diff --git a/share/rpcauth/README.md b/share/rpcauth/README.md
index 6f627b867bca..1b3acb1dac16 100644
--- a/share/rpcauth/README.md
+++ b/share/rpcauth/README.md
@@ -15,4 +15,5 @@ positional arguments:
 
 optional arguments:
   -h, --help  show this help message and exit
+  -j, --json   output data in json format
   ```
diff --git a/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py b/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py
index 6f94f8fe770c..70b3706f3c0c 100755
--- a/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py
+++ b/share/rpcauth/rpcauth.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 from getpass import getpass
 from secrets import token_hex, token_urlsafe
 import hmac
+import json
 
 def generate_salt(size):
     """Create size byte hex salt"""
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ def main():
     parser = ArgumentParser(description='Create login credentials for a JSON-RPC user')
     parser.add_argument('username', help='the username for authentication')
     parser.add_argument('password', help='leave empty to generate a random password or specify "-" to prompt for password', nargs='?')
+    parser.add_argument("-j", "--json", help="output to json instead of plain-text", action='store_true')
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
     if not args.password:
@@ -35,9 +37,13 @@ def main():
     salt = generate_salt(16)
     password_hmac = password_to_hmac(salt, args.password)
 
-    print('String to be appended to dash.conf:')
-    print(f'rpcauth={args.username}:{salt}${password_hmac}')
-    print(f'Your password:\n{args.password}')
+    if args.json:
+        odict={'username':args.username, 'password':args.password, 'rpcauth':f'{args.username}:{salt}${password_hmac}'}
+        print(json.dumps(odict))
+    else:
+        print('String to be appended to dash.conf:')
+        print(f'rpcauth={args.username}:{salt}${password_hmac}')
+        print(f'Your password:\n{args.password}')
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     main()
diff --git a/src/Makefile.bench.include b/src/Makefile.bench.include
index be7bfe2d2dcc..9bc2bc3894ef 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.bench.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.bench.include
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ bench_bench_dash_SOURCES = \
   bench/merkle_root.cpp \
   bench/nanobench.cpp \
   bench/nanobench.h \
+  bench/parse_hex.cpp \
   bench/peer_eviction.cpp \
   bench/poly1305.cpp \
   bench/pool.cpp \
diff --git a/src/addrdb.cpp b/src/addrdb.cpp
index 83bc6192ff7b..158407452816 100644
--- a/src/addrdb.cpp
+++ b/src/addrdb.cpp
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ bool SerializeDB(Stream& stream, const Data& data)
         hashwriter << Params().MessageStart() << data;
         stream << hashwriter.GetHash();
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
-        return error("%s: Serialize or I/O error - %s", __func__, e.what());
+        LogError("%s: Serialize or I/O error - %s\n", __func__, e.what());
+        return false;
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -59,7 +60,8 @@ bool SerializeFileDB(const std::string& prefix, const fs::path& path, const Data
     if (fileout.IsNull()) {
         fileout.fclose();
         remove(pathTmp);
-        return error("%s: Failed to open file %s", __func__, fs::PathToString(pathTmp));
+        LogError("%s: Failed to open file %s\n", __func__, fs::PathToString(pathTmp));
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Serialize
@@ -71,14 +73,16 @@ bool SerializeFileDB(const std::string& prefix, const fs::path& path, const Data
     if (!FileCommit(fileout.Get())) {
         fileout.fclose();
         remove(pathTmp);
-        return error("%s: Failed to flush file %s", __func__, fs::PathToString(pathTmp));
+        LogError("%s: Failed to flush file %s\n", __func__, fs::PathToString(pathTmp));
+        return false;
     }
     fileout.fclose();
 
     // replace existing file, if any, with new file
     if (!RenameOver(pathTmp, path)) {
         remove(pathTmp);
-        return error("%s: Rename-into-place failed", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: Rename-into-place failed\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -136,7 +140,7 @@ bool CBanDB::Write(const banmap_t& banSet)
     }
 
     for (const auto& err : errors) {
-        error("%s", err);
+        LogError("%s\n", err);
     }
     return false;
 }
diff --git a/src/bench/parse_hex.cpp b/src/bench/parse_hex.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..db3ead043c81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/bench/parse_hex.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2024- The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#include <bench/bench.h>
+#include <random.h>
+#include <stddef.h>
+#include <util/strencodings.h>
+#include <cassert>
+#include <optional>
+#include <vector>
+
+std::string generateHexString(size_t length) {
+    const auto hex_digits = "0123456789ABCDEF";
+    FastRandomContext rng(/*fDeterministic=*/true);
+
+    std::string data;
+    while (data.size() < length) {
+        auto digit = hex_digits[rng.randbits(4)];
+        data.push_back(digit);
+    }
+    return data;
+}
+
+static void HexParse(benchmark::Bench& bench)
+{
+    auto data = generateHexString(130); // Generates 678B0EDA0A1FD30904D5A65E3568DB82DB2D918B0AD8DEA18A63FECCB877D07CAD1495C7157584D877420EF38B8DA473A6348B4F51811AC13C786B962BEE5668F9 by default
+
+    bench.batch(data.size()).unit("base16").run([&] {
+        auto result = TryParseHex(data);
+        assert(result != std::nullopt); // make sure we're measuring the successful case
+        ankerl::nanobench::doNotOptimizeAway(result);
+    });
+}
+
+BENCHMARK(HexParse, benchmark::PriorityLevel::HIGH);
diff --git a/src/flatfile.cpp b/src/flatfile.cpp
index 0fecf4f50499..1b4433186ebb 100644
--- a/src/flatfile.cpp
+++ b/src/flatfile.cpp
@@ -82,15 +82,18 @@ bool FlatFileSeq::Flush(const FlatFilePos& pos, bool finalize)
 {
     FILE* file = Open(FlatFilePos(pos.nFile, 0)); // Avoid fseek to nPos
     if (!file) {
-        return error("%s: failed to open file %d", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        LogError("%s: failed to open file %d\n", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        return false;
     }
     if (finalize && !TruncateFile(file, pos.nPos)) {
         fclose(file);
-        return error("%s: failed to truncate file %d", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        LogError("%s: failed to truncate file %d\n", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        return false;
     }
     if (!FileCommit(file)) {
         fclose(file);
-        return error("%s: failed to commit file %d", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        LogError("%s: failed to commit file %d\n", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        return false;
     }
     DirectoryCommit(m_dir);
 
diff --git a/src/index/base.cpp b/src/index/base.cpp
index d585cac6dd53..0a02e76a2a0c 100644
--- a/src/index/base.cpp
+++ b/src/index/base.cpp
@@ -204,7 +204,8 @@ bool BaseIndex::Commit()
 {
     CDBBatch batch(GetDB());
     if (!CommitInternal(batch) || !GetDB().WriteBatch(batch)) {
-        return error("%s: Failed to commit latest %s state", __func__, GetName());
+        LogError("%s: Failed to commit latest %s state\n", __func__, GetName());
+        return false;
     }
     return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/index/blockfilterindex.cpp b/src/index/blockfilterindex.cpp
index 5449a93b0954..635064afdc9b 100644
--- a/src/index/blockfilterindex.cpp
+++ b/src/index/blockfilterindex.cpp
@@ -146,8 +146,9 @@ bool BlockFilterIndex::Init()
         // indicate database corruption or a disk failure, and starting the index would cause
         // further corruption.
         if (m_db->Exists(DB_FILTER_POS)) {
-            return error("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted",
+            LogError("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted\n",
                          __func__, GetName());
+            return false;
         }
 
         // If the DB_FILTER_POS is not set, then initialize to the first location.
