diff --git a/config.json b/config.json
index 7917ba87c..70601b820 100644
--- a/config.json
+++ b/config.json
@@ -147,4 +147,4 @@
             }
         }
     ]
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/src/components/c2d/compute_engine_docker.ts b/src/components/c2d/compute_engine_docker.ts
index 9d7966800..2983f77cc 100644
--- a/src/components/c2d/compute_engine_docker.ts
+++ b/src/components/c2d/compute_engine_docker.ts
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export class C2DEngineDocker extends C2DEngine {
             envConfig.fees[feeChain][i].prices.length > 0
           ) {
             if (!envConfig.fees[feeChain][i].feeToken) {
-              const tokenAddress = await getOceanTokenAddressForChain(parseInt(feeChain))
+              const tokenAddress = getOceanTokenAddressForChain(parseInt(feeChain))
               if (tokenAddress) {
                 envConfig.fees[feeChain][i].feeToken = tokenAddress
                 tmpFees.push(envConfig.fees[feeChain][i])
@@ -937,7 +937,7 @@ export class C2DEngineDocker extends C2DEngine {
       }
       // resources are now available, let's start the job
       const { algorithm } = job
-      if (algorithm.meta.container && algorithm.meta.container.dockerfile) {
+      if (algorithm?.meta.container && algorithm?.meta.container.dockerfile) {
         job.status = C2DStatusNumber.BuildImage
         job.statusText = C2DStatusText.BuildImage
         this.buildImage(job, null)
@@ -1040,7 +1040,7 @@ export class C2DEngineDocker extends C2DEngine {
         containerInfo.HostConfig.IpcMode = advancedConfig.IpcMode
       if (advancedConfig.ShmSize)
         containerInfo.HostConfig.ShmSize = advancedConfig.ShmSize
-      if (job.algorithm.meta.container.entrypoint) {
+      if (job.algorithm?.meta.container.entrypoint) {
         const newEntrypoint = job.algorithm.meta.container.entrypoint.replace(
           '$ALGO',
           'data/transformations/algorithm'
@@ -1338,7 +1338,7 @@ export class C2DEngineDocker extends C2DEngine {
       // console.error('Container not found! ' + e.message)
     }
     try {
-      const volume = await this.docker.getVolume(job.jobId + '-volume')
+      const volume = this.docker.getVolume(job.jobId + '-volume')
       if (volume) {
         try {
           await volume.remove()
@@ -1349,7 +1349,7 @@ export class C2DEngineDocker extends C2DEngine {
     } catch (e) {
       // console.error('Container volume not found! ' + e.message)
     }
-    if (job.algorithm.meta.container && job.algorithm.meta.container.dockerfile) {
+    if (job.algorithm?.meta.container && job.algorithm?.meta.container.dockerfile) {
       const image = getAlgorithmImage(job.algorithm, job.jobId)
       if (image) {
         try {
diff --git a/src/components/core/utils/escrow.ts b/src/components/core/utils/escrow.ts
index ed775692f..b6658d3c7 100644
--- a/src/components/core/utils/escrow.ts
+++ b/src/components/core/utils/escrow.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import { EscrowAuthorization, EscrowLock } from '../../../@types/Escrow.js'
 import { getOceanArtifactsAdressesByChainId } from '../../../utils/address.js'
 import { RPCS } from '../../../@types/blockchain.js'
 import { create256Hash } from '../../../utils/crypt.js'
+import { sleep } from '../../../utils/util.js'
 export class Escrow {
   private networks: RPCS
   private claimDurationTimeout: number
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ export class Escrow {
   }
 
   // eslint-disable-next-line require-await
-  async getEscrowContractAddressForChain(chainId: number): Promise<string | null> {
+  getEscrowContractAddressForChain(chainId: number): string | null {
     const addresses = getOceanArtifactsAdressesByChainId(chainId)
     if (addresses && addresses.Escrow) return addresses.Escrow
     return null
@@ -24,9 +25,17 @@ export class Escrow {
     return maxJobDuration + this.claimDurationTimeout
   }
 
