diff --git a/pkg/p2p/libp2p/conngater.go b/pkg/p2p/libp2p/conngater.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dfd45208
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/p2p/libp2p/conngater.go
@@ -0,0 +1,207 @@
+package libp2p
+
+import (
+	"math/big"
+
+	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/core/control"
+	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/core/network"
+	"github.com/libp2p/go-libp2p/core/peer"
+	"github.com/multiformats/go-multiaddr"
+	"github.com/primevprotocol/mev-commit/pkg/p2p"
+	"github.com/primevprotocol/mev-commit/pkg/register"
+)
+
+type connectionAllowance int
+
+const (
+	Undecided connectionAllowance = iota
+	DenyUnresolvedAddress
+	DenyBadRegisterCall
+	DenyBlockedPeer
+	DenyNotEnoughStake
+	DenySearcherToSearcher
+	Accept
+)
+
+//var connectionAllowanceStrings = map[connectionAllowance]string{
+//	Undecided:              "Undecided",
+//	DenyUnresolvedAddress:  "DenyUnresolvedAddress",
+//	DenyBadRegisterCall:    "DenyBadRegisterCall",
+//	DenyBlockedPeer:        "DenyBlockedPeer",
+//	DenyNotEnoughStake:     "DenyNotEnoughStake",
+//	DenySearcherToSearcher: "DenySearcherToSearcher",
+//	Accept:                 "Allow",
+//}
+
+func (c connectionAllowance) isDeny() bool {
+	return !(c == Accept || c == Undecided)
+}
+
+// make sure the connections are between builder<>builder, builder<>searcher!
+type ConnectionGater interface {
+	// InterceptPeerDial intercepts peer dialing
+	InterceptPeerDial(p peer.ID) (allow bool)
+	// InterceptAddrDial intercepts address dialing
+	InterceptAddrDial(peer.ID, multiaddr.Multiaddr) (allow bool)
+	// InterceptAccept intercepts connection acceptance
+	InterceptAccept(network.ConnMultiaddrs) (allow bool)
+	// InterceptSecured intercepts secured connection
+	InterceptSecured(network.Direction, peer.ID, network.ConnMultiaddrs) (allow bool)
+	// InterceptUpgraded intercepts upgraded connection
+	InterceptUpgraded(network.Conn) (allow bool, reason control.DisconnectReason)
+}
+
+type connectionGater struct {
+	register     register.Register
+	selfType     p2p.PeerType
+	minimumStake *big.Int
+}
+
+// newConnectionGater creates a new instance of ConnectionGater
+func newConnectionGater(register register.Register, selfType p2p.PeerType, minimumStake *big.Int) ConnectionGater {
+	return &connectionGater{
+		register:     register,
+		selfType:     selfType,
+		minimumStake: minimumStake,
+	}
+}
+
+// checkPeerTrusted determines the trust status of a peer
+func (cg *connectionGater) checkPeerTrusted(p peer.ID) connectionAllowance {
+	// TODO: Implement the logic to determine whether the peer is trusted or not
+	return Undecided
+}
+
+// TODO @iowar blocker implementation: consult the team
+// checkPeerBlocked checks if a peer is blocked and returns the appropriate connection allowance status
+func (cg *connectionGater) checkPeerBlocked(p peer.ID) connectionAllowance {
+	//	// check if the peer is in the list of blocked peers, and deny the connection if found
+	//	for _, peerID := range cg.blocker.list() {
+	//		if p == peerID {
+	//			return DenyBlockedPeer
+	//		}
+	//	}
+	//
+	// if the peer is not in the blocked list, allow the connection
+	return Accept
+}
+
+// checkPeerStake checks if a peer has enough stake and returns the appropriate
+// connection allowance status
+func (cg *connectionGater) checkPeerStake(p peer.ID) connectionAllowance {
+	// get eth address
+	ethAddress, err := GetEthAddressFromPeerID(p)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DenyUnresolvedAddress
+	}
+
+	// get stake
+	stake, err := cg.register.GetStake(ethAddress)
+	if err != nil {
+		return DenyBadRegisterCall
+	}
+
+	enoughStake := stake.Cmp(cg.minimumStake) >= 0
+
+	// possible s<>s connection
+	// ! s<>s connection
+	if (cg.selfType == p2p.PeerTypeSearcher) && !enoughStake {
+		return DenySearcherToSearcher
+	}
+
+	// Reject potential s<>s connections and accept the remaining requests,
+	// allowing authentication during the handshake phase
+	return Accept
+}
+
+// resolveConnectionAllowance resolves the connection allowance based on trusted and blocked statuses
+func resolveConnectionAllowance(
+	trustedStatus connectionAllowance,
+	blockedStatus connectionAllowance,
+) connectionAllowance {
+	// if the peer's trusted status is 'Undecided', resolve the connection allowance based on the blocked status
+	if trustedStatus == Undecided {
+		return blockedStatus
+	}
+	return trustedStatus
+}
+