@@ -169,10 +170,12 @@ bool BlockFilterIndex::CommitInternal(CDBBatch& batch)
     // Flush current filter file to disk.
     AutoFile file{m_filter_fileseq->Open(pos)};
     if (file.IsNull()) {
-        return error("%s: Failed to open filter file %d", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        LogError("%s: Failed to open filter file %d\n", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        return false;
     }
     if (!FileCommit(file.Get())) {
-        return error("%s: Failed to commit filter file %d", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        LogError("%s: Failed to commit filter file %d\n", __func__, pos.nFile);
+        return false;
     }
 
     batch.Write(DB_FILTER_POS, pos);
@@ -191,11 +194,15 @@ bool BlockFilterIndex::ReadFilterFromDisk(const FlatFilePos& pos, const uint256&
     std::vector<uint8_t> encoded_filter;
     try {
         filein >> block_hash >> encoded_filter;
-        if (Hash(encoded_filter) != hash) return error("Checksum mismatch in filter decode.");
+        if (Hash(encoded_filter) != hash) {
+            LogError("Checksum mismatch in filter decode.\n");
+            return false;
+        }
         filter = BlockFilter(GetFilterType(), block_hash, std::move(encoded_filter), /*skip_decode_check=*/true);
     }
     catch (const std::exception& e) {
-        return error("%s: Failed to deserialize block filter from disk: %s", __func__, e.what());
+        LogError("%s: Failed to deserialize block filter from disk: %s\n", __func__, e.what());
+        return false;
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -264,8 +271,9 @@ bool BlockFilterIndex::WriteBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindex
 
         uint256 expected_block_hash = pindex->pprev->GetBlockHash();
         if (read_out.first != expected_block_hash) {
-            return error("%s: previous block header belongs to unexpected block %s; expected %s",
+            LogError("%s: previous block header belongs to unexpected block %s; expected %s\n",
                          __func__, read_out.first.ToString(), expected_block_hash.ToString());
+            return false;
         }
 
         prev_header = read_out.second.header;
@@ -299,14 +307,16 @@ bool BlockFilterIndex::WriteBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindex
 
     for (int height = start_height; height <= stop_height; ++height) {
         if (!db_it.GetKey(key) || key.height != height) {
-            return error("%s: unexpected key in %s: expected (%c, %d)",
+            LogError("%s: unexpected key in %s: expected (%c, %d)\n",
                          __func__, index_name, DB_BLOCK_HEIGHT, height);
+            return false;
         }
 
         std::pair<uint256, DBVal> value;
         if (!db_it.GetValue(value)) {
-            return error("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %d)",
+            LogError("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %d)\n",
                          __func__, index_name, DB_BLOCK_HEIGHT, height);
+            return false;
         }
 
         batch.Write(DBHashKey(value.first), std::move(value.second));
@@ -361,11 +371,13 @@ static bool LookupRange(CDBWrapper& db, const std::string& index_name, int start
                         const CBlockIndex* stop_index, std::vector<DBVal>& results)
 {
     if (start_height < 0) {
-        return error("%s: start height (%d) is negative", __func__, start_height);
+        LogError("%s: start height (%d) is negative\n", __func__, start_height);
+        return false;
     }
     if (start_height > stop_index->nHeight) {
-        return error("%s: start height (%d) is greater than stop height (%d)",
+        LogError("%s: start height (%d) is greater than stop height (%d)\n",
                      __func__, start_height, stop_index->nHeight);
+        return false;
     }
 
     size_t results_size = static_cast<size_t>(stop_index->nHeight - start_height + 1);
@@ -381,8 +393,9 @@ static bool LookupRange(CDBWrapper& db, const std::string& index_name, int start
 
         size_t i = static_cast<size_t>(height - start_height);
         if (!db_it->GetValue(values[i])) {
-            return error("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %d)",
+            LogError("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %d)\n",
                          __func__, index_name, DB_BLOCK_HEIGHT, height);
+            return false;
         }
 
         db_it->Next();
@@ -404,8 +417,9 @@ static bool LookupRange(CDBWrapper& db, const std::string& index_name, int start
         }
 
         if (!db.Read(DBHashKey(block_hash), results[i])) {
-            return error("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %s)",
+            LogError("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %s)\n",
                          __func__, index_name, DB_BLOCK_HASH, block_hash.ToString());
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/index/coinstatsindex.cpp b/src/index/coinstatsindex.cpp
index 49c81ba1efbc..5a53920f5806 100644
--- a/src/index/coinstatsindex.cpp
+++ b/src/index/coinstatsindex.cpp
@@ -135,8 +135,9 @@ bool CoinStatsIndex::WriteBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindex)
                       read_out.first.ToString(), expected_block_hash.ToString());
 
             if (!m_db->Read(DBHashKey(expected_block_hash), read_out)) {
-                return error("%s: previous block header not found; expected %s",
+                LogError("%s: previous block header not found; expected %s\n",
                              __func__, expected_block_hash.ToString());
+                return false;
             }
         }
 
@@ -241,14 +242,16 @@ bool CoinStatsIndex::WriteBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindex)
 
     for (int height = start_height; height <= stop_height; ++height) {
         if (!db_it.GetKey(key) || key.height != height) {
-            return error("%s: unexpected key in %s: expected (%c, %d)",
+            LogError("%s: unexpected key in %s: expected (%c, %d)\n",
                          __func__, index_name, DB_BLOCK_HEIGHT, height);
+            return false;
         }
 
         std::pair<uint256, DBVal> value;
         if (!db_it.GetValue(value)) {
-            return error("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %d)",
+            LogError("%s: unable to read value in %s at key (%c, %d)\n",
                          __func__, index_name, DB_BLOCK_HEIGHT, height);
+            return false;
         }
 
         batch.Write(DBHashKey(value.first), std::move(value.second));
@@ -283,8 +286,9 @@ bool CoinStatsIndex::Rewind(const CBlockIndex* current_tip, const CBlockIndex* n
             CBlock block;
 
             if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, iter_tip, consensus_params)) {
-                return error("%s: Failed to read block %s from disk",
+                LogError("%s: Failed to read block %s from disk\n",
                              __func__, iter_tip->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                return false;
             }
 
             if (!ReverseBlock(block, iter_tip)) {
@@ -351,8 +355,9 @@ bool CoinStatsIndex::Init()
         // exist. Any other errors indicate database corruption or a disk
         // failure, and starting the index would cause further corruption.
