diff --git a/consensus/consensus.go b/consensus/consensus.go
index ab9bb550c..067f64428 100644
--- a/consensus/consensus.go
+++ b/consensus/consensus.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ type Consensus struct {
 	// Leader
 	leader p2p.Peer
 	// Public keys of the committee including leader and validators
-	publicKeys []kyber.Point
+	PublicKeys []kyber.Point
 
 	// private/public keys of current node
 	priKey kyber.Scalar
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func NewConsensus(ip, port, ShardID string, peers []p2p.Peer, leader p2p.Peer) *
 	if err != nil {
 		panic("Failed to create final mask")
 	}
-	consensus.publicKeys = allPublicKeys
+	consensus.PublicKeys = allPublicKeys
 	consensus.bitmap = mask
 	consensus.finalBitmap = finalMask
 
@@ -208,8 +208,8 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) ResetState() {
 	consensus.responses = &map[uint16]kyber.Scalar{}
 	consensus.finalResponses = &map[uint16]kyber.Scalar{}
 
-	mask, _ := crypto.NewMask(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.publicKeys, consensus.leader.PubKey)
-	finalMask, _ := crypto.NewMask(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.publicKeys, consensus.leader.PubKey)
+	mask, _ := crypto.NewMask(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.PublicKeys, consensus.leader.PubKey)
+	finalMask, _ := crypto.NewMask(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.PublicKeys, consensus.leader.PubKey)
 	consensus.bitmap = mask
 	consensus.finalBitmap = finalMask
 	consensus.bitmap.SetMask([]byte{})
@@ -236,6 +236,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) String() string {
 // and add the public keys
 func (consensus *Consensus) AddPeers(peers []p2p.Peer) int {
 	count := 0
+
 	for _, peer := range peers {
 		_, ok := consensus.validators.Load(utils.GetUniqueIdFromPeer(peer))
 		if !ok {
@@ -243,41 +244,28 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) AddPeers(peers []p2p.Peer) int {
 				peer.ValidatorID = int(consensus.uniqueIdInstance.GetUniqueId())
 			}
 			consensus.validators.Store(utils.GetUniqueIdFromPeer(peer), peer)
-			consensus.publicKeys = append(consensus.publicKeys, peer.PubKey)
-			count++
-		}
-	}
-	if count > 0 {
-		// regenerate bitmaps
-		mask, err := crypto.NewMask(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.publicKeys, consensus.leader.PubKey)
-		if err != nil {
-			panic("Failed to create mask")
-		}
-		finalMask, err := crypto.NewMask(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.publicKeys, consensus.leader.PubKey)
-		if err != nil {
-			panic("Failed to create final mask")
+			consensus.PublicKeys = append(consensus.PublicKeys, peer.PubKey)
 		}
-		consensus.bitmap = mask
-		consensus.finalBitmap = finalMask
+		count++
 	}
 	return count
 }
 
-// RemovePeers will remove the peers from the validator list and publicKeys
+// RemovePeers will remove the peers from the validator list and PublicKeys
 // It will be called when leader/node lost connection to peers
 func (consensus *Consensus) RemovePeers(peers []p2p.Peer) int {
 	// TODO (lc) we need to have a corresponding RemovePeers function
 	return 0
 }
 
-// DebugPrintPublicKeys print all the publicKeys in string format in Consensus
+// DebugPrintPublicKeys print all the PublicKeys in string format in Consensus
 func (consensus *Consensus) DebugPrintPublicKeys() {
-	for _, k := range consensus.publicKeys {
+	for _, k := range consensus.PublicKeys {
 		str := fmt.Sprintf("%s", k)
 		consensus.Log.Debug("pk:", "string", str)
 	}
 
-	consensus.Log.Debug("PublicKeys:", "#", len(consensus.publicKeys))
+	consensus.Log.Debug("PublicKeys:", "#", len(consensus.PublicKeys))
 }
 
