diff --git a/Gopkg.lock b/Gopkg.lock
index d773b4d7ad4c..f474e77564b2 100644
--- a/Gopkg.lock
+++ b/Gopkg.lock
@@ -277,8 +277,8 @@
 [[projects]]
   name = "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
   packages = ["."]
-  revision = "3668c02a8feace009f80754a5e5a8541e5d7b996"
-  version = "0.9.8"
+  revision = "ed62928576cfcaf887209dc96142cd79cdfff389"
+  version = "0.9.9"
 
 [[projects]]
   name = "github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
@@ -460,6 +460,6 @@
 [solve-meta]
   analyzer-name = "dep"
   analyzer-version = 1
-  inputs-digest = "48f831a7ccc2c0fd3b790c16ca99ec864b89253d087ff4190d821c01c13e635a"
+  inputs-digest = "fad966346d3b6042faf2bf793168b6ce9a8ff59ae207b7ad57008ead0f3ff7d4"
   solver-name = "gps-cdcl"
   solver-version = 1
diff --git a/Gopkg.toml b/Gopkg.toml
index 1e71e68e261b..d2d4ee2ff31d 100644
--- a/Gopkg.toml
+++ b/Gopkg.toml
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 
 [[constraint]]
   name = "github.com/tendermint/go-amino"
-  version = "~0.9.8"
+  version = "~0.9.9"
 
 [[constraint]]
   name = "github.com/tendermint/iavl"
diff --git a/cmd/gaia/app/app_test.go b/cmd/gaia/app/app_test.go
index 25c6b2d97b59..3bca2654b839 100644
--- a/cmd/gaia/app/app_test.go
+++ b/cmd/gaia/app/app_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/wire"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/auth"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/bank"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/ibc"
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ func setGenesis(gapp *GaiaApp, accs ...*auth.BaseAccount) error {
 		StakeData: stake.GetDefaultGenesisState(),
 	}
 
-	stateBytes, err := json.MarshalIndent(genesisState, "", "\t")
+	stateBytes, err := wire.MarshalJSONIndent(gapp.cdc, genesisState)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/types/rational.go b/types/rational.go
index 550c96825a64..7e0a091075c7 100644
--- a/types/rational.go
+++ b/types/rational.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package types
 
 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"math/big"
 	"strconv"
@@ -153,26 +152,16 @@ func (r Rat) ToLeftPadded(totalDigits int8) string {
 
 //___________________________________________________________________________________
 
-//Wraps r.MarshalText() in quotes to make it a valid JSON string.
-func (r Rat) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+//Wraps r.MarshalText().
+func (r Rat) MarshalAmino() (string, error) {
 	bz, err := (&(r.Rat)).MarshalText()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return []byte(fmt.Sprintf("\"%s\"", bz)), nil
+	return string(bz), err
 }
 
 // Requires a valid JSON string - strings quotes and calls UnmarshalText
-func (r *Rat) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) (err error) {
-	quote := []byte(`"`)
-	if len(data) < 2 ||
-		!bytes.HasPrefix(data, quote) ||
-		!bytes.HasSuffix(data, quote) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("JSON encoded Rat must be a quote-delimitted string, have %v", string(data))
-	}
-	data = bytes.Trim(data, `"`)
+func (r *Rat) UnmarshalAmino(text string) (err error) {
 	tempRat := big.NewRat(0, 1)
-	err = tempRat.UnmarshalText(data)
+	err = tempRat.UnmarshalText([]byte(text))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/types/rational_test.go b/types/rational_test.go
index 39207034cbef..e59545bfc787 100644
--- a/types/rational_test.go
+++ b/types/rational_test.go
@@ -229,23 +229,34 @@ func TestSerializationText(t *testing.T) {
 	bz, err := r.MarshalText()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	r2 := NewRat(0, 1)
+	var r2 Rat
 	err = r2.UnmarshalText(bz)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.True(t, r.Equal(r2), "original: %v, unmarshalled: %v", r, r2)
 }
 
