diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 2821b04c27..bf06bc0f15 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ ENV GOPATH=/go \
 
 RUN apk add --update --no-cache \
 	g++ \
+	protobuf \
 	git && \
 	rm -rf /var/cache/apk/ && mkdir /var/cache/apk/ && \
 	rm -rf /usr/share/man
@@ -53,6 +54,11 @@ RUN mkdir -p $APP_DIR/go
 
 WORKDIR $APP_DIR/go
 
+RUN go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/proto
+RUN go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/jsonpb
+RUN go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/protoc-gen-gogoslick
+RUN go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/gogoproto
+
 RUN go get -u github.com/golang/dep/cmd/dep
 COPY ./go/Gopkg.toml ./go/Gopkg.lock ./
 RUN dep ensure --vendor-only
@@ -61,6 +67,16 @@ COPY --from=cbuild $LIB_DIR $LIB_DIR
 COPY --from=cbuild $INCLUDE_DIR $INCLUDE_DIR
 
 COPY ./go/ $APP_DIR/go/
+COPY ./pkg/ $APP_DIR/pkg/
+
+WORKDIR $APP_DIR/pkg/types
+RUN go generate
+
+WORKDIR $APP_DIR/pkg/
+RUN dep init
+RUN dep ensure --vendor-only
+
+WORKDIR $APP_DIR/go/
 
 RUN CGO_ENABLED=1 GOOS=linux go build -a -installsuffix cgo -o $APP_NAME ./ && \
 	mv $APP_NAME $BIN_PATH && \
diff --git a/docs/development/README.md b/docs/development/README.md
index ccbb979ff3..a978015970 100644
--- a/docs/development/README.md
+++ b/docs/development/README.md
@@ -15,6 +15,20 @@ work that the formula will explain when you install it.
 Once you've installed `bn`, you can run `dep ensure` in the `go/` directory of
 this repository and then you are ready to build.
 
+#### Protobufs
+
+In addition to installing `bn` and `dep`, you'll also need to install the protobuf compiler.
+On OSX, this will be `brew install protobuf` (requirement: need `homebrew installed first`).
+
+Lastly, you'll need to get the protoc-gen-gogo toolchain:
+
+    ```
+    go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/proto
+    go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/jsonpb
+    go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/protoc-gen-gogo
+    go get github.com/gogo/protobuf/gogoproto
+    ```
+
 ### Relay States
 
 There is a set of threshold relay state diagrams auto-generated from this
diff --git a/pkg/types/gen.go b/pkg/types/gen.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c6ea9fda99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/types/gen.go
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+package types
+
+//go:generate sh -c "protoc --proto_path=$GOPATH/src:. --gogoslick_out=. */*.proto"
diff --git a/pkg/types/gossip/message.proto b/pkg/types/gossip/message.proto
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3fb276dc62
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/types/gossip/message.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+
+option go_package = "gossip";
+package gossip;
+
+// Envelope contains a marshalled Message as the payload
+// and a signature over the payload as signature.
+// It also contains the Identities of the sender and receiver (optional).
+// Optionally may contain an encrypted Envelope (in which case the payload will be empty).
+message Envelope {
+  // The PublicKey and BLS ID of the sender and receiver
+  Identity sender = 1;
+  Identity receiver = 2;
+
+  // A Marshaled GossipMessage
+  bytes payload = 3;
+
+  // Signature of the message
+  bytes signature = 4;
+
+  // A marshalled, encrypted message; if this exists, payload is empty
+  EncryptedEnvelope encrypted_envelope = 5;
+
+  // TODO: this envelope needs an enum detailing which type of GossipMesssage it is.
+}
+
+// EncryptedEnvelope is a marshalled, encrypted message.
+message EncryptedEnvelope {
+  bytes payload = 1;
+  bytes signature = 4;
+}
+
+message Identity {
+  // TODO: consolidate and remove redundant
+  bytes public_key = 1;
+  bytes bls_id = 2;
+  bytes peer_id = 3;
+}
+
+message GossipMessage {
+  // Channel is isomorphic to the group name as well as the pubsub channel
+  // Channel names are Keccak(StakingPubKey1 || ... || StakingPubKeyN) of
+  // all valid group members.
+  bytes channel = 1;
+
+  // Proof that the peer that sent this message knows the channel's name.
+  bytes channel_MAC = 2;
+
+  // TODO: define various messages this GossipMessage can be. Use oneof.
+}