diff --git a/ansible/roles/ssc/tasks/main.yml b/ansible/roles/ssc/tasks/main.yml
index 321fcb5..bc3138f 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/ssc/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/ansible/roles/ssc/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+- name: Expand kubeconfig file path
+  set_fact:
+    kubeconfig_file: "{{ kubeconfig_file | expanduser }}"
+
 - name: Deploy SSC
   kubernetes.core.k8s:
     state: present
diff --git a/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/ssc-deploy.yml.j2 b/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/ssc-deploy.yml.j2
index dfacb41..6838299 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/ssc-deploy.yml.j2
+++ b/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/ssc-deploy.yml.j2
@@ -61,15 +61,27 @@ spec:
           - name: OPTS
             value: "{{ ssc_start_args }}"
           - name: DENOM
-            value: "{{ ssc.denom }}"
+            value: "{{ ssc.denom | default(ssc_denom) }}"
           - name: GENESIS
-            value: "{{ ssc_genesis }}"
+            value: "{{ ssc_genesis_url | default(ssc_genesis) }}"
           - name: LOGLEVEL
             value: "info"
           - name: PEERS
             value: "{{ ssc_peers }}"
           - name: EXTERNAL_ADDRESS
             value: "{{ ssc_external_address }}:26656"
+{% if statesync_enabled and ssc_rpc_servers is defined %}
+          - name: STATE_SYNC_ENABLED
+            value: "true"
+          - name: SNAPSHOT_TRUST_INTERVAL
+            value: "{{ statesync_trust_interval }}"
+          - name: SYNC_RPC
+            value: "{{ ssc_rpc_servers | join(',') }}"
+{% endif %}
+{% if snapshot_interval is defined %}
+          - name: SNAPSHOT_INTERVAL
+            value: "{{ snapshot_interval }}"
+{% endif %}
           ports:
             - containerPort: 26657
               name: rpc
@@ -79,6 +91,7 @@ spec:
               name: grpc
             - containerPort: 26660
               name: metrics
+          command: ["/bin/sh", "/scripts/start.sh"]
           volumeMounts:
             - name: ssc-data
               mountPath: /root/.ssc
diff --git a/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/start.sh b/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/start.sh
index a51996e..311e68f 100644
--- a/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/start.sh
+++ b/ansible/roles/ssc/templates/start.sh
@@ -3,8 +3,11 @@
 # Constants
 CONFIG_FILE="/root/.ssc/config/config.toml"
 
+# Optional environment variables
+SNAPSHOT_TRUST_INTERVAL=${SNAPSHOT_TRUST_INTERVAL:-1000}
+
 # Validate all required variables
-REQUIRED_VARS="CHAIN_ID GENESIS_URL MONIKER"
+REQUIRED_VARS="CHAIN_ID GENESIS MONIKER"
 for VAR in $REQUIRED_VARS; do
   if [ -z "$(eval echo \$$VAR)" ]; then
     echo "Error: Required environment variable $VAR is not set."
@@ -12,6 +15,85 @@ for VAR in $REQUIRED_VARS; do
   fi
 done
 
+# Log CHAIN_ID
+echo "CHAIN_ID: $CHAIN_ID"
+
+# Check if we should start from state sync
+ShouldStartFromStateSync() {
+  if [ "${STATE_SYNC_ENABLED:-false}" != "true" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if [ -z "$SYNC_RPC" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  count=$(echo "$SYNC_RPC" | tr ',' '\n' | wc -l)
+  if [ "$count" -ge 2 ]; then
+    return 0
+  else
+    return 1
+  fi
+}
+
+# Configure state sync
+ConfigureStartFromStateSync() {
+  echo "Configuring state sync..."
