diff --git a/core/engine.go b/core/engine.go
index bebdb11..393dd60 100644
--- a/core/engine.go
+++ b/core/engine.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 type Engine struct {
 	genesisHeight     uint64
+	genesisTime       time.Time
 	genesisBlockBurst uint64
 	stopHeight        uint64
 	blockRate         time.Duration
@@ -20,11 +21,12 @@ type Engine struct {
 	finalBlock        *types.Block
 }
 
-func NewEngine(genesisHeight, genesisBlockBurst, stopHeight uint64, rate int) Engine {
+func NewEngine(genesisHeight uint64, genesisTime time.Time, genesisBlockBurst uint64, stopHeight uint64, rate int) Engine {
 	blockRate := time.Minute / time.Duration(rate)
 
 	return Engine{
 		genesisHeight:     genesisHeight,
+		genesisTime:       genesisTime,
 		genesisBlockBurst: genesisBlockBurst,
 		stopHeight:        stopHeight,
 		blockRate:         blockRate,
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ func (e *Engine) Subscription() <-chan *types.Block {
 
 func (e *Engine) createBlocks() (out []*types.Block) {
 	if e.prevBlock == nil {
-		genesisBlock := types.GenesisBlock(e.genesisHeight)
+		genesisBlock := types.GenesisBlock(e.genesisHeight, e.genesisTime)
 		logrus.WithField("block", blockRef{genesisBlock.Header.Hash, e.genesisHeight}).Info("starting from genesis block height")
 		e.prevBlock = genesisBlock
 		e.finalBlock = genesisBlock
@@ -151,6 +153,7 @@ func (e *Engine) newBlock(height uint64, nonce *uint64, parent *types.Block) *ty
 			PrevHash:  &parent.Header.Hash,
 			FinalNum:  e.finalBlock.Header.Height,
 			FinalHash: e.finalBlock.Header.Hash,
+			Timestamp: e.genesisTime.Add(e.blockRate * time.Duration(height)),
 		},
 		Transactions: []types.Transaction{},
 	}
diff --git a/core/node.go b/core/node.go
index 6b0ca0b..4fff631 100644
--- a/core/node.go
+++ b/core/node.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package core
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/streamingfast/dummy-blockchain/tracer"
@@ -20,15 +21,16 @@ func NewNode(
 	storeDir string,
 	blockRate int,
 	genesisHeight uint64,
+	genesisTime time.Time,
 	genesisBlockBurst uint64,
 	stopHeight uint64,
 	serverAddr string,
 	tracer tracer.Tracer,
 ) *Node {
-	store := NewStore(storeDir, genesisHeight)
+	store := NewStore(storeDir, genesisHeight, genesisTime)
 
 	return &Node{
-		engine: NewEngine(genesisHeight, genesisBlockBurst, stopHeight, blockRate),
+		engine: NewEngine(genesisHeight, genesisTime, genesisBlockBurst, stopHeight, blockRate),
 		store:  store,
 		server: NewServer(store, serverAddr),
 		tracer: tracer,
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ func NewNode(
 
 func (node *Node) Initialize() error {
 	logrus.
-		WithField("genesis_height", node.store.genesisHeight).
+		WithField("genesis_height", node.store.meta.GenesisHeight).
 		Info("initializing node")
 
 	logrus.Info("initializing store")
@@ -61,7 +63,7 @@ func (node *Node) Initialize() error {
 	final := node.store.meta.FinalHeight
 	if final == 0 {
 		// We are uninitialized, so we need to create a genesis block
-		final = node.store.genesisHeight
+		final = node.store.meta.GenesisHeight
 	}
 
 	logrus.WithField("final", final).Info("loading final block")
diff --git a/core/store.go b/core/store.go
index c7c3c7e..e3d4589 100644
--- a/core/store.go
+++ b/core/store.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/streamingfast/dummy-blockchain/types"
@@ -14,26 +15,33 @@ const (
 	filesPerDir = 1000
 )
 
