diff --git a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
index 620a98472..d0e555d96 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG_PENDING.md
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Friendly reminder, we have a [bug bounty program](https://hackerone.com/tendermi
   - [light] \#4964 `light` reactor migration to Protobuf encoding
   - [store] \#4778 Transition store module to protobuf encoding
     - `BlockStoreStateJSON` is now `BlockStoreState` and is encoded as binary in the database
+  - [rpc] \#4968 JSON encoding is now handled by `libs/json`, not Amino
 
 - Apps
 
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/codec.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/codec.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 041b9e9ce..000000000
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/codec.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,13 +0,0 @@
-package commands
-
-import (
-	amino "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
-
-	cryptoamino "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/encoding/amino"
-)
-
-var cdc = amino.NewCodec()
-
-func init() {
-	cryptoamino.RegisterAmino(cdc)
-}
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go
index 572bc974f..41020a5be 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/gen_validator.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 )
 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ var GenValidatorCmd = &cobra.Command{
 
 func genValidator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	pv := privval.GenFilePV("", "")
-	jsbz, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(pv)
+	jsbz, err := tmjson.Marshal(pv)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/probe_upnp.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/probe_upnp.go
index 35c3c354d..9ac35fd50 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/probe_upnp.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/probe_upnp.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p/upnp"
 )
 
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ func probeUpnp(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		fmt.Println("Probe failed: ", err)
 	} else {
 		fmt.Println("Probe success!")
-		jsonBytes, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(capabilities)
+		jsonBytes, err := tmjson.Marshal(capabilities)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go b/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
index fef458a2f..e3980743a 100644
--- a/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
+++ b/cmd/tendermint/commands/show_validator.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/privval"
 )
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ func showValidator(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("can't get pubkey: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	bz, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(pubKey)
+	bz, err := tmjson.Marshal(pubKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal private validator pubkey: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/consensus/reactor.go b/consensus/reactor.go
index 432791209..01a435035 100644
--- a/consensus/reactor.go
+++ b/consensus/reactor.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	cstypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/bits"
 	tmevents "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/events"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/log"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
@@ -953,12 +954,12 @@ func (ps *PeerState) GetRoundState() *cstypes.PeerRoundState {
 	return &prs
 }
 
-// ToJSON returns a json of PeerState, marshalled using go-amino.
+// ToJSON returns a json of PeerState.
 func (ps *PeerState) ToJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	ps.mtx.Lock()
 	defer ps.mtx.Unlock()
 
-	return cdc.MarshalJSON(ps)
+	return tmjson.Marshal(ps)
 }
 
 // GetHeight returns an atomic snapshot of the PeerRoundState's height
@@ -1393,6 +1394,18 @@ func RegisterMessages(cdc *amino.Codec) {
 	cdc.RegisterConcrete(&VoteSetBitsMessage{}, "tendermint/VoteSetBits", nil)
 }
 
+func init() {
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&NewRoundStepMessage{}, "tendermint/NewRoundStepMessage")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&NewValidBlockMessage{}, "tendermint/NewValidBlockMessage")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&ProposalMessage{}, "tendermint/Proposal")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&ProposalPOLMessage{}, "tendermint/ProposalPOL")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&BlockPartMessage{}, "tendermint/BlockPart")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&VoteMessage{}, "tendermint/Vote")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&HasVoteMessage{}, "tendermint/HasVote")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&VoteSetMaj23Message{}, "tendermint/VoteSetMaj23")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(&VoteSetBitsMessage{}, "tendermint/VoteSetBits")
+}
+
 func decodeMsg(bz []byte) (msg Message, err error) {
 	err = cdc.UnmarshalBinaryBare(bz, &msg)
 	return
diff --git a/consensus/state.go b/consensus/state.go
index 85da7190f..924ffbefa 100644
--- a/consensus/state.go
+++ b/consensus/state.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	cstypes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus/types"
 	tmevents "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/events"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/fail"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/log"
 	tmmath "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/math"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
@@ -235,18 +236,18 @@ func (cs *State) GetRoundState() *cstypes.RoundState {
 	return &rs
 }
 
