diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp
index c226da230..36c17357a 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_ancestry.cpp
@@ -37,11 +37,7 @@
 #include "common/command_line.h"
 #include "common/varint.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/cryptonote_boost_serialization.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_depth.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_depth.cpp
index 4ebc90fb9..f49211233 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_depth.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_depth.cpp
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@
 #include <boost/algorithm/string.hpp>
 #include "common/command_line.h"
 #include "common/varint.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp
index 890edba09..1f8370034 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_export.cpp
@@ -28,9 +28,7 @@
 
 #include "bootstrap_file.h"
 #include "blocksdat_file.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "common/command_line.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
 #include "version.h"
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune.cpp
index 28e8d2cbe..1a9618617 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune.cpp
@@ -33,11 +33,8 @@
 #include <boost/system/error_code.hpp>
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 #include "common/command_line.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "common/pruning.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/lmdb/db_lmdb.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune_known_spent_data.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune_known_spent_data.cpp
index e0a853fbf..4a459dc66 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune_known_spent_data.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_prune_known_spent_data.cpp
@@ -30,11 +30,7 @@
 #include <boost/filesystem.hpp>
 #include "common/command_line.h"
 #include "serialization/crypto.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_stats.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_stats.cpp
index c2fae4039..f65054fc5 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_stats.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_stats.cpp
@@ -31,10 +31,7 @@
 #include "common/command_line.h"
 #include "common/varint.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/cryptonote_boost_serialization.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_usage.cpp b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_usage.cpp
index d2ecf2abf..0b9686765 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_usage.cpp
+++ b/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_usage.cpp
@@ -31,11 +31,7 @@
 #include <boost/filesystem/path.hpp>
 #include "common/command_line.h"
 #include "common/varint.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
-#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "version.h"
 
 #undef MONERO_DEFAULT_LOG_CATEGORY
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
index a45d3ec60..3ad051fc3 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain.h
@@ -112,13 +112,6 @@ namespace cryptonote
       uint64_t already_generated_coins; //!< the total coins minted after that block
     };
 
-    /**
-     * @brief Blockchain constructor
-     *
-     * @param tx_pool a reference to the transaction pool to be kept by the Blockchain
-     */
-    Blockchain(tx_memory_pool& tx_pool);
-
     /**
      * @brief Blockchain destructor
      */
@@ -1235,6 +1228,13 @@ namespace cryptonote
     // cache for verifying transaction RCT non semantics
     mutable rct_ver_cache_t m_rct_ver_cache;
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Blockchain constructor
+     *
+     * @param tx_pool a reference to the transaction pool to be kept by the Blockchain
+     */
+    Blockchain(tx_memory_pool& tx_pool);
+
     /**
      * @brief collects the keys for all outputs being "spent" as an input
      *
@@ -1608,5 +1608,7 @@ namespace cryptonote
      * @param already_generated_coins total coins mined by the network so far
      */
     void send_miner_notifications(uint64_t height, const crypto::hash &seed_hash, const crypto::hash &prev_id, uint64_t already_generated_coins);
+
+    friend class BlockchainAndPool;
   };
 }  // namespace cryptonote
diff --git a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_and_pool.h b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain_and_pool.h
similarity index 68%
rename from src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_and_pool.h
rename to src/cryptonote_core/blockchain_and_pool.h
index 8d26c7a61..c0f607f64 100644
--- a/src/blockchain_utilities/blockchain_and_pool.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/blockchain_and_pool.h
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-// Copyright (c) 2014-2020, The Monero Project
+// Copyright (c) 2023, The Monero Project
 //
 // All rights reserved.
 //
@@ -33,12 +33,26 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
+#include <memory>
 
-struct BlockchainAndPool {
-  cryptonote::Blockchain blockchain;
-  cryptonote::tx_memory_pool tx_pool;
+#include "blockchain.h"
+#include "tx_pool.h"
 