         if (m_db->Exists(DB_MUHASH)) {
-            return error("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted",
+            LogError("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted\n",
                          __func__, GetName());
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
@@ -363,14 +368,16 @@ bool CoinStatsIndex::Init()
     if (pindex) {
         DBVal entry;
         if (!LookUpOne(*m_db, pindex, entry)) {
-            return error("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted",
+            LogError("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted\n",
                             __func__, GetName());
+            return false;
         }
         uint256 out;
         m_muhash.Finalize(out);
         if (entry.muhash != out) {
-            return error("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted",
+            LogError("%s: Cannot read current %s state; index may be corrupted\n",
                         __func__, GetName());
+            return false;
         }
         m_transaction_output_count = entry.transaction_output_count;
         m_bogo_size = entry.bogo_size;
@@ -422,8 +429,9 @@ bool CoinStatsIndex::ReverseBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindex
                       read_out.first.ToString(), expected_block_hash.ToString());
 
             if (!m_db->Read(DBHashKey(expected_block_hash), read_out)) {
-                return error("%s: previous block header not found; expected %s",
+                LogError("%s: previous block header not found; expected %s\n",
                              __func__, expected_block_hash.ToString());
+                return false;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/index/txindex.cpp b/src/index/txindex.cpp
index 1a6a0cf7fe01..a915231c4019 100644
--- a/src/index/txindex.cpp
+++ b/src/index/txindex.cpp
@@ -82,20 +82,24 @@ bool TxIndex::FindTx(const uint256& tx_hash, uint256& block_hash, CTransactionRe
 
     AutoFile file{OpenBlockFile(postx, true)};
     if (file.IsNull()) {
-        return error("%s: OpenBlockFile failed", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: OpenBlockFile failed\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
     CBlockHeader header;
     try {
         file >> header;
         if (fseek(file.Get(), postx.nTxOffset, SEEK_CUR)) {
-            return error("%s: fseek(...) failed", __func__);
+            LogError("%s: fseek(...) failed\n", __func__);
+            return false;
         }
         file >> tx;
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
-        return error("%s: Deserialize or I/O error - %s", __func__, e.what());
+        LogError("%s: Deserialize or I/O error - %s\n", __func__, e.what());
+        return false;
     }
     if (tx->GetHash() != tx_hash) {
-        return error("%s: txid mismatch", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: txid mismatch\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
     block_hash = header.GetHash();
     return true;
diff --git a/src/kernel/coinstats.cpp b/src/kernel/coinstats.cpp
index 5e8549efcb45..a649aab470fb 100644
--- a/src/kernel/coinstats.cpp
+++ b/src/kernel/coinstats.cpp
@@ -120,7 +120,8 @@ static bool ComputeUTXOStats(CCoinsView* view, CCoinsStats& stats, T hash_obj, c
             outputs[key.n] = std::move(coin);
             stats.coins_count++;
         } else {
-            return error("%s: unable to read value", __func__);
+            LogError("%s: unable to read value\n", __func__);
+            return false;
         }
         pcursor->Next();
     }
diff --git a/src/logging.h b/src/logging.h
index d0b2069319f0..cc37a65a8449 100644
--- a/src/logging.h
+++ b/src/logging.h
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ std::string SafeStringFormat(const std::string& fmt, const Args&... args)
     }
 }
 
-// Be conservative when using LogPrintf/error or other things which
+// Be conservative when using functions that
 // unconditionally log to debug.log! It should not be the case that an inbound
 // peer can fill up a user's disk with debug.log entries.
 
diff --git a/src/net.cpp b/src/net.cpp
index 21648dbd01c5..a3a1a9ade7ad 100644
--- a/src/net.cpp
+++ b/src/net.cpp
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ void CNode::SetAddrLocal(const CService& addrLocalIn) {
     AssertLockNotHeld(m_addr_local_mutex);
     LOCK(m_addr_local_mutex);
     if (addrLocal.IsValid()) {
-        error("Addr local already set for node: %i. Refusing to change from %s to %s", id, addrLocal.ToStringAddrPort(), addrLocalIn.ToStringAddrPort());
+        LogError("Addr local already set for node: %i. Refusing to change from %s to %s\n", id, addrLocal.ToStringAddrPort(), addrLocalIn.ToStringAddrPort());
     } else {
         addrLocal = addrLocalIn;
     }
diff --git a/src/netbase.cpp b/src/netbase.cpp
index 9144f5bd20e0..b6e81795d08e 100644
--- a/src/netbase.cpp
+++ b/src/netbase.cpp
@@ -372,7 +372,8 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
     IntrRecvError recvr;
     LogPrint(BCLog::NET, "SOCKS5 connecting %s\n", strDest);
     if (strDest.size() > 255) {
-        return error("Hostname too long");
+        LogError("Hostname too long\n");
+        return false;
     }
     // Construct the version identifier/method selection message
     std::vector<uint8_t> vSocks5Init;
@@ -387,7 +388,8 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
     }
     ssize_t ret = sock.Send(vSocks5Init.data(), vSocks5Init.size(), MSG_NOSIGNAL);
     if (ret != (ssize_t)vSocks5Init.size()) {
-        return error("Error sending to proxy");
+        LogError("Error sending to proxy\n");
+        return false;
     }
     uint8_t pchRet1[2];
     if (InterruptibleRecv(pchRet1, 2, g_socks5_recv_timeout, sock) != IntrRecvError::OK) {
@@ -395,34 +397,42 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
         return false;
     }
     if (pchRet1[0] != SOCKSVersion::SOCKS5) {
-        return error("Proxy failed to initialize");
+        LogError("Proxy failed to initialize\n");
+        return false;
     }
     if (pchRet1[1] == SOCKS5Method::USER_PASS && auth) {
         // Perform username/password authentication (as described in RFC1929)
         std::vector<uint8_t> vAuth;
         vAuth.push_back(0x01); // Current (and only) version of user/pass subnegotiation
-        if (auth->username.size() > 255 || auth->password.size() > 255)
-            return error("Proxy username or password too long");
+        if (auth->username.size() > 255 || auth->password.size() > 255) {
+            LogError("Proxy username or password too long\n");
+            return false;
+        }
+
         vAuth.push_back(auth->username.size());
         vAuth.insert(vAuth.end(), auth->username.begin(), auth->username.end());
         vAuth.push_back(auth->password.size());
         vAuth.insert(vAuth.end(), auth->password.begin(), auth->password.end());
         ret = sock.Send(vAuth.data(), vAuth.size(), MSG_NOSIGNAL);
         if (ret != (ssize_t)vAuth.size()) {
-            return error("Error sending authentication to proxy");
+            LogError("Error sending authentication to proxy\n");
+            return false;
         }
         LogPrint(BCLog::PROXY, "SOCKS5 sending proxy authentication %s:%s\n", auth->username, auth->password);
         uint8_t pchRetA[2];
         if (InterruptibleRecv(pchRetA, 2, g_socks5_recv_timeout, sock) != IntrRecvError::OK) {
-            return error("Error reading proxy authentication response");
+            LogError("Error reading proxy authentication response\n");
+            return false;
         }
         if (pchRetA[0] != 0x01 || pchRetA[1] != 0x00) {
-            return error("Proxy authentication unsuccessful");
+            LogError("Proxy authentication unsuccessful\n");
+            return false;
         }
     } else if (pchRet1[1] == SOCKS5Method::NOAUTH) {
         // Perform no authentication
     } else {
-        return error("Proxy requested wrong authentication method %02x", pchRet1[1]);
+        LogError("Proxy requested wrong authentication method %02x\n", pchRet1[1]);
+        return false;
     }
     std::vector<uint8_t> vSocks5;