-// GetRoundStateJSON returns a json of RoundState, marshalled using go-amino.
+// GetRoundStateJSON returns a json of RoundState.
 func (cs *State) GetRoundStateJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	cs.mtx.RLock()
 	defer cs.mtx.RUnlock()
-	return cdc.MarshalJSON(cs.RoundState)
+	return tmjson.Marshal(cs.RoundState)
 }
 
 // GetRoundStateSimpleJSON returns a json of RoundStateSimple, marshalled using go-amino.
 func (cs *State) GetRoundStateSimpleJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	cs.mtx.RLock()
 	defer cs.mtx.RUnlock()
-	return cdc.MarshalJSON(cs.RoundState.RoundStateSimple())
+	return tmjson.Marshal(cs.RoundState.RoundStateSimple())
 }
 
 // GetValidators returns a copy of the current validators.
diff --git a/consensus/types/height_vote_set.go b/consensus/types/height_vote_set.go
index 42eb2265e..5304bf994 100644
--- a/consensus/types/height_vote_set.go
+++ b/consensus/types/height_vote_set.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmmath "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/math"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/p2p"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
@@ -237,9 +238,7 @@ func (hvs *HeightVoteSet) StringIndented(indent string) string {
 func (hvs *HeightVoteSet) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	hvs.mtx.Lock()
 	defer hvs.mtx.Unlock()
-
-	allVotes := hvs.toAllRoundVotes()
-	return cdc.MarshalJSON(allVotes)
+	return tmjson.Marshal(hvs.toAllRoundVotes())
 }
 
 func (hvs *HeightVoteSet) toAllRoundVotes() []roundVotes {
diff --git a/consensus/wal.go b/consensus/wal.go
index 3fdae5f8f..215bfd1bd 100644
--- a/consensus/wal.go
+++ b/consensus/wal.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	amino "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
 
 	auto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/autofile"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/log"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/service"
@@ -55,6 +56,12 @@ func RegisterWALMessages(cdc *amino.Codec) {
 	cdc.RegisterConcrete(EndHeightMessage{}, "tendermint/wal/EndHeightMessage", nil)
 }
 
+func init() {
+	tmjson.RegisterType(msgInfo{}, "tendermint/wal/MsgInfo")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(timeoutInfo{}, "tendermint/wal/TimeoutInfo")
+	tmjson.RegisterType(EndHeightMessage{}, "tendermint/wal/EndHeightMessage")
+}
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------
 // Simple write-ahead logger
 
diff --git a/crypto/encoding/amino/encode_test.go b/crypto/encoding/amino/encode_test.go
index a867ea68e..18908369a 100644
--- a/crypto/encoding/amino/encode_test.go
+++ b/crypto/encoding/amino/encode_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/multisig"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/secp256k1"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/sr25519"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 )
 
 type AminoMarshal interface {
@@ -39,9 +40,9 @@ func checkAminoBinary(t *testing.T, src, dst interface{}, size int) {
 	require.Nil(t, err, "%+v", err)
 }
 
-func checkAminoJSON(t *testing.T, src interface{}, dst interface{}, isNil bool) {
+func checkJSON(t *testing.T, src interface{}, dst interface{}, isNil bool) {
 	// Marshal to JSON bytes.
-	js, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(src)
+	js, err := tmjson.Marshal(src)
 	require.Nil(t, err, "%+v", err)
 	if isNil {
 		assert.Equal(t, string(js), `null`)
@@ -50,7 +51,7 @@ func checkAminoJSON(t *testing.T, src interface{}, dst interface{}, isNil bool)
 		assert.Contains(t, string(js), `"value":`)
 	}
 	// Unmarshal.
-	err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(js, dst)
+	err = tmjson.Unmarshal(js, dst)
 	require.Nil(t, err, "%+v", err)
 }
 
