diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 75fb957d..6b5df53c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -364,9 +364,7 @@ The module can then be used when running a node:
 ```js
 var configuration = {
   datadir: process.env.BITCORENODE_DIR || '~/.bitcoin',
-  db: {
-    modules: [MyModule]
-  }
+  modules: [MyModule]
 };
 
 var node = new Node(configuration);
diff --git a/lib/db.js b/lib/db.js
index acbbe019..a3ac5059 100644
--- a/lib/db.js
+++ b/lib/db.js
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@ var index = require('./');
 var errors = index.errors;
 var log = index.log;
 var Transaction = require('./transaction');
-var BaseModule = require('./module');
-var AddressModule = require('./modules/address');
 
 function DB(options) {
   /* jshint maxstatements: 30 */
@@ -52,12 +50,6 @@ function DB(options) {
 
   this.node = options.node;
 
-  // Modules to be loaded when ready
-  this._modules = options.modules || [];
-  this._modules.push(AddressModule);
-
-  this.modules = [];
-
   this.subscriptions = {
     transaction: [],
     block: []
@@ -79,12 +71,6 @@ DB.prototype.initialize = function() {
 };
 
 DB.prototype.start = function(callback) {
-  // Add all db option modules
-  if(this._modules && this._modules.length) {
-    for(var i = 0; i < this._modules.length; i++) {
-      this.addModule(this._modules[i]);
-    }
-  }
   this.node.bitcoind.on('tx', this.transactionHandler.bind(this));
   this.emit('ready');
   setImmediate(callback);
@@ -278,9 +264,9 @@ DB.prototype.blockHandler = function(block, add, callback) {
   }
 
   async.eachSeries(
-    this.modules,
-    function(module, next) {
-      module['blockHandler'].call(module, block, add, function(err, ops) {
+    this.node.modules,
+    function(bitcoreNodeModule, next) {
+      bitcoreNodeModule.blockHandler.call(bitcoreNodeModule, block, add, function(err, ops) {
         if(err) {
           return next(err);
         }
@@ -308,11 +294,6 @@ DB.prototype.getAPIMethods = function() {
     ['sendTransaction', this, this.sendTransaction, 1],
     ['estimateFee', this, this.estimateFee, 1]
   ];
-
-  for(var i = 0; i < this.modules.length; i++) {
-    methods = methods.concat(this.modules[i]['getAPIMethods'].call(this.modules[i]));
-  }
-
   return methods;
 };
 
@@ -333,14 +314,6 @@ DB.prototype.getPublishEvents = function() {
   ];
 };
 
-DB.prototype.addModule = function(Module) {
-  var module = new Module({
-    node: this.node
-  });
-  $.checkArgumentType(module, BaseModule);
-  this.modules.push(module);
-};
-
 DB.prototype.subscribe = function(name, emitter) {
   this.subscriptions[name].push(emitter);
 };
diff --git a/lib/module.js b/lib/module.js
index 82471327..bf713264 100644
--- a/lib/module.js
+++ b/lib/module.js
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ var Module = function(options) {
   this.node = options.node;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Describes the dependencies that should be loaded before this module.