-  BlockchainAndPool() : blockchain(tx_pool), tx_pool(blockchain) {}
+namespace cryptonote
+{
+/**
+ * @brief Container for safely constructing Blockchain and tx_memory_pool classes
+ * 
+ * The reason for this class existing is that the constructors for both Blockchain and
+ * tx_memory_pool take a reference for tx_memory_pool and Blockchain, respectively. Because of this
+ * circular reference, it is annoying/unsafe to construct these normally. This class guarantees that
+ * we don't make any silly mistakes with pointers / dangling references.
+ */
+struct BlockchainAndPool
+{
+    Blockchain blockchain;
+    tx_memory_pool tx_pool;
+  
+    BlockchainAndPool(): blockchain(tx_pool), tx_pool(blockchain) {}
 };
+}
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
index 7b0c9e495..a7745ff58 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.cpp
@@ -221,8 +221,9 @@ namespace cryptonote
 
   //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   core::core(i_cryptonote_protocol* pprotocol):
-              m_mempool(m_blockchain_storage),
-              m_blockchain_storage(m_mempool),
+              m_bap(),
+              m_mempool(m_bap.tx_pool),
+              m_blockchain_storage(m_bap.blockchain),
               m_miner(this, [this](const cryptonote::block &b, uint64_t height, const crypto::hash *seed_hash, unsigned int threads, crypto::hash &hash) {
                 return cryptonote::get_block_longhash(&m_blockchain_storage, b, hash, height, seed_hash, threads);
               }),
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
index e0655dfa2..8108dfae0 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@
 #include "cryptonote_protocol/enums.h"
 #include "common/download.h"
 #include "common/command_line.h"
-#include "tx_pool.h"
-#include "blockchain.h"
+#include "blockchain_and_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/miner.h"
 #include "cryptonote_basic/connection_context.h"
 #include "warnings.h"
@@ -1098,8 +1097,9 @@ namespace cryptonote
 
      uint64_t m_test_drop_download_height = 0; //!< height under which to drop incoming blocks, if doing so
 
-     tx_memory_pool m_mempool; //!< transaction pool instance
-     Blockchain m_blockchain_storage; //!< Blockchain instance
+     BlockchainAndPool m_bap; //! Contains owned instances of Blockchain and tx_memory_pool
+     tx_memory_pool& m_mempool; //!< ref to transaction pool instance in m_bap
+     Blockchain& m_blockchain_storage; //!< ref to Blockchain instance in m_bap
 
      i_cryptonote_protocol* m_pprotocol; //!< cryptonote protocol instance
 
diff --git a/src/cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h b/src/cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h
index 6fe2eea59..47268efb6 100644
--- a/src/cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h
+++ b/src/cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h
@@ -97,14 +97,6 @@ namespace cryptonote
   class tx_memory_pool: boost::noncopyable
   {
   public:
-    /**
-     * @brief Constructor
-     *
-     * @param bchs a Blockchain class instance, for getting chain info
-     */
-    tx_memory_pool(Blockchain& bchs);
-
-
     /**
      * @copydoc add_tx(transaction&, tx_verification_context&, bool, bool, uint8_t)
      *
@@ -488,6 +480,13 @@ namespace cryptonote
 
   private:
 
+    /**
+     * @brief Constructor
+     *
+     * @param bchs a Blockchain class instance, for getting chain info
+     */
+    tx_memory_pool(Blockchain& bchs);
+
     /**
      * @brief insert key images into m_spent_key_images
      *
@@ -676,6 +675,8 @@ private:
 
     //! Next timestamp that a DB check for relayable txes is allowed
     std::atomic<time_t> m_next_check;
+
+    friend class BlockchainAndPool;
   };
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/block_weight/block_weight.cpp b/tests/block_weight/block_weight.cpp
index 7cd0d572b..4b00fc63f 100644
--- a/tests/block_weight/block_weight.cpp
+++ b/tests/block_weight/block_weight.cpp
@@ -30,8 +30,6 @@
 
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <math.h>
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/testdb.h"
 
