diff --git a/lib/contracts/blockchain.js b/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
index c6bb575f..36da1e96 100644
--- a/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
+++ b/lib/contracts/blockchain.js
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 const Web3 = require('web3');
+const Provider = require('./provider.js');
 
 class Blockchain {
   constructor(options) {
@@ -10,6 +11,8 @@ class Blockchain {
     this.web3 = options.web3;
     this.addCheck = options.addCheck;
 
+    this.isWeb3Started = false;
+
     if (!this.web3) {
       this.initWeb3();
     }
@@ -19,10 +22,25 @@ class Blockchain {
   }
 
   initWeb3() {
+    const self = this;
     this.web3 = new Web3();
     if (this.contractsConfig.deployment.type === "rpc") {
-      let web3Endpoint = 'http://' + this.contractsConfig.deployment.host + ':' + this.contractsConfig.deployment.port;
       this.web3.setProvider(new this.web3.providers.HttpProvider(web3Endpoint));
+
+      let provider;
+      let web3Endpoint = 'http://' + this.contractsConfig.deployment.host + ':' + this.contractsConfig.deployment.port;
+      const providerOptions = {
+        web3: this.web3,
+        accountsConfig: this.contractsConfig.deployment.accounts,
+        logger: this.logger,
+        isDev: this.isDev,
+        web3Endpoint
+      };
+      provider = new Provider(providerOptions);
+
+      provider.startWeb3Provider(() => {
+        self.isWeb3Started = true;
+      });
     } else {
       throw new Error("contracts config error: unknown deployment type " + this.contractsConfig.deployment.type);
     }
@@ -133,13 +151,22 @@ class Blockchain {
       return cb(Error("error connecting to blockchain node"));
     }
 
-    self.getAccounts(function(err, _accounts) {
+    // TODO: refactor this
+    request.get(web3Endpoint, function (err, _response, _body) {
       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 'embark blockchain'".magenta);
         return cb(Error("error connecting to blockchain node"));
       }
-      return cb();
+
+      self.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 'embark blockchain'".magenta);
+          return cb(Error("error connecting to blockchain node"));
+        }
+        return cb();
+      });
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/core/engine.js b/lib/core/engine.js
index 6eb92eec..a30c2e70 100644
--- a/lib/core/engine.js
+++ b/lib/core/engine.js
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ const Pipeline = require('../pipeline/pipeline.js');
 const Watch = require('../pipeline/watch.js');
 const LibraryManager = require('../versions/library_manager.js');
 const CodeRunner = require('../coderunner/codeRunner.js');
+const request = require('request');
+//const Provider = require('../contracts/provider');
 
 class Engine {
   constructor(options) {
@@ -304,6 +306,7 @@ class Engine {
       addCheck: this.servicesMonitor.addCheck.bind(this.servicesMonitor),
       events: this.events,
       logger: this.logger,
+      isDev: this.isDev,
       web3: options.web3
     });