diff --git a/blockchain/reactor.go b/blockchain/reactor.go
index 2b334c232..314e0b0e0 100644
--- a/blockchain/reactor.go
+++ b/blockchain/reactor.go
@@ -1,21 +1,16 @@
 package blockchain
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
-	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
-	"sync"
 	"time"
 
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
-
-	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
-	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
-
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
+	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -52,9 +47,6 @@ func (e peerError) Error() string {
 type BlockchainReactor struct {
 	p2p.BaseReactor
 
-	mtx    sync.Mutex
-	params types.ConsensusParams
-
 	// immutable
 	initialState sm.State
 
@@ -87,7 +79,6 @@ func NewBlockchainReactor(state sm.State, blockExec *sm.BlockExecutor, store *Bl
 	)
 
 	bcR := &BlockchainReactor{
-		params:       state.ConsensusParams,
 		initialState: state,
 		blockExec:    blockExec,
 		store:        store,
@@ -140,8 +131,8 @@ func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) GetChannels() []*p2p.ChannelDescriptor {
 
 // AddPeer implements Reactor by sending our state to peer.
 func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) AddPeer(peer p2p.Peer) {
-	if !peer.Send(BlockchainChannel,
-		struct{ BlockchainMessage }{&bcStatusResponseMessage{bcR.store.Height()}}) {
+	msgBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&bcStatusResponseMessage{bcR.store.Height()})
+	if !peer.Send(BlockchainChannel, msgBytes) {
 		// doing nothing, will try later in `poolRoutine`
 	}
 	// peer is added to the pool once we receive the first
@@ -162,20 +153,19 @@ func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) respondToPeer(msg *bcBlockRequestMessage,
 
 	block := bcR.store.LoadBlock(msg.Height)
 	if block != nil {
-		msg := &bcBlockResponseMessage{Block: block}
-		return src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, struct{ BlockchainMessage }{msg})
+		msgBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&bcBlockResponseMessage{Block: block})
+		return src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, msgBytes)
 	}
 
 	bcR.Logger.Info("Peer asking for a block we don't have", "src", src, "height", msg.Height)
 
-	return src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, struct{ BlockchainMessage }{
-		&bcNoBlockResponseMessage{Height: msg.Height},
-	})
+	msgBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&bcNoBlockResponseMessage{Height: msg.Height})
+	return src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, msgBytes)
 }
 
 // Receive implements Reactor by handling 4 types of messages (look below).
 func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) Receive(chID byte, src p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte) {
-	_, msg, err := DecodeMessage(msgBytes, bcR.maxMsgSize())
+	msg, err := DecodeMessage(msgBytes)
 	if err != nil {
 		bcR.Logger.Error("Error decoding message", "src", src, "chId", chID, "msg", msg, "err", err, "bytes", msgBytes)
 		bcR.Switch.StopPeerForError(src, err)
@@ -194,8 +184,8 @@ func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) Receive(chID byte, src p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte)
 		bcR.pool.AddBlock(src.ID(), msg.Block, len(msgBytes))
 	case *bcStatusRequestMessage:
 		// Send peer our state.
-		queued := src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel,
-			struct{ BlockchainMessage }{&bcStatusResponseMessage{bcR.store.Height()}})
+		msgBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&bcStatusResponseMessage{bcR.store.Height()})
+		queued := src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, msgBytes)
 		if !queued {
 			// sorry
 		}
@@ -207,21 +197,6 @@ func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) Receive(chID byte, src p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte)
 	}
 }
 
-// maxMsgSize returns the maximum allowable size of a
-// message on the blockchain reactor.
-func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) maxMsgSize() int {
-	bcR.mtx.Lock()
-	defer bcR.mtx.Unlock()
-	return bcR.params.BlockSize.MaxBytes + 2
-}
-
-// updateConsensusParams updates the internal consensus params
-func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) updateConsensusParams(params types.ConsensusParams) {
-	bcR.mtx.Lock()
-	defer bcR.mtx.Unlock()
-	bcR.params = params
-}
-
 // Handle messages from the poolReactor telling the reactor what to do.
 // NOTE: Don't sleep in the FOR_LOOP or otherwise slow it down!
 // (Except for the SYNC_LOOP, which is the primary purpose and must be synchronous.)
@@ -247,8 +222,8 @@ FOR_LOOP:
 			if peer == nil {
 				continue FOR_LOOP // Peer has since been disconnected.
 			}
-			msg := &bcBlockRequestMessage{request.Height}
-			queued := peer.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, struct{ BlockchainMessage }{msg})
+			msgBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&bcBlockRequestMessage{request.Height})
+			queued := peer.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, msgBytes)
 			if !queued {
 				// We couldn't make the request, send-queue full.
 				// The pool handles timeouts, just let it go.
@@ -321,9 +296,6 @@ FOR_LOOP:
 					}
 					blocksSynced++
 
