diff --git a/packages/boot/test/bootstrapTests/test-orchestration.ts b/packages/boot/test/bootstrapTests/test-orchestration.ts
index c8e0d2e8325..fa1721afd41 100644
--- a/packages/boot/test/bootstrapTests/test-orchestration.ts
+++ b/packages/boot/test/bootstrapTests/test-orchestration.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { AmountMath } from '@agoric/ertp';
 import type { start as stakeBldStart } from '@agoric/orchestration/src/examples/stakeBld.contract.js';
 import type { Instance } from '@agoric/zoe/src/zoeService/utils.js';
 import { M, matches } from '@endo/patterns';
+import type { CosmosValidatorAddress } from '@agoric/orchestration';
 import { makeWalletFactoryContext } from './walletFactory.ts';
 
 type DefaultTestContext = Awaited<ReturnType<typeof makeWalletFactoryContext>>;
@@ -124,8 +125,21 @@ test.serial('stakeAtom - repl-style', async t => {
   const atomBrand = await EV(agoricNames).lookup('brand', 'ATOM');
   const atomAmount = AmountMath.make(atomBrand, 10n);
 
-  await t.notThrowsAsync(
-    EV(account).delegate('cosmosvaloper1test', atomAmount),
+  const validatorAddress: CosmosValidatorAddress = {
+    address: 'cosmosvaloper1test',
+    chainId: 'gaiatest',
+    addressEncoding: 'bech32',
+  };
+  await t.notThrowsAsync(EV(account).delegate(validatorAddress, atomAmount));
+
+  const queryRes = await EV(account).getBalance();
+  t.deepEqual(queryRes, { value: 0n, denom: 'uatom' });
+
+  const queryUnknownDenom = await EV(account).getBalance('some-invalid-denom');
+  t.deepEqual(
+    queryUnknownDenom,
+    { value: 0n, denom: 'some-invalid-denom' },
+    'getBalance for unknown denom returns value: 0n',
   );
 });
 
@@ -156,6 +170,11 @@ test.serial('stakeAtom - smart wallet', async t => {
 
   const { ATOM } = agoricNamesRemotes.brand;
   ATOM || Fail`ATOM missing from agoricNames`;
+  const validatorAddress: CosmosValidatorAddress = {
+    address: 'cosmosvaloper1test',
+    chainId: 'gaiatest',
+    addressEncoding: 'bech32',
+  };
 
   await t.notThrowsAsync(
     wd.executeOffer({
@@ -164,7 +183,7 @@ test.serial('stakeAtom - smart wallet', async t => {
         source: 'continuing',
         previousOffer: 'request-account',
         invitationMakerName: 'Delegate',
-        invitationArgs: ['cosmosvaloper1test', { brand: ATOM, value: 10n }],
+        invitationArgs: [validatorAddress, { brand: ATOM, value: 10n }],
       },
       proposal: {},
     }),
@@ -173,6 +192,12 @@ test.serial('stakeAtom - smart wallet', async t => {
     status: { id: 'request-delegate-success', numWantsSatisfied: 1 },
   });
 
+  const validatorAddressFail: CosmosValidatorAddress = {
+    address: 'cosmosvaloper1fail',
+    chainId: 'gaiatest',
+    addressEncoding: 'bech32',
+  };
+
   await t.throwsAsync(
     wd.executeOffer({
       id: 'request-delegate-fail',
@@ -180,7 +205,7 @@ test.serial('stakeAtom - smart wallet', async t => {
         source: 'continuing',
         previousOffer: 'request-account',
         invitationMakerName: 'Delegate',
-        invitationArgs: ['cosmosvaloper1fail', { brand: ATOM, value: 10n }],
+        invitationArgs: [validatorAddressFail, { brand: ATOM, value: 10n }],
       },
       proposal: {},
     }),
diff --git a/packages/builders/scripts/orchestration/init-stakeAtom.js b/packages/builders/scripts/orchestration/init-stakeAtom.js
index 9d96b937d01..3ab10b627e2 100644
--- a/packages/builders/scripts/orchestration/init-stakeAtom.js
+++ b/packages/builders/scripts/orchestration/init-stakeAtom.js
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ export const defaultProposalBuilder = async (
   const {
     hostConnectionId = 'connection-1',
     controllerConnectionId = 'connection-0',
+    bondDenom = 'uatom',
   } = options;
   return harden({
     sourceSpec: '@agoric/orchestration/src/proposals/start-stakeAtom.js',
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ export const defaultProposalBuilder = async (
         },
         hostConnectionId,
         controllerConnectionId,
+        bondDenom,
       },
     ],
   });
diff --git a/packages/cosmic-proto/src/helpers.ts b/packages/cosmic-proto/src/helpers.ts
index 6aafb38320d..070081bed8e 100644
--- a/packages/cosmic-proto/src/helpers.ts
+++ b/packages/cosmic-proto/src/helpers.ts
@@ -73,16 +73,17 @@ export type JsonSafe<T> = {
  */
 export type RequestQueryJson = JsonSafe<RequestQuery>;
 