+ */
+Module.dependencies = [];
+
 /**
  * blockHandler
  * @param {Block} block - the block being added or removed from the chain
@@ -45,12 +50,12 @@ Module.prototype.getAPIMethods = function() {
 //
 // };
 
-Module.prototype.start = function() {
-
+Module.prototype.start = function(done) {
+  setImmediate(done);
 };
 
-Module.prototype.stop = function() {
-
+Module.prototype.stop = function(done) {
+  setImmediate(done);
 };
 
 module.exports = Module;
diff --git a/lib/modules/address.js b/lib/modules/address.js
index c333c6eb..b09b5af3 100644
--- a/lib/modules/address.js
+++ b/lib/modules/address.js
@@ -27,6 +27,11 @@ var AddressModule = function(options) {
 
 inherits(AddressModule, BaseModule);
 
+AddressModule.dependencies = [
+  'bitcoind',
+  'db'
+];
+
 AddressModule.PREFIXES = {
   OUTPUTS: 'outs',
   SPENTS: 'sp'
diff --git a/lib/node.js b/lib/node.js
index 7f39ab9b..124a4e71 100644
--- a/lib/node.js
+++ b/lib/node.js
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ var index = require('./');
 var log = index.log;
 var daemon = require('./daemon');
 var Bus = require('./bus');
+var BaseModule = require('./module');
 
 function Node(config) {
   if(!(this instanceof Node)) {
@@ -27,10 +28,17 @@ function Node(config) {
   this.chain = null;
   this.network = null;
 
+  this.modules = {};
+  this._unloadedModules = [];
+
+  // TODO type check the arguments of config.modules
+  if (config.modules) {
+    $.checkArgument(Array.isArray(config.modules));
+    this._unloadedModules = config.modules;
+  }
+
   this._loadConfiguration(config);
   this._initialize();
-
-  this.testnet = config.testnet;
 }
 
 util.inherits(Node, EventEmitter);
@@ -39,10 +47,41 @@ Node.prototype.openBus = function() {
   return new Bus({db: this.db});
 };
 
+Node.prototype.addModule = function(service) {
+  var self = this;
+  var mod = new service.module({
+    node: this
+  });
+
+  $.checkState(
+    mod instanceof BaseModule,
+    'Unexpected module instance type for module:' + service.name
+  );
+
+  // include in loaded modules
+  this.modules[service.name] = mod;
+
+  // add API methods
+  var methodData = mod.getAPIMethods();
+  methodData.forEach(function(data) {
+    var name = data[0];
+    var instance = data[1];
+    var method = data[2];
+
+    if (self[name]) {
+      throw new Error('Existing API method exists:' + name);
+    } else {
+      self[name] = function() {
+        return method.apply(instance, arguments);
+      };
+    }
+  });
+};
+
 Node.prototype.getAllAPIMethods = function() {
   var methods = this.db.getAPIMethods();
-  for (var i = 0; i < this.db.modules.length; i++) {
-    var mod = this.db.modules[i];
+  for(var i in this.modules) {
+    var mod = this.modules[i];
     methods = methods.concat(mod.getAPIMethods());
   }
   return methods;
@@ -50,8 +89,8 @@ Node.prototype.getAllAPIMethods = function() {
 
 Node.prototype.getAllPublishEvents = function() {
   var events = this.db.getPublishEvents();
-  for (var i = 0; i < this.db.modules.length; i++) {
-    var mod = this.db.modules[i];
+  for (var i in this.modules) {
+    var mod = this.modules[i];
     events = events.concat(mod.getPublishEvents());
   }
   return events;
@@ -379,7 +418,6 @@ Node.prototype._loadConsensus = function(config) {
 
 Node.prototype._loadAPI = function() {
   var self = this;
-
   var methodData = self.db.getAPIMethods();
   methodData.forEach(function(data) {
     var name = data[0];
@@ -456,32 +494,62 @@ Node.prototype._initializeChain = function() {
 };
 
 Node.prototype.getServices = function() {
-  var defaultServices = {
-    'bitcoind': [],
-    'db': ['bitcoind'],
-    'chain': ['db']
-  };
-  return defaultServices;
+  var services = [
+    {
+      name: 'bitcoind',
