diff --git a/modules/apps/29-fee/ibc_middleware.go b/modules/apps/29-fee/ibc_middleware.go
index 08d8c227a3f..410c58da73d 100644
--- a/modules/apps/29-fee/ibc_middleware.go
+++ b/modules/apps/29-fee/ibc_middleware.go
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func (im IBCMiddleware) OnAcknowledgementPacket(
 		payee = relayer.String()
 	}
 
-	payeeAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(payee)
+	payeeAddr, err := im.keeper.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(payee)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errorsmod.Wrapf(err, "failed to create sdk.Address from payee: %s", payee)
 	}
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ func (im IBCMiddleware) OnTimeoutPacket(
 		payee = relayer.String()
 	}
 
-	payeeAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(payee)
+	payeeAddr, err := im.keeper.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(payee)
 	if err != nil {
 		return errorsmod.Wrapf(err, "failed to create sdk.Address from payee: %s", payee)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/escrow.go b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/escrow.go
index c18935ef7ac..9a5f98a7b09 100644
--- a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/escrow.go
+++ b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/escrow.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import (
 // escrowPacketFee sends the packet fee to the 29-fee module account to hold in escrow
 func (k Keeper) escrowPacketFee(ctx context.Context, packetID channeltypes.PacketId, packetFee types.PacketFee) error {
 	// check if the refund address is valid
-	refundAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(packetFee.RefundAddress)
+	refundAddr, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(packetFee.RefundAddress)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func (k Keeper) DistributePacketFeesOnAcknowledgement(ctx context.Context, forwa
 	// if the escrow account has insufficient balance then we want to avoid partially distributing fees
 	if err := k.BranchService.Execute(ctx, func(ctx context.Context) error {
 		// forward relayer address will be empty if conversion fails
-		forwardAddr, _ := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(forwardRelayer)
+		forwardAddr, _ := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(forwardRelayer)
 
 		for _, packetFee := range packetFees {
 			if !k.EscrowAccountHasBalance(ctx, packetFee.Fee.Total()) {
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func (k Keeper) DistributePacketFeesOnAcknowledgement(ctx context.Context, forwa
 			}
 
 			// check if refundAcc address works
-			refundAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(packetFee.RefundAddress)
+			refundAddr, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(packetFee.RefundAddress)
 			if err != nil {
 				panic(fmt.Errorf("could not parse refundAcc %s to sdk.AccAddress", packetFee.RefundAddress))
 			}
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func (k Keeper) DistributePacketFeesOnTimeout(ctx context.Context, timeoutRelaye
 			}
 
 			// check if refundAcc address works
-			refundAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(packetFee.RefundAddress)
+			refundAddr, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(packetFee.RefundAddress)
 			if err != nil {
 				panic(fmt.Errorf("could not parse refundAcc %s to sdk.AccAddress", packetFee.RefundAddress))
 			}
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func (k Keeper) RefundFeesOnChannelClosure(ctx context.Context, portID, channelI
 					return ibcerrors.ErrInsufficientFunds
 				}
 
-				refundAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(packetFee.RefundAddress)
+				refundAddr, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(packetFee.RefundAddress)
 				if err != nil {
 					unRefundedFees = append(unRefundedFees, packetFee)
 					continue
diff --git a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/keeper.go b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/keeper.go
index 2b027f96da7..282ebb7eb76 100644
--- a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/keeper.go
+++ b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/keeper.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package keeper
 import (
 	"context"
 
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/address"
 	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	storetypes "cosmossdk.io/store/types"
 
@@ -24,7 +25,8 @@ var _ types.ChannelKeeper = (*Keeper)(nil)
 type Keeper struct {
 	appmodule.Environment
 
-	cdc codec.BinaryCodec
+	cdc       codec.BinaryCodec
+	AddrCodec address.Codec
 
 	authKeeper    types.AuthKeeper
 	ics4Wrapper   porttypes.ICS4Wrapper
@@ -34,12 +36,13 @@ type Keeper struct {
 
 // NewKeeper creates a new 29-fee Keeper instance
 func NewKeeper(
-	cdc codec.BinaryCodec, env appmodule.Environment,
+	cdc codec.BinaryCodec, addrCdc address.Codec, env appmodule.Environment,
 	ics4Wrapper porttypes.ICS4Wrapper, channelKeeper types.ChannelKeeper,
 	authKeeper types.AuthKeeper, bankKeeper types.BankKeeper,
 ) Keeper {
 	return Keeper{
 		cdc:           cdc,
+		AddrCodec:     addrCdc,
 		Environment:   env,
 		ics4Wrapper:   ics4Wrapper,
 		channelKeeper: channelKeeper,
@@ -220,17 +223,17 @@ func (k Keeper) GetAllPayees(ctx context.Context) []types.RegisteredPayee {
 
