diff --git a/eosc/cmd/common.go b/eosc/cmd/common.go
index fb80e9f9..68773877 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/common.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/common.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+
 	yaml2json "github.com/bronze1man/go-yaml2json"
 	"github.com/eoscanada/eos-go"
 	"github.com/eoscanada/eos-go/ecc"
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/eoscanada/eosc/cli"
 	eosvault "github.com/eoscanada/eosc/vault"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
+	"github.com/tidwall/gjson"
 	"github.com/tidwall/sjson"
 )
 
@@ -85,6 +88,58 @@ func getAPI() *eos.API {
 	return api
 }
 
+var coreSymbolIsCached bool
+var coreSymbol eos.Symbol
+
+func getCoreSymbol() eos.Symbol {
+	if coreSymbolIsCached {
+		return coreSymbol
+	}
+
+	// In the event of a failure, we do not want to re-perform an API call,
+	// so let's record the fact that getCoreSymbol is cached right here.
+	// The init core symbol will take care of setting an approriate core
+	// symbol from global flag and reporting the error.
+	coreSymbolIsCached = true
+	if err := initCoreSymbol(); err != nil {
+		coreSymbol = eos.EOSSymbol
+		zlog.Debug(
+			"unable to retrieve core symbol from API, falling back to default",
+			zap.Error(err),
+			zap.Stringer("default", coreSymbol),
+		)
+	}
+
+	return coreSymbol
+}
+
+func initCoreSymbol() error {
+	resp, err := getAPI().GetTableRows(eos.GetTableRowsRequest{
+		Code:  "eosio",
+		Scope: "eosio",
+		Table: "rammarket",
+		JSON:  true,
+	})
+
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("unable to fetch table: %s", err)
+	}
+
+	result := gjson.GetBytes(resp.Rows, "0.quote.balance")
+	if !result.Exists() {
+		return errors.New("table has not expected format")
+	}
+
+	asset, err := eos.NewAsset(result.String())
+	if !result.Exists() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("quote balance asset %q is not valid: %s", result.String(), err)
+	}
+
+	zlog.Debug("Retrieved core symbol from API, using it as default core symbol", zap.Stringer("symbol", asset.Symbol))
+	coreSymbol = asset.Symbol
+	return nil
+}
+
 func sanitizeAPIURL(input string) string {
 	return strings.TrimRight(input, "/")
 }
@@ -312,32 +367,39 @@ func loadYAMLOrJSONFile(filename string, v interface{}) error {
 
 func toAccount(in, field string) eos.AccountName {
 	acct, err := cli.ToAccountName(in)
-	if err != nil {
-		errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid account format for %q", field), err)
-	}
+	errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid account format for %q", field), err)
 
 	return acct
 }
 
 func toAsset(symbol eos.Symbol, in, field string) eos.Asset {
-	asset, err := eos.NewAssetFromString(symbol, in)
-	errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid %s asset for %q", symbol.String(), field), err)
+	asset, err := eos.NewFixedSymbolAssetFromString(symbol, in)
+	errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid %q value %q", field, in), err)
 
 	return asset
 }
 
-func toEOSAsset(in, field string) eos.Asset {
-	asset, err := eos.NewEOSAssetFromString(in)
-	errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid %s asset for %q", eos.EOSSymbol, field), err)
+func toAssetWithDefaultCoreSymbol(in, field string) eos.Asset {
+	if len(strings.Split(in, " ")) == 1 {
+		return toCoreAsset(in, field)
+	}
+
+	asset, err := eos.NewAssetFromString(in)
+	errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid asset value %q for %q", in, field), err)
 
 	return asset
 }
 
-func toREXAsset(in, field string) eos.Asset {
-	asset, err := eos.NewREXAssetFromString(in)
-	errorCheck(fmt.Sprintf("invalid %s asset for %q", eos.REXSymbol, field), err)
+func toCoreAsset(in, field string) eos.Asset {
+	return toAsset(getCoreSymbol(), in, field)
+}
 
