diff --git a/Message.go b/Message.go
index 5267242..ae78d1f 100644
--- a/Message.go
+++ b/Message.go
@@ -17,20 +17,21 @@ func newMessage(typ Message_MessageType, key string, level int) *Message {
 	return m
 }
 
-func peerToPBPeer(p *peer.Peer) *Message_Peer {
+func peerToPBPeer(p peer.Peer) *Message_Peer {
 	pbp := new(Message_Peer)
-	if len(p.Addresses) == 0 || p.Addresses[0] == nil {
+	addrs := p.Addresses()
+	if len(addrs) == 0 || addrs[0] == nil {
 		pbp.Addr = proto.String("")
 	} else {
-		addr := p.Addresses[0].String()
+		addr := addrs[0].String()
 		pbp.Addr = &addr
 	}
-	pid := string(p.ID)
+	pid := string(p.ID())
 	pbp.Id = &pid
 	return pbp
 }
 
-func peersToPBPeers(peers []*peer.Peer) []*Message_Peer {
+func peersToPBPeers(peers []peer.Peer) []*Message_Peer {
 	pbpeers := make([]*Message_Peer, len(peers))
 	for i, p := range peers {
 		pbpeers[i] = peerToPBPeer(p)
diff --git a/dht.go b/dht.go
index 683b578..3617b71 100644
--- a/dht.go
+++ b/dht.go
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ type IpfsDHT struct {
 	sender  inet.Sender
 
 	// Local peer (yourself)
-	self *peer.Peer
+	self peer.Peer
 
 	// Other peers
 	peerstore peer.Peerstore
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ type IpfsDHT struct {
 }
 
 // NewDHT creates a new DHT object with the given peer as the 'local' host
-func NewDHT(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, ps peer.Peerstore, net inet.Network, sender inet.Sender, dstore ds.Datastore) *IpfsDHT {
+func NewDHT(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, ps peer.Peerstore, net inet.Network, sender inet.Sender, dstore ds.Datastore) *IpfsDHT {
 	dht := new(IpfsDHT)
 	dht.network = net
 	dht.sender = sender
@@ -69,12 +69,12 @@ func NewDHT(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, ps peer.Peerstore, net inet.Netwo
 	dht.peerstore = ps
 	dht.ctx = ctx
 
-	dht.providers = NewProviderManager(p.ID)
+	dht.providers = NewProviderManager(p.ID())
 
 	dht.routingTables = make([]*kb.RoutingTable, 3)
-	dht.routingTables[0] = kb.NewRoutingTable(20, kb.ConvertPeerID(p.ID), time.Millisecond*1000)
-	dht.routingTables[1] = kb.NewRoutingTable(20, kb.ConvertPeerID(p.ID), time.Millisecond*1000)
-	dht.routingTables[2] = kb.NewRoutingTable(20, kb.ConvertPeerID(p.ID), time.Hour)
+	dht.routingTables[0] = kb.NewRoutingTable(20, kb.ConvertPeerID(p.ID()), time.Millisecond*1000)
+	dht.routingTables[1] = kb.NewRoutingTable(20, kb.ConvertPeerID(p.ID()), time.Millisecond*1000)
+	dht.routingTables[2] = kb.NewRoutingTable(20, kb.ConvertPeerID(p.ID()), time.Hour)
 	dht.birth = time.Now()
 
 	if doPinging {
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ func NewDHT(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, ps peer.Peerstore, net inet.Netwo
 }
 
 // Connect to a new peer at the given address, ping and add to the routing table
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) Connect(ctx context.Context, npeer *peer.Peer) (*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) Connect(ctx context.Context, npeer peer.Peer) (peer.Peer, error) {
 	log.Debug("Connect to new peer: %s", npeer)
 
 	// TODO(jbenet,whyrusleeping)
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) HandleMessage(ctx context.Context, mes msg.NetMessage) msg.N
 
 // sendRequest sends out a request using dht.sender, but also makes sure to
 // measure the RTT for latency measurements.
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) sendRequest(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) sendRequest(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 
 	mes, err := msg.FromObject(p, pmes)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) sendRequest(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message
 }
 
