diff --git a/api/apifabca/user.go b/api/apifabca/user.go
index e697902285..8d81e82486 100644
--- a/api/apifabca/user.go
+++ b/api/apifabca/user.go
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ type User interface {
 	EnrollmentCertificate() []byte
 	PrivateKey() bccsp.Key
 
+	Identity() ([]byte, error)
+
 	// TODO: TCerts
 	//GenerateTcerts(count int, attributes []string)
 }
diff --git a/api/apifabclient/fabricclient.go b/api/apifabclient/fabricclient.go
index 73719e082d..1da4984bf5 100644
--- a/api/apifabclient/fabricclient.go
+++ b/api/apifabclient/fabricclient.go
@@ -47,7 +47,6 @@ type FabricClient interface {
 	InstallChaincode(chaincodeName string, chaincodePath string, chaincodeVersion string, chaincodePackage []byte, targets []Peer) ([]*txn.TransactionProposalResponse, string, error)
 	QueryChannels(peer Peer) (*pb.ChannelQueryResponse, error)
 	QueryInstalledChaincodes(peer Peer) (*pb.ChaincodeQueryResponse, error)
-	GetIdentity() ([]byte, error)
 	GetUserContext() User
 	SetUserContext(user User)
 	GetConfig() config.Config // TODO: refactor to a fab client config interface
diff --git a/api/apifabclient/msp.go b/api/apifabclient/identity.go
similarity index 97%
rename from api/apifabclient/msp.go
rename to api/apifabclient/identity.go
index db8265fe0d..9db1b25631 100644
--- a/api/apifabclient/msp.go
+++ b/api/apifabclient/identity.go
@@ -30,4 +30,5 @@ type User interface {
 	EnrollmentCertificate() []byte
 	PrivateKey() bccsp.Key
 	Roles() []string
+	Identity() ([]byte, error)
 }
diff --git a/def/fabapi/fabapi.go b/def/fabapi/fabapi.go
index 12c73a3c51..11cf654e62 100644
--- a/def/fabapi/fabapi.go
+++ b/def/fabapi/fabapi.go
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ import (
 	fabricCAClient "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-ca-client"
 	clientImpl "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client"
 	eventsImpl "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/events"
+	identityImpl "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/identity"
 	kvs "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/keyvaluestore"
-	mspImpl "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/msp"
 	ordererImpl "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/orderer"
 	peerImpl "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/peer"
 	bccsp "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/bccsp"
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ func NewUser(config config.Config, msp fabca.FabricCAClient, name string, pwd st
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Enroll returned error: %v", err)
 	}
-	user := mspImpl.NewUser(name, mspID)
+	user := identityImpl.NewUser(name, mspID)
 	user.SetPrivateKey(key)
 	user.SetEnrollmentCertificate(cert)
 
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func NewPreEnrolledUser(config config.Config, privateKeyPath string,
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error reading from the enrollment cert path: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	user := mspImpl.NewUser(username, mspID)
+	user := identityImpl.NewUser(username, mspID)
 	user.SetEnrollmentCertificate(enrollmentCert)
 	user.SetPrivateKey(privateKey)
 
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockuser.go b/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockuser.go
index a31d73f5e4..95ca86e150 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockuser.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-ca-client/mocks/mockuser.go
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ func (u *MockUser) MspID() string {
 	return u.mspID
 }
 
+// Identity returns MockUser's serialized identity
+func (u *MockUser) Identity() ([]byte, error) {
+	return []byte("test"), nil
+}
+
 // GenerateTcerts ...
 /**
  * Gets a batch of TCerts to use for transaction. there is a 1-to-1 relationship between
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/block.go b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/block.go
index 147455fbb0..d656627f17 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/block.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/block.go
@@ -42,7 +42,10 @@ func (c *Channel) GenesisBlock(request *fab.GenesisBlockRequest) (*common.Block,
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("GenesisBlock - error: Missing nonce input parameter with the required single use number")
 	}
 