-	return asset
+func toEOSAsset(in, field string) eos.Asset {
+	return toAsset(eos.EOSSymbol, in, field)
+}
+
+func toREXAsset(in, field string) eos.Asset {
+	return toAsset(eos.REXSymbol, in, field)
 }
 
 func toName(in, field string) eos.Name {
@@ -395,10 +457,3 @@ func isStubABI(abi eos.ABI) bool {
 		abi.Structs == nil && abi.Tables == nil &&
 		abi.Types == nil
 }
-
-func NewAssetDefaultEOS(input string) (eos.Asset, error) {
-	if len(strings.Split(input, " ")) == 1 {
-		return eos.NewEOSAssetFromString(input)
-	}
-	return eos.NewAsset(input)
-}
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/logging.go b/eosc/cmd/logging.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c6ecae81
--- /dev/null
+++ b/eosc/cmd/logging.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+)
+
+var zlog = zap.NewNop()
+
+func SetLogger(l *zap.Logger) {
+	zlog = l
+}
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexBuy.go b/eosc/cmd/rexBuy.go
index 29c6ee02..1129b393 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexBuy.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexBuy.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var rexBuy = &cobra.Command{
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[1], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[1], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewBuyREX(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexDefundCPU.go b/eosc/cmd/rexDefundCPU.go
index 7dd701a7..c0341e90 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexDefundCPU.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexDefundCPU.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var rexDefundCPU = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
 		loanNumber := toUint64(args[1], "loan number")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[2], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[2], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewDefundCPULoan(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexDefundNET.go b/eosc/cmd/rexDefundNET.go
index 01fb3913..4c99b3c4 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexDefundNET.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexDefundNET.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var rexDefundNet = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
 		loanNumber := toUint64(args[1], "loan number")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[2], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[2], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewDefundNetLoan(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexDeposit.go b/eosc/cmd/rexDeposit.go
index a5891b80..0b4ad031 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexDeposit.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexDeposit.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var rexDeposit = &cobra.Command{
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[1], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[1], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewDeposit(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexFundCPU.go b/eosc/cmd/rexFundCPU.go
index d919ecc3..2dec9f78 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexFundCPU.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexFundCPU.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var rexFundCPU = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
 		loanNumber := toUint64(args[1], "loan number")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[2], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[2], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewFundCPULoan(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexFundNet.go b/eosc/cmd/rexFundNet.go
index 58919bbd..8d713544 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexFundNet.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexFundNet.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var rexFundNet = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
 		loanNumber := toUint64(args[1], "loan number")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[2], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[2], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewFundNetLoan(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexRentCPU.go b/eosc/cmd/rexRentCPU.go
index 8432eebe..502546bb 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexRentCPU.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexRentCPU.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ var rexRentCPU = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		payer := toAccount(args[0], "payer")
 		receiver := toAccount(args[1], "receiver")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[2], "quantity")
-		loanFund := toEOSAsset(args[3], "loan fund")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[2], "quantity")
+		loanFund := toCoreAsset(args[3], "loan fund")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewRentCPU(
 			payer,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexRentNet.go b/eosc/cmd/rexRentNet.go
index 120f7975..b6a0f0be 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexRentNet.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexRentNet.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ var rexRentNet = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		payer := toAccount(args[0], "payer")
 		receiver := toAccount(args[1], "receiver")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[2], "quantity")
-		loanFund := toEOSAsset(args[3], "loan fund")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[2], "quantity")
+		loanFund := toCoreAsset(args[3], "loan fund")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewRentNet(
 			payer,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexUnstakeTo.go b/eosc/cmd/rexUnstakeTo.go
index 04565097..d227d480 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexUnstakeTo.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexUnstakeTo.go
@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ var rexUnstakeTo = &cobra.Command{
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		staker := toAccount(args[0], "staker")
 		stakedTo := toAccount(args[1], "staked to")
-		net := toEOSAsset(args[2], "net")
-		cpu := toEOSAsset(args[3], "cpu")
+		net := toCoreAsset(args[2], "net")
+		cpu := toCoreAsset(args[3], "cpu")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewUnstakeToREX(
 			staker,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/rexWithdraw.go b/eosc/cmd/rexWithdraw.go
index b1789fdf..64d210e2 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/rexWithdraw.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/rexWithdraw.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ var rexWithdraw = &cobra.Command{
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		account := toAccount(args[0], "account")
-		quantity := toEOSAsset(args[1], "quantity")
+		quantity := toCoreAsset(args[1], "quantity")
 
 		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), rex.NewWithdraw(
 			account,
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/root.go b/eosc/cmd/root.go
index aafdcc40..f28b2978 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/root.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/root.go
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
+	"go.uber.org/zap"
+
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/spf13/pflag"
 	"github.com/spf13/viper"
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@ func Execute() {
 func init() {
 	cobra.OnInitialize(initConfig)
 
