diff --git a/.gitmodules b/.gitmodules
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4960fc5ca9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitmodules
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+[submodule "exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto"]
+	path = exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto
+	url = https://github.com/exonum/exonum-proto-sources.git
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9ed007afc7..375f7759b2 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ You need to install the following dependencies:
   To install a specific Rust version, use `rustup install 1.36.0` command.
   * The [system dependencies](https://exonum.com/doc/version/0.12/get-started/install/) of Exonum. 
   You do _not_ need to manually fetch and compile Exonum.
+
   __Important__: On Mac OS it is necessary to install RocksDB
   package and to set the environment variable `ROCKSDB_LIB_DIR`.
   To install the package via Homebrew:
@@ -36,6 +37,11 @@ You need to install the following dependencies:
   Also on Mac you need a [`coreutils`](https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/coreutils) package installed.
 
 ### Building
+__Important__: Keep in mind that project contains git submodules and extra steps are required
+to init and/or update them:
+  * `git submodule update --init` before the first build
+  * `git submodule update` when the submodule revision changes.
+
 Set required environment variables, once in a shell you use to build the project:
 ```$sh
 $ source exonum-java-binding/tests_profile
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/pom.xml b/exonum-java-binding/common/pom.xml
index f16cc1375d..4c3b15d8f0 100644
--- a/exonum-java-binding/common/pom.xml
+++ b/exonum-java-binding/common/pom.xml
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@
             </goals>
             <configuration>
               <protocArtifact>com.google.protobuf:protoc:${protobuf.version}:exe:${os.detected.classifier}</protocArtifact>
+              <protoSourceRoot>${basedir}/src/main/proto/src</protoSourceRoot>
             </configuration>
           </execution>
         </executions>
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto
new file mode 160000
index 0000000000..1c0eb41fa9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Subproject commit 1c0eb41fa952b60c5709be616470d0b3fcf34300
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/blockchain.proto b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/blockchain.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index c194ea9ff1..0000000000
--- a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/blockchain.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,68 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019 The Exonum Team
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
-
-syntax = "proto3";
-
-package exonum;
-
-import "types.proto";
-
-option java_package = "com.exonum.binding.messages";
-
-message Block {
-  uint32 proposer_id = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-  uint32 tx_count = 3;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash prev_hash = 4;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash tx_hash = 5;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash state_hash = 6;
-}
-
-message TxLocation {
-  uint64 block_height = 1;
-  uint64 position_in_block = 2;
-}
-
-// Consensus configuration parameters
-
-// Public keys of a validator.
-message ValidatorKeys {
-  // Consensus key is used for messages related to the consensus algorithm.
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey consensus_key = 1;
-  // Service key is used for services, for example, the configuration
-  // updater service, the anchoring service, etc.
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey service_key = 2;
-}
-
-// Consensus algorithm parameters.
-message Config {
-  // List of validators public keys.
-  repeated ValidatorKeys validator_keys = 1;
-  // Interval between first two rounds.
-  uint64 first_round_timeout = 2;
-  // Period of sending a Status message.
-  uint64 status_timeout = 3;
-  // Peer exchange timeout.
-  uint64 peers_timeout = 4;
-  // Maximum number of transactions per block.
-  uint32 txs_block_limit = 5;
-  // Maximum message length (in bytes).
-  uint32 max_message_len = 6;
-  // Minimal propose timeout.
-  uint64 min_propose_timeout = 7;
-  // Maximal propose timeout.
-  uint64 max_propose_timeout = 8;
-  // Amount of transactions in pool to start use `min_propose_timeout`.
-  uint32 propose_timeout_threshold = 9;
-}
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/common.proto b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/common.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 3b58e771ed..0000000000
--- a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/common.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019 The Exonum Team
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
-
-syntax = "proto3";
-
-package exonum.common;
-
-option java_package = "com.exonum.binding.messages";
-
-message BitVec {
-    bytes data = 1;
-    uint64 len = 2;
-}
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/consensus.proto b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/consensus.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index a2f0428ccf..0000000000
--- a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/consensus.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,143 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019 The Exonum Team
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
-
-// The messages collection for the default Exonum consensus implementation.
-
-syntax = "proto3";
-
-package exonum.consensus;
-
-option java_package = "com.exonum.binding.messages";
-
-import "types.proto";
-import "common.proto";
-import "blockchain.proto";
-import "runtime.proto";
-import "google/protobuf/timestamp.proto";
-
-// Container for the signed messages.
-//
-// Keep in mind, that:
-// hash(SignedMessage) = hash(payload || key.bytes || sign.bytes)
-message SignedMessage {
-  // Message payload.
-  bytes payload = 1;
-  // Message author.
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey author = 2;
-  // Digital signature.
