diff --git a/Gopkg.lock b/Gopkg.lock
index dcc57cab3..37a32820c 100644
--- a/Gopkg.lock
+++ b/Gopkg.lock
@@ -13,51 +13,6 @@
   packages = ["btcec"]
   revision = "1432d294a5b055c297457c25434efbf13384cc46"
 
-[[projects]]
-  name = "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk"
-  packages = [
-    "baseapp",
-    "client",
-    "client/context",
-    "client/keys",
-    "client/lcd",
-    "client/rpc",
-    "client/tx",
-    "cmd/gaia/app",
-    "examples/basecoin/app",
-    "examples/basecoin/types",
-    "examples/democoin/app",
-    "examples/democoin/types",
-    "examples/democoin/x/cool",
-    "examples/democoin/x/cool/client/cli",
-    "examples/democoin/x/pow",
-    "examples/democoin/x/pow/client/cli",
-    "examples/democoin/x/simplestake",
-    "examples/democoin/x/simplestake/client/cli",
-    "examples/democoin/x/sketchy",
-    "mock",
-    "server",
-    "store",
-    "tests",
-    "types",
-    "version",
-    "wire",
-    "x/auth",
-    "x/auth/client/cli",
-    "x/auth/client/rest",
-    "x/bank",
-    "x/bank/client",
-    "x/bank/client/cli",
-    "x/bank/client/rest",
-    "x/ibc",
-    "x/ibc/client/cli",
-    "x/ibc/client/rest",
-    "x/stake",
-    "x/stake/client/cli"
-  ]
-  revision = "187be1a5df81de1fd71da9053102d3a4868ec979"
-  version = "v0.17.2"
-
 [[projects]]
   name = "github.com/davecgh/go-spew"
   packages = ["spew"]
@@ -502,6 +457,6 @@
 [solve-meta]
   analyzer-name = "dep"
   analyzer-version = 1
-  inputs-digest = "9b6ee069da61cf1815c332c5624e8af99b51ea72e2e9b91d780db92299598dcc"
+  inputs-digest = "7540d2ecdb5d7d5084ab4e6132e929bbd501bd6add3006d8f08a6b2c127e0c7d"
   solver-name = "gps-cdcl"
   solver-version = 1
diff --git a/client/lcd/lcd_test.go b/client/lcd/lcd_test.go
index 7d1dab676..5108279ac 100644
--- a/client/lcd/lcd_test.go
+++ b/client/lcd/lcd_test.go
@@ -36,16 +36,18 @@ import (
 	gapp "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/cmd/gaia/app"
 	tests "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/tests"
 	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/stake"
 )
 
 var (
-	coinDenom  = "mycoin"
+	coinDenom  = "steak"
 	coinAmount = int64(10000000)
 
 	stakeDenom     = "steak"
-	candidateAddr1 = ""
-	candidateAddr2 = ""
+	validatorAddr1 = ""
+	validatorAddr2 = ""
 
 	// XXX bad globals
 	name     = "test"
@@ -222,6 +224,7 @@ func TestValidators(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCoinSend(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// query empty
+	//res, body := request(t, port, "GET", "/accounts/8FA6AB57AD6870F6B5B2E57735F38F2F30E73CB6", nil)
 	res, body := request(t, port, "GET", "/accounts/8FA6AB57AD6870F6B5B2E57735F38F2F30E73CB6", nil)
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusNoContent, res.StatusCode, body)
 
@@ -327,7 +330,7 @@ func TestBond(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(9999900), coins.AmountOf(stakeDenom))
 
 	// query candidate
-	bond := getDelegation(t, sendAddr, candidateAddr1)
+	bond := getDelegation(t, sendAddr, validatorAddr1)
 	assert.Equal(t, "100/1", bond.Shares.String())
 }
 
@@ -347,7 +350,7 @@ func TestUnbond(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, int64(9999911), coins.AmountOf(stakeDenom))
 
 	// query candidate
-	bond := getDelegation(t, sendAddr, candidateAddr1)
+	bond := getDelegation(t, sendAddr, validatorAddr1)
 	assert.Equal(t, "99/1", bond.Shares.String())
 }
 
