diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
index 1a2ea7f0d..6f4814680 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/run_node.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
-	nm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/node"
 )
 
 var (
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ func AddNodeFlags(cmd *cobra.Command) {
 
 // NewRunNodeCmd returns the command that allows the CLI to start a node.
 // It can be used with a custom PrivValidator and in-process ABCI application.
-func NewRunNodeCmd(nodeProvider nm.Provider) *cobra.Command {
+func NewRunNodeCmd(nodeProvider cfg.ServiceProvider) *cobra.Command {
 	cmd := &cobra.Command{
 		Use:     "start",
 		Aliases: []string{"node", "run"},
@@ -118,7 +117,7 @@ func NewRunNodeCmd(nodeProvider nm.Provider) *cobra.Command {
 				return fmt.Errorf("failed to start node: %w", err)
 			}
 
-			logger.Info("Started node", "nodeInfo", n.NodeInfo())
+			logger.Info("started node", "node", n.String())
 
 			// Stop upon receiving SIGTERM or CTRL-C.
 			tmos.TrapSignal(logger, func() {
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/main.go b/cmd/tendermint/main.go
index 311a59a65..52a26b4f3 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/main.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/main.go
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ func main() {
 	//	* Supply a genesis doc file from another source
 	//	* Provide their own DB implementation
 	// can copy this file and use something other than the
-	// DefaultNewNode function
-	nodeFunc := nm.DefaultNewNode
+	// node.NewDefault function
+	nodeFunc := nm.NewDefault
 
 	// Create & start node
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(cmd.NewRunNodeCmd(nodeFunc))
diff --git a/config/db.go b/config/db.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ae274a50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/db.go
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+package config
+
+import (
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/log"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/service"
+	db "github.com/tendermint/tm-db"
+)
+
+// ServiceProvider takes a config and a logger and returns a ready to go Node.
+type ServiceProvider func(*Config, log.Logger) (service.Service, error)
+
+// DBContext specifies config information for loading a new DB.
+type DBContext struct {
+	ID     string
+	Config *Config
+}
+
+// DBProvider takes a DBContext and returns an instantiated DB.
+type DBProvider func(*DBContext) (db.DB, error)
+
+// DefaultDBProvider returns a database using the DBBackend and DBDir
+// specified in the Config.
+func DefaultDBProvider(ctx *DBContext) (db.DB, error) {
+	dbType := db.BackendType(ctx.Config.DBBackend)
+	return db.NewDB(ctx.ID, dbType, ctx.Config.DBDir())
+}
diff --git a/node/doc.go b/node/doc.go
index 08f3fa258..109f29e6c 100644
--- a/node/doc.go
+++ b/node/doc.go
@@ -1,40 +1,6 @@
 /*
-Package node is the main entry point, where the Node struct, which
-represents a full node, is defined.
-
-Adding new p2p.Reactor(s)
-
-To add a new p2p.Reactor, use the CustomReactors option:
-
-		node, err := NewNode(
-				config,
-				privVal,
-				nodeKey,
-				clientCreator,
-				genesisDocProvider,
-				dbProvider,
-				metricsProvider,
-				logger,
-				CustomReactors(map[string]p2p.Reactor{"CUSTOM": customReactor}),
-		)
-
-Replacing existing p2p.Reactor(s)
-
-To replace the built-in p2p.Reactor, use the CustomReactors option:
-
-		node, err := NewNode(
-				config,
-				privVal,
-				nodeKey,
-				clientCreator,
-				genesisDocProvider,
-				dbProvider,
-				metricsProvider,
-				logger,
-				CustomReactors(map[string]p2p.Reactor{"BLOCKCHAIN": customBlockchainReactor}),
-		)
-
-The list of existing reactors can be found in CustomReactors documentation.
-
+Package node is the main entry point, where the tendermint node
+service is constructed and the implementation of that service is
+defined.
 */
 package node
diff --git a/node/id.go b/node/id.go
deleted file mode 100644
index ffa162f81..000000000
--- a/node/id.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,35 +0,0 @@
-package node
-
-import (
-	"time"
-
-	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
-)
-
-type ID struct {
-	Name   string
-	PubKey crypto.PubKey
-}
-
-type PrivNodeID struct {
-	ID
-	PrivKey crypto.PrivKey
-}
-
-type Greeting struct {
-	ID
-	Version string
-	ChainID string
-	Message string
-	Time    time.Time
-}
-
-type SignedNodeGreeting struct {
-	Greeting
-	Signature []byte
-}
-
-func (pnid *PrivNodeID) SignGreeting() *SignedNodeGreeting {
-	// greeting := NodeGreeting{}
-	return nil
-}
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index a4c427504..34589ea0f 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -10,12 +10,10 @@ import (
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
+	_ "github.com/lib/pq" // provide the psql db driver
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus/promhttp"
 	"github.com/rs/cors"
-	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tm-db"
-
-	_ "github.com/lib/pq" // provide the psql db driver
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/abci/types"
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
 	cs "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus"
@@ -43,11 +41,12 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/store"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 	tmtime "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/time"
+	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tm-db"
 )
 
