diff --git a/tendermint/src/abci/code.rs b/tendermint/src/abci/code.rs
index 81ca1c523..6b0809447 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/abci/code.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/abci/code.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,12 @@ pub enum Code {
     Err(u32),
 }
 
+impl Default for Code {
+    fn default() -> Code {
+        Code::Ok
+    }
+}
+
 impl Code {
     /// Was the response OK?
     pub fn is_ok(self) -> bool {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/abci/data.rs b/tendermint/src/abci/data.rs
index 68da7abda..1a60d8ed6 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/abci/data.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/abci/data.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use subtle_encoding::hex;
 ///
 /// Transactions are opaque binary blobs which are validated according to
 /// application-specific rules.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Default)]
 pub struct Data(Vec<u8>);
 
 impl Data {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/abci/log.rs b/tendermint/src/abci/log.rs
index 3c9f9be8f..668acf006 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/abci/log.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/abci/log.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::fmt::{self, Display};
 
 /// ABCI log data
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct Log(String);
 
 impl Log {
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ impl Log {
     }
 }
 
+impl From<&str> for Log {
+    fn from(s: &str) -> Self {
+        Log(s.to_owned())
+    }
+}
+
 impl AsRef<str> for Log {
     fn as_ref(&self) -> &str {
         self.0.as_ref()
diff --git a/tendermint/src/abci/transaction.rs b/tendermint/src/abci/transaction.rs
index a9c61cb45..9c9438637 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/abci/transaction.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/abci/transaction.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl Serialize for Transaction {
 /// transactions are arbitrary byte arrays.
 ///
 /// <https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/blob/master/docs/spec/blockchain/blockchain.md#data>
-#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, Debug)]
+#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct Data {
     txs: Option<Vec<Transaction>>,
 }
diff --git a/tendermint/src/abci/transaction/hash.rs b/tendermint/src/abci/transaction/hash.rs
index 3d90c3740..328189751 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/abci/transaction/hash.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/abci/transaction/hash.rs
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 use crate::error::{Error, ErrorKind};
 use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
+use sha2::{Digest, Sha256};
 use std::{
     fmt::{self, Debug, Display},
     str::FromStr,
@@ -28,6 +29,15 @@ impl Hash {
     }
 }
 
+impl Default for Hash {
+    fn default() -> Hash {
+        // hash of empty data
+        let mut bytes = [0u8; LENGTH];
+        bytes.copy_from_slice(&Sha256::digest(&[])[..LENGTH]);
+        Hash::new(bytes)
+    }
+}
+
 impl AsRef<[u8]> for Hash {
     fn as_ref(&self) -> &[u8] {
         self.as_bytes()
diff --git a/tendermint/src/account.rs b/tendermint/src/account.rs
index 59045c4e7..d3cc90f14 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/account.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/account.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ use subtle_encoding::hex;
 const LENGTH: usize = 20;
 
 /// Account IDs
-#[derive(Copy, Clone, Eq, Hash, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Eq, Hash, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord, Default)]
 pub struct Id([u8; LENGTH]);
 
 impl Id {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/block/commit.rs b/tendermint/src/block/commit.rs
index 7b313eee1..269a0717f 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/block/commit.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/block/commit.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ pub struct Commit {
 }
 
 /// Precommits which certify that a block is valid
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct Precommits(Option<Vec<Option<Vote>>>);
 
 impl Precommits {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/block/header.rs b/tendermint/src/block/header.rs
index c609bd05a..e56453b5a 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/block/header.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/block/header.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ pub struct Header {
 /// application.
 ///
 /// <https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/blob/master/docs/spec/blockchain/blockchain.md#version>
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct Version {
     /// Block version
     #[serde(
diff --git a/tendermint/src/block/id.rs b/tendermint/src/block/id.rs
index 7bc37c74d..b0108ecbe 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/block/id.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/block/id.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ pub const PREFIX_LENGTH: usize = 10;
 /// as well as the number of parts in the block.
 ///
 /// <https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/blob/master/docs/spec/blockchain/blockchain.md#blockid>
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Hash, Eq, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Hash, Eq, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord, Default)]
 pub struct Id {
     /// The block's main hash is the Merkle root of all the fields in the
     /// block header.
diff --git a/tendermint/src/channel.rs b/tendermint/src/channel.rs
index 331dfc8d1..880b92c15 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/channel.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/channel.rs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ pub struct Channel {
 }
 