@@ -366,14 +369,6 @@ func startTMAndLCD() (*nm.Node, net.Listener, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
-	var info cryptoKeys.Info
-	info, seed, err = kb.Create(name, password, cryptoKeys.AlgoEd25519) // XXX global seed
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, nil, err
-	}
-
-	pubKey := info.PubKey
-	sendAddr = pubKey.Address().String() // XXX global
 
 	config := GetConfig()
 	config.Consensus.TimeoutCommit = 1000
@@ -400,59 +395,46 @@ func startTMAndLCD() (*nm.Node, net.Listener, error) {
 			Name:   "val",
 		},
 	)
-	candidateAddr1 = hex.EncodeToString(genDoc.Validators[0].PubKey.Address())
-	candidateAddr2 = hex.EncodeToString(genDoc.Validators[1].PubKey.Address())
 
-	coins := sdk.Coins{
-		{coinDenom, coinAmount},
-		{stakeDenom, coinAmount},
-	}
-	appState := gapp.GenesisState{
-		Accounts: []gapp.GenesisAccount{
-			{
-				Address: pubKey.Address(),
-				Coins:   coins,
-			},
-		},
-		StakeData: stake.GenesisState{
-			Pool: stake.Pool{
-				BondedShares:     sdk.NewRat(200, 1),
-				UnbondedShares:   sdk.ZeroRat(),
-				Inflation:        sdk.NewRat(7, 100),
-				PrevBondedShares: sdk.ZeroRat(),
-			},
-			Params: stake.Params{
-				InflationRateChange: sdk.NewRat(13, 100),
-				InflationMax:        sdk.NewRat(1, 5),
-				InflationMin:        sdk.NewRat(7, 100),
-				GoalBonded:          sdk.NewRat(67, 100),
-				MaxValidators:       100,
-				BondDenom:           stakeDenom,
-			},
-			Validators: []stake.Validator{
-				{
-					Owner:  genDoc.Validators[0].PubKey.Address(),
-					PubKey: genDoc.Validators[0].PubKey,
-					Description: stake.Description{
-						Moniker: "validator1",
-					},
-				},
-				{
-					Owner:  genDoc.Validators[1].PubKey.Address(),
-					PubKey: genDoc.Validators[1].PubKey,
-					Description: stake.Description{
-						Moniker: "validator2",
-					},
-				},
-			},
-		},
-	}
+	pk1 := genDoc.Validators[0].PubKey
+	pk2 := genDoc.Validators[1].PubKey
+	validatorAddr1 = hex.EncodeToString(pk1.Address())
+	validatorAddr2 = hex.EncodeToString(pk2.Address())
 
-	stateBytes, err := cdc.MarshalJSONIndent(appState, "", "  ")
+	// NOTE it's bad practice to reuse pk address for the owner address but doing in the
+	// test for simplicity
+	var appGenTxs [2]json.RawMessage
+	appGenTxs[0], _, _, err = gapp.GaiaAppGenTxNF(cdc, pk1, pk1.Address(), "test_val1", true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
 	}
-	genDoc.AppStateJSON = stateBytes
+	appGenTxs[1], _, _, err = gapp.GaiaAppGenTxNF(cdc, pk2, pk2.Address(), "test_val2", true)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	genesisState, err := gapp.GaiaAppGenState(cdc, appGenTxs[:])
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+
+	// add the sendAddr to genesis
+	var info cryptoKeys.Info
+	info, seed, err = kb.Create(name, password, cryptoKeys.AlgoEd25519) // XXX global seed
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	sendAddr = info.PubKey.Address().String() // XXX global
+	accAuth := auth.NewBaseAccountWithAddress(info.PubKey.Address())
+	accAuth.Coins = sdk.Coins{{"steak", 100}}
+	acc := gapp.NewGenesisAccount(&accAuth)
+	genesisState.Accounts = append(genesisState.Accounts, acc)
+
+	appState, err := wire.MarshalJSONIndent(cdc, genesisState)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, err
+	}
+	genDoc.AppStateJSON = appState
 
 	// LCD listen address
 	port = fmt.Sprintf("%d", 17377)                       // XXX
@@ -609,7 +591,7 @@ func doBond(t *testing.T, port, seed string) (resultTx ctypes.ResultBroadcastTxC
 			}
 		],
 		"unbond": []
-	}`, name, password, sequence, candidateAddr1, stakeDenom))
+	}`, name, password, sequence, validatorAddr1, stakeDenom))
 	res, body := request(t, port, "POST", "/stake/bondunbond", jsonStr)
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, res.StatusCode, body)
 
@@ -637,7 +619,7 @@ func doUnbond(t *testing.T, port, seed string) (resultTx ctypes.ResultBroadcastT
 				"shares": "1"
 			}
 		]
-	}`, name, password, sequence, candidateAddr1))
+	}`, name, password, sequence, validatorAddr1))
 	res, body := request(t, port, "POST", "/stake/bondunbond", jsonStr)
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, res.StatusCode, body)
 
