diff --git a/app/ante/eth.go b/app/ante/eth.go
index 9d81b14a..69089444 100644
--- a/app/ante/eth.go
+++ b/app/ante/eth.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ type EVMKeeper interface {
 	WithContext(ctx sdk.Context)
 	ResetRefundTransient(ctx sdk.Context)
 	GetCoinbaseAddress() (common.Address, error)
-	NewEVM(msg core.Message, config *params.ChainConfig, params evmtypes.Params, coinbase common.Address, tracer string) *vm.EVM
+	NewEVM(msg core.Message, config *params.ChainConfig, params evmtypes.Params, coinbase common.Address, tracer vm.Tracer) *vm.EVM
 	GetCodeHash(addr common.Address) common.Hash
 }
 
@@ -389,8 +389,8 @@ func (ctd CanTransferDecorator) AnteHandle(ctx sdk.Context, tx sdk.Tx, simulate
 			)
 		}
 
-		// NOTE: pass in an empty coinbase address and tracer as we don't need them for the check below
-		evm := ctd.evmKeeper.NewEVM(coreMsg, ethCfg, params, common.Address{}, "")
+		// NOTE: pass in an empty coinbase address and nil tracer as we don't need them for the check below
+		evm := ctd.evmKeeper.NewEVM(coreMsg, ethCfg, params, common.Address{}, nil)
 
 		// check that caller has enough balance to cover asset transfer for **topmost** call
 		// NOTE: here the gas consumed is from the context with the infinite gas meter
diff --git a/x/evm/keeper/grpc_query.go b/x/evm/keeper/grpc_query.go
index db812356..9962c0e7 100644
--- a/x/evm/keeper/grpc_query.go
+++ b/x/evm/keeper/grpc_query.go
@@ -378,7 +378,8 @@ func (k Keeper) EthCall(c context.Context, req *types.EthCallRequest) (*types.Ms
 		return nil, status.Error(codes.Internal, err.Error())
 	}
 
-	evm := k.NewEVM(msg, ethCfg, params, coinbase, k.tracer)
+	tracer := types.NewTracer(k.tracer, msg, ethCfg, k.Ctx().BlockHeight(), k.debug)
+	evm := k.NewEVM(msg, ethCfg, params, coinbase, tracer)
 
 	// pass true means execute in query mode, which don't do actual gas refund.
 	res, err := k.ApplyMessage(evm, msg, ethCfg, true)
@@ -449,7 +450,9 @@ func (k Keeper) EstimateGas(c context.Context, req *types.EthCallRequest) (*type
 		k.WithContext(ctx)
 
 		msg := args.ToMessage(req.GasCap)
-		evm := k.NewEVM(msg, ethCfg, params, coinbase, k.tracer)
+
+		tracer := types.NewTracer(k.tracer, msg, ethCfg, k.Ctx().BlockHeight(), k.debug)
+		evm := k.NewEVM(msg, ethCfg, params, coinbase, tracer)
 		// pass true means execute in query mode, which don't do actual gas refund.
 		rsp, err := k.ApplyMessage(evm, msg, ethCfg, true)
 
diff --git a/x/evm/keeper/state_transition.go b/x/evm/keeper/state_transition.go
index 54285df9..1e623020 100644
--- a/x/evm/keeper/state_transition.go
+++ b/x/evm/keeper/state_transition.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) NewEVM(
 	config *params.ChainConfig,
 	params types.Params,
 	coinbase common.Address,
-	tracer string,
+	tracer vm.Tracer,
 ) *vm.EVM {
 	blockCtx := vm.BlockContext{
 		CanTransfer: core.CanTransfer,
@@ -53,12 +53,10 @@ func (k *Keeper) NewEVM(
 
 // VMConfig creates an EVM configuration from the debug setting and the extra EIPs enabled on the
 // module parameters. The config generated uses the default JumpTable from the EVM.
-func (k Keeper) VMConfig(msg core.Message, params types.Params, tracer string) vm.Config {
-	cfg := params.ChainConfig.EthereumConfig(k.eip155ChainID)
-
+func (k Keeper) VMConfig(msg core.Message, params types.Params, tracer vm.Tracer) vm.Config {
 	return vm.Config{
 		Debug:       k.debug,
-		Tracer:      types.NewTracer(tracer, msg, cfg, k.Ctx().BlockHeight(), k.debug),
+		Tracer:      tracer,
 		NoRecursion: false, // TODO: consider disabling recursion though params
 		ExtraEips:   params.EIPs(),
 	}
@@ -161,7 +159,8 @@ func (k *Keeper) ApplyTransaction(tx *ethtypes.Transaction) (*types.MsgEthereumT
 	}
 
 	// create an ethereum EVM instance and run the message
-	evm := k.NewEVM(msg, ethCfg, params, coinbase, k.tracer)
+	tracer := types.NewTracer(k.tracer, msg, ethCfg, k.Ctx().BlockHeight(), k.debug)
+	evm := k.NewEVM(msg, ethCfg, params, coinbase, tracer)
 
 	txHash := tx.Hash()