diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 349524353..57bb525c5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+# 1.4.0
+
+Features:
+
+* [joeyhub] Nuked blob, in future objects should not represent types as it gobbles up memory and CPU plus makes the code 10 times larger than it needs to be.
+
 # 1.3.2
 
 Features:
diff --git a/ext/config.m4 b/ext/config.m4
index d479d9044..4a13dc28e 100644
--- a/ext/config.m4
+++ b/ext/config.m4
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ if test "$PHP_CASSANDRA" != "no"; then
     src/Aggregate.c \
     src/BatchStatement.c \
     src/Bigint.c \
-    src/Blob.c \
     src/Cluster.c \
     src/Cluster/Builder.c \
     src/Collection.c \
@@ -268,19 +267,19 @@ if test "$PHP_CASSANDRA" != "no"; then
   PHP_ADD_LIBRARY(m,, CASSANDRA_SHARED_LIBADD)
 
   if test "$PHP_CASSANDRA" != "yes"; then
-    if test -f $PHP_CASSANDRA/include/cassandra.h; then
+    if test -f $PHP_CASSANDRA/include/cassandra/cassandra.h; then
       CPP_DRIVER_DIR=$PHP_CASSANDRA
     fi
   else
     for i in /usr/local /usr; do
-      if test -f $i/include/cassandra.h; then
+      if test -f $i/include/cassandra/cassandra.h; then
         CPP_DRIVER_DIR=$i
       fi
     done
   fi
 
   AC_MSG_CHECKING([for supported DataStax C/C++ driver version])
-  PHP_CASSANDRA_FOUND_CASSANDRA_VERSION=`$AWK '/CASS_VERSION_MAJOR/ {printf $3"."} /CASS_VERSION_MINOR/ {printf $3"."} /CASS_VERSION_PATCH/ {printf $3}' $CPP_DRIVER_DIR/include/cassandra.h`
+  PHP_CASSANDRA_FOUND_CASSANDRA_VERSION=`$AWK '/CASS_VERSION_MAJOR/ {printf $3"."} /CASS_VERSION_MINOR/ {printf $3"."} /CASS_VERSION_PATCH/ {printf $3}' $CPP_DRIVER_DIR/include/cassandra/cassandra.h`
   PHP_CASSANDRA_FOUND_CASSANDRA_VERSION_NUMBER=`echo "${PHP_CASSANDRA_FOUND_CASSANDRA_VERSION}" | $AWK 'BEGIN { FS = "."; } { printf "%d", ([$]1 * 100 + [$]2) * 100 + [$]3;}'`
   if test "$PHP_CASSANDRA_FOUND_CASSANDRA_VERSION_NUMBER" -lt "20700"; then
   AC_MSG_ERROR([not supported. Driver version 2.7.0+ required (found $PHP_CASSANDRA_FOUND_CASSANDRA_VERSION)])
diff --git a/ext/config.w32 b/ext/config.w32
index a057cdb90..94833896e 100644
--- a/ext/config.w32
+++ b/ext/config.w32
@@ -100,7 +100,6 @@ if (PHP_CASSANDRA != "no") {
               "Aggregate.c " +
               "BatchStatement.c " +
               "Bigint.c " +
-              "Blob.c " +
               "Cluster.c " +
               "Collection.c " +
               "Column.c " +
diff --git a/ext/doc/Cassandra/Blob.php b/ext/doc/Cassandra/Blob.php
deleted file mode 100644
index 9ded7f803..000000000
--- a/ext/doc/Cassandra/Blob.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,61 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * Copyright 2017 DataStax, Inc.
- *
- * 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.
- */
-
-namespace Cassandra;
-
-/**
- * A PHP representation of the CQL `blob` datatype
- */
-final class Blob implements Value {
-
-    /**
-     * Creates a new bytes array.
-     *
-     * @param string $bytes any bytes
-     */
-    public function __construct($bytes) { }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns bytes as a hex string.
-     *
-     * @return string bytes as hexadecimal string
-     */
-    public function __toString() { }
-
-    /**
-     * The type of this blob.
-     *
-     * @return \Cassandra\Type
-     */
-    public function type() { }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns bytes as a hex string.
-     *
-     * @return string bytes as hexadecimal string
-     */
-    public function bytes() { }
-
-    /**
-     * Returns bytes as a binary string.
