diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7fe6c4cf2..a1799ea5a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ FEATURES:
   * Create genesis transactions with `gaiad init gen-tx` 
   * New genesis account keys are automatically added to the client keybase (introduce `--client-home` flag)
   * Initialize with genesis txs using `--gen-txs` flag
+* Context now has access to the applicaiton logger
 
 BREAKING CHANGES
 
diff --git a/baseapp/baseapp.go b/baseapp/baseapp.go
index 51e96ae20..21b45e0af 100644
--- a/baseapp/baseapp.go
+++ b/baseapp/baseapp.go
@@ -210,9 +210,9 @@ func (app *BaseApp) initFromStore(mainKey sdk.StoreKey) error {
 // NewContext returns a new Context with the correct store, the given header, and nil txBytes.
 func (app *BaseApp) NewContext(isCheckTx bool, header abci.Header) sdk.Context {
 	if isCheckTx {
-		return sdk.NewContext(app.checkState.ms, header, true, nil)
+		return sdk.NewContext(app.checkState.ms, header, true, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	}
-	return sdk.NewContext(app.deliverState.ms, header, false, nil)
+	return sdk.NewContext(app.deliverState.ms, header, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 }
 
 type state struct {
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func (app *BaseApp) setCheckState(header abci.Header) {
 	ms := app.cms.CacheMultiStore()
 	app.checkState = &state{
 		ms:  ms,
-		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, true, nil),
+		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, true, nil, log.NewNopLogger()),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func (app *BaseApp) setDeliverState(header abci.Header) {
 	ms := app.cms.CacheMultiStore()
 	app.deliverState = &state{
 		ms:  ms,
-		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, false, nil),
+		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger()),
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go b/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go
index 0fffb8f5b..30aeafa2a 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	wire "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/wire"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ func TestPowHandler(t *testing.T) {
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
 	am := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	config := NewConfig("pow", int64(1))
 	ck := bank.NewKeeper(am)
 	keeper := NewKeeper(capKey, config, ck, DefaultCodespace)
diff --git a/examples/democoin/x/pow/keeper_test.go b/examples/democoin/x/pow/keeper_test.go
index cb021eb16..a4afb876a 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/pow/keeper_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/pow/keeper_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ func TestPowKeeperGetSet(t *testing.T) {
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
 	am := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	config := NewConfig("pow", int64(1))
 	ck := bank.NewKeeper(am)
 	keeper := NewKeeper(capKey, config, ck, DefaultCodespace)
diff --git a/examples/democoin/x/simplestake/keeper_test.go b/examples/democoin/x/simplestake/keeper_test.go
index 75e9fcded..302a2e58b 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/simplestake/keeper_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/simplestake/keeper_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	crypto "github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ func setupMultiStore() (sdk.MultiStore, *sdk.KVStoreKey, *sdk.KVStoreKey) {
 func TestKeeperGetSet(t *testing.T) {
 	ms, _, capKey := setupMultiStore()
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	stakeKeeper := NewKeeper(capKey, bank.NewKeeper(nil), DefaultCodespace)
 	addr := sdk.Address([]byte("some-address"))
 
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ func TestBonding(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, authKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	coinKeeper := bank.NewKeeper(accountMapper)
diff --git a/types/context.go b/types/context.go
index 8c91175bc..e28523ebe 100644
--- a/types/context.go
+++ b/types/context.go
@@ -7,10 +7,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
 
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 )
 
-// TODO: Add a default logger.
-
 /*
 The intent of Context is for it to be an immutable object that can be
 cloned and updated cheaply with WithValue() and passed forward to the
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ type Context struct {
 }
 
 // create a new context
-func NewContext(ms MultiStore, header abci.Header, isCheckTx bool, txBytes []byte) Context {
+func NewContext(ms MultiStore, header abci.Header, isCheckTx bool, txBytes []byte, logger log.Logger) Context {
 	c := Context{
 		Context: context.Background(),
 		pst:     newThePast(),
@@ -43,6 +42,7 @@ func NewContext(ms MultiStore, header abci.Header, isCheckTx bool, txBytes []byt
 	c = c.WithChainID(header.ChainID)
 	c = c.WithIsCheckTx(isCheckTx)
 	c = c.WithTxBytes(txBytes)
+	c = c.WithLogger(logger)
 	return c
 }
 
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ const (
 	contextKeyChainID
 	contextKeyIsCheckTx
 	contextKeyTxBytes
+	contextKeyLogger
 )
 
