diff --git a/src/encode.rs b/src/encode.rs
index fab99983..95ade56c 100644
--- a/src/encode.rs
+++ b/src/encode.rs
@@ -27,9 +27,6 @@ use crate::transaction::{Transaction, TxIn, TxOut};
 
 pub use bitcoin::{self, consensus::encode::MAX_VEC_SIZE};
 
-// Use the ReadExt/WriteExt traits as is from upstream
-pub use bitcoin::consensus::encode::{ReadExt, WriteExt};
-
 use crate::taproot::TapLeafHash;
 
 /// Encoding error
@@ -207,7 +204,7 @@ impl Decodable for sha256::Midstate {
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) fn consensus_encode_with_size<S: io::Write>(
+pub(crate) fn consensus_encode_with_size<S: crate::WriteExt>(
     data: &[u8],
     mut s: S,
 ) -> Result<usize, Error> {
@@ -245,64 +242,16 @@ impl Decodable for crate::locktime::Time {
     }
 }
 
-// TODO reuse bitcoin's `WriteExt::emit_varint`, `ReadExt::read_varint` when available
-
 /// A variable sized integer.
 pub struct VarInt(pub u64);
 impl Encodable for VarInt {
-    fn consensus_encode<W: io::Write>(&self, mut e: W) -> Result<usize, Error> {
-        match self.0 {
-            i @ 0..=0xFC => {
-                e.emit_u8(i as u8)?;
-                Ok(1)
-            }
-            i @ 0xFD..=0xFFFF => {
-                e.emit_u8(0xFD)?;
-                e.emit_u16(i as u16)?;
-                Ok(3)
-            }
-            i @ 0x10000..=0xFFFFFFFF => {
-                e.emit_u8(0xFE)?;
-                e.emit_u32(i as u32)?;
-                Ok(5)
-            }
-            i => {
-                e.emit_u8(0xFF)?;
-                e.emit_u64(i)?;
-                Ok(9)
-            }
-        }
+    fn consensus_encode<W: crate::WriteExt>(&self, mut e: W) -> Result<usize, Error> {
+        Ok(e.emit_varint(self.0)?)
     }
 }
 impl Decodable for VarInt {
-    fn consensus_decode<D: io::Read>(mut d: D) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-        match d.read_u8()? {
-            0xFF => {
-                let x = d.read_u64()?;
-                if x < 0x100000000 {
-                    Err(Error::NonMinimalVarInt)
-                } else {
-                    Ok(VarInt(x))
-                }
-            }
-            0xFE => {
-                let x = d.read_u32()?;
-                if x < 0x10000 {
-                    Err(Error::NonMinimalVarInt)
-                } else {
-                    Ok(VarInt(x as u64))
-                }
-            }
-            0xFD => {
-                let x = d.read_u16()?;
-                if x < 0xFD {
-                    Err(Error::NonMinimalVarInt)
-                } else {
-                    Ok(VarInt(x as u64))
-                }
-            }
-            n => Ok(VarInt(n as u64)),
-        }
+    fn consensus_decode<D: crate::ReadExt>(mut d: D) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        Ok(VarInt(d.read_varint()?))
     }
 }
 impl VarInt {
@@ -321,14 +270,14 @@ impl VarInt {
 macro_rules! impl_int {
     ($ty:ident, $meth_dec:ident, $meth_enc:ident) => {
         impl Encodable for $ty {
-            fn consensus_encode<W: io::Write>(&self, mut w: W) -> Result<usize, Error> {
+            fn consensus_encode<W: crate::WriteExt>(&self, mut w: W) -> Result<usize, Error> {
                 w.$meth_enc(*self)?;
                 Ok(mem::size_of::<$ty>())
             }
         }
         impl Decodable for $ty {
-            fn consensus_decode<R: io::Read>(mut r: R) -> Result<Self, Error> {
-                Ok(ReadExt::$meth_dec(&mut r)?)
+            fn consensus_decode<R: crate::ReadExt>(mut r: R) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+                crate::ReadExt::$meth_dec(&mut r)
             }
         }
     };
@@ -411,7 +360,7 @@ macro_rules! impl_array {
     ( $size:literal ) => {
         impl Encodable for [u8; $size] {
             #[inline]
-            fn consensus_encode<W: WriteExt>(
+            fn consensus_encode<W: crate::WriteExt>(
                 &self,
                 mut w: W,
             ) -> core::result::Result<usize, Error> {
@@ -422,7 +371,7 @@ macro_rules! impl_array {
 