 /// Channel collections
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct Channels(String);
 
 impl Display for Channels {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/evidence.rs b/tendermint/src/evidence.rs
index 981acca2b..ff0d81d73 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/evidence.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/evidence.rs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ impl Serialize for Evidence {
 /// Evidence data is a wrapper for a list of `Evidence`.
 ///
 /// <https://github.com/tendermint/tendermint/blob/master/docs/spec/blockchain/blockchain.md#evidencedata>
-#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, Debug)]
+#[derive(Deserialize, Serialize, Clone, Debug, Default)]
 pub struct Data {
     evidence: Option<Vec<Evidence>>,
 }
diff --git a/tendermint/src/hash.rs b/tendermint/src/hash.rs
index 349fb9f95..df37aa3e4 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/hash.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/hash.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ pub enum Hash {
     Null,
 }
 
+impl Default for Hash {
+    fn default() -> Hash {
+        Hash::Null
+    }
+}
+
 impl Hash {
     #[allow(clippy::new_ret_no_self)]
     /// Create a new `Hash` with the given algorithm type
diff --git a/tendermint/src/moniker.rs b/tendermint/src/moniker.rs
index b5ca283da..e218b9099 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/moniker.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/moniker.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use std::{
 };
 
 /// Validator display names
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Eq, Hash, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Eq, Hash, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord, Default)]
 pub struct Moniker(String);
 
 impl FromStr for Moniker {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/net.rs b/tendermint/src/net.rs
index fe8d419ad..d5d806efe 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/net.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/net.rs
@@ -39,6 +39,16 @@ pub enum Address {
     },
 }
 
+impl Default for Address {
+    fn default() -> Address {
+        Address::Tcp {
+            peer_id: None,
+            host: "127.0.0.1".to_owned(),
+            port: 0,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Address {
     fn deserialize<D: Deserializer<'de>>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error> {
         Self::from_str(&String::deserialize(deserializer)?)
diff --git a/tendermint/src/node/info.rs b/tendermint/src/node/info.rs
index 95db15fb7..be0a7f766 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/node/info.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/node/info.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pub struct Info {
 }
 
 /// Protocol version information
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct ProtocolVersionInfo {
     /// P2P protocol version
     #[serde(
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub struct ProtocolVersionInfo {
 }
 
 /// Listen address information
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct ListenAddress(String);
 
 impl ListenAddress {
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ impl Display for ListenAddress {
 }
 
 /// Other information
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Eq, PartialEq, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct OtherInfo {
     /// TX index status
     pub tx_index: TxIndexStatus,
@@ -101,6 +101,12 @@ pub enum TxIndexStatus {
     Off,
 }
 
+impl Default for TxIndexStatus {
+    fn default() -> TxIndexStatus {
+        TxIndexStatus::On
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<TxIndexStatus> for bool {
     fn from(status: TxIndexStatus) -> bool {
         match status {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/public_key.rs b/tendermint/src/public_key.rs
index 52e7c0765..ddd2ff364 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/public_key.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/public_key.rs
@@ -91,6 +91,13 @@ impl PublicKey {
     }
 }
 
+impl Default for PublicKey {
+    fn default() -> PublicKey {
+        static DUMMY_BYTES: [u8; 32] = [0; 32];
+        PublicKey::Ed25519(ed25519::PublicKey::new(DUMMY_BYTES))
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<ed25519::PublicKey> for PublicKey {
     fn from(pk: ed25519::PublicKey) -> PublicKey {
         PublicKey::Ed25519(pk)
diff --git a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/abci_query.rs b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/abci_query.rs
index d7010ad18..9f41ca814 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/abci_query.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/abci_query.rs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ pub struct Response {
 impl rpc::Response for Response {}
 