+type StoreMeta struct {
+	GenesisHeight    uint64 `json:"genesis_height"`
+	GenesisTimeNanos int64  `json:"genesis_time_nanos"`
+	FinalHeight      uint64 `json:"final_height"`
+	HeadHeight       uint64 `json:"head_height"`
+}
+
 type Store struct {
-	rootDir       string
-	blocksDir     string
-	metaPath      string
-	currentGroup  int
-	genesisHeight uint64
-
-	meta struct {
-		FinalHeight uint64 `json:"final_height"`
-		HeadHeight  uint64 `json:"head_height"`
-	}
+	rootDir      string
+	blocksDir    string
+	metaPath     string
+	currentGroup int
+
+	meta StoreMeta
 }
 
-func NewStore(rootDir string, genesisHeight uint64) *Store {
+func NewStore(rootDir string, genesisHeight uint64, genesisTime time.Time) *Store {
 	return &Store{
-		rootDir:       rootDir,
-		blocksDir:     filepath.Join(rootDir, "blocks"),
-		metaPath:      filepath.Join(rootDir, "meta.json"),
-		currentGroup:  -1,
-		genesisHeight: genesisHeight,
+		rootDir:      rootDir,
+		blocksDir:    filepath.Join(rootDir, "blocks"),
+		metaPath:     filepath.Join(rootDir, "meta.json"),
+		currentGroup: -1,
+
+		meta: StoreMeta{
+			GenesisHeight:    genesisHeight,
+			GenesisTimeNanos: genesisTime.UnixNano(),
+		},
 	}
 }
 
@@ -89,8 +97,8 @@ func (store *Store) CurrentBlock() (*types.Block, error) {
 }
 
 func (store *Store) ReadBlock(height uint64) (*types.Block, error) {
-	if height == store.genesisHeight {
-		return types.GenesisBlock(store.genesisHeight), nil
+	if height == store.meta.GenesisHeight {
+		return types.GenesisBlock(store.meta.GenesisHeight, time.Unix(0, store.meta.GenesisTimeNanos)), nil
 	}
 
 	block := &types.Block{}
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 03b3135..c959ba5 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"errors"
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"syscall"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
@@ -13,8 +15,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/streamingfast/dummy-blockchain/tracer"
 )
 
-var cliOpts = struct {
+type Flags struct {
 	GenesisHeight     uint64
+	GenesisTimeRaw    string
 	GenesisBlockBurst uint64
 	LogLevel          string
 	StoreDir          string
@@ -22,7 +25,22 @@ var cliOpts = struct {
 	ServerAddr        string
 	Tracer            string
 	StopHeight        uint64
-}{}
+}
+
+func (f *Flags) GenesisTime() (time.Time, error) {
+	if f.GenesisTimeRaw == "" {
+		return time.Now(), nil
+	}
+
+	genesisTime, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, f.GenesisTimeRaw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return time.Time{}, fmt.Errorf("parse %q: %w", f.GenesisTimeRaw, err)
+	}
+
+	return genesisTime, nil
+}
+
+var cliOpts Flags
 
 func main() {
 	root := &cobra.Command{
@@ -54,6 +72,7 @@ func initFlags(root *cobra.Command) error {
 	flags := root.PersistentFlags()
 
 	flags.Uint64Var(&cliOpts.GenesisHeight, "genesis-height", 1, "Blockchain genesis height")
+	flags.StringVar(&cliOpts.GenesisTimeRaw, "genesis-time", "", "Blockchain genesis time in RFC3339 time format, leave empty for current time")
 	flags.Uint64Var(&cliOpts.GenesisBlockBurst, "genesis-block-burst", 0, "The amount of block to produce when initially starting from genesis block")
 	flags.StringVar(&cliOpts.LogLevel, "log-level", "info", "Logging level")
 	flags.StringVar(&cliOpts.StoreDir, "store-dir", "./data", "Directory for storing blockchain state")
@@ -84,12 +103,18 @@ func makeInitCommand() *cobra.Command {
 		Short:        "Initialize local blockchain state",
 		SilenceUsage: true,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+			genesisTime, err := cliOpts.GenesisTime()
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("get genesis time: %w", err)
+			}
+
 			logrus.
 				WithField("dir", cliOpts.StoreDir).
 				WithField("genesis_height", cliOpts.GenesisHeight).
+				WithField("genesis_time", genesisTime).
 				Info("initializing chain store")
 
