diff --git a/examples/Cargo.lock b/examples/Cargo.lock
index 6b4e8e0..002efc7 100644
--- a/examples/Cargo.lock
+++ b/examples/Cargo.lock
@@ -4736,6 +4736,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "prost",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
+ "tokio",
  "tui",
  "unicode-width 0.1.12",
  "waku-bindings",
diff --git a/examples/basic/src/main.rs b/examples/basic/src/main.rs
index f17af70..1f7fb85 100644
--- a/examples/basic/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/basic/src/main.rs
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         tcp_port: Some(60010), // TODO: use any available port.
         ..Default::default()
     }))
+    .await
     .expect("should instantiate");
 
     let node2 = waku_new(Some(WakuNodeConfig {
         tcp_port: Some(60020), // TODO: use any available port.
         ..Default::default()
     }))
+    .await
     .expect("should instantiate");
 
     // ========================================================================
@@ -31,7 +33,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
 
                 match event {
                     WakuEvent::WakuMessage(evt) => {
-                        println!("WakuMessage event received: {:?}", evt.waku_message);
+                        // println!("WakuMessage event received: {:?}", evt.waku_message);
                         let message = evt.waku_message;
                         let payload = message.payload.to_vec();
                         let msg = from_utf8(&payload).expect("should be valid message");
@@ -54,7 +56,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
 
                 match event {
                     WakuEvent::WakuMessage(evt) => {
-                        println!("WakuMessage event received: {:?}", evt.waku_message);
+                        // println!("WakuMessage event received: {:?}", evt.waku_message);
                         let message = evt.waku_message;
                         let payload = message.payload.to_vec();
                         let msg = from_utf8(&payload).expect("should be valid message");
@@ -69,8 +71,8 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
         })
         .expect("set event call back working");
 
-    let node1 = node1.start().expect("node1 should start");
-    let node2 = node2.start().expect("node2 should start");
+    let node1 = node1.start().await.expect("node1 should start");
+    let node2 = node2.start().await.expect("node2 should start");
 
     // ========================================================================
     // Subscribe to pubsub topic
@@ -78,10 +80,12 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
 
     node1
         .relay_subscribe(&topic)
+        .await
         .expect("node1 should subscribe");
 
     node2
         .relay_subscribe(&topic)
+        .await
         .expect("node2 should subscribe");
 
     // ========================================================================
@@ -89,10 +93,12 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
 
     let addresses2 = node2
         .listen_addresses()
+        .await
         .expect("should obtain the addresses");
 
     node1
         .connect(&addresses2[0], None)
+        .await
         .expect("node1 should connect to node2");
 
     // ========================================================================
@@ -119,6 +125,7 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     );
     node1
         .relay_publish_message(&message, &topic, None)
+        .await
         .expect("should have sent the message");
 
     // ========================================================================
@@ -129,13 +136,13 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Error> {
     // ========================================================================
     // Stop both instances
 
-    let node1 = node1.stop().expect("should stop");
-    let node2 = node2.stop().expect("should stop");
+    let node1 = node1.stop().await.expect("should stop");
+    let node2 = node2.stop().await.expect("should stop");
 
     // ========================================================================
     // Free resources
-    node1.waku_destroy().expect("should deallocate");
-    node2.waku_destroy().expect("should deallocate");
+    node1.waku_destroy().await.expect("should deallocate");
+    node2.waku_destroy().await.expect("should deallocate");
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/examples/tic-tac-toe-gui/src/main.rs b/examples/tic-tac-toe-gui/src/main.rs
index fef3a05..b298c0d 100644
--- a/examples/tic-tac-toe-gui/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/tic-tac-toe-gui/src/main.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::str::from_utf8;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{SystemTime, Duration};
+use tokio::task;
 
 use tokio::sync::mpsc;
 use waku::{
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ impl TicTacToeApp<Initialized> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn start(self) -> TicTacToeApp<Running> {
+    async fn start(self) -> TicTacToeApp<Running> {
         let tx_clone = self.tx.clone();
 
         let my_closure = move |response| {
@@ -84,14 +85,14 @@ impl TicTacToeApp<Initialized> {
         self.waku.set_event_callback(my_closure).expect("set event call back working");
 
         // Start the waku node
-        let waku = self.waku.start().expect("waku should start");
+        let waku = self.waku.start().await.expect("waku should start");
 
         // Subscribe to desired topic using the relay protocol
-        // self.waku.relay_subscribe(&self.game_topic.to_string()).expect("waku should subscribe");
+        waku.relay_subscribe(&self.game_topic).await.expect("waku should subscribe");
 
-        let ctopic = WakuContentTopic::new("waku", "2", "tictactoegame", Encoding::Proto);
-        let content_topics = vec![ctopic];
-        waku.filter_subscribe(&self.game_topic, content_topics).expect("waku should subscribe");
+        // let ctopic = WakuContentTopic::new("waku", "2", "tictactoegame", Encoding::Proto);
+        // let content_topics = vec![ctopic];
+        // waku.filter_subscribe(&self.game_topic, content_topics).await.expect("waku should subscribe");
 
         // Connect to hard-coded node
         // let target_node_multi_addr =
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ impl TicTacToeApp<Initialized> {
 }
 
 impl TicTacToeApp<Running> {
-    fn send_game_state(&self, game_state: &GameState) {
+    async fn send_game_state(&self, game_state: &GameState) {
         let serialized_game_state = serde_json::to_string(game_state).unwrap();
         let content_topic = WakuContentTopic::new("waku", "2", "tictactoegame", Encoding::Proto);
 
@@ -132,9 +133,11 @@ impl TicTacToeApp<Running> {
             false,
         );
 
-        // self.waku.relay_publish_message(&message, &self.game_topic.to_string(), None)
-        //     .expect("Failed to send message");
-        self.waku.lightpush_publish_message(&message, &self.game_topic).expect("Failed to send message");
+        if let Ok(msg_hash) = self.waku.relay_publish_message(&message, &self.game_topic, None).await {
+            dbg!(format!("message hash published: {}", msg_hash));
+        }
+
+        // self.waku.lightpush_publish_message(&message, &self.game_topic);
     }
 
     fn make_move(&mut self, row: usize, col: usize) {
@@ -159,7 +162,17 @@ impl TicTacToeApp<Running> {
                     };
                 }
 
