diff --git a/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go b/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go
index 591e8d3eb..1d326cc3c 100644
--- a/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go
+++ b/chain/cosmos/chain_node.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	authTx "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/auth/tx"
 	paramsutils "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/params/client/utils"
 	stakingtypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/staking/types"
+	volumetypes "github.com/docker/docker/api/types/volume"
 	dockerclient "github.com/docker/docker/client"
 	"github.com/docker/go-connections/nat"
 	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v6/ibc"
@@ -51,6 +52,9 @@ type ChainNode struct {
 	TestName     string
 	Image        ibc.DockerImage
 
+	// Additional processes that need to be run on a per-validator basis.
+	Sidecars SidecarProcesses
+
 	lock sync.Mutex
 	log  *zap.Logger
 
@@ -121,6 +125,48 @@ func (tn *ChainNode) NewClient(addr string) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+func (tn *ChainNode) NewSidecarProcess(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	preStart bool,
+	processName string,
+	cli *dockerclient.Client,
+	networkID string,
+	image ibc.DockerImage,
+	homeDir string,
+	ports []string,
+	startCmd []string,
+) error {
+	s := NewSidecar(tn.log, true, preStart, tn.Chain, cli, networkID, processName, tn.TestName, image, homeDir, tn.Index, ports, startCmd)
+
+	v, err := cli.VolumeCreate(ctx, volumetypes.CreateOptions{
+		Labels: map[string]string{
+			dockerutil.CleanupLabel:   tn.TestName,
+			dockerutil.NodeOwnerLabel: s.Name(),
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating volume for sidecar process: %w", err)
+	}
+	s.VolumeName = v.Name
+
+	if err := dockerutil.SetVolumeOwner(ctx, dockerutil.VolumeOwnerOptions{
+		Log: tn.log,
+
+		Client: cli,
+
+		VolumeName: v.Name,
+		ImageRef:   image.Ref(),
+		TestName:   tn.TestName,
+		UidGid:     image.UidGid,
+	}); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("set volume owner: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	tn.Sidecars = append(tn.Sidecars, s)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // CliContext creates a new Cosmos SDK client context
 func (tn *ChainNode) CliContext() client.Context {
 	cfg := tn.Chain.Config()
@@ -911,6 +957,20 @@ func (tn *ChainNode) CreateNodeContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (tn *ChainNode) StartContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	for _, s := range tn.Sidecars {
+		err := s.containerLifecycle.Running(ctx)
+
+		if s.preStart && err != nil {
+			if err := s.CreateContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+
+			if err := s.StartContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	if err := tn.containerLifecycle.StartContainer(ctx); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -943,10 +1003,20 @@ func (tn *ChainNode) StartContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 func (tn *ChainNode) StopContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	for _, s := range tn.Sidecars {
+		if err := s.StopContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	return tn.containerLifecycle.StopContainer(ctx)
 }
 
 func (tn *ChainNode) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	for _, s := range tn.Sidecars {
+		if err := s.RemoveContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
 	return tn.containerLifecycle.RemoveContainer(ctx)
 }
 
diff --git a/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go b/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go
index f15d1c734..0ae3a5083 100644
--- a/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go
+++ b/chain/cosmos/cosmos_chain.go
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ type CosmosChain struct {
 	Validators    ChainNodes
 	FullNodes     ChainNodes
 
+	// Additional processes that need to be run on a per-chain basis.
+	Sidecars SidecarProcesses
+
 	log      *zap.Logger
 	keyring  keyring.Keyring
 	findTxMu sync.Mutex
@@ -165,6 +168,9 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) Config() ibc.ChainConfig {
 
 // Implements Chain interface
 func (c *CosmosChain) Initialize(ctx context.Context, testName string, cli *client.Client, networkID string) error {
+	if err := c.initializeSidecars(ctx, testName, cli, networkID); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	return c.initializeChainNodes(ctx, testName, cli, networkID)
 }
 
@@ -543,9 +549,68 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) NewChainNode(
 	}); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("set volume owner: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	for _, cfg := range c.cfg.SidecarConfigs {
+		if !cfg.ValidatorProcess {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		err = tn.NewSidecarProcess(ctx, cfg.PreStart, cfg.ProcessName, cli, networkID, cfg.Image, cfg.HomeDir, cfg.Ports, cfg.StartCmd)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	return tn, nil
 }
 