 // DebugPrintValidators print all validator ip/port/key in string format in Consensus
diff --git a/consensus/consensus_leader.go b/consensus/consensus_leader.go
index 9064afb14..5c009f079 100644
--- a/consensus/consensus_leader.go
+++ b/consensus/consensus_leader.go
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ var (
 // WaitForNewBlock waits for the next new block to run consensus on
 func (consensus *Consensus) WaitForNewBlock(blockChannel chan blockchain.Block) {
 	consensus.Log.Debug("Waiting for block", "consensus", consensus)
+	backoff := p2p.NewExpBackoff(500*time.Millisecond, 30*time.Second, 2.0)
 	for { // keep waiting for new blocks
 		newBlock := <-blockChannel
 
 		if !consensus.HasEnoughValidators() {
-			consensus.Log.Debug("Not enough validators", "# Validators", len(consensus.publicKeys))
-			time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
-			continue
+			consensus.Log.Debug("Not enough validators", "# Validators", len(consensus.PublicKeys))
+			backoff.Sleep()
 		}
 
 		// TODO: think about potential race condition
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) WaitForNewBlock(blockChannel chan blockchain.Block)
 		consensus.Log.Debug("STARTING CONSENSUS", "consensus", consensus, "startTime", startTime)
 		for consensus.state == Finished {
 			// time.Sleep(500 * time.Millisecond)
+			consensus.ResetState()
 			consensus.startConsensus(&newBlock)
 			break
 		}
@@ -204,7 +205,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) processCommitMessage(payload []byte, targetState Sta
 	// proceed only when the message is not received before
 	_, ok = (*commitments)[validatorID]
 	shouldProcess := !ok
-	if len((*commitments)) >= ((len(consensus.publicKeys)*2)/3 + 1) {
+	if len((*commitments)) >= ((len(consensus.PublicKeys)*2)/3 + 1) {
 		shouldProcess = false
 	}
 	if shouldProcess {
@@ -221,7 +222,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) processCommitMessage(payload []byte, targetState Sta
 		return
 	}
 
-	if len((*commitments)) >= ((len(consensus.publicKeys)*2)/3+1) && consensus.state < targetState {
+	if len((*commitments)) >= ((len(consensus.PublicKeys)*2)/3+1) && consensus.state < targetState {
 		consensus.Log.Debug("Enough commitments received with signatures", "num", len(*commitments), "state", consensus.state)
 
 		// Broadcast challenge
@@ -341,7 +342,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) processResponseMessage(payload []byte, targetState S
 	_, ok = (*responses)[validatorID]
 	shouldProcess = shouldProcess && !ok
 
-	if len((*responses)) >= ((len(consensus.publicKeys)*2)/3 + 1) {
+	if len((*responses)) >= ((len(consensus.PublicKeys)*2)/3 + 1) {
 		shouldProcess = false
 	}
 
@@ -366,8 +367,8 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) processResponseMessage(payload []byte, targetState S
 		return
 	}
 
-	if len(*responses) >= ((len(consensus.publicKeys)*2)/3+1) && consensus.state != targetState {
-		if len(*responses) >= ((len(consensus.publicKeys)*2)/3+1) && consensus.state != targetState {
+	if len(*responses) >= ((len(consensus.PublicKeys)*2)/3+1) && consensus.state != targetState {
+		if len(*responses) >= ((len(consensus.PublicKeys)*2)/3+1) && consensus.state != targetState {
 			consensus.Log.Debug("Enough responses received with signatures", "num", len(*responses), "state", consensus.state)
 			// Aggregate responses
 			responseScalars := []kyber.Scalar{}
@@ -489,7 +490,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) reportMetrics(block blockchain.Block) {
 		"key":             consensus.pubKey.String(),
 		"tps":             tps,
 		"txCount":         numOfTxs,
-		"nodeCount":       len(consensus.publicKeys) + 1,
+		"nodeCount":       len(consensus.PublicKeys) + 1,
 		"latestBlockHash": hex.EncodeToString(consensus.blockHash[:]),
 		"latestTxHashes":  txHashes,
 		"blockLatency":    int(timeElapsed / time.Millisecond),
@@ -498,7 +499,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) reportMetrics(block blockchain.Block) {
 }
 
 func (consensus *Consensus) HasEnoughValidators() bool {
-	if len(consensus.publicKeys) < consensus.MinPeers {
+	if len(consensus.PublicKeys) < consensus.MinPeers {
 		return false
 	}
 	return true
diff --git a/consensus/consensus_validator.go b/consensus/consensus_validator.go
index 9b9020dcb..fa25af968 100644
--- a/consensus/consensus_validator.go
+++ b/consensus/consensus_validator.go
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ func (consensus *Consensus) processCollectiveSigMessage(payload []byte) {
 	}
 
