diff --git a/core/appmodule/module.go b/core/appmodule/module.go
index 60c4f80c3558..a0b6e7f02cb6 100644
--- a/core/appmodule/module.go
+++ b/core/appmodule/module.go
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@ type HasEndBlocker = appmodule.HasEndBlocker
 // HasRegisterInterfaces is the interface for modules to register their msg types.
 type HasRegisterInterfaces = appmodule.HasRegisterInterfaces
 
+// ValidatorUpdate defines a validator update.
+type ValidatorUpdate = appmodule.ValidatorUpdate
+
 // HasServices is the extension interface that modules should implement to register
 // implementations of services defined in .proto files.
 type HasServices interface {
diff --git a/tests/integration/staking/keeper/genesis_test.go b/tests/integration/staking/keeper/genesis_test.go
index 41ee5ba758a2..95e34da18485 100644
--- a/tests/integration/staking/keeper/genesis_test.go
+++ b/tests/integration/staking/keeper/genesis_test.go
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"testing"
 
-	abci "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/abci/types"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"gotest.tools/v3/assert"
 
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 	banktestutil "cosmossdk.io/x/bank/testutil"
 	"cosmossdk.io/x/staking"
@@ -128,8 +128,7 @@ func TestInitGenesis(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Assert(t, found)
 	assert.Equal(t, types.Bonded, resVal.Status)
 
-	abcivals := make([]abci.ValidatorUpdate, len(vals))
-	validatorUpdates := make([]module.ValidatorUpdate, len(abcivals))
+	validatorUpdates := make([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, len(vals))
 	for i, val := range validators {
 		validatorUpdates[i] = val.ModuleValidatorUpdate(f.stakingKeeper.PowerReduction(f.sdkCtx))
 	}
diff --git a/x/staking/CHANGELOG.md b/x/staking/CHANGELOG.md
index 0f09872a7d4f..98c2c14a67a7 100644
--- a/x/staking/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/x/staking/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -43,60 +43,60 @@ Ref: https://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/
 