-                self.send_game_state(&game_state); // Send updated state after a move
+                // Call the async function in a blocking context
+                task::block_in_place(|| {
+                    // Obtain the current runtime handle
+                    let handle = tokio::runtime::Handle::current();
+
+                    // Block on the async function
+                    handle.block_on(async {
+                        // Assuming `self` is available in the current context
+                        self.send_game_state(&game_state).await;
+                    });
+                });
             }
         }
     }
@@ -314,7 +327,7 @@ async fn main() -> eframe::Result<()> {
         // node_key: Some(SecretKey::from_str("2fc0515879e52b7b73297cfd6ab3abf7c344ef84b7a90ff6f4cc19e05a198027").unwrap()),
         max_message_size: Some("1024KiB".to_string()),
         relay_topics: vec![String::from(&game_topic)],
-        log_level: Some("DEBUG"), // Supported: TRACE, DEBUG, INFO, NOTICE, WARN, ERROR or FATAL
+        log_level: Some("FATAL"), // Supported: TRACE, DEBUG, INFO, NOTICE, WARN, ERROR or FATAL
 
         keep_alive: Some(true),
 
@@ -326,7 +339,7 @@ async fn main() -> eframe::Result<()> {
         // discv5_enr_auto_update: Some(false),
 
         ..Default::default()
-    }))
+    })).await
     .expect("should instantiate");
 
     let game_state = GameState {
@@ -339,7 +352,7 @@ async fn main() -> eframe::Result<()> {
     let clone = shared_state.clone();
     let app = TicTacToeApp::new(waku, game_topic, clone, tx);
 
-    let app = app.start();
+    let app = app.start().await;
 
     let clone = shared_state.clone();
     // Listen for messages in the main thread
diff --git a/examples/toy-chat/Cargo.toml b/examples/toy-chat/Cargo.toml
index a9c13ed..abc5442 100644
--- a/examples/toy-chat/Cargo.toml
+++ b/examples/toy-chat/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,4 +15,5 @@ tui = "0.19"
 crossterm = "0.25"
 unicode-width = "0.1"
 prost = "0.11"
-chrono = "0.4"
\ No newline at end of file
+chrono = "0.4"
+tokio = { version = "1", features = ["full"] }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/toy-chat/src/main.rs b/examples/toy-chat/src/main.rs
index f9eb2df..7bd92e9 100644
--- a/examples/toy-chat/src/main.rs
+++ b/examples/toy-chat/src/main.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 mod protocol;
 
 use crate::protocol::{Chat2Message, TOY_CHAT_CONTENT_TOPIC};
+use tokio::task;
 use chrono::Utc;
 use crossterm::{
     event::{self, DisableMouseCapture, EnableMouseCapture, Event, KeyCode},
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ struct App<State> {
 }
 
 impl App<Initialized> {
-    fn new(nick: String) -> Result<App<Initialized>> {
+    async fn new(nick: String) -> Result<App<Initialized>> {
         let pubsub_topic = PubsubTopic::new(DEFAULT_PUBSUB_TOPIC);
         let waku = waku_new(Some(WakuNodeConfig {
             tcp_port: Some(60010),
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ impl App<Initialized> {
             // discv5_enr_auto_update: Some(false),
     
             ..Default::default()
-        }))?;
+        })).await?;
         
         Ok(App {
             input: String::new(),
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ impl App<Initialized> {
         })
     }
 
-    fn start_waku_node(self) -> Result<App<Running>> {
+    async fn start_waku_node(self) -> Result<App<Running>> {
 
         let shared_messages = Arc::clone(&self.messages);
 
@@ -116,10 +117,10 @@ impl App<Initialized> {
             }
         })?;
 
-        let waku = self.waku.start()?;
+        let waku = self.waku.start().await?;
 
         let pubsub_topic = PubsubTopic::new(DEFAULT_PUBSUB_TOPIC);
-        waku.relay_subscribe(&pubsub_topic)?;
+        waku.relay_subscribe(&pubsub_topic).await?;
 
         Ok(App {
             input: self.input,
@@ -133,8 +134,8 @@ impl App<Initialized> {
 
 impl App<Running> {
 
-    fn retrieve_history(&mut self) {
-        let messages = self.waku.store_query(None, vec![TOY_CHAT_CONTENT_TOPIC.clone()], STORE_NODE).unwrap();
+    async fn retrieve_history(&mut self) {
+        let messages = self.waku.store_query(None, vec![TOY_CHAT_CONTENT_TOPIC.clone()], STORE_NODE).await.unwrap();
         let messages:Vec<_> = messages
             .iter()
             .map(|store_resp_msg| {
@@ -183,15 +184,25 @@ impl App<Running> {
                                     false,
                                 );
 
-                                let pubsub_topic = PubsubTopic::new(DEFAULT_PUBSUB_TOPIC);
-                                if let Err(e) = self.waku.relay_publish_message(
-                                    &waku_message,
-                                    &pubsub_topic,
-                                    None,
-                                ) {
-                                    let mut out = std::io::stderr();
-                                    write!(out, "{e:?}").unwrap();
-                                }
+                                // Call the async function in a blocking context
+                                task::block_in_place(|| {
+                                    // Obtain the current runtime handle
+                                    let handle = tokio::runtime::Handle::current();
+
+                                    // Block on the async function
+                                    handle.block_on(async {
+                                        // Assuming `self` is available in the current context
+                                        let pubsub_topic = PubsubTopic::new(DEFAULT_PUBSUB_TOPIC);
+                                                if let Err(e) = self.waku.relay_publish_message(
+                                                    &waku_message,
+                                                    &pubsub_topic,
+                                                    None,
+                                                ).await {
+                                                    let mut out = std::io::stderr();
+                                                    write!(out, "{e:?}").unwrap();
+                                                }
+                                    });
+                                });
                             }
                             KeyCode::Char(c) => {
                                 self.input.push(c);
@@ -210,16 +221,17 @@ impl App<Running> {
         }
     }
 
