diff --git a/cmd/defaults.yaml b/cmd/defaults.yaml
index e171c6e611..eaf88cc8be 100644
--- a/cmd/defaults.yaml
+++ b/cmd/defaults.yaml
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ Projections:
   RequeueEvery: 60s
   RetryFailedAfter: 1s
   MaxFailureCount: 5
-  ConcurrentInstances: 10
+  ConcurrentInstances: 1
   BulkLimit: 200
   MaxIterators: 1
   Customizations:
diff --git a/cmd/setup/04.go b/cmd/setup/04.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..818663e0ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/setup/04.go
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+package setup
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"database/sql"
+	"embed"
+)
+
+var (
+	//go:embed 04/cockroach/index.sql
+	//go:embed 04/postgres/index.sql
+	stmts embed.FS
+)
+
+type EventstoreIndexes struct {
+	dbClient *sql.DB
+	dbType   string
+}
+
+func (mig *EventstoreIndexes) Execute(ctx context.Context) error {
+	stmt, err := readStmt(mig.dbType)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err = mig.dbClient.ExecContext(ctx, stmt)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (mig *EventstoreIndexes) String() string {
+	return "04_eventstore_indexes"
+}
+
+func readStmt(typ string) (string, error) {
+	stmt, err := stmts.ReadFile("04/" + typ + "/index.sql")
+	return string(stmt), err
+}
diff --git a/cmd/setup/04/cockroach/index.sql b/cmd/setup/04/cockroach/index.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f68ed948a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/setup/04/cockroach/index.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS write_model ON eventstore.events (instance_id, aggregate_type, aggregate_id, event_type, resource_owner)
+    STORING (id, aggregate_version, previous_aggregate_sequence, creation_date, event_data, editor_user, editor_service, previous_aggregate_type_sequence);
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS active_instances ON eventstore.events (creation_date desc, instance_id) USING HASH;
diff --git a/cmd/setup/04/postgres/index.sql b/cmd/setup/04/postgres/index.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d4c933ece8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/setup/04/postgres/index.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS write_model ON eventstore.events (instance_id, aggregate_type, aggregate_id, event_type, resource_owner);
+
+CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS active_instances ON eventstore.events (creation_date, instance_id);
diff --git a/cmd/setup/config.go b/cmd/setup/config.go
index 2977eeb48d..86d2e85f29 100644
--- a/cmd/setup/config.go
+++ b/cmd/setup/config.go
@@ -52,9 +52,10 @@ func MustNewConfig(v *viper.Viper) *Config {
 }
 
 type Steps struct {
-	s1ProjectionTable *ProjectionTable
-	s2AssetsTable     *AssetTable
-	FirstInstance     *FirstInstance
+	s1ProjectionTable   *ProjectionTable
+	s2AssetsTable       *AssetTable
+	FirstInstance       *FirstInstance
+	s4EventstoreIndexes *EventstoreIndexes
 }
 
 type encryptionKeyConfig struct {
diff --git a/cmd/setup/setup.go b/cmd/setup/setup.go
index 8e7b81ba8c..0010773524 100644
--- a/cmd/setup/setup.go
+++ b/cmd/setup/setup.go
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ func Setup(config *Config, steps *Steps, masterKey string) {
 	steps.FirstInstance.externalSecure = config.ExternalSecure
 	steps.FirstInstance.externalPort = config.ExternalPort
 
+	steps.s4EventstoreIndexes = &EventstoreIndexes{dbClient: dbClient, dbType: config.Database.Type()}
+
 	repeatableSteps := []migration.RepeatableMigration{
 		&externalConfigChange{
 			es:             eventstoreClient,
@@ -94,6 +96,8 @@ func Setup(config *Config, steps *Steps, masterKey string) {
 	logging.OnError(err).Fatal("unable to migrate step 2")
 	err = migration.Migrate(ctx, eventstoreClient, steps.FirstInstance)
 	logging.OnError(err).Fatal("unable to migrate step 3")
+	err = migration.Migrate(ctx, eventstoreClient, steps.s4EventstoreIndexes)
+	logging.OnError(err).Fatal("unable to migrate step 4")
 
