diff --git a/crates/net/network/src/protocol.rs b/crates/net/network/src/protocol.rs
index c5347417c44e..24dd68690422 100644
--- a/crates/net/network/src/protocol.rs
+++ b/crates/net/network/src/protocol.rs
@@ -9,12 +9,11 @@ use reth_primitives::BytesMut;
 use reth_rpc_types::PeerId;
 use std::{
     fmt,
-    future::Future,
     net::SocketAddr,
     pin::Pin,
     task::{Context, Poll},
 };
-use tokio::sync::mpsc::UnboundedSender;
+
 use tokio_stream::wrappers::UnboundedReceiverStream;
 
 /// A trait that allows to offer additional RLPx-based application-level protocols when establishing
@@ -42,10 +41,12 @@ pub trait ProtocolHandler: fmt::Debug + Send + Sync + 'static {
 
 /// A trait that allows to authenticate a protocol after the RLPx connection was established.
 pub trait ConnectionHandler: Send + Sync + 'static {
-    /// The future that handles the connection
-    type Connection: Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static;
+    /// The connection that yields messages to send to the remote.
+    ///
+    /// The connection will be closed when this stream resolves.
+    type Connection: Stream<Item = BytesMut> + Send + 'static;
 
-    /// Returns the protocols to announce when the RLPx connection will be established.
+    /// Returns the protocol to announce when the RLPx connection will be established.
     ///
     /// This will be negotiated with the remote peer.
     fn protocol(&self) -> Protocol;
@@ -80,27 +81,12 @@ pub enum OnNotSupported {
     Disconnect,
 }
 
-/// A connection channel to send and receive messages for a specific protocols.
+/// A connection channel to receive messages for the negotiated protocol.
 ///
 /// This is a [Stream] that returns raw bytes of the received messages for this protocol.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct ProtocolConnection {
     from_wire: UnboundedReceiverStream<BytesMut>,
-    to_wire: UnboundedSender<ProtocolMessage>,
-}
-
-impl ProtocolConnection {
-    /// Sends a message to the remote.
-    ///
-    /// Returns an error if the connection has been disconnected.
-    pub fn send(&self, msg: BytesMut) {
-        self.to_wire.send(ProtocolMessage::Message(msg)).ok();
-    }
-
-    /// Disconnects the connection.
-    pub fn disconnect(&self) {
-        let _ = self.to_wire.send(ProtocolMessage::Disconnect);
-    }
 }
 
 impl Stream for ProtocolConnection {
@@ -111,38 +97,6 @@ impl Stream for ProtocolConnection {
     }
 }
 
-/// Messages that can be sent from a protocol connection
-#[derive(Debug)]
-pub(crate) enum ProtocolMessage {
-    /// New message to send to the remote.
-    Message(BytesMut),
-    /// Disconnect the connection.
-    Disconnect,
-}
-
-/// Errors that can occur when handling a protocol.
-#[derive(Debug, thiserror::Error)]
-pub enum ProtocolError {
-    /// custom error message
-    #[error("{0}")]
-    Message(String),
-    /// Ayn other error
-    #[error(transparent)]
-    Other(Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync + 'static>),
-}
-
-impl ProtocolError {
-    /// Creates a new error with the given message.
-    pub fn msg(msg: impl fmt::Display) -> Self {
-        ProtocolError::Message(msg.to_string())
-    }
-
-    /// Wraps the given error in a `ProtocolError`.
-    pub fn new(err: impl std::error::Error + Send + Sync + 'static) -> Self {
-        ProtocolError::Other(Box::new(err))
-    }
-}
-
 /// A wrapper type for a RLPx sub-protocol.
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct RlpxSubProtocol(Box<dyn DynProtocolHandler>);
@@ -221,7 +175,7 @@ pub(crate) trait DynConnectionHandler: Send + Sync + 'static {
         direction: Direction,
         peer_id: PeerId,
         conn: ProtocolConnection,
-    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static>>;
+    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = BytesMut> + Send + 'static>>;
 }
 
 impl<T> DynConnectionHandler for T
@@ -246,7 +200,7 @@ where
         direction: Direction,
         peer_id: PeerId,
         conn: ProtocolConnection,
-    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Future<Output = ()> + Send + 'static>> {
+    ) -> Pin<Box<dyn Stream<Item = BytesMut> + Send + 'static>> {
         Box::pin(T::into_connection(self, direction, peer_id, conn))
     }
 }