diff --git a/btsim/src/blocks.rs b/btsim/src/blocks.rs
index dec9430..ba22898 100644
--- a/btsim/src/blocks.rs
+++ b/btsim/src/blocks.rs
@@ -363,6 +363,18 @@ pub(crate) struct BlockTemplate {
 
 impl<'a> BlockTemplate {
     pub(crate) fn mine(self, rewards_to: AddressId, sim: &'a mut Simulation) -> BlockHandle<'a> {
+        self.mine_with_reward(rewards_to, None, sim)
+    }
+
+    /// Mine a block, optionally overriding the coinbase output amount. `reward_override`
+    /// is used to seed wallets with arbitrary funding amounts during universe setup;
+    /// `None` pays the normal subsidy + fees.
+    pub(crate) fn mine_with_reward(
+        self,
+        rewards_to: AddressId,
+        reward_override: Option<Amount>,
+        sim: &'a mut Simulation,
+    ) -> BlockHandle<'a> {
         let parent_block = self.parent.with(sim);
 
         let height = 1 + parent_block.info().height;
@@ -370,7 +382,7 @@ impl<'a> BlockTemplate {
 
         let fees = self.txs.iter().map(|tx| tx.with(sim).info().fee).sum();
 
-        let block_rewards = subsidy + fees;
+        let block_rewards = reward_override.unwrap_or(subsidy + fees);
 
         let mut confirmed_txs = OrdSet::from(&self.txs);
 
diff --git a/btsim/src/lib.rs b/btsim/src/lib.rs
index dc04503..f585010 100644
--- a/btsim/src/lib.rs
+++ b/btsim/src/lib.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ mod transaction;
 mod tx_contruction;
 mod wallet;
 
+/// Inclusive range (in satoshis) for the random amount funded to each wallet coinbase
+/// during universe setup.
+const WALLET_FUNDING_RANGE_SATS: std::ops::RangeInclusive<u64> = 10_000..=10_000_000;
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 struct PrngFactory(Pcg64);
 
@@ -325,16 +329,18 @@ impl<'a> Simulation {
             .map(|&id| id.with_mut(self).new_address())
             .collect::<Vec<_>>();
 
-        // For now we just mine a coinbase transaction for each wallet
+        // For now we just mine a coinbase transaction for each wallet, funding each with a
+        // random amount instead of the full block subsidy so wallets start with varied UTXOs.
         let mut i = 0;
         for address in addresses.iter() {
             for _ in 0..prng.random_range(5..10) {
+                let funding = Amount::from_sat(prng.random_range(WALLET_FUNDING_RANGE_SATS));
                 let _ = BroadcastSetHandleMut {
                     id: BroadcastSetId(i),
                     sim: self,
                 }
                 .construct_block_template(Weight::MAX_BLOCK)
-                .mine(*address, self);
+                .mine_with_reward(*address, Some(funding), self);
 
                 self.assert_invariants();
                 i += 1;