diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 25548916bce0f..62e99d437b21a 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -11311,6 +11311,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "sp-application-crypto",
  "sp-core",
  "sp-runtime",
+ "sp-std",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
diff --git a/primitives/application-crypto/Cargo.toml b/primitives/application-crypto/Cargo.toml
index 37b58bc2bf649..dc97948fdf5c8 100644
--- a/primitives/application-crypto/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/application-crypto/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../core" }
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", optional = true, features = ["derive"] }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, optional = true, features = ["derive", "alloc"]  }
 sp-std = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../std" }
 sp-io = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../io" }
 
@@ -29,11 +29,18 @@ std = [
 	"sp-core/std",
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 	"sp-io/std",
 ]
 
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+]
+
 # This feature enables all crypto primitives for `no_std` builds like microcontrollers
 # or Intel SGX.
 # For the regular wasm runtime builds this should not be used.
diff --git a/primitives/application-crypto/src/lib.rs b/primitives/application-crypto/src/lib.rs
index 3e8f2f5a77b3a..11be54e29c702 100644
--- a/primitives/application-crypto/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/application-crypto/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,20 +23,25 @@
 pub use sp_core::crypto::{key_types, CryptoTypeId, KeyTypeId};
 #[doc(hidden)]
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
-pub use sp_core::crypto::{DeriveError, DeriveJunction, Pair, SecretStringError, Ss58Codec};
+pub use sp_core::crypto::{DeriveError, Pair, SecretStringError};
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
+pub use sp_core::crypto::{DeriveJunction, Ss58Codec};
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use sp_core::{
 	self,
 	crypto::{ByteArray, CryptoType, Derive, IsWrappedBy, Public, UncheckedFrom, Wraps},
 	RuntimeDebug,
 };
+#[doc(hidden)]
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+pub use sp_std::alloc::{format, string::String};
 
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use codec;
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use scale_info;
 #[doc(hidden)]
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub use serde;
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use sp_std::{ops::Deref, vec::Vec};
@@ -282,7 +287,7 @@ macro_rules! app_crypto_public_not_full_crypto {
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common {
 	($public:ty, $sig:ty, $key_type:expr, $crypto_type:expr) => {
-		$crate::app_crypto_public_common_if_std!();
+		$crate::app_crypto_public_common_if_serde!();
 
 		impl AsRef<[u8]> for Public {
 			fn as_ref(&self) -> &[u8] {
@@ -323,11 +328,11 @@ macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common {
 	};
 }
 
-/// Implements traits for the public key type if `feature = "std"` is enabled.
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+/// Implements traits for the public key type if `feature = "serde"` is enabled.
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 #[doc(hidden)]
 #[macro_export]
-macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_std {
+macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_serde {
 	() => {
 		impl $crate::Derive for Public {
 			fn derive<Iter: Iterator<Item = $crate::DeriveJunction>>(
@@ -338,15 +343,15 @@ macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_std {
 			}
 		}
 
-		impl std::fmt::Display for Public {
-			fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter) -> std::fmt::Result {
+		impl core::fmt::Display for Public {
+			fn fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter) -> core::fmt::Result {
 				use $crate::Ss58Codec;
 				write!(f, "{}", self.0.to_ss58check())
 			}
 		}
 
 		impl $crate::serde::Serialize for Public {
-			fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> std::result::Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
+			fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> core::result::Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 			where
 				S: $crate::serde::Serializer,
 			{
@@ -356,11 +361,14 @@ macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_std {
 		}
 
 		impl<'de> $crate::serde::Deserialize<'de> for Public {
-			fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
+			fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> core::result::Result<Self, D::Error>
 			where
 				D: $crate::serde::Deserializer<'de>,
 			{
 				use $crate::Ss58Codec;
+				#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+				use $crate::{format, String};
+
 				Public::from_ss58check(&String::deserialize(deserializer)?)
 					.map_err(|e| $crate::serde::de::Error::custom(format!("{:?}", e)))
 			}
@@ -368,10 +376,10 @@ macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_std {
 	};
 }
 
-#[cfg(not(feature = "std"))]
+#[cfg(not(feature = "serde"))]
 #[doc(hidden)]
 #[macro_export]
-macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_std {
+macro_rules! app_crypto_public_common_if_serde {
 	() => {
 		impl $crate::Derive for Public {}
 	};
diff --git a/primitives/arithmetic/Cargo.toml b/primitives/arithmetic/Cargo.toml
index 92eebd4a6d8d6..122691623b8fd 100644
--- a/primitives/arithmetic/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/arithmetic/Cargo.toml
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features =
 integer-sqrt = "0.1.2"
 num-traits = { version = "0.2.8", default-features = false }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 static_assertions = "1.1.0"
 sp-std = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../std" }
 
@@ -37,9 +37,14 @@ std = [
 	"codec/std",
 	"num-traits/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 ]
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+]
 
 [[bench]]
 name = "bench"
diff --git a/primitives/arithmetic/src/fixed_point.rs b/primitives/arithmetic/src/fixed_point.rs
index 67fbd5bc79c88..08b788e9abd76 100644
--- a/primitives/arithmetic/src/fixed_point.rs
+++ b/primitives/arithmetic/src/fixed_point.rs
@@ -32,9 +32,12 @@ use sp_std::{
 	prelude::*,
 };
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::string::{String, ToString};
+
 /// Integer types that can be used to interact with `FixedPointNumber` implementations.
 pub trait FixedPointOperand:
 	Copy
@@ -928,14 +931,12 @@ macro_rules! implement_fixed {
 			}
 		}
 
-		#[cfg(feature = "std")]
 		impl sp_std::fmt::Display for $name {
 			fn fmt(&self, f: &mut sp_std::fmt::Formatter) -> sp_std::fmt::Result {
 				write!(f, "{}", self.0)
 			}
 		}
 
-		#[cfg(feature = "std")]
 		impl sp_std::str::FromStr for $name {
 			type Err = &'static str;
 
@@ -948,7 +949,7 @@ macro_rules! implement_fixed {
 
 		// Manual impl `Serialize` as serde_json does not support i128.
 		// TODO: remove impl if issue https://github.com/serde-rs/json/issues/548 fixed.
-		#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+		#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 		impl Serialize for $name {
 			fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 			where
@@ -960,7 +961,7 @@ macro_rules! implement_fixed {
 
 		// Manual impl `Deserialize` as serde_json does not support i128.
 		// TODO: remove impl if issue https://github.com/serde-rs/json/issues/548 fixed.
-		#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+		#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 		impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for $name {
 			fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 			where
diff --git a/primitives/arithmetic/src/lib.rs b/primitives/arithmetic/src/lib.rs
index e7ba08a532909..d2eceafab5ed0 100644
--- a/primitives/arithmetic/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/arithmetic/src/lib.rs
@@ -53,12 +53,12 @@ use traits::{BaseArithmetic, One, SaturatedConversion, Unsigned, Zero};
 use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 /// Arithmetic errors.
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo, MaxEncodedLen)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum ArithmeticError {
 	/// Underflow.
 	Underflow,
diff --git a/primitives/arithmetic/src/per_things.rs b/primitives/arithmetic/src/per_things.rs
index 611a4e05e1027..fe88b72e24c22 100644
--- a/primitives/arithmetic/src/per_things.rs
+++ b/primitives/arithmetic/src/per_things.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 // See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 // limitations under the License.
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::traits::{
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ macro_rules! implement_per_thing {
 		/// A fixed point representation of a number in the range [0, 1].
 		///
 		#[doc = $title]
-		#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+		#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 		#[derive(Encode, Copy, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, codec::MaxEncodedLen, PartialOrd, Ord, scale_info::TypeInfo)]
 		pub struct $name($type);
 
