diff --git a/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go b/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go
index 15b2809d0..622bf4185 100644
--- a/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go
+++ b/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go
@@ -1,9 +1,14 @@
 package builtin
 
 import (
+	"reflect"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
 
 	actorstypes "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/actors"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin"
 	account8 "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin/v8/account"
 	cron8 "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin/v8/cron"
 	_init8 "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin/v8/init"
@@ -36,14 +41,14 @@ import (
 type RegistryEntry struct {
 	state   cbor.Er
 	code    cid.Cid
-	methods map[uint64]interface{}
+	methods map[uint64]builtin.MethodMeta
 }
 
 func (r RegistryEntry) State() cbor.Er {
 	return r.state
 }
 
-func (r RegistryEntry) Exports() map[uint64]interface{} {
+func (r RegistryEntry) Exports() map[uint64]builtin.MethodMeta {
 	return r.methods
 }
 
@@ -55,9 +60,11 @@ func MakeRegistryLegacy(actors []rtt.VMActor) []RegistryEntry {
 	registry := make([]RegistryEntry, 0)
 
 	for _, actor := range actors {
-		methodMap := make(map[uint64]interface{})
+		methodMap := make(map[uint64]builtin.MethodMeta)
 		for methodNum, method := range actor.Exports() {
-			methodMap[uint64(methodNum)] = method
+			if method != nil {
+				methodMap[uint64(methodNum)] = makeMethodMeta(method)
+			}
 		}
 		registry = append(registry, RegistryEntry{
 			code:    actor.Code(),
@@ -69,6 +76,20 @@ func MakeRegistryLegacy(actors []rtt.VMActor) []RegistryEntry {
 	return registry
 }
 
+func makeMethodMeta(method interface{}) builtin.MethodMeta {
+	ev := reflect.ValueOf(method)
+	// Extract the method names using reflection. These
+	// method names always match the field names in the
+	// `builtin.Method*` structs (tested in the specs-actors
+	// tests).
+	fnName := runtime.FuncForPC(ev.Pointer()).Name()
+	fnName = strings.TrimSuffix(fnName[strings.LastIndexByte(fnName, '.')+1:], "-fm")
+	return builtin.MethodMeta{
+		Name:   fnName,
+		Method: method,
+	}
+}
+
 func MakeRegistry(av actorstypes.Version) []RegistryEntry {
 	if av < actorstypes.Version8 {
 		panic("expected version v8 and up only, use specs-actors for v0-7")
diff --git a/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go.template b/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go.template
index 59aa3aa0f..39211c476 100644
--- a/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go.template
+++ b/chain/actors/builtin/registry.go.template
@@ -3,6 +3,11 @@ package builtin
 import (
 	actorstypes "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/actors"
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
+		"reflect"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin"
 	{{range .versions}}
         {{if (ge . 8)}}
             account{{.}} "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin/v{{.}}/account"
@@ -29,14 +34,14 @@ import (
 type RegistryEntry struct {
 	state   cbor.Er
 	code    cid.Cid
-	methods map[uint64]interface{}
+	methods map[uint64]builtin.MethodMeta
 }
 
 func (r RegistryEntry) State() cbor.Er {
 	return r.state
 }
 
-func (r RegistryEntry) Exports() map[uint64]interface{} {
+func (r RegistryEntry) Exports() map[uint64]builtin.MethodMeta {
 	return r.methods
 }
 
@@ -48,10 +53,12 @@ func MakeRegistryLegacy(actors []rtt.VMActor) []RegistryEntry {
 	registry := make([]RegistryEntry, 0)
 
     for _, actor := range actors {
-        methodMap := make(map[uint64]interface{})
+        methodMap := make(map[uint64]builtin.MethodMeta)
         for methodNum, method := range actor.Exports() {
-            methodMap[uint64(methodNum)] = method
-        }
+			if method != nil {
+				methodMap[uint64(methodNum)] = makeMethodMeta(method)
+			}
+	    }
         registry = append(registry, RegistryEntry{
             code:    actor.Code(),
             methods: methodMap,
@@ -62,6 +69,20 @@ func MakeRegistryLegacy(actors []rtt.VMActor) []RegistryEntry {
 	return registry
 }
 
