diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs
index ccc86227de..a18ae5f2e2 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/eth1_chain.rs
@@ -285,8 +285,8 @@ impl<T: EthSpec, S: Store<T>> CachingEth1Backend<T, S> {
     }
 
     /// Starts the routine which connects to the external eth1 node and updates the caches.
-    pub async fn start(&self, exit: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>) -> Result<(), ()> {
-        self.core.auto_update(exit).await
+    pub async fn start(&self, exit: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>) {
+        tokio::spawn(async move { self.core.auto_update(exit).await });
     }
 
     /// Instantiates `self` from an existing service.
diff --git a/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs b/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
index b6354cf870..c25de43c13 100644
--- a/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/client/src/builder.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ use environment::RuntimeContext;
 use eth1::{Config as Eth1Config, Service as Eth1Service};
 use eth2_config::Eth2Config;
 use eth2_libp2p::NetworkGlobals;
-use futures::{future, Future, IntoFuture};
 use genesis::{interop_genesis_state, Eth1GenesisService};
 use network::{NetworkConfig, NetworkMessage, NetworkService};
 use slog::info;
@@ -109,136 +108,103 @@ where
 
     /// Initializes the `BeaconChainBuilder`. The `build_beacon_chain` method will need to be
     /// called later in order to actually instantiate the `BeaconChain`.
-    pub fn beacon_chain_builder(
+    pub async fn beacon_chain_builder(
         mut self,
         client_genesis: ClientGenesis,
         config: ClientConfig,
-    ) -> impl Future<Item = Self, Error = String> {
-        let store = self.store.clone();
-        let store_migrator = self.store_migrator.take();
-        let chain_spec = self.chain_spec.clone();
-        let runtime_context = self.runtime_context.clone();
-        let eth_spec_instance = self.eth_spec_instance.clone();
-        let data_dir = config.data_dir.clone();
-        let disabled_forks = config.disabled_forks.clone();
+    ) -> Result<Self, String> {
+        let store = self
+            .store
+            .ok_or_else(|| "beacon_chain_start_method requires a store".to_string())?;
+        let store_migrator = self
+            .store_migrator
+            .ok_or_else(|| "beacon_chain_start_method requires a store migrator".to_string())?;
+        let context = self
+            .runtime_context
+            .ok_or_else(|| "beacon_chain_start_method requires a runtime context".to_string())?
+            .service_context("beacon".into());
+        let spec = self
+            .chain_spec
+            .ok_or_else(|| "beacon_chain_start_method requires a chain spec".to_string())?;
 
-        future::ok(())
-            .and_then(move |()| {
-                let store = store
-                    .ok_or_else(|| "beacon_chain_start_method requires a store".to_string())?;
-                let store_migrator = store_migrator.ok_or_else(|| {
-                    "beacon_chain_start_method requires a store migrator".to_string()
-                })?;
-                let context = runtime_context
-                    .ok_or_else(|| {
-                        "beacon_chain_start_method requires a runtime context".to_string()
-                    })?
-                    .service_context("beacon".into());
-                let spec = chain_spec
-                    .ok_or_else(|| "beacon_chain_start_method requires a chain spec".to_string())?;
+        let builder = BeaconChainBuilder::new(self.eth_spec_instance)
+            .logger(context.log.clone())
+            .store(store)
+            .store_migrator(store_migrator)
+            .data_dir(config.data_dir)
+            .custom_spec(spec.clone())
+            .disabled_forks(config.disabled_forks);
 
-                let builder = BeaconChainBuilder::new(eth_spec_instance)
-                    .logger(context.log.clone())
-                    .store(store)
-                    .store_migrator(store_migrator)
-                    .data_dir(data_dir)
-                    .custom_spec(spec.clone())
-                    .disabled_forks(disabled_forks);
+        let chain_exists = builder
+            .store_contains_beacon_chain()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| false);
 
-                Ok((builder, spec, context))
-            })
-            .and_then(move |(builder, spec, context)| {
-                let chain_exists = builder
-                    .store_contains_beacon_chain()
-                    .unwrap_or_else(|_| false);
+        // If the client is expect to resume but there's no beacon chain in the database,
+        // use the `DepositContract` method. This scenario is quite common when the client
+        // is shutdown before finding genesis via eth1.
+        //
+        // Alternatively, if there's a beacon chain in the database then always resume
+        // using it.
+        let client_genesis = if client_genesis == ClientGenesis::FromStore && !chain_exists {
+            info!(context.log, "Defaulting to deposit contract genesis");
 
