diff --git a/baseapp/baseapp.go b/baseapp/baseapp.go
index baed1fb47d..cdc5ffcf7a 100644
--- a/baseapp/baseapp.go
+++ b/baseapp/baseapp.go
@@ -235,9 +235,9 @@ 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, app.Logger, nil)
+		return sdk.NewContext(app.checkState.ms, header, true, nil, app.Logger)
 	}
-	return sdk.NewContext(app.deliverState.ms, header, false, nil, app.Logger, nil)
+	return sdk.NewContext(app.deliverState.ms, header, false, nil, app.Logger)
 }
 
 type state struct {
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ func (app *BaseApp) setCheckState(header abci.Header) {
 	ms := app.cms.CacheMultiStore()
 	app.checkState = &state{
 		ms:  ms,
-		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, true, nil, app.Logger, nil),
+		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, true, nil, app.Logger),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func (app *BaseApp) setDeliverState(header abci.Header) {
 	ms := app.cms.CacheMultiStore()
 	app.deliverState = &state{
 		ms:  ms,
-		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, false, nil, app.Logger, nil),
+		ctx: sdk.NewContext(ms, header, false, nil, app.Logger),
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/democoin/x/cool/keeper_test.go b/examples/democoin/x/cool/keeper_test.go
index f632ae31ee..d497dee699 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/cool/keeper_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/cool/keeper_test.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func TestCoolKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
 	am := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, nil, nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, nil)
 	ck := bank.NewKeeper(am)
 	keeper := NewKeeper(capKey, ck, DefaultCodespace)
 
diff --git a/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go b/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go
index 867120eb84..30aeafa2a5 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/pow/handler_test.go
@@ -20,7 +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, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 98e8ebcfea..a4afb876a9 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/pow/keeper_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/pow/keeper_test.go
@@ -33,7 +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, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 ef34f3085c..15bd14c79b 100644
--- a/examples/democoin/x/simplestake/keeper_test.go
+++ b/examples/democoin/x/simplestake/keeper_test.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func TestKeeperGetSet(t *testing.T) {
 
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, authKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	stakeKeeper := NewKeeper(capKey, bank.NewKeeper(accountMapper), DefaultCodespace)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	addr := sdk.Address([]byte("some-address"))
 
 	bi := stakeKeeper.getBondInfo(ctx, addr)
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ func TestBonding(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 993c148ec5..10ae99724f 100644
--- a/types/context.go
+++ b/types/context.go
@@ -30,8 +30,7 @@ type Context struct {
 }
 
 // create a new context
-func NewContext(ms MultiStore, header abci.Header, isCheckTx bool,
-	txBytes []byte, logger log.Logger, absentValidators [][]byte) Context {
+func NewContext(ms MultiStore, header abci.Header, isCheckTx bool, txBytes []byte, logger log.Logger) Context {
 
 	c := Context{
 		Context: context.Background(),
@@ -45,7 +44,7 @@ func NewContext(ms MultiStore, header abci.Header, isCheckTx bool,
 	c = c.WithIsCheckTx(isCheckTx)
 	c = c.WithTxBytes(txBytes)
 	c = c.WithLogger(logger)
-	c = c.WithAbsentValidators(absentValidators)
+	c = c.WithAbsentValidators(nil)
 	c = c.WithGasMeter(NewInfiniteGasMeter())
 	return c
 }
diff --git a/types/context_test.go b/types/context_test.go
index 1eafdaf7e7..ec5faab440 100644
--- a/types/context_test.go
+++ b/types/context_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func (l MockLogger) With(kvs ...interface{}) log.Logger {
 
 func TestContextGetOpShouldNeverPanic(t *testing.T) {
 	var ms types.MultiStore
-	ctx := types.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := types.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	indices := []int64{
 		-10, 1, 0, 10, 20,
 	}
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ 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, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := types.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	return ctx
 }
 
