diff --git a/wallet/src/extkey.rs b/wallet/src/extkey.rs
index 714b72c52..2a1ce2043 100644
--- a/wallet/src/extkey.rs
+++ b/wallet/src/extkey.rs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 /// in its wallet logic. Largely inspired by bitcoin's BIP32.
 
 use std::{error, fmt};
+use std::cmp::min;
 
 use byteorder::{ByteOrder, BigEndian};
 use crypto::mac::Mac;
@@ -58,6 +59,74 @@ impl error::Error for Error {
 	}
 }
 
+#[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
+pub struct Fingerprint([u8; 4]);
+
+impl Fingerprint {
+	fn from_bytes(bytes: &[u8]) -> Fingerprint {
+		let mut fingerprint = [0; 4];
+		for i in 0..min(4, bytes.len()) {
+			fingerprint[i] = bytes[i];
+		}
+		Fingerprint(fingerprint)
+	}
+
+	fn zero() -> Fingerprint {
+		Fingerprint([0; 4])
+	}
+}
+
+impl PartialEq for Fingerprint {
+	fn eq(&self, other: &Self) -> bool {
+		self.0.as_ref() == other.0.as_ref()
+	}
+}
+
+impl ::std::fmt::Display for Fingerprint {
+	fn fmt(&self, f: &mut ::std::fmt::Formatter) -> ::std::fmt::Result {
+		for i in self.0.iter().cloned() {
+			try!(write!(f, "{:02x}", i));
+		}
+		write!(f, "")
+	}
+}
+
+impl ::std::fmt::Debug for Fingerprint {
+	fn fmt(&self, f: &mut ::std::fmt::Formatter) -> ::std::fmt::Result {
+		try!(write!(f, "{}(", stringify!(Fingerprint)));
+		for i in self.0.iter().cloned() {
+			try!(write!(f, "{:02x}", i));
+		}
+		write!(f, ")")
+	}
+}
+
+pub struct Identifier([u8; 20]);
+
+impl Identifier {
+	fn from_bytes(bytes: &[u8]) -> Identifier {
+		let mut identifier = [0; 20];
+		for i in 0..min(20, bytes.len()) {
+			identifier[i] = bytes[i];
+		}
+		Identifier(identifier)
+	}
+
+	pub fn fingerprint(&self) -> Fingerprint {
+		Fingerprint::from_bytes(&self.0)
+	}
+}
+
+impl ::std::fmt::Debug for Identifier {
+	fn fmt(&self, f: &mut ::std::fmt::Formatter) -> ::std::fmt::Result {
+		try!(write!(f, "{}(", stringify!(Identifier)));
+		for i in self.0.iter().cloned() {
+			try!(write!(f, "{:02x}", i));
+		}
+		write!(f, ")")
+	}
+}
+
 /// An ExtendedKey is a secret key which can be used to derive new
 /// secret keys to blind the commitment of a transaction output.
 /// To be usable, a secret key should have an amount assigned to it,
@@ -70,7 +139,7 @@ pub struct ExtendedKey {
 	/// Child number of the key
 	pub n_child: u32,
 	/// Parent key's fingerprint
-	pub fingerprint: [u8; 4],
+	pub fingerprint: Fingerprint,
 	/// Code of the derivation chain
 	pub chaincode: [u8; 32],
 	/// Actual private key
@@ -85,8 +154,7 @@ impl ExtendedKey {
 			return Err(Error::InvalidSliceSize);
 		}
 		let depth: u8 = slice[0];
-		let mut fingerprint: [u8; 4] = [0; 4];
-		(&mut fingerprint).copy_from_slice(&slice[1..5]);
+		let fingerprint = Fingerprint::from_bytes(&slice[1..5]);
 		let n_child = BigEndian::read_u32(&slice[5..9]);
 		let mut chaincode: [u8; 32] = [0; 32];
 		(&mut chaincode).copy_from_slice(&slice[9..41]);
@@ -123,23 +191,20 @@ impl ExtendedKey {
 
 		let mut ext_key = ExtendedKey {
 			depth: 0,
-			fingerprint: [0; 4],
+			fingerprint: Fingerprint::zero(),
 			n_child: 0,
 			chaincode: chaincode,
 			key: secret_key,
 		};
 
-		let mut fingerprint: [u8; 4] = [0; 4];
-		let identifier = ext_key.identifier();
-		(&mut fingerprint).clone_from_slice(&identifier[0..4]);
-		ext_key.fingerprint = fingerprint;
+		ext_key.fingerprint = ext_key.identifier().fingerprint();
 
