diff --git a/src/hush_bitcoind.h b/src/hush_bitcoind.h
index 19c0ad9b3..75548da26 100644
--- a/src/hush_bitcoind.h
+++ b/src/hush_bitcoind.h
@@ -724,6 +724,7 @@ int32_t hush_block2height(CBlock *block)
     return(height);
 }
 
+// return true if the first output of the first tx in a block is valid
 int32_t hush_block2pubkey33(uint8_t *pubkey33,CBlock *block)
 {
     int32_t n;
@@ -1619,7 +1620,10 @@ int64_t hush_checkcommission(CBlock *pblock,int32_t height)
     if(fDebug)
         fprintf(stderr,"%s at height=%d\n",__func__,height);
     int64_t checktoshis=0; uint8_t *script,scripthex[8192]; int32_t scriptlen,matched = 0; static bool didinit = false;
-    ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(height);
+
+    // Create a local variable instead of modifying the global ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB
+    auto assetchains_scriptpub = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(height);
+
     if ( ASSETCHAINS_COMMISSION != 0 || ASSETCHAINS_FOUNDERS_REWARD != 0 )
     {
         checktoshis = the_commission(pblock,height);
@@ -1639,19 +1643,22 @@ int64_t hush_checkcommission(CBlock *pblock,int32_t height)
                     fprintf(stderr,"%02x",script[i]);
                 fprintf(stderr," vout[1] %.8f vs %.8f\n",(double)checktoshis/COIN,(double)pblock->vtx[0].vout[1].nValue/COIN);
             }
-            if ( ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size() > 1 )
+            if ( assetchains_scriptpub.size() > 1 )
             {
                 static bool didinit = false;
                 if ( !didinit && height > HUSH_EARLYTXID_HEIGHT && HUSH_EARLYTXID != zeroid && hush_appendACscriptpub() )
                 {
-                    fprintf(stderr, "appended CC_op_return to ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.%s\n", ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+                    fprintf(stderr, "appended CC_op_return to assetchains_scriptpub.%s\n", assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
                     didinit = true;
                 }
-                if ( ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size()/2 == scriptlen && scriptlen < sizeof(scripthex) )
+                if ( assetchains_scriptpub.size()/2 == scriptlen && scriptlen < sizeof(scripthex) )
                 {
-                    decode_hex(scripthex,scriptlen,(char *)ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
-                    if ( memcmp(scripthex,script,scriptlen) == 0 )
+                    decode_hex(scripthex,scriptlen,(char *)assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
+                    if ( memcmp(scripthex,script,scriptlen) == 0 ) {
                         matched = scriptlen;
+                    } else {
+                        fprintf(stderr, "%s: assetchains_scriptpub != scripthex scriptlen=%d\n", __func__, scriptlen);
+                    }
                 }
             }
             else if ( scriptlen == 35 && script[0] == 33 && script[34] == OP_CHECKSIG && memcmp(script+1,ASSETCHAINS_OVERRIDE_PUBKEY33,33) == 0 )
@@ -1660,19 +1667,19 @@ int64_t hush_checkcommission(CBlock *pblock,int32_t height)
                 matched = 25;
             if ( matched == 0 )
             {
-                if ( ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size() > 1 )
+                if ( assetchains_scriptpub.size() > 1 )
                 {
                     int32_t i;
-                    fprintf(stderr,"%s: ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB=", __func__);
-                    for (i=0; i<ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size(); i++) {
-                        fprintf(stderr,"%02x",ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB[i]);
+                    fprintf(stderr,"%s: assetchains_scriptpub=", __func__);
+                    for (i=0; i<assetchains_scriptpub.size(); i++) {
+                        fprintf(stderr,"%02x",assetchains_scriptpub[i]);
                     }
                     fprintf(stderr," vs script=");
                     for (i=0; i<scriptlen; i++) {
                         fprintf(stderr,"%02x",script[i]);
                     }
                 }
-                fprintf(stderr," -ac[%d] payment to wrong pubkey scriptlen.%d, scriptpub[%d] checktoshis.%llu\n",(int32_t)ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size(),scriptlen,(int32_t)ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size()/2,(long long)checktoshis);
+                fprintf(stderr," -ac[%d] payment to wrong pubkey scriptlen.%d, scriptpub[%d] checktoshis.%llu\n",(int32_t)assetchains_scriptpub.size(),scriptlen,(int32_t)assetchains_scriptpub.size()/2,(long long)checktoshis);
                 return(-1);
 
