diff --git a/ui/js/actions/app.js b/ui/js/actions/app.js
index 709d85ffb..1454f8d2c 100644
--- a/ui/js/actions/app.js
+++ b/ui/js/actions/app.js
@@ -9,7 +9,18 @@ import {
   selectCurrentPage,
   selectCurrentParams,
 } from "selectors/app";
-import { doSearch } from "actions/search";
+import {
+  doSearch,
+} from 'actions/search'
+import {
+  doFetchDaemonSettings
+} from 'actions/settings'
+import {
+  doAuthenticate
+} from 'actions/user'
+import {
+  doFileList
+} from 'actions/file_info'
 
 const { remote, ipcRenderer, shell } = require("electron");
 const path = require("path");
@@ -216,9 +227,15 @@ export function doAlertError(errorList) {
 }
 
 export function doDaemonReady() {
-  return {
-    type: types.DAEMON_READY,
-  };
+  return function(dispatch, getState) {
+    dispatch({
+      type: types.DAEMON_READY
+    })
+    dispatch(doAuthenticate())
+    dispatch(doChangePath('/discover'))
+    dispatch(doFetchDaemonSettings())
+    dispatch(doFileList())
+  }
 }
 
 export function doShowSnackBar(data) {
diff --git a/ui/js/actions/user.js b/ui/js/actions/user.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d616c3ac4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/js/actions/user.js
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import * as types from 'constants/action_types'
+import lbryio from 'lbryio'
+
+export function doAuthenticate() {
+  return function(dispatch, getState) {
+    dispatch({
+      type: types.AUTHENTICATION_STARTED,
+    })
+    lbryio.authenticate().then((user) => {
+      dispatch({
+        type: types.AUTHENTICATION_SUCCESS,
+        data: { user }
+      })
+    }).catch((error) => {
+      dispatch({
+        type: types.AUTHENTICATION_FAILURE,
+        data: { error }
+      })
+    })
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ui/js/component/authOverlay/index.jsx b/ui/js/component/authOverlay/index.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7e08a5ef9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/js/component/authOverlay/index.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import React from 'react'
+import {
+  connect
+} from 'react-redux'
+import {
+  doStartUpgrade,
+  doCancelUpgrade,
+} from 'actions/app'
+import {
+  selectAuthenticationIsPending,
+} from 'selectors/user'
+import AuthOverlay from './view'
+
+const select = (state) => ({
+  isPending: selectAuthenticationIsPending(state)
+})
+
+const perform = (dispatch) => ({
+})
+
+export default connect(select, perform)(AuthOverlay)
diff --git a/ui/js/component/authOverlay/view.jsx b/ui/js/component/authOverlay/view.jsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..20025820a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/js/component/authOverlay/view.jsx
@@ -0,0 +1,350 @@
+import React from "react";
+import lbry from "lbry.js";
+import lbryio from "lbryio.js";
+import Modal from "component/modal.js";
+import ModalPage from "component/modal-page.js";
+import Link from "component/link"
+import {BusyMessage} from "component/common"
+import {RewardLink} from 'component/reward-link';
+import {FormRow} from "component/form.js";
+import {CreditAmount, Address} from "component/common.js";
+import {getLocal, setLocal} from 'utils.js';
+import rewards from 'rewards'
+
+
+class SubmitEmailStage extends React.Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    this.state = {
+      rewardType: null,
+      email: '',
+      showNoEmailConfirm: false,
+      submitting: false
+    };
+  }
+
+  handleEmailChanged(event) {
+    this.setState({
+      email: event.target.value,
+    });
+  }
+
+  onEmailSaved(email) {
+    this.props.setStage("confirm", { email: email })
+  }
+
+  onEmailSkipClick() {
+    this.setState({ showNoEmailConfirm: true })
+  }
+
+  onEmailSkipConfirm() {
+    setLocal('auth_bypassed', true);
+    this.props.setStage(null)
+  }
+
+  handleSubmit(event) {
+    event.preventDefault();
+
+    this.setState({
+      submitting: true,
+    });
+    lbryio.call('user_email', 'new', {email: this.state.email}, 'post').then(() => {
+      this.onEmailSaved(this.state.email);
+    }, (error) => {
+      if (error.xhr && (error.xhr.status == 409 || error.message == "This email is already in use")) {
+        this.onEmailSaved(this.state.email);
+        return;
+      } else if (this._emailRow) {
+        this._emailRow.showError(error.message)
+      }
+      this.setState({ submitting: false });
+    });
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    return (
+      <section>
+        <form onSubmit={(event) => { this.handleSubmit(event) }}>
+          <FormRow ref={(ref) => { this._emailRow = ref }} type="text" label="Email" placeholder="scrwvwls@lbry.io"
+                     name="email" value={this.state.email}
+                     onChange={(event) => { this.handleEmailChanged(event) }} />
+          <div className="form-row-submit form-row-submit--with-footer">