         impl Decodable for [u8; $size] {
             #[inline]
-            fn consensus_decode<R: ReadExt>(mut r: R) -> core::result::Result<Self, Error> {
+            fn consensus_decode<R: crate::ReadExt>(mut r: R) -> core::result::Result<Self, Error> {
                 let mut ret = [0; $size];
                 r.read_slice(&mut ret)?;
                 Ok(ret)
@@ -452,7 +401,7 @@ impl Encodable for Vec<u8> {
     }
 }
 impl Decodable for Vec<u8> {
-    fn consensus_decode<D: io::Read>(mut d: D) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+    fn consensus_decode<D: crate::ReadExt>(mut d: D) -> Result<Self, Error> {
         let s = VarInt::consensus_decode(&mut d)?.0 as usize;
         let mut v = vec![0; s];
         d.read_slice(&mut v)?;
diff --git a/src/ext.rs b/src/ext.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b7c1c543
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/ext.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+use std::io;
+
+use crate::encode;
+
+/// Extensions of `Write` to encode data as per Bitcoin consensus.
+pub trait WriteExt: io::Write {
+    /// Outputs a 64-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn emit_u64(&mut self, v: u64) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+    /// Outputs a 32-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn emit_u32(&mut self, v: u32) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+    /// Outputs a 16-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn emit_u16(&mut self, v: u16) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+    /// Outputs an 8-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn emit_u8(&mut self, v: u8) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+
+    /// Outputs a 64-bit signed integer.
+    fn emit_i64(&mut self, v: i64) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+    /// Outputs a 32-bit signed integer.
+    fn emit_i32(&mut self, v: i32) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+    /// Outputs a 16-bit signed integer.
+    fn emit_i16(&mut self, v: i16) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+    /// Outputs an 8-bit signed integer.
+    fn emit_i8(&mut self, v: i8) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+
+    /// Outputs a variable sized integer.
+    fn emit_varint(&mut self, v: u64) -> Result<usize, io::Error>;
+
+    /// Outputs a boolean.
+    fn emit_bool(&mut self, v: bool) -> Result<(), io::Error>;
+
+    /// Outputs a byte slice.
+    fn emit_slice(&mut self, v: &[u8]) -> Result<usize, io::Error>;
+}
+
+/// Extensions of `Read` to decode data as per Bitcoin consensus.
+pub trait ReadExt: io::Read {
+    /// Reads a 64-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn read_u64(&mut self) -> Result<u64, encode::Error>;
+    /// Reads a 32-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn read_u32(&mut self) -> Result<u32, encode::Error>;
+    /// Reads a 16-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn read_u16(&mut self) -> Result<u16, encode::Error>;
+    /// Reads an 8-bit unsigned integer.
+    fn read_u8(&mut self) -> Result<u8, encode::Error>;
+
+    /// Reads a 64-bit signed integer.
+    fn read_i64(&mut self) -> Result<i64, encode::Error>;
+    /// Reads a 32-bit signed integer.
+    fn read_i32(&mut self) -> Result<i32, encode::Error>;
+    /// Reads a 16-bit signed integer.
+    fn read_i16(&mut self) -> Result<i16, encode::Error>;
+    /// Reads an 8-bit signed integer.
+    fn read_i8(&mut self) -> Result<i8, encode::Error>;
+
+    /// Reads a variable sized integer.
+    fn read_varint(&mut self) -> Result<u64, encode::Error>;
+
+    /// Reads a boolean.
+    fn read_bool(&mut self) -> Result<bool, encode::Error>;
+
+    /// Reads a byte slice.
+    fn read_slice(&mut self, slice: &mut [u8]) -> Result<(), encode::Error>;
+}
+
+macro_rules! encoder_fn {
+    ($name:ident, $val_type:ty) => {
+        #[inline]
+        fn $name(&mut self, v: $val_type) -> core::result::Result<(), io::Error> {
+            self.write_all(&v.to_le_bytes())
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+macro_rules! decoder_fn {
+    ($name:ident, $val_type:ty, $byte_len: expr) => {
+        #[inline]
+        fn $name(&mut self) -> core::result::Result<$val_type, encode::Error> {
