diff --git a/consensus/byzantine_test.go b/consensus/byzantine_test.go
index f8163c07d..5f04a3308 100644
--- a/consensus/byzantine_test.go
+++ b/consensus/byzantine_test.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	crypto "github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
@@ -48,7 +47,9 @@ func TestByzantine(t *testing.T) {
 	for i := 0; i < N; i++ {
 		// make first val byzantine
 		if i == 0 {
-			css[i].privValidator = NewByzantinePrivValidator(css[i].privValidator)
+			// NOTE: Now, test validators are MockPV, which by default doesn't
+			// do any safety checks.
+			css[i].privValidator.(*types.MockPV).DisableChecks()
 			css[i].decideProposal = func(j int) func(int64, int) {
 				return func(height int64, round int) {
 					byzantineDecideProposalFunc(t, height, round, css[j], switches[j])
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ func byzantineDecideProposalFunc(t *testing.T, height int64, round int, cs *Cons
 func sendProposalAndParts(height int64, round int, cs *ConsensusState, peer p2p.Peer, proposal *types.Proposal, blockHash []byte, parts *types.PartSet) {
 	// proposal
 	msg := &ProposalMessage{Proposal: proposal}
-	peer.Send(DataChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg})
+	peer.Send(DataChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg))
 
 	// parts
 	for i := 0; i < parts.Total(); i++ {
@@ -213,7 +214,7 @@ func sendProposalAndParts(height int64, round int, cs *ConsensusState, peer p2p.
 			Round:  round,  // This tells peer that this part applies to us.
 			Part:   part,
 		}
-		peer.Send(DataChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg})
+		peer.Send(DataChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg))
 	}
 
 	// votes
@@ -222,8 +223,8 @@ func sendProposalAndParts(height int64, round int, cs *ConsensusState, peer p2p.
 	precommit, _ := cs.signVote(types.VoteTypePrecommit, blockHash, parts.Header())
 	cs.mtx.Unlock()
 
-	peer.Send(VoteChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteMessage{prevote}})
-	peer.Send(VoteChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteMessage{precommit}})
+	peer.Send(VoteChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteMessage{prevote}))
+	peer.Send(VoteChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteMessage{precommit}))
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------
@@ -264,47 +265,3 @@ func (br *ByzantineReactor) RemovePeer(peer p2p.Peer, reason interface{}) {
 func (br *ByzantineReactor) Receive(chID byte, peer p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte) {
 	br.reactor.Receive(chID, peer, msgBytes)
 }
-
-//----------------------------------------
-// byzantine privValidator
-
-type ByzantinePrivValidator struct {
-	types.Signer
-
-	pv types.PrivValidator
-}
-
-// Return a priv validator that will sign anything
-func NewByzantinePrivValidator(pv types.PrivValidator) *ByzantinePrivValidator {
-	return &ByzantinePrivValidator{
-		Signer: pv.(*types.PrivValidatorFS).Signer,
-		pv:     pv,
-	}
-}
-
-func (privVal *ByzantinePrivValidator) GetAddress() types.Address {
-	return privVal.pv.GetAddress()
-}
-
-func (privVal *ByzantinePrivValidator) GetPubKey() crypto.PubKey {
-	return privVal.pv.GetPubKey()
-}
-
-func (privVal *ByzantinePrivValidator) SignVote(chainID string, vote *types.Vote) (err error) {
-	vote.Signature, err = privVal.Sign(vote.SignBytes(chainID))
-	return err
-}
-
-func (privVal *ByzantinePrivValidator) SignProposal(chainID string, proposal *types.Proposal) (err error) {
-	proposal.Signature, _ = privVal.Sign(proposal.SignBytes(chainID))
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (privVal *ByzantinePrivValidator) SignHeartbeat(chainID string, heartbeat *types.Heartbeat) (err error) {
-	heartbeat.Signature, _ = privVal.Sign(heartbeat.SignBytes(chainID))
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (privVal *ByzantinePrivValidator) String() string {
-	return cmn.Fmt("PrivValidator{%X}", privVal.GetAddress())
-}
diff --git a/consensus/common_test.go b/consensus/common_test.go
index dbe39dda1..c8de40011 100644
--- a/consensus/common_test.go
+++ b/consensus/common_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
+	privval "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
@@ -277,10 +278,10 @@ func newConsensusStateWithConfigAndBlockStore(thisConfig *cfg.Config, state sm.S
 	return cs
 }
 