+      dependencies: []
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'db',
+      dependencies: ['bitcoind'],
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'chain',
+      dependencies: ['db']
+    }
+  ];
+
+  services = services.concat(this._unloadedModules);
+
+  return services;
 };
 
-Node.prototype.getServiceOrder = function(keys, stack) {
+Node.prototype.getServiceOrder = function() {
 
   var services = this.getServices();
 
-  if(!keys) {
-    keys = Object.keys(services);
+  // organize data for sorting
+  var names = [];
+  var servicesByName = {};
+  for (var i = 0; i < services.length; i++) {
+    var service = services[i];
+    names.push(service.name);
+    servicesByName[service.name] = service;
   }
 
-  if(!stack) {
-    stack = [];
-  }
+  var stackNames = {};
+  var stack = [];
+
+  function addToStack(names) {
+    for(var i = 0; i < names.length; i++) {
+
+      var name = names[i];
+      var service = servicesByName[name];
+
+      // first add the dependencies
+      addToStack(service.dependencies);
+
+      // add to the stack if it hasn't been added
+      if(!stackNames[name]) {
+        stack.push(service);
+        stackNames[name] = true;
+      }
 
-  for(var i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
-    this.getServiceOrder(services[keys[i]], stack);
-    if(stack.indexOf(keys[i]) === -1) {
-      stack.push(keys[i]);
     }
   }
+
+  addToStack(names);
+
   return stack;
 };
 
@@ -492,8 +560,15 @@ Node.prototype.start = function(callback) {
   async.eachSeries(
     servicesOrder,
     function(service, next) {
-      log.info('Starting ' + service);
-      self[service].start(next);
+      log.info('Starting ' + service.name);
+
+      if (service.module) {
+        self.addModule(service);
+        self.modules[service.name].start(next);
+      } else {
+        // TODO: implement bitcoind, chain and db as modules
+        self[service.name].start(next);
+      }
     },
     callback
   );
@@ -510,12 +585,16 @@ Node.prototype.stop = function(callback) {
   async.eachSeries(
     services,
     function(service, next) {
-      log.info('Stopping ' + service);
-      self[service].stop(next);
+      log.info('Stopping ' + service.name);
+
+      if (service.module) {
+        self.modules[service.name].stop(next);
+      } else {
+        self[service.name].stop(next);
+      }
     },
     callback
   );
 };
 
-
 module.exports = Node;
diff --git a/lib/scaffold/default-config.js b/lib/scaffold/default-config.js
index b35437b1..81a7e2ba 100644
--- a/lib/scaffold/default-config.js
+++ b/lib/scaffold/default-config.js
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ function getDefaultConfig() {
     config: {
       datadir: process.env.BITCORENODE_DIR || path.resolve(process.env.HOME, '.bitcoin'),
       network: process.env.BITCORENODE_NETWORK || 'livenet',
-      port: process.env.BITCORENODE_PORT || 3001
+      port: process.env.BITCORENODE_PORT || 3001,
+      modules: ['address']
     }
   };
 }
diff --git a/lib/scaffold/start.js b/lib/scaffold/start.js
index 3d927043..8ce78847 100644
--- a/lib/scaffold/start.js
+++ b/lib/scaffold/start.js
@@ -36,18 +36,23 @@ function start(options) {
           bitcoreNodeModule = moduleName + '/' + modulePackage.bitcoreNode;
         }
         bitcoreModule = require(bitcoreNodeModule);
-
       }
 
       // check that the module supports expected methods
       if (!bitcoreModule.prototype ||
+          !bitcoreModule.dependencies ||
           !bitcoreModule.prototype.start ||
           !bitcoreModule.prototype.stop) {
         throw new Error(
           'Could not load module "' + moduleName + '" as it does not support necessary methods.'