+            let mut val = [0; $byte_len];
+            self.read_exact(&mut val[..]).map_err(encode::Error::Io)?;
+            Ok(<$val_type>::from_le_bytes(val))
+        }
+    };
+}
+
+impl<W: io::Write + ?Sized> WriteExt for W {
+    encoder_fn!(emit_u64, u64);
+    encoder_fn!(emit_u32, u32);
+    encoder_fn!(emit_u16, u16);
+    encoder_fn!(emit_i64, i64);
+    encoder_fn!(emit_i32, i32);
+    encoder_fn!(emit_i16, i16);
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn emit_i8(&mut self, v: i8) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+        self.write_all(&[v as u8])
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn emit_u8(&mut self, v: u8) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+        self.write_all(&[v])
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn emit_bool(&mut self, v: bool) -> Result<(), io::Error> {
+        self.write_all(&[v as u8])
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn emit_slice(&mut self, v: &[u8]) -> Result<usize, io::Error> {
+        self.write_all(v)?;
+        Ok(v.len())
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn emit_varint(&mut self, v: u64) -> Result<usize, io::Error> {
+        match v {
+            i @ 0..=0xFC => {
+                self.emit_u8(i as u8)?;
+                Ok(1)
+            }
+            i @ 0xFD..=0xFFFF => {
+                self.emit_u8(0xFD)?;
+                self.emit_u16(i as u16)?;
+                Ok(3)
+            }
+            i @ 0x10000..=0xFFFFFFFF => {
+                self.emit_u8(0xFE)?;
+                self.emit_u32(i as u32)?;
+                Ok(5)
+            }
+            i => {
+                self.emit_u8(0xFF)?;
+                self.emit_u64(i)?;
+                Ok(9)
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<R: io::Read + ?Sized> ReadExt for R {
+    decoder_fn!(read_u64, u64, 8);
+    decoder_fn!(read_u32, u32, 4);
+    decoder_fn!(read_u16, u16, 2);
+    decoder_fn!(read_i64, i64, 8);
+    decoder_fn!(read_i32, i32, 4);
+    decoder_fn!(read_i16, i16, 2);
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn read_u8(&mut self) -> Result<u8, encode::Error> {
+        let mut slice = [0u8; 1];
+        self.read_exact(&mut slice)?;
+        Ok(slice[0])
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn read_i8(&mut self) -> Result<i8, encode::Error> {
+        let mut slice = [0u8; 1];
+        self.read_exact(&mut slice)?;
+        Ok(slice[0] as i8)
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn read_bool(&mut self) -> Result<bool, encode::Error> {
+        ReadExt::read_i8(self).map(|bit| bit != 0)
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn read_slice(&mut self, slice: &mut [u8]) -> Result<(), encode::Error> {
+        self.read_exact(slice).map_err(encode::Error::Io)
+    }
+    #[inline]
+    fn read_varint(&mut self) -> Result<u64, encode::Error> {
+        match self.read_u8()? {
+            0xFF => {
+                let x = self.read_u64()?;
+                if x < 0x100000000 {
+                    Err(encode::Error::NonMinimalVarInt)
+                } else {
+                    Ok(x)
+                }
+            }
+            0xFE => {
+                let x = self.read_u32()?;
+                if x < 0x10000 {
+                    Err(encode::Error::NonMinimalVarInt)
+                } else {
+                    Ok(x as u64)
+                }
+            }
+            0xFD => {
+                let x = self.read_u16()?;
+                if x < 0xFD {
+                    Err(encode::Error::NonMinimalVarInt)
+                } else {
+                    Ok(x as u64)
+                }
+            }
+            n => Ok(n as u64),
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 65904986..445e1bc4 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -31,53 +31,68 @@ pub extern crate bitcoin;
 /// Re-export of secp256k1-zkp crate
 pub extern crate secp256k1_zkp;
 /// Re-export of serde crate
-#[cfg(feature = "serde")] #[macro_use] pub extern crate actual_serde as serde;
-#[cfg(all(test, feature = "serde"))] extern crate serde_test;
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
+#[macro_use]
+pub extern crate actual_serde as serde;
+#[cfg(all(test, feature = "serde"))]
+extern crate serde_test;
 
