diff --git a/tests/integration/staking/keeper/deterministic_test.go b/tests/integration/staking/keeper/deterministic_test.go
index efc3751a5a4..fb27be24ea9 100644
--- a/tests/integration/staking/keeper/deterministic_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/staking/keeper/deterministic_test.go
@@ -663,15 +663,15 @@ func TestGRPCHistoricalInfo(t *testing.T) {
 
 	rapid.Check(t, func(rt *rapid.T) {
 		numVals := rapid.IntRange(1, 5).Draw(rt, "num-vals")
-		vals := make(stakingtypes.Validators, 0, numVals)
+		vals := stakingtypes.Validators{}
 		for i := 0; i < numVals; i++ {
 			validator := createAndSetValidatorWithStatus(t, rt, f, stakingtypes.Bonded)
-			vals = append(vals, validator)
+			vals.Validators = append(vals.Validators, validator)
 		}
 
 		historicalInfo := stakingtypes.HistoricalInfo{
 			Header: cmtproto.Header{},
-			Valset: vals,
+			Valset: vals.Validators,
 		}
 
 		height := rapid.Int64Min(0).Draw(rt, "height")
diff --git a/tests/integration/staking/keeper/grpc_query_test.go b/tests/integration/staking/keeper/grpc_query_test.go
index 3d35b170a5d..8e8cb080fd6 100644
--- a/tests/integration/staking/keeper/grpc_query_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/staking/keeper/grpc_query_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func createValidatorAccs(t *testing.T, f *fixture) ([]sdk.AccAddress, []types.Va
 	// have its order changed
 	sortedVals := make([]types.Validator, len(validators))
 	copy(sortedVals, validators)
-	hi := types.NewHistoricalInfo(header, sortedVals, f.stakingKeeper.PowerReduction(f.sdkCtx))
+	hi := types.NewHistoricalInfo(header, types.Validators{Validators: sortedVals}, f.stakingKeeper.PowerReduction(f.sdkCtx))
 	assert.NilError(t, f.stakingKeeper.HistoricalInfo.Set(f.sdkCtx, uint64(5), hi))
 
 	return addrs, validators
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func TestGRPCQueryDelegatorValidators(t *testing.T) {
 				assert.NilError(t, err)
 				assert.Equal(t, 1, len(res.Validators))
 				assert.Assert(t, res.Pagination.NextKey != nil)
-				assert.Equal(t, uint64(len(delValidators)), res.Pagination.Total)
+				assert.Equal(t, uint64(len(delValidators.Validators)), res.Pagination.Total)
 			} else {
 				assert.ErrorContains(t, err, tc.expErrMsg)
 				assert.Assert(t, res == nil)
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/delegation_test.go b/x/staking/keeper/delegation_test.go
index 77d8fda7ed2..1404b18cd5d 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/delegation_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/delegation_test.go
@@ -104,10 +104,10 @@ func (s *KeeperTestSuite) TestDelegation() {
 
 	resVals, err := keeper.GetDelegatorValidators(ctx, addrDels[0], 3)
 	require.NoError(err)
-	require.Equal(3, len(resVals))
+	require.Equal(3, len(resVals.Validators))
 	resVals, err = keeper.GetDelegatorValidators(ctx, addrDels[1], 4)
 	require.NoError(err)
-	require.Equal(3, len(resVals))
+	require.Equal(3, len(resVals.Validators))
 
 	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
 		resVal, err := keeper.GetDelegatorValidator(ctx, addrDels[0], valAddrs[i])
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/grpc_query.go b/x/staking/keeper/grpc_query.go
index 39f628dee83..9b4cee9f00e 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/grpc_query.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/grpc_query.go
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ func (k Querier) Validators(ctx context.Context, req *types.QueryValidatorsReque
 
 	vals := types.Validators{}
 	for _, val := range validators {
-		vals = append(vals, *val)
+		vals.Validators = append(vals.Validators, *val)
 	}
 
-	return &types.QueryValidatorsResponse{Validators: vals, Pagination: pageRes}, nil
+	return &types.QueryValidatorsResponse{Validators: vals.Validators, Pagination: pageRes}, nil
 }
 
 // Validator queries validator info for given validator address
@@ -465,14 +465,14 @@ func (k Querier) DelegatorValidators(ctx context.Context, req *types.QueryDelega
 			return err
 		}
 
-		validators = append(validators, validator)
+		validators.Validators = append(validators.Validators, validator)
 		return nil
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, status.Error(codes.Internal, err.Error())
 	}
 