-const QUERY_REQ_TYPEURL_RE = /^\/(\w+(?:\.\w+)*)\.Query(\w+)Request$/;
+const QUERY_REQ_TYPEURL_RE =
+  /^\/(?<serviceName>\w+(?:\.\w+)*)\.Query(?<methodName>\w+)Request$/;
 
 export const typeUrlToGrpcPath = (typeUrl: Any['typeUrl']) => {
   const match = typeUrl.match(QUERY_REQ_TYPEURL_RE);
-  if (!match) {
+  if (!(match && match.groups)) {
     throw new TypeError(
       `Invalid typeUrl: ${typeUrl}. Must be a Query Request.`,
     );
   }
-  const [, serviceName, methodName] = match;
+  const { serviceName, methodName } = match.groups;
   return `/${serviceName}.Query/${methodName}`;
 };
 
diff --git a/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.md b/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.md
index 1c607d72e86..1c3710bfc2b 100644
--- a/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.md
+++ b/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.md
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ Generated by [AVA](https://avajs.dev).
       'readInt32',
       'readUInt32',
       'tendermint',
+      'toRequestQueryJson',
+      'typeUrlToGrpcPath',
       'typedJson',
       'uInt64ToString',
       'utf8Length',
diff --git a/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.snap b/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.snap
index 9f20ab80b82..64464ddbafe 100644
Binary files a/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.snap and b/packages/cosmic-proto/test/snapshots/test-exports.js.snap differ
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/examples/stakeAtom.contract.js b/packages/orchestration/src/examples/stakeAtom.contract.js
index ca885cb12a0..3239452932d 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/examples/stakeAtom.contract.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/examples/stakeAtom.contract.js
@@ -11,15 +11,16 @@ import { prepareStakingAccountKit } from '../exos/stakingAccountKit.js';
 
 const trace = makeTracer('StakeAtom');
 /**
- * @import { OrchestrationService } from '../service.js'
  * @import { Baggage } from '@agoric/vat-data';
  * @import { IBCConnectionID } from '@agoric/vats';
+ * @import { ICQConnection, OrchestrationService } from '../types.js';
  */
 
 /**
  * @typedef {{
  *  hostConnectionId: IBCConnectionID;
  *  controllerConnectionId: IBCConnectionID;
+ *  bondDenom: string;
  * }} StakeAtomTerms
  */
 
@@ -34,7 +35,9 @@ const trace = makeTracer('StakeAtom');
  * @param {Baggage} baggage
  */
 export const start = async (zcf, privateArgs, baggage) => {
-  const { hostConnectionId, controllerConnectionId } = zcf.getTerms();
+  // TODO #9063 this roughly matches what we'll get from Chain<C>.getChainInfo()
+  const { hostConnectionId, controllerConnectionId, bondDenom } =
+    zcf.getTerms();
   const { orchestration, marshaller, storageNode } = privateArgs;
 
   const zone = makeDurableZone(baggage);
@@ -52,12 +55,19 @@ export const start = async (zcf, privateArgs, baggage) => {
       hostConnectionId,
       controllerConnectionId,
     );
-    const address = await E(account).getAddress();
-    trace('chain address', address);
+    // #9212 TODO do not fail if host does not have `async-icq` module;
+    // communicate to OrchestrationAccount that it can't send queries
+    const icqConnection = await E(orchestration).provideICQConnection(
+      controllerConnectionId,
+    );
+    const accountAddress = await E(account).getAddress();
+    trace('account address', accountAddress);
     const { holder, invitationMakers } = makeStakingAccountKit(
       account,
       storageNode,
-      address,
+      accountAddress,
+      icqConnection,
+      bondDenom,
     );
     return {
       publicSubscribers: holder.getPublicTopics(),
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/exos/icqConnectionKit.js b/packages/orchestration/src/exos/icqConnectionKit.js
index 58eea647967..79025061988 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/exos/icqConnectionKit.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/exos/icqConnectionKit.js
@@ -39,7 +39,20 @@ export const ICQConnectionI = M.interface('ICQConnection', {
  * }} ICQConnectionKitState
  */
 