 	for _, repeatableStep := range repeatableSteps {
 		err = migration.Migrate(ctx, eventstoreClient, repeatableStep)
diff --git a/internal/authz/repository/eventsourcing/eventstore/token_verifier.go b/internal/authz/repository/eventsourcing/eventstore/token_verifier.go
index 6c856640ef..721b0401e8 100644
--- a/internal/authz/repository/eventsourcing/eventstore/token_verifier.go
+++ b/internal/authz/repository/eventsourcing/eventstore/token_verifier.go
@@ -42,7 +42,14 @@ func (repo *TokenVerifierRepo) Health() error {
 func (repo *TokenVerifierRepo) tokenByID(ctx context.Context, tokenID, userID string) (_ *usr_model.TokenView, err error) {
 	ctx, span := tracing.NewSpan(ctx)
 	defer func() { span.EndWithError(err) }()
-	token, viewErr := repo.View.TokenByID(tokenID, authz.GetInstance(ctx).InstanceID())
+
+	instanceID := authz.GetInstance(ctx).InstanceID()
+	sequence, err := repo.View.GetLatestTokenSequence(instanceID)
+	logging.WithFields("instanceID", instanceID, "userID", userID, "tokenID").
+		OnError(err).
+		Errorf("could not get current sequence for token check")
+
+	token, viewErr := repo.View.TokenByID(tokenID, instanceID)
 	if viewErr != nil && !caos_errs.IsNotFound(viewErr) {
 		return nil, viewErr
 	}
@@ -50,9 +57,12 @@ func (repo *TokenVerifierRepo) tokenByID(ctx context.Context, tokenID, userID st
 		token = new(model.TokenView)
 		token.ID = tokenID
 		token.UserID = userID
+		if sequence != nil {
+			token.Sequence = sequence.CurrentSequence
+		}
 	}
 
-	events, esErr := repo.getUserEvents(ctx, userID, token.InstanceID, token.Sequence)
+	events, esErr := repo.getUserEvents(ctx, userID, instanceID, token.Sequence)
 	if caos_errs.IsNotFound(viewErr) && len(events) == 0 {
 		return nil, caos_errs.ThrowNotFound(nil, "EVENT-4T90g", "Errors.Token.NotFound")
 	}
diff --git a/internal/eventstore/handler/handler_projection.go b/internal/eventstore/handler/handler_projection.go
index ae2c4c2c80..856cf3042d 100644
--- a/internal/eventstore/handler/handler_projection.go
+++ b/internal/eventstore/handler/handler_projection.go
@@ -182,13 +182,23 @@ func (h *ProjectionHandler) schedule(ctx context.Context) {
 		}
 		cancel()
 	}()
+	// flag if projection has been successfully executed at least once since start
+	var succeededOnce bool
+	// get every instance id except empty (system)
+	query := eventstore.NewSearchQueryBuilder(eventstore.ColumnsInstanceIDs).AddQuery().ExcludedInstanceID("")
 	for range h.triggerProjection.C {
-		ids, err := h.Eventstore.InstanceIDs(ctx, eventstore.NewSearchQueryBuilder(eventstore.ColumnsInstanceIDs).AddQuery().ExcludedInstanceID("").Builder())
+		if succeededOnce {
+			// since we have at least one successful run, we can restrict it to events not older than
+			// twice the requeue time (just to be sure not to miss an event)
+			query = query.CreationDateAfter(time.Now().Add(-2 * h.requeueAfter))
+		}
+		ids, err := h.Eventstore.InstanceIDs(ctx, query.Builder())
 		if err != nil {
 			logging.WithFields("projection", h.ProjectionName).WithError(err).Error("instance ids")
 			h.triggerProjection.Reset(h.requeueAfter)
 			continue
 		}
+		var failed bool
 		for i := 0; i < len(ids); i = i + h.concurrentInstances {
 			max := i + h.concurrentInstances
 			if max > len(ids) {
@@ -201,18 +211,22 @@ func (h *ProjectionHandler) schedule(ctx context.Context) {
 			if err, ok := <-errs; err != nil || !ok {
 				cancelLock()
 				logging.WithFields("projection", h.ProjectionName).OnError(err).Warn("initial lock failed")
+				failed = true
 				continue
 			}
 			go h.cancelOnErr(lockCtx, errs, cancelLock)
 			err = h.Trigger(lockCtx, instances...)
 			if err != nil {
 				logging.WithFields("projection", h.ProjectionName, "instanceIDs", instances).WithError(err).Error("trigger failed")
+				failed = true
 			}
 
 			cancelLock()
 			unlockErr := h.unlock(instances...)
 			logging.WithFields("projection", h.ProjectionName).OnError(unlockErr).Warn("unable to unlock")
 		}
+		// it succeeded at least once if it has succeeded before or if it has succeeded now - not failed ;-)
+		succeededOnce = succeededOnce || !failed
 		h.triggerProjection.Reset(h.requeueAfter)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/eventstore/repository/search_query.go b/internal/eventstore/repository/search_query.go
index d517e7e59e..08a04bd7ce 100644
--- a/internal/eventstore/repository/search_query.go
+++ b/internal/eventstore/repository/search_query.go
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ const (
 	FieldEventType
 	//FieldEventData represents the event data field
 	FieldEventData
+	//FieldCreationDate represents the creation date field
+	FieldCreationDate
 
