diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 0705e8aa8..ae1d61fa9 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -6199,6 +6199,7 @@ name = "reth-node-ethereum"
 version = "0.2.0-beta.4"
 dependencies = [
  "eyre",
+ "futures",
  "reth-basic-payload-builder",
  "reth-db",
  "reth-ethereum-payload-builder",
diff --git a/crates/node-builder/src/builder.rs b/crates/node-builder/src/builder.rs
index ae90d7928..74a0564d6 100644
--- a/crates/node-builder/src/builder.rs
+++ b/crates/node-builder/src/builder.rs
@@ -7,13 +7,14 @@ use crate::{
         ComponentsBuilder, FullNodeComponents, FullNodeComponentsAdapter, NodeComponents,
         NodeComponentsBuilder, PoolBuilder,
     },
+    exex::{BoxedLaunchExEx, ExExContext},
     hooks::NodeHooks,
     node::{FullNode, FullNodeTypes, FullNodeTypesAdapter},
     rpc::{RethRpcServerHandles, RpcContext, RpcHooks},
     Node, NodeHandle,
 };
 use eyre::Context;
-use futures::{future::Either, stream, stream_select, StreamExt};
+use futures::{future::Either, stream, stream_select, Future, StreamExt};
 use rayon::ThreadPoolBuilder;
 use reth_beacon_consensus::{
     hooks::{EngineHooks, PruneHook, StaticFileHook},
@@ -318,6 +319,7 @@ where
                 components_builder,
                 hooks: NodeHooks::new(),
                 rpc: RpcHooks::new(),
+                exexs: Vec::new(),
             },
         }
     }
@@ -352,6 +354,7 @@ where
                 components_builder: f(self.state.components_builder),
                 hooks: self.state.hooks,
                 rpc: self.state.rpc,
+                exexs: self.state.exexs,
             },
         }
     }
@@ -429,6 +432,26 @@ where
         self
     }
 
+    /// Installs an ExEx (Execution Extension) in the node.
+    pub fn install_exex<F, R, E>(mut self, exex: F) -> Self
+    where
+        F: Fn(
+                ExExContext<
+                    FullNodeComponentsAdapter<
+                        FullNodeTypesAdapter<Types, DB, RethFullProviderType<DB, Types::Evm>>,
+                        Components::Pool,
+                    >,
+                >,
+            ) -> R
+            + Send
+            + 'static,
+        R: Future<Output = eyre::Result<E>> + Send,
+        E: Future<Output = eyre::Result<()>> + Send,
+    {
+        self.state.exexs.push(Box::new(exex));
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Launches the node and returns a handle to it.
     ///
     /// This bootstraps the node internals, creates all the components with the provider
@@ -452,7 +475,7 @@ where
 
         let Self {
             config,
-            state: ComponentsState { types, components_builder, hooks, rpc },
+            state: ComponentsState { types, components_builder, hooks, rpc, exexs: _ },
             database,
         } = self;
 
@@ -529,6 +552,8 @@ where
         let NodeComponents { transaction_pool, network, payload_builder } =
             components_builder.build_components(&ctx).await?;
 
+        // TODO(alexey): launch ExExs and consume their events
+
         let BuilderContext {
             provider: blockchain_db,
             executor,
@@ -1059,7 +1084,6 @@ where
 }
 
 /// Captures the necessary context for building the components of the node.
-#[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct BuilderContext<Node: FullNodeTypes> {
     /// The current head of the blockchain at launch.
     head: Head,
@@ -1075,6 +1099,18 @@ pub struct BuilderContext<Node: FullNodeTypes> {
     reth_config: reth_config::Config,
 }
 