-  async getPaymentAmountInWei(cost: number, chain: number, token: string) {
+  async getPaymentAmountInWei(
+    cost: number,
+    chain: number,
+    token: string,
+    existingChain?: Blockchain
+  ) {
     const { rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs } = this.networks[chain]
-    const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
+    let blockchain: Blockchain = existingChain
+    if (!blockchain) {
+      blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
+    }
     const provider = blockchain.getProvider()
 
     const decimalgBigNumber = await getDatatokenDecimals(token, provider)
@@ -46,11 +55,8 @@ export class Escrow {
   }
 
   // eslint-disable-next-line require-await
-  async getContract(
-    chainId: number,
-    signer: ethers.Signer
-  ): Promise<ethers.Contract | null> {
-    const address = await this.getEscrowContractAddressForChain(chainId)
+  getContract(chainId: number, signer: ethers.Signer): ethers.Contract | null {
+    const address = this.getEscrowContractAddressForChain(chainId)
     if (!address) return null
     return new ethers.Contract(address, EscrowJson.abi, signer)
   }
@@ -58,12 +64,16 @@ export class Escrow {
   async getUserAvailableFunds(
     chain: number,
     payer: string,
-    token: string
+    token: string,
+    existingChain?: Blockchain
   ): Promise<BigInt> {
     const { rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs } = this.networks[chain]
-    const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
+    let blockchain: Blockchain = existingChain
+    if (!blockchain) {
+      blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
+    }
     const signer = blockchain.getSigner()
-    const contract = await this.getContract(chainId, signer)
+    const contract = this.getContract(chainId, signer)
     try {
       const funds = await contract.getUserFunds(payer, token)
       return funds.available
@@ -81,7 +91,7 @@ export class Escrow {
     const { rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs } = this.networks[chain]
     const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
     const signer = blockchain.getSigner()
-    const contract = await this.getContract(chainId, signer)
+    const contract = this.getContract(chainId, signer)
     try {
       return await contract.getLocks(token, payer, payee)
     } catch (e) {
@@ -93,12 +103,16 @@ export class Escrow {
     chain: number,
     token: string,
     payer: string,
-    payee: string
+    payee: string,
+    existingChain?: Blockchain
   ): Promise<EscrowAuthorization[]> {
     const { rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs } = this.networks[chain]
-    const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
+    let blockchain: Blockchain = existingChain
+    if (!blockchain) {
+      blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
+    }
     const signer = blockchain.getSigner()
-    const contract = await this.getContract(chainId, signer)
+    const contract = this.getContract(chainId, signer)
     try {
       return await contract.getAuthorizations(token, payer, payee)
     } catch (e) {
@@ -118,24 +132,43 @@ export class Escrow {
     const { rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs } = this.networks[chain]
     const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
     const signer = blockchain.getSigner()
-    const contract = await this.getContract(chainId, signer)
+    const contract = this.getContract(chainId, signer)
     if (!contract) throw new Error(`Failed to initialize escrow contract`)
-    const wei = await this.getPaymentAmountInWei(amount, chain, token)
-    const userBalance = await this.getUserAvailableFunds(chain, payer, token)
+    const wei = await this.getPaymentAmountInWei(amount, chain, token, blockchain)
+    const userBalance = await this.getUserAvailableFunds(chain, payer, token, blockchain)
     if (BigInt(userBalance.toString()) < BigInt(wei)) {
       // not enough funds
       throw new Error(`User ${payer} does not have enough funds`)
     }
 