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ func TestKeyEncodings(t *testing.T) {
 		var priv2, priv3 crypto.PrivKey
 		checkAminoBinary(t, tc.privKey, &priv2, tc.privSize)
 		assert.EqualValues(t, tc.privKey, priv2, "tc #%d", tcIndex)
-		checkAminoJSON(t, tc.privKey, &priv3, false) // TODO also check Prefix bytes.
+		checkJSON(t, tc.privKey, &priv3, false) // TODO also check Prefix bytes.
 		assert.EqualValues(t, tc.privKey, priv3, "tc #%d", tcIndex)
 
 		// Check (de/en)codings of Signatures.
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ func TestKeyEncodings(t *testing.T) {
 		var pub2, pub3 crypto.PubKey
 		checkAminoBinary(t, pubKey, &pub2, tc.pubSize)
 		assert.EqualValues(t, pubKey, pub2, "tc #%d", tcIndex)
-		checkAminoJSON(t, pubKey, &pub3, false) // TODO also check Prefix bytes.
+		checkJSON(t, pubKey, &pub3, false) // TODO also check Prefix bytes.
 		assert.EqualValues(t, pubKey, pub3, "tc #%d", tcIndex)
 	}
 }
@@ -109,17 +110,17 @@ func TestNilEncodings(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Check nil Signature.
 	var a, b []byte
-	checkAminoJSON(t, &a, &b, true)
+	checkJSON(t, &a, &b, true)
 	assert.EqualValues(t, a, b)
 
 	// Check nil PubKey.
 	var c, d crypto.PubKey
-	checkAminoJSON(t, &c, &d, true)
+	checkJSON(t, &c, &d, true)
 	assert.EqualValues(t, c, d)
 
 	// Check nil PrivKey.
 	var e, f crypto.PrivKey
-	checkAminoJSON(t, &e, &f, true)
+	checkJSON(t, &e, &f, true)
 	assert.EqualValues(t, e, f)
 }
 
diff --git a/crypto/secp256k1/encoding.go b/crypto/secp256k1/encoding.go
index bc9a40121..3ea0b7947 100644
--- a/crypto/secp256k1/encoding.go
+++ b/crypto/secp256k1/encoding.go
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ package secp256k1
 
 import (
 	amino "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -20,4 +22,7 @@ func init() {
 	cdc.RegisterInterface((*crypto.PrivKey)(nil), nil)
 	cdc.RegisterConcrete(PrivKey{},
 		PrivKeyAminoName, nil)
+
+	tmjson.RegisterType(PubKey{}, PubKeyAminoName)
+	tmjson.RegisterType(PrivKey{}, PrivKeyAminoName)
 }
diff --git a/crypto/sr25519/encoding.go b/crypto/sr25519/encoding.go
index 26a67c3ea..a914e1b7d 100644
--- a/crypto/sr25519/encoding.go
+++ b/crypto/sr25519/encoding.go
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ package sr25519
 
 import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
+
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 )
 
 var _ crypto.PrivKey = PrivKey{}
@@ -26,4 +28,7 @@ func init() {
 	cdc.RegisterInterface((*crypto.PrivKey)(nil), nil)
 	cdc.RegisterConcrete(PrivKey{},
 		PrivKeyAminoName, nil)
+
+	tmjson.RegisterType(PubKey{}, PubKeyAminoName)
+	tmjson.RegisterType(PrivKey{}, PrivKeyAminoName)
 }
diff --git a/node/node.go b/node/node.go
index 4d963510c..97e6e37c0 100644
--- a/node/node.go
+++ b/node/node.go
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import (
 	cs "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/evidence"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/log"
 	tmpubsub "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/pubsub"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/service"
@@ -1293,7 +1294,7 @@ func loadGenesisDoc(db dbm.DB) (*types.GenesisDoc, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("genesis doc not found")
 	}
 	var genDoc *types.GenesisDoc
-	err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(b, &genDoc)
+	err = tmjson.Unmarshal(b, &genDoc)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to load genesis doc due to unmarshaling error: %v (bytes: %X)", err, b))
 	}
@@ -1302,7 +1303,7 @@ func loadGenesisDoc(db dbm.DB) (*types.GenesisDoc, error) {
 
