diff --git a/cmd/basecoin/commands/start.go b/cmd/basecoin/commands/start.go
index 8f12efed35..aeb49a1c35 100644
--- a/cmd/basecoin/commands/start.go
+++ b/cmd/basecoin/commands/start.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func init() {
 func getHandler() basecoin.Handler {
 	// use the default stack
 	h := coin.NewHandler()
-	app := stack.NewDefault("change-this").Use(h)
+	app := stack.NewDefault().Use(h)
 	return app
 
 	// register IBC plugn
diff --git a/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter_test.go b/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter_test.go
index a15ad3ecc5..73f5ffb112 100644
--- a/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter_test.go
+++ b/docs/guide/counter/plugins/counter/counter_test.go
@@ -7,27 +7,34 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
+	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/app"
+	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/modules/coin"
+	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/stack"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
 	eyescli "github.com/tendermint/merkleeyes/client"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 )
 
+// TODO: actually handle the counter here...
+func CounterHandler() basecoin.Handler {
+	// use the default stack
+	h := coin.NewHandler()
+	return stack.NewDefault().Use(h)
+}
+
 func TestCounterPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 	assert := assert.New(t)
 
 	// Basecoin initialization
 	eyesCli := eyescli.NewLocalClient("", 0)
 	chainID := "test_chain_id"
-	bcApp := app.NewBasecoin(eyesCli, log.TestingLogger().With("module", "app"))
+	bcApp := app.NewBasecoin(CounterHandler(), eyesCli,
+		log.TestingLogger().With("module", "app"))
 	bcApp.SetOption("base/chain_id", chainID)
 	// t.Log(bcApp.Info())
 
-	// Add Counter plugin
-	counterPlugin := New()
-	bcApp.RegisterPlugin(counterPlugin)
-
 	// Account initialization
 	test1PrivAcc := types.PrivAccountFromSecret("test1")
 
@@ -44,7 +51,7 @@ func TestCounterPlugin(t *testing.T) {
 		tx := &types.AppTx{
 			Gas:   gas,
 			Fee:   fee,
-			Name:  counterPlugin.Name(),
+			Name:  "counter",
 			Input: types.NewTxInput(test1Acc.PubKey, inputCoins, inputSequence),
 			Data:  wire.BinaryBytes(CounterTx{Valid: true, Fee: appFee}),
 		}
diff --git a/handler.go b/handler.go
index 6a6d556191..b0089ed280 100644
--- a/handler.go
+++ b/handler.go
@@ -3,10 +3,24 @@ package basecoin
 import (
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-wire/data"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
 )
 
+// Handler is anything that processes a transaction
+type Handler interface {
+	Checker
+	Deliver
+	SetOptioner
+	Named
+	// TODO: flesh these out as well
+	// SetOption(store types.KVStore, key, value string) (log string)
+	// InitChain(store types.KVStore, vals []*abci.Validator)
+	// BeginBlock(store types.KVStore, hash []byte, header *abci.Header)
+	// EndBlock(store types.KVStore, height uint64) abci.ResponseEndBlock
+}
+
 type Named interface {
 	Name() string
 }
@@ -33,16 +47,15 @@ func (c DeliverFunc) DeliverTx(ctx Context, store types.KVStore, tx Tx) (Result,
 	return c(ctx, store, tx)
 }
 
-// Handler is anything that processes a transaction
-type Handler interface {
-	Checker
-	Deliver
-	Named
-	// TODO: flesh these out as well
-	// SetOption(store types.KVStore, key, value string) (log string)
-	// InitChain(store types.KVStore, vals []*abci.Validator)
-	// BeginBlock(store types.KVStore, hash []byte, header *abci.Header)
-	// EndBlock(store types.KVStore, height uint64) abci.ResponseEndBlock
+type SetOptioner interface {
+	SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string) (string, error)
+}
+
+// SetOptionFunc (like http.HandlerFunc) is a shortcut for making wrapers
+type SetOptionFunc func(log.Logger, types.KVStore, string, string) (string, error)
+
+func (c SetOptionFunc) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string) (string, error) {
+	return c(l, store, key, value)
 }
 