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/babe/Cargo.toml b/primitives/consensus/babe/Cargo.toml
index 7e171811a7fe2..5e57f276aac8b 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/babe/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/consensus/babe/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 async-trait = { version = "0.1.57", optional = true }
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 sp-api = { version = "4.0.0-dev", default-features = false, path = "../../api" }
 sp-application-crypto = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../../application-crypto" }
 sp-consensus = { version = "0.10.0-dev", optional = true, path = "../common" }
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ std = [
 	"async-trait",
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-api/std",
 	"sp-application-crypto/std",
 	"sp-consensus",
@@ -46,3 +46,13 @@ std = [
 	"sp-std/std",
 	"sp-timestamp",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-application-crypto/serde",
+	"sp-consensus-slots/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs b/primitives/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
index dc161525a8511..c083bfd9a313e 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/consensus/babe/src/lib.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub mod inherents;
 
 use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sp_runtime::{traits::Header, ConsensusEngineId, RuntimeDebug};
 use sp_std::vec::Vec;
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ impl BabeConfiguration {
 
 /// Types of allowed slots.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, MaxEncodedLen, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum AllowedSlots {
 	/// Only allow primary slots.
 	PrimarySlots,
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ impl AllowedSlots {
 
 /// Configuration data used by the BABE consensus engine that may change with epochs.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, MaxEncodedLen, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct BabeEpochConfiguration {
 	/// A constant value that is used in the threshold calculation formula.
 	/// Expressed as a rational where the first member of the tuple is the
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/beefy/Cargo.toml b/primitives/consensus/beefy/Cargo.toml
index 144c8452d71b0..cf5f660b22007 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/beefy/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/consensus/beefy/Cargo.toml
@@ -13,8 +13,8 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", optional = true, features = ["derive"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false,  optional = true, features =  ["derive", "alloc"] }
 sp-api = { version = "4.0.0-dev", default-features = false, path = "../../api" }
 sp-application-crypto = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../../application-crypto" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../../core" }
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ default = ["std"]
 std = [
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-api/std",
 	"sp-application-crypto/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
@@ -43,3 +43,12 @@ std = [
 	"sp-runtime/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-application-crypto/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/beefy/src/mmr.rs b/primitives/consensus/beefy/src/mmr.rs
index 465008dc22499..c303cae2fdcc7 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/beefy/src/mmr.rs
+++ b/primitives/consensus/beefy/src/mmr.rs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ impl MmrLeafVersion {
 
 /// Details of a BEEFY authority set.
 #[derive(Debug, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Encode, Decode, TypeInfo, MaxEncodedLen)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct BeefyAuthoritySet<MerkleRoot> {
 	/// Id of the set.
 	///
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/grandpa/Cargo.toml b/primitives/consensus/grandpa/Cargo.toml
index 446471da8361a..a1846aa76ac1f 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/grandpa/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/consensus/grandpa/Cargo.toml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features =
 grandpa = { package = "finality-grandpa", version = "0.16.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive-codec"] }
 log = { version = "0.4.17", default-features = false }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive", "alloc"], default-features = false, optional = true }
 sp-api = { version = "4.0.0-dev", default-features = false, path = "../../api" }
 sp-application-crypto = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../../application-crypto" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../../core" }
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ std = [
 	"grandpa/std",
 	"log/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-api/std",
 	"sp-application-crypto/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
@@ -41,3 +41,12 @@ std = [
 	"sp-runtime/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-application-crypto/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/grandpa/src/lib.rs b/primitives/consensus/grandpa/src/lib.rs
index 728ce3092888b..baeaee4738e48 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/grandpa/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/consensus/grandpa/src/lib.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 #[cfg(not(feature = "std"))]
 extern crate alloc;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::Serialize;
 
 use codec::{Codec, Decode, Encode, Input};
@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ pub struct GrandpaJustification<Header: HeaderT> {
 }
 
 /// A scheduled change of authority set.
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize))]
 #[derive(Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize))]
 pub struct ScheduledChange<N> {
 	/// The new authorities after the change, along with their respective weights.
 	pub next_authorities: AuthorityList,
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ pub struct ScheduledChange<N> {
 }
 
 /// An consensus log item for GRANDPA.
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize))]
 #[derive(Decode, Encode, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, RuntimeDebug)]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize))]
 pub enum ConsensusLog<N: Codec> {
 	/// Schedule an authority set change.
 	///
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/slots/Cargo.toml b/primitives/consensus/slots/Cargo.toml
index a4d85dff6ea85..29aa3c10c2f55 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/slots/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/consensus/slots/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "max-encoded-len"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.0.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 sp-std = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../../std" }
 sp-timestamp = { version = "4.0.0-dev", default-features = false, path = "../../timestamp" }
 
@@ -24,7 +24,13 @@ default = ["std"]
 std = [
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 	"sp-timestamp/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/consensus/slots/src/lib.rs b/primitives/consensus/slots/src/lib.rs
index 1f2fa585df7f2..30bb42e2c7589 100644
--- a/primitives/consensus/slots/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/consensus/slots/src/lib.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ use sp_timestamp::Timestamp;
 
 /// Unit type wrapper that represents a slot.
 #[derive(Debug, Encode, MaxEncodedLen, Decode, Eq, Clone, Copy, Default, Ord, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct Slot(u64);
 
 impl core::ops::Deref for Slot {
diff --git a/primitives/core/Cargo.toml b/primitives/core/Cargo.toml
index f99ed6c53efc6..d0ec98b1c3080 100644
--- a/primitives/core/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/core/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive","max-encoded-len"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
 log = { version = "0.4.17", default-features = false }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", optional = true, features = ["derive"] }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", optional = true,  default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"] }
 bounded-collections = { version = "0.1.4", default-features = false }
 primitive-types = { version = "0.12.0", default-features = false, features = ["codec", "scale-info"] }
-impl-serde = { version = "0.4.0", optional = true }
+impl-serde = { version = "0.4.0", default-features = false, optional = true }
 hash-db = { version = "0.16.0", default-features = false }
 hash256-std-hasher = { version = "0.15.2", default-features = false }
 bs58 = { version = "0.4.0", default-features = false, optional = true }
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ zeroize = { version = "1.4.3", default-features = false }
 secrecy = { version = "0.8.0", default-features = false }
 lazy_static = { version = "1.4.0", default-features = false, optional = true }
 parking_lot = { version = "0.12.1", optional = true }
+ss58-registry = { version = "1.34.0", default-features = false }
 sp-std = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../std" }
 sp-debug-derive = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../debug-derive" }
 sp-storage = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../storage" }
@@ -49,7 +50,6 @@ libsecp256k1 = { version = "0.7", default-features = false, features = ["static-
 schnorrkel = { version = "0.9.1", features = ["preaudit_deprecated", "u64_backend"], default-features = false }
 merlin = { version = "2.0", default-features = false }
 secp256k1 = { version = "0.24.0", default-features = false, features = ["recovery", "alloc"], optional = true }
-ss58-registry = { version = "1.34.0", default-features = false }
 sp-core-hashing = { version = "5.0.0", path = "./hashing", default-features = false, optional = true }
 sp-runtime-interface = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../runtime-interface" }
 # bls crypto
@@ -83,13 +83,13 @@ std = [
 	"primitive-types/serde",
 	"primitive-types/byteorder",
 	"primitive-types/rustc-hex",
-	"impl-serde",
+	"impl-serde/std",
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
 	"hash256-std-hasher/std",
 	"hash-db/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"blake2/std",
 	"array-bytes",
 	"ed25519-zebra/std",
@@ -115,6 +115,20 @@ std = [
 	"dyn-clonable",
 ]
 