 // panics if failed to marshal the given genesis document
 func saveGenesisDoc(db dbm.DB, genDoc *types.GenesisDoc) {
-	b, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(genDoc)
+	b, err := tmjson.Marshal(genDoc)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Failed to save genesis doc due to marshaling error: %v", err))
 	}
diff --git a/p2p/key.go b/p2p/key.go
index 84dec3f1a..f0f3dfd03 100644
--- a/p2p/key.go
+++ b/p2p/key.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/ed25519"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
 )
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ func LoadNodeKey(filePath string) (*NodeKey, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	nodeKey := new(NodeKey)
-	err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(jsonBytes, nodeKey)
+	err = tmjson.Unmarshal(jsonBytes, nodeKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ func LoadNodeKey(filePath string) (*NodeKey, error) {
 
 // SaveAs persists the NodeKey to filePath.
 func (nodeKey *NodeKey) SaveAs(filePath string) error {
-	jsonBytes, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(nodeKey)
+	jsonBytes, err := tmjson.Marshal(nodeKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/privval/file.go b/privval/file.go
index 5666a50fd..06c0073de 100644
--- a/privval/file.go
+++ b/privval/file.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/ed25519"
 	tmbytes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/bytes"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/tempfile"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
@@ -55,7 +56,7 @@ func (pvKey FilePVKey) Save() {
 		panic("cannot save PrivValidator key: filePath not set")
 	}
 
-	jsonBytes, err := cdc.MarshalJSONIndent(pvKey, "", "  ")
+	jsonBytes, err := tmjson.MarshalIndent(pvKey, "", "  ")
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -126,7 +127,7 @@ func (lss *FilePVLastSignState) Save() {
 	if outFile == "" {
 		panic("cannot save FilePVLastSignState: filePath not set")
 	}
-	jsonBytes, err := cdc.MarshalJSONIndent(lss, "", "  ")
+	jsonBytes, err := tmjson.MarshalIndent(lss, "", "  ")
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ func loadFilePV(keyFilePath, stateFilePath string, loadState bool) *FilePV {
 		tmos.Exit(err.Error())
 	}
 	pvKey := FilePVKey{}
-	err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(keyJSONBytes, &pvKey)
+	err = tmjson.Unmarshal(keyJSONBytes, &pvKey)
 	if err != nil {
 		tmos.Exit(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading PrivValidator key from %v: %v\n", keyFilePath, err))
 	}
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@ func loadFilePV(keyFilePath, stateFilePath string, loadState bool) *FilePV {
 		if err != nil {
 			tmos.Exit(err.Error())
 		}
-		err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(stateJSONBytes, &pvState)
+		err = tmjson.Unmarshal(stateJSONBytes, &pvState)
 		if err != nil {
 			tmos.Exit(fmt.Sprintf("Error reading PrivValidator state from %v: %v\n", stateFilePath, err))
 		}
@@ -406,8 +407,8 @@ func checkVotesOnlyDifferByTimestamp(lastSignBytes, newSignBytes []byte) (time.T
 	now := tmtime.Now()
 	lastVote.Timestamp = now
 	newVote.Timestamp = now
-	lastVoteBytes, _ := cdc.MarshalJSON(lastVote)
-	newVoteBytes, _ := cdc.MarshalJSON(newVote)
+	lastVoteBytes, _ := tmjson.Marshal(lastVote)
+	newVoteBytes, _ := tmjson.Marshal(newVote)
 
 	return lastTime, bytes.Equal(newVoteBytes, lastVoteBytes)
 }
diff --git a/privval/file_test.go b/privval/file_test.go
index b118ac869..540e952a5 100644
--- a/privval/file_test.go
+++ b/privval/file_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/ed25519"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 	tmtime "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/time"
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ func TestUnmarshalValidatorState(t *testing.T) {
 	}`
 
 	val := FilePVLastSignState{}
-	err := cdc.UnmarshalJSON([]byte(serialized), &val)
+	err := tmjson.Unmarshal([]byte(serialized), &val)
 	require.Nil(err, "%+v", err)
 