 // Result captures any non-error abci result
@@ -58,3 +71,19 @@ func (r Result) ToABCI() abci.Result {
 		Log:  r.Log,
 	}
 }
+
+// placeholders
+// holders
+type NopCheck struct{}
+
+func (_ NopCheck) CheckTx(Context, types.KVStore, Tx) (r Result, e error) { return }
+
+type NopDeliver struct{}
+
+func (_ NopDeliver) DeliverTx(Context, types.KVStore, Tx) (r Result, e error) { return }
+
+type NopOption struct{}
+
+func (_ NopOption) SetOption(log.Logger, types.KVStore, string, string) (string, error) {
+	return "", nil
+}
diff --git a/modules/coin/handler.go b/modules/coin/handler.go
index 41eda35900..cabc6a062c 100644
--- a/modules/coin/handler.go
+++ b/modules/coin/handler.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package coin
 
 import (
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/errors"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
@@ -74,6 +76,11 @@ func (h Handler) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoi
 	return basecoin.Result{}, nil
 }
 
+func (h Handler) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string) (log string, err error) {
+	// TODO
+	return "ok", nil
+}
+
 func checkTx(ctx basecoin.Context, tx basecoin.Tx) (send SendTx, err error) {
 	// check if the tx is proper type and valid
 	send, ok := tx.Unwrap().(SendTx)
diff --git a/modules/fee/handler.go b/modules/fee/handler.go
index 1b4556ef4e..f711cac953 100644
--- a/modules/fee/handler.go
+++ b/modules/fee/handler.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ type AccountChecker interface {
 type SimpleFeeHandler struct {
 	AccountChecker
 	MinFee types.Coins
+	stack.PassOption
 }
 
 func (_ SimpleFeeHandler) Name() string {
diff --git a/stack/chain.go b/stack/chain.go
index 70da742f67..e07e6dd688 100644
--- a/stack/chain.go
+++ b/stack/chain.go
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ const (
 )
 
 // Chain enforces that this tx was bound to the named chain
-type Chain struct{}
+type Chain struct {
+	PassOption
+}
 
 func (_ Chain) Name() string {
 	return NameRecovery
diff --git a/stack/chain_test.go b/stack/chain_test.go
index c9afaa7001..cb1e39059e 100644
--- a/stack/chain_test.go
+++ b/stack/chain_test.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func TestChain(t *testing.T) {
 	store := types.NewMemKVStore()
 
 	// build the stack
-	ok := OKHandler{msg}
+	ok := OKHandler{Log: msg}
 	app := New(Chain{}).Use(ok)
 
 	for idx, tc := range cases {
diff --git a/stack/helpers.go b/stack/helpers.go
index ec7247a6fe..387a2ae96c 100644
--- a/stack/helpers.go
+++ b/stack/helpers.go
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ const (
 // OKHandler just used to return okay to everything
 type OKHandler struct {
 	Log string
+	basecoin.NopOption
 }
 
 var _ basecoin.Handler = OKHandler{}
@@ -38,7 +39,9 @@ func (ok OKHandler) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx base
 }
 
 // EchoHandler returns success, echoing res.Data = tx bytes
-type EchoHandler struct{}
+type EchoHandler struct {
+	basecoin.NopOption
+}
 
 var _ basecoin.Handler = EchoHandler{}
 
@@ -61,6 +64,7 @@ func (_ EchoHandler) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx bas
 // FailHandler always returns an error
 type FailHandler struct {
 	Err error
+	basecoin.NopOption
 }
 
 var _ basecoin.Handler = FailHandler{}
@@ -83,6 +87,7 @@ func (f FailHandler) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx bas
 type PanicHandler struct {
 	Msg string
 	Err error
+	basecoin.NopOption
 }
 
 var _ basecoin.Handler = PanicHandler{}
diff --git a/stack/helpers_test.go b/stack/helpers_test.go
index 10e3655800..8787bb6a6e 100644
--- a/stack/helpers_test.go
+++ b/stack/helpers_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ func TestOK(t *testing.T) {
 	data := "this looks okay"
 	tx := basecoin.Tx{}
 