+            <Link button="primary" label="Next" disabled={this.state.submitting} onClick={(event) => { this.handleSubmit(event) }} />
+          </div>
+          { this.state.showNoEmailConfirm ?
+            <div>
+              <p className="help form-input-width">If you continue without an email, you will be ineligible to earn free LBC rewards, as well as unable to receive security related communications.</p>
+              <Link className="button-text-help" onClick={ () => { this.onEmailSkipConfirm() }} label="Continue without email" />
+            </div>
+            :
+            <Link className="button-text-help" onClick={ () => { this.onEmailSkipClick() }} label="Do I have to?" />
+          }
+        </form>
+      </section>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class ConfirmEmailStage extends React.Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    this.state = {
+      rewardType: null,
+      code: '',
+      submitting: false,
+      errorMessage: null,
+    };
+  }
+
+  handleCodeChanged(event) {
+    this.setState({
+      code: event.target.value,
+    });
+  }
+
+  handleSubmit(event) {
+    event.preventDefault();
+    this.setState({
+      submitting: true,
+    });
+
+    const onSubmitError = (error) => {
+      if (this._codeRow) {
+        this._codeRow.showError(error.message)
+      }
+      this.setState({ submitting: false });
+    };
+
+    lbryio.call('user_email', 'confirm', {verification_token: this.state.code, email: this.props.email}, 'post').then((userEmail) => {
+      if (userEmail.is_verified) {
+        this.props.setStage("welcome")
+      } else {
+        onSubmitError(new Error("Your email is still not verified.")) //shouldn't happen?
+      }
+    }, onSubmitError);
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    return (
+      <section>
+        <form onSubmit={(event) => { this.handleSubmit(event) }}>
+          <FormRow label="Verification Code" ref={(ref) => { this._codeRow = ref }} type="text"
+                     name="code" placeholder="a94bXXXXXXXXXXXXXX" value={this.state.code} onChange={(event) => { this.handleCodeChanged(event) }}
+                     helper="A verification code is required to access this version."/>
+          <div className="form-row-submit form-row-submit--with-footer">
+            <Link button="primary" label="Verify" disabled={this.state.submitting} onClick={(event) => { this.handleSubmit(event)}} />
+          </div>
+          <div className="form-field__helper">
+            No code? <Link onClick={() => { this.props.setStage("nocode")}} label="Click here" />.
+          </div>
+        </form>
+      </section>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+class WelcomeStage extends React.Component {
+  static propTypes = {
+    endAuth: React.PropTypes.func,
+  }
+
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    this.state = {
+      hasReward: false,
+      rewardAmount: null,
+    };
+  }
+
+  onRewardClaim(reward) {
+    this.setState({
+      hasReward: true,
+      rewardAmount: reward.amount
+    })
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    return (
+      !this.state.hasReward ?
+        <Modal type="custom" isOpen={true} contentLabel="Welcome to LBRY" {...this.props}>
+          <section>
+            <h3 className="modal__header">Welcome to LBRY.</h3>
+            <p>Using LBRY is like dating a centaur. Totally normal up top, and <em>way different</em> underneath.</p>
+            <p>Up top, LBRY is similar to popular media sites.</p>
+            <p>Below, LBRY is controlled by users -- you -- via blockchain and decentralization.</p>
+            <p>Thank you for making content freedom possible! Here's a nickel, kid.</p>
+            <div style={{textAlign: "center", marginBottom: "12px"}}>
+              <RewardLink type="new_user" button="primary" onRewardClaim={(event) => { this.onRewardClaim(event) }} onRewardFailure={() => this.props.setStage(null)} onConfirmed={() => { this.props.setStage(null) }} />
+            </div>
+          </section>
+         </Modal> :
+         <Modal type="alert" overlayClassName="modal-overlay modal-overlay--clear" isOpen={true} contentLabel="Welcome to LBRY" {...this.props} onConfirmed={() => { this.props.setStage(null) }}>
+          <section>
+            <h3 className="modal__header">About Your Reward</h3>
+            <p>You earned a reward of <CreditAmount amount={this.state.rewardAmount} label={false} /> LBRY credits, or <em>LBC</em>.</p>
+            <p>This reward will show in your Wallet momentarily, probably while you are reading this message.</p>
+            <p>LBC is used to compensate creators, to publish, and to have say in how the network works.</p>
+            <p>No need to understand it all just yet! Try watching or downloading something next.</p>
+            <p>Finally, know that LBRY is an early beta and that it earns the name.</p>
+          </section>
+      </Modal>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+const ErrorStage = (props) => {