     vSocks5.push_back(SOCKSVersion::SOCKS5); // VER protocol version
@@ -435,7 +445,8 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
     vSocks5.push_back((port >> 0) & 0xFF);
     ret = sock.Send(vSocks5.data(), vSocks5.size(), MSG_NOSIGNAL);
     if (ret != (ssize_t)vSocks5.size()) {
-        return error("Error sending to proxy");
+        LogError("Error sending to proxy\n");
+        return false;
     }
     uint8_t pchRet2[4];
     if ((recvr = InterruptibleRecv(pchRet2, 4, g_socks5_recv_timeout, sock)) != IntrRecvError::OK) {
@@ -445,11 +456,13 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
              * error message. */
             return false;
         } else {
-            return error("Error while reading proxy response");
+            LogError("Error while reading proxy response\n");
+            return false;
         }
     }
     if (pchRet2[0] != SOCKSVersion::SOCKS5) {
-        return error("Proxy failed to accept request");
+        LogError("Proxy failed to accept request\n");
+        return false;
     }
     if (pchRet2[1] != SOCKS5Reply::SUCCEEDED) {
         // Failures to connect to a peer that are not proxy errors
@@ -457,7 +470,8 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
         return false;
     }
     if (pchRet2[2] != 0x00) { // Reserved field must be 0
-        return error("Error: malformed proxy response");
+        LogError("Error: malformed proxy response\n");
+        return false;
     }
     uint8_t pchRet3[256];
     switch (pchRet2[3])
@@ -468,19 +482,25 @@ bool Socks5(const std::string& strDest, uint16_t port, const ProxyCredentials* a
         {
             recvr = InterruptibleRecv(pchRet3, 1, g_socks5_recv_timeout, sock);
             if (recvr != IntrRecvError::OK) {
-                return error("Error reading from proxy");
+                LogError("Error reading from proxy\n");
+                return false;
             }
             int nRecv = pchRet3[0];
             recvr = InterruptibleRecv(pchRet3, nRecv, g_socks5_recv_timeout, sock);
             break;
         }
-        default: return error("Error: malformed proxy response");
+        default: {
+            LogError("Error: malformed proxy response\n");
+            return false;
+        }
     }
     if (recvr != IntrRecvError::OK) {
-        return error("Error reading from proxy");
+        LogError("Error reading from proxy\n");
+        return false;
     }
     if (InterruptibleRecv(pchRet3, 2, g_socks5_recv_timeout, sock) != IntrRecvError::OK) {
-        return error("Error reading from proxy");
+        LogError("Error reading from proxy\n");
+        return false;
     }
     LogPrint(BCLog::NET, "SOCKS5 connected %s\n", strDest);
     return true;
diff --git a/src/node/blockstorage.cpp b/src/node/blockstorage.cpp
index d6606442475a..0e89d24f3e7f 100644
--- a/src/node/blockstorage.cpp
+++ b/src/node/blockstorage.cpp
@@ -291,7 +291,8 @@ bool BlockManager::LoadBlockIndex()
     for (CBlockIndex* pindex : vSortedByHeight) {
         if (ShutdownRequested()) return false;
         if (previous_index && pindex->nHeight > previous_index->nHeight + 1) {
-            return error("%s: block index is non-contiguous, index of height %d missing", __func__, previous_index->nHeight + 1);
+            LogError("%s: block index is non-contiguous, index of height %d missing\n", __func__, previous_index->nHeight + 1);
+            return false;
         }
         previous_index = pindex;
         pindex->nChainWork = (pindex->pprev ? pindex->pprev->nChainWork : 0) + GetBlockProof(*pindex);
@@ -489,7 +490,8 @@ static bool UndoWriteToDisk(const CBlockUndo& blockundo, FlatFilePos& pos, const
     // Open history file to append
     CAutoFile fileout(OpenUndoFile(pos), SER_DISK, CLIENT_VERSION);
     if (fileout.IsNull()) {
-        return error("%s: OpenUndoFile failed", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: OpenUndoFile failed\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Write index header
@@ -499,7 +501,8 @@ static bool UndoWriteToDisk(const CBlockUndo& blockundo, FlatFilePos& pos, const
     // Write undo data
     long fileOutPos = ftell(fileout.Get());
     if (fileOutPos < 0) {
-        return error("%s: ftell failed", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: ftell failed\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
     pos.nPos = (unsigned int)fileOutPos;
     fileout << blockundo;
@@ -518,13 +521,15 @@ bool UndoReadFromDisk(CBlockUndo& blockundo, const CBlockIndex* pindex)
     const FlatFilePos pos{WITH_LOCK(::cs_main, return pindex->GetUndoPos())};
 
     if (pos.IsNull()) {
-        return error("%s: no undo data available", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: no undo data available\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Open history file to read
     CAutoFile filein(OpenUndoFile(pos, true), SER_DISK, CLIENT_VERSION);
     if (filein.IsNull()) {
-        return error("%s: OpenUndoFile failed", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: OpenUndoFile failed\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Read block
@@ -535,12 +540,14 @@ bool UndoReadFromDisk(CBlockUndo& blockundo, const CBlockIndex* pindex)
         verifier >> blockundo;
         filein >> hashChecksum;
     } catch (const std::exception& e) {
-        return error("%s: Deserialize or I/O error - %s", __func__, e.what());
+        LogError("%s: Deserialize or I/O error - %s\n", __func__, e.what());
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Verify checksum
     if (hashChecksum != verifier.GetHash()) {
-        return error("%s: Checksum mismatch", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: Checksum mismatch\n", __func__);
+        return false;
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -708,7 +715,8 @@ static bool WriteBlockToDisk(const CBlock& block, FlatFilePos& pos, const CMessa
     // Open history file to append
     CAutoFile fileout(OpenBlockFile(pos), SER_DISK, CLIENT_VERSION);
     if (fileout.IsNull()) {
-        return error("WriteBlockToDisk: OpenBlockFile failed");
+        LogError("WriteBlockToDisk: OpenBlockFile failed\n");
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Write index header
@@ -718,7 +726,8 @@ static bool WriteBlockToDisk(const CBlock& block, FlatFilePos& pos, const CMessa
     // Write block
     long fileOutPos = ftell(fileout.Get());
     if (fileOutPos < 0) {
-        return error("WriteBlockToDisk: ftell failed");
+        LogError("WriteBlockToDisk: ftell failed\n");
+        return false;
     }
     pos.nPos = (unsigned int)fileOutPos;
     fileout << block;
@@ -733,7 +742,8 @@ bool BlockManager::WriteUndoDataForBlock(const CBlockUndo& blockundo, BlockValid
     if (block.GetUndoPos().IsNull()) {
         FlatFilePos _pos;
         if (!FindUndoPos(state, block.nFile, _pos, ::GetSerializeSize(blockundo, CLIENT_VERSION) + 40)) {
-            return error("ConnectBlock(): FindUndoPos failed");
+            LogError("ConnectBlock(): FindUndoPos failed\n");
+            return false;
         }
         if (!UndoWriteToDisk(blockundo, _pos, block.pprev->GetBlockHash(), GetParams().MessageStart())) {
             return AbortNode(state, "Failed to write undo data");
@@ -796,6 +806,7 @@ bool ReadBlockFromDisk(CBlock& block, const CBlockIndex* pindex, const Consensus
     if (*hash != pindex->GetBlockHash()) {
         return error("ReadBlockFromDisk(CBlock&, CBlockIndex*): GetHash() doesn't match index for %s at %s",
                      pindex->ToString(), block_pos.ToString());
+        return false;
     }
     return true;
 }
@@ -814,7 +825,7 @@ FlatFilePos BlockManager::SaveBlockToDisk(const CBlock& block, int nHeight, CCha
         nBlockSize += static_cast<unsigned int>(BLOCK_SERIALIZATION_HEADER_SIZE);
     }
     if (!FindBlockPos(blockPos, nBlockSize, nHeight, active_chain, block.GetBlockTime(), position_known)) {
-        error("%s: FindBlockPos failed", __func__);
+        LogError("%s: FindBlockPos failed\n", __func__);
         return FlatFilePos();
     }
     if (!position_known) {
diff --git a/src/script/signingprovider.cpp b/src/script/signingprovider.cpp
index 3f6c9c2ad7c8..2eee235126ad 100644