 // SetCounterpartyPayeeAddress maps the destination chain counterparty payee address to the source relayer address
 // The receiving chain must store the mapping from: address -> counterpartyPayeeAddress for the given channel
-func (k Keeper) SetCounterpartyPayeeAddress(ctx context.Context, address, counterpartyAddress, channelID string) {
+func (k Keeper) SetCounterpartyPayeeAddress(ctx context.Context, addr, counterpartyAddress, channelID string) {
 	store := k.KVStoreService.OpenKVStore(ctx)
-	if err := store.Set(types.KeyCounterpartyPayee(address, channelID), []byte(counterpartyAddress)); err != nil {
+	if err := store.Set(types.KeyCounterpartyPayee(addr, channelID), []byte(counterpartyAddress)); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 }
 
 // GetCounterpartyPayeeAddress gets the counterparty payee address given a destination relayer address
-func (k Keeper) GetCounterpartyPayeeAddress(ctx context.Context, address, channelID string) (string, bool) {
+func (k Keeper) GetCounterpartyPayeeAddress(ctx context.Context, relayerAddr, channelID string) (string, bool) {
 	store := k.KVStoreService.OpenKVStore(ctx)
-	key := types.KeyCounterpartyPayee(address, channelID)
+	key := types.KeyCounterpartyPayee(relayerAddr, channelID)
 
 	addr, err := store.Get(key)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -269,9 +272,9 @@ func (k Keeper) GetAllCounterpartyPayees(ctx context.Context) []types.Registered
 }
 
 // SetRelayerAddressForAsyncAck sets the forward relayer address during OnRecvPacket in case of async acknowledgement
-func (k Keeper) SetRelayerAddressForAsyncAck(ctx context.Context, packetID channeltypes.PacketId, address string) {
+func (k Keeper) SetRelayerAddressForAsyncAck(ctx context.Context, packetID channeltypes.PacketId, addr string) {
 	store := k.KVStoreService.OpenKVStore(ctx)
-	if err := store.Set(types.KeyRelayerAddressForAsyncAck(packetID), []byte(address)); err != nil {
+	if err := store.Set(types.KeyRelayerAddressForAsyncAck(packetID), []byte(addr)); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/migrations.go b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/migrations.go
index 0b9477b569d..94556d578ae 100644
--- a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/migrations.go
+++ b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/migrations.go
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ func (m Migrator) Migrate1to2(ctx context.Context) error {
 		for _, packetFee := range feesInEscrow.PacketFees {
 			refundCoins := legacyTotal(packetFee.Fee).Sub(packetFee.Fee.Total()...)
 
-			refundAddr, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(packetFee.RefundAddress)
+			refundAddr, err := m.keeper.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(packetFee.RefundAddress)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
diff --git a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/msg_server.go b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/msg_server.go
index 87cf093ad9f..253f41ec093 100644
--- a/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/msg_server.go
+++ b/modules/apps/29-fee/keeper/msg_server.go
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ import (
 
 	errorsmod "cosmossdk.io/errors"
 
-	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
-
 	"github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/v9/modules/apps/29-fee/types"
 	channeltypes "github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/v9/modules/core/04-channel/types"
 	ibcerrors "github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/v9/modules/core/errors"
@@ -20,7 +18,7 @@ var _ types.MsgServer = (*Keeper)(nil)
 // the source chain from which packets originate as this is where fee distribution takes place. This function may be
 // called more than once by a relayer, in which case, the latest payee is always used.
 func (k Keeper) RegisterPayee(ctx context.Context, msg *types.MsgRegisterPayee) (*types.MsgRegisterPayeeResponse, error) {
-	payee, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Payee)
+	payee, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(msg.Payee)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -87,7 +85,7 @@ func (k Keeper) PayPacketFee(ctx context.Context, msg *types.MsgPayPacketFee) (*
 		return nil, types.ErrFeeModuleLocked
 	}
 
-	refundAcc, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Signer)
+	refundAcc, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(msg.Signer)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -130,7 +128,7 @@ func (k Keeper) PayPacketFeeAsync(ctx context.Context, msg *types.MsgPayPacketFe
 		return nil, types.ErrFeeModuleLocked
 	}
 