-    fn stop_app(self) {
-        self.waku.stop().expect("the node should stop properly");
+    async fn stop_app(self) {
+        self.waku.stop().await.expect("the node should stop properly");
     }
 }
 
-fn main() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
+#[tokio::main]
+async fn main() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     let nick = std::env::args().nth(1).expect("Nick to be set");
 
-    let app = App::new(nick)?;
-    let mut app = app.start_waku_node()?;
+    let app = App::new(nick).await?;
+    let mut app = app.start_waku_node().await?;
 
     // setup terminal
     enable_raw_mode()?;
@@ -228,9 +240,9 @@ fn main() -> std::result::Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {
     let backend = CrosstermBackend::new(stdout);
     let mut terminal = Terminal::new(backend)?;
 
-    app.retrieve_history();
+    app.retrieve_history().await;
     let res = app.run_main_loop(&mut terminal);
-    app.stop_app();
+    app.stop_app().await;
 
     // restore terminal
     disable_raw_mode()?;
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/general/contenttopic.rs b/waku-bindings/src/general/contenttopic.rs
index 381f57a..ad987be 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/general/contenttopic.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/general/contenttopic.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 // std
+use crate::general::Result;
+use crate::utils::WakuDecode;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
 use std::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
 use std::str::FromStr;
@@ -79,6 +81,12 @@ impl WakuContentTopic {
     }
 }
 
+impl WakuDecode for WakuContentTopic {
+    fn decode(input: &str) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(serde_json::from_str(input).expect("could not parse store resp"))
+    }
+}
+
 impl FromStr for WakuContentTopic {
     type Err = String;
 
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/general/messagehash.rs b/waku-bindings/src/general/messagehash.rs
index ffdd5a9..0f07a22 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/general/messagehash.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/general/messagehash.rs
@@ -2,12 +2,28 @@ use crate::utils::WakuDecode;
 use hex::FromHex;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize};
 use std::convert::TryInto;
+use std::fmt;
+use std::hash::{Hash, Hasher};
 use std::str::FromStr;
 
 /// Waku message hash, hex encoded sha256 digest of the message
-#[derive(Debug, Serialize, Clone)]
+#[derive(Debug, Serialize, PartialEq, Eq, Clone)]
 pub struct MessageHash([u8; 32]);
 
+impl MessageHash {
+    fn to_hex_string(&self) -> String {
+        let hex: String = self.0.iter().map(|b| format!("{:02x}", b)).collect();
+        format!("0x{}", hex)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Hash for MessageHash {
+    fn hash<H: Hasher>(&self, state: &mut H) {
+        // Use the inner array to contribute to the hash
+        self.0.hash(state);
+    }
+}
+
 impl FromStr for MessageHash {
     type Err = String;
 
@@ -45,6 +61,13 @@ impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for MessageHash {
 
 impl WakuDecode for MessageHash {
     fn decode(input: &str) -> Result<Self, String> {
-        serde_json::from_str(input).expect("could not parse MessageHash")
+        MessageHash::from_str(input)
+    }
+}
+
+// Implement the Display trait
+impl fmt::Display for MessageHash {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(f, "{}", self.to_hex_string())
     }
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/events.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/events.rs
index 6b9d3ff..029bb98 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/events.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/events.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn deserialize_message_event() {
-        let s = "{\"eventType\":\"message\",\"messageHash\":\"0x26ff3d7fbc950ea2158ce62fd76fd745eee0323c9eac23d0713843b0f04ea27c\",\"pubsubTopic\":\"/waku/2/default-waku/proto\",\"wakuMessage\":{\"payload\":\"SGkgZnJvbSDwn6aAIQ==\",\"contentTopic\":\"/toychat/2/huilong/proto\",\"timestamp\":1665580926660}}";
+        let s = "{\"eventType\":\"message\",\"messageHash\":[91, 70, 26, 8, 141, 232, 150, 200, 26, 206, 224, 175, 249, 74, 61, 140, 231, 126, 224, 160, 91, 80, 162, 65, 250, 171, 84, 149, 133, 110, 214, 101],\"pubsubTopic\":\"/waku/2/default-waku/proto\",\"wakuMessage\":{\"payload\":\"SGkgZnJvbSDwn6aAIQ==\",\"contentTopic\":\"/toychat/2/huilong/proto\",\"timestamp\":1665580926660}}";
         let evt: WakuEvent = serde_json::from_str(s).unwrap();
         assert!(matches!(evt, WakuEvent::WakuMessage(_)));
     }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/filter.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/filter.rs
index 9bf0208..c3d237a 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/filter.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/filter.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 use std::ffi::CString;
 // crates
 use libc::*;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 // internal
 use crate::general::contenttopic::WakuContentTopic;
 use crate::general::pubsubtopic::PubsubTopic;
@@ -11,22 +13,29 @@ use crate::general::Result;
 use crate::node::context::WakuNodeContext;
 use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_no_response, LibwakuResponse};
 
-pub fn waku_filter_subscribe(
+pub async fn waku_filter_subscribe(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
     content_topics: Vec<WakuContentTopic>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let content_topics = WakuContentTopic::join_content_topics(content_topics);
 
-    let pubsub_topic_ptr = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
-        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic")
-        .into_raw();
-    let content_topics_ptr = CString::new(content_topics)
-        .expect("CString should build properly from content topic")
-        .into_raw();
+    let pubsub_topic = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
+        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic");
+    let pubsub_topic_ptr = pubsub_topic.as_ptr();
+
+    let content_topics =
+        CString::new(content_topics).expect("CString should build properly from content topic");
+    let content_topics_ptr = content_topics.as_ptr();
+
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -38,31 +47,35 @@ pub fn waku_filter_subscribe(
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(pubsub_topic_ptr));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(content_topics_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
 
