diff --git a/src/Makefile.test.include b/src/Makefile.test.include
index ab449f3e7..99ac09e1a 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.test.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.test.include
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ BITCOIN_TESTS =\
   test/checkblock_tests.cpp \
   test/Checkpoints_tests.cpp \
   test/compress_tests.cpp \
+  test/coins_tests.cpp \
   test/crypto_tests.cpp \
   test/DoS_tests.cpp \
   test/getarg_tests.cpp \
diff --git a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
index a198eb586..da37e60c7 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-tx.cpp
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ static void MutateTxSign(CMutableTransaction& tx, const string& flagStr)
     CMutableTransaction mergedTx(txVariants[0]);
     bool fComplete = true;
     CCoinsView viewDummy;
-    CCoinsViewCache view(viewDummy);
+    CCoinsViewCache view(&viewDummy);
 
     if (!registers.count("privatekeys"))
         throw runtime_error("privatekeys register variable must be set.");
@@ -384,21 +384,19 @@ static void MutateTxSign(CMutableTransaction& tx, const string& flagStr)
             vector<unsigned char> pkData(ParseHexUV(prevOut, "scriptPubKey"));
             CScript scriptPubKey(pkData.begin(), pkData.end());
 
-            CCoins coins;
-            if (view.GetCoins(txid, coins)) {
-                if (coins.IsAvailable(nOut) && coins.vout[nOut].scriptPubKey != scriptPubKey) {
+            {
+                CCoinsModifier coins = view.ModifyCoins(txid);
+                if (coins->IsAvailable(nOut) && coins->vout[nOut].scriptPubKey != scriptPubKey) {
                     string err("Previous output scriptPubKey mismatch:\n");
-                    err = err + coins.vout[nOut].scriptPubKey.ToString() + "\nvs:\n"+
+                    err = err + coins->vout[nOut].scriptPubKey.ToString() + "\nvs:\n"+
                         scriptPubKey.ToString();
                     throw runtime_error(err);
                 }
-                // what todo if txid is known, but the actual output isn't?
+                if ((unsigned int)nOut >= coins->vout.size())
+                    coins->vout.resize(nOut+1);
+                coins->vout[nOut].scriptPubKey = scriptPubKey;
+                coins->vout[nOut].nValue = 0; // we don't know the actual output value
             }
-            if ((unsigned int)nOut >= coins.vout.size())
-                coins.vout.resize(nOut+1);
-            coins.vout[nOut].scriptPubKey = scriptPubKey;
-            coins.vout[nOut].nValue = 0; // we don't know the actual output value
-            view.SetCoins(txid, coins);
 
             // if redeemScript given and private keys given,
             // add redeemScript to the tempKeystore so it can be signed:
diff --git a/src/coins.cpp b/src/coins.cpp
index 9b8d63d4e..e4f3e67ae 100644
--- a/src/coins.cpp
+++ b/src/coins.cpp
@@ -53,61 +53,72 @@ bool CCoins::Spend(int nPos) {
 
 
 bool CCoinsView::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const { return false; }
-bool CCoinsView::SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins) { return false; }
 bool CCoinsView::HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const { return false; }
 uint256 CCoinsView::GetBestBlock() const { return uint256(0); }
-bool CCoinsView::SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock) { return false; }
 bool CCoinsView::BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock) { return false; }
 bool CCoinsView::GetStats(CCoinsStats &stats) const { return false; }
 
 
-CCoinsViewBacked::CCoinsViewBacked(CCoinsView &viewIn) : base(&viewIn) { }
+CCoinsViewBacked::CCoinsViewBacked(CCoinsView *viewIn) : base(viewIn) { }
 bool CCoinsViewBacked::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const { return base->GetCoins(txid, coins); }
-bool CCoinsViewBacked::SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins) { return base->SetCoins(txid, coins); }
 bool CCoinsViewBacked::HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const { return base->HaveCoins(txid); }
 uint256 CCoinsViewBacked::GetBestBlock() const { return base->GetBestBlock(); }
-bool CCoinsViewBacked::SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock) { return base->SetBestBlock(hashBlock); }
 void CCoinsViewBacked::SetBackend(CCoinsView &viewIn) { base = &viewIn; }
 bool CCoinsViewBacked::BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock) { return base->BatchWrite(mapCoins, hashBlock); }
 bool CCoinsViewBacked::GetStats(CCoinsStats &stats) const { return base->GetStats(stats); }
 
 CCoinsKeyHasher::CCoinsKeyHasher() : salt(GetRandHash()) {}
 
-CCoinsViewCache::CCoinsViewCache(CCoinsView &baseIn, bool fDummy) : CCoinsViewBacked(baseIn), hashBlock(0) { }
+CCoinsViewCache::CCoinsViewCache(CCoinsView *baseIn) : CCoinsViewBacked(baseIn), hasModifier(false), hashBlock(0) { }
 
-bool CCoinsViewCache::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const {
-    if (cacheCoins.count(txid)) {
-        coins = cacheCoins[txid];
-        return true;
-    }
-    if (base->GetCoins(txid, coins)) {
-        cacheCoins[txid] = coins;
-        return true;
-    }
-    return false;
+CCoinsViewCache::~CCoinsViewCache()
+{
+    assert(!hasModifier);
 }
 