-// Node is the highest level interface to a full Tendermint node.
+// nodeImpl is the highest level interface to a full Tendermint node.
 // It includes all configuration information and running services.
-type Node struct {
+type nodeImpl struct {
 	service.BaseService
 
 	// config
@@ -89,19 +88,19 @@ type Node struct {
 	prometheusSrv     *http.Server
 }
 
-// DefaultNewNode returns a Tendermint node with default settings for the
+// newDefaultNode returns a Tendermint node with default settings for the
 // PrivValidator, ClientCreator, GenesisDoc, and DBProvider.
 // It implements NodeProvider.
-func DefaultNewNode(config *cfg.Config, logger log.Logger) (*Node, error) {
+func newDefaultNode(config *cfg.Config, logger log.Logger) (service.Service, error) {
 	nodeKey, err := p2p.LoadOrGenNodeKey(config.NodeKeyFile())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load or gen node key %s: %w", config.NodeKeyFile(), err)
 	}
 	if config.Mode == cfg.ModeSeed {
-		return NewSeedNode(config,
-			DefaultDBProvider,
+		return makeSeedNode(config,
+			cfg.DefaultDBProvider,
 			nodeKey,
-			DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
+			defaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
 			logger,
 		)
 	}
@@ -117,27 +116,24 @@ func DefaultNewNode(config *cfg.Config, logger log.Logger) (*Node, error) {
 	}
 
 	appClient, _ := proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir())
-	return NewNode(config,
+	return makeNode(config,
 		pval,
 		nodeKey,
 		appClient,
-		DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
-		DefaultDBProvider,
-		DefaultMetricsProvider(config.Instrumentation),
+		defaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
+		cfg.DefaultDBProvider,
 		logger,
 	)
 }
 
-// NewNode returns a new, ready to go, Tendermint Node.
-func NewNode(config *cfg.Config,
+// makeNode returns a new, ready to go, Tendermint Node.
+func makeNode(config *cfg.Config,
 	privValidator types.PrivValidator,
 	nodeKey p2p.NodeKey,
 	clientCreator proxy.ClientCreator,
-	genesisDocProvider GenesisDocProvider,
-	dbProvider DBProvider,
-	metricsProvider MetricsProvider,
-	logger log.Logger,
-	options ...Option) (*Node, error) {
+	genesisDocProvider genesisDocProvider,
+	dbProvider cfg.DBProvider,
+	logger log.Logger) (service.Service, error) {
 
 	blockStore, stateDB, err := initDBs(config, dbProvider)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -146,7 +142,7 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config,
 
 	stateStore := sm.NewStore(stateDB)
 
-	state, genDoc, err := LoadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(stateDB, genesisDocProvider)
+	state, genDoc, err := loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(stateDB, genesisDocProvider)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -245,7 +241,7 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config,
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create peer manager: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	csMetrics, p2pMetrics, memplMetrics, smMetrics := metricsProvider(genDoc.ChainID)
+	csMetrics, p2pMetrics, memplMetrics, smMetrics := defaultMetricsProvider(config.Instrumentation)(genDoc.ChainID)
 
 	router, err := createRouter(p2pLogger, p2pMetrics, nodeInfo, nodeKey.PrivKey,
 		peerManager, transport, getRouterConfig(config, proxyApp))
@@ -412,7 +408,7 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config,
 		}()
 	}
 
-	node := &Node{
+	node := &nodeImpl{
 		config:        config,
 		genesisDoc:    genDoc,
 		privValidator: privValidator,
@@ -446,20 +442,16 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config,
 	}
 	node.BaseService = *service.NewBaseService(logger, "Node", node)
 
-	for _, option := range options {
-		option(node)
-	}
-
 	return node, nil
 }
 
-// NewSeedNode returns a new seed node, containing only p2p, pex reactor
-func NewSeedNode(config *cfg.Config,
-	dbProvider DBProvider,
+// makeSeedNode returns a new seed node, containing only p2p, pex reactor
+func makeSeedNode(config *cfg.Config,
+	dbProvider cfg.DBProvider,
 	nodeKey p2p.NodeKey,
-	genesisDocProvider GenesisDocProvider,
+	genesisDocProvider genesisDocProvider,
 	logger log.Logger,
-	options ...Option) (*Node, error) {
+) (service.Service, error) {
 
 	genDoc, err := genesisDocProvider()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -538,7 +530,7 @@ func NewSeedNode(config *cfg.Config,
 		}()
 	}
 
-	node := &Node{
+	node := &nodeImpl{
 		config:     config,
 		genesisDoc: genDoc,
 
