diff --git a/.github/scripts/ceremony-param-tests-c-witness.sh b/.github/scripts/ceremony-param-tests-c-witness.sh
deleted file mode 100755
index f3d00157f8..0000000000
--- a/.github/scripts/ceremony-param-tests-c-witness.sh
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,71 +0,0 @@
-#!/bin/bash
-
-set -e
-
-cd "$(dirname "$0")"
-cd ../../cli
-
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js deployVkRegistry -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js setVerifyingKeys \
-    --state-tree-depth 6 \
-    --int-state-tree-depth 2 \
-    --msg-tree-depth 8 \
-    --vote-option-tree-depth 3 \
-    --msg-batch-depth 2 \
-    --process-messages-zkey ./zkeys/processMessages_6-8-2-3.zkey \
-    --tally-votes-zkey ./zkeys/tallyVotes_6-2-3.zkey \
-    -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js create -s 6 -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js deployPoll \
-    -pk macipk.ea638a3366ed91f2e955110888573861f7c0fc0bb5fb8b8dca9cd7a08d7d6b93 \
-    --duration 300 \
-    --max-messages 390625 \
-    --max-vote-options 125 \
-    --int-state-tree-depth 2 \
-    --msg-tree-depth 8 \
-    --msg-batch-depth 2 \
-    --vote-option-tree-depth 3 \
-    -q true 
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js signup \
-    --pubkey macipk.e743ffb5298ef0f5c1f63b6464a48fea19ea7ee5a885c67ae1b24a1d04f03f07 \
-    -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js publish \
-    --pubkey macipk.e743ffb5298ef0f5c1f63b6464a48fea19ea7ee5a885c67ae1b24a1d04f03f07 \
-    --privkey macisk.0ab0281365e01cff60afc62310daec765e590487bf989a7c4986ebc3fd49895e \
-    --state-index 1 \
-    --vote-option-index 0 \
-    --new-vote-weight 9 \
-    --nonce 1 \
-    --poll-id 0 \
-    -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js publish \
-    --pubkey macipk.e743ffb5298ef0f5c1f63b6464a48fea19ea7ee5a885c67ae1b24a1d04f03f07 \
-    --privkey macisk.0ab0281365e01cff60afc62310daec765e590487bf989a7c4986ebc3fd49895e \
-    --state-index 1 \
-    --vote-option-index 1 \
-    --new-vote-weight 9 \
-    --nonce 2 \
-    --poll-id 0 \
-    -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js timeTravel -s 300 -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js mergeSignups --poll-id 0 -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js mergeMessages --poll-id 0 -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js genProofs \
-    --privkey macisk.1751146b59d32e3c0d7426de411218172428263f93b2fc4d981c036047a4d8c0 \
-    --poll-id 0 \
-    --rapidsnark ~/rapidsnark/build/prover \
-    --process-zkey ./zkeys/processMessages_6-8-2-3.zkey \
-    --tally-zkey ./zkeys/tallyVotes_6-2-3.zkey \
-    --tally-file tally.json \
-    --output proofs/ \
-    --tally-witnessgen ./zkeys/tallyVotes_6-2-3 \
-    --process-witnessgen ./zkeys/processMessages_6-8-2-3 \
-    -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js proveOnChain \
-    --poll-id 0 \
-    --proof-dir proofs/ \
-    -q true
-HARDHAT_CONFIG=./build/hardhat.config.js node build/ts/index.js verify \
-    --poll-id 0 \
-    --tally-file tally.json \
-    -q true
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly-ceremony.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly-ceremony.yml
index 3e5267d246..9747439d99 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly-ceremony.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly-ceremony.yml
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 name: Nightly Ceremony
 
 on:
-  schedule:
-    - cron: 0 0 * * *
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - test/stress-test
 
 env:
   STATE_TREE_DEPTH: ${{ vars.STATE_TREE_DEPTH }}
@@ -57,8 +58,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Download ceremony artifacts
         run: ./.github/scripts/download-ceremony-artifacts.sh
 
-      - name: Run e2e tests
-        run: ./.github/scripts/ceremony-param-tests-c-witness.sh
+      - name: Run stress tests
+        run: pnpm run test:stress
 
       - name: Stop Hardhat
         if: always()
diff --git a/cli/package.json b/cli/package.json
index 65db33b830..fb4749c55a 100644
--- a/cli/package.json
+++ b/cli/package.json
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
     "build": "tsc -p tsconfig.build.json",
     "postbuild": "cp package.json ./build",
     "types": "tsc -p tsconfig.json --noEmit",
-    "test": "nyc ts-mocha --exit tests/**/*.test.ts",
+    "test": "nyc ts-mocha --exit tests/e2e/*.test.ts tests/unit/*.test.ts",
     "test:e2e": "ts-mocha --exit tests/e2e.test.ts",
     "test:e2e-subsidy": "ts-mocha --exit tests/e2e.subsidy.test.ts",
     "test:keyChange": "ts-mocha --exit tests/keyChange.test.ts",
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@