-     *
-     * @return string bytes as binary string
-     */
-    public function toBinaryString() { }
-
-}
diff --git a/ext/doc/Cassandra/Value.php b/ext/doc/Cassandra/Value.php
index 96e89bb58..61b6436d2 100644
--- a/ext/doc/Cassandra/Value.php
+++ b/ext/doc/Cassandra/Value.php
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
  * @see Bigint
  * @see Smallint
  * @see Tinyint
- * @see Blob
  * @see Collection
  * @see Float
  * @see Inet
diff --git a/ext/package.xml b/ext/package.xml
index 79aa07907..5eec50d7e 100644
--- a/ext/package.xml
+++ b/ext/package.xml
@@ -40,8 +40,6 @@ protocol and Cassandra Query Language v3.
       <file role="src" name="src/BatchStatement.c" />
       <file role="src" name="src/Bigint.c" />
       <file role="src" name="src/Bigint.h" />
-      <file role="src" name="src/Blob.c" />
-      <file role="src" name="src/Blob.h" />
       <file role="src" name="src/Cluster.c" />
       <file role="src" name="src/Cluster/Builder.c" />
       <file role="src" name="src/Collection.c" />
@@ -194,7 +192,6 @@ protocol and Cassandra Query Language v3.
       <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/Aggregate.php" />
       <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/BatchStatement.php" />
       <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/Bigint.php" />
-      <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/Blob.php" />
       <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/Cluster.php" />
       <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/Cluster/Builder.php" />
       <file role="doc" name="doc/Cassandra/Collection.php" />
diff --git a/ext/php_driver.c b/ext/php_driver.c
index 14b7a31dc..fd6982918 100644
--- a/ext/php_driver.c
+++ b/ext/php_driver.c
@@ -416,7 +416,6 @@ static PHP_GINIT_FUNCTION(php_driver)
   php_driver_globals->persistent_sessions = 0;
   PHP5TO7_ZVAL_UNDEF(php_driver_globals->type_varchar);
   PHP5TO7_ZVAL_UNDEF(php_driver_globals->type_text);
-  PHP5TO7_ZVAL_UNDEF(php_driver_globals->type_blob);
   PHP5TO7_ZVAL_UNDEF(php_driver_globals->type_ascii);
   PHP5TO7_ZVAL_UNDEF(php_driver_globals->type_bigint);
   PHP5TO7_ZVAL_UNDEF(php_driver_globals->type_smallint);
@@ -485,7 +484,6 @@ PHP_MINIT_FUNCTION(php_driver)
   php_driver_define_Bigint(TSRMLS_C);
   php_driver_define_Smallint(TSRMLS_C);
   php_driver_define_Tinyint(TSRMLS_C);
-  php_driver_define_Blob(TSRMLS_C);
   php_driver_define_Decimal(TSRMLS_C);
   php_driver_define_Float(TSRMLS_C);
   php_driver_define_Inet(TSRMLS_C);
diff --git a/ext/php_driver.h b/ext/php_driver.h
index bc42b6fcf..5613dadd5 100644
--- a/ext/php_driver.h
+++ b/ext/php_driver.h
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <gmp.h>
-#include <cassandra.h>
+#include <cassandra/cassandra.h>
 
 /* Ensure Visual Studio 2010 does not load MSVC++ stdint definitions */
 #ifdef _WIN32
diff --git a/ext/php_driver_types.h b/ext/php_driver_types.h
index cc7b751ea..d66e22139 100644
--- a/ext/php_driver_types.h
+++ b/ext/php_driver_types.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@
 
 #if PHP_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_NUMERIC(obj) php_driver_numeric_object_fetch(Z_OBJ_P(obj))
-  #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(obj) php_driver_blob_object_fetch(Z_OBJ_P(obj))
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_TIMESTAMP(obj) php_driver_timestamp_object_fetch(Z_OBJ_P(obj))
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_DATE(obj) php_driver_date_object_fetch(Z_OBJ_P(obj))
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_TIME(obj) php_driver_time_object_fetch(Z_OBJ_P(obj))
@@ -76,7 +75,6 @@
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_DURATION(obj) php_driver_duration_object_fetch(Z_OBJ_P(obj))
 #else
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_NUMERIC(obj) ((php_driver_numeric *)zend_object_store_get_object((obj) TSRMLS_CC))
-  #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(obj) ((php_driver_blob *)zend_object_store_get_object((obj) TSRMLS_CC))
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_TIMESTAMP(obj) ((php_driver_timestamp *)zend_object_store_get_object((obj) TSRMLS_CC))