@@ -674,7 +656,7 @@ func doMultiBond(t *testing.T, port, seed string) (resultTx ctypes.ResultBroadca
 				"shares": "1"
 			}
 		]
-	}`, name, password, sequence, candidateAddr1, stakeDenom, candidateAddr2, stakeDenom, candidateAddr1))
+	}`, name, password, sequence, validatorAddr1, stakeDenom, validatorAddr2, stakeDenom, validatorAddr1))
 	res, body := request(t, port, "POST", "/stake/bondunbond", jsonStr)
 	require.Equal(t, http.StatusOK, res.StatusCode, body)
 
diff --git a/cmd/gaia/app/genesis.go b/cmd/gaia/app/genesis.go
index 525fe8ab0..64db33543 100644
--- a/cmd/gaia/app/genesis.go
+++ b/cmd/gaia/app/genesis.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func GaiaAppInit() server.AppInit {
 		FlagsAppGenState: fsAppGenState,
 		FlagsAppGenTx:    fsAppGenTx,
 		AppGenTx:         GaiaAppGenTx,
-		AppGenState:      GaiaAppGenState,
+		AppGenState:      GaiaAppGenStateJSON,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -85,19 +85,31 @@ type GaiaGenTx struct {
 	PubKey  crypto.PubKey `json:"pub_key"`
 }
 
-// Generate a gaia genesis transaction
+// Generate a gaia genesis transaction with flags
 func GaiaAppGenTx(cdc *wire.Codec, pk crypto.PubKey) (
 	appGenTx, cliPrint json.RawMessage, validator tmtypes.GenesisValidator, err error) {
-
-	var addr sdk.Address
-	var secret string
 	clientRoot := viper.GetString(flagClientHome)
 	overwrite := viper.GetBool(flagOWK)
 	name := viper.GetString(flagName)
+	var addr sdk.Address
+	var secret string
 	addr, secret, err = server.GenerateSaveCoinKey(clientRoot, name, "1234567890", overwrite)
 	if err != nil {
 		return
 	}
+	mm := map[string]string{"secret": secret}
+	var bz []byte
+	bz, err = cdc.MarshalJSON(mm)
+	if err != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	cliPrint = json.RawMessage(bz)
+	return GaiaAppGenTxNF(cdc, pk, addr, name, overwrite)
+}
+
+// Generate a gaia genesis transaction without flags
+func GaiaAppGenTxNF(cdc *wire.Codec, pk crypto.PubKey, addr sdk.Address, name string, overwrite bool) (
+	appGenTx, cliPrint json.RawMessage, validator tmtypes.GenesisValidator, err error) {
 
 	var bz []byte
 	gaiaGenTx := GaiaGenTx{
@@ -111,13 +123,6 @@ func GaiaAppGenTx(cdc *wire.Codec, pk crypto.PubKey) (
 	}
 	appGenTx = json.RawMessage(bz)
 
-	mm := map[string]string{"secret": secret}
-	bz, err = cdc.MarshalJSON(mm)
-	if err != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	cliPrint = json.RawMessage(bz)
-
 	validator = tmtypes.GenesisValidator{
 		PubKey: pk,
 		Power:  freeFermionVal,
@@ -127,7 +132,7 @@ func GaiaAppGenTx(cdc *wire.Codec, pk crypto.PubKey) (
 
 // Create the core parameters for genesis initialization for gaia
 // note that the pubkey input is this machines pubkey
-func GaiaAppGenState(cdc *wire.Codec, appGenTxs []json.RawMessage) (appState json.RawMessage, err error) {
+func GaiaAppGenState(cdc *wire.Codec, appGenTxs []json.RawMessage) (genesisState GenesisState, err error) {
 
 	if len(appGenTxs) == 0 {
 		err = errors.New("must provide at least genesis transaction")
@@ -171,10 +176,21 @@ func GaiaAppGenState(cdc *wire.Codec, appGenTxs []json.RawMessage) (appState jso
 	}
 