 // putValueToNetwork stores the given key/value pair at the peer 'p'
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) putValueToNetwork(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer,
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) putValueToNetwork(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer,
 	key string, value []byte) error {
 
 	pmes := newMessage(Message_PUT_VALUE, string(key), 0)
@@ -224,12 +224,12 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) putValueToNetwork(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer,
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) putProvider(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, key string) error {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) putProvider(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, key string) error {
 
 	pmes := newMessage(Message_ADD_PROVIDER, string(key), 0)
 
 	// add self as the provider
-	pmes.ProviderPeers = peersToPBPeers([]*peer.Peer{dht.self})
+	pmes.ProviderPeers = peersToPBPeers([]peer.Peer{dht.self})
 
 	rpmes, err := dht.sendRequest(ctx, p, pmes)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -244,8 +244,8 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) putProvider(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, key string) e
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) getValueOrPeers(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer,
-	key u.Key, level int) ([]byte, []*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) getValueOrPeers(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer,
+	key u.Key, level int) ([]byte, []peer.Peer, error) {
 
 	pmes, err := dht.getValueSingle(ctx, p, key, level)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) getValueOrPeers(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer,
 	}
 
 	// Perhaps we were given closer peers
-	var peers []*peer.Peer
+	var peers []peer.Peer
 	for _, pb := range pmes.GetCloserPeers() {
 		pr, err := dht.addPeer(pb)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) getValueOrPeers(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer,
 	return nil, nil, u.ErrNotFound
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) addPeer(pb *Message_Peer) (*peer.Peer, error) {
-	if peer.ID(pb.GetId()).Equal(dht.self.ID) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) addPeer(pb *Message_Peer) (peer.Peer, error) {
+	if peer.ID(pb.GetId()).Equal(dht.self.ID()) {
 		return nil, errors.New("cannot add self as peer")
 	}
 
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) addPeer(pb *Message_Peer) (*peer.Peer, error) {
 }
 
 // getValueSingle simply performs the get value RPC with the given parameters
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) getValueSingle(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer,
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) getValueSingle(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer,
 	key u.Key, level int) (*Message, error) {
 
 	pmes := newMessage(Message_GET_VALUE, string(key), level)
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) putLocal(key u.Key, value []byte) error {
 
 // Update signals to all routingTables to Update their last-seen status
 // on the given peer.
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) Update(p *peer.Peer) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) Update(p peer.Peer) {
 	log.Debug("updating peer: %s latency = %f\n", p, p.GetLatency().Seconds())
 	removedCount := 0
 	for _, route := range dht.routingTables {
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) Update(p *peer.Peer) {
 }
 
 // FindLocal looks for a peer with a given ID connected to this dht and returns the peer and the table it was found in.
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindLocal(id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, *kb.RoutingTable) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindLocal(id peer.ID) (peer.Peer, *kb.RoutingTable) {
 	for _, table := range dht.routingTables {
 		p := table.Find(id)
 		if p != nil {
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindLocal(id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, *kb.RoutingTable) {
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerSingle(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, id peer.ID, level int) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerSingle(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, id peer.ID, level int) (*Message, error) {
 	pmes := newMessage(Message_FIND_NODE, string(id), level)
 	return dht.sendRequest(ctx, p, pmes)
 }
@@ -411,14 +411,14 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) printTables() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) findProvidersSingle(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer, key u.Key, level int) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) findProvidersSingle(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer, key u.Key, level int) (*Message, error) {
 	pmes := newMessage(Message_GET_PROVIDERS, string(key), level)
 	return dht.sendRequest(ctx, p, pmes)
 }
 
 // TODO: Could be done async
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) addProviders(key u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer) []*peer.Peer {
-	var provArr []*peer.Peer
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) addProviders(key u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer) []peer.Peer {
+	var provArr []peer.Peer
 	for _, prov := range peers {
 		p, err := dht.peerFromInfo(prov)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) addProviders(key u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer) []*peer.Peer
 		log.Debug("%s adding provider: %s for %s", dht.self, p, key)
 
 		// Dont add outselves to the list
-		if p.ID.Equal(dht.self.ID) {
+		if p.ID().Equal(dht.self.ID()) {
 			continue
 		}
 
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) addProviders(key u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer) []*peer.Peer
 }
 
