diff --git a/src/Serializer.cpp b/src/Serializer.cpp
index 0962338b48..16d14a829a 100644
--- a/src/Serializer.cpp
+++ b/src/Serializer.cpp
@@ -213,6 +213,11 @@ uint256 Serializer::getSHA512Half(const unsigned char *data, int len)
 	return j[0];
 }
 
+uint256 Serializer::getSHA512Half(const std::string& strData)
+{
+    return getSHA512Half(reinterpret_cast<const unsigned char*>(strData.c_str()), strData.size());
+}
+
 bool Serializer::checkSignature(int pubkeyOffset, int signatureOffset) const
 {
 	std::vector<unsigned char> pubkey, signature;
diff --git a/src/Serializer.h b/src/Serializer.h
index 0573ef3be0..1a038251c0 100644
--- a/src/Serializer.h
+++ b/src/Serializer.h
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ class Serializer
 	uint256 getSHA512Half(int size=-1) const;
 	static uint256 getSHA512Half(const std::vector<unsigned char>& data, int size=-1);
 	static uint256 getSHA512Half(const unsigned char *data, int len);
+	static uint256 getSHA512Half(const std::string& strData);
 
 	// totality functions
 	int getLength() const { return mData.size(); }