diff --git a/lib/contracts/blockchain.js b/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
index c7fd3867..3ccee400 100644
--- a/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
+++ b/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
@@ -4,14 +4,16 @@ class Blockchain {
   constructor(options) {
     this.plugins = options.plugins;
     this.logger = options.logger;
-    this.config = options.config;
-    this.contractsConfig = this.config.contractsConfig;
+    this.events = options.events;
+    this.contractsConfig = options.contractsConfig;
     this.web3 = options.web3;
+    this.addCheck = options.addCheck;
 
     if (!this.web3) {
       this.initWeb3();
     }
     this.registerServiceCheck();
+    this.registerAccountRequests();
   }
 
   initWeb3() {
@@ -55,6 +57,31 @@ class Blockchain {
     });
   }
 
+  registerAccountRequests() {
+    const self = this;
+
+    this.events.setCommandHandler("blockchain:defaultAccount:get", function(cb) {
+      cb(self.defaultAccount);
+    });
+
+    this.events.setCommandHandler("blockchain:defaultAccount:set", function(account, cb) {
+      self.setDefaultAccount(account);
+      cb();
+    });
+  }
+
+  defaultAccount() {
+    return this.web3.eth.defaultAccount;
+  }
+
+  setDefaultAccount(account) {
+    this.web3.eth.defaultAccount = account;
+  }
+
+  getAccounts(cb) {
+    this.web3.eth.getAccounts(cb);
+  }
+
 }
 
 module.exports = Blockchain;
diff --git a/lib/contracts/deploy.js b/lib/contracts/deploy.js
index 9ae358f9..0d690230 100644
--- a/lib/contracts/deploy.js
+++ b/lib/contracts/deploy.js
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ let CodeGenerator = require('./code_generator.js');
 
 class Deploy {
   constructor(options) {
-    this.web3 = options.web3;
+    this.blockchain = options.blockchain;
+    this.web3 = this.blockchain.web3;
     this.contractsManager = options.contractsManager;
     this.logger = options.logger;
     this.events = options.events;
@@ -220,12 +221,12 @@ class Deploy {
     let accounts = [];
     let contractParams = (params || contract.args).slice();
     let contractCode = contract.code;
-    let deploymentAccount = self.web3.eth.defaultAccount;
+    let deploymentAccount = self.blockchain.defaultAccount();
     let deployObject;
 
     async.waterfall([
       function getAccounts(next) {
-        self.web3.eth.getAccounts(function (err, _accounts) {
+        self.blockchain.getAccounts(function (err, _accounts) {
           if (err) {
             return next(new Error(err));
           }
diff --git a/lib/contracts/deploy_manager.js b/lib/contracts/deploy_manager.js
index 0c21e642..0bf5f9ef 100644
--- a/lib/contracts/deploy_manager.js
+++ b/lib/contracts/deploy_manager.js
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ class DeployManager {
 
     this.events = options.events;
     this.plugins = options.plugins;
-    this.web3 = options.web3;
+    this.blockchain = options.blockchain;
+    this.web3 = this.blockchain.web3;
     this.chainConfig = (options.trackContracts !== false) ? this.config.chainTracker : false;
     this.contractsManager = options.contractsManager;
     this.gasLimit = false;
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ class DeployManager {
           return callback(Error("error connecting to blockchain node"));
         }
 
-        self.web3.eth.getAccounts(function(err, _accounts) {
+        self.blockchain.getAccounts(function(err, _accounts) {
           if (err) {
             self.logger.error(__("Couldn't connect to an Ethereum node are you sure it's on?").red);
             self.logger.info(__("make sure you have an Ethereum node or simulator running. e.g '%s'", 'embark blockchain').magenta);
@@ -62,20 +63,20 @@ class DeployManager {
         });
       },
       function setDefaultAccount(contractsManager, web3, callback) {
-        web3.eth.getAccounts(function (err, accounts) {
+        self.blockchain.getAccounts(function (err, accounts) {
           if (err) {
             self.logger.error(err);
             return callback(new Error(err));
           }
           let accountConfig = self.config.blockchainConfig.account;
           let selectedAccount = accountConfig && accountConfig.address;
-          web3.eth.defaultAccount = (selectedAccount || accounts[0]);
+          self.blockchain.setDefaultAccount(selectedAccount || accounts[0]);
           callback(null, contractsManager, web3);
         });
       },
       function deployAllContracts(contractsManager, web3, callback) {
         let deploy = new Deploy({
-          web3: web3,
+          blockchain: self.blockchain,
           contractsManager: contractsManager,
           logger: self.logger,
           events: self.events,
diff --git a/lib/core/engine.js b/lib/core/engine.js
index f54e9f11..5d133601 100644
--- a/lib/core/engine.js
+++ b/lib/core/engine.js
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ class Engine {
     });
 
     this.deployManager = new DeployManager({
-      web3: options.web3 || self.web3,
+      blockchain: this.blockchain,
       trackContracts: options.trackContracts,
       config: this.config,
       logger: this.logger,
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ class Engine {
       addCheck: this.servicesMonitor.addCheck.bind(this.servicesMonitor),
       events: this.events,
       logger: this.logger,
-      options: options.web3 // TODO: might not be necessary
+      web3: options.web3
     });
 
     this.web3 = this.blockchain.web3;
diff --git a/lib/tests/test.js b/lib/tests/test.js
index 1dd2967e..d89a649c 100644
--- a/lib/tests/test.js
+++ b/lib/tests/test.js
@@ -69,8 +69,10 @@ Test.prototype.deployAll = function(contractsConfig, cb) {
         //{abiType: 'contracts', embarkJS: false}
         self.engine.startService("libraryManager");
         self.engine.startService("codeGenerator");
+        self.engine.startService("web3", {
+          web3: self.web3
+        });
         self.engine.startService("deployment", {
-          web3: self.web3,
           trackContracts: false
         });
         callback();