-CCoinsMap::iterator CCoinsViewCache::FetchCoins(const uint256 &txid) {
+CCoinsMap::const_iterator CCoinsViewCache::FetchCoins(const uint256 &txid) const {
     CCoinsMap::iterator it = cacheCoins.find(txid);
     if (it != cacheCoins.end())
         return it;
     CCoins tmp;
-    if (!base->GetCoins(txid,tmp))
+    if (!base->GetCoins(txid, tmp))
         return cacheCoins.end();
-    CCoinsMap::iterator ret = cacheCoins.insert(it, std::make_pair(txid, CCoins()));
-    tmp.swap(ret->second);
+    CCoinsMap::iterator ret = cacheCoins.insert(std::make_pair(txid, CCoinsCacheEntry())).first;
+    tmp.swap(ret->second.coins);
+    if (ret->second.coins.IsPruned()) {
+        // The parent only has an empty entry for this txid; we can consider our
+        // version as fresh.
+        ret->second.flags = CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH;
+    }
     return ret;
 }
 
-CCoinsMap::const_iterator CCoinsViewCache::FetchCoins(const uint256 &txid) const {
-    /* Avoid redundant implementation with the const-cast.  */
-    return const_cast<CCoinsViewCache*>(this)->FetchCoins(txid);
+bool CCoinsViewCache::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const {
+    CCoinsMap::const_iterator it = FetchCoins(txid);
+    if (it != cacheCoins.end()) {
+        coins = it->second.coins;
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
 }
 
-CCoins &CCoinsViewCache::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid) {
-    CCoinsMap::iterator it = FetchCoins(txid);
-    assert(it != cacheCoins.end());
-    return it->second;
+CCoinsModifier CCoinsViewCache::ModifyCoins(const uint256 &txid) {
+    assert(!hasModifier);
+    hasModifier = true;
+    std::pair<CCoinsMap::iterator, bool> ret = cacheCoins.insert(std::make_pair(txid, CCoinsCacheEntry()));
+    if (ret.second) {
+        if (!base->GetCoins(txid, ret.first->second.coins)) {
+            // The parent view does not have this entry; mark it as fresh.
+            ret.first->second.coins.Clear();
+            ret.first->second.flags = CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH;
+        } else if (ret.first->second.coins.IsPruned()) {
+            // The parent view only has a pruned entry for this; mark it as fresh.
+            ret.first->second.flags = CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH;
+        }
+    }
+    // Assume that whenever ModifyCoins is called, the entry will be modified.
+    ret.first->second.flags |= CCoinsCacheEntry::DIRTY;
+    return CCoinsModifier(*this, ret.first);
 }
 
 const CCoins* CCoinsViewCache::AccessCoins(const uint256 &txid) const {
@@ -115,22 +126,17 @@ const CCoins* CCoinsViewCache::AccessCoins(const uint256 &txid) const {
     if (it == cacheCoins.end()) {
         return NULL;
     } else {
-        return &it->second;
+        return &it->second.coins;
     }
 }
 
-bool CCoinsViewCache::SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins) {
-    cacheCoins[txid] = coins;
-    return true;
-}
-
 bool CCoinsViewCache::HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const {
     CCoinsMap::const_iterator it = FetchCoins(txid);
     // We're using vtx.empty() instead of IsPruned here for performance reasons,
     // as we only care about the case where an transaction was replaced entirely
     // in a reorganization (which wipes vout entirely, as opposed to spending
     // which just cleans individual outputs).
-    return (it != cacheCoins.end() && !it->second.vout.empty());
+    return (it != cacheCoins.end() && !it->second.coins.vout.empty());
 }
 
 uint256 CCoinsViewCache::GetBestBlock() const {
@@ -139,14 +145,39 @@ uint256 CCoinsViewCache::GetBestBlock() const {
     return hashBlock;
 }
 
-bool CCoinsViewCache::SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlockIn) {
+void CCoinsViewCache::SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlockIn) {
     hashBlock = hashBlockIn;
-    return true;
 }
 
 bool CCoinsViewCache::BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlockIn) {
+    assert(!hasModifier);
     for (CCoinsMap::iterator it = mapCoins.begin(); it != mapCoins.end();) {
-        cacheCoins[it->first].swap(it->second);
+        if (it->second.flags & CCoinsCacheEntry::DIRTY) { // Ignore non-dirty entries (optimization).
+            CCoinsMap::iterator itUs = cacheCoins.find(it->first);
+            if (itUs == cacheCoins.end()) {
+                if (!it->second.coins.IsPruned()) {
+                    // The parent cache does not have an entry, while the child
+                    // cache does have (a non-pruned) one. Move the data up, and
+                    // mark it as fresh (if the grandparent did have it, we
+                    // would have pulled it in at first GetCoins).
+                    assert(it->second.flags & CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH);
+                    CCoinsCacheEntry& entry = cacheCoins[it->first];
+                    entry.coins.swap(it->second.coins);
+                    entry.flags = CCoinsCacheEntry::DIRTY | CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH;
+                }
+            } else {
+                if ((itUs->second.flags & CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH) && it->second.coins.IsPruned()) {
+                    // The grandparent does not have an entry, and the child is
+                    // modified and being pruned. This means we can just delete
+                    // it from the parent.
+                    cacheCoins.erase(itUs);
+                } else {
+                    // A normal modification.
+                    itUs->second.coins.swap(it->second.coins);
+                    itUs->second.flags |= CCoinsCacheEntry::DIRTY;
+                }
+            }
+        }
         CCoinsMap::iterator itOld = it++;
         mapCoins.erase(itOld);
     }
@@ -213,3 +244,15 @@ double CCoinsViewCache::GetPriority(const CTransaction &tx, int nHeight) const
     }
     return tx.ComputePriority(dResult);
 }
+
+CCoinsModifier::CCoinsModifier(CCoinsViewCache& cache_, CCoinsMap::iterator it_) : cache(cache_), it(it_) {}
+
+CCoinsModifier::~CCoinsModifier()
+{
+    assert(cache.hasModifier);
+    cache.hasModifier = false;
+    it->second.coins.Cleanup();
+    if ((it->second.flags & CCoinsCacheEntry::FRESH) && it->second.coins.IsPruned()) {
+        cache.cacheCoins.erase(it);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/coins.h b/src/coins.h
index 258347532..b8f1e5bcc 100644
--- a/src/coins.h
+++ b/src/coins.h
@@ -83,11 +83,26 @@ public:
     // as new tx version will probably only be introduced at certain heights
     int nVersion;
 