-	return &types.QueryDelegatorValidatorsResponse{Validators: validators, Pagination: pageRes}, nil
+	return &types.QueryDelegatorValidatorsResponse{Validators: validators.Validators, Pagination: pageRes}, nil
 }
 
 // Pool queries the pool info
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/historical_info.go b/x/staking/keeper/historical_info.go
index 3f33d13ebab..9a12bbeeb03 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/historical_info.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/historical_info.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func (k Keeper) TrackHistoricalInfo(ctx context.Context) error {
 		return err
 	}
 
-	historicalEntry := types.NewHistoricalInfo(sdkCtx.BlockHeader(), lastVals, k.PowerReduction(ctx))
+	historicalEntry := types.NewHistoricalInfo(sdkCtx.BlockHeader(), types.Validators{Validators: lastVals, ValidatorCodec: k.validatorAddressCodec}, k.PowerReduction(ctx))
 
 	// Set latest HistoricalInfo at current height
 	return k.HistoricalInfo.Set(ctx, uint64(sdkCtx.BlockHeight()), historicalEntry)
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/historical_info_test.go b/x/staking/keeper/historical_info_test.go
index 61d4bbe25ae..25d5f9a4c1c 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/historical_info_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/historical_info_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func (s *KeeperTestSuite) TestHistoricalInfo() {
 		validators[i] = testutil.NewValidator(s.T(), valAddr, PKs[i])
 	}
 
-	hi := stakingtypes.NewHistoricalInfo(ctx.BlockHeader(), validators, keeper.PowerReduction(ctx))
+	hi := stakingtypes.NewHistoricalInfo(ctx.BlockHeader(), stakingtypes.Validators{Validators: validators}, keeper.PowerReduction(ctx))
 	require.NoError(keeper.HistoricalInfo.Set(ctx, uint64(2), hi))
 
 	recv, err := keeper.HistoricalInfo.Get(ctx, uint64(2))
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ func (s *KeeperTestSuite) TestTrackHistoricalInfo() {
 		testutil.NewValidator(s.T(), addrVals[0], PKs[0]),
 		testutil.NewValidator(s.T(), addrVals[1], PKs[1]),
 	}
-	hi4 := stakingtypes.NewHistoricalInfo(h4, valSet, keeper.PowerReduction(ctx))
-	hi5 := stakingtypes.NewHistoricalInfo(h5, valSet, keeper.PowerReduction(ctx))
+	hi4 := stakingtypes.NewHistoricalInfo(h4, stakingtypes.Validators{Validators: valSet}, keeper.PowerReduction(ctx))
+	hi5 := stakingtypes.NewHistoricalInfo(h5, stakingtypes.Validators{Validators: valSet}, keeper.PowerReduction(ctx))
 	require.NoError(keeper.HistoricalInfo.Set(ctx, uint64(4), hi4))
 	require.NoError(keeper.HistoricalInfo.Set(ctx, uint64(5), hi5))
 	recv, err := keeper.HistoricalInfo.Get(ctx, uint64(4))
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/query_utils.go b/x/staking/keeper/query_utils.go
index 6bb16da3fcd..4b089da7800 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/query_utils.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/query_utils.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func (k Keeper) GetDelegatorValidators(
 
 	iterator, err := store.Iterator(delegatorPrefixKey, storetypes.PrefixEndBytes(delegatorPrefixKey)) // smallest to largest
 	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
+		return types.Validators{}, err
 	}
 	defer iterator.Close()
 
@@ -29,19 +29,19 @@ func (k Keeper) GetDelegatorValidators(
 
 		valAddr, err := k.validatorAddressCodec.StringToBytes(delegation.GetValidatorAddr())
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return types.Validators{}, err
 		}
 
 		validator, err := k.GetValidator(ctx, valAddr)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
+			return types.Validators{}, err
 		}
 
 		validators[i] = validator
 		i++
 	}
 
-	return validators[:i], nil // trim
+	return types.Validators{Validators: validators[:i], ValidatorCodec: k.validatorAddressCodec}, nil // trim
 }
 
 // GetDelegatorValidator returns a validator that a delegator is bonded to
diff --git a/x/staking/testutil/cmt.go b/x/staking/testutil/cmt.go
index 7913d55811e..6c3ca753da4 100644
--- a/x/staking/testutil/cmt.go
+++ b/x/staking/testutil/cmt.go
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ func ToCmtValidator(v types.Validator, r math.Int) (*cmttypes.Validator, error)
 