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"array-bytes",
+	"blake2",
+	"bs58/alloc",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"secrecy/alloc",
+	"impl-serde",
+	"primitive-types/serde_no_std",
+	"sp-storage/serde",
+	"sp-core-hashing",
+]
+
 # This feature enables all crypto primitives for `no_std` builds like microcontrollers
 # or Intel SGX.
 # For the regular wasm runtime builds this should not be used.
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/crypto.rs b/primitives/core/src/crypto.rs
index 27b24057b0e80..5947603cd0942 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/crypto.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/crypto.rs
@@ -33,13 +33,16 @@ pub use secrecy::{ExposeSecret, SecretString};
 use sp_runtime_interface::pass_by::PassByInner;
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use sp_std::ops::Deref;
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::{
+	alloc::{format, string::String},
+	vec,
+};
 use sp_std::{hash::Hash, str, vec::Vec};
+pub use ss58_registry::{from_known_address_format, Ss58AddressFormat, Ss58AddressFormatRegistry};
 /// Trait to zeroize a memory buffer.
 pub use zeroize::Zeroize;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
-pub use ss58_registry::{from_known_address_format, Ss58AddressFormat, Ss58AddressFormatRegistry};
-
 /// The root phrase for our publicly known keys.
 pub const DEV_PHRASE: &str =
 	"bottom drive obey lake curtain smoke basket hold race lonely fit walk";
@@ -49,7 +52,6 @@ pub const DEV_ADDRESS: &str = "5DfhGyQdFobKM8NsWvEeAKk5EQQgYe9AydgJ7rMB6E1EqRzV"
 
 /// The length of the junction identifier. Note that this is also referred to as the
 /// `CHAIN_CODE_LENGTH` in the context of Schnorrkel.
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
 pub const JUNCTION_ID_LEN: usize = 32;
 
 /// Similar to `From`, except that the onus is on the part of the caller to ensure
@@ -113,7 +115,7 @@ pub enum DeriveError {
 /// a new secret key from an existing secret key and, in the case of `SoftRaw` and `SoftIndex`
 /// a new public key from an existing public key.
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash, Debug, Encode, Decode)]
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
 pub enum DeriveJunction {
 	/// Soft (vanilla) derivation. Public keys have a correspondent derivation.
 	Soft([u8; JUNCTION_ID_LEN]),
@@ -121,7 +123,7 @@ pub enum DeriveJunction {
 	Hard([u8; JUNCTION_ID_LEN]),
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
 impl DeriveJunction {
 	/// Consume self to return a soft derive junction with the same chain code.
 	pub fn soften(self) -> Self {
@@ -180,7 +182,7 @@ impl DeriveJunction {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
 impl<T: AsRef<str>> From<T> for DeriveJunction {
 	fn from(j: T) -> DeriveJunction {
 		let j = j.as_ref();
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ impl<T: AsRef<str>> From<T> for DeriveJunction {
 #[cfg_attr(not(feature = "std"), derive(Debug))]
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Eq, PartialEq)]
 #[allow(missing_docs)]
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
 pub enum PublicError {
 	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", error("Base 58 requirement is violated"))]
 	BadBase58,
@@ -247,7 +249,6 @@ impl sp_std::fmt::Debug for PublicError {
 ///
 /// See <https://docs.substrate.io/v3/advanced/ss58/>
 /// for information on the codec.
-#[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
 pub trait Ss58Codec: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + ByteArray {
 	/// A format filterer, can be used to ensure that `from_ss58check` family only decode for
 	/// allowed identifiers. By default just refuses the two reserved identifiers.
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@ pub trait Ss58Codec: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + ByteArray {
 	}
 
 	/// Some if the string is a properly encoded SS58Check address.
-	#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+	#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 	fn from_ss58check(s: &str) -> Result<Self, PublicError> {
 		Self::from_ss58check_with_version(s).and_then(|(r, v)| match v {
 			v if !v.is_custom() => Ok(r),
@@ -266,7 +267,7 @@ pub trait Ss58Codec: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + ByteArray {
 	}
 
 	/// Some if the string is a properly encoded SS58Check address.
-	#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+	#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 	fn from_ss58check_with_version(s: &str) -> Result<(Self, Ss58AddressFormat), PublicError> {
 		const CHECKSUM_LEN: usize = 2;
 		let body_len = Self::LEN;
@@ -321,7 +322,7 @@ pub trait Ss58Codec: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + ByteArray {
 	}
 
 	/// Return the ss58-check string for this key.
-	#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+	#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 	fn to_ss58check_with_version(&self, version: Ss58AddressFormat) -> String {
 		// We mask out the upper two bits of the ident - SS58 Prefix currently only supports 14-bits
 		let ident: u16 = u16::from(version) & 0b0011_1111_1111_1111;
@@ -344,7 +345,7 @@ pub trait Ss58Codec: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + ByteArray {
 	}
 
 	/// Return the ss58-check string for this key.
-	#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+	#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 	fn to_ss58check(&self) -> String {
 		self.to_ss58check_with_version(default_ss58_version())
 	}
@@ -362,16 +363,16 @@ pub trait Derive: Sized {
 	/// Derive a child key from a series of given junctions.
 	///
 	/// Will be `None` for public keys if there are any hard junctions in there.
-	#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+	#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 	fn derive<Iter: Iterator<Item = DeriveJunction>>(&self, _path: Iter) -> Option<Self> {
 		None
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 const PREFIX: &[u8] = b"SS58PRE";
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 fn ss58hash(data: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
 	use blake2::{Blake2b512, Digest};
 
@@ -382,19 +383,19 @@ fn ss58hash(data: &[u8]) -> Vec<u8> {
 }
 
 /// Default prefix number
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
-static DEFAULT_VERSION: core::sync::atomic::AtomicU16 = std::sync::atomic::AtomicU16::new(
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
+static DEFAULT_VERSION: core::sync::atomic::AtomicU16 = core::sync::atomic::AtomicU16::new(
 	from_known_address_format(Ss58AddressFormatRegistry::SubstrateAccount),
 );
 
 /// Returns default SS58 format used by the current active process.
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub fn default_ss58_version() -> Ss58AddressFormat {
-	DEFAULT_VERSION.load(std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed).into()
+	DEFAULT_VERSION.load(core::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed).into()
 }
 
 /// Returns either the input address format or the default.
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub fn unwrap_or_default_ss58_version(network: Option<Ss58AddressFormat>) -> Ss58AddressFormat {
 	network.unwrap_or_else(default_ss58_version)
 }
@@ -408,9 +409,9 @@ pub fn unwrap_or_default_ss58_version(network: Option<Ss58AddressFormat>) -> Ss5
 /// This will enable the node to decode ss58 addresses with this prefix.
 ///
 /// This SS58 version/format is also only used by the node and not by the runtime.
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub fn set_default_ss58_version(new_default: Ss58AddressFormat) {
-	DEFAULT_VERSION.store(new_default.into(), std::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
+	DEFAULT_VERSION.store(new_default.into(), core::sync::atomic::Ordering::Relaxed);
 }
 
 #[cfg(feature = "std")]
@@ -458,6 +459,11 @@ impl<T: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + Public + Derive> Ss58Codec for T {
 	}
 }
 
