diff --git a/nanowallet/src/app/services/nodes.service.js b/nanowallet/src/app/services/nodes.service.js
index 615f139e..e6f99526 100644
--- a/nanowallet/src/app/services/nodes.service.js
+++ b/nanowallet/src/app/services/nodes.service.js
@@ -147,11 +147,29 @@ class Nodes {
         this._$timeout = $timeout;
 
         nem.model.nodes.testnet = [{
-            uri: 'http://hugetestalice.nem.ninja'
+            uri: 'http://libertalia.nemtest.net'
         }, {
-            uri: 'http://hugetestalice2.nem.ninja'
+            uri: 'http://ocracoke.nemtest.net'
         }, {
-            uri: 'http://medalice2.nem.ninja'
+            uri: 'http://tortuga.nemtest.net'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://ntn1.dusanjp.com'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://localhost'
+        }];
+
+        nem.model.nodes.mainnet = [{
+            uri: 'http://portobelo.nemmain.net'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://hugealice.nem.ninja'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://hugealice2.nem.ninja'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://hugealice3.nem.ninja'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://1n.dusanjp.com'
+        }, {
+            uri: 'http://2n.dusanjp.com'
         }, {
             uri: 'http://localhost'
         }];
@@ -178,15 +196,30 @@ class Nodes {
         return;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Pick a random node uri in a list of nodes
+     * Local nodes are skipped, they must be selected explicitly by the user
+     *
+     * @param {array} nodes - An array of node objects
+     *
+     * @return {string} - A node uri
+     */
+    getRandomNodeUri(nodes) {
+        let pool = nodes.filter((node) => node.uri !== 'http://localhost');
+        if (!pool.length) pool = nodes;
+        return pool[Math.floor(Math.random() * pool.length)].uri;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Check if nodes present in local storage or set default according to network
+     * If no node in local storage a random node is used, to balance the load between nodes
      */
     setDefault() {
         if (this._Wallet.network == nem.model.network.data.mainnet.id) {
             if (this._storage.selectedMainnetNode) {
                 this._Wallet.node = this._storage.selectedMainnetNode;
             } else {
-                let endpoint = nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(nem.model.nodes.mainnet[0].uri, nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
+                let endpoint = nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(this.getRandomNodeUri(nem.model.nodes.mainnet), nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
                 this._Wallet.node = endpoint;
             }
             this._Wallet.nodes = nem.model.nodes.mainnet;
@@ -194,7 +227,7 @@ class Nodes {
             if (this._storage.selectedTestnetNode) {
                 this._Wallet.node = this._storage.selectedTestnetNode;
             } else {
-                let endpoint = nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")("http://hugetestalice.nem.ninja", nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
+                let endpoint = nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(this.getRandomNodeUri(nem.model.nodes.testnet), nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
                 this._Wallet.node = endpoint;
             }
             this._Wallet.nodes = nem.model.nodes.testnet;
@@ -202,7 +235,7 @@ class Nodes {
             if (this._storage.selectedMijinNode) {
                 this._Wallet.node = this._storage.selectedMijinNode;
             } else {
-                let endpoint = nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(nem.model.nodes.mijin[0].uri, nem.model.nodes.mijinPort);
+                let endpoint = nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(this.getRandomNodeUri(nem.model.nodes.mijin), nem.model.nodes.mijinPort);
                 this._Wallet.node = endpoint;
             }
             this._Wallet.nodes = nem.model.nodes.mijin;
@@ -220,13 +253,13 @@ class Nodes {
         let _endpoint;
         // Set node in local storage according to network
         if (this._Wallet.network == nem.model.network.data.mainnet.id) {
-            _endpoint = endpoint || nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(nem.model.nodes.mainnet[Math.floor(Math.random()*nem.model.nodes.mainnet.length)].uri, nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
+            _endpoint = endpoint || nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(this.getRandomNodeUri(nem.model.nodes.mainnet), nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
             this._storage.selectedMainnetNode = _endpoint;
         } else if (this._Wallet.network == nem.model.network.data.testnet.id) {
-            _endpoint = endpoint || nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(nem.model.nodes.testnet[Math.floor(Math.random()*nem.model.nodes.testnet.length)].uri, nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
+            _endpoint = endpoint || nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(this.getRandomNodeUri(nem.model.nodes.testnet), nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
             this._storage.selectedTestnetNode = _endpoint;
         } else {
-            _endpoint = endpoint || nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(nem.model.nodes.mijin[Math.floor(Math.random()*nem.model.nodes.mijin.length)].uri, nem.model.nodes.mijinPort);
+            _endpoint = endpoint || nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(this.getRandomNodeUri(nem.model.nodes.mijin), nem.model.nodes.mijinPort);
             this._storage.selectedMijinNode = _endpoint;
         }
         // Set endpoint in Wallet service
diff --git a/nanowallet/tests/specs/importanceTransferModule.spec.js b/nanowallet/tests/specs/importanceTransferModule.spec.js
index 1e0bfd98..712f9e01 100644
--- a/nanowallet/tests/specs/importanceTransferModule.spec.js
+++ b/nanowallet/tests/specs/importanceTransferModule.spec.js
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ describe('Importance transfer module tests', function() {
         expect(ctrl.customHarvestingNode).toEqual("");
         expect(ctrl.harvestingNode).toEqual(Wallet.node);
         expect(ctrl.hasFreeSlots).toBe(false);
-        expect(ctrl.nodes[0]).toEqual(nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")("http://hugetestalice.nem.ninja", 7890));
+        expect(ctrl.nodes[0]).toEqual(nem.model.objects.create("endpoint")(Wallet.nodes[0].uri, 7890));
         expect(ctrl.showSupernodes).toBe(false);
     });
 