--- a/src/script/signingprovider.cpp
+++ b/src/script/signingprovider.cpp
@@ -110,8 +110,10 @@ bool FillableSigningProvider::GetKey(const CKeyID &address, CKey &keyOut) const
 
 bool FillableSigningProvider::AddCScript(const CScript& redeemScript)
 {
-    if (redeemScript.size() > MAX_SCRIPT_ELEMENT_SIZE)
-        return error("FillableSigningProvider::AddCScript(): redeemScripts > %i bytes are invalid", MAX_SCRIPT_ELEMENT_SIZE);
+    if (redeemScript.size() > MAX_SCRIPT_ELEMENT_SIZE) {
+        LogError("FillableSigningProvider::AddCScript(): redeemScripts > %i bytes are invalid\n", MAX_SCRIPT_ELEMENT_SIZE);
+        return false;
+    }
 
     LOCK(cs_KeyStore);
     mapScripts[CScriptID(redeemScript)] = redeemScript;
diff --git a/src/test/serialize_tests.cpp b/src/test/serialize_tests.cpp
index d0b6cc774ccf..ea5b8e5e1e2d 100644
--- a/src/test/serialize_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/serialize_tests.cpp
@@ -84,6 +84,8 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(sizes)
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(GetSerializeSize(int64_t(0), 0), 8U);
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(GetSerializeSize(uint64_t(0), 0), 8U);
     BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(GetSerializeSize(bool(0), 0), 1U);
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(GetSerializeSize(std::array<uint8_t, 1>{0}, 0), 1U);
+    BOOST_CHECK_EQUAL(GetSerializeSize(std::array<uint8_t, 2>{0, 0}, 0), 2U);
 }
 
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(varints)
@@ -178,6 +180,16 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(vector_bool)
     BOOST_CHECK(SerializeHash(vec1) == SerializeHash(vec2));
 }
 
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(array)
+{
+    std::array<uint8_t, 32> array1{1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 1};
+    DataStream ds;
+    ds << array1;
+    std::array<uint8_t, 32> array2;
+    ds >> array2;
+    BOOST_CHECK(array1 == array2);
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(noncanonical)
 {
     // Write some non-canonical CompactSize encodings, and
diff --git a/src/util/strencodings.cpp b/src/util/strencodings.cpp
index cbbbb5c9692b..5f0aea5d5cd0 100644
--- a/src/util/strencodings.cpp
+++ b/src/util/strencodings.cpp
@@ -81,6 +81,8 @@ template <typename Byte>
 std::optional<std::vector<Byte>> TryParseHex(std::string_view str)
 {
     std::vector<Byte> vch;
+    vch.reserve(str.size() / 2); // two hex characters form a single byte
+
     auto it = str.begin();
     while (it != str.end()) {
         if (IsSpace(*it)) {
diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 2a16f339b631..8a77f9c80bbc 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -771,8 +771,10 @@ bool MemPoolAccept::PreChecks(ATMPArgs& args, Workspace& ws)
         return false; // state filled in by CheckTransaction
     }
 
-    if (!ContextualCheckTransaction(tx, state, chainparams.GetConsensus(), m_active_chainstate.m_chain.Tip()))
-        return error("%s: ContextualCheckTransaction: %s, %s", __func__, hash.ToString(), state.ToString());
+    if (!ContextualCheckTransaction(tx, state, chainparams.GetConsensus(), m_active_chainstate.m_chain.Tip())) {
+        LogError("%s: ContextualCheckTransaction: %s, %s\n", __func__, hash.ToString(), state.ToString());
+        return false;
+    }
 
     if (tx.IsSpecialTxVersion() && tx.nType == TRANSACTION_QUORUM_COMMITMENT) {
         // quorum commitment is not allowed outside of blocks
@@ -2019,12 +2021,12 @@ DisconnectResult CChainState::DisconnectBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockI
 
     CBlockUndo blockUndo;
     if (!UndoReadFromDisk(blockUndo, pindex)) {
-        error("DisconnectBlock(): failure reading undo data");
+        LogError("DisconnectBlock(): failure reading undo data\n");
         return DISCONNECT_FAILED;
     }
 
     if (blockUndo.vtxundo.size() + 1 != block.vtx.size()) {
-        error("DisconnectBlock(): block and undo data inconsistent");
+        LogError("DisconnectBlock(): block and undo data inconsistent\n");
         return DISCONNECT_FAILED;
     }
 
@@ -2092,7 +2094,7 @@ DisconnectResult CChainState::DisconnectBlock(const CBlock& block, const CBlockI
         if (i > 0) { // not coinbases
             CTxUndo &txundo = blockUndo.vtxundo[i-1];
             if (txundo.vprevout.size() != tx.vin.size()) {
-                error("DisconnectBlock(): transaction and undo data inconsistent");
+                LogError("DisconnectBlock(): transaction and undo data inconsistent\n");
                 return DISCONNECT_FAILED;
             }
             for (unsigned int j = tx.vin.size(); j > 0;) {
@@ -2313,7 +2315,8 @@ bool CChainState::ConnectBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& state,
             // problems.
             return AbortNode(state, "Corrupt block found indicating potential hardware failure; shutting down");
         }
-        return error("%s: Consensus::CheckBlock: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
+        LogError("%s: Consensus::CheckBlock: %s\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+        return false;
     }
 
     if (pindex->pprev && pindex->phashBlock && m_chain_helper->HasConflictingChainLock(pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash())) {
@@ -2457,8 +2460,9 @@ bool CChainState::ConnectBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& state,
     // MUST process special txes before updating UTXO to ensure consistency between mempool and block processing
     std::optional<MNListUpdates> mnlist_updates_opt{std::nullopt};
     if (!m_chain_helper->special_tx->ProcessSpecialTxsInBlock(block, pindex, view, fJustCheck, fScriptChecks, state, mnlist_updates_opt)) {
-        return error("ConnectBlock(DASH): ProcessSpecialTxsInBlock for block %s failed with %s",
-                     pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+        LogError("ConnectBlock(DASH): ProcessSpecialTxsInBlock for block %s failed with %s\n",
+            pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+        return false;
     }
 
     int64_t nTime2_1 = GetTimeMicros(); nTimeProcessSpecial += nTime2_1 - nTime2;
@@ -2479,7 +2483,7 @@ bool CChainState::ConnectBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& state,
             TxValidationState tx_state;
             if (!Consensus::CheckTxInputs(tx, tx_state, view, pindex->nHeight, txfee)) {
                 // Any transaction validation failure in ConnectBlock is a block consensus failure
-                LogPrintf("ERROR: %s: Consensus::CheckTxInputs: %s, %s\n", __func__, tx.GetHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+                LogError("%s: Consensus::CheckTxInputs: %s, %s\n", __func__, tx.GetHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
                 return state.Invalid(BlockValidationResult::BLOCK_CONSENSUS,
                             tx_state.GetRejectReason(), tx_state.GetDebugMessage());
             }
@@ -2553,7 +2557,7 @@ bool CChainState::ConnectBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& state,
                 // Any transaction validation failure in ConnectBlock is a block consensus failure
                 state.Invalid(BlockValidationResult::BLOCK_CONSENSUS,
                               tx_state.GetRejectReason(), tx_state.GetDebugMessage());
-                LogPrintf("ERROR: ConnectBlock(): CheckInputScripts on %s failed with %s\n",
+                LogError("ConnectBlock(): CheckInputScripts on %s failed with %s\n",
                     tx.GetHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
                 return false;
             }
@@ -3046,7 +3050,8 @@ bool CChainState::DisconnectTip(BlockValidationState& state, DisconnectedBlockTr
     std::shared_ptr<CBlock> pblock = std::make_shared<CBlock>();
     CBlock& block = *pblock;
     if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, pindexDelete, m_params.GetConsensus())) {
-        return error("DisconnectTip(): Failed to read block");
+        LogError("DisconnectTip(): Failed to read block\n");
+        return false;
     }
     // Apply the block atomically to the chain state.