-pub fn waku_filter_unsubscribe(
+pub async fn waku_filter_unsubscribe(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
     content_topics: Vec<WakuContentTopic>, // comma-separated list of content topics
 ) -> Result<()> {
     let content_topics_topics = WakuContentTopic::join_content_topics(content_topics);
 
-    let pubsub_topic_ptr = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
-        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic")
-        .into_raw();
-    let content_topics_topics_ptr = CString::new(content_topics_topics)
-        .expect("CString should build properly from content topic")
-        .into_raw();
+    let pubsub_topic = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
+        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic");
+    let pubsub_topic_ptr = pubsub_topic.as_ptr();
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let content_topics_topics = CString::new(content_topics_topics)
+        .expect("CString should build properly from content topic");
+    let content_topics_topics_ptr = content_topics_topics.as_ptr();
+
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -74,18 +87,21 @@ pub fn waku_filter_unsubscribe(
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(pubsub_topic_ptr));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(content_topics_topics_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
 
-pub fn waku_filter_unsubscribe_all(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+pub async fn waku_filter_unsubscribe_all(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -96,5 +112,6 @@ pub fn waku_filter_unsubscribe_all(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
         )
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/lightpush.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/lightpush.rs
index 3b538eb..297c223 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/lightpush.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/lightpush.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 use std::ffi::CString;
 // crates
 use libc::*;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 // internal
 use crate::general::{messagehash::MessageHash, Result, WakuMessage};
 use crate::node::context::WakuNodeContext;
@@ -11,23 +13,30 @@ use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_response, LibwakuResponse};
 
 use crate::general::pubsubtopic::PubsubTopic;
 
-pub fn waku_lightpush_publish_message(
+pub async fn waku_lightpush_publish_message(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     message: &WakuMessage,
     pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
 ) -> Result<MessageHash> {
-    let message_ptr = CString::new(
+    let message = CString::new(
         serde_json::to_string(&message)
             .expect("WakuMessages should always be able to success serializing"),
     )
-    .expect("CString should build properly from the serialized waku message")
-    .into_raw();
-    let pubsub_topic_ptr = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
-        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic")
-        .into_raw();
+    .expect("CString should build properly from the serialized waku message");
+    let message_ptr = message.as_ptr();
+
+    let pubsub_topic = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
+        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic");
+    let pubsub_topic_ptr = pubsub_topic.as_ptr();
+
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -39,11 +48,9 @@ pub fn waku_lightpush_publish_message(
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(message_ptr));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(pubsub_topic_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_response(code, result)
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/management.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/management.rs
index 8eb24f0..16fc9a0 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/management.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/management.rs
@@ -5,37 +5,44 @@ use std::ffi::CString;
 // crates
 use libc::c_void;
 use multiaddr::Multiaddr;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 // internal
 use super::config::WakuNodeConfig;
 use crate::general::Result;
 use crate::node::context::WakuNodeContext;
 use crate::utils::LibwakuResponse;
 use crate::utils::WakuDecode;
-use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_json_response, handle_no_response, handle_response};
+use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_no_response, handle_response};
 
 /// Instantiates a Waku node
 /// as per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_newchar-jsonconfig)
-pub fn waku_new(config: Option<WakuNodeConfig>) -> Result<WakuNodeContext> {
+pub async fn waku_new(config: Option<WakuNodeConfig>) -> Result<WakuNodeContext> {
     let config = config.unwrap_or_default();
-    let config_ptr = CString::new(
+    let config = CString::new(
         serde_json::to_string(&config)
             .expect("Serialization from properly built NodeConfig should never fail"),
     )
-    .expect("CString should build properly from the config")
-    .into_raw();
+    .expect("CString should build properly from the config");
+    let config_ptr = config.as_ptr();
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let obj_ptr = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         let out = waku_sys::waku_new(config_ptr, cb, &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void);
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(config_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
+
     match result {
         LibwakuResponse::MissingCallback => panic!("callback is required"),
         LibwakuResponse::Failure(v) => Err(v),
@@ -43,57 +50,81 @@ pub fn waku_new(config: Option<WakuNodeConfig>) -> Result<WakuNodeContext> {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn waku_destroy(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+pub async fn waku_destroy(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         waku_sys::waku_destroy(ctx.get_ptr(), cb, &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void)
     };
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
 
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
 
 /// Start a Waku node mounting all the protocols that were enabled during the Waku node instantiation.
 /// as per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_start)
-pub fn waku_start(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+pub async fn waku_start(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         waku_sys::waku_start(ctx.get_ptr(), cb, &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void)
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
 
 /// Stops a Waku node
 /// as per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_stop)
-pub fn waku_stop(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+pub async fn waku_stop(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<()> {
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         waku_sys::waku_stop(ctx.get_ptr(), cb, &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void)
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
 
 /// nwaku version
 #[allow(clippy::not_unsafe_ptr_arg_deref)]
-pub fn waku_version(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<String> {
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+pub async fn waku_version(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<String> {
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         waku_sys::waku_version(ctx.get_ptr(), cb, &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void)
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_response(code, result)
 }
 
@@ -110,45 +141,54 @@ impl WakuDecode for Vec<Multiaddr> {
 
 /// Get the multiaddresses the Waku node is listening to
 /// as per [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_listen_addresses)
-pub fn waku_listen_addresses(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<Vec<Multiaddr>> {
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+pub async fn waku_listen_addresses(ctx: &WakuNodeContext) -> Result<Vec<Multiaddr>> {
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
+
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         waku_sys::waku_listen_addresses(ctx.get_ptr(), cb, &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void)
     };
 
-    handle_json_response(code, result)
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
+    handle_response(code, result)
 }
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::waku_new;
     use crate::node::management::{waku_listen_addresses, waku_start, waku_stop, waku_version};
-    use serial_test::serial;
 
-    #[test]
-    #[serial]
-    fn waku_flow() {
-        let node = waku_new(None).unwrap();
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn waku_flow() {
+        let node = waku_new(None).await.unwrap();
 
-        waku_start(&node).unwrap();
+        waku_start(&node).await.unwrap();
 