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_DATE(obj) ((php_driver_date *)zend_object_store_get_object((obj) TSRMLS_CC))
   #define PHP_DRIVER_GET_TIME(obj) ((php_driver_time *)zend_object_store_get_object((obj) TSRMLS_CC))
@@ -160,11 +158,6 @@ PHP_DRIVER_BEGIN_OBJECT_TYPE(time)
     cass_int64_t time;
 PHP_DRIVER_END_OBJECT_TYPE(time)
 
-PHP_DRIVER_BEGIN_OBJECT_TYPE(blob)
-  cass_byte_t *data;
-  size_t size;
-PHP_DRIVER_END_OBJECT_TYPE(blob)
-
 PHP_DRIVER_BEGIN_OBJECT_TYPE(uuid)
   CassUuid uuid;
 PHP_DRIVER_END_OBJECT_TYPE(uuid)
@@ -517,7 +510,6 @@ extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_numeric_ce;
 extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_bigint_ce;
 extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_smallint_ce;
 extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_tinyint_ce;
-extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_blob_ce;
 extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_decimal_ce;
 extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_float_ce;
 extern PHP_DRIVER_API zend_class_entry *php_driver_inet_ce;
@@ -570,7 +562,6 @@ void php_driver_define_Numeric(TSRMLS_D);
 void php_driver_define_Bigint(TSRMLS_D);
 void php_driver_define_Smallint(TSRMLS_D);
 void php_driver_define_Tinyint(TSRMLS_D);
-void php_driver_define_Blob(TSRMLS_D);
 void php_driver_define_Collection(TSRMLS_D);
 void php_driver_define_Decimal(TSRMLS_D);
 void php_driver_define_Float(TSRMLS_D);
diff --git a/ext/src/Blob.c b/ext/src/Blob.c
deleted file mode 100644
index 17a24300d..000000000
--- a/ext/src/Blob.c
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,214 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright 2015-2017 DataStax, Inc.
- *
- * 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.
- */
-
-#include "php_driver.h"
-#include "php_driver_types.h"
-#include "util/bytes.h"
-#include "util/types.h"
-
-zend_class_entry *php_driver_blob_ce = NULL;
-
-void
-php_driver_blob_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *self;
-  char *string;
-  php5to7_size string_len;
-
-  if (zend_parse_parameters(ZEND_NUM_ARGS() TSRMLS_CC, "s", &string, &string_len) == FAILURE) {
-    return;
-  }
-
-  if (getThis() && instanceof_function(Z_OBJCE_P(getThis()), php_driver_blob_ce TSRMLS_CC)) {
-    self = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(getThis());
-  } else {
-    object_init_ex(return_value, php_driver_blob_ce);
-    self = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(return_value);
-  }
-
-  self->data = emalloc(string_len * sizeof(cass_byte_t));
-  self->size = string_len;
-  memcpy(self->data, string, string_len);
-}
-
-/* {{{ Blob::__construct(string) */
-PHP_METHOD(Blob, __construct)
-{
-  php_driver_blob_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAM_PASSTHRU);
-}
-/* }}} */
-
-/* {{{ Blob::__toString() */
-PHP_METHOD(Blob, __toString)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *self = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(getThis());
-  char *hex;
-  int hex_len;
-  php_driver_bytes_to_hex((const char *) self->data, self->size, &hex, &hex_len);
-
-  PHP5TO7_RETVAL_STRINGL(hex, hex_len);
-  efree(hex);
-}
-/* }}} */
-
-/* {{{ Blob::type() */
-PHP_METHOD(Blob, type)
-{
-  php5to7_zval type = php_driver_type_scalar(CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB TSRMLS_CC);
-  RETURN_ZVAL(PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_P(type), 1, 1);
-}
-/* }}} */
-
-/* {{{ Blob::bytes() */
-PHP_METHOD(Blob, bytes)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *self = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(getThis());
-  char *hex;
-  int hex_len;
-  php_driver_bytes_to_hex((const char *) self->data, self->size, &hex, &hex_len);
-
-  PHP5TO7_RETVAL_STRINGL(hex, hex_len);
-  efree(hex);
-}
-/* }}} */
-
-/* {{{ Blob::toBinaryString() */
-PHP_METHOD(Blob, toBinaryString)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(getThis());
-
-  PHP5TO7_RETVAL_STRINGL((const char *)blob->data, blob->size);
-}
-/* }}} */
-
-ZEND_BEGIN_ARG_INFO_EX(arginfo__construct, 0, ZEND_RETURN_VALUE, 1)
-  ZEND_ARG_INFO(0, bytes)
-ZEND_END_ARG_INFO()
-
-ZEND_BEGIN_ARG_INFO_EX(arginfo_none, 0, ZEND_RETURN_VALUE, 0)
-ZEND_END_ARG_INFO()