-func TestSerializationGoWire(t *testing.T) {
+func TestSerializationGoWireJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	r := NewRat(1, 3)
 	bz, err := cdc.MarshalJSON(r)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	r2 := NewRat(0, 1)
+	var r2 Rat
 	err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &r2)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.True(t, r.Equal(r2), "original: %v, unmarshalled: %v", r, r2)
 }
 
+func TestSerializationGoWireBinary(t *testing.T) {
+	r := NewRat(1, 3)
+	bz, err := cdc.MarshalBinary(r)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	var r2 Rat
+	err = cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bz, &r2)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, r.Equal(r2), "original: %v, unmarshalled: %v", r, r2)
+}
+
 type testEmbedStruct struct {
 	Field1 string `json:"f1"`
 	Field2 int    `json:"f2"`
diff --git a/x/stake/client/cli/query.go b/x/stake/client/cli/query.go
index bb2a2b8db45d..145333e486c7 100644
--- a/x/stake/client/cli/query.go
+++ b/x/stake/client/cli/query.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func GetCmdQueryCandidate(storeName string, cdc *wire.Codec) *cobra.Command {
 
 			// parse out the candidate
 			candidate := new(stake.Candidate)
-			err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(res, candidate)
+			err = cdc.UnmarshalBinary(res, candidate)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func GetCmdQueryDelegatorBond(storeName string, cdc *wire.Codec) *cobra.Command
 
 			// parse out the bond
 			bond := new(stake.DelegatorBond)
-			err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(res, bond)
+			err = cdc.UnmarshalBinary(res, bond)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/x/stake/client/rest/query.go b/x/stake/client/rest/query.go
index 22175d75a732..8eb0e03ceb5e 100644
--- a/x/stake/client/rest/query.go
+++ b/x/stake/client/rest/query.go
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func BondingStatusHandlerFn(storeName string, cdc *wire.Codec, kb keys.Keybase,
 		}
 
 		var bond stake.DelegatorBond
-		err = cdc.UnmarshalJSON(res, &bond)
+		err = cdc.UnmarshalBinary(res, &bond)
 		if err != nil {
 			w.WriteHeader(http.StatusInternalServerError)
 			w.Write([]byte(fmt.Sprintf("Couldn't decode bond. Error: %s", err.Error())))
diff --git a/x/stake/keeper.go b/x/stake/keeper.go
index d9fa293f5fdc..605f675db0ee 100644
--- a/x/stake/keeper.go
+++ b/x/stake/keeper.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (k Keeper) getCounter(ctx sdk.Context) int16 {
 		return 0
 	}
 	var counter int16
-	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(b, &counter)
+	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(b, &counter)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (k Keeper) getCounter(ctx sdk.Context) int16 {
 // set the current in-block validator operation counter
 func (k Keeper) setCounter(ctx sdk.Context, counter int16) {
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
-	bz, err := k.cdc.MarshalJSON(counter)
+	bz, err := k.cdc.MarshalBinary(counter)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, addr sdk.Address) (candidate Candi
 	if b == nil {
 		return candidate, false
 	}
-	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(b, &candidate)
+	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(b, &candidate)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetCandidates(ctx sdk.Context, maxRetrieve int16) (candidates Ca
 		}
 		bz := iterator.Value()
 		var candidate Candidate
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &candidate)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bz, &candidate)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func (k Keeper) setCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, candidate Candidate) {
 	}
 
 	// marshal the candidate record and add to the state
-	bz, err := k.cdc.MarshalJSON(candidate)
+	bz, err := k.cdc.MarshalBinary(candidate)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func (k Keeper) setCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, candidate Candidate) {
 	}
 
 	// update the candidate record
-	bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalJSON(candidate)
+	bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalBinary(candidate)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (k Keeper) setCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, candidate Candidate) {
 