+  RPC_SERVER=$(echo "$SYNC_RPC" | awk -F"," '{gsub("tcp","http",$1);print $1}')
+  
+  # Fetch current block using grep/sed (jq not available)
+  CURRENT_BLOCK=$(
+    curl -s "$RPC_SERVER/status" \
+      | grep -o '"latest_block_height":"[^"]*"' \
+      | sed 's/.*:"//;s/"$//'
+  )
+  if [ -z "$CURRENT_BLOCK" ]; then
+    echo "Unable to fetch current block. Skipping state-sync config"
+    return
+  fi
+  echo "Current Block: $CURRENT_BLOCK"
+  TRUST_HEIGHT=$((CURRENT_BLOCK - SNAPSHOT_TRUST_INTERVAL))
+  if [ "$TRUST_HEIGHT" -lt 0 ]; then
+    echo "Not enough blocks to set trust height"
+    return
+  fi
+  echo "Trust Height: $TRUST_HEIGHT"
+  TRUST_BLOCK=$(curl -s "$RPC_SERVER/block?height=$TRUST_HEIGHT" 2>/dev/null)
+  if [ -z "$TRUST_BLOCK" ]; then
+    echo "Unable to fetch trust block. Skipping state-sync config"
+    return
+  fi
+  # Extract trust hash from TRUST_BLOCK using awk (no jq)
+  TRUST_HASH=$(
+    echo "$TRUST_BLOCK" \
+      | awk -F'"hash":"' '{print $2}' \
+      | awk -F'"' '{print $1}'
+  )
+  if [ -z "$TRUST_HASH" ]; then
+    echo "Unable to extract trust hash. Skipping state-sync config"
+    return
+  fi
+  echo "Trust Hash: $TRUST_HASH"
+  echo "Peers: $PEERS"
+  sed -i -e '/enable =/ s/= .*/= true/' "$CONFIG_FILE"
+  sed -i -e "/trust_height =/ s/= .*/= $TRUST_HEIGHT/" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+  sed -i -e "/trust_hash =/ s|= .*|= \"$TRUST_HASH\"|" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+  sed -i -e "/rpc_servers =/ s^= .*^= \"$SYNC_RPC\"^" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+  if [ -n "$PEERS" ]; then
+    sed -i -e "/seeds =/ s|= .*|= \"$PEERS\"|" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+  fi
+  echo "State sync configured successfully"
+}
+
+# Ensure config directory exists
+mkdir -p /root/.ssc/config
+
+# Clean up any stale database lock files from previous crashes
+echo "Cleaning up stale database lock files..."
+find /root/.ssc/data -name "LOCK" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+find /root/.ssc/data -name "*.lock" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+find /root/.ssc -name "LOCK" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+find /root/.ssc -name "*.lock" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+echo "Database lock cleanup complete"
+
 if [ ! -f "/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json" ]; then
   echo "/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json does not exist. Initializing SSC for the first time..."
   
@@ -23,18 +105,327 @@ if [ ! -f "/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json" ]; then
     sscd init --chain-id "$CHAIN_ID" $MONIKER
   fi
 
-  echo "Downloading genesis file from $GENESIS_URL..."
-  curl -f "$GENESIS_URL" --output /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json || {
-    echo "Failed to download genesis file from $GENESIS_URL"
+  if [ -n "$GENESIS" ]; then
+    echo "Downloading genesis file from $GENESIS..."
+    curl -f "$GENESIS" --output /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json || {
+      echo "Failed to download genesis file from $GENESIS"
+      exit 1
+    }
+    
+    # Fix invalid IBC channel parameters if upgrade_timeout_timestamp is 0
+    echo "=== IBC Parameter Fix ==="
+      
+      # Calculate future timestamp (1 year from now in nanoseconds)
+      FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC=$(date -d "+1 year" +%s 2>/dev/null || date -v+1y +%s 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
+      if [ "$FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC" = "0" ]; then
+        # Fallback: use a fixed future date (Jan 1, 2026)
+        FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC=1735689600
+        echo "Using fallback timestamp: $FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC"
+      fi
+      FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS=$((FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC * 1000000000))
+      echo "Future timestamp (nanoseconds): $FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS"
+      
+    # Fix upgrade_timeout_timestamp using sed (no jq required)
+    echo "Attempting to fix IBC upgrade_timeout_timestamp..."