-					// update the consensus params
-					bcR.updateConsensusParams(state.ConsensusParams)
-
 					if blocksSynced%100 == 0 {
 						lastRate = 0.9*lastRate + 0.1*(100/time.Since(lastHundred).Seconds())
 						bcR.Logger.Info("Fast Sync Rate", "height", bcR.pool.height,
@@ -341,43 +313,37 @@ FOR_LOOP:
 
 // BroadcastStatusRequest broadcasts `BlockStore` height.
 func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) BroadcastStatusRequest() error {
-	bcR.Switch.Broadcast(BlockchainChannel,
-		struct{ BlockchainMessage }{&bcStatusRequestMessage{bcR.store.Height()}})
+	msgBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&bcStatusRequestMessage{bcR.store.Height()})
+	bcR.Switch.Broadcast(BlockchainChannel, msgBytes)
 	return nil
 }
 
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Messages
 
-const (
-	msgTypeBlockRequest    = byte(0x10)
-	msgTypeBlockResponse   = byte(0x11)
-	msgTypeNoBlockResponse = byte(0x12)
-	msgTypeStatusResponse  = byte(0x20)
-	msgTypeStatusRequest   = byte(0x21)
-)
-
 // BlockchainMessage is a generic message for this reactor.
 type BlockchainMessage interface{}
 
-var _ = wire.RegisterInterface(
-	struct{ BlockchainMessage }{},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&bcBlockRequestMessage{}, msgTypeBlockRequest},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&bcBlockResponseMessage{}, msgTypeBlockResponse},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&bcNoBlockResponseMessage{}, msgTypeNoBlockResponse},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&bcStatusResponseMessage{}, msgTypeStatusResponse},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&bcStatusRequestMessage{}, msgTypeStatusRequest},
-)
+func RegisterBlockchainMessages(cdc *amino.Codec) {
+	cdc.RegisterInterface((*BlockchainMessage)(nil), nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&bcBlockRequestMessage{}, "tendermint/mempool/BlockRequest", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&bcBlockResponseMessage{}, "tendermint/mempool/BlockResponse", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&bcNoBlockResponseMessage{}, "tendermint/mempool/NoBlockResponse", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&bcStatusResponseMessage{}, "tendermint/mempool/StatusResponse", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&bcStatusRequestMessage{}, "tendermint/mempool/StatusRequest", nil)
+}
 
 // DecodeMessage decodes BlockchainMessage.
 // TODO: ensure that bz is completely read.
-func DecodeMessage(bz []byte, maxSize int) (msgType byte, msg BlockchainMessage, err error) {
-	msgType = bz[0]
-	n := int(0)
-	r := bytes.NewReader(bz)
-	msg = wire.ReadBinary(struct{ BlockchainMessage }{}, r, maxSize, &n, &err).(struct{ BlockchainMessage }).BlockchainMessage
-	if err != nil && n != len(bz) {
-		err = errors.New("DecodeMessage() had bytes left over")
+func DecodeMessage(bz []byte) (msg BlockchainMessage, err error) {
+	const (
+		prefixSize     = 4
+		fieldKeySize   = 1
+		maxMessageSize = types.MaxBlockSizeBytes + prefixSize + fieldKeySize
+	)
+	err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, &msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		err = cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "DecodeMessage() had bytes left over")
 	}
 	return
 }
@@ -402,7 +368,6 @@ func (brm *bcNoBlockResponseMessage) String() string {
 
 //-------------------------------------
 
-// NOTE: keep up-to-date with maxBlockchainResponseSize
 type bcBlockResponseMessage struct {
 	Block *types.Block
 }
diff --git a/blockchain/reactor_test.go b/blockchain/reactor_test.go
index 263ca0f05..d72ff8c30 100644
--- a/blockchain/reactor_test.go
+++ b/blockchain/reactor_test.go
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@ package blockchain
 import (
 	"testing"
 
