diff --git a/cli/server/server.go b/cli/server/server.go
index ff538269c..bd4c3f973 100644
--- a/cli/server/server.go
+++ b/cli/server/server.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/block"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/chaindump"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/storage"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/io"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/network"
@@ -193,20 +194,9 @@ func dumpDB(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		count = chainCount - start
 	}
 	writer.WriteU32LE(count)
-	for i := start; i < start+count; i++ {
-		bh := chain.GetHeaderHash(int(i))
-		b, err := chain.GetBlock(bh)
-		if err != nil {
-			return cli.NewExitError(fmt.Errorf("failed to get block %d: %w", i, err), 1)
-		}
-		buf := io.NewBufBinWriter()
-		b.EncodeBinary(buf.BinWriter)
-		bytes := buf.Bytes()
-		writer.WriteU32LE(uint32(len(bytes)))
-		writer.WriteBytes(bytes)
-		if writer.Err != nil {
-			return cli.NewExitError(err, 1)
-		}
+	err = chaindump.Dump(chain, writer, start, count)
+	if err != nil {
+		return cli.NewExitError(err.Error(), 1)
 	}
 	pprof.ShutDown()
 	prometheus.ShutDown()
@@ -259,13 +249,6 @@ func restoreDB(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 	if count == 0 {
 		count = allBlocks - skip
 	}
-	i := uint32(0)
-	for ; i < skip; i++ {
-		_, err := readBlock(reader)
-		if err != nil {
-			return cli.NewExitError(err, 1)
-		}
-	}
 
 	gctx := newGraceContext()
 	var lastIndex uint32
@@ -274,45 +257,41 @@ func restoreDB(ctx *cli.Context) error {
 		_ = dump.tryPersist(dumpDir, lastIndex)
 	}()
 
