diff --git a/gui/qt/main_window.py b/gui/qt/main_window.py
index 62933e542..950377664 100644
--- a/gui/qt/main_window.py
+++ b/gui/qt/main_window.py
@@ -2229,7 +2229,7 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow):
 
         if is_hex:
             try:
-                return Transaction.deserialize(txt)
+                return Transaction(txt)
             except:
                 traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stdout)
                 QMessageBox.critical(None, _("Unable to parse transaction"), _("Electrum was unable to parse your transaction"))
@@ -2238,7 +2238,7 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow):
         try:
             tx_dict = json.loads(str(txt))
             assert "hex" in tx_dict.keys()
-            tx = Transaction.deserialize(tx_dict["hex"])
+            tx = Transaction(tx_dict["hex"])
             #if tx_dict.has_key("input_info"):
             #    input_info = json.loads(tx_dict['input_info'])
             #    tx.add_input_info(input_info)
@@ -2312,7 +2312,7 @@ class ElectrumWindow(QMainWindow):
         if ok and txid:
             r = self.network.synchronous_get([ ('blockchain.transaction.get',[str(txid)]) ])[0]
             if r:
-                tx = transaction.Transaction.deserialize(r)
+                tx = transaction.Transaction(r)
                 if tx:
                     self.show_transaction(tx)
                 else:
diff --git a/lib/commands.py b/lib/commands.py
index 192bdf477..478cebb82 100644
--- a/lib/commands.py
+++ b/lib/commands.py
@@ -176,22 +176,22 @@ class Commands:
         return tx
 
     def signtxwithkey(self, raw_tx, sec):
-        tx = Transaction.deserialize(raw_tx)
+        tx = Transaction(raw_tx)
         pubkey = bitcoin.public_key_from_private_key(sec)
         tx.sign({ pubkey:sec })
         return tx
 
     def signtxwithwallet(self, raw_tx):
-        tx = Transaction.deserialize(raw_tx)
+        tx = Transaction(raw_tx)
         self.wallet.sign_transaction(tx, self.password)
         return tx
 
     def decoderawtransaction(self, raw):
-        tx = Transaction.deserialize(raw)
+        tx = Transaction(raw)
         return {'inputs':tx.inputs, 'outputs':tx.outputs}
 
     def sendrawtransaction(self, raw):
-        tx = Transaction.deserialize(raw)
+        tx = Transaction(raw)
         return self.network.synchronous_get([('blockchain.transaction.broadcast', [str(tx)])])[0]
 
     def createmultisig(self, num, pubkeys):
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ class Commands:
 
         raw = self.network.synchronous_get([ ('blockchain.transaction.get',[tx_hash]) ])[0]
         if raw:
-            return Transaction.deserialize(raw)
+            return Transaction(raw)
         else:
             return "unknown transaction"
 
diff --git a/lib/transaction.py b/lib/transaction.py
index e7057c192..34857d54b 100644
--- a/lib/transaction.py
+++ b/lib/transaction.py
@@ -755,14 +755,14 @@ class Transaction:
     def has_address(self, addr):
         return (addr in self.get_output_addresses()) or (addr in (tx.get("address") for tx in self.inputs))
 
-
     def as_dict(self):
+        if self.raw is None:
+            self.raw = self.serialize()
         self.deserialize()
-        import json
         out = {
-            "hex":str(self),
-            "complete":self.is_complete()
-            }
+            'hex': self.raw,
+            'complete': self.is_complete()
+        }
         return out
 
 
diff --git a/plugins/cosigner_pool.py b/plugins/cosigner_pool.py
index 3bbda3f22..540bf949f 100644
--- a/plugins/cosigner_pool.py
+++ b/plugins/cosigner_pool.py
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ class Plugin(BasePlugin):
             return
 
         self.listener.clear()
-        tx = transaction.Transaction.deserialize(message)
+        tx = transaction.Transaction(message)
         d = transaction_dialog.TxDialog(tx, self.win)
         d.saved = False
         d.exec_()
diff --git a/scripts/authenticator.py b/scripts/authenticator.py
index 53761d1ad..e937048c4 100644
--- a/scripts/authenticator.py
+++ b/scripts/authenticator.py
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class Authenticator:
                 data = r['extras']['SCAN_RESULT']
                 data = base_decode(data.encode('utf8'), None, base=43)
                 data = ''.join(chr(ord(b)) for b in data).encode('hex')
-                tx = Transaction.deserialize(data)
+                tx = Transaction(data)
                 #except:
                 #    modal_dialog('Error', 'Cannot parse transaction')
                 #    continue