 	// create the final app state
-	genesisState := GenesisState{
+	genesisState = GenesisState{
 		Accounts:  genaccs,
 		StakeData: stakeData,
 	}
+	return
+}
+
+// GaiaAppGenState but with JSON
+func GaiaAppGenStateJSON(cdc *wire.Codec, appGenTxs []json.RawMessage) (appState json.RawMessage, err error) {
+
+	// create the final app state
+	genesisState, err := GaiaAppGenState(cdc, appGenTxs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 	appState, err = wire.MarshalJSONIndent(cdc, genesisState)
 	return
 }
diff --git a/x/stake/genesis.go b/x/stake/genesis.go
index d45adc3d7..be8d0dbe4 100644
--- a/x/stake/genesis.go
+++ b/x/stake/genesis.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ func NewGenesisState(pool Pool, params Params, validators []Validator, bonds []D
 // get raw genesis raw message for testing
 func DefaultGenesisState() GenesisState {
 	return GenesisState{
-		Pool:   initialPool(),
-		Params: defaultParams(),
+		Pool:   InitialPool(),
+		Params: DefaultParams(),
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/x/stake/keeper_test.go b/x/stake/keeper_test.go
index f28a2cf68..01d4434e8 100644
--- a/x/stake/keeper_test.go
+++ b/x/stake/keeper_test.go
@@ -586,7 +586,7 @@ func TestGetTendermintUpdatesInserted(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestGetTendermintUpdatesNotValidatorCliff(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, _, keeper := createTestInput(t, false, 0)
-	params := defaultParams()
+	params := DefaultParams()
 	params.MaxValidators = 2
 	keeper.setParams(ctx, params)
 
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ func TestBond(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestParams(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, _, keeper := createTestInput(t, false, 0)
-	expParams := defaultParams()
+	expParams := DefaultParams()
 
 	//check that the empty keeper loads the default
 	resParams := keeper.GetParams(ctx)
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ func TestParams(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestPool(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, _, keeper := createTestInput(t, false, 0)
-	expPool := initialPool()
+	expPool := InitialPool()
 
 	//check that the empty keeper loads the default
 	resPool := keeper.GetPool(ctx)
diff --git a/x/stake/params.go b/x/stake/params.go
index 32b8c0ae8..ace39935c 100644
--- a/x/stake/params.go
+++ b/x/stake/params.go
@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ func (p Params) equal(p2 Params) bool {
 	return bytes.Equal(bz1, bz2)
 }
 
-func defaultParams() Params {
+// default params
+func DefaultParams() Params {
 	return Params{
 		InflationRateChange: sdk.NewRat(13, 100),
 		InflationMax:        sdk.NewRat(20, 100),
diff --git a/x/stake/pool.go b/x/stake/pool.go
index e2547b050..0b320432e 100644
--- a/x/stake/pool.go
+++ b/x/stake/pool.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func (p Pool) equal(p2 Pool) bool {
 }
 
 // initial pool for testing
-func initialPool() Pool {
+func InitialPool() Pool {
 	return Pool{
 		LooseUnbondedTokens:     0,
 		BondedTokens:            0,
diff --git a/x/stake/test_common.go b/x/stake/test_common.go
index 2dac36069..a0aca4a57 100644
--- a/x/stake/test_common.go
+++ b/x/stake/test_common.go
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ func createTestInput(t *testing.T, isCheckTx bool, initCoins int64) (sdk.Context
 	)
 	ck := bank.NewKeeper(accountMapper)
 	keeper := NewKeeper(cdc, keyStake, ck, DefaultCodespace)
-	keeper.setPool(ctx, initialPool())
-	keeper.setNewParams(ctx, defaultParams())
+	keeper.setPool(ctx, InitialPool())
+	keeper.setNewParams(ctx, DefaultParams())
 
 	// fill all the addresses with some coins
 	for _, addr := range addrs {
diff --git a/x/stake/tick_test.go b/x/stake/tick_test.go
index 4f0f6dc06..438b678f1 100644
--- a/x/stake/tick_test.go
+++ b/x/stake/tick_test.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestGetInflation(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestProcessProvisions(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx, _, keeper := createTestInput(t, false, 0)
-	params := defaultParams()
+	params := DefaultParams()
 	params.MaxValidators = 2
 	keeper.setParams(ctx, params)
 	pool := keeper.GetPool(ctx)
diff --git a/x/stake/validator_test.go b/x/stake/validator_test.go
index 1ca5ba2f7..db6ab6f4c 100644
--- a/x/stake/validator_test.go
+++ b/x/stake/validator_test.go
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ func randomValidator(r *rand.Rand) Validator {
 
 // generate a random staking state
 func randomSetup(r *rand.Rand, numValidators int) (Pool, Validators) {
-	pool := initialPool()
+	pool := InitialPool()
 
 	validators := make([]Validator, numValidators)
 	for i := 0; i < numValidators; i++ {