+// Use the default implementations of the trait in serde feature.
+// The std implementation is not available because of std only crate Regex.
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+impl<T: Sized + AsMut<[u8]> + AsRef<[u8]> + Public + Derive> Ss58Codec for T {}
+
 /// Trait used for types that are really just a fixed-length array.
 pub trait ByteArray: AsRef<[u8]> + AsMut<[u8]> + for<'a> TryFrom<&'a [u8], Error = ()> {
 	/// The "length" of the values of this type, which is always the same.
@@ -507,7 +513,7 @@ impl ByteArray for AccountId32 {
 	const LEN: usize = 32;
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Ss58Codec for AccountId32 {}
 
 impl AsRef<[u8]> for AccountId32 {
@@ -591,7 +597,7 @@ impl sp_std::fmt::Debug for AccountId32 {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl serde::Serialize for AccountId32 {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -601,7 +607,7 @@ impl serde::Serialize for AccountId32 {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> serde::Deserialize<'de> for AccountId32 {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
@@ -1063,7 +1069,7 @@ pub trait CryptoType {
 	crate::RuntimeDebug,
 	TypeInfo,
 )]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct KeyTypeId(pub [u8; 4]);
 
 impl From<u32> for KeyTypeId {
@@ -1121,7 +1127,7 @@ pub trait VrfPublic: VrfCrypto {
 
 /// An identifier for a specific cryptographic algorithm used by a key pair
 #[derive(Debug, Copy, Clone, Default, PartialEq, Eq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash, Encode, Decode)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct CryptoTypeId(pub [u8; 4]);
 
 /// Known key types; this also functions as a global registry of key types for projects wishing to
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/ecdsa.rs b/primitives/core/src/ecdsa.rs
index 2474fa7736b78..0c997bc290008 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/ecdsa.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/ecdsa.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
 use sp_runtime_interface::pass_by::PassByInner;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use crate::crypto::Ss58Codec;
 use crate::crypto::{
 	ByteArray, CryptoType, CryptoTypeId, Derive, Public as TraitPublic, UncheckedFrom,
@@ -40,8 +40,10 @@ use secp256k1::{
 	ecdsa::{RecoverableSignature, RecoveryId},
 	Message, PublicKey, SecretKey,
 };
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::{format, string::String};
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
 use sp_std::vec::Vec;
 
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ impl sp_std::fmt::Debug for Public {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Serialize for Public {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -174,7 +176,7 @@ impl Serialize for Public {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Public {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
@@ -204,7 +206,7 @@ impl TryFrom<&[u8]> for Signature {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Serialize for Signature {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -214,7 +216,7 @@ impl Serialize for Signature {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Signature {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/ed25519.rs b/primitives/core/src/ed25519.rs
index d0e6bef97a7d9..29da78626f850 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/ed25519.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/ed25519.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use crate::{
 use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use crate::crypto::Ss58Codec;
 use crate::crypto::{CryptoType, CryptoTypeId, Derive, Public as TraitPublic, UncheckedFrom};
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
@@ -38,9 +38,11 @@ use crate::crypto::{DeriveError, DeriveJunction, Pair as TraitPair, SecretString
 use core::convert::TryFrom;
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
 use ed25519_zebra::{SigningKey, VerificationKey};
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 use sp_runtime_interface::pass_by::PassByInner;
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::{format, string::String};
 use sp_std::ops::Deref;
 
 /// An identifier used to match public keys against ed25519 keys
@@ -176,7 +178,7 @@ impl sp_std::fmt::Debug for Public {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Serialize for Public {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -186,7 +188,7 @@ impl Serialize for Public {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Public {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
@@ -216,7 +218,7 @@ impl TryFrom<&[u8]> for Signature {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Serialize for Signature {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -226,7 +228,7 @@ impl Serialize for Signature {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Signature {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/lib.rs b/primitives/core/src/lib.rs
index f9541b02e2903..b61009bc640ee 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/lib.rs
@@ -34,16 +34,16 @@ macro_rules! map {
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub use serde;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sp_runtime_interface::pass_by::{PassByEnum, PassByInner};
 use sp_std::{ops::Deref, prelude::*};
 
 pub use sp_debug_derive::RuntimeDebug;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub use impl_serde::serialize as bytes;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
@@ -139,8 +139,8 @@ impl ExecutionContext {
 
 /// Hex-serialized shim for `Vec<u8>`.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, RuntimeDebug)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord))]
-pub struct Bytes(#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(with = "bytes"))] pub Vec<u8>);
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord))]
+pub struct Bytes(#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(with = "bytes"))] pub Vec<u8>);
 
 impl From<Vec<u8>> for Bytes {
 	fn from(s: Vec<u8>) -> Self {
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ impl sp_std::ops::Deref for OpaqueMetadata {
 	PassByInner,
 	TypeInfo,
 )]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct OpaquePeerId(pub Vec<u8>);
 
 impl OpaquePeerId {
@@ -394,6 +394,45 @@ macro_rules! impl_maybe_marker {
 	}
 }
 
+/// Macro for creating `Maybe*` marker traits.
+///
+/// Such a maybe-marker trait requires the given bound when either `feature = std` or `feature =
+/// serde` is activated.
+///
+/// # Example
+///
+/// ```
+/// sp_core::impl_maybe_marker_std_or_serde! {
+///     /// A marker for a type that implements `Debug` when `feature = serde` or `feature = std`.
+///     trait MaybeDebug: std::fmt::Debug;
+///     /// A marker for a type that implements `Debug + Display` when `feature = serde` or `feature = std`.
+///     trait MaybeDebugDisplay: std::fmt::Debug, std::fmt::Display;
+/// }
+/// ```
+#[macro_export]
+macro_rules! impl_maybe_marker_std_or_serde {
+	(
+		$(
+			$(#[$doc:meta] )+
+			trait $trait_name:ident: $( $trait_bound:path ),+;
+		)+
+	) => {
+		$(
+			$(#[$doc])+
+			#[cfg(any(feature = "serde", feature = "std"))]
+			pub trait $trait_name: $( $trait_bound + )+ {}
+			#[cfg(any(feature = "serde", feature = "std"))]
+			impl<T: $( $trait_bound + )+> $trait_name for T {}
+
+			$(#[$doc])+
+			#[cfg(not(any(feature = "serde", feature = "std")))]
+			pub trait $trait_name {}
+			#[cfg(not(any(feature = "serde", feature = "std")))]
+			impl<T> $trait_name for T {}
+		)+
+	}
+}
+
 /// The maximum number of bytes that can be allocated at one time.
 // The maximum possible allocation size was chosen rather arbitrary, 32 MiB should be enough for
 // everybody.
@@ -445,7 +484,7 @@ macro_rules! generate_feature_enabled_macro {
 			}
 
 			// Work around for: <https://github.com/rust-lang/rust/pull/52234>
-			#[doc(hidden)] 
+			#[doc(hidden)]
 			pub use [<_ $macro_name>] as $macro_name;
 		}
 	};
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/offchain/mod.rs b/primitives/core/src/offchain/mod.rs
index a9e6639807023..a6cef85e6ac1b 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/offchain/mod.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/offchain/mod.rs
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ pub trait OffchainStorage: Clone + Send + Sync {
 
 /// A type of supported crypto.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, PassByEnum)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 #[repr(C)]
 pub enum StorageKind {
 	/// Persistent storage is non-revertible and not fork-aware. It means that any value
@@ -208,14 +208,14 @@ impl OpaqueMultiaddr {
 #[derive(
 	Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Ord, PartialOrd, Default, RuntimeDebug, PassByInner, Encode, Decode,
 )]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct Timestamp(u64);
 
