diff --git a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/canonical_head.rs b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/canonical_head.rs
index 7dd4c88c513..474fc11ec8c 100644
--- a/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/canonical_head.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/beacon_chain/src/canonical_head.rs
@@ -802,6 +802,7 @@ impl<T: BeaconChainTypes> BeaconChain<T> {
         // Update the state cache so it doesn't mistakenly prune the new head.
         self.store
             .state_cache
+            .inner
             .lock()
             .update_head_block_root(new_cached_head.head_block_root());
 
diff --git a/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs b/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
index 0d8a65e0644..cc00d98ef90 100644
--- a/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/store/src/hot_cold_store.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub struct HotColdDB<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> {
     /// Cache of beacon states.
     ///
     /// LOCK ORDERING: this lock must always be locked *after* the `split` if both are required.
-    pub state_cache: Mutex<StateCache<E>>,
+    pub state_cache: StateCache<E>,
     /// Cache of historic states and hierarchical diff buffers.
     ///
     /// This cache is never pruned. It is only populated in response to historical queries from the
@@ -232,11 +232,11 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> HotColdDB<E, MemoryStore<E>, MemoryStore<E>> {
             block_cache: NonZeroUsize::new(config.block_cache_size)
                 .map(BlockCache::new)
                 .map(Mutex::new),
-            state_cache: Mutex::new(StateCache::new(
+            state_cache: StateCache::new(
                 config.state_cache_size,
                 config.state_cache_headroom,
                 config.hot_hdiff_buffer_cache_size,
-            )),
+            ),
             historic_state_cache: Mutex::new(HistoricStateCache::new(
                 config.cold_hdiff_buffer_cache_size,
                 config.historic_state_cache_size,
@@ -286,11 +286,11 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> HotColdDB<E, BeaconNodeBackend<E>, BeaconNodeBackend<E>> {
             block_cache: NonZeroUsize::new(config.block_cache_size)
                 .map(BlockCache::new)
                 .map(Mutex::new),
-            state_cache: Mutex::new(StateCache::new(
+            state_cache: StateCache::new(
                 config.state_cache_size,
                 config.state_cache_headroom,
                 config.hot_hdiff_buffer_cache_size,
-            )),
+            ),
             historic_state_cache: Mutex::new(HistoricStateCache::new(
                 config.cold_hdiff_buffer_cache_size,
                 config.historic_state_cache_size,
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         let pre_finalized_slots_to_retain = self
             .hierarchy
             .closest_layer_points(state.slot(), start_slot);
-        self.state_cache.lock().update_finalized_state(
+        self.state_cache.inner.lock().update_finalized_state(
             state_root,
             block_root,
             state,
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
     }
 
     pub fn state_cache_len(&self) -> usize {
-        self.state_cache.lock().len()
+        self.state_cache.inner.lock().len()
     }
 
     pub fn register_metrics(&self) {
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
                 cache.blob_cache.len() as i64,
             );
         }
-        let state_cache = self.state_cache.lock();
+        let state_cache = self.state_cache.inner.lock();
         metrics::set_gauge(
             &metrics::STORE_BEACON_STATE_CACHE_SIZE,
             state_cache.len() as i64,
@@ -1109,6 +1109,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
             state.build_all_caches(&self.spec)?;
             if let PutStateOutcome::New(deleted_states) =
                 self.state_cache
+                    .inner
                     .lock()
                     .put_state(*state_root, block_root, state)?
             {
@@ -1137,6 +1138,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         max_slot: Slot,
     ) -> Option<(Hash256, BeaconState<E>)> {
         self.state_cache
+            .inner
             .lock()
             .get_by_block_root(block_root, max_slot)
     }
@@ -1467,10 +1469,13 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         for op in &hot_db_cache_ops {
             match op {
                 StoreOp::DeleteBlock(block_root) => {
-                    self.state_cache.lock().delete_block_states(block_root);
+                    self.state_cache
+                        .inner
+                        .lock()
+                        .delete_block_states(block_root);
                 }
                 StoreOp::DeleteState(state_root, _) => {
-                    self.state_cache.lock().delete_state(state_root)
+                    self.state_cache.inner.lock().delete_state(state_root)
                 }
                 _ => (),
             }
@@ -1538,7 +1543,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         state: &BeaconState<E>,
         ops: &mut Vec<KeyValueStoreOp>,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        match self.state_cache.lock().put_state(
+        match self.state_cache.inner.lock().put_state(
             *state_root,
             state.get_latest_block_root(*state_root),
             state,
@@ -1688,7 +1693,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
         state_root: &Hash256,
         update_cache: bool,
     ) -> Result<Option<BeaconState<E>>, Error> {
-        if let Some(state) = self.state_cache.lock().get_by_state_root(*state_root) {
+        if let Some(state) = self.state_cache.inner.lock().get_by_state_root(*state_root) {
             return Ok(Some(state));
         }
 