 ### API Breaking Changes
 
+* [#19754](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19754) update to use `[]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate` as return for `ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates`.
+* [#19414](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19414) Staking module takes an environment variable in `NewStakingKeeper` instead of individual services.
 * [#19742](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19742) `NewStakeAuthorization` now takes `address.Codec` as argument.
 * [#19735](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19735) Update genesis api to match new `appmodule.HasGenesis` interface.
 * [#18198](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/18198) `Validator` and `Delegator` interfaces were moved to `github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types` to avoid interface dependency on staking in other modules.
 * [#17778](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17778) Use collections for `Params`
-    * remove from `Keeper`: `GetParams`, `SetParams`
+  * remove from `Keeper`: `GetParams`, `SetParams`
 * [#17486](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17486) Use collections for `RedelegationQueueKey`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetRedelegationTimeKey`
-    * remove from `Keeper`: `RedelegationQueueIterator`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetRedelegationTimeKey`
+  * remove from `Keeper`: `RedelegationQueueIterator`
 * [#17562](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17562) Use collections for `ValidatorQueue`
-    * remove from `types`: `GetValidatorQueueKey`, `ParseValidatorQueueKey`
-    * remove from `Keeper`: `ValidatorQueueIterator`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetValidatorQueueKey`, `ParseValidatorQueueKey`
+  * remove from `Keeper`: `ValidatorQueueIterator`
 * [#17498](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17498) Use collections for `LastValidatorPower`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetLastValidatorPowerKey`
-    * remove from `Keeper`: `LastValidatorsIterator`, `IterateLastValidators`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetLastValidatorPowerKey`
+  * remove from `Keeper`: `LastValidatorsIterator`, `IterateLastValidators`
 * [#17291](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17291) Use collections for `UnbondingDelegationByValIndex`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetUBDKeyFromValIndexKey`, `GetUBDsByValIndexKey`, `GetUBDByValIndexKey`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetUBDKeyFromValIndexKey`, `GetUBDsByValIndexKey`, `GetUBDByValIndexKey`
 * (x/slashing) [#17568](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17568) Use collections for `ValidatorMissedBlockBitmap`:
-    * remove from `types`: `ValidatorMissedBlockBitmapPrefixKey`, `ValidatorMissedBlockBitmapKey`
+  * remove from `types`: `ValidatorMissedBlockBitmapPrefixKey`, `ValidatorMissedBlockBitmapKey`
 * [#17481](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17481) Use collections for `UnbondingQueue`:
-    * remove from `Keeper`: `UBDQueueIterator`
-    * remove from `types`: `GetUnbondingDelegationTimeKey`
+  * remove from `Keeper`: `UBDQueueIterator`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetUnbondingDelegationTimeKey`
 * [#17123](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17123) Use collections for `Validators`
 * [#17270](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17270) Use collections for `UnbondingDelegation`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetUBDsKey`
-    * remove from `Keeper`: `IterateUnbondingDelegations`, `IterateDelegatorUnbondingDelegations`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetUBDsKey`
+  * remove from `Keeper`: `IterateUnbondingDelegations`, `IterateDelegatorUnbondingDelegations`
 * [#17336](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17336) Use collections for `RedelegationByValDstIndexKey`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetREDByValDstIndexKey`, `GetREDsToValDstIndexKey`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetREDByValDstIndexKey`, `GetREDsToValDstIndexKey`
 * [#17332](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17332) Use collections for `RedelegationByValSrcIndexKey`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetREDKeyFromValSrcIndexKey`, `GetREDsFromValSrcIndexKey`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetREDKeyFromValSrcIndexKey`, `GetREDsFromValSrcIndexKey`
 * [#17315](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17315) Use collections for `RedelegationKey`:
-    * remove from `keeper`: `GetRedelegation`
+  * remove from `keeper`: `GetRedelegation`
 * [#17260](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17260) Use collections for `DelegationKey`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetDelegationKey`, `GetDelegationsKey`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetDelegationKey`, `GetDelegationsKey`
 * [#17288](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17288) Use collections for `UnbondingIndex`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetUnbondingIndexKey`.
+  * remove from `types`: `GetUnbondingIndexKey`.
 * [#17256](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17256) Use collections for `UnbondingID`.
 * [#17260](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17260) Use collections for `ValidatorByConsAddr`:
-    * remove from `types`: `GetValidatorByConsAddrKey`
+  * remove from `types`: `GetValidatorByConsAddrKey`
 * [#17248](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17248) Use collections for `UnbondingType`.
-    * remove from `types`: `GetUnbondingTypeKey`.
+  * remove from `types`: `GetUnbondingTypeKey`.
 * [#17063](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17063) Use collections for `HistoricalInfo`:
-    * remove `Keeper`: `GetHistoricalInfo`, `SetHistoricalInfo`
+  * remove `Keeper`: `GetHistoricalInfo`, `SetHistoricalInfo`
 * [#17062](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17062) Use collections for `ValidatorUpdates`:
-    * remove `Keeper`: `SetValidatorUpdates`, `GetValidatorUpdates`
+  * remove `Keeper`: `SetValidatorUpdates`, `GetValidatorUpdates`
 * [#17026](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17026) Use collections for `LastTotalPower`:
-    * remove `Keeper`: `SetLastTotalPower`, `GetLastTotalPower`
+  * remove `Keeper`: `SetLastTotalPower`, `GetLastTotalPower`
 * [#17335](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17335) Remove usage of `"cosmossdk.io/x/staking/types".Infraction_*` in favour of `"cosmossdk.io/api/cosmos/staking/v1beta1".Infraction_` in order to remove dependency between modules on staking
 * [#17655](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17655) `QueryHistoricalInfo` was adjusted to return `HistoricalRecord` and marked `Hist` as deprecated.
-* [#19414](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19414) Staking module takes an environment variable in `NewStakingKeeper` instead of individual services.
-* [#19754](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19754) update to use `[]module.ValidatorUpdate` as return for `ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates`.
 
 ### State Breaking changes
 
 * [#18841](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/18841) In a undelegation or redelegation if the shares being left delegated correspond to less than 1 token (in base denom) the entire delegation gets removed.
 * [#18142](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/18142) Introduce `key_rotation_fee` param to calculate fees while rotating the keys
 * [#17655](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/17655) `HistoricalInfo` was replaced with `HistoricalRecord`, it removes the validator set and comet header and only keep what is needed for IBC.
-* [#19740](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19740) Verify `InitGenesis` and `ExportGenesis` module code and keeper code do not panic.
\ No newline at end of file
+* [#19740](https://github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/pull/19740) Verify `InitGenesis` and `ExportGenesis` module code and keeper code do not panic.
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/abci.go b/x/staking/keeper/abci.go
index 174fd5c21af7..1e70b2c6bb1c 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/abci.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/abci.go
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"time"
 