 	// Verify collective signature
-	err := crypto.Verify(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.publicKeys, payload[:36], append(collectiveSig, bitmap...), crypto.NewThresholdPolicy((2*len(consensus.publicKeys)/3)+1))
+	err := crypto.Verify(crypto.Ed25519Curve, consensus.PublicKeys, payload[:36], append(collectiveSig, bitmap...), crypto.NewThresholdPolicy((2*len(consensus.PublicKeys)/3)+1))
 	if err != nil {
 		consensus.Log.Warn("Failed to verify the collective sig message", "consensusID", consensusID, "err", err)
 		return
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 224eb53c8..fd256a319 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -316,8 +316,7 @@ func (node *Node) AddPeers(peers []p2p.Peer) int {
 	}
 
 	if count > 0 {
-		c := node.Consensus.AddPeers(peers)
-		node.log.Info("Node.AddPeers", "#", c)
+		node.Consensus.AddPeers(peers)
 	}
 	return count
 }
diff --git a/node/node_handler.go b/node/node_handler.go
index e5a447b8b..164ceec14 100644
--- a/node/node_handler.go
+++ b/node/node_handler.go
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"encoding/gob"
 	"fmt"
-	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
-	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/core/types"
-	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/crypto/pki"
 	"net"
 	"os"
 	"strconv"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/dedis/kyber"
+	"github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum/rlp"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/blockchain"
+	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/core/types"
 	hmy_crypto "github.com/harmony-one/harmony/crypto"
+	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/crypto/pki"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/p2p"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/proto"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/proto/client"
@@ -586,7 +587,7 @@ func (node *Node) pingMessageHandler(msgPayload []byte) int {
 
 	// Send a Pong message back
 	peers := node.Consensus.GetValidatorPeers()
-	pong := proto_node.NewPongMessage(peers)
+	pong := proto_node.NewPongMessage(peers, node.Consensus.PublicKeys)
 	buffer := pong.ConstructPongMessage()
 
 	for _, p := range peers {
@@ -620,7 +621,26 @@ func (node *Node) pongMessageHandler(msgPayload []byte) int {
 			continue
 		}
 		peers = append(peers, *peer)
+
+	}
+
+	count := node.AddPeers(peers)
+
+	// Reset Validator PublicKeys every time we receive PONG message from Leader
+	// The PublicKeys has to be idential across the shard on every node
+	// TODO (lc): we need to handle RemovePeer situation
+	node.Consensus.PublicKeys = make([]kyber.Point, 0)
+
+	// Create the the PubKey from the []byte sent from leader
+	for _, k := range pong.PubKeys {
+		key := hmy_crypto.Ed25519Curve.Point()
+		err = key.UnmarshalBinary(k[:])
+		if err != nil {
+			node.log.Error("UnmarshalBinary Failed PubKeys", "error", err)
+			continue
+		}
+		node.Consensus.PublicKeys = append(node.Consensus.PublicKeys, key)
 	}
 
-	return node.AddPeers(peers)
+	return count
 }
diff --git a/node/node_test.go b/node/node_test.go
index e2e2a0663..175a0b1b8 100644
--- a/node/node_test.go
+++ b/node/node_test.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func sendPongMessage(leader p2p.Peer) {
 		PubKey: pubKey2,
 	}
 
-	pong1 := proto_node.NewPongMessage([]p2p.Peer{p1, p2})
+	pong1 := proto_node.NewPongMessage([]p2p.Peer{p1, p2}, nil)
 	buf1 := pong1.ConstructPongMessage()
 
 	fmt.Println("waiting for 10 seconds ...")
diff --git a/proto/node/pingpong.go b/proto/node/pingpong.go
index ab2d8f4ad..18e71cf57 100644
--- a/proto/node/pingpong.go
+++ b/proto/node/pingpong.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
 