     int64_t nStart = GetTimeMicros();
@@ -3055,8 +3060,10 @@ bool CChainState::DisconnectTip(BlockValidationState& state, DisconnectedBlockTr
 
         CCoinsViewCache view(&CoinsTip());
         assert(view.GetBestBlock() == pindexDelete->GetBlockHash());
-        if (DisconnectBlock(block, pindexDelete, view) != DISCONNECT_OK)
-            return error("DisconnectTip(): DisconnectBlock %s failed", pindexDelete->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+        if (DisconnectBlock(block, pindexDelete, view) != DISCONNECT_OK) {
+            LogError("DisconnectTip(): DisconnectBlock %s failed\n", pindexDelete->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+            return false;
+        }
         bool flushed = view.Flush();
         assert(flushed);
         dbTx->Commit();
@@ -3200,7 +3207,8 @@ bool CChainState::ConnectTip(BlockValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pindexNew
         if (!rv) {
             if (state.IsInvalid())
                 InvalidBlockFound(pindexNew, state);
-            return error("%s: ConnectBlock %s failed, %s", __func__, pindexNew->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+            LogError("%s: ConnectBlock %s failed, %s\n", __func__, pindexNew->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+            return false;
         }
         nTime3 = GetTimeMicros(); nTimeConnectTotal += nTime3 - nTime2;
         assert(nBlocksTotal > 0);
@@ -4419,7 +4427,8 @@ bool CChainState::AcceptBlock(const std::shared_ptr<const CBlock>& pblock, Block
             pindex->nStatus |= BLOCK_FAILED_VALID;
             m_blockman.m_dirty_blockindex.insert(pindex);
         }
-        return error("%s: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
+        LogError("%s: %s\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+        return false;
     }
 
     // Header is valid/has work, merkle tree is good...RELAY NOW
@@ -4478,15 +4487,18 @@ bool ChainstateManager::ProcessNewBlock(const std::shared_ptr<const CBlock>& blo
         }
         if (!ret) {
             GetMainSignals().BlockChecked(*block, state);
-            return error("%s: AcceptBlock FAILED: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
+            LogError("%s: AcceptBlock FAILED (%s)\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
     NotifyHeaderTip(ActiveChainstate());
 
     BlockValidationState state; // Only used to report errors, not invalidity - ignore it
-    if (!ActiveChainstate().ActivateBestChain(state, block))
-        return error("%s: ActivateBestChain failed: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
+    if (!ActiveChainstate().ActivateBestChain(state, block)) {
+        LogError("%s: ActivateBestChain failed (%s)\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+        return false;
+    }
 
     LogPrintf("%s : ACCEPTED\n", __func__);
     return true;
@@ -4540,12 +4552,18 @@ bool TestBlockValidity(BlockValidationState& state,
     auto dbTx = evoDb.BeginTransaction();
 
     // NOTE: CheckBlockHeader is called by CheckBlock
-    if (!ContextualCheckBlockHeader(block, state, chainstate.m_blockman, chainstate.m_chainman, pindexPrev, GetAdjustedTime()))
-        return error("%s: Consensus::ContextualCheckBlockHeader: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
-    if (!CheckBlock(block, state, chainparams.GetConsensus(), fCheckPOW, fCheckMerkleRoot))
-        return error("%s: Consensus::CheckBlock: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
-    if (!ContextualCheckBlock(block, state, chainstate.m_chainman, pindexPrev))
-        return error("%s: Consensus::ContextualCheckBlock: %s", __func__, state.ToString());
+    if (!ContextualCheckBlockHeader(block, state, chainstate.m_blockman, chainstate.m_chainman, pindexPrev, GetAdjustedTime())) {
+        LogError("%s: Consensus::ContextualCheckBlockHeader: %s\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+        return false;
+    }
+    if (!CheckBlock(block, state, chainparams.GetConsensus(), fCheckPOW, fCheckMerkleRoot)) {
+        LogError("%s: Consensus::CheckBlock: %s\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+        return false;
+    }
+    if (!ContextualCheckBlock(block, state, chainstate.m_chainman, pindexPrev)) {
+        LogError("%s: Consensus::ContextualCheckBlock: %s\n", __func__, state.ToString());
+        return false;
+    }
     if (!chainstate.ConnectBlock(block, state, &indexDummy, viewNew, true))
         return false;
 
@@ -4669,19 +4687,22 @@ bool CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
         CBlock block;
         // check level 0: read from disk
         if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, pindex, consensus_params)) {
-            return error("VerifyDB(): *** ReadBlockFromDisk failed at %d, hash=%s", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+            LogError("VerifyDB(): *** ReadBlockFromDisk failed at %d, hash=%s\n", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+            return false;
         }
         // check level 1: verify block validity
         if (nCheckLevel >= 1 && !CheckBlock(block, state, consensus_params)) {
-            return error("%s: *** found bad block at %d, hash=%s (%s)\n", __func__,
-                         pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+            LogError("%s: *** found bad block at %d, hash=%s (%s)\n", __func__,
+                     pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+            return false;
         }
         // check level 2: verify undo validity
         if (nCheckLevel >= 2 && pindex) {
             CBlockUndo undo;
             if (!pindex->GetUndoPos().IsNull()) {
                 if (!UndoReadFromDisk(undo, pindex)) {
-                    return error("VerifyDB(): *** found bad undo data at %d, hash=%s\n", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                    LogError("VerifyDB(): *** found bad undo data at %d, hash=%s\n", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                    return false;
                 }
             }
         }
@@ -4693,7 +4714,8 @@ bool CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
                 assert(coins.GetBestBlock() == pindex->GetBlockHash());
                 DisconnectResult res = chainstate.DisconnectBlock(block, pindex, coins);
                 if (res == DISCONNECT_FAILED) {
-                    return error("VerifyDB(): *** irrecoverable inconsistency in block data at %d, hash=%s", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                    LogError("VerifyDB(): *** irrecoverable inconsistency in block data at %d, hash=%s\n", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                    return false;
                 }
                 if (res == DISCONNECT_UNCLEAN) {
                     nGoodTransactions = 0;
@@ -4708,7 +4730,8 @@ bool CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
         if (ShutdownRequested()) return true;
     }
     if (pindexFailure) {
-        return error("VerifyDB(): *** coin database inconsistencies found (last %i blocks, %i good transactions before that)\n", chainstate.m_chain.Height() - pindexFailure->nHeight + 1, nGoodTransactions);
+        LogError("VerifyDB(): *** coin database inconsistencies found (last %i blocks, %i good transactions before that)\n", chainstate.m_chain.Height() - pindexFailure->nHeight + 1, nGoodTransactions);
+        return false;
     }
     if (skipped_l3_checks) {
         LogPrintf("Skipped verification of level >=3 (insufficient database cache size). Consider increasing -dbcache.\n");
@@ -4728,10 +4751,14 @@ bool CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(
             uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Verifying blocks…").translated, percentageDone, false);
             pindex = chainstate.m_chain.Next(pindex);
             CBlock block;
-            if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, pindex, consensus_params))