 /// Duration type
 #[derive(
 	Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Ord, PartialOrd, Default, RuntimeDebug, PassByInner, Encode, Decode,
 )]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub struct Duration(u64);
 
 impl Duration {
diff --git a/primitives/core/src/sr25519.rs b/primitives/core/src/sr25519.rs
index fead9e2a09df3..cfcdd6a9fdd41 100644
--- a/primitives/core/src/sr25519.rs
+++ b/primitives/core/src/sr25519.rs
@@ -19,15 +19,20 @@
 //!
 //! Note: `CHAIN_CODE_LENGTH` must be equal to `crate::crypto::JUNCTION_ID_LEN`
 //! for this to work.
-
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
+use crate::crypto::DeriveJunction;
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use crate::crypto::Ss58Codec;
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
-use crate::crypto::{DeriveError, DeriveJunction, Pair as TraitPair, SecretStringError};
+use crate::crypto::{DeriveError, Pair as TraitPair, SecretStringError};
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
 use schnorrkel::{
-	derive::{ChainCode, Derivation, CHAIN_CODE_LENGTH},
-	signing_context, ExpansionMode, Keypair, MiniSecretKey, PublicKey, SecretKey,
+	derive::CHAIN_CODE_LENGTH, signing_context, ExpansionMode, Keypair, MiniSecretKey, SecretKey,
+};
+#[cfg(any(feature = "full_crypto", feature = "serde"))]
+use schnorrkel::{
+	derive::{ChainCode, Derivation},
+	PublicKey,
 };
 use sp_std::vec::Vec;
 
@@ -41,9 +46,11 @@ use sp_std::ops::Deref;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
 use schnorrkel::keys::{MINI_SECRET_KEY_LENGTH, SECRET_KEY_LENGTH};
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{de, Deserialize, Deserializer, Serialize, Serializer};
 use sp_runtime_interface::pass_by::PassByInner;
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::{format, string::String};
 
 // signing context
 #[cfg(feature = "full_crypto")]
@@ -176,7 +183,7 @@ impl sp_std::fmt::Debug for Public {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Serialize for Public {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -186,7 +193,7 @@ impl Serialize for Public {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Public {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
@@ -216,7 +223,7 @@ impl TryFrom<&[u8]> for Signature {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl Serialize for Signature {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -226,7 +233,7 @@ impl Serialize for Signature {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for Signature {
 	fn deserialize<D>(deserializer: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
@@ -339,7 +346,7 @@ impl Derive for Public {
 	/// Derive a child key from a series of given junctions.
 	///
 	/// `None` if there are any hard junctions in there.
-	#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+	#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 	fn derive<Iter: Iterator<Item = DeriveJunction>>(&self, path: Iter) -> Option<Public> {
 		let mut acc = PublicKey::from_bytes(self.as_ref()).ok()?;
 		for j in path {
diff --git a/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/Cargo.toml b/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/Cargo.toml
index cb3d6ddd51ad2..4d2c050899493 100644
--- a/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/Cargo.toml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features =
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
 log = { version = "0.4.17", default-features = false }
 mmr-lib = { package = "ckb-merkle-mountain-range", version = "0.5.2", default-features = false }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive", "alloc"], default-features = false, optional = true }
 sp-api = { version = "4.0.0-dev", default-features = false, path = "../api" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../core" }
 sp-debug-derive = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../debug-derive" }
@@ -33,10 +33,18 @@ std = [
 	"codec/std",
 	"log/std",
 	"mmr-lib/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-api/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
 	"sp-debug-derive/std",
 	"sp-runtime/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/src/lib.rs b/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/src/lib.rs
index 436755c032908..6c0e75005ead8 100644
--- a/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/merkle-mountain-range/src/lib.rs
@@ -101,13 +101,13 @@ impl<T: codec::Encode + codec::Decode + Clone + PartialEq + fmt::Debug> FullLeaf
 /// This type does not implement SCALE encoding/decoding on purpose to avoid confusion,
 /// it would have to be SCALE-compatible with the concrete leaf type, but due to SCALE limitations
 /// it's not possible to know how many bytes the encoding of concrete leaf type uses.
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 #[derive(RuntimeDebug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct OpaqueLeaf(
 	/// Raw bytes of the leaf type encoded in its compact form.
 	///
 	/// NOTE it DOES NOT include length prefix (like `Vec<u8>` encoding would).
-	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(with = "sp_core::bytes"))]
+	#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(with = "sp_core::bytes"))]
 	pub Vec<u8>,
 );
 
diff --git a/primitives/npos-elections/Cargo.toml b/primitives/npos-elections/Cargo.toml
index 50a7a5bcd6088..9006a4d199189 100644
--- a/primitives/npos-elections/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/npos-elections/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 sp-arithmetic = { version = "6.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../arithmetic" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../core" }
 sp-runtime = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../runtime" }
@@ -31,9 +31,18 @@ bench = []
 std = [
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-arithmetic/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
 	"sp-runtime/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-arithmetic/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/npos-elections/src/assignments.rs b/primitives/npos-elections/src/assignments.rs
index 9390cd1f4f9fc..2ac2b9bebd771 100644
--- a/primitives/npos-elections/src/assignments.rs
+++ b/primitives/npos-elections/src/assignments.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 //! Structs and helpers for distributing a voter's stake among various winners.
 
 use crate::{ExtendedBalance, IdentifierT, PerThing128};
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use codec::{Decode, Encode};
 use sp_arithmetic::{
 	traits::{Bounded, Zero},
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ use sp_std::vec::Vec;
 
 /// A voter's stake assignment among a set of targets, represented as ratios.
 #[derive(RuntimeDebug, Clone, Default)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode))]
 pub struct Assignment<AccountId, P: PerThing> {
 	/// Voter's identifier.
 	pub who: AccountId,
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ impl<AccountId: IdentifierT, P: PerThing128> Assignment<AccountId, P> {
 /// A voter's stake assignment among a set of targets, represented as absolute values in the scale
 /// of [`ExtendedBalance`].
 #[derive(RuntimeDebug, Clone, Default)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode))]
 pub struct StakedAssignment<AccountId> {
 	/// Voter's identifier
 	pub who: AccountId,
diff --git a/primitives/npos-elections/src/lib.rs b/primitives/npos-elections/src/lib.rs
index 716c4b283c68e..253a231602f77 100644
--- a/primitives/npos-elections/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/npos-elections/src/lib.rs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 
 use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sp_arithmetic::{traits::Zero, Normalizable, PerThing, Rational128, ThresholdOrd};
 use sp_core::{bounded::BoundedVec, RuntimeDebug};
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ pub type ExtendedBalance = u128;
 /// 2. `sum_stake`.
 /// 3. `sum_stake_squared`.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, MaxEncodedLen, TypeInfo, Debug, Default)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct ElectionScore {
 	/// The minimal winner, in terms of total backing stake.
 	///
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ pub struct ElectionResult<AccountId, P: PerThing> {
 /// This, at the current version, resembles the `Exposure` defined in the Staking pallet, yet they
 /// do not necessarily have to be the same.
 #[derive(RuntimeDebug, Encode, Decode, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct Support<AccountId> {
 	/// Total support.
 	pub total: ExtendedBalance,
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/Cargo.toml b/primitives/runtime/Cargo.toml
index 4ec55162e9774..0d67a89c38c03 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/runtime/Cargo.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ log = { version = "0.4.17", default-features = false }
 paste = "1.0"
 rand = { version = "0.8.5", optional = true }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 sp-application-crypto = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../application-crypto" }
 sp-arithmetic = { version = "6.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../arithmetic" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../core" }
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ std = [
 	"log/std",
 	"rand",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-application-crypto/std",
 	"sp-arithmetic/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
@@ -58,3 +58,13 @@ std = [
 	"sp-std/std",
 	"sp-weights/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-application-crypto/serde",
+	"sp-arithmetic/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-weights/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/block.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/block.rs
index 1df747a16c839..6261e412eb8ad 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/block.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/block.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 #[cfg(feature = "std")]
 use std::fmt;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::{
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ impl<Block: BlockT> fmt::Display for BlockId<Block> {
 
 /// Abstraction over a substrate block.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, scale_info::TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(deny_unknown_fields))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(deny_unknown_fields))]
 pub struct Block<Header, Extrinsic: MaybeSerialize> {
 	/// The block header.
 	pub header: Header,
@@ -114,9 +114,9 @@ where
 
