diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index abfa181abf4af..5764942a0d955 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -6205,6 +6205,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "serde",
  "sp-blockchain",
  "sp-consensus",
+ "sp-core",
  "sp-inherents",
  "sp-runtime",
  "sp-transaction-pool",
diff --git a/bin/node-template/node/src/service.rs b/bin/node-template/node/src/service.rs
index 51ebdbe1c1fae..a52406b5f5218 100644
--- a/bin/node-template/node/src/service.rs
+++ b/bin/node-template/node/src/service.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ macro_rules! new_full_start {
 	($config:expr) => {{
 		use std::sync::Arc;
 		use sp_consensus_aura::sr25519::AuthorityPair as AuraPair;
-		
+
 		let mut import_setup = None;
 		let inherent_data_providers = sp_inherents::InherentDataProviders::new();
 
@@ -45,15 +45,16 @@ macro_rules! new_full_start {
 				let select_chain = select_chain.take()
 					.ok_or_else(|| sc_service::Error::SelectChainRequired)?;
 
-				let (grandpa_block_import, grandpa_link) =
-					sc_finality_grandpa::block_import(client.clone(), &(client.clone() as Arc<_>), select_chain)?;
+				let (grandpa_block_import, grandpa_link) = sc_finality_grandpa::block_import(
+					client.clone(),
+					&(client.clone() as Arc<_>),
+					select_chain,
+				)?;
 
 				let aura_block_import = sc_consensus_aura::AuraBlockImport::<_, _, _, AuraPair>::new(
 					grandpa_block_import.clone(), client.clone(),
 				);
 
-				let spawner = |future| spawn_task_handle.spawn_blocking("import-queue-worker", future);
-
 				let import_queue = sc_consensus_aura::import_queue::<_, _, _, AuraPair, _>(
 					sc_consensus_aura::slot_duration(&*client)?,
 					aura_block_import,
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ macro_rules! new_full_start {
 					None,
 					client,
 					inherent_data_providers.clone(),
-					spawner,
+					spawn_task_handle,
 				)?;
 
 				import_setup = Some((grandpa_block_import, grandpa_link));
@@ -208,8 +209,6 @@ pub fn new_light(config: Configuration) -> Result<impl AbstractService, ServiceE
 			let finality_proof_request_builder =
 				finality_proof_import.create_finality_proof_request_builder();
 
-			let spawner = |future| spawn_task_handle.spawn_blocking("import-queue-worker", future);
-
 			let import_queue = sc_consensus_aura::import_queue::<_, _, _, AuraPair, _>(
 				sc_consensus_aura::slot_duration(&*client)?,
 				grandpa_block_import,
@@ -217,7 +216,7 @@ pub fn new_light(config: Configuration) -> Result<impl AbstractService, ServiceE
 				Some(Box::new(finality_proof_import)),
 				client,
 				inherent_data_providers.clone(),
-				spawner,
+				spawn_task_handle,
 			)?;
 
 			Ok((import_queue, finality_proof_request_builder))
diff --git a/bin/node/cli/src/service.rs b/bin/node/cli/src/service.rs
index 377a45498f001..e3c0b90e75caf 100644
--- a/bin/node/cli/src/service.rs
+++ b/bin/node/cli/src/service.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ macro_rules! new_full_start {
 			})?
 			.with_transaction_pool(|config, client, _fetcher, prometheus_registry| {
 				let pool_api = sc_transaction_pool::FullChainApi::new(client.clone());
-				Ok(sc_transaction_pool::BasicPool::new(config, std::sync::Arc::new(pool_api), prometheus_registry))
+				Ok(sc_transaction_pool::BasicPool::new(
+					config,
+					std::sync::Arc::new(pool_api),
+					prometheus_registry,
+				))
 			})?
 			.with_import_queue(|_config, client, mut select_chain, _transaction_pool, spawn_task_handle| {
 				let select_chain = select_chain.take()
@@ -68,8 +72,6 @@ macro_rules! new_full_start {
 					client.clone(),
 				)?;
 