 /// ABCI query results
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct AbciQuery {
     /// Response code
     pub code: Code,
diff --git a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_async.rs b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_async.rs
index 69fec9370..3320012d3 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_async.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_async.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl rpc::Request for Request {
 }
 
 /// Response from either an async or sync transaction broadcast request.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct Response {
     /// Code
     pub code: Code,
diff --git a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_commit.rs b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_commit.rs
index 2561889b7..ce2cc78fc 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_commit.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_commit.rs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ impl rpc::Request for Request {
 }
 
 /// Response from `/broadcast_tx_commit`.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct Response {
     /// `CheckTx` result
     pub check_tx: TxResult,
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub struct Response {
 impl rpc::Response for Response {}
 
 /// Results from either `CheckTx` or `DeliverTx`.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct TxResult {
     /// Code
     pub code: Code,
diff --git a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_sync.rs b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_sync.rs
index 8fc48ca4b..8eaef4227 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_sync.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/broadcast/tx_sync.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl rpc::Request for Request {
 }
 
 /// Response from either an async or sync transaction broadcast request.
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct Response {
     /// Code
     pub code: Code,
diff --git a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/status.rs b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/status.rs
index 336d34429..1508b8a47 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/status.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/rpc/endpoint/status.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub struct Response {
 impl rpc::Response for Response {}
 
 /// Sync information
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct SyncInfo {
     /// Latest block hash
     pub latest_block_hash: Hash,
diff --git a/tendermint/src/time.rs b/tendermint/src/time.rs
index 33b253f52..cc471ef9a 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/time.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/time.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 use crate::error::{Error, ErrorKind};
 use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+use std::fmt;
+use std::str::FromStr;
 use std::time::{Duration, SystemTime, UNIX_EPOCH};
 use tai64::TAI64N;
 
@@ -36,6 +38,11 @@ impl Time {
         Ok(Time(DateTime::parse_from_rfc3339(s)?.with_timezone(&Utc)))
     }
 
+    /// Returns an RFC 3339 string, such as 1996-12-19T16:39:57-08:00.
+    pub fn to_rfc3339(&self) -> String {
+        self.0.to_rfc3339()
+    }
+
     /// Convert this timestamp to a `SystemTime`
     pub fn to_system_time(&self) -> Result<SystemTime, Error> {
         let duration_since_epoch = self.duration_since(Self::unix_epoch())?;
@@ -43,6 +50,26 @@ impl Time {
     }
 }
 
+impl Default for Time {
+    fn default() -> Time {
+        Time::unix_epoch()
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for Time {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> Result<(), fmt::Error> {
+        write!(f, "{}", self.to_rfc3339())
+    }
+}
+
+impl FromStr for Time {
+    type Err = Error;
+
+    fn from_str(s: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Err> {
+        Time::parse_from_rfc3339(s)
+    }
+}
+
 impl From<DateTime<Utc>> for Time {
     fn from(t: DateTime<Utc>) -> Time {
         Time(t)
diff --git a/tendermint/src/validator.rs b/tendermint/src/validator.rs
index f7c2dc8e5..0bd19efce 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/validator.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/validator.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ impl Set {
 }
 
 /// Validator information
-#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, Deserialize, Serialize, Default)]
 pub struct Info {
     /// Validator account address
     pub address: account::Id,
diff --git a/tendermint/src/version.rs b/tendermint/src/version.rs
index 5142c72e6..ff76f3ee3 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/version.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/version.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use std::fmt::{self, Display};
 
 /// Tendermint version
-#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq)]
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, Default)]
 pub struct Version(String);
 
 impl Display for Version {
diff --git a/tendermint/src/vote/power.rs b/tendermint/src/vote/power.rs
index 8534a9b32..7ac8901fe 100644
--- a/tendermint/src/vote/power.rs
+++ b/tendermint/src/vote/power.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 use serde::{de::Error as _, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 
 /// Voting power
-#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[derive(Copy, Clone, Debug, Eq, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord, Default)]
 pub struct Power(u64);
 
 impl Power {