-    // construct a CCoins from a CTransaction, at a given height
-    CCoins(const CTransaction &tx, int nHeightIn) : fCoinBase(tx.IsCoinBase()), vout(tx.vout), nHeight(nHeightIn), nVersion(tx.nVersion) {
+    void FromTx(const CTransaction &tx, int nHeightIn) {
+        fCoinBase = tx.IsCoinBase();
+        vout = tx.vout;
+        nHeight = nHeightIn;
+        nVersion = tx.nVersion;
         ClearUnspendable();
     }
 
+    // construct a CCoins from a CTransaction, at a given height
+    CCoins(const CTransaction &tx, int nHeightIn) {
+        FromTx(tx, nHeightIn);
+    }
+
+    void Clear() {
+        fCoinBase = false;
+        std::vector<CTxOut>().swap(vout);
+        nHeight = 0;
+        nVersion = 0;
+    }
+
     // empty constructor
     CCoins() : fCoinBase(false), vout(0), nHeight(0), nVersion(0) { }
 
@@ -256,7 +271,20 @@ public:
     }
 };
 
-typedef boost::unordered_map<uint256, CCoins, CCoinsKeyHasher> CCoinsMap;
+struct CCoinsCacheEntry
+{
+    CCoins coins; // The actual cached data.
+    unsigned char flags;
+
+    enum Flags {
+        DIRTY = (1 << 0), // This cache entry is potentially different from the version in the parent view.
+        FRESH = (1 << 1), // The parent view does not have this entry (or it is pruned).
+    };
+
+    CCoinsCacheEntry() : coins(), flags(0) {}
+};
+
+typedef boost::unordered_map<uint256, CCoinsCacheEntry, CCoinsKeyHasher> CCoinsMap;
 
 struct CCoinsStats
 {
@@ -279,9 +307,6 @@ public:
     // Retrieve the CCoins (unspent transaction outputs) for a given txid
     virtual bool GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const;
 
-    // Modify the CCoins for a given txid
-    virtual bool SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins);
-
     // Just check whether we have data for a given txid.
     // This may (but cannot always) return true for fully spent transactions
     virtual bool HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
@@ -289,10 +314,7 @@ public:
     // Retrieve the block hash whose state this CCoinsView currently represents
     virtual uint256 GetBestBlock() const;
 
-    // Modify the currently active block hash
-    virtual bool SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock);
-
-    // Do a bulk modification (multiple SetCoins + one SetBestBlock).
+    // Do a bulk modification (multiple CCoins changes + BestBlock change).
     // The passed mapCoins can be modified.
     virtual bool BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock);
 
@@ -311,22 +333,41 @@ protected:
     CCoinsView *base;
 
 public:
-    CCoinsViewBacked(CCoinsView &viewIn);
+    CCoinsViewBacked(CCoinsView *viewIn);
     bool GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const;
-    bool SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins);
     bool HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
     uint256 GetBestBlock() const;
-    bool SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock);
     void SetBackend(CCoinsView &viewIn);
     bool BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock);
     bool GetStats(CCoinsStats &stats) const;
 };
 
 
+class CCoinsViewCache;
+
+/** A reference to a mutable cache entry. Encapsulating it allows us to run
+ *  cleanup code after the modification is finished, and keeping track of
+ *  concurrent modifications. */
+class CCoinsModifier
+{
+private:
+    CCoinsViewCache& cache;
+    CCoinsMap::iterator it;
+    CCoinsModifier(CCoinsViewCache& cache_, CCoinsMap::iterator it_);
+
+public:
+    CCoins* operator->() { return &it->second.coins; }
+    CCoins& operator*() { return it->second.coins; }
+    ~CCoinsModifier();
+    friend class CCoinsViewCache;
+};
+
 /** CCoinsView that adds a memory cache for transactions to another CCoinsView */
 class CCoinsViewCache : public CCoinsViewBacked
 {
 protected:
+    /* Whether this cache has an active modifier. */
+    bool hasModifier;
 
     /* Make mutable so that we can "fill the cache" even from Get-methods
        declared as "const".  */
@@ -334,14 +375,14 @@ protected:
     mutable CCoinsMap cacheCoins;
 
 public:
-    CCoinsViewCache(CCoinsView &baseIn, bool fDummy = false);
+    CCoinsViewCache(CCoinsView *baseIn);
+    ~CCoinsViewCache();
 
     // Standard CCoinsView methods
     bool GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const;
-    bool SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins);
     bool HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
     uint256 GetBestBlock() const;
-    bool SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock);
+    void SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock);
     bool BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock);
 
     // Return a pointer to CCoins in the cache, or NULL if not found. This is
@@ -349,8 +390,10 @@ public:
     // allowed while accessing the returned pointer.
     const CCoins* AccessCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
 
-    // Return a modifiable reference to a CCoins. Check HaveCoins first.
-    CCoins &GetCoins(const uint256 &txid);
+    // Return a modifiable reference to a CCoins. If no entry with the given
+    // txid exists, a new one is created. Simultaneous modifications are not
+    // allowed.
+    CCoinsModifier ModifyCoins(const uint256 &txid);
 
     // Push the modifications applied to this cache to its base.
     // Failure to call this method before destruction will cause the changes to be forgotten.
@@ -377,6 +420,8 @@ public:
 
     const CTxOut &GetOutputFor(const CTxIn& input) const;
 
