReadDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseReader) *uint64 {
+func ReadDatabaseVersion(db ethdb.Reader) *uint64 {
 	var version uint64
 
 	enc, _ := db.Get(databaseVerisionKey)
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ func ReadDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseReader) *uint64 {
 }
 
 // WriteDatabaseVersion stores the version number of the database
-func WriteDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseWriter, version uint64) {
+func WriteDatabaseVersion(db ethdb.Writer, version uint64) {
 	enc, err := rlp.EncodeToBytes(version)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Crit("Failed to encode database version", "err", err)
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ func WriteDatabaseVersion(db DatabaseWriter, version uint64) {
 }
 
 // ReadChainConfig retrieves the consensus settings based on the given genesis hash.
-func ReadChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
+func ReadChainConfig(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
 	data, _ := db.Get(configKey(hash))
 	if len(data) == 0 {
 		return nil
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ func ReadChainConfig(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) *params.ChainConfig {
 }
 
 // WriteChainConfig writes the chain config settings to the database.
-func WriteChainConfig(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) {
+func WriteChainConfig(db ethdb.Writer, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConfig) {
 	if cfg == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -80,13 +81,13 @@ func WriteChainConfig(db DatabaseWriter, hash common.Hash, cfg *params.ChainConf
 }
 
 // ReadPreimage retrieves a single preimage of the provided hash.
-func ReadPreimage(db DatabaseReader, hash common.Hash) []byte {
+func ReadPreimage(db ethdb.Reader, hash common.Hash) []byte {
 	data, _ := db.Get(preimageKey(hash))
 	return data
 }
 
 // WritePreimages writes the provided set of preimages to the database.
-func WritePreimages(db DatabaseWriter, preimages map[common.Hash][]byte) {
+func WritePreimages(db ethdb.Writer, preimages map[common.Hash][]byte) {
 	for hash, preimage := range preimages {
 		if err := db.Put(preimageKey(hash), preimage); err != nil {
 			log.Crit("Failed to store trie preimage", "err", err)
diff --git a/core/rawdb/database.go b/core/rawdb/database.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b4c5dea70
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/database.go
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb/leveldb"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb/memorydb"
+)
+
+// NewDatabase creates a high level database on top of a given key-value data
+// store without a freezer moving immutable chain segments into cold storage.
+func NewDatabase(db ethdb.KeyValueStore) ethdb.Database {
+	return db
+}
+
+// NewMemoryDatabase creates an ephemeral in-memory key-value database without a
+// freezer moving immutable chain segments into cold storage.
+func NewMemoryDatabase() ethdb.Database {
+	return NewDatabase(memorydb.New())
+}
+
+// NewMemoryDatabaseWithCap creates an ephemeral in-memory key-value database with
+// an initial starting capacity, but without a freezer moving immutable chain
+// segments into cold storage.
+func NewMemoryDatabaseWithCap(size int) ethdb.Database {
+	return NewDatabase(memorydb.NewWithCap(size))
+}
+
+// NewLevelDBDatabase creates a persistent key-value database without a freezer
+// moving immutable chain segments into cold storage.
+func NewLevelDBDatabase(file string, cache int, handles int, namespace string) (ethdb.Database, error) {
+	db, err := leveldb.New(file, cache, handles, namespace)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return NewDatabase(db), nil
+}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/interfaces.go b/core/rawdb/interfaces.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 3bdf55124..000000000
--- a/core/rawdb/interfaces.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
-// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
-// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
-// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
-// (at your option) any later version.
-//
-// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
-// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
-// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
-// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
-//
-// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
-// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
-
-package rawdb
-
-// DatabaseReader wraps the Has and Get method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseReader interface {
-	Has(key []byte) (bool, error)
-	Get(key []byte) ([]byte, error)
-}
-
-// DatabaseWriter wraps the Put method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseWriter interface {
-	Put(key []byte, value []byte) error
-}
-
-// DatabaseDeleter wraps the Delete method of a backing data store.
-type DatabaseDeleter interface {
-	Delete(key []byte) error
-}
diff --git a/core/rawdb/schema.go b/core/rawdb/schema.go
index 3bb86e7ff..87dbf94fc 100644
--- a/core/rawdb/schema.go
+++ b/core/rawdb/schema.go
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ func encodeBlockNumber(number uint64) []byte {
 	return enc
 }
 