+// NewSidecarProcess constructs a new sidecar process with a docker volume.
+func (c *CosmosChain) NewSidecarProcess(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	preStart bool,
+	processName string,
+	testName string,
+	cli *client.Client,
+	networkID string,
+	image ibc.DockerImage,
+	homeDir string,
+	index int,
+	ports []string,
+	startCmd []string,
+) error {
+	// Construct the SidecarProcess first so we can access its name.
+	// The SidecarProcess's VolumeName cannot be set until after we create the volume.
+	s := NewSidecar(c.log, false, preStart, c, cli, networkID, processName, testName, image, homeDir, index, ports, startCmd)
+
+	v, err := cli.VolumeCreate(ctx, volumetypes.CreateOptions{
+		Labels: map[string]string{
+			dockerutil.CleanupLabel:   testName,
+			dockerutil.NodeOwnerLabel: s.Name(),
+		},
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("creating volume for sidecar process: %w", err)
+	}
+	s.VolumeName = v.Name
+
+	if err := dockerutil.SetVolumeOwner(ctx, dockerutil.VolumeOwnerOptions{
+		Log: c.log,
+
+		Client: cli,
+
+		VolumeName: v.Name,
+		ImageRef:   image.Ref(),
+		TestName:   testName,
+		UidGid:     image.UidGid,
+	}); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("set volume owner: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	c.Sidecars = append(c.Sidecars, s)
+
+	return nil
+}
+
 // creates the test node objects required for bootstrapping tests
 func (c *CosmosChain) initializeChainNodes(
 	ctx context.Context,
@@ -595,6 +660,37 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) initializeChainNodes(
 	return nil
 }
 
+// initializeSidecars creates the sidecar processes that exist at the chain level.
+func (c *CosmosChain) initializeSidecars(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	testName string,
+	cli *client.Client,
+	networkID string,
+) error {
+	eg, egCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+	for i, cfg := range c.cfg.SidecarConfigs {
+		i := i
+		cfg := cfg
+
+		if cfg.ValidatorProcess {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		eg.Go(func() error {
+			err := c.NewSidecarProcess(egCtx, cfg.PreStart, cfg.ProcessName, testName, cli, networkID, cfg.Image, cfg.HomeDir, i, cfg.Ports, cfg.StartCmd)
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return nil
+		})
+
+	}
+	if err := eg.Wait(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 type GenesisValidatorPubKey struct {
 	Type  string `json:"type"`
 	Value string `json:"value"`
@@ -782,7 +878,31 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) Start(testName string, ctx context.Context, additionalGene
 		return err
 	}
 
+	// Start any sidecar processes that should be running before the chain starts
 	eg, egCtx := errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
+	for _, s := range c.Sidecars {
+		s := s
+
+		err = s.containerLifecycle.Running(ctx)
+		if s.preStart && err != nil {
+			eg.Go(func() error {
+				if err := s.CreateContainer(egCtx); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+
+				if err := s.StartContainer(egCtx); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+
+				return nil
+			})
+		}
+	}
+	if err := eg.Wait(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	eg, egCtx = errgroup.WithContext(ctx)
 	for _, n := range chainNodes {
 		n := n
 		eg.Go(func() error {
@@ -907,6 +1027,21 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) StopAllNodes(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return eg.Wait()
 }
 
+// StopAllSidecars stops and removes all long-running containers for sidecar processes.
+func (c *CosmosChain) StopAllSidecars(ctx context.Context) error {
+	var eg errgroup.Group
+	for _, s := range c.Sidecars {
+		s := s
+		eg.Go(func() error {
+			if err := s.StopContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return s.RemoveContainer(ctx)
+		})
+	}
+	return eg.Wait()
+}
+
 // StartAllNodes creates and starts new containers for each node.
 // Should only be used if the chain has previously been started with .Start.
 func (c *CosmosChain) StartAllNodes(ctx context.Context) error {
@@ -926,6 +1061,60 @@ func (c *CosmosChain) StartAllNodes(ctx context.Context) error {
 	return eg.Wait()
 }
 