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	"cosmossdk.io/x/staking/types"
 
 	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/telemetry"
-	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/module"
 )
 
 // BeginBlocker will persist the current header and validator set as a historical entry
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func (k *Keeper) BeginBlocker(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // EndBlocker called at every block, update validator set
-func (k *Keeper) EndBlocker(ctx context.Context) ([]module.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
+func (k *Keeper) EndBlocker(ctx context.Context) ([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
 	defer telemetry.ModuleMeasureSince(types.ModuleName, time.Now(), telemetry.MetricKeyEndBlocker)
 	return k.BlockValidatorUpdates(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/genesis.go b/x/staking/keeper/genesis.go
index 1db8b9f0adf1..b59bda1ad598 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/genesis.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/genesis.go
@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/collections"
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 	"cosmossdk.io/x/staking/types"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
-	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/module"
 )
 
 // InitGenesis sets the pool and parameters for the provided keeper.  For each
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import (
 // setting the indexes. In addition, it also sets any delegations found in
 // data. Finally, it updates the bonded validators.
 // Returns final validator set after applying all declaration and delegations
-func (k Keeper) InitGenesis(ctx context.Context, data *types.GenesisState) ([]module.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
+func (k Keeper) InitGenesis(ctx context.Context, data *types.GenesisState) ([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
 	bondedTokens := math.ZeroInt()
 	notBondedTokens := math.ZeroInt()
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ func (k Keeper) InitGenesis(ctx context.Context, data *types.GenesisState) ([]mo
 	}
 
 	// don't need to run CometBFT updates if we exported
-	var moduleValidatorUpdates []module.ValidatorUpdate
+	var moduleValidatorUpdates []appmodule.ValidatorUpdate
 	if data.Exported {
 		for _, lv := range data.LastValidatorPowers {
 			valAddr, err := k.validatorAddressCodec.StringToBytes(lv.Address)
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/keeper.go b/x/staking/keeper/keeper.go
index 6cb5dab27826..867971d1cc60 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/keeper.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/keeper.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package keeper
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"time"
 
@@ -41,6 +42,49 @@ func HistoricalInfoCodec(cdc codec.BinaryCodec) collcodec.ValueCodec[types.Histo
 	})
 }
 
+type moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec struct {
+	cdc codec.BinaryCodec
+}
+
+// Decode implements codec.ValueCodec.
+func (m moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec) Decode(b []byte) (types.ModuleValidatorUpdates, error) {
+	var mvu types.ModuleValidatorUpdates
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(b, &mvu); err != nil {
+		return types.ModuleValidatorUpdates{}, err
+	}
+
+	return mvu, nil
+}
+
+// DecodeJSON implements codec.ValueCodec.
+func (m moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec) DecodeJSON(b []byte) (types.ModuleValidatorUpdates, error) {
+	return m.Decode(b)
+}
+
+// Encode implements codec.ValueCodec.
+func (m moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec) Encode(value types.ModuleValidatorUpdates) ([]byte, error) {
+	return json.Marshal(value)
+}
+
+// EncodeJSON implements codec.ValueCodec.
+func (m moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec) EncodeJSON(value types.ModuleValidatorUpdates) ([]byte, error) {
+	return m.Encode(value)
+}
+
+// Stringify implements codec.ValueCodec.
+func (m moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec) Stringify(value types.ModuleValidatorUpdates) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%v", value)
+}
+
+// ValueType implements codec.ValueCodec.
+func (m moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec) ValueType() string {
+	return "types.ModuleValidatorUpdates"
+}
+
+func ValidatorUpdateCodec(cdc codec.BinaryCodec) collcodec.ValueCodec[types.ModuleValidatorUpdates] {
+	return moduleValidatorUpdatesCodec{cdc}
+}
+
 type rotationHistoryIndexes struct {
 	Block *indexes.Multi[uint64, collections.Pair[[]byte, uint64], types.ConsPubKeyRotationHistory]
 }
@@ -84,7 +128,7 @@ type Keeper struct {
 	// LastTotalPower value: LastTotalPower
 	LastTotalPower collections.Item[math.Int]
 	// ValidatorUpdates value: ValidatorUpdates
-	ValidatorUpdates collections.Item[types.ValidatorUpdates]
+	ValidatorUpdates collections.Item[types.ModuleValidatorUpdates]
 	// DelegationsByValidator key: valAddr+delAddr | value: none used (index key for delegations by validator index)
 	DelegationsByValidator collections.Map[collections.Pair[sdk.ValAddress, sdk.AccAddress], []byte]
 	UnbondingID            collections.Sequence
@@ -171,7 +215,7 @@ func NewKeeper(
 		consensusAddressCodec: consensusAddressCodec,
 		LastTotalPower:        collections.NewItem(sb, types.LastTotalPowerKey, "last_total_power", sdk.IntValue),
 		HistoricalInfo:        collections.NewMap(sb, types.HistoricalInfoKey, "historical_info", collections.Uint64Key, HistoricalInfoCodec(cdc)),
-		ValidatorUpdates:      collections.NewItem(sb, types.ValidatorUpdatesKey, "validator_updates", codec.CollValue[types.ValidatorUpdates](cdc)),
+		ValidatorUpdates:      collections.NewItem(sb, types.ValidatorUpdatesKey, "validator_updates", ValidatorUpdateCodec(cdc)),
 		Delegations: collections.NewMap(
 			sb, types.DelegationKey, "delegations",
 			collections.PairKeyCodec(
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/val_state_change.go b/x/staking/keeper/val_state_change.go
index e2bfe780a44b..f7da4eeb26eb 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/val_state_change.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/val_state_change.go
@@ -6,25 +6,23 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
 
