diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 756d5b33..1d1e8535 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ addons:
     - g++-4.8
 script:
   - ./tools/test.sh
+  - ./tools/bench.sh
 after_success: |
   [ false ] &&
   [ $TRAVIS_BRANCH = master ] &&
diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 9cd2c530..78ae2a38 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -64,6 +64,19 @@ name = "base58"
 version = "0.1.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "bencher"
+version = "0.1.0"
+dependencies = [
+ "chain 0.1.0",
+ "db 0.1.0",
+ "ethcore-devtools 1.3.0",
+ "primitives 0.1.0",
+ "test-data 0.1.0",
+ "time 0.1.35 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
+ "verification 0.1.0",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "bit-vec"
 version = "0.4.3"
@@ -482,6 +495,7 @@ name = "pbtc"
 version = "0.1.0"
 dependencies = [
  "app_dirs 1.1.1 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
+ "bencher 0.1.0",
  "chain 0.1.0",
  "clap 2.18.0 (registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index)",
  "db 0.1.0",
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 6a16dd68..07eb1989 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ db = { path = "db" }
 verification = { path = "verification" }
 sync = { path = "sync" }
 import = { path = "import" }
+bencher = { path = "bencher" }
 
 [[bin]]
 path = "pbtc/main.rs"
diff --git a/bencher/Cargo.toml b/bencher/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0aec1566
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bencher/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+[package]
+name = "bencher"
+version = "0.1.0"
+license = "GPL-3.0"
+authors = ["Ethcore <admin@ethcore.io>"]
+description = "Parity bitcoin client."
+
+[dependencies]
+db = { path = "../db" }
+verification = { path = "../verification" }
+chain = { path = "../chain" }
+primitives = { path = "../primitives" }
+ethcore-devtools = { path = "../devtools" }
+test-data = { path = "../test-data" }
+time = "*"
+
+[[bin]]
+path = "src/main.rs"
+name = "bencher"
diff --git a/bencher/src/database.rs b/bencher/src/database.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..48bc9c4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bencher/src/database.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+use devtools::RandomTempPath;
+use db::{Storage, BlockStapler, BlockProvider, BlockRef, BlockInsertedChain};
+use test_data;
+
+use super::Benchmark;
+
+pub fn fetch(benchmark: &mut Benchmark) {
+	// params
+	const BLOCKS: usize = 1000;
+
+	benchmark.samples(BLOCKS);
+
+	// test setup
+	let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let store = Storage::new(path.as_path()).unwrap();
+
+	let genesis = test_data::genesis();
+	store.insert_block(&genesis).unwrap();
+
+	let genesis = test_data::genesis();
+	store.insert_block(&genesis).unwrap();
+
+	let mut rolling_hash = genesis.hash();
+	let mut blocks = Vec::new();
+	let mut hashes = Vec::new();
+
+	for x in 0..BLOCKS {
+		let next_block = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(rolling_hash.clone()).nonce(x as u32).build()
+			.build();
+		rolling_hash = next_block.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block);
+		hashes.push(rolling_hash.clone());
+	}
+
+	for block in blocks.iter() { store.insert_block(block).unwrap(); }
+
+	// bench
+	benchmark.start();
+	for _ in 0..BLOCKS {
+		let block = store.block(BlockRef::Hash(hashes[0].clone())).unwrap();
+		assert_eq!(&block.hash(), &hashes[0]);
+	}
+	benchmark.stop();
+}
+
+pub fn write(benchmark: &mut Benchmark) {
+	// params
+	const BLOCKS: usize = 1000;
+	benchmark.samples(BLOCKS);
+
+	// setup
+	let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let store = Storage::new(path.as_path()).unwrap();
+
+	let genesis = test_data::genesis();
+	store.insert_block(&genesis).unwrap();
+
+	let mut rolling_hash = genesis.hash();
+
+	let mut blocks = Vec::new();
+
+	for x in 0..BLOCKS {
+		let next_block = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(rolling_hash.clone()).nonce(x as u32).build()
+			.build();
+		rolling_hash = next_block.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block);
+	}
+
+	// bench
+	benchmark.start();
+	for idx in 0..BLOCKS {
+		store.insert_block(&blocks[idx]).unwrap();
+	}
+	benchmark.stop();
+}
+
+pub fn reorg_short(benchmark: &mut Benchmark) {
+	// params
+	const BLOCKS: usize = 1000;
+	benchmark.samples(BLOCKS);
+
+	// setup
+	let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let store = Storage::new(path.as_path()).unwrap();
+
+	let genesis = test_data::genesis();
+	store.insert_block(&genesis).unwrap();
+
+	let mut rolling_hash = genesis.hash();
+
+	let mut blocks = Vec::new();
+
+	for x in 0..BLOCKS {
+		let base = rolling_hash.clone();
+
+		let next_block = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(rolling_hash.clone()).nonce(x as u32 * 4).build()
+			.build();
+		rolling_hash = next_block.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block);
+
+		let next_block_side = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(base).nonce(x as u32 * 4 + 2).build()
+			.build();
+		let next_base = next_block_side.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block_side);
+
+		let next_block_side_continue = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(next_base).nonce(x as u32 * 4 + 3).build()
+			.build();
+		blocks.push(next_block_side_continue);
+
+		let next_block_continue = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(rolling_hash.clone()).nonce(x as u32 * 4 + 1).build()