+// headerKeyPrefix = headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian)
+func headerKeyPrefix(number uint64) []byte {
+	return append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...)
+}
+
 // headerKey = headerPrefix + num (uint64 big endian) + hash
 func headerKey(number uint64, hash common.Hash) []byte {
 	return append(append(headerPrefix, encodeBlockNumber(number)...), hash.Bytes()...)
diff --git a/core/rawdb/table.go b/core/rawdb/table.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..974df681b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/rawdb/table.go
@@ -0,0 +1,150 @@
+// Copyright 2018 The go-ethereum Authors
+// This file is part of the go-ethereum library.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+// it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+// the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+// (at your option) any later version.
+//
+// The go-ethereum library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+// but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+// MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+// GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+//
+// You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+// along with the go-ethereum library. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+package rawdb
+
+import (
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
+)
+
+// table is a wrapper around a database that prefixes each key access with a pre-
+// configured string.
+type table struct {
+	db     ethdb.Database
+	prefix string
+}
+
+// NewTable returns a database object that prefixes all keys with a given string.
+func NewTable(db ethdb.Database, prefix string) ethdb.Database {
+	return &table{
+		db:     db,
+		prefix: prefix,
+	}
+}
+
+// Close is a noop to implement the Database interface.
+func (t *table) Close() error {
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Has retrieves if a prefixed version of a key is present in the database.
+func (t *table) Has(key []byte) (bool, error) {
+	return t.db.Has(append([]byte(t.prefix), key...))
+}
+
+// Get retrieves the given prefixed key if it's present in the database.
+func (t *table) Get(key []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	return t.db.Get(append([]byte(t.prefix), key...))
+}
+
+// Put inserts the given value into the database at a prefixed version of the
+// provided key.
+func (t *table) Put(key []byte, value []byte) error {
+	return t.db.Put(append([]byte(t.prefix), key...), value)
+}
+
+// Delete removes the given prefixed key from the database.
+func (t *table) Delete(key []byte) error {
+	return t.db.Delete(append([]byte(t.prefix), key...))
+}
+
+// NewIterator creates a binary-alphabetical iterator over the entire keyspace
+// contained within the database.
+func (t *table) NewIterator() ethdb.Iterator {
+	return t.NewIteratorWithPrefix(nil)
+}
+
+// NewIteratorWithPrefix creates a binary-alphabetical iterator over a subset
+// of database content with a particular key prefix.
+func (t *table) NewIteratorWithPrefix(prefix []byte) ethdb.Iterator {
+	return t.db.NewIteratorWithPrefix(append([]byte(t.prefix), prefix...))
+}
+
+// Stat returns a particular internal stat of the database.
+func (t *table) Stat(property string) (string, error) {
+	return t.db.Stat(property)
+}
+
+// Compact flattens the underlying data store for the given key range. In essence,
+// deleted and overwritten versions are discarded, and the data is rearranged to
+// reduce the cost of operations needed to access them.
+//
+// A nil start is treated as a key before all keys in the data store; a nil limit
+// is treated as a key after all keys in the data store. If both is nil then it
+// will compact entire data store.
+func (t *table) Compact(start []byte, limit []byte) error {
+	// If no start was specified, use the table prefix as the first value
+	if start == nil {
+		start = []byte(t.prefix)
+	}
+	// If no limit was specified, use the first element not matching the prefix
+	// as the limit
+	if limit == nil {
+		limit = []byte(t.prefix)
+		for i := len(limit) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+			// Bump the current character, stopping if it doesn't overflow
+			limit[i]++
+			if limit[i] > 0 {
+				break
+			}
+			// Character overflown, proceed to the next or nil if the last
+			if i == 0 {
+				limit = nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	// Range correctly calculated based on table prefix, delegate down
+	return t.db.Compact(start, limit)
+}
+
+// NewBatch creates a write-only database that buffers changes to its host db
+// until a final write is called, each operation prefixing all keys with the
+// pre-configured string.
+func (t *table) NewBatch() ethdb.Batch {
+	return &tableBatch{t.db.NewBatch(), t.prefix}
+}
+
+// tableBatch is a wrapper around a database batch that prefixes each key access
+// with a pre-configured string.
+type tableBatch struct {
+	batch  ethdb.Batch
+	prefix string
+}
+
+// Put inserts the given value into the batch for later committing.
+func (b *tableBatch) Put(key, value []byte) error {
+	return b.batch.Put(append([]byte(b.prefix), key...), value)
+}
+
+// Delete inserts the a key removal into the batch for later committing.
+func (b *tableBatch) Delete(key []byte) error {
+	return b.batch.Delete(append([]byte(b.prefix), key...))
+}
+
+// ValueSize retrieves the amount of data queued up for writing.
+func (b *tableBatch) ValueSize() int {
+	return b.batch.ValueSize()
+}
+
+// Write flushes any accumulated data to disk.
+func (b *tableBatch) Write() error {
+	return b.batch.Write()
+}
+
+// Reset resets the batch for reuse.
+func (b *tableBatch) Reset() {
+	b.batch.Reset()
+}
diff --git a/core/state/database.go b/core/state/database.go
index f6ea144b9..ce085747a 100644
--- a/core/state/database.go
+++ b/core/state/database.go
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ type Trie interface {
 	Hash() common.Hash
 	NodeIterator(startKey []byte) trie.NodeIterator
 	GetKey([]byte) []byte // TODO(fjl): remove this when SecureTrie is removed
-	Prove(key []byte, fromLevel uint, proofDb ethdb.Putter) error
+	Prove(key []byte, fromLevel uint, proofDb ethdb.Writer) error
 }
 
