diff --git a/fake.js b/fake.js
index f8893dd..655ca5c 100644
--- a/fake.js
+++ b/fake.js
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
  * @prop {Buffer} s EC signature parameter
  */
 module.exports = class FakeTransaction extends Transaction {
-  constructor (data) {
-    super(data)
+  constructor (data, opts) {
+    super(data, opts)
 
     var self = this
 
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 6e76d65..4be629c 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 'use strict'
 const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
-const fees = require('ethereum-common/params.json')
+const Common = require('ethereumjs-common')
 const BN = ethUtil.BN
 
 // secp256k1n/2
@@ -41,10 +41,29 @@ const N_DIV_2 = new BN('7fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff5d576e7357a4501ddfe92f46
  * @param {Buffer} data.r EC signature parameter
  * @param {Buffer} data.s EC signature parameter
  * @param {Number} data.chainId EIP 155 chainId - mainnet: 1, ropsten: 3
+ *
+ * @param {Array} opts Options
+ * @param {String|Number} opts.chain The chain for the block [default: 'mainnet']
+ * @param {String} opts.hardfork Hardfork for the block [default: null, block number-based behaviour]
+ * @param {Object} opts.common Alternatively pass a Common instance (ethereumjs-common) instead of setting chain/hardfork directly
  * */
 
 class Transaction {
-  constructor (data) {
+  constructor (data, opts) {
+    opts = opts || {}
+
+    // instantiate Common class instance based on passed options
+    if (opts.common) {
+      if (opts.chain) {
+        throw new Error('Instantiation with both opts.common and opts.chain parameter not allowed!')
+      }
+      this._common = opts.common
+    } else {
+      let chain = opts.chain ? opts.chain : 'mainnet'
+      let hardfork = opts.hardfork ? opts.hardfork : 'byzantium'
+      this._common = new Common(chain, hardfork)
+    }
+
     data = data || {}
     // Define Properties
     const fields = [{
@@ -133,7 +152,6 @@ class Transaction {
 
     // set chainId
     this._chainId = chainId || data.chainId || 0
-    this._homestead = true
   }
 
   /**
@@ -216,7 +234,7 @@ class Transaction {
   verifySignature () {
     const msgHash = this.hash(false)
     // All transaction signatures whose s-value is greater than secp256k1n/2 are considered invalid.
-    if (this._homestead && new BN(this.s).cmp(N_DIV_2) === 1) {
+    if (this._common.gteHardfork('homestead') && new BN(this.s).cmp(N_DIV_2) === 1) {
       return false
     }
 
@@ -254,7 +272,9 @@ class Transaction {
     const data = this.raw[5]
     const cost = new BN(0)
     for (let i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
-      data[i] === 0 ? cost.iaddn(fees.txDataZeroGas.v) : cost.iaddn(fees.txDataNonZeroGas.v)
+      data[i] === 0
+        ? cost.iaddn(this._common.param('gasPrices', 'txDataZero'))
+        : cost.iaddn(this._common.param('gasPrices', 'txDataNonZero'))
     }
     return cost
   }
@@ -264,9 +284,9 @@ class Transaction {
    * @return {BN}
    */
   getBaseFee () {
-    const fee = this.getDataFee().iaddn(fees.txGas.v)
-    if (this._homestead && this.toCreationAddress()) {
-      fee.iaddn(fees.txCreation.v)
+    const fee = this.getDataFee().iaddn(this._common.param('gasPrices', 'tx'))
+    if (this._common.gteHardfork('homestead') && this.toCreationAddress()) {
+      fee.iaddn(this._common.param('gasPrices', 'txCreation'))
     }
     return fee
   }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 71c8912..0b81722 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
   "author": "mjbecze <mb@ethdev.com>",
   "license": "MPL-2.0",
   "dependencies": {
-    "ethereum-common": "^0.0.18",
+    "ethereumjs-common": "^0.6.1",
     "ethereumjs-util": "^5.0.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
diff --git a/test/fake.js b/test/fake.js
index a8978aa..c9acc15 100644
--- a/test/fake.js
+++ b/test/fake.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 const tape = require('tape')
 const utils = require('ethereumjs-util')
+const Common = require('ethereumjs-common')
 const FakeTransaction = require('../fake.js')
 
 // Use private key 0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 as 'from' Account
@@ -61,4 +62,16 @@ tape('[FakeTransaction]: Basic functions', function (t) {
     var tx = new FakeTransaction(txDataNoFrom)
     st.equal(utils.bufferToHex(tx.from), txData.from)
   })
+
+  t.test('should throw if common and chain options are passed to constructor', function (st) {
+    var txData = Object.assign({}, txData)
+    var txOptsInvalid = {
+      chain: 'mainnet',
+      common: new Common('mainnet', 'chainstart')
+    }
+    st.plan(1)
+    st.throws(
+      () => new FakeTransaction(txData, txOptsInvalid)
+    )
+  })
 })
diff --git a/test/transactionRunner.js b/test/transactionRunner.js
index c85f7d4..c16f90f 100644
--- a/test/transactionRunner.js
+++ b/test/transactionRunner.js
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 const Tx = require('../index.js')
 const tape = require('tape')
 const ethUtil = require('ethereumjs-util')
+const Common = require('ethereumjs-common')
 const argv = require('minimist')(process.argv.slice(2))
 const testing = require('ethereumjs-testing')
-const common = require('ethereum-common/params.json')
 
 var txTests = testing.getTests('transaction', argv)
 
@@ -32,10 +32,9 @@ testing.runTests(function (testData, sst, cb) {
 
   try {
     var rawTx = ethUtil.toBuffer(testData.rlp)
-    var tx = new Tx(rawTx)
-    if (testData.blocknumber !== String(common.homeSteadForkNumber.v)) {
-      tx._homestead = false
-    }
+    var tx = new Tx(rawTx, {
+      hardfork: testData.blockNumber >= 1150000 ? 'homestead' : 'chainstart'
+    })
   } catch (e) {
     sst.equal(undefined, tTx, 'should not have any fields ')
     cb()
@@ -44,6 +43,7 @@ testing.runTests(function (testData, sst, cb) {
 
   if (tTx && tx.validate()) {
     try {
+      sst.equal(tx._common instanceof Common, true, '_common class attribute')
       sst.equal(bufferToHex(tx.data), addHexPrefix(addPad(stripHexPrefix(tTx.data))), 'data')
       sst.equal(normalizeZero(bufferToHex(tx.gasLimit)), tTx.gasLimit, 'gasLimit')
       sst.equal(normalizeZero(bufferToHex(tx.gasPrice)), tTx.gasPrice, 'gasPrice')