-	ok := OKHandler{data}
+	ok := OKHandler{Log: data}
 	res, err := ok.CheckTx(ctx, store, tx)
 	assert.Nil(err, "%+v", err)
 	assert.Equal(data, res.Log)
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func TestFail(t *testing.T) {
 	msg := "big problem"
 	tx := basecoin.Tx{}
 
-	fail := FailHandler{errors.New(msg)}
+	fail := FailHandler{Err: errors.New(msg)}
 	_, err := fail.CheckTx(ctx, store, tx)
 	if assert.NotNil(err) {
 		assert.Equal(msg, err.Error())
diff --git a/stack/helperware.go b/stack/helperware.go
index ec2282ac84..25c93f4e51 100644
--- a/stack/helperware.go
+++ b/stack/helperware.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ const (
 // Required Actor, otherwise passes along the call untouched
 type CheckMiddleware struct {
 	Required basecoin.Actor
+	PassOption
 }
 
 var _ Middleware = CheckMiddleware{}
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ func (p CheckMiddleware) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx
 // GrantMiddleware tries to set the permission to this Actor, which may be prohibited
 type GrantMiddleware struct {
 	Auth basecoin.Actor
+	PassOption
 }
 
 var _ Middleware = GrantMiddleware{}
diff --git a/stack/interface.go b/stack/interface.go
index b57d6dbd04..951a7fa73f 100644
--- a/stack/interface.go
+++ b/stack/interface.go
@@ -1,18 +1,12 @@
 package stack
 
 import (
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
 )
 
-type CheckerMiddle interface {
-	CheckTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Checker) (basecoin.Result, error)
-}
-
-type DeliverMiddle interface {
-	DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Deliver) (basecoin.Result, error)
-}
-
 // Middleware is anything that wraps another handler to enhance functionality.
 //
 // You can use utilities in handlers to construct them, the interfaces
@@ -20,5 +14,55 @@ type DeliverMiddle interface {
 type Middleware interface {
 	CheckerMiddle
 	DeliverMiddle
+	SetOptionMiddle
 	basecoin.Named
 }
+
+type CheckerMiddle interface {
+	CheckTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Checker) (basecoin.Result, error)
+}
+
+type CheckerMiddleFunc func(basecoin.Context, types.KVStore, basecoin.Tx, basecoin.Checker) (basecoin.Result, error)
+
+func (c CheckerMiddleFunc) CheckTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Checker) (basecoin.Result, error) {
+	return c(ctx, store, tx, next)
+}
+
+type DeliverMiddle interface {
+	DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Deliver) (basecoin.Result, error)
+}
+
+type DeliverMiddleFunc func(basecoin.Context, types.KVStore, basecoin.Tx, basecoin.Deliver) (basecoin.Result, error)
+
+func (d DeliverMiddleFunc) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Deliver) (basecoin.Result, error) {
+	return d(ctx, store, tx, next)
+}
+
+type SetOptionMiddle interface {
+	SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string, next basecoin.SetOptioner) (string, error)
+}
+
+type SetOptionMiddleFunc func(log.Logger, types.KVStore, string, string, basecoin.SetOptioner) (string, error)
+
+func (c SetOptionMiddleFunc) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string, next basecoin.SetOptioner) (string, error) {
+	return c(l, store, key, value, next)
+}
+
+// holders
+type PassCheck struct{}
+
+func (_ PassCheck) CheckTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Checker) (basecoin.Result, error) {
+	return next.CheckTx(ctx, store, tx)
+}
+
+type PassDeliver struct{}
+
+func (_ PassDeliver) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin.Tx, next basecoin.Deliver) (basecoin.Result, error) {
+	return next.DeliverTx(ctx, store, tx)
+}
+
+type PassOption struct{}
+
+func (_ PassOption) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string, next basecoin.SetOptioner) (string, error) {
+	return next.SetOption(l, store, key, value)
+}
diff --git a/stack/logger.go b/stack/logger.go
index 93cc8e5e50..2bd41a5fa2 100644
--- a/stack/logger.go
+++ b/stack/logger.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package stack
 import (
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
 )
@@ -48,6 +50,20 @@ func (_ Logger) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx basecoin
 	return
 }
 
