diff --git a/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/crypto/EncodingUtils.kt b/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/crypto/EncodingUtils.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..505da79623
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/kotlin/net/corda/core/crypto/EncodingUtils.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+package net.corda.core.crypto
+
+import java.nio.charset.Charset
+import java.util.*
+import javax.xml.bind.DatatypeConverter
+
+
+// This file includes useful encoding methods and extension functions for the most common encoding/decoding operations.
+
+// [ByteArray] encoders
+
+fun ByteArray.toBase58(): String =
+        Base58.encode(this)
+
+fun ByteArray.toBase64(): String =
+        Base64.getEncoder().encodeToString(this)
+
+/** Convert a byte array to a hex (base 16) capitalized encoded string.*/
+fun ByteArray.toHex(): String =
+    DatatypeConverter.printHexBinary(this)
+
+
+// [String] encoders and decoders
+
+/** Base58-String to the actual real [String], i.e. "JxF12TrwUP45BMd" -> "Hello World". */
+fun String.base58ToRealString() =
+        String(base58ToByteArray(), Charset.defaultCharset())
+
+/** Base64-String to the actual real [String], i.e. "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ=" -> "Hello World". */
+fun String.base64ToRealString() =
+        String(base64ToByteArray())
+
+/** HEX-String to the actual real [String], i.e. "48656C6C6F20576F726C64" -> "Hello World". */
+fun String.hexToRealString() =
+        String(hexToByteArray())
+
+fun String.base58ToByteArray(): ByteArray =
+        Base58.decode(this)
+
+fun String.base64ToByteArray(): ByteArray =
+        Base64.getDecoder().decode(this)
+
+/** Hex-String to [ByteArray]. Accept any hex form (capitalized, lowercase, mixed). */
+fun String.hexToByteArray(): ByteArray =
+        DatatypeConverter.parseHexBinary(this);
+
+
+// Helper vars.
+private val HEX_ALPHABET = "0123456789ABCDEF".toCharArray()
diff --git a/core/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/core/crypto/EncodingUtilsTest.kt b/core/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/core/crypto/EncodingUtilsTest.kt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6cb99bfcf8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/test/kotlin/net/corda/core/crypto/EncodingUtilsTest.kt
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+package net.corda.core.crypto
+
+import org.junit.Test
+import java.math.BigInteger
+import java.util.*
+import kotlin.test.assertEquals
+import kotlin.test.assertTrue
+import kotlin.test.fail
+
+class EncodingUtilsTest {
+
+    val testString = "Hello World"
+    val testBytes = testString.toByteArray()
+    val testBase58String = "JxF12TrwUP45BMd" // Base58 format for Hello World.
+    val testBase64String = "SGVsbG8gV29ybGQ=" // Base64 format for Hello World.
+    val testHexString = "48656C6C6F20576F726C64" // HEX format for Hello World.
+
+    // Encoding tests
+    @Test
+    fun `encoding Hello World`() {
+        assertEquals(testBase58String, testBytes.toBase58())
+        assertEquals(testBase64String, testBytes.toBase64())
+        assertEquals(testHexString, testBytes.toHex())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `empty encoding`() {
+        val emptyByteArray = ByteArray(0)
+        assertEquals("", emptyByteArray.toBase58())
+        assertEquals("", emptyByteArray.toBase64())
+        assertEquals("", emptyByteArray.toHex())
+    }
+    @Test
+    fun `encoding 7 zero bytes`() {
+        val sevenZeroByteArray = ByteArray(7)
+        assertEquals("1111111", sevenZeroByteArray.toBase58())
+        assertEquals("AAAAAAAAAA==", sevenZeroByteArray.toBase64())
+        assertEquals("00000000000000", sevenZeroByteArray.toHex())
+    }
+
+    //Decoding tests
+    @Test
+    fun `decoding to real String`() {
+        assertEquals(testString, testBase58String.base58ToRealString())
+        assertEquals(testString, testBase64String.base64ToRealString())
+        assertEquals(testString, testHexString.hexToRealString())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `decoding empty Strings`() {
+        assertEquals("", "".base58ToRealString())
+        assertEquals("", "".base64ToRealString())
+        assertEquals("", "".hexToRealString())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `decoding lowercase and mixed HEX`() {
+        val testHexStringLowercase = testHexString.toLowerCase()
+        assertEquals(testHexString.hexToRealString(), testHexStringLowercase.hexToRealString())
+
+        val testHexStringMixed = testHexString.replace('C', 'c')
+        assertEquals(testHexString.hexToRealString(), testHexStringMixed.hexToRealString())
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    fun `decoding on wrong format`() {
+        // the String "Hello World" is not a valid Base58 or Base64 or HEX format
+        try {
+            testString.base58ToRealString()
+            fail()
+        } catch (e: AddressFormatException) {
+            // expected.
+        }
+
+        try {
+            testString.base64ToRealString()
+            fail()
+        } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
+            // expected.
+        }
+
+        try {
+            testString.hexToRealString()
+            fail()
+        } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
+            // expected.
+        }
+    }
+}