         );
       }
-      bitcoreModules.push(bitcoreModule);
+      bitcoreModules.push({
+        name: moduleName,
+        module: bitcoreModule,
+        dependencies: bitcoreModule.dependencies
+      });
+
     }
   }
 
@@ -56,13 +61,8 @@ function start(options) {
   // expand to the full path
   fullConfig.datadir = path.resolve(configPath, config.datadir);
 
-  // delete until modules move to the node
-  delete fullConfig.modules;
-
   // load the modules
-  fullConfig.db = {
-    modules: bitcoreModules
-  };
+  fullConfig.modules = bitcoreModules;
 
   var node = new BitcoreNode(fullConfig);
 
diff --git a/test/chain.unit.js b/test/chain.unit.js
index 5864eca3..6e7e30c1 100644
--- a/test/chain.unit.js
+++ b/test/chain.unit.js
@@ -249,26 +249,16 @@ describe('Bitcoin Chain', function() {
 
       chain.tip = block2;
 
-      chain.on('ready', function() {
+      delete chain.cache.hashes[block1.hash];
 
-        // remove one of the cached hashes to force db call
-        delete chain.cache.hashes[block1.hash];
-
-        // the test
-        chain.getHashes(block2.hash, function(err, hashes) {
-          should.not.exist(err);
-          should.exist(hashes);
-          hashes.length.should.equal(3);
-          done();
-        });
-      });
-
-      chain.on('error', function(err) {
+      // the test
+      chain.getHashes(block2.hash, function(err, hashes) {
         should.not.exist(err);
+        should.exist(hashes);
+        hashes.length.should.equal(3);
         done();
       });
 
-      chain.initialize();
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/test/db.unit.js b/test/db.unit.js
index c93f5d3f..389b0b45 100644
--- a/test/db.unit.js
+++ b/test/db.unit.js
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ var bitcore = require('bitcore');
 var Transaction = bitcore.Transaction;
 
 describe('Bitcoin DB', function() {
-  var coinbaseAmount = 50 * 1e8;
 
   describe('#start', function() {
     it('should emit ready', function(done) {
@@ -336,7 +335,8 @@ describe('Bitcoin DB', function() {
     Module1.prototype.blockHandler = sinon.stub().callsArgWith(2, null, ['op1', 'op2', 'op3']);
     var Module2 = function() {};
     Module2.prototype.blockHandler = sinon.stub().callsArgWith(2, null, ['op4', 'op5']);
-    db.modules = [
+    db.node = {};
+    db.node.modules = [
       new Module1(),
       new Module2()
     ];
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ describe('Bitcoin DB', function() {
     it('should give an error if one of the modules gives an error', function(done) {
       var Module3 = function() {};
       Module3.prototype.blockHandler = sinon.stub().callsArgWith(2, new Error('error'));
-      db.modules.push(new Module3());
+      db.node.modules.push(new Module3());
 
       db.blockHandler('block', true, function(err) {
         should.exist(err);
@@ -367,62 +367,11 @@ describe('Bitcoin DB', function() {
   describe('#getAPIMethods', function() {
     it('should return the correct db methods', function() {
       var db = new DB({store: memdown});
-      db.modules = [];
+      db.node = {};
+      db.node.modules = [];
       var methods = db.getAPIMethods();
       methods.length.should.equal(4);
     });
-
-    it('should also return modules API methods', function() {
-      var module1 = {
-        getAPIMethods: function() {
-          return [
-            ['module1-one', module1, module1, 2],
-            ['module1-two', module1, module1, 2]
-          ];
-        }
-      };
-      var module2 = {
-        getAPIMethods: function() {
-          return [
-            ['moudle2-one', module2, module2, 1]
-          ];
-        }
-      };
-
-      var db = new DB({store: memdown});
-      db.modules = [module1, module2];
-
-      var methods = db.getAPIMethods();
-      methods.length.should.equal(7);
-    });
   });
 
-  describe('#addModule', function() {
-    it('instantiate module and add to db.modules', function() {
-      var Module1 = function(options) {
-        BaseModule.call(this, options);
-      };
-      inherits(Module1, BaseModule);
-
-      var db = new DB({store: memdown});
