diff --git a/docs/Address.md b/docs/Address.md
index a5642b1b9..09b7cbdf3 100644
--- a/docs/Address.md
+++ b/docs/Address.md
@@ -4,6 +4,44 @@ Represents a bitcoin Address. Addresses became the most popular way to make
 bitcoin transactions. See [the official Bitcoin
 Wiki](https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Address) for more information.
 
+
+## Instantiate an Address
+
+To be able to receive bitcoin an address is needed, here is how to create an
+address from a new private key. Please see the [`PrivateKey`](PrivateKey.md) docs
+for more information about exporting and saving a key.
+
+```javascript
+
+var PrivateKey = require('bitcore/lib/privatekey');
+var privateKey = new PrivateKey();
+var address = privateKey.toAddress();
+
+```
+
+You can also instantiate an address from a String or PublicKey.
+
+```javascript
+
+var Address = require('bitcore/lib/address');
+var PublicKey = require('bitcore/lib/publickey');
+var Networks = require('bitcore/lib/networks');
+
+// from a string
+var address = Address.fromString('mwkXG8NnB2snbqWTcpNiK6qqGHm1LebHDc');
+
+// a default network address from a public key
+var publicKey = PublicKey(privateKey);
+var address = Address.fromPublicKey(publicKey);
+
+// a testnet address from a public key
+var publicKey = PublicKey(privateKey);
+var address = Address.fromPublicKey(publicKey, Networks.testnet);
+
+```
+
+## Validating an Address
+
 The main use that we expect you'll have for the `Address` class in bitcore is
 validating that an address is a valid one, what type of address it is (you may
 be interested on knowning if the address is a simple "pay to public key hash"
@@ -13,18 +51,27 @@ belong to.
 The code to do these validations looks like this:
 
 ```javascript
-var address = new bitcore.Address('1BitcoinAddress...');
-assert(address.network === bitcore.network.livenet);
-// Detect the kind of the address...
-assert(address.scriptType === bitcore.Address.Pay2PubKeyHash);
-```
 
-There are also static methods for this that work very similarly:
+// validate an address
+if (Address.isValid(input){
+  ...
+}
+
+// validate that an input field is a valid testnet address
+if (Address.isValid(input, Networks.testnet){
+  ...
+}
+
+// validate that an input field is a valid livenet pubkeyhash
+if (Address.isValid(input, Networks.livenet, Address.Pay2PubKeyHash){
+  ...
+}
+
+// get the specific validation error that can occurred
+var error = Address.getValidationError(input, Networks.testnet);
+  if (error) {
+    // handle the error
+  }
+}
 
-```javascript
-var address = new bitcore.Address();
-assert(bitcore.Address.isValid('1BitcoinAddress...'));
-assert(bitcore.Address.network('1BitcoinAddress...') === bitcore.network.livenet);
-assert(bitcore.Address.scriptType('1BitcoinAddress...') !== bitcore.Address.Pay2ScriptHash);
-assert(bitcore.Address.scriptType('3MultisigP2SH...') === bitcore.Address.Pay2ScriptHash);
 ```
diff --git a/lib/address.js b/lib/address.js
index 2699fcf7a..2dade141e 100644
--- a/lib/address.js
+++ b/lib/address.js
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 'use strict';
 
 var base58check = require('./encoding/base58check');
-var networks = require('./networks');
+var Networks = require('./networks');
 var Hash = require('./crypto/hash');
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from an address String or Buffer, a public key or script hash Buffer,
  * or an instance of PublicKey or Script.
  *
@@ -40,7 +39,7 @@ function Address(data, network, type) {
     throw new TypeError('First argument is required, please include address data.');
   }
 
-  if (network && !networks.get(network)) {
+  if (network && !Networks.get(network)) {
     throw new TypeError('Second argument must be "livenet" or "testnet".');
   }
 
@@ -68,7 +67,7 @@ function Address(data, network, type) {
   }
 
   // set defaults if not set
-  info.network = info.network || network || networks.defaultNetwork.name;
+  info.network = info.network || Networks.get(network) || Networks.defaultNetwork;
   info.type = info.type || type || Address.PayToPublicKeyHash;
 
   Object.defineProperty(this, 'hashBuffer', {
@@ -93,7 +92,6 @@ Address.PayToPublicKeyHash = 'pubkeyhash';
 Address.PayToScriptHash = 'scripthash';
 
 /**
- *
  * Internal function to transform a hash buffer
  *
  * @param {Buffer} hash - An instance of a hash Buffer
@@ -113,7 +111,39 @@ Address._transformHash = function(hash){
 };
 