@@ -1705,10 +1710,11 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
             state.update_tree_hash_cache()?;
             state.build_all_caches(&self.spec)?;
             if update_cache {
-                if let PutStateOutcome::New(deleted_states) =
-                    self.state_cache
-                        .lock()
-                        .put_state(*state_root, block_root, &state)?
+                if let PutStateOutcome::New(deleted_states) = self
+                    .state_cache
+                    .inner
+                    .lock()
+                    .put_state(*state_root, block_root, &state)?
                 {
                     debug!(
                         ?state_root,
@@ -1733,11 +1739,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
     }
 
     fn load_hot_hdiff_buffer(&self, state_root: Hash256) -> Result<HDiffBuffer, Error> {
-        if let Some(buffer) = self
-            .state_cache
-            .lock()
-            .get_hdiff_buffer_by_state_root(state_root)
-        {
+        if let Some(buffer) = self.state_cache.get_hdiff_buffer_by_state_root(state_root) {
             return Ok(buffer);
         }
 
@@ -1794,6 +1796,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
 
         // Add buffer to cache for future calls.
         self.state_cache
+            .inner
             .lock()
             .put_hdiff_buffer(state_root, slot, &buffer);
 
@@ -1853,6 +1856,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
                     // Immediately rebase the state from diffs on the finalized state so that we
                     // can utilise structural sharing and don't consume excess memory.
                     self.state_cache
+                        .inner
                         .lock()
                         .rebase_on_finalized(&mut state, &self.spec)?;
 
@@ -1878,6 +1882,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
                     // Immediately rebase the state from disk on the finalized state so that we can
                     // reuse parts of the tree for state root calculation in `replay_blocks`.
                     self.state_cache
+                        .inner
                         .lock()
                         .rebase_on_finalized(&mut base_state, &self.spec)?;
 
@@ -1925,6 +1930,7 @@ impl<E: EthSpec, Hot: ItemStore<E>, Cold: ItemStore<E>> HotColdDB<E, Hot, Cold>
             let latest_block_root = state.get_latest_block_root(state_root);
             if let PutStateOutcome::New(_) =
                 self.state_cache
+                    .inner
                     .lock()
                     .put_state(state_root, latest_block_root, state)?
             {
diff --git a/beacon_node/store/src/state_cache.rs b/beacon_node/store/src/state_cache.rs
index 4b0d1ee0160..052dc7b0e71 100644
--- a/beacon_node/store/src/state_cache.rs
+++ b/beacon_node/store/src/state_cache.rs
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@ use crate::{
     metrics::{self, HOT_METRIC},
 };
 use lru::LruCache;
+use parking_lot::Mutex;
 use std::collections::{BTreeMap, HashMap, HashSet};
 use std::num::NonZeroUsize;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use tracing::instrument;
 use types::{BeaconState, ChainSpec, Epoch, EthSpec, Hash256, Slot};
 