 // NewDatabase creates a backing store for state. The returned database is safe for
@@ -179,6 +179,6 @@ func (m cachedTrie) Commit(onleaf trie.LeafCallback) (common.Hash, error) {
 	return root, err
 }
 
-func (m cachedTrie) Prove(key []byte, fromLevel uint, proofDb ethdb.Putter) error {
+func (m cachedTrie) Prove(key []byte, fromLevel uint, proofDb ethdb.Writer) error {
 	return m.SecureTrie.Prove(key, fromLevel, proofDb)
 }
diff --git a/core/state/iterator_test.go b/core/state/iterator_test.go
index 9e46c851c..69f51c4c7 100644
--- a/core/state/iterator_test.go
+++ b/core/state/iterator_test.go
@@ -51,7 +51,9 @@ func TestNodeIteratorCoverage(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("state entry not reported %x", hash)
 		}
 	}
-	for _, key := range db.TrieDB().DiskDB().(*ethdb.MemDatabase).Keys() {
+	it := db.TrieDB().DiskDB().(ethdb.Database).NewIterator()
+	for it.Next() {
+		key := it.Key()
 		if bytes.HasPrefix(key, []byte("secure-key-")) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -59,4 +61,5 @@ func TestNodeIteratorCoverage(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("state entry not reported %x", key)
 		}
 	}
+	it.Release()
 }
diff --git a/core/state/managed_state_test.go b/core/state/managed_state_test.go
index 3d9c4e867..fdfde96ad 100644
--- a/core/state/managed_state_test.go
+++ b/core/state/managed_state_test.go
@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 )
 
 var addr = common.BytesToAddress([]byte("test"))
 
 func create() (*ManagedState, *account) {
-	statedb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	ms := ManageState(statedb)
 	ms.StateDB.SetNonce(addr, 100)
 	ms.accounts[addr] = newAccount(ms.StateDB.getStateObject(addr))
diff --git a/core/state/state_test.go b/core/state/state_test.go
index a09273f3b..606f2a6f6 100644
--- a/core/state/state_test.go
+++ b/core/state/state_test.go
@@ -22,13 +22,14 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	checker "gopkg.in/check.v1"
 )
 
 type StateSuite struct {
-	db    *ethdb.MemDatabase
+	db    ethdb.Database
 	state *StateDB
 }
 