-func loadPrivValidator(config *cfg.Config) *types.PrivValidatorFS {
+func loadPrivValidator(config *cfg.Config) *privval.FilePV {
 	privValidatorFile := config.PrivValidatorFile()
 	ensureDir(path.Dir(privValidatorFile), 0700)
-	privValidator := types.LoadOrGenPrivValidatorFS(privValidatorFile)
+	privValidator := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(privValidatorFile)
 	privValidator.Reset()
 	return privValidator
 }
@@ -378,7 +379,7 @@ func randConsensusNetWithPeers(nValidators, nPeers int, testName string, tickerF
 			privVal = privVals[i]
 		} else {
 			_, tempFilePath := cmn.Tempfile("priv_validator_")
-			privVal = types.GenPrivValidatorFS(tempFilePath)
+			privVal = privval.GenFilePV(tempFilePath)
 		}
 
 		app := appFunc()
diff --git a/consensus/reactor.go b/consensus/reactor.go
index 5c672a0c7..3ab8995d7 100644
--- a/consensus/reactor.go
+++ b/consensus/reactor.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package consensus
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
@@ -10,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
@@ -176,7 +175,7 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) Receive(chID byte, src p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte)
 		return
 	}
 
-	_, msg, err := DecodeMessage(msgBytes)
+	msg, err := DecodeMessage(msgBytes)
 	if err != nil {
 		conR.Logger.Error("Error decoding message", "src", src, "chId", chID, "msg", msg, "err", err, "bytes", msgBytes)
 		conR.Switch.StopPeerForError(src, err)
@@ -222,13 +221,13 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) Receive(chID byte, src p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte)
 				conR.Logger.Error("Bad VoteSetBitsMessage field Type")
 				return
 			}
-			src.TrySend(VoteSetBitsChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteSetBitsMessage{
+			src.TrySend(VoteSetBitsChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteSetBitsMessage{
 				Height:  msg.Height,
 				Round:   msg.Round,
 				Type:    msg.Type,
 				BlockID: msg.BlockID,
 				Votes:   ourVotes,
-			}})
+			}))
 		case *ProposalHeartbeatMessage:
 			hb := msg.Heartbeat
 			conR.Logger.Debug("Received proposal heartbeat message",
@@ -401,16 +400,16 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) broadcastProposalHeartbeatMessage(heartbeat types.
 	conR.Logger.Debug("Broadcasting proposal heartbeat message",
 		"height", hb.Height, "round", hb.Round, "sequence", hb.Sequence)
 	msg := &ProposalHeartbeatMessage{hb}
-	conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg})
+	conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg))
 }
 
 func (conR *ConsensusReactor) broadcastNewRoundStep(rs *cstypes.RoundState) {
 	nrsMsg, csMsg := makeRoundStepMessages(rs)
 	if nrsMsg != nil {
-		conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{nrsMsg})
+		conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(nrsMsg))
 	}
 	if csMsg != nil {
-		conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{csMsg})
+		conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(csMsg))
 	}
 }
 
@@ -422,7 +421,7 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) broadcastHasVoteMessage(vote *types.Vote) {
 		Type:   vote.Type,
 		Index:  vote.ValidatorIndex,
 	}
-	conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg})
+	conR.Switch.Broadcast(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg))
 	/*
 		// TODO: Make this broadcast more selective.
 		for _, peer := range conR.Switch.Peers().List() {
@@ -462,10 +461,10 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) sendNewRoundStepMessages(peer p2p.Peer) {
 	rs := conR.conS.GetRoundState()
 	nrsMsg, csMsg := makeRoundStepMessages(rs)
 	if nrsMsg != nil {
-		peer.Send(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{nrsMsg})
+		peer.Send(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(nrsMsg))
 	}
 	if csMsg != nil {
-		peer.Send(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{csMsg})
+		peer.Send(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(csMsg))
 	}
 }
 