 // ToCmtValidators casts all validators to the corresponding CometBFT type.
 func ToCmtValidators(v types.Validators, r math.Int) ([]*cmttypes.Validator, error) {
-	validators := make([]*cmttypes.Validator, len(v))
+	validators := make([]*cmttypes.Validator, len(v.Validators))
 	var err error
-	for i, val := range v {
+	for i, val := range v.Validators {
 		validators[i], err = ToCmtValidator(val, r)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
diff --git a/x/staking/types/historical_info.go b/x/staking/types/historical_info.go
index 62eafddbcdf..fc34afffdf3 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/historical_info.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/historical_info.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	cmtproto "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/proto/tendermint/types"
 	"github.com/cosmos/gogoproto/proto"
 
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/address"
 	"cosmossdk.io/errors"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 
@@ -16,23 +17,23 @@ import (
 // it will first sort valset before inclusion into historical info
 func NewHistoricalInfo(header cmtproto.Header, valSet Validators, powerReduction math.Int) HistoricalInfo {
 	// Must sort in the same way that CometBFT does
-	sort.SliceStable(valSet, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return ValidatorsByVotingPower(valSet).Less(i, j, powerReduction)
+	sort.SliceStable(valSet.Validators, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return ValidatorsByVotingPower(valSet.Validators).Less(i, j, powerReduction)
 	})
 
 	return HistoricalInfo{
 		Header: header,
-		Valset: valSet,
+		Valset: valSet.Validators,
 	}
 }
 
 // ValidateBasic will ensure HistoricalInfo is not nil and sorted
-func ValidateBasic(hi HistoricalInfo) error {
+func ValidateBasic(hi HistoricalInfo, valAc address.Codec) error {
 	if len(hi.Valset) == 0 {
 		return errors.Wrap(ErrInvalidHistoricalInfo, "validator set is empty")
 	}
 
-	if !sort.IsSorted(Validators(hi.Valset)) {
+	if !sort.IsSorted(Validators{Validators: hi.Valset, ValidatorCodec: valAc}) {
 		return errors.Wrap(ErrInvalidHistoricalInfo, "validator set is not sorted by address")
 	}
 
diff --git a/x/staking/types/historical_info_test.go b/x/staking/types/historical_info_test.go
index 46a9468bc45..23431ef4705 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/historical_info_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/historical_info_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	cmtproto "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/proto/tendermint/types"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/codec/address"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/x/staking/types"
 )
@@ -31,11 +32,12 @@ func TestValidateBasic(t *testing.T) {
 	hi := types.HistoricalInfo{
 		Header: header,
 	}
-	err := types.ValidateBasic(hi)
+	ac := address.NewBech32Codec("cosmosvaloper")
+	err := types.ValidateBasic(hi, ac)
 	require.Error(t, err, "ValidateBasic passed on nil ValSet")
 
 	// Ensure validators are not sorted
-	for sort.IsSorted(types.Validators(validators)) {
+	for sort.IsSorted(types.Validators{Validators: validators, ValidatorCodec: ac}) {
 		rand.Shuffle(len(validators), func(i, j int) {
 			validators[i], validators[j] = validators[j], validators[i]
 		})
@@ -44,10 +46,10 @@ func TestValidateBasic(t *testing.T) {
 		Header: header,
 		Valset: validators,
 	}
-	err = types.ValidateBasic(hi)
+	err = types.ValidateBasic(hi, ac)
 	require.Error(t, err, "ValidateBasic passed on unsorted ValSet")
 
-	hi = types.NewHistoricalInfo(header, validators, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
-	err = types.ValidateBasic(hi)
+	hi = types.NewHistoricalInfo(header, types.Validators{Validators: validators, ValidatorCodec: ac}, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
+	err = types.ValidateBasic(hi, ac)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "ValidateBasic failed on valid HistoricalInfo")
 }
diff --git a/x/staking/types/validator.go b/x/staking/types/validator.go
index 94c055b955d..b43c5f1278e 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/validator.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/validator.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	abci "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/abci/types"
 	cmtprotocrypto "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/proto/tendermint/crypto"
 
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/address"
 	"cosmossdk.io/errors"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 
@@ -63,10 +64,13 @@ func NewValidator(operator string, pubKey cryptotypes.PubKey, description Descri
 }
 
 // Validators is a collection of Validator
-type Validators []Validator
+type Validators struct {
+	Validators     []Validator
+	ValidatorCodec address.Codec
+}
 
 func (v Validators) String() (out string) {
-	for _, val := range v {
+	for _, val := range v.Validators {
 		out += val.String() + "\n"
 	}
 
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ func (v Validators) String() (out string) {
 
 // ToSDKValidators -  convenience function convert []Validator to []sdk.ValidatorI
 func (v Validators) ToSDKValidators() (validators []ValidatorI) {
-	for _, val := range v {
+	for _, val := range v.Validators {
 		validators = append(validators, val)
 	}
 
