diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 49841abb19..c721d2c212 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ on:
       - '**/*.md'
       - 'hive_integration/**'
       - 'fluffy/**'
+      - 'nimbus/**'
       - '.github/workflows/fluffy*.yml'
       - 'nimbus_verified_proxy/**'
       - '.github/workflows/nimbus_verified_proxy.yml'
diff --git a/.github/workflows/kurtosis.yml b/.github/workflows/kurtosis.yml
index 8f7974d4c5..4062a23a8f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/kurtosis.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/kurtosis.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Nimbus
-# Copyright (c) 2024 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
 # Licensed under either of
 #  * Apache License, version 2.0, ([LICENSE-APACHE](LICENSE-APACHE) or
 #    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0)
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ on:
       - '**/*.md'
       - 'hive_integration/**'
       - 'fluffy/**'
+      - 'nimbus/**'
       - '.github/workflows/fluffy*.yml'
       - 'nimbus_verified_proxy/**'
       - '.github/workflows/nimbus_verified_proxy.yml'
@@ -32,6 +33,7 @@ on:
       - '**/*.md'
       - 'hive_integration/**'
       - 'fluffy/**'
+      - 'nimbus/**'
       - '.github/workflows/fluffy*.yml'
       - 'nimbus_verified_proxy/**'
       - '.github/workflows/nimbus_verified_proxy.yml'
diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index eb7bbf8cbd..fe182bddac 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Nimbus
-# Copyright (c) 2024 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
 # Licensed under either of
 #  * Apache License, version 2.0, ([LICENSE-APACHE](LICENSE-APACHE) or
 #    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0)
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ ADD . /root/nimbus-eth1
 
 RUN cd /root/nimbus-eth1 \
  && make -j$(nproc) update-from-ci \
- && make -j$(nproc) V=1 LOG_LEVEL=TRACE nimbus
+ && make -j$(nproc) V=1 LOG_LEVEL=TRACE nimbus_execution_client
 
 # --------------------------------- #
 # Starting new image to reduce size #
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index e2208c19ab..c3cfb2d130 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -213,9 +213,6 @@ nimbus_execution_client: | build deps rocksdb
 	echo -e $(BUILD_MSG) "build/nimbus_execution_client" && \
 		$(ENV_SCRIPT) nim c $(NIM_PARAMS) -d:chronicles_log_level=TRACE -o:build/nimbus_execution_client "execution_chain/nimbus_execution_client.nim"
 
-nimbus: nimbus_execution_client
-	echo "The nimbus target is deprecated and will soon change meaning, use 'nimbus_execution_client' instead"
-
 # symlink
 nimbus.nims:
 	ln -s nimbus.nimble $@
@@ -365,13 +362,25 @@ libnimbusevm: | build deps
 
 # usual cleaning
 clean: | clean-common
-	rm -rf build/{nimbus,nimbus_execution_client,fluffy,libverifproxy,nimbus_verified_proxy,$(TOOLS_CSV),$(FLUFFY_TOOLS_CSV),all_tests,test_kvstore_rocksdb,test_rpc,all_fluffy_tests,all_history_network_custom_chain_tests,test_portal_testnet,utp_test_app,utp_test,*.dSYM}
+	rm -rf build/{nimbus_client,nimbus_execution_client,fluffy,libverifproxy,nimbus_verified_proxy}
+	rm -rf build/{$(TOOLS_CSV),$(FLUFFY_TOOLS_CSV)}
+	rm -rf build/{all_tests_nimbus,all_tests,test_kvstore_rocksdb,test_rpc,all_fluffy_tests,all_history_network_custom_chain_tests,test_portal_testnet,utp_test_app,utp_test}
+	rm -rf build/*.dSYM
 	rm -rf tools/t8n/{t8n,t8n_test}
 	rm -rf tools/evmstate/{evmstate,evmstate_test}
 ifneq ($(USE_LIBBACKTRACE), 0)
 	+ $(MAKE) -C vendor/nim-libbacktrace clean $(HANDLE_OUTPUT)
 endif
 
+# Nimbus
+nimbus: | build deps
+	echo -e $(BUILD_MSG) "build/$@" && \
+		$(ENV_SCRIPT) nim c $(NIM_PARAMS) --threads:on -d:chronicles_log_level=TRACE -o:build/nimbus_client "nimbus/nimbus.nim"
+
+all_tests_nimbus: | build deps
+	echo -e $(BUILD_MSG) "build/$@" && \
+	$(ENV_SCRIPT) nim c -r $(NIM_PARAMS) -d:testing --threads:on -d:chronicles_log_level=ERROR -o:build/$@ "nimbus/tests/$@.nim"
+