 	// make sure the values match
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ func TestUnmarshalValidatorState(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.EqualValues(val.Step, 1)
 
 	// export it and make sure it is the same
-	out, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(val)
+	out, err := tmjson.Marshal(val)
 	require.Nil(err, "%+v", err)
 	assert.JSONEq(serialized, string(out))
 }
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ func TestUnmarshalValidatorKey(t *testing.T) {
 }`, addr, pubB64, privB64)
 
 	val := FilePVKey{}
-	err := cdc.UnmarshalJSON([]byte(serialized), &val)
+	err := tmjson.Unmarshal([]byte(serialized), &val)
 	require.Nil(err, "%+v", err)
 
 	// make sure the values match
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ func TestUnmarshalValidatorKey(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.EqualValues(privKey, val.PrivKey)
 
 	// export it and make sure it is the same
-	out, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(val)
+	out, err := tmjson.Marshal(val)
 	require.Nil(err, "%+v", err)
 	assert.JSONEq(serialized, string(out))
 }
diff --git a/scripts/json2wal/main.go b/scripts/json2wal/main.go
index a23dc5d57..ef98977d9 100644
--- a/scripts/json2wal/main.go
+++ b/scripts/json2wal/main.go
@@ -14,20 +14,11 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"strings"
 
-	amino "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
-
 	cs "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
 )
 
-var cdc = amino.NewCodec()
-
-func init() {
-	cs.RegisterMessages(cdc)
-	cs.RegisterWALMessages(cdc)
-	types.RegisterBlockAmino(cdc)
-}
-
 func main() {
 	if len(os.Args) < 3 {
 		fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "missing arguments: Usage:json2wal <path-to-JSON>  <path-to-wal>")
@@ -65,7 +56,7 @@ func main() {
 		}
 
 		var msg cs.TimedWALMessage
-		err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(msgJSON, &msg)
+		err = tmjson.Unmarshal(msgJSON, &msg)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Errorf("failed to unmarshal json: %v", err))
 		}
diff --git a/scripts/wal2json/main.go b/scripts/wal2json/main.go
index 181f40c75..123c103a2 100644
--- a/scripts/wal2json/main.go
+++ b/scripts/wal2json/main.go
@@ -12,20 +12,10 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 
-	amino "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
-
 	cs "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/consensus"
-	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 )
 
-var cdc = amino.NewCodec()
-
-func init() {
-	cs.RegisterMessages(cdc)
-	cs.RegisterWALMessages(cdc)
-	types.RegisterBlockAmino(cdc)
-}
-
 func main() {
 	if len(os.Args) < 2 {
 		fmt.Println("missing one argument: <path-to-wal>")
@@ -47,7 +37,7 @@ func main() {
 			panic(fmt.Errorf("failed to decode msg: %v", err))
 		}
 
-		json, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(msg)
+		json, err := tmjson.Marshal(msg)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(fmt.Errorf("failed to marshal msg: %v", err))
 		}
diff --git a/test/app/grpc_client.go b/test/app/grpc_client.go
index 88e4650ab..73022aaf8 100644
--- a/test/app/grpc_client.go
+++ b/test/app/grpc_client.go
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	"context"
 
-	amino "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
-
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	coregrpc "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/rpc/grpc"
 )
 
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	bz, err := amino.NewCodec().MarshalJSON(res)
+	bz, err := tmjson.Marshal(res)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Println(err)
 		os.Exit(1)
diff --git a/types/genesis.go b/types/genesis.go
index 216827b3f..d5924fe3e 100644
--- a/types/genesis.go
+++ b/types/genesis.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto"
 	tmbytes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/bytes"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmos "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/os"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
 	tmtime "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/time"
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ type GenesisDoc struct {
 
