diff --git a/x/pairing/keeper/msg_server_relay_payment.go b/x/pairing/keeper/msg_server_relay_payment.go
index 68bda26c36..d8126eb35e 100644
--- a/x/pairing/keeper/msg_server_relay_payment.go
+++ b/x/pairing/keeper/msg_server_relay_payment.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/lavanet/lava/utils/sigs"
 	epochstoragetypes "github.com/lavanet/lava/x/epochstorage/types"
 	"github.com/lavanet/lava/x/pairing/types"
+	subscriptiontypes "github.com/lavanet/lava/x/subscription/types"
 )
 
 type BadgeData struct {
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ func (k msgServer) RelayPayment(goCtx context.Context, msg *types.MsgRelayPaymen
 
 	var rejectedCu uint64 // aggregated rejected CU (due to badge CU overuse or provider double spending)
 	rejected_relays_num := len(msg.Relays)
+	validatePairingCache := map[string][]epochstoragetypes.StakeEntry{}
 	for relayIdx, relay := range msg.Relays {
 		rejectedCu += relay.CuSum
 		providerAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(relay.Provider)
@@ -169,24 +171,44 @@ func (k msgServer) RelayPayment(goCtx context.Context, msg *types.MsgRelayPaymen
 			)
 		}
 
-		isValidPairing, allowedCU, providers, err := k.Keeper.ValidatePairingForClient(
-			ctx,
-			relay.SpecId,
-			providerAddr,
-			uint64(relay.Epoch),
-			project,
-		)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, utils.LavaFormatWarning("invalid pairing on proof of relay", err,
-				utils.Attribute{Key: "client", Value: clientAddr.String()},
-				utils.Attribute{Key: "provider", Value: providerAddr.String()},
-			)
-		}
-		if !isValidPairing {
-			return nil, utils.LavaFormatWarning("invalid pairing on proof of relay", fmt.Errorf("pairing result doesn't include provider"),
-				utils.Attribute{Key: "client", Value: clientAddr.String()},
-				utils.Attribute{Key: "provider", Value: providerAddr.String()},
+		// generate validate pairing cache key with CuTrackerKey() to reuse code (doesn't relate to CU tracking at all)
+		validatePairingKey := subscriptiontypes.CuTrackerKey(clientAddr.String(), relay.Provider, relay.SpecId)
+		var providers []epochstoragetypes.StakeEntry
+		allowedCU := uint64(0)
+		val, ok := validatePairingCache[validatePairingKey]
+		if ok {
+			providers = val
+			strictestPolicy, _, err := k.GetProjectStrictestPolicy(ctx, project, relay.SpecId, epochStart)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, utils.LavaFormatError("strictest policy calculation for pairing validation cache failed", err,
+					utils.LogAttr("project", project.Index),
+					utils.LogAttr("chainID", relay.SpecId),
+					utils.LogAttr("block", strconv.FormatUint(epochStart, 10)),
+				)
+			}
+			allowedCU = strictestPolicy.EpochCuLimit
+		} else {
+			isValidPairing := false
+			isValidPairing, allowedCU, providers, err = k.Keeper.ValidatePairingForClient(
+				ctx,
+				relay.SpecId,
+				providerAddr,
+				uint64(relay.Epoch),
+				project,
 			)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, utils.LavaFormatWarning("invalid pairing on proof of relay", err,
+					utils.Attribute{Key: "client", Value: clientAddr.String()},
+					utils.Attribute{Key: "provider", Value: providerAddr.String()},
+				)
+			}
+			if !isValidPairing {
+				return nil, utils.LavaFormatWarning("invalid pairing on proof of relay", fmt.Errorf("pairing result doesn't include provider"),
+					utils.Attribute{Key: "client", Value: clientAddr.String()},
+					utils.Attribute{Key: "provider", Value: providerAddr.String()},
+				)
+			}
+			validatePairingCache[validatePairingKey] = providers
 		}
 
 		rewardedCU, err := k.Keeper.EnforceClientCUsUsageInEpoch(ctx, relay.CuSum, allowedCU, totalCUInEpochForUserProvider, clientAddr, relay.SpecId, uint64(relay.Epoch))
@@ -295,6 +317,10 @@ func (k msgServer) RelayPayment(goCtx context.Context, msg *types.MsgRelayPaymen
 	}
 	utils.LogLavaEvent(ctx, logger, types.LatestBlocksReportEventName, latestBlockReports, "New LatestBlocks Report for provider")
 
+	// consume constant gas (dependent on the number of relays)
+	ctx.GasMeter().RefundGas(ctx.GasMeter().GasConsumed(), "")
+	ctx.GasMeter().ConsumeGas(uint64(10000+100000*len(msg.Relays)), "")
+
 	return &types.MsgRelayPaymentResponse{RejectedRelays: rejected_relays}, nil
 }