@@ -555,58 +547,17 @@ func NewSeedNode(config *cfg.Config,
 	}
 	node.BaseService = *service.NewBaseService(logger, "SeedNode", node)
 
-	for _, option := range options {
-		option(node)
-	}
-
 	return node, nil
 }
 
-// Option sets a parameter for the node.
-type Option func(*Node)
-
 // Temporary interface for switching to fast sync, we should get rid of v0.
 // See: https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/issues/4595
 type fastSyncReactor interface {
 	SwitchToFastSync(sm.State) error
 }
 
-// CustomReactors allows you to add custom reactors (name -> p2p.Reactor) to
-// the node's Switch.
-//
-// WARNING: using any name from the below list of the existing reactors will
-// result in replacing it with the custom one.
-//
-//  - MEMPOOL
-//  - BLOCKCHAIN
-//  - CONSENSUS
-//  - EVIDENCE
-//  - PEX
-//  - STATESYNC
-func CustomReactors(reactors map[string]p2p.Reactor) Option {
-	return func(n *Node) {
-		for name, reactor := range reactors {
-			if existingReactor := n.sw.Reactor(name); existingReactor != nil {
-				n.sw.Logger.Info("Replacing existing reactor with a custom one",
-					"name", name, "existing", existingReactor, "custom", reactor)
-				n.sw.RemoveReactor(name, existingReactor)
-			}
-			n.sw.AddReactor(name, reactor)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// StateProvider overrides the state provider used by state sync to retrieve trusted app hashes and
-// build a State object for bootstrapping the node.
-// WARNING: this interface is considered unstable and subject to change.
-func StateProvider(stateProvider statesync.StateProvider) Option {
-	return func(n *Node) {
-		n.stateSyncProvider = stateProvider
-	}
-}
-
 // OnStart starts the Node. It implements service.Service.
-func (n *Node) OnStart() error {
+func (n *nodeImpl) OnStart() error {
 	now := tmtime.Now()
 	genTime := n.genesisDoc.GenesisTime
 	if genTime.After(now) {
@@ -712,7 +663,7 @@ func (n *Node) OnStart() error {
 }
 
 // OnStop stops the Node. It implements service.Service.
-func (n *Node) OnStop() {
+func (n *nodeImpl) OnStop() {
 
 	n.Logger.Info("Stopping Node")
 
@@ -799,7 +750,7 @@ func (n *Node) OnStop() {
 }
 
 // ConfigureRPC makes sure RPC has all the objects it needs to operate.
-func (n *Node) ConfigureRPC() (*rpccore.Environment, error) {
+func (n *nodeImpl) ConfigureRPC() (*rpccore.Environment, error) {
 	rpcCoreEnv := rpccore.Environment{
 		ProxyAppQuery:   n.proxyApp.Query(),
 		ProxyAppMempool: n.proxyApp.Mempool(),
@@ -835,7 +786,7 @@ func (n *Node) ConfigureRPC() (*rpccore.Environment, error) {
 	return &rpcCoreEnv, nil
 }
 
-func (n *Node) startRPC() ([]net.Listener, error) {
+func (n *nodeImpl) startRPC() ([]net.Listener, error) {
 	env, err := n.ConfigureRPC()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -956,7 +907,7 @@ func (n *Node) startRPC() ([]net.Listener, error) {
 
 // startPrometheusServer starts a Prometheus HTTP server, listening for metrics
 // collectors on addr.
-func (n *Node) startPrometheusServer(addr string) *http.Server {
+func (n *nodeImpl) startPrometheusServer(addr string) *http.Server {
 	srv := &http.Server{
 		Addr: addr,
 		Handler: promhttp.InstrumentMetricHandler(
@@ -976,90 +927,90 @@ func (n *Node) startPrometheusServer(addr string) *http.Server {
 }
 
 // Switch returns the Node's Switch.
-func (n *Node) Switch() *p2p.Switch {
+func (n *nodeImpl) Switch() *p2p.Switch {
 	return n.sw
 }
 
 // BlockStore returns the Node's BlockStore.
-func (n *Node) BlockStore() *store.BlockStore {
+func (n *nodeImpl) BlockStore() *store.BlockStore {
 	return n.blockStore
 }
 
 // ConsensusState returns the Node's ConsensusState.
-func (n *Node) ConsensusState() *cs.State {
+func (n *nodeImpl) ConsensusState() *cs.State {
 	return n.consensusState
 }
 
 // ConsensusReactor returns the Node's ConsensusReactor.
-func (n *Node) ConsensusReactor() *cs.Reactor {
+func (n *nodeImpl) ConsensusReactor() *cs.Reactor {
 	return n.consensusReactor
 }
 
 // MempoolReactor returns the Node's mempool reactor.
-func (n *Node) MempoolReactor() service.Service {
+func (n *nodeImpl) MempoolReactor() service.Service {
 	return n.mempoolReactor
 }
 