-	refundAcc, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.PacketFee.RefundAddress)
+	refundAcc, err := k.AddrCodec.StringToBytes(msg.PacketFee.RefundAddress)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/modules/apps/callbacks/testing/simapp/app.go b/modules/apps/callbacks/testing/simapp/app.go
index 14badd2282f..b1e260384be 100644
--- a/modules/apps/callbacks/testing/simapp/app.go
+++ b/modules/apps/callbacks/testing/simapp/app.go
@@ -405,6 +405,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 
 	app.IBCKeeper = ibckeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcexported.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, "x/ibc")),
 		app.GetSubspace(ibcexported.ModuleName),
 		app.UpgradeKeeper,
@@ -431,6 +432,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 	// IBC Fee Module keeper
 	app.IBCFeeKeeper = ibcfeekeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcfeetypes.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, fmt.Sprintf("x/%s-%s", ibcexported.ModuleName, ibcfeetypes.ModuleName))),
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper, // may be replaced with IBC middleware
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper,
diff --git a/modules/core/keeper/keeper.go b/modules/core/keeper/keeper.go
index 9c9350071ec..c55e3b61fa8 100644
--- a/modules/core/keeper/keeper.go
+++ b/modules/core/keeper/keeper.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/address"
 	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/codec"
@@ -27,14 +28,15 @@ type Keeper struct {
 	ChannelKeeper    *channelkeeper.Keeper
 	PortKeeper       *portkeeper.Keeper
 
-	cdc codec.BinaryCodec
+	cdc     codec.BinaryCodec
+	AddrCdc address.Codec
 
 	authority string
 }
 
 // NewKeeper creates a new ibc Keeper
 func NewKeeper(
-	cdc codec.BinaryCodec, env appmodule.Environment, paramSpace types.ParamSubspace,
+	cdc codec.BinaryCodec, addrCdc address.Codec, env appmodule.Environment, paramSpace types.ParamSubspace,
 	upgradeKeeper clienttypes.UpgradeKeeper, authority string,
 ) *Keeper {
 	// panic if any of the keepers passed in is empty
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ func NewKeeper(
 	return &Keeper{
 		Environment:      env,
 		cdc:              cdc,
+		AddrCdc:          addrCdc,
 		ClientKeeper:     clientKeeper,
 		ConnectionKeeper: connectionKeeper,
 		ChannelKeeper:    channelKeeper,
diff --git a/modules/core/keeper/keeper_test.go b/modules/core/keeper/keeper_test.go
index fa4e01238c3..5162589e02d 100644
--- a/modules/core/keeper/keeper_test.go
+++ b/modules/core/keeper/keeper_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"cosmossdk.io/log"
 	upgradekeeper "cosmossdk.io/x/upgrade/keeper"
 
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/codec/address"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/runtime"
 
 	clienttypes "github.com/cosmos/ibc-go/v9/modules/core/02-client/types"
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ func (suite *KeeperTestSuite) TestNewKeeper() {
 				newIBCKeeperFn = func() {
 					ibckeeper.NewKeeper(
 						suite.chainA.GetSimApp().AppCodec(),
+						address.NewBech32Codec(suite.chainA.Bech32Prefix),
 						runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(suite.chainA.GetSimApp().GetKey(ibcexported.StoreKey)), log.NewNopLogger()),
 						suite.chainA.GetSimApp().GetSubspace(ibcexported.ModuleName),
 						upgradeKeeper,
@@ -96,6 +98,7 @@ func (suite *KeeperTestSuite) TestNewKeeper() {
 			newIBCKeeperFn = func() {
 				ibckeeper.NewKeeper(
 					suite.chainA.GetSimApp().AppCodec(),
+					address.NewBech32Codec(suite.chainA.Bech32Prefix),
 					runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(suite.chainA.GetSimApp().GetKey(ibcexported.StoreKey)), log.NewNopLogger()),
 					suite.chainA.GetSimApp().GetSubspace(ibcexported.ModuleName),
 					upgradeKeeper,
diff --git a/modules/core/keeper/msg_server.go b/modules/core/keeper/msg_server.go
index d6aac0335f2..d58cd30edcb 100644
--- a/modules/core/keeper/msg_server.go
+++ b/modules/core/keeper/msg_server.go
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) ChannelCloseConfirm(ctx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgC
 func (k *Keeper) RecvPacket(goCtx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgRecvPacket) (*channeltypes.MsgRecvPacketResponse, error) {
 	ctx := sdk.UnwrapSDKContext(goCtx)
 