+      
+    # Check if upgrade_timeout_timestamp exists and is 0 or null, then fix it
+    # Pattern: "upgrade_timeout_timestamp": 0 or "upgrade_timeout_timestamp": null
+    if grep -q '"upgrade_timeout_timestamp"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*\(0\|null\)' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+      echo "Found invalid upgrade_timeout_timestamp (0 or null), fixing..."
+      sed -i 's/"upgrade_timeout_timestamp"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*\(0\|null\)/"upgrade_timeout_timestamp": '"$FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS"'/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+      echo "Fixed upgrade_timeout_timestamp"
+    else
+      # If the field doesn't exist, try to add it in the params section
+      # Look for "params": { and add the field after it
+      if ! grep -q '"upgrade_timeout_timestamp"' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "upgrade_timeout_timestamp not found, attempting to add it..."
+        # Try to add after "params": { in the channel_genesis section
+        sed -i '/"channel_genesis"[^}]*"params"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*{/a\
+    "upgrade_timeout_timestamp": '"$FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS"',' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null || echo "Could not automatically add upgrade_timeout_timestamp"
+      else
+        echo "upgrade_timeout_timestamp already exists with valid value"
+      fi
+    fi
+      
+      # Fix IBC transfer module genesis compatibility (remove denom_traces for IBC-go v10)
+      echo "Fixing IBC transfer module genesis compatibility..."
+    if grep -q '"denom_traces"' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+        echo "Removing deprecated 'denom_traces' field from IBC transfer genesis..."
+      # Remove the line containing denom_traces
+      sed -i '/"denom_traces"/d' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+      # Fix any trailing commas before closing braces/brackets on the same line
+      sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*}/}/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+      sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*]/]/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+      # Fix trailing commas on previous line before closing brace
+      sed -i -e ':a' -e 'N' -e '$!ba' -e 's/,[[:space:]]*\n[[:space:]]*}/}\n/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+        echo "Removed denom_traces field"
+      else
+        echo "No denom_traces field found (already compatible or not present)"
+      fi
+    
+    # Fix IBC core module genesis compatibility (remove params field for IBC-go v10)
+    echo "Fixing IBC core module genesis compatibility..."
+    # Check if params field exists in the ibc section (not in transfer or other modules)
+    if grep -q '"ibc"' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+      # Use Python if available, otherwise use awk
+      if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        echo "Using Python to remove params field from IBC core genesis..."
+        python3 << 'PYTHON_SCRIPT'
+import json
+import sys
+
+try:
+    # Read the original file to preserve formatting as much as possible
+    with open('/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json', 'r') as f:
+        content = f.read()
+        genesis = json.loads(content)
+    
+    # Remove params from ibc section if it exists
+    removed = False
+    if 'app_state' in genesis and isinstance(genesis['app_state'], dict):
+        if 'ibc' in genesis['app_state'] and isinstance(genesis['app_state']['ibc'], dict):
+            if 'params' in genesis['app_state']['ibc']:
+                del genesis['app_state']['ibc']['params']
+                removed = True
+                print("Removed params field from IBC core genesis")
+    
+    if removed:
+        # Write back the modified genesis with consistent formatting
+        with open('/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json', 'w') as f:
+            json.dump(genesis, f, indent=2, separators=(',', ': '))
+    else:
+        print("No params field found in IBC core genesis (already compatible)")
+except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+    print(f"Error: Invalid JSON in genesis file: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(1)
+except Exception as e:
+    print(f"Error processing genesis file: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(1)
+PYTHON_SCRIPT
+      else
+        echo "Python not available, using awk to remove params field from IBC core genesis..."
