diff --git a/src/core/client.py b/src/core/client.py
index 7542613..b1b74b4 100644
--- a/src/core/client.py
+++ b/src/core/client.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class SolanaClient:
             ValueError: If account doesn't exist or has no data
         """
         client = await self.get_client()
-        response = await client.get_account_info(pubkey)
+        response = await client.get_account_info(pubkey, encoding="base64") # base64 encoding for account data by default
         if not response.value:
             raise ValueError(f"Account {pubkey} not found")
         return response.value
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class SolanaClient:
 
                 wait_time = 2**attempt
                 logger.warning(
-                    f"Transaction attempt {attempt + 1} failed: {str(e)}, retrying in {wait_time}s"
+                    f"Transaction attempt {attempt + 1} failed: {e!s}, retrying in {wait_time}s"
                 )
                 await asyncio.sleep(wait_time)
 
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ class SolanaClient:
             await client.confirm_transaction(signature, commitment=commitment)
             return True
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Failed to confirm transaction {signature}: {str(e)}")
+            logger.error(f"Failed to confirm transaction {signature}: {e!s}")
             return False
 
     async def post_rpc(self, body: dict[str, Any]) -> dict[str, Any] | None:
@@ -193,8 +193,8 @@ class SolanaClient:
                     response.raise_for_status()
                     return await response.json()
         except aiohttp.ClientError as e:
-            logger.error(f"RPC request failed: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
+            logger.error(f"RPC request failed: {e!s}", exc_info=True)
             return None
         except json.JSONDecodeError as e:
-            logger.error(f"Failed to decode RPC response: {str(e)}", exc_info=True)
+            logger.error(f"Failed to decode RPC response: {e!s}", exc_info=True)
             return None
diff --git a/src/monitoring/block_listener.py b/src/monitoring/block_listener.py
index 846b761..5c3c5db 100644
--- a/src/monitoring/block_listener.py
+++ b/src/monitoring/block_listener.py
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class BlockListener(BaseTokenListener):
                         ping_task.cancel()
 
             except Exception as e:
-                logger.error(f"WebSocket connection error: {str(e)}")
+                logger.error(f"WebSocket connection error: {e!s}")
                 logger.info("Reconnecting in 5 seconds...")
                 await asyncio.sleep(5)
 
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class BlockListener(BaseTokenListener):
                     {"mentionsAccountOrProgram": str(self.pump_program)},
                     {
                         "commitment": "confirmed",
-                        "encoding": "base64",
+                        "encoding": "base64", # base64 is faster than other encoding options
                         "showRewards": False,
                         "transactionDetails": "full",
                         "maxSupportedTransactionVersion": 0,
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class BlockListener(BaseTokenListener):
                 try:
                     pong_waiter = await websocket.ping()
                     await asyncio.wait_for(pong_waiter, timeout=10)
-                except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+                except TimeoutError:
                     logger.warning("Ping timeout - server not responding")
                     # Force reconnection
                     await websocket.close()
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class BlockListener(BaseTokenListener):
         except asyncio.CancelledError:
             pass
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Ping error: {str(e)}")
+            logger.error(f"Ping error: {e!s}")
 
     async def _wait_for_token_creation(self, websocket) -> TokenInfo | None:
         """Wait for token creation event.
@@ -176,12 +176,12 @@ class BlockListener(BaseTokenListener):
                 if token_info:
                     return token_info
 
-        except asyncio.TimeoutError:
+        except TimeoutError:
             logger.debug("No data received for 30 seconds")
         except websockets.exceptions.ConnectionClosed:
             logger.warning("WebSocket connection closed")
             raise
         except Exception as e:
-            logger.error(f"Error processing WebSocket message: {str(e)}")
+            logger.error(f"Error processing WebSocket message: {e!s}")
 
         return None