diff --git a/side_loading_test.go b/side_loading_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..24738c75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/side_loading_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,971 @@
+package neutrino
+
+import (
+	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/chaincfg"
+	"github.com/btcsuite/btcd/wire"
+	"github.com/btcsuite/btcwallet/walletdb"
+	"github.com/lightninglabs/neutrino/headerfs"
+	"github.com/lightninglabs/neutrino/headerlist"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+)
+
+// This is the integration test of the binary file reader. It tests that the
+// side laoder along with other components it interacts with, operate as they should.
+func TestSideLoadingBinaryImp(t *testing.T) {
+
+	SLAtGenesisTip := func(c *Config) {
+
+		c.SideLoad = SideLoadOpt{
+			Path:       "sideload/testdata/start_0_end_10_encoded_10_valid_headers.bin",
+			Enabled:    true,
+			Verify:     false,
+			SourceType: "binary",
+		}
+
+	}
+
+	SLAtStartHeight2 := func(c *Config) {
+
+		c.SideLoad = SideLoadOpt{
+			Path:       "sideload/testdata/enc_start_2_end_10_R_valid_headers.bin",
+			Enabled:    true,
+			Verify:     false,
+			SourceType: "binary",
+		}
+
+		c.ChainParams.Net = wire.TestNet
+
+	}
+
+	SLAtEndHeight2 := func(c *Config) {
+
+		c.SideLoad = SideLoadOpt{
+			Path:       "sideload/testdata/enc_2_valid_headers.bin",
+			Enabled:    true,
+			Verify:     false,
+			SourceType: "binary",
+		}
+
+	}
+
+	SLInvalidHeaderAtHeight5 := func(c *Config) {
+
+		c.SideLoad = SideLoadOpt{
+			Path:       "sideload/testdata/enc_INvalid_at_5_headers.bin",
+			Enabled:    true,
+			Verify:     false,
+			SourceType: "binary",
+		}
+
+	}
+
+	SlAtStartHeight0EndHeight8 := func(c *Config) {
+
+		c.SideLoad = SideLoadOpt{
+			Path:       "sideload/testdata/start_0_end_8_encoded_8_valid_headers.bin",
+			Enabled:    true,
+			Verify:     false,
+			SourceType: "binary",
+		}
+
+	}
+	MaxHeaderWrite = 10
+
+	testNeutrinoTipAndSLAtGenesis(t, SLAtGenesisTip)
+
+	testNeutrinoTipAheadSLStartHeight(t, SLAtGenesisTip)
+
+	testNeutrinoTipBelowSLStartHeight(t, SLAtStartHeight2)
+
+	testNeutrinoTipGreaterSLEndHeight(t, SLAtEndHeight2)
+
+	testNeutrinoAndSLDiffChain(t, SlAtStartHeight0EndHeight8)
+
+	testNeutrinoSLVerifyTrue(t, SLInvalidHeaderAtHeight5)
+	testNeutrinoSLVerifyFalse(t, SLInvalidHeaderAtHeight5)
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoTipAndSLAtGenesis(t *testing.T, setUpSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test1")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpSideLoad(c)
+
+	if c.SideLoad.Path == "" {
+
+		t.Errorf("Side load not set up")
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error closing database: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	_, initialTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) != 0 {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to be at genesis initialTipHeight but of initialTipHeight %v", initialTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	if svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader == nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error initializing side load reader in block manager")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight() != 0 {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected side load source to have headers starting at zero")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error while starting chainservice: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error while stopping chainservice: %v", err)
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(finalTipHeight) != svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to be of finalTipHeight %v but of finalTipHeight %v",
+			svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight(), finalTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	if svc.chainParams.Net != svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.HeadersChain() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected side load source and chain params to be on same network chain")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) >= svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers behind side load source's end height")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoTipAheadSLStartHeight(t *testing.T, setUpSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test2")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpSideLoad(c)
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error closing database: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.BlockHeaders.WriteHeaders([]headerfs.BlockHeader{
+		{
+			Height:      1,
+			BlockHeader: &wire.BlockHeader{},
+		},
+
+		{
+			Height:      2,
+			BlockHeader: &wire.BlockHeader{},
+		},
+	}...)
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error writing headers for test: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	_, initialTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) != 2 {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to be at tipHeight 2 but of tipHeight %v", initialTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	svc.blockManager.headerTip = initialTipHeight
+
+	svc.blockManager.headerList.ResetHeaderState(headerlist.Node{
+		Height: int32(initialTipHeight),
+	})
+
+	sideLoadStartHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight()
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) <= sideLoadStartHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers ahead of chain tip source")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error while starting chainservice: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error while stopping chainservice: %v", err)
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadEndHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight()
+
+	if int64(finalTipHeight) != sideLoadEndHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to be of height, %v but got %v", sideLoadEndHeight, finalTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if svc.chainParams.Net != svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.HeadersChain() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected side load source and chain params to be on same network chain")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) >= svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers behind side load source's end height")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoTipBelowSLStartHeight(t *testing.T, setUpSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test3")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpSideLoad(c)
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error closing database: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	_, tipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadStartHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight()
+
+	if int64(tipHeight) >= sideLoadStartHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers behind side load source")
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error while starting chainservice: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error while stopping chainservice: %v", err)
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if finalTipHeight != tipHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected no headers be written to the DB from side load")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoTipGreaterSLEndHeight(t *testing.T, setUpSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test4")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpSideLoad(c)
+
+	if c.SideLoad.Path == "" {
+
+		t.Errorf("Side load not set up")
+	}
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error closing database: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	err = svc.BlockHeaders.WriteHeaders([]headerfs.BlockHeader{
+		{
+			Height:      1,
+			BlockHeader: &wire.BlockHeader{},
+		},
+
+		{
+			Height:      2,
+			BlockHeader: &wire.BlockHeader{},
+		},
+		{
+			Height:      3,
+			BlockHeader: &wire.BlockHeader{},
+		},
+		{
+			Height:      4,
+			BlockHeader: &wire.BlockHeader{},
+		},
+	}...)