-				let spawner = |future| spawn_task_handle.spawn_blocking("import-queue-worker", future);
-
 				let import_queue = sc_consensus_babe::import_queue(
 					babe_link.clone(),
 					block_import.clone(),
@@ -77,7 +79,7 @@ macro_rules! new_full_start {
 					None,
 					client,
 					inherent_data_providers.clone(),
-					spawner,
+					spawn_task_handle,
 				)?;
 
 				import_setup = Some((block_import, grandpa_link, babe_link));
@@ -308,8 +310,6 @@ pub fn new_light(config: Configuration)
 				client.clone(),
 			)?;
 
-			let spawner = |future| spawn_task_handle.spawn_blocking("import-queue-worker", future);
-
 			let import_queue = sc_consensus_babe::import_queue(
 				babe_link,
 				babe_block_import,
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ pub fn new_light(config: Configuration)
 				Some(Box::new(finality_proof_import)),
 				client.clone(),
 				inherent_data_providers.clone(),
-				spawner,
+				spawn_task_handle,
 			)?;
 
 			Ok((import_queue, finality_proof_request_builder))
diff --git a/client/consensus/aura/src/lib.rs b/client/consensus/aura/src/lib.rs
index bbbcf6874477e..f61fdf44917a2 100644
--- a/client/consensus/aura/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/consensus/aura/src/lib.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ use std::{
 	collections::HashMap
 };
 
-use futures::{prelude::*, future::BoxFuture};
+use futures::prelude::*;
 use parking_lot::Mutex;
 use log::{debug, info, trace};
 
@@ -788,14 +788,14 @@ impl<Block: BlockT, C, I, P> BlockImport<Block> for AuraBlockImport<Block, C, I,
 }
 
 /// Start an import queue for the Aura consensus algorithm.
-pub fn import_queue<B, I, C, P, F>(
+pub fn import_queue<B, I, C, P, S>(
 	slot_duration: SlotDuration,
 	block_import: I,
 	justification_import: Option<BoxJustificationImport<B>>,
 	finality_proof_import: Option<BoxFinalityProofImport<B>>,
 	client: Arc<C>,
 	inherent_data_providers: InherentDataProviders,
-	spawner: F,
+	spawner: &S,
 ) -> Result<AuraImportQueue<B, sp_api::TransactionFor<C, B>>, sp_consensus::Error> where
 	B: BlockT,
 	C::Api: BlockBuilderApi<B> + AuraApi<B, AuthorityId<P>> + ApiExt<B, Error = sp_blockchain::Error>,
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ pub fn import_queue<B, I, C, P, F>(
 	P: Pair + Send + Sync + 'static,
 	P::Public: Clone + Eq + Send + Sync + Hash + Debug + Encode + Decode,
 	P::Signature: Encode + Decode,
-	F: Fn(BoxFuture<'static, ()>) -> (),
+	S: sp_core::traits::SpawnBlocking,
 {
 	register_aura_inherent_data_provider(&inherent_data_providers, slot_duration.get())?;
 	initialize_authorities_cache(&*client)?;
@@ -815,6 +815,7 @@ pub fn import_queue<B, I, C, P, F>(
 		inherent_data_providers,
 		phantom: PhantomData,
 	};
+
 	Ok(BasicQueue::new(
 		verifier,
 		Box::new(block_import),
diff --git a/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs b/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
index 4f8975d101d81..678a33cbcc7a6 100644
--- a/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ use sc_client_api::{
 };
 use sp_block_builder::BlockBuilder as BlockBuilderApi;
 
