diff --git a/p2p/crypto/bench_test.go b/p2p/crypto/bench_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7a3818a7c95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/p2p/crypto/bench_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package crypto
+
+import "testing"
+
+func BenchmarkSign1B(b *testing.B)      { RunBenchmarkSign(b, 1) }
+func BenchmarkSign10B(b *testing.B)     { RunBenchmarkSign(b, 10) }
+func BenchmarkSign100B(b *testing.B)    { RunBenchmarkSign(b, 100) }
+func BenchmarkSign1000B(b *testing.B)   { RunBenchmarkSign(b, 1000) }
+func BenchmarkSign10000B(b *testing.B)  { RunBenchmarkSign(b, 10000) }
+func BenchmarkSign100000B(b *testing.B) { RunBenchmarkSign(b, 100000) }
+
+func BenchmarkVerify1B(b *testing.B)      { RunBenchmarkVerify(b, 1) }
+func BenchmarkVerify10B(b *testing.B)     { RunBenchmarkVerify(b, 10) }
+func BenchmarkVerify100B(b *testing.B)    { RunBenchmarkVerify(b, 100) }
+func BenchmarkVerify1000B(b *testing.B)   { RunBenchmarkVerify(b, 1000) }
+func BenchmarkVerify10000B(b *testing.B)  { RunBenchmarkVerify(b, 10000) }
+func BenchmarkVerify100000B(b *testing.B) { RunBenchmarkVerify(b, 100000) }
+
+func RunBenchmarkSign(b *testing.B, numBytes int) {
+	secret, _, err := GenerateKeyPair(RSA, 1024)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	someData := make([]byte, numBytes)
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		_, err := secret.Sign(someData)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func RunBenchmarkVerify(b *testing.B, numBytes int) {
+	secret, public, err := GenerateKeyPair(RSA, 1024)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	someData := make([]byte, numBytes)
+	signature, err := secret.Sign(someData)
+	if err != nil {
+		b.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	b.ResetTimer()
+	for i := 0; i < b.N; i++ {
+		valid, err := public.Verify(someData, signature)
+		if err != nil {
+			b.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if !valid {
+			b.Fatal("signature should be valid")
+		}
+	}
+}