         // test addresses
-        let addresses = waku_listen_addresses(&node).unwrap();
+        let addresses = waku_listen_addresses(&node).await.unwrap();
         dbg!(&addresses);
         assert!(!addresses.is_empty());
 
-        waku_stop(&node).unwrap();
+        waku_stop(&node).await.unwrap();
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    #[serial]
-    fn nwaku_version() {
-        let node = waku_new(None).unwrap();
-        let version = waku_version(&node).expect("should return the version");
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn nwaku_version() {
+        let node = waku_new(None).await.unwrap();
+
+        let version = waku_version(&node)
+            .await
+            .expect("should return the version");
+
         print!("Current version: {}", version);
+
         assert!(!version.is_empty());
     }
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/mod.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/mod.rs
index 3c022e9..483c7d4 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -44,34 +44,41 @@ pub struct WakuNodeHandle<State> {
 
 /// Spawn a new Waku node with the given configuration (default configuration if `None` provided)
 /// as per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_newchar-jsonconfig)
-pub fn waku_new(config: Option<WakuNodeConfig>) -> Result<WakuNodeHandle<Initialized>> {
+pub async fn waku_new(config: Option<WakuNodeConfig>) -> Result<WakuNodeHandle<Initialized>> {
     Ok(WakuNodeHandle {
-        ctx: management::waku_new(config)?,
+        ctx: management::waku_new(config).await?,
         _state: PhantomData,
     })
 }
 
 impl<State> WakuNodeHandle<State> {
     /// Get the nwaku version
-    pub fn version(&self) -> Result<String> {
-        management::waku_version(&self.ctx)
+    pub async fn version(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        management::waku_version(&self.ctx).await
     }
 
-    pub fn waku_destroy(self) -> Result<()> {
-        let res = management::waku_destroy(&self.ctx);
+    pub async fn waku_destroy(self) -> Result<()> {
+        let res = management::waku_destroy(&self.ctx).await;
         self.ctx.reset_ptr();
         res
     }
+
+    /// Subscribe to WakuRelay to receive messages matching a content filter.
+    pub async fn relay_subscribe(&self, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
+        relay::waku_relay_subscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic).await
+    }
 }
 
 impl WakuNodeHandle<Initialized> {
     /// Start a Waku node mounting all the protocols that were enabled during the Waku node instantiation.
     /// as per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_start)
-    pub fn start(self) -> Result<WakuNodeHandle<Running>> {
-        management::waku_start(&self.ctx).map(|_| WakuNodeHandle {
-            ctx: self.ctx,
-            _state: PhantomData,
-        })
+    pub async fn start(self) -> Result<WakuNodeHandle<Running>> {
+        management::waku_start(&self.ctx)
+            .await
+            .map(|_| WakuNodeHandle {
+                ctx: self.ctx,
+                _state: PhantomData,
+            })
     }
 
     pub fn set_event_callback<F: FnMut(LibwakuResponse) + 'static + Sync + Send>(
@@ -85,17 +92,19 @@ impl WakuNodeHandle<Initialized> {
 impl WakuNodeHandle<Running> {
     /// Stops a Waku node
     /// as per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_stop)
-    pub fn stop(self) -> Result<WakuNodeHandle<Initialized>> {
-        management::waku_stop(&self.ctx).map(|_| WakuNodeHandle {
-            ctx: self.ctx,
-            _state: PhantomData,
-        })
+    pub async fn stop(self) -> Result<WakuNodeHandle<Initialized>> {
+        management::waku_stop(&self.ctx)
+            .await
+            .map(|_| WakuNodeHandle {
+                ctx: self.ctx,
+                _state: PhantomData,
+            })
     }
 
     /// Get the multiaddresses the Waku node is listening to
     /// as per [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_listen_addresses)
-    pub fn listen_addresses(&self) -> Result<Vec<Multiaddr>> {
-        management::waku_listen_addresses(&self.ctx)
+    pub async fn listen_addresses(&self) -> Result<Vec<Multiaddr>> {
+        management::waku_listen_addresses(&self.ctx).await
     }
 
     /// Dial peer using a multiaddress
@@ -103,11 +112,11 @@ impl WakuNodeHandle<Running> {
     /// If the function execution takes longer than `timeout` value, the execution will be canceled and an error returned.
     /// Use 0 for no timeout
     /// As per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_connect_peerchar-address-int-timeoutms)
-    pub fn connect(&self, address: &Multiaddr, timeout: Option<Duration>) -> Result<()> {
-        peers::waku_connect(&self.ctx, address, timeout)
+    pub async fn connect(&self, address: &Multiaddr, timeout: Option<Duration>) -> Result<()> {
+        peers::waku_connect(&self.ctx, address, timeout).await
     }
 
-    pub fn relay_publish_txt(
+    pub async fn relay_publish_txt(
         &self,
         pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
         msg_txt: &String,
@@ -129,60 +138,55 @@ impl WakuNodeHandle<Running> {
             false,
         );
 
-        relay::waku_relay_publish_message(&self.ctx, &message, pubsub_topic, timeout)
+        relay::waku_relay_publish_message(&self.ctx, &message, pubsub_topic, timeout).await
     }
 
     /// Publish a message using Waku Relay.
     /// As per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_relay_publishchar-messagejson-char-pubsubtopic-int-timeoutms)
     /// The pubsub_topic parameter is optional and if not specified it will be derived from the contentTopic.
-    pub fn relay_publish_message(
+    pub async fn relay_publish_message(
         &self,
         message: &WakuMessage,
         pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
         timeout: Option<Duration>,
     ) -> Result<MessageHash> {
-        relay::waku_relay_publish_message(&self.ctx, message, pubsub_topic, timeout)
-    }
-
-    /// Subscribe to WakuRelay to receive messages matching a content filter.
-    pub fn relay_subscribe(&self, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
-        relay::waku_relay_subscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic)
+        relay::waku_relay_publish_message(&self.ctx, message, pubsub_topic, timeout).await
     }
 