-use futures::{prelude::*, future::BoxFuture};
+use futures::prelude::*;
 use log::{debug, info, log, trace, warn};
 use sc_consensus_slots::{
 	SlotWorker, SlotInfo, SlotCompatible, StorageChanges, CheckedHeader, check_equivocation,
@@ -1272,7 +1272,7 @@ pub fn import_queue<Block: BlockT, Client, Inner>(
 	finality_proof_import: Option<BoxFinalityProofImport<Block>>,
 	client: Arc<Client>,
 	inherent_data_providers: InherentDataProviders,
-	spawner: impl Fn(BoxFuture<'static, ()>) -> (),
+	spawner: &impl sp_core::traits::SpawnBlocking,
 ) -> ClientResult<BabeImportQueue<Block, sp_api::TransactionFor<Client, Block>>> where
 	Inner: BlockImport<Block, Error = ConsensusError, Transaction = sp_api::TransactionFor<Client, Block>>
 		+ Send + Sync + 'static,
diff --git a/client/consensus/manual-seal/Cargo.toml b/client/consensus/manual-seal/Cargo.toml
index 807c370edf332..b0a3c2bd72b56 100644
--- a/client/consensus/manual-seal/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/consensus/manual-seal/Cargo.toml
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ sp-blockchain = { path = "../../../primitives/blockchain" , version = "2.0.0-dev
 sp-consensus = { package = "sp-consensus", path = "../../../primitives/consensus/common" , version = "0.8.0-dev"}
 sp-inherents = { path = "../../../primitives/inherents" , version = "2.0.0-dev"}
 sp-runtime = {  path = "../../../primitives/runtime" , version = "2.0.0-dev"}
+sp-core = {  path = "../../../primitives/core" , version = "2.0.0-dev"}
 sp-transaction-pool = { path = "../../../primitives/transaction-pool" , version = "2.0.0-dev"}
 
 [dev-dependencies]
diff --git a/client/consensus/manual-seal/src/lib.rs b/client/consensus/manual-seal/src/lib.rs
index b2020acb1f765..fefd3aa2d79aa 100644
--- a/client/consensus/manual-seal/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/consensus/manual-seal/src/lib.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 //! A manual sealing engine: the engine listens for rpc calls to seal blocks and create forks.
 //! This is suitable for a testing environment.
 
-use futures::{prelude::*, future::BoxFuture};
+use futures::prelude::*;
 use sp_consensus::{
 	Environment, Proposer, ForkChoiceStrategy, BlockImportParams, BlockOrigin, SelectChain,
 	import_queue::{BasicQueue, CacheKeyId, Verifier, BoxBlockImport},
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT> Verifier<B> for ManualSealVerifier {
 /// Instantiate the import queue for the manual seal consensus engine.
 pub fn import_queue<Block, B>(
 	block_import: BoxBlockImport<Block, TransactionFor<B, Block>>,
-	spawner: impl Fn(BoxFuture<'static, ()>) -> ()
+	spawner: &impl sp_core::traits::SpawnBlocking,
 ) -> BasicQueue<Block, TransactionFor<B, Block>>
 	where
 		Block: BlockT,
diff --git a/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs b/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs
index 5d504d8ffc01d..8d17071f4c15c 100644
--- a/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/consensus/pow/src/lib.rs
@@ -49,12 +49,13 @@ use sp_consensus::{
 	SelectChain, Error as ConsensusError, CanAuthorWith, RecordProof, BlockImport,
 	BlockCheckParams, ImportResult,
 };
-use sp_consensus::import_queue::{BoxBlockImport, BasicQueue, Verifier, BoxJustificationImport, BoxFinalityProofImport};
+use sp_consensus::import_queue::{
+	BoxBlockImport, BasicQueue, Verifier, BoxJustificationImport, BoxFinalityProofImport,
+};
 use codec::{Encode, Decode};
 use sc_client_api;
 use log::*;
 use sp_timestamp::{InherentError as TIError, TimestampInherentData};
-use futures::future::BoxFuture;
 
 #[derive(derive_more::Display, Debug)]
 pub enum Error<B: BlockT> {
@@ -462,7 +463,7 @@ pub fn import_queue<B, Transaction, Algorithm>(
 	finality_proof_import: Option<BoxFinalityProofImport<B>>,
 	algorithm: Algorithm,
 	inherent_data_providers: InherentDataProviders,
-	spawner: impl Fn(BoxFuture<'static, ()>) -> (),
+	spawner: &impl sp_core::traits::SpawnBlocking,
 ) -> Result<
 	PowImportQueue<B, Transaction>,
 	sp_consensus::Error
diff --git a/client/network/src/service/tests.rs b/client/network/src/service/tests.rs
index 6c38d1d87469b..3bed660851b1a 100644
--- a/client/network/src/service/tests.rs
+++ b/client/network/src/service/tests.rs
@@ -80,15 +80,12 @@ fn build_test_full_node(config: config::NetworkConfiguration)
 		}
 	}
 