+func makeMethodMeta(method interface{}) builtin.MethodMeta {
+	ev := reflect.ValueOf(method)
+	// Extract the method names using reflection. These
+	// method names always match the field names in the
+	// `builtin.Method*` structs (tested in the specs-actors
+	// tests).
+	fnName := runtime.FuncForPC(ev.Pointer()).Name()
+	fnName = strings.TrimSuffix(fnName[strings.LastIndexByte(fnName, '.')+1:], "-fm")
+	return builtin.MethodMeta{
+		Name:   fnName,
+		Method: method,
+	}
+}
+
 func MakeRegistry(av actorstypes.Version) []RegistryEntry {
 	if av < actorstypes.Version8 {
 		panic("expected version v8 and up only, use specs-actors for v0-7")
diff --git a/chain/stmgr/utils.go b/chain/stmgr/utils.go
index 03ade3bd2..a466029ce 100644
--- a/chain/stmgr/utils.go
+++ b/chain/stmgr/utils.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ func GetReturnType(ctx context.Context, sm *StateManager, to address.Address, me
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown method %d for actor %s", method, act.Code)
 	}
 
-	fmt.Println("found ", m.Ret, " and ", m.Params, " for ", m.Num)
 	return reflect.New(m.Ret.Elem()).Interface().(cbg.CBORUnmarshaler), nil
 }
 
diff --git a/chain/vm/invoker.go b/chain/vm/invoker.go
index f8d817ff2..bcd81995f 100644
--- a/chain/vm/invoker.go
+++ b/chain/vm/invoker.go
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import (
 	"encoding/hex"
 	"fmt"
 	"reflect"
-	"strconv"
 
 	"github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
 	cbg "github.com/whyrusleeping/cbor-gen"
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/abi"
 	actorstypes "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/actors"
+	builtinst "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/builtin"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/exitcode"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/network"
 	vmr "github.com/filecoin-project/specs-actors/v7/actors/runtime"
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import (
 )
 
 type MethodMeta struct {
-	Num string
+	Name string
 
 	Params reflect.Type
 	Ret    reflect.Type
@@ -90,10 +90,15 @@ func (ar *ActorRegistry) Register(av actorstypes.Version, pred ActorPredicate, v
 		pred = func(vmr.Runtime, cid.Cid) error { return nil }
 	}
 	for _, a := range vmactors {
-		// register in the `actors` map (for the invoker)
-		code, err := ar.transform(a)
-		if err != nil {
-			panic(xerrors.Errorf("%s: %w", string(a.Code().Hash()), err))
+
+		var code nativeCode
+		var err error
+		if av <= actorstypes.Version7 {
+			// register in the `actors` map (for the invoker)
+			code, err = ar.transform(a)
+			if err != nil {
+				panic(xerrors.Errorf("%s: %w", string(a.Code().Hash()), err))
+			}
 		}
 
 		ai := &actorInfo{
@@ -123,7 +128,7 @@ func (ar *ActorRegistry) Register(av actorstypes.Version, pred ActorPredicate, v
 
 		// Explicitly add send, it's special.
 		methods[builtin.MethodSend] = MethodMeta{
-			Num:    "0",
+			Name:   "Send",
 			Params: reflect.TypeOf(new(abi.EmptyValue)),
 			Ret:    reflect.TypeOf(new(abi.EmptyValue)),
 		}
@@ -131,18 +136,27 @@ func (ar *ActorRegistry) Register(av actorstypes.Version, pred ActorPredicate, v
 		// Iterate over exported methods. Some of these _may_ be nil and
 		// must be skipped.
 		for number, export := range exports {
-			if export == nil {
+			if export.Method == nil {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			ev := reflect.ValueOf(export)
+			ev := reflect.ValueOf(export.Method)
 			et := ev.Type()
 