+// StartAllSidecars creates and starts new containers for each sidecar process.
+// Should only be used if the chain has previously been started with .Start.
+func (c *CosmosChain) StartAllSidecars(ctx context.Context) error {
+	// prevent client calls during this time
+	c.findTxMu.Lock()
+	defer c.findTxMu.Unlock()
+	var eg errgroup.Group
+	for _, s := range c.Sidecars {
+		s := s
+
+		err := s.containerLifecycle.Running(ctx)
+		if err == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		eg.Go(func() error {
+			if err := s.CreateContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+			return s.StartContainer(ctx)
+		})
+	}
+	return eg.Wait()
+}
+
+// StartAllValSidecars creates and starts new containers for each validator sidecar process.
+// Should only be used if the chain has previously been started with .Start.
+func (c *CosmosChain) StartAllValSidecars(ctx context.Context) error {
+	// prevent client calls during this time
+	c.findTxMu.Lock()
+	defer c.findTxMu.Unlock()
+	var eg errgroup.Group
+
+	for _, v := range c.Validators {
+		for _, s := range v.Sidecars {
+			s := s
+
+			err := s.containerLifecycle.Running(ctx)
+			if err == nil {
+				continue
+			}
+
+			eg.Go(func() error {
+				if err := s.CreateContainer(ctx); err != nil {
+					return err
+				}
+				return s.StartContainer(ctx)
+			})
+		}
+	}
+
+	return eg.Wait()
+}
+
 func (c *CosmosChain) VoteOnProposalAllValidators(ctx context.Context, proposalID string, vote string) error {
 	var eg errgroup.Group
 	for _, n := range c.Nodes() {
diff --git a/chain/cosmos/sidecar.go b/chain/cosmos/sidecar.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7ae7aaf46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/chain/cosmos/sidecar.go
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+package cosmos
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+
+	dockerclient "github.com/docker/docker/client"
+	"github.com/docker/go-connections/nat"
+	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v7/ibc"
+	"github.com/strangelove-ventures/interchaintest/v7/internal/dockerutil"
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+)
+
+type SidecarProcesses []*SidecarProcess
+
+// SidecarProcess represents a companion process that may be required on a per chain or per validator basis.
+type SidecarProcess struct {
+	log *zap.Logger
+
+	Index int
+	Chain ibc.Chain
+
+	// If true this process is scoped to a specific validator, otherwise it is scoped at the chain level.
+	validatorProcess bool
+
+	// If true this process should be started before the chain or validator, otherwise it should be explicitly started after.
+	preStart bool
+
+	ProcessName string
+	TestName    string
+
+	VolumeName   string
+	DockerClient *dockerclient.Client
+	NetworkID    string
+	Image        ibc.DockerImage
+	ports        nat.PortSet
+	startCmd     []string
+	homeDir      string
+
+	containerLifecycle *dockerutil.ContainerLifecycle
+}
+
+// NewSidecar instantiates a new SidecarProcess.
+func NewSidecar(
+	log *zap.Logger,
+	validatorProcess bool,
+	preStart bool,
+	chain ibc.Chain,
+	dockerClient *dockerclient.Client,
+	networkID, processName, testName string,
+	image ibc.DockerImage,
+	homeDir string,
+	index int,
+	ports []string,
+	startCmd []string,
+) *SidecarProcess {
+	processPorts := nat.PortSet{}
+
+	for _, port := range ports {
+		processPorts[nat.Port(port)] = struct{}{}
+	}
+
+	if homeDir == "" {
+		homeDir = "/home/sidecar"
+	}
+
+	s := &SidecarProcess{
+		log:              log,
+		Index:            index,
+		Chain:            chain,
+		preStart:         preStart,
+		validatorProcess: validatorProcess,
+		ProcessName:      processName,
+		TestName:         testName,
+		DockerClient:     dockerClient,
+		NetworkID:        networkID,
+		Image:            image,
+		homeDir:          homeDir,
+		ports:            processPorts,
+		startCmd:         startCmd,
+	}
+	s.containerLifecycle = dockerutil.NewContainerLifecycle(log, dockerClient, s.Name())
+
+	return s
+}
+
+// Name returns a string identifier based on if this process is configured to run on a chain level or
+// on a per validator level.
+func (s *SidecarProcess) Name() string {
+	if s.validatorProcess {
+		return fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s-val-%d-%s", s.Chain.Config().ChainID, s.ProcessName, s.Index, dockerutil.SanitizeContainerName(s.TestName))
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s-%d-%s", s.Chain.Config().ChainID, s.ProcessName, s.Index, dockerutil.SanitizeContainerName(s.TestName))
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) logger() *zap.Logger {
+	return s.log.With(
+		zap.String("process_name", s.ProcessName),
+		zap.String("test", s.TestName),
+	)
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) CreateContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return s.containerLifecycle.CreateContainer(ctx, s.TestName, s.NetworkID, s.Image, s.ports, s.Bind(), s.HostName(), s.startCmd)
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) StartContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return s.containerLifecycle.StartContainer(ctx)
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) StopContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return s.containerLifecycle.StopContainer(ctx)
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) RemoveContainer(ctx context.Context) error {
+	return s.containerLifecycle.RemoveContainer(ctx)
+}
+
+// Bind returns the home folder bind point for running the process.
+func (s *SidecarProcess) Bind() []string {
+	return []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s:%s", s.VolumeName, s.HomeDir())}
+}
+
+// HomeDir returns the path name where any configuration files will be written to the Docker filesystem.
+func (s *SidecarProcess) HomeDir() string {
+	return s.homeDir
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) HostName() string {
+	return dockerutil.CondenseHostName(s.Name())
+}
+
+func (s *SidecarProcess) GetHostPorts(ctx context.Context, portIDs ...string) ([]string, error) {
+	return s.containerLifecycle.GetHostPorts(ctx, portIDs...)
+}
+
+// WriteFile accepts file contents in a byte slice and writes the contents to
+// the docker filesystem. relPath describes the location of the file in the
+// docker volume relative to the home directory
+func (s *SidecarProcess) WriteFile(ctx context.Context, content []byte, relPath string) error {
+	fw := dockerutil.NewFileWriter(s.logger(), s.DockerClient, s.TestName)
+	return fw.WriteFile(ctx, s.VolumeName, relPath, content)
+}
+
+// CopyFile adds a file from the host filesystem to the docker filesystem
+// relPath describes the location of the file in the docker volume relative to
+// the home directory
+func (s *SidecarProcess) CopyFile(ctx context.Context, srcPath, dstPath string) error {
+	content, err := os.ReadFile(srcPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.WriteFile(ctx, content, dstPath)
+}
+
+// ReadFile reads the contents of a single file at the specified path in the docker filesystem.
+// relPath describes the location of the file in the docker volume relative to the home directory.
+func (s *SidecarProcess) ReadFile(ctx context.Context, relPath string) ([]byte, error) {
+	fr := dockerutil.NewFileRetriever(s.logger(), s.DockerClient, s.TestName)
+	gen, err := fr.SingleFileContent(ctx, s.VolumeName, relPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to read file at %s: %w", relPath, err)
+	}
+	return gen, nil
+}
+
+// Exec enables the execution of arbitrary CLI cmds against the process.
+func (s *SidecarProcess) Exec(ctx context.Context, cmd []string, env []string) ([]byte, []byte, error) {
+	job := dockerutil.NewImage(s.logger(), s.DockerClient, s.NetworkID, s.TestName, s.Image.Repository, s.Image.Version)
+	opts := dockerutil.ContainerOptions{
+		Env:   env,
+		Binds: s.Bind(),
+	}
+	res := job.Run(ctx, cmd, opts)
+	return res.Stdout, res.Stderr, res.Err
+}
diff --git a/ibc/types.go b/ibc/types.go
index de3821cce..d75a9f6db 100644
--- a/ibc/types.go
+++ b/ibc/types.go
@@ -49,15 +49,26 @@ type ChainConfig struct {
 	EncodingConfig *simappparams.EncodingConfig
 	// Required when the chain uses the new sub commands for genesis (https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/14149)
 	UsingNewGenesisCommand bool `yaml:"using-new-genesis-command"`
+<<<<<<< HEAD
 	// Required when the chain requires the chain-id field to be populated for certain commands
 	UsingChainIDFlagCLI bool `yaml:"using-chain-id-flag-cli"`
+=======
+	// Configuration describing additional sidecar processes.
+	SidecarConfigs []SidecarConfig
+>>>>>>> 2d8518c (feat: add the ability to manage sidecar processes (#465))
 }
 