@@ -37,6 +39,11 @@ pub struct SlotMap {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct StateCache<E: EthSpec> {
+    pub inner: Mutex<StateCacheInner<E>>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct StateCacheInner<E: EthSpec> {
     finalized_state: Option<FinalizedState<E>>,
     // Stores the tuple (state_root, state) as LruCache only returns the value on put and we need
     // the state_root
@@ -60,7 +67,7 @@ pub struct HotHDiffBufferCache {
     /// Cache of HDiffBuffers for states *prior* to the `finalized_state`.
     ///
     /// Maps state_root -> (slot, buffer).
-    hdiff_buffers: LruCache<Hash256, (Slot, HDiffBuffer)>,
+    hdiff_buffers: LruCache<Hash256, Arc<(Slot, HDiffBuffer)>>,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -77,14 +84,57 @@ pub enum PutStateOutcome {
     New(Vec<Hash256>),
 }
 
-#[allow(clippy::len_without_is_empty)]
 impl<E: EthSpec> StateCache<E> {
     pub fn new(
         state_capacity: NonZeroUsize,
         headroom: NonZeroUsize,
         hdiff_capacity: NonZeroUsize,
     ) -> Self {
-        StateCache {
+        Self {
+            inner: Mutex::new(StateCacheInner::new(
+                state_capacity,
+                headroom,
+                hdiff_capacity,
+            )),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_hdiff_buffer_by_state_root(&self, state_root: Hash256) -> Option<HDiffBuffer> {
+        let mut inner = self.inner.lock();
+
+        let opt_buffer = inner.hdiff_buffers.hdiff_buffers.get(&state_root).cloned();
+
+        if let Some((_, buffer)) = opt_buffer.as_deref() {
+            drop(inner);
+
+            metrics::inc_counter_vec(&metrics::STORE_BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CACHE_HIT, HOT_METRIC);
+            let _timer =
+                metrics::start_timer_vec(&metrics::BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CLONE_TIME, HOT_METRIC);
+            Some(buffer.clone())
+        } else if let Some(state) = inner.get_by_state_root(state_root) {
+            // Drop the lock before performing the conversion from state to buffer, as this
+            // conversion is somewhat expensive.
+            drop(inner);
+
+            metrics::inc_counter_vec(&metrics::STORE_BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CACHE_HIT, HOT_METRIC);
+            let buffer = HDiffBuffer::from_state(state);
+
+            Some(buffer)
+        } else {
+            metrics::inc_counter_vec(&metrics::STORE_BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CACHE_MISS, HOT_METRIC);
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[allow(clippy::len_without_is_empty)]
+impl<E: EthSpec> StateCacheInner<E> {
+    pub fn new(
+        state_capacity: NonZeroUsize,
+        headroom: NonZeroUsize,
+        hdiff_capacity: NonZeroUsize,
+    ) -> Self {
+        StateCacheInner {
             finalized_state: None,
             states: LruCache::new(state_capacity),
             block_map: BlockMap::default(),
@@ -143,9 +193,10 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> StateCache<E> {
         // at some slots in the case of long forks without finality.
         let new_hdiff_cache = HotHDiffBufferCache::new(self.hdiff_buffers.cap());
         let old_hdiff_cache = std::mem::replace(&mut self.hdiff_buffers, new_hdiff_cache);
-        for (state_root, (slot, buffer)) in old_hdiff_cache.hdiff_buffers {
+        for (state_root, arc) in old_hdiff_cache.hdiff_buffers {
+            let slot = arc.0;
             if pre_finalized_slots_to_retain.contains(&slot) {
-                self.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, slot, buffer);
+                self.hdiff_buffers.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, arc);
             }
         }
 
@@ -279,26 +330,6 @@ impl<E: EthSpec> StateCache<E> {
         self.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, slot, buffer.clone());
     }
 
