diff --git a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/util/TomlConfigFileDefaultProvider.java b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/util/TomlConfigFileDefaultProvider.java
index 9ec3f1ef640..c765b7f5dfc 100644
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/util/TomlConfigFileDefaultProvider.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/cli/util/TomlConfigFileDefaultProvider.java
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package org.hyperledger.besu.cli.util;
 
 import org.hyperledger.besu.datatypes.Wei;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.util.number.Fraction;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.util.number.Percentage;
 
 import java.io.File;
@@ -92,6 +93,8 @@ private String getConfigurationValue(final OptionSpec optionSpec) {
       defaultValue = getNumericEntryAsString(optionSpec);
     } else if (optionSpec.type().equals(Percentage.class)) {
       defaultValue = getNumericEntryAsString(optionSpec);
+    } else if (optionSpec.type().equals(Fraction.class)) {
+      defaultValue = getNumericEntryAsString(optionSpec);
     } else { // else will be treated as String
       defaultValue = getEntryAsString(optionSpec);
     }
diff --git a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/IbftBesuControllerBuilder.java b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/IbftBesuControllerBuilder.java
index 53d4771b5cc..40765769e6e 100644
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/IbftBesuControllerBuilder.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/IbftBesuControllerBuilder.java
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.mainnet.ProtocolSchedule;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.p2p.config.SubProtocolConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.worldstate.WorldStateArchive;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.plugin.services.BesuEvents;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.util.Subscribers;
 
 import java.util.HashMap;
@@ -231,7 +232,30 @@ protected MiningCoordinator createMiningCoordinator(
             blockCreatorFactory,
             blockchain,
             bftEventQueue);
-    ibftMiningCoordinator.enable();
+
+    if (syncState.isInitialSyncPhaseDone()) {
+      LOG.info("Starting IBFT mining coordinator");
+      ibftMiningCoordinator.enable();
+      ibftMiningCoordinator.start();
+    } else {
+      LOG.info("IBFT mining coordinator not starting while initial sync in progress");
+    }
+
+    syncState.subscribeCompletionReached(
+        new BesuEvents.InitialSyncCompletionListener() {
+          @Override
+          public void onInitialSyncCompleted() {
+            LOG.info("Starting IBFT mining coordinator following initial sync");
+            ibftMiningCoordinator.enable();
+            ibftMiningCoordinator.start();
+          }
+
+          @Override
+          public void onInitialSyncRestart() {
+            // Nothing to do. The mining coordinator won't be started until
+            // sync has completed.
+          }
+        });
 
     return ibftMiningCoordinator;
   }
diff --git a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/QbftBesuControllerBuilder.java b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/QbftBesuControllerBuilder.java
index 45fc52f3695..11049e7f3f4 100644
--- a/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/QbftBesuControllerBuilder.java
+++ b/besu/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/controller/QbftBesuControllerBuilder.java
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.p2p.config.SubProtocolConfiguration;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.transaction.TransactionSimulator;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.ethereum.worldstate.WorldStateArchive;
+import org.hyperledger.besu.plugin.services.BesuEvents;
 import org.hyperledger.besu.util.Subscribers;
 
 import java.util.HashMap;
@@ -271,7 +272,30 @@ protected MiningCoordinator createMiningCoordinator(
             blockCreatorFactory,
             blockchain,
             bftEventQueue);
-    miningCoordinator.enable();
+
+    if (syncState.isInitialSyncPhaseDone()) {
+      LOG.info("Starting QBFT mining coordinator");
+      miningCoordinator.enable();
+      miningCoordinator.start();
+    } else {
+      LOG.info("QBFT mining coordinator not starting while initial sync in progress");
+    }
+
+    syncState.subscribeCompletionReached(
+        new BesuEvents.InitialSyncCompletionListener() {
+          @Override
+          public void onInitialSyncCompleted() {
+            LOG.info("Starting QBFT mining coordinator following initial sync");
+            miningCoordinator.enable();
+            miningCoordinator.start();
+          }
+
+          @Override
+          public void onInitialSyncRestart() {
+            // Nothing to do. The mining coordinator won't be started until
+            // sync has completed.
+          }
+        });
 
     return miningCoordinator;
   }
diff --git a/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/MigratingMiningCoordinator.java b/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/MigratingMiningCoordinator.java
index 84fbac198a5..de3fc3a3a0f 100644
--- a/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/MigratingMiningCoordinator.java
+++ b/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/MigratingMiningCoordinator.java
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@ public void start() {
   }
 
   private void startActiveMiningCoordinator() {
+    activeMiningCoordinator.enable();
     activeMiningCoordinator.start();
     if (activeMiningCoordinator instanceof BlockAddedObserver) {
       ((BlockAddedObserver) activeMiningCoordinator).removeObserver();
diff --git a/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinator.java b/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinator.java
index 6158bda8ba3..5107a00fe15 100644
--- a/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinator.java
+++ b/consensus/common/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinator.java
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ private enum State {
     /** Running state. */
     RUNNING,
     /** Stopped state. */
-    STOPPED
+    STOPPED,
+    /** Paused state. */
+    PAUSED,
   }
 
   private static final Logger LOG = LoggerFactory.getLogger(BftMiningCoordinator.class);
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ private enum State {
   private final BftExecutors bftExecutors;
 
   private long blockAddedObserverId;
-  private final AtomicReference<State> state = new AtomicReference<>(State.IDLE);
+  private final AtomicReference<State> state = new AtomicReference<>(State.PAUSED);
 