+			.build();
+		rolling_hash = next_block_continue.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block_continue);
+	}
+
+	let mut total: usize = 0;
+	let mut reorgs: usize = 0;
+
+	// bench
+	benchmark.start();
+	for idx in 0..BLOCKS {
+		total += 1;
+		if let BlockInsertedChain::Reorganized(_) = store.insert_block(&blocks[idx]).unwrap() {
+			reorgs += 1;
+		}
+	}
+	benchmark.stop();
+
+	// reorgs occur twice per iteration except last one where there only one, blocks are inserted with rate 4/iteration
+	// so reorgs = total/2 - 1
+	assert_eq!(1000, total);
+	assert_eq!(499, reorgs);
+}
+
+// 1. write 12000 blocks
+// 2. write 100 blocks that has 100 transaction each spending outputs from first 1000 blocks
+pub fn write_heavy(benchmark: &mut Benchmark) {
+	// params
+	const BLOCKS_INITIAL: usize = 12000;
+	const BLOCKS: usize = 100;
+	const TRANSACTIONS: usize = 100;
+
+	benchmark.samples(BLOCKS);
+
+	// test setup
+	let path = RandomTempPath::create_dir();
+	let store = Storage::new(path.as_path()).unwrap();
+
+	let genesis = test_data::genesis();
+	store.insert_block(&genesis).unwrap();
+
+	let genesis = test_data::genesis();
+	store.insert_block(&genesis).unwrap();
+
+	let mut rolling_hash = genesis.hash();
+	let mut blocks = Vec::new();
+	let mut hashes = Vec::new();
+
+	for x in 0..BLOCKS_INITIAL {
+		let next_block = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction()
+				.coinbase()
+				.output().value(5000000000).build()
+				.build()
+			.merkled_header().parent(rolling_hash.clone()).nonce(x as u32).build()
+			.build();
+		rolling_hash = next_block.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block);
+		hashes.push(rolling_hash.clone());
+	}
+
+	for b in 0..BLOCKS {
+		let mut builder = test_data::block_builder()
+			.transaction().coinbase().build();
+
+		for t in 0..TRANSACTIONS {
+			builder = builder.transaction()
+				.input().hash(blocks[b*TRANSACTIONS+t].transactions()[0].hash()).build() // default index is 0 which is ok
+				.output().value(1000).build()
+				.build();
+		}
+
+		let next_block = builder.merkled_header().parent(rolling_hash).build().build();
+
+		rolling_hash = next_block.hash();
+		blocks.push(next_block);
+		hashes.push(rolling_hash.clone());
+	}
+
+	for block in blocks[..BLOCKS_INITIAL].iter() { store.insert_block(block).unwrap(); }
+
+	// bench
+	benchmark.start();
+	for block in blocks[BLOCKS_INITIAL+1..].iter() { store.insert_block(block).unwrap(); }
+	benchmark.stop();
+}
diff --git a/bencher/src/main.rs b/bencher/src/main.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e37f119e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bencher/src/main.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+extern crate db;
+extern crate chain;
+extern crate ethcore_devtools as devtools;
+extern crate test_data;
+extern crate time;
+
+mod database;
+
+use time::{PreciseTime, Duration};
+use std::io::Write;
+use std::str;
+
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct Benchmark {
+	start: Option<PreciseTime>,
+	end: Option<PreciseTime>,
+	samples: Option<usize>,
+}
+
+impl Benchmark {
+	pub fn start(&mut self) {
+		self.start = Some(PreciseTime::now());
+	}
+
+	pub fn stop(&mut self) {
+		self.end = Some(PreciseTime::now());
+	}
+
+	pub fn evaluate(&self) -> Duration {
+		self.start.expect("benchmarch never ended").to(self.end.expect("benchmark never started"))
+	}
+
+	pub fn samples(&mut self, samples: usize) {
+		self.samples = Some(samples);
+	}
+}
+
+fn decimal_mark(s: String) -> String {
+    let bytes: Vec<_> = s.bytes().rev().collect();
+    let chunks: Vec<_> = bytes.chunks(3).map(|chunk| str::from_utf8(chunk).unwrap()).collect();
+    let result: Vec<_> = chunks.join(",").bytes().rev().collect();
+    String::from_utf8(result).unwrap()
+}
+
+
+fn run_benchmark<F>(name: &str, f: F) where F: FnOnce(&mut Benchmark) {
+	print!("{}: ", name);
+	::std::io::stdout().flush().unwrap();
+
+	let mut benchmark = Benchmark::default();
+	f(&mut benchmark);
+	if let Some(samples) = benchmark.samples {
+		println!("{} ns/sample",
+			decimal_mark(format!("{}", benchmark.evaluate().num_nanoseconds().unwrap() / samples as i64)),
+		);
+	}
+	else {
+		println!("{} ns", decimal_mark(format!("{}", benchmark.evaluate().num_nanoseconds().unwrap())));
+	}
+}
+
+macro_rules! benchmark {
+    ($t:expr) => {
+    	run_benchmark(stringify!($t), $t);
+    };
+}
+
+fn main() {
+	benchmark!(database::fetch);
+	benchmark!(database::write);
+	benchmark!(database::reorg_short);
+	benchmark!(database::write_heavy);
+}
diff --git a/pbtc/cli.yml b/pbtc/cli.yml
index 41a4a115..af1fdcb9 100644
--- a/pbtc/cli.yml
+++ b/pbtc/cli.yml
@@ -29,6 +29,12 @@ args:
     - printtoconsole:
         long: printtoconsole
         help: Send trace/debug info to console instead of debug.log file
+    - data-dir:
+        short: d
+        long: data-dir
+        value_name: PATH
+        help: Specify the database & configuration directory PATH
+        takes_value: true
     - db-cache:
         long: db-cache
         help: Sets db cache size
diff --git a/pbtc/commands/start.rs b/pbtc/commands/start.rs
index b5814d4e..1cd872b8 100644
--- a/pbtc/commands/start.rs
+++ b/pbtc/commands/start.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use sync::create_sync_connection_factory;
 use message::Services;
 use util::{open_db, init_db, node_table_path};
-use {config, p2p, PROTOCOL_VERSION, PROTOCOL_MINIMUM, USER_AGENT};
+use {config, p2p, PROTOCOL_VERSION, PROTOCOL_MINIMUM};
 
