diff --git a/nano/core_test/rpc.cpp b/nano/core_test/rpc.cpp
index c03b215d..f8775963 100644
--- a/nano/core_test/rpc.cpp
+++ b/nano/core_test/rpc.cpp
@@ -3411,6 +3411,36 @@ TEST (rpc, account_info)
 	ASSERT_EQ (nano::test_genesis_key.pub.to_account (), representative2);
 }
 
+TEST (rpc, json_block)
+{
+	nano::system system (24000, 1);
+	nano::keypair key;
+	system.wallet (0)->insert_adhoc (nano::test_genesis_key.prv);
+	system.wallet (0)->insert_adhoc (key.prv);
+	auto & node1 (*system.nodes[0]);
+	auto latest (system.nodes[0]->latest (nano::test_genesis_key.pub));
+	nano::send_block send (latest, key.pub, 100, nano::test_genesis_key.prv, nano::test_genesis_key.pub, node1.work_generate_blocking (latest));
+	system.nodes[0]->process (send);
+	nano::rpc rpc (system.io_ctx, *system.nodes[0], nano::rpc_config (true));
+	rpc.start ();
+	boost::property_tree::ptree request;
+	request.put ("action", "block_info");
+	request.put ("json_block", "true");
+	request.put ("hash", send.hash ().to_string ());
+	test_response response (request, rpc, system.io_ctx);
+	system.deadline_set (5s);
+	while (response.status == 0)
+	{
+		ASSERT_NO_ERROR (system.poll ());
+	}
+	ASSERT_EQ (200, response.status);
+
+	// Make sure contents contains a valid JSON subtree instread of stringified json
+	bool json_error{ false };
+	nano::send_block send_from_json (json_error, response.json.get_child ("contents"));
+	ASSERT_FALSE (json_error);
+}
+
 TEST (rpc, blocks_info)
 {
 	nano::system system (24000, 1);
diff --git a/nano/lib/blocks.cpp b/nano/lib/blocks.cpp
index 51f034a0..a1958ba6 100644
--- a/nano/lib/blocks.cpp
+++ b/nano/lib/blocks.cpp
@@ -240,6 +240,14 @@ bool nano::send_block::deserialize (nano::stream & stream_a)
 void nano::send_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 {
 	boost::property_tree::ptree tree;
+	serialize_json (tree);
+	std::stringstream ostream;
+	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
+	string_a = ostream.str ();
+}
+
+void nano::send_block::serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree & tree) const
+{
 	tree.put ("type", "send");
 	std::string previous;
 	hashables.previous.encode_hex (previous);
@@ -252,9 +260,6 @@ void nano::send_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 	signature.encode_hex (signature_l);
 	tree.put ("work", nano::to_string_hex (work));
 	tree.put ("signature", signature_l);
-	std::stringstream ostream;
-	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
-	string_a = ostream.str ();
 }
 
 bool nano::send_block::deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const & tree_a)
@@ -555,6 +560,14 @@ bool nano::open_block::deserialize (nano::stream & stream_a)
 void nano::open_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 {
 	boost::property_tree::ptree tree;
+	serialize_json (tree);
+	std::stringstream ostream;
+	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
+	string_a = ostream.str ();
+}
+
+void nano::open_block::serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree & tree) const
+{
 	tree.put ("type", "open");
 	tree.put ("source", hashables.source.to_string ());
 	tree.put ("representative", representative ().to_account ());
@@ -563,9 +576,6 @@ void nano::open_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 	signature.encode_hex (signature_l);
 	tree.put ("work", nano::to_string_hex (work));
 	tree.put ("signature", signature_l);
-	std::stringstream ostream;
-	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
-	string_a = ostream.str ();
 }
 
 bool nano::open_block::deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const & tree_a)
@@ -792,6 +802,14 @@ bool nano::change_block::deserialize (nano::stream & stream_a)
 void nano::change_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 {
 	boost::property_tree::ptree tree;
+	serialize_json (tree);
+	std::stringstream ostream;
+	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
+	string_a = ostream.str ();
+}
+
+void nano::change_block::serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree & tree) const
+{
 	tree.put ("type", "change");
 	tree.put ("previous", hashables.previous.to_string ());
 	tree.put ("representative", representative ().to_account ());
@@ -799,9 +817,6 @@ void nano::change_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 	std::string signature_l;
 	signature.encode_hex (signature_l);
 	tree.put ("signature", signature_l);
-	std::stringstream ostream;
-	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
-	string_a = ostream.str ();
 }
 