-	abci "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/abci/types"
 	gogotypes "github.com/cosmos/gogoproto/types"
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/core/address"
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	"cosmossdk.io/core/event"
 	errorsmod "cosmossdk.io/errors"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 	"cosmossdk.io/x/staking/types"
 
-	cryptocodec "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/codec"
 	cryptotypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/types"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	sdkerrors "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/errors"
-	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/module"
 )
 
 // BlockValidatorUpdates calculates the ValidatorUpdates for the current block
 // Called in each EndBlock
-func (k Keeper) BlockValidatorUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
+func (k Keeper) BlockValidatorUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
 	// Calculate validator set changes.
 	//
 	// NOTE: ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates has to come before
@@ -138,7 +136,7 @@ func (k Keeper) BlockValidatorUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module.ValidatorUp
 // CONTRACT: Only validators with non-zero power or zero-power that were bonded
 // at the previous block height or were removed from the validator set entirely
 // are returned to CometBFT.
-func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
+func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
 	params, err := k.Params.Get(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
@@ -163,8 +161,7 @@ func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module
 	}
 	defer iterator.Close()
 
-	var updates []abci.ValidatorUpdate
-	var moduleValidatorUpdates []module.ValidatorUpdate
+	var updates []appmodule.ValidatorUpdate
 	for count := 0; iterator.Valid() && count < int(maxValidators); iterator.Next() {
 		// everything that is iterated in this loop is becoming or already a
 		// part of the bonded validator set
@@ -215,8 +212,7 @@ func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module
 
 		// update the validator set if power has changed
 		if !found || !bytes.Equal(oldPowerBytes, newPowerBytes) {
-			updates = append(updates, validator.ABCIValidatorUpdate(powerReduction))
-			moduleValidatorUpdates = append(moduleValidatorUpdates, validator.ModuleValidatorUpdate(powerReduction))
+			updates = append(updates, validator.ModuleValidatorUpdate(powerReduction))
 			if err = k.SetLastValidatorPower(ctx, valAddr, newPower); err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
@@ -251,8 +247,7 @@ func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		updates = append(updates, validator.ABCIValidatorUpdateZero())
-		moduleValidatorUpdates = append(moduleValidatorUpdates, validator.ModuleValidatorUpdateZero())
+		updates = append(updates, validator.ModuleValidatorUpdateZero())
 	}
 
 	// ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates checks if there is ConsPubKeyRotationHistory
@@ -278,41 +273,23 @@ func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module
 		if !ok {
 			return nil, errorsmod.Wrapf(sdkerrors.ErrInvalidType, "Expecting cryptotypes.PubKey, got %T", oldPk)
 		}
-		oldCmtPk, err := cryptocodec.ToCmtProtoPublicKey(oldPk)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
 
 		newPk, ok := history.NewConsPubkey.GetCachedValue().(cryptotypes.PubKey)
 		if !ok {
 			return nil, errorsmod.Wrapf(sdkerrors.ErrInvalidType, "Expecting cryptotypes.PubKey, got %T", newPk)
 		}
-		newCmtPk, err := cryptocodec.ToCmtProtoPublicKey(newPk)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
 