 // nearestPeersToQuery returns the routing tables closest peers.
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) nearestPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []*peer.Peer {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) nearestPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []peer.Peer {
 	level := pmes.GetClusterLevel()
 	cluster := dht.routingTables[level]
 
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) nearestPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []*peer.Peer {
 }
 
 // betterPeerToQuery returns nearestPeersToQuery, but iff closer than self.
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) betterPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []*peer.Peer {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) betterPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []peer.Peer {
 	closer := dht.nearestPeersToQuery(pmes, count)
 
 	// no node? nil
@@ -461,17 +461,17 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) betterPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []*peer.Peer {
 
 	// == to self? thats bad
 	for _, p := range closer {
-		if p.ID.Equal(dht.self.ID) {
+		if p.ID().Equal(dht.self.ID()) {
 			log.Error("Attempted to return self! this shouldnt happen...")
 			return nil
 		}
 	}
 
-	var filtered []*peer.Peer
+	var filtered []peer.Peer
 	for _, p := range closer {
 		// must all be closer than self
 		key := u.Key(pmes.GetKey())
-		if !kb.Closer(dht.self.ID, p.ID, key) {
+		if !kb.Closer(dht.self.ID(), p.ID(), key) {
 			filtered = append(filtered, p)
 		}
 	}
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) betterPeersToQuery(pmes *Message, count int) []*peer.Peer {
 	return filtered
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) getPeer(id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) getPeer(id peer.ID) (peer.Peer, error) {
 	p, err := dht.peerstore.Get(id)
 	if err != nil {
 		err = fmt.Errorf("Failed to get peer from peerstore: %s", err)
@@ -490,12 +490,12 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) getPeer(id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error) {
 	return p, nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) peerFromInfo(pbp *Message_Peer) (*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) peerFromInfo(pbp *Message_Peer) (peer.Peer, error) {
 
 	id := peer.ID(pbp.GetId())
 
 	// continue if it's ourselves
-	if id.Equal(dht.self.ID) {
+	if id.Equal(dht.self.ID()) {
 		return nil, errors.New("found self")
 	}
 
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) peerFromInfo(pbp *Message_Peer) (*peer.Peer, error) {
 	return p, nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) ensureConnectedToPeer(pbp *Message_Peer) (*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) ensureConnectedToPeer(pbp *Message_Peer) (peer.Peer, error) {
 	p, err := dht.peerFromInfo(pbp)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
diff --git a/dht_test.go b/dht_test.go
index 98b196d..23d9fcf 100644
--- a/dht_test.go
+++ b/dht_test.go
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 )
 
-func setupDHT(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, p *peer.Peer) *IpfsDHT {
+func setupDHT(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, p peer.Peer) *IpfsDHT {
 	peerstore := peer.NewPeerstore()
 
 	dhts := netservice.NewService(nil) // nil handler for now, need to patch it
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func setupDHT(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, p *peer.Peer) *IpfsDHT {
 	return d
 }
 
-func setupDHTS(ctx context.Context, n int, t *testing.T) ([]ma.Multiaddr, []*peer.Peer, []*IpfsDHT) {
+func setupDHTS(ctx context.Context, n int, t *testing.T) ([]ma.Multiaddr, []peer.Peer, []*IpfsDHT) {
 	var addrs []ma.Multiaddr
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		a, err := ma.NewMultiaddr(fmt.Sprintf("/ip4/127.0.0.1/tcp/%d", 5000+i))
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ func setupDHTS(ctx context.Context, n int, t *testing.T) ([]ma.Multiaddr, []*pee
 		addrs = append(addrs, a)
 	}
 
-	var peers []*peer.Peer
+	var peers []peer.Peer
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
 		p := makePeer(addrs[i])
 		peers = append(peers, p)
@@ -64,21 +64,16 @@ func setupDHTS(ctx context.Context, n int, t *testing.T) ([]ma.Multiaddr, []*pee
 	return addrs, peers, dhts
 }
 
-func makePeer(addr ma.Multiaddr) *peer.Peer {
-	p := new(peer.Peer)
-	p.AddAddress(addr)
+func makePeer(addr ma.Multiaddr) peer.Peer {
 	sk, pk, err := ci.GenerateKeyPair(ci.RSA, 512)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-	p.PrivKey = sk
-	p.PubKey = pk
-	id, err := peer.IDFromPubKey(pk)
+	p, err := peer.WithKeyPair(sk, pk)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
-
-	p.ID = id
+	p.AddAddress(addr)
 	return p
 }
 