-
-static zend_function_entry php_driver_blob_methods[] = {
-  PHP_ME(Blob, __construct, arginfo__construct, ZEND_ACC_CTOR|ZEND_ACC_PUBLIC)
-  PHP_ME(Blob, __toString, arginfo_none, ZEND_ACC_PUBLIC)
-  PHP_ME(Blob, type, arginfo_none, ZEND_ACC_PUBLIC)
-  PHP_ME(Blob, bytes, arginfo_none, ZEND_ACC_PUBLIC)
-  PHP_ME(Blob, toBinaryString, arginfo_none, ZEND_ACC_PUBLIC)
-  PHP_FE_END
-};
-
-static php_driver_value_handlers php_driver_blob_handlers;
-
-static HashTable *
-php_driver_blob_gc(zval *object, php5to7_zval_gc table, int *n TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-  *table = NULL;
-  *n = 0;
-  return zend_std_get_properties(object TSRMLS_CC);
-}
-
-static HashTable *
-php_driver_blob_properties(zval *object TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-  char *hex;
-  int hex_len;
-  php5to7_zval type;
-  php5to7_zval bytes;
-
-  php_driver_blob *self = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(object);
-  HashTable      *props = zend_std_get_properties(object TSRMLS_CC);
-
-  type = php_driver_type_scalar(CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB TSRMLS_CC);
-  PHP5TO7_ZEND_HASH_UPDATE(props, "type", sizeof("type"), PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_P(type), sizeof(zval));
-
-  php_driver_bytes_to_hex((const char *) self->data, self->size, &hex, &hex_len);
-  PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_MAKE(bytes);
-  PHP5TO7_ZVAL_STRINGL(PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_P(bytes), hex, hex_len);
-  efree(hex);
-  PHP5TO7_ZEND_HASH_UPDATE(props, "bytes", sizeof("bytes"), PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_P(bytes), sizeof(zval));
-
-  return props;
-}
-
-static int
-php_driver_blob_compare(zval *obj1, zval *obj2 TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *blob1 = NULL;
-  php_driver_blob *blob2 = NULL;
-
-  if (Z_OBJCE_P(obj1) != Z_OBJCE_P(obj2))
-    return 1; /* different classes */
-
-  blob1 = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(obj1);
-  blob2 = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(obj2);
-
-  if (blob1->size == blob2->size) {
-    return memcmp((const char *) blob1->data, (const char *) blob2->data, blob1->size);
-  } else if (blob1->size < blob2->size) {
-    return -1;
-  } else {
-    return 1;
-  }
-}
-
-static unsigned
-php_driver_blob_hash_value(zval *obj TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *self = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(obj);
-  return zend_inline_hash_func((const char *) self->data, self->size);
-}
-
-static void
-php_driver_blob_free(php5to7_zend_object_free *object TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *self = PHP5TO7_ZEND_OBJECT_GET(blob, object);
-
-  if (self->data) {
-    efree(self->data);
-  }
-
-  zend_object_std_dtor(&self->zval TSRMLS_CC);
-  PHP5TO7_MAYBE_EFREE(self);
-}
-
-static php5to7_zend_object
-php_driver_blob_new(zend_class_entry *ce TSRMLS_DC)
-{
-  php_driver_blob *self =
-      PHP5TO7_ZEND_OBJECT_ECALLOC(blob, ce);
-
-  PHP5TO7_ZEND_OBJECT_INIT(blob, self, ce);
-}
-
-void php_driver_define_Blob(TSRMLS_D)
-{
-  zend_class_entry ce;
-
-  INIT_CLASS_ENTRY(ce, PHP_DRIVER_NAMESPACE "\\Blob", php_driver_blob_methods);
-  php_driver_blob_ce = zend_register_internal_class(&ce TSRMLS_CC);
-  zend_class_implements(php_driver_blob_ce TSRMLS_CC, 1, php_driver_value_ce);
-  memcpy(&php_driver_blob_handlers, zend_get_std_object_handlers(), sizeof(zend_object_handlers));
-  php_driver_blob_handlers.std.get_properties  = php_driver_blob_properties;
-#if PHP_VERSION_ID >= 50400
-  php_driver_blob_handlers.std.get_gc          = php_driver_blob_gc;
-#endif
-  php_driver_blob_handlers.std.compare_objects = php_driver_blob_compare;
-  php_driver_blob_ce->ce_flags |= PHP5TO7_ZEND_ACC_FINAL;
-  php_driver_blob_ce->create_object = php_driver_blob_new;
-
-  php_driver_blob_handlers.hash_value = php_driver_blob_hash_value;
-  php_driver_blob_handlers.std.clone_obj = NULL;
-}
diff --git a/ext/src/Blob.h b/ext/src/Blob.h
deleted file mode 100644
index 73de45fd1..000000000
--- a/ext/src/Blob.h
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,22 +0,0 @@
-/**
- * Copyright 2015-2017 DataStax, Inc.
