diff --git a/pkg/keystorev3/scrypt.go b/pkg/keystorev3/scrypt.go
index 40188687..2b772503 100644
--- a/pkg/keystorev3/scrypt.go
+++ b/pkg/keystorev3/scrypt.go
@@ -45,7 +45,16 @@ func mustGenerateDerivedScryptKey(password string, salt []byte, n, p int) []byte
 	return b
 }
 
+// creates an ethereum address wallet file
 func newScryptWalletFile(password string, keypair *secp256k1.KeyPair, n int, p int) WalletFile {
+	wf := newScryptWalletFileBytes(password, keypair.PrivateKeyBytes(), n, p)
+	wf.Address = ethtypes.AddressPlainHex(keypair.Address)
+	wf.keypair = keypair
+	return wf
+}
+
+// this allows creation of any size/type of key in the store
+func newScryptWalletFileBytes(password string, privateKey []byte, n int, p int) *walletFileScrypt {
 
 	// Generate a sale for the scrypt
 	salt := mustReadBytes(32, rand.Reader)
@@ -60,17 +69,16 @@ func newScryptWalletFile(password string, keypair *secp256k1.KeyPair, n int, p i
 	encryptKey := derivedKey[0:16]
 
 	// Encrypt the private key with the encryption key
-	cipherText := mustAES128CtrEncrypt(encryptKey, iv, keypair.PrivateKeyBytes())
+	cipherText := mustAES128CtrEncrypt(encryptKey, iv, privateKey)
 
 	// Last 16 bytes of derived key are used for the MAC
 	mac := generateMac(derivedKey[16:32], cipherText)
 
 	return &walletFileScrypt{
 		walletFileBase: walletFileBase{
-			Address: ethtypes.AddressPlainHex(keypair.Address),
-			ID:      fftypes.NewUUID(),
-			Version: version3,
-			keypair: keypair,
+			ID:         fftypes.NewUUID(),
+			Version:    version3,
+			privateKey: privateKey,
 		},
 		Crypto: cryptoScrypt{
 			cryptoCommon: cryptoCommon{
diff --git a/pkg/keystorev3/wallet.go b/pkg/keystorev3/wallet.go
index 3319ed03..da27d2b1 100644
--- a/pkg/keystorev3/wallet.go
+++ b/pkg/keystorev3/wallet.go
@@ -39,6 +39,14 @@ func NewWalletFileStandard(password string, keypair *secp256k1.KeyPair) WalletFi
 	return newScryptWalletFile(password, keypair, nStandard, pDefault)
 }
 
+func NewWalletFileCustomBytesLight(password string, privateKey []byte) WalletFile {
+	return newScryptWalletFileBytes(password, privateKey, nStandard, pDefault)
+}
+
+func NewWalletFileCustomBytesStandard(password string, privateKey []byte) WalletFile {
+	return newScryptWalletFileBytes(password, privateKey, nStandard, pDefault)
+}
+
 func ReadWalletFile(jsonWallet []byte, password []byte) (WalletFile, error) {
 	var w walletFileCommon
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(jsonWallet, &w); err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/keystorev3/wallet_test.go b/pkg/keystorev3/wallet_test.go
index 9fe2ceb2..bfcc9209 100644
--- a/pkg/keystorev3/wallet_test.go
+++ b/pkg/keystorev3/wallet_test.go
@@ -123,3 +123,33 @@ func TestWalletFilePbkdf2JSON(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, w, w2)
 }
+
+func TestWalletFileCustomBytes(t *testing.T) {
+	customBytes := ([]byte)("planet refuse wheel robot position venue predict bring solid paper salmon bind")
+
+	w := NewWalletFileCustomBytesStandard("correcthorsebatterystaple", customBytes)
+
+	w, err := ReadWalletFile(w.JSON(), []byte("correcthorsebatterystaple"))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	j := w.JSON()
+	w2, err := ReadWalletFile(j, []byte("correcthorsebatterystaple"))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, w, w2)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, customBytes, w.PrivateKey())
+}
+
+func TestWalletFileCustomBytesLight(t *testing.T) {
+	customBytes := ([]byte)("planet refuse wheel robot position venue predict bring solid paper salmon bind")
+
+	w := NewWalletFileCustomBytesLight("correcthorsebatterystaple", customBytes)
+
+	w, err := ReadWalletFile(w.JSON(), []byte("correcthorsebatterystaple"))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	j := w.JSON()
+	w2, err := ReadWalletFile(j, []byte("correcthorsebatterystaple"))
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, w, w2)
+
+	assert.Equal(t, customBytes, w.PrivateKey())
+}