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ func (s *StateSuite) TestDump(c *checker.C) {
 }
 
 func (s *StateSuite) SetUpTest(c *checker.C) {
-	s.db = ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	s.db = rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	s.state, _ = New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(s.db))
 }
 
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ func (s *StateSuite) TestSnapshotEmpty(c *checker.C) {
 // use testing instead of checker because checker does not support
 // printing/logging in tests (-check.vv does not work)
 func TestSnapshot2(t *testing.T) {
-	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 
 	stateobjaddr0 := toAddr([]byte("so0"))
 	stateobjaddr1 := toAddr([]byte("so1"))
diff --git a/core/state/statedb_test.go b/core/state/statedb_test.go
index 69392d972..c2d2b2f69 100644
--- a/core/state/statedb_test.go
+++ b/core/state/statedb_test.go
@@ -31,15 +31,15 @@ import (
 	check "gopkg.in/check.v1"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 )
 
 // Tests that updating a state trie does not leak any database writes prior to
 // actually committing the state.
 func TestUpdateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create an empty state database
-	db := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	db := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(db))
 
 	// Update it with some accounts
@@ -56,18 +56,19 @@ func TestUpdateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 		state.IntermediateRoot(false)
 	}
 	// Ensure that no data was leaked into the database
-	for _, key := range db.Keys() {
-		value, _ := db.Get(key)
-		t.Errorf("State leaked into database: %x -> %x", key, value)
+	it := db.NewIterator()
+	for it.Next() {
+		t.Errorf("State leaked into database: %x -> %x", it.Key(), it.Value())
 	}
+	it.Release()
 }
 
 // Tests that no intermediate state of an object is stored into the database,
 // only the one right before the commit.
 func TestIntermediateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create two state databases, one transitioning to the final state, the other final from the beginning
-	transDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
-	finalDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	transDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
+	finalDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	transState, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(transDb))
 	finalState, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(finalDb))
 
@@ -103,16 +104,20 @@ func TestIntermediateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 	if _, err := finalState.Commit(false); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to commit final state: %v", err)
 	}
-	for _, key := range finalDb.Keys() {
+	it := finalDb.NewIterator()
+	for it.Next() {
+		key := it.Key()
 		if _, err := transDb.Get(key); err != nil {
-			val, _ := finalDb.Get(key)
-			t.Errorf("entry missing from the transition database: %x -> %x", key, val)
+			t.Errorf("entry missing from the transition database: %x -> %x", key, it.Value())
 		}
 	}
-	for _, key := range transDb.Keys() {
+	it.Release()
+
+	it = transDb.NewIterator()
+	for it.Next() {
+		key := it.Key()
 		if _, err := finalDb.Get(key); err != nil {
-			val, _ := transDb.Get(key)
-			t.Errorf("extra entry in the transition database: %x -> %x", key, val)
+			t.Errorf("extra entry in the transition database: %x -> %x", key, it.Value())
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -122,7 +127,7 @@ func TestIntermediateLeaks(t *testing.T) {
 // https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/pull/15549.
 func TestCopy(t *testing.T) {
 	// Create a random state test to copy and modify "independently"
-	orig, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	orig, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 
 	for i := byte(0); i < 255; i++ {
 		obj := orig.GetOrNewStateObject(common.BytesToAddress([]byte{i}))
@@ -342,7 +347,7 @@ func (test *snapshotTest) String() string {
 func (test *snapshotTest) run() bool {
 	// Run all actions and create snapshots.
 	var (
-		state, _     = New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		state, _     = New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 		snapshotRevs = make([]int, len(test.snapshots))
 		sindex       = 0
 	)
@@ -433,7 +438,7 @@ func (s *StateSuite) TestTouchDelete(c *check.C) {
 // TestCopyOfCopy tests that modified objects are carried over to the copy, and the copy of the copy.
 // See https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/pull/15225#issuecomment-380191512
 func TestCopyOfCopy(t *testing.T) {
-	sdb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	sdb, _ := New(common.Hash{}, NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	addr := common.HexToAddress("aaaa")
 	sdb.SetBalance(addr, big.NewInt(42))
 
