diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 AM_LDFLAGS = $(PTHREAD_CFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_LDFLAGS) $(HARDENED_LDFLAGS) $(SANITIZER_LDFLAGS)
 AM_CXXFLAGS = $(DEBUG_CXXFLAGS) $(HARDENED_CXXFLAGS) $(ERROR_CXXFLAGS) $(SANITIZER_CXXFLAGS)
 AM_CPPFLAGS = $(DEBUG_CPPFLAGS) $(HARDENED_CPPFLAGS)
+AM_LIBTOOLFLAGS = --preserve-dup-deps
 EXTRA_LIBRARIES =
 
 if EMBEDDED_UNIVALUE
@@ -143,6 +144,7 @@
   init.h \
   interfaces/handler.h \
   interfaces/node.h \
+  interfaces/wallet.h \
   key.h \
   keystore.h \
   dbwrapper.h \
@@ -296,6 +298,7 @@
 libbitcoin_wallet_a_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES)
 libbitcoin_wallet_a_CXXFLAGS = $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(PIE_FLAGS)
 libbitcoin_wallet_a_SOURCES = \
+  interfaces/wallet.cpp \
   wallet/crypter.cpp \
   wallet/db.cpp \
   wallet/finaltx.cpp \
diff --git a/src/Makefile.qt.include b/src/Makefile.qt.include
--- a/src/Makefile.qt.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.qt.include
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@
 endif
 qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD = qt/libbitcoinqt.a $(LIBBITCOIN_SERVER)
 if ENABLE_WALLET
-qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
+qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL) $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 if ENABLE_ZMQ
 qt_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_ZMQ) $(ZMQ_LIBS)
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@
   $(BOOST_LIBS) $(QT_LIBS) $(QT_DBUS_LIBS) $(QR_LIBS) $(PROTOBUF_LIBS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS) $(LIBSECP256K1) \
   $(EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS) $(EVENT_LIBS)
 qt_bitcoin_qt_LDFLAGS = $(RELDFLAGS) $(AM_LDFLAGS) $(QT_LDFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_APP_LDFLAGS)
-qt_bitcoin_qt_LIBTOOLFLAGS = --tag CXX
+qt_bitcoin_qt_LIBTOOLFLAGS = $(AM_LIBTOOLFLAGS) --tag CXX
 
 #locale/foo.ts -> locale/foo.qm
 QT_QM=$(QT_TS:.ts=.qm)
diff --git a/src/Makefile.qttest.include b/src/Makefile.qttest.include
--- a/src/Makefile.qttest.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.qttest.include
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 
 qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD = $(LIBBITCOINQT) $(LIBBITCOIN_SERVER)
 if ENABLE_WALLET
-qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
+qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL) $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 if ENABLE_ZMQ
 qt_test_test_bitcoin_qt_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_ZMQ) $(ZMQ_LIBS)
diff --git a/src/interfaces/node.h b/src/interfaces/node.h
--- a/src/interfaces/node.h
+++ b/src/interfaces/node.h
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 namespace interfaces {
 
 class Handler;
+class Wallet;
 
 //! Top-level interface for a bitcoin node (bitcoind process).
 class Node {
@@ -92,6 +93,15 @@
         const std::string &message, const std::string &non_interactive_message,
         const std::string &caption, unsigned int style)>;
     virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleQuestion(QuestionFn fn) = 0;
+
+    //! Register handler for progress messages.
+    using ShowProgressFn = std::function<void(
+        const std::string &title, int progress, bool resume_possible)>;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) = 0;
+
+    //! Register handler for load wallet messages.
+    using LoadWalletFn = std::function<void(std::unique_ptr<Wallet> wallet)>;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleLoadWallet(LoadWalletFn fn) = 0;
 };
 
 //! Return implementation of Node interface.
diff --git a/src/interfaces/node.cpp b/src/interfaces/node.cpp
--- a/src/interfaces/node.cpp
+++ b/src/interfaces/node.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 #include <config.h>
 #include <init.h>
 #include <interfaces/handler.h>
+#include <interfaces/wallet.h>
 #include <net.h>
 #include <netaddress.h>
 #include <netbase.h>
@@ -16,8 +17,19 @@
 #include <util.h>
 #include <warnings.h>
 
+#if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
+#include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
+#endif
+#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
+#define CHECK_WALLET(x) x
+#else
+#define CHECK_WALLET(x)                                                        \
+    throw std::logic_error("Wallet function called in non-wallet build.")
+#endif
+
 #include <boost/thread/thread.hpp>
 
