diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6016b7cce..137a0df7c 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 ### Improvements
 
 - [#703](https://github.com/cosmos/iavl/pull/703) New APIs `NewCompressExporter`/`NewCompressImporter` to support more compact snapshot format.
+- [#726](https://github.com/cosmos/iavl/pull/726) Make `KVPair` and `ChangeSet` serializable with protobuf.
 
 ### Breaking Changes
 
diff --git a/buf.gen.yaml b/buf.gen.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3be58fde1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/buf.gen.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+version: v1
+managed:
+  enabled: true
+  go_package_prefix:
+    default: github.com/cosmos/iavl/gen
+    except:
+      - buf.build/cosmos/gogo-proto
+plugins:
+  - plugin: buf.build/protocolbuffers/go
+    out: gen
+    opt: paths=source_relative
diff --git a/diff.go b/diff.go
index bed4feb83..c1159f0a5 100644
--- a/diff.go
+++ b/diff.go
@@ -2,18 +2,14 @@ package iavl
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-)
 
-// ChangeSet represents the state changes extracted from diffing iavl versions.
-type ChangeSet struct {
-	Pairs []KVPair
-}
+	v1 "github.com/cosmos/iavl/gen/v1"
+)
 
-type KVPair struct {
-	Delete bool
-	Key    []byte
-	Value  []byte
-}
+type (
+	KVPair    = v1.KVPair
+	ChangeSet = v1.ChangeSet
+)
 
 // KVPairReceiver is callback parameter of method `extractStateChanges` to receive stream of `KVPair`s.
 type KVPairReceiver func(pair *KVPair) error
diff --git a/diff_test.go b/diff_test.go
index baa87c982..6b9363c86 100644
--- a/diff_test.go
+++ b/diff_test.go
@@ -42,14 +42,14 @@ func genChangeSets(r *rand.Rand, n int) []ChangeSet {
 	var changeSets []ChangeSet
 
 	for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
-		items := make(map[string]KVPair)
+		items := make(map[string]*KVPair)
 		start, count, step := r.Int63n(1000), r.Int63n(1000), r.Int63n(10)
 		for i := start; i < start+count*step; i += step {
 			value := make([]byte, 8)
 			binary.LittleEndian.PutUint64(value, uint64(i))
 