 // Mempool returns the Node's mempool.
-func (n *Node) Mempool() mempool.Mempool {
+func (n *nodeImpl) Mempool() mempool.Mempool {
 	return n.mempool
 }
 
 // PEXReactor returns the Node's PEXReactor. It returns nil if PEX is disabled.
-func (n *Node) PEXReactor() *pex.Reactor {
+func (n *nodeImpl) PEXReactor() *pex.Reactor {
 	return n.pexReactor
 }
 
 // EvidencePool returns the Node's EvidencePool.
-func (n *Node) EvidencePool() *evidence.Pool {
+func (n *nodeImpl) EvidencePool() *evidence.Pool {
 	return n.evidencePool
 }
 
 // EventBus returns the Node's EventBus.
-func (n *Node) EventBus() *types.EventBus {
+func (n *nodeImpl) EventBus() *types.EventBus {
 	return n.eventBus
 }
 
 // PrivValidator returns the Node's PrivValidator.
 // XXX: for convenience only!
-func (n *Node) PrivValidator() types.PrivValidator {
+func (n *nodeImpl) PrivValidator() types.PrivValidator {
 	return n.privValidator
 }
 
 // GenesisDoc returns the Node's GenesisDoc.
-func (n *Node) GenesisDoc() *types.GenesisDoc {
+func (n *nodeImpl) GenesisDoc() *types.GenesisDoc {
 	return n.genesisDoc
 }
 
 // ProxyApp returns the Node's AppConns, representing its connections to the ABCI application.
-func (n *Node) ProxyApp() proxy.AppConns {
+func (n *nodeImpl) ProxyApp() proxy.AppConns {
 	return n.proxyApp
 }
 
 // Config returns the Node's config.
-func (n *Node) Config() *cfg.Config {
+func (n *nodeImpl) Config() *cfg.Config {
 	return n.config
 }
 
 // EventSinks returns the Node's event indexing sinks.
-func (n *Node) EventSinks() []indexer.EventSink {
+func (n *nodeImpl) EventSinks() []indexer.EventSink {
 	return n.eventSinks
 }
 
 //------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-func (n *Node) Listeners() []string {
+func (n *nodeImpl) Listeners() []string {
 	return []string{
 		fmt.Sprintf("Listener(@%v)", n.config.P2P.ExternalAddress),
 	}
 }
 
-func (n *Node) IsListening() bool {
+func (n *nodeImpl) IsListening() bool {
 	return n.isListening
 }
 
 // NodeInfo returns the Node's Info from the Switch.
-func (n *Node) NodeInfo() p2p.NodeInfo {
+func (n *nodeImpl) NodeInfo() p2p.NodeInfo {
 	return n.nodeInfo
 }
 
@@ -1119,44 +1070,25 @@ func startStateSync(ssR *statesync.Reactor, bcR fastSyncReactor, conR *cs.Reacto
 	return nil
 }
 
-// DBContext specifies config information for loading a new DB.
-type DBContext struct {
-	ID     string
-	Config *cfg.Config
-}
-
-// DBProvider takes a DBContext and returns an instantiated DB.
-type DBProvider func(*DBContext) (dbm.DB, error)
-
-// DefaultDBProvider returns a database using the DBBackend and DBDir
-// specified in the ctx.Config.
-func DefaultDBProvider(ctx *DBContext) (dbm.DB, error) {
-	dbType := dbm.BackendType(ctx.Config.DBBackend)
-	return dbm.NewDB(ctx.ID, dbType, ctx.Config.DBDir())
-}
-
-// GenesisDocProvider returns a GenesisDoc.
+// genesisDocProvider returns a GenesisDoc.
 // It allows the GenesisDoc to be pulled from sources other than the
 // filesystem, for instance from a distributed key-value store cluster.
-type GenesisDocProvider func() (*types.GenesisDoc, error)
+type genesisDocProvider func() (*types.GenesisDoc, error)
 
-// DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc returns a GenesisDocProvider that loads
+// defaultGenesisDocProviderFunc returns a GenesisDocProvider that loads
 // the GenesisDoc from the config.GenesisFile() on the filesystem.
-func DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config *cfg.Config) GenesisDocProvider {
+func defaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config *cfg.Config) genesisDocProvider {
 	return func() (*types.GenesisDoc, error) {
 		return types.GenesisDocFromFile(config.GenesisFile())
 	}
 }
 
-// Provider takes a config and a logger and returns a ready to go Node.
-type Provider func(*cfg.Config, log.Logger) (*Node, error)
-
-// MetricsProvider returns a consensus, p2p and mempool Metrics.
-type MetricsProvider func(chainID string) (*cs.Metrics, *p2p.Metrics, *mempool.Metrics, *sm.Metrics)
+// metricsProvider returns a consensus, p2p and mempool Metrics.
+type metricsProvider func(chainID string) (*cs.Metrics, *p2p.Metrics, *mempool.Metrics, *sm.Metrics)
 
