diff --git a/cmd/priv_val_server/main.go b/cmd/priv_val_server/main.go
index 6b10b8178..98e7dceed 100644
--- a/cmd/priv_val_server/main.go
+++ b/cmd/priv_val_server/main.go
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import (
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
-	priv_val "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 )
 
 func main() {
@@ -30,13 +30,13 @@ func main() {
 		"privPath", *privValPath,
 	)
 
-	privVal := priv_val.LoadFilePV(*privValPath)
+	pv := privval.LoadFilePV(*privValPath)
 
-	rs := priv_val.NewRemoteSigner(
+	rs := privval.NewRemoteSigner(
 		logger,
 		*chainID,
 		*addr,
-		privVal,
+		pv,
 		crypto.GenPrivKeyEd25519(),
 	)
 	err := rs.Start()
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go
index ff0d97d76..20d43d4dd 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 )
 
 // GenValidatorCmd allows the generation of a keypair for a
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ var GenValidatorCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 func genValidator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
-	pv := pvm.GenFilePV("")
+	pv := privval.GenFilePV("")
 	jsbz, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(pv)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go
index 430a6c7c9..45812b9ed 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/init.go
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ import (
 
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 )
 
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ func initFiles(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 func initFilesWithConfig(config *cfg.Config) error {
 	// private validator
 	privValFile := config.PrivValidatorFile()
-	var pv *pvm.FilePV
+	var pv *privval.FilePV
 	if cmn.FileExists(privValFile) {
-		pv = pvm.LoadFilePV(privValFile)
+		pv = privval.LoadFilePV(privValFile)
 		logger.Info("Found private validator", "path", privValFile)
 	} else {
-		pv = pvm.GenFilePV(privValFile)
+		pv = privval.GenFilePV(privValFile)
 		pv.Save()
 		logger.Info("Generated private validator", "path", privValFile)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go
index 78db87ded..cf4b7c575 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/reset_priv_validator.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 )
 
@@ -50,11 +50,11 @@ func resetPrivValidator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 func resetFilePV(privValFile string, logger log.Logger) {
 	// Get PrivValidator
 	if _, err := os.Stat(privValFile); err == nil {
-		pv := pvm.LoadFilePV(privValFile)
+		pv := privval.LoadFilePV(privValFile)
 		pv.Reset()
 		logger.Info("Reset PrivValidator", "file", privValFile)
 	} else {
-		pv := pvm.GenFilePV(privValFile)
+		pv := privval.GenFilePV(privValFile)
 		pv.Save()
 		logger.Info("Generated PrivValidator", "file", privValFile)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
index b354683b4..54765164b 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
-	privval "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 )
 
 // ShowValidatorCmd adds capabilities for showing the validator info.
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/testnet.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/testnet.go
index 3b29e20a2..660bab151 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/testnet.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/testnet.go
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ import (
 
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 )
 
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func testnetFiles(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		initFilesWithConfig(config)
 
 		pvFile := filepath.Join(nodeDir, config.BaseConfig.PrivValidator)
-		pv := pvm.LoadFilePV(pvFile)
+		pv := privval.LoadFilePV(pvFile)
 		genVals[i] = types.GenesisValidator{
 			PubKey: pv.GetPubKey(),
 			Power:  1,
diff --git a/consensus/common_test.go b/consensus/common_test.go
index 3eaeea700..94ab70de5 100644
--- a/consensus/common_test.go
+++ b/consensus/common_test.go
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ import (
 	cstypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus/types"
 	mempl "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/mempool"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
@@ -278,10 +278,10 @@ func newConsensusStateWithConfigAndBlockStore(thisConfig *cfg.Config, state sm.S
 	return cs
 }
 
-func loadPrivValidator(config *cfg.Config) *pvm.FilePV {
+func loadPrivValidator(config *cfg.Config) *privval.FilePV {
 	privValidatorFile := config.PrivValidatorFile()
 	ensureDir(path.Dir(privValidatorFile), 0700)
-	privValidator := pvm.LoadOrGenFilePV(privValidatorFile)
+	privValidator := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(privValidatorFile)
 	privValidator.Reset()
 	return privValidator
 }
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ func randConsensusNetWithPeers(nValidators, nPeers int, testName string, tickerF
 			privVal = privVals[i]
 		} else {
 			_, tempFilePath := cmn.Tempfile("priv_validator_")
-			privVal = pvm.GenFilePV(tempFilePath)
+			privVal = privval.GenFilePV(tempFilePath)
 		}
 
 		app := appFunc()
diff --git a/consensus/replay_test.go b/consensus/replay_test.go
index 84b1e1180..766a6e52e 100644
--- a/consensus/replay_test.go
+++ b/consensus/replay_test.go
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ import (
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
 
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 )
 
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ func testHandshakeReplay(t *testing.T, nBlocks int, mode uint) {
 	walFile := tempWALWithData(walBody)
 	config.Consensus.SetWalFile(walFile)
 