+        # Use awk as fallback - remove params field and its object value
+        awk '
+        BEGIN { 
+          in_ibc = 0
+          in_params = 0
+          params_depth = 0
+        }
+        /"ibc"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*{/ { 
+          in_ibc = 1
+          print
+          next
+        }
+        in_ibc && /[[:space:]]*"params"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*{/ {
+          in_params = 1
+          params_depth = 1
+          next
+        }
+        in_params {
+          # Count braces to know when params block ends
+          gsub(/{/, "&")
+          open_count = gsub(/{/, "")
+          gsub(/}/, "&")
+          close_count = gsub(/}/, "")
+          params_depth += open_count - close_count
+          if (params_depth <= 0) {
+            in_params = 0
+          }
+          next
+        }
+        in_ibc && /^[[:space:]]*}/ {
+          in_ibc = 0
+        }
+        { print }
+        ' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json > /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json.tmp && \
+          mv /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json.tmp /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+        
+        # Fix any trailing commas that might be left after removing params
+        sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*}/}/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+        sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*]/]/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+        sed -i -e ':a' -e 'N' -e '$!ba' -e 's/,[[:space:]]*\n[[:space:]]*}/}\n/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+        echo "Removed params field from IBC core genesis (using awk)"
+      fi
+    else
+      echo "No IBC section found in genesis file"
+    fi
+    
+    echo "=== IBC Parameter Fix Complete ==="
+  else
+    echo "Error: GENESIS is required but not set"
     exit 1
-  }
+  fi
 
   echo "Editing config files"
-  if [ -n "$PERSISTENT_PEERS" ]; then
+  if [ -n "$PEERS" ]; then
     echo "Setting persistent_peers in config.toml..."
-    sed -i "s|^persistent_peers *=.*|persistent_peers = \"$PERSISTENT_PEERS\"|" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+    sed -i "s|^persistent_peers *=.*|persistent_peers = \"$PEERS\"|" "$CONFIG_FILE"
+  fi
+
+  # Configure snapshot interval if provided
+  if [ -n "$SNAPSHOT_INTERVAL" ]; then
+    echo "Setting snapshot-interval in app.toml..."
+    sed -i "s|^snapshot-interval *=.*|snapshot-interval = $SNAPSHOT_INTERVAL|" /root/.ssc/config/app.toml
   fi
+
+  # Configure state sync if enabled (only during initial setup when genesis doesn't exist)
+  if ShouldStartFromStateSync; then
+    ConfigureStartFromStateSync
+  fi
+fi
+
+# Verify genesis file exists before starting
+if [ ! -f "/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json" ]; then
+  echo "Error: genesis.json file does not exist at /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json"
+  echo "Cannot start SSC without genesis file"
+  exit 1
 fi
 
+# Apply IBC compatibility fixes to existing genesis file (runs every time)
+echo "=== Applying IBC Compatibility Fixes ==="
+
+# Calculate future timestamp (1 year from now in nanoseconds)
+FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC=$(date -d "+1 year" +%s 2>/dev/null || date -v+1y +%s 2>/dev/null || echo "0")
+if [ "$FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC" = "0" ]; then
+  # Fallback: use a fixed future date (Jan 1, 2026)
+  FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC=1735689600
+  echo "Using fallback timestamp: $FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC"
+fi
+FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS=$((FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_SEC * 1000000000))
+echo "Future timestamp (nanoseconds): $FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS"
+
+# Fix upgrade_timeout_timestamp if needed
+if grep -q '"upgrade_timeout_timestamp"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*\(0\|null\)' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+  echo "Found invalid upgrade_timeout_timestamp (0 or null), fixing..."
+  sed -i 's/"upgrade_timeout_timestamp"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*\(0\|null\)/"upgrade_timeout_timestamp": '"$FUTURE_TIMESTAMP_NS"'/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+  echo "Fixed upgrade_timeout_timestamp"
+fi
+
+# Fix IBC transfer module genesis compatibility (remove denom_traces for IBC-go v10)
+if grep -q '"denom_traces"' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+  echo "Removing deprecated 'denom_traces' field from IBC transfer genesis..."
+  sed -i '/"denom_traces"/d' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+  # Fix any trailing commas before closing braces/brackets on the same line
+  sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*}/}/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+  sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*]/]/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+  # Fix trailing commas on previous line before closing brace
+  sed -i -e ':a' -e 'N' -e '$!ba' -e 's/,[[:space:]]*\n[[:space:]]*}/}\n/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+  echo "Removed denom_traces field"
+fi
+
+# Fix IBC core module genesis compatibility (remove params field for IBC-go v10)
+echo "Fixing IBC core module genesis compatibility..."
