diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cb58880b..68b130f8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -336,6 +336,7 @@ Get the public data in a space of a given address with the given name
 | name | <code>String</code> | A space name |
 | opts | <code>Object</code> | Optional parameters |
 | opts.profileServer | <code>String</code> | URL of Profile API server |
+| opts.metadata | <code>String</code> | flag to retrieve metadata |
 
 <a name="Box.getThread"></a>
 
@@ -431,6 +432,7 @@ Check if the given address is logged in
     * [new KeyValueStore()](#new_KeyValueStore_new)
     * [.log](#KeyValueStore+log) ⇒ <code>Array.&lt;Object&gt;</code>
     * [.get(key)](#KeyValueStore+get) ⇒ <code>String</code>
+    * [.getMetadata(key)](#KeyValueStore+getMetadata) ⇒ <code>Metadata</code>
     * [.set(key, value)](#KeyValueStore+set) ⇒ <code>Boolean</code>
     * [.remove(key)](#KeyValueStore+remove) ⇒ <code>Boolean</code>
 
@@ -460,7 +462,19 @@ const log = store.log
 Get the value of the given key
 
 **Kind**: instance method of [<code>KeyValueStore</code>](#KeyValueStore)  
-**Returns**: <code>String</code> - the value associated with the key  
+**Returns**: <code>String</code> - the value associated with the key, undefined if there's no such key  
+
+| Param | Type | Description |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| key | <code>String</code> | the key |
+
+<a name="KeyValueStore+getMetadata"></a>
+
+#### keyValueStore.getMetadata(key) ⇒ <code>Metadata</code>
+Get metadata for for a given key
+
+**Kind**: instance method of [<code>KeyValueStore</code>](#KeyValueStore)  
+**Returns**: <code>Metadata</code> - Metadata for the key, undefined if there's no such key  
 
 | Param | Type | Description |
 | --- | --- | --- |
diff --git a/RELEASE-NOTES.md b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
index 0f5b83e1..7362005f 100644
--- a/RELEASE-NOTES.md
+++ b/RELEASE-NOTES.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # Release Notes
 
+## v1.7.0 - 2019-04-12
+* Feature: Add ability to get metadata for entries
+* Feature: Add idUtils helper functions
+* Feature: Send along DID when opening db with pinning node
+
 ## v1.6.2 - 2019-04-09
 * Fix: Use correct key when subscribing to thread in a space.
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e7972717..83546b1a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "3box",
-  "version": "1.6.2",
+  "version": "1.7.0",
   "description": "Interact with user data",
   "main": "lib/3box.js",
   "directories": {
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
   },
   "scripts": {
     "lint": "./node_modules/.bin/standard --verbose src/**",
-    "test": "rm -rf ./tmp ; jest --forceExit --detectOpenHandles --coverage --runInBand --testURL=\"http://localhost\"",
+    "test": "rm -rf ./tmp ; jest --forceExit --coverage --runInBand --testURL=\"http://localhost\"",
     "build:es5": "rm -rf ./lib; ./node_modules/.bin/babel src --out-dir lib --ignore=src/__tests__/,src/__mocks__/",
     "build:dist": "./node_modules/.bin/webpack --config webpack.config.js --mode=development",
     "build:dist:dev": "./node_modules/.bin/webpack --config webpack.dev.config.js --mode=development",
diff --git a/src/3box.js b/src/3box.js
index 6f89871f..b92b5e75 100644
--- a/src/3box.js
+++ b/src/3box.js
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ const PrivateStore = require('./privateStore')
 const Verified = require('./verified')
 const Space = require('./space')
 const utils = require('./utils/index')
+const idUtils = require('./utils/id')
 const config = require('./config.js')
 const API = require('./api')
 
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ class Box {
 
     const onNewPeer = async (topic, peer) => {
       if (peer === this.pinningNode.split('/').pop()) {
-        this._pubsub.publish(PINNING_ROOM, { type: 'PIN_DB', odbAddress: rootStoreAddress })
+        this._pubsub.publish(PINNING_ROOM, { type: 'PIN_DB', odbAddress: rootStoreAddress, did: this._3id.getDid() })
       }
     }
 