+class CWallet;
 class HTTPRPCRequestProcessor;
 
 namespace interfaces {
@@ -84,6 +96,14 @@
         std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleQuestion(QuestionFn fn) override {
             return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.ThreadSafeQuestion.connect(fn));
         }
+        std::unique_ptr<Handler>
+        handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) override {
+            return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.ShowProgress.connect(fn));
+        }
+        std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleLoadWallet(LoadWalletFn fn) override {
+            CHECK_WALLET(return MakeHandler(::uiInterface.LoadWallet.connect(
+                [fn](CWallet *wallet) { fn(MakeWallet(*wallet)); })));
+        }
     };
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/src/interfaces/wallet.h b/src/interfaces/wallet.h
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/interfaces/wallet.h
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#ifndef BITCOIN_INTERFACES_WALLET_H
+#define BITCOIN_INTERFACES_WALLET_H
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <memory>
+#include <string>
+
+class CWallet;
+
+namespace interfaces {
+
+class Handler;
+
+//! Interface for accessing a wallet.
+class Wallet {
+public:
+    virtual ~Wallet() {}
+
+    //! Register handler for show progress messages.
+    using ShowProgressFn =
+        std::function<void(const std::string &title, int progress)>;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<Handler> handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) = 0;
+};
+
+//! Return implementation of Wallet interface. This function will be undefined
+//! in builds where ENABLE_WALLET is false.
+std::unique_ptr<Wallet> MakeWallet(CWallet &wallet);
+
+} // namespace interfaces
+
+#endif // BITCOIN_INTERFACES_WALLET_H
diff --git a/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp b/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/interfaces/wallet.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 The Bitcoin Core developers
+// Distributed under the MIT software license, see the accompanying
+// file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
+
+#include <interfaces/wallet.h>
+
+#include <interfaces/handler.h>
+#include <wallet/wallet.h>
+
+#include <memory>
+
+namespace interfaces {
+namespace {
+
+    class WalletImpl : public Wallet {
+    public:
+        WalletImpl(CWallet &wallet) : m_wallet(wallet) {}
+
+        std::unique_ptr<Handler>
+        handleShowProgress(ShowProgressFn fn) override {
+            return MakeHandler(m_wallet.ShowProgress.connect(fn));
+        }
+
+        CWallet &m_wallet;
+    };
+
+} // namespace
+
+std::unique_ptr<Wallet> MakeWallet(CWallet &wallet) {
+    return std::make_unique<WalletImpl>(wallet);
+}
+
+} // namespace interfaces
diff --git a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
--- a/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/bitcoin.cpp
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@
 }
 
 void BitcoinApplication::createSplashScreen(const NetworkStyle *networkStyle) {
-    SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(0, networkStyle);
+    SplashScreen *splash = new SplashScreen(m_node, 0, networkStyle);
     // We don't hold a direct pointer to the splash screen after creation, but
     // the splash screen will take care of deleting itself when slotFinish
     // happens.
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.h b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.h
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.h
@@ -8,9 +8,16 @@
 #include <QSplashScreen>
 #include <functional>
 
-class CWallet;
+#include <memory>
+
 class NetworkStyle;
 
+namespace interfaces {
+class Handler;
+class Node;
+class Wallet;
+};
+
 /** Class for the splashscreen with information of the running client.
  *
  * @note this is intentionally not a QSplashScreen. Bitcoin Core initialization
@@ -21,7 +28,8 @@
     Q_OBJECT
 
 public:
-    explicit SplashScreen(Qt::WindowFlags f, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle);
+    explicit SplashScreen(interfaces::Node &node, Qt::WindowFlags f,
+                          const NetworkStyle *networkStyle);
     ~SplashScreen();
 
 protected:
@@ -45,14 +53,19 @@
     /** Disconnect core signals to splash screen */
     void unsubscribeFromCoreSignals();
     /** Connect wallet signals to splash screen */
-    void ConnectWallet(CWallet *);
+    void ConnectWallet(std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Wallet> wallet);
 
     QPixmap pixmap;
     QString curMessage;
     QColor curColor;
     int curAlignment;
 
-    QList<CWallet *> connectedWallets;
+    interfaces::Node &m_node;
+    std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_init_message;
+    std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_show_progress;
+    std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler> m_handler_load_wallet;
+    std::list<std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Wallet>> m_connected_wallets;
+    std::list<std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Handler>> m_connected_wallet_handlers;
 };
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_QT_SPLASHSCREEN_H
diff --git a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
--- a/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/splashscreen.cpp
@@ -3,22 +3,21 @@
 // file COPYING or http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php.
 