+if grep -q '"ibc"' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json 2>/dev/null; then
+  # Use Python if available, otherwise use awk
+  if command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    echo "Using Python to remove params field from IBC core genesis..."
+    python3 << 'PYTHON_SCRIPT'
+import json
+import sys
+
+try:
+    # Read the original file
+    with open('/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json', 'r') as f:
+        genesis = json.load(f)
+    
+    # Remove params from ibc section if it exists
+    removed = False
+    if 'app_state' in genesis and isinstance(genesis['app_state'], dict):
+        if 'ibc' in genesis['app_state'] and isinstance(genesis['app_state']['ibc'], dict):
+            if 'params' in genesis['app_state']['ibc']:
+                print(f"Found params field in IBC core genesis, removing...")
+                del genesis['app_state']['ibc']['params']
+                removed = True
+                print("Successfully removed params field from IBC core genesis")
+            else:
+                print("No params field found in IBC core genesis (already compatible)")
+        else:
+            print("No 'ibc' key found in app_state")
+    else:
+        print("No 'app_state' key found in genesis")
+    
+    if removed:
+        # Write back the modified genesis with consistent formatting
+        with open('/root/.ssc/config/genesis.json', 'w') as f:
+            json.dump(genesis, f, indent=2, separators=(',', ': '))
+        print("Genesis file updated successfully")
+except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
+    print(f"Error: Invalid JSON in genesis file: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.exit(1)
+except Exception as e:
+    print(f"Error processing genesis file: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+    import traceback
+    traceback.print_exc()
+    sys.exit(1)
+PYTHON_SCRIPT
+    PYTHON_EXIT=$?
+    if [ $PYTHON_EXIT -ne 0 ]; then
+      echo "Python script failed, falling back to awk method..."
+    else
+      echo "Python fix completed successfully"
+    fi
+  fi
+  
+  # Use awk if Python failed or is not available
+  if ! command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1 || [ "${PYTHON_EXIT:-1}" -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo "Using awk to remove params field from IBC core genesis..."
+    # Use awk as fallback - remove params field and its object value
+    awk '
+    BEGIN { 
+      in_ibc = 0
+      in_params = 0
+      params_depth = 0
+    }
+    /"ibc"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*{/ { 
+      in_ibc = 1
+      print
+      next
+    }
+    in_ibc && /[[:space:]]*"params"[[:space:]]*:[[:space:]]*{/ {
+      in_params = 1
+      params_depth = 1
+      next
+    }
+    in_params {
+      # Count braces to know when params block ends
+      gsub(/{/, "&")
+      open_count = gsub(/{/, "")
+      gsub(/}/, "&")
+      close_count = gsub(/}/, "")
+      params_depth += open_count - close_count
+      if (params_depth <= 0) {
+        in_params = 0
+      }
+      next
+    }
+    in_ibc && /^[[:space:]]*}/ {
+      in_ibc = 0
+    }
+    { print }
+    ' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json > /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json.tmp && \
+      mv /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json.tmp /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+    
+    # Fix any trailing commas that might be left after removing params
+    sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*}/}/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+    sed -i 's/,[[:space:]]*]/]/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+    sed -i -e ':a' -e 'N' -e '$!ba' -e 's/,[[:space:]]*\n[[:space:]]*}/}\n/g' /root/.ssc/config/genesis.json
+    echo "Removed params field from IBC core genesis (using awk)"
+  fi
+else
+  echo "No IBC section found in genesis file"
+fi
+
+echo "=== IBC Compatibility Fixes Complete ==="
+
+# Final cleanup of any lock files before starting
+echo "Final cleanup of database lock files before starting..."
+find /root/.ssc/data -name "LOCK" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+find /root/.ssc/data -name "*.lock" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+find /root/.ssc -name "LOCK" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+find /root/.ssc -name "*.lock" -type f -delete 2>/dev/null || true
+
+# Ensure data directory exists
+mkdir -p /root/.ssc/data
+
 echo "Starting SSC..."
 sscd start $OPTS