 /// Abstraction over a substrate block and justification.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(deny_unknown_fields))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(deny_unknown_fields))]
 pub struct SignedBlock<Block> {
 	/// Full block.
 	pub block: Block,
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/digest.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/digest.rs
index 143fc2ce58d90..d7db0f91a4821 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/digest.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/digest.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,10 @@
 
 //! Generic implementation of a digest.
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::format;
 
 use sp_std::prelude::*;
 
@@ -34,7 +36,7 @@ use sp_core::RuntimeDebug;
 
 /// Generic header digest.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo, Default)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct Digest {
 	/// A list of logs in the digest.
 	pub logs: Vec<DigestItem>,
@@ -106,7 +108,7 @@ pub enum DigestItem {
 	RuntimeEnvironmentUpdated,
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl serde::Serialize for DigestItem {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, seq: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -116,7 +118,7 @@ impl serde::Serialize for DigestItem {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'a> serde::Deserialize<'a> for DigestItem {
 	fn deserialize<D>(de: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/era.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/era.rs
index 79dea7258c9e1..bdc7e9930fb1d 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/era.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/era.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 //! Generic implementation of an unchecked (pre-verification) extrinsic.
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 use crate::codec::{Decode, Encode, Error, Input, Output};
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ pub type Phase = u64;
 
 /// An era to describe the longevity of a transaction.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, Copy, sp_core::RuntimeDebug)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum Era {
 	/// The transaction is valid forever. The genesis hash must be present in the signed content.
 	Immortal,
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/header.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/header.rs
index e8b99efd42c75..7c1faaefb419a 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/header.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/header.rs
@@ -26,22 +26,22 @@ use crate::{
 		MaybeSerializeDeserialize, Member, SimpleBitOps,
 	},
 };
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sp_core::U256;
 use sp_std::fmt::Debug;
 
 /// Abstraction over a block header for a substrate chain.
 #[derive(Encode, Decode, PartialEq, Eq, Clone, sp_core::RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(deny_unknown_fields))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(deny_unknown_fields))]
 pub struct Header<Number: Copy + Into<U256> + TryFrom<U256>, Hash: HashT> {
 	/// The parent hash.
 	pub parent_hash: Hash::Output,
 	/// The block number.
 	#[cfg_attr(
-		feature = "std",
+		feature = "serde",
 		serde(serialize_with = "serialize_number", deserialize_with = "deserialize_number")
 	)]
 	#[codec(compact)]
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ pub struct Header<Number: Copy + Into<U256> + TryFrom<U256>, Hash: HashT> {
 	pub digest: Digest,
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub fn serialize_number<S, T: Copy + Into<U256> + TryFrom<U256>>(
 	val: &T,
 	s: S,
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ where
 	serde::Serialize::serialize(&u256, s)
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub fn deserialize_number<'a, D, T: Copy + Into<U256> + TryFrom<U256>>(d: D) -> Result<T, D::Error>
 where
 	D: serde::Deserializer<'a>,
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/unchecked_extrinsic.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/unchecked_extrinsic.rs
index d147e7b6c1505..b9d7b9eb1b6c8 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/generic/unchecked_extrinsic.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/generic/unchecked_extrinsic.rs
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ use crate::{
 use codec::{Compact, Decode, Encode, EncodeLike, Error, Input};
 use scale_info::{build::Fields, meta_type, Path, StaticTypeInfo, Type, TypeInfo, TypeParameter};
 use sp_io::hashing::blake2_256;
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::format;
 use sp_std::{fmt, prelude::*};
 
 /// Current version of the [`UncheckedExtrinsic`] encoded format.
@@ -317,7 +319,7 @@ where
 {
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<Address: Encode, Signature: Encode, Call: Encode, Extra: SignedExtension> serde::Serialize
 	for UncheckedExtrinsic<Address, Call, Signature, Extra>
 {
@@ -329,7 +331,7 @@ impl<Address: Encode, Signature: Encode, Call: Encode, Extra: SignedExtension> s
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'a, Address: Decode, Signature: Decode, Call: Decode, Extra: SignedExtension>
 	serde::Deserialize<'a> for UncheckedExtrinsic<Address, Call, Signature, Extra>
 {
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/legacy/byte_sized_error.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/legacy/byte_sized_error.rs
index b552d6af3066e..a592c751231dc 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/legacy/byte_sized_error.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/legacy/byte_sized_error.rs
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@
 use crate::{ArithmeticError, TokenError};
 use codec::{Decode, Encode};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 /// [`ModuleError`] type definition before BlockBuilder API version 6.
 #[derive(Eq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct ModuleError {
 	/// Module index, matching the metadata module index.
 	pub index: u8,
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ pub struct ModuleError {
 	pub error: u8,
 	/// Optional error message.
 	#[codec(skip)]
-	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(skip_deserializing))]
+	#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(skip_deserializing))]
 	pub message: Option<&'static str>,
 }
 
@@ -45,12 +45,12 @@ impl PartialEq for ModuleError {
 
 /// [`DispatchError`] type definition before BlockBuilder API version 6.
 #[derive(Eq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo, PartialEq)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum DispatchError {
 	/// Some error occurred.
 	Other(
 		#[codec(skip)]
-		#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(skip_deserializing))]
+		#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(skip_deserializing))]
 		&'static str,
 	),
 	/// Failed to lookup some data.
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/lib.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/lib.rs
index 13ef157dff19e..7be5bebf5de80 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/lib.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 pub use codec;
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use scale_info;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 #[doc(hidden)]
 pub use serde;
 #[doc(hidden)]
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ use sp_std::prelude::*;
 
 use codec::{Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
+#[cfg(all(not(feature = "std"), feature = "serde"))]
+use sp_std::alloc::format;
 
 pub mod curve;
 pub mod generic;
@@ -122,7 +124,7 @@ pub type EncodedJustification = Vec<u8>;
 
 /// Collection of justifications for a given block, multiple justifications may
 /// be provided by different consensus engines for the same block.
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode)]
 pub struct Justifications(Vec<Justification>);
 
@@ -179,7 +181,7 @@ impl From<Justification> for Justifications {
 use traits::{Lazy, Verify};
 
 use crate::traits::IdentifyAccount;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 pub use serde::{de::DeserializeOwned, Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 /// Complex storage builder stuff.
@@ -235,7 +237,7 @@ impl BuildStorage for () {
 pub type ConsensusEngineId = [u8; 4];
 
 /// Signature verify that can work with any known signature types.
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Encode, Decode, MaxEncodedLen, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
 pub enum MultiSignature {
 	/// An Ed25519 signature.
@@ -299,7 +301,7 @@ impl TryFrom<MultiSignature> for ecdsa::Signature {
 
 /// Public key for any known crypto algorithm.
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Ord, PartialOrd, Clone, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum MultiSigner {
 	/// An Ed25519 identity.
 	Ed25519(ed25519::Public),
@@ -427,7 +429,7 @@ impl Verify for MultiSignature {
 
 /// Signature verify that can work with any known signature types..
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Default, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct AnySignature(H512);
 
 impl Verify for AnySignature {
@@ -475,7 +477,7 @@ pub type DispatchResultWithInfo<T> = sp_std::result::Result<T, DispatchErrorWith
 
 /// Reason why a pallet call failed.
 #[derive(Eq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo, MaxEncodedLen)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct ModuleError {
 	/// Module index, matching the metadata module index.
 	pub index: u8,
@@ -483,7 +485,7 @@ pub struct ModuleError {
 	pub error: [u8; MAX_MODULE_ERROR_ENCODED_SIZE],
 	/// Optional error message.
 	#[codec(skip)]
-	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(skip_deserializing))]
+	#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(skip_deserializing))]
 	pub message: Option<&'static str>,
 }
 