- *
- * 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.
- */
-
-#ifndef PHP_DRIVER_BLOB_H
-#define PHP_DRIVER_BLOB_H
-
-void php_driver_blob_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS);
-
-#endif /* PHP_DRIVER_BLOB_H */
diff --git a/ext/src/Blob.yaml b/ext/src/Blob.yaml
deleted file mode 100644
index 307d99d18..000000000
--- a/ext/src/Blob.yaml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,31 +0,0 @@
----
-Blob:
-  comment: A PHP representation of the CQL `blob` datatype
-  methods:
-    __construct:
-      comment: Creates a new bytes array.
-      params:
-        bytes:
-          comment: any bytes
-          type: string
-    type:
-      comment: The type of this blob.
-      return:
-        comment: ""
-        type: \Cassandra\Type
-    bytes:
-      comment: Returns bytes as a hex string.
-      return:
-        comment: bytes as hexadecimal string
-        type: string
-    __toString:
-      comment: Returns bytes as a hex string.
-      return:
-        comment: bytes as hexadecimal string
-        type: string
-    toBinaryString:
-      comment: Returns bytes as a binary string.
-      return:
-        comment: bytes as binary string
-        type: string
-...
diff --git a/ext/src/DefaultSession.c b/ext/src/DefaultSession.c
index 4fea3fbd4..83b0e5c5d 100644
--- a/ext/src/DefaultSession.c
+++ b/ext/src/DefaultSession.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ bind_argument_by_index(CassStatement *statement, size_t index, zval *value TSRML
     CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_null(statement, index));
 
   if (Z_TYPE_P(value) == IS_STRING)
-    CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_string(statement, index, Z_STRVAL_P(value)));
+    CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_bytes(statement, index, Z_STRVAL_P(value), Z_STRLEN_P(value)));
 
   if (Z_TYPE_P(value) == IS_DOUBLE)
     CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_double(statement, index, Z_DVAL_P(value)));
@@ -107,11 +107,6 @@ bind_argument_by_index(CassStatement *statement, size_t index, zval *value TSRML
       CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_int64(statement, index, time->time));
     }
 
-    if (instanceof_function(Z_OBJCE_P(value), php_driver_blob_ce TSRMLS_CC)) {
-      php_driver_blob *blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(value);
-      CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_bytes(statement, index, blob->data, blob->size));
-    }
-
     if (instanceof_function(Z_OBJCE_P(value), php_driver_varint_ce TSRMLS_CC)) {
       php_driver_numeric *varint = PHP_DRIVER_GET_NUMERIC(value);
       size_t size;
@@ -220,7 +215,7 @@ bind_argument_by_name(CassStatement *statement, const char *name,
   }
 
   if (Z_TYPE_P(value) == IS_STRING)
-    CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_string_by_name(statement, name, Z_STRVAL_P(value)));
+    CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_bytes_by_name(statement, name, Z_STRVAL_P(value), Z_STRLEN_P(value)));
 
   if (Z_TYPE_P(value) == IS_DOUBLE)
     CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_double_by_name(statement, name, Z_DVAL_P(value)));
@@ -270,11 +265,6 @@ bind_argument_by_name(CassStatement *statement, const char *name,
       CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_int64_by_name(statement, name, time->time));
     }
 
-    if (instanceof_function(Z_OBJCE_P(value), php_driver_blob_ce TSRMLS_CC)) {
-      php_driver_blob *blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(value);
-      CHECK_RESULT(cass_statement_bind_bytes_by_name(statement, name, blob->data, blob->size));
-    }
-
     if (instanceof_function(Z_OBJCE_P(value), php_driver_varint_ce TSRMLS_CC)) {
       php_driver_numeric *varint = PHP_DRIVER_GET_NUMERIC(value);
       size_t size;
diff --git a/ext/util/collections.c b/ext/util/collections.c
index 0b88186d4..8b955e1e8 100644
--- a/ext/util/collections.c
+++ b/ext/util/collections.c