@@ -492,7 +491,7 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 					Part:   part,
 				}
 				logger.Debug("Sending block part", "height", prs.Height, "round", prs.Round)
-				if peer.Send(DataChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg}) {
+				if peer.Send(DataChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg)) {
 					ps.SetHasProposalBlockPart(prs.Height, prs.Round, index)
 				}
 				continue OUTER_LOOP
@@ -536,7 +535,7 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 			{
 				msg := &ProposalMessage{Proposal: rs.Proposal}
 				logger.Debug("Sending proposal", "height", prs.Height, "round", prs.Round)
-				if peer.Send(DataChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg}) {
+				if peer.Send(DataChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg)) {
 					ps.SetHasProposal(rs.Proposal)
 				}
 			}
@@ -551,7 +550,7 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 					ProposalPOL:      rs.Votes.Prevotes(rs.Proposal.POLRound).BitArray(),
 				}
 				logger.Debug("Sending POL", "height", prs.Height, "round", prs.Round)
-				peer.Send(DataChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg})
+				peer.Send(DataChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg))
 			}
 			continue OUTER_LOOP
 		}
@@ -594,7 +593,7 @@ func (conR *ConsensusReactor) gossipDataForCatchup(logger log.Logger, rs *cstype
 			Part:   part,
 		}
 		logger.Debug("Sending block part for catchup", "round", prs.Round, "index", index)
-		if peer.Send(DataChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg}) {
+		if peer.Send(DataChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg)) {
 			ps.SetHasProposalBlockPart(prs.Height, prs.Round, index)
 		} else {
 			logger.Debug("Sending block part for catchup failed")
@@ -733,12 +732,12 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 			prs := ps.GetRoundState()
 			if rs.Height == prs.Height {
 				if maj23, ok := rs.Votes.Prevotes(prs.Round).TwoThirdsMajority(); ok {
-					peer.TrySend(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteSetMaj23Message{
+					peer.TrySend(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteSetMaj23Message{
 						Height:  prs.Height,
 						Round:   prs.Round,
 						Type:    types.VoteTypePrevote,
 						BlockID: maj23,
-					}})
+					}))
 					time.Sleep(conR.conS.config.PeerQueryMaj23Sleep())
 				}
 			}
@@ -750,12 +749,12 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 			prs := ps.GetRoundState()
 			if rs.Height == prs.Height {
 				if maj23, ok := rs.Votes.Precommits(prs.Round).TwoThirdsMajority(); ok {
-					peer.TrySend(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteSetMaj23Message{
+					peer.TrySend(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteSetMaj23Message{
 						Height:  prs.Height,
 						Round:   prs.Round,
 						Type:    types.VoteTypePrecommit,
 						BlockID: maj23,
-					}})
+					}))
 					time.Sleep(conR.conS.config.PeerQueryMaj23Sleep())
 				}
 			}
@@ -767,12 +766,12 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 			prs := ps.GetRoundState()
 			if rs.Height == prs.Height && prs.ProposalPOLRound >= 0 {
 				if maj23, ok := rs.Votes.Prevotes(prs.ProposalPOLRound).TwoThirdsMajority(); ok {
-					peer.TrySend(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteSetMaj23Message{
+					peer.TrySend(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteSetMaj23Message{
 						Height:  prs.Height,
 						Round:   prs.ProposalPOLRound,
 						Type:    types.VoteTypePrevote,
 						BlockID: maj23,
-					}})
+					}))
 					time.Sleep(conR.conS.config.PeerQueryMaj23Sleep())
 				}
 			}
@@ -786,12 +785,12 @@ OUTER_LOOP:
 			prs := ps.GetRoundState()
 			if prs.CatchupCommitRound != -1 && 0 < prs.Height && prs.Height <= conR.conS.blockStore.Height() {
 				commit := conR.conS.LoadCommit(prs.Height)
-				peer.TrySend(StateChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{&VoteSetMaj23Message{
+				peer.TrySend(StateChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(&VoteSetMaj23Message{
 					Height:  prs.Height,
 					Round:   commit.Round(),
 					Type:    types.VoteTypePrecommit,
 					BlockID: commit.BlockID,
-				}})
+				}))
 				time.Sleep(conR.conS.config.PeerQueryMaj23Sleep())
 			}
 		}
@@ -938,7 +937,7 @@ func (ps *PeerState) PickSendVote(votes types.VoteSetReader) bool {
 	if vote, ok := ps.PickVoteToSend(votes); ok {
 		msg := &VoteMessage{vote}
 		ps.logger.Debug("Sending vote message", "ps", ps, "vote", vote)
-		return ps.Peer.Send(VoteChannel, struct{ ConsensusMessage }{msg})
+		return ps.Peer.Send(VoteChannel, cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(msg))
 	}
 	return false
 }
@@ -1261,45 +1260,27 @@ func (ps *PeerState) StringIndented(indent string) string {
 //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Messages
 
