diff --git a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
index 53660ff89..cb9a50082 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ Friendly reminder: We have a [bug bounty program](https://hackerone.com/tendermi
   - [rpc] \#6168 Change default sorting to desc for `/tx_search` results (@melekes)
   - [cli] \#6282 User must specify the node mode when using `tendermint init` (@cmwaters)
   - [state/indexer] \#6382 reconstruct indexer, move txindex into the indexer package (@JayT106)
+  - [cli] \#6372 Introduce `BootstrapPeers` as part of the new p2p stack. Peers to be connected on
+    startup (@cmwaters)
 
 - Apps
   - [ABCI] \#5447 Remove `SetOption` method from `ABCI.Client` interface
diff --git a/UPGRADING.md b/UPGRADING.md
index e9170ffab..247847085 100644
--- a/UPGRADING.md
+++ b/UPGRADING.md
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ This guide provides instructions for upgrading to specific versions of Tendermin
 
 * Added `--mode` flag and `mode` config variable on `config.toml` for setting Mode of the Node: `full` | `validator` | `seed` (default: `full`)
   [ADR-52](https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/blob/master/docs/architecture/adr-052-tendermint-mode.md)
+  
+* `BootstrapPeers` has been added as part of the new p2p stack. This will eventually replace
+  `Seeds`. Bootstrap peers are connected with on startup if needed for peer discovery. Unlike
+  persistent peers, there's no gaurantee that the node will remain connected with these peers. 
 
 ### CLI Changes
 
diff --git a/config/config.go b/config/config.go
index 5b26ad7f2..8d1a75a81 100644
--- a/config/config.go
+++ b/config/config.go
@@ -551,8 +551,16 @@ type P2PConfig struct { //nolint: maligned
 
 	// Comma separated list of seed nodes to connect to
 	// We only use these if we can’t connect to peers in the addrbook
+	// NOTE: not used by the new PEX reactor. Please use BootstrapPeers instead.
+	// TODO: Remove once p2p refactor is complete
+	// ref: https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/issues/5670
 	Seeds string `mapstructure:"seeds"`
 
+	// Comma separated list of peers to be added to the peer store
+	// on startup. Either BootstrapPeers or PersistentPeers are
+	// needed for peer discovery
+	BootstrapPeers string `mapstructure:"bootstrap-peers"`
+
 	// Comma separated list of nodes to keep persistent connections to
 	PersistentPeers string `mapstructure:"persistent-peers"`
 
diff --git a/config/toml.go b/config/toml.go
index eeee75242..03fe40cf1 100644
--- a/config/toml.go
+++ b/config/toml.go
@@ -277,8 +277,17 @@ laddr = "{{ .P2P.ListenAddress }}"
 external-address = "{{ .P2P.ExternalAddress }}"
 
 # Comma separated list of seed nodes to connect to
+# We only use these if we can’t connect to peers in the addrbook
+# NOTE: not used by the new PEX reactor. Please use BootstrapPeers instead.
+# TODO: Remove once p2p refactor is complete
+# ref: https:#github.com/tendermint/tendermint/issues/5670
 seeds = "{{ .P2P.Seeds }}"
 
+# Comma separated list of peers to be added to the peer store
+# on startup. Either BootstrapPeers or PersistentPeers are
+# needed for peer discovery
+bootstrap-peers = "{{ .P2P.BootstrapPeers }}"
+
 # Comma separated list of nodes to keep persistent connections to
 persistent-peers = "{{ .P2P.PersistentPeers }}"
 
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 6dae62958..3c396a8b9 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -628,6 +628,14 @@ func createPeerManager(
 		options.PersistentPeers = append(options.PersistentPeers, address.NodeID)
 	}
 
+	for _, p := range splitAndTrimEmpty(config.P2P.BootstrapPeers, ",", " ") {
+		address, err := p2p.ParseNodeAddress(p)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid peer address %q: %w", p, err)
+		}
+		peers = append(peers, address)
+	}
+
 	peerDB, err := dbProvider(&DBContext{"peerstore", config})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err