             }
@@ -1692,7 +1699,8 @@ bool HUSH_TEST_ASSETCHAIN_SKIP_POW = 0;
 
 int32_t hush_checkPOW(int32_t slowflag,CBlock *pblock,int32_t height)
 {
-    uint256 hash,merkleroot; arith_uint256 bnTarget,bhash; bool fNegative,fOverflow; uint8_t *script,pubkey33[33],pubkeys[64][33]; int32_t i,scriptlen,possible,PoSperc,is_PoSblock=0,n,failed = 0,notaryid = -1; int64_t checktoshis,value; CBlockIndex *pprev;
+    uint256 hash,merkleroot; arith_uint256 bnTarget,bhash; bool fNegative,fOverflow; uint8_t *script,pubkey33[33];
+    int32_t i,scriptlen,possible,PoSperc,is_PoSblock=0,n,failed = 0,notaryid = -1; int64_t checktoshis,value; CBlockIndex *pprev;
     if ( HUSH_TEST_ASSETCHAIN_SKIP_POW == 0 && Params().NetworkIDString() == "regtest" )
         HUSH_TEST_ASSETCHAIN_SKIP_POW = 1;
     if ( !CheckEquihashSolution(pblock, Params()) )
@@ -1718,18 +1726,7 @@ int32_t hush_checkPOW(int32_t slowflag,CBlock *pblock,int32_t height)
 
     if ( (SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL[0] != 0) && bhash > bnTarget ) {
         failed = 1;
-        if ( height > 0 && SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL[0] == 0 ) // for the fast case
-        {
-            if ( (n= hush_notaries(pubkeys,height,pblock->nTime)) > 0 )
-            {
-                for (i=0; i<n; i++)
-                    if ( memcmp(pubkey33,pubkeys[i],33) == 0 )
-                    {
-                        notaryid = i;
-                        break;
-                    }
-            }
-        } else if ( possible == 0 || SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL[0] != 0 ) {
+        if ( possible == 0 || SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL[0] != 0 ) {
             if ( HUSH_TEST_ASSETCHAIN_SKIP_POW )
                 return(0);
             if ( ASSETCHAINS_STAKED == 0 )
@@ -1738,13 +1735,14 @@ int32_t hush_checkPOW(int32_t slowflag,CBlock *pblock,int32_t height)
     }
     if ( failed == 0 && ASSETCHAINS_COMMISSION != 0 ) {
         if ( height == 1 ) {
-            ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(height);
-            if ( ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size() > 1 && ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB[ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.back()] != 49 && ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB[ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.back()-1] != 51 ) {
+            // Create a local variable instead of modifying the global assetchains_scriptpub
+            auto assetchains_scriptpub = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(height);
+            if ( assetchains_scriptpub.size() > 1 && assetchains_scriptpub[assetchains_scriptpub.back()] != 49 && assetchains_scriptpub[assetchains_scriptpub.back()-1] != 51 ) {
                 int32_t scriptlen; uint8_t scripthex[10000];
                 script = (uint8_t *)&pblock->vtx[0].vout[0].scriptPubKey[0];
                 scriptlen = (int32_t)pblock->vtx[0].vout[0].scriptPubKey.size();
-                if ( ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size()/2 == scriptlen && scriptlen < sizeof(scripthex) ) {
-                    decode_hex(scripthex,scriptlen,(char *)ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+                if ( assetchains_scriptpub.size()/2 == scriptlen && scriptlen < sizeof(scripthex) ) {
+                    decode_hex(scripthex,scriptlen,(char *)assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
                     if ( memcmp(scripthex,script,scriptlen) != 0 )
                         return(-1);
                 } else return(-1);
diff --git a/src/hush_utils.h b/src/hush_utils.h
index d03c1e055..060464c1e 100644
--- a/src/hush_utils.h
+++ b/src/hush_utils.h
@@ -858,7 +858,7 @@ int32_t unhex(char c)
     int32_t hex;
     if ( (hex= _unhex(c)) < 0 )
     {
-        //printf("unhex: illegal hexchar.(%c)\n",c);
+        fprintf(stderr,"unhex: illegal hexchar.(%c)\n",c);
     }
     return(hex);
 }
diff --git a/src/miner.cpp b/src/miner.cpp
index a5aba46c4..ed8b7078b 100644
--- a/src/miner.cpp
+++ b/src/miner.cpp
@@ -662,27 +662,29 @@ CBlockTemplate* CreateNewBlock(CPubKey _pk,const CScript& _scriptPubKeyIn, int32
 
         pblock->vtx[0] = txNew;
 