-                return error("VerifyDB(): *** ReadBlockFromDisk failed at %d, hash=%s", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
-            if (!chainstate.ConnectBlock(block, state, pindex, coins))
-                return error("VerifyDB(): *** found unconnectable block at %d, hash=%s (%s)", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+            if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, pindex, consensus_params)) {
+                LogError("VerifyDB(): *** ReadBlockFromDisk failed at %d, hash=%s\n", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                return false;
+            }
+            if (!chainstate.ConnectBlock(block, state, pindex, coins)) {
+                LogError("VerifyDB(): *** found unconnectable block at %d, hash=%s (%s)\n", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+                return false;
+            }
             if (ShutdownRequested()) return true;
         }
     }
@@ -4751,15 +4778,17 @@ bool CChainState::RollforwardBlock(const CBlockIndex* pindex, CCoinsViewCache& i
     // TODO: merge with ConnectBlock
     CBlock block;
     if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, pindex, m_params.GetConsensus())) {
-        return error("RollforwardBlock(): ReadBlockFromDisk failed at %d, hash=%s", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+        LogError("RollforwardBlock(): ReadBlockFromDisk failed at %d, hash=%s", pindex->nHeight, pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+        return false;
     }
 
     // MUST process special txes before updating UTXO to ensure consistency between mempool and block processing
     BlockValidationState state;
     std::optional<MNListUpdates> mnlist_updates_opt{std::nullopt};
     if (!m_chain_helper->special_tx->ProcessSpecialTxsInBlock(block, pindex, inputs, false /*fJustCheck*/, false /*fScriptChecks*/, state, mnlist_updates_opt)) {
-        return error("RollforwardBlock(DASH): ProcessSpecialTxsInBlock for block %s failed with %s",
-            pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+        LogError("RollforwardBlock(DASH): ProcessSpecialTxsInBlock for block %s failed with %s\n",
+                 pindex->GetBlockHash().ToString(), state.ToString());
+        return false;
     }
 
     std::vector<CAddressIndexEntry> addressIndex;
@@ -4828,22 +4857,28 @@ bool CChainState::RollforwardBlock(const CBlockIndex* pindex, CCoinsViewCache& i
 
     if (fAddressIndex) {
         if (!m_blockman.m_block_tree_db->WriteAddressIndex(addressIndex)) {
-            return error("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write address index");
+            LogError("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write address index\n");
+            return false;
         }
 
         if (!m_blockman.m_block_tree_db->UpdateAddressUnspentIndex(addressUnspentIndex)) {
-            return error("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write address unspent index");
+            LogError("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write address unspent index\n");
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
     if (fSpentIndex) {
-        if (!m_blockman.m_block_tree_db->UpdateSpentIndex(spentIndex))
-            return error("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write transaction index");
+        if (!m_blockman.m_block_tree_db->UpdateSpentIndex(spentIndex)) {
+            LogError("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write transaction index\n");
+            return false;
+        }
     }
 
     if (fTimestampIndex) {
-        if (!m_blockman.m_block_tree_db->WriteTimestampIndex(CTimestampIndexKey(pindex->nTime, pindex->GetBlockHash())))
-            return error("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write timestamp index");
+        if (!m_blockman.m_block_tree_db->WriteTimestampIndex(CTimestampIndexKey(pindex->nTime, pindex->GetBlockHash()))) {
+            LogError("RollforwardBlock(DASH): Failed to write timestamp index\n");
+            return false;
+        }
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -4858,7 +4893,10 @@ bool CChainState::ReplayBlocks()
 
     std::vector<uint256> hashHeads = db.GetHeadBlocks();
     if (hashHeads.empty()) return true; // We're already in a consistent state.
-    if (hashHeads.size() != 2) return error("ReplayBlocks(): unknown inconsistent state");
+    if (hashHeads.size() != 2) {
+        LogError("ReplayBlocks(): unknown inconsistent state\n");
+        return false;
+    }
 
     uiInterface.ShowProgress(_("Replaying blocks…").translated, 0, false);
     LogPrintf("Replaying blocks\n");
@@ -4868,20 +4906,23 @@ bool CChainState::ReplayBlocks()
     const CBlockIndex* pindexFork = nullptr; // Latest block common to both the old and the new tip.
 
     if (m_blockman.m_block_index.count(hashHeads[0]) == 0) {
-        return error("ReplayBlocks(): reorganization to unknown block requested");
+        LogError("ReplayBlocks(): reorganization to unknown block requested\n");
+        return false;
     }
     pindexNew = &(m_blockman.m_block_index[hashHeads[0]]);
 
     if (!hashHeads[1].IsNull()) { // The old tip is allowed to be 0, indicating it's the first flush.
         if (m_blockman.m_block_index.count(hashHeads[1]) == 0) {
-            return error("ReplayBlocks(): reorganization from unknown block requested");
+            LogError("ReplayBlocks(): reorganization from unknown block requested\n");
+            return false;
         }
         pindexOld = &(m_blockman.m_block_index[hashHeads[1]]);
         pindexFork = LastCommonAncestor(pindexOld, pindexNew);
         assert(pindexFork != nullptr);
         const bool fDIP0003Active = DeploymentActiveAt(*pindexOld, m_params.GetConsensus(), Consensus::DEPLOYMENT_DIP0003);
         if (fDIP0003Active && !m_evoDb.VerifyBestBlock(pindexOld->GetBlockHash())) {
-            return error("ReplayBlocks(DASH): Found EvoDB inconsistency");
+            LogError("ReplayBlocks(DASH): Found EvoDB inconsistency");
+            return false;
         }
     }
 
@@ -4892,12 +4933,14 @@ bool CChainState::ReplayBlocks()
         if (pindexOld->nHeight > 0) { // Never disconnect the genesis block.
             CBlock block;
             if (!ReadBlockFromDisk(block, pindexOld, m_params.GetConsensus())) {
-                return error("ReplayBlocks(): ReadBlockFromDisk() failed at %d, hash=%s", pindexOld->nHeight, pindexOld->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                LogError("ReplayBlocks(): ReadBlockFromDisk() failed at %d, hash=%s", pindexOld->nHeight, pindexOld->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                return false;
             }
             LogPrintf("Rolling back %s (%i)\n", pindexOld->GetBlockHash().ToString(), pindexOld->nHeight);
             DisconnectResult res = DisconnectBlock(block, pindexOld, cache);
             if (res == DISCONNECT_FAILED) {
-                return error("ReplayBlocks(): DisconnectBlock failed at %d, hash=%s", pindexOld->nHeight, pindexOld->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                LogError("ReplayBlocks(): DisconnectBlock failed at %d, hash=%s", pindexOld->nHeight, pindexOld->GetBlockHash().ToString());
+                return false;
             }
             // If DISCONNECT_UNCLEAN is returned, it means a non-existing UTXO was deleted, or an existing UTXO was
             // overwritten. It corresponds to cases where the block-to-be-disconnect never had all its operations
@@ -5045,7 +5088,8 @@ bool CChainState::AddGenesisBlock(const CBlock& block, BlockValidationState& sta
 {
     FlatFilePos blockPos{m_blockman.SaveBlockToDisk(block, 0, m_chain, nullptr)};
     if (blockPos.IsNull()) {
-        return error("%s: writing genesis block to disk failed (%s)", __func__, state.ToString());
+        LogError("AddGenesisBlock: writing genesis block to disk failed (%s)\n", state.ToString());
+        return false;
