diff --git a/lib/plugins.js b/lib/plugins.js
index a04e7fd2..db66437b 100644
--- a/lib/plugins.js
+++ b/lib/plugins.js
@@ -11,18 +11,10 @@ var argv = require('minimist')(process.argv.slice(2))
 
 var tradeInterval = null
 
-var SATOSHI_FACTOR = 1e8
 var POLLING_RATE = 60 * 1000 // poll each minute
 var REAP_RATE = 2 * 1000
 var PENDING_TIMEOUT = 70 * 1000
 
-var BTC_COIN = {
-  unitCode: 'BTC',
-  displayCode: 'mBTC',
-  unitScale: 8,
-  displayScale: 5
-}
-
 if (argv.timeout) PENDING_TIMEOUT = argv.timeout / 1000
 
 // TODO: might have to update this if user is allowed to extend monitoring time
@@ -30,10 +22,10 @@ var DEPOSIT_TIMEOUT = 130 * 1000
 
 var db = null
 
-var cryptoCoins = null
+var cryptoCodes = null
 
 var tickerPlugins = {}
-var traderPlugin = null
+var traderPlugins = {}
 var walletPlugins = {}
 var idVerifierPlugin = null
 var infoPlugin = null
@@ -46,7 +38,7 @@ var deviceCurrency = 'USD'
 var lastBalances = {}
 var lastRates = {}
 
-var tradesQueue = []
+var tradesQueues = {}
 
 // that's basically a constructor
 exports.init = function init (databaseHandle) {
@@ -119,9 +111,9 @@ function loadPlugin (name, config) {
   return plugin
 }
 
-function loadOrConfigPlugin (pluginHandle, pluginType, cryptoCoin, currency,
+function loadOrConfigPlugin (pluginHandle, pluginType, cryptoCode, currency,
     onChangeCallback) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin ? cryptoCoin.unitCode : 'any'
+  cryptoCode = cryptoCode || 'BTC'
 
   var currentName = cryptoCode === 'any' || cryptoCode === 'BTC'
   ? cachedConfig.exchanges.plugins.current[pluginType]
@@ -157,19 +149,18 @@ exports.configure = function configure (config) {
 
   cachedConfig = config
   deviceCurrency = config.exchanges.settings.currency
-  cryptoCoins = config.exchanges.settings.coins || [BTC_COIN]
+  cryptoCodes = config.exchanges.settings.coins || 'BTC'
 
-  cryptoCoins.forEach(function (cryptoCoin) {
+  cryptoCodes.forEach(function (cryptoCode) {
     // TICKER [required] configure (or load)
-    var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
     loadOrConfigPlugin(
       tickerPlugins[cryptoCode],
       'ticker',
-      cryptoCoin,
+      cryptoCode,
       deviceCurrency, // device currency
       function onTickerChange (newTicker) {
         tickerPlugins[cryptoCode] = newTicker
-        pollRate(cryptoCoin)
+        pollRate(cryptoCode)
       }
     )
 
@@ -177,28 +168,29 @@ exports.configure = function configure (config) {
     loadOrConfigPlugin(
       walletPlugins[cryptoCode],
       'transfer',
-      cryptoCoin,
+      cryptoCode,
       null,
       function onWalletChange (newWallet) {
         walletPlugins[cryptoCode] = newWallet
-        pollBalance(cryptoCoin)
+        pollBalance(cryptoCode)
+      }
+    )
+
+    tradesQueues[cryptoCode] = []
+
+    loadOrConfigPlugin(
+      traderPlugins[cryptoCode],
+      'trade',
+      cryptoCode,
+      null,
+      function onTraderChange (newTrader) {
+        traderPlugins[cryptoCode] = newTrader
+        if (newTrader === null) stopTrader(cryptoCode)
+        else startTrader(cryptoCode)
       }
     )
   })
 
-  // TRADER [optional] configure (or load)
-  traderPlugin = loadOrConfigPlugin(
-    traderPlugin,
-    'trade',
-    null,
-    null,
-    function onTraderChange (newTrader) {
-      traderPlugin = newTrader
-      if (newTrader === null) stopTrader()
-      else startTrader()
-    }
-  )
-
   // ID VERIFIER [optional] configure (or load)
   idVerifierPlugin = loadOrConfigPlugin(
     idVerifierPlugin,
@@ -248,14 +240,13 @@ exports.pollQueries = function pollQueries (session, cb) {
   })
 }
 
-function _sendCoins (toAddress, cryptoAtoms, cryptoCoin, cb) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
+function _sendCoins (toAddress, cryptoAtoms, cryptoCode, cb) {
   var walletPlugin = walletPlugins[cryptoCode]
   var transactionFee = cachedConfig.exchanges.settings.transactionFee
   if (cryptoCode === 'BTC') {
     walletPlugin.sendBitcoins(toAddress, cryptoAtoms, transactionFee, cb)
   } else {
-    walletPlugin.sendCoins(toAddress, cryptoAtoms, cryptoCoin, transactionFee, cb)
+    walletPlugin.sendCoins(toAddress, cryptoAtoms, cryptoCode, transactionFee, cb)
   }
 }
 