-/** @param {Zone} zone */
+/**
+ * Prepares an ICQ Connection Kit based on the {@link https://github.com/cosmos/ibc-apps/blob/e9b46e4bf0ad0a66cf6bc53b5e5496f6e2b4b02b/modules/async-icq/README.md | `icq/v1` IBC application protocol}.
+ *
+ * `icq/v1`, also referred to as `async-icq`, is a protocol for asynchronous queries
+ * between IBC-enabled chains. It allows a chain to send queries to another chain
+ * and receive responses asynchronously.
+ *
+ * The ICQ connection kit provides the necessary functionality to establish and manage
+ * an ICQ connection between two chains. It includes methods for retrieving the local
+ * and remote addresses of the connection, as well as sending queries and handling
+ * connection events.
+ *
+ * @param {Zone} zone
+ */
 export const prepareICQConnectionKit = zone =>
   zone.exoClassKit(
     'ICQConnectionKit',
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js b/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js
index 0083a6bf717..ba0096e496a 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js
@@ -8,6 +8,10 @@ import {
   MsgDelegate,
   MsgDelegateResponse,
 } from '@agoric/cosmic-proto/cosmos/staking/v1beta1/tx.js';
+import {
+  QueryBalanceRequest,
+  QueryBalanceResponse,
+} from '@agoric/cosmic-proto/cosmos/bank/v1beta1/query.js';
 import { Any } from '@agoric/cosmic-proto/google/protobuf/any.js';
 import { AmountShape } from '@agoric/ertp';
 import { makeTracer } from '@agoric/internal';
@@ -16,11 +20,13 @@ import { M, prepareExoClassKit } from '@agoric/vat-data';
 import { TopicsRecordShape } from '@agoric/zoe/src/contractSupport/index.js';
 import { decodeBase64 } from '@endo/base64';
 import { E } from '@endo/far';
+import { toRequestQueryJson } from '@agoric/cosmic-proto';
+import { ChainAddressShape, CoinShape } from '../typeGuards.js';
 
 /**
- * @import { ChainAccount, ChainAddress, ChainAmount, CosmosValidatorAddress } from '../types.js';
- * @import { RecorderKit, MakeRecorderKit } from '@agoric/zoe/src/contractSupport/recorder.js';
- * @import { Baggage } from '@agoric/swingset-liveslots';
+ * @import {ChainAccount, ChainAddress, ChainAmount, CosmosValidatorAddress, ICQConnection} from '../types.js';
+ * @import {RecorderKit, MakeRecorderKit} from '@agoric/zoe/src/contractSupport/recorder.js';
+ * @import {Baggage} from '@agoric/swingset-liveslots';
  * @import {AnyJson} from '@agoric/cosmic-proto';
  */
 
@@ -37,13 +43,17 @@ const { Fail } = assert;
  *  topicKit: RecorderKit<StakingAccountNotification>;
  *  account: ChainAccount;
  *  chainAddress: ChainAddress;
+ *  icqConnection: ICQConnection;
+ *  bondDenom: string;
  * }} State
  */
 
-const HolderI = M.interface('holder', {
+export const ChainAccountHolderI = M.interface('ChainAccountHolder', {
   getPublicTopics: M.call().returns(TopicsRecordShape),
-  delegate: M.callWhen(M.string(), AmountShape).returns(M.record()),
-  withdrawReward: M.callWhen(M.string()).returns(M.array()),
+  getAddress: M.call().returns(ChainAddressShape),
+  getBalance: M.callWhen().optional(M.string()).returns(CoinShape),
+  delegate: M.callWhen(ChainAddressShape, AmountShape).returns(M.record()),
+  withdrawReward: M.callWhen(ChainAddressShape).returns(M.arrayOf(CoinShape)),
 });
 
