diff --git a/bchain/coins/bch/bcashrpc.go b/bchain/coins/bch/bcashrpc.go
index bb4292d1..d1f7a9a6 100644
--- a/bchain/coins/bch/bcashrpc.go
+++ b/bchain/coins/bch/bcashrpc.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func NewBCashRPC(config json.RawMessage, pushHandler func(bchain.NotificationTyp
 // Initialize initializes BCashRPC instance.
 func (b *BCashRPC) Initialize() error {
 
-	chainName, err := b.GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool()
+	chainName, err := b.GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool(b)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/bchain/coins/blockchain.go b/bchain/coins/blockchain.go
index cac247e8..59ff2777 100644
--- a/bchain/coins/blockchain.go
+++ b/bchain/coins/blockchain.go
@@ -89,6 +89,11 @@ func (c *blockChainWithMetrics) GetSubversion() string {
 	return c.b.GetSubversion()
 }
 
+func (c *blockChainWithMetrics) GetBlockChainInfo() (v string, err error) {
+	defer func(s time.Time) { c.observeRPCLatency("GetBlockChainInfo", s, err) }(time.Now())
+	return c.b.GetBlockChainInfo()
+}
+
 func (c *blockChainWithMetrics) GetBestBlockHash() (v string, err error) {
 	defer func(s time.Time) { c.observeRPCLatency("GetBestBlockHash", s, err) }(time.Now())
 	return c.b.GetBestBlockHash()
diff --git a/bchain/coins/btc/bitcoinrpc.go b/bchain/coins/btc/bitcoinrpc.go
index 8a54927d..76a0a864 100644
--- a/bchain/coins/btc/bitcoinrpc.go
+++ b/bchain/coins/btc/bitcoinrpc.go
@@ -75,9 +75,9 @@ func NewBitcoinRPC(config json.RawMessage, pushHandler func(bchain.NotificationT
 // GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool is called by Initialize and reused by other coins
 // it contacts the blockchain rpc interface for the first time
 // and if successful it connects to ZeroMQ and creates mempool handler
-func (b *BitcoinRPC) GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool() (string, error) {
+func (b *BitcoinRPC) GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool(bc bchain.BlockChain) (string, error) {
 	// try to connect to block chain and get some info
-	chainName, err := b.GetBlockChainInfo()
+	chainName, err := bc.GetBlockChainInfo()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (b *BitcoinRPC) GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool() (string, error) {
 	}
 	b.mq = mq
 
-	b.Mempool = bchain.NewUTXOMempool(b)
+	b.Mempool = bchain.NewUTXOMempool(bc)
 
 	return chainName, nil
 }
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ func (b *BitcoinRPC) GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool() (string, error) {
 // Initialize initializes BitcoinRPC instance.
 func (b *BitcoinRPC) Initialize() error {
 
-	chainName, err := b.GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool()
+	chainName, err := b.GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool(b)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/bchain/coins/eth/ethrpc.go b/bchain/coins/eth/ethrpc.go
index 249a7cb9..66ef6219 100644
--- a/bchain/coins/eth/ethrpc.go
+++ b/bchain/coins/eth/ethrpc.go
@@ -244,6 +244,18 @@ func (b *EthereumRPC) GetSubversion() string {
 	return ""
 }
 
+// GetBlockChainInfo returns the NetworkID of the ethereum network
+func (b *EthereumRPC) GetBlockChainInfo() (string, error) {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), b.timeout)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	id, err := b.client.NetworkID(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return id.String(), nil
+}
+
 func (b *EthereumRPC) getBestHeader() (*ethtypes.Header, error) {
 	b.bestHeaderMu.Lock()
 	defer b.bestHeaderMu.Unlock()
diff --git a/bchain/coins/zec/zcashrpc.go b/bchain/coins/zec/zcashrpc.go
index 3d3010f1..0d22f81c 100644
--- a/bchain/coins/zec/zcashrpc.go
+++ b/bchain/coins/zec/zcashrpc.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func NewZCashRPC(config json.RawMessage, pushHandler func(bchain.NotificationTyp
 
 // Initialize initializes ZCashRPC instance.
 func (z *ZCashRPC) Initialize() error {
-	_, err := z.GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool()
+	_, err := z.GetChainInfoAndInitializeMempool(z)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/bchain/types.go b/bchain/types.go
index 2a2abe8d..4e573fd6 100644
--- a/bchain/types.go
+++ b/bchain/types.go
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ type BlockChain interface {
 	GetNetworkName() string
 	GetSubversion() string
 	// requests
+	GetBlockChainInfo() (string, error)
 	GetBestBlockHash() (string, error)
 	GetBestBlockHeight() (uint32, error)
 	GetBlockHash(height uint32) (string, error)