@@ -323,10 +314,15 @@ function reapTxs () {
 exports.trade = function trade (session, rawTrade, cb) {
   // TODO: move this to DB, too
   // add bill to trader queue (if trader is enabled)
+  var cryptoCode = rawTrade.cryptoCode || 'BTC'
+  var traderPlugin = traderPlugins[cryptoCode]
+  var tradesQueue = tradesQueues[cryptoCode]
+
   if (traderPlugin) {
     tradesQueue.push({
       currency: rawTrade.currency,
-      satoshis: rawTrade.satoshis
+      cryptoAtoms: rawTrade.cryptoAtoms,
+      cryptoCode: rawTrade.cryptoCode
     })
   }
 
@@ -360,9 +356,7 @@ exports.cashOut = function cashOut (session, tx, cb) {
     account: 'deposit'
   }
 
-  var cryptoCoin = tx.coin || BTC_COIN
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
-
+  var cryptoCode = tx.cryptoCode || 'BTC'
   var walletPlugin = walletPlugins[cryptoCode]
 
   walletPlugin.newAddress(tmpInfo, function (err, address) {
@@ -380,9 +374,8 @@ exports.dispenseAck = function dispenseAck (session, rec) {
   db.addDispense(session, rec.tx, rec.cartridges)
 }
 
-exports.fiatBalance = function fiatBalance (cryptoCoin) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
-  var rawRate = exports.getDeviceRate(cryptoCoin).rates.ask
+exports.fiatBalance = function fiatBalance (cryptoCode) {
+  var rawRate = exports.getDeviceRate(cryptoCode).rates.ask
   var commission = cachedConfig.exchanges.settings.commission
   var lastBalance = lastBalances[cryptoCode]
 
@@ -410,9 +403,9 @@ exports.fiatBalance = function fiatBalance (cryptoCoin) {
 exports.startPolling = function startPolling () {
   executeTrades()
 
-  cryptoCoins.forEach(function (coin) {
-    setInterval(async.apply(pollBalance, coin), POLLING_RATE)
-    setInterval(async.apply(pollRate, coin), POLLING_RATE)
+  cryptoCodes.forEach(function (cryptoCode) {
+    setInterval(async.apply(pollBalance, cryptoCode), POLLING_RATE)
+    setInterval(async.apply(pollRate, cryptoCode), POLLING_RATE)
   })
 
   setInterval(reapTxs, REAP_RATE)
@@ -420,29 +413,30 @@ exports.startPolling = function startPolling () {
   startTrader()
 }
 
-function startTrader () {
+function startTrader (cryptoCode) {
   // Always start trading, even if we don't have a trade exchange configured,
   // since configuration can always change in `Trader#configure`.
   // `Trader#executeTrades` returns early if we don't have a trade exchange
   // configured at the moment.
+  var traderPlugin = traderPlugins[cryptoCode]
+
   if (traderPlugin && !tradeInterval) {
     tradeInterval = setInterval(
-      executeTrades,
+      function () { executeTrades(cryptoCode) },
       cachedConfig.exchanges.settings.tradeInterval
     )
   }
 }
 
-function stopTrader () {
+function stopTrader (cryptoCode) {
   if (tradeInterval) {
     clearInterval(tradeInterval)
     tradeInterval = null
-    tradesQueue = []
+    tradesQueues[cryptoCode] = []
   }
 }
 
-function pollBalance (cryptoCoin, cb) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
+function pollBalance (cryptoCode, cb) {
   logger.debug('[%s] collecting balance', cryptoCode)
 
   var walletPlugin = walletPlugins[cryptoCode]
@@ -461,8 +455,7 @@ function pollBalance (cryptoCoin, cb) {
   })
 }
 
-function pollRate (cryptoCoin, cb) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
+function pollRate (cryptoCode, cb) {
   logger.debug('[%s] polling for rates (%s)', cryptoCode, tickerPlugin.NAME)
   var tickerPlugin = tickerPlugins[cryptoCode]
 
@@ -471,7 +464,7 @@ function pollRate (cryptoCoin, cb) {
 
   var tickerF = cryptoCode === 'BTC'
   ? async.apply(tickerPlugin.ticker, currencies)
-  : async.apply(tickerPlugin.ticker, currencies, cryptoCoin)
+  : async.apply(tickerPlugin.ticker, currencies, cryptoCode)
 
   tickerF(function (err, resRates) {
     if (err) {
@@ -491,8 +484,7 @@ function pollRate (cryptoCoin, cb) {
  * Getters | Helpers
  */
 
-exports.getDeviceRate = function getDeviceRate (cryptoCoin) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
+exports.getDeviceRate = function getDeviceRate (cryptoCode) {
   if (!lastRates[cryptoCode]) return null
 
   var lastRate = lastRates[cryptoCode]
@@ -501,8 +493,7 @@ exports.getDeviceRate = function getDeviceRate (cryptoCoin) {
   return lastRate[deviceCurrency]
 }
 