diff --git a/nanowallet/tests/specs/nodes.service.spec.js b/nanowallet/tests/specs/nodes.service.spec.js
index df72e349..c2751c84 100644
--- a/nanowallet/tests/specs/nodes.service.spec.js
+++ b/nanowallet/tests/specs/nodes.service.spec.js
@@ -27,12 +27,75 @@ describe('Nodes Service', () => {
         it('sets a fixed testnet node list on nem.model.nodes', () => {
             // Assert:
             expect(nem.model.nodes.testnet).toEqual([
-                { uri: 'http://hugetestalice.nem.ninja' },
-                { uri: 'http://hugetestalice2.nem.ninja' },
-                { uri: 'http://medalice2.nem.ninja' },
+                { uri: 'http://libertalia.nemtest.net' },
+                { uri: 'http://ocracoke.nemtest.net' },
+                { uri: 'http://tortuga.nemtest.net' },
+                { uri: 'http://ntn1.dusanjp.com' },
                 { uri: 'http://localhost' }
             ]);
         });
+
+        it('sets a fixed mainnet node list on nem.model.nodes', () => {
+            // Assert:
+            expect(nem.model.nodes.mainnet).toEqual([
+                { uri: 'http://portobelo.nemmain.net' },
+                { uri: 'http://hugealice.nem.ninja' },
+                { uri: 'http://hugealice2.nem.ninja' },
+                { uri: 'http://hugealice3.nem.ninja' },
+                { uri: 'http://1n.dusanjp.com' },
+                { uri: 'http://2n.dusanjp.com' },
+                { uri: 'http://localhost' }
+            ]);
+        });
+    });
+
+    describe('getRandomNodeUri', () => {
+        it('returns a node of the given list', () => {
+            // Arrange:
+            const nodes = [{ uri: 'http://node1' }, { uri: 'http://node2' }, { uri: 'http://node3' }];
+
+            // Act:
+            const result = nodesService.getRandomNodeUri(nodes);
+
+            // Assert:
+            expect(nodes).toContain({ uri: result });
+        });
+
+        it('can pick any node of the given list', () => {
+            // Arrange:
+            const nodes = [{ uri: 'http://node1' }, { uri: 'http://node2' }, { uri: 'http://node3' }];
+            const randoms = [0, 0.4, 0.9];
+            let index = 0;
+            spyOn(Math, 'random').and.callFake(() => randoms[index++]);
+
+            // Act:
+            const result = randoms.map(() => nodesService.getRandomNodeUri(nodes));
+
+            // Assert:
+            expect(result).toEqual(['http://node1', 'http://node2', 'http://node3']);
+        });
+
+        it('never picks the local node when other nodes are available', () => {
+            // Arrange:
+            const nodes = [{ uri: 'http://node1' }, { uri: 'http://localhost' }];
+            const randoms = [0, 0.5, 0.99];
+            let index = 0;
+            spyOn(Math, 'random').and.callFake(() => randoms[index++]);
+
+            // Act:
+            const result = randoms.map(() => nodesService.getRandomNodeUri(nodes));
+
+            // Assert:
+            expect(result).toEqual(['http://node1', 'http://node1', 'http://node1']);
+        });
+
+        it('picks the local node when it is the only one available', () => {
+            // Act:
+            const result = nodesService.getRandomNodeUri([{ uri: 'http://localhost' }]);
+
+            // Assert:
+            expect(result).toEqual('http://localhost');
+        });
     });
 
     describe('cleanEndpoint', () => {
@@ -105,7 +168,7 @@ describe('Nodes Service', () => {
             expect(mockWallet.nodes).toBe(nem.model.nodes.mainnet);
         });
 