 	// marshal the new validator record
 	validator := candidate.validator()
-	bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalJSON(validator)
+	bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalBinary(validator)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ func (k Keeper) setCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, candidate Candidate) {
 		setAcc = true
 	}
 	if setAcc {
-		bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalJSON(validator.abciValidator(k.cdc))
+		bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalBinary(validator.abciValidator(k.cdc))
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func (k Keeper) removeCandidate(ctx sdk.Context, address sdk.Address) {
 	if store.Get(GetRecentValidatorKey(address)) == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	bz, err := k.cdc.MarshalJSON(candidate.validator().abciValidatorZero(k.cdc))
+	bz, err := k.cdc.MarshalBinary(candidate.validator().abciValidatorZero(k.cdc))
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetValidators(ctx sdk.Context) (validators []Validator) {
 		}
 		bz := iterator.Value()
 		var validator Validator
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &validator)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bz, &validator)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -266,11 +266,11 @@ func (k Keeper) GetValidators(ctx sdk.Context) (validators []Validator) {
 		// get the zero abci validator from the ToKickOut iterator value
 		bz := iterator.Value()
 		var validator Validator
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &validator)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bz, &validator)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
-		bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalJSON(validator.abciValidatorZero(k.cdc))
+		bz, err = k.cdc.MarshalBinary(validator.abciValidatorZero(k.cdc))
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ func (k Keeper) isNewValidator(ctx sdk.Context, store sdk.KVStore, address sdk.A
 		}
 		bz := iterator.Value()
 		var val Validator
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bz, &val)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bz, &val)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ func (k Keeper) getAccUpdateValidators(ctx sdk.Context) (updates []abci.Validato
 	for ; iterator.Valid(); iterator.Next() {
 		valBytes := iterator.Value()
 		var val abci.Validator
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(valBytes, &val)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(valBytes, &val)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetDelegatorBond(ctx sdk.Context,
 		return bond, false
 	}
 
-	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(delegatorBytes, &bond)
+	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(delegatorBytes, &bond)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ func (k Keeper) getBonds(ctx sdk.Context, maxRetrieve int16) (bonds []DelegatorB
 		}
 		bondBytes := iterator.Value()
 		var bond DelegatorBond
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bondBytes, &bond)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bondBytes, &bond)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetDelegatorBonds(ctx sdk.Context, delegator sdk.Address, maxRet
 		}
 		bondBytes := iterator.Value()
 		var bond DelegatorBond
-		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(bondBytes, &bond)
+		err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(bondBytes, &bond)
 		if err != nil {
 			panic(err)
 		}
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetDelegatorBonds(ctx sdk.Context, delegator sdk.Address, maxRet
 
 func (k Keeper) setDelegatorBond(ctx sdk.Context, bond DelegatorBond) {
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
-	b, err := k.cdc.MarshalJSON(bond)
+	b, err := k.cdc.MarshalBinary(bond)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetParams(ctx sdk.Context) (params Params) {
 		panic("Stored params should not have been nil")
 	}
 
-	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(b, &params)
+	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(b, &params)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetParams(ctx sdk.Context) (params Params) {
 }
 func (k Keeper) setParams(ctx sdk.Context, params Params) {
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
-	b, err := k.cdc.MarshalJSON(params)
+	b, err := k.cdc.MarshalBinary(params)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetPool(ctx sdk.Context) (pool Pool) {
 	if b == nil {
 		panic("Stored pool should not have been nil")
 	}
-	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalJSON(b, &pool)
+	err := k.cdc.UnmarshalBinary(b, &pool)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err) // This error should never occur big problem if does
 	}
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetPool(ctx sdk.Context) (pool Pool) {
 
 func (k Keeper) setPool(ctx sdk.Context, p Pool) {
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
-	b, err := k.cdc.MarshalJSON(p)
+	b, err := k.cdc.MarshalBinary(p)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}