-	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetIdentity()
+	if c.clientContext.GetUserContext() == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetUserContext().Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -90,7 +93,10 @@ func (c *Channel) block(pos *ab.SeekPosition) (*common.Block, error) {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error when generating nonce: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetIdentity()
+	if c.clientContext.GetUserContext() == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetUserContext().Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error when serializing identity: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/channel.go b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/channel.go
index 8563a90f3a..903c66fd83 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/channel.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/channel.go
@@ -35,7 +35,6 @@ type Channel struct {
 // ClientContext ...
 type ClientContext interface {
 	GetUserContext() fab.User
-	GetIdentity() ([]byte, error)
 	GetCryptoSuite() bccsp.BCCSP
 	NewTxnID() (apitxn.TransactionID, error)
 	// TODO: ClientContext.IsSecurityEnabled()
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnproposer.go b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnproposer.go
index efdeecf7c2..1b30d0c4fb 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnproposer.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnproposer.go
@@ -113,7 +113,10 @@ func newTransactionProposal(channelID string, request apitxn.ChaincodeInvokeRequ
 		Input: &pb.ChaincodeInput{Args: argsArray}}}
 
 	// create a proposal from a ChaincodeInvocationSpec
-	creator, err := clientContext.GetIdentity()
+	if clientContext.GetUserContext() == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := clientContext.GetUserContext().Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -229,7 +232,10 @@ func (c *Channel) JoinChannel(request *fab.JoinChannelRequest) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("JoinChannel - error: Missing block input parameter with the required genesis block")
 	}
 
-	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetIdentity()
+	if c.clientContext.GetUserContext() == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetUserContext().Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator ID: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnsender.go b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnsender.go
index 07518f6b8d..0d1a3da505 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnsender.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/channel/txnsender.go
@@ -185,7 +185,10 @@ func (c *Channel) SendInstantiateProposal(chaincodeName string,
 		Type: pb.ChaincodeSpec_GOLANG, ChaincodeId: &pb.ChaincodeID{Name: chaincodeName, Path: chaincodePath, Version: chaincodeVersion},
 		Input: &pb.ChaincodeInput{Args: argsArray}}}
 
-	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetIdentity()
+	if c.clientContext.GetUserContext() == nil {
+		return nil, apitxn.TransactionID{}, fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.clientContext.GetUserContext().Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, apitxn.TransactionID{}, fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/client.go b/pkg/fabric-client/client.go
index bfe7b048bd..f0eef1e302 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/client.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/client.go
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@ import (
 	fab "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apifabclient"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apitxn"
 	channel "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/channel"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/identity"
 	fc "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/internal"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/internal/txnproc"
-	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/msp"
 	packager "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/packager"
 	peer "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/peer"
 
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric/common/crypto"
 	fcutils "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/common/util"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric/protos/common"
-	pb_msp "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/protos/msp"
 	pb "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/protos/peer"
 	protos_utils "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/protos/utils"
 )
@@ -153,7 +152,7 @@ func (c *Client) SaveUserToStateStore(user fab.User, skipPersistence bool) error
 		if c.stateStore == nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("stateStore is nil")
 		}
-		userJSON := &msp.JSON{
+		userJSON := &identity.JSON{
 			MspID:                 user.MspID(),
 			Roles:                 user.Roles(),
 			PrivateKeySKI:         user.PrivateKey().SKI(),
@@ -195,12 +194,12 @@ func (c *Client) LoadUserFromStateStore(name string) (fab.User, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
-	var userJSON msp.JSON
+	var userJSON identity.JSON
 	err = json.Unmarshal(value, &userJSON)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("stateStore GetValue return error: %v", err)
 	}
-	user := msp.NewUser(name, userJSON.MspID)
+	user := identity.NewUser(name, userJSON.MspID)
 	user.SetRoles(userJSON.Roles)
 	user.SetEnrollmentCertificate(userJSON.EnrollmentCertificate)
 	key, err := c.cryptoSuite.GetKey(userJSON.PrivateKeySKI)
@@ -259,7 +258,10 @@ func (c *Client) SignChannelConfig(config []byte) (*common.ConfigSignature, erro
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Channel configuration parameter is required")
 	}
 