+    friend class CCoinsModifier;
+
 private:
     CCoinsMap::iterator FetchCoins(const uint256 &txid);
     CCoinsMap::const_iterator FetchCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
diff --git a/src/init.cpp b/src/init.cpp
index 97d0f5852..8dcd35fb8 100644
--- a/src/init.cpp
+++ b/src/init.cpp
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ bool AppInit2(boost::thread_group& threadGroup)
 
                 pblocktree = new CBlockTreeDB(nBlockTreeDBCache, false, fReindex);
                 pcoinsdbview = new CCoinsViewDB(nCoinDBCache, false, fReindex);
-                pcoinsTip = new CCoinsViewCache(*pcoinsdbview);
+                pcoinsTip = new CCoinsViewCache(pcoinsdbview);
 
                 if (fReindex)
                     pblocktree->WriteReindexing(true);
diff --git a/src/main.cpp b/src/main.cpp
index 5d46c30a9..de3876944 100644
--- a/src/main.cpp
+++ b/src/main.cpp
@@ -844,12 +844,12 @@ bool AcceptToMemoryPool(CTxMemPool& pool, CValidationState &state, const CTransa
 
     {
         CCoinsView dummy;
-        CCoinsViewCache view(dummy);
+        CCoinsViewCache view(&dummy);
 
         CAmount nValueIn = 0;
         {
         LOCK(pool.cs);
-        CCoinsViewMemPool viewMemPool(*pcoinsTip, pool);
+        CCoinsViewMemPool viewMemPool(pcoinsTip, pool);
         view.SetBackend(viewMemPool);
 
         // do we already have it?
@@ -1296,22 +1296,18 @@ void static InvalidBlockFound(CBlockIndex *pindex, const CValidationState &state
 
 void UpdateCoins(const CTransaction& tx, CValidationState &state, CCoinsViewCache &inputs, CTxUndo &txundo, int nHeight)
 {
-    bool ret;
     // mark inputs spent
     if (!tx.IsCoinBase()) {
         txundo.vprevout.reserve(tx.vin.size());
-        for (unsigned int i = 0; i < tx.vin.size(); i++) {
-            const CTxIn &txin = tx.vin[i];
-            CCoins &coins = inputs.GetCoins(txin.prevout.hash);
+        BOOST_FOREACH(const CTxIn &txin, tx.vin) {
             txundo.vprevout.push_back(CTxInUndo());
-            ret = coins.Spend(txin.prevout, txundo.vprevout.back());
+            bool ret = inputs.ModifyCoins(txin.prevout.hash)->Spend(txin.prevout, txundo.vprevout.back());
             assert(ret);
         }
     }
 
     // add outputs
-    ret = inputs.SetCoins(tx.GetHash(), CCoins(tx, nHeight));
-    assert(ret);
+    inputs.ModifyCoins(tx.GetHash())->FromTx(tx, nHeight);
 }
 
 bool CScriptCheck::operator()() const {
@@ -1453,21 +1449,23 @@ bool DisconnectBlock(CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pindex
         // exactly. Note that transactions with only provably unspendable outputs won't
         // have outputs available even in the block itself, so we handle that case
         // specially with outsEmpty.
+        {
         CCoins outsEmpty;
-        CCoins &outs = view.HaveCoins(hash) ? view.GetCoins(hash) : outsEmpty;
-        outs.ClearUnspendable();
+        CCoinsModifier outs = view.ModifyCoins(hash);
+        outs->ClearUnspendable();
 
-        CCoins outsBlock = CCoins(tx, pindex->nHeight);
+        CCoins outsBlock(tx, pindex->nHeight);
         // The CCoins serialization does not serialize negative numbers.
         // No network rules currently depend on the version here, so an inconsistency is harmless
         // but it must be corrected before txout nversion ever influences a network rule.
         if (outsBlock.nVersion < 0)
-            outs.nVersion = outsBlock.nVersion;
-        if (outs != outsBlock)
+            outs->nVersion = outsBlock.nVersion;
+        if (*outs != outsBlock)
             fClean = fClean && error("DisconnectBlock() : added transaction mismatch? database corrupted");
 
         // remove outputs
-        outs = CCoins();
+        outs->Clear();
+        }
 
         // restore inputs
         if (i > 0) { // not coinbases
@@ -1477,27 +1475,24 @@ bool DisconnectBlock(CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pindex
             for (unsigned int j = tx.vin.size(); j-- > 0;) {
                 const COutPoint &out = tx.vin[j].prevout;
                 const CTxInUndo &undo = txundo.vprevout[j];
-                CCoins coins;
-                view.GetCoins(out.hash, coins); // this can fail if the prevout was already entirely spent
+                CCoinsModifier coins = view.ModifyCoins(out.hash);
                 if (undo.nHeight != 0) {
                     // undo data contains height: this is the last output of the prevout tx being spent
-                    if (!coins.IsPruned())
+                    if (!coins->IsPruned())
                         fClean = fClean && error("DisconnectBlock() : undo data overwriting existing transaction");
-                    coins = CCoins();
-                    coins.fCoinBase = undo.fCoinBase;
-                    coins.nHeight = undo.nHeight;
-                    coins.nVersion = undo.nVersion;
+                    coins->Clear();
+                    coins->fCoinBase = undo.fCoinBase;
+                    coins->nHeight = undo.nHeight;
+                    coins->nVersion = undo.nVersion;
                 } else {
-                    if (coins.IsPruned())
+                    if (coins->IsPruned())
                         fClean = fClean && error("DisconnectBlock() : undo data adding output to missing transaction");
                 }
-                if (coins.IsAvailable(out.n))
+                if (coins->IsAvailable(out.n))
                     fClean = fClean && error("DisconnectBlock() : undo data overwriting existing output");
-                if (coins.vout.size() < out.n+1)
-                    coins.vout.resize(out.n+1);
-                coins.vout[out.n] = undo.txout;
-                if (!view.SetCoins(out.hash, coins))
-                    return error("DisconnectBlock() : cannot restore coin inputs");
+                if (coins->vout.size() < out.n+1)
+                    coins->vout.resize(out.n+1);
+                coins->vout[out.n] = undo.txout;
             }
         }
     }
@@ -1706,9 +1701,7 @@ bool ConnectBlock(CBlock& block, CValidationState& state, CBlockIndex* pindex, C
             return state.Abort("Failed to write transaction index");
 