+	"github.com/dedis/kyber"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/p2p"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/proto"
 )
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ type PingMessageType struct {
 type PongMessageType struct {
 	Version uint16 // version of the protocol
 	Peers   []nodeInfo
+	PubKeys [][]byte // list of publickKeys, has to be identical among all validators/leaders
 }
 
 func (p PingMessageType) String() string {
@@ -45,10 +47,7 @@ func (p PingMessageType) String() string {
 }
 
 func (p PongMessageType) String() string {
-	str := fmt.Sprintf("pong:%v=>length:%v\n", p.Version, len(p.Peers))
-	for _, p := range p.Peers {
-		str = fmt.Sprintf("%v%v:%v:%v/%v\n", str, p.IP, p.Port, p.ValidatorID, p.PubKey)
-	}
+	str := fmt.Sprintf("pong:%v=>length:%v, keys:%v\n", p.Version, len(p.Peers), len(p.PubKeys))
 	return str
 }
 
@@ -63,15 +62,16 @@ func NewPingMessage(peer p2p.Peer) *PingMessageType {
 	ping.Node.PubKey, err = peer.PubKey.MarshalBinary()
 
 	if err != nil {
-		fmt.Printf("Error Marshall PubKey: %v", err)
+		fmt.Printf("Error Marshal PubKey: %v", err)
 		return nil
 	}
 
 	return ping
 }
 
-func NewPongMessage(peers []p2p.Peer) *PongMessageType {
+func NewPongMessage(peers []p2p.Peer, pubKeys []kyber.Point) *PongMessageType {
 	pong := new(PongMessageType)
+	pong.PubKeys = make([][]byte, 0)
 
 	pong.Version = PROTOCOL_VERSION
 	pong.Peers = make([]nodeInfo, 0)
@@ -84,12 +84,22 @@ func NewPongMessage(peers []p2p.Peer) *PongMessageType {
 		n.ValidatorID = p.ValidatorID
 		n.PubKey, err = p.PubKey.MarshalBinary()
 		if err != nil {
-			fmt.Printf("Error Marshall PubKey: %v", err)
+			fmt.Printf("Error Marshal PubKey: %v", err)
 			continue
 		}
 		pong.Peers = append(pong.Peers, n)
 	}
 
+	for _, p := range pubKeys {
+		key, err := p.MarshalBinary()
+		if err != nil {
+			fmt.Printf("Error Marshal PublicKeys: %v", err)
+			continue
+		}
+
+		pong.PubKeys = append(pong.PubKeys, key)
+	}
+
 	return pong
 }
 
@@ -111,6 +121,8 @@ func GetPingMessage(payload []byte) (*PingMessageType, error) {
 // Deserialize Pong Message
 func GetPongMessage(payload []byte) (*PongMessageType, error) {
 	pong := new(PongMessageType)
+	pong.Peers = make([]nodeInfo, 0)
+	pong.PubKeys = make([][]byte, 0)
 
 	r := bytes.NewBuffer(payload)
 	decoder := gob.NewDecoder(r)
diff --git a/proto/node/pingpong_test.go b/proto/node/pingpong_test.go
index c44ce844a..718f5d96b 100644
--- a/proto/node/pingpong_test.go
+++ b/proto/node/pingpong_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/dedis/kyber"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/crypto"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/crypto/pki"
 	"github.com/harmony-one/harmony/p2p"
@@ -43,6 +44,8 @@ var (
 	}
 	e2 = "pong:1=>length:2"
 
+	pubKeys = []kyber.Point{pubKey1, pubKey2}
+
 	buf1 []byte
 	buf2 []byte
 )
@@ -57,7 +60,7 @@ func TestString(test *testing.T) {
 		fmt.Println(r1)
 	}
 
-	pong1 := NewPongMessage(p2)
+	pong1 := NewPongMessage(p2, pubKeys)
 	r2 := fmt.Sprintf("%v", *pong1)
 
 	if !strings.HasPrefix(r2, e2) {
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@ func TestSerialize(test *testing.T) {
 	buf1 = ping1.ConstructPingMessage()
 	fmt.Printf("buf ping: %v\n", buf1)
 
-	pong1 := NewPongMessage(p2)
+	pong1 := NewPongMessage(p2, pubKeys)
 	buf2 = pong1.ConstructPongMessage()
 	fmt.Printf("buf pong: %v\n", buf2)
 }