-// DefaultMetricsProvider returns Metrics build using Prometheus client library
+// defaultMetricsProvider returns Metrics build using Prometheus client library
 // if Prometheus is enabled. Otherwise, it returns no-op Metrics.
-func DefaultMetricsProvider(config *cfg.InstrumentationConfig) MetricsProvider {
+func defaultMetricsProvider(config *cfg.InstrumentationConfig) metricsProvider {
 	return func(chainID string) (*cs.Metrics, *p2p.Metrics, *mempool.Metrics, *sm.Metrics) {
 		if config.Prometheus {
 			return cs.PrometheusMetrics(config.Namespace, "chain_id", chainID),
@@ -1174,12 +1106,12 @@ var (
 	genesisDocKey = []byte("genesisDoc")
 )
 
-// LoadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider attempts to load the state from the
+// loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider attempts to load the state from the
 // database, or creates one using the given genesisDocProvider. On success this also
 // returns the genesis doc loaded through the given provider.
-func LoadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(
+func loadStateFromDBOrGenesisDocProvider(
 	stateDB dbm.DB,
-	genesisDocProvider GenesisDocProvider,
+	genesisDocProvider genesisDocProvider,
 ) (sm.State, *types.GenesisDoc, error) {
 	// Get genesis doc
 	genDoc, err := loadGenesisDoc(stateDB)
diff --git a/node/node_test.go b/node/node_test.go
index 14d914352..069cdc1ab 100644
--- a/node/node_test.go
+++ b/node/node_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/mempool"
 	mempoolv0 "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/mempool/v0"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
-	p2pmock "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p/mock"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
@@ -42,10 +41,12 @@ func TestNodeStartStop(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(config.RootDir)
 
 	// create & start node
-	n, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	err = n.Start()
+	ns, err := newDefaultNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, ns.Start())
+
+	n, ok := ns.(*nodeImpl)
+	require.True(t, ok)
 
 	t.Logf("Started node %v", n.sw.NodeInfo())
 
@@ -80,18 +81,26 @@ func TestNodeStartStop(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func getTestNode(t *testing.T, conf *cfg.Config, logger log.Logger) *nodeImpl {
+	t.Helper()
+	ns, err := newDefaultNode(conf, logger)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	n, ok := ns.(*nodeImpl)
+	require.True(t, ok)
+	return n
+}
+
 func TestNodeDelayedStart(t *testing.T) {
 	config := cfg.ResetTestRoot("node_delayed_start_test")
 	defer os.RemoveAll(config.RootDir)
 	now := tmtime.Now()
 
 	// create & start node
-	n, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
+	n := getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 	n.GenesisDoc().GenesisTime = now.Add(2 * time.Second)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	err = n.Start()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, n.Start())
 	defer n.Stop() //nolint:errcheck // ignore for tests
 
 	startTime := tmtime.Now()
@@ -102,9 +111,8 @@ func TestNodeSetAppVersion(t *testing.T) {
 	config := cfg.ResetTestRoot("node_app_version_test")
 	defer os.RemoveAll(config.RootDir)
 
-	// create & start node
-	n, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	// create node
+	n := getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 
 	// default config uses the kvstore app
 	var appVersion uint64 = kvstore.ProtocolVersion
@@ -146,8 +154,7 @@ func TestNodeSetPrivValTCP(t *testing.T) {
 	}()
 	defer signerServer.Stop() //nolint:errcheck // ignore for tests
 
-	n, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n := getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 	assert.IsType(t, &privval.RetrySignerClient{}, n.PrivValidator())
 }
 
@@ -159,7 +166,7 @@ func TestPrivValidatorListenAddrNoProtocol(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(config.RootDir)
 	config.PrivValidator.ListenAddr = addrNoPrefix
 
-	_, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
+	_, err := newDefaultNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
 	assert.Error(t, err)
 }
 
@@ -189,9 +196,7 @@ func TestNodeSetPrivValIPC(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}()
 	defer pvsc.Stop() //nolint:errcheck // ignore for tests
-
-	n, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n := getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 	assert.IsType(t, &privval.RetrySignerClient{}, n.PrivValidator())
 }
 