@@ -495,7 +497,7 @@ impl PartialEq for ModuleError {
 
 /// Errors related to transactional storage layers.
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo, MaxEncodedLen)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum TransactionalError {
 	/// Too many transactional layers have been spawned.
 	LimitReached,
@@ -520,12 +522,12 @@ impl From<TransactionalError> for DispatchError {
 
 /// Reason why a dispatch call failed.
 #[derive(Eq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo, PartialEq, MaxEncodedLen)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum DispatchError {
 	/// Some error occurred.
 	Other(
 		#[codec(skip)]
-		#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(skip_deserializing))]
+		#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(skip_deserializing))]
 		&'static str,
 	),
 	/// Failed to lookup some data.
@@ -605,7 +607,7 @@ impl From<crate::traits::BadOrigin> for DispatchError {
 
 /// Description of what went wrong when trying to complete an operation on a token.
 #[derive(Eq, PartialEq, Clone, Copy, Encode, Decode, Debug, TypeInfo, MaxEncodedLen)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub enum TokenError {
 	/// Funds are unavailable.
 	FundsUnavailable,
@@ -879,7 +881,7 @@ impl sp_std::fmt::Debug for OpaqueExtrinsic {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl ::serde::Serialize for OpaqueExtrinsic {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, seq: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
@@ -889,7 +891,7 @@ impl ::serde::Serialize for OpaqueExtrinsic {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'a> ::serde::Deserialize<'a> for OpaqueExtrinsic {
 	fn deserialize<D>(de: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error>
 	where
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/runtime_string.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/runtime_string.rs
index f8f183ec785c4..aa0bd52e56fe4 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/runtime_string.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/runtime_string.rs
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for RuntimeString {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl serde::Serialize for RuntimeString {
 	fn serialize<S: serde::Serializer>(&self, serializer: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error> {
 		match self {
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ impl serde::Serialize for RuntimeString {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl<'de> serde::Deserialize<'de> for RuntimeString {
 	fn deserialize<D: serde::Deserializer<'de>>(de: D) -> Result<Self, D::Error> {
-		String::deserialize(de).map(Self::Owned)
+		Ok(Self::Owned(serde::Deserialize::deserialize(de)?))
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/traits.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/traits.rs
index 95f977077e704..d37db4802d78f 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/traits.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/traits.rs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ use crate::{
 	DispatchResult,
 };
 use impl_trait_for_tuples::impl_for_tuples;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{de::DeserializeOwned, Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sp_application_crypto::AppCrypto;
 pub use sp_arithmetic::traits::{
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ pub trait Hash:
 
 /// Blake2-256 Hash implementation.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct BlakeTwo256;
 
 impl Hasher for BlakeTwo256 {
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ impl Hash for BlakeTwo256 {
 
 /// Keccak-256 Hash implementation.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Clone, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct Keccak256;
 
 impl Hasher for Keccak256 {
@@ -824,11 +824,13 @@ sp_core::impl_maybe_marker!(
 
 	/// A type that implements Hash when in std environment.
 	trait MaybeHash: sp_std::hash::Hash;
+);
 
-	/// A type that implements Serialize when in std environment.
+sp_core::impl_maybe_marker_std_or_serde!(
+	/// A type that implements Serialize when in std environment or serde feature is activated.
 	trait MaybeSerialize: Serialize;
 
-	/// A type that implements Serialize, DeserializeOwned and Debug when in std environment.
+	/// A type that implements Serialize, DeserializeOwned and Debug when in std environment or serde feature is activated.
 	trait MaybeSerializeDeserialize: DeserializeOwned, Serialize;
 );
 
diff --git a/primitives/runtime/src/transaction_validity.rs b/primitives/runtime/src/transaction_validity.rs
index 072609c667b41..836948493823c 100644
--- a/primitives/runtime/src/transaction_validity.rs
+++ b/primitives/runtime/src/transaction_validity.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ pub type TransactionTag = Vec<u8>;
 
 /// An invalid transaction validity.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, Copy, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub enum InvalidTransaction {
 	/// The call of the transaction is not expected.
 	Call,
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ impl From<InvalidTransaction> for &'static str {
 
 /// An unknown transaction validity.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, Copy, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub enum UnknownTransaction {
 	/// Could not lookup some information that is required to validate the transaction.
 	CannotLookup,
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ impl From<UnknownTransaction> for &'static str {
 
 /// Errors that can occur while checking the validity of a transaction.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, Copy, RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize))]
 pub enum TransactionValidityError {
 	/// The transaction is invalid.
 	Invalid(InvalidTransaction),
diff --git a/primitives/storage/Cargo.toml b/primitives/storage/Cargo.toml
index 72ebc40fc1135..c8271669f6721 100644
--- a/primitives/storage/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/storage/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,12 +15,24 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-impl-serde = { version = "0.4.0", optional = true }
+impl-serde = { version = "0.4.0", optional = true, default-features = false }
 ref-cast = "1.0.0"
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 sp-debug-derive = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../debug-derive" }
 sp-std = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../std" }
 
 [features]
 default = [ "std" ]
-std = [ "codec/std", "impl-serde", "serde", "sp-debug-derive/std", "sp-std/std" ]
+std = [
+	"codec/std",
+	"impl-serde/std",
+	"serde/std",
+	"sp-debug-derive/std",
+	"sp-std/std",
+]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"impl-serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/storage/src/lib.rs b/primitives/storage/src/lib.rs
index 032a236a0ceb9..aa1bc8e305c9b 100644
--- a/primitives/storage/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/storage/src/lib.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 
 use core::fmt::Display;
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use sp_debug_derive::RuntimeDebug;
 
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ use sp_std::{
 /// Storage key.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, RuntimeDebug)]
 #[cfg_attr(
-	feature = "std",
+	feature = "serde",
 	derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Clone, Encode, Decode)
 )]
 pub struct StorageKey(
-	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(with = "impl_serde::serialize"))] pub Vec<u8>,
+	#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(with = "impl_serde::serialize"))] pub Vec<u8>,
 );
 
 impl AsRef<[u8]> for StorageKey {
@@ -100,11 +100,11 @@ impl From<Vec<u8>> for TrackedStorageKey {
 
 /// Storage key of a child trie, it contains the prefix to the key.
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, RuntimeDebug)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Clone))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Clone))]
 #[repr(transparent)]
 #[derive(RefCast)]
 pub struct PrefixedStorageKey(
-	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(with = "impl_serde::serialize"))] Vec<u8>,
+	#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(with = "impl_serde::serialize"))] Vec<u8>,
 );
 
 impl Deref for PrefixedStorageKey {
@@ -142,11 +142,11 @@ impl PrefixedStorageKey {
 /// Storage data associated to a [`StorageKey`].
 #[derive(PartialEq, Eq, RuntimeDebug)]
 #[cfg_attr(
-	feature = "std",
+	feature = "serde",
 	derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Clone, Encode, Decode, Default)
 )]
 pub struct StorageData(
-	#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(with = "impl_serde::serialize"))] pub Vec<u8>,
+	#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(with = "impl_serde::serialize"))] pub Vec<u8>,
 );
 
 /// Map of data to use in a storage, it is a collection of
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ pub struct Storage {
 
 /// Storage change set
 #[derive(RuntimeDebug)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize, PartialEq, Eq))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
 pub struct StorageChangeSet<Hash> {
 	/// Block hash
 	pub block: Hash,
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ pub const TRIE_VALUE_NODE_THRESHOLD: u32 = 33;
 