 			key := fmt.Sprintf("test-%d", i)
-			items[key] = KVPair{
+			items[key] = &KVPair{
 				Key:   []byte(key),
 				Value: value,
 			}
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ func genChangeSets(r *rand.Rand, n int) []ChangeSet {
 				if pair.Delete {
 					continue
 				}
-				items[string(pair.Key)] = KVPair{
+				items[string(pair.Key)] = &KVPair{
 					Key:    pair.Key,
 					Delete: true,
 				}
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func genChangeSets(r *rand.Rand, n int) []ChangeSet {
 				i := r.Int63n(int64(len(lastChangeSet.Pairs)))
 				pair := lastChangeSet.Pairs[i]
 				if !pair.Delete {
-					items[string(pair.Key)] = KVPair{
+					items[string(pair.Key)] = &KVPair{
 						Key:   pair.Key,
 						Value: pair.Value,
 					}
diff --git a/gen/v1/changeset.pb.go b/gen/v1/changeset.pb.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6f6634ee4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gen/v1/changeset.pb.go
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+// Code generated by protoc-gen-go. DO NOT EDIT.
+// versions:
+// 	protoc-gen-go v1.30.0
+// 	protoc        (unknown)
+// source: v1/changeset.proto
+
+package v1
+
+import (
+	protoreflect "google.golang.org/protobuf/reflect/protoreflect"
+	protoimpl "google.golang.org/protobuf/runtime/protoimpl"
+	reflect "reflect"
+	sync "sync"
+)
+
+const (
+	// Verify that this generated code is sufficiently up-to-date.
+	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(20 - protoimpl.MinVersion)
+	// Verify that runtime/protoimpl is sufficiently up-to-date.
+	_ = protoimpl.EnforceVersion(protoimpl.MaxVersion - 20)
+)
+
+type KVPair struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	Delete bool   `protobuf:"varint,1,opt,name=delete,proto3" json:"delete,omitempty"`
+	Key    []byte `protobuf:"bytes,2,opt,name=key,proto3" json:"key,omitempty"`
+	Value  []byte `protobuf:"bytes,3,opt,name=value,proto3" json:"value,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (x *KVPair) Reset() {
+	*x = KVPair{}
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		mi := &file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes[0]
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+	}
+}
+
+func (x *KVPair) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*KVPair) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *KVPair) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes[0]
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use KVPair.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*KVPair) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{0}
+}
+
+func (x *KVPair) GetDelete() bool {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Delete
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func (x *KVPair) GetKey() []byte {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Key
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (x *KVPair) GetValue() []byte {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Value
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+type ChangeSet struct {
+	state         protoimpl.MessageState
+	sizeCache     protoimpl.SizeCache
+	unknownFields protoimpl.UnknownFields
+
+	Pairs []*KVPair `protobuf:"bytes,1,rep,name=pairs,proto3" json:"pairs,omitempty"`
+}
+
+func (x *ChangeSet) Reset() {
+	*x = ChangeSet{}
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		mi := &file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes[1]
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+	}
+}
+
+func (x *ChangeSet) String() string {
+	return protoimpl.X.MessageStringOf(x)
+}
+
+func (*ChangeSet) ProtoMessage() {}
+
+func (x *ChangeSet) ProtoReflect() protoreflect.Message {
+	mi := &file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes[1]
+	if protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled && x != nil {
+		ms := protoimpl.X.MessageStateOf(protoimpl.Pointer(x))
+		if ms.LoadMessageInfo() == nil {
+			ms.StoreMessageInfo(mi)
+		}
+		return ms
+	}
+	return mi.MessageOf(x)
+}
+
+// Deprecated: Use ChangeSet.ProtoReflect.Descriptor instead.
+func (*ChangeSet) Descriptor() ([]byte, []int) {
+	return file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescGZIP(), []int{1}
+}
+
+func (x *ChangeSet) GetPairs() []*KVPair {
+	if x != nil {
+		return x.Pairs
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+var File_v1_changeset_proto protoreflect.FileDescriptor
+
+var file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDesc = []byte{
+	0x0a, 0x12, 0x76, 0x31, 0x2f, 0x63, 0x68, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x65, 0x74, 0x2e, 0x70,
+	0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x12, 0x04, 0x69, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c, 0x22, 0x48, 0x0a, 0x06, 0x4b, 0x56,
+	0x50, 0x61, 0x69, 0x72, 0x12, 0x16, 0x0a, 0x06, 0x64, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x74, 0x65, 0x18, 0x01,
+	0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x08, 0x52, 0x06, 0x64, 0x65, 0x6c, 0x65, 0x74, 0x65, 0x12, 0x10, 0x0a, 0x03,
+	0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x18, 0x02, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0c, 0x52, 0x03, 0x6b, 0x65, 0x79, 0x12, 0x14,
+	0x0a, 0x05, 0x76, 0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x18, 0x03, 0x20, 0x01, 0x28, 0x0c, 0x52, 0x05, 0x76,
+	0x61, 0x6c, 0x75, 0x65, 0x22, 0x2f, 0x0a, 0x09, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x65, 0x53, 0x65,
+	0x74, 0x12, 0x22, 0x0a, 0x05, 0x70, 0x61, 0x69, 0x72, 0x73, 0x18, 0x01, 0x20, 0x03, 0x28, 0x0b,
+	0x32, 0x0c, 0x2e, 0x69, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c, 0x2e, 0x4b, 0x56, 0x50, 0x61, 0x69, 0x72, 0x52, 0x05,
+	0x70, 0x61, 0x69, 0x72, 0x73, 0x42, 0x69, 0x0a, 0x08, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2e, 0x69, 0x61, 0x76,
+	0x6c, 0x42, 0x0e, 0x43, 0x68, 0x61, 0x6e, 0x67, 0x65, 0x73, 0x65, 0x74, 0x50, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74,
+	0x6f, 0x50, 0x01, 0x5a, 0x1d, 0x67, 0x69, 0x74, 0x68, 0x75, 0x62, 0x2e, 0x63, 0x6f, 0x6d, 0x2f,
+	0x63, 0x6f, 0x73, 0x6d, 0x6f, 0x73, 0x2f, 0x69, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c, 0x2f, 0x67, 0x65, 0x6e, 0x2f,
+	0x76, 0x31, 0xa2, 0x02, 0x03, 0x49, 0x58, 0x58, 0xaa, 0x02, 0x04, 0x49, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c, 0xca,
+	0x02, 0x04, 0x49, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c, 0xe2, 0x02, 0x10, 0x49, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c, 0x5c, 0x47, 0x50,
+	0x42, 0x4d, 0x65, 0x74, 0x61, 0x64, 0x61, 0x74, 0x61, 0xea, 0x02, 0x04, 0x49, 0x61, 0x76, 0x6c,
+	0x62, 0x06, 0x70, 0x72, 0x6f, 0x74, 0x6f, 0x33,
+}
+
+var (
+	file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescOnce sync.Once
+	file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescData = file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDesc
+)
+
+func file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescGZIP() []byte {
+	file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescOnce.Do(func() {
+		file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescData = protoimpl.X.CompressGZIP(file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescData)
+	})
+	return file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDescData
+}
+
+var file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes = make([]protoimpl.MessageInfo, 2)
+var file_v1_changeset_proto_goTypes = []interface{}{
+	(*KVPair)(nil),    // 0: iavl.KVPair
+	(*ChangeSet)(nil), // 1: iavl.ChangeSet
+}
+var file_v1_changeset_proto_depIdxs = []int32{
+	0, // 0: iavl.ChangeSet.pairs:type_name -> iavl.KVPair
+	1, // [1:1] is the sub-list for method output_type
+	1, // [1:1] is the sub-list for method input_type
+	1, // [1:1] is the sub-list for extension type_name
+	1, // [1:1] is the sub-list for extension extendee
+	0, // [0:1] is the sub-list for field type_name
+}
+
+func init() { file_v1_changeset_proto_init() }
+func file_v1_changeset_proto_init() {
+	if File_v1_changeset_proto != nil {
+		return
+	}
+	if !protoimpl.UnsafeEnabled {
+		file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes[0].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
+			switch v := v.(*KVPair); i {
+			case 0:
+				return &v.state
+			case 1:
+				return &v.sizeCache
+			case 2:
+				return &v.unknownFields
+			default:
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+		file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes[1].Exporter = func(v interface{}, i int) interface{} {
+			switch v := v.(*ChangeSet); i {
+			case 0:
+				return &v.state
+			case 1:
+				return &v.sizeCache
+			case 2:
+				return &v.unknownFields
+			default:
+				return nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	type x struct{}
+	out := protoimpl.TypeBuilder{
+		File: protoimpl.DescBuilder{
+			GoPackagePath: reflect.TypeOf(x{}).PkgPath(),
+			RawDescriptor: file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDesc,
+			NumEnums:      0,
+			NumMessages:   2,
+			NumExtensions: 0,
+			NumServices:   0,
+		},
+		GoTypes:           file_v1_changeset_proto_goTypes,
+		DependencyIndexes: file_v1_changeset_proto_depIdxs,
+		MessageInfos:      file_v1_changeset_proto_msgTypes,
+	}.Build()
+	File_v1_changeset_proto = out.File
+	file_v1_changeset_proto_rawDesc = nil
+	file_v1_changeset_proto_goTypes = nil
+	file_v1_changeset_proto_depIdxs = nil
+}
diff --git a/nodedb.go b/nodedb.go
index 54933c2e6..148cb96c9 100644
--- a/nodedb.go
+++ b/nodedb.go
@@ -840,7 +840,7 @@ func (ndb *nodeDB) traverseStateChanges(startVersion, endVersion int64, fn func(
 