+  return <section>
+    <p>An error was encountered that we cannot continue from.</p>
+    <p>At least we're earning the name beta.</p>
+    { props.errorText ? <p>Message: {props.errorText}</p> : '' }
+    <Link button="alt" label="Try Reload" onClick={() => { window.location.reload() } } />
+  </section>
+}
+
+const PendingStage = (props) => {
+  return <section>
+    <BusyMessage message="Authenticating" />
+  </section>
+}
+
+
+class CodeRequiredStage extends React.Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    this._balanceSubscribeId = null
+
+    this.state = {
+      balance: 0,
+      address: getLocal('wallet_address')
+    };
+  }
+
+  componentWillMount() {
+    this._balanceSubscribeId = lbry.balanceSubscribe((balance) => {
+      this.setState({
+        balance: balance
+      });
+    })
+
+    if (!this.state.address) {
+      lbry.wallet_unused_address().then((address) => {
+        setLocal('wallet_address', address);
+        this.setState({ address: address });
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  componentWillUnmount() {
+    if (this._balanceSubscribeId) {
+      lbry.balanceUnsubscribe(this._balanceSubscribeId)
+    }
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    const disabled = this.state.balance < 1;
+    return (
+      <div>
+        <section className="section-spaced">
+          <p>Early access to LBRY is restricted as we build and scale the network.</p>
+          <p>There are two ways in.</p>
+          <h3>Own LBRY Credits</h3>
+          <p>If you own at least 1 LBC, you can get in right now.</p>
+          <p style={{ textAlign: "center"}}><Link onClick={() => { setLocal('auth_bypassed', true); this.props.setStage(null); }}
+                                                  disabled={disabled} label="Let Me In" button={ disabled ? "alt" : "primary" } /></p>
+          <p>Your balance is <CreditAmount amount={this.state.balance} />. To increase your balance, send credits to this address:</p>
+          <p><Address address={ this.state.address ? this.state.address : "Generating Address..." } /></p>
+          <p>If you don't understand how to send credits, then...</p>
+        </section>
+        <section>
+          <h3>Wait For A Code</h3>
+          <p>If you provide your email, you'll automatically receive a notification when the system is open.</p>
+          <p><Link onClick={() => { this.props.setStage("email"); }}  label="Return" /></p>
+        </section>
+      </div>
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+
+export class AuthOverlay extends React.Component {
+  constructor(props) {
+    super(props);
+
+    this._stages = {
+      pending: PendingStage,
+      error: ErrorStage,
+      nocode: CodeRequiredStage,
+      email: SubmitEmailStage,
+      confirm: ConfirmEmailStage,
+      welcome: WelcomeStage
+    }
+  }
+
+  setStage(stage, stageProps = {}) {
+    this.setState({
+      stage: stage,
+      stageProps: stageProps
+    })
+  }
+
+  componentWillMount() {
+    // lbryio.authenticate().then((user) => {
+    //   if (!user.has_verified_email) {
+    //     if (getLocal('auth_bypassed')) {
+    //       this.setStage(null)
+    //     } else {
+    //       this.setStage("email", {})
+    //     }
+    //   } else {
+    //     lbryio.call('reward', 'list', {}).then((userRewards) => {
+    //       userRewards.filter(function(reward) {
+    //         return reward.reward_type == rewards.TYPE_NEW_USER && reward.transaction_id;
+    //       }).length ?
+    //          this.setStage(null) :
+    //          this.setStage("welcome")
+    //     });
+    //   }
+    // }).catch((err) => {
+    //   this.setStage("error", { errorText: err.message })
+    //   document.dispatchEvent(new CustomEvent('unhandledError', {
+    //     detail: {
+    //       message: err.message,
+    //       data: err.stack
+    //     }
+    //   }));
+    // })
+  }
+
+  render() {
+    let StageContent
+    const {
+      isPending,
+    } = this.props
+
+    if (isPending) {
+      StageContent = PendingStage;
+    } else {
+      return null
+      StageContent = this._stages[this.state.stage];
+    }
+
+    if (!StageContent) {
+      return <span className="empty">Unknown authentication step.</span>
+    }
+//setStage={(stage, stageProps) => { this.setStage(stage, stageProps) }} {...this.state.stageProps}
+    return (
+      true || this.state.stage != "welcome" ?
+          <ModalPage className="modal-page--full" isOpen={true} contentLabel="Authentication">
+            <h1>LBRY Early Access</h1>
+            <StageContent />
+          </ModalPage> :
+          <StageContent />
+    );
+  }
+}
+
+export default AuthOverlay
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ui/js/constants/action_types.js b/ui/js/constants/action_types.js
index 9e6a168a4..42485e7aa 100644
--- a/ui/js/constants/action_types.js
+++ b/ui/js/constants/action_types.js
@@ -69,3 +69,8 @@ export const SEARCH_CANCELLED = "SEARCH_CANCELLED";
 
