diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 09bb3cc762..61dc33eb4f 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1092,6 +1092,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "blake3",
  "bs58",
  "cipher",
+ "config",
  "digest 0.9.0",
  "ed25519-dalek",
  "generic-array 0.14.4",
@@ -1101,6 +1102,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "nymsphinx-types",
  "pemstore",
  "rand 0.7.3",
+ "subtle-encoding",
  "x25519-dalek",
 ]
 
@@ -3694,7 +3696,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "rocket",
  "serde",
  "serial_test",
- "subtle-encoding",
  "tokio",
  "tokio-util",
  "toml",
diff --git a/common/crypto/Cargo.toml b/common/crypto/Cargo.toml
index 284be17faa..cf0032de13 100644
--- a/common/crypto/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/crypto/Cargo.toml
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ x25519-dalek = "1.1"
 ed25519-dalek = "1.0"
 log = "0.4"
 rand = { version = "0.7.3", features = ["wasm-bindgen"] }
+subtle-encoding = { version = "0.5", features =  ["bech32-preview"]}
 
 # internal
 nymsphinx-types = { path = "../nymsphinx/types" }
 pemstore = { path = "../../common/pemstore" }
+config = { path="../../common/config" }
diff --git a/common/crypto/src/asymmetric/identity/mod.rs b/common/crypto/src/asymmetric/identity/mod.rs
index 662488ebc3..73b67adc2d 100644
--- a/common/crypto/src/asymmetric/identity/mod.rs
+++ b/common/crypto/src/asymmetric/identity/mod.rs
@@ -189,6 +189,13 @@ impl PrivateKey {
         let sig = expanded_secret_key.sign(message, &public_key.0);
         Signature(sig)
     }
+
+    /// Signs text with the provided Ed25519 private key, returning a base58 signature
+    pub fn sign_text(&self, text: &str) -> String {
+        let signature_bytes = self.sign(text.as_ref()).to_bytes();
+        let signature = bs58::encode(signature_bytes).into_string();
+        signature
+    }
 }
 
 impl PemStorableKey for PrivateKey {
diff --git a/mixnode/src/crypto/bech32_address_validation.rs b/common/crypto/src/bech32_address_validation.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from mixnode/src/crypto/bech32_address_validation.rs
rename to common/crypto/src/bech32_address_validation.rs
diff --git a/common/crypto/src/lib.rs b/common/crypto/src/lib.rs
index 04ea643513..b28a630dfd 100644
--- a/common/crypto/src/lib.rs
+++ b/common/crypto/src/lib.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
 pub mod asymmetric;
+pub mod bech32_address_validation;
 pub mod crypto_hash;
 pub mod hkdf;
 pub mod hmac;
diff --git a/gateway/src/commands/init.rs b/gateway/src/commands/init.rs
index 041af5d5e2..a7464e2b0c 100644
--- a/gateway/src/commands/init.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/commands/init.rs
@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ pub fn command_args<'a, 'b>() -> clap::App<'a, 'b> {
             Arg::with_name(TESTNET_MODE_ARG_NAME)
                 .long(TESTNET_MODE_ARG_NAME)
                 .help("Set this gateway to work in a testnet mode that would allow clients to bypass bandwidth credential requirement")
+        )
+        .arg(
+            Arg::with_name(WALLET_ADDRESS)
+            .long(WALLET_ADDRESS)
+            .help("The wallet address you will use to bond this gateway, e.g. nymt1z9egw0knv47nmur0p8vk4rcx59h9gg4zuxrrr9")
+            .takes_value(true)
+            .required(true)
         );
 
     #[cfg(not(feature = "coconut"))]
diff --git a/gateway/src/commands/mod.rs b/gateway/src/commands/mod.rs
index 7273927827..09f0d7e0c6 100644
--- a/gateway/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
 // Copyright 2020 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+use std::process;
+
 use crate::config::Config;
 use clap::ArgMatches;
+use colored::Colorize;
+use crypto::bech32_address_validation;
 use url::Url;
 
 pub(crate) mod init;
@@ -25,6 +29,7 @@ pub(crate) const ETH_ENDPOINT: &str = "eth_endpoint";
 pub(crate) const ANNOUNCE_HOST_ARG_NAME: &str = "announce-host";
 pub(crate) const DATASTORE_PATH: &str = "datastore";
 pub(crate) const TESTNET_MODE_ARG_NAME: &str = "testnet-mode";
+pub(crate) const WALLET_ADDRESS: &str = "wallet-address";
 
 fn parse_validators(raw: &str) -> Vec<Url> {
     raw.split(',')
@@ -96,9 +101,36 @@ pub(crate) fn override_config(mut config: Config, matches: &ArgMatches) -> Confi
         config = config.with_eth_endpoint(String::from(eth_endpoint));
     }
 