@@ -168,11 +169,17 @@ class Box {
    * @return    {Object}                            a json object with the profile for the given address
    */
   static async getProfile (address, opts = {}) {
+    const metadata = opts.metadata
     opts = Object.assign({ useCacheService: true }, opts)
+
     let profile
     if (opts.useCacheService) {
-      profile = await API.getProfile(address, opts.profileServer)
+      profile = await API.getProfile(address, opts.profileServer, { metadata })
     } else {
+      if (metadata) {
+        throw new Error('getting metadata is not yet supported outside of the API')
+      }
+
       const normalizedAddress = address.toLowerCase()
       profile = await this._getProfileOrbit(normalizedAddress, opts)
     }
@@ -198,10 +205,11 @@ class Box {
    * @param     {String}    name                    A space name
    * @param     {Object}    opts                    Optional parameters
    * @param     {String}    opts.profileServer      URL of Profile API server
+   * @param     {String}    opts.metadata           flag to retrieve metadata
    * @return    {Object}                            a json object with the public space data
    */
   static async getSpace (address, name, opts = {}) {
-    return API.getSpace(address, name, opts.profileServer)
+    return API.getSpace(address, name, opts.profileServer, opts)
   }
 
   /**
@@ -230,7 +238,7 @@ class Box {
   }
 
   static async _getProfileOrbit (address, opts = {}) {
-    if (utils.isMuportDID(address)) {
+    if (idUtils.isMuportDID(address)) {
       throw new Error('DID are supported in the cached version only')
     }
 
@@ -489,4 +497,6 @@ async function initIPFS (ipfs, iframeStore, ipfsOptions) {
   }
 }
 
+Box.idUtils = idUtils
+
 module.exports = Box
diff --git a/src/__tests__/3box.test.js b/src/__tests__/3box.test.js
index 486f1bfd..1fa282e5 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/3box.test.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/3box.test.js
@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ jest.mock('../utils/index', () => {
   let linkmap = {}
   let linkNum = 0
   return {
-    isMuportDID: actualUtils.isMuportDID,
     getMessageConsent: actualUtils.getMessageConsent,
 
     openBoxConsent: jest.fn(async () => '0x8726348762348723487238476238746827364872634876234876234'),
diff --git a/src/__tests__/idUtils.test.js b/src/__tests__/idUtils.test.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f4ecb115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/__tests__/idUtils.test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+const { isMuportDID, isClaim, verifyClaim } = require('../utils/id')
+
+const CLAIM_1 = 'eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJFUzI1NksifQ.eyJpYXQiOjE1NTQ5NzI2MDksImV4cCI6MTk1NzQ2MzQyMSwibmFtZSI6InVQb3J0IERldmVsb3BlciIsImlzcyI6ImRpZDp1cG9ydDoyb3NuZko0V3k3TEJBbTJuUEJYaXJlMVdmUW43NVJyVjZUcyJ9.e9H1ngK7Kto_Am3N9NAJWm8kj7NetGPbOoQtKw8y-C21ytj1zjDr99w63AtlFCytYkLRcHnTHSl0eByaZww5dg'
+const INVALID_CLAIM_FORMAT = '%eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJFUzI1NksifQ.eyJpYXQiOjE1NTQ5NzI2MDksImV4cCI6MTk1NzQ2MzQyMSwibmFtZSI6InVQb3J0IERldmVsb3BlciIsImlzcyI6ImRpZDp1cG9ydDoyb3NuZko0V3k3TEJBbTJuUEJYaXJlMVdmUW43NVJyVjZUcyJ9.e9H1ngK7Kto_Am3N9NAJWm8kj7NetGPbOoQtKw8y-C21ytj1zjDr99w63AtlFCytYkLRcHnTHSl0eByaZww5dg'
+const EXPIRED_CLAIM = 'eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJFUzI1NksifQ.eyJpYXQiOjE1NTQ5NzM5NDgsImV4cCI6MTk1LCJuYW1lIjoidVBvcnQgRGV2ZWxvcGVyIiwiaXNzIjoiZGlkOnVwb3J0OjJvc25mSjRXeTdMQkFtMm5QQlhpcmUxV2ZRbjc1UnJWNlRzIn0.M_HupDVb7N4TFOUg4B_PU6XQm9TTx7S0klhMLT1U3zfpThA4DAT2L8HGeBDTMuGS3-nXVo8oDYORASEX_ecGsQ'
+
+describe('basic utils tests', () => {
+  test('is muport did', () => {
+    expect(isMuportDID('abc')).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isMuportDID('did:example')).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isMuportDID('did:muport')).toEqual(false)
+    expect(isMuportDID('did:muport:Qmb9E8wLqjfAqfKhideoApU5g26Yz2Q2bSp6MSZmc5WrNr')).toEqual(true)
+  })
+
+  test('isClaim', async () => {
+    expect(await isClaim(CLAIM_1)).toEqual(true)
+    expect(await isClaim(INVALID_CLAIM_FORMAT)).toEqual(false)
+    expect(await isClaim(EXPIRED_CLAIM)).toEqual(true) // invalid claim will throw during verify
+  })
+
+  test('verifyClaim', async () => {
+    expect(verifyClaim(CLAIM_1)).resolves.toBeTruthy()
+    expect(verifyClaim(INVALID_CLAIM_FORMAT)).rejects.toBeTruthy()
+    expect(verifyClaim(EXPIRED_CLAIM)).rejects.toBeTruthy()
+  }, 100000)
+})
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/__tests__/keyValueStore.test.js b/src/__tests__/keyValueStore.test.js
index 35cc2bd1..8574b08f 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/keyValueStore.test.js
+++ b/src/__tests__/keyValueStore.test.js
@@ -84,6 +84,24 @@ describe('KeyValueStore', () => {
     // await ipfs2.stop()
   })
 