 # Note about building Nimbus as a library:
 #
 # There were `wrappers`, `wrappers-static`, `libnimbus.so` and `libnimbus.a`
diff --git a/nimbus.nimble b/nimbus.nimble
index 3b6a5f0f10..c04a55067b 100644
--- a/nimbus.nimble
+++ b/nimbus.nimble
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ when declared(namedBin):
     "execution_chain/nimbus_execution_client": "nimbus_execution_client",
     "fluffy/fluffy": "fluffy",
     "nimbus_verified_proxy/nimbus_verified_proxy": "nimbus_verified_proxy",
+    "nimbus/nimbus_client": "nimbus_client",
   }.toTable()
 
 import std/[os, strutils]
@@ -137,3 +138,11 @@ task build_fuzzers, "Build fuzzer test cases":
   for file in walkDirRec("tests/networking/fuzzing/"):
     if file.endsWith("nim"):
       exec "nim c -c -d:release " & file
+
+## Nimbus tasks
+
+task nimbus, "Build Nimbus":
+  buildBinary "nimbus", "nimbus/", "-d:chronicles_log_level=TRACE"
+
+task nimbus_test, "Run Nimbus tests":
+  test "nimbus/tests/", "all_tests_nimbus", "-d:chronicles_log_level=ERROR -d:testing"
diff --git a/nimbus/README.md b/nimbus/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7dc638ffc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Nimbus
+
+<!-- [![Github Actions CI](tbd) -->
+[![License: Apache](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-Apache%202.0-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0)
+[![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
+
+[![Discord: Nimbus](https://img.shields.io/badge/discord-nimbus-orange.svg)](https://discord.gg/XRxWahP)
+[![Status: #nimbus-general](https://img.shields.io/badge/status-nimbus--general-orange.svg)](https://join.status.im/nimbus-general)
+
+
+# description
+tbd
+For in-depth configuration and functionality of Nimbus execution and consensus layer refer to:
+- [Nimbus-eth1 - Execution layer client](https://github.com/status-im/nimbus-eth1) Documentation
+- [Nimbus-eth2 - Consensus layer client](https://github.com/status-im/nimbus-eth2) Documentation
+
+tbc
+# dependencies
+tbd
+# how to
+## configuration
+    todo
+## commands
+    todo
+## compile
+tbd
+    - mac os, windows, and linux
+
+    ]$ make nimbus
+## collaborate
+- Use [Status Nim style guide](https://status-im.github.io/nim-style-guide/) to maintain code consistency.
+- Format your code using the [Nim Pretty Printer (nph)](https://github.com/arnetheduck/nph) to ensure consistency across the codebase. Run it as part of your pull request process.
+## License
+
+Licensed and distributed under either of
+
+* MIT license: [LICENSE-MIT](LICENSE-MIT) or https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT
+
+or
+
+* Apache License, Version 2.0: [LICENSE-APACHEv2](LICENSE-APACHEv2) or https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+at your option. These files may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
diff --git a/nimbus/common/utils.nim b/nimbus/common/utils.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8168a917d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/common/utils.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import results, ../conf, chronicles
+
+## Serialize table string elements
+proc serializeTableElement*(offset: var uint, elem: string) =
+  if offset <= 0:
+    fatal "memory offset can't be zero"
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  let optLen = uint(elem.len) #element size
+
+  copyMem(cast[pointer](offset), addr optLen, sizeof(uint))
+  offset += uint(sizeof(uint))
+
+  if optLen > 0:
+    copyMem(cast[pointer](offset), unsafeAddr elem[0], elem.len) #element data
+    offset += uint(elem.len)
+
+## Deserialize table string elements
+proc deserializeTableElement*(offset: var uint): string =
+  var strLen: uint #element size
+  copyMem(addr strLen, cast[pointer](offset), sizeof(uint))
+  offset += uint(sizeof(uint))
+
+  var strData = ""
+  if strLen > 0:
+    strData = newString(strLen) #element
+    copyMem(addr strData[0], cast[pointer](offset), uint(strLen))
+    offset += uint(strLen)
+
+  strData
+
+## Parse data from a given channel.