 // SaveAs is a utility method for saving GenensisDoc as a JSON file.
 func (genDoc *GenesisDoc) SaveAs(file string) error {
-	genDocBytes, err := cdc.MarshalJSONIndent(genDoc, "", "  ")
+	genDocBytes, err := tmjson.MarshalIndent(genDoc, "", "  ")
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@ func (genDoc *GenesisDoc) ValidateAndComplete() error {
 // GenesisDocFromJSON unmarshalls JSON data into a GenesisDoc.
 func GenesisDocFromJSON(jsonBlob []byte) (*GenesisDoc, error) {
 	genDoc := GenesisDoc{}
-	err := cdc.UnmarshalJSON(jsonBlob, &genDoc)
+	err := tmjson.Unmarshal(jsonBlob, &genDoc)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/types/genesis_test.go b/types/genesis_test.go
index ee713a6e7..a56bfaa65 100644
--- a/types/genesis_test.go
+++ b/types/genesis_test.go
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/ed25519"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmtime "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/types/time"
 )
 
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func TestGenesisGood(t *testing.T) {
 		ChainID:    "abc",
 		Validators: []GenesisValidator{{pubkey.Address(), pubkey, 10, "myval"}},
 	}
-	genDocBytes, err = cdc.MarshalJSON(baseGenDoc)
+	genDocBytes, err = tmjson.Marshal(baseGenDoc)
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "error marshalling genDoc")
 
 	// test base gendoc and check consensus params were filled
@@ -85,14 +86,14 @@ func TestGenesisGood(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotNil(t, genDoc.Validators[0].Address, "expected validator's address to be filled in")
 
 	// create json with consensus params filled
-	genDocBytes, err = cdc.MarshalJSON(genDoc)
+	genDocBytes, err = tmjson.Marshal(genDoc)
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "error marshalling genDoc")
 	genDoc, err = GenesisDocFromJSON(genDocBytes)
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "expected no error for valid genDoc json")
 
 	// test with invalid consensus params
 	genDoc.ConsensusParams.Block.MaxBytes = 0
-	genDocBytes, err = cdc.MarshalJSON(genDoc)
+	genDocBytes, err = tmjson.Marshal(genDoc)
 	assert.NoError(t, err, "error marshalling genDoc")
 	_, err = GenesisDocFromJSON(genDocBytes)
 	assert.Error(t, err, "expected error for genDoc json with block size of 0")
diff --git a/types/part_set.go b/types/part_set.go
index 0cf319b6e..bb05ce1cd 100644
--- a/types/part_set.go
+++ b/types/part_set.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/crypto/merkle"
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/bits"
 	tmbytes "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/bytes"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmmath "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/math"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
 )
@@ -338,7 +339,7 @@ func (ps *PartSet) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	ps.mtx.Lock()
 	defer ps.mtx.Unlock()
 
-	return cdc.MarshalJSON(struct {
+	return tmjson.Marshal(struct {
 		CountTotal    string         `json:"count/total"`
 		PartsBitArray *bits.BitArray `json:"parts_bit_array"`
 	}{
diff --git a/types/vote_set.go b/types/vote_set.go
index 443077292..f874dd5ab 100644
--- a/types/vote_set.go
+++ b/types/vote_set.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/bits"
+	tmjson "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/libs/json"
 	tmproto "github.com/tendermint/tendermint/proto/types"
 )
 
@@ -477,7 +478,7 @@ func (voteSet *VoteSet) StringIndented(indent string) string {
 func (voteSet *VoteSet) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	voteSet.mtx.Lock()
 	defer voteSet.mtx.Unlock()
-	return cdc.MarshalJSON(VoteSetJSON{
+	return tmjson.Marshal(VoteSetJSON{
 		voteSet.voteStrings(),
 		voteSet.bitArrayString(),
 		voteSet.peerMaj23s,