-      var node = {};
-      db.node = node;
-      db.modules = [];
-      db.addModule(Module1);
-
-      db.modules.length.should.equal(1);
-      should.exist(db.modules[0].node);
-      db.modules[0].node.should.equal(node);
-    });
-
-    it('should throw an error if module is not an instance of BaseModule', function() {
-      var Module2 = function(options) {};
-      var db = new DB({store: memdown});
-      db.modules = [];
-
-      (function() {
-        db.addModule(Module2);
-      }).should.throw('bitcore.ErrorInvalidArgumentType');
-    });
-  });
 });
diff --git a/test/node.unit.js b/test/node.unit.js
index 35476fdf..20a6ba9b 100644
--- a/test/node.unit.js
+++ b/test/node.unit.js
@@ -13,8 +13,10 @@ var index = require('..');
 var fs = require('fs');
 var bitcoinConfBuffer = fs.readFileSync(__dirname + '/data/bitcoin.conf');
 var chainHashes = require('./data/hashes.json');
+var util = require('util');
+var BaseModule = require('../lib/module');
 
-describe('Bitcoind Node', function() {
+describe('Bitcore Node', function() {
 
   var Node;
   var BadNode;
@@ -47,6 +49,36 @@ describe('Bitcoind Node', function() {
 
   });
 
+  describe('@constructor', function() {
+    it('will set properties', function() {
+      function TestModule() {}
+      util.inherits(TestModule, BaseModule);
+      TestModule.prototype.getData = function() {};
+      TestModule.prototype.getAPIMethods = function() {
+        return [
+          ['getData', this, this.getData, 1]
+        ];
+      };
+      var config = {
+        modules: [
+          {
+            name: 'test1',
+            module: TestModule
+          }
+        ],
+      };
+      var TestNode = proxyquire('../lib/node', {});
+      TestNode.prototype._loadConfiguration = sinon.spy();
+      TestNode.prototype._initialize = sinon.spy();
+      var node = new TestNode(config);
+      TestNode.prototype._loadConfiguration.callCount.should.equal(1);
+      TestNode.prototype._initialize.callCount.should.equal(1);
+      node._unloadedModules.length.should.equal(1);
+      node._unloadedModules[0].name.should.equal('test1');
+      node._unloadedModules[0].module.should.equal(TestModule);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#openBus', function() {
     it('will create a new bus', function() {
       var node = new Node({});
@@ -56,19 +88,41 @@ describe('Bitcoind Node', function() {
       bus.db.should.equal(db);
     });
   });
+
+  describe('#addModule', function() {
+    it('will instantiate an instance and load api methods', function() {
+      var node = new Node({});
+      function TestModule() {}
+      util.inherits(TestModule, BaseModule);
+      TestModule.prototype.getData = function() {};
+      TestModule.prototype.getAPIMethods = function() {
+        return [
+          ['getData', this, this.getData, 1]
+        ];
+      };
+      var service = {
+        name: 'testmodule',
+        module: TestModule
+      };
+      node.addModule(service);
+      should.exist(node.modules.testmodule);
+      should.exist(node.getData);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('#getAllAPIMethods', function() {
     it('should return db methods and modules methods', function() {
       var node = new Node({});
+      node.modules = [
+        {
+          getAPIMethods: sinon.stub().returns(['mda1', 'mda2'])
+        },
+        {
+          getAPIMethods: sinon.stub().returns(['mdb1', 'mdb2'])
+        }
+      ];
       var db = {
         getAPIMethods: sinon.stub().returns(['db1', 'db2']),
-        modules: [
-          {
-            getAPIMethods: sinon.stub().returns(['mda1', 'mda2'])
-          },
-          {
-            getAPIMethods: sinon.stub().returns(['mdb1', 'mdb2'])
-          }
-        ]
       };
       node.db = db;
 
@@ -79,16 +133,16 @@ describe('Bitcoind Node', function() {
   describe('#getAllPublishEvents', function() {
     it('should return modules publish events', function() {
       var node = new Node({});
+      node.modules = [
+        {
+          getPublishEvents: sinon.stub().returns(['mda1', 'mda2'])
+        },
+        {
