diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/cosmos-api.ts b/packages/orchestration/src/cosmos-api.ts
index c68645ec44b5..8c9893043259 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/cosmos-api.ts
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/cosmos-api.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import type {
   LocalIbcAddress,
   RemoteIbcAddress,
 } from '@agoric/vats/tools/ibc-utils.js';
-import type { AmountArg, ChainAddress, ChainAmount } from './types.js';
+import type { AmountArg, ChainAddress, DenomAmount } from './types.js';
 
 /** A helper type for type extensions. */
 export type TypeUrl = string;
@@ -93,14 +93,14 @@ export interface StakingAccountQueries {
    * Get the pending rewards for the account.
    * @returns the amounts of the account's rewards pending from all validators
    */
-  getRewards: () => Promise<ChainAmount[]>;
+  getRewards: () => Promise<DenomAmount[]>;
 
   /**
    * Get the rewards pending with a specific validator.
    * @param validator - the validator address to query for
    * @returns the amount of the account's rewards pending from a specific validator
    */
-  getReward: (validator: CosmosValidatorAddress) => Promise<ChainAmount[]>;
+  getReward: (validator: CosmosValidatorAddress) => Promise<DenomAmount[]>;
 }
 export interface StakingAccountActions {
   /**
@@ -140,14 +140,14 @@ export interface StakingAccountActions {
    * Withdraw rewards from all validators. The promise settles when the rewards are withdrawn.
    * @returns The total amounts of rewards withdrawn
    */
-  withdrawRewards: () => Promise<ChainAmount[]>;
+  withdrawRewards: () => Promise<DenomAmount[]>;
 
   /**
    * Withdraw rewards from a specific validator. The promise settles when the rewards are withdrawn.
    * @param validator - the validator to withdraw rewards from
    * @returns
    */
-  withdrawReward: (validator: CosmosValidatorAddress) => Promise<ChainAmount[]>;
+  withdrawReward: (validator: CosmosValidatorAddress) => Promise<DenomAmount[]>;
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js b/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js
index 128c70340334..c019cda7d5e2 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/exos/stakingAccountKit.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import {
 export const maxClockSkew = 10n * 60n;
 
 /**
- * @import {AmountArg, IcaAccount, ChainAddress, ChainAmount, CosmosValidatorAddress, ICQConnection, StakingAccountActions} from '../types.js';
+ * @import {AmountArg, IcaAccount, ChainAddress, ChainAmount, CosmosValidatorAddress, ICQConnection, StakingAccountActions, DenomAmount} 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';
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ export const tryDecodeResponse = (ackStr, fromProtoMsg) => {
   }
 };
 
-/** @type {(c: { denom: string, amount: string }) => ChainAmount} */
-const toChainAmount = c => ({ denom: c.denom, value: BigInt(c.amount) });
+/** @type {(c: { denom: string, amount: string }) => DenomAmount} */
+const toDenomAmount = c => ({ denom: c.denom, value: BigInt(c.amount) });
 
 /**
  * @param {Baggage} baggage
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
 
         /**
          * @param {CosmosValidatorAddress} validator
-         * @returns {Promise<ChainAmount[]>}
+         * @returns {Promise<DenomAmount[]>}
          */
         async withdrawReward(validator) {
           trace('withdrawReward', validator);
@@ -359,11 +359,11 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
           );
           trace('withdrawReward response', response);
           const { amount: coins } = response;
-          return harden(coins.map(toChainAmount));
+          return harden(coins.map(toDenomAmount));
         },
         /**
-         * @param {ChainAmount['denom']} [denom] - defaults to bondDenom
-         * @returns {Promise<ChainAmount>}
+         * @param {DenomAmount['denom']} [denom] - defaults to bondDenom
+         * @returns {Promise<DenomAmount>}
          */
         async getBalance(denom) {
           const { chainAddress, icqConnection, bondDenom } = this.state;
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ export const prepareStakingAccountKit = (baggage, makeRecorderKit, zcf) => {
             decodeBase64(result.key),
           );
           if (!balance) throw Fail`Result lacked balance key: ${result}`;
-          return harden(toChainAmount(balance));
+          return harden(toDenomAmount(balance));
         },
 
         withdrawRewards() {
diff --git a/packages/orchestration/src/orchestration-api.ts b/packages/orchestration/src/orchestration-api.ts
index d418f336b1db..08682c348844 100644
--- a/packages/orchestration/src/orchestration-api.ts
+++ b/packages/orchestration/src/orchestration-api.ts
@@ -32,16 +32,15 @@ export type DenomArg = Denom | Brand;
 /**
  * Count of some fungible token on some blockchain.
  *
- * NB: this is not an instance of the `Amount` type from ERTP but can be
- * converted to one surjectively
+ * @see {@link Orchestrator.asAmount} to convert to an Amount surjectively
  */
-export type ChainAmount = {
+export type DenomAmount = {
   denom: Denom;
   value: bigint; // Nat
 };
 
 /** Amounts can be provided as pure data using denoms or as native Amounts */
-export type AmountArg = ChainAmount | Amount;
+export type AmountArg = DenomAmount | Amount;
 
 /** An address on some blockchain, e.g., cosmos, eth, etc. */
 export type ChainAddress = {
@@ -111,7 +110,7 @@ export interface Orchestrator {
    * @param amount - the described amount
    * @returns the Amount in local structuerd format
    */
-  asAmount: (amount: ChainAmount) => NatAmount;
+  asAmount: (amount: DenomAmount) => NatAmount;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -124,10 +123,10 @@ export interface OrchestrationAccountI {
   getAddress: () => ChainAddress;
 
   /** @returns an array of amounts for every balance in the account. */
-  getBalances: () => Promise<ChainAmount[]>;
+  getBalances: () => Promise<DenomAmount[]>;
 
   /** @returns the balance of a specific denom for the account. */
-  getBalance: (denom: DenomArg) => Promise<ChainAmount>;
+  getBalance: (denom: DenomArg) => Promise<DenomAmount>;
 
   /**
    * Transfer amount to another account on the same chain. The promise settles when the transfer is complete.