diff --git a/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.spec.ts b/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.spec.ts
index 3a2291463e..53927b2451 100644
--- a/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.spec.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/naming-convention */
-import { encodeBech32Pubkey } from "@cosmjs/amino";
 import { fromBase64 } from "@cosmjs/encoding";
 import { coin } from "@cosmjs/proto-signing";
+import { PubKey as CosmosCryptoSecp256k1Pubkey } from "cosmjs-types/cosmos/crypto/secp256k1/keys";
 import {
   MsgBeginRedelegate,
   MsgCreateValidator,
@@ -65,7 +65,13 @@ describe("AminoTypes", () => {
         validatorAddress: "cosmos10dyr9899g6t0pelew4nvf4j5c3jcgv0r73qga5",
         pubkey: {
           typeUrl: "/cosmos.crypto.secp256k1.PubKey",
-          value: fromBase64("A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ"),
+          value: Uint8Array.from(
+            CosmosCryptoSecp256k1Pubkey.encode(
+              CosmosCryptoSecp256k1Pubkey.fromPartial({
+                key: fromBase64("A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ"),
+              }),
+            ).finish(),
+          ),
         },
         value: coin(1234, "ucosm"),
       };
@@ -92,10 +98,10 @@ describe("AminoTypes", () => {
           min_self_delegation: "123",
           delegator_address: "cosmos1pkptre7fdkl6gfrzlesjjvhxhlc3r4gmmk8rs6",
           validator_address: "cosmos10dyr9899g6t0pelew4nvf4j5c3jcgv0r73qga5",
-          pubkey: encodeBech32Pubkey(
-            { type: "tendermint/PubKeySecp256k1", value: "A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ" },
-            "cosmos",
-          ),
+          pubkey: {
+            type: "tendermint/PubKeySecp256k1",
+            value: "A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ",
+          },
           value: coin(1234, "ucosm"),
         },
       };
@@ -226,10 +232,10 @@ describe("AminoTypes", () => {
           min_self_delegation: "123",
           delegator_address: "cosmos1pkptre7fdkl6gfrzlesjjvhxhlc3r4gmmk8rs6",
           validator_address: "cosmos10dyr9899g6t0pelew4nvf4j5c3jcgv0r73qga5",
-          pubkey: encodeBech32Pubkey(
-            { type: "tendermint/PubKeySecp256k1", value: "A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ" },
-            "cosmos",
-          ),
+          pubkey: {
+            type: "tendermint/PubKeySecp256k1",
+            value: "A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ",
+          },
           value: coin(1234, "ucosm"),
         },
       };
@@ -252,7 +258,13 @@ describe("AminoTypes", () => {
         validatorAddress: "cosmos10dyr9899g6t0pelew4nvf4j5c3jcgv0r73qga5",
         pubkey: {
           typeUrl: "/cosmos.crypto.secp256k1.PubKey",
-          value: fromBase64("A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ"),
+          value: Uint8Array.from(
+            CosmosCryptoSecp256k1Pubkey.encode(
+              CosmosCryptoSecp256k1Pubkey.fromPartial({
+                key: fromBase64("A08EGB7ro1ORuFhjOnZcSgwYlpe0DSFjVNUIkNNQxwKQ"),
+              }),
+            ).finish(),
+          ),
         },
         value: coin(1234, "ucosm"),
       };
diff --git a/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.ts b/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.ts
index 9a4723e9eb..957cbba0dc 100644
--- a/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.ts
+++ b/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/aminomessages.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /* eslint-disable @typescript-eslint/naming-convention */
-import { AminoMsg, Coin, decodeBech32Pubkey, encodeBech32Pubkey } from "@cosmjs/amino";
-import { fromBase64, toBase64 } from "@cosmjs/encoding";
+import { AminoMsg, Coin, Pubkey } from "@cosmjs/amino";
 import { Decimal } from "@cosmjs/math";
+import { anyToSinglePubkey, encodePubkey } from "@cosmjs/proto-signing";
 import { assertDefinedAndNotNull } from "@cosmjs/utils";
 import {
   MsgBeginRedelegate,
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ export interface AminoMsgCreateValidator extends AminoMsg {
     readonly delegator_address: string;
     /** Bech32 encoded validator address */
     readonly validator_address: string;
-    /** Bech32 encoded public key */
-    readonly pubkey: string;
+    /** Public key */
+    readonly pubkey: Pubkey;
     readonly value: Coin;
   };
 }
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ export function isAminoMsgUndelegate(msg: AminoMsg): msg is AminoMsgUndelegate {
 }
 