-	privVal := pvm.LoadFilePV(config.PrivValidatorFile())
+	privVal := privval.LoadFilePV(config.PrivValidatorFile())
 
 	wal, err := NewWAL(walFile)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/consensus/wal_generator.go b/consensus/wal_generator.go
index dc364df0e..5de808868 100644
--- a/consensus/wal_generator.go
+++ b/consensus/wal_generator.go
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/abci/example/kvstore"
 	bc "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/blockchain"
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	sm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	pvm "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 +40,7 @@ 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 := pvm.LoadOrGenFilePV(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/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 5cae4a4b1..5da57665b 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import (
 	mempl "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/mempool"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p/pex"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	rpccore "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/core"
 	ctypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/core/types"
@@ -32,7 +33,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state/txindex/kv"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/state/txindex/null"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/version"
 
 	_ "net/http/pprof"
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ type NodeProvider func(*cfg.Config, log.Logger) (*Node, error)
 // It implements NodeProvider.
 func DefaultNewNode(config *cfg.Config, logger log.Logger) (*Node, error) {
 	return NewNode(config,
-		pvm.LoadOrGenFilePV(config.PrivValidatorFile()),
+		privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(config.PrivValidatorFile()),
 		proxy.DefaultClientCreator(config.ProxyApp, config.ABCI, config.DBDir()),
 		DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
 		DefaultDBProvider,
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ func NewNode(config *cfg.Config,
 			// TODO: persist this key so external signer
 			// can actually authenticate us
 			privKey = crypto.GenPrivKeyEd25519()
-			pvsc    = pvm.NewSocketPV(
-				logger.With("module", "pvm"),
+			pvsc    = privval.NewSocketPV(
+				logger.With("module", "privval"),
 				config.PrivValidatorListenAddr,
 				privKey,
 			)
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ func (n *Node) OnStop() {
 	n.eventBus.Stop()
 	n.indexerService.Stop()
 
-	if pvsc, ok := n.privValidator.(*pvm.SocketPV); ok {
+	if pvsc, ok := n.privValidator.(*privval.SocketPV); ok {
 		if err := pvsc.Stop(); err != nil {
 			n.Logger.Error("Error stopping priv validator socket client", "err", err)
 		}
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/priv_validator.go b/privval/priv_validator.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/priv_validator.go
rename to privval/priv_validator.go
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/priv_validator_test.go b/privval/priv_validator_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/priv_validator_test.go
rename to privval/priv_validator_test.go
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/socket.go b/privval/socket.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/socket.go
rename to privval/socket.go
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/socket_tcp.go b/privval/socket_tcp.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/socket_tcp.go
rename to privval/socket_tcp.go
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/socket_tcp_test.go b/privval/socket_tcp_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/socket_tcp_test.go
rename to privval/socket_tcp_test.go
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/socket_test.go b/privval/socket_test.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/socket_test.go
rename to privval/socket_test.go
diff --git a/types/priv_validator/wire.go b/privval/wire.go
similarity index 100%
rename from types/priv_validator/wire.go
rename to privval/wire.go
diff --git a/rpc/test/helpers.go b/rpc/test/helpers.go
index 11cafa0cd..5d18299bc 100644
--- a/rpc/test/helpers.go
+++ b/rpc/test/helpers.go
@@ -15,11 +15,11 @@ import (
 
 	cfg "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/config"
 	nm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/node"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proxy"
 	ctypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/core/types"
 	core_grpc "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/grpc"
 	rpcclient "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/lib/client"
-	pvm "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 )
 
 var globalConfig *cfg.Config
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func NewTendermint(app abci.Application) *nm.Node {
 	logger := log.NewTMLogger(log.NewSyncWriter(os.Stdout))
 	logger = log.NewFilter(logger, log.AllowError())
 	pvFile := config.PrivValidatorFile()
-	pv := pvm.LoadOrGenFilePV(pvFile)
+	pv := privval.LoadOrGenFilePV(pvFile)
 	papp := proxy.NewLocalClientCreator(app)
 	node, err := nm.NewNode(config, pv, papp,
 		nm.DefaultGenesisDocProviderFunc(config),
diff --git a/scripts/wire2amino.go b/scripts/wire2amino.go
index 949082877..a942ceaad 100644
--- a/scripts/wire2amino.go
+++ b/scripts/wire2amino.go
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ import (
 	cmn "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/common"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
-	priv_val "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/priv_validator"
 )
 
 type GenesisValidator struct {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func convertPrivVal(cdc *amino.Codec, jsonBytes []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	var pubKey crypto.PubKeyEd25519
 	copy(pubKey[:], privVal.PubKey.Data)
 
-	privValNew := priv_val.FilePV{
+	privValNew := privval.FilePV{
 		Address:    pubKey.Address(),
 		PubKey:     pubKey,
 		LastHeight: privVal.LastHeight,