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
-
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
@@ -19,7 +17,10 @@ import (
 func makeStateAndBlockStore(logger log.Logger) (sm.State, *BlockStore) {
 	config := cfg.ResetTestRoot("blockchain_reactor_test")
 	blockStore := NewBlockStore(dbm.NewMemDB())
-	state, _ := sm.LoadStateFromDBOrGenesisFile(dbm.NewMemDB(), config.GenesisFile())
+	state, err := sm.LoadStateFromDBOrGenesisFile(dbm.NewMemDB(), config.GenesisFile())
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "error constructing state from genesis file"))
+	}
 	return state, blockStore
 }
 
@@ -76,10 +77,9 @@ func TestNoBlockResponse(t *testing.T) {
 	// wait for our response to be received on the peer
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		reqBlockMsg := &bcBlockRequestMessage{tt.height}
-		reqBlockBytes := wire.BinaryBytes(struct{ BlockchainMessage }{reqBlockMsg})
+		reqBlockBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(reqBlockMsg)
 		bcr.Receive(chID, peer, reqBlockBytes)
-		value := peer.lastValue()
-		msg := value.(struct{ BlockchainMessage }).BlockchainMessage
+		msg := peer.lastBlockchainMessage()
 
 		if tt.existent {
 			if blockMsg, ok := msg.(*bcBlockResponseMessage); !ok {
@@ -173,26 +173,30 @@ func newbcrTestPeer(id p2p.ID) *bcrTestPeer {
 	return bcr
 }
 
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) lastValue() interface{} { return <-tp.ch }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) lastBlockchainMessage() interface{} { return <-tp.ch }
 
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) TrySend(chID byte, value interface{}) bool {
-	if _, ok := value.(struct{ BlockchainMessage }).
-		BlockchainMessage.(*bcStatusResponseMessage); ok {
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) TrySend(chID byte, msgBytes []byte) bool {
+	var msg BlockchainMessage
+	err := cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(msgBytes, &msg)
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error while trying to parse a BlockchainMessage"))
+	}
+	if _, ok := msg.(*bcStatusResponseMessage); ok {
 		// Discard status response messages since they skew our results
 		// We only want to deal with:
 		// + bcBlockResponseMessage
 		// + bcNoBlockResponseMessage
 	} else {
-		tp.ch <- value
+		tp.ch <- msg
 	}
 	return true
 }
 
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Send(chID byte, data interface{}) bool { return tp.TrySend(chID, data) }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) NodeInfo() p2p.NodeInfo                { return p2p.NodeInfo{} }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Status() p2p.ConnectionStatus          { return p2p.ConnectionStatus{} }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) ID() p2p.ID                            { return tp.id }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) IsOutbound() bool                      { return false }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) IsPersistent() bool                    { return true }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Get(s string) interface{}              { return s }
-func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Set(string, interface{})               {}
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Send(chID byte, msgBytes []byte) bool { return tp.TrySend(chID, msgBytes) }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) NodeInfo() p2p.NodeInfo               { return p2p.NodeInfo{} }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Status() p2p.ConnectionStatus         { return p2p.ConnectionStatus{} }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) ID() p2p.ID                           { return tp.id }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) IsOutbound() bool                     { return false }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) IsPersistent() bool                   { return true }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Get(s string) interface{}             { return s }
+func (tp *bcrTestPeer) Set(string, interface{})              {}
diff --git a/blockchain/store.go b/blockchain/store.go
index b949bc904..f699c1c7c 100644
--- a/blockchain/store.go
+++ b/blockchain/store.go
@@ -1,14 +1,10 @@
 package blockchain
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
 	"sync"
 
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
-
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
 
@@ -54,38 +50,25 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) Height() int64 {
 	return bs.height
 }
 