     "test:genKeypair": "ts-mocha --exit tests/unit/genKeyPair.test.ts",
     "test:timeTravel": "ts-mocha --exit tests/unit/timeTravel.test.ts",
     "test:fundWallet": "ts-mocha --exit tests/unit/fundWallet.test.ts",
-    "test:utils": "ts-mocha --exit tests/unit/utils.test.ts"
+    "test:utils": "ts-mocha --exit tests/unit/utils.test.ts",
+    "test:stress": "ts-mocha --exit tests/stress/*.test.ts"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "@commander-js/extra-typings": "^11.1.0",
diff --git a/cli/tests/stress/stress.test.ts b/cli/tests/stress/stress.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fbdf4d9b2f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/tests/stress/stress.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,412 @@
+import { genRandomSalt } from "maci-crypto";
+import { Keypair } from "maci-domainobjs";
+
+import {
+  deploy,
+  deployPoll,
+  deployVkRegistryContract,
+  genProofs,
+  mergeMessages,
+  mergeSignups,
+  proveOnChain,
+  publish,
+  setVerifyingKeys,
+  signup,
+  timeTravel,
+  verify,
+} from "../../ts/commands";
+import { DeployedContracts, PollContracts } from "../../ts/utils";
+import {
+  coordinatorPrivKey,
+  coordinatorPubKey,
+  maxMessages,
+  maxVoteOptions,
+  processMessageTestZkeyPath,
+  tallyVotesTestZkeyPath,
+  testProcessMessagesWasmPath,
+  testProcessMessagesWitnessPath,
+  testProofsDirPath,
+  testRapidsnarkPath,
+  testTallyFilePath,
+  testTallyVotesWasmPath,
+  testTallyVotesWitnessPath,
+} from "../constants";
+import { cleanVanilla, isArm } from "../utils";
+
+describe("stress tests", function test() {
+  const messageTreeDepth = 8;
+  const stateTreeDepth = 6;
+  const voteOptionTreeDepth = 3;
+  const messageBatchDepth = 2;
+  const intStateTreeDepth = 2;
+
+  const pollDuration = 600;
+
+  const useWasm = isArm();
+  this.timeout(900000);
+
+  let maciAddresses: DeployedContracts;
+  let pollAddresses: PollContracts;
+
+  // before all tests we deploy the vk registry contract and set the verifying keys
+  before(async () => {
+    // we deploy the vk registry contract
+    await deployVkRegistryContract(true);
+    // we set the verifying keys
+    await setVerifyingKeys(
+      stateTreeDepth,
+      intStateTreeDepth,
+      messageTreeDepth,
+      voteOptionTreeDepth,
+      messageBatchDepth,
+      processMessageTestZkeyPath,
+      tallyVotesTestZkeyPath,
+    );
+  });
+
+  const users = Array<Keypair>(100).fill(new Keypair());
+
+  describe("1 user, 2 messages", () => {
+    after(() => {
+      cleanVanilla();
+    });
+
+    before(async () => {
+      // deploy the smart contracts
+      maciAddresses = await deploy(stateTreeDepth);
+      // deploy a poll contract
+      pollAddresses = await deployPoll(
+        pollDuration,
+        maxMessages,
+        maxVoteOptions,
+        intStateTreeDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        voteOptionTreeDepth,
+        coordinatorPubKey,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("should signup 1 user", async () => {
+      await signup(users[0].pubKey.serialize());
+    });
+
+    it("should publish 2 messages", async () => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+      for (let i = 0; i < 2; i += 1) {
+        const randomVoteOption = Math.floor(Math.random() * 126);
+        const randomVoteWeight = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await publish(
+          users[0].pubKey.serialize(),
+          i,
+          randomVoteOption,
+          1,
+          0,
+          randomVoteWeight,
+          maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+          genRandomSalt().toString(),
+          users[0].privKey.serialize(),
+        );
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should generate zk-SNARK proofs and verify them", async () => {
+      await timeTravel(pollDuration);
+      await mergeMessages(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      await mergeSignups(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      const tallyFileData = await genProofs(
+        testProofsDirPath,
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyVotesTestZkeyPath,
+        processMessageTestZkeyPath,
+        0,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        testRapidsnarkPath,
+        testProcessMessagesWitnessPath,
+        testTallyVotesWitnessPath,
+        undefined,
+        coordinatorPrivKey,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        undefined,
+        testProcessMessagesWasmPath,
+        testTallyVotesWasmPath,
+        undefined,
+        useWasm,
+      );
+      await proveOnChain("0", testProofsDirPath);
+      await verify(
