diff --git a/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py b/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py
index 9c21b72..ddca1e6 100644
--- a/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py
+++ b/cic/ext/eth/__init__.py
@@ -24,7 +24,9 @@ class CICEth:
         self.outputs = {}
         for k in resources.keys():
             self.outputs[k] = None
-
+        self.tx_format = TxFormat.RLP_SIGNED
+        if self.signer == None:
+            self.tx_format = TxFormat.RAW_ARGS
 
 
     def process_token(self):
@@ -32,15 +34,17 @@ class CICEth:
 
 
     def process_token_index(self):
-        c = TokenUniqueSymbolIndex(self.chain_spec) #        tx_format = None
-        if self.signer == None:
-            tx_format = TxFormat.RAW_ARGS
+        c = TokenUniqueSymbolIndex(self.chain_spec, signer=self.signer) #        tx_format = None
 
         contract_address = self.resources['token_index']['reference']
         signer_address = self.resources['token_index']['key_address']
-        o = c.register(contract_address, signer_address, self.token_address, tx_format=tx_format)
-        if self.rpc == None:
-            self.outputs['token_index'] = o 
+        o = c.register(contract_address, signer_address, self.token_address, tx_format=self.tx_format)
+        if self.rpc != None:
+            pass
+        elif self.signer != None:
+            self.outputs['token_index'] = o[1]
+        else:
+            self.outputs['token_index'] = o
         
 
     def process(self):
diff --git a/tests/eth/test_token_index.py b/tests/eth/base_eth.py
similarity index 60%
rename from tests/eth/test_token_index.py
rename to tests/eth/base_eth.py
index ca74780..0603e41 100644
--- a/tests/eth/test_token_index.py
+++ b/tests/eth/base_eth.py
@@ -5,10 +5,12 @@ import random
 
 # external imports
 from chainlib.chain import ChainSpec
+from chainlib.eth.unittest.ethtester import EthTesterCase
 from hexathon import (
         add_0x,
         strip_0x,
         )
+from funga.eth.keystore.dict import DictKeystore
 
 # local imports
 from cic.ext.eth import CICEth
@@ -16,34 +18,26 @@ from cic.ext.eth import CICEth
 logg = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
-class TestCICEth(unittest.TestCase):
+class TestCICEthBase(EthTesterCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
+        super(TestCICEthBase, self).setUp()
         random.seed(42)
-        self.chain_spec = ChainSpec.from_chain_str('evm:foo:42')
         self.token_address = add_0x(random.randbytes(20).hex())
         self.token_index_address = add_0x(random.randbytes(20).hex())
+        addresses = self.keystore.list()
         self.resources = {
             'token': {
                 'reference': self.token_address,
-                'key_address': None,
+                'key_address': addresses[0],
                 },
             'token_index': {
                 'reference': self.token_index_address,
-                'key_address': None,
+                'key_address': addresses[1],
                 },
         }
         self.proofs = []
         for i in range(3):
             self.proofs.append(random.randbytes(32).hex())
-        self.adapter = CICEth(self.chain_spec, self.resources, self.proofs)
 
 
-    def test_offline_token_index(self):
-        self.adapter.token_address = self.token_address
-        v = self.adapter.process_token_index()
-        self.assertEqual(self.adapter.outputs['token_index'][:8], '4420e486')
-
-
-if __name__ == '__main__':
-    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/eth/test_eth_offline.py b/tests/eth/test_eth_offline.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29e0402
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/eth/test_eth_offline.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# standard imports
+import unittest
+
+# local imports
+from cic.ext.eth import CICEth
+
+# tests imports
+from tests.eth.base_eth import TestCICEthBase
+
+class TestCICEthOffline(TestCICEthBase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestCICEthOffline, self).setUp()
+        self.adapter = CICEth(self.chain_spec, self.resources, self.proofs)
+
+
+    def test_offline_token_index(self):
+        self.adapter.token_address = self.token_address
+        v = self.adapter.process_token_index()
+        self.assertEqual(self.adapter.outputs['token_index'][:8], '4420e486')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/tests/eth/test_eth_sign.py b/tests/eth/test_eth_sign.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..af99f85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/eth/test_eth_sign.py
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+# standard imports
+import unittest
+
+# external imports
+from chainlib.eth.tx import unpack
+from hexathon import (
+        strip_0x,
+        add_0x,
+        )
+
+# local imports
+from cic.ext.eth import CICEth
+
+# tests imports
+from tests.eth.base_eth import TestCICEthBase
+
+class TestCICEthSign(TestCICEthBase):
+
+    def setUp(self):
+        super(TestCICEthSign, self).setUp()
+        #self.adapter = CICEth(self.chain_spec, self.resources, self.proofs, signer=self.signer, rpc=self.rpc)
+        self.adapter = CICEth(self.chain_spec, self.resources, self.proofs, signer=self.signer)
+
+
+    def test_sign_token_index(self):
+        self.adapter.token_address = self.token_address
+        v = self.adapter.process_token_index()
+        tx_raw = bytes.fromhex(strip_0x(self.adapter.outputs['token_index'])) 
+        tx = unpack(tx_raw, self.chain_spec)
+        self.assertEqual(strip_0x(tx['data'])[:8], '4420e486')
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()