+// checks if a peer is allowed to dial/accept
+func (cg *connectionGater) checkAllowedPeer(p peer.ID) connectionAllowance {
+	return resolveConnectionAllowance(cg.checkPeerTrusted(p), cg.checkPeerBlocked(p))
+}
+
+// InterceptPeerDial intercepts the process of dialing a peer
+//
+// all peer dialing attempts are allowed
+func (cg *connectionGater) InterceptPeerDial(p peer.ID) bool {
+	allowance := cg.checkAllowedPeer(p)
+	if allowance.isDeny() {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	return !cg.checkPeerStake(p).isDeny()
+}
+
+// InterceptAddrDial intercepts the process of dialing an address
+//
+// all address dialing attempts are allowed
+// TODO rate limiter
+func (cg *connectionGater) InterceptAddrDial(p peer.ID, addr multiaddr.Multiaddr) bool {
+	allowance := cg.checkAllowedPeer(p)
+	return !allowance.isDeny()
+}
+
+// InterceptAccept intercepts the process of accepting a connection
+//
+// all connection acceptance attempts are allowed
+func (cg *connectionGater) InterceptAccept(connMultiaddrs network.ConnMultiaddrs) bool {
+	return true
+}
+
+// InterceptSecured intercepts a secured connection, regardless of its direction (inbound/outbound)
+func (cg *connectionGater) InterceptSecured(dir network.Direction, p peer.ID, connMultiaddrs network.ConnMultiaddrs) bool {
+	allowance := cg.checkAllowedPeer(p)
+	if allowance.isDeny() {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	// note: we are indifferent to the direction (inbound/outbound)
+	// if you want to manipulate (inbound/outbound) connections, make the change
+	// note:if it is desired to not establish a connection with a peer,
+	// ensure that it is rejected in both incoming and outgoing connections
+	if dir == network.DirInbound {
+		return cg.validateInboundConnection(p, connMultiaddrs)
+	} else {
+		return cg.validateOutboundConnection(p, connMultiaddrs)
+	}
+}
+
+// InterceptUpgraded intercepts the process of upgrading a connection
+//
+// all connection upgrade attempts are allowed
+func (cg *connectionGater) InterceptUpgraded(conn network.Conn) (bool, control.DisconnectReason) {
+	return true, control.DisconnectReason(0)
+}
+
+// validateInboundConnection validates an inbound connection by extracting its
+// public key and performing stake validation if the validation succeeds and
+// the peer's stake is greater than minimal stake, the connection is allowed
+// otherwise, the connection is rejected
+func (cg *connectionGater) validateInboundConnection(p peer.ID, connMultiaddrs network.ConnMultiaddrs) bool {
+	//cg.metrics.IncomingConnectionCount.Inc()
+
+	allowance := cg.checkPeerStake(p)
+	return !allowance.isDeny()
+}
+
+// validateOutboundConnection validates an outbound connection by extracting
+// its public key and performing stake validation if the validation succeeds
+// and the peer's stake is greater than minimal stake, the connection is
+// allowed otherwise, the connection is rejected
+func (cg *connectionGater) validateOutboundConnection(p peer.ID, connMultiaddrs network.ConnMultiaddrs) bool {
+	//cg.metrics.OutgoingConnectionCount.Inc()
+
+	allowance := cg.checkPeerStake(p)
+	return !allowance.isDeny()
+}
diff --git a/pkg/p2p/libp2p/libp2p.go b/pkg/p2p/libp2p/libp2p.go
index f020053e..40126b4a 100644
--- a/pkg/p2p/libp2p/libp2p.go
+++ b/pkg/p2p/libp2p/libp2p.go
@@ -86,8 +86,11 @@ func New(opts *Options) (*Service, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	conngtr := newConnectionGater(opts.Register, opts.PeerType, opts.MinimumStake)
+
 	host, err := libp2p.New(
 		libp2p.ListenAddrStrings(fmt.Sprintf("/ip4/0.0.0.0/tcp/%d", opts.ListenPort)),
+		libp2p.ConnectionGater(conngtr),
 		libp2p.Identity(libp2pKey),
 		libp2p.ConnectionManager(connmgr),
 		libp2p.DefaultTransports,
@@ -101,6 +104,10 @@ func New(opts *Options) (*Service, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	for _, addr := range host.Addrs() {
+		opts.Logger.Info("p2p address", "addr", addr, "host_address", host.ID().Pretty())
+	}
+
 	ethAddress, err := GetEthAddressFromPeerID(host.ID())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/topology/topology.go b/pkg/topology/topology.go
index 8feeb1c3..632c31f8 100644
--- a/pkg/topology/topology.go
+++ b/pkg/topology/topology.go
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ func (t *topology) Disconnected(p p2p.Peer) {
 	t.mu.Lock()
 	defer t.mu.Unlock()
 
+	t.logger.Info("disconnected", "peer", p)
+
 	switch p.Type {
 	case p2p.PeerTypeBuilder:
 		delete(t.builders, p.EthAddress)