diff --git a/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp b/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp
index fdb3ef7736..032063021f 100644
--- a/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/transactiondesc.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 QString TransactionDesc::FormatTxStatus(const CWalletTx& wtx)
 {
     AssertLockHeld(cs_main);
-    if (!CheckFinalTx(wtx))
+    if (!CheckFinalTx(*wtx.tx))
     {
         if (wtx.tx->nLockTime < LOCKTIME_THRESHOLD)
             return tr("Open for %n more block(s)", "", wtx.tx->nLockTime - chainActive.Height());
diff --git a/src/qt/transactionrecord.cpp b/src/qt/transactionrecord.cpp
index bf54f07448..a1bca6bce3 100644
--- a/src/qt/transactionrecord.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/transactionrecord.cpp
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ void TransactionRecord::updateStatus(const CWalletTx &wtx, int chainLockHeight)
         status.label = QString::fromStdString(addrBookIt->second.name);
     }
 
-    if (!CheckFinalTx(wtx))
+    if (!CheckFinalTx(*wtx.tx))
     {
         if (wtx.tx->nLockTime < LOCKTIME_THRESHOLD)
         {
diff --git a/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp b/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp
index 9cdabba8bd..af51573c34 100644
--- a/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/transactiontablemodel.cpp
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ public:
         std::map<uint256, CWalletTx>::iterator mi = wallet->mapWallet.find(rec->hash);
         if(mi != wallet->mapWallet.end())
         {
-            std::string strHex = EncodeHexTx(static_cast<CTransaction>(mi->second));
+            std::string strHex = EncodeHexTx(*mi->second.tx);
             return QString::fromStdString(strHex);
         }
         return QString();
diff --git a/src/qt/walletmodeltransaction.cpp b/src/qt/walletmodeltransaction.cpp
index 8d7c8ff87d..0703b02947 100644
--- a/src/qt/walletmodeltransaction.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/walletmodeltransaction.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ CWalletTx *WalletModelTransaction::getTransaction() const
 
 unsigned int WalletModelTransaction::getTransactionSize()
 {
-    return (!walletTransaction ? 0 : (::GetSerializeSize(walletTransaction->tx, SER_NETWORK, PROTOCOL_VERSION)));
+    return (!walletTransaction ? 0 : (::GetSerializeSize(*walletTransaction->tx, SER_NETWORK, PROTOCOL_VERSION)));
 }
 
 CAmount WalletModelTransaction::getTransactionFee() const
diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp
index 28c9488921..d9017dcfd3 100644
--- a/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcdump.cpp
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ UniValue importprunedfunds(const JSONRPCRequest& request)
 
     LOCK2(cs_main, pwallet->cs_wallet);
 
-    if (pwallet->IsMine(wtx)) {
+    if (pwallet->IsMine(*wtx.tx)) {
         pwallet->AddToWallet(wtx, false);
         return NullUniValue;
     }
diff --git a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
index 757f07424a..291b47da42 100644
--- a/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/rpcwallet.cpp
@@ -1997,7 +1997,7 @@ UniValue gettransaction(const JSONRPCRequest& request)
     ListTransactions(pwallet, wtx, "*", 0, false, details, filter);
     entry.push_back(Pair("details", details));
 
-    std::string strHex = EncodeHexTx(static_cast<CTransaction>(wtx));
+    std::string strHex = EncodeHexTx(*wtx.tx);
     entry.push_back(Pair("hex", strHex));
 
     return entry;
diff --git a/src/wallet/test/accounting_tests.cpp b/src/wallet/test/accounting_tests.cpp
index d597bd911d..cb4b889633 100644
--- a/src/wallet/test/accounting_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/test/accounting_tests.cpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(acc_orderupgrade)
 
     wtx.mapValue["comment"] = "y";
     {
-        CMutableTransaction tx(wtx);
+        CMutableTransaction tx(*wtx.tx);
         --tx.nLockTime;  // Just to change the hash :)
         wtx.SetTx(MakeTransactionRef(std::move(tx)));
     }
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(acc_orderupgrade)
 
     wtx.mapValue["comment"] = "x";
     {
-        CMutableTransaction tx(wtx);
+        CMutableTransaction tx(*wtx.tx);
         --tx.nLockTime;  // Just to change the hash :)
         wtx.SetTx(MakeTransactionRef(std::move(tx)));
     }
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
index 08a81a4ba7..f39adf4157 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.cpp
@@ -1493,6 +1493,7 @@ int CWallet::GetRealOutpointPrivateSendRounds(const COutPoint& outpoint, int nRo
     uint256 hash = outpoint.hash;
     unsigned int nout = outpoint.n;
 