 // Settings
 export const DAEMON_SETTINGS_RECEIVED = "DAEMON_SETTINGS_RECEIVED";
+
+// User
+export const AUTHENTICATION_STARTED = 'AUTHENTICATION_STARTED'
+export const AUTHENTICATION_SUCCESS = 'AUTHENTICATION_SUCCESS'
+export const AUTHENTICATION_FAILURE = 'AUTHENTICATION_FAILURE'
diff --git a/ui/js/lbryio.js b/ui/js/lbryio.js
index a55c3355c..19b3c9616 100644
--- a/ui/js/lbryio.js
+++ b/ui/js/lbryio.js
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ lbryio.authenticate = function() {
     lbryio._authenticationPromise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
       lbry.status().then((response) => {
 
-        let installation_id = response.installation_id.substring(0, response.installation_id.length - 2) + "C";
+        let installation_id = response.installation_id.substring(0, response.installation_id.length - 6) + "C";
 
         function setCurrentUser() {
           lbryio.call('user', 'me').then((data) => {
@@ -152,12 +152,7 @@ lbryio.authenticate = function() {
               resolve(data)
           }).catch(function(err) {
             lbryio.setAccessToken(null);
-            if (!getSession('reloadedOnFailedAuth')) {
-              setSession('reloadedOnFailedAuth', true)
-              window.location.reload();
-            } else {
-              reject(err);
-            }
+            reject(err);
           })
         }
 
diff --git a/ui/js/main.js b/ui/js/main.js
index e0193987c..1a5d79398 100644
--- a/ui/js/main.js
+++ b/ui/js/main.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import React from 'react';
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
 import lbry from './lbry.js';
 import lbryio from './lbryio.js';
-import lighthouse from './lighthouse.js';
 import App from 'component/app/index.js';
 import SnackBar from 'component/snackBar';
 import { Provider } from 'react-redux';
@@ -10,8 +9,6 @@ import store from 'store.js';
 import SplashScreen from 'component/splash.js';
 import { AuthOverlay } from 'component/auth.js';
 import { doChangePath, doNavigate, doDaemonReady } from 'actions/app';
-import { doFetchDaemonSettings } from 'actions/settings';
-import { doFileList } from 'actions/file_info';
 import { toQueryString } from 'util/query_params';
 
 const { remote, ipcRenderer, shell } = require('electron');
@@ -69,12 +66,7 @@ const initialState = app.store.getState();
 var init = function() {
 	function onDaemonReady() {
 		window.sessionStorage.setItem('loaded', 'y'); //once we've made it here once per session, we don't need to show splash again
-		const actions = [];
-
-		app.store.dispatch(doDaemonReady());
-		app.store.dispatch(doChangePath('/discover'));
-		app.store.dispatch(doFetchDaemonSettings());
-		app.store.dispatch(doFileList());
+    app.store.dispatch(doDaemonReady())
 
 		ReactDOM.render(
 			<Provider store={store}>
diff --git a/ui/js/reducers/app.js b/ui/js/reducers/app.js
index 373f13c3c..d5c95bde5 100644
--- a/ui/js/reducers/app.js
+++ b/ui/js/reducers/app.js
@@ -81,12 +81,6 @@ reducers[types.UPGRADE_DOWNLOAD_PROGRESSED] = function(state, action) {
   });
 };
 