     // add this block to the view's block chain
-    bool ret;
-    ret = view.SetBestBlock(pindex->GetBlockHash());
-    assert(ret);
+    view.SetBestBlock(pindex->GetBlockHash());
 
     int64_t nTime3 = GetTimeMicros(); nTimeIndex += nTime3 - nTime2;
     LogPrint("bench", "    - Index writing: %.2fms [%.2fs]\n", 0.001 * (nTime3 - nTime2), nTimeIndex * 0.000001);
@@ -1752,10 +1745,10 @@ void static UpdateTip(CBlockIndex *pindexNew) {
     nTimeBestReceived = GetTime();
     mempool.AddTransactionsUpdated(1);
 
-    LogPrintf("UpdateTip: new best=%s  height=%d  log2_work=%.8g  tx=%lu  date=%s progress=%f\n",
+    LogPrintf("UpdateTip: new best=%s  height=%d  log2_work=%.8g  tx=%lu  date=%s progress=%f  cache=%u\n",
       chainActive.Tip()->GetBlockHash().ToString(), chainActive.Height(), log(chainActive.Tip()->nChainWork.getdouble())/log(2.0), (unsigned long)chainActive.Tip()->nChainTx,
       DateTimeStrFormat("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S", chainActive.Tip()->GetBlockTime()),
-      Checkpoints::GuessVerificationProgress(chainActive.Tip()));
+      Checkpoints::GuessVerificationProgress(chainActive.Tip()), (unsigned int)pcoinsTip->GetCacheSize());
 
     cvBlockChange.notify_all();
 
@@ -1790,7 +1783,7 @@ bool static DisconnectTip(CValidationState &state) {
     // Apply the block atomically to the chain state.
     int64_t nStart = GetTimeMicros();
     {
-        CCoinsViewCache view(*pcoinsTip, true);
+        CCoinsViewCache view(pcoinsTip);
         if (!DisconnectBlock(block, state, pindexDelete, view))
             return error("DisconnectTip() : DisconnectBlock %s failed", pindexDelete->GetBlockHash().ToString());
         assert(view.Flush());
@@ -1843,7 +1836,7 @@ bool static ConnectTip(CValidationState &state, CBlockIndex *pindexNew, CBlock *
     int64_t nTime3;
     LogPrint("bench", "  - Load block from disk: %.2fms [%.2fs]\n", (nTime2 - nTime1) * 0.001, nTimeReadFromDisk * 0.000001);
     {
-        CCoinsViewCache view(*pcoinsTip, true);
+        CCoinsViewCache view(pcoinsTip);
         CInv inv(MSG_BLOCK, pindexNew->GetBlockHash());
         if (!ConnectBlock(*pblock, state, pindexNew, view)) {
             if (state.IsInvalid())
@@ -2893,7 +2886,7 @@ bool CVerifyDB::VerifyDB(CCoinsView *coinsview, int nCheckLevel, int nCheckDepth
         nCheckDepth = chainActive.Height();
     nCheckLevel = std::max(0, std::min(4, nCheckLevel));
     LogPrintf("Verifying last %i blocks at level %i\n", nCheckDepth, nCheckLevel);
-    CCoinsViewCache coins(*coinsview, true);
+    CCoinsViewCache coins(coinsview);
     CBlockIndex* pindexState = chainActive.Tip();
     CBlockIndex* pindexFailure = NULL;
     int nGoodTransactions = 0;
diff --git a/src/miner.cpp b/src/miner.cpp
index 280349e8c..fd6c52ca6 100644
--- a/src/miner.cpp
+++ b/src/miner.cpp
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ CBlockTemplate* CreateNewBlock(const CScript& scriptPubKeyIn)
     {
         LOCK2(cs_main, mempool.cs);
         CBlockIndex* pindexPrev = chainActive.Tip();
-        CCoinsViewCache view(*pcoinsTip, true);
+        CCoinsViewCache view(pcoinsTip);
 
         // Priority order to process transactions
         list<COrphan> vOrphan; // list memory doesn't move
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ CBlockTemplate* CreateNewBlock(const CScript& scriptPubKeyIn)
         CBlockIndex indexDummy(*pblock);
         indexDummy.pprev = pindexPrev;
         indexDummy.nHeight = pindexPrev->nHeight + 1;
-        CCoinsViewCache viewNew(*pcoinsTip, true);
+        CCoinsViewCache viewNew(pcoinsTip);
         CValidationState state;
         if (!ConnectBlock(*pblock, state, &indexDummy, viewNew, true))
             throw std::runtime_error("CreateNewBlock() : ConnectBlock failed");
diff --git a/src/rpcblockchain.cpp b/src/rpcblockchain.cpp
index 4b3beae20..24175215b 100644
--- a/src/rpcblockchain.cpp
+++ b/src/rpcblockchain.cpp
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ Value gettxout(const Array& params, bool fHelp)
     CCoins coins;
     if (fMempool) {
         LOCK(mempool.cs);
-        CCoinsViewMemPool view(*pcoinsTip, mempool);
+        CCoinsViewMemPool view(pcoinsTip, mempool);
         if (!view.GetCoins(hash, coins))
             return Value::null;
         mempool.pruneSpent(hash, coins); // TODO: this should be done by the CCoinsViewMemPool
diff --git a/src/rpcrawtransaction.cpp b/src/rpcrawtransaction.cpp
index 23e647b17..78372da68 100644
--- a/src/rpcrawtransaction.cpp
+++ b/src/rpcrawtransaction.cpp
@@ -560,11 +560,11 @@ Value signrawtransaction(const Array& params, bool fHelp)
 