-const (
-	msgTypeNewRoundStep = byte(0x01)
-	msgTypeCommitStep   = byte(0x02)
-	msgTypeProposal     = byte(0x11)
-	msgTypeProposalPOL  = byte(0x12)
-	msgTypeBlockPart    = byte(0x13) // both block & POL
-	msgTypeVote         = byte(0x14)
-	msgTypeHasVote      = byte(0x15)
-	msgTypeVoteSetMaj23 = byte(0x16)
-	msgTypeVoteSetBits  = byte(0x17)
-
-	msgTypeProposalHeartbeat = byte(0x20)
-)
-
 // ConsensusMessage is a message that can be sent and received on the ConsensusReactor
 type ConsensusMessage interface{}
 
-var _ = wire.RegisterInterface(
-	struct{ ConsensusMessage }{},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&NewRoundStepMessage{}, msgTypeNewRoundStep},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&CommitStepMessage{}, msgTypeCommitStep},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&ProposalMessage{}, msgTypeProposal},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&ProposalPOLMessage{}, msgTypeProposalPOL},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&BlockPartMessage{}, msgTypeBlockPart},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&VoteMessage{}, msgTypeVote},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&HasVoteMessage{}, msgTypeHasVote},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&VoteSetMaj23Message{}, msgTypeVoteSetMaj23},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&VoteSetBitsMessage{}, msgTypeVoteSetBits},
-	wire.ConcreteType{&ProposalHeartbeatMessage{}, msgTypeProposalHeartbeat},
-)
+func RegisterConsensusMessages(cdc *amino.Codec) {
+	cdc.RegisterInterface((*ConsensusMessage)(nil), nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&NewRoundStepMessage{}, "tendermint/NewRoundStepMessage", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&CommitStepMessage{}, "tendermint/CommitStep", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&ProposalMessage{}, "tendermint/Proposal", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&ProposalPOLMessage{}, "tendermint/ProposalPOL", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&BlockPartMessage{}, "tendermint/BlockPart", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&VoteMessage{}, "tendermint/Vote", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&HasVoteMessage{}, "tendermint/HasVote", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&VoteSetMaj23Message{}, "tendermint/VoteSetMaj23", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&VoteSetBitsMessage{}, "tendermint/VoteSetBits", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&ProposalHeartbeatMessage{}, "tendermint/ProposalHeartbeat", nil)
+}
 
 // DecodeMessage decodes the given bytes into a ConsensusMessage.
 // TODO: check for unnecessary extra bytes at the end.
-func DecodeMessage(bz []byte) (msgType byte, msg ConsensusMessage, err error) {
-	msgType = bz[0]
-	n := new(int)
-	r := bytes.NewReader(bz)
-	msgI := wire.ReadBinary(struct{ ConsensusMessage }{}, r, maxConsensusMessageSize, n, &err)
-	msg = msgI.(struct{ ConsensusMessage }).ConsensusMessage
+func DecodeMessage(bz []byte) (msg ConsensusMessage, err error) {
+	err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, &msg)
 	return
 }
 
diff --git a/consensus/replay_test.go b/consensus/replay_test.go
index 9d7bbc8e4..b3c6ac4a4 100644
--- a/consensus/replay_test.go
+++ b/consensus/replay_test.go
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/abci/example/kvstore"
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
-	crypto "github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
 	auto "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/autofile"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
+	privval "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 )
 
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func testHandshakeReplay(t *testing.T, nBlocks int, mode uint) {
 	walFile := tempWALWithData(walBody)
 	config.Consensus.SetWalFile(walFile)
 
-	privVal := types.LoadPrivValidatorFS(config.PrivValidatorFile())
+	privVal := privval.LoadFilePV(config.PrivValidatorFile())
 