     /// Closes the pubsub subscription to stop receiving messages matching a content filter. No more messages will be received from this pubsub topic
-    pub fn relay_unsubscribe(&self, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
-        relay::waku_relay_unsubscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic)
+    pub async fn relay_unsubscribe(&self, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
+        relay::waku_relay_unsubscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic).await
     }
 
-    pub fn filter_subscribe(
+    pub async fn filter_subscribe(
         &self,
         pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
         content_topics: Vec<WakuContentTopic>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
-        filter::waku_filter_subscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic, content_topics)
+        filter::waku_filter_subscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic, content_topics).await
     }
 
-    pub fn filter_unsubscribe(
+    pub async fn filter_unsubscribe(
         &self,
         pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
         content_topics: Vec<WakuContentTopic>,
     ) -> Result<()> {
-        filter::waku_filter_unsubscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic, content_topics)
+        filter::waku_filter_unsubscribe(&self.ctx, pubsub_topic, content_topics).await
     }
 
-    pub fn filter_unsubscribe_all(&self) -> Result<()> {
-        filter::waku_filter_unsubscribe_all(&self.ctx)
+    pub async fn filter_unsubscribe_all(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        filter::waku_filter_unsubscribe_all(&self.ctx).await
     }
 
-    pub fn lightpush_publish_message(
+    pub async fn lightpush_publish_message(
         &self,
         message: &WakuMessage,
         pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
     ) -> Result<MessageHash> {
-        lightpush::waku_lightpush_publish_message(&self.ctx, message, pubsub_topic)
+        lightpush::waku_lightpush_publish_message(&self.ctx, message, pubsub_topic).await
     }
 
-    pub fn store_query(
+    pub async fn store_query(
         &self,
         pubsub_topic: Option<PubsubTopic>,
         content_topics: Vec<WakuContentTopic>,
@@ -212,7 +216,8 @@ impl WakuNodeHandle<Running> {
                 Some(25),         // pagination_limit,
                 peer_addr,
                 None, // timeout_millis
-            )?;
+            )
+            .await?;
 
             messages.extend(response.messages);
 
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/peers.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/peers.rs
index a5bf0ef..ac7616c 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/peers.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/peers.rs
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 // crates
 use libc::*;
 use multiaddr::Multiaddr;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 // internal
 use crate::general::Result;
 use crate::node::context::WakuNodeContext;
@@ -17,17 +19,23 @@ use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_no_response};
 /// If the function execution takes longer than `timeout` value, the execution will be canceled and an error returned.
 /// Use 0 for no timeout
 /// As per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_connect_peerchar-address-int-timeoutms)
-pub fn waku_connect(
+pub async fn waku_connect(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     address: &Multiaddr,
     timeout: Option<Duration>,
 ) -> Result<()> {
-    let address_ptr = CString::new(address.to_string())
-        .expect("CString should build properly from multiaddress")
-        .into_raw();
+    let address =
+        CString::new(address.to_string()).expect("CString should build properly from multiaddress");
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let address_ptr = address.as_ptr();
+
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -41,10 +49,9 @@ pub fn waku_connect(
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(address_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/relay.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/relay.rs
index 5aa1ff1..efa0360 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/relay.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/relay.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
 
 // std
 use std::ffi::CString;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 // crates
 use libc::*;
 // internal
@@ -15,25 +17,32 @@ use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_no_response, handle_response, LibwakuR
 /// Create a content topic according to [RFC 23](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/23/)
 /// As per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_content_topicchar-applicationname-unsigned-int-applicationversion-char-contenttopicname-char-encoding)
 #[allow(clippy::not_unsafe_ptr_arg_deref)]
-pub fn waku_create_content_topic(
+pub async fn waku_create_content_topic(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     application_name: &str,
     application_version: u32,
     content_topic_name: &str,
     encoding: Encoding,
 ) -> WakuContentTopic {
-    let application_name_ptr = CString::new(application_name)
-        .expect("Application name should always transform to CString")
-        .into_raw();
-    let content_topic_name_ptr = CString::new(content_topic_name)
-        .expect("Content topic should always transform to CString")
-        .into_raw();
-    let encoding_ptr = CString::new(encoding.to_string())
-        .expect("Encoding should always transform to CString")
-        .into_raw();
+    let application_name = CString::new(application_name)
+        .expect("Application name should always transform to CString");
+    let application_name_ptr = application_name.as_ptr();
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let content_topic_name =
+        CString::new(content_topic_name).expect("Content topic should always transform to CString");
+    let content_topic_name_ptr = content_topic_name.as_ptr();
+
+    let encoding =
+        CString::new(encoding.to_string()).expect("Encoding should always transform to CString");
+    let encoding_ptr = encoding.as_ptr();
+
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -47,43 +56,44 @@ pub fn waku_create_content_topic(
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(application_name_ptr));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(content_topic_name_ptr));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(encoding_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_response(code, result).expect("&str from result should always be extracted")
 }
 
 /// Publish a message using Waku Relay
 /// As per the [specification](https://rfc.vac.dev/spec/36/#extern-char-waku_relay_publishchar-messagejson-char-pubsubtopic-int-timeoutms)
-pub fn waku_relay_publish_message(
+pub async fn waku_relay_publish_message(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     message: &WakuMessage,
     pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
     timeout: Option<Duration>,
 ) -> Result<MessageHash> {
-    let message_ptr = CString::new(
+    let message = CString::new(
         serde_json::to_string(&message)
             .expect("WakuMessages should always be able to success serializing"),
     )
-    .expect("CString should build properly from the serialized waku message")
-    .into_raw();
-    let pubsub_topic_ptr = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
-        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic")
-        .into_raw();
+    .expect("CString should build properly from the serialized waku message");
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let pubsub_topic = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
+        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic");
+
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         let out = waku_sys::waku_relay_publish(
             ctx.get_ptr(),
-            pubsub_topic_ptr,
-            message_ptr,
+            pubsub_topic.as_ptr(),
+            message.as_ptr(),
             timeout
                 .map(|duration| {
                     duration
@@ -96,22 +106,25 @@ pub fn waku_relay_publish_message(
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(message_ptr));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(pubsub_topic_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_response(code, result)
 }
 