+    if let Some(wallet_address) = matches.value_of(WALLET_ADDRESS) {
+        let trimmed = wallet_address.trim();
+        validate_bech32_address_or_exit(trimmed);
+        config = config.with_wallet_address(trimmed);
+    }
+
     if matches.is_present(TESTNET_MODE_ARG_NAME) {
         config.with_testnet_mode(true)
     } else {
         config
     }
 }
+
+/// Ensures that a given bech32 address is valid, or exits
+pub(crate) fn validate_bech32_address_or_exit(address: &str) {
+    if let Err(bech32_address_validation::Bech32Error::DecodeFailed(err)) =
+        bech32_address_validation::try_bech32_decode(address)
+    {
+        let error_message = format!("Error: wallet address decoding failed: {}", err).red();
+        println!("{}", error_message);
+        println!("Exiting...");
+        process::exit(1);
+    }
+
+    if let Err(bech32_address_validation::Bech32Error::WrongPrefix(err)) =
+        bech32_address_validation::validate_bech32_prefix(address)
+    {
+        let error_message = format!("Error: wallet address type is wrong, {}", err).red();
+        println!("{}", error_message);
+        println!("Exiting...");
+        process::exit(1);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/gateway/src/commands/run.rs b/gateway/src/commands/run.rs
index ef7643aaa2..f89cf213ed 100644
--- a/gateway/src/commands/run.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/commands/run.rs
@@ -139,6 +139,9 @@ pub async fn execute(matches: ArgMatches<'static>) {
     }
 
     let mut gateway = Gateway::new(config).await;
+    println!(
+        "\nTo bond your gateway you will need to install the Nym wallet, go to https://nymtech.net/get-involved and select the Download button.\n\
+         Select the correct version and install it to your machine. You will need to provide the following: \n ");
     gateway.print_node_details();
 
     gateway.run().await;
diff --git a/gateway/src/commands/sign.rs b/gateway/src/commands/sign.rs
index cbe738d221..1fa8963100 100644
--- a/gateway/src/commands/sign.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/commands/sign.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ pub fn command_args<'a, 'b>() -> App<'a, 'b> {
     cmd.arg(address_sign_cmd)
 }
 
-fn load_identity_keys(pathfinder: &GatewayPathfinder) -> identity::KeyPair {
+pub fn load_identity_keys(pathfinder: &GatewayPathfinder) -> identity::KeyPair {
     let identity_keypair: identity::KeyPair = pemstore::load_keypair(&pemstore::KeyPairPath::new(
         pathfinder.private_identity_key().to_owned(),
         pathfinder.public_identity_key().to_owned(),
@@ -111,45 +111,25 @@ fn sign_derived_address(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, address: &AccountId)
 
 // we do tiny bit of sanity check validation
 #[cfg(feature = "coconut")]
-fn sign_provided_address(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, raw_address: &str) {
+fn print_signed_address(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, raw_address: &str) -> String {
     let trimmed = raw_address.trim();
-
-    // try to decode the address (to make sure it's a valid bech32 encoding)
-    let (prefix, _) = match bech32::decode(trimmed) {
-        Ok(decoded) => decoded,
-        Err(err) => {
-            let error_message =
-                format!("Your wallet address failed to get decoded! Are you sure you copied it correctly?  The error was: {}", err).red();
-            println!("{}", error_message);
-            process::exit(1);
-        }
-    };
-
-    if prefix != BECH32_PREFIX {
-        let error_message =
-            format!("Your wallet address must start with a '{}'", BECH32_PREFIX).red();
-        println!("{}", error_message);
-        process::exit(1);
-    }
-
-    let signature_bytes = private_key.sign(trimmed.as_ref()).to_bytes();
-    let signature = bs58::encode(signature_bytes).into_string();
+    validate_bech32_address_or_exit(trimmed);
+    let signature = private_key.sign_text(trimmed);
 
     println!(
         "The base58-encoded signature on '{}' is: {}",
         trimmed, signature
-    )
+    );
+    signature
 }
 