-			store := core.NewStore(cliOpts.StoreDir, cliOpts.GenesisHeight)
+			store := core.NewStore(cliOpts.StoreDir, cliOpts.GenesisHeight, genesisTime)
 			return store.Initialize()
 		},
 	}
@@ -123,6 +148,11 @@ func makeStartComand() *cobra.Command {
 				return errors.New("block rate option must be greater than 1")
 			}
 
+			genesisTime, err := cliOpts.GenesisTime()
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("get genesis time: %w", err)
+			}
+
 			var blockTracer tracer.Tracer
 			if cliOpts.Tracer == "firehose" {
 				blockTracer = &tracer.FirehoseTracer{}
@@ -132,6 +162,7 @@ func makeStartComand() *cobra.Command {
 				cliOpts.StoreDir,
 				cliOpts.BlockRate,
 				cliOpts.GenesisHeight,
+				genesisTime,
 				cliOpts.GenesisBlockBurst,
 				cliOpts.StopHeight,
 				cliOpts.ServerAddr,
diff --git a/pb/last_generate.txt b/pb/last_generate.txt
index b08bb36..720ee53 100644
--- a/pb/last_generate.txt
+++ b/pb/last_generate.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-generate.sh - Mon Jan  8 15:38:28 EST 2024 - maoueh
-firehose-acme/proto revision: 1e24bd4
+generate.sh - Tue Apr 30 16:05:24 EDT 2024 - maoueh
+firehose-acme/proto revision: b03c6d4
diff --git a/pb/sf/acme/type/v1/type.pb.go b/pb/sf/acme/type/v1/type.pb.go
index 9c7b67b..5a1cd57 100644
--- a/pb/sf/acme/type/v1/type.pb.go
+++ b/pb/sf/acme/type/v1/type.pb.go
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 // Code generated by protoc-gen-go. DO NOT EDIT.
 // versions:
 // 	protoc-gen-go v1.32.0
-// 	protoc        v4.25.0
+// 	protoc        v4.25.3
 // source: sf/acme/type/v1/type.proto
 
 package pbacme
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type BlockHeader struct {
 	PreviousHash *string `protobuf:"bytes,4,opt,name=previous_hash,json=previousHash,proto3,oneof" json:"previous_hash,omitempty"`
 	FinalNum     uint64  `protobuf:"varint,5,opt,name=final_num,json=finalNum,proto3" json:"final_num,omitempty"`
 	FinalHash    string  `protobuf:"bytes,6,opt,name=final_hash,json=finalHash,proto3" json:"final_hash,omitempty"`
-	Timestamp    uint64  `protobuf:"varint,7,opt,name=timestamp,proto3" json:"timestamp,omitempty"`
+	Timestamp    int64   `protobuf:"varint,7,opt,name=timestamp,proto3" json:"timestamp,omitempty"`
 }
 
 func (x *BlockHeader) Reset() {
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ func (x *BlockHeader) GetFinalHash() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-func (x *BlockHeader) GetTimestamp() uint64 {
+func (x *BlockHeader) GetTimestamp() int64 {
 	if x != nil {
 		return x.Timestamp
 	}
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ var file_sf_acme_type_v1_type_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
 	0x66, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x4e, 0x75, 0x6d, 0x12, 0x1d, 0x0a, 0x0a, 0x66, 0x69, 0x6e, 0x61,
 	0x6c, 0x5f, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x18, 0x06, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x09, 0x52, 0x09, 0x66, 0x69,
 	0x6e, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x48, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x12, 0x1c, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65, 0x73,
-	0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x18, 0x07, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x04, 0x52, 0x09, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65,
+	0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x18, 0x07, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x03, 0x52, 0x09, 0x74, 0x69, 0x6d, 0x65,
 	0x73, 0x74, 0x61, 0x6d, 0x70, 0x42, 0x0f, 0x0a, 0x0d, 0x5f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x65, 0x76, 0x69, 0x6f,
 	0x75, 0x73, 0x5f, 0x6e, 0x75, 0x6d, 0x42, 0x10, 0x0a, 0x0e, 0x5f, 0x70, 0x72, 0x65, 0x76, 0x69,
 	0x6f, 0x75, 0x73, 0x5f, 0x68, 0x61, 0x73, 0x68, 0x22, 0x7f, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x42, 0x6c, 0x6f, 0x63,
diff --git a/tracer/firehose_tracer.go b/tracer/firehose_tracer.go
index 741bb9b..31db26d 100644
--- a/tracer/firehose_tracer.go
+++ b/tracer/firehose_tracer.go
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 package tracer
 