-	let threads_pool = futures::executor::ThreadPool::new().unwrap();
-	let spawner = |future| threads_pool.spawn_ok(future);
-
 	let import_queue = Box::new(sp_consensus::import_queue::BasicQueue::new(
 		PassThroughVerifier(false),
 		Box::new(client.clone()),
 		None,
 		None,
-		spawner,
+		&sp_core::testing::SpawnBlockingExecutor::new(),
 	));
 
 	let worker = NetworkWorker::new(config::Params {
diff --git a/client/network/test/src/block_import.rs b/client/network/test/src/block_import.rs
index 5f152fa1322ee..a77dec629b282 100644
--- a/client/network/test/src/block_import.rs
+++ b/client/network/test/src/block_import.rs
@@ -81,13 +81,18 @@ fn import_single_good_block_without_header_fails() {
 
 #[test]
 fn async_import_queue_drops() {
+	let executor = sp_core::testing::SpawnBlockingExecutor::new();
 	// Perform this test multiple times since it exhibits non-deterministic behavior.
 	for _ in 0..100 {
 		let verifier = PassThroughVerifier(true);
 
-		let threads_pool = futures::executor::ThreadPool::new().unwrap();
-		let spawner = |future| threads_pool.spawn_ok(future);
-		let queue = BasicQueue::new(verifier, Box::new(substrate_test_runtime_client::new()), None, None, spawner);
+		let queue = BasicQueue::new(
+			verifier,
+			Box::new(substrate_test_runtime_client::new()),
+			None,
+			None,
+			&executor,
+		);
 		drop(queue);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/client/network/test/src/lib.rs b/client/network/test/src/lib.rs
index 9c2c4e3bfdf68..999c99f64a1d4 100644
--- a/client/network/test/src/lib.rs
+++ b/client/network/test/src/lib.rs
@@ -606,15 +606,12 @@ pub trait TestNetFactory: Sized {
 		);
 		let verifier = VerifierAdapter::new(Arc::new(Mutex::new(Box::new(verifier) as Box<_>)));
 
-		let threads_pool = futures::executor::ThreadPool::new().unwrap();
-		let spawner = |future| threads_pool.spawn_ok(future);
-
 		let import_queue = Box::new(BasicQueue::new(
 			verifier.clone(),
 			Box::new(block_import.clone()),
 			justification_import,
 			finality_proof_import,
-			spawner,
+			&sp_core::testing::SpawnBlockingExecutor::new(),
 		));
 
 		let listen_addr = build_multiaddr![Memory(rand::random::<u64>())];
@@ -687,15 +684,12 @@ pub trait TestNetFactory: Sized {
 		);
 		let verifier = VerifierAdapter::new(Arc::new(Mutex::new(Box::new(verifier) as Box<_>)));
 
-		let threads_pool = futures::executor::ThreadPool::new().unwrap();
-		let spawner = |future| threads_pool.spawn_ok(future);
-
 		let import_queue = Box::new(BasicQueue::new(
 			verifier.clone(),
 			Box::new(block_import.clone()),
 			justification_import,
 			finality_proof_import,
-			spawner,
+			&sp_core::testing::SpawnBlockingExecutor::new(),
 		));
 
 		let listen_addr = build_multiaddr![Memory(rand::random::<u64>())];
diff --git a/client/service/src/task_manager.rs b/client/service/src/task_manager.rs
index e0db4c500ae1f..553ca9c326d8b 100644
--- a/client/service/src/task_manager.rs
+++ b/client/service/src/task_manager.rs
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@
 
 use std::{panic, pin::Pin, result::Result, sync::Arc};
 use exit_future::Signal;
-use log::{debug};
+use log::debug;
 use futures::{
 	Future, FutureExt,
-	future::{select, Either},
+	future::{select, Either, BoxFuture},
 	compat::*,
 	task::{Spawn, FutureObj, SpawnError},
 };
@@ -62,7 +62,12 @@ impl SpawnTaskHandle {
 	}
 