diff --git a/core/state/sync.go b/core/state/sync.go
index c566e7907..5290411a3 100644
--- a/core/state/sync.go
+++ b/core/state/sync.go
@@ -20,12 +20,13 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
 )
 
 // NewStateSync create a new state trie download scheduler.
-func NewStateSync(root common.Hash, database trie.DatabaseReader) *trie.Sync {
+func NewStateSync(root common.Hash, database ethdb.Reader) *trie.Sync {
 	var syncer *trie.Sync
 	callback := func(leaf []byte, parent common.Hash) error {
 		var obj Account
diff --git a/core/state/sync_test.go b/core/state/sync_test.go
index 317740160..ab4718b04 100644
--- a/core/state/sync_test.go
+++ b/core/state/sync_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/trie"
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ type testAccount struct {
 // makeTestState create a sample test state to test node-wise reconstruction.
 func makeTestState() (Database, common.Hash, []*testAccount) {
 	// Create an empty state
-	db := NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase())
+	db := NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase())
 	state, _ := New(common.Hash{}, db)
 
 	// Fill it with some arbitrary data
@@ -124,7 +125,7 @@ func checkStateConsistency(db ethdb.Database, root common.Hash) error {
 // Tests that an empty state is not scheduled for syncing.
 func TestEmptyStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	empty := common.HexToHash("56e81f171bcc55a6ff8345e692c0f86e5b48e01b996cadc001622fb5e363b421")
-	if req := NewStateSync(empty, ethdb.NewMemDatabase()).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
+	if req := NewStateSync(empty, rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()).Missing(1); len(req) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("content requested for empty state: %v", req)
 	}
 }
@@ -139,7 +140,7 @@ func testIterativeStateSync(t *testing.T, batch int) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(batch)...)
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ func TestIterativeDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := append([]common.Hash{}, sched.Missing(0)...)
@@ -208,7 +209,7 @@ func testIterativeRandomStateSync(t *testing.T, batch int) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
@@ -248,7 +249,7 @@ func TestIterativeRandomDelayedStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	srcDb, srcRoot, srcAccounts := makeTestState()
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	queue := make(map[common.Hash]struct{})
@@ -295,7 +296,7 @@ func TestIncompleteStateSync(t *testing.T) {
 	checkTrieConsistency(srcDb.TrieDB().DiskDB().(ethdb.Database), srcRoot)
 
 	// Create a destination state and sync with the scheduler
-	dstDb := ethdb.NewMemDatabase()
+	dstDb := rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()
 	sched := NewStateSync(srcRoot, dstDb)
 
 	added := []common.Hash{}
diff --git a/core/tx_pool_test.go b/core/tx_pool_test.go
index e1c2e0669..50c73cf53 100644
--- a/core/tx_pool_test.go
+++ b/core/tx_pool_test.go
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/types"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/event"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func pricedTransaction(nonce uint64, gaslimit uint64, gasprice *big.Int, key *ec
 }
 
 func setupTxPool() (*TxPool, *ecdsa.PrivateKey) {
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	key, _ := crypto.GenerateKey()
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func (c *testChain) State() (*state.StateDB, error) {
 	// a state change between those fetches.
 	stdb := c.statedb
 	if *c.trigger {
-		c.statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		c.statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 		// simulate that the new head block included tx0 and tx1
 		c.statedb.SetNonce(c.address, 2)
 		c.statedb.SetBalance(c.address, new(big.Int).SetUint64(params.Ether))
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ func TestStateChangeDuringTransactionPoolReset(t *testing.T) {
 	var (
 		key, _     = crypto.GenerateKey()
 		address    = crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
-		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 		trigger    = false
 	)
 