-			methods[abi.MethodNum(number)] = MethodMeta{
-				Num:    strconv.Itoa(int(number)),
-				Params: et.In(1),
-				Ret:    et.Out(0),
+			mm := MethodMeta{
+				Name: export.Name,
+				Ret:  et.Out(0),
 			}
+
+			if av <= actorstypes.Version7 {
+				// methods exported from specs-actors have the runtime as the first param, so we want et.In(1)
+				mm.Params = et.In(1)
+			} else {
+				// methods exported from go-state-types do not, so we want et.In(0)
+				mm.Params = et.In(0)
+			}
+
+			methods[abi.MethodNum(number)] = mm
 		}
 		if realCode.Defined() {
 			ar.Methods[realCode] = methods
@@ -171,15 +185,16 @@ func (ar *ActorRegistry) Create(codeCid cid.Cid, rt vmr.Runtime) (*types.Actor,
 }
 
 type invokee interface {
-	Exports() map[uint64]interface{}
+	Exports() map[uint64]builtinst.MethodMeta
 }
 
 func (*ActorRegistry) transform(instance invokee) (nativeCode, error) {
 	itype := reflect.TypeOf(instance)
 	exports := instance.Exports()
 	runtimeType := reflect.TypeOf((*vmr.Runtime)(nil)).Elem()
-	for i, m := range exports {
+	for i, e := range exports {
 		i := i
+		m := e.Method
 		newErr := func(format string, args ...interface{}) error {
 			str := fmt.Sprintf(format, args...)
 			return fmt.Errorf("transform(%s) export(%d): %s", itype.Name(), i, str)
@@ -215,7 +230,8 @@ func (*ActorRegistry) transform(instance invokee) (nativeCode, error) {
 		}
 	}
 	code := make(nativeCode, len(exports))
-	for id, m := range exports {
+	for id, e := range exports {
+		m := e.Method
 		if m == nil {
 			continue
 		}
diff --git a/chain/vm/invoker_test.go b/chain/vm/invoker_test.go
index 340f044d8..d3e6dcd7f 100644
--- a/chain/vm/invoker_test.go
+++ b/chain/vm/invoker_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"testing"
 
+	cid "github.com/ipfs/go-cid"
 	cbor "github.com/ipfs/go-ipld-cbor"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	cbg "github.com/whyrusleeping/cbor-gen"
@@ -13,15 +14,28 @@ import (
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-address"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/abi"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/big"
+	cbor2 "github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/cbor"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/exitcode"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/network"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types/rt"
 	runtime2 "github.com/filecoin-project/specs-actors/v2/actors/runtime"
 
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/actors"
 	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/actors/aerrors"
+	"github.com/filecoin-project/lotus/chain/actors/builtin"
 )
 
 type basicContract struct{}
+
+func (b basicContract) Code() cid.Cid {
+	return cid.Undef
+}
+
+func (b basicContract) State() cbor2.Er {
+	// works well enough as a dummy state
+	return new(basicParams)
+}
+
 type basicParams struct {
 	B byte
 }
@@ -49,19 +63,19 @@ func init() {
 	cbor.RegisterCborType(basicParams{})
 }
 