-  exonum.crypto.Signature signature = 3;
-}
-
-// List of consensus messages
-
-message Connect {
-  string host = 1;
-  google.protobuf.Timestamp time = 2;
-  string user_agent = 3;
-}
-
-message Status {
-  uint64 height = 1;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash last_hash = 2;
-  uint64 pool_size = 3;
-}
-
-message Propose {
-  uint32 validator = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-  uint32 round = 3;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash prev_hash = 4;
-  repeated exonum.crypto.Hash transactions = 5;
-}
-
-message Prevote {
-  uint32 validator = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-  uint32 round = 3;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash propose_hash = 4;
-  uint32 locked_round = 5;
-}
-
-message Precommit {
-  uint32 validator = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-  uint32 round = 3;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash propose_hash = 4;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash block_hash = 5;
-  google.protobuf.Timestamp time = 6;
-}
-
-message BlockResponse {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-  exonum.Block block = 2;
-  repeated bytes precommits = 3;
-  repeated exonum.crypto.Hash transactions = 4;
-}
-
-message TransactionsResponse {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-  repeated bytes transactions = 2;
-}
-
-message ProposeRequest {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash propose_hash = 3;
-}
-
-message TransactionsRequest {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-  repeated exonum.crypto.Hash txs = 2;
-}
-
-message PrevotesRequest {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-  uint32 round = 3;
-  exonum.crypto.Hash propose_hash = 4;
-  exonum.common.BitVec validators = 5;
-}
-
-message PeersRequest { exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1; }
-
-message BlockRequest {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-  uint64 height = 2;
-}
-
-message PoolTransactionsRequest {
-  exonum.crypto.PublicKey to = 1;
-}
-
-message ExonumMessage {
-  oneof message {
-    exonum.runtime.AnyTx any_tx = 1;
-    Connect connect = 2;
-    Status status = 3;
-
-    Precommit precommit = 4;
-    Propose propose = 5;
-    Prevote prevote = 6;
-
-    TransactionsResponse transactions_response = 7;
-    BlockResponse block_response = 8;
-
-    ProposeRequest propose_request = 9;
-    TransactionsRequest transactions_request = 10;
-    PrevotesRequest prevotes_request = 11;
-    PeersRequest peers_request = 12;
-    BlockRequest block_request = 13;
-    PoolTransactionsRequest pool_transactions_request = 14;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/runtime.proto b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/runtime.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index 91449ebe87..0000000000
--- a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/runtime.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,88 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019 The Exonum Team
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
-
-syntax = "proto3";
-
-package exonum.runtime;
-
-/*
-  TODO: (All .proto) (1) Better package structure?
-    (2) Shall they all reside in common (i.e. are they all useful to any client)?
- */
-option java_package = "com.exonum.binding.messages";
-
-import "blockchain.proto";
-import "google/protobuf/empty.proto";
-
-// Unique service transaction identifier.
-message CallInfo {
-  // Unique service instance identifier. The dispatcher uses this identifier to find the
-  // corresponding runtime to execute a transaction.
-  uint32 instance_id = 1;
-  // Identifier of the method in the service interface required for the call.
-  uint32 method_id = 2;
-}
-
-message AnyTx {
-  CallInfo call_info = 1;
-  bytes arguments = 2;
-}
-
-message ArtifactId {
-  uint32 runtime_id = 1;
-  string name = 2;
-}
-
-message InstanceSpec {
-  uint32 id = 1;
-  string name = 2;
-  ArtifactId artifact = 3;
-}
-
-/// Result of unsuccessful runtime execution.
-message ExecutionError {
-  /// The kind of error that indicates in which module the error occurred.
-  uint32 kind = 1;
-  /// User defined error code that can have different meanings for the different
-  /// error kinds.
-  uint32 code = 2;
-  /// Optional description which doesn't affect `object_hash`.
-  string description = 3;
-}
-
-/// Result of runtime execution.
-message ExecutionStatus {
-  oneof result {
-    google.protobuf.Empty ok = 1;
-    ExecutionError error = 2;
-  }
-}
-
-// Configuration parameters of the certain service instance.
-message ServiceConfig {
-  // Corresponding service instance ID.
-  uint32 instance_id = 1;
-  // Raw bytes representation of service configuration parameters.
-  bytes params = 2;
-}
-
-// This message contains one atomic configuration change.
-message ConfigChange {
-  oneof message {
-    // New consensus config.
-    exonum.Config consensus = 1;
-    // New service instance config.
-    ServiceConfig service = 2;
-  }
-}
diff --git a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/types.proto b/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/types.proto
deleted file mode 100644
index c968fb52d3..0000000000
--- a/exonum-java-binding/common/src/main/proto/types.proto
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-// Copyright 2019 The Exonum Team
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
-
-syntax = "proto3";
-
-package exonum.crypto;
-
-option java_package = "com.exonum.binding.messages";
-
-message Hash { bytes data = 1; }
-
-message PublicKey { bytes data = 1; }
-
-message Signature { bytes data = 1; }