@@ -289,7 +284,7 @@ func TestProvidesAsync(t *testing.T) {
 	provs := dhts[0].FindProvidersAsync(ctxT, u.Key("hello"), 5)
 	select {
 	case p := <-provs:
-		if !p.ID.Equal(dhts[3].self.ID) {
+		if !p.ID().Equal(dhts[3].self.ID()) {
 			t.Fatalf("got a provider, but not the right one. %s", p)
 		}
 	case <-ctxT.Done():
@@ -379,7 +374,7 @@ func TestFindPeer(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	ctxT, _ := context.WithTimeout(ctx, time.Second)
-	p, err := dhts[0].FindPeer(ctxT, peers[2].ID)
+	p, err := dhts[0].FindPeer(ctxT, peers[2].ID())
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -388,7 +383,7 @@ func TestFindPeer(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal("Failed to find peer.")
 	}
 
-	if !p.ID.Equal(peers[2].ID) {
+	if !p.ID().Equal(peers[2].ID()) {
 		t.Fatal("Didnt find expected peer.")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/diag.go b/diag.go
index 8fd581a..e91ba9b 100644
--- a/diag.go
+++ b/diag.go
@@ -32,12 +32,13 @@ func (di *diagInfo) Marshal() []byte {
 func (dht *IpfsDHT) getDiagInfo() *diagInfo {
 	di := new(diagInfo)
 	di.CodeVersion = "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs"
-	di.ID = dht.self.ID
+	di.ID = dht.self.ID()
 	di.LifeSpan = time.Since(dht.birth)
 	di.Keys = nil // Currently no way to query datastore
 
 	for _, p := range dht.routingTables[0].ListPeers() {
-		di.Connections = append(di.Connections, connDiagInfo{p.GetLatency(), p.ID})
+		d := connDiagInfo{p.GetLatency(), p.ID()}
+		di.Connections = append(di.Connections, d)
 	}
 	return di
 }
diff --git a/ext_test.go b/ext_test.go
index b5bf487..c4ba094 100644
--- a/ext_test.go
+++ b/ext_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/code.google.com/p/goprotobuf/proto"
 
 	ds "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/datastore.go"
-	ma "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/Godeps/_workspace/src/github.com/jbenet/go-multiaddr"
 	msg "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/net/message"
 	mux "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/net/mux"
 	peer "github.com/jbenet/go-ipfs/peer"
@@ -66,17 +65,17 @@ type fauxNet struct {
 }
 
 // DialPeer attempts to establish a connection to a given peer
-func (f *fauxNet) DialPeer(*peer.Peer) error {
+func (f *fauxNet) DialPeer(peer.Peer) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
 // ClosePeer connection to peer
-func (f *fauxNet) ClosePeer(*peer.Peer) error {
+func (f *fauxNet) ClosePeer(peer.Peer) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
 // IsConnected returns whether a connection to given peer exists.
-func (f *fauxNet) IsConnected(*peer.Peer) (bool, error) {
+func (f *fauxNet) IsConnected(peer.Peer) (bool, error) {
 	return true, nil
 }
 
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ func (f *fauxNet) SendMessage(msg.NetMessage) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (f *fauxNet) GetPeerList() []*peer.Peer {
+func (f *fauxNet) GetPeerList() []peer.Peer {
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -107,11 +106,10 @@ func TestGetFailures(t *testing.T) {
 	fs := &fauxSender{}
 
 	peerstore := peer.NewPeerstore()
-	local := new(peer.Peer)
-	local.ID = peer.ID("test_peer")
+	local := peer.WithIDString("test_peer")
 
 	d := NewDHT(ctx, local, peerstore, fn, fs, ds.NewMapDatastore())
-	other := &peer.Peer{ID: peer.ID("other_peer")}
+	other := peer.WithIDString("other_peer")
 	d.Update(other)
 