@@ -470,43 +475,6 @@ func TestMaxProposalBlockSize(t *testing.T) {
 
 }
 
-func TestNodeNewNodeCustomReactors(t *testing.T) {
-	config := cfg.ResetTestRoot("node_new_node_custom_reactors_test")
-	defer os.RemoveAll(config.RootDir)
-
-	cr := p2pmock.NewReactor()
-	customBlockchainReactor := p2pmock.NewReactor()
-
-	nodeKey, err := p2p.LoadOrGenNodeKey(config.NodeKeyFile())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	pval, err := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(config.PrivValidatorKeyFile(), config.PrivValidatorStateFile())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	appClient, closer := proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir())
-	t.Cleanup(func() { closer.Close() })
-	n, err := NewNode(config,
-		pval,
-		nodeKey,
-		appClient,
-		DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
-		DefaultDBProvider,
-		DefaultMetricsProvider(config.Instrumentation),
-		log.TestingLogger(),
-		CustomReactors(map[string]p2p.Reactor{"FOO": cr, "BLOCKCHAIN": customBlockchainReactor}),
-	)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	err = n.Start()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer n.Stop() //nolint:errcheck // ignore for tests
-
-	assert.True(t, cr.IsRunning())
-	assert.Equal(t, cr, n.Switch().Reactor("FOO"))
-
-	assert.True(t, customBlockchainReactor.IsRunning())
-	assert.Equal(t, customBlockchainReactor, n.Switch().Reactor("BLOCKCHAIN"))
-}
-
 func TestNodeNewSeedNode(t *testing.T) {
 	config := cfg.ResetTestRoot("node_new_node_custom_reactors_test")
 	config.Mode = cfg.ModeSeed
@@ -515,13 +483,15 @@ func TestNodeNewSeedNode(t *testing.T) {
 	nodeKey, err := p2p.LoadOrGenNodeKey(config.NodeKeyFile())
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	n, err := NewSeedNode(config,
-		DefaultDBProvider,
+	ns, err := makeSeedNode(config,
+		cfg.DefaultDBProvider,
 		nodeKey,
-		DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
+		defaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
 		log.TestingLogger(),
 	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n, ok := ns.(*nodeImpl)
+	require.True(t, ok)
 
 	err = n.Start()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -533,58 +503,51 @@ func TestNodeSetEventSink(t *testing.T) {
 	config := cfg.ResetTestRoot("node_app_version_test")
 	defer os.RemoveAll(config.RootDir)
 
-	// create & start node
-	n, err := DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n := getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(n.eventSinks))
 	assert.Equal(t, indexer.KV, n.eventSinks[0].Type())
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"null"}
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n = getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(n.eventSinks))
 	assert.Equal(t, indexer.NULL, n.eventSinks[0].Type())
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"null", "kv"}
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n = getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(n.eventSinks))
 	assert.Equal(t, indexer.NULL, n.eventSinks[0].Type())
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"kvv"}
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	assert.Nil(t, n)
+	ns, err := newDefaultNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
+	assert.Nil(t, ns)
 	assert.Equal(t, errors.New("unsupported event sink type"), err)
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{}
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n = getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(n.eventSinks))
 	assert.Equal(t, indexer.NULL, n.eventSinks[0].Type())
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"psql"}
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	assert.Nil(t, n)
+	ns, err = newDefaultNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
+	assert.Nil(t, ns)
 	assert.Equal(t, errors.New("the psql connection settings cannot be empty"), err)
 
 	var psqlConn = "test"
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"psql"}
 	config.TxIndex.PsqlConn = psqlConn
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n = getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 	assert.Equal(t, 1, len(n.eventSinks))
 	assert.Equal(t, indexer.PSQL, n.eventSinks[0].Type())
 	n.OnStop()
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"psql", "kv"}
 	config.TxIndex.PsqlConn = psqlConn
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n = getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 	assert.Equal(t, 2, len(n.eventSinks))
 	// we use map to filter the duplicated sinks, so it's not guarantee the order when append sinks.
 	if n.eventSinks[0].Type() == indexer.KV {
@@ -597,8 +560,7 @@ func TestNodeSetEventSink(t *testing.T) {
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"kv", "psql"}
 	config.TxIndex.PsqlConn = psqlConn
-	n, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	n = getTestNode(t, config, log.TestingLogger())
 	assert.Equal(t, 2, len(n.eventSinks))
 	if n.eventSinks[0].Type() == indexer.KV {
 		assert.Equal(t, indexer.PSQL, n.eventSinks[1].Type())
@@ -611,13 +573,13 @@ func TestNodeSetEventSink(t *testing.T) {
 	var e = errors.New("found duplicated sinks, please check the tx-index section in the config.toml")
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"psql", "kv", "Kv"}
 	config.TxIndex.PsqlConn = psqlConn
-	_, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
+	_, err = newDefaultNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, e, err)
 