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ php_driver_validate_object(zval *object, zval *ztype TSRMLS_DC)
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_VARCHAR:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_TEXT:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_ASCII:
+  case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
     if (Z_TYPE_P(object) != IS_STRING) {
       EXPECTING_VALUE("a string");
     }
@@ -96,12 +97,6 @@ php_driver_validate_object(zval *object, zval *ztype TSRMLS_DC)
       EXPECTING_VALUE("an instance of " PHP_DRIVER_NAMESPACE "\\Tinyint");
     }
 
-    return 1;
-  case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
-    if (!INSTANCE_OF(php_driver_blob_ce)) {
-      EXPECTING_VALUE("an instance of " PHP_DRIVER_NAMESPACE "\\Blob");
-    }
-
     return 1;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_DECIMAL:
     if (!INSTANCE_OF(php_driver_decimal_ce)) {
@@ -282,7 +277,6 @@ static int
 php_driver_collection_append(CassCollection *collection, zval *value, CassValueType type TSRMLS_DC)
 {
   int result = 1;
-  php_driver_blob       *blob;
   php_driver_numeric    *numeric;
   php_driver_timestamp  *timestamp;
   php_driver_date       *date;
@@ -321,8 +315,7 @@ php_driver_collection_append(CassCollection *collection, zval *value, CassValueT
     CHECK_ERROR(cass_collection_append_int8(collection, numeric->data.tinyint.value));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
-    blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(value);
-    CHECK_ERROR(cass_collection_append_bytes(collection, blob->data, blob->size));
+    CHECK_ERROR(cass_collection_append_bytes(collection, Z_STRVAL_P(value), Z_STRLEN_P(value)));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BOOLEAN:
 #if PHP_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7
@@ -420,7 +413,6 @@ static int
 php_driver_tuple_set(CassTuple *tuple, php5to7_ulong index, zval *value, CassValueType type TSRMLS_DC)
 {
   int result = 1;
-  php_driver_blob       *blob;
   php_driver_numeric    *numeric;
   php_driver_timestamp  *timestamp;
   php_driver_date       *date;
@@ -464,8 +456,7 @@ php_driver_tuple_set(CassTuple *tuple, php5to7_ulong index, zval *value, CassVal
     CHECK_ERROR(cass_tuple_set_int8(tuple, index, numeric->data.tinyint.value));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
-    blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(value);
-    CHECK_ERROR(cass_tuple_set_bytes(tuple, index, blob->data, blob->size));
+    CHECK_ERROR(cass_tuple_set_bytes(tuple, index, Z_STRVAL_P(value), Z_STRLEN_P(value)));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BOOLEAN:
 #if PHP_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7
@@ -565,7 +556,6 @@ php_driver_user_type_set(CassUserType *ut,
                             CassValueType type TSRMLS_DC)
 {
   int result = 1;
-  php_driver_blob       *blob;
   php_driver_numeric    *numeric;
   php_driver_timestamp  *timestamp;
   php_driver_date       *date;
@@ -593,7 +583,7 @@ php_driver_user_type_set(CassUserType *ut,
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_TEXT:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_ASCII:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_VARCHAR:
-    CHECK_ERROR(cass_user_type_set_string_by_name(ut, name, Z_STRVAL_P(value)));
+    CHECK_ERROR(cass_user_type_set_string_by_name_n(ut, name, strlen(name) + 1, Z_STRVAL_P(value), Z_STRLEN_P(value)));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BIGINT:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_COUNTER:
@@ -609,8 +599,7 @@ php_driver_user_type_set(CassUserType *ut,
     CHECK_ERROR(cass_user_type_set_int8_by_name(ut, name, numeric->data.tinyint.value));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
-    blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(value);
-    CHECK_ERROR(cass_user_type_set_bytes_by_name(ut, name, blob->data, blob->size));
+    CHECK_ERROR(cass_user_type_set_bytes_by_name(ut, name, Z_STRVAL_P(value), Z_STRLEN_P(value)));
     break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BOOLEAN:
