diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py b/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/test_framework/util.py
@@ -211,6 +211,7 @@
         f.write("port=" + str(p2p_port(n)) + "\n")
         f.write("rpcport=" + str(rpc_port(n)) + "\n")
         f.write("listenonion=0\n")
+        f.write("usecashaddr=1\n")
     return datadir
 
 
diff --git a/src/base58.h b/src/base58.h
--- a/src/base58.h
+++ b/src/base58.h
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 #define BITCOIN_BASE58_H
 
 #include "chainparams.h"
+// key.h and pubkey.h are not used here, but gcc doesn't want to instantiate
+// CTxDestination if types are unknown
 #include "key.h"
 #include "pubkey.h"
 #include "script/standard.h"
diff --git a/src/base58.cpp b/src/base58.cpp
--- a/src/base58.cpp
+++ b/src/base58.cpp
@@ -257,7 +257,6 @@
     }
     return CNoDestination();
 }
-} // namespace
 
 } // namespace
 
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@
 static const bool DEFAULT_REST_ENABLE = false;
 static const bool DEFAULT_DISABLE_SAFEMODE = false;
 static const bool DEFAULT_STOPAFTERBLOCKIMPORT = false;
+//! if set, all addresses will be encoded with cashaddr instead of base58
+static const bool DEFAULT_USE_CASHADDR = false;
 
 std::unique_ptr<CConnman> g_connman;
 std::unique_ptr<PeerLogicValidation> peerLogic;
@@ -419,6 +421,10 @@
         "-txindex", strprintf(_("Maintain a full transaction index, used by "
                                 "the getrawtransaction rpc call (default: %d)"),
                               DEFAULT_TXINDEX));
+    strUsage += HelpMessageOpt(
+        "-usecashaddr", strprintf(_("Use Cash Address for destination encoding "
+                                    "instead of base58 (default %d)"),
+                                  DEFAULT_USE_CASHADDR));
 
     strUsage += HelpMessageGroup(_("Connection options:"));
     strUsage += HelpMessageOpt(
@@ -1574,7 +1580,6 @@
             }
         }
     }
-
     return true;
 }
 
@@ -2088,6 +2093,10 @@
     if (!est_filein.IsNull()) mempool.ReadFeeEstimates(est_filein);
     fFeeEstimatesInitialized = true;
 
+    // Encoded addresses using cashaddr instead of base58
+    config.SetCashAddrEncoding(
+        GetBoolArg("-usecashaddr", DEFAULT_USE_CASHADDR));
+
 // Step 8: load wallet
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
     if (!CWallet::InitLoadWallet()) return false;