 	wal, err := NewWAL(walFile, false)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -519,8 +519,8 @@ func makeBlockchainFromWAL(wal WAL) ([]*types.Block, []*types.Commit, error) {
 		case EndHeightMessage:
 			// if its not the first one, we have a full block
 			if thisBlockParts != nil {
-				var n int
-				block := wire.ReadBinary(&types.Block{}, thisBlockParts.GetReader(), 0, &n, &err).(*types.Block)
+				var block = new(types.Block)
+				_, err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryReader(thisBlockParts.GetReader(), block, 0)
 				if err != nil {
 					panic(err)
 				}
@@ -552,8 +552,8 @@ func makeBlockchainFromWAL(wal WAL) ([]*types.Block, []*types.Commit, error) {
 		}
 	}
 	// grab the last block too
-	var n int
-	block := wire.ReadBinary(&types.Block{}, thisBlockParts.GetReader(), 0, &n, &err).(*types.Block)
+	var block = new(types.Block)
+	_, err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryReader(thisBlockParts.GetReader(), block, 0)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/consensus/state.go b/consensus/state.go
index 7722990b2..a64ef3e49 100644
--- a/consensus/state.go
+++ b/consensus/state.go
@@ -4,17 +4,14 @@ import (
 	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
+	fail "github.com/ebuchman/fail-test"
+	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 	"reflect"
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
 
-	fail "github.com/ebuchman/fail-test"
-
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
-	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
-	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
-
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
 	cstypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
@@ -1301,7 +1298,7 @@ func (cs *ConsensusState) addProposalBlockPart(height int64, part *types.Part, v
 	}
 	if added && cs.ProposalBlockParts.IsComplete() {
 		// Added and completed!
-		err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(cs.ProposalBlockParts.GetReader(), &cs.ProposalBlock, cs.state.ConsensusParams.BlockSize.MaxBytes)
+		_, err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryReader(cs.ProposalBlockParts.GetReader(), &cs.ProposalBlock, int64(cs.state.ConsensusParams.BlockSize.MaxBytes))
 		if err != nil {
 			return true, err
 		}
diff --git a/consensus/state_test.go b/consensus/state_test.go
index e6b2a1354..fea6cf6ae 100644
--- a/consensus/state_test.go
+++ b/consensus/state_test.go
@@ -409,6 +409,7 @@ func TestStateLockNoPOL(t *testing.T) {
 	validatePrevote(t, cs1, 1, vss[0], rs.LockedBlock.Hash())
 
 	// add a conflicting prevote from the other validator
+	fmt.Println(">>", rs.ProposalBlock)
 	signAddVotes(cs1, types.VoteTypePrevote, hash, rs.ProposalBlock.MakePartSet(partSize).Header(), vs2)
 	<-voteCh
 
diff --git a/consensus/wal.go b/consensus/wal.go
index 88218940d..a615720be 100644
--- a/consensus/wal.go
+++ b/consensus/wal.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package consensus
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"encoding/binary"
 	"fmt"
 	"hash/crc32"
@@ -11,7 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 	auto "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/autofile"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
@@ -38,13 +37,13 @@ type EndHeightMessage struct {
 
 type WALMessage interface{}
 
-var _ = wire.RegisterInterface(
-	struct{ WALMessage }{},
-	wire.ConcreteType{types.EventDataRoundState{}, 0x01},
-	wire.ConcreteType{msgInfo{}, 0x02},
-	wire.ConcreteType{timeoutInfo{}, 0x03},
-	wire.ConcreteType{EndHeightMessage{}, 0x04},
-)
+func RegisterWALMessages(cdc *amino.Codec) {
+	cdc.RegisterInterface((*WALMessage)(nil), nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(types.EventDataRoundState{}, "tendermint/wal/EventDataRoundState", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(msgInfo{}, "tendermint/wal/MsgInfo", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(timeoutInfo{}, "tendermint/wal/TimeoutInfo", nil)
+	cdc.RegisterConcrete(EndHeightMessage{}, "tendermint/wal/EndHeightMessagE", nil)
+}
 
 //--------------------------------------------------------
 // Simple write-ahead logger
@@ -114,6 +113,7 @@ func (wal *baseWAL) OnStop() {
 
 // called in newStep and for each pass in receiveRoutine
 func (wal *baseWAL) Save(msg WALMessage) {
+	fmt.Println("!!", 1)
 	if wal == nil {
 		return
 	}
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ func (wal *baseWAL) SearchForEndHeight(height int64, options *WALSearchOptions)
 
 // A WALEncoder writes custom-encoded WAL messages to an output stream.
 //
-// Format: 4 bytes CRC sum + 4 bytes length + arbitrary-length value (go-wire encoded)
+// Format: 4 bytes CRC sum + 4 bytes length + arbitrary-length value (go-amino encoded)
 type WALEncoder struct {
 	wr io.Writer
 }
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func NewWALEncoder(wr io.Writer) *WALEncoder {
 