-func (b basicContract) Exports() map[uint64]interface{} {
-	return map[uint64]interface{}{
-		0:  b.InvokeSomething0,
-		1:  b.BadParam,
-		2:  nil,
-		3:  nil,
-		4:  nil,
-		5:  nil,
-		6:  nil,
-		7:  nil,
-		8:  nil,
-		9:  nil,
-		10: b.InvokeSomething10,
+func (b basicContract) Exports() []interface{} {
+	return []interface{}{
+		b.InvokeSomething0,
+		b.BadParam,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		nil,
+		b.InvokeSomething10,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -107,7 +121,8 @@ func (*basicRtMessage) ValueReceived() abi.TokenAmount {
 func TestInvokerBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	//stm: @INVOKER_TRANSFORM_001
 	inv := ActorRegistry{}
-	code, err := inv.transform(basicContract{})
+	registry := builtin.MakeRegistryLegacy([]rt.VMActor{basicContract{}})
+	code, err := inv.transform(registry[0])
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 
 	{
diff --git a/cli/chain.go b/cli/chain.go
index 814aebeed..6ecb3f6b1 100644
--- a/cli/chain.go
+++ b/cli/chain.go
@@ -494,8 +494,8 @@ var ChainInspectUsage = &cli.Command{
 
 			mm := filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[code][m.Message.Method] // TODO: use remote map
 
-			byMethod[mm.Num] += m.Message.GasLimit
-			byMethodC[mm.Num]++
+			byMethod[mm.Name] += m.Message.GasLimit
+			byMethodC[mm.Name]++
 		}
 
 		type keyGasPair struct {
diff --git a/cli/chain_test.go b/cli/chain_test.go
index 80af1a6e7..9fd46724e 100644
--- a/cli/chain_test.go
+++ b/cli/chain_test.go
@@ -327,8 +327,7 @@ func TestInspectUsage(t *testing.T) {
 		// check for gas by sender
 		assert.Contains(t, out, "By Sender")
 		// check for gas by method
-		methodStr := fmt.Sprintf("By Method:\n%d", builtin.MethodSend)
-		assert.Contains(t, out, methodStr)
+		assert.Contains(t, out, "By Method:\nSend")
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/cli/multisig.go b/cli/multisig.go
index 1dd7d01b8..38923a04f 100644
--- a/cli/multisig.go
+++ b/cli/multisig.go
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ var msigInspectCmd = &cli.Command{
 						paramStr = string(b)
 					}
 
-					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%d\t%s\t%d\t%s\t%s\t%s(%d)\t%s\n", txid, "pending", len(tx.Approved), target, types.FIL(tx.Value), method.Num, tx.Method, paramStr)
+					fmt.Fprintf(w, "%d\t%s\t%d\t%s\t%s\t%s(%d)\t%s\n", txid, "pending", len(tx.Approved), target, types.FIL(tx.Value), method.Name, tx.Method, paramStr)
 				}
 			}
 			if err := w.Flush(); err != nil {
diff --git a/cli/state.go b/cli/state.go
index c88df8da2..d5ce46f4c 100644
--- a/cli/state.go
+++ b/cli/state.go
@@ -1384,7 +1384,7 @@ func codeStr(c cid.Cid) string {
 }
 
 func getMethod(code cid.Cid, method abi.MethodNum) string {
-	return filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[code][method].Num // todo: use remote
+	return filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[code][method].Name // todo: use remote
 }
 
 func toFil(f types.BigInt) types.FIL {
diff --git a/cmd/lotus-shed/msg.go b/cmd/lotus-shed/msg.go
index 847b93d9f..9096c6a5f 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus-shed/msg.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus-shed/msg.go
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func printMessage(cctx *cli.Context, msg *types.Message) error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	fmt.Println("Method:", filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[toact.Code][msg.Method].Num) // todo use remote
+	fmt.Println("Method:", filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[toact.Code][msg.Method].Name) // todo use remote
 	p, err := lcli.JsonParams(toact.Code, msg.Method, msg.Params)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/cmd/lotus-wallet/interactive.go b/cmd/lotus-wallet/interactive.go
index 9770961c0..40c3f8922 100644
--- a/cmd/lotus-wallet/interactive.go
+++ b/cmd/lotus-wallet/interactive.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func (c *InteractiveWallet) WalletSign(ctx context.Context, k address.Address, m
 					return xerrors.Errorf("looking up dest actor: %w", err)
 				}
 