-exports.getBalance = function getBalance (cryptoCoin) {
-  var cryptoCode = cryptoCoin.unitCode
+exports.getBalance = function getBalance (cryptoCode) {
   var lastBalance = lastBalances[cryptoCode]
   if (!lastBalance) return null
 
@@ -513,44 +504,50 @@ exports.getBalance = function getBalance (cryptoCoin) {
  * Trader functions
  */
 function purchase (trade, cb) {
+  var cryptoCode = trade.cryptoCode
+  var traderPlugin = traderPlugins[cryptoCode]
   traderPlugin.purchase(trade.satoshis, null, function (err) {
     if (err) return cb(err)
-    pollBalance('BTC')
+    pollBalance(cryptoCode)
     if (typeof cb === 'function') cb()
   })
 }
 
-function consolidateTrades () {
+function consolidateTrades (cryptoCode) {
   // NOTE: value in satoshis stays the same no matter the currency
+  var cryptoAtoms = tradesQueues[cryptoCode].reduce(function (prev, current) {
+    return current.cryptoAtoms.plus(prev)
+  }, new BigNumber(0))
+
   var consolidatedTrade = {
     currency: deviceCurrency,
-    satoshis: tradesQueue.reduce(function (prev, current) {
-      return prev + current.satoshis
-    }, 0)
+    cryptoAtoms: cryptoAtoms,
+    cryptoCode: cryptoCode
   }
 
-  tradesQueue = []
+  tradesQueues[cryptoCode] = []
 
   logger.debug('consolidated: ', JSON.stringify(consolidatedTrade))
   return consolidatedTrade
 }
 
-function executeTrades () {
+function executeTrades (cryptoCode) {
+  var traderPlugin = traderPlugins[cryptoCode]
   if (!traderPlugin) return
 
   logger.debug('checking for trades')
 
-  var trade = consolidateTrades()
+  var trade = consolidateTrades(cryptoCode)
 
-  if (trade.satoshis === 0) {
+  if (trade.cryptoAtoms.eq(0)) {
     logger.debug('rejecting 0 trade')
     return
   }
 
-  logger.debug('making a trade: %d', trade.satoshis / SATOSHI_FACTOR)
+  logger.debug('making a trade: %d', trade.cryptoAtoms.toString())
   purchase(trade, function (err) {
     if (err) {
-      tradesQueue.push(trade)
+      tradesQueues[cryptoCode].push(trade)
       if (err.name !== 'orderTooSmall') logger.error(err)
     }
   })
@@ -567,6 +564,6 @@ exports.verifyTx = function verifyTx (data, cb) {
   idVerifierPlugin.verifyTransaction(data, cb)
 }
 
-exports.getCryptoCoins = function getCryptoCoins () {
-  return cryptoCoins
+exports.getcryptoCodes = function getcryptoCodes () {
+  return cryptoCodes
 }
diff --git a/lib/routes.js b/lib/routes.js
index fa4dfd7b..c8121280 100644
--- a/lib/routes.js
+++ b/lib/routes.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ var pids = {}
 var reboots = {}
 
 function buildRates () {
-  var cryptoCoins = plugins.getCryptoCoins()
+  var cryptoCodes = plugins.getcryptoCodes()
   var config = plugins.getConfig()
   var settings = config.exchanges.settings
 
@@ -31,9 +31,8 @@ function buildRates () {
   var cashOutCommission = settings.fiatCommission || cashInCommission
 
   var rates = {}
-  cryptoCoins.forEach(function (coin) {
-    var cryptoCode = coin.unitCode
-    var rate = plugins.getDeviceRate(coin).rates
+  cryptoCodes.forEach(function (cryptoCode) {
+    var rate = plugins.getDeviceRate(cryptoCode).rates
     rates[cryptoCode] = {
       cashIn: rate.ask.times(cashInCommission),
       cashOut: rate.bid.div(cashOutCommission)
@@ -44,12 +43,12 @@ function buildRates () {
 }
 
 function buildBalances () {
-  var cryptoCoins = plugins.getCryptoCoins()
+  var cryptoCodes = plugins.getcryptoCodes()
 
   var balances = {}
-  cryptoCoins.forEach(function (coin) {
-    var balance = plugins.fiatBalance(coin)
-    balances[coin] = balance
+  cryptoCodes.forEach(function (cryptoCode) {
+    var balance = plugins.fiatBalance(cryptoCode)
+    balances[cryptoCode] = balance
   })
 
   return balances
diff --git a/todo.txt b/todo.txt
index 7a9f9bc1..d0493c65 100644
--- a/todo.txt
+++ b/todo.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
-- rethink scale names: is unit satoshi or btc? cryptoAtom, cryptoAtom
-- cryptoCoin is record, not code
 - specify crypto and fiat for trades
 - make sure ticker is in full coins
 - getDeviceRate should return bignumber
+- test with l-m
+
+backwards compatibility:
+
+- new l-m must be backwards compatible with old l-s
+
+- parse out bignumber when loading in routes
+- making a trade -- convert to units