@@ -110,9 +108,6 @@ private:
 }
 
 #define PREFIX_WINDOW(hf_version,window) \
-  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> bc; \
-  cryptonote::tx_memory_pool txpool(*bc); \
-  bc.reset(new cryptonote::Blockchain(txpool)); \
   struct get_test_options { \
     const std::pair<uint8_t, uint64_t> hard_forks[3]; \
     const cryptonote::test_options test_options = { \
@@ -121,7 +116,9 @@ private:
     }; \
     get_test_options(): hard_forks{std::make_pair(1, (uint64_t)0), std::make_pair((uint8_t)hf_version, (uint64_t)LONG_TERM_BLOCK_WEIGHT_WINDOW), std::make_pair((uint8_t)0, (uint64_t)0)} {} \
   } opts; \
-  cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = bc.get(); \
+  cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool bap; \
+  cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = &bap.blockchain; \
+  cryptonote::Blockchain *bc = blockchain; \
   bool r = blockchain->init(new TestDB(), cryptonote::FAKECHAIN, true, &opts.test_options, 0, NULL); \
   if (!r) \
   { \
diff --git a/tests/core_tests/chaingen.cpp b/tests/core_tests/chaingen.cpp
index 9f6fe5387..b66aa7924 100644
--- a/tests/core_tests/chaingen.cpp
+++ b/tests/core_tests/chaingen.cpp
@@ -143,9 +143,8 @@ namespace
 
 }
 
-static std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> init_blockchain(const std::vector<test_event_entry> & events, cryptonote::network_type nettype)
+static std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool> init_blockchain(const std::vector<test_event_entry> & events, cryptonote::network_type nettype)
 {
-  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> bc;
   v_hardforks_t hardforks;
   cryptonote::test_options test_options_tmp{nullptr, 0};
   const cryptonote::test_options * test_options = &test_options_tmp;
@@ -159,10 +158,8 @@ static std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> init_blockchain(const std::vector
   test_options_tmp.hard_forks = hardforks.data();
   test_options = &test_options_tmp;
 
-  cryptonote::tx_memory_pool txpool(*bc);
-  bc.reset(new cryptonote::Blockchain(txpool));
+  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool> bap(new BlockchainAndPool());
 
-  cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = bc.get();
   auto bdb = new TestDB();
 
   BOOST_FOREACH(const test_event_entry &ev, events)
@@ -177,9 +174,9 @@ static std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> init_blockchain(const std::vector
     bdb->add_block(*blk, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, blk_hash);
   }
 
-  bool r = blockchain->init(bdb, nettype, true, test_options, 2, nullptr);
+  bool r = bap->blockchain.init(bdb, nettype, true, test_options, 2, nullptr);
   CHECK_AND_ASSERT_THROW_MES(r, "could not init blockchain from events");
-  return bc;
+  return bap;
 }
 
 void test_generator::get_block_chain(std::vector<block_info>& blockchain, const crypto::hash& head, size_t n) const
@@ -393,7 +390,7 @@ bool test_generator::construct_block_manually_tx(cryptonote::block& blk, const c
 void test_generator::fill_nonce(cryptonote::block& blk, const difficulty_type& diffic, uint64_t height)
 {
   const cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = nullptr;
-  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> bc;
+  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool> bap;
 
   if (blk.major_version >= RX_BLOCK_VERSION && diffic > 1)
   {
@@ -403,8 +400,8 @@ void test_generator::fill_nonce(cryptonote::block& blk, const difficulty_type& d
     }
     else
     {
-      bc = init_blockchain(*m_events, m_nettype);
-      blockchain = bc.get();
+      bap = init_blockchain(*m_events, m_nettype);
+      blockchain = &bap->blockchain;
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/long_term_block_weight.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/long_term_block_weight.cpp
index b9ce2b247..e52bd1955 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/long_term_block_weight.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/long_term_block_weight.cpp
@@ -106,16 +106,9 @@ static uint32_t lcg()
 