 		Ok(ext_key)
 	}
 
 	/// Return the identifier of the key, which is the
 	/// Hash160 of the private key
-	pub fn identifier(&self) -> [u8; 20] {
+	pub fn identifier(&self) -> Identifier {
 		let mut sha = Sha256::new();
 		sha.input(&self.key[..]);
 
@@ -151,7 +216,7 @@ impl ExtendedKey {
 
 		let mut identifier = [0; 20];
 		ripe.result(&mut identifier);
-		return identifier;
+		Identifier::from_bytes(&identifier)
 	}
 
 	/// Derive an extended key from an extended key
@@ -175,13 +240,9 @@ impl ExtendedKey {
 		let mut chain_code: [u8; 32] = [0; 32];
 		(&mut chain_code).clone_from_slice(&derived[32..]);
 
-		let mut fingerprint: [u8; 4] = [0; 4];
-		let parent_identifier = self.identifier();
-		(&mut fingerprint).clone_from_slice(&parent_identifier[0..4]);
-
 		Ok(ExtendedKey {
 			depth: self.depth + 1,
-			fingerprint: fingerprint,
+			fingerprint: self.identifier().fingerprint(),
 			n_child: n,
 			chaincode: chain_code,
 			key: secret_key,
@@ -195,7 +256,7 @@ mod test {
 
 	use secp::Secp256k1;
 	use secp::key::SecretKey;
-	use super::ExtendedKey;
+	use super::{ExtendedKey, Fingerprint};
 	use self::serialize::hex::FromHex;
 
 	#[test]
@@ -213,7 +274,7 @@ mod test {
 		let depth = 0;
 		let n_child = 0;
 		assert_eq!(extk.key, secret_key);
-		assert_eq!(extk.fingerprint, fingerprint.as_slice());
+		assert_eq!(extk.fingerprint, Fingerprint::from_bytes(fingerprint.as_slice()));
 		assert_eq!(extk.chaincode, chaincode.as_slice());
 		assert_eq!(extk.depth, depth);
 		assert_eq!(extk.n_child, n_child);
@@ -235,7 +296,7 @@ mod test {
 		let depth = 1;
 		let n_child = 0;
 		assert_eq!(derived.key, secret_key);
-		assert_eq!(derived.fingerprint, fingerprint.as_slice());
+		assert_eq!(derived.fingerprint, Fingerprint::from_bytes(fingerprint.as_slice()));
 		assert_eq!(derived.chaincode, chaincode.as_slice());
 		assert_eq!(derived.depth, depth);
 		assert_eq!(derived.n_child, n_child);
diff --git a/wallet/src/receiver.rs b/wallet/src/receiver.rs
index 9bd2db06b..c57348a67 100644
--- a/wallet/src/receiver.rs
+++ b/wallet/src/receiver.rs
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ fn receive_coinbase(config: &WalletConfig, ext_key: &ExtendedKey, amount: u64) -
 	WalletData::with_wallet(&config.data_file_dir, |wallet_data| {
 
 		// derive a new private for the reward
-		let next_child = wallet_data.next_child(ext_key.fingerprint);
+		let next_child = wallet_data.next_child(&ext_key.fingerprint);
 		let coinbase_key = ext_key.derive(&secp, next_child).map_err(|e| Error::Key(e))?;
 
 		// track the new output and return the stuff needed for reward
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ fn receive_transaction(config: &WalletConfig,
 	// operate within a lock on wallet data
 	WalletData::with_wallet(&config.data_file_dir, |wallet_data| {
 
-		let next_child = wallet_data.next_child(ext_key.fingerprint);
+		let next_child = wallet_data.next_child(&ext_key.fingerprint);
 		let out_key = ext_key.derive(&secp, next_child).map_err(|e| Error::Key(e))?;
 
 		let (tx_final, _) = build::transaction(vec![build::initial_tx(partial),
diff --git a/wallet/src/sender.rs b/wallet/src/sender.rs
index b52d0e654..473378178 100644
--- a/wallet/src/sender.rs
+++ b/wallet/src/sender.rs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ fn build_send_tx(config: &WalletConfig, ext_key: &ExtendedKey, amount: u64) -> R
 	WalletData::with_wallet(&config.data_file_dir, |wallet_data| {
 