+        "0",
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyFileData,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        pollAddresses.tally,
+        pollAddresses.subsidy,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("100 signups, 100 messages", () => {
+    after(() => {
+      cleanVanilla();
+    });
+
+    before(async () => {
+      // deploy the smart contracts
+      maciAddresses = await deploy(stateTreeDepth);
+      // deploy a poll contract
+      pollAddresses = await deployPoll(
+        pollDuration,
+        maxMessages,
+        maxVoteOptions,
+        intStateTreeDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        voteOptionTreeDepth,
+        coordinatorPubKey,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("should signup 100 users", async () => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+      for (let i = 0; i < users.length; i += 1) {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await signup(users[i].pubKey.serialize());
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should publish 100 messages", async () => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+      for (let i = 0; i < users.length; i += 1) {
+        const randomVoteOption = Math.floor(Math.random() * 126);
+        const randomVoteWeight = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await publish(
+          users[i].pubKey.serialize(),
+          i,
+          randomVoteOption,
+          1,
+          0,
+          randomVoteWeight,
+          maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+          genRandomSalt().toString(),
+          users[i].privKey.serialize(),
+        );
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should generate zk-SNARK proofs and verify them", async () => {
+      await timeTravel(pollDuration);
+      await mergeMessages(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      await mergeSignups(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      const tallyFileData = await genProofs(
+        testProofsDirPath,
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyVotesTestZkeyPath,
+        processMessageTestZkeyPath,
+        0,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        testRapidsnarkPath,
+        testProcessMessagesWitnessPath,
+        testTallyVotesWitnessPath,
+        undefined,
+        coordinatorPrivKey,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        undefined,
+        testProcessMessagesWasmPath,
+        testTallyVotesWasmPath,
+        undefined,
+        useWasm,
+      );
+      await proveOnChain("0", testProofsDirPath);
+      await verify(
+        "0",
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyFileData,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        pollAddresses.tally,
+        pollAddresses.subsidy,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("50 signups, 200 messages", () => {
+    after(() => {
+      cleanVanilla();
+    });
+
+    before(async () => {
+      // deploy the smart contracts
+      maciAddresses = await deploy(stateTreeDepth);
+      // deploy a poll contract
+      pollAddresses = await deployPoll(
+        pollDuration,
+        maxMessages,
+        maxVoteOptions,
+        intStateTreeDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        voteOptionTreeDepth,
+        coordinatorPubKey,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("should signup 50 users", async () => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+      for (let i = 0; i < 50; i += 1) {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await signup(users[i].pubKey.serialize());
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should publish 200 messages (some for non signed up users)", async () => {
+      for (let i = 0; i < 2; i += 1) {
+        const jitter = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
+        // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+        for (let j = 0; j < users.length; j += 1) {
+          const randomVoteOption = Math.floor(Math.random() * 126);
+          const randomVoteWeight = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
+          // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+          await publish(
+            users[j].pubKey.serialize(),
+            j,
+            randomVoteOption * jitter,
+            1,
+            0,
+            randomVoteWeight * jitter,
+            maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+            genRandomSalt().toString(),
+            users[j].privKey.serialize(),
+          );
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should generate zk-SNARK proofs and verify them", async () => {