 }
 
-struct BlockchainAndPool
-{
-  cryptonote::tx_memory_pool txpool;
-  cryptonote::Blockchain bc;
-  BlockchainAndPool(): txpool(bc), bc(txpool) {}
-};
-
 #define PREFIX_WINDOW(hf_version,window) \
-  BlockchainAndPool bap; \
-  cryptonote::Blockchain *bc = &bap.bc; \
+  cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool bap; \
+  cryptonote::Blockchain *bc = &bap.blockchain; \
   struct get_test_options { \
     const std::pair<uint8_t, uint64_t> hard_forks[3]; \
     const cryptonote::test_options test_options = { \
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/output_distribution.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/output_distribution.cpp
index ab474a7d8..038c19874 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/output_distribution.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/output_distribution.cpp
@@ -30,10 +30,7 @@
 #include "gtest/gtest.h"
 #include "misc_log_ex.h"
 #include "rpc/rpc_handler.h"
-#include "blockchain_db/blockchain_db.h"
 #include "cryptonote_core/cryptonote_core.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/tx_pool.h"
-#include "cryptonote_core/blockchain.h"
 #include "blockchain_db/testdb.h"
 
 static const uint64_t test_distribution[32] = {
@@ -77,9 +74,6 @@ public:
 
 bool get_output_distribution(uint64_t amount, uint64_t from, uint64_t to, uint64_t &start_height, std::vector<uint64_t> &distribution, uint64_t &base)
 {
-  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> bc;
-  cryptonote::tx_memory_pool txpool(*bc);
-  bc.reset(new cryptonote::Blockchain(txpool));
   struct get_test_options {
     const std::pair<uint8_t, uint64_t> hard_forks[2];
     const cryptonote::test_options test_options = {
@@ -87,9 +81,9 @@ bool get_output_distribution(uint64_t amount, uint64_t from, uint64_t to, uint64
     };
     get_test_options():hard_forks{std::make_pair((uint8_t)1, (uint64_t)0), std::make_pair((uint8_t)0, (uint64_t)0)}{}
   } opts;
-  cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = bc.get();
-  bool r = blockchain->init(new TestDB(test_distribution_size), cryptonote::FAKECHAIN, true, &opts.test_options, 0, NULL);
-  return r && bc->get_output_distribution(amount, from, to, start_height, distribution, base);
+  cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool bap;
+  bool r = bap.blockchain.init(new TestDB(test_distribution_size), cryptonote::FAKECHAIN, true, &opts.test_options, 0, NULL);
+  return r && bap.blockchain.get_output_distribution(amount, from, to, start_height, distribution, base);
 }
 
 crypto::hash get_block_hash(uint64_t height)
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/scaling_2021.cpp b/tests/unit_tests/scaling_2021.cpp
index 024a4b4fd..d90f0f9e6 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/scaling_2021.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/scaling_2021.cpp
@@ -50,9 +50,6 @@ public:
 }
 
 #define PREFIX_WINDOW(hf_version,window) \
-  std::unique_ptr<cryptonote::Blockchain> bc; \
-  cryptonote::tx_memory_pool txpool(*bc); \
-  bc.reset(new cryptonote::Blockchain(txpool)); \
   struct get_test_options { \
     const std::pair<uint8_t, uint64_t> hard_forks[3]; \
     const cryptonote::test_options test_options = { \
@@ -61,7 +58,9 @@ public:
     }; \
     get_test_options(): hard_forks{std::make_pair(1, (uint64_t)0), std::make_pair((uint8_t)hf_version, (uint64_t)1), std::make_pair((uint8_t)0, (uint64_t)0)} {} \
   } opts; \
-  cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = bc.get(); \
+  cryptonote::BlockchainAndPool bap; \
+  cryptonote::Blockchain *blockchain = &bap.blockchain; \
+  cryptonote::Blockchain *bc = blockchain; \
   bool r = blockchain->init(new TestDB(), cryptonote::FAKECHAIN, true, &opts.test_options, 0, NULL); \
   ASSERT_TRUE(r)