 export function createStakingAminoConverters(
-  prefix: string,
+  _prefix: string,
 ): Record<string, AminoConverter | "not_supported_by_chain"> {
   return {
     "/cosmos.staking.v1beta1.MsgBeginRedelegate": {
@@ -194,13 +194,7 @@ export function createStakingAminoConverters(
           min_self_delegation: minSelfDelegation,
           delegator_address: delegatorAddress,
           validator_address: validatorAddress,
-          pubkey: encodeBech32Pubkey(
-            {
-              type: "tendermint/PubKeySecp256k1",
-              value: toBase64(pubkey.value),
-            },
-            prefix,
-          ),
+          pubkey: anyToSinglePubkey(pubkey),
           value: value,
         };
       },
@@ -213,10 +207,6 @@ export function createStakingAminoConverters(
         pubkey,
         value,
       }: AminoMsgCreateValidator["value"]): MsgCreateValidator => {
-        const decodedPubkey = decodeBech32Pubkey(pubkey);
-        if (decodedPubkey.type !== "tendermint/PubKeySecp256k1") {
-          throw new Error("Only Secp256k1 public keys are supported");
-        }
         return {
           description: {
             moniker: description.moniker,
@@ -233,10 +223,7 @@ export function createStakingAminoConverters(
           minSelfDelegation: min_self_delegation,
           delegatorAddress: delegator_address,
           validatorAddress: validator_address,
-          pubkey: {
-            typeUrl: "/cosmos.crypto.secp256k1.PubKey",
-            value: fromBase64(decodedPubkey.value),
-          },
+          pubkey: encodePubkey(pubkey),
           value: value,
         };
       },
diff --git a/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/messages.spec.ts b/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/messages.spec.ts
index 6046ac00c7..56c3b53fa3 100644
--- a/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/messages.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/stargate/src/modules/staking/messages.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { coin } from "@cosmjs/amino";
+import { coin, Secp256k1HdWallet } from "@cosmjs/amino";
 import { Random } from "@cosmjs/crypto";
 import { fromBech32, toBase64, toBech32 } from "@cosmjs/encoding";
 import { DirectSecp256k1HdWallet, encodePubkey } from "@cosmjs/proto-signing";
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ async function sendFeeAndStakingTokens(address: string): Promise<void> {
   client.disconnect();
 }
 
-describe("staking messages", () => {
+fdescribe("staking messages", () => {
   describe("MsgCreateValidator", () => {
     it("works", async () => {
       pendingWithoutSimapp();
@@ -82,5 +82,55 @@ describe("staking messages", () => {
 
       client.disconnect();
     });
+
+    it("works with Amino JSON sign mode", async () => {
+      pendingWithoutSimapp();
+
+      const valWallet = await Secp256k1HdWallet.generate();
+      const [valAccount] = await valWallet.getAccounts();
+
+      await sendFeeAndStakingTokens(valAccount.address);
+
+      const client = await SigningStargateClient.connectWithSigner(
+        simapp.tendermintUrl,
+        valWallet,
+        defaultSigningClientOptions,
+      );
+
+      const createMsg: MsgCreateValidatorEncodeObject = {
+        typeUrl: "/cosmos.staking.v1beta1.MsgCreateValidator",
+        value: {
+          description: {
+            moniker: "That's me",
+            identity: "AABB1234",
+            website: "http://example.com/me",
+            details: "What should I write?",
+            securityContact: "DM on Twitter",
+          },
+          commission: {
+            maxChangeRate: "10000000000000000", // 0.01
+            maxRate: "200000000000000000", // 0.2
+            rate: "100000000000000000", // 0.1
+          },
+          minSelfDelegation: "1",
+          // Those two addresses need to be the same with different prefix 🤷‍♂️
+          delegatorAddress: valAccount.address,
+          validatorAddress: changePrefix(valAccount.address, "cosmosvaloper"),
+          pubkey: encodePubkey({
+            type: "tendermint/PubKeyEd25519",
+            value: toBase64(Random.getBytes(32)),
+          }),
+          value: {
+            amount: "1",
+            denom: simapp.denomStaking,
+          },
+        },
+      };
+      const result = await client.signAndBroadcast(valAccount.address, [createMsg], "auto");
+
+      assertIsDeliverTxSuccess(result);
+
+      client.disconnect();
+    });
   });
 });