diff --git a/src/controller.rs b/src/controller.rs
index 9e9c3e7..14b69c1 100644
--- a/src/controller.rs
+++ b/src/controller.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 use crate::chain::inclusion_claim_correct;
 use crate::config::{ChainInclusionMode, Config};
-use chrono::Utc;
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 use eyre::WrapErr;
+use futures_ticker::Ticker;
+use futures_util::StreamExt;
 use libp2p::PeerId;
 use sqlx::SqlitePool;
 use std::ops::Sub;
@@ -34,6 +36,9 @@ pub enum SwarmCommand {
         channel: oneshot::Sender<MintpoolNodeInfo>,
     },
     SendOnchainMintFound(InclusionClaim),
+    Sync {
+        query: QueryOptions,
+    },
 }
 
 /// Event types that may be received from the p2p swarm that need to be handled by the controller
@@ -81,6 +86,7 @@ pub struct Controller {
     external_commands: mpsc::Receiver<ControllerCommands>,
     store: PremintStorage,
     rules: RulesEngine<PremintStorage>,
+    sync_ticker: Ticker,
 
     config: Config,
 }
@@ -94,12 +100,17 @@ impl Controller {
         store: PremintStorage,
         rules: RulesEngine<PremintStorage>,
     ) -> Self {
+        // sync every 60 minutes, also sync 30 seconds after startup (gives some time to connect to peers)
+        let sync_ticker =
+            Ticker::new_with_next(Duration::from_secs(60 * 60), Duration::from_secs(30));
+
         Self {
             swarm_command_sender,
             swarm_event_receiver,
             external_commands,
             store,
             rules,
+            sync_ticker,
             config,
         }
     }
@@ -115,10 +126,32 @@ impl Controller {
                 Some(event) = self.swarm_event_receiver.recv() => {
                     self.handle_event(event).await;
                 }
+                _ = self.sync_ticker.next() => {
+                    self.do_sync().await;
+                }
             }
         }
     }
 
+    async fn do_sync(&self) {
+        let now = SystemTime::now();
+        let then = now - Duration::from_secs(60 * 60 * self.config.sync_lookback_hours);
+
+        let query = QueryOptions {
+            chain_id: None,
+            kind: None,
+            collection_address: None,
+            creator_address: None,
+            from: Some(DateTime::from(then)),
+            to: Some(DateTime::from(now)),
+        };
+
+        self.swarm_command_sender
+            .send(SwarmCommand::Sync { query })
+            .await
+            .expect("Error sending sync command to swarm");
+    }
+
     pub async fn handle_event(&self, event: P2PEvent) {
         match event {
             P2PEvent::NetworkState(network_state) => {
diff --git a/src/p2p.rs b/src/p2p.rs
index a93b238..5747652 100644
--- a/src/p2p.rs
+++ b/src/p2p.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
-use crate::config::Config;
-use crate::controller::{P2PEvent, SwarmCommand};
-use crate::storage::QueryOptions;
-use crate::types::{
-    claims_topic_hashes, InclusionClaim, MintpoolNodeInfo, PeerInclusionClaim, Premint,
-    PremintName, PremintTypes,
-};
+use std::hash::Hasher;
+use std::time::Duration;
+
 use eyre::WrapErr;
 use futures_ticker::Ticker;
 use libp2p::core::ConnectedPoint;
@@ -20,12 +16,19 @@ use libp2p::swarm::{ConnectionId, NetworkBehaviour, NetworkInfo, SwarmEvent};
 use libp2p::{
     gossipsub, kad, noise, request_response, tcp, yamux, Multiaddr, PeerId, StreamProtocol,
 };
+use rand::prelude::SliceRandom;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sha256::digest;
-use std::hash::Hasher;
-use std::time::Duration;
 use tokio::select;
 
+use crate::config::Config;
+use crate::controller::{P2PEvent, SwarmCommand};
+use crate::storage::QueryOptions;
+use crate::types::{
+    claims_topic_hashes, InclusionClaim, MintpoolNodeInfo, PeerInclusionClaim, Premint,
+    PremintName, PremintTypes,
+};
+
 #[derive(NetworkBehaviour)]
 pub struct MintpoolBehaviour {
     gossipsub: gossipsub::Behaviour,
@@ -219,6 +222,7 @@ impl SwarmController {
                     tracing::error!("Error broadcasting claim: {:?}", err);
                 }
             }
+            SwarmCommand::Sync { query } => self.do_sync(query).await,
         }
     }
 
@@ -572,6 +576,28 @@ impl SwarmController {
         }
     }
 
+    async fn do_sync(&mut self, query: QueryOptions) {
+        // select random peer
+        let state = self.make_network_state();
+
+        let peer_id = state
+            .gossipsub_peers
+            .choose(&mut rand::thread_rng())
+            .cloned();
+
+        if let Some(peer_id) = peer_id {
+            let id = self
+                .swarm
+                .behaviour_mut()
+                .request_response
+                .send_request(&peer_id, query);
+
+            tracing::info!(request_id = id.to_string(), "sent sync request");
+        } else {
+            tracing::info!("No peers to sync with");
+        }
+    }
+
     async fn handle_request_response_event(
         &mut self,
         event: request_response::Event<QueryOptions, SyncResponse>,