-// GetReader returns the value associated with the given key wrapped in an io.Reader.
-// If no value is found, it returns nil.
-// It's mainly for use with wire.ReadBinary.
-func (bs *BlockStore) GetReader(key []byte) io.Reader {
-	bytez := bs.db.Get(key)
-	if bytez == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	return bytes.NewReader(bytez)
-}
-
 // LoadBlock returns the block with the given height.
 // If no block is found for that height, it returns nil.
 func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlock(height int64) *types.Block {
-	var n int
-	var err error
-	r := bs.GetReader(calcBlockMetaKey(height))
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	blockMeta := wire.ReadBinary(&types.BlockMeta{}, r, 0, &n, &err).(*types.BlockMeta)
+	var blockMeta *types.BlockMeta
+	bz := bs.db.Get(calcBlockMetaKey(height))
+	err := cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, blockMeta)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading block meta: %v", err))
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error reading block meta"))
 	}
-	bytez := []byte{}
+
+	var block *types.Block
+	buf := []byte{}
 	for i := 0; i < blockMeta.BlockID.PartsHeader.Total; i++ {
 		part := bs.LoadBlockPart(height, i)
-		bytez = append(bytez, part.Bytes...)
+		buf = append(buf, part.Bytes...)
 	}
-	block := wire.ReadBinary(&types.Block{}, bytes.NewReader(bytez), 0, &n, &err).(*types.Block)
+	err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(buf, block)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading block: %v", err))
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error reading block"))
 	}
 	return block
 }
@@ -94,15 +77,11 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlock(height int64) *types.Block {
 // from the block at the given height.
 // If no part is found for the given height and index, it returns nil.
 func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlockPart(height int64, index int) *types.Part {
-	var n int
-	var err error
-	r := bs.GetReader(calcBlockPartKey(height, index))
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	part := wire.ReadBinary(&types.Part{}, r, 0, &n, &err).(*types.Part)
+	var part *types.Part
+	bz := bs.db.Get(calcBlockPartKey(height, index))
+	err := cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, part)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading block part: %v", err))
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error reading block part"))
 	}
 	return part
 }
@@ -110,15 +89,11 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlockPart(height int64, index int) *types.Part {
 // LoadBlockMeta returns the BlockMeta for the given height.
 // If no block is found for the given height, it returns nil.
 func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlockMeta(height int64) *types.BlockMeta {
-	var n int
-	var err error
-	r := bs.GetReader(calcBlockMetaKey(height))
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	blockMeta := wire.ReadBinary(&types.BlockMeta{}, r, 0, &n, &err).(*types.BlockMeta)
+	var blockMeta *types.BlockMeta
+	bz := bs.db.Get(calcBlockMetaKey(height))
+	err := cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, blockMeta)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading block meta: %v", err))
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error reading block meta"))
 	}
 	return blockMeta
 }
@@ -128,15 +103,11 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlockMeta(height int64) *types.BlockMeta {
 // and it comes from the block.LastCommit for `height+1`.
 // If no commit is found for the given height, it returns nil.
 func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlockCommit(height int64) *types.Commit {
-	var n int
-	var err error
-	r := bs.GetReader(calcBlockCommitKey(height))
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	commit := wire.ReadBinary(&types.Commit{}, r, 0, &n, &err).(*types.Commit)
+	var commit *types.Commit
+	bz := bs.db.Get(calcBlockCommitKey(height))
+	err := cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, commit)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading commit: %v", err))
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error reading block commit"))
 	}
 	return commit
 }
@@ -145,15 +116,11 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) LoadBlockCommit(height int64) *types.Commit {
 // This is useful when we've seen a commit, but there has not yet been
 // a new block at `height + 1` that includes this commit in its block.LastCommit.
 func (bs *BlockStore) LoadSeenCommit(height int64) *types.Commit {
-	var n int
-	var err error
-	r := bs.GetReader(calcSeenCommitKey(height))
-	if r == nil {
-		return nil
-	}
-	commit := wire.ReadBinary(&types.Commit{}, r, 0, &n, &err).(*types.Commit)
+	var commit *types.Commit
+	bz := bs.db.Get(calcSeenCommitKey(height))
+	err := cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, commit)
 	if err != nil {
-		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading commit: %v", err))
+		panic(cmn.ErrorWrap(err, "Error reading block commit"))
 	}
 	return commit
 }
@@ -178,7 +145,7 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) SaveBlock(block *types.Block, blockParts *types.PartSet, s
 
 	// Save block meta
 	blockMeta := types.NewBlockMeta(block, blockParts)
-	metaBytes := wire.BinaryBytes(blockMeta)
+	metaBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(blockMeta)
 	bs.db.Set(calcBlockMetaKey(height), metaBytes)
 
 	// Save block parts
@@ -187,12 +154,12 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) SaveBlock(block *types.Block, blockParts *types.PartSet, s
 	}
 
 	// Save block commit (duplicate and separate from the Block)
-	blockCommitBytes := wire.BinaryBytes(block.LastCommit)
+	blockCommitBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(block.LastCommit)
 	bs.db.Set(calcBlockCommitKey(height-1), blockCommitBytes)
 
 	// Save seen commit (seen +2/3 precommits for block)
 	// NOTE: we can delete this at a later height
-	seenCommitBytes := wire.BinaryBytes(seenCommit)
+	seenCommitBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(seenCommit)
 	bs.db.Set(calcSeenCommitKey(height), seenCommitBytes)
 