-	for ; i < skip+count; i++ {
+	var f = func(b *block.Block) error {
 		select {
 		case <-gctx.Done():
-			return cli.NewExitError("cancelled", 1)
+			return gctx.Err()
 		default:
+			return nil
 		}
-		bytes, err := readBlock(reader)
-		block := block.New(cfg.ProtocolConfiguration.Magic, cfg.ProtocolConfiguration.StateRootInHeader)
-		newReader := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(bytes)
-		block.DecodeBinary(newReader)
-		if err != nil {
-			return cli.NewExitError(err, 1)
-		}
-		if block.Index == 0 && i == 0 && skip == 0 {
-			genesis, err := chain.GetBlock(block.Hash())
-			if err == nil && genesis.Index == 0 {
-				log.Info("skipped genesis block", zap.String("hash", block.Hash().StringLE()))
+	}
+	if dumpDir != "" {
+		f = func(b *block.Block) error {
+			select {
+			case <-gctx.Done():
+				return gctx.Err()
+			default:
 			}
-		} else {
-			err = chain.AddBlock(block)
-			if err != nil {
-				return cli.NewExitError(fmt.Errorf("failed to add block %d: %w", i, err), 1)
-			}
-		}
-		if dumpDir != "" {
 			batch := chain.LastBatch()
 			// The genesis block may already be persisted, so LastBatch() will return nil.
-			if batch == nil && block.Index == 0 {
-				continue
+			if batch == nil && b.Index == 0 {
+				return nil
 			}
-			dump.add(block.Index, batch)
-			lastIndex = block.Index
-			if block.Index%1000 == 0 {
-				if err := dump.tryPersist(dumpDir, block.Index); err != nil {
-					return cli.NewExitError(fmt.Errorf("can't dump storage to file: %w", err), 1)
+			dump.add(b.Index, batch)
+			lastIndex = b.Index
+			if b.Index%1000 == 0 {
+				if err := dump.tryPersist(dumpDir, b.Index); err != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("can't dump storage to file: %w", err)
 				}
 			}
+			return nil
 		}
 	}
+
+	err = chaindump.Restore(chain, reader, skip, count, f)
+	if err != nil {
+		return cli.NewExitError(err, 1)
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/core/blockchain_test.go b/pkg/core/blockchain_test.go
index cd7f37d8b..e70577a9d 100644
--- a/pkg/core/blockchain_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/blockchain_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/internal/testchain"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/config/netmode"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/block"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/chaindump"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/fee"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/interop/interopnames"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/mempool"
@@ -1032,3 +1033,63 @@ func TestSubscriptions(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = bc.genBlocks(2 * chBufSize)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
+
+func testDumpAndRestore(t *testing.T, stateRootInHeader bool) {
+	bc := newTestChainWithStateRoot(t, stateRootInHeader)
+	defer bc.Close()
+
+	initBasicChain(t, bc)
+	require.True(t, bc.BlockHeight() > 5) // ensure that test is valid
+
+	w := io.NewBufBinWriter()
+	require.NoError(t, chaindump.Dump(bc, w.BinWriter, 0, bc.BlockHeight()+1))
+	require.NoError(t, w.Err)
+
+	buf := w.Bytes()
+	t.Run("invalid start", func(t *testing.T) {
+		bc2 := newTestChainWithStateRoot(t, stateRootInHeader)
+		defer bc2.Close()
+
+		r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf)
+		require.Error(t, chaindump.Restore(bc2, r, 2, 1, nil))
+	})
+	t.Run("good", func(t *testing.T) {
+		bc2 := newTestChainWithStateRoot(t, stateRootInHeader)
+		defer bc2.Close()
+
+		r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf)
+		require.NoError(t, chaindump.Restore(bc2, r, 0, 2, nil))
+		require.Equal(t, uint32(1), bc2.BlockHeight())
+
+		r = io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf) // new reader because start is relative to dump
+		require.NoError(t, chaindump.Restore(bc2, r, 2, 1, nil))
+		t.Run("check handler", func(t *testing.T) {
+			lastIndex := uint32(0)
+			errStopped := errors.New("stopped")
+			f := func(b *block.Block) error {
+				lastIndex = b.Index
+				if b.Index >= bc.BlockHeight()-1 {
+					return errStopped
+				}
+				return nil
+			}
+			require.NoError(t, chaindump.Restore(bc2, r, 0, 1, f))
+			require.Equal(t, bc2.BlockHeight(), lastIndex)
+
+			r = io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf)
+			err := chaindump.Restore(bc2, r, 4, bc.BlockHeight()-bc2.BlockHeight(), f)
+			require.True(t, errors.Is(err, errStopped))
+			require.Equal(t, bc.BlockHeight()-1, lastIndex)
+		})
+	})
+
+}
+
+func TestDumpAndRestore(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("no state root", func(t *testing.T) {
+		testDumpAndRestore(t, false)
+	})
+	t.Run("with state root", func(t *testing.T) {
+		testDumpAndRestore(t, true)
+	})
+}
diff --git a/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go b/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9fc9e6649
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/core/chaindump/dump.go
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package chaindump
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/block"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/blockchainer"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/io"
+)
+
+// Dump writes count blocks from start to the provided writer.
+// Note: header needs to be written separately by client.
+func Dump(bc blockchainer.Blockchainer, w *io.BinWriter, start, count uint32) error {
+	for i := start; i < start+count; i++ {
+		bh := bc.GetHeaderHash(int(i))
+		b, err := bc.GetBlock(bh)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		buf := io.NewBufBinWriter()
+		b.EncodeBinary(buf.BinWriter)
+		bytes := buf.Bytes()
+		w.WriteU32LE(uint32(len(bytes)))
+		w.WriteBytes(bytes)
+		if w.Err != nil {
+			return w.Err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// Restore restores blocks from provided reader.
+// f is called after addition of every block.
+func Restore(bc blockchainer.Blockchainer, r *io.BinReader, skip, count uint32, f func(b *block.Block) error) error {
+	readBlock := func(r *io.BinReader) ([]byte, error) {
+		var size = r.ReadU32LE()
+		buf := make([]byte, size)
+		r.ReadBytes(buf)
+		return buf, r.Err
+	}
+
+	i := uint32(0)
+	for ; i < skip; i++ {
+		_, err := readBlock(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	magic := bc.GetConfig().Magic
+	stateRootInHeader := bc.GetConfig().StateRootInHeader
+
+	for ; i < skip+count; i++ {
+		buf, err := readBlock(r)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		b := block.New(magic, stateRootInHeader)
+		r := io.NewBinReaderFromBuf(buf)
+		b.DecodeBinary(r)
+		if r.Err != nil {
+			return r.Err
+		}
+		if b.Index != 0 || i != 0 || skip != 0 {
+			err = bc.AddBlock(b)
+			if err != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("failed to add block %d: %w", i, err)
+			}
+		}
+		if f != nil {
+			if err := f(b); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/core/helper_test.go b/pkg/core/helper_test.go
index 0af065e3d..eac68e24d 100644
--- a/pkg/core/helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/core/helper_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/compiler"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/block"
+	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/chaindump"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/fee"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/interop/interopnames"
 	"github.com/nspcc-dev/neo-go/pkg/core/native"
@@ -171,10 +172,49 @@ func newDumbBlock() *block.Block {
 func TestCreateBasicChain(t *testing.T) {
 	const saveChain = false
 	const prefix = "../rpc/server/testdata/"
-	// To make enough GAS.
-	const numOfEmptyBlocks = 200
+
+	bc := newTestChain(t)
+	defer bc.Close()
+	initBasicChain(t, bc)
+
+	if saveChain {
+		outStream, err := os.Create(prefix + "testblocks.acc")
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer outStream.Close()
+
+		writer := io.NewBinWriterFromIO(outStream)
+		writer.WriteU32LE(bc.BlockHeight())
+		err = chaindump.Dump(bc, writer, 1, bc.BlockHeight())
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}
+
+	priv0 := testchain.PrivateKeyByID(0)
+	priv1 := testchain.PrivateKeyByID(1)
+	priv0ScriptHash := priv0.GetScriptHash()
+	acc0, err := wallet.NewAccountFromWIF(priv0.WIF())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// Prepare some transaction for future submission.
+	txSendRaw := newNEP17Transfer(bc.contracts.NEO.Hash, priv0ScriptHash, priv1.GetScriptHash(), int64(util.Fixed8FromInt64(1000)))
+	txSendRaw.ValidUntilBlock = transaction.MaxValidUntilBlockIncrement
+	txSendRaw.Nonce = 0x1234
+	txSendRaw.Signers = []transaction.Signer{{
+		Account:          priv0ScriptHash,
+		Scopes:           transaction.CalledByEntry,
+		AllowedContracts: nil,
+		AllowedGroups:    nil,
+	}}
+	require.NoError(t, addNetworkFee(bc, txSendRaw, acc0))
+	require.NoError(t, acc0.SignTx(txSendRaw))
+	bw := io.NewBufBinWriter()
+	txSendRaw.EncodeBinary(bw.BinWriter)
+	t.Logf("sendrawtransaction: %s", hex.EncodeToString(bw.Bytes()))
+}
+
+func initBasicChain(t *testing.T, bc *Blockchain) {
+	const prefix = "../rpc/server/testdata/"
 	// Increase in case if you need more blocks
-	const validUntilBlock = numOfEmptyBlocks + 1000
+	const validUntilBlock = 1200
 