+##  schema: (table size:Uint) | [ (option size:Uint) (option data:byte) (arg size: Uint) (arg data:byte)]
+proc parseChannelData*(p: pointer): Result[NimbusConfigTable, string] =
+  var
+    readOffset = cast[uint](p)
+    confTable = NimbusConfigTable()
+    totalSize: uint = 0
+
+  copyMem(addr totalSize, cast[pointer](readOffset), sizeof(uint))
+  readOffset += uint(sizeof(uint))
+
+  while readOffset < cast[uint](p) + totalSize:
+    let opt = deserializeTableElement(readOffset)
+    let arg = deserializeTableElement(readOffset)
+    confTable[opt] = arg
+
+  ok confTable
diff --git a/nimbus/conf.nim b/nimbus/conf.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..808e02bd04
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/conf.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import
+  std/[atomics, tables],
+  chronicles,
+  #eth2
+  beacon_chain/nimbus_binary_common
+
+export setupFileLimits
+
+## log
+logScope:
+  topics = "Service manager"
+
+## Exceptions
+type NimbusServiceError* = object of CatchableError
+
+## Constants
+const
+  cNimbusServiceTimeoutMs* = 3000
+  cThreadTimeAck* = 10
+
+# configuration read by threads
+var isConfigRead*: Atomic[bool]
+isConfigRead.store(false)
+
+## Nimbus service arguments
+type
+  NimbusConfigTable* = Table[string, string]
+
+  ConfigKind* = enum
+    Execution
+    Consensus
+
+  LayerConfig* = object
+    case kind*: ConfigKind
+    of Consensus:
+      consensusOptions*: NimbusConfigTable
+    of Execution:
+      executionOptions*: NimbusConfigTable
+
+  NimbusService* = ref object
+    name*: string
+    layerConfig*: LayerConfig
+    serviceHandler*: Thread[ptr Channel[pointer]]
+    serviceFunc*: proc(ch: ptr Channel[pointer]) {.thread.}
+
+  Nimbus* = ref object
+    serviceList*: seq[NimbusService]
diff --git a/nimbus/consensus/consensus_layer.nim b/nimbus/consensus/consensus_layer.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a6848ae8c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/consensus/consensus_layer.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import std/[atomics, os], chronos, chronicles, ../conf, ../common/utils, results
+
+logScope:
+  topics = "Consensus layer"
+
+## Consensus Layer handler
+proc consensusLayerHandler*(channel: ptr Channel[pointer]) =
+  var p: pointer
+  try:
+    p = channel[].recv()
+  except Exception as e:
+    fatal " service unable to receive configuration", err = e.msg
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  let configs = parseChannelData(p).valueOr:
+    fatal "unable to parse service data", message = error
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  #signal main thread that data is read
+  isConfigRead.store(true)
+
+  try:
+    while true:
+      info "consensus ..."
+      sleep(cNimbusServiceTimeoutMs)
+  except CatchableError as e:
+    fatal "error", message = e.msg
+
+  warn "\tExiting consensus layer"
diff --git a/nimbus/execution/execution_layer.nim b/nimbus/execution/execution_layer.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..22988599be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/execution/execution_layer.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import std/[atomics, os], chronicles, ../conf, ../common/utils, results
+
+logScope:
+  topics = "Execution layer"
+
+## Execution Layer handler
+proc executionLayerHandler*(channel: ptr Channel[pointer]) =
+  var p: pointer
+  try:
+    p = channel[].recv()
+  except Exception as e:
+    fatal "service unable to receive configuration", err = e.msg
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  let configs = parseChannelData(p).valueOr:
+    fatal "unable to parse service data", message = error
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  #signal main thread that data is read
+  isConfigRead.store(true)
+
+  try:
+    while true:
+      info "execution ..."