 	// Save new BlockStoreStateJSON descriptor
@@ -211,7 +178,7 @@ func (bs *BlockStore) saveBlockPart(height int64, index int, part *types.Part) {
 	if height != bs.Height()+1 {
 		cmn.PanicSanity(cmn.Fmt("BlockStore can only save contiguous blocks. Wanted %v, got %v", bs.Height()+1, height))
 	}
-	partBytes := wire.BinaryBytes(part)
+	partBytes := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(part)
 	bs.db.Set(calcBlockPartKey(height, index), partBytes)
 }
 
diff --git a/blockchain/store_test.go b/blockchain/store_test.go
index 16185ca0d..ac0f1a430 100644
--- a/blockchain/store_test.go
+++ b/blockchain/store_test.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package blockchain
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
-	"io/ioutil"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
@@ -11,9 +10,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
-
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
@@ -61,38 +57,6 @@ func TestNewBlockStore(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, bs.Height(), int64(0), "expecting nil bytes to be unmarshaled alright")
 }
 
-func TestBlockStoreGetReader(t *testing.T) {
-	db := db.NewMemDB()
-	// Initial setup
-	db.Set([]byte("Foo"), []byte("Bar"))
-	db.Set([]byte("Foo1"), nil)
-
-	bs := NewBlockStore(db)
-
-	tests := [...]struct {
-		key  []byte
-		want []byte
-	}{
-		0: {key: []byte("Foo"), want: []byte("Bar")},
-		1: {key: []byte("KnoxNonExistent"), want: nil},
-		2: {key: []byte("Foo1"), want: []byte{}},
-	}
-
-	for i, tt := range tests {
-		r := bs.GetReader(tt.key)
-		if r == nil {
-			assert.Nil(t, tt.want, "#%d: expected a non-nil reader", i)
-			continue
-		}
-		slurp, err := ioutil.ReadAll(r)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("#%d: unexpected Read err: %v", i, err)
-		} else {
-			assert.Equal(t, slurp, tt.want, "#%d: mismatch", i)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func freshBlockStore() (*BlockStore, db.DB) {
 	db := db.NewMemDB()
 	return NewBlockStore(db), db
@@ -305,14 +269,6 @@ func TestBlockStoreSaveLoadBlock(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func binarySerializeIt(v interface{}) []byte {
-	var n int
-	var err error
-	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
-	wire.WriteBinary(v, buf, &n, &err)
-	return buf.Bytes()
-}
-
 func TestLoadBlockPart(t *testing.T) {
 	bs, db := freshBlockStore()
 	height, index := int64(10), 1
@@ -334,7 +290,7 @@ func TestLoadBlockPart(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Contains(t, panicErr.Error(), "Error reading block part")
 
 	// 3. A good block serialized and saved to the DB should be retrievable
-	db.Set(calcBlockPartKey(height, index), binarySerializeIt(part1))
+	db.Set(calcBlockPartKey(height, index), cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(part1))
 	gotPart, _, panicErr := doFn(loadPart)
 	require.Nil(t, panicErr, "an existent and proper block should not panic")
 	require.Nil(t, res, "a properly saved block should return a proper block")
@@ -364,11 +320,11 @@ func TestLoadBlockMeta(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// 3. A good blockMeta serialized and saved to the DB should be retrievable
 	meta := &types.BlockMeta{}
-	db.Set(calcBlockMetaKey(height), binarySerializeIt(meta))
+	db.Set(calcBlockMetaKey(height), cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(meta))
 	gotMeta, _, panicErr := doFn(loadMeta)
 	require.Nil(t, panicErr, "an existent and proper block should not panic")
 	require.Nil(t, res, "a properly saved blockMeta should return a proper blocMeta ")
-	require.Equal(t, binarySerializeIt(meta), binarySerializeIt(gotMeta),
+	require.Equal(t, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(meta), cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(gotMeta),
 		"expecting successful retrieval of previously saved blockMeta")
 }
 
diff --git a/blockchain/wire.go b/blockchain/wire.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..72431db82
--- /dev/null
+++ b/blockchain/wire.go
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+package blockchain
+
+import (
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
+)
+
+var cdc = amino.NewCodec()
+
+func init() {
+	RegisterBlockchainMessages(cdc)
+}
diff --git a/consensus/common_test.go b/consensus/common_test.go
index 6d16958ca..dbe39dda1 100644
--- a/consensus/common_test.go
+++ b/consensus/common_test.go
@@ -405,9 +405,9 @@ func getSwitchIndex(switches []*p2p.Switch, peer p2p.Peer) int {
 //-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // genesis
 
