diff --git a/crypto/identity/public_key.py b/crypto/identity/public_key.py
index d32f2b0..cbea84e 100644
--- a/crypto/identity/public_key.py
+++ b/crypto/identity/public_key.py
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@ class PublicKey(object):
     def __init__(self, public_key: str):
         self.public_key = PubKey(unhexlify(public_key.encode()))
 
-    def to_hex(self) -> str:
-        return hexlify(self.public_key.format()).decode()
-
     @classmethod
     def from_passphrase(cls, passphrase: str) -> str:
         private_key = PrivateKey.from_passphrase(passphrase)
diff --git a/tests/identity/test_public_key.py b/tests/identity/test_public_key.py
index af10b8a..b704760 100644
--- a/tests/identity/test_public_key.py
+++ b/tests/identity/test_public_key.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+from binascii import hexlify
 from crypto.identity.public_key import PublicKey
 
 
@@ -9,4 +10,7 @@ def test_public_key_from_passphrase(identity):
 def test_public_key_from_hex(identity):
     public_key = PublicKey.from_hex(identity['data']['public_key'])
     assert isinstance(public_key, PublicKey)
-    assert public_key.to_hex() == identity['data']['public_key']
+
+    public_key_hex = hexlify(public_key.public_key.format()).decode()
+
+    assert public_key_hex == identity['data']['public_key']