@@ -89,17 +93,26 @@ func (v Validators) Sort() {
 
 // Implements sort interface
 func (v Validators) Len() int {
-	return len(v)
+	return len(v.Validators)
 }
 
 // Implements sort interface
 func (v Validators) Less(i, j int) bool {
-	return strings.Compare(v[i].GetOperator(), v[j].GetOperator()) == -1
+	vi, err := v.ValidatorCodec.StringToBytes(v.Validators[i].GetOperator())
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+	vj, err := v.ValidatorCodec.StringToBytes(v.Validators[j].GetOperator())
+	if err != nil {
+		panic(err)
+	}
+
+	return bytes.Compare(vi, vj) == -1
 }
 
 // Implements sort interface
 func (v Validators) Swap(i, j int) {
-	v[i], v[j] = v[j], v[i]
+	v.Validators[i], v.Validators[j] = v.Validators[j], v.Validators[i]
 }
 
 // ValidatorsByVotingPower implements sort.Interface for []Validator based on
@@ -129,8 +142,8 @@ func (valz ValidatorsByVotingPower) Swap(i, j int) {
 
 // UnpackInterfaces implements UnpackInterfacesMessage.UnpackInterfaces
 func (v Validators) UnpackInterfaces(c codectypes.AnyUnpacker) error {
-	for i := range v {
-		if err := v[i].UnpackInterfaces(c); err != nil {
+	for i := range v.Validators {
+		if err := v.Validators[i].UnpackInterfaces(c); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/x/staking/types/validator_test.go b/x/staking/types/validator_test.go
index f8f03178901..ea0bc0e9427 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/validator_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/validator_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 
+	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/codec/address"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/codec/legacy"
 	cryptocodec "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/codec"
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/keys/ed25519"
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ func TestValidatorsSortDeterminism(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Save sorted copy
-	sort.Sort(types.Validators(vals))
+	sort.Sort(types.Validators{Validators: vals, ValidatorCodec: address.NewBech32Codec("cosmosvaloper")})
 	copy(sortedVals, vals)
 
 	// Randomly shuffle validators, sort, and check it is equal to original sort
@@ -265,7 +266,7 @@ func TestValidatorsSortDeterminism(t *testing.T) {
 			vals[i], vals[j] = vals[j], vals[i]
 		})
 
-		types.Validators(vals).Sort()
+		types.Validators{Validators: vals, ValidatorCodec: address.NewBech32Codec("cosmosvaloper")}.Sort()
 		require.Equal(t, sortedVals, vals, "Validator sort returned different slices")
 	}
 }
@@ -286,7 +287,7 @@ func TestValidatorsSortCometBFT(t *testing.T) {
 		vals[i].Tokens = math.NewInt(1000000)
 	}
 
-	valz := types.Validators(vals)
+	valz := types.Validators{Validators: vals, ValidatorCodec: address.NewBech32Codec("cosmosvaloper")}
 
 	// create expected CometBFT validators by converting to CometBFT then sorting
 	expectedVals, err := testutil.ToCmtValidators(valz, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
@@ -294,8 +295,8 @@ func TestValidatorsSortCometBFT(t *testing.T) {
 	sort.Sort(cmttypes.ValidatorsByVotingPower(expectedVals))
 
 	// sort in SDK and then convert to CometBFT
-	sort.SliceStable(valz, func(i, j int) bool {
-		return types.ValidatorsByVotingPower(valz).Less(i, j, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
+	sort.SliceStable(valz.Validators, func(i, j int) bool {
+		return types.ValidatorsByVotingPower(valz.Validators).Less(i, j, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
 	})
 	actualVals, err := testutil.ToCmtValidators(valz, sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -304,15 +305,15 @@ func TestValidatorsSortCometBFT(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestValidatorToCmt(t *testing.T) {
-	vals := make(types.Validators, 10)
+	vals := types.Validators{}
 	expected := make([]*cmttypes.Validator, 10)
 
-	for i := range vals {
+	for i := 0; i < 10; i++ {
 		pk := ed25519.GenPrivKey().PubKey()
 		val := newValidator(t, sdk.ValAddress(pk.Address()), pk)
 		val.Status = types.Bonded
 		val.Tokens = math.NewInt(rand.Int63())
-		vals[i] = val
+		vals.Validators = append(vals.Validators, val)
 		cmtPk, err := cryptocodec.ToCmtPubKeyInterface(pk)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		expected[i] = cmttypes.NewValidator(cmtPk, val.ConsensusPower(sdk.DefaultPowerReduction))