diff --git a/types/lib/mapper_test.go b/types/lib/mapper_test.go
index a610f1e0fa..e1759b06ac 100644
--- a/types/lib/mapper_test.go
+++ b/types/lib/mapper_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func defaultComponents(key sdk.StoreKey) (sdk.Context, *wire.Codec) {
 	cms := store.NewCommitMultiStore(db)
 	cms.MountStoreWithDB(key, sdk.StoreTypeIAVL, db)
 	cms.LoadLatestVersion()
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	return ctx, cdc
 }
diff --git a/x/auth/ante_test.go b/x/auth/ante_test.go
index 729f0769ef..b7f22e5d54 100644
--- a/x/auth/ante_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/ante_test.go
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerSigErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	feeCollector := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, feeCollector)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerSequences(t *testing.T) {
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	feeCollector := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, feeCollector)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerFees(t *testing.T) {
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	feeCollector := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, feeCollector)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerBadSignBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	feeCollector := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, feeCollector)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	// keys and addresses
 	priv1, addr1 := privAndAddr()
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ func TestAnteHandlerSetPubKey(t *testing.T) {
 	mapper := NewAccountMapper(cdc, capKey, &BaseAccount{})
 	feeCollector := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 	anteHandler := NewAnteHandler(mapper, feeCollector)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 615b7d5196..a93de44d0c 100644
--- a/x/auth/context_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/context_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestContextWithSigners(t *testing.T) {
 	ms, _, _ := setupMultiStore()
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "mychainid"}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 
 	_, _, addr1 := keyPubAddr()
 	_, _, addr2 := keyPubAddr()
diff --git a/x/auth/feekeeper_test.go b/x/auth/feekeeper_test.go
index 3c9190e4ec..2f1ffc59bc 100644
--- a/x/auth/feekeeper_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/feekeeper_test.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ func TestFeeCollectionKeeperGetSet(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 
 	// make context and keeper
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	fck := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 
 	// no coins initially
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestFeeCollectionKeeperAdd(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 
 	// make context and keeper
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	fck := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 
 	// no coins initially
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func TestFeeCollectionKeeperClear(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 
 	// make context and keeper
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	fck := NewFeeCollectionKeeper(cdc, capKey2)
 
 	// set coins initially
diff --git a/x/auth/mapper_test.go b/x/auth/mapper_test.go
index dc6afef57e..7f6397069a 100644
--- a/x/auth/mapper_test.go
+++ b/x/auth/mapper_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestAccountMapperGetSet(t *testing.T) {
 	RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
 	// make context and mapper
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 07ba91e0c5..117c69e7ae 100644
--- a/x/bank/keeper_test.go
+++ b/x/bank/keeper_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ func TestKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, authKey, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	coinKeeper := NewKeeper(accountMapper)
 
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func TestSendKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 +185,7 @@ func TestViewKeeper(t *testing.T) {
 	cdc := wire.NewCodec()
 	auth.RegisterBaseAccount(cdc)
 
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger(), 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 9ed4b38254..e13df4f8dd 100644
--- a/x/ibc/ibc_test.go
+++ b/x/ibc/ibc_test.go
@@ -24,7 +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, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(cms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	return ctx
 }
 
diff --git a/x/slashing/test_common.go b/x/slashing/test_common.go
index 21274df1b8..8ce654f338 100644
--- a/x/slashing/test_common.go
+++ b/x/slashing/test_common.go
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ func createTestInput(t *testing.T) (sdk.Context, bank.Keeper, stake.Keeper, Keep
 	ms.MountStoreWithDB(keySlashing, sdk.StoreTypeIAVL, db)
 	err := ms.LoadLatestVersion()
 	require.Nil(t, err)
-	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewTMLogger(os.Stdout), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{}, false, nil, log.NewTMLogger(os.Stdout))
 	cdc := createTestCodec()
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(cdc, keyAcc, &auth.BaseAccount{})
 	ck := bank.NewKeeper(accountMapper)
diff --git a/x/stake/test_common.go b/x/stake/test_common.go
index 1cd46549b0..b7a5152c09 100644
--- a/x/stake/test_common.go
+++ b/x/stake/test_common.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ 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, log.NewNopLogger(), nil)
+	ctx := sdk.NewContext(ms, abci.Header{ChainID: "foochainid"}, isCheckTx, nil, log.NewNopLogger())
 	cdc := makeTestCodec()
 	accountMapper := auth.NewAccountMapper(
 		cdc,                 // amino codec