 		// a validator cannot rotate keys if it's not bonded or if it's jailed
 		// - a validator can be unbonding state but jailed status false
 		// - a validator can be jailed and status can be unbonding
 		if !(validator.Jailed || validator.Status != types.Bonded) {
-			updates = append(updates, abci.ValidatorUpdate{
-				PubKey: oldCmtPk,
-				Power:  0,
-			})
-
-			moduleValidatorUpdates = append(moduleValidatorUpdates, module.ValidatorUpdate{
+			updates = append(updates, appmodule.ValidatorUpdate{
 				PubKey:     oldPk.Bytes(),
 				PubKeyType: oldPk.Type(),
 				Power:      0,
 			})
 
-			updates = append(updates, abci.ValidatorUpdate{
-				PubKey: newCmtPk,
-				Power:  validator.ConsensusPower(powerReduction),
-			})
-
-			moduleValidatorUpdates = append(moduleValidatorUpdates, module.ValidatorUpdate{
+			updates = append(updates, appmodule.ValidatorUpdate{
 				PubKey:     newPk.Bytes(),
 				PubKeyType: newPk.Type(),
 				Power:      validator.ConsensusPower(powerReduction),
@@ -350,13 +327,12 @@ func (k Keeper) ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx context.Context) ([]module
 		}
 	}
 
-	valUpdates := types.ValidatorUpdates{Updates: updates}
 	// set the list of validator updates
-	if err = k.ValidatorUpdates.Set(ctx, valUpdates); err != nil {
+	if err = k.ValidatorUpdates.Set(ctx, updates); err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return moduleValidatorUpdates, err
+	return updates, err
 }
 
 // Validator state transitions
diff --git a/x/staking/keeper/validator_test.go b/x/staking/keeper/validator_test.go
index 2c7a90f98cc1..d6f0655e981b 100644
--- a/x/staking/keeper/validator_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/keeper/validator_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/collections"
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	"cosmossdk.io/core/header"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 	authtypes "cosmossdk.io/x/auth/types"
@@ -14,10 +15,9 @@ import (
 	stakingtypes "cosmossdk.io/x/staking/types"
 
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
-	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/module"
 )
 
-func (s *KeeperTestSuite) applyValidatorSetUpdates(ctx sdk.Context, keeper *stakingkeeper.Keeper, expectedUpdatesLen int) []module.ValidatorUpdate {
+func (s *KeeperTestSuite) applyValidatorSetUpdates(ctx sdk.Context, keeper *stakingkeeper.Keeper, expectedUpdatesLen int) []appmodule.ValidatorUpdate {
 	updates, err := keeper.ApplyAndReturnValidatorSetUpdates(ctx)
 	s.Require().NoError(err)
 	if expectedUpdatesLen >= 0 {
diff --git a/x/staking/module.go b/x/staking/module.go
index 1978689d6efc..b652db44491a 100644
--- a/x/staking/module.go
+++ b/x/staking/module.go
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ func (am AppModule) ValidateGenesis(bz json.RawMessage) error {
 }
 
 // InitGenesis performs genesis initialization for the staking module.
-func (am AppModule) InitGenesis(ctx context.Context, data json.RawMessage) ([]module.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
+func (am AppModule) InitGenesis(ctx context.Context, data json.RawMessage) ([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
 	var genesisState types.GenesisState
 	am.cdc.MustUnmarshalJSON(data, &genesisState)
 	return am.keeper.InitGenesis(ctx, &genesisState)
@@ -173,6 +173,6 @@ func (am AppModule) BeginBlock(ctx context.Context) error {
 }
 
 // EndBlock returns the end blocker for the staking module.
-func (am AppModule) EndBlock(ctx context.Context) ([]module.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
+func (am AppModule) EndBlock(ctx context.Context) ([]appmodule.ValidatorUpdate, error) {
 	return am.keeper.EndBlocker(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/x/staking/types/validator.go b/x/staking/types/validator.go
index 63ed25456fae..8c98f30ca153 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/validator.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/validator.go
@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
-	abci "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/abci/types"
 	cmtprotocrypto "github.com/cometbft/cometbft/proto/tendermint/crypto"
 
 	"cosmossdk.io/core/address"
+	"cosmossdk.io/core/appmodule"
 	"cosmossdk.io/errors"
 	"cosmossdk.io/math"
 