-        ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(nHeight);
-        if ( nHeight > 1 && SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL[0] != 0 && (ASSETCHAINS_OVERRIDE_PUBKEY33[0] != 0 || ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size() > 1) && (ASSETCHAINS_COMMISSION != 0 || ASSETCHAINS_FOUNDERS_REWARD != 0)  && (commission= the_commission((CBlock*)&pblocktemplate->block,(int32_t)nHeight)) != 0 )
+        // Create a local variable instead of modifying the global ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB
+        auto assetchains_scriptpub = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(nHeight);
+
+        if ( nHeight > 1 && SMART_CHAIN_SYMBOL[0] != 0 && (ASSETCHAINS_OVERRIDE_PUBKEY33[0] != 0 || assetchains_scriptpub.size() > 1) && (ASSETCHAINS_COMMISSION != 0 || ASSETCHAINS_FOUNDERS_REWARD != 0)  && (commission= the_commission((CBlock*)&pblocktemplate->block,(int32_t)nHeight)) != 0 )
         {
             int32_t i; uint8_t *ptr;
             txNew.vout.resize(2);
             txNew.vout[1].nValue = commission;
-            if ( ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.size() > 1 )
+            if ( assetchains_scriptpub.size() > 1 )
             {
                 static bool didinit = false;
                 if ( !didinit && nHeight > HUSH_EARLYTXID_HEIGHT && HUSH_EARLYTXID != zeroid && hush_appendACscriptpub() )
                 {
-                    fprintf(stderr, "appended ccopreturn to ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.%s\n", ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+                    fprintf(stderr, "appended ccopreturn to assetchains_scriptpub.%s\n", assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
                     didinit = true;
                 }
                 //fprintf(stderr,"mine to -ac_script\n");
                 //txNew.vout[1].scriptPubKey = CScript() << ParseHex();
-                int32_t len = strlen(ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+                int32_t len = strlen(assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
                 len >>= 1;
                 txNew.vout[1].scriptPubKey.resize(len);
                 ptr = (uint8_t *)&txNew.vout[1].scriptPubKey[0];
-                decode_hex(ptr,len,(char *)ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+                decode_hex(ptr,len,(char *)assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
             } else {
                 txNew.vout[1].scriptPubKey.resize(35);
                 ptr = (uint8_t *)&txNew.vout[1].scriptPubKey[0];
@@ -852,8 +854,10 @@ CBlockTemplate* CreateNewBlockWithKey(CReserveKey& reservekey, int32_t nHeight,
 {
     CPubKey pubkey; CScript scriptPubKey; uint8_t *script,*ptr; int32_t i,len;
     // fprintf(stderr,"%s: with nHeight=%d\n", __func__, nHeight);
-    ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(nHeight);
-    if ( nHeight == 1 && ASSETCHAINS_COMMISSION != 0 && ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB[ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.back()] != 49 && ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB[ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.back()-1] != 51 )
+
+    // Create a local variable instead of modifying the global assetchains_scriptpub
+    auto assetchains_scriptpub = devtax_scriptpub_for_height(nHeight);
+    if ( nHeight == 1 && ASSETCHAINS_COMMISSION != 0 && assetchains_scriptpub[assetchains_scriptpub.back()] != 49 && assetchains_scriptpub[assetchains_scriptpub.back()-1] != 51 )
     {
         if ( ASSETCHAINS_OVERRIDE_PUBKEY33[0] != 0 )
         {
@@ -861,11 +865,11 @@ CBlockTemplate* CreateNewBlockWithKey(CReserveKey& reservekey, int32_t nHeight,
             scriptPubKey = CScript() << ParseHex(HexStr(pubkey)) << OP_CHECKSIG;
             // fprintf(stderr,"%s: with pubkey=%s\n", __func__, HexStr(pubkey).c_str() );
         } else {
-            len = strlen(ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+            len = strlen(assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
             len >>= 1;
             scriptPubKey.resize(len);
             ptr = (uint8_t *)&scriptPubKey[0];
-            decode_hex(ptr,len,(char *)ASSETCHAINS_SCRIPTPUB.c_str());
+            decode_hex(ptr,len,(char *)assetchains_scriptpub.c_str());
         }
     } else if ( USE_EXTERNAL_PUBKEY != 0 ) {
         //fprintf(stderr,"use notary pubkey\n");
@@ -1279,7 +1283,6 @@ void static RandomXMiner()
             LogPrintf("Running HushRandomXMiner with %u transactions in block (%u bytes)\n",pblock->vtx.size(),::GetSerializeSize(*pblock,SER_NETWORK,PROTOCOL_VERSION));
 
             // Search
-            uint8_t pubkeys[66][33]; arith_uint256 bnMaxPoSdiff; uint32_t blocktimes[66]; int mids[256],nonzpkeys,i,j,externalflag;
             uint32_t savebits;
             int64_t nStart = GetTime();
             pblock->nBits  = GetNextWorkRequired(pindexPrev, pblock, Params().GetConsensus());
@@ -1907,7 +1910,7 @@ void static BitcoinMiner()
             LogPrintf("Running HushMiner.%s with %u transactions in block (%u bytes)\n",solver.c_str(),pblock->vtx.size(),::GetSerializeSize(*pblock,SER_NETWORK,PROTOCOL_VERSION));
 
             // Search
-            uint8_t pubkeys[66][33]; arith_uint256 bnMaxPoSdiff; uint32_t blocktimes[66]; int mids[256],nonzpkeys,i,j,externalflag; uint32_t savebits; int64_t nStart = GetTime();
+            uint32_t savebits; int64_t nStart = GetTime();
             pblock->nBits         = GetNextWorkRequired(pindexPrev, pblock, Params().GetConsensus());
             savebits = pblock->nBits;
             HASHTarget = arith_uint256().SetCompact(savebits);