diff --git a/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py b/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py
index fd976f6ca..c3afc74b5 100644
--- a/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py
+++ b/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class NuCypherGethProcess(BaseGethProcess, LoggingMixin):
         self.log.info("STARTING GETH NOW")
         super().start()
         self.wait_for_ipc(timeout=timeout)  # on for all nodes by default
-        if self.IPC_PROTOCOL == 'rpc':
+        if self.IPC_PROTOCOL in ('rpc', 'http'):
             self.wait_for_rpc(timeout=timeout)
 
 
@@ -112,7 +112,8 @@ class NuCypherGethDevnetProcess(NuCypherGethProcess):
                        'port': str(self.P2P_PORT),
                        'verbosity': str(self.VERBOSITY),
                        'data_dir': self.data_dir,
-                       'ipc_path': ipc_path}
+                       'ipc_path': ipc_path,
+                       }
 
         # Genesis & Blockchain Init
         self.genesis_filepath = os.path.join(self.data_dir, self.GENESIS_FILENAME)
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@ class NuCypherGethDevnetProcess(NuCypherGethProcess):
 
         self.__process = NOT_RUNNING
         super().__init__(geth_kwargs)  # Attaches self.geth_kwargs in super call
+        self.command = [*self.command, '--syncmode', 'fast']
 
     def get_accounts(self):
         accounts = get_accounts(**self.geth_kwargs)
diff --git a/nucypher/cli/characters/ursula.py b/nucypher/cli/characters/ursula.py
index 117d51a82..907861813 100644
--- a/nucypher/cli/characters/ursula.py
+++ b/nucypher/cli/characters/ursula.py
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ along with nucypher.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 """
 
 import click
+from constant_sorrow.constants import NO_BLOCKCHAIN_CONNECTION
 from constant_sorrow.constants import TEMPORARY_DOMAIN
 from twisted.internet import stdio
-from twisted.logger import Logger
 
-from nucypher.blockchain.eth.clients import NuCypherGethDevnetProcess, NuCypherGethDevProcess
+from nucypher.blockchain.eth.clients import NuCypherGethDevnetProcess
 from nucypher.blockchain.eth.token import NU
 from nucypher.characters.banners import URSULA_BANNER
 from nucypher.cli import actions, painting
@@ -36,12 +36,9 @@ from nucypher.cli.types import (
     STAKE_VALUE
 )
 from nucypher.config.characters import UrsulaConfiguration
-from nucypher.config.constants import DEFAULT_CONFIG_ROOT
 from nucypher.utilities.sandbox.constants import (
     TEMPORARY_DOMAIN,
 )
-from constant_sorrow.constants import NO_BLOCKCHAIN_CONNECTION
-
 
 
 @click.command()
@@ -52,6 +49,7 @@ from constant_sorrow.constants import NO_BLOCKCHAIN_CONNECTION
 @click.option('--force', help="Don't ask for confirmation", is_flag=True)
 @click.option('--lonely', help="Do not connect to seednodes", is_flag=True)
 @click.option('--network', help="Network Domain Name", type=click.STRING, default='goerli-testnet')
+@click.option('--enode', help="An ethereum bootnode enode address to start learning from", type=click.STRING)
 @click.option('--teacher-uri', help="An Ursula URI to start learning from (seednode)", type=click.STRING)
 @click.option('--min-stake', help="The minimum stake the teacher must have to be a teacher", type=click.INT, default=0)
 @click.option('--rest-host', help="The host IP address to run Ursula network services on", type=click.STRING)
@@ -83,6 +81,7 @@ def ursula(click_config,
            lonely,
            network,
            teacher_uri,
+           enode,
            min_stake,
            rest_host,
            rest_port,
@@ -299,6 +298,14 @@ def ursula(click_config,
                                            network_domain=network,
                                            network_middleware=click_config.middleware)
 
+    # Add ETH Bootnode or Peer
+    if enode:
+        if geth:
+            ursula_config.blockchain.interface.w3.geth.admin.addPeer(enode)
+            click.secho(f"Added ethereum peer {enode}")
+        else:
+            raise NotImplemented  # TODO: other backends
+
     #
     # Produce
     #
@@ -373,8 +380,8 @@ def ursula(click_config,
         painting.paint_contract_status(click_config=click_config, ursula_config=ursula_config)
         current_block = URSULA.blockchain.interface.w3.eth.blockNumber
         click.secho(f'Block # {current_block}')
-        click.secho(f'NU Balance: {URSULA.eth_balance}')
-        click.secho(f'ETH Balance: {URSULA.token_balance}')
+        click.secho(f'NU Balance: {URSULA.token_balance}')
+        click.secho(f'ETH Balance: {URSULA.eth_balance}')
         click.secho(f'Current Gas Price {URSULA.blockchain.interface.w3.eth.gasPrice}')
 
         # TODO: Verbose status
diff --git a/nucypher/cli/deploy.py b/nucypher/cli/deploy.py
index 8e6a20bf2..2525eab2f 100644
--- a/nucypher/cli/deploy.py
+++ b/nucypher/cli/deploy.py
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ def deploy(click_config,
     if geth:
         # Spawn geth child process
         ETH_NODE = NuCypherGethDevnetProcess(config_root=config_root)
+        ETH_NODE.ensure_account_exists(password=click_config.get_password(confirm=True))
+        if not ETH_NODE.initialized:
+            ETH_NODE.initialize_blockchain()
         ETH_NODE.start()  # TODO: Graceful shutdown
         provider_uri = ETH_NODE.provider_uri