   /**
    * Instantiates a new Bft mining coordinator.
@@ -122,7 +124,13 @@ public void awaitStop() throws InterruptedException {
 
   @Override
   public boolean enable() {
-    return true;
+    // Return true if we're already running or idle, or successfully switch to idle
+    if (state.get() == State.RUNNING
+        || state.get() == State.IDLE
+        || state.compareAndSet(State.PAUSED, State.IDLE)) {
+      return true;
+    }
+    return false;
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/consensus/common/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinatorTest.java b/consensus/common/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinatorTest.java
index 5af20546941..5b1d7a3cf64 100644
--- a/consensus/common/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinatorTest.java
+++ b/consensus/common/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/consensus/common/bft/blockcreation/BftMiningCoordinatorTest.java
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ public void stopsMining() {
     bftMiningCoordinator.stop();
     verify(bftProcessor, never()).stop();
 
+    bftMiningCoordinator.enable();
     bftMiningCoordinator.start();
     bftMiningCoordinator.stop();
     verify(bftProcessor).stop();
diff --git a/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/encoding/BlobTransactionEncodingTest.java b/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/encoding/BlobTransactionEncodingTest.java
index 49461a75303..9487e476685 100644
--- a/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/encoding/BlobTransactionEncodingTest.java
+++ b/ethereum/core/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethereum/core/encoding/BlobTransactionEncodingTest.java
@@ -37,9 +37,9 @@ private static Stream<Arguments> provideOpaqueBytesNoBlobsWithCommitments() {
         createArgument(
             "0x03f89d850120b996ed3685012a1a646085012a1a64608303345094ffb38a7a99e3e2335be83fc74b7faa19d55312418308a80280c085012a1a6460e1a00153a6a1e053cf4c5a09e84088ed8ad7cb53d76c8168f1b82f7cfebfcd06da1a01a007785223eec68459d72265f10bdb30ec3415252a63100605a03142fa211ebbe9a07dbbf9e081fa7b9a01202e4d9ee0e0e513f80efbbab6c784635429905389ce86"),
         createArgument(
-            "0x03f889850120b996ed81f0847735940084b2d05e158307a1208001855f495f4955c084b2d05e15e1a001d343d3cd62abd9c5754cbe5128c25ea90786a8ae75fb79c8cf95f4dcdd08ec80a014103732b5a9789bbf5ea859ed904155398abbef343f8fd63007efb70795d382a07272e847382789a092eadf08e2b9002e727376f8466fff0e4d4639fd60a528f2"),
+            "0x03f89d850120b996ed81f0847735940084b2d05e158307a12094000000000000000000000000000000000010101001855f495f4955c084b2d05e15e1a001d343d3cd62abd9c5754cbe5128c25ea90786a8ae75fb79c8cf95f4dcdd08ec80a014103732b5a9789bbf5ea859ed904155398abbef343f8fd63007efb70795d382a07272e847382789a092eadf08e2b9002e727376f8466fff0e4d4639fd60a528f2"),
         createArgument(
-            "0x03f889850120b996ed81f1843b9aca00847735940e8307a1208001855f495f4955c0847735940ee1a001d552e24560ec2f168be1d4a6385df61c70afe4288f00a3ad172da1a6f2b4f280a0b6690786e5fe79df67dcb60e8a9e8555142c3c96ffd5097c838717f0a7f64129a0112f01ed0cd3b86495f01736fbbc1b793f71565223aa26f093471a4d8605d198"),
+            "0x03f89d850120b996ed81f1843b9aca00847735940e8307a12094000000000000000000000000000000000010101001855f495f4955c0847735940ee1a001d552e24560ec2f168be1d4a6385df61c70afe4288f00a3ad172da1a6f2b4f280a0b6690786e5fe79df67dcb60e8a9e8555142c3c96ffd5097c838717f0a7f64129a0112f01ed0cd3b86495f01736fbbc1b793f71565223aa26f093471a4d8605d198"),
         createArgument(
             "0x03f897850120b996ed80840bebc200843b9aca078303345094c8d369b164361a8961286cfbab3bc10f962185a88080c08411e1a300e1a0011df88a2971c8a7ac494a7ba37ec1acaa1fc1edeeb38c839b5d1693d47b69b080a032f122f06e5802224db4c8a58fd22c75173a713f63f89936f811c144b9e40129a043a2a872cbfa5727007adf6a48febe5f190d2e4cd5ed6122823fb6ff47ecda32"));
   }
diff --git a/ethereum/ethstats/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethstats/EthStatsService.java b/ethereum/ethstats/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethstats/EthStatsService.java
index 5adbf8978fb..0fa93e1b68c 100644
--- a/ethereum/ethstats/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethstats/EthStatsService.java
+++ b/ethereum/ethstats/src/main/java/org/hyperledger/besu/ethstats/EthStatsService.java
@@ -424,7 +424,9 @@ private void sendNodeStatsReport() {
     final boolean isSyncing = syncState.isInSync();
     final long gasPrice = suggestGasPrice(blockchainQueries.getBlockchain().getChainHeadBlock());
     final long hashrate = miningCoordinator.hashesPerSecond().orElse(0L);
-    final int peersNumber = protocolManager.ethContext().getEthPeers().peerCount();
+    // safe to cast to int since it isn't realistic to have more than max int peers
+    final int peersNumber =
+        (int) protocolManager.ethContext().getEthPeers().streamAvailablePeers().count();
 
     final NodeStatsReport nodeStatsReport =
         ImmutableNodeStatsReport.builder()