 #if defined(HAVE_CONFIG_H)
-#include "config/bitcoin-config.h"
+#include <config/bitcoin-config.h>
 #endif
 
-#include "splashscreen.h"
+#include <qt/splashscreen.h>
 
-#include "networkstyle.h"
+#include <qt/networkstyle.h>
 
-#include "clientversion.h"
-#include "init.h"
-#include "ui_interface.h"
-#include "util.h"
-#include "version.h"
-
-#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-#include "wallet/wallet.h"
-#endif
+#include <clientversion.h>
+#include <init.h>
+#include <interfaces/handler.h>
+#include <interfaces/node.h>
+#include <interfaces/wallet.h>
+#include <ui_interface.h>
+#include <util.h>
+#include <version.h>
 
 #include <QApplication>
 #include <QCloseEvent>
@@ -26,8 +25,9 @@
 #include <QPainter>
 #include <QRadialGradient>
 
-SplashScreen::SplashScreen(Qt::WindowFlags f, const NetworkStyle *networkStyle)
-    : QWidget(0, f), curAlignment(0) {
+SplashScreen::SplashScreen(interfaces::Node &node, Qt::WindowFlags f,
+                           const NetworkStyle *networkStyle)
+    : QWidget(0, f), curAlignment(0), m_node(node) {
     // set reference point, paddings
     int paddingRight = 50;
     int paddingTop = 50;
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@
     if (ev->type() == QEvent::KeyPress) {
         QKeyEvent *keyEvent = static_cast<QKeyEvent *>(ev);
         if (keyEvent->text()[0] == 'q') {
-            StartShutdown();
+            m_node.startShutdown();
         }
     }
     return QObject::eventFilter(obj, ev);
@@ -189,37 +189,37 @@
                                  : _("press q to shutdown")) +
                             strprintf("\n%d", nProgress) + "%");
 }
-
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-void SplashScreen::ConnectWallet(CWallet *wallet) {
-    wallet->ShowProgress.connect(
-        boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, false));
-    connectedWallets.push_back(wallet);
+void SplashScreen::ConnectWallet(std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Wallet> wallet) {
+    m_connected_wallet_handlers.emplace_back(wallet->handleShowProgress(
+        boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, false)));
+    m_connected_wallets.emplace_back(std::move(wallet));
 }
 #endif
 
 void SplashScreen::subscribeToCoreSignals() {
     // Connect signals to client
-    uiInterface.InitMessage.connect(boost::bind(InitMessage, this, _1));
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress.connect(
-        boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, _3));
+    m_handler_init_message =
+        m_node.handleInitMessage(boost::bind(InitMessage, this, _1));
+    m_handler_show_progress =
+        m_node.handleShowProgress(boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, _3));
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-    uiInterface.LoadWallet.connect(
-        boost::bind(&SplashScreen::ConnectWallet, this, _1));
+    m_handler_load_wallet = m_node.handleLoadWallet(
+        [this](std::unique_ptr<interfaces::Wallet> wallet) {
+            ConnectWallet(std::move(wallet));
+        });
 #endif
 }
 
 void SplashScreen::unsubscribeFromCoreSignals() {
     // Disconnect signals from client
-    uiInterface.InitMessage.disconnect(boost::bind(InitMessage, this, _1));
-    uiInterface.ShowProgress.disconnect(
-        boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, _3));
-#ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
-    for (CWallet *const &pwallet : connectedWallets) {
-        pwallet->ShowProgress.disconnect(
-            boost::bind(ShowProgress, this, _1, _2, false));
+    m_handler_init_message->disconnect();
+    m_handler_show_progress->disconnect();
+    for (auto &handler : m_connected_wallet_handlers) {
+        handler->disconnect();
     }
-#endif
+    m_connected_wallet_handlers.clear();
+    m_connected_wallets.clear();
 }
 
 void SplashScreen::showMessage(const QString &message, int alignment,
@@ -240,6 +240,6 @@
 
 void SplashScreen::closeEvent(QCloseEvent *event) {
     // allows an "emergency" shutdown during startup
-    StartShutdown();
+    m_node.startShutdown();
     event->ignore();
 }
diff --git a/src/wallet/CMakeLists.txt b/src/wallet/CMakeLists.txt
--- a/src/wallet/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/wallet/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 find_package(Event REQUIRED)
 
 add_library(wallet
+	../interfaces/wallet.cpp
 	crypter.cpp
 	db.cpp
 	fees.cpp