 func (c ChainConfig) Clone() ChainConfig {
 	x := c
+
 	images := make([]DockerImage, len(c.Images))
 	copy(images, c.Images)
 	x.Images = images
+
+	sidecars := make([]SidecarConfig, len(c.SidecarConfigs))
+	copy(sidecars, c.SidecarConfigs)
+	x.SidecarConfigs = sidecars
+
 	return x
 }
 
@@ -151,6 +162,10 @@ func (c ChainConfig) MergeChainSpecConfig(other ChainConfig) ChainConfig {
 		c.EncodingConfig = other.EncodingConfig
 	}
 
+	if len(other.SidecarConfigs) > 0 {
+		c.SidecarConfigs = append([]SidecarConfig(nil), other.SidecarConfigs...)
+	}
+
 	return c
 }
 
@@ -169,6 +184,17 @@ func (c ChainConfig) IsFullyConfigured() bool {
 		c.TrustingPeriod != ""
 }
 
+// SidecarConfig describes the configuration options for instantiating a new sidecar process.
+type SidecarConfig struct {
+	ProcessName      string
+	Image            DockerImage
+	HomeDir          string
+	Ports            []string
+	StartCmd         []string
+	PreStart         bool
+	ValidatorProcess bool
+}
+
 type DockerImage struct {
 	Repository string `yaml:"repository"`
 	Version    string `yaml:"version"`
diff --git a/internal/dockerutil/container_lifecycle.go b/internal/dockerutil/container_lifecycle.go
index f3d6a8604..f4c9e007f 100644
--- a/internal/dockerutil/container_lifecycle.go
+++ b/internal/dockerutil/container_lifecycle.go
@@ -147,3 +147,16 @@ func (c *ContainerLifecycle) GetHostPorts(ctx context.Context, portIDs ...string
 	}
 	return ports, nil
 }
+
+// Running will inspect the container and check its state to determine if it is currently running.
+// If the container is running nil will be returned, otherwise an error is returned.
+func (c *ContainerLifecycle) Running(ctx context.Context) error {
+	cjson, err := c.client.ContainerInspect(ctx, c.id)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if cjson.State.Running {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("container with name %s and id %s is not running", c.containerName, c.id)
+}