 	// This one should time out
@@ -189,11 +187,10 @@ func TestGetFailures(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 // TODO: Maybe put these in some sort of "ipfs_testutil" package
-func _randPeer() *peer.Peer {
-	p := new(peer.Peer)
-	p.ID = make(peer.ID, 16)
-	p.Addresses = []ma.Multiaddr{nil}
-	crand.Read(p.ID)
+func _randPeer() peer.Peer {
+	id := make(peer.ID, 16)
+	crand.Read(id)
+	p := peer.WithID(id)
 	return p
 }
 
@@ -204,13 +201,13 @@ func TestNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 	fn := &fauxNet{}
 	fs := &fauxSender{}
 
-	local := new(peer.Peer)
-	local.ID = peer.ID("test_peer")
+	local := peer.WithIDString("test_peer")
 	peerstore := peer.NewPeerstore()
+	peerstore.Put(local)
 
 	d := NewDHT(ctx, local, peerstore, fn, fs, ds.NewMapDatastore())
 
-	var ps []*peer.Peer
+	var ps []peer.Peer
 	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
 		ps = append(ps, _randPeer())
 		d.Update(ps[i])
@@ -228,7 +225,7 @@ func TestNotFound(t *testing.T) {
 		case Message_GET_VALUE:
 			resp := &Message{Type: pmes.Type}
 
-			peers := []*peer.Peer{}
+			peers := []peer.Peer{}
 			for i := 0; i < 7; i++ {
 				peers = append(peers, _randPeer())
 			}
@@ -270,13 +267,13 @@ func TestLessThanKResponses(t *testing.T) {
 	u.Debug = false
 	fn := &fauxNet{}
 	fs := &fauxSender{}
+	local := peer.WithIDString("test_peer")
 	peerstore := peer.NewPeerstore()
-	local := new(peer.Peer)
-	local.ID = peer.ID("test_peer")
+	peerstore.Put(local)
 
 	d := NewDHT(ctx, local, peerstore, fn, fs, ds.NewMapDatastore())
 
-	var ps []*peer.Peer
+	var ps []peer.Peer
 	for i := 0; i < 5; i++ {
 		ps = append(ps, _randPeer())
 		d.Update(ps[i])
@@ -295,7 +292,7 @@ func TestLessThanKResponses(t *testing.T) {
 		case Message_GET_VALUE:
 			resp := &Message{
 				Type:        pmes.Type,
-				CloserPeers: peersToPBPeers([]*peer.Peer{other}),
+				CloserPeers: peersToPBPeers([]peer.Peer{other}),
 			}
 
 			mes, err := msg.FromObject(mes.Peer(), resp)
diff --git a/handlers.go b/handlers.go
index 1046516..44802ba 100644
--- a/handlers.go
+++ b/handlers.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import (
 var CloserPeerCount = 4
 
 // dhthandler specifies the signature of functions that handle DHT messages.
-type dhtHandler func(*peer.Peer, *Message) (*Message, error)
+type dhtHandler func(peer.Peer, *Message) (*Message, error)
 
 func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlerForMsgType(t Message_MessageType) dhtHandler {
 	switch t {
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlerForMsgType(t Message_MessageType) dhtHandler {
 	}
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleGetValue(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleGetValue(p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 	log.Debug("%s handleGetValue for key: %s\n", dht.self, pmes.GetKey())
 
 	// setup response
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleGetValue(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error
 }
 
 // Store a value in this peer local storage
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlePutValue(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlePutValue(p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 	dht.dslock.Lock()
 	defer dht.dslock.Unlock()
 	dskey := u.Key(pmes.GetKey()).DsKey()
@@ -102,18 +102,18 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlePutValue(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error
 	return pmes, err
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlePing(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) handlePing(p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 	log.Debug("%s Responding to ping from %s!\n", dht.self, p)
 	return pmes, nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleFindPeer(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleFindPeer(p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 	resp := newMessage(pmes.GetType(), "", pmes.GetClusterLevel())
-	var closest []*peer.Peer
+	var closest []peer.Peer
 
 	// if looking for self... special case where we send it on CloserPeers.
-	if peer.ID(pmes.GetKey()).Equal(dht.self.ID) {
-		closest = []*peer.Peer{dht.self}
+	if peer.ID(pmes.GetKey()).Equal(dht.self.ID()) {
+		closest = []peer.Peer{dht.self}
 	} else {
 		closest = dht.betterPeersToQuery(pmes, CloserPeerCount)
 	}
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleFindPeer(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error
 		return resp, nil
 	}
 