-pub fn waku_relay_subscribe(ctx: &WakuNodeContext, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
-    let pubsub_topic_ptr = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
-        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic")
-        .into_raw();
+pub async fn waku_relay_subscribe(ctx: &WakuNodeContext, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
+    let pubsub_topic = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
+        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic");
+    let pubsub_topic_ptr = pubsub_topic.as_ptr();
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -122,21 +135,28 @@ pub fn waku_relay_subscribe(ctx: &WakuNodeContext, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(pubsub_topic_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
 
-pub fn waku_relay_unsubscribe(ctx: &WakuNodeContext, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic) -> Result<()> {
-    let pubsub_topic_ptr = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
-        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic")
-        .into_raw();
+pub async fn waku_relay_unsubscribe(
+    ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
+    pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic,
+) -> Result<()> {
+    let pubsub_topic = CString::new(String::from(pubsub_topic))
+        .expect("CString should build properly from pubsub topic");
+    let pubsub_topic_ptr = pubsub_topic.as_ptr();
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
@@ -147,10 +167,9 @@ pub fn waku_relay_unsubscribe(ctx: &WakuNodeContext, pubsub_topic: &PubsubTopic)
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(pubsub_topic_ptr));
-
         out
     };
 
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
     handle_no_response(code, result)
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/node/store.rs b/waku-bindings/src/node/store.rs
index d436cb0..d8efb34 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/node/store.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/node/store.rs
@@ -4,13 +4,15 @@
 use std::ffi::CString;
 // crates
 use libc::*;
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use tokio::sync::Notify;
 // internal
 use crate::general::{
     contenttopic::WakuContentTopic, messagehash::MessageHash, pubsubtopic::PubsubTopic, Result,
     WakuStoreRespMessage,
 };
 use crate::node::context::WakuNodeContext;
-use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_json_response, LibwakuResponse, WakuDecode};
+use crate::utils::{get_trampoline, handle_response, LibwakuResponse, WakuDecode};
 use multiaddr::Multiaddr;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
@@ -76,7 +78,7 @@ impl WakuDecode for StoreResponse {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn waku_store_query(
+pub async fn waku_store_query(
     ctx: &WakuNodeContext,
     request_id: String,
     include_data: bool,
@@ -107,37 +109,39 @@ pub fn waku_store_query(
     let json_query = CString::new(
         serde_json::to_string(&query).expect("StoreQuery should always be able to be serialized"),
     )
-    .expect("CString should build properly from the serialized filter subscription")
-    .into_raw();
+    .expect("CString should build properly from the serialized filter subscription");
+    let json_query_ptr = json_query.as_ptr();
 
     peer_addr
         .parse::<Multiaddr>()
         .expect("correct multiaddress in store query");
-    let peer_addr = CString::new(peer_addr)
-        .expect("peer_addr CString should be created")
-        .into_raw();
+    let peer_addr = CString::new(peer_addr).expect("peer_addr CString should be created");
+    let peer_addr_ptr = peer_addr.as_ptr();
 
     let timeout_millis = timeout_millis.unwrap_or(10000i32);
 
-    let mut result: LibwakuResponse = Default::default();
-    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| result = r;
+    let mut result = LibwakuResponse::default();
+    let notify = Arc::new(Notify::new());
+    let notify_clone = notify.clone();
+    let result_cb = |r: LibwakuResponse| {
+        result = r;
+        notify_clone.notify_one(); // Notify that the value has been updated
+    };
     let code = unsafe {
         let mut closure = result_cb;
         let cb = get_trampoline(&closure);
         let out = waku_sys::waku_store_query(
             ctx.get_ptr(),
-            json_query,
-            peer_addr,
+            json_query_ptr,
+            peer_addr_ptr,
             timeout_millis,
             cb,
             &mut closure as *mut _ as *mut c_void,
         );
 
-        drop(CString::from_raw(json_query));
-        drop(CString::from_raw(peer_addr));
-
         out
     };
 
-    handle_json_response(code, result)
+    notify.notified().await; // Wait until a result is received
+    handle_response(code, result)
 }
diff --git a/waku-bindings/src/utils.rs b/waku-bindings/src/utils.rs
index d4ec81a..3a6e606 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/src/utils.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/src/utils.rs
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 use crate::general::Result;
-use core::str::FromStr;
 use std::convert::TryFrom;
 use std::{slice, str};
 use waku_sys::WakuCallBack;
 use waku_sys::{RET_ERR, RET_MISSING_CALLBACK, RET_OK};
 
-#[derive(Debug, Default, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default, PartialEq)]
 pub enum LibwakuResponse {
     Success(Option<String>),
     Failure(String),
@@ -36,6 +35,12 @@ pub trait WakuDecode: Sized {
     fn decode(input: &str) -> Result<Self>;
 }
 
+impl WakuDecode for String {
+    fn decode(input: &str) -> Result<Self> {
+        Ok(input.to_string())
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn decode<T: WakuDecode>(input: String) -> Result<T> {
     T::decode(input.as_str())
 }
@@ -87,7 +92,7 @@ pub fn handle_no_response(code: i32, result: LibwakuResponse) -> Result<()> {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn handle_json_response<F: WakuDecode>(code: i32, result: LibwakuResponse) -> Result<F> {
+pub fn handle_response<F: WakuDecode>(code: i32, result: LibwakuResponse) -> Result<F> {
     match result {
         LibwakuResponse::Success(v) => decode(v.unwrap_or_default()),
         LibwakuResponse::Failure(v) => Err(v),
@@ -98,21 +103,3 @@ pub fn handle_json_response<F: WakuDecode>(code: i32, result: LibwakuResponse) -
         ),
     }
 }
-
-pub fn handle_response<F: FromStr>(code: i32, result: LibwakuResponse) -> Result<F>
-where
-    <F as FromStr>::Err: std::fmt::Debug,
-{
-    match result {
-        LibwakuResponse::Success(v) => v
-            .unwrap_or_default()
-            .parse()
-            .map_err(|e| format!("could not parse value: {:?}", e)),
-        LibwakuResponse::Failure(v) => Err(v),
-        LibwakuResponse::MissingCallback => panic!("callback is required"),
-        LibwakuResponse::Undefined => panic!(
-            "undefined ffi state: code({}) was returned but callback was not executed",
-            code
-        ),
-    }
-}
diff --git a/waku-bindings/tests/node.rs b/waku-bindings/tests/node.rs
index 4c9fd81..9bb93cc 100644
--- a/waku-bindings/tests/node.rs
+++ b/waku-bindings/tests/node.rs
@@ -18,15 +18,13 @@ const ECHO_TIMEOUT: u64 = 1000;
 const ECHO_MESSAGE: &str = "Hi from 🦀!";
 const TEST_PUBSUBTOPIC: &str = "test";
 