 	fieldCount
 )
diff --git a/internal/eventstore/repository/sql/crdb.go b/internal/eventstore/repository/sql/crdb.go
index cc42611385..afd475dde3 100644
--- a/internal/eventstore/repository/sql/crdb.go
+++ b/internal/eventstore/repository/sql/crdb.go
@@ -297,6 +297,8 @@ func (db *CRDB) columnName(col repository.Field) string {
 		return "event_type"
 	case repository.FieldEventData:
 		return "event_data"
+	case repository.FieldCreationDate:
+		return "creation_date"
 	default:
 		return ""
 	}
diff --git a/internal/eventstore/search_query.go b/internal/eventstore/search_query.go
index 38013580b9..e82e46c29b 100644
--- a/internal/eventstore/search_query.go
+++ b/internal/eventstore/search_query.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package eventstore
 
 import (
 	"database/sql"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/zitadel/zitadel/internal/database"
 	"github.com/zitadel/zitadel/internal/errors"
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ type SearchQuery struct {
 	eventSequenceLess    uint64
 	eventTypes           []EventType
 	eventData            map[string]interface{}
+	creationDateAfter    time.Time
 }
 
 // Columns defines which fields of the event are needed for the query
@@ -175,6 +177,12 @@ func (query *SearchQuery) ExcludedInstanceID(instanceIDs ...string) *SearchQuery
 	return query
 }
 
+// CreationDateNewer filters for events which happened after the specified time
+func (query *SearchQuery) CreationDateAfter(time time.Time) *SearchQuery {
+	query.creationDateAfter = time
+	return query
+}
+
 // EventTypes filters for events with the given event types
 func (query *SearchQuery) EventTypes(types ...EventType) *SearchQuery {
 	query.eventTypes = types
@@ -234,6 +242,7 @@ func (builder *SearchQueryBuilder) build(instanceID string) (*repository.SearchQ
 			query.eventSequenceLessFilter,
 			query.instanceIDFilter,
 			query.excludedInstanceIDFilter,
+			query.creationDateAfterFilter,
 			query.builder.resourceOwnerFilter,
 			query.builder.instanceIDFilter,
 		} {
@@ -344,6 +353,13 @@ func (builder *SearchQueryBuilder) instanceIDFilter() *repository.Filter {
 	return repository.NewFilter(repository.FieldInstanceID, builder.instanceID, repository.OperationEquals)
 }
 
+func (query *SearchQuery) creationDateAfterFilter() *repository.Filter {
+	if query.creationDateAfter.IsZero() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return repository.NewFilter(repository.FieldCreationDate, query.creationDateAfter, repository.OperationGreater)
+}
+
 func (query *SearchQuery) eventDataFilter() *repository.Filter {
 	if len(query.eventData) == 0 {
 		return nil
diff --git a/internal/eventstore/search_query_test.go b/internal/eventstore/search_query_test.go
index c5e295c0d7..62153161ba 100644
--- a/internal/eventstore/search_query_test.go
+++ b/internal/eventstore/search_query_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"math"
 	"reflect"
 	"testing"
+	"time"
 
 	"github.com/zitadel/zitadel/internal/database"
 	"github.com/zitadel/zitadel/internal/errors"
@@ -86,6 +87,13 @@ func testSetResourceOwner(resourceOwner string) func(*SearchQueryBuilder) *Searc
 	}
 }
 
+func testSetCreationDateAfter(date time.Time) func(*SearchQuery) *SearchQuery {
+	return func(query *SearchQuery) *SearchQuery {
+		query = query.CreationDateAfter(date)
+		return query
+	}
+}
+
 func testSetSortOrder(asc bool) func(*SearchQueryBuilder) *SearchQueryBuilder {
 	return func(query *SearchQueryBuilder) *SearchQueryBuilder {
 		if asc {
@@ -224,6 +232,7 @@ func TestSearchQuerybuilderSetters(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSearchQuerybuilderBuild(t *testing.T) {
+	testNow := time.Now()
 	type args struct {
 		columns    Columns
 		setters    []func(*SearchQueryBuilder) *SearchQueryBuilder
@@ -648,6 +657,34 @@ func TestSearchQuerybuilderBuild(t *testing.T) {
 				},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "filter aggregate type, instanceID and creation date after",
+			args: args{
+				columns: ColumnsEvent,
+				setters: []func(*SearchQueryBuilder) *SearchQueryBuilder{
+					testAddQuery(
+						testSetAggregateTypes("user"),
+						testSetCreationDateAfter(testNow),
+					),
+				},
+				instanceID: "instanceID",
+			},
+			res: res{
+				isErr: nil,
+				query: &repository.SearchQuery{
+					Columns: repository.ColumnsEvent,
+					Desc:    false,
+					Limit:   0,
+					Filters: [][]*repository.Filter{
+						{
+							repository.NewFilter(repository.FieldAggregateType, repository.AggregateType("user"), repository.OperationEquals),
+							repository.NewFilter(repository.FieldCreationDate, testNow, repository.OperationGreater),
+							repository.NewFilter(repository.FieldInstanceID, "instanceID", repository.OperationEquals),
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
 		{
 			name: "column invalid",
 			args: args{