-	var withAddresses []*peer.Peer
+	var withAddresses []peer.Peer
 	for _, p := range closest {
-		if len(p.Addresses) > 0 {
+		if len(p.Addresses()) > 0 {
 			withAddresses = append(withAddresses, p)
 		}
 	}
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleFindPeer(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error
 	return resp, nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleGetProviders(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleGetProviders(p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 	resp := newMessage(pmes.GetType(), pmes.GetKey(), pmes.GetClusterLevel())
 
 	// check if we have this value, to add ourselves as provider.
@@ -171,10 +171,10 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleGetProviders(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, e
 
 type providerInfo struct {
 	Creation time.Time
-	Value    *peer.Peer
+	Value    peer.Peer
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleAddProvider(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleAddProvider(p peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, error) {
 	key := u.Key(pmes.GetKey())
 
 	log.Debug("%s adding %s as a provider for '%s'\n", dht.self, p, peer.ID(key))
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) handleAddProvider(p *peer.Peer, pmes *Message) (*Message, er
 	// add provider should use the address given in the message
 	for _, pb := range pmes.GetProviderPeers() {
 		pid := peer.ID(pb.GetId())
-		if pid.Equal(p.ID) {
+		if pid.Equal(p.ID()) {
 
 			addr, err := pb.Address()
 			if err != nil {
diff --git a/providers.go b/providers.go
index c62755c..204fdf7 100644
--- a/providers.go
+++ b/providers.go
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@ type ProviderManager struct {
 
 type addProv struct {
 	k   u.Key
-	val *peer.Peer
+	val peer.Peer
 }
 
 type getProv struct {
 	k    u.Key
-	resp chan []*peer.Peer
+	resp chan []peer.Peer
 }
 
 func NewProviderManager(local peer.ID) *ProviderManager {
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ func (pm *ProviderManager) run() {
 	for {
 		select {
 		case np := <-pm.newprovs:
-			if np.val.ID.Equal(pm.lpeer) {
+			if np.val.ID().Equal(pm.lpeer) {
 				pm.local[np.k] = struct{}{}
 			}
 			pi := new(providerInfo)
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func (pm *ProviderManager) run() {
 			arr := pm.providers[np.k]
 			pm.providers[np.k] = append(arr, pi)
 		case gp := <-pm.getprovs:
-			var parr []*peer.Peer
+			var parr []peer.Peer
 			provs := pm.providers[gp.k]
 			for _, p := range provs {
 				parr = append(parr, p.Value)
@@ -82,17 +82,17 @@ func (pm *ProviderManager) run() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (pm *ProviderManager) AddProvider(k u.Key, val *peer.Peer) {
+func (pm *ProviderManager) AddProvider(k u.Key, val peer.Peer) {
 	pm.newprovs <- &addProv{
 		k:   k,
 		val: val,
 	}
 }
 
-func (pm *ProviderManager) GetProviders(k u.Key) []*peer.Peer {
+func (pm *ProviderManager) GetProviders(k u.Key) []peer.Peer {
 	gp := new(getProv)
 	gp.k = k
-	gp.resp = make(chan []*peer.Peer)
+	gp.resp = make(chan []peer.Peer)
 	pm.getprovs <- gp
 	return <-gp.resp
 }
diff --git a/providers_test.go b/providers_test.go
index 0cdfa4f..b37327d 100644
--- a/providers_test.go
+++ b/providers_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ func TestProviderManager(t *testing.T) {
 	mid := peer.ID("testing")
 	p := NewProviderManager(mid)
 	a := u.Key("test")
-	p.AddProvider(a, &peer.Peer{})
+	p.AddProvider(a, peer.WithIDString("testingprovider"))
 	resp := p.GetProviders(a)
 	if len(resp) != 1 {
 		t.Fatal("Could not retrieve provider.")
diff --git a/query.go b/query.go
index 0a9ca0b..ef3670c 100644
--- a/query.go
+++ b/query.go
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ type dhtQuery struct {
 }
 
 type dhtQueryResult struct {
-	value         []byte       // GetValue
-	peer          *peer.Peer   // FindPeer
-	providerPeers []*peer.Peer // GetProviders
-	closerPeers   []*peer.Peer // *
+	value         []byte      // GetValue
+	peer          peer.Peer   // FindPeer
+	providerPeers []peer.Peer // GetProviders
+	closerPeers   []peer.Peer // *
 	success       bool
 }
 