 #if PHP_MAJOR_VERSION >= 7
diff --git a/ext/util/result.c b/ext/util/result.c
index 2a0b6e744..0f76c1797 100644
--- a/ext/util/result.c
+++ b/ext/util/result.c
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ php_driver_value(const CassValue* value, const CassDataType* data_type, php5to7_
   php_driver_timestamp *timestamp = NULL;
   php_driver_date *date = NULL;
   php_driver_time *time = NULL;
-  php_driver_blob *blob = NULL;
   php_driver_inet *inet = NULL;
   php_driver_duration *duration = NULL;
   php_driver_collection *collection = NULL;
@@ -70,6 +69,7 @@ php_driver_value(const CassValue* value, const CassDataType* data_type, php5to7_
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_ASCII:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_TEXT:
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_VARCHAR:
+  case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
     ASSERT_SUCCESS_BLOCK(cass_value_get_string(value, &v_string, &v_string_len),
       zval_ptr_dtor(out);
       return FAILURE;
@@ -132,17 +132,6 @@ php_driver_value(const CassValue* value, const CassDataType* data_type, php5to7_
       return FAILURE;
     )
     break;
-  case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_BLOB:
-    object_init_ex(PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_DEREF(out), php_driver_blob_ce);
-    blob = PHP_DRIVER_GET_BLOB(PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_DEREF(out));
-    ASSERT_SUCCESS_BLOCK(cass_value_get_bytes(value, &v_bytes, &v_bytes_len),
-      zval_ptr_dtor(out);
-      return FAILURE;
-    )
-    blob->data = emalloc(v_bytes_len * sizeof(cass_byte_t));
-    blob->size = v_bytes_len;
-    memcpy(blob->data, v_bytes, v_bytes_len);
-    break;
   case CASS_VALUE_TYPE_VARINT:
     object_init_ex(PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_DEREF(out), php_driver_varint_ce);
     numeric = PHP_DRIVER_GET_NUMERIC(PHP5TO7_ZVAL_MAYBE_DEREF(out));
diff --git a/ext/util/types.c b/ext/util/types.c
index bef2fa290..66f64e344 100644
--- a/ext/util/types.c
+++ b/ext/util/types.c
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "src/Bigint.h"
 #include "src/Smallint.h"
 #include "src/Tinyint.h"
-#include "src/Blob.h"
 #include "src/Decimal.h"
 #include "src/Duration.h"
 #include "src/Float.h"
@@ -568,6 +567,12 @@ php_driver_ascii_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
   php_driver_varchar_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAM_PASSTHRU);
 }
 
+static void
+php_driver_blob_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
+{
+  php_driver_varchar_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAM_PASSTHRU);
+}
+
 static void
 php_driver_boolean_init(INTERNAL_FUNCTION_PARAMETERS)
 {
diff --git a/tests/integration/Cassandra/DatatypeIntegrationTests.php b/tests/integration/Cassandra/DatatypeIntegrationTests.php
index 4e64ed7e1..0e525d2c7 100644
--- a/tests/integration/Cassandra/DatatypeIntegrationTests.php
+++ b/tests/integration/Cassandra/DatatypeIntegrationTests.php
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public function scalarCassandraTypes() {
         return array(
             array(Type::ascii(), array("a", "b", "c")),
             array(Type::bigint(), array(new Bigint("1"), new Bigint("2"), new Bigint("3"))),
-            array(Type::blob(), array(new Blob("x"), new Blob("y"), new Blob("z"))),
+            array(Type::blob(), array("a", "b", "c")),
             array(Type::boolean(), array(true, false, true, false)),
             array(Type::date(), array(new Date(), new Date(0), new Date(-86400), new Date(86400))),
             array(Type::decimal(), array(new Decimal(1.1), new Decimal(2.2), new Decimal(3.3))),
diff --git a/tests/unit/Cassandra/BlobTest.php b/tests/unit/Cassandra/BlobTest.php
deleted file mode 100644
index d0e5e6659..000000000
--- a/tests/unit/Cassandra/BlobTest.php
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-<?php
-
-/**
- * Copyright 2015-2017 DataStax, Inc.
- *
- * 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.
