diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/CMakeLists.txt b/src/blockchain_utilities/CMakeLists.txt
index a89b64de9..ab7130277 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -145,9 +145,12 @@ monero_private_headers(blockchain_scanner
 if (EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/blockchain_audit.cpp" AND NOT IS_DIRECTORY "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/blockchain_audit.cpp")
   set(blockchain_audit_sources
     blockchain_audit.cpp
+    threadpool_boost.cpp
     )
 
-  set(blockchain_audit_private_headers)
+  set(blockchain_audit_private_headers
+    threadpool_boost.h
+    )
 
   monero_private_headers(blockchain_audit
   	  ${blockchain_audit_private_headers})
@@ -329,6 +332,8 @@ if (EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/blockchain_audit.cpp" AND NOT IS_DIRECTO
     ${blockchain_audit_sources}
     ${blockchain_audit_private_headers})
 
+  target_include_directories(blockchain_audit PRIVATE /usr/include/mysql-cppconn/jdbc)
+    
   target_link_libraries(blockchain_audit
     PRIVATE
       wallet
@@ -338,6 +343,7 @@ if (EXISTS "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/blockchain_audit.cpp" AND NOT IS_DIRECTO
       blockchain_db
       version
       epee
+      mysqlcppconn
       ${Boost_FILESYSTEM_LIBRARY}
       ${Boost_SYSTEM_LIBRARY}
       ${Boost_THREAD_LIBRARY}
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/threadpool_boost.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/threadpool_boost.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..264d1d97a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/threadpool_boost.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+#include <iostream>
+#include "threadpool_boost.h"
+
+ThreadPool::ThreadPool(size_t numThreads)
+    : workGuard(boost::asio::make_work_guard(ioService)) {
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < numThreads; ++i) {
+        workers.emplace_back([this]() {
+          std::cerr << "Thread started" << std::endl;
+          ioService.run();
+          std::cerr << "Thread finished" << std::endl;
+        });
+    }
+}
+
+void ThreadPool::enqueue(std::function<void()> task) {
+    ioService.post([task]() {
+        try {
+            task();  // Run the task
+        } catch (const std::exception& e) {
+            std::cerr << "Exception in thread pool task: " << e.what() << std::endl;
+        } catch (...) {
+            std::cerr << "Unknown exception in thread pool task!" << std::endl;
+        }
+    });
+}
+
+bool ThreadPool::isStopping() const {
+    return ioService.stopped();  // Check if io_context has stopped
+}
+
+void ThreadPool::waitForCompletion() {
+    std::cout << "Waiting for completion...\n";
+    workGuard.reset();  // Allow ioService to stop when no more tasks
+    ioService.run();   // Ensure no threads are left hanging
+
+    for (auto &worker : workers) {
+        if (worker.joinable()) worker.join();
+    }
+    std::cout << "All threads joined.\n";
+}
+
+ThreadPool::~ThreadPool() {
+    waitForCompletion();
+}
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/threadpool_boost.h b/src/blockchain_utilities/threadpool_boost.h
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bbcc01704
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/threadpool_boost.h
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#ifndef THREADPOOL_BOOST_H
+#define THREADPOOL_BOOST_H
+
+#include <boost/thread.hpp>
+#include <boost/asio.hpp>
+#include <functional>
+#include <vector>
+
+class ThreadPool {
+public:
+  explicit ThreadPool(size_t numThreads);
+  ~ThreadPool();
+  
+  void enqueue(std::function<void()> task);
+  bool isStopping() const;
+  void waitForCompletion();
+
+private:
+  boost::asio::io_service ioService;
+  boost::asio::executor_work_guard<boost::asio::io_context::executor_type> workGuard;
+  std::vector<boost::thread> workers;
+};
+
+#endif  // THREADPOOL_BOOST_H
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
index 52db3fb8e..f37af7261 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.cpp
@@ -1550,10 +1550,13 @@ bool Blockchain::validate_protocol_transaction(const block& b, uint64_t height,
   }
   
   // if nothing is created by this TX - check no money is included
-  size_t vout_size = b.protocol_tx.vout.size();
   CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(b.protocol_tx.vin.size() == 1, false, "coinbase protocol transaction in the block has no inputs");
-  CHECK_AND_ASSERT_MES(vout_size != 0, true, "coinbase protocol transaction in the block has no outputs");
-
+  size_t vout_size = b.protocol_tx.vout.size();
+  if (vout_size == 0) {
+    LOG_PRINT_L2("coinbase protocol transaction in the block has no outputs");
+    return true;
+  }
+   
   // Can we have matured STAKE transactions yet?
   uint64_t stake_lock_period = get_config(m_nettype).STAKE_LOCK_PERIOD;
   if (height <= stake_lock_period) {