+func (_ Logger) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string, next basecoin.SetOptioner) (string, error) {
+	start := time.Now()
+	res, err := next.SetOption(l, store, key, value)
+	delta := time.Now().Sub(start)
+	// TODO: log the value being set also?
+	l = l.With("duration", micros(delta)).With("key", key)
+	if err == nil {
+		l.Info("SetOption", "log", res)
+	} else {
+		l.Error("SetOption", "err", err)
+	}
+	return res, err
+}
+
 // micros returns how many microseconds passed in a call
 func micros(d time.Duration) int {
 	return int(d.Seconds() * 1000000)
diff --git a/stack/middleware.go b/stack/middleware.go
index f61b233da2..fcc450b730 100644
--- a/stack/middleware.go
+++ b/stack/middleware.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package stack
 
 import (
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
 )
@@ -37,6 +39,10 @@ func (m *middleware) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx bas
 	return m.middleware.DeliverTx(ctx, store, tx, next)
 }
 
+func (m *middleware) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string) (string, error) {
+	return m.middleware.SetOption(l, store, key, value, m.next)
+}
+
 // Stack is the entire application stack
 type Stack struct {
 	middles          []Middleware
diff --git a/stack/middleware_test.go b/stack/middleware_test.go
index adbb970932..4f88539191 100644
--- a/stack/middleware_test.go
+++ b/stack/middleware_test.go
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ func TestPermissionSandbox(t *testing.T) {
 	for i, tc := range cases {
 		app := New(
 			Recovery{}, // we need this so panics turn to errors
-			GrantMiddleware{tc.grant},
-			CheckMiddleware{tc.require},
+			GrantMiddleware{Auth: tc.grant},
+			CheckMiddleware{Required: tc.require},
 		).Use(EchoHandler{})
 
 		res, err := app.CheckTx(ctx, store, raw)
diff --git a/stack/multiplexer.go b/stack/multiplexer.go
index b0cddfc98e..2000551cb2 100644
--- a/stack/multiplexer.go
+++ b/stack/multiplexer.go
@@ -14,7 +14,9 @@ const (
 	NameMultiplexer = "mplx"
 )
 
-type Multiplexer struct{}
+type Multiplexer struct {
+	PassOption
+}
 
 func (_ Multiplexer) Name() string {
 	return NameMultiplexer
diff --git a/stack/recovery.go b/stack/recovery.go
index b6e84496c6..7dbb10a439 100644
--- a/stack/recovery.go
+++ b/stack/recovery.go
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ package stack
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/errors"
 	"github.com/tendermint/basecoin/types"
@@ -39,6 +41,15 @@ func (_ Recovery) DeliverTx(ctx basecoin.Context, store types.KVStore, tx baseco
 	return next.DeliverTx(ctx, store, tx)
 }
 
+func (_ Recovery) SetOption(l log.Logger, store types.KVStore, key, value string, next basecoin.SetOptioner) (log string, err error) {
+	defer func() {
+		if r := recover(); r != nil {
+			err = normalizePanic(r)
+		}
+	}()
+	return next.SetOption(l, store, key, value)
+}
+
 // normalizePanic makes sure we can get a nice TMError (with stack) out of it
 func normalizePanic(p interface{}) error {
 	if err, isErr := p.(error); isErr {
diff --git a/stack/signature.go b/stack/signature.go
index 049351dd10..d996f921a7 100644
--- a/stack/signature.go
+++ b/stack/signature.go
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ const (
 	NameSigs = "sigs"
 )
 
-type Signatures struct{}
+type Signatures struct {
+	PassOption
+}
 
 func (_ Signatures) Name() string {
 	return NameSigs
diff --git a/stack/signature_test.go b/stack/signature_test.go
index 1e6f484ab3..0dbf1a6173 100644
--- a/stack/signature_test.go
+++ b/stack/signature_test.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ func TestSignatureChecks(t *testing.T) {
 		app := New(
 			Recovery{}, // we need this so panics turn to errors
 			Signatures{},
-			CheckMiddleware{tc.check},
+			CheckMiddleware{Required: tc.check},
 		).Use(OKHandler{})
 
 		var tx basecoin.Tx