 bool nano::change_block::deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const & tree_a)
@@ -1075,6 +1090,14 @@ bool nano::state_block::deserialize (nano::stream & stream_a)
 void nano::state_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 {
 	boost::property_tree::ptree tree;
+	serialize_json (tree);
+	std::stringstream ostream;
+	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
+	string_a = ostream.str ();
+}
+
+void nano::state_block::serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree & tree) const
+{
 	tree.put ("type", "state");
 	tree.put ("account", hashables.account.to_account ());
 	tree.put ("previous", hashables.previous.to_string ());
@@ -1086,9 +1109,6 @@ void nano::state_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 	signature.encode_hex (signature_l);
 	tree.put ("signature", signature_l);
 	tree.put ("work", nano::to_string_hex (work));
-	std::stringstream ostream;
-	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
-	string_a = ostream.str ();
 }
 
 bool nano::state_block::deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const & tree_a)
@@ -1367,6 +1387,14 @@ bool nano::receive_block::deserialize (nano::stream & stream_a)
 void nano::receive_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 {
 	boost::property_tree::ptree tree;
+	serialize_json (tree);
+	std::stringstream ostream;
+	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
+	string_a = ostream.str ();
+}
+
+void nano::receive_block::serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree & tree) const
+{
 	tree.put ("type", "receive");
 	std::string previous;
 	hashables.previous.encode_hex (previous);
@@ -1378,9 +1406,6 @@ void nano::receive_block::serialize_json (std::string & string_a) const
 	signature.encode_hex (signature_l);
 	tree.put ("work", nano::to_string_hex (work));
 	tree.put ("signature", signature_l);
-	std::stringstream ostream;
-	boost::property_tree::write_json (ostream, tree);
-	string_a = ostream.str ();
 }
 
 bool nano::receive_block::deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const & tree_a)
diff --git a/nano/lib/blocks.hpp b/nano/lib/blocks.hpp
index 759f0ba2..eb4f9b95 100644
--- a/nano/lib/blocks.hpp
+++ b/nano/lib/blocks.hpp
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ public:
 	virtual nano::account representative () const;
 	virtual void serialize (nano::stream &) const = 0;
 	virtual void serialize_json (std::string &) const = 0;
+	virtual void serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree &) const = 0;
 	virtual void visit (nano::block_visitor &) const = 0;
 	virtual bool operator== (nano::block const &) const = 0;
 	virtual nano::block_type type () const = 0;
@@ -115,6 +116,7 @@ public:
 	void serialize (nano::stream &) const override;
 	bool deserialize (nano::stream &);
 	void serialize_json (std::string &) const override;
+	void serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree &) const override;
 	bool deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const &);
 	void visit (nano::block_visitor &) const override;
 	nano::block_type type () const override;
@@ -158,6 +160,7 @@ public:
 	void serialize (nano::stream &) const override;
 	bool deserialize (nano::stream &);
 	void serialize_json (std::string &) const override;
+	void serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree &) const override;
 	bool deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const &);
 	void visit (nano::block_visitor &) const override;
 	nano::block_type type () const override;
@@ -205,6 +208,7 @@ public:
 	void serialize (nano::stream &) const override;
 	bool deserialize (nano::stream &);
 	void serialize_json (std::string &) const override;
+	void serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree &) const override;
 	bool deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const &);
 	void visit (nano::block_visitor &) const override;
 	nano::block_type type () const override;
@@ -248,6 +252,7 @@ public:
 	void serialize (nano::stream &) const override;
 	bool deserialize (nano::stream &);
 	void serialize_json (std::string &) const override;
+	void serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree &) const override;
 	bool deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const &);
 	void visit (nano::block_visitor &) const override;
 	nano::block_type type () const override;
@@ -306,6 +311,7 @@ public:
 	void serialize (nano::stream &) const override;
 	bool deserialize (nano::stream &);
 	void serialize_json (std::string &) const override;
+	void serialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree &) const override;
 	bool deserialize_json (boost::property_tree::ptree const &);
 	void visit (nano::block_visitor &) const override;
 	nano::block_type type () const override;
diff --git a/nano/node/rpc.cpp b/nano/node/rpc.cpp
index a98651ab..2cd64b0e 100644
--- a/nano/node/rpc.cpp
+++ b/nano/node/rpc.cpp
@@ -820,9 +820,20 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::block_info ()
 			response_l.put ("balance", balance.convert_to<std::string> ());
 			response_l.put ("height", std::to_string (sideband.height));
 			response_l.put ("local_timestamp", std::to_string (sideband.timestamp));
-			std::string contents;
-			block->serialize_json (contents);
-			response_l.put ("contents", contents);
+
+			bool json_block_l = request.get<bool> ("json_block", false);
+			if (json_block_l)
+			{
+				boost::property_tree::ptree block_node_l;
+				block->serialize_json (block_node_l);
+				response_l.add_child ("contents", block_node_l);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				std::string contents;
+				block->serialize_json (contents);
+				response_l.put ("contents", contents);
+			}
 		}
 		else
 		{
@@ -891,6 +902,8 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::blocks_info ()
 {
 	const bool pending = request.get<bool> ("pending", false);
 	const bool source = request.get<bool> ("source", false);
+	const bool json_block_l = request.get<bool> ("json_block", false);
+
 	std::vector<std::string> hashes;
 	boost::property_tree::ptree blocks;
 	auto transaction (node.store.tx_begin_read ());
@@ -915,9 +928,20 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::blocks_info ()
 					entry.put ("balance", balance.convert_to<std::string> ());
 					entry.put ("height", std::to_string (sideband.height));
 					entry.put ("local_timestamp", std::to_string (sideband.timestamp));
-					std::string contents;
-					block->serialize_json (contents);
-					entry.put ("contents", contents);
+
+					if (json_block_l)
+					{
+						boost::property_tree::ptree block_node_l;
+						block->serialize_json (block_node_l);
+						entry.add_child ("contents", block_node_l);
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						std::string contents;
+						block->serialize_json (contents);
+						entry.put ("contents", contents);
+					}
+
 					if (pending)
 					{
 						bool exists (false);
@@ -1164,9 +1188,19 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::block_create ()
 					}
 					nano::state_block state (pub, previous, representative, balance, link, prv, pub, work);
 					response_l.put ("hash", state.hash ().to_string ());
-					std::string contents;
-					state.serialize_json (contents);
-					response_l.put ("block", contents);
+					bool json_block_l = request.get<bool> ("json_block", false);
+					if (json_block_l)
+					{
+						boost::property_tree::ptree block_node_l;
+						state.serialize_json (block_node_l);
+						response_l.add_child ("block", block_node_l);
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						std::string contents;
+						state.serialize_json (contents);
+						response_l.put ("block", contents);
+					}
 				}
 				else
 				{
@@ -1477,6 +1511,7 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::confirmation_info ()
 {
 	const bool representatives = request.get<bool> ("representatives", false);
 	const bool contents = request.get<bool> ("contents", true);
+	const bool json_block_l = request.get<bool> ("json_block", false);
 	std::string root_text (request.get<std::string> ("root"));
 	nano::uint512_union root;
 	if (!root.decode_hex (root_text))
@@ -1500,9 +1535,18 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::confirmation_info ()
 				total += tally;
 				if (contents)
 				{
-					std::string contents;
-					i->second->serialize_json (contents);
-					entry.put ("contents", contents);
+					if (json_block_l)
+					{
+						boost::property_tree::ptree block_node_l;
+						i->second->serialize_json (block_node_l);
+						entry.add_child ("contents", block_node_l);
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						std::string contents;
+						i->second->serialize_json (contents);
+						entry.put ("contents", contents);
+					}
 				}
 				if (representatives)
 				{
@@ -3185,6 +3229,7 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::unchecked_clear ()
 