+          getPublishEvents: sinon.stub().returns(['mdb1', 'mdb2'])
+        }
+      ];
       var db = {
         getPublishEvents: sinon.stub().returns(['db1', 'db2']),
-        modules: [
-          {
-            getPublishEvents: sinon.stub().returns(['mda1', 'mda2'])
-          },
-          {
-            getPublishEvents: sinon.stub().returns(['mdb1', 'mdb2'])
-          }
-        ]
       };
       node.db = db;
 
@@ -648,15 +702,96 @@ describe('Bitcoind Node', function() {
     it('should return the services in the correct order', function() {
       var node = new Node({});
       node.getServices = function() {
-        return {
-          'chain': ['db'],
-          'db': ['daemon', 'p2p'],
-          'daemon': [],
-          'p2p': []
-        };
+        return [
+          {
+            name: 'chain',
+            dependencies: ['db']
+          },
+          {
+            name: 'db',
+            dependencies: ['daemon', 'p2p']
+          },
+          {
+            name:'daemon',
+            dependencies: []
+          },
+          {
+            name: 'p2p',
+            dependencies: []
+          }
+        ];
       };
       var order = node.getServiceOrder();
-      order.should.deep.equal(['daemon', 'p2p', 'db', 'chain']);
+      order[0].name.should.equal('daemon');
+      order[1].name.should.equal('p2p');
+      order[2].name.should.equal('db');
+      order[3].name.should.equal('chain');
     });
   });
+
+  describe('#start', function() {
+    it('will call start for each module', function(done) {
+      var node = new Node({});
+      function TestModule() {}
+      util.inherits(TestModule, BaseModule);
+      TestModule.prototype.start = sinon.stub().callsArg(0);
+      TestModule.prototype.getData = function() {};
+      TestModule.prototype.getAPIMethods = function() {
+        return [
+          ['getData', this, this.getData, 1]
+        ];
+      };
+      node.test2 = {};
+      node.test2.start = sinon.stub().callsArg(0);
+      node.getServiceOrder = sinon.stub().returns([
+        {
+          name: 'test1',
+          module: TestModule
+        },
+        {
+          name: 'test2'
+        }
+      ]);
+      node.start(function() {
+        node.test2.start.callCount.should.equal(1);
+        TestModule.prototype.start.callCount.should.equal(1);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('#stop', function() {
+    it('will call stop for each module', function(done) {
+      var node = new Node({});
+      function TestModule() {}
+      util.inherits(TestModule, BaseModule);
+      TestModule.prototype.stop = sinon.stub().callsArg(0);
+      TestModule.prototype.getData = function() {};
+      TestModule.prototype.getAPIMethods = function() {
+        return [
+          ['getData', this, this.getData, 1]
+        ];
+      };
+      node.modules = {
+        'test1': new TestModule({node: node})
+      };
+      node.test2 = {};
+      node.test2.stop = sinon.stub().callsArg(0);
+      node.getServiceOrder = sinon.stub().returns([
+        {
+          name: 'test2'
+        },
+        {
+          name: 'test1',
+          module: TestModule
+        }
+      ]);
+      node.stop(function() {
+        node.test2.stop.callCount.should.equal(1);
+        TestModule.prototype.stop.callCount.should.equal(1);
+        done();
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
 });
diff --git a/test/scaffold/start.integration.js b/test/scaffold/start.integration.js
index 07daa336..b7d074f5 100644
--- a/test/scaffold/start.integration.js
+++ b/test/scaffold/start.integration.js
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ describe('#start', function() {
     it('require each bitcore-node module', function(done) {
       var node;
       var TestNode = function(options) {
-        options.db.modules.should.deep.equal([AddressModule]);
+        options.modules[0].should.deep.equal({
+          name: 'address',
+          module: AddressModule,
+          dependencies: ['bitcoind', 'db']
+        });
       };
       TestNode.prototype.on = sinon.stub();
       TestNode.prototype.chain = {