     // Fetch previous transactions (inputs):
     CCoinsView viewDummy;
-    CCoinsViewCache view(viewDummy);
+    CCoinsViewCache view(&viewDummy);
     {
         LOCK(mempool.cs);
         CCoinsViewCache &viewChain = *pcoinsTip;
-        CCoinsViewMemPool viewMempool(viewChain, mempool);
+        CCoinsViewMemPool viewMempool(&viewChain, mempool);
         view.SetBackend(viewMempool); // temporarily switch cache backend to db+mempool view
 
         BOOST_FOREACH(const CTxIn& txin, mergedTx.vin) {
@@ -615,21 +615,19 @@ Value signrawtransaction(const Array& params, bool fHelp)
             vector<unsigned char> pkData(ParseHexO(prevOut, "scriptPubKey"));
             CScript scriptPubKey(pkData.begin(), pkData.end());
 
-            CCoins coins;
-            if (view.GetCoins(txid, coins)) {
-                if (coins.IsAvailable(nOut) && coins.vout[nOut].scriptPubKey != scriptPubKey) {
+            {
+                CCoinsModifier coins = view.ModifyCoins(txid);
+                if (coins->IsAvailable(nOut) && coins->vout[nOut].scriptPubKey != scriptPubKey) {
                     string err("Previous output scriptPubKey mismatch:\n");
-                    err = err + coins.vout[nOut].scriptPubKey.ToString() + "\nvs:\n"+
+                    err = err + coins->vout[nOut].scriptPubKey.ToString() + "\nvs:\n"+
                         scriptPubKey.ToString();
                     throw JSONRPCError(RPC_DESERIALIZATION_ERROR, err);
                 }
-                // what todo if txid is known, but the actual output isn't?
+                if ((unsigned int)nOut >= coins->vout.size())
+                    coins->vout.resize(nOut+1);
+                coins->vout[nOut].scriptPubKey = scriptPubKey;
+                coins->vout[nOut].nValue = 0; // we don't know the actual output value
             }
-            if ((unsigned int)nOut >= coins.vout.size())
-                coins.vout.resize(nOut+1);
-            coins.vout[nOut].scriptPubKey = scriptPubKey;
-            coins.vout[nOut].nValue = 0; // we don't know the actual output value
-            view.SetCoins(txid, coins);
 