 	// To be incremented after each created transaction to keep chain constant.
 	var testNonce uint32 = 1
@@ -186,8 +226,6 @@ func TestCreateBasicChain(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	const neoAmount = 99999000
-	bc := newTestChain(t)
-	defer bc.Close()
 
 	gasHash := bc.contracts.GAS.Hash
 	neoHash := bc.contracts.NEO.Hash
@@ -340,44 +378,6 @@ func TestCreateBasicChain(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, acc0.SignTx(txDeploy2))
 	b = bc.newBlock(txDeploy2)
 	require.NoError(t, bc.AddBlock(b))
-
-	if saveChain {
-		outStream, err := os.Create(prefix + "testblocks.acc")
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		defer outStream.Close()
-
-		writer := io.NewBinWriterFromIO(outStream)
-
-		count := bc.BlockHeight() + 1
-		writer.WriteU32LE(count - 1)
-
-		for i := 1; i < int(count); i++ {
-			bh := bc.GetHeaderHash(i)
-			b, err := bc.GetBlock(bh)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			bytes, err := testserdes.EncodeBinary(b)
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			writer.WriteU32LE(uint32(len(bytes)))
-			writer.WriteBytes(bytes)
-			require.NoError(t, writer.Err)
-		}
-	}
-
-	// Prepare some transaction for future submission.
-	txSendRaw := newNEP17Transfer(neoHash, priv0ScriptHash, priv1.GetScriptHash(), int64(util.Fixed8FromInt64(1000)))
-	txSendRaw.ValidUntilBlock = validUntilBlock
-	txSendRaw.Nonce = getNextNonce()
-	txSendRaw.Signers = []transaction.Signer{{
-		Account:          priv0ScriptHash,
-		Scopes:           transaction.CalledByEntry,
-		AllowedContracts: nil,
-		AllowedGroups:    nil,
-	}}
-	require.NoError(t, addNetworkFee(bc, txSendRaw, acc0))
-	require.NoError(t, acc0.SignTx(txSendRaw))
-	bw = io.NewBufBinWriter()
-	txSendRaw.EncodeBinary(bw.BinWriter)
-	t.Logf("sendrawtransaction: %s", hex.EncodeToString(bw.Bytes()))
 }
 
 func newNEP17Transfer(sc, from, to util.Uint160, amount int64) *transaction.Transaction {