 	config.TxIndex.Indexer = []string{"Psql", "kV", "kv", "pSql"}
 	config.TxIndex.PsqlConn = psqlConn
-	_, err = DefaultNewNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
+	_, err = newDefaultNode(config, log.TestingLogger())
 	require.Error(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, e, err)
 }
diff --git a/node/public.go b/node/public.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..80f5fc39d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/node/public.go
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+// Package node provides a high level wrapper around tendermint services.
+package node
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/log"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/service"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
+)
+
+// NewDefault constructs a tendermint node service for use in go
+// process that host their own process-local tendermint node. This is
+// equivalent to running tendermint in it's own process communicating
+// to an external ABCI application.
+func NewDefault(conf *config.Config, logger log.Logger) (service.Service, error) {
+	return newDefaultNode(conf, logger)
+}
+
+// New constructs a tendermint node. The ClientCreator makes it
+// possible to construct an ABCI application that runs in the same
+// process as the tendermint node.  The final option is a pointer to a
+// Genesis document: if the value is nil, the genesis document is read
+// from the file specified in the config, and otherwise the node uses
+// value of the final argument.
+func New(conf *config.Config,
+	logger log.Logger,
+	cf proxy.ClientCreator,
+	gen *types.GenesisDoc,
+) (service.Service, error) {
+	nodeKey, err := p2p.LoadOrGenNodeKey(conf.NodeKeyFile())
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load or gen node key %s: %w", conf.NodeKeyFile(), err)
+	}
+
+	var genProvider genesisDocProvider
+	switch gen {
+	case nil:
+		genProvider = defaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(conf)
+	default:
+		genProvider = func() (*types.GenesisDoc, error) { return gen, nil }
+	}
+
+	switch conf.Mode {
+	case config.ModeFull, config.ModeValidator:
+		pval, err := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(conf.PrivValidatorKeyFile(), conf.PrivValidatorStateFile())
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+
+		return makeNode(conf,
+			pval,
+			nodeKey,
+			cf,
+			genProvider,
+			config.DefaultDBProvider,
+			logger)
+	case config.ModeSeed:
+		return makeSeedNode(conf, config.DefaultDBProvider, nodeKey, genProvider, logger)
+	default:
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%q is not a valid mode", conf.Mode)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/node/setup.go b/node/setup.go
index 51a35f7db..d56502d2f 100644
--- a/node/setup.go
+++ b/node/setup.go
@@ -41,15 +41,15 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/version"
 )
 
-func initDBs(config *cfg.Config, dbProvider DBProvider) (blockStore *store.BlockStore, stateDB dbm.DB, err error) {
+func initDBs(config *cfg.Config, dbProvider cfg.DBProvider) (blockStore *store.BlockStore, stateDB dbm.DB, err error) {
 	var blockStoreDB dbm.DB
-	blockStoreDB, err = dbProvider(&DBContext{"blockstore", config})
+	blockStoreDB, err = dbProvider(&cfg.DBContext{ID: "blockstore", Config: config})
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
 	blockStore = store.NewBlockStore(blockStoreDB)
 
-	stateDB, err = dbProvider(&DBContext{"state", config})
+	stateDB, err = dbProvider(&cfg.DBContext{ID: "state", Config: config})
 	return
 }
 
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ func createAndStartEventBus(logger log.Logger) (*types.EventBus, error) {
 
 func createAndStartIndexerService(
 	config *cfg.Config,
-	dbProvider DBProvider,
+	dbProvider cfg.DBProvider,
 	eventBus *types.EventBus,
 	logger log.Logger,
 	chainID string,
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ loop:
 			eventSinks = []indexer.EventSink{null.NewEventSink()}
 			break loop
 		case string(indexer.KV):
-			store, err := dbProvider(&DBContext{"tx_index", config})
+			store, err := dbProvider(&cfg.DBContext{ID: "tx_index", Config: config})
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, nil, err
 			}
@@ -278,14 +278,14 @@ func createMempoolReactor(
 
 func createEvidenceReactor(
 	config *cfg.Config,
-	dbProvider DBProvider,
+	dbProvider cfg.DBProvider,
 	stateDB dbm.DB,
 	blockStore *store.BlockStore,
 	peerManager *p2p.PeerManager,
 	router *p2p.Router,
 	logger log.Logger,
 ) (*p2p.ReactorShim, *evidence.Reactor, *evidence.Pool, error) {
-	evidenceDB, err := dbProvider(&DBContext{"evidence", config})
+	evidenceDB, err := dbProvider(&cfg.DBContext{ID: "evidence", Config: config})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, nil, err
 	}
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ func createTransport(logger log.Logger, config *cfg.Config) *p2p.MConnTransport
 
 func createPeerManager(
 	config *cfg.Config,
-	dbProvider DBProvider,
+	dbProvider cfg.DBProvider,
 	p2pLogger log.Logger,
 	nodeID p2p.NodeID,
 ) (*p2p.PeerManager, error) {
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ func createPeerManager(
 		peers = append(peers, address)
 	}
 
