diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 55db2937a539ab4fe857969e746b54cf66f65fa3..bdc04e280ab8f1dedbcac0f663e18a3c24fe6244 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -100,17 +100,12 @@ You need to set two Steem API options, `address_prefix` and `chain_id`.
 steem.api.setOptions({
   address_prefix: 'TST',
   chain_id: '46d82ab7d8db682eb1959aed0ada039a6d49afa1602491f93dde9cac3e8e6c32',
+  useTestNet: true,
 });
 ```
 
 The Chain ID could change. If it does, it may not be reflected here, but will be documented on any testnet launch announcements.
 
-Furthermore, you need to change asset serializations for the testnet.
-
-```js
-Types.useTestNet = true
-```
-
 ## Contributions
 Patches are welcome! Contributors are listed in the package.json file. Please run the tests before opening a pull request and make sure that you are passing all of them. If you would like to contribute, but don't know what to work on, check the issues list or on Steemit Chat channel #steemjs https://steemit.chat/channel/steemjs.
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 09648560098568cc3c2094d158789ddde02b19dd..15b75398bfd04bad63bf207a76769c6390a5f4fe 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@steemit/steem-js",
-  "version": "0.7.8",
+  "version": "0.7.9",
   "description": "Steem.js the JavaScript API for Steem blockchain",
   "main": "lib/index.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src/api/index.js b/src/api/index.js
index 54e3e4aee3070a4cd2f7bbddc28e6ea36d85df1a..1a39f299a4bda5d542ab1a9e95159a789fd19d68 100644
--- a/src/api/index.js
+++ b/src/api/index.js
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ class Steem extends EventEmitter {
         this._setLogger(options);
         this._setTransport(options);
         this.transport.setOptions(options);
+        if( options.hasOwnProperty('useTestNet') )
+        {
+          config.set( 'address_prefix', options.useTestNet ? 'TST' : 'STM' )
+        }
     }
 
     setWebSocket(url) {
diff --git a/src/auth/serializer/src/types.js b/src/auth/serializer/src/types.js
index 448694f8840f5d541a034db8c07c7df8c497f365..629940cc915da01ebc3aa1ad750c1a2b1586434d 100644
--- a/src/auth/serializer/src/types.js
+++ b/src/auth/serializer/src/types.js
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ const chain_types = require('./ChainTypes')
 
 import { PublicKey, Address, ecc_config } from "../../ecc"
 import { fromImpliedDecimal } from "./number_utils"
+import Config from "../../../config.js"
 
-const Types = { useTestNet:false }
+const Types = {}
 module.exports = Types
 
 const HEX_DUMP = process.env.npm_config__graphene_serializer_hex_dump
@@ -134,11 +135,11 @@ Types.asset = {
           {
             case "@@000000021":
               precision = 3
-              symbol = this.useTestNet ? "TESTS" : "STEEM"
+              symbol = Config.get( "address_prefix" ) == "STM" ? "STEEM" : "TESTS"
               break
             case "@@000000013":
               precision = 3
-              symbol = this.useTestNet ? "TBD" : "SBD"
+              symbol = Config.get( "address_prefix" ) == "STM" ? "SBD" : "TBD"
               break
             case "@@000000037":
               precision = 6
@@ -257,11 +258,11 @@ Types.asset_symbol = {
         {
           case "@@000000021":
             precision = 3
-              symbol = this.useTestNet ? "TESTS" : "STEEM"
+              symbol = Config.get( "address_prefix" ) == "STM" ? "STEEM" : "TESTS"
             break
           case "@@000000013":
             precision = 3
-            symbol = this.useTestNet ? "TBD" : "SBD"
+            symbol = Config.get( "address_prefix" ) == "STM" ? "SBD" : "TBD"
             break
           case "@@000000037":
             precision = 6
diff --git a/test/smt.test.js b/test/smt.test.js
index adfd13ed196bbedca13be7f434f909fdc139afff..1421f6dc34fe92be2d28b7681141c4089c74b55b 100644
--- a/test/smt.test.js
+++ b/test/smt.test.js
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ describe('steem.smt:', () => {
 
   describe('smt creation ops', () => {
     it('signs and verifies smt_create', function(done) {
+      let url = steem.config.get('uri');
+      steem.api.setOptions({ url: url, useAppbaseApi: true });
+
       let tx = {
         'operations': [[
           'smt_create', {