 void nano::rpc_handler::unchecked_get ()
 {
+	const bool json_block_l = request.get<bool> ("json_block", false);
 	auto hash (hash_impl ());
 	if (!ec)
 	{
@@ -3196,9 +3241,19 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::unchecked_get ()
 			{
 				nano::unchecked_info info (i->second);
 				response_l.put ("modified_timestamp", std::to_string (info.modified));
-				std::string contents;
-				info.block->serialize_json (contents);
-				response_l.put ("contents", contents);
+
+				if (json_block_l)
+				{
+					boost::property_tree::ptree block_node_l;
+					info.block->serialize_json (block_node_l);
+					response_l.add_child ("contents", block_node_l);
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					std::string contents;
+					info.block->serialize_json (contents);
+					response_l.put ("contents", contents);
+				}
 				break;
 			}
 		}
@@ -3212,6 +3267,7 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::unchecked_get ()
 
 void nano::rpc_handler::unchecked_keys ()
 {
+	const bool json_block_l = request.get<bool> ("json_block", false);
 	auto count (count_optional_impl ());
 	nano::uint256_union key (0);
 	boost::optional<std::string> hash_text (request.get_optional<std::string> ("key"));
@@ -3230,12 +3286,21 @@ void nano::rpc_handler::unchecked_keys ()
 		{
 			boost::property_tree::ptree entry;
 			nano::unchecked_info info (i->second);
-			std::string contents;
-			info.block->serialize_json (contents);
 			entry.put ("key", nano::block_hash (i->first.key ()).to_string ());
 			entry.put ("hash", info.block->hash ().to_string ());
 			entry.put ("modified_timestamp", std::to_string (info.modified));
-			entry.put ("contents", contents);
+			if (json_block_l)
+			{
+				boost::property_tree::ptree block_node_l;
+				info.block->serialize_json (block_node_l);
+				entry.add_child ("contents", block_node_l);
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				std::string contents;
+				info.block->serialize_json (contents);
+				entry.put ("contents", contents);
+			}
 			unchecked.push_back (std::make_pair ("", entry));
 		}
 		response_l.add_child ("unchecked", unchecked);