diff --git a/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs
index 2ab7e410..07c02a37 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/crypto/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 mod blake3digest512;
-mod byte_array_types;
 mod dh_cache;
 mod envelope;
 mod receipt;
@@ -13,7 +12,7 @@ pub mod tests;
 pub mod vld0;
 
 pub use blake3digest512::*;
-pub use byte_array_types::*;
+
 pub use crypto_system::*;
 pub use dh_cache::*;
 pub use envelope::*;
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/crypto/byte_array_types.rs b/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/byte_array_types.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from veilid-core/src/crypto/byte_array_types.rs
rename to veilid-core/src/crypto/types/byte_array_types.rs
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/keypair.rs b/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/keypair.rs
index fc53af44..d17a12a0 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/keypair.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/keypair.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,7 @@ use super::*;
 #[derive(
     Clone,
     Copy,
-    Serialize,
-    Deserialize,
+    Default,
     PartialOrd,
     Ord,
     PartialEq,
@@ -87,3 +86,26 @@ impl TryFrom<&str> for KeyPair {
         Self::try_decode(value)
     }
 }
+
+impl serde::Serialize for KeyPair {
+    fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+    where
+        S: serde::Serializer,
+    {
+        let s = self.encode();
+        serde::Serialize::serialize(&s, serializer)
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'de> serde::Deserialize<'de> for KeyPair {
+    fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
+    where
+        D: serde::Deserializer<'de>,
+    {
+        let s = <String as serde::Deserialize>::deserialize(deserializer)?;
+        if s == "" {
+            return Ok(KeyPair::default());
+        }
+        KeyPair::try_decode(s.as_str()).map_err(serde::de::Error::custom)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/mod.rs b/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/mod.rs
index 75d94d18..af03453d 100644
--- a/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/mod.rs
+++ b/veilid-core/src/crypto/types/mod.rs
@@ -41,10 +41,12 @@ pub fn common_crypto_kinds(a: &[CryptoKind], b: &[CryptoKind]) -> Vec<CryptoKind
     out
 }
 
+mod byte_array_types;
 mod crypto_typed;
 mod crypto_typed_group;
 mod keypair;
 
+pub use byte_array_types::*;
 pub use crypto_typed::*;
 pub use crypto_typed_group::*;
 pub use keypair::*;
diff --git a/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py b/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py
index 8138cf57..1b75d061 100644
--- a/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py
+++ b/veilid-python/veilid/json_api.py
@@ -150,6 +150,8 @@ class _JsonVeilidAPI(VeilidAPI):
                 # Parse line as ndjson
                 j = json.loads(linebytes.strip())
 
+                print(f"linebytes: {linebytes}")
+
                 if self.validate_schema:
                     _schema_validate(_VALIDATOR_RECV_MESSAGE, j)