+      sleep(cNimbusServiceTimeoutMs)
+  except CatchableError as e:
+    fatal "error", message = e.msg
+
+  warn "\tExiting execution layer"
diff --git a/nimbus/nimbus.cfg b/nimbus/nimbus.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ab67ecad13
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/nimbus.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+-d:"libp2p_pki_schemes=secp256k1"
+
+-d:"chronicles_sinks=textlines[dynamic],json[dynamic]"
+-d:"chronicles_runtime_filtering=on"
+-d:"chronicles_disable_thread_id"
+
+@if release:
+  -d:"chronicles_line_numbers:0"
+@end
diff --git a/nimbus/nimbus.nim b/nimbus/nimbus.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..53db75f830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/nimbus.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,148 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+import
+  std/[concurrency/atomics, os],
+  chronicles,
+  consensus/consensus_layer,
+  execution/execution_layer,
+  common/utils,
+  conf
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Private
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## create and configure service
+proc startService(nimbus: var Nimbus, service: var NimbusService) =
+  #channel creation (shared memory)
+  var serviceChannel =
+    cast[ptr Channel[pointer]](allocShared0(sizeof(Channel[pointer])))
+
+  serviceChannel[].open()
+
+  #thread read ack
+  isConfigRead.store(false)
+
+  #start thread
+  createThread(service.serviceHandler, service.serviceFunc, serviceChannel)
+
+  let optionsTable = block:
+    case service.layerConfig.kind
+    of Consensus: service.layerConfig.consensusOptions
+    of Execution: service.layerConfig.executionOptions
+
+  #configs table total size
+  var totalSize: uint = 0
+  totalSize += uint(sizeof(uint))
+  for opt, arg in optionsTable:
+    totalSize += uint(sizeof(uint)) + uint(opt.len) # option
+    totalSize += uint(sizeof(uint)) + uint(arg.len) # arg
+
+  # Allocate shared memory
+  # schema: (table size:Uint) | [ (option size:Uint) (option data:byte) (arg size: Uint) (arg data:byte)]
+  var byteArray = cast[ptr byte](allocShared(totalSize))
+  if byteArray.isNil:
+    fatal "Memory allocation failed"
+    quit QuitFailure
+
+  # Writing to shared memory
+  var writeOffset = cast[uint](byteArray)
+
+  #write total size of array
+  copyMem(cast[pointer](writeOffset), addr totalSize, sizeof(uint))
+  writeOffset += uint(sizeof(uint))
+
+  for opt, arg in optionsTable:
+    serializeTableElement(writeOffset, opt)
+    serializeTableElement(writeOffset, arg)
+
+  serviceChannel[].send(byteArray)
+
+  #wait for service read ack
+  while not isConfigRead.load():
+    sleep(cThreadTimeAck)
+  isConfigRead.store(true)
+
+  #close channel
+  serviceChannel[].close()
+
+  #dealloc shared data
+  deallocShared(byteArray)
+  deallocShared(serviceChannel)
+
+## Gracefully exits all services
+proc monitorServices(nimbus: Nimbus) =
+  for service in nimbus.serviceList:
+    if service.serviceHandler.running():
+      joinThread(service.serviceHandler)
+      info "Exited service ", service = service.name
+
+  notice "Exited all services"
+
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Public
+# ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+## start nimbus client
+proc run*(nimbus: var Nimbus) =
+  # to be filled with command line options after parsed according to service
+  var
+    consOpt, execOpt = NimbusConfigTable()
+
+    executionService: NimbusService = NimbusService(
+      name: "Execution Layer",
+      serviceFunc: executionLayerHandler,
+      layerConfig: LayerConfig(kind: Execution, executionOptions: execOpt),
+    )
+
+    consensusService: NimbusService = NimbusService(
+      name: "Consensus Layer",
+      serviceFunc: consensusLayerHandler,
+      layerConfig: LayerConfig(kind: Consensus, consensusOptions: consOpt),
+    )
+
+  nimbus.serviceList.add(executionService)
+  nimbus.serviceList.add(consensusService)
+
+  try:
+    for service in nimbus.serviceList.mitems():
+      info "Starting service ", service = service.name
+      nimbus.startService(service)
+  except Exception as e:
+    fatal "error", msg = e.msg
+    quit QuitFailure
+
+  ## wait for shutdown
+  nimbus.monitorServices()
+
+# ------
+when isMainModule:
+  notice "Starting Nimbus"
+
+  setupFileLimits()
+
+  var nimbus: Nimbus = Nimbus.new
+
+  ## Graceful shutdown by handling of Ctrl+C signal
+  proc controlCHandler() {.noconv.} =
+    when defined(windows):
+      # workaround for https://github.com/nim-lang/Nim/issues/4057
+      try:
+        setupForeignThreadGc()
+      except NimbusServiceError as exc:
+        raiseAssert exc.msg # shouldn't happen
+
+    notice "\tCtrl+C pressed. Shutting down services ..."
+    quit 0
+
+  setControlCHook(controlCHandler)
+  nimbus.run()
+
+# -----
+when defined(testing):
+  export monitorServices, startService
diff --git a/nimbus/tests/all_tests_nimbus.nim b/nimbus/tests/all_tests_nimbus.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..42aba2e018
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/tests/all_tests_nimbus.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.warning[UnusedImport]: off.}
+
+import ./test_nimbus, ./consensus/test_consensus_layer, ./execution/test_execution_layer
diff --git a/nimbus/tests/consensus/test_consensus_layer.nim b/nimbus/tests/consensus/test_consensus_layer.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..601088203b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/tests/consensus/test_consensus_layer.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import unittest2
+
+suite "Nimbus consensus layer":
+  #tbd, given that layer is in development
+  test "tbd":
+    check true
diff --git a/nimbus/tests/execution/test_execution_layer.nim b/nimbus/tests/execution/test_execution_layer.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2008a838e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/tests/execution/test_execution_layer.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+{.push raises: [].}
+
+import
+  unittest2
+
+suite "Nimbus execution layer":
+  #tbd, given that layer is in development
+  test "tbd":
+    check true
diff --git a/nimbus/tests/nim.cfg b/nimbus/tests/nim.cfg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81cc747b32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/tests/nim.cfg
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+# Use only `secp256k1` public key cryptography as an identity in LibP2P.