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error writing  headers to DB for test")
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	_, initialTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) != 4 {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to be at tipHeight 2 but of tipHeight %v", initialTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	svc.blockManager.headerTip = initialTipHeight
+
+	svc.blockManager.headerList.ResetHeaderState(headerlist.Node{
+		Height: int32(initialTipHeight),
+	})
+
+	if svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader == nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error initializing side load reader in block manager")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadEndHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight()
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) <= sideLoadEndHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers ahead of side load source's end height"+
+			"Tip height: %v while sideLoadEndHeight: %v", initialTipHeight, sideLoadEndHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadStartHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight()
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) < sideLoadStartHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to be greater than or equal to source file")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error while starting chainservice: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error while stopping chainservice: %v", err)
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if finalTipHeight != initialTipHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected no headers be written to the DB from side load"+
+			"initialTipHeight: %v and finalTipHeight: %v", initialTipHeight, finalTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoAndSLDiffChain(t *testing.T, setUpSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test5")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpSideLoad(c)
+
+	c.ChainParams.Net = wire.SimNet
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error closing database: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	if svc.chainParams.Net == svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.HeadersChain() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected side load source and chain params to have differnt network chain")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	_, initialTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) >= svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers behind side load source's end height")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadStartHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight()
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) < sideLoadStartHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers ahead of chain tip source"+
+			"TipHeight: %v, SideLoad Start Height: %v", initialTipHeight, sideLoadStartHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error while starting chainservice: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error while stopping chainservice: %v", err)
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if finalTipHeight != initialTipHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected no headers be written to the DB from side load."+
+			"initialTipHeight: %v, finalTipHeight: %v", initialTipHeight, finalTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoSLVerifyTrue(t *testing.T, setUpInValidSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test6")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpInValidSideLoad(c)
+
+	c.SideLoad.Verify = true
+
+	if !c.SideLoad.Verify {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected verification true")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error closing database: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if svc.chainParams.Net != svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.HeadersChain() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected side load source and chain params to have same network chain")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	_, initialTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) > svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers behind side load source's end height")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadStartHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight()
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) < sideLoadStartHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers ahead or equal to side load source")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error starting chainservice")
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("error stopping chain service: %v", err)
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if finalTipHeight != initialTipHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected no header written to db"+
+			"initialTipHeight: %v, finalTipHeight: %v", initialTipHeight, finalTipHeight)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(finalTipHeight) == svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected final height not to equate side loader's end height.")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}
+
+func testNeutrinoSLVerifyFalse(t *testing.T, setUpInValidSideLoad func(config *Config)) {
+
+	//	No verification enabled
+
+	tempDir, err := os.MkdirTemp("", "test7")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error making temp directory: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	db, err := walletdb.Create(
+		"bdb", tempDir+"/weks.db", true, dbOpenTimeout,
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("error creating wallet: %v", err)
+
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	c := &Config{
+		DataDir:     tempDir,
+		Database:    db,
+		ChainParams: chaincfg.TestNet3Params,
+	}
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if c.SideLoad.Verify {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected verification false")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	setUpInValidSideLoad(c)
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error during start up: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	svc, err := NewChainService(*c)
+
+	defer func() {
+		err = c.Database.Close()
+
+		if err != nil {
+
+			t.Errorf("Error closing DB")
+
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error during chain service creation: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+
+	}
+
+	if svc.chainParams.Net != svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.HeadersChain() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected side load source and chain params to have same network chain")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	_, initialTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) >= svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers behind side load source's end height")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	sideLoadStartHeight := svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.StartHeight()
+	if int64(initialTipHeight) < sideLoadStartHeight {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected chain tip to have headers ahead or equal to side load source")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	err = svc.Start()
+
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Error while starting chainservice: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		err = svc.Stop()
+
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("Error while stopping chainservice: %v", err)
+			t.FailNow()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	time.Sleep(30)
+
+	_, finalTipHeight, err := svc.BlockHeaders.ChainTip()
+
+	if err != nil {
+
+		t.Errorf("Error while fetching chain tip: %v", err)
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+	if int64(finalTipHeight) != svc.blockManager.sideLoadReader.EndHeight() {
+
+		t.Errorf("Expected header height to be same as side load")
+		t.FailNow()
+	}
+
+}