diff --git a/src/validation.cpp b/src/validation.cpp
index 412d8c121a2980..8ff73f58cdb8cb 100644
--- a/src/validation.cpp
+++ b/src/validation.cpp
@@ -2935,8 +2935,8 @@ bool ContextualCheckBlockHeader(const CBlockHeader& block, CValidationState& sta
         (block.nVersion < 5 && consensus.NetworkUpgradeActive(nHeight, Consensus::UPGRADE_BIP65)) ||
         (block.nVersion < 6 && consensus.NetworkUpgradeActive(nHeight, Consensus::UPGRADE_V3_4)) ||
         (block.nVersion < 7 && consensus.NetworkUpgradeActive(nHeight, Consensus::UPGRADE_V4_0)) ||
-        (block.nVersion < 8 && consensus.NetworkUpgradeActive(nHeight, Consensus::UPGRADE_V5_0)))
-    {
+        (block.nVersion < 8 && consensus.NetworkUpgradeActive(nHeight, Consensus::UPGRADE_V5_0)) ||
+        (block.nVersion < 12 && consensus.NetworkUpgradeActive(nHeight, Consensus::UPGRADE_SHIELD_STAKING))) {
         std::string stringErr = strprintf("rejected block version %d at height %d", block.nVersion, nHeight);
         return state.Invalid(false, REJECT_OBSOLETE, "bad-version", stringErr);
     }
@@ -3147,7 +3147,8 @@ static bool CheckInBlockDoubleSpends(const CBlock& block, int nHeight, CValidati
         if (inblock_txes.find(it->hash) != inblock_txes.end()) {
             // the input spent was created as output of another in-block tx
             // this is not allowed for the coinstake input
-            if (*it == block.vtx[1]->vin[0].prevout) {
+            // this check is not needed in shield staking
+            if (block.IsProofOfStake() && *it == block.vtx[1]->vin[0].prevout) {
                 return state.DoS(100, error("%s: coinstake input created in the same block", __func__));
             }
             it = spent_outpoints.erase(it);
@@ -3282,12 +3283,17 @@ static bool AcceptBlock(const CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, CBlockInde
         return state.DoS(100, false, REJECT_INVALID);
 
     bool isPoS = block.IsProofOfStake();
+    bool isShieldPos = block.IsProofOfShieldStake();
     if (isPoS) {
         std::string strError;
         if (!CheckProofOfStake(block, strError, pindexPrev))
             return state.DoS(100, error("%s: proof of stake check failed (%s)", __func__, strError));
     }
 
+    if (isShieldPos) {
+        // TODO: add zkproof check here
+    }
+
     if (!AcceptBlockHeader(block, state, &pindex, pindexPrev))
         return false;
 
@@ -3308,7 +3314,7 @@ static bool AcceptBlock(const CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, CBlockInde
 
     int nHeight = pindex->nHeight;
 
-    if (isPoS) {
+    if (isPoS || isShieldPos) {
         // Blocks arrives in order, so if prev block is not the tip then we are on a fork.
         // Extra info: duplicated blocks are skipping this checks, so we don't have to worry about those here.
         bool isBlockFromFork = pindexPrev != nullptr && chainActive.Tip() != pindexPrev;
@@ -3388,7 +3394,6 @@ static bool AcceptBlock(const CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, CBlockInde
                         coinstake.GetHash().GetHex()), REJECT_INVALID, "bad-txns-invalid-zpiv");
             }
         }
-
     }
 
     // Write block to history file