+impl<Node: FullNodeTypes> std::fmt::Debug for BuilderContext<Node> {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("BuilderContext")
+            .field("head", &self.head)
+            .field("provider", &std::any::type_name::<Node::Provider>())
+            .field("executor", &self.executor)
+            .field("data_dir", &self.data_dir)
+            .field("config", &self.config)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
 impl<Node: FullNodeTypes> BuilderContext<Node> {
     /// Create a new instance of [BuilderContext]
     pub fn new(
@@ -1217,7 +1253,6 @@ where
 ///
 /// Additionally, this state captures additional hooks that are called at specific points in the
 /// node's launch lifecycle.
-#[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ComponentsState<Types, Components, FullNode: FullNodeComponents> {
     /// The types of the node.
     types: Types,
@@ -1227,4 +1262,20 @@ pub struct ComponentsState<Types, Components, FullNode: FullNodeComponents> {
     hooks: NodeHooks<FullNode>,
     /// Additional RPC hooks.
     rpc: RpcHooks<FullNode>,
+    /// The ExExs (execution extensions) of the node.
+    exexs: Vec<Box<dyn BoxedLaunchExEx<FullNode>>>,
+}
+
+impl<Types, Components, FullNode: FullNodeComponents> std::fmt::Debug
+    for ComponentsState<Types, Components, FullNode>
+{
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("ComponentsState")
+            .field("types", &std::any::type_name::<Types>())
+            .field("components_builder", &std::any::type_name::<Components>())
+            .field("hooks", &self.hooks)
+            .field("rpc", &self.rpc)
+            .field("exexs", &self.exexs.len())
+            .finish()
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/node-builder/src/components/builder.rs b/crates/node-builder/src/components/builder.rs
index 57e4d8639..c60a02048 100644
--- a/crates/node-builder/src/components/builder.rs
+++ b/crates/node-builder/src/components/builder.rs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ where
     where
         PB: PoolBuilder<Node>,
     {
-        let Self { payload_builder, network_builder, _marker, .. } = self;
+        let Self { pool_builder: _, payload_builder, network_builder, _marker } = self;
         ComponentsBuilder { pool_builder, payload_builder, network_builder, _marker }
     }
 }
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ where
     where
         NB: NetworkBuilder<Node, PoolB::Pool>,
     {
-        let Self { payload_builder, pool_builder, _marker, .. } = self;
+        let Self { pool_builder, payload_builder, network_builder: _, _marker } = self;
         ComponentsBuilder { pool_builder, payload_builder, network_builder, _marker }
     }
 
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ where
     where
         PB: PayloadServiceBuilder<Node, PoolB::Pool>,
     {
-        let Self { pool_builder, network_builder, _marker, .. } = self;
+        let Self { pool_builder, payload_builder: _, network_builder, _marker } = self;
         ComponentsBuilder { pool_builder, payload_builder, network_builder, _marker }
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/node-builder/src/exex.rs b/crates/node-builder/src/exex.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1482be14f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/node-builder/src/exex.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+#![allow(dead_code)]
+// todo: expand this (examples, assumptions, invariants)
+//! Execution extensions (ExEx).
+//!
+//! An execution extension is a task that derives its state from Reth's state.
+//!
+//! Some examples of state such state derives are rollups, bridges, and indexers.
+//!
+//! An ExEx is a [`Future`] resolving to a `Result<()>` that is run indefinitely alongside Reth.
+//!
+//! ExEx's are initialized using an async closure that resolves to the ExEx; this closure gets
+//! passed an [`ExExContext`] where it is possible to spawn additional tasks and modify Reth.
+//!
+//! Most ExEx's will want to derive their state from the [`CanonStateNotification`] channel given in
+//! [`ExExContext`]. A new notification is emitted whenever blocks are executed in live and
+//! historical sync.
+//!
+//! # Pruning
+//!
+//! ExEx's **SHOULD** emit an `ExExEvent::FinishedHeight` event to signify what blocks have been
+//! processed. This event is used by Reth to determine what state can be pruned.
+//!
+//! An ExEx will not receive notifications for blocks less than the block emitted in the event. To
+//! clarify: if the ExEx emits `ExExEvent::FinishedHeight(0)` it will receive notifications for any
+//! `block_number >= 0`.
+//!
+//! [`Future`]: std::future::Future
+//! [`ExExContext`]: crate::exex::ExExContext
+//! [`CanonStateNotification`]: reth_provider::CanonStateNotification
+
+use crate::FullNodeTypes;
+use futures::{future::BoxFuture, FutureExt};
+use reth_node_core::{
+    dirs::{ChainPath, DataDirPath},
+    node_config::NodeConfig,
+};
+use reth_primitives::{BlockNumber, Head};
+use reth_tasks::TaskExecutor;
+use std::future::Future;
+
+/// Events emitted by an ExEx.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum ExExEvent {
+    /// Highest block processed by the ExEx.
+    ///
+    /// The ExEx must guarantee that it will not require all earlier blocks in the future, meaning
+    /// that Reth is allowed to prune them.
+    ///
+    /// On reorgs, it's possible for the height to go down.
+    FinishedHeight(BlockNumber),
+}
+
+/// Captures the context that an ExEx has access to.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct ExExContext<Node: FullNodeTypes> {
+    /// The current head of the blockchain at launch.
+    pub head: Head,
+    /// The configured provider to interact with the blockchain.
+    pub provider: Node::Provider,
+    /// The task executor of the node.
+    pub task_executor: TaskExecutor,
+    /// The data dir of the node.
+    pub data_dir: ChainPath<DataDirPath>,
+    /// The config of the node
+    pub config: NodeConfig,
+    /// The loaded node config
+    pub reth_config: reth_config::Config,
+    // TODO(alexey): add pool, payload builder, anything else?
+}
+
+/// A trait for launching an ExEx.
+trait LaunchExEx<Node: FullNodeTypes>: Send {
+    /// Launches the ExEx.
+    ///
+    /// The ExEx should be able to run independently and emit events on the channels provided in
+    /// the [`ExExContext`].
+    fn launch(
+        self,
+        ctx: ExExContext<Node>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Output = eyre::Result<impl Future<Output = eyre::Result<()>> + Send>> + Send;
+}
+
+type BoxExEx = BoxFuture<'static, eyre::Result<()>>;
+
+/// A version of [LaunchExEx] that returns a boxed future. Makes the trait object-safe.
+pub(crate) trait BoxedLaunchExEx<Node: FullNodeTypes>: Send {
+    fn launch(self: Box<Self>, ctx: ExExContext<Node>)
+        -> BoxFuture<'static, eyre::Result<BoxExEx>>;
+}
+
+/// Implements [BoxedLaunchExEx] for any [LaunchExEx] that is [Send] and `'static`.
+///
+/// Returns a [BoxFuture] that resolves to a [BoxExEx].
+impl<E, Node> BoxedLaunchExEx<Node> for E
+where
+    E: LaunchExEx<Node> + Send + 'static,
+    Node: FullNodeTypes,
+{
+    fn launch(
+        self: Box<Self>,
+        ctx: ExExContext<Node>,
+    ) -> BoxFuture<'static, eyre::Result<BoxExEx>> {
+        async move {
+            let exex = LaunchExEx::launch(*self, ctx).await?;
+            Ok(Box::pin(exex) as BoxExEx)
+        }
+        .boxed()
+    }
+}
+
+/// Implements `LaunchExEx` for any closure that takes an [ExExContext] and returns a future
+/// resolving to an ExEx.
+impl<Node, F, Fut, E> LaunchExEx<Node> for F
+where
+    Node: FullNodeTypes,
+    F: FnOnce(ExExContext<Node>) -> Fut + Send,
+    Fut: Future<Output = eyre::Result<E>> + Send,
+    E: Future<Output = eyre::Result<()>> + Send,
+{
+    fn launch(
+        self,
+        ctx: ExExContext<Node>,
+    ) -> impl Future<Output = eyre::Result<impl Future<Output = eyre::Result<()>> + Send>> + Send
+    {
+        self(ctx)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/node-builder/src/lib.rs b/crates/node-builder/src/lib.rs
index 9323fbd32..757e37f04 100644
--- a/crates/node-builder/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/node-builder/src/lib.rs
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ pub use handle::NodeHandle;
 pub mod provider;
 pub mod rpc;
 