 /** @type {{ [name: string]: [description: string, valueShape: Pattern] }} */
@@ -89,10 +99,10 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
     'Staking Account Holder',
     {
       helper: UnguardedHelperI,
-      holder: HolderI,
+      holder: ChainAccountHolderI,
       invitationMakers: M.interface('invitationMakers', {
-        Delegate: M.call(M.string(), AmountShape).returns(M.promise()),
-        WithdrawReward: M.call(M.string()).returns(M.promise()),
+        Delegate: M.call(ChainAddressShape, AmountShape).returns(M.promise()),
+        WithdrawReward: M.call(ChainAddressShape).returns(M.promise()),
         CloseAccount: M.call().returns(M.promise()),
         TransferAccount: M.call().returns(M.promise()),
       }),
@@ -101,13 +111,15 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
      * @param {ChainAccount} account
      * @param {StorageNode} storageNode
      * @param {ChainAddress} chainAddress
+     * @param {ICQConnection} icqConnection
+     * @param {string} bondDenom e.g. 'uatom'
      * @returns {State}
      */
-    (account, storageNode, chainAddress) => {
+    (account, storageNode, chainAddress, icqConnection, bondDenom) => {
       // must be the fully synchronous maker because the kit is held in durable state
       const topicKit = makeRecorderKit(storageNode, PUBLIC_TOPICS.account[1]);
 
-      return { account, chainAddress, topicKit };
+      return { account, chainAddress, topicKit, icqConnection, bondDenom };
     },
     {
       helper: {
@@ -126,24 +138,24 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
       invitationMakers: {
         /**
          *
-         * @param {string} validatorAddress
+         * @param {CosmosValidatorAddress} validator
          * @param {Amount<'nat'>} amount
          */
-        Delegate(validatorAddress, amount) {
-          trace('Delegate', validatorAddress, amount);
+        Delegate(validator, amount) {
+          trace('Delegate', validator, amount);
 
           return zcf.makeInvitation(async seat => {
             seat.exit();
-            return this.facets.holder.delegate(validatorAddress, amount);
+            return this.facets.holder.delegate(validator, amount);
           }, 'Delegate');
         },
-        /** @param {string} validatorAddress */
-        WithdrawReward(validatorAddress) {
-          trace('WithdrawReward', validatorAddress);
+        /** @param {CosmosValidatorAddress} validator */
+        WithdrawReward(validator) {
+          trace('WithdrawReward', validator);
 
           return zcf.makeInvitation(async seat => {
             seat.exit();
-            return this.facets.holder.withdrawReward(validatorAddress);
+            return this.facets.holder.withdrawReward(validator);
           }, 'WithdrawReward');
         },
         CloseAccount() {
@@ -170,20 +182,23 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
         },
         // TODO move this beneath the Orchestration abstraction,
         // to the OrchestrationAccount provided by makeAccount()
+        /** @returns {ChainAddress} */
+        getAddress() {
+          return this.state.chainAddress;
+        },
         /**
          * _Assumes users has already sent funds to their ICA, until #9193
-         * @param {string} validatorAddress
+         * @param {CosmosValidatorAddress} validator
          * @param {Amount<'nat'>} ertpAmount
          */
-        async delegate(validatorAddress, ertpAmount) {
-          trace('delegate', validatorAddress, ertpAmount);
+        async delegate(validator, ertpAmount) {
+          trace('delegate', validator, ertpAmount);
 
-          // FIXME get values from proposal or args
-          // FIXME brand handling and amount scaling
+          // FIXME brand handling and amount scaling #9211
           trace('TODO: handle brand', ertpAmount);
           const amount = {
             amount: String(ertpAmount.value),
-            denom: 'uatom',
+            denom: this.state.bondDenom,
           };
 
           const account = this.facets.helper.owned();
@@ -193,7 +208,7 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
             toAnyJSON(
               MsgDelegate.toProtoMsg({
                 delegatorAddress,
-                validatorAddress,
+                validatorAddress: validator.address,
                 amount,
               }),
             ),
@@ -204,15 +219,15 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
         },
 
