diff --git a/torba/torba/client/baseledger.py b/torba/torba/client/baseledger.py
index 7f55cf88f..e19e4acbc 100644
--- a/torba/torba/client/baseledger.py
+++ b/torba/torba/client/baseledger.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import base64
 import os
 import asyncio
 import logging
+import zlib
 from functools import partial
 from binascii import hexlify, unhexlify
 from io import StringIO
@@ -309,13 +310,21 @@ class BaseLedger(metaclass=LedgerRegistry):
     async def initial_headers_sync(self):
         target = self.network.remote_height
         current = len(self.headers)
-        get_chunk = partial(self.network.retriable_call, self.network.get_headers, count=2016, b64=True)
-        chunks = [asyncio.ensure_future(get_chunk(height)) for height in range(current, target, 2016)]
+        get_chunk = partial(self.network.retriable_call, self.network.get_headers, count=4096, b64=True)
+        chunks = [asyncio.ensure_future(get_chunk(height)) for height in range(current, target, 4096)]
+        import time
+        start = time.time()
+        total = 0
         async with self.headers.checkpointed_connector() as connector:
             for chunk in chunks:
                 headers = await chunk
-                connector.connect(len(self.headers), base64.b64decode(headers['base64']))
-                log.info("Headers sync: %s / %s", connector.tell() // self.headers.header_size, target)
+                total += len(headers['base64'])
+                try:
+                    connector.connect(len(self.headers), zlib.decompress(base64.b64decode(headers['base64']), wbits=-15, bufsize=600_000))
+                except BaseException:
+                    log.exception("ops")
+                log.info("Headers sync: %s / %s -- %s", connector.tell() // self.headers.header_size, target, total)
+        print(time.time() - start)
 
     async def update_headers(self, height=None, headers=None, subscription_update=False):
         rewound = 0
diff --git a/torba/torba/client/basenetwork.py b/torba/torba/client/basenetwork.py
index b2a5b6878..77de1925e 100644
--- a/torba/torba/client/basenetwork.py
+++ b/torba/torba/client/basenetwork.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import logging
 import asyncio
+import zlib
 from operator import itemgetter
 from typing import Dict, Optional, Tuple
 from time import perf_counter
diff --git a/torba/torba/server/session.py b/torba/torba/server/session.py
index a45f7ede1..d9252d350 100644
--- a/torba/torba/server/session.py
+++ b/torba/torba/server/session.py
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import datetime
 import itertools
 import json
 import os
+import zlib
+
 import pylru
 import ssl
 import time
@@ -616,7 +618,7 @@ class SessionBase(RPCSession):
     sessions.
     """
 
-    MAX_CHUNK_SIZE = 2016
+    MAX_CHUNK_SIZE = 40960
     session_counter = itertools.count()
     request_handlers: typing.Dict[str, typing.Callable] = {}
     version = '0.5.7'
@@ -1022,8 +1024,10 @@ class ElectrumX(SessionBase):
         max_size = self.MAX_CHUNK_SIZE
         count = min(count, max_size)
         headers, count = await self.db.read_headers(start_height, count)
+        compressobj = zlib.compressobj(wbits=-15, level=1, memLevel=9)
+        headers = base64.b64encode(compressobj.compress(headers) + compressobj.flush()).decode() if b64 else headers.hex()
         result = {
-            'base64' if b64 else 'hex': base64.b64encode(headers).decode() if b64 else headers.hex(),
+            'base64' if b64 else 'hex': headers,
             'count': count,
             'max': max_size
         }