 // NOTE: Do not expose MultiStore.
@@ -151,6 +152,9 @@ func (c Context) IsCheckTx() bool {
 func (c Context) TxBytes() []byte {
 	return c.Value(contextKeyTxBytes).([]byte)
 }
+func (c Context) Logger() log.Logger {
+	return c.Value(contextKeyLogger).(log.Logger)
+}
 func (c Context) WithMultiStore(ms MultiStore) Context {
 	return c.withValue(contextKeyMultiStore, ms)
 }
@@ -170,6 +174,9 @@ func (c Context) WithIsCheckTx(isCheckTx bool) Context {
 func (c Context) WithTxBytes(txBytes []byte) Context {
 	return c.withValue(contextKeyTxBytes, txBytes)
 }
+func (c Context) WithLogger(logger log.Logger) Context {
+	return c.withValue(contextKeyLogger, logger)
+}
 
 // Cache the multistore and return a new cached context. The cached context is
 // written to the context when writeCache is called.
diff --git a/types/context_test.go b/types/context_test.go
index b40e79dc2..ebed046ce 100644
--- a/types/context_test.go
+++ b/types/context_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestContextGetOpShouldNeverPanic(t *testing.T) {
 	var ms types.MultiStore
-	ctx := types.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := types.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	indices := []int64{
 		-10, 1, 0, 10, 20,
 	}
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ func defaultContext(key types.StoreKey) types.Context {
 	cms := store.NewCommitMultiStore(db)
 	cms.MountStoreWithDB(key, types.StoreTypeIAVL, db)
 	cms.LoadLatestVersion()
-	ctx := types.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := types.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	return ctx
 }
 
diff --git a/x/auth/ante_test.go b/x/auth/ante_test.go
index 3baf8ee71..ec296b12b 100644
--- a/x/auth/ante_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/ante_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	crypto "github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	wire "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/wire"
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerSigErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, BurnFeeHandler)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerSequences(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, BurnFeeHandler)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerFees(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, BurnFeeHandler)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -217,7 +218,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerBadSignBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, BurnFeeHandler)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -292,7 +293,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerSetPubKey(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, BurnFeeHandler)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
diff --git a/x/auth/context_test.go b/x/auth/context_test.go
index 0e4db8b08..89e318e0a 100644
--- a/x/auth/context_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/context_test.go
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 )
 
 func TestContextWithSigners(t *testing.T) {
 	ms, _ := setupMultiStore()
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	_, _, addr1 := keyPubAddr()
 	_, _, addr2 := keyPubAddr()
diff --git a/x/auth/mapper_test.go b/x/auth/mapper_test.go
index 2912ddde8..cdd418990 100644
--- a/x/auth/mapper_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/mapper_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ func TestAccountMapperGetSet(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
 	// make context and mapper
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 
 	addr := sdk.Address([]byte("some-address"))
diff --git a/x/bank/keeper_test.go b/x/bank/keeper_test.go
index 7db9c275d..4394392dd 100644
--- a/x/bank/keeper_test.go
+++ b/x/bank/keeper_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ func TestKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, authKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	coinKeeper := NewKeeper(accountMapper)
 
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ func TestSendKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, authKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	coinKeeper := NewKeeper(accountMapper)
 	sendKeeper := NewSendKeeper(accountMapper)
@@ -185,7 +186,7 @@ func TestViewKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, authKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	coinKeeper := NewKeeper(accountMapper)
 	viewKeeper := NewViewKeeper(accountMapper)
diff --git a/x/ibc/ibc_test.go b/x/ibc/ibc_test.go
index 61b9182f1..d0019002f 100644
--- a/x/ibc/ibc_test.go
+++ b/x/ibc/ibc_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	"github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ func defaultContext(key sdk.StoreKey) sdk.Context {
 	cms := store.NewCommitMultiStore(db)
 	cms.MountStoreWithDB(key, sdk.StoreTypeIAVL, db)
 	cms.LoadLatestVersion()
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	return ctx
 }
 
diff --git a/x/stake/test_common.go b/x/stake/test_common.go
index 189deeff0..27acebe08 100644
--- a/x/stake/test_common.go
+++ b/x/stake/test_common.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	abci "github.com/tendermint/abci/types"
 	crypto "github.com/tendermint/go-crypto"
 	dbm "github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/db"
+	"github.com/tendermint/tmlibs/log"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/store"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
@@ -157,7 +158,7 @@ func createTestInput(t *testing.T, isCheckTx bool, initCoins int64) (sdk.Context
 	err := ms.LoadLatestVersion()
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "foochainid"}, isCheckTx, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "foochainid"}, isCheckTx, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	cdc := makeTestCodec()
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(
 		cdc,                 // amino codec