diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_abandonconflict.py b/test/functional/wallet_abandonconflict.py
index c9942c322f..e65478ff98 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_abandonconflict.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_abandonconflict.py
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ class AbandonConflictTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.num_nodes = 2
         self.extra_args = [["-minrelaytxfee=0.00001"], []]
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        for args in self.extra_args:
+            args.append("-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1")
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
         self.skip_if_no_wallet()
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_balance.py b/test/functional/wallet_balance.py
index 49f9f5d485..f0f0155506 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_balance.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_balance.py
@@ -58,6 +58,9 @@ class WalletTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             ['-limitdescendantcount=3', '-walletrejectlongchains=0'],
             [],
         ]
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        for args in self.extra_args:
+            args.append("-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1")
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
         self.skip_if_no_wallet()
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_basic.py b/test/functional/wallet_basic.py
index 8817a9e739..1404ad092e 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_basic.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_basic.py
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ class WalletTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.num_nodes = 4
         self.extra_args = [[
-            "-dustrelayfee=0", "-walletrejectlongchains=0"
-            "-bech32_hrp=bcrt",
+            "-dustrelayfee=0", "-walletrejectlongchains=0", "-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1", "-bech32_hrp=bcrt"
         ]] * self.num_nodes
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
         self.supports_cli = False
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_bumpfee.py b/test/functional/wallet_bumpfee.py
index 1bb9a68e72..354608cb1d 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_bumpfee.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_bumpfee.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ class BumpFeeTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             "-walletrbf={}".format(i),
             "-mintxfee=0.00002",
             "-addresstype=bech32",
+            "-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1",
         ] for i in range(self.num_nodes)]
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_groups.py b/test/functional/wallet_groups.py
index 3c74a97167..28b402c29d 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_groups.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_groups.py
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ class WalletGroupTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             ["-maxapsfee=0.00002739"], # ELEMENTS: these and a few other numbers increased for larger transactions
             ["-maxapsfee=0.00002740"],
         ]
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        for args in self.extra_args:
+            args.append("-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1")
+
         self.rpc_timeout = 480
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_hd.py b/test/functional/wallet_hd.py
index fb044e75be..5ae86c7d29 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_hd.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_hd.py
@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ class WalletHDTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
         self.num_nodes = 2
         self.extra_args = [[], ['-keypool=0']]
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        for args in self.extra_args:
+            args.append("-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1")
+
         self.supports_cli = False
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_importdescriptors.py b/test/functional/wallet_importdescriptors.py
index 42e1ee89c5..27fed13804 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_importdescriptors.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_importdescriptors.py
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ class ImportDescriptorsTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.extra_args = [["-addresstype=legacy"],
                            ["-addresstype=bech32", "-keypool=5"]
                           ]
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        for args in self.extra_args:
+            args.append("-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1")
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
         self.wallet_names = []
 
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_listreceivedby.py b/test/functional/wallet_listreceivedby.py
index cf388412a3..3e7d13a040 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_listreceivedby.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_listreceivedby.py
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ from test_framework.wallet_util import test_address
 class ReceivedByTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.num_nodes = 2
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        self.extra_args = [["-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1"]] * self.num_nodes
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
         self.skip_if_no_wallet()
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_listsinceblock.py b/test/functional/wallet_listsinceblock.py
index cff880214a..0b66433b3c 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_listsinceblock.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_listsinceblock.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ class ListSinceBlockTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.num_nodes = 4
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
+        # whitelist peers to speed up tx relay / mempool sync
+        self.extra_args = [["-whitelist=noban@127.0.0.1"]] * self.num_nodes
 
     def skip_test_if_missing_module(self):
         self.skip_if_no_wallet()