-fn try_publish_relay_messages(
+async fn try_publish_relay_messages(
     node: &WakuNodeHandle<Running>,
     msg: &WakuMessage,
 ) -> Result<HashSet<MessageHash>, String> {
-    Ok(HashSet::from([node.relay_publish_message(
-        msg,
-        &PubsubTopic::new(TEST_PUBSUBTOPIC),
-        None,
-    )?]))
+    Ok(HashSet::from([node
+        .relay_publish_message(msg, &PubsubTopic::new(TEST_PUBSUBTOPIC), None)
+        .await?]))
 }
 
 async fn test_echo_messages(
@@ -66,21 +64,23 @@ async fn test_echo_messages(
         .set_event_callback(closure)
         .expect("set event call back working"); // Set the event callback with the closure
 
-    let node1 = node1.start()?;
-    let node2 = node2.start()?;
+    let node1 = node1.start().await?;
+    let node2 = node2.start().await?;
 
     node1
         .relay_subscribe(&PubsubTopic::new(TEST_PUBSUBTOPIC))
+        .await
         .unwrap();
     node2
         .relay_subscribe(&PubsubTopic::new(TEST_PUBSUBTOPIC))
+        .await
         .unwrap();
 
     sleep(Duration::from_secs(3)).await;
 
     // Interconnect nodes
     // Replace all matches with 127.0.0.1 to avoid issue with NAT or firewall.
-    let addresses1 = node1.listen_addresses().unwrap();
+    let addresses1 = node1.listen_addresses().await.unwrap();
     let addresses1 = &addresses1[0].to_string();
 
     let re = Regex::new(r"\b(?:\d{1,3}\.){3}\d{1,3}\b").unwrap();
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ async fn test_echo_messages(
     let addresses1 = addresses1.parse::<Multiaddr>().expect("parse multiaddress");
 
     println!("Connecting node1 to node2: {}", addresses1);
-    node2.connect(&addresses1, None).unwrap();
+    node2.connect(&addresses1, None).await.unwrap();
 
     // Wait for mesh to form
     sleep(Duration::from_secs(3)).await;
@@ -108,7 +108,9 @@ async fn test_echo_messages(
         Vec::new(),
         false,
     );
-    let _ids = try_publish_relay_messages(&node1, &message).expect("send relay messages");
+    let _ids = try_publish_relay_messages(&node1, &message)
+        .await
+        .expect("send relay messages");
 
     // Wait for the msg to arrive
     let rx_waku_message_cloned = rx_waku_message.clone();
@@ -118,8 +120,8 @@ async fn test_echo_messages(
             let payload = msg.payload.to_vec();
             let payload_str = from_utf8(&payload).expect("should be valid message");
             if payload_str == ECHO_MESSAGE {
-                node1.stop()?;
-                node2.stop()?;
+                node1.stop().await?;
+                node2.stop().await?;
                 return Ok(());
             }
         } else {
@@ -127,11 +129,11 @@ async fn test_echo_messages(
         }
     }
 
-    let node1 = node1.stop()?;
-    let node2 = node2.stop()?;
+    let node1 = node1.stop().await?;
+    let node2 = node2.stop().await?;
 
-    node1.waku_destroy()?;
-    node2.waku_destroy()?;
+    node1.waku_destroy().await?;
+    node2.waku_destroy().await?;
 
     return Err("Unexpected test ending".to_string());
 }
@@ -143,11 +145,13 @@ async fn default_echo() -> Result<(), String> {
     let node1 = waku_new(Some(WakuNodeConfig {
         tcp_port: Some(60010),
         ..Default::default()
-    }))?;
+    }))
+    .await?;
     let node2 = waku_new(Some(WakuNodeConfig {
         tcp_port: Some(60020),
         ..Default::default()
-    }))?;
+    }))
+    .await?;
 
     let content_topic = WakuContentTopic::new("toychat", "2", "huilong", Encoding::Proto);
 
@@ -165,9 +169,8 @@ async fn default_echo() -> Result<(), String> {
     Ok(())
 }
 
-#[test]
-#[serial]
-fn node_restart() {
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn node_restart() {
     let config = WakuNodeConfig {
         node_key: Some(
             SecretKey::from_str("05f381866cc21f6c1e2e80e07fa732008e36d942dce3206ad6dcd6793c98d609")
@@ -177,9 +180,14 @@ fn node_restart() {
     };
 
     for _ in 0..3 {
-        let node = waku_new(config.clone().into()).expect("default config should be valid");
-        let node = node.start().expect("node should start with valid config");
-        let node = node.stop().expect("node should stop");
-        node.waku_destroy().expect("free resources");
+        let node = waku_new(config.clone().into())
+            .await
+            .expect("default config should be valid");
+        let node = node
+            .start()
+            .await
+            .expect("node should start with valid config");
+        let node = node.stop().await.expect("node should stop");
+        node.waku_destroy().await.expect("free resources");
     }
 }
diff --git a/waku-sys/vendor b/waku-sys/vendor
index 1fa9165..1d206a5 160000
--- a/waku-sys/vendor
+++ b/waku-sys/vendor
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 1fa916589d3a69a2bb770aba27d4124b929cc4b2
+Subproject commit 1d206a5f5e89f7bac855bfd2e25066bcf1187ade