+  describe('metdata', () => {
+    it('should contain the metadata method', async () => {
+      await keyValueStore.set('some-key', 'some-value')
+
+      const v = await keyValueStore.get('some-key')
+      const m = await keyValueStore.getMetadata('some-key')
+
+      expect(v).toEqual('some-value')
+      expect(m).toBeDefined()
+      expect(m.timestamp).toBeDefined()
+    })
+
+    it('should return an undefined value for unknown key', async () => {
+      const m = await keyValueStore.getMetadata('a key so complex no one would set it')
+      expect(m).toBeUndefined()
+    })
+  })
+
   describe('log', () => {
 
     let storeNum = 0
diff --git a/src/api.js b/src/api.js
index 780a4829..ca3db779 100644
--- a/src/api.js
+++ b/src/api.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 const graphQLRequest = require('graphql-request').request
 const utils = require('./utils/index')
 const verifier = require('./utils/verifier')
+const { isMuportDID } = require('./utils/id')
 const config = require('./config.js')
 
 const GRAPHQL_SERVER_URL = config.graphql_server_url
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ async function getRootStoreAddress (identifier, serverUrl = ADDRESS_SERVER_URL)
 async function listSpaces (address, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL) {
   try {
     // we await explicitly here to make sure the error is catch'd in the correct scope
-    if (utils.isMuportDID(address)) {
+    if (isMuportDID(address)) {
       return await utils.fetchJson(serverUrl + '/list-spaces?did=' + encodeURIComponent(address))
     } else {
       return await utils.fetchJson(serverUrl + '/list-spaces?address=' + encodeURIComponent(address))
@@ -26,14 +27,28 @@ async function listSpaces (address, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL) {
   }
 }
 
-async function getSpace (address, name, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL) {
+async function getSpace (address, name, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL, { metadata }) {
+  let url = `${serverUrl}/space`
+
   try {
-    // we await explicitly here to make sure the error is catch'd in the correct scope
-    if (utils.isMuportDID(address)) {
-      return await utils.fetchJson(serverUrl + `/space?did=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&name=${encodeURIComponent(name)}`)
+    // Add first parameter: address or did
+    if (isMuportDID(address)) {
+      url = `${url}?did=${encodeURIComponent(address)}`
     } else {
-      return await utils.fetchJson(serverUrl + `/space?address=${encodeURIComponent(address)}&name=${encodeURIComponent(name)}`)
+      url = `${url}?address=${encodeURIComponent(address.toLowerCase())}`
+    }
+
+    // Add name:
+    url = `${url}&name=${encodeURIComponent(name)}`
+
+    // Add metadata:
+    if (metadata) {
+      url = `${url}&metadata=${encodeURIComponent(metadata)}`
     }
+
+    // Query:
+    // we await explicitly to make sure the error is catch'd in the correct scope
+    return await utils.fetchJson(url)
   } catch (err) {
     return {}
   }
@@ -50,16 +65,25 @@ async function getThread (space, name, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL) {
   })
 }
 
-async function getProfile (address, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL) {
+async function getProfile (address, serverUrl = PROFILE_SERVER_URL, { metadata }) {
+  let url = `${serverUrl}/profile`
+
   try {
-    // Note: we await explicitly to make sure the error is catch'd in the correct scope
-    if (utils.isMuportDID(address)) {
-      const normalized = encodeURIComponent(address) // uppercase is significant in did:muport
-      return await utils.fetchJson(serverUrl + '/profile?did=' + normalized)
+    // Add first parameter: address or did
+    if (isMuportDID(address)) {
+      url = `${url}?did=${encodeURIComponent(address)}`
     } else {
-      const normalized = encodeURIComponent(address.toLowerCase())
-      return await utils.fetchJson(serverUrl + '/profile?address=' + normalized)
+      url = `${url}?address=${encodeURIComponent(address.toLowerCase())}`
     }
+
+    // Add metadata:
+    if (metadata) {
+      url = `${url}&metadata=${encodeURIComponent(metadata)}`
+    }
+
+    // Query:
+    // we await explicitly to make sure the error is catch'd in the correct scope
+    return await utils.fetchJson(url)
   } catch (err) {
     return {} // empty profile
   }
@@ -71,7 +95,7 @@ async function getProfiles (addressArray, opts = {}) {
 