-func randGenesisDoc(numValidators int, randPower bool, minPower int64) (*types.GenesisDoc, []*types.PrivValidatorFS) {
+func randGenesisDoc(numValidators int, randPower bool, minPower int64) (*types.GenesisDoc, []types.PrivValidator) {
 	validators := make([]types.GenesisValidator, numValidators)
-	privValidators := make([]*types.PrivValidatorFS, numValidators)
+	privValidators := make([]types.PrivValidator, numValidators)
 	for i := 0; i < numValidators; i++ {
 		val, privVal := types.RandValidator(randPower, minPower)
 		validators[i] = types.GenesisValidator{
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ func randGenesisDoc(numValidators int, randPower bool, minPower int64) (*types.G
 	}, privValidators
 }
 
-func randGenesisState(numValidators int, randPower bool, minPower int64) (sm.State, []*types.PrivValidatorFS) {
+func randGenesisState(numValidators int, randPower bool, minPower int64) (sm.State, []types.PrivValidator) {
 	genDoc, privValidators := randGenesisDoc(numValidators, randPower, minPower)
 	s0, _ := sm.MakeGenesisState(genDoc)
 	db := dbm.NewMemDB()
diff --git a/consensus/state.go b/consensus/state.go
index 3cde13bd2..7722990b2 100644
--- a/consensus/state.go
+++ b/consensus/state.go
@@ -1301,10 +1301,10 @@ func (cs *ConsensusState) addProposalBlockPart(height int64, part *types.Part, v
 	}
 	if added && cs.ProposalBlockParts.IsComplete() {
 		// Added and completed!
-		var n int
-		var err error
-		cs.ProposalBlock = wire.ReadBinary(&types.Block{}, cs.ProposalBlockParts.GetReader(),
-			cs.state.ConsensusParams.BlockSize.MaxBytes, &n, &err).(*types.Block)
+		err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(cs.ProposalBlockParts.GetReader(), &cs.ProposalBlock, cs.state.ConsensusParams.BlockSize.MaxBytes)
+		if err != nil {
+			return true, err
+		}
 		// NOTE: it's possible to receive complete proposal blocks for future rounds without having the proposal
 		cs.Logger.Info("Received complete proposal block", "height", cs.ProposalBlock.Height, "hash", cs.ProposalBlock.Hash())
 		if cs.Step == cstypes.RoundStepPropose && cs.isProposalComplete() {
@@ -1314,7 +1314,7 @@ func (cs *ConsensusState) addProposalBlockPart(height int64, part *types.Part, v
 			// If we're waiting on the proposal block...
 			cs.tryFinalizeCommit(height)
 		}
-		return true, err
+		return true, nil
 	}
 	return added, nil
 }
diff --git a/consensus/types/height_vote_set_test.go b/consensus/types/height_vote_set_test.go
index 246c0b711..678d34759 100644
--- a/consensus/types/height_vote_set_test.go
+++ b/consensus/types/height_vote_set_test.go
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func TestPeerCatchupRounds(t *testing.T) {
 
 }
 
-func makeVoteHR(t *testing.T, height int64, round int, privVals []*types.PrivValidatorFS, valIndex int) *types.Vote {
+func makeVoteHR(t *testing.T, height int64, round int, privVals []types.PrivValidator, valIndex int) *types.Vote {
 	privVal := privVals[valIndex]
 	vote := &types.Vote{
 		ValidatorAddress: privVal.GetAddress(),
diff --git a/types/results_test.go b/types/results_test.go
index 8018b4e85..009e2693d 100644
--- a/types/results_test.go
+++ b/types/results_test.go
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ func TestABCIResults(t *testing.T) {
 	e := ABCIResult{Code: 14, Data: []byte("foo")}
 	f := ABCIResult{Code: 14, Data: []byte("bar")}
 
-	// Nil and []byte{} should not produce the same hash.
+	// Nil and []byte{} should produce the same hash.
 	require.Equal(t, a.Hash(), a.Hash())
 	require.Equal(t, b.Hash(), b.Hash())
-	require.NotEqual(t, a.Hash(), b.Hash())
+	require.Equal(t, a.Hash(), b.Hash())
 
 	// a and b should be the same, don't go in results.
 	results := ABCIResults{a, c, d, e, f}