 /**
+ * Internal function to discover the network and type
  *
+ * @param {Buffer} buffer - An instance of a hex encoded address Buffer
+ * @returns {Object} An object with keys: network and type
+ * @private
+ */
+Address._classifyFromVersion = function(buffer){
+  var version = {};
+  switch(buffer[0]){ // the version byte
+    case Networks.livenet.pubkeyhash:
+      version.network = Networks.livenet;
+      version.type = Address.PayToPublicKeyHash;
+      break;
+
+    case Networks.livenet.scripthash:
+      version.network = Networks.livenet;
+      version.type = Address.PayToScriptHash;
+      break;
+
+    case Networks.testnet.pubkeyhash:
+      version.network = Networks.testnet;
+      version.type = Address.PayToPublicKeyHash;
+      break;
+
+    case Networks.testnet.scripthash:
+      version.network = Networks.testnet;
+      version.type = Address.PayToScriptHash;
+      break;
+  }
+  return version;
+};
+
+/**
  * Internal function to transform a bitcoin address buffer
  *
  * @param {Buffer} buffer - An instance of a hex encoded address Buffer
@@ -131,47 +161,24 @@ Address._transformBuffer = function(buffer, network, type){
     throw new TypeError('Address buffers must be exactly 21 bytes.');
   }
 
-  var bufNetwork = false;
-  var bufType = false;
+  network = Networks.get(network);
+  var bufferVersion = Address._classifyFromVersion(buffer);
 
-  switch(buffer[0]){ // the version byte
-    case networks.livenet.pubkeyhash:
-      bufNetwork = 'livenet';
-      bufType = 'pubkeyhash';
-      break;
-
-    case networks.livenet.scripthash:
-      bufNetwork = 'livenet';
-      bufType = 'scripthash';
-      break;
-
-    case networks.testnet.pubkeyhash:
-      bufNetwork = 'testnet';
-      bufType = 'pubkeyhash';
-      break;
-
-    case networks.testnet.scripthash:
-      bufNetwork = 'testnet';
-      bufType = 'scripthash';
-      break;
-  }
-
-  if (!bufNetwork || (network && network !== bufNetwork)) {
+  if (!bufferVersion.network || (network && network !== bufferVersion.network)) {
     throw new TypeError('Address has mismatched network type.');
   }
 
-  if (!bufType || ( type && type !== bufType )) {
+  if (!bufferVersion.type || ( type && type !== bufferVersion.type )) {
     throw new TypeError('Address has mismatched type.');
   }
 
   info.hashBuffer = buffer.slice(1);
-  info.network = bufNetwork;
-  info.type = bufType;
+  info.network = bufferVersion.network;
+  info.type = bufferVersion.type;
   return info;
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Internal function to transform a PublicKey
  *
  * @param {PublicKey} pubkey - An instance of PublicKey
@@ -189,7 +196,6 @@ Address._transformPublicKey = function(pubkey){
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Internal function to transform a Script
  *
  * @param {Script} script - An instance of Script
@@ -207,7 +213,6 @@ Address._transformScript = function(script){
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Internal function to transform a bitcoin address string
  *
  * @param {String} data - An instance of PublicKey
@@ -226,7 +231,6 @@ Address._transformString = function(data, network, type){
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from a PublicKey instance
  *
  * @param {PublicKey} data - An instance of PublicKey
@@ -235,12 +239,11 @@ Address._transformString = function(data, network, type){
  */
 Address.fromPublicKey = function(data, network){
   var info = Address._transformPublicKey(data);
-  network = network || networks.defaultNetwork.name;
+  network = network || Networks.defaultNetwork;
   return new Address(info.hashBuffer, network, info.type);
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from a ripemd160 public key hash
  *
  * @param {Buffer} hash - An instance of buffer of the hash
@@ -253,7 +256,6 @@ Address.fromPublicKeyHash = function(hash, network) {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from a ripemd160 script hash
  *
  * @param {Buffer} hash - An instance of buffer of the hash
@@ -266,7 +268,6 @@ Address.fromScriptHash = function(hash, network) {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from a Script
  *
  * @param {Script} script - An instance of Script
@@ -279,7 +280,6 @@ Address.fromScript = function(script, network) {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from a buffer of the address
  *
  * @param {Buffer} buffer - An instance of buffer of the address
@@ -293,7 +293,6 @@ Address.fromBuffer = function(buffer, network, type) {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Instantiate an address from an address string
  *
  * @param {String} str - An string of the bitcoin address
@@ -307,7 +306,6 @@ Address.fromString = function(str, network, type) {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Will return a validation error if exists
  *
  * @example
@@ -331,7 +329,6 @@ Address.getValidationError = function(data, network, type) {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Will return a boolean if an address is valid
  *
  * @example
@@ -365,19 +362,17 @@ Address.prototype.isPayToScriptHash = function() {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Will return a buffer representation of the address
  *
  * @returns {Buffer} Bitcoin address buffer
  */
 Address.prototype.toBuffer = function() {
-  var version = new Buffer([networks[this.network][this.type]]);
+  var version = new Buffer([this.network[this.type]]);
   var buf = Buffer.concat([version, this.hashBuffer]);
   return buf;
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Will return a the string representation of the address
  *
  * @returns {String} Bitcoin address
@@ -387,7 +382,6 @@ Address.prototype.toString = function() {
 };
 