+/// Support for installing the ExExs (execution extensions) in a node.
+pub mod exex;
+
 /// Re-export the core configuration traits.
 pub use reth_node_core::cli::config::{
     PayloadBuilderConfig, RethNetworkConfig, RethRpcConfig, RethTransactionPoolConfig,
diff --git a/crates/node-ethereum/Cargo.toml b/crates/node-ethereum/Cargo.toml
index 91a59cd72..12c3ab5ea 100644
--- a/crates/node-ethereum/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/node-ethereum/Cargo.toml
@@ -29,4 +29,6 @@ eyre.workspace = true
 serde.workspace = true
 
 [dev-dependencies]
-reth-db.workspace = true
\ No newline at end of file
+reth-db.workspace = true
+futures.workspace = true
+
diff --git a/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/exex.rs b/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/exex.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf21bd549
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/exex.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+use futures::future;
+use reth_db::test_utils::create_test_rw_db;
+use reth_node_builder::{exex::ExExContext, FullNodeTypes, NodeBuilder, NodeConfig};
+use reth_node_ethereum::EthereumNode;
+use std::{
+    future::Future,
+    pin::Pin,
+    task::{Context, Poll},
+};
+
+struct DummyExEx<Node: FullNodeTypes> {
+    _ctx: ExExContext<Node>,
+}
+
+impl<Node: FullNodeTypes> Future for DummyExEx<Node> {
+    type Output = eyre::Result<()>;
+
+    fn poll(self: Pin<&mut Self>, _: &mut Context<'_>) -> Poll<Self::Output> {
+        Poll::Pending
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn basic_exex() {
+    let config = NodeConfig::test();
+    let db = create_test_rw_db();
+    let _builder = NodeBuilder::new(config)
+        .with_database(db)
+        .with_types(EthereumNode::default())
+        .with_components(EthereumNode::components())
+        .install_exex(move |ctx| future::ok(DummyExEx { _ctx: ctx }))
+        .check_launch();
+}
diff --git a/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/main.rs b/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/main.rs
index 34ac15ef9..5fc321fe3 100644
--- a/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/main.rs
+++ b/crates/node-ethereum/tests/it/main.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 mod builder;
+mod exex;
 
 fn main() {}