             // if redeemScript given and not using the local wallet (private keys
             // given), add redeemScript to the tempKeystore so it can be signed:
diff --git a/src/test/coins_tests.cpp b/src/test/coins_tests.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3ecd301bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/test/coins_tests.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2014 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 "coins.h"
+#include "random.h"
+#include "uint256.h"
+
+#include <vector>
+#include <map>
+
+#include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp>
+
+namespace
+{
+class CCoinsViewTest : public CCoinsView
+{
+    uint256 hashBestBlock_;
+    std::map<uint256, CCoins> map_;
+
+public:
+    bool GetCoins(const uint256& txid, CCoins& coins) const
+    {
+        std::map<uint256, CCoins>::const_iterator it = map_.find(txid);
+        if (it == map_.end()) {
+            return false;
+        }
+        coins = it->second;
+        if (coins.IsPruned() && insecure_rand() % 2 == 0) {
+            // Randomly return false in case of an empty entry.
+            return false;
+        }
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    bool HaveCoins(const uint256& txid) const
+    {
+        CCoins coins;
+        return GetCoins(txid, coins);
+    }
+
+    uint256 GetBestBlock() const { return hashBestBlock_; }
+
+    bool BatchWrite(CCoinsMap& mapCoins, const uint256& hashBlock)
+    {
+        for (CCoinsMap::iterator it = mapCoins.begin(); it != mapCoins.end(); ) {
+            map_[it->first] = it->second.coins;
+            if (it->second.coins.IsPruned() && insecure_rand() % 3 == 0) {
+                // Randomly delete empty entries on write.
+                map_.erase(it->first);
+            }
+            mapCoins.erase(it++);
+        }
+        mapCoins.clear();
+        hashBestBlock_ = hashBlock;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    bool GetStats(CCoinsStats& stats) const { return false; }
+};
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE(coins_tests)
+
+static const unsigned int NUM_SIMULATION_ITERATIONS = 40000;
+
+// This is a large randomized insert/remove simulation test on a variable-size
+// stack of caches on top of CCoinsViewTest.
+//
+// It will randomly create/update/delete CCoins entries to a tip of caches, with
+// txids picked from a limited list of random 256-bit hashes. Occasionally, a
+// new tip is added to the stack of caches, or the tip is flushed and removed.
+//
+// During the process, booleans are kept to make sure that the randomized
+// operation hits all branches.
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(coins_cache_simulation_test)
+{
+    // Various coverage trackers.
+    bool removed_all_caches = false;
+    bool reached_4_caches = false;
+    bool added_an_entry = false;
+    bool removed_an_entry = false;
+    bool updated_an_entry = false;
+    bool found_an_entry = false;
+    bool missed_an_entry = false;
+
+    // A simple map to track what we expect the cache stack to represent.
+    std::map<uint256, CCoins> result;
+
+    // The cache stack.
+    CCoinsViewTest base; // A CCoinsViewTest at the bottom.
+    std::vector<CCoinsViewCache*> stack; // A stack of CCoinsViewCaches on top.
+    stack.push_back(new CCoinsViewCache(&base)); // Start with one cache.
+
+    // Use a limited set of random transaction ids, so we do test overwriting entries.
+    std::vector<uint256> txids;
+    txids.resize(NUM_SIMULATION_ITERATIONS / 8);
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < txids.size(); i++) {
+        txids[i] = GetRandHash();
+    }
+
+    for (unsigned int i = 0; i < NUM_SIMULATION_ITERATIONS; i++) {
+        // Do a random modification.
+        {
+            uint256 txid = txids[insecure_rand() % txids.size()]; // txid we're going to modify in this iteration.
+            CCoins& coins = result[txid];
+            CCoinsModifier entry = stack.back()->ModifyCoins(txid);
+            BOOST_CHECK(coins == *entry);
+            if (insecure_rand() % 5 == 0 || coins.IsPruned()) {
+                if (coins.IsPruned()) {
+                    added_an_entry = true;
+                } else {
+                    updated_an_entry = true;
+                }
+                coins.nVersion = insecure_rand();
+                coins.vout.resize(1);
+                coins.vout[0].nValue = insecure_rand();
+                *entry = coins;
+            } else {
+                coins.Clear();
+                entry->Clear();
+                removed_an_entry = true;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Once every 1000 iterations and at the end, verify the full cache.
+        if (insecure_rand() % 1000 == 1 || i == NUM_SIMULATION_ITERATIONS - 1) {
+            for (std::map<uint256, CCoins>::iterator it = result.begin(); it != result.end(); it++) {
+                const CCoins* coins = stack.back()->AccessCoins(it->first);
+                if (coins) {
+                    BOOST_CHECK(*coins == it->second);
+                    found_an_entry = true;
+                } else {
+                    BOOST_CHECK(it->second.IsPruned());
+                    missed_an_entry = true;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        if (insecure_rand() % 100 == 0) {
+            // Every 100 iterations, change the cache stack.
+            if (stack.size() > 0 && insecure_rand() % 2 == 0) {
+                stack.back()->Flush();
+                delete stack.back();
+                stack.pop_back();
+            }
+            if (stack.size() == 0 || (stack.size() < 4 && insecure_rand() % 2)) {
+                CCoinsView* tip = &base;
+                if (stack.size() > 0) {
+                    tip = stack.back();
+                } else {
+                    removed_all_caches = true;
+                }
+                stack.push_back(new CCoinsViewCache(tip));
+                if (stack.size() == 4) {
+                    reached_4_caches = true;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Clean up the stack.
+    while (stack.size() > 0) {
+        delete stack.back();
+        stack.pop_back();
+    }
+
+    // Verify coverage.
+    BOOST_CHECK(removed_all_caches);
+    BOOST_CHECK(reached_4_caches);
+    BOOST_CHECK(added_an_entry);
+    BOOST_CHECK(removed_an_entry);
+    BOOST_CHECK(updated_an_entry);
+    BOOST_CHECK(found_an_entry);
+    BOOST_CHECK(missed_an_entry);
+}
+
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_SUITE_END()
diff --git a/src/test/script_P2SH_tests.cpp b/src/test/script_P2SH_tests.cpp
index 6c32a263a..f8361a0dc 100644
--- a/src/test/script_P2SH_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/script_P2SH_tests.cpp
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(AreInputsStandard)
 {
     LOCK(cs_main);
     CCoinsView coinsDummy;
-    CCoinsViewCache coins(coinsDummy);
+    CCoinsViewCache coins(&coinsDummy);
     CBasicKeyStore keystore;
     CKey key[6];
     vector<CPubKey> keys;
@@ -312,8 +312,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(AreInputsStandard)
     txFrom.vout[6].scriptPubKey = GetScriptForDestination(twentySigops.GetID());
     txFrom.vout[6].nValue = 6000;
 
-
-    coins.SetCoins(txFrom.GetHash(), CCoins(txFrom, 0));
+    coins.ModifyCoins(txFrom.GetHash())->FromTx(txFrom, 0);
 
     CMutableTransaction txTo;
     txTo.vout.resize(1);
diff --git a/src/test/test_bitcoin.cpp b/src/test/test_bitcoin.cpp
index 6e5f0e3fa..afd63d271 100644
--- a/src/test/test_bitcoin.cpp
+++ b/src/test/test_bitcoin.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ struct TestingSetup {
         mapArgs["-datadir"] = pathTemp.string();
         pblocktree = new CBlockTreeDB(1 << 20, true);
         pcoinsdbview = new CCoinsViewDB(1 << 23, true);
-        pcoinsTip = new CCoinsViewCache(*pcoinsdbview);
+        pcoinsTip = new CCoinsViewCache(pcoinsdbview);
         InitBlockIndex();
 #ifdef ENABLE_WALLET
         bool fFirstRun;
diff --git a/src/test/transaction_tests.cpp b/src/test/transaction_tests.cpp
index 823afa168..f14f600bb 100644
--- a/src/test/transaction_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/transaction_tests.cpp
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(basic_transaction_tests)
 // paid to a TX_PUBKEYHASH.
 //
 static std::vector<CMutableTransaction>
-SetupDummyInputs(CBasicKeyStore& keystoreRet, CCoinsView & coinsRet)
+SetupDummyInputs(CBasicKeyStore& keystoreRet, CCoinsViewCache& coinsRet)
 {
     std::vector<CMutableTransaction> dummyTransactions;
     dummyTransactions.resize(2);
@@ -261,14 +261,14 @@ SetupDummyInputs(CBasicKeyStore& keystoreRet, CCoinsView & coinsRet)
     dummyTransactions[0].vout[0].scriptPubKey << key[0].GetPubKey() << OP_CHECKSIG;
     dummyTransactions[0].vout[1].nValue = 50*CENT;
     dummyTransactions[0].vout[1].scriptPubKey << key[1].GetPubKey() << OP_CHECKSIG;
-    coinsRet.SetCoins(dummyTransactions[0].GetHash(), CCoins(dummyTransactions[0], 0));
+    coinsRet.ModifyCoins(dummyTransactions[0].GetHash())->FromTx(dummyTransactions[0], 0);
 