+      await timeTravel(pollDuration);
+      await mergeMessages(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      await mergeSignups(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      const tallyFileData = await genProofs(
+        testProofsDirPath,
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyVotesTestZkeyPath,
+        processMessageTestZkeyPath,
+        0,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        testRapidsnarkPath,
+        testProcessMessagesWitnessPath,
+        testTallyVotesWitnessPath,
+        undefined,
+        coordinatorPrivKey,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        undefined,
+        testProcessMessagesWasmPath,
+        testTallyVotesWasmPath,
+        undefined,
+        useWasm,
+      );
+      await proveOnChain("0", testProofsDirPath);
+      await verify(
+        "0",
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyFileData,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        pollAddresses.tally,
+        pollAddresses.subsidy,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe("1000 signups, 5000 messages", () => {
+    const thousandUsers = Array<Keypair>(1000).fill(new Keypair());
+
+    after(() => {
+      cleanVanilla();
+    });
+
+    before(async () => {
+      // deploy the smart contracts
+      maciAddresses = await deploy(stateTreeDepth);
+      // deploy a poll contract
+      pollAddresses = await deployPoll(
+        pollDuration,
+        maxMessages,
+        maxVoteOptions,
+        intStateTreeDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        messageBatchDepth,
+        voteOptionTreeDepth,
+        coordinatorPubKey,
+      );
+    });
+
+    it("should signup 1000 users", async () => {
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+      for (let i = 0; i < thousandUsers.length; i += 1) {
+        // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+        await signup(thousandUsers[i].pubKey.serialize());
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should publish 5000 messages (some for non signed up users)", async () => {
+      for (let i = 0; i < 5; i += 1) {
+        const jitter = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
+        // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/prefer-for-of
+        for (let j = 0; j < thousandUsers.length; j += 1) {
+          const randomVoteOption = Math.floor(Math.random() * 126);
+          const randomVoteWeight = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10);
+          // eslint-disable-next-line no-await-in-loop
+          await publish(
+            thousandUsers[j].pubKey.serialize(),
+            j,
+            randomVoteOption * jitter,
+            1,
+            0,
+            randomVoteWeight * jitter,
+            maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+            genRandomSalt().toString(),
+            thousandUsers[j].privKey.serialize(),
+          );
+        }
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should generate zk-SNARK proofs and verify them", async () => {
+      await timeTravel(pollDuration);
+      await mergeMessages(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      await mergeSignups(0, maciAddresses.maciAddress);
+      const tallyFileData = await genProofs(
+        testProofsDirPath,
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyVotesTestZkeyPath,
+        processMessageTestZkeyPath,
+        0,
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        testRapidsnarkPath,
+        testProcessMessagesWitnessPath,
+        testTallyVotesWitnessPath,
+        undefined,
+        coordinatorPrivKey,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        undefined,
+        testProcessMessagesWasmPath,
+        testTallyVotesWasmPath,
+        undefined,
+        useWasm,
+      );
+      await proveOnChain("0", testProofsDirPath);
+      await verify(
+        "0",
+        testTallyFilePath,
+        tallyFileData,
+        maciAddresses.maciAddress,
+        pollAddresses.tally,
+        pollAddresses.subsidy,
+      );
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2930818d2c..ab9e386d3b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
     "test:cli": "lerna run test --scope \"maci-cli\"",
     "test:integration": "lerna run test --scope \"maci-integrationtests\"",
     "test": "lerna run test --ignore maci-integrationtests --ignore maci-cli",
+    "test:stress": "lerna run test:stress --scope \"maci-cli\"",
     "types": "lerna run types",
     "typedoc": "typedoc --plugin typedoc-plugin-markdown --options typedoc.json",
     "prepare": "is-ci || husky install"