diff --git a/bittensor/_subtensor/chain_data.py b/bittensor/_subtensor/chain_data.py
index 84a30649b6..fd4a9bb8c4 100644
--- a/bittensor/_subtensor/chain_data.py
+++ b/bittensor/_subtensor/chain_data.py
@@ -16,10 +16,10 @@
 # DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from typing import List, Tuple, Dict
+from typing import List, Tuple, Dict, Optional
 import bittensor
 from bittensor import Balance
-import scalecodec
+import json
 import torch
 
 
@@ -28,6 +28,17 @@
 U16_MAX = 65535
 U64_MAX = 18446744073709551615
 
+def json_from_vec_u8( vec_u8: List[int] ) -> Optional[Dict]:
+    r""" Returns a json dictionary from a bytes object.
+    """
+    if len(vec_u8) == 0:
+        return None
+
+    as_bytes = bytes(vec_u8)
+    as_json_str = as_bytes.decode('utf-8')
+    as_json = json.loads(as_json_str)
+    return as_json
+
 # Dataclasses for chain data.
 @dataclass
 class NeuronInfo:
@@ -57,6 +68,26 @@ class NeuronInfo:
     axon_info: 'AxonInfo'
     is_null: bool = False
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_vec_u8(cls, vec_u8: List[int]) -> 'NeuronInfo':
+        r""" Returns a NeuronInfo object from a vec_u8.
+        """
+        json = json_from_vec_u8(vec_u8)
+        if json is None:
+            return NeuronInfo._null_neuron() # return null neuron instead of None
+        
+        return NeuronInfo.from_json(json)
+    
+    @classmethod
+    def list_from_vec_u8(cls, vec_u8: List[int]) -> List['NeuronInfo']:
+        r""" Returns a list of NeuronInfo objects from a vec_u8.
+        """
+        json = json_from_vec_u8(vec_u8)
+        if json is None:
+            return []
+
+        return [NeuronInfo.from_json(neuron) for neuron in json]
+
     @classmethod
     def from_json(cls, json: Dict) -> 'NeuronInfo':
         r""" Returns a NeuronInfo object from a json dictionary.
@@ -78,8 +109,8 @@ def from_json(cls, json: Dict) -> 'NeuronInfo':
             dividends = json['dividends'] / U16_MAX,
             last_update = json['last_update'],
             validator_permit = json['validator_permit'],
-            weights = json['weights'],
-            bonds = json['bonds'],
+            weights = [ (uid, w) for uid, w in enumerate(json['weights']) ],
+            bonds = [ (uid, b) for uid, b in enumerate(json['bonds']) ],
             prometheus_info = PrometheusInfo.from_json(json['prometheus_info']),
             axon_info = AxonInfo.from_json(json['axon_info']),
         )
@@ -194,6 +225,26 @@ class DelegateInfo:
     owner_ss58: str # Coldkey of owner
     take: float # Take of the delegate as a percentage
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_vec_u8(cls, vec_u8: List[int]) -> Optional['DelegateInfo']:
+        r""" Returns a DelegateInfo object from a vec_u8.
+        """
+        json = json_from_vec_u8(vec_u8)
+        if json is None:
+            return None
+        
+        return DelegateInfo.from_json(json)
+    
+    @classmethod
+    def list_from_vec_u8(cls, vec_u8: List[int]) -> List['DelegateInfo']:
+        r""" Returns a list of DelegateInfo objects from a vec_u8.
+        """
+        json = json_from_vec_u8(vec_u8)
+        if json is None:
+            return []
+        
+        return [DelegateInfo.from_json(delegate) for delegate in json]
+
     @classmethod
     def from_json(cls, json: Dict) -> 'DelegateInfo':
         r""" Returns a DelegateInfo object from a json dictionary.
@@ -243,6 +294,26 @@ class SubnetInfo:
     connection_requirements: Dict[str, int] # netuid -> connection requirements
     emission_value: float
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_vec_u8(cls, vec_u8: List[int]) -> Optional['SubnetInfo']:
+        r""" Returns a SubnetInfo object from a vec_u8.
+        """
+        json = json_from_vec_u8(vec_u8)
+        if json is None:
+            return None
+        
+        return SubnetInfo.from_json(json)
+    
+    @classmethod
+    def list_from_vec_u8(cls, vec_u8: List[int]) -> List['SubnetInfo']:
+        r""" Returns a list of SubnetInfo objects from a vec_u8.
+        """
+        json = json_from_vec_u8(vec_u8)
+        if json is None:
+            return []
+        
+        return [SubnetInfo.from_json(subnet) for subnet in json]
+
     @classmethod
     def from_json(cls, json: Dict) -> 'SubnetInfo':
         r""" Returns a SubnetInfo object from a json dictionary.
diff --git a/bittensor/_subtensor/subtensor_impl.py b/bittensor/_subtensor/subtensor_impl.py
index 646f64b7e6..bf856b4990 100644
--- a/bittensor/_subtensor/subtensor_impl.py
+++ b/bittensor/_subtensor/subtensor_impl.py
@@ -630,10 +630,10 @@ def make_substrate_call_with_retry():
         json_body = make_substrate_call_with_retry()
         result = json_body['result']
 