-    const auths = await this.getAuthorizations(
-      chain,
-      token,
-      payer,
-      await signer.getAddress()
-    )
+    const signerAddress = await signer.getAddress()
+
+    let retries = 2
+    let auths: EscrowAuthorization[] = []
+    while (retries > 0) {
+      auths = await this.getAuthorizations(chain, token, payer, signerAddress, blockchain)
+      if (!auths || auths.length !== 1) {
+        console.log(
+          `No escrow auths found for: chain=${chain}, token=${token}, payer=${payer}, nodeAddress=${signerAddress}. Found ${
+            auths?.length || 0
+          } authorizations. ${retries > 0 ? 'Retrying..' : ''}`
+        )
+      } else if (auths && auths.length === 1) {
+        break
+      }
+      if (retries > 1) {
+        await sleep(1000)
+      }
+      retries--
+    }
     if (!auths || auths.length !== 1) {
-      throw new Error(`No escrow auths found`)
+      throw new Error(
+        `No escrow auths found for: chain=${chain}, token=${token}, payer=${payer}, nodeAddress=${signerAddress}. Found ${
+          auths?.length || 0
+        } authorizations.`
+      )
     }
+
     if (
       BigInt(auths[0].currentLockedAmount.toString()) + BigInt(wei) >
       BigInt(auths[0].maxLockedAmount.toString())
@@ -173,8 +206,8 @@ export class Escrow {
     const { rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs } = this.networks[chain]
     const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
     const signer = blockchain.getSigner()
-    const contract = await this.getContract(chainId, signer)
-    const wei = await this.getPaymentAmountInWei(amount, chain, token)
+    const contract = this.getContract(chainId, signer)
+    const wei = await this.getPaymentAmountInWei(amount, chain, token, blockchain)
     const jobId = create256Hash(job)
     if (!contract) return null
     try {
@@ -216,7 +249,7 @@ export class Escrow {
     const blockchain = new Blockchain(rpc, network, chainId, fallbackRPCs)
     const signer = blockchain.getSigner()
     const jobId = create256Hash(job)
-    const contract = await this.getContract(chainId, signer)
+    const contract = this.getContract(chainId, signer)
 
     if (!contract) return null
     try {
diff --git a/src/utils/address.ts b/src/utils/address.ts
index 605f634d5..9760ed3b5 100644
--- a/src/utils/address.ts
+++ b/src/utils/address.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ export function getOceanArtifactsAdresses(): any {
  */
 export function getOceanArtifactsAdressesByChainId(chain: number): any {
   try {
-    // eslint-disable-next-line security/detect-non-literal-fs-filename
     const data = getOceanArtifactsAdresses()
     if (data) {
       const networks = Object.keys(data)
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ export function getOceanArtifactsAdressesByChainId(chain: number): any {
 }
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line require-await
-export function getOceanTokenAddressForChain(chainId: number): Promise<string | null> {
+export function getOceanTokenAddressForChain(chainId: number): string | null {
   const addresses = getOceanArtifactsAdressesByChainId(chainId)
   if (addresses && addresses.Ocean) return addresses.Ocean
   return null
diff --git a/src/utils/blockchain.ts b/src/utils/blockchain.ts
index 38da1abd5..03b19fdad 100644
--- a/src/utils/blockchain.ts
+++ b/src/utils/blockchain.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ const MUMBAI_NETWORK_ID = 80001
 const SEPOLIA_NETWORK_ID = 11155111
 
 export class Blockchain {
+  private static signers: Map<string, Signer> = new Map()
+  private static providers: Map<string, JsonRpcApiProvider> = new Map()
   private signer: Signer
   private provider: JsonRpcApiProvider
   private chainId: number
@@ -46,12 +48,30 @@ export class Blockchain {
     }
     this.network = new ethers.Network(chainName, chainId)
     // this.provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(rpc, this.network)
-    this.provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(rpc, null, {
-      staticNetwork: ethers.Network.from(chainId)
-    })
+    const providerKey = `${chainId}-${rpc}`
+    if (Blockchain.providers.has(providerKey)) {
+      this.provider = Blockchain.providers.get(providerKey)
+    } else {
+      this.provider = new ethers.JsonRpcProvider(rpc, null, {
+        staticNetwork: ethers.Network.from(chainId)
+      })
+      Blockchain.providers.set(providerKey, this.provider)
+    }
+
     this.registerForNetworkEvents()
     // always use this signer, not simply provider.getSigner(0) for instance (as we do on many tests)
-    this.signer = new ethers.Wallet(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY, this.provider)
+    const signerKey = `${chainId}-${process.env.PRIVATE_KEY}`
+    if (Blockchain.signers.has(signerKey)) {
+      let cachedSigner = Blockchain.signers.get(signerKey)
+      if (cachedSigner.provider !== this.provider) {
+        cachedSigner = (cachedSigner as ethers.Wallet).connect(this.provider)
+        Blockchain.signers.set(signerKey, cachedSigner)
+      }
+      this.signer = cachedSigner
+    } else {
+      this.signer = new ethers.Wallet(process.env.PRIVATE_KEY, this.provider)
+      Blockchain.signers.set(signerKey, this.signer)
+    }
   }
 
   public getSigner(): Signer {