-                // If the client is expect to resume but there's no beacon chain in the database,
-                // use the `DepositContract` method. This scenario is quite common when the client
-                // is shutdown before finding genesis via eth1.
-                //
-                // Alternatively, if there's a beacon chain in the database then always resume
-                // using it.
-                let client_genesis = if client_genesis == ClientGenesis::FromStore && !chain_exists
-                {
-                    info!(context.log, "Defaulting to deposit contract genesis");
+            ClientGenesis::DepositContract
+        } else if chain_exists {
+            ClientGenesis::FromStore
+        } else {
+            client_genesis
+        };
 
-                    ClientGenesis::DepositContract
-                } else if chain_exists {
-                    ClientGenesis::FromStore
-                } else {
-                    client_genesis
-                };
+        let (beacon_chain_builder, eth1_service_option) = match client_genesis {
+            ClientGenesis::Interop {
+                validator_count,
+                genesis_time,
+            } => {
+                let keypairs = generate_deterministic_keypairs(validator_count);
+                let genesis_state = interop_genesis_state(&keypairs, genesis_time, &spec)?;
+                builder.genesis_state(genesis_state).map(|v| (v, None))?
+            }
+            ClientGenesis::SszBytes {
+                genesis_state_bytes,
+            } => {
+                info!(
+                    context.log,
+                    "Starting from known genesis state";
+                );
 
-                let genesis_state_future: Box<dyn Future<Item = _, Error = _> + Send> =
-                    match client_genesis {
-                        ClientGenesis::Interop {
-                            validator_count,
-                            genesis_time,
-                        } => {
-                            let keypairs = generate_deterministic_keypairs(validator_count);
-                            let result = interop_genesis_state(&keypairs, genesis_time, &spec);
+                let genesis_state = BeaconState::from_ssz_bytes(&genesis_state_bytes)
+                    .map_err(|e| format!("Unable to parse genesis state SSZ: {:?}", e))?;
 
-                            let future = result
-                                .and_then(move |genesis_state| builder.genesis_state(genesis_state))
-                                .into_future()
-                                .map(|v| (v, None));
+                builder.genesis_state(genesis_state).map(|v| (v, None))?
+            }
+            ClientGenesis::DepositContract => {
+                info!(
+                    context.log,
+                    "Waiting for eth2 genesis from eth1";
+                    "eth1_endpoint" => &config.eth1.endpoint,
+                    "contract_deploy_block" => config.eth1.deposit_contract_deploy_block,
+                    "deposit_contract" => &config.eth1.deposit_contract_address
+                );
 
-                            Box::new(future)
-                        }
-                        ClientGenesis::SszBytes {
-                            genesis_state_bytes,
-                        } => {
-                            info!(
-                                context.log,
-                                "Starting from known genesis state";
-                            );
+                let genesis_service = Eth1GenesisService::new(config.eth1, context.log.clone());
 
-                            let result = BeaconState::from_ssz_bytes(&genesis_state_bytes)
-                                .map_err(|e| format!("Unable to parse genesis state SSZ: {:?}", e));
+                let genesis_state = genesis_service
+                    .wait_for_genesis_state(
+                        Duration::from_millis(ETH1_GENESIS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MILLIS),
+                        context.eth2_config().spec.clone(),
+                    )
+                    .await?;
 
-                            let future = result
-                                .and_then(move |genesis_state| builder.genesis_state(genesis_state))
-                                .into_future()
-                                .map(|v| (v, None));
+                builder
+                    .genesis_state(genesis_state)
+                    .map(|v| (v, Some(genesis_service.into_core_service())))?
+            }
+            ClientGenesis::FromStore => builder.resume_from_db().map(|v| (v, None))?,
+        };
 