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ func TestTransactionChainFork(t *testing.T) {
 
 	addr := crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 	resetState := func() {
-		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 		statedb.AddBalance(addr, big.NewInt(100000000000000))
 
 		pool.chain = &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ func TestTransactionDoubleNonce(t *testing.T) {
 
 	addr := crypto.PubkeyToAddress(key.PublicKey)
 	resetState := func() {
-		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 		statedb.AddBalance(addr, big.NewInt(100000000000000))
 
 		pool.chain = &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ func TestTransactionPostponing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the postponing with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -769,7 +769,7 @@ func testTransactionQueueGlobalLimiting(t *testing.T, nolocals bool) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ func testTransactionQueueTimeLimiting(t *testing.T, nolocals bool) {
 	evictionInterval = time.Second
 
 	// Create the pool to test the non-expiration enforcement
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ func TestTransactionPendingGlobalLimiting(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1057,7 +1057,7 @@ func TestTransactionCapClearsFromAll(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1091,7 +1091,7 @@ func TestTransactionPendingMinimumAllowance(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the limit enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1139,7 +1139,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolRepricing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -1260,7 +1260,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolRepricingKeepsLocals(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -1322,7 +1322,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolUnderpricing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1428,7 +1428,7 @@ func TestTransactionPoolStableUnderpricing(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ func TestTransactionReplacement(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the pricing enforcement with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
@@ -1588,7 +1588,7 @@ func testTransactionJournaling(t *testing.T, nolocals bool) {
 	os.Remove(journal)
 
 	// Create the original pool to inject transaction into the journal
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	config := testTxPoolConfig
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ func TestTransactionStatusCheck(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
 	// Create the pool to test the status retrievals with
-	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	statedb, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	blockchain := &testBlockChain{statedb, 1000000, new(event.Feed)}
 
 	pool := NewTxPool(testTxPoolConfig, params.TestChainConfig, blockchain)
diff --git a/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go b/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
index cda49a34b..db1f6f382 100644
--- a/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
+++ b/core/vm/runtime/runtime.go
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/crypto"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func Execute(code, input []byte, cfg *Config) ([]byte, *state.StateDB, error) {
 	setDefaults(cfg)
 
 	if cfg.State == nil {
-		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	}
 	var (
 		address = common.BytesToAddress([]byte("contract"))
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func Create(input []byte, cfg *Config) ([]byte, common.Address, uint64, error) {
 	setDefaults(cfg)
 
 	if cfg.State == nil {
-		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		cfg.State, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	}
 	var (
 		vmenv  = NewEnv(cfg)
diff --git a/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go b/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
index bac06e524..15f545ddc 100644
--- a/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
+++ b/core/vm/runtime/runtime_test.go
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/accounts/abi"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/common"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/rawdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/state"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/core/vm"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/ethdb"
 	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/params"
 )
 
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ func TestExecute(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestCall(t *testing.T) {
-	state, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+	state, _ := state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 	address := common.HexToAddress("0x0a")
 	state.SetCode(address, []byte{
 		byte(vm.PUSH1), 10,
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ func BenchmarkCall(b *testing.B) {
 }
 func benchmarkEVM_Create(bench *testing.B, code string) {
 	var (
-		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(ethdb.NewMemDatabase()))
+		statedb, _ = state.New(common.Hash{}, state.NewDatabase(rawdb.NewMemoryDatabase()))
 		sender     = common.BytesToAddress([]byte("sender"))
 		receiver   = common.BytesToAddress([]byte("receiver"))
 	)