 import (
-	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
+	"time"
 
 	pbacme "github.com/streamingfast/dummy-blockchain/pb/sf/acme/type/v1"
 	"github.com/streamingfast/dummy-blockchain/types"
-	"google.golang.org/protobuf/proto"
 )
 
 var _ Tracer = &FirehoseTracer{}
@@ -30,30 +29,33 @@ func (t *FirehoseTracer) OnBlockEnd(blk *types.Block, finalBlockHeader *types.Bl
 
 	header := t.activeBlock.Header
 
-	previousNum := uint64(0)
-	if header.PreviousNum != nil {
-		previousNum = *header.PreviousNum
-	}
-
-	previousHash := ""
-	if header.PreviousHash != nil {
-		previousHash = *header.PreviousHash
-	}
-
-	blockPayload, err := proto.Marshal(t.activeBlock)
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Errorf("unable to marshal block: %w", err))
-	}
-
-	fmt.Printf("FIRE BLOCK %d %s %d %s %d %d %s\n",
-		header.Height,
-		header.Hash,
-		previousNum,
-		previousHash,
-		header.FinalNum,
-		header.Timestamp,
-		base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(blockPayload),
-	)
+	// previousNum := uint64(0)
+	// if header.PreviousNum != nil {
+	// 	previousNum = *header.PreviousNum
+	// }
+
+	// previousHash := ""
+	// if header.PreviousHash != nil {
+	// 	previousHash = *header.PreviousHash
+	// }
+
+	// blockPayload, err := proto.Marshal(t.activeBlock)
+	// if err != nil {
+	// 	panic(fmt.Errorf("unable to marshal block: %w", err))
+	// }
+
+	blockTime := time.Unix(0, int64(header.Timestamp))
+	fmt.Println(blockTime)
+
+	// fmt.Printf("FIRE BLOCK %d %s %d %s %d %d %s\n",
+	// 	header.Height,
+	// 	header.Hash,
+	// 	previousNum,
+	// 	previousHash,
+	// 	header.FinalNum,
+	// 	header.Timestamp,
+	// 	base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(blockPayload),
+	// )
 
 	t.activeBlock = nil
 	t.activeTrx = nil
@@ -71,7 +73,7 @@ func (t *FirehoseTracer) OnBlockStart(header *types.BlockHeader) {
 			Hash:      header.Hash,
 			FinalNum:  header.FinalNum,
 			FinalHash: header.FinalHash,
-			Timestamp: uint64(header.Timestamp.UnixNano()),
+			Timestamp: header.Timestamp.UnixNano(),
 		},
 	}
 
diff --git a/types/types.go b/types/types.go
index 06ba086..f5dd8f0 100644
--- a/types/types.go
+++ b/types/types.go
@@ -22,12 +22,7 @@ func MakeHashNonce(data interface{}, nonce *uint64) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%x", shaSum)
 }
 
-func GenesisBlock(height uint64) *Block {
-	genesisTime, err := time.Parse(time.RFC3339, "2024-01-01T00:00:00Z")
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-
+func GenesisBlock(height uint64, genesisTime time.Time) *Block {
 	header := &BlockHeader{
 		Height:    height,
 		Hash:      MakeHash(height),