-                            Box::new(future)
-                        }
-                        ClientGenesis::DepositContract => {
-                            info!(
-                                context.log,
-                                "Waiting for eth2 genesis from eth1";
-                                "eth1_endpoint" => &config.eth1.endpoint,
-                                "contract_deploy_block" => config.eth1.deposit_contract_deploy_block,
-                                "deposit_contract" => &config.eth1.deposit_contract_address
-                            );
-
-                            let genesis_service =
-                                Eth1GenesisService::new(config.eth1, context.log.clone());
-
-                            let future = genesis_service
-                                .wait_for_genesis_state(
-                                    Duration::from_millis(ETH1_GENESIS_UPDATE_INTERVAL_MILLIS),
-                                    context.eth2_config().spec.clone(),
-                                )
-                                .and_then(move |genesis_state| builder.genesis_state(genesis_state))
-                                .map(|v| (v, Some(genesis_service.into_core_service())));
-
-                            Box::new(future)
-                        }
-                        ClientGenesis::FromStore => {
-                            let future = builder.resume_from_db().into_future().map(|v| (v, None));
-
-                            Box::new(future)
-                        }
-                    };
-
-                genesis_state_future
-            })
-            .map(move |(beacon_chain_builder, eth1_service_option)| {
-                self.eth1_service = eth1_service_option;
-                self.beacon_chain_builder = Some(beacon_chain_builder);
-                self
-            })
+        self.eth1_service = eth1_service_option;
+        self.beacon_chain_builder = Some(beacon_chain_builder);
+        Ok(self)
     }
 
     /// Immediately starts the networking stack.
@@ -254,7 +220,7 @@ where
             .service_context("network".into());
 
         let (network_globals, network_send, network_exit) =
-            NetworkService::start(beacon_chain, config, &context.executor, context.log)
+            NetworkService::start(beacon_chain, config, &context.runtime_handle, context.log)
                 .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start network: {:?}", e))?;
 
         self.network_globals = Some(network_globals);
@@ -281,13 +247,10 @@ where
             .ok_or_else(|| "node timer requires a chain spec".to_string())?
             .milliseconds_per_slot;
 
-        let timer_exit = timer::spawn(
-            &context.executor,
-            beacon_chain,
-            milliseconds_per_slot,
-            context.log,
-        )
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Unable to start node timer: {}", e))?;
+        let timer_exit = context
+            .runtime_handle
+            .enter(|| timer::spawn(beacon_chain, milliseconds_per_slot))
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Unable to start node timer: {}", e))?;
 
         self.exit_channels.push(timer_exit);
 
@@ -323,21 +286,22 @@ where
             network_chan: network_send,
         };
 
-        let (exit_channel, listening_addr) = rest_api::start_server(
-            &client_config.rest_api,
-            &context.executor,
-            beacon_chain,
-            network_info,
-            client_config
-                .create_db_path()
-                .map_err(|_| "unable to read data dir")?,
-            client_config
-                .create_freezer_db_path()
-                .map_err(|_| "unable to read freezer DB dir")?,
-            eth2_config.clone(),
-            context.log,
-        )
-        .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start HTTP API: {:?}", e))?;
+        let (exit_channel, listening_addr) = context.runtime_handle.enter(|| {
+            rest_api::start_server(
+                &client_config.rest_api,
+                beacon_chain,
+                network_info,
+                client_config
+                    .create_db_path()
+                    .map_err(|_| "unable to read data dir")?,
+                client_config
+                    .create_freezer_db_path()
+                    .map_err(|_| "unable to read freezer DB dir")?,
+                eth2_config.clone(),
+                context.log,
+            )
+            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to start HTTP API: {:?}", e))
+        })?;
 
         self.exit_channels.push(exit_channel);
         self.http_listen_addr = Some(listening_addr);
@@ -472,8 +436,9 @@ where
             Option<_>,
             Option<_>,
         ) = if config.enabled {
-            let (sender, exit, listening_addr) =
-                websocket_server::start_server(&config, &context.executor, &context.log)?;
+            let (sender, exit, listening_addr) = context
+                .runtime_handle
+                .enter(|| websocket_server::start_server(&config, &context.log))?;
             (sender, Some(exit), Some(listening_addr))
         } else {
             (WebSocketSender::dummy(), None, None)
@@ -692,7 +657,7 @@ where
         };
 