-// we just sign whatever the user has provided
-fn sign_text(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, text: &str) {
+fn print_signed_text(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, text: &str) {
     println!(
         "Signing the text {:?} using your mixnode's Ed25519 identity key...",
         text
     );
 
-    let signature_bytes = private_key.sign(text.as_ref()).to_bytes();
-    let signature = bs58::encode(signature_bytes).into_string();
+    let signature = private_key.sign_text(text);
 
     println!(
         "The base58-encoded signature on '{}' is: {}",
@@ -171,7 +151,7 @@ pub fn execute(matches: &ArgMatches) {
     let identity_keypair = load_identity_keys(&pathfinder);
 
     if let Some(text) = matches.value_of(SIGN_TEXT_ARG_NAME) {
-        sign_text(identity_keypair.private_key(), text)
+        print_signed_text(identity_keypair.private_key(), text)
     }
 
     #[cfg(not(feature = "coconut"))]
diff --git a/gateway/src/config/mod.rs b/gateway/src/config/mod.rs
index 172e985388..ffc2a25c88 100644
--- a/gateway/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -193,6 +193,11 @@ impl Config {
         self
     }
 
+    pub fn with_wallet_address(mut self, wallet_address: &str) -> Self {
+        self.gateway.wallet_address = wallet_address.to_string();
+        self
+    }
+
     // getters
     pub fn get_config_file_save_location(&self) -> PathBuf {
         self.config_directory().join(Self::config_file_name())
@@ -280,6 +285,10 @@ impl Config {
     pub fn get_version(&self) -> &str {
         &self.gateway.version
     }
+
+    pub fn get_wallet_address(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.gateway.wallet_address
+    }
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug, Deserialize, PartialEq, Serialize)]
@@ -350,6 +359,9 @@ pub struct Gateway {
     /// Path to sqlite database containing all persistent data: messages for offline clients,
     /// derived shared keys and available client bandwidths.
     persistent_storage: PathBuf,
+
+    /// The Cosmos wallet address that will control this gateway
+    wallet_address: String,
 }
 
 impl Gateway {
@@ -397,6 +409,7 @@ impl Default for Gateway {
             cosmos_mnemonic: "".to_string(),
             nym_root_directory: Config::default_root_directory(),
             persistent_storage: Default::default(),
+            wallet_address: "nymXXXXXXXX".to_string(),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/gateway/src/config/template.rs b/gateway/src/config/template.rs
index 3a7995c57c..0e610d8abc 100644
--- a/gateway/src/config/template.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/config/template.rs
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ validator_nymd_urls = [
 
 cosmos_mnemonic = "{{ gateway.cosmos_mnemonic }}"
 
+# Nym wallet address on the blockchain that should control this gateway
+wallet_address = '{{ gateway.wallet_address }}'
+
 ##### advanced configuration options #####
 
 # nym_home_directory specifies absolute path to the home nym gateway directory.
diff --git a/gateway/src/node/mod.rs b/gateway/src/node/mod.rs
index 5e3c931311..b7252c582a 100644
--- a/gateway/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/gateway/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 // Copyright 2020 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
+use crate::commands::sign::load_identity_keys;
+use crate::commands::validate_bech32_address_or_exit;
 use crate::config::Config;
 use crate::node::client_handling::active_clients::ActiveClientsStore;
 use crate::node::client_handling::websocket;
@@ -78,6 +80,17 @@ impl Gateway {
         sphinx_keypair
     }
 
