diff --git a/bin/network-monitor/src/counter.rs b/bin/network-monitor/src/counter.rs
index 68ae3ff71..358af21ec 100644
--- a/bin/network-monitor/src/counter.rs
+++ b/bin/network-monitor/src/counter.rs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ use anyhow::{Context, Result};
 use miden_node_proto::clients::RpcClient;
 use miden_node_proto::generated::rpc::BlockHeaderByNumberRequest;
 use miden_node_proto::generated::transaction::ProvenTransaction;
+use miden_node_utils::spawn::spawn_blocking_in_current_span;
 use miden_protocol::account::auth::AuthSecretKey;
 use miden_protocol::account::{Account, AccountCode, AccountHeader, AccountId};
 use miden_protocol::asset::AssetVault;
@@ -271,10 +272,6 @@ impl IncrementService {
         err
     )]
     async fn submit_increment(&mut self) -> Result<(String, AccountHeader, BlockNumber)> {
-        let authenticator = BasicAuthenticator::new(&[AuthSecretKey::Falcon512Poseidon2(
-            self.tx.secret_key.clone(),
-        )]);
-
         let account_interface = AccountInterface::from_account(&self.tx.wallet_account);
 
         let (network_note, note_recipient) = create_network_note(
@@ -285,26 +282,38 @@ impl IncrementService {
         )?;
         let script = account_interface.build_send_notes_script(&[network_note.into()], None)?;
 
-        let executor =
-            TransactionExecutor::new(&self.tx.data_store).with_authenticator(&authenticator);
-
         let mut tx_args = TransactionArgs::default().with_tx_script(script);
         tx_args.add_output_note_recipient(Box::new(note_recipient));
 
-        let executed_tx = Box::pin(executor.execute_transaction(
-            self.tx.wallet_account.id(),
-            self.tx.block_header.block_num(),
-            InputNotes::default(),
-            tx_args,
-        ))
+        let data_store = self.tx.data_store.clone();
+        let secret_key = self.tx.secret_key.clone();
+        let account_id = self.tx.wallet_account.id();
+        let block_num = self.tx.block_header.block_num();
+        let handle = tokio::runtime::Handle::current();
+        let (proven_tx, tx_inputs, final_account) = spawn_blocking_in_current_span(move || {
+            let authenticator =
+                BasicAuthenticator::new(&[AuthSecretKey::Falcon512Poseidon2(secret_key)]);
+            let executor = TransactionExecutor::new(&data_store).with_authenticator(&authenticator);
+
+            let executed_tx = handle
+                .block_on(executor.execute_transaction(
+                    account_id,
+                    block_num,
+                    InputNotes::default(),
+                    tx_args,
+                ))
+                .context("Failed to execute transaction")?;
+
+            let tx_inputs = executed_tx.tx_inputs().to_bytes();
+            let final_account = executed_tx.final_account().clone();
+            let proven_tx = handle
+                .block_on(LocalTransactionProver::default().prove(executed_tx))
+                .context("Failed to prove transaction")?;
+
+            Ok::<_, anyhow::Error>((proven_tx, tx_inputs, final_account))
+        })
         .await
-        .context("Failed to execute transaction")?;
-
-        let tx_inputs = executed_tx.tx_inputs().to_bytes();
-        let final_account = executed_tx.final_account().clone();
-
-        let prover = LocalTransactionProver::default();
-        let proven_tx = prover.prove(executed_tx).await.context("Failed to prove transaction")?;
+        .context("counter increment task failed")??;
 
         let request = ProvenTransaction {
             transaction: proven_tx.to_bytes(),
diff --git a/bin/network-monitor/src/deploy/mod.rs b/bin/network-monitor/src/deploy/mod.rs
index e4c8c60a8..eb95cb73e 100644
--- a/bin/network-monitor/src/deploy/mod.rs
+++ b/bin/network-monitor/src/deploy/mod.rs
@@ -186,6 +186,16 @@ pub struct MonitorDataStore {
     mast_store: TransactionMastStore,
 }
 
+impl Clone for MonitorDataStore {
+    fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+        let mut cloned = Self::new(self.block_header.clone(), self.partial_block_chain.clone());
+        for account in self.accounts.values() {
+            cloned.add_account(account.clone());
+        }
+        cloned
+    }
+}
+
 impl MonitorDataStore {
     pub fn new(block_header: BlockHeader, partial_block_chain: PartialBlockchain) -> Self {
         Self {