     }
     CBlockIndex* pindex = m_blockman.AddToBlockIndex(block, block.GetHash(), m_chainman.m_best_header);
     ReceivedBlockTransactions(block, pindex, blockPos);
@@ -5079,7 +5123,8 @@ bool CChainState::LoadGenesisBlock()
                 return false;
         }
     } catch (const std::runtime_error &e) {
-        return error("%s: failed to initialize block database: %s", __func__, e.what());
+        LogError("%s: failed to initialize block database: %s", __func__, e.what());
+        return false;
     }
 
     return true;
diff --git a/test/functional/mempool_accept.py b/test/functional/mempool_accept.py
index f424f19edead..2c8c0dc2ab60 100755
--- a/test/functional/mempool_accept.py
+++ b/test/functional/mempool_accept.py
@@ -77,6 +77,12 @@ def run_test(self):
         txid_in_block = self.wallet.sendrawtransaction(from_node=node, tx_hex=raw_tx_in_block)
         self.generate(node, 1)
         self.mempool_size = 0
+        # Check negative feerate
+        assert_raises_rpc_error(-3, "Amount out of range", lambda: self.check_mempool_result(
+            result_expected=None,
+            rawtxs=[raw_tx_in_block],
+            maxfeerate=-0.01,
+        ))
         self.check_mempool_result(
             result_expected=[{'txid': txid_in_block, 'allowed': False, 'reject-reason': 'txn-already-known'}],
             rawtxs=[raw_tx_in_block],
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/script.py b/test/functional/test_framework/script.py
index bb078591b9f4..bdc127b104a9 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/script.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/script.py
@@ -479,7 +479,7 @@ def raw_iter(self):
         i = 0
         while i < len(self):
             sop_idx = i
-            opcode = self[i]
+            opcode = CScriptOp(self[i])
             i += 1
 
             if opcode > OP_PUSHDATA4:
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ def GetSigOpCount(self, fAccurate):
                 n += 1
             elif opcode in (OP_CHECKMULTISIG, OP_CHECKMULTISIGVERIFY):
                 if fAccurate and (OP_1 <= lastOpcode <= OP_16):
-                    n += opcode.decode_op_n()
+                    n += lastOpcode.decode_op_n()
                 else:
                     n += 20
             lastOpcode = opcode
@@ -704,3 +704,17 @@ def test_cscriptnum_encoding(self):
         values = [0, 1, -1, -2, 127, 128, -255, 256, (1 << 15) - 1, -(1 << 16), (1 << 24) - 1, (1 << 31), 1 - (1 << 32), 1 << 40, 1500, -1500]
         for value in values:
             self.assertEqual(CScriptNum.decode(CScriptNum.encode(CScriptNum(value))), value)
+
+    def test_legacy_sigopcount(self):
+        # test repeated single sig ops
+        for n_ops in range(1, 100, 10):
+            for singlesig_op in (OP_CHECKSIG, OP_CHECKSIGVERIFY):
+                singlesigs_script = CScript([singlesig_op]*n_ops)
+                self.assertEqual(singlesigs_script.GetSigOpCount(fAccurate=False), n_ops)
+                self.assertEqual(singlesigs_script.GetSigOpCount(fAccurate=True), n_ops)
+        # test multisig op (including accurate counting, i.e. BIP16)
+        for n in range(1, 16+1):
+            for multisig_op in (OP_CHECKMULTISIG, OP_CHECKMULTISIGVERIFY):
+                multisig_script = CScript([CScriptOp.encode_op_n(n), multisig_op])
+                self.assertEqual(multisig_script.GetSigOpCount(fAccurate=False), 20)
+                self.assertEqual(multisig_script.GetSigOpCount(fAccurate=True), n)
diff --git a/test/lint/README.md b/test/lint/README.md
index 704922d7abe3..b2f56bda3d62 100644
--- a/test/lint/README.md
+++ b/test/lint/README.md
@@ -59,3 +59,8 @@ git remote add --fetch secp256k1 https://github.com/bitcoin-core/secp256k1.git
 all-lint.py
 ===========
 Calls other scripts with the `lint-` prefix.
+
+
+lint_ignore_dirs.py
+===================
+Add list of common directories to ignore when running tests
diff --git a/test/lint/lint-include-guards.py b/test/lint/lint-include-guards.py
index 6e59c83f7dbc..c5de3b4394a5 100755
--- a/test/lint/lint-include-guards.py
+++ b/test/lint/lint-include-guards.py
@@ -13,15 +13,13 @@
 from subprocess import check_output
 from typing import List
 
+from lint_ignore_dirs import SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES
+
 
 HEADER_ID_PREFIX = 'BITCOIN_'
 HEADER_ID_SUFFIX = '_H'
 
 EXCLUDE_FILES_WITH_PREFIX = ['src/crypto/ctaes',
-                             'src/leveldb',
-                             'src/crc32c',
-                             'src/secp256k1',
-                             'src/minisketch',
                              'src/tinyformat.h',
                              'src/bench/nanobench.h',
                              'src/test/fuzz/FuzzedDataProvider.h',
@@ -30,7 +28,7 @@
                              'src/ctpl_stl.h',
                              'src/dashbls',
                              'src/gsl',
-                             'src/immer']
+                             'src/immer'] + SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES
 
 
 def _get_header_file_lst() -> List[str]:
diff --git a/test/lint/lint-includes.py b/test/lint/lint-includes.py
index 9a0cfa127dde..8bd4ba24c884 100755
--- a/test/lint/lint-includes.py
+++ b/test/lint/lint-includes.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 from subprocess import check_output, CalledProcessError
 
+from lint_ignore_dirs import SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES
+
 
 EXCLUDED_DIRS = ["src/leveldb/",
                  "src/crc32c/",
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@
                  "src/minisketch/",
                  "src/dashbls/",
                  "src/immer/",
-                 "src/crypto/x11/"]
+                 "src/crypto/x11/"] + SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES
 
 EXPECTED_BOOST_INCLUDES = ["boost/date_time/posix_time/posix_time.hpp",
                            "boost/hana/for_each.hpp",
diff --git a/test/lint/lint-spelling.py b/test/lint/lint-spelling.py
index fb4d2495c691..e10d2368dfc5 100755
--- a/test/lint/lint-spelling.py
+++ b/test/lint/lint-spelling.py
@@ -11,8 +11,11 @@
 
 from subprocess import check_output, STDOUT, CalledProcessError
 
+from lint_ignore_dirs import SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES
+
 IGNORE_WORDS_FILE = 'test/lint/spelling.ignore-words.txt'
-FILES_ARGS = ['git', 'ls-files', '--', ":(exclude)build-aux/m4/", ":(exclude)contrib/seeds/*.txt", ":(exclude)depends/", ":(exclude)doc/release-notes/", ":(exclude)src/dashbls/", ":(exclude)src/crc32c/", ":(exclude)src/crypto/", ":(exclude)src/ctpl_stl.h", ":(exclude)src/cxxtimer.hpp", ":(exclude)src/immer/", ":(exclude)src/leveldb/", ":(exclude)src/qt/locale/", ":(exclude)src/qt/*.qrc", ":(exclude)src/secp256k1/", ":(exclude)src/minisketch/", ":(exclude)contrib/builder-keys/", ":(exclude)contrib/guix/patches", ":(exclude)src/util/subprocess.hpp", ":(exclude)src/wallet/bip39_english.h"]
+FILES_ARGS = ['git', 'ls-files', '--', ":(exclude)build-aux/m4/", ":(exclude)contrib/seeds/*.txt", ":(exclude)depends/", ":(exclude)doc/release-notes/", ":(exclude)src/dashbls/", ":(exclude)src/crypto/", ":(exclude)src/ctpl_stl.h", ":(exclude)src/cxxtimer.hpp", ":(exclude)src/immer/", ":(exclude)src/qt/locale/", ":(exclude)src/qt/*.qrc", ":(exclude)contrib/builder-keys/", ":(exclude)contrib/guix/patches", ":(exclude)src/util/subprocess.hpp", ":(exclude)src/wallet/bip39_english.h"]
+FILES_ARGS += [f":(exclude){dir}" for dir in SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES]
 
 
 def check_codespell_install():
diff --git a/test/lint/lint_ignore_dirs.py b/test/lint/lint_ignore_dirs.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..af9ee7ef6bef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/lint/lint_ignore_dirs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+SHARED_EXCLUDED_SUBTREES = ["src/leveldb/",
+                 "src/crc32c/",
+                 "src/secp256k1/",
+                 "src/minisketch/",
+                ]