-reducers[types.DAEMON_READY] = function(state, action) {
-  return Object.assign({}, state, {
-    daemonReady: true,
-  });
-};
-
 reducers[types.SHOW_SNACKBAR] = function(state, action) {
   const { message, linkText, linkTarget, isError } = action.data;
   const snackBar = Object.assign({}, state.snackBar);
diff --git a/ui/js/reducers/user.js b/ui/js/reducers/user.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f5475dfcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/js/reducers/user.js
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+import * as types from 'constants/action_types'
+
+const reducers = {}
+
+const defaultState = {
+  authenticationIsPending: false,
+  user: undefined
+}
+
+reducers[types.AUTHENTICATION_STARTED] = function(state, action) {
+  return Object.assign({}, state, {
+    authenticationIsPending: true
+  })
+}
+
+reducers[types.AUTHENTICATION_SUCCESS] = function(state, action) {
+  return Object.assign({}, state, {
+    authenticationIsPending: false,
+    user: action.data.user,
+  })
+}
+
+reducers[types.AUTHENTICATION_FAILURE] = function(state, action) {
+  return Object.assign({}, state, {
+    authenticationIsPending: false,
+    user: null,
+  })
+}
+
+export default function reducer(state = defaultState, action) {
+  const handler = reducers[action.type];
+  if (handler) return handler(state, action);
+  return state;
+}
diff --git a/ui/js/selectors/availability.js b/ui/js/selectors/availability.js
index df330fed0..1200dd904 100644
--- a/ui/js/selectors/availability.js
+++ b/ui/js/selectors/availability.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { createSelector } from "reselect";
-import { selectDaemonReady, selectCurrentPage } from "selectors/app";
 
 const _selectState = state => state.availability;
 
diff --git a/ui/js/selectors/content.js b/ui/js/selectors/content.js
index 78d81ab99..75162a454 100644
--- a/ui/js/selectors/content.js
+++ b/ui/js/selectors/content.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { createSelector } from "reselect";
-import { selectDaemonReady, selectCurrentPage } from "selectors/app";
 
 export const _selectState = state => state.content || {};
 
diff --git a/ui/js/selectors/user.js b/ui/js/selectors/user.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..77871ab78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ui/js/selectors/user.js
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+import { createSelector } from 'reselect'
+
+export const _selectState = state => state.user || {}
+
+export const selectAuthenticationIsPending = createSelector(
+  _selectState,
+  (state) => state.authenticationIsPending
+)
+
+export const selectAuthenticationIsFailed = createSelector(
+  _selectState,
+  (state) => state.user === null
+)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/ui/js/selectors/wallet.js b/ui/js/selectors/wallet.js
index b74cd01da..1027bb6e7 100644
--- a/ui/js/selectors/wallet.js
+++ b/ui/js/selectors/wallet.js
@@ -50,20 +50,6 @@ export const selectGettingNewAddress = createSelector(
   state => state.gettingNewAddress
 );
 
-export const shouldCheckAddressIsMine = createSelector(
-  _selectState,
-  selectCurrentPage,
-  selectReceiveAddress,
-  selectDaemonReady,
-  (state, page, address, daemonReady) => {
-    if (!daemonReady) return false;
-    if (address === undefined) return false;
-    if (state.addressOwnershipChecked) return false;
-
-    return true;
-  }
-);
-
 export const selectDraftTransaction = createSelector(
   _selectState,
   state => state.draftTransaction || {}
diff --git a/ui/js/store.js b/ui/js/store.js
index 112f19015..9bc70dc25 100644
--- a/ui/js/store.js
+++ b/ui/js/store.js
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import rewardsReducer from 'reducers/rewards';
 import searchReducer from 'reducers/search';
 import settingsReducer from 'reducers/settings';
 import walletReducer from 'reducers/wallet';
+import userReducer from 'reducers/user';
 
 function isFunction(object) {
 	return typeof object === 'function';
@@ -47,16 +48,17 @@ function enableBatching(reducer) {
 }
 
 const reducers = redux.combineReducers({
-	app: appReducer,
-	availability: availabilityReducer,
-	claims: claimsReducer,
-	fileInfo: fileInfoReducer,
-	content: contentReducer,
-	costInfo: costInfoReducer,
-	rewards: rewardsReducer,
-	search: searchReducer,
-	settings: settingsReducer,
-	wallet: walletReducer
+  app: appReducer,
+  availability: availabilityReducer,
+  claims: claimsReducer,
+  fileInfo: fileInfoReducer,
+  content: contentReducer,
+  costInfo: costInfoReducer,
+  rewards: rewardsReducer,
+  search: searchReducer,
+  settings: settingsReducer,
+  wallet: walletReducer,
+  user: userReducer,
 });
 
 const bulkThunk = createBulkThunkMiddleware();