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func newQuery(k u.Key, f queryFunc) *dhtQuery {
 // - the value
 // - a list of peers potentially better able to serve the query
 // - an error
-type queryFunc func(context.Context, *peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error)
+type queryFunc func(context.Context, peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error)
 
 // Run runs the query at hand. pass in a list of peers to use first.
-func (q *dhtQuery) Run(ctx context.Context, peers []*peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
+func (q *dhtQuery) Run(ctx context.Context, peers []peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
 	runner := newQueryRunner(ctx, q)
 	return runner.Run(peers)
 }
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ func newQueryRunner(ctx context.Context, q *dhtQuery) *dhtQueryRunner {
 	}
 }
 
-func (r *dhtQueryRunner) Run(peers []*peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
+func (r *dhtQueryRunner) Run(peers []peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
 	log.Debug("Run query with %d peers.", len(peers))
 	if len(peers) == 0 {
 		log.Warning("Running query with no peers!")
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ func (r *dhtQueryRunner) Run(peers []*peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
 	return nil, err
 }
 
-func (r *dhtQueryRunner) addPeerToQuery(next *peer.Peer, benchmark *peer.Peer) {
+func (r *dhtQueryRunner) addPeerToQuery(next peer.Peer, benchmark peer.Peer) {
 	if next == nil {
 		// wtf why are peers nil?!?
 		log.Error("Query getting nil peers!!!\n")
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (r *dhtQueryRunner) addPeerToQuery(next *peer.Peer, benchmark *peer.Peer) {
 	}
 
 	// if new peer further away than whom we got it from, bother (loops)
-	if benchmark != nil && kb.Closer(benchmark.ID, next.ID, r.query.key) {
+	if benchmark != nil && kb.Closer(benchmark.ID(), next.ID(), r.query.key) {
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ func (r *dhtQueryRunner) spawnWorkers() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (r *dhtQueryRunner) queryPeer(p *peer.Peer) {
+func (r *dhtQueryRunner) queryPeer(p peer.Peer) {
 	log.Debug("spawned worker for: %v\n", p)
 
 	// make sure we rate limit concurrency.
diff --git a/routing.go b/routing.go
index 55ef265..7f004dc 100644
--- a/routing.go
+++ b/routing.go
@@ -23,13 +23,13 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) PutValue(ctx context.Context, key u.Key, value []byte) error
 		return err
 	}
 
-	var peers []*peer.Peer
+	var peers []peer.Peer
 	for _, route := range dht.routingTables {
 		npeers := route.NearestPeers(kb.ConvertKey(key), KValue)
 		peers = append(peers, npeers...)
 	}
 
-	query := newQuery(key, func(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
+	query := newQuery(key, func(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
 		log.Debug("%s PutValue qry part %v", dht.self, p)
 		err := dht.putValueToNetwork(ctx, p, string(key), value)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) GetValue(ctx context.Context, key u.Key) ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 
 	// setup the Query
-	query := newQuery(key, func(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
+	query := newQuery(key, func(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
 
 		val, peers, err := dht.getValueOrPeers(ctx, p, key, routeLevel)
 		if err != nil {
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) Provide(ctx context.Context, key u.Key) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindProvidersAsync(ctx context.Context, key u.Key, count int) <-chan *peer.Peer {
-	peerOut := make(chan *peer.Peer, count)
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindProvidersAsync(ctx context.Context, key u.Key, count int) <-chan peer.Peer {
+	peerOut := make(chan peer.Peer, count)
 	go func() {
 		ps := newPeerSet()
 		provs := dht.providers.GetProviders(key)
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindProvidersAsync(ctx context.Context, key u.Key, count int
 		peers := dht.routingTables[0].NearestPeers(kb.ConvertKey(key), AlphaValue)
 		for _, pp := range peers {
 			wg.Add(1)
-			go func(p *peer.Peer) {
+			go func(p peer.Peer) {
 				defer wg.Done()
 				pmes, err := dht.findProvidersSingle(ctx, p, key, 0)
 				if err != nil {
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindProvidersAsync(ctx context.Context, key u.Key, count int
 }
 