 		// second, check from our local wallet data for outputs to spend
-		let (coins, change) = wallet_data.select(ext_key.fingerprint, amount);
+		let (coins, change) = wallet_data.select(&ext_key.fingerprint, amount);
 		if change < 0 {
 			return Err(Error::NotEnoughFunds((-change) as u64));
 		}
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ fn build_send_tx(config: &WalletConfig, ext_key: &ExtendedKey, amount: u64) -> R
 		}
 
 		// fourth, derive a new private for change and build the change output
-		let next_child = wallet_data.next_child(ext_key.fingerprint);
+		let next_child = wallet_data.next_child(&ext_key.fingerprint);
 		let change_key = ext_key.derive(&secp, next_child).map_err(|e| Error::Key(e))?;
 		parts.push(build::output(change as u64, change_key.key));
 
diff --git a/wallet/src/types.rs b/wallet/src/types.rs
index 68e16ccb3..ba2430bfd 100644
--- a/wallet/src/types.rs
+++ b/wallet/src/types.rs
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ pub enum OutputStatus {
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct OutputData {
 	/// Private key fingerprint (in case the wallet tracks multiple)
-	pub fingerprint: [u8; 4],
+	pub fingerprint: extkey::Fingerprint,
 	/// How many derivations down from the root key
 	pub n_child: u32,
 	/// Value of the output, necessary to rebuild the commitment
@@ -154,27 +154,26 @@ pub struct WalletData {
 impl WalletData {
 	/// Allows the reading and writing of the wallet data within a file lock.
 	/// Just provide a closure taking a mutable WalletData. The lock should
-  /// be held for as short a period as possible to avoid contention.
+	/// be held for as short a period as possible to avoid contention.
 	/// Note that due to the impossibility to do an actual file lock easily
 	/// across operating systems, this just creates a lock file with a "should
-  /// not exist" option.
+	/// not exist" option.
 	pub fn with_wallet<T, F>(data_file_dir:&str, f: F) -> Result<T, Error>
 		where F: FnOnce(&mut WalletData) -> T
 	{
 		//create directory if it doesn't exist
 		fs::create_dir_all(data_file_dir).unwrap_or_else(|why| {
-        	info!("! {:?}", why.kind());
+			info!("! {:?}", why.kind());
     	});
 
 		let data_file_path = &format!("{}{}{}", data_file_dir, MAIN_SEPARATOR, DAT_FILE);
 		let lock_file_path = &format!("{}{}{}", data_file_dir, MAIN_SEPARATOR, LOCK_FILE);
 
 		// create the lock files, if it already exists, will produce an error
-    	OpenOptions::new().write(true).create_new(true).open(lock_file_path).map_err(|_| {
+		OpenOptions::new().write(true).create_new(true).open(lock_file_path).map_err(|_| {
 				Error::WalletData(format!("Could not create wallet lock file. Either \
-            some other process is using the wallet or there's a write access \
-            issue."))
-    	})?;
+				some other process is using the wallet or there's a write access issue."))
+		})?;
 
 		// do what needs to be done
 		let mut wdat = WalletData::read_or_create(data_file_path)?;
@@ -226,13 +225,13 @@ impl WalletData {
 	/// Select a subset of unspent outputs to spend in a transaction
 	/// transferring
 	/// the provided amount.
-	pub fn select(&self, fingerprint: [u8; 4], amount: u64) -> (Vec<OutputData>, i64) {
+	pub fn select(&self, fingerprint: &extkey::Fingerprint, amount: u64) -> (Vec<OutputData>, i64) {
 		let mut to_spend = vec![];
 		let mut input_total = 0;
 		// TODO very naive impl for now, there's definitely better coin selection
 		// algos available
 		for out in &self.outputs {
-			if out.status == OutputStatus::Unspent && out.fingerprint == fingerprint {
+			if out.status == OutputStatus::Unspent && out.fingerprint == *fingerprint {
 				to_spend.push(out.clone());
 				input_total += out.value;
 				if input_total >= amount {
@@ -244,10 +243,10 @@ impl WalletData {
 	}
 
 	/// Next child index when we want to create a new output.
-	pub fn next_child(&self, fingerprint: [u8; 4]) -> u32 {
+	pub fn next_child(&self, fingerprint: &extkey::Fingerprint) -> u32 {
 		let mut max_n = 0;
 		for out in &self.outputs {
-			if max_n < out.n_child && out.fingerprint == fingerprint {
+			if max_n < out.n_child && out.fingerprint == *fingerprint {
 				max_n = out.n_child;
 			}
 		}