+    // TODO wtx should refer to a CWalletTx object, not a pointer, based on surrounding code
     const CWalletTx* wtx = GetWalletTx(hash);
     if(wtx != nullptr)
     {
@@ -1500,7 +1501,7 @@ int CWallet::GetRealOutpointPrivateSendRounds(const COutPoint& outpoint, int nRo
         if (mdwi == mDenomWtxes.end()) {
             // not known yet, let's add it
             LogPrint(BCLog::PRIVATESEND, "GetRealOutpointPrivateSendRounds INSERTING %s\n", hash.ToString());
-            mDenomWtxes[hash] = CMutableTransaction(*wtx);
+            mDenomWtxes[hash] = CMutableTransaction(*wtx->tx);
         } else if(mDenomWtxes[hash].vout[nout].nRounds != -10) {
             // found and it's not an initial value, just return it
             return mDenomWtxes[hash].vout[nout].nRounds;
@@ -2043,7 +2044,7 @@ bool CWalletTx::RelayWalletTransaction(CConnman* connman)
             LogPrintf("Relaying wtx %s\n", hash.ToString());
 
             if (connman) {
-                connman->RelayTransaction((CTransaction)*this);
+                connman->RelayTransaction(*tx);
                 return true;
             }
         }
@@ -2075,7 +2076,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetDebit(const isminefilter& filter) const
             debit += nDebitCached;
         else
         {
-            nDebitCached = pwallet->GetDebit(*this, ISMINE_SPENDABLE);
+            nDebitCached = pwallet->GetDebit(*tx, ISMINE_SPENDABLE);
             fDebitCached = true;
             debit += nDebitCached;
         }
@@ -2086,7 +2087,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetDebit(const isminefilter& filter) const
             debit += nWatchDebitCached;
         else
         {
-            nWatchDebitCached = pwallet->GetDebit(*this, ISMINE_WATCH_ONLY);
+            nWatchDebitCached = pwallet->GetDebit(*tx, ISMINE_WATCH_ONLY);
             fWatchDebitCached = true;
             debit += nWatchDebitCached;
         }
@@ -2108,7 +2109,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetCredit(const isminefilter& filter) const
             credit += nCreditCached;
         else
         {
-            nCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*this, ISMINE_SPENDABLE);
+            nCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*tx, ISMINE_SPENDABLE);
             fCreditCached = true;
             credit += nCreditCached;
         }
@@ -2119,7 +2120,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetCredit(const isminefilter& filter) const
             credit += nWatchCreditCached;
         else
         {
-            nWatchCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*this, ISMINE_WATCH_ONLY);
+            nWatchCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*tx, ISMINE_WATCH_ONLY);
             fWatchCreditCached = true;
             credit += nWatchCreditCached;
         }
@@ -2133,7 +2134,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetImmatureCredit(bool fUseCache) const
     {
         if (fUseCache && fImmatureCreditCached)
             return nImmatureCreditCached;
-        nImmatureCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*this, ISMINE_SPENDABLE);
+        nImmatureCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*tx, ISMINE_SPENDABLE);
         fImmatureCreditCached = true;
         return nImmatureCreditCached;
     }
@@ -2177,7 +2178,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetImmatureWatchOnlyCredit(const bool& fUseCache) const
     {
         if (fUseCache && fImmatureWatchCreditCached)
             return nImmatureWatchCreditCached;
-        nImmatureWatchCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*this, ISMINE_WATCH_ONLY);
+        nImmatureWatchCreditCached = pwallet->GetCredit(*tx, ISMINE_WATCH_ONLY);
         fImmatureWatchCreditCached = true;
         return nImmatureWatchCreditCached;
     }
@@ -2297,7 +2298,7 @@ CAmount CWalletTx::GetChange() const
 {
     if (fChangeCached)
         return nChangeCached;
-    nChangeCached = pwallet->GetChange(*this);
+    nChangeCached = pwallet->GetChange(*tx);
     fChangeCached = true;
     return nChangeCached;
 }
@@ -2311,7 +2312,7 @@ bool CWalletTx::InMempool() const
 bool CWalletTx::IsTrusted() const
 {
     // Quick answer in most cases
-    if (!CheckFinalTx(*this))
+    if (!CheckFinalTx(*tx))
         return false;
     int nDepth = GetDepthInMainChain();
     if (nDepth >= 1)
@@ -2677,7 +2678,7 @@ void CWallet::AvailableCoins(std::vector<COutput> &vCoins, bool fOnlySafe, const
         for (auto pcoin : GetSpendableTXs()) {
             const uint256& wtxid = pcoin->GetHash();
 
-            if (!CheckFinalTx(*pcoin))
+            if (!CheckFinalTx(*pcoin->tx))
                 continue;
 
             if (pcoin->IsCoinBase() && pcoin->GetBlocksToMaturity() > 0)
diff --git a/src/wallet/wallet.h b/src/wallet/wallet.h
index 2ca5aee8f8..728799d586 100644
--- a/src/wallet/wallet.h
+++ b/src/wallet/wallet.h
@@ -229,10 +229,6 @@ public:
         Init();
     }
 
-    /** Helper conversion operator to allow passing CMerkleTx where CTransaction is expected.
-     *  TODO: adapt callers and remove this operator. */
-    operator const CTransaction&() const { return *tx; }
-
     void Init()
     {
         hashBlock = uint256();
diff --git a/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp b/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
index d98b51343d..3c9b96a617 100644
--- a/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/walletdb.cpp
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ ReadKeyValue(CWallet* pwallet, CDataStream& ssKey, CDataStream& ssValue,
             CWalletTx wtx;
             ssValue >> wtx;
             CValidationState state;
-            if (!(CheckTransaction(wtx, state) && (wtx.GetHash() == hash) && state.IsValid()))
+            if (!(CheckTransaction(*wtx.tx, state) && (wtx.GetHash() == hash) && state.IsValid()))
                 return false;
 
             // Undo serialize changes in 31600