+-d:"libp2p_pki_schemes=secp256k1"
+-d:"chronicles_runtime_filtering=on"
+
+--styleCheck:usages
+--styleCheck:hint
+--hint[Processing]:off
diff --git a/nimbus/tests/test_nimbus.nim b/nimbus/tests/test_nimbus.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2add1b6648
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nimbus/tests/test_nimbus.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+# Nimbus
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Status Research & Development GmbH
+# Licensed and distributed under either of
+#   * MIT license (license terms in the root directory or at https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
+#   * Apache v2 license (license terms in the root directory or at https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0).
+# at your option. This file may not be copied, modified, or distributed except according to those terms.
+
+import unittest2, std/atomics, ../[nimbus, conf], ../common/utils, tables, results
+
+# # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# # Helpers
+# # ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+# checks result computed in thread procedures
+var checkResult: ptr bool = createShared(bool)
+
+# simple mock
+proc handlerMock(channel: ptr Channel[pointer]) =
+  return
+
+#handles data for a given service
+proc handlerService_1(channel: ptr Channel[pointer]) =
+  const expectedConfigTable = {"0": "zero", "1": "one", "2": "two"}.toTable
+
+  let p = channel[].recv()
+
+  let configs = parseChannelData(p).valueOr:
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  isConfigRead.store(true)
+  checkResult[] = configs == expectedConfigTable
+
+#handles data for a given service
+proc handlerService_2(channel: ptr Channel[pointer]) =
+  const expectedConfigTable = {"4": "four", "5": "", "6": "six"}.toTable
+  let p = channel[].recv()
+
+  let configs = parseChannelData(p).valueOr:
+    quit(QuitFailure)
+
+  isConfigRead.store(true)
+  checkResult[] = configs == expectedConfigTable
+
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# # Unit Tests
+# ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+suite "Nimbus Service Management":
+  var nimbus: Nimbus
+  setup:
+    nimbus = Nimbus.new
+
+  const configTable_1 = {"0": "zero", "1": "one", "2": "two"}.toTable
+  const configTable_2 = {"4": "four", "5": "", "6": "six"}.toTable
+
+  # Test: Creating a new service successfully
+  test "startService successfully adds a service":
+    var someService: NimbusService = NimbusService(
+      name: "FooBar service",
+      serviceFunc: handlerMock,
+      layerConfig: LayerConfig(kind: Consensus, consensusOptions: configTable_1),
+    )
+    nimbus.serviceList.add(someService)
+
+    check nimbus.serviceList.len == 1
+    check nimbus.serviceList[0].name == "FooBar service"
+
+  test "nimbus sends correct data for a service":
+    var someService: NimbusService = NimbusService(
+      name: "FooBar service",
+      serviceFunc: handlerService_1,
+      layerConfig: LayerConfig(kind: Consensus, consensusOptions: configTable_1),
+    )
+
+    nimbus.serviceList.add(someService)
+
+    nimbus.startService(someService)
+
+    check nimbus.serviceList.len == 1
+    check nimbus.serviceList[0].name == "FooBar service"
+    check checkResult[] == true
+
+  test "nimbus sends correct data for multiple services":
+    var someService: NimbusService = NimbusService(
+      name: "FooBar service",
+      serviceFunc: handlerService_1,
+      layerConfig: LayerConfig(kind: Consensus, consensusOptions: configTable_1),
+    )
+    var anotherService: NimbusService = NimbusService(
+      name: "Xpto service",
+      serviceFunc: handlerService_2,
+      layerConfig: LayerConfig(kind: Execution, executionOptions: configTable_2),
+    )
+    nimbus.serviceList.add(someService)
+    nimbus.serviceList.add(anotherService)
+
+    nimbus.startService(someService)
+    check checkResult[] == true
+
+    nimbus.startService(anotherService)
+    check checkResult[] == true
+
+    check nimbus.serviceList.len == 2
+    check nimbus.serviceList[0].name == "FooBar service"
+    check nimbus.serviceList[1].name == "Xpto service"