 // Encode writes the custom encoding of v to the stream.
 func (enc *WALEncoder) Encode(v *TimedWALMessage) error {
-	data := wire.BinaryBytes(v)
+	data := cdc.MustMarshalBinaryBare(v)
 
 	crc := crc32.Checksum(data, crc32c)
 	length := uint32(len(data))
@@ -298,9 +298,8 @@ func (dec *WALDecoder) Decode() (*TimedWALMessage, error) {
 		return nil, DataCorruptionError{fmt.Errorf("checksums do not match: (read: %v, actual: %v)", crc, actualCRC)}
 	}
 
-	var nn int
-	var res *TimedWALMessage // nolint: gosimple
-	res = wire.ReadBinary(&TimedWALMessage{}, bytes.NewBuffer(data), int(length), &nn, &err).(*TimedWALMessage)
+	var res = new(TimedWALMessage) // nolint: gosimple
+	err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(data, res)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, DataCorruptionError{fmt.Errorf("failed to decode data: %v", err)}
 	}
diff --git a/consensus/wal_generator.go b/consensus/wal_generator.go
index 14f82d8a8..bb0b5296c 100644
--- a/consensus/wal_generator.go
+++ b/consensus/wal_generator.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
+	privval "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	auto "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/autofile"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ func WALWithNBlocks(numBlocks int) (data []byte, err error) {
 	// COPY PASTE FROM node.go WITH A FEW MODIFICATIONS
 	// NOTE: we can't import node package because of circular dependency
 	privValidatorFile := config.PrivValidatorFile()
-	privValidator := types.LoadOrGenPrivValidatorFS(privValidatorFile)
+	privValidator := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(privValidatorFile)
 	genDoc, err := types.GenesisDocFromFile(config.GenesisFile())
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "failed to read genesis file")
diff --git a/consensus/wal_test.go b/consensus/wal_test.go
index 3553591c9..8c95748eb 100644
--- a/consensus/wal_test.go
+++ b/consensus/wal_test.go
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@ package consensus
 import (
 	"bytes"
 	"crypto/rand"
-	"sync"
+	// "sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	wire "github.com/tendermint/go-wire"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus/types"
 	tmtypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
@@ -68,6 +67,7 @@ func TestWALSearchForEndHeight(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, rs.Height, h+1, cmn.Fmt("wrong height"))
 }
 
+/*
 var initOnce sync.Once
 
 func registerInterfacesOnce() {
@@ -78,6 +78,7 @@ func registerInterfacesOnce() {
 		)
 	})
 }
+*/
 
 func nBytes(n int) []byte {
 	buf := make([]byte, n)
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@ func nBytes(n int) []byte {
 }
 
 func benchmarkWalDecode(b *testing.B, n int) {
-	registerInterfacesOnce()
+	// registerInterfacesOnce()
 
 	buf := new(bytes.Buffer)
 	enc := NewWALEncoder(buf)
diff --git a/consensus/wire.go b/consensus/wire.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..81223c689
--- /dev/null
+++ b/consensus/wire.go
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+package consensus
+
+import (
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
+	"github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
+)
+
+var cdc = amino.NewCodec()
+
+func init() {
+	RegisterConsensusMessages(cdc)
+	RegisterWALMessages(cdc)
+	crypto.RegisterAmino(cdc)
+}
diff --git a/types/block.go b/types/block.go
index 1a9b47803..df39d3305 100644
--- a/types/block.go
+++ b/types/block.go
@@ -94,7 +94,9 @@ func (b *Block) Hash() cmn.HexBytes {
 // MakePartSet returns a PartSet containing parts of a serialized block.
 // This is the form in which the block is gossipped to peers.
 func (b *Block) MakePartSet(partSize int) *PartSet {
-	bz, err := cdc.MarshalBinaryBare(b)
+	// We prefix the byte length, so that unmarshaling
+	// can easily happen via a reader.
+	bz, err := cdc.MarshalBinary(b)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/types/priv_validator.go b/types/priv_validator.go
index 06a024215..ecba4456f 100644
--- a/types/priv_validator.go
+++ b/types/priv_validator.go
@@ -87,3 +87,10 @@ func (pv *MockPV) SignHeartbeat(chainID string, heartbeat *Heartbeat) error {
 func (pv *MockPV) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("MockPV{%v}", pv.GetAddress())
 }
+
+// XXX: Implement.
+func (pv *MockPV) DisableChecks() {
+	// Currently this does nothing,
+	// as MockPV has no safety checks at all.
+	return
+}