 	/// Helper function that implements the spawning logic. See `spawn` and `spawn_blocking`.
-	fn spawn_inner(&self, name: &'static str, task: impl Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static, task_type: TaskType) {
+	fn spawn_inner(
+		&self,
+		name: &'static str,
+		task: impl Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static,
+		task_type: TaskType,
+	) {
 		let on_exit = self.on_exit.clone();
 		let metrics = self.metrics.clone();
 
@@ -119,6 +124,12 @@ impl Spawn for SpawnTaskHandle {
 	}
 }
 
+impl sp_core::traits::SpawnBlocking for SpawnTaskHandle {
+	fn spawn_blocking(&self, name: &'static str, future: BoxFuture<'static, ()>) {
+		self.spawn_blocking(name, future);
+	}
+}
+
 impl sc_client_api::CloneableSpawn for SpawnTaskHandle {
 	fn clone(&self) -> Box<dyn CloneableSpawn> {
 		Box::new(Clone::clone(self))
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs b/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs
index f39097ef3b366..f2b830e890e40 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs
+++ b/primitives/consensus/common/src/import_queue/basic_queue.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 // along with Substrate.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 use std::{mem, pin::Pin, time::Duration, marker::PhantomData};
-use futures::{prelude::*, task::Context, task::Poll, future::BoxFuture};
+use futures::{prelude::*, task::Context, task::Poll};
 use futures_timer::Delay;
 use sp_runtime::{Justification, traits::{Block as BlockT, Header as HeaderT, NumberFor}};
 use sp_utils::mpsc::{TracingUnboundedSender, tracing_unbounded};
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send + 'static> BasicQueue<B, Transaction> {
 		block_import: BoxBlockImport<B, Transaction>,
 		justification_import: Option<BoxJustificationImport<B>>,
 		finality_proof_import: Option<BoxFinalityProofImport<B>>,
-		spawner: impl Fn(BoxFuture<'static, ()>) -> (),
+		spawner: &impl sp_core::traits::SpawnBlocking,
 	) -> Self {
 		let (result_sender, result_port) = buffered_link::buffered_link();
 		let (future, worker_sender) = BlockImportWorker::new(
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ impl<B: BlockT, Transaction: Send + 'static> BasicQueue<B, Transaction> {
 			finality_proof_import,
 		);
 
-		spawner(future.boxed());
+		spawner.spawn_blocking("basic-block-import-worker", future.boxed());
 
 		Self {
 			sender: worker_sender,
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/testing.rs b/primitives/core/src/testing.rs
index 9e83090bcff26..c22381112449a 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/testing.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/testing.rs
@@ -290,6 +290,30 @@ macro_rules! wasm_export_functions {
 	};
 }
 
+/// An executor that supports spawning blocking futures in tests.
+///
+/// Internally this just wraps a `ThreadPool` with a pool size of `8`. This
+/// should ensure that we have enough threads in tests for spawning blocking futures.
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct SpawnBlockingExecutor(futures::executor::ThreadPool);
+
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+impl SpawnBlockingExecutor {
+	/// Create a new instance of `Self`.
+	pub fn new() -> Self {
+		let mut builder = futures::executor::ThreadPoolBuilder::new();
+		Self(builder.pool_size(8).create().expect("Failed to create thread pool"))
+	}
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+impl crate::traits::SpawnBlocking for SpawnBlockingExecutor {
+	fn spawn_blocking(&self, _: &'static str, future: futures::future::BoxFuture<'static, ()>) {
+		self.0.spawn_ok(future);
+	}
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
 	use super::*;
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/traits.rs b/primitives/core/src/traits.rs
index 1724f5e9877ee..cca1a8fa8ccf9 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/traits.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/traits.rs
@@ -330,3 +330,11 @@ impl TaskExecutorExt {
 		Self(spawn_handle)
 	}
 }
+
+/// Something that can spawn a blocking future.
+pub trait SpawnBlocking {
+	/// Spawn the given blocking future.
+	///
+	/// The given `name` is used to identify the future in tracing.
+	fn spawn_blocking(&self, name: &'static str, future: futures::future::BoxFuture<'static, ()>);
+}