-#[cfg(test)] extern crate rand;
-#[cfg(test)] extern crate bincode;
-#[cfg(any(test, feature = "serde_json"))] extern crate serde_json;
+#[cfg(test)]
+extern crate bincode;
+#[cfg(test)]
+extern crate rand;
+#[cfg(any(test, feature = "serde_json"))]
+extern crate serde_json;
 
-#[macro_use] mod internal_macros;
+#[macro_use]
+mod internal_macros;
 pub mod address;
 pub mod blech32;
+mod blind;
 mod block;
 pub mod confidential;
 pub mod dynafed;
 pub mod encode;
 mod error;
+mod ext;
 mod fast_merkle_root;
 pub mod hash_types;
 pub mod hex;
-pub mod locktime;
 pub mod issuance;
+pub mod locktime;
 pub mod opcodes;
-pub mod script;
-mod transaction;
-mod blind;
 mod parse;
-pub mod sighash;
 pub mod pset;
-pub mod taproot;
 pub mod schnorr;
+pub mod script;
 #[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 mod serde_utils;
+pub mod sighash;
+pub mod taproot;
+mod transaction;
 // consider making upstream public
 mod endian;
 // re-export bitcoin deps which we re-use
 pub use bitcoin::bech32;
 pub use bitcoin::hashes;
 // export everything at the top level so it can be used as `elements::Transaction` etc.
-pub use crate::address::{Address, AddressParams, AddressError};
-pub use crate::transaction::{OutPoint, PeginData, PegoutData, EcdsaSighashType, TxIn, TxOut, TxInWitness, TxOutWitness, Transaction, AssetIssuance};
-pub use crate::transaction::Sequence;
-pub use crate::blind::{ConfidentialTxOutError, TxOutSecrets, SurjectionInput, TxOutError, VerificationError, BlindError, UnblindError, BlindValueProofs, BlindAssetProofs, RangeProofMessage};
-pub use crate::block::{BlockHeader, Block};
+pub use crate::address::{Address, AddressError, AddressParams};
+pub use crate::blind::{
+    BlindAssetProofs, BlindError, BlindValueProofs, ConfidentialTxOutError, RangeProofMessage,
+    SurjectionInput, TxOutError, TxOutSecrets, UnblindError, VerificationError,
+};
 pub use crate::block::ExtData as BlockExtData;
+pub use crate::block::{Block, BlockHeader};
+pub use crate::ext::{ReadExt, WriteExt};
 pub use crate::fast_merkle_root::fast_merkle_root;
 pub use crate::hash_types::*;
 pub use crate::issuance::{AssetId, ContractHash};
 pub use crate::locktime::LockTime;
+pub use crate::schnorr::{SchnorrSig, SchnorrSigError};
 pub use crate::script::Script;
 pub use crate::sighash::SchnorrSighashType;
-pub use crate::schnorr::{SchnorrSig, SchnorrSigError};
+pub use crate::transaction::Sequence;
+pub use crate::transaction::{
+    AssetIssuance, EcdsaSighashType, OutPoint, PeginData, PegoutData, Transaction, TxIn,
+    TxInWitness, TxOut, TxOutWitness,
+};
diff --git a/src/pset/raw.rs b/src/pset/raw.rs
index f276be80..e29a145c 100644
--- a/src/pset/raw.rs
+++ b/src/pset/raw.rs
@@ -20,9 +20,7 @@
 use std::{fmt, io};
 
 use super::Error;
-use crate::encode::{
-    self, deserialize, serialize, Decodable, Encodable, VarInt, WriteExt, MAX_VEC_SIZE,
-};
+use crate::encode::{self, deserialize, serialize, Decodable, Encodable, VarInt, MAX_VEC_SIZE};
 use crate::hex;
 /// A PSET key in its raw byte form.
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Hash, Eq, Clone, Ord, PartialOrd)]
@@ -181,7 +179,7 @@ impl<Subtype> Encodable for ProprietaryKey<Subtype>
 where
     Subtype: Copy + From<u8> + Into<u8>,
 {
-    fn consensus_encode<W: io::Write>(&self, mut e: W) -> Result<usize, encode::Error> {
+    fn consensus_encode<W: crate::WriteExt>(&self, mut e: W) -> Result<usize, encode::Error> {
         let mut len = self.prefix.consensus_encode(&mut e)? + 1;
         e.emit_u8(self.subtype.into())?;
         len += e.write(&self.key)?;