-    pub fn get_hdiff_buffer_by_state_root(&mut self, state_root: Hash256) -> Option<HDiffBuffer> {
-        if let Some(buffer) = self.hdiff_buffers.get(&state_root) {
-            metrics::inc_counter_vec(&metrics::STORE_BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CACHE_HIT, HOT_METRIC);
-            let timer =
-                metrics::start_timer_vec(&metrics::BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CLONE_TIME, HOT_METRIC);
-            let result = Some(buffer.clone());
-            drop(timer);
-            return result;
-        }
-        if let Some(buffer) = self
-            .get_by_state_root(state_root)
-            .map(HDiffBuffer::from_state)
-        {
-            metrics::inc_counter_vec(&metrics::STORE_BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CACHE_HIT, HOT_METRIC);
-            return Some(buffer);
-        }
-        metrics::inc_counter_vec(&metrics::STORE_BEACON_HDIFF_BUFFER_CACHE_MISS, HOT_METRIC);
-        None
-    }
-
     #[instrument(skip_all, fields(?block_root, %slot), level = "debug")]
     pub fn get_by_block_root(
         &mut self,
@@ -444,9 +475,7 @@ impl HotHDiffBufferCache {
     }
 
     pub fn get(&mut self, state_root: &Hash256) -> Option<HDiffBuffer> {
-        self.hdiff_buffers
-            .get(state_root)
-            .map(|(_, buffer)| buffer.clone())
+        self.hdiff_buffers.get(state_root).map(|arc| arc.1.clone())
     }
 
     /// Put a value in the cache, making room for it if necessary.
@@ -455,7 +484,7 @@ impl HotHDiffBufferCache {
     pub fn put(&mut self, state_root: Hash256, slot: Slot, buffer: HDiffBuffer) -> bool {
         // If the cache is not full, simply insert the value.
         if self.hdiff_buffers.len() != self.hdiff_buffers.cap().get() {
-            self.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, (slot, buffer));
+            self.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, Arc::new((slot, buffer)));
             return true;
         }
 
@@ -466,28 +495,26 @@ impl HotHDiffBufferCache {
         //   cache. This is a simplified way of retaining the snapshot in the cache. We don't need
         //   to worry about inserting/retaining states older than the snapshot because these are
         //   pruned on finalization and never reinserted.
-        let Some(min_slot) = self.hdiff_buffers.iter().map(|(_, (slot, _))| *slot).min() else {
+        let Some(min_slot) = self.hdiff_buffers.iter().map(|(_, arc)| arc.0).min() else {
             // Unreachable: cache is full so should have >0 entries.
             return false;
         };
 
         if self.hdiff_buffers.cap().get() > 1 || slot < min_slot {
             // Remove LRU value. Cache is now at size `cap - 1`.
-            let Some((removed_state_root, (removed_slot, removed_buffer))) =
-                self.hdiff_buffers.pop_lru()
-            else {
+            let Some((removed_state_root, removed_arc)) = self.hdiff_buffers.pop_lru() else {
                 // Unreachable: cache is full so should have at least one entry to pop.
                 return false;
             };
 
             // Insert new value. Cache size is now at size `cap`.
-            self.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, (slot, buffer));
+            self.hdiff_buffers.put(state_root, Arc::new((slot, buffer)));
 
             // If the removed value had the min slot and we didn't intend to replace it (cap=1)
             // then we reinsert it.
+            let removed_slot = removed_arc.0;
             if removed_slot == min_slot && slot >= min_slot {
-                self.hdiff_buffers
-                    .put(removed_state_root, (removed_slot, removed_buffer));
+                self.hdiff_buffers.put(removed_state_root, removed_arc);
             }
             true
         } else {
@@ -506,9 +533,6 @@ impl HotHDiffBufferCache {
     }
 
     pub fn mem_usage(&self) -> usize {
-        self.hdiff_buffers
-            .iter()
-            .map(|(_, (_, buffer))| buffer.size())
-            .sum()
+        self.hdiff_buffers.iter().map(|(_, arc)| arc.1.size()).sum()
     }
 }