 //TODO: this function could also be done asynchronously
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) addPeerListAsync(k u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer, ps *peerSet, count int, out chan *peer.Peer) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) addPeerListAsync(k u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer, ps *peerSet, count int, out chan peer.Peer) {
 	for _, pbp := range peers {
 
 		// construct new peer
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) addPeerListAsync(k u.Key, peers []*Message_Peer, ps *peerSet
 
 // Find specific Peer
 // FindPeer searches for a peer with given ID.
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindPeer(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindPeer(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (peer.Peer, error) {
 
 	// Check if were already connected to them
 	p, _ := dht.FindLocal(id)
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindPeer(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error
 	if p == nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	if p.ID.Equal(id) {
+	if p.ID().Equal(id) {
 		return p, nil
 	}
 
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindPeer(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error
 			continue
 		}
 
-		if nxtPeer.ID.Equal(id) {
+		if nxtPeer.ID().Equal(id) {
 			return nxtPeer, nil
 		}
 
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) FindPeer(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error
 	return nil, u.ErrNotFound
 }
 
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerMultiple(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Peer, error) {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerMultiple(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (peer.Peer, error) {
 
 	// Check if were already connected to them
 	p, _ := dht.FindLocal(id)
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerMultiple(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Pee
 	}
 
 	// setup query function
-	query := newQuery(u.Key(id), func(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
+	query := newQuery(u.Key(id), func(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer) (*dhtQueryResult, error) {
 		pmes, err := dht.findPeerSingle(ctx, p, id, routeLevel)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Error("%s getPeer error: %v", dht.self, err)
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerMultiple(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Pee
 			routeLevel++
 		}
 
-		nxtprs := make([]*peer.Peer, len(plist))
+		nxtprs := make([]peer.Peer, len(plist))
 		for i, fp := range plist {
 			nxtp, err := dht.peerFromInfo(fp)
 			if err != nil {
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerMultiple(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Pee
 				continue
 			}
 
-			if nxtp.ID.Equal(id) {
+			if nxtp.ID().Equal(id) {
 				return &dhtQueryResult{peer: nxtp, success: true}, nil
 			}
 
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func (dht *IpfsDHT) findPeerMultiple(ctx context.Context, id peer.ID) (*peer.Pee
 }
 
 // Ping a peer, log the time it took
-func (dht *IpfsDHT) Ping(ctx context.Context, p *peer.Peer) error {
+func (dht *IpfsDHT) Ping(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer) error {
 	// Thoughts: maybe this should accept an ID and do a peer lookup?
 	log.Info("ping %s start", p)
 
diff --git a/util.go b/util.go
index d12f7f9..3cc8126 100644
--- a/util.go
+++ b/util.go
@@ -52,15 +52,15 @@ func newPeerSet() *peerSet {
 	return ps
 }
 
-func (ps *peerSet) Add(p *peer.Peer) {
+func (ps *peerSet) Add(p peer.Peer) {
 	ps.lk.Lock()
-	ps.ps[string(p.ID)] = true
+	ps.ps[string(p.ID())] = true
 	ps.lk.Unlock()
 }
 
-func (ps *peerSet) Contains(p *peer.Peer) bool {
+func (ps *peerSet) Contains(p peer.Peer) bool {
 	ps.lk.RLock()
-	_, ok := ps.ps[string(p.ID)]
+	_, ok := ps.ps[string(p.ID())]
 	ps.lk.RUnlock()
 	return ok
 }
@@ -71,12 +71,12 @@ func (ps *peerSet) Size() int {
 	return len(ps.ps)
 }
 
-func (ps *peerSet) AddIfSmallerThan(p *peer.Peer, maxsize int) bool {
+func (ps *peerSet) AddIfSmallerThan(p peer.Peer, maxsize int) bool {
 	var success bool
 	ps.lk.Lock()
-	if _, ok := ps.ps[string(p.ID)]; !ok && len(ps.ps) < maxsize {
+	if _, ok := ps.ps[string(p.ID())]; !ok && len(ps.ps) < maxsize {
 		success = true
-		ps.ps[string(p.ID)] = true
+		ps.ps[string(p.ID())] = true
 	}
 	ps.lk.Unlock()
 	return success