+    /// Signs the node config's bech32 address to produce a verification code for use in the wallet.
+    /// Exits if the address isn't valid (which should protect against manual edits).
+    fn generate_verification_code(&self) -> String {
+        let pathfinder = GatewayPathfinder::new_from_config(&self.config);
+        let identity_keypair = load_identity_keys(&pathfinder);
+        let address = self.config.get_wallet_address();
+        validate_bech32_address_or_exit(address);
+        let verification_code = identity_keypair.private_key().sign_text(address);
+        verification_code
+    }
+
     pub(crate) fn print_node_details(&self) {
         println!(
             "Identity Key: {}",
@@ -87,6 +100,10 @@ impl Gateway {
             "Sphinx Key: {}",
             self.sphinx_keypair.public_key().to_base58_string()
         );
+        println!(
+            "Node Verification Code: {}",
+            self.generate_verification_code()
+        );
         println!(
             "Host: {} (bind address: {})",
             self.config.get_announce_address(),
diff --git a/mixnode/Cargo.toml b/mixnode/Cargo.toml
index 611f55bb74..dd9a77fffe 100644
--- a/mixnode/Cargo.toml
+++ b/mixnode/Cargo.toml
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ pretty_env_logger = "0.4.0"
 rand = "0.7.3"
 rocket = { version="0.5.0-rc.1", features = ["json"] }
 serde = { version="1.0", features = ["derive"] }
-subtle-encoding = { version = "0.5", features =  ["bech32-preview"]}
 tokio = { version="1.8", features = ["rt-multi-thread", "net", "signal"] }
 tokio-util = { version="0.6.7", features = ["codec"] }
 toml = "0.5.8"
diff --git a/mixnode/src/commands/mod.rs b/mixnode/src/commands/mod.rs
index 8775b56b80..fdedab8267 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/commands/mod.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 
 use std::process;
 
-use crate::{config::Config, crypto::bech32_address_validation};
+use crate::config::Config;
 use clap::ArgMatches;
 use colored::Colorize;
+use crypto::bech32_address_validation;
 use url::Url;
 
 pub(crate) mod describe;
diff --git a/mixnode/src/commands/sign.rs b/mixnode/src/commands/sign.rs
index e2b28331de..79193c5d77 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/commands/sign.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/commands/sign.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 use crate::commands::*;
 use crate::config::{persistence::pathfinder::MixNodePathfinder, Config};
-use crate::crypto::ed25519::sign_text;
 use clap::{App, Arg, ArgMatches};
 use colored::Colorize;
 use config::NymConfig;
@@ -51,7 +50,7 @@ pub fn load_identity_keys(pathfinder: &MixNodePathfinder) -> identity::KeyPair {
 fn print_signed_address(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, raw_address: &str) -> String {
     let trimmed = raw_address.trim();
     validate_bech32_address_or_exit(trimmed);
-    let signature = sign_text(private_key, trimmed);
+    let signature = private_key.sign_text(trimmed);
 
     println!(
         "The base58-encoded signature on '{}' is: {}",
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ fn print_signed_text(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, text: &str) {
         text
     );
 
-    let signature = sign_text(private_key, text);
+    let signature = private_key.sign_text(text);
 
     println!(
         "The base58-encoded signature on '{}' is: {}",
diff --git a/mixnode/src/crypto/ed25519.rs b/mixnode/src/crypto/ed25519.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index ed5c966131..0000000000
--- a/mixnode/src/crypto/ed25519.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,8 +0,0 @@
-use crypto::asymmetric::identity;
-
-/// Signs text with the provided Ed25519 private key
-pub fn sign_text(private_key: &identity::PrivateKey, text: &str) -> String {
-    let signature_bytes = private_key.sign(text.as_ref()).to_bytes();
-    let signature = bs58::encode(signature_bytes).into_string();
-    signature
-}
diff --git a/mixnode/src/crypto/mod.rs b/mixnode/src/crypto/mod.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 1227cfb416..0000000000
--- a/mixnode/src/crypto/mod.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-pub mod bech32_address_validation;
-pub mod ed25519;
diff --git a/mixnode/src/main.rs b/mixnode/src/main.rs
index cfb94ddc4b..bdc9c6d013 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/main.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/main.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use clap::{crate_version, App, ArgMatches};
 
 mod commands;
 mod config;
-mod crypto;
 mod node;
 
 fn main() {
diff --git a/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs b/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
index 80f2a5abfd..ca8133fcd0 100644
--- a/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
+++ b/mixnode/src/node/mod.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
 use crate::commands::validate_bech32_address_or_exit;
 use crate::config::Config;
-use crate::crypto::ed25519::sign_text;
 use crate::node::http::{
     description::description,
     not_found,
@@ -91,7 +90,7 @@ impl MixNode {
         let identity_keypair = load_identity_keys(&pathfinder);
         let address = self.config.get_wallet_address();
         validate_bech32_address_or_exit(address);
-        let verification_code = sign_text(identity_keypair.private_key(), address);
+        let verification_code = identity_keypair.private_key().sign_text(address);
         verification_code
     }