-	creator, err := c.GetIdentity()
+	if c.userContext == nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.userContext.Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -389,7 +391,10 @@ func (c *Client) createOrUpdateChannel(request fab.CreateChannelRequest, haveEnv
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("error when building channel header: %v", err)
 		}
-		creator, err := c.GetIdentity()
+		if c.userContext == nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+		}
+		creator, err := c.userContext.Identity()
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -496,7 +501,10 @@ func (c *Client) InstallChaincode(chaincodeName string, chaincodePath string, ch
 		Type: pb.ChaincodeSpec_GOLANG, ChaincodeId: &pb.ChaincodeID{Name: chaincodeName, Path: chaincodePath, Version: chaincodeVersion}},
 		CodePackage: chaincodePackage, EffectiveDate: &google_protobuf.Timestamp{Seconds: int64(now.Second()), Nanos: int32(now.Nanosecond())}}
 
-	creator, err := c.GetIdentity()
+	if c.userContext == nil {
+		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.userContext.Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -532,21 +540,6 @@ func (c *Client) InstallChaincode(chaincodeName string, chaincodePath string, ch
 	return transactionProposalResponse, txID, err
 }
 
-// GetIdentity returns client's serialized identity
-func (c *Client) GetIdentity() ([]byte, error) {
-
-	if c.userContext == nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("User is nil")
-	}
-	serializedIdentity := &pb_msp.SerializedIdentity{Mspid: c.userContext.MspID(),
-		IdBytes: c.userContext.EnrollmentCertificate()}
-	identity, err := proto.Marshal(serializedIdentity)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not Marshal serializedIdentity, err %s", err)
-	}
-	return identity, nil
-}
-
 // GetUserContext ...
 func (c *Client) GetUserContext() fab.User {
 	return c.userContext
@@ -565,7 +558,10 @@ func (c *Client) NewTxnID() (apitxn.TransactionID, error) {
 		return apitxn.TransactionID{}, err
 	}
 
-	creator, err := c.GetIdentity()
+	if c.userContext == nil {
+		return apitxn.TransactionID{}, fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := c.userContext.Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return apitxn.TransactionID{}, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/client_test.go b/pkg/fabric-client/client_test.go
index 46e1581c51..b873c323ea 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/client_test.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/client_test.go
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	fab "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apifabclient"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/identity"
 	mocks "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/mocks"
-	msp "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/msp"
 
 	kvs "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/keyvaluestore"
 	bccspFactory "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/bccsp/factory"
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ func TestClientMethods(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	//Client tests: successfully SaveUserToStateStore with skipPersistence true
-	user = msp.NewUser("someUser", testMsp)
+	user = identity.NewUser("someUser", testMsp)
 	err = client.SaveUserToStateStore(user, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("client.SaveUserToStateStore return error[%s]", err)
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go b/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go
index bb1d876e69..4434f5f7f8 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/events/consumer/consumer.go
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@ func (ec *eventsClient) send(emsg *ehpb.Event) error {
 
 // RegisterAsync - registers interest in a event and doesn't wait for a response
 func (ec *eventsClient) RegisterAsync(ies []*ehpb.Interest) error {
-	creator, err := ec.client.GetIdentity()
+	if ec.client.GetUserContext() == nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("User context needs to be set")
+	}
+	creator, err := ec.client.GetUserContext().Identity()
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("Error getting creator: %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/msp/user.go b/pkg/fabric-client/identity/identity.go
similarity index 83%
rename from pkg/fabric-client/msp/user.go
rename to pkg/fabric-client/identity/identity.go
index 99e8eb0b19..8b7e8e0fee 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/msp/user.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/identity/identity.go
@@ -4,10 +4,14 @@ Copyright SecureKey Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 */
 
-package msp
+package identity
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/golang/protobuf/proto"
 	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric/bccsp"
+	pb_msp "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/protos/msp"
 )
 