         // Starts the service that connects to an eth1 node and periodically updates caches.
-        context.executor.spawn(backend.start(exit));
+        context.runtime_handle.spawn(backend.start(exit));
 
         self.beacon_chain_builder = Some(beacon_chain_builder.eth1_backend(Some(backend)));
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs b/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs
index 55ef6b9336..3b21ac2e2a 100644
--- a/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/eth1/src/service.rs
@@ -246,54 +246,39 @@ impl Service {
     pub async fn update(
         &self,
     ) -> Result<(DepositCacheUpdateOutcome, BlockCacheUpdateOutcome), String> {
-        let deposit_future = self
-            .update_deposit_cache()
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to update eth1 cache: {:?}", e))
-            .then(|result| async move{
-                match &result {
-                    Ok(DepositCacheUpdateOutcome { logs_imported }) => trace!(
-                        self.log,
-                        "Updated eth1 deposit cache";
-                        "cached_deposits" => self.inner.deposit_cache.read().cache.len(),
-                        "logs_imported" => logs_imported,
-                        "last_processed_eth1_block" => self.inner.deposit_cache.read().last_processed_block,
-                    ),
-                    Err(e) => error!(
-                        self.log,
-                        "Failed to update eth1 deposit cache";
-                        "error" => e
-                    ),
-                };
+        let update_deposit_cache = async {
+            let outcome = self
+                .update_deposit_cache()
+                .await
+                .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to update eth1 cache: {:?}", e))?;
 
-                result
-            });
+            trace!(
+                self.log,
+                "Updated eth1 deposit cache";
+                "cached_deposits" => self.inner.deposit_cache.read().cache.len(),
+                "logs_imported" => outcome.logs_imported,
+                "last_processed_eth1_block" => self.inner.deposit_cache.read().last_processed_block,
+            );
+            Ok(outcome)
+        };
 
-        let block_future = self
-            .update_block_cache()
-            .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to update eth1 cache: {:?}", e))
-            .then(|result| async move {
-                match &result {
-                    Ok(BlockCacheUpdateOutcome {
-                        blocks_imported,
-                        head_block_number,
-                    }) => trace!(
-                        self.log,
-                        "Updated eth1 block cache";
-                        "cached_blocks" => self.inner.block_cache.read().len(),
-                        "blocks_imported" => blocks_imported,
-                        "head_block" => head_block_number,
-                    ),
-                    Err(e) => error!(
-                        self.log,
-                        "Failed to update eth1 block cache";
-                        "error" => e
-                    ),
-                };
+        let update_block_cache = async {
+            let outcome = self
+                .update_block_cache()
+                .await
+                .map_err(|e| format!("Failed to update eth1 cache: {:?}", e))?;
 
-                result
-            });
+            trace!(
+                self.log,
+                "Updated eth1 block cache";
+                "cached_blocks" => self.inner.block_cache.read().len(),
+                "blocks_imported" => outcome.blocks_imported,
+                "head_block" => outcome.head_block_number,
+            );
+            Ok(outcome)
+        };
 
-        futures::try_join!(deposit_future, block_future)
+        futures::try_join!(update_deposit_cache, update_block_cache)
     }
 
     /// A looping future that updates the cache, then waits `config.auto_update_interval` before
@@ -305,40 +290,40 @@ impl Service {
     /// - Err(_) if there is an error.
     ///
     /// Emits logs for debugging and errors.
-    pub async fn auto_update(
-        &self,
-        mut exit: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>,
-    ) -> Result<(), ()> {
+    pub async fn auto_update(&self, exit: tokio::sync::oneshot::Receiver<()>) {
         let update_interval = Duration::from_millis(self.config().auto_update_interval_millis);
 
         loop {
-            let update_result = self.update().await;
+            let update_future = async move {
+                /*
+                let update_result = self.update().await;
 