   // Split addresses on ethereum / dids
   addressArray.forEach(address => {
-    if (utils.isMuportDID(address)) {
+    if (isMuportDID(address)) {
       req.didList.push(address)
     } else {
       req.addressList.push(address)
diff --git a/src/keyValueStore.js b/src/keyValueStore.js
index 4720a3f1..2acf5034 100644
--- a/src/keyValueStore.js
+++ b/src/keyValueStore.js
@@ -13,12 +13,22 @@ class KeyValueStore {
    * Get the value of the given key
    *
    * @param     {String}    key                     the key
-   * @return    {String}                            the value associated with the key
+   * @return    {String}                            the value associated with the key, undefined if there's no such key
    */
   async get (key) {
-    this._requireLoad()
-    const dbGetRes = await this._db.get(key)
-    return dbGetRes ? dbGetRes.value : dbGetRes
+    const x = await this._get(key)
+    return x ? x.value : x
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Get metadata for for a given key
+   *
+   * @param     {String}    key                     the key
+   * @return    {Metadata}                          Metadata for the key, undefined if there's no such key
+   */
+  async getMetadata (key) {
+    const x = await this._get(key)
+    return x ? { timestamp: x.timeStamp } : x
   }
 
   /**
@@ -49,6 +59,18 @@ class KeyValueStore {
     return true
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Get the raw value of the given key
+   * @private
+   *
+   * @param     {String}    key                     the key
+   * @return    {String}                            the value associated with the key
+   */
+  async _get (key) {
+    this._requireLoad()
+    return this._db.get(key)
+  }
+
   async _sync (numRemoteEntries) {
     this._requireLoad()
     // let toid = null
diff --git a/src/privateStore.js b/src/privateStore.js
index ad346525..f4d72fb9 100644
--- a/src/privateStore.js
+++ b/src/privateStore.js
@@ -15,6 +15,11 @@ class PrivateStore extends KeyValueStore {
     return encryptedEntry ? this._decryptEntry(encryptedEntry) : null
   }
 
+  async getMetadata (key) {
+    // Note: assumes metadata is not encrypted.
+    return super.getMetadata(this._genDbKey(key))
+  }
+
   async set (key, value) {
     value = this._encryptEntry(value)
     key = this._genDbKey(key)
diff --git a/src/space.js b/src/space.js
index 1a97ff97..43bde22d 100644
--- a/src/space.js
+++ b/src/space.js
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ const publicStoreReducer = (store) => {
   const PREFIX = 'pub_'
   return {
     get: async key => store.get(PREFIX + key),
+    getMetadata: async key => store.getMetadata(PREFIX + key),
     set: async (key, value) => store.set(PREFIX + key, value),
     remove: async key => store.remove(PREFIX + key),
     get log () {
@@ -158,6 +159,7 @@ const privateStoreReducer = (store, keyring) => {
       const entry = await store.get(dbKey(key))
       return entry ? decryptEntry(entry).value : null
     },
+    getMetadata: async key => store.getMetadata(dbKey(key)),
     set: async (key, value) => store.set(dbKey(key), encryptEntry({ key, value })),
     remove: async key => store.remove(dbKey(key)),
     get log () {
diff --git a/src/utils/id.js b/src/utils/id.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d1684385
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/id.js
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+const didJWT = require('did-jwt')
+const DID_MUPORT_PREFIX = 'did:muport:'
+
+module.exports = {
+  isMuportDID: (address) => address.startsWith(DID_MUPORT_PREFIX),
+  isClaim: async (claim, opts = {}) => {
+    try {
+      await didJWT.decodeJWT(claim, opts)
+      return true
+    } catch (e) {
+      return false
+    }
+  },
+  verifyClaim: didJWT.verifyJWT
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/utils/index.js b/src/utils/index.js
index 8faccbb2..21b977b8 100644
--- a/src/utils/index.js
+++ b/src/utils/index.js
@@ -2,8 +2,6 @@ const fetch = typeof window !== 'undefined' ? window.fetch : require('node-fetch
 const Multihash = require('multihashes')
 const sha256 = require('js-sha256').sha256
 
-const DID_MUPORT_PREFIX = 'did:muport:'
-
 const HTTPError = (status, message) => {
   const e = new Error(message)
   e.statusCode = status
@@ -16,7 +14,6 @@ const getMessageConsent = (did) => (
 
 module.exports = {
   getMessageConsent,
-  isMuportDID: (address) => address.startsWith(DID_MUPORT_PREFIX),
 
   openBoxConsent: (fromAddress, ethereum) => {
     const text = 'This app wants to view and update your 3Box profile.'