 		var changeSet ChangeSet
 		receiveKVPair := func(pair *KVPair) error {
-			changeSet.Pairs = append(changeSet.Pairs, *pair)
+			changeSet.Pairs = append(changeSet.Pairs, pair)
 			return nil
 		}
 
diff --git a/proto/buf.lock b/proto/buf.lock
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c91b5810c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/buf.lock
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# Generated by buf. DO NOT EDIT.
+version: v1
diff --git a/proto/buf.md b/proto/buf.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..74cd1259a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/buf.md
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+## IAVL
+
+Defines messages used by IAVL library, currently only `ChangeSet` and `KVPair`.
diff --git a/proto/buf.yaml b/proto/buf.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f2008dbda
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/buf.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+version: v1
+name: buf.build/cosmos/iavl
+breaking:
+  use:
+    - FILE
+lint:
+  use:
+    - DEFAULT
+    - COMMENTS
+    - FILE_LOWER_SNAKE_CASE
diff --git a/proto/v1/changeset.proto b/proto/v1/changeset.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3bc38dfa4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/proto/v1/changeset.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+syntax = "proto3";
+package iavl;
+
+message KVPair {
+    bool delete = 1;
+    bytes key = 2;
+    bytes value = 3;
+}
+
+message ChangeSet {
+    repeated KVPair pairs = 1;
+}