-	peerDB, err := dbProvider(&DBContext{"peerstore", config})
+	peerDB, err := dbProvider(&cfg.DBContext{ID: "peerstore", Config: config})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/rpc/test/helpers.go b/rpc/test/helpers.go
index f681414e8..de7b0611e 100644
--- a/rpc/test/helpers.go
+++ b/rpc/test/helpers.go
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import (
 	tmnet "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/net"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/service"
 	nm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/node"
-	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
-	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	ctypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/core/types"
 	core_grpc "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/grpc"
@@ -118,22 +116,8 @@ func StartTendermint(ctx context.Context,
 		logger = log.NewTMLogger(log.NewSyncWriter(os.Stdout))
 		logger = log.NewFilter(logger, log.AllowError())
 	}
-	pvKeyFile := conf.PrivValidatorKeyFile()
-	pvKeyStateFile := conf.PrivValidatorStateFile()
-	pv, err := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(pvKeyFile, pvKeyStateFile)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, func(_ context.Context) error { return nil }, err
-	}
 	papp := proxy.NewLocalClientCreator(app)
-	nodeKey, err := p2p.LoadOrGenNodeKey(conf.NodeKeyFile())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, func(_ context.Context) error { return nil }, err
-	}
-	node, err := nm.NewNode(conf, pv, nodeKey, papp,
-		nm.DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(conf),
-		nm.DefaultDBProvider,
-		nm.DefaultMetricsProvider(conf.Instrumentation),
-		logger)
+	node, err := nm.New(conf, logger, papp, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, func(_ context.Context) error { return nil }, err
 	}
diff --git a/test/e2e/app/main.go b/test/e2e/app/main.go
index b1b96deeb..a4a0c7d8b 100644
--- a/test/e2e/app/main.go
+++ b/test/e2e/app/main.go
@@ -124,23 +124,15 @@ func startNode(cfg *Config) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	tmcfg, nodeLogger, nodeKey, err := setupNode()
+	tmcfg, nodeLogger, err := setupNode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to setup config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	pval, err := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(tmcfg.PrivValidatorKeyFile(), tmcfg.PrivValidatorStateFile())
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	n, err := node.NewNode(tmcfg,
-		pval,
-		*nodeKey,
-		proxy.NewLocalClientCreator(app),
-		node.DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(tmcfg),
-		node.DefaultDBProvider,
-		node.DefaultMetricsProvider(tmcfg.Instrumentation),
+	n, err := node.New(tmcfg,
 		nodeLogger,
+		proxy.NewLocalClientCreator(app),
+		nil,
 	)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -149,18 +141,14 @@ func startNode(cfg *Config) error {
 }
 
 func startSeedNode(cfg *Config) error {
-	tmcfg, nodeLogger, nodeKey, err := setupNode()
+	tmcfg, nodeLogger, err := setupNode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to setup config: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	n, err := node.NewSeedNode(
-		tmcfg,
-		node.DefaultDBProvider,
-		*nodeKey,
-		node.DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(tmcfg),
-		nodeLogger,
-	)
+	tmcfg.Mode = config.ModeSeed
+
+	n, err := node.New(tmcfg, nodeLogger, nil, nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -168,13 +156,13 @@ func startSeedNode(cfg *Config) error {
 }
 
 func startLightNode(cfg *Config) error {
-	tmcfg, nodeLogger, _, err := setupNode()
+	tmcfg, nodeLogger, err := setupNode()
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	dbContext := &node.DBContext{ID: "light", Config: tmcfg}
-	lightDB, err := node.DefaultDBProvider(dbContext)
+	dbContext := &config.DBContext{ID: "light", Config: tmcfg}
+	lightDB, err := config.DefaultDBProvider(dbContext)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -272,31 +260,31 @@ func startSigner(cfg *Config) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func setupNode() (*config.Config, log.Logger, *p2p.NodeKey, error) {
+func setupNode() (*config.Config, log.Logger, error) {
 	var tmcfg *config.Config
 
 	home := os.Getenv("TMHOME")
 	if home == "" {
-		return nil, nil, nil, errors.New("TMHOME not set")
+		return nil, nil, errors.New("TMHOME not set")
 	}
 
 	viper.AddConfigPath(filepath.Join(home, "config"))
 	viper.SetConfigName("config")
 
 	if err := viper.ReadInConfig(); err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	tmcfg = config.DefaultConfig()
 
 	if err := viper.Unmarshal(tmcfg); err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	tmcfg.SetRoot(home)
 
 	if err := tmcfg.ValidateBasic(); err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error in config file: %w", err)
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("error in config file: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if tmcfg.LogFormat == config.LogFormatJSON {
@@ -305,17 +293,12 @@ func setupNode() (*config.Config, log.Logger, *p2p.NodeKey, error) {
 
 	nodeLogger, err := tmflags.ParseLogLevel(tmcfg.LogLevel, logger, config.DefaultLogLevel)
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 
 	nodeLogger = nodeLogger.With("module", "main")
 
-	nodeKey, err := p2p.LoadOrGenNodeKey(tmcfg.NodeKeyFile())
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load or gen node key %s: %w", tmcfg.NodeKeyFile(), err)
-	}
-
-	return tmcfg, nodeLogger, &nodeKey, nil
+	return tmcfg, nodeLogger, nil
 }
 
 // rpcEndpoints takes a list of persistent peers and splits them into a list of rpc endpoints