         /**
-         * @param {string} validatorAddress
+         * @param {CosmosValidatorAddress} validator
          * @returns {Promise<ChainAmount[]>}
          */
-        async withdrawReward(validatorAddress) {
+        async withdrawReward(validator) {
           const { chainAddress } = this.state;
-          assert.typeof(validatorAddress, 'string');
+          assert.typeof(validator.address, 'string');
           const msg = MsgWithdrawDelegatorReward.toProtoMsg({
             delegatorAddress: chainAddress.address,
-            validatorAddress,
+            validatorAddress: validator.address,
           });
           const account = this.facets.helper.owned();
           const result = await E(account).executeEncodedTx([toAnyJSON(msg)]);
@@ -222,9 +237,35 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
           );
           return harden(coins.map(toChainAmount));
         },
+        /**
+         * @param {ChainAmount['denom']} [denom] - defaults to bondDenom
+         * @returns {Promise<ChainAmount>}
+         */
+        async getBalance(denom) {
+          const { chainAddress, icqConnection, bondDenom } = this.state;
+          denom ||= bondDenom;
+          assert.typeof(denom, 'string');
+
+          const [result] = await E(icqConnection).query([
+            toRequestQueryJson(
+              QueryBalanceRequest.toProtoMsg({
+                address: chainAddress.address,
+                denom,
+              }),
+            ),
+          ]);
+          if (!result?.key) throw Fail`Error parsing result ${result}`;
+          const { balance } = QueryBalanceResponse.decode(
+            decodeBase64(result.key),
+          );
+          if (!balance) throw Fail`Result lacked balance key: ${result}`;
+          return harden(toChainAmount(balance));
+        },
       },
     },
   );
   return makeStakingAccountKit;
 };
+
 /** @typedef {ReturnType<ReturnType<typeof prepareStakingAccountKit>>} StakingAccountKit */
+/** @typedef {StakingAccountKit['holder']} StakingAccounHolder */
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/orchestration-proposal.js b/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/orchestration-proposal.js
index b064a167a19..1887e2c26e1 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/orchestration-proposal.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/orchestration-proposal.js
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 import { V as E } from '@agoric/vat-data/vow.js';
 
 /**
- * @import {Connection, Port, PortAllocator} from '@agoric/network';
- * @import { OrchestrationService } from '../service.js'
- * @import { OrchestrationVat } from '../vat-orchestration.js'
+ * @import {PortAllocator} from '@agoric/network';
+ * @import {OrchestrationService} from '../service.js'
+ * @import {OrchestrationVat} from '../vat-orchestration.js'
  */
 
 /**
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ import { V as E } from '@agoric/vat-data/vow.js';
  *     orchestrationVat: Producer<any>;
  *   };
  * }} powers
- * @param {object} options
- * @param {{ orchestrationRef: VatSourceRef }} options.options
+ * @param {{ options: { orchestrationRef: VatSourceRef }}} options
  *
  * @typedef {{
  *   orchestration: ERef<OrchestrationVat>;
@@ -84,8 +83,8 @@ export const getManifestForOrchestration = (_powers, { orchestrationRef }) => ({
       },
       produce: {
         orchestration: 'orchestration',
-        orchestrationKit: 'orchestration',
-        orchestrationVat: 'orchestration',
+        orchestrationKit: 'orchestrationKit',
+        orchestrationVat: 'orchestrationVat',
       },
     },
   },
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/start-stakeAtom.js b/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/start-stakeAtom.js
index 13aa78b1580..888765fd18e 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/start-stakeAtom.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/proposals/start-stakeAtom.js
@@ -27,10 +27,14 @@ export const startStakeAtom = async (
       produce: { stakeAtom: produceInstance },
     },
   },
-  { options: { hostConnectionId, controllerConnectionId } },
+  { options: { hostConnectionId, controllerConnectionId, bondDenom } },
 ) => {
   const VSTORAGE_PATH = 'stakeAtom';
-  trace('startStakeAtom', { hostConnectionId, controllerConnectionId });
+  trace('startStakeAtom', {
+    hostConnectionId,
+    controllerConnectionId,
+    bondDenom,
+  });
   await null;
 
   const storageNode = await makeStorageNodeChild(chainStorage, VSTORAGE_PATH);
@@ -46,6 +50,7 @@ export const startStakeAtom = async (
     terms: {
       hostConnectionId,
       controllerConnectionId,
+      bondDenom,
     },
     privateArgs: {
       orchestration: await orchestration,
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/service.js b/packages/orchestration/src/service.js
index 5503b7dd6f2..ef832a43b63 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/service.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/service.js
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ const prepareOrchestrationKit = (
               .connection;
           }
           // allocate a new Port for every Connection
+          // TODO #9317 optimize ICQ port allocation
           const port = await this.facets.self.allocateICQControllerPort();
           const remoteConnAddr = makeICQChannelAddress(controllerConnectionId);
           const icqConnectionKit = makeICQConnectionKit(port);
diff --git a/packages/vm-config/decentral-devnet-config.json b/packages/vm-config/decentral-devnet-config.json
index ad99fc4b421..2bf94fdd6f4 100644
--- a/packages/vm-config/decentral-devnet-config.json
+++ b/packages/vm-config/decentral-devnet-config.json
@@ -172,7 +172,8 @@
           "args": [
             {
               "hostConnectionId": "connection-1",
-              "controllerConnectionId": "connection-0"
+              "controllerConnectionId": "connection-0",
+              "bondDenom": "uatom"
             }
           ]
         }