 pub fn start(cfg: config::Config) -> Result<(), String> {
 	let mut el = p2p::event_loop();
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ pub fn start(cfg: config::Config) -> Result<(), String> {
 	let db = open_db(&cfg);
 	try!(init_db(&cfg, &db));
 
+	let nodes_path = node_table_path(&cfg);
+
 	let p2p_cfg = p2p::Config {
 		threads: cfg.p2p_threads,
 		inbound_connections: cfg.inbound_connections,
@@ -20,13 +22,13 @@ pub fn start(cfg: config::Config) -> Result<(), String> {
 			magic: cfg.magic,
 			local_address: SocketAddr::new("127.0.0.1".parse().unwrap(), cfg.port),
 			services: Services::default().with_network(true),
-			user_agent: USER_AGENT.into(),
+			user_agent: cfg.user_agent,
 			start_height: 0,
 			relay: false,
 		},
 		peers: cfg.connect.map_or_else(|| vec![], |x| vec![x]),
 		seeds: cfg.seednode.map_or_else(|| vec![], |x| vec![x]),
-		node_table_path: node_table_path(),
+		node_table_path: nodes_path,
 	};
 
 	let sync_handle = el.handle();
diff --git a/pbtc/config.rs b/pbtc/config.rs
index 7e20d896..95e4b47c 100644
--- a/pbtc/config.rs
+++ b/pbtc/config.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use std::net;
 use clap;
 use message::Magic;
+use {USER_AGENT, REGTEST_USER_AGENT};
 
 pub struct Config {
 	pub magic: Magic,
@@ -12,6 +13,8 @@ pub struct Config {
 	pub outbound_connections: u32,
 	pub p2p_threads: usize,
 	pub db_cache: usize,
+	pub data_dir: Option<String>,
+	pub user_agent: String,
 }
 
 pub const DEFAULT_DB_CACHE: usize = 512;
@@ -35,6 +38,12 @@ pub fn parse(matches: &clap::ArgMatches) -> Result<Config, String> {
 		Magic::Regtest => 1,
 	};
 
