diff --git a/bigchaindb/core.py b/bigchaindb/core.py
index 54f8f212..3b2a29d1 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/core.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/core.py
@@ -510,28 +510,3 @@ class Bigchain(object):
 
         return unvoted
 
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def deserialize(data):
-        """Static method used to deserialize a JSON formatted string into a dict.
-
-        Args:
-            data (str): JSON formatted string.
-
-        Returns:
-            dict: dict resulting from the serialization of a JSON formatted string.
-        """
-
-        return json.loads(data, encoding="utf-8")
-
-    @staticmethod
-    def generate_keys():
-        """Generates a key pair.
-
-        Returns:
-            tuple: `(private_key, public_key)`. ECDSA key pair using the secp256k1 curve encoded
-            in base58.
-        """
-
-        # generates and returns the keys serialized in hex
-        return crypto.generate_key_pair()
diff --git a/bigchaindb/util.py b/bigchaindb/util.py
index c6ca4d36..d8ddc9ce 100644
--- a/bigchaindb/util.py
+++ b/bigchaindb/util.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ProcessGroup(object):
 
 
 def serialize(data):
-    """Function used to serialize a dict into a JSON formatted string.
+    """Serialize a dict into a JSON formatted string.
 
     This function enforces rules like the separator and order of keys. This ensures that all dicts
     are serialized in the same way.
@@ -52,8 +52,21 @@ def serialize(data):
                       separators=(',', ':'), sort_keys=True)
 
 
+def deserialize(data):
+    """Deserialize a JSON formatted string into a dict.
+
+    Args:
+        data (str): JSON formatted string.
+
+    Returns:
+        dict: dict resulting from the serialization of a JSON formatted string.
+    """
+
+    return json.loads(data, encoding="utf-8")
+
+
 def timestamp():
-    """Function to calculate a UTC timestamp with microsecond precision.
+    """Calculate a UTC timestamp with microsecond precision.
 
     Returns:
         str: UTC timestamp.
diff --git a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
index 747f4a9a..1fed8800 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_bigchain_api.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
         # assert tx_hash == tx_calculated_hash
 
     def test_transaction_signature(self, b):
-        sk, vk = b.generate_keys()
+        sk, vk = generate_key_pair()
         tx = b.create_transaction(vk, 'b', 'c', 'd')
         tx_signed = b.sign_transaction(tx, sk)
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
 
     def test_serializer(self, b):
         tx = b.create_transaction('a', 'b', 'c', 'd')
-        assert b.deserialize(util.serialize(tx)) == tx
+        assert util.deserialize(util.serialize(tx)) == tx
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures('inputs')
     def test_write_transaction(self, b, user_public_key, user_private_key):
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ class TestBigchainApi(object):
     def test_assign_transaction_multiple_nodes(self, b, user_public_key, user_private_key):
         # create 5 federation nodes
         for _ in range(5):
-            b.federation_nodes.append(b.generate_keys()[1])
+            b.federation_nodes.append(generate_key_pair()[1])
 
         # test assignee for several transactions
         for _ in range(20):
diff --git a/tests/db/test_voter.py b/tests/db/test_voter.py
index da30b015..d8146829 100644
--- a/tests/db/test_voter.py
+++ b/tests/db/test_voter.py
@@ -3,11 +3,10 @@ import time
 import rethinkdb as r
 import multiprocessing as mp
 
-from bigchaindb import Bigchain
 from bigchaindb import util
 
 from bigchaindb.voter import Voter, BlockStream
-from bigchaindb.crypto import PublicKey
+from bigchaindb.crypto import PublicKey, generate_key_pair
 
 
 class TestBigchainVoter(object):
@@ -54,7 +53,7 @@ class TestBigchainVoter(object):
         genesis = b.create_genesis_block()
 
         # create a `CREATE` transaction
-        test_user_priv, test_user_pub = b.generate_keys()
+        test_user_priv, test_user_pub = generate_key_pair()
         tx = b.create_transaction(b.me, test_user_pub, None, 'CREATE')
         tx_signed = b.sign_transaction(tx, b.me_private)
         assert b.is_valid_transaction(tx_signed)
@@ -96,7 +95,7 @@ class TestBigchainVoter(object):
         b.create_genesis_block()
 
         # create a `CREATE` transaction
-        test_user_priv, test_user_pub = b.generate_keys()
+        test_user_priv, test_user_pub = generate_key_pair()
         tx = b.create_transaction(b.me, test_user_pub, None, 'CREATE')
         tx_signed = b.sign_transaction(tx, b.me_private)
         assert b.is_valid_transaction(tx_signed)
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ class TestBigchainVoter(object):
         assert len(blocks[1]['votes']) == 1
 
         # create a `TRANSFER` transaction
-        test_user2_priv, test_user2_pub = b.generate_keys()
+        test_user2_priv, test_user2_pub = generate_key_pair()
         tx2 = b.create_transaction(test_user_pub, test_user2_pub, tx['id'], 'TRANSFER')
         tx2_signed = b.sign_transaction(tx2, test_user_priv)
         assert b.is_valid_transaction(tx2_signed)
@@ -302,7 +301,7 @@ class TestBlockStream(object):
 
     def test_if_federation_size_is_greater_than_one_ignore_past_blocks(self, b):
         for _ in range(5):
-            b.federation_nodes.append(b.generate_keys()[1])
+            b.federation_nodes.append(generate_key_pair()[1])
         new_blocks = mp.Queue()
         bs = BlockStream(new_blocks)
         block_1 = b.create_block([])