+	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP("core-symbol", "c", "", "Core symbol to use for all commands (default inferred from API if possible, 4,EOS otherwise)")
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolP("debug", "", false, "Enables verbose API debug messages")
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringP("vault-file", "", "./eosc-vault.json", "Wallet file that contains encrypted key material")
 	RootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringSliceP("wallet-url", "", []string{}, "Base URL to wallet endpoint. You can pass this multiple times to use the multi-signer (will use each wallet to sign multi-sig transactions).")
@@ -65,6 +68,13 @@ func initConfig() {
 	viper.SetEnvKeyReplacer(replacer)
 
 	recurseViperCommands(RootCmd, nil)
+
+	if viper.GetBool("global-debug") {
+		zlog, err := zap.NewDevelopment()
+		if err == nil {
+			SetLogger(zlog)
+		}
+	}
 }
 
 func recurseViperCommands(root *cobra.Command, segments []string) {
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/systemBidname.go b/eosc/cmd/systemBidname.go
index 1f8635a4..b2ea5d43 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/systemBidname.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/systemBidname.go
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ Read https://steemit.com/eos/@eos-canada/everything-you-need-to-know-about-names
 
 		bidder := toAccount(args[0], "bidder_account_name")
 		newname := toAccount(args[1], "premium_account_name")
-		bidAsset, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[2])
-		errorCheck("bid amount invalid", err)
+		bidAsset := toCoreAsset(args[2], "bid quantity")
 
 		fmt.Printf("[%s] bidding for: %s , amount=%d precision=%d symbol=%s\n", bidder, newname, bidAsset.Amount, bidAsset.Symbol.Precision, bidAsset.Symbol.Symbol)
 
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/systemDelegateBW.go b/eosc/cmd/systemDelegateBW.go
index e5301276..d26f75bf 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/systemDelegateBW.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/systemDelegateBW.go
@@ -45,10 +45,8 @@ Alternatively, you can use the simplified:
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		from := toAccount(args[0], "from")
 		receiver := toAccount(args[1], "receiver")
-		netStake, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[2])
-		errorCheck(`"network bw stake qty" invalid`, err)
-		cpuStake, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[3])
-		errorCheck(`"cpu bw stake qty" invalid`, err)
+		netStake := toCoreAsset(args[2], "network bw stake qty")
+		cpuStake := toCoreAsset(args[3], "cpu bw stake qty")
 		transfer := viper.GetBool("system-delegatebw-cmd-transfer")
 
 		api := getAPI()
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/systemNewaccount.go b/eosc/cmd/systemNewaccount.go
index 3cdfe77d..d6dbf073 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/systemNewaccount.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/systemNewaccount.go
@@ -104,10 +104,8 @@ active:
 			errorCheck("missing argument", fmt.Errorf("--stake-net missing"))
 		}
 
-		cpuStake, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(cpuStakeStr)
-		errorCheck("--stake-cpu invalid", err)
-		netStake, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(netStakeStr)
-		errorCheck("--stake-net invalid", err)
+		cpuStake := toCoreAsset(cpuStakeStr, "--stake-cpu")
+		netStake := toCoreAsset(netStakeStr, "--stake-net")
 
 		doTransfer := viper.GetBool("system-newaccount-cmd-transfer")
 		if cpuStake.Amount != 0 || netStake.Amount != 0 {
@@ -118,8 +116,7 @@ active:
 
 		buyRAM := viper.GetString("system-newaccount-cmd-buy-ram")
 		if buyRAM != "" {
-			buyRAMAmount, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(buyRAM)
-			errorCheck("--buy-ram invalid", err)
+			buyRAMAmount := toCoreAsset(buyRAM, "--buy-ram")
 
 			actions = append(actions, system.NewBuyRAM(creator, newAccount, uint64(buyRAMAmount.Amount)))
 		} else {
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/systemUndelegateBW.go b/eosc/cmd/systemUndelegateBW.go
index dfd2bc38..cbcdcf09 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/systemUndelegateBW.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/systemUndelegateBW.go
@@ -21,14 +21,10 @@ See also: the "system delegatebw" command.
 	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		from := toAccount(args[0], "from")
 		receiver := toAccount(args[1], "receiver")
-		netStake, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[2])
-		errorCheck(`"network bw unstake qty" invalid`, err)
-		cpuStake, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[3])
-		errorCheck(`"cpu bw unstake qty" invalid`, err)
+		netStake := toCoreAsset(args[2], "network bw unstake qty")
+		cpuStake := toCoreAsset(args[3], "cpu bw unstake qty")
 