-        if result == None:
+        if result in (None, []):
             return []
         
-        return [ SubnetInfo.from_json(subnet_info) for subnet_info in result ]
+        return SubnetInfo.list_from_vec_u8( result )
 
     def get_subnet_info( self, netuid: int, block: Optional[int] = None ) -> Optional[SubnetInfo]:
         @retry(delay=2, tries=3, backoff=2, max_delay=4)
@@ -651,10 +651,10 @@ def make_substrate_call_with_retry():
         json_body = make_substrate_call_with_retry()
         result = json_body['result']
 
-        if result == None:
+        if result in (None, []):
             return None
         
-        return SubnetInfo.from_json(result)
+        return SubnetInfo.from_vec_u8( result )
         
     ####################
     #### Nomination ####
@@ -688,10 +688,12 @@ def make_substrate_call_with_retry(encoded_hotkey: List[int]):
         hotkey_bytes: bytes = bittensor.utils.ss58_address_to_bytes( hotkey_ss58 )
         encoded_hotkey: List[int] = [ int( byte ) for byte in hotkey_bytes ]
         json_body = make_substrate_call_with_retry(encoded_hotkey)
-        if json_body['result'] == None:
+        result = json_body['result']
+
+        if result in (None, []):
             return None
             
-        return DelegateInfo.from_json( json_body['result'] )
+        return DelegateInfo.from_vec_u8( result )
 
     def get_delegates( self, block: Optional[int] = None ) -> List[DelegateInfo]:
         @retry(delay=2, tries=3, backoff=2, max_delay=4)
@@ -706,10 +708,12 @@ def make_substrate_call_with_retry():
                     params=params
                 )
         json_body = make_substrate_call_with_retry()
-        if json_body['result'] == None:
+        result = json_body['result']
+
+        if result in (None, []):
             return []
 
-        return [DelegateInfo.from_json( delegate ) for delegate in json_body['result']]
+        return DelegateInfo.list_from_vec_u8( result )
 
 
     ########################################
@@ -779,9 +783,12 @@ def make_substrate_call_with_retry():
                     params=params
                 )
         json_body = make_substrate_call_with_retry()
-        if json_body['result'] == None:
+        result = json_body['result']
+
+        if result in (None, []):
             return NeuronInfo._null_neuron()
-        return NeuronInfo.from_json( json_body['result'] ) 
+        
+        return NeuronInfo.from_vec_u8( result ) 
 
     def neurons(self, netuid: int, block: Optional[int] = None ) -> List[NeuronInfo]: 
         r""" Returns a list of neuron from the chain. 
@@ -808,8 +815,11 @@ def make_substrate_call_with_retry():
         
         json_body = make_substrate_call_with_retry()
         result = json_body['result']
+
+        if result in (None, []):
+            return []
         
-        return [ NeuronInfo.from_json( neuron ) for neuron in result ]
+        return NeuronInfo.list_from_vec_u8( result )
 
     def metagraph( self, netuid: int, block: Optional[int] = None ) -> 'bittensor.Metagraph':
         r""" Returns the metagraph for the subnet.