-            match update_result {
-                Err(e) => error!(
-                    self.log,
-                    "Failed to update eth1 cache";
-                    "retry_millis" => update_interval.as_millis(),
-                    "error" => e,
-                ),
-                Ok((deposit, block)) => debug!(
-                    self.log,
-                    "Updated eth1 cache";
-                    "retry_millis" => update_interval.as_millis(),
-                    "blocks" => format!("{:?}", block),
-                    "deposits" => format!("{:?}", deposit),
-                ),
+                match update_result {
+                    Err(e) => error!(
+                        self.log,
+                        "Failed to update eth1 cache";
+                        "retry_millis" => update_interval.as_millis(),
+                        "error" => e,
+                    ),
+                    Ok((deposit, block)) => debug!(
+                        self.log,
+                        "Updated eth1 cache";
+                        "retry_millis" => update_interval.as_millis(),
+                        "blocks" => format!("{:?}", block),
+                        "deposits" => format!("{:?}", deposit),
+                    ),
+                };
+                */
+                // WARNING: delay_for doesn't return an error and panics on error.
+                delay_for(update_interval).await;
             };
-
-            // WARNING: delay_for doesn't return an error and panics on error.
-            delay_for(update_interval).await;
-            match exit.try_recv() {
-                Ok(_) | Err(TryRecvError::Closed) => break,
-                Err(TryRecvError::Empty) => {}
+            if let futures::future::Either::Right(_) =
+                futures::future::select(Box::pin(update_future), futures::future::ready(())).await
+            {
+                // the exit future returned end
+                break;
             }
         }
-
-        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Contacts the remote eth1 node and attempts to import deposit logs up to the configured
diff --git a/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs
index 4159150acc..8a63df0f0e 100644
--- a/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/rest_api/src/lib.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ use std::net::SocketAddr;
 use std::ops::Deref;
 use std::path::PathBuf;
 use std::sync::Arc;
-use tokio::runtime::Handle;
 use tokio::sync::{mpsc, oneshot};
 use url_query::UrlQuery;
 
@@ -53,7 +52,6 @@ pub struct NetworkInfo<T: BeaconChainTypes> {
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 pub fn start_server<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
     config: &Config,
-    handle: &Handle,
     beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
     network_info: NetworkInfo<T>,
     db_path: PathBuf,
@@ -130,7 +128,7 @@ pub fn start_server<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
         "port" => actual_listen_addr.port(),
     );
 
-    handle.spawn(server_future);
+    tokio::spawn(server_future);
 
     Ok((exit_signal, actual_listen_addr))
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs
index eccf06c4dd..26f8bb60ea 100644
--- a/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/timer/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,12 +3,11 @@
 //! This service allows task execution on the beacon node for various functionality.
 
 use beacon_chain::{BeaconChain, BeaconChainTypes};
+use futures::future;
 use futures::stream::StreamExt;
-use futures::{future, prelude::*};
 use slot_clock::SlotClock;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
-use tokio::runtime::Handle;
 use tokio::time::{interval_at, Instant};
 
 /// Spawns a timer service which periodically executes tasks for the beacon chain
@@ -16,7 +15,6 @@ use tokio::time::{interval_at, Instant};
 /// called from the context of a runtime and we can simply spawn using task::spawn.
 /// Check for issues without the Handle.
 pub fn spawn<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
-    handle: &Handle,
     beacon_chain: Arc<BeaconChain<T>>,
     milliseconds_per_slot: u64,
 ) -> Result<tokio::sync::oneshot::Sender<()>, &'static str> {
@@ -35,8 +33,8 @@ pub fn spawn<T: BeaconChainTypes>(
             future::ready(())
         });
 
-    let future = futures::future::select(timer_future, exit.map_err(|_| ()).map(|_| ()));
-    handle.spawn(future);
+    let future = futures::future::select(timer_future, exit);
+    tokio::spawn(future);
 
     Ok(exit_signal)
 }
diff --git a/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs b/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs
index d1f1d27ebc..759bfab5f3 100644
--- a/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/websocket_server/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ use futures::future::TryFutureExt;
 use slog::{debug, error, info, warn, Logger};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::net::SocketAddr;
-use tokio::runtime::Handle;
 use types::EthSpec;
 use ws::{Sender, WebSocket};
 
@@ -37,7 +36,6 @@ impl<T: EthSpec> WebSocketSender<T> {
 
 pub fn start_server<T: EthSpec>(
     config: &Config,
-    handle: &Handle,
     log: &Logger,
 ) -> Result<
     (
@@ -92,15 +90,12 @@ pub fn start_server<T: EthSpec>(
 
         // Place a future on the handle that will shutdown the websocket server when the
         // application exits.
-        // TODO: check if we should spawn using a `Handle` or using `task::spawn`
-        handle.spawn(exit_future);
+        tokio::spawn(exit_future);
 
         exit_channel
     };
 
     let log_inner = log.clone();
-    // TODO: using tokio `spawn_blocking` instead of `thread::spawn`
-    // Check which is more apt.
     let _handle = tokio::task::spawn_blocking(move || match server.run() {
         Ok(_) => {
             debug!(