+	// to skip idiotic 30 seconds delay in test-scripts
+	let user_agent = match magic {
+		Magic::Testnet | Magic::Mainnet => USER_AGENT,
+		Magic::Regtest => REGTEST_USER_AGENT,
+	};
+
 	let port = match matches.value_of("port") {
 		Some(port) => try!(port.parse().map_err(|_| "Invalid port".to_owned())),
 		None => magic.port(),
@@ -60,6 +69,11 @@ pub fn parse(matches: &clap::ArgMatches) -> Result<Config, String> {
 		None => DEFAULT_DB_CACHE,
 	};
 
+	let data_dir = match matches.value_of("data-dir") {
+		Some(s) => Some(try!(s.parse().map_err(|_| "Invalid data-dir".to_owned()))),
+		None => None,
+	};
+
 	let config = Config {
 		print_to_console: print_to_console,
 		magic: magic,
@@ -70,6 +84,8 @@ pub fn parse(matches: &clap::ArgMatches) -> Result<Config, String> {
 		outbound_connections: out_connections,
 		p2p_threads: p2p_threads,
 		db_cache: db_cache,
+		data_dir: data_dir,
+		user_agent: user_agent.to_string(),
 	};
 
 	Ok(config)
diff --git a/pbtc/main.rs b/pbtc/main.rs
index 6ac29f97..e524839e 100644
--- a/pbtc/main.rs
+++ b/pbtc/main.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ pub const APP_INFO: AppInfo = AppInfo { name: "pbtc", author: "Parity" };
 pub const PROTOCOL_VERSION: u32 = 70_014;
 pub const PROTOCOL_MINIMUM: u32 = 70_001;
 pub const USER_AGENT: &'static str = "pbtc";
+pub const REGTEST_USER_AGENT: &'static str = "/Satoshi:0.12.1/";
 
 fn main() {
 	env_logger::init().unwrap();
diff --git a/pbtc/util.rs b/pbtc/util.rs
index f1d37e49..1fce12f6 100644
--- a/pbtc/util.rs
+++ b/pbtc/util.rs
@@ -1,17 +1,23 @@
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
+use std::fs::create_dir_all;
 use app_dirs::{app_dir, AppDataType};
-use chain::RepresentH256;
 use {db, APP_INFO};
 use config::Config;
 
 pub fn open_db(cfg: &Config) -> db::SharedStore {
-	let db_path = app_dir(AppDataType::UserData, &APP_INFO, "db").expect("Failed to get app dir");
+	let db_path = match cfg.data_dir {
+		Some(ref data_dir) => custom_path(&data_dir, "db"),
+		None => app_dir(AppDataType::UserData, &APP_INFO, "db").expect("Failed to get app dir"),
+	};
 	Arc::new(db::Storage::with_cache(db_path, cfg.db_cache).expect("Failed to open database"))
 }
 
-pub fn node_table_path() -> PathBuf {
-	let mut node_table = app_dir(AppDataType::UserData, &APP_INFO, "p2p").expect("Failed to get app dir");
+pub fn node_table_path(cfg: &Config) -> PathBuf {
+	let mut node_table = match cfg.data_dir {
+		Some(ref data_dir) => custom_path(&data_dir, "p2p"),
+		None => app_dir(AppDataType::UserData, &APP_INFO, "p2p").expect("Failed to get app dir"),
+	};
 	node_table.push("nodes.csv");
 	node_table
 }
@@ -28,3 +34,10 @@ pub fn init_db(cfg: &Config, db: &db::SharedStore) -> Result<(), String> {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+fn custom_path(data_dir: &str, sub_dir: &str) -> PathBuf {
+	let mut path = PathBuf::from(data_dir);
+	path.push(sub_dir);
+	create_dir_all(&path).expect("Failed to get app dir");
+	path
+}
diff --git a/tools/bench.sh b/tools/bench.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..30a63ef8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/bench.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+cargo run --manifest-path ./bencher/Cargo.toml --release