 /// Information related to a child state.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Encode, Decode))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Encode, Decode))]
 pub enum ChildInfo {
 	/// This is the one used by default.
 	ParentKeyId(ChildTrieParentKeyId),
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ impl ChildType {
 /// to be a unique id that will be use only once. Those unique id also required to be long enough to
 /// avoid any unique id to be prefixed by an other unique id.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Encode, Decode))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(PartialEq, Eq, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord, Encode, Decode))]
 pub struct ChildTrieParentKeyId {
 	/// Data is the storage key without prefix.
 	data: Vec<u8>,
diff --git a/primitives/test-primitives/Cargo.toml b/primitives/test-primitives/Cargo.toml
index f6d57ce70fc05..77df69b9d1455 100644
--- a/primitives/test-primitives/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/test-primitives/Cargo.toml
@@ -14,10 +14,11 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.1.1", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, features = ["derive"], optional = true }
 sp-application-crypto = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../application-crypto" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../core" }
 sp-runtime = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../runtime" }
+sp-std = { version = "5.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../std" }
 
 [features]
 default = [
@@ -25,9 +26,18 @@ default = [
 ]
 std = [
 	"codec/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-application-crypto/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
 	"sp-runtime/std",
+	"sp-std/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"sp-application-crypto/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/test-primitives/src/lib.rs b/primitives/test-primitives/src/lib.rs
index 035acc7a35ef6..913cb762d92a5 100644
--- a/primitives/test-primitives/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/test-primitives/src/lib.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ use sp_application_crypto::sr25519;
 
 pub use sp_core::{hash::H256, RuntimeDebug};
 use sp_runtime::traits::{BlakeTwo256, Extrinsic as ExtrinsicT, Verify};
+use sp_std::vec::Vec;
 
 /// Extrinsic for test-runtime.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Decode, RuntimeDebug, scale_info::TypeInfo)]
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ pub enum Extrinsic {
 	StorageChange(Vec<u8>, Option<Vec<u8>>),
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 impl serde::Serialize for Extrinsic {
 	fn serialize<S>(&self, seq: S) -> Result<S::Ok, S::Error>
 	where
diff --git a/primitives/version/Cargo.toml b/primitives/version/Cargo.toml
index 6b425aa7b9d27..9cebb8f01d82e 100644
--- a/primitives/version/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/version/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,10 +15,10 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-impl-serde = { version = "0.4.0", optional = true }
+impl-serde = { version = "0.4.0", default-features = false, optional = true }
 parity-wasm = { version = "0.45", optional = true }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", features = ["derive"], optional = true }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136",  default-features = false, features = ["derive", "alloc"], optional = true }
 thiserror = { version = "1.0.30", optional = true }
 sp-core-hashing-proc-macro = { version = "5.0.0", path = "../core/hashing/proc-macro" }
 sp-runtime = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../runtime" }
@@ -29,11 +29,18 @@ sp-version-proc-macro = { version = "4.0.0-dev", default-features = false, path
 default = ["std"]
 std = [
 	"codec/std",
-	"impl-serde",
+	"impl-serde/std",
 	"parity-wasm",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-runtime/std",
 	"sp-std/std",
 	"thiserror",
 ]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"impl-serde",
+	"sp-runtime/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/version/src/lib.rs b/primitives/version/src/lib.rs
index 214606acc534a..bd8408bb4a48a 100644
--- a/primitives/version/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/version/src/lib.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 
 #![cfg_attr(not(feature = "std"), no_std)]
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 #[cfg(feature = "std")]
 use std::collections::HashSet;
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ macro_rules! create_apis_vec {
 /// `authoring_version`, absolutely not `impl_version` since they change the semantics of the
 /// runtime.
 #[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Encode, Default, sp_runtime::RuntimeDebug, TypeInfo)]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(rename_all = "camelCase"))]
 pub struct RuntimeVersion {
 	/// Identifies the different Substrate runtimes. There'll be at least polkadot and node.
 	/// A different on-chain spec_name to that of the native runtime would normally result
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ pub struct RuntimeVersion {
 
 	/// List of supported API "features" along with their versions.
 	#[cfg_attr(
-		feature = "std",
+		feature = "serde",
 		serde(
 			serialize_with = "apis_serialize::serialize",
 			deserialize_with = "apis_serialize::deserialize",
@@ -389,11 +389,12 @@ impl<T: GetNativeVersion> GetNativeVersion for std::sync::Arc<T> {
 	}
 }
 
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 mod apis_serialize {
 	use super::*;
 	use impl_serde::serialize as bytes;
 	use serde::{de, ser::SerializeTuple, Serializer};
+	use sp_std::vec::Vec;
 
 	#[derive(Serialize)]
 	struct ApiId<'a>(#[serde(serialize_with = "serialize_bytesref")] &'a super::ApiId, &'a u32);
@@ -428,7 +429,7 @@ mod apis_serialize {
 		impl<'de> de::Visitor<'de> for Visitor {
 			type Value = ApisVec;
 
-			fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut fmt::Formatter) -> fmt::Result {
+			fn expecting(&self, formatter: &mut sp_std::fmt::Formatter) -> sp_std::fmt::Result {
 				formatter.write_str("a sequence of api id and version tuples")
 			}
 
diff --git a/primitives/weights/Cargo.toml b/primitives/weights/Cargo.toml
index af1b5647e24d7..534d790884794 100644
--- a/primitives/weights/Cargo.toml
+++ b/primitives/weights/Cargo.toml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ targets = ["x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu"]
 [dependencies]
 codec = { package = "parity-scale-codec", version = "3.2.2", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
 scale-info = { version = "2.5.0", default-features = false, features = ["derive"] }
-serde = { version = "1.0.136", optional = true, features = ["derive"] }
+serde = { version = "1.0.136", default-features = false, optional = true, features = ["derive", "alloc"] }
 smallvec = "1.8.0"
 sp-arithmetic = { version = "6.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../arithmetic" }
 sp-core = { version = "7.0.0", default-features = false, path = "../core" }
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ default = [ "std" ]
 std = [
 	"codec/std",
 	"scale-info/std",
-	"serde",
+	"serde/std",
 	"sp-arithmetic/std",
 	"sp-core/std",
 	"sp-debug-derive/std",
@@ -36,3 +36,11 @@ std = [
 # By default some types have documentation, `full-metadata-docs` allows to add documentation to
 # more types in the metadata.
 full-metadata-docs = ["scale-info/docs"]
+
+# Serde support without relying on std features.
+serde = [
+	"dep:serde",
+	"scale-info/serde",
+	"sp-arithmetic/serde",
+	"sp-core/serde",
+]
diff --git a/primitives/weights/src/lib.rs b/primitives/weights/src/lib.rs
index 55d9104b00b77..36cf864dd5389 100644
--- a/primitives/weights/src/lib.rs
+++ b/primitives/weights/src/lib.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ mod weight_v2;
 
 use codec::{CompactAs, Decode, Encode, MaxEncodedLen};
 use scale_info::TypeInfo;
-#[cfg(feature = "std")]
+#[cfg(feature = "serde")]
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 use smallvec::SmallVec;
 use sp_arithmetic::{
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ pub mod constants {
 	MaxEncodedLen,
 	TypeInfo,
 )]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", serde(transparent))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", serde(transparent))]
 #[deprecated(note = "Will be removed soon; use `Weight` instead.")]
 pub struct OldWeight(pub u64);
 
diff --git a/primitives/weights/src/weight_v2.rs b/primitives/weights/src/weight_v2.rs
index cb1cedf18ce87..2aede666dd3da 100644
--- a/primitives/weights/src/weight_v2.rs
+++ b/primitives/weights/src/weight_v2.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ use super::*;
 #[derive(
 	Encode, Decode, MaxEncodedLen, TypeInfo, Eq, PartialEq, Copy, Clone, RuntimeDebug, Default,
 )]
-#[cfg_attr(feature = "std", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
+#[cfg_attr(feature = "serde", derive(Serialize, Deserialize))]
 pub struct Weight {
 	#[codec(compact)]
 	/// The weight of computational time used based on some reference hardware.