-        it('falls back to the first bundled testnet node when nothing is stored', () => {
+        it('falls back to a random bundled testnet node when nothing is stored', () => {
             // Arrange:
             mockWallet.network = TESTNET_NETWORK;
 
@@ -113,11 +176,25 @@ describe('Nodes Service', () => {
             nodesService.setDefault();
 
             // Assert:
-            expect(mockWallet.node).toEqual(
-                nem.model.objects.create('endpoint')('http://hugetestalice.nem.ninja', nem.model.nodes.defaultPort)
-            );
+            expect(nem.model.nodes.testnet).toContain({ uri: mockWallet.node.host });
+            expect(mockWallet.node.host).not.toEqual('http://localhost');
+            expect(mockWallet.node.port).toEqual(nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
             expect(mockWallet.nodes).toBe(nem.model.nodes.testnet);
         });
+
+        it('falls back to a random bundled mainnet node when nothing is stored', () => {
+            // Arrange:
+            mockWallet.network = MAINNET_NETWORK;
+
+            // Act:
+            nodesService.setDefault();
+
+            // Assert:
+            expect(nem.model.nodes.mainnet).toContain({ uri: mockWallet.node.host });
+            expect(mockWallet.node.host).not.toEqual('http://localhost');
+            expect(mockWallet.node.port).toEqual(nem.model.nodes.defaultPort);
+            expect(mockWallet.nodes).toBe(nem.model.nodes.mainnet);
+        });
     });
 
     describe('update', () => {
@@ -143,6 +220,7 @@ describe('Nodes Service', () => {
 
             // Assert:
             expect(nem.model.nodes.mainnet).toContain({ uri: mockWallet.node.host });
+            expect(mockWallet.node.host).not.toEqual('http://localhost');
             expect(mockStorage.selectedMainnetNode).toBe(mockWallet.node);
         });
     });
diff --git a/nanowallet/tests/test/importanceTransferModuleTests.js b/nanowallet/tests/test/importanceTransferModuleTests.js
index dff3d399..a2f9eaa0 100644
--- a/nanowallet/tests/test/importanceTransferModuleTests.js
+++ b/nanowallet/tests/test/importanceTransferModuleTests.js
@@ -1,6 +1,19 @@
+import nem from 'nem-sdk';
 import WalletFixture from '../data/wallet';
 import AccountDataFixture from '../data/accountData';
 
+/**
+ * Map the node list of the Wallet service to the endpoint objects exposed by the controllers
+ *
+ * @param {object} Wallet - The Wallet service
+ *
+ * @return {array} - An array of endpoint objects
+ */
+const expectedEndpoints = (Wallet) => Wallet.nodes.map((node) => ({
+    "host": node.uri,
+    "port": nem.model.nodes.defaultPort
+}));
+
 export const setupMainnetWallet = (Wallet, Nodes, DataBridge) => {
     Wallet.use(WalletFixture.mainnetWallet);
     Nodes.setDefault();
@@ -25,24 +38,7 @@ export const assertTestnetNodes = ($controller, $rootScope, controlName, Wallet,
     ctrl.setNodes();
     
     // Assert:
-    expect(ctrl.nodes).toEqual([
-        {
-            "host": "http://hugetestalice.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://hugetestalice2.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://medalice2.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://localhost",
-            "port": 7890
-        }
-    ]);
+    expect(ctrl.nodes).toEqual(expectedEndpoints(Wallet));
 }
 
 export const assertSuperNodes = async ($controller, $rootScope, controlName, Wallet, Nodes, DataBridge, SuperNodeProgram, $timeout) => {
@@ -83,66 +79,5 @@ export const assertMainnetNodes = async ($controller, $rootScope, controlName, W
     $timeout.flush();
 
     // Assert:
-    expect(ctrl.nodes).toEqual([
-        {
-            "host": "http://hugealice.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://hugealice2.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://hugealice3.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://hugealice4.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://bigalice3.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://san.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://go.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://hachi.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://jusan.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://nijuichi.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://alice5.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://alice6.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://alice7.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://alice8.nem.ninja",
-            "port": 7890
-        },
-        {
-            "host": "http://localhost",
-            "port": 7890
-        }
-    ]);
+    expect(ctrl.nodes).toEqual(expectedEndpoints(Wallet));
 }