-		api := getAPI()
-
-		pushEOSCActions(api, system.NewUndelegateBW(from, receiver, cpuStake, netStake))
+		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), system.NewUndelegateBW(from, receiver, cpuStake, netStake))
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/toolsSellAccount.go b/eosc/cmd/toolsSellAccount.go
index 53f59266..a5c33027 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/toolsSellAccount.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/toolsSellAccount.go
@@ -28,8 +28,7 @@ MAKE SURE TO INSPECT THE GENERATED MULTISIG TRANSACTION BEFORE APPROVING IT.
 		soldAccount := toAccount(args[0], "sold account")
 		buyerAccount := toAccount(args[1], "buyer account")
 		beneficiaryAccount := toAccount(args[2], "beneficiary account")
-		saleAmount, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[3])
-		errorCheck(`sale "amount" invalid`, err)
+		saleAmount := toCoreAsset(args[3], "amount")
 		proposalName := viper.GetString("tools-sell-account-cmd-proposal-name")
 		memo := viper.GetString("tools-sell-account-cmd-memo")
 
diff --git a/eosc/cmd/transfer.go b/eosc/cmd/transfer.go
index f9bcffd8..24d7d8ae 100644
--- a/eosc/cmd/transfer.go
+++ b/eosc/cmd/transfer.go
@@ -17,15 +17,13 @@ var transferCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 		from := toAccount(args[0], "from")
 		to := toAccount(args[1], "to")
-		quantity, err := NewAssetDefaultEOS(args[2])
-		errorCheck("invalid amount", err)
+		quantity := toAssetWithDefaultCoreSymbol(args[2], "quantity")
 		memo := viper.GetString("transfer-cmd-memo")
 
-		api := getAPI()
-
 		action := token.NewTransfer(from, to, quantity, memo)
 		action.Account = contract
-		pushEOSCActions(api, action)
+
+		pushEOSCActions(getAPI(), action)
 	},
 }
 
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 1d9d2e77..bd1560a6 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/abourget/llerrgroup v0.0.0-20161118145731-75f536392d17
 	github.com/bronze1man/go-yaml2json v0.0.0-20150129175009-f6f64b738964
 	github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.1
-	github.com/eoscanada/eos-go v0.8.13
+	github.com/eoscanada/eos-go v0.8.14-0.20190614154328-0014a42badb5
 	github.com/golang/protobuf v1.3.1 // indirect
 	github.com/inconshreveable/mousetrap v1.0.0 // indirect
 	github.com/mailru/easyjson v0.0.0-20190403194419-1ea4449da983 // indirect
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/tidwall/sjson v1.0.0
 	go.uber.org/atomic v1.3.2 // indirect
 	go.uber.org/multierr v1.1.0 // indirect
-	go.uber.org/zap v1.9.1 // indirect
+	go.uber.org/zap v1.9.1
 	golang.org/x/crypto v0.0.0-20190131182504-b8fe1690c613
 	golang.org/x/net v0.0.0-20190108225652-1e06a53dbb7e // indirect
 	golang.org/x/oauth2 v0.0.0-20181203162652-d668ce993890
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 3283af15..9c5ce24f 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ github.com/eoscanada/eos-bios v1.2.0 h1:h2PC3rbOCvPVkq6+RapwUGKn0wZ41ScJmHHTwdDK
 github.com/eoscanada/eos-bios v1.2.0/go.mod h1:64+2vEnagr6kY1QgIexkeOXPEXn4yeLDiluCzQ2B9dY=
 github.com/eoscanada/eos-go v0.8.13 h1:2U6a+cj+VygmcrKP8Y2op1qukynXUTfhyhKrysjPmsY=
 github.com/eoscanada/eos-go v0.8.13/go.mod h1:RKrm2XzZEZWxSMTRqH5QOyJ1fb/qKEjs2ix1aQl0sk4=
+github.com/eoscanada/eos-go v0.8.14-0.20190614154328-0014a42badb5 h1:6Y6xlTLOaY7Uzb/aarC4hpqkztamhpyX8ELGXFRre00=
+github.com/eoscanada/eos-go v0.8.14-0.20190614154328-0014a42badb5/go.mod h1:RKrm2XzZEZWxSMTRqH5QOyJ1fb/qKEjs2ix1aQl0sk4=
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.7 h1:IXs+QLmnXW2CcXuY+8Mzv/fWEsPGWxqefPtCP5CnV9I=
 github.com/fsnotify/fsnotify v1.4.7/go.mod h1:jwhsz4b93w/PPRr/qN1Yymfu8t87LnFCMoQvtojpjFo=
 github.com/golang/protobuf v1.3.1 h1:YF8+flBXS5eO826T4nzqPrxfhQThhXl0YzfuUPu4SBg=