 // User represents a Fabric user registered at an MSP
@@ -84,6 +88,17 @@ func (u *User) MspID() string {
 	return u.mspID
 }
 
+// Identity returns client's serialized identity
+func (u *User) Identity() ([]byte, error) {
+	serializedIdentity := &pb_msp.SerializedIdentity{Mspid: u.MspID(),
+		IdBytes: u.EnrollmentCertificate()}
+	identity, err := proto.Marshal(serializedIdentity)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("Could not Marshal serializedIdentity, err %s", err)
+	}
+	return identity, nil
+}
+
 // GenerateTcerts Gets a batch of TCerts to use for transaction. there is a 1-to-1 relationship between
 // TCert and Transaction. The TCert can be generated locally by the SDK using the user’s crypto materials.
 // @param {int} count how many in the batch to obtain
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/msp/user_test.go b/pkg/fabric-client/identity/identity_test.go
similarity index 98%
rename from pkg/fabric-client/msp/user_test.go
rename to pkg/fabric-client/identity/identity_test.go
index f0e3a9e14f..00ee39da45 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/msp/user_test.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/identity/identity_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Copyright SecureKey Technologies Inc. All Rights Reserved.
 SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 */
 
-package msp
+package identity
 
 import (
 	"testing"
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockclient.go b/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockclient.go
index 5513b71a1e..9bc5f8ee70 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockclient.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockclient.go
@@ -134,12 +134,6 @@ func (c *MockClient) InstallChaincode(chaincodeName string, chaincodePath string
 
 }
 
-// GetIdentity returns MockClient's serialized identity
-func (c *MockClient) GetIdentity() ([]byte, error) {
-	return []byte("test"), nil
-
-}
-
 // GetUserContext ...
 func (c *MockClient) GetUserContext() fab.User {
 	return c.userContext
diff --git a/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockuser.go b/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockuser.go
index 8bcfdc64b7..5fb881b30f 100644
--- a/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockuser.go
+++ b/pkg/fabric-client/mocks/mockuser.go
@@ -104,6 +104,11 @@ func (u *MockUser) MspID() string {
 	return u.mspID
 }
 
+// Identity returns MockUser's serialized identity
+func (u *MockUser) Identity() ([]byte, error) {
+	return []byte("test"), nil
+}
+
 // GenerateTcerts ...
 /**
  * Gets a batch of TCerts to use for transaction. there is a 1-to-1 relationship between
diff --git a/test/integration/fabric_ca_test.go b/test/integration/fabric_ca_test.go
index a253d16595..a56fdb7a44 100644
--- a/test/integration/fabric_ca_test.go
+++ b/test/integration/fabric_ca_test.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 	config "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/api/apiconfig"
 
 	client "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client"
+	"github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/identity"
 	kvs "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/keyvaluestore"
-	msp "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-client/msp"
 	bccspFactory "github.com/hyperledger/fabric/bccsp/factory"
 
 	fabricCAClient "github.com/hyperledger/fabric-sdk-go/pkg/fabric-ca-client"
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ func TestRegisterEnrollRevoke(t *testing.T) {
 		if cert509.Subject.CommonName != "admin" {
 			t.Fatalf("CommonName in x509 cert is not the enrollmentID")
 		}
-		adminUser2 := msp.NewUser("admin", mspID)
+		adminUser2 := identity.NewUser("admin", mspID)
 		adminUser2.SetPrivateKey(key)
 		adminUser2.SetEnrollmentCertificate(cert)
 		err = client.SaveUserToStateStore(adminUser2, false)
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestRegisterEnrollRevoke(t *testing.T) {
 	//re-enroll
 	fmt.Printf("** Attempt to re-enrolled user:  '%s'\n", userName)
 	//create new user object and set certificate and private key of the previously enrolled user
-	enrolleduser := msp.NewUser(userName, mspID)
+	enrolleduser := identity.NewUser(userName, mspID)
 	enrolleduser.SetEnrollmentCertificate(ecert)
 	enrolleduser.SetPrivateKey(ekey)
 	//reenroll