     dummyTransactions[1].vout.resize(2);
     dummyTransactions[1].vout[0].nValue = 21*CENT;
     dummyTransactions[1].vout[0].scriptPubKey = GetScriptForDestination(key[2].GetPubKey().GetID());
     dummyTransactions[1].vout[1].nValue = 22*CENT;
     dummyTransactions[1].vout[1].scriptPubKey = GetScriptForDestination(key[3].GetPubKey().GetID());
-    coinsRet.SetCoins(dummyTransactions[1].GetHash(), CCoins(dummyTransactions[1], 0));
+    coinsRet.ModifyCoins(dummyTransactions[1].GetHash())->FromTx(dummyTransactions[1], 0);
 
     return dummyTransactions;
 }
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_Get)
 {
     CBasicKeyStore keystore;
     CCoinsView coinsDummy;
-    CCoinsViewCache coins(coinsDummy);
+    CCoinsViewCache coins(&coinsDummy);
     std::vector<CMutableTransaction> dummyTransactions = SetupDummyInputs(keystore, coins);
 
     CMutableTransaction t1;
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(test_IsStandard)
     LOCK(cs_main);
     CBasicKeyStore keystore;
     CCoinsView coinsDummy;
-    CCoinsViewCache coins(coinsDummy);
+    CCoinsViewCache coins(&coinsDummy);
     std::vector<CMutableTransaction> dummyTransactions = SetupDummyInputs(keystore, coins);
 
     CMutableTransaction t;
diff --git a/src/txdb.cpp b/src/txdb.cpp
index d5f424fab..cb9f15001 100644
--- a/src/txdb.cpp
+++ b/src/txdb.cpp
@@ -33,12 +33,6 @@ bool CCoinsViewDB::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const {
     return db.Read(make_pair('c', txid), coins);
 }
 
-bool CCoinsViewDB::SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins) {
-    CLevelDBBatch batch;
-    BatchWriteCoins(batch, txid, coins);
-    return db.WriteBatch(batch);
-}
-
 bool CCoinsViewDB::HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const {
     return db.Exists(make_pair('c', txid));
 }
@@ -50,24 +44,23 @@ uint256 CCoinsViewDB::GetBestBlock() const {
     return hashBestChain;
 }
 
-bool CCoinsViewDB::SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock) {
-    CLevelDBBatch batch;
-    BatchWriteHashBestChain(batch, hashBlock);
-    return db.WriteBatch(batch);
-}
-
 bool CCoinsViewDB::BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock) {
-    LogPrint("coindb", "Committing %u changed transactions to coin database...\n", (unsigned int)mapCoins.size());
-
     CLevelDBBatch batch;
+    size_t count = 0;
+    size_t changed = 0;
     for (CCoinsMap::iterator it = mapCoins.begin(); it != mapCoins.end();) {
-        BatchWriteCoins(batch, it->first, it->second);
+        if (it->second.flags & CCoinsCacheEntry::DIRTY) {
+            BatchWriteCoins(batch, it->first, it->second.coins);
+            changed++;
+        }
+        count++;
         CCoinsMap::iterator itOld = it++;
         mapCoins.erase(itOld);
     }
     if (hashBlock != uint256(0))
         BatchWriteHashBestChain(batch, hashBlock);
 
+    LogPrint("coindb", "Committing %u changed transactions (out of %u) to coin database...\n", (unsigned int)changed, (unsigned int)count);
     return db.WriteBatch(batch);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/txdb.h b/src/txdb.h
index f0b6b9e1d..8f2bd9af4 100644
--- a/src/txdb.h
+++ b/src/txdb.h
@@ -33,10 +33,8 @@ public:
     CCoinsViewDB(size_t nCacheSize, bool fMemory = false, bool fWipe = false);
 
     bool GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const;
-    bool SetCoins(const uint256 &txid, const CCoins &coins);
     bool HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
     uint256 GetBestBlock() const;
-    bool SetBestBlock(const uint256 &hashBlock);
     bool BatchWrite(CCoinsMap &mapCoins, const uint256 &hashBlock);
     bool GetStats(CCoinsStats &stats) const;
 };
diff --git a/src/txmempool.cpp b/src/txmempool.cpp
index d923c2204..fa1802ad3 100644
--- a/src/txmempool.cpp
+++ b/src/txmempool.cpp
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@ void CTxMemPool::ClearPrioritisation(const uint256 hash)
 }
 
 
-CCoinsViewMemPool::CCoinsViewMemPool(CCoinsView &baseIn, CTxMemPool &mempoolIn) : CCoinsViewBacked(baseIn), mempool(mempoolIn) { }
+CCoinsViewMemPool::CCoinsViewMemPool(CCoinsView *baseIn, CTxMemPool &mempoolIn) : CCoinsViewBacked(baseIn), mempool(mempoolIn) { }
 
 bool CCoinsViewMemPool::GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const {
     // If an entry in the mempool exists, always return that one, as it's guaranteed to never
diff --git a/src/txmempool.h b/src/txmempool.h
index c35ea52d4..c63fd6f59 100644
--- a/src/txmempool.h
+++ b/src/txmempool.h
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ protected:
     CTxMemPool &mempool;
 
 public:
-    CCoinsViewMemPool(CCoinsView &baseIn, CTxMemPool &mempoolIn);
+    CCoinsViewMemPool(CCoinsView *baseIn, CTxMemPool &mempoolIn);
     bool GetCoins(const uint256 &txid, CCoins &coins) const;
     bool HaveCoins(const uint256 &txid) const;
 };