-	relayer, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Signer)
+	relayer, err := k.AddrCdc.StringToBytes(msg.Signer)
 	if err != nil {
 		k.Logger.Error("receive packet failed", "error", errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer"))
 		return nil, errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer")
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) RecvPacket(goCtx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgRecvPack
 
 // Timeout defines a rpc handler method for MsgTimeout.
 func (k *Keeper) Timeout(ctx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgTimeout) (*channeltypes.MsgTimeoutResponse, error) {
-	relayer, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Signer)
+	relayer, err := k.AddrCdc.StringToBytes(msg.Signer)
 	if err != nil {
 		k.Logger.Error("timeout failed", "error", errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer"))
 		return nil, errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer")
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) Timeout(ctx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgTimeout) (*ch
 
 // TimeoutOnClose defines a rpc handler method for MsgTimeoutOnClose.
 func (k *Keeper) TimeoutOnClose(ctx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgTimeoutOnClose) (*channeltypes.MsgTimeoutOnCloseResponse, error) {
-	relayer, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Signer)
+	relayer, err := k.AddrCdc.StringToBytes(msg.Signer)
 	if err != nil {
 		k.Logger.Error("timeout on close failed", "error", errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer"))
 		return nil, errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer")
@@ -541,7 +541,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) TimeoutOnClose(ctx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgTimeou
 
 // Acknowledgement defines a rpc handler method for MsgAcknowledgement.
 func (k *Keeper) Acknowledgement(ctx context.Context, msg *channeltypes.MsgAcknowledgement) (*channeltypes.MsgAcknowledgementResponse, error) {
-	relayer, err := sdk.AccAddressFromBech32(msg.Signer)
+	relayer, err := k.AddrCdc.StringToBytes(msg.Signer)
 	if err != nil {
 		k.Logger.Error("acknowledgement failed", "error", errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer"))
 		return nil, errorsmod.Wrap(err, "Invalid address for msg Signer")
diff --git a/modules/light-clients/08-wasm/testing/simapp/app.go b/modules/light-clients/08-wasm/testing/simapp/app.go
index fa34fdc6f85..ee74bd75f6c 100644
--- a/modules/light-clients/08-wasm/testing/simapp/app.go
+++ b/modules/light-clients/08-wasm/testing/simapp/app.go
@@ -471,6 +471,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 
 	app.IBCKeeper = ibckeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcexported.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, "x/ibc")),
 		app.GetSubspace(ibcexported.ModuleName),
 		app.UpgradeKeeper,
@@ -559,6 +560,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 	// IBC Fee Module keeper
 	app.IBCFeeKeeper = ibcfeekeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcfeetypes.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, fmt.Sprintf("x/%s-%s", ibcexported.ModuleName, ibcfeetypes.ModuleName))),
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper, // may be replaced with IBC middleware
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper,
diff --git a/simapp/app.go b/simapp/app.go
index c2e25dd396c..ccac26e4a27 100644
--- a/simapp/app.go
+++ b/simapp/app.go
@@ -487,6 +487,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 
 	app.IBCKeeper = ibckeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcexported.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, "x/ibc")),
 		app.GetSubspace(ibcexported.ModuleName),
 		app.UpgradeKeeper,
@@ -541,6 +542,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 	// IBC Fee Module keeper
 	app.IBCFeeKeeper = ibcfeekeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcfeetypes.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, fmt.Sprintf("x/%s-%s", ibcexported.ModuleName, ibcfeetypes.ModuleName))),
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper, // may be replaced with IBC middleware
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper,
diff --git a/testing/simapp/app.go b/testing/simapp/app.go
index 8b0a588850f..15430a455fe 100644
--- a/testing/simapp/app.go
+++ b/testing/simapp/app.go
@@ -457,6 +457,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 
 	app.IBCKeeper = ibckeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcexported.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, "x/ibc")),
 		app.GetSubspace(ibcexported.ModuleName),
 		app.UpgradeKeeper,
@@ -511,6 +512,7 @@ func NewSimApp(
 	// IBC Fee Module keeper
 	app.IBCFeeKeeper = ibcfeekeeper.NewKeeper(
 		appCodec,
+		signingCtx.AddressCodec(),
 		runtime.NewEnvironment(runtime.NewKVStoreService(keys[ibcfeetypes.StoreKey]), logger.With(log.ModuleKey, fmt.Sprintf("x/%s-%s", ibcexported.ModuleName, ibcfeetypes.ModuleName))),
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper, // may be replaced with IBC middleware
 		app.IBCKeeper.ChannelKeeper,