- */
-
-namespace Cassandra;
-
-/**
- * @requires extension cassandra
- */
-class BlobTest extends \PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
-{
-    public function testHexEncodesString()
-    {
-        $blob = new Blob("Hi");
-        $this->assertEquals("0x4869", $blob->__toString());
-        $this->assertEquals("0x4869", $blob->bytes());
-    }
-
-    public function testReturnsOriginalBytesAsBinaryString()
-    {
-        $blob = new Blob("Hi");
-        $this->assertEquals("Hi", (string) $blob->toBinaryString());
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @dataProvider equalTypes
-     */
-    public function testCompareEquals($value1, $value2)
-    {
-        $this->assertEquals($value1, $value2);
-        $this->assertTrue($value1 == $value2);
-    }
-
-    public function equalTypes()
-    {
-        return array(
-            array(new Blob("0x1234"), new Blob("0x1234")),
-        );
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * @dataProvider notEqualTypes
-     */
-    public function testCompareNotEquals($value1, $value2)
-    {
-        $this->assertNotEquals($value1, $value2);
-        $this->assertFalse($value1 == $value2);
-    }
-
-    public function notEqualTypes()
-    {
-        return array(
-            array(new Blob("0x1234"), new Blob("0x4567")),
-        );
-    }
-}
diff --git a/tests/unit/Cassandra/CollectionTest.php b/tests/unit/Cassandra/CollectionTest.php
index b3e85d9ef..86395463b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/Cassandra/CollectionTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/Cassandra/CollectionTest.php
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public function scalarTypes()
         return array(
             array(Type::ascii(), "ascii"),
             array(Type::bigint(), new Bigint("9223372036854775807")),
-            array(Type::blob(), new Blob("blob")),
+            array(Type::blob(), "blob"),
             array(Type::boolean(), true),
             array(Type::counter(), new Bigint(123)),
             array(Type::decimal(), new Decimal("3.14159265359")),
diff --git a/tests/unit/Cassandra/MapTest.php b/tests/unit/Cassandra/MapTest.php
index 8b88c31ae..c98501c9a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/Cassandra/MapTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/Cassandra/MapTest.php
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ public function scalarTypes()
         return array(
             array(Type::ascii(), array("ascii")),
             array(Type::bigint(), array(new Bigint("9223372036854775807"))),
-            array(Type::blob(), array(new Blob("blob"))),
+            array(Type::blob(), array("blob")),
             array(Type::boolean(), array(true, false)),
             array(Type::counter(), array(new Bigint(123))),
             array(Type::decimal(), array(new Decimal("3.14159265359"))),
diff --git a/tests/unit/Cassandra/SetTest.php b/tests/unit/Cassandra/SetTest.php
index 2da3cc88b..222dfe9b8 100644
--- a/tests/unit/Cassandra/SetTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/Cassandra/SetTest.php
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public function scalarTypes()
         return array(
             array(Type::ascii(), array("ascii")),
             array(Type::bigint(), array(new Bigint("9223372036854775807"))),
-            array(Type::blob(), array(new Blob("blob"))),
+            array(Type::blob(), array("blob")),
             array(Type::boolean(), array(true, false)),
             array(Type::counter(), array(new Bigint(123))),
             array(Type::decimal(), array(new Decimal("3.14159265359"))),
diff --git a/tests/unit/Cassandra/TupleTest.php b/tests/unit/Cassandra/TupleTest.php
index 34e420ca4..f52c8ad1d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/Cassandra/TupleTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/Cassandra/TupleTest.php
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public function scalarTypes()
         return array(
             array(Type::ascii(), "ascii"),
             array(Type::bigint(), new Bigint("9223372036854775807")),
-            array(Type::blob(), new Blob("blob")),
+            array(Type::blob(), "blob"),
             array(Type::boolean(), true),
             array(Type::counter(), new Bigint(123)),
             array(Type::decimal(), new Decimal("3.14159265359")),
diff --git a/tests/unit/Cassandra/UserTypeValueTest.php b/tests/unit/Cassandra/UserTypeValueTest.php
index 8c0b27756..bd23f56ec 100644
--- a/tests/unit/Cassandra/UserTypeValueTest.php
+++ b/tests/unit/Cassandra/UserTypeValueTest.php
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ public function scalarTypes()
         return array(
             array(Type::ascii(), "ascii", "ascii"),
             array(Type::bigint(), new Bigint("9223372036854775807"), new Bigint("9223372036854775807")),
-            array(Type::blob(), new Blob("blob"), new Blob("blob")),
+            array(Type::blob(), "blob", "blob"),
             array(Type::boolean(), true, true),
             array(Type::counter(), new Bigint(123), new Bigint(123)),
             array(Type::decimal(), new Decimal("3.14159265359"), new Decimal("3.14159265359")),