-				fmt.Println("Method:", filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[toact.Code][cmsg.Method].Num)
+				fmt.Println("Method:", filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[toact.Code][cmsg.Method].Name)
 				p, err := lcli.JsonParams(toact.Code, cmsg.Method, cmsg.Params)
 				if err != nil {
 					return err
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ func (c *InteractiveWallet) WalletSign(ctx context.Context, k address.Address, m
 						return xerrors.Errorf("looking up msig dest actor: %w", err)
 					}
 
-					fmt.Println("\tMultiSig Proposal Method:", filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[toact.Code][mp.Method].Num) // todo use remote
+					fmt.Println("\tMultiSig Proposal Method:", filcns.NewActorRegistry().Methods[toact.Code][mp.Method].Name) // todo use remote
 					p, err := lcli.JsonParams(toact.Code, mp.Method, mp.Params)
 					if err != nil {
 						return err
diff --git a/cmd/tvx/extract_many.go b/cmd/tvx/extract_many.go
index 07bbc8df4..bc5ad2a30 100644
--- a/cmd/tvx/extract_many.go
+++ b/cmd/tvx/extract_many.go
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ func runExtractMany(c *cli.Context) error {
 		} else if methodnum >= len(m) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("unrecognized method number for actor %s: %d", actorcode, methodnum)
 		} else {
-			methodname = m[abi.MethodNum(methodnum)].Num
+			methodname = m[abi.MethodNum(methodnum)].Name
 		}
 
 		// exitcode string representations are of kind ErrType(0); strip out
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index b88d40e21..7cf364cc0 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ require (
 	github.com/filecoin-project/go-legs v0.4.4
 	github.com/filecoin-project/go-padreader v0.0.1
 	github.com/filecoin-project/go-paramfetch v0.0.4
-	github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.9.1
+	github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.9.2
 	github.com/filecoin-project/go-statemachine v1.0.2
 	github.com/filecoin-project/go-statestore v0.2.0
 	github.com/filecoin-project/go-storedcounter v0.1.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 774feb5b0..24ace049c 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -343,8 +343,8 @@ github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.1.0/go.mod h1:ezYnPf0bNkTsDibL/psS
 github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.1.6/go.mod h1:UwGVoMsULoCK+bWjEdd/xLCvLAQFBC7EDT477SKml+Q=
 github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.1.8/go.mod h1:UwGVoMsULoCK+bWjEdd/xLCvLAQFBC7EDT477SKml+Q=
 github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.1.10/go.mod h1:UwGVoMsULoCK+bWjEdd/xLCvLAQFBC7EDT477SKml+Q=
-github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.9.1 h1:Dr++Hy+tm8RC5jLQBPfFIvThPCa6uEJ4NwlCWh3V85Q=
-github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.9.1/go.mod h1:+HCZifUV+e8TlQkgll22Ucuiq8OrVJkK+4Kh4u75iiw=
+github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.9.2 h1:zbhib/addhqVihN7yZPkBMvkpS6v5PQFtBllDIxdUS4=
+github.com/filecoin-project/go-state-types v0.9.2/go.mod h1:+HCZifUV+e8TlQkgll22Ucuiq8OrVJkK+4Kh4u75iiw=
 github.com/filecoin-project/go-statemachine v0.0.0-20200925024713-05bd7c71fbfe/go.mod h1:FGwQgZAt2Gh5mjlwJUlVB62JeYdo+if0xWxSEfBD9ig=
 github.com/filecoin-project/go-statemachine v1.0.2 h1:421SSWBk8GIoCoWYYTE/d+qCWccgmRH0uXotXRDjUbc=
 github.com/filecoin-project/go-statemachine v1.0.2/go.mod h1:jZdXXiHa61n4NmgWFG4w8tnqgvZVHYbJ3yW7+y8bF54=