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@ import (
 	cryptotypes "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/crypto/types"
 	sdk "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types"
 	sdkerrors "github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/errors"
-	"github.com/cosmos/cosmos-sdk/types/module"
 )
 
 const (
@@ -257,58 +256,36 @@ func (d Description) EnsureLength() (Description, error) {
 	return d, nil
 }
 
-// ABCIValidatorUpdate returns an abci.ValidatorUpdate from a staking validator type
-// with the full validator power
-func (v Validator) ABCIValidatorUpdate(r math.Int) abci.ValidatorUpdate {
-	tmProtoPk, err := v.CmtConsPublicKey()
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
+// ModuleValidatorUpdates is a slice of appmodule.ValidatorUpdate
+// It is the equivalent of ValidatorUpdates but using appmodule.ValidatorUpdate
+type ModuleValidatorUpdates []appmodule.ValidatorUpdate
 
-	return abci.ValidatorUpdate{
-		PubKey: tmProtoPk,
-		Power:  v.ConsensusPower(r),
-	}
-}
-
-// ModuleValidatorUpdate returns a module.ValidatorUpdate from a staking validator type
-// with the full validator power
-func (v Validator) ModuleValidatorUpdate(r math.Int) module.ValidatorUpdate {
+// ModuleValidatorUpdate returns a appmodule.ValidatorUpdate from a staking validator type
+// with the full validator power.
+// It replaces the previous ABCIValidatorUpdate function.
+func (v Validator) ModuleValidatorUpdate(r math.Int) appmodule.ValidatorUpdate {
 	consPk, err := v.ConsPubKey()
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	return module.ValidatorUpdate{
+	return appmodule.ValidatorUpdate{
 		PubKey:     consPk.Bytes(),
 		PubKeyType: consPk.Type(),
 		Power:      v.ConsensusPower(r),
 	}
 }
 
-// ABCIValidatorUpdateZero returns an abci.ValidatorUpdate from a staking validator type
-// with zero power used for validator updates.
-func (v Validator) ABCIValidatorUpdateZero() abci.ValidatorUpdate {
-	tmProtoPk, err := v.CmtConsPublicKey()
-	if err != nil {
-		panic(err)
-	}
-
-	return abci.ValidatorUpdate{
-		PubKey: tmProtoPk,
-		Power:  0,
-	}
-}
-
-// ModuleValidatorUpdateZero returns a module.ValidatorUpdate from a staking validator type
+// ModuleValidatorUpdateZero returns a appmodule.ValidatorUpdate from a staking validator type
 // with zero power used for validator updates.
-func (v Validator) ModuleValidatorUpdateZero() module.ValidatorUpdate {
+// It replaces the previous ABCIValidatorUpdateZero function.
+func (v Validator) ModuleValidatorUpdateZero() appmodule.ValidatorUpdate {
 	consPk, err := v.ConsPubKey()
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	return module.ValidatorUpdate{
+	return appmodule.ValidatorUpdate{
 		PubKey:     consPk.Bytes(),
 		PubKeyType: consPk.Type(),
 		Power:      0,
diff --git a/x/staking/types/validator_test.go b/x/staking/types/validator_test.go
index 504562eb6e91..4fc7ee7262b5 100644
--- a/x/staking/types/validator_test.go
+++ b/x/staking/types/validator_test.go
@@ -60,24 +60,6 @@ func TestUpdateDescription(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Equal(t, d, d3)
 }
 
-func TestABCIValidatorUpdate(t *testing.T) {
-	validator := newValidator(t, valAddr1, pk1)
-	abciVal := validator.ABCIValidatorUpdate(sdk.DefaultPowerReduction)
-	pk, err := validator.TmConsPublicKey()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, pk, abciVal.PubKey)
-	require.Equal(t, validator.BondedTokens().Int64(), abciVal.Power)
-}
-
-func TestABCIValidatorUpdateZero(t *testing.T) {
-	validator := newValidator(t, valAddr1, pk1)
-	abciVal := validator.ABCIValidatorUpdateZero()
-	pk, err := validator.TmConsPublicKey()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, pk, abciVal.PubKey)
-	require.Equal(t, int64(0), abciVal.Power)
-}
-
 func TestShareTokens(t *testing.T) {
 	validator := mkValidator(100, math.LegacyNewDec(100))
 	assert.True(math.LegacyDecEq(t, math.LegacyNewDec(50), validator.TokensFromShares(math.LegacyNewDec(50))))