 /**
- *
  * Will return a string formatted for the console
  *
  * @returns {String} Bitcoin address
diff --git a/lib/networks.js b/lib/networks.js
index fff435f93..5e11d2614 100644
--- a/lib/networks.js
+++ b/lib/networks.js
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ var _ = require('lodash');
  */
 function Network() {}
 
+Network.prototype.toString = function toString() {
+  return this.name;
+};
+
 /**
  * @instance
  * @member Network#livenet
diff --git a/test/address.js b/test/address.js
index 6f224b216..919bdfa53 100644
--- a/test/address.js
+++ b/test/address.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ var bitcore = require('..');
 var PublicKey = bitcore.PublicKey;
 var Address = bitcore.Address;
 var Script = bitcore.Script;
-var networks = bitcore.Networks;
+var Networks = bitcore.Networks;
 
 describe('Address', function() {
 
@@ -205,6 +205,10 @@ describe('Address', function() {
       new Address(str).toString().should.equal(str);
     });
 
+    it('should make an address using a non-string network', function() {
+      Address.fromString(str, Networks.livenet).toString().should.equal(str);
+    });
+
     it('should error because of unrecognized data format', function() {
       (function() {
         return new Address(new Error());
@@ -257,7 +261,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
       var hash = pubkeyhash; //use the same hash
       Address.fromPublicKeyHash(hash).toString().should.equal(str);
       var b = Address.fromPublicKeyHash(hash, 'testnet');
-      b.network.should.equal('testnet');
+      b.network.should.equal(Networks.testnet);
       b.type.should.equal('pubkeyhash');
       new Address(hash).toString().should.equal(str);
     });
@@ -265,13 +269,13 @@ describe('Address', function() {
     it('should make an address using the default network', function() {
       var hash = pubkeyhash; //use the same hash
       var a = Address.fromPublicKeyHash(hash);
-      a.network.should.equal('livenet');
+      a.network.should.equal(Networks.livenet);
       // change the default
-      networks.defaultNetwork = networks.testnet;
+      Networks.defaultNetwork = Networks.testnet;
       var b = Address.fromPublicKeyHash(hash);
-      b.network.should.equal('testnet');
+      b.network.should.equal(Networks.testnet);
       // restore the default
-      networks.defaultNetwork = networks.livenet;
+      Networks.defaultNetwork = Networks.livenet;
     });
 
     it('should throw an error for invalid length hashBuffer', function() {
@@ -325,7 +329,7 @@ describe('Address', function() {
       var a = new Address(PKHTestnet[0], 'testnet');
       var b = new Address(a.toString());
       b.toString().should.equal(PKHTestnet[0]);
-      b.network.should.equal('testnet');
+      b.network.should.equal(Networks.testnet);
     });
 
     it('should derive from this known address string livenet scripthash', function() {
diff --git a/test/uri.js b/test/uri.js
index da0b9cd2c..21ff08f92 100644
--- a/test/uri.js
+++ b/test/uri.js
@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 'use strict';
 
 var chai = chai || require('chai');
-var should = chai.should();
-var expect = chai.expect;
 var bitcore = require('..');
+var expect = chai.expect;
+var Networks = bitcore.Networks;
+var should = chai.should();
 var URI = bitcore.URI;
 
 describe('URI', function() {
@@ -62,11 +63,11 @@ describe('URI', function() {
 
     uri = new URI('bitcoin:1DP69gMMvSuYhbnxsi4EJEFufUAbDrEQfj');
     uri.address.should.be.instanceof(bitcore.Address);
-    uri.network.should.equal('livenet');
+    uri.network.should.equal(Networks.livenet);
 
     uri = new URI('bitcoin:mkYY5NRvikVBY1EPtaq9fAFgquesdjqECw');
     uri.address.should.be.instanceof(bitcore.Address);
-    uri.network.should.equal('testnet');
+    uri.network.should.equal(Networks.testnet);
 
     uri = new URI('bitcoin:1DP69gMMvSuYhbnxsi4EJEFufUAbDrEQfj?amount=1.2&other=param');
     uri.address.should.be.instanceof(bitcore.Address);
@@ -92,14 +93,13 @@ describe('URI', function() {
       address: '1DP69gMMvSuYhbnxsi4EJEFufUAbDrEQfj'
     });
     uri.address.should.be.instanceof(bitcore.Address);
-    uri.network.should.equal('livenet');
+    uri.network.should.equal(Networks.livenet);
 
     uri = new URI({
       address: 'mkYY5NRvikVBY1EPtaq9fAFgquesdjqECw'
     });
     uri.address.should.be.instanceof(bitcore.Address);
-    uri.network.should.equal('testnet');
-
+    uri.network.should.equal(Networks.testnet);
 
     uri = new URI({
       address: '1DP69gMMvSuYhbnxsi4EJEFufUAbDrEQfj',