diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 20ed2d537..83a38720f 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -743,9 +743,13 @@ fi
 
 fi
 
-ICU_CPPFLAGS="-I$ICU_PREFIX/include"
-CPPFLAGS="$ICU_CPPFLAGS $CPPFLAGS"
-ICU_LIBS="-L$ICU_PREFIX/lib -licui18n -licuuc -licudata -dl"
+AS_IF([test "x$ICU_PREFIX" != xauto], [
+  ICU_CPPFLAGS="-I$ICU_PREFIX/include",
+  ICU_LIBS="-L$ICU_PREFIX/lib -licui18n -licuuc -licudata -dl"
+])
+
+AC_MSG_WARN([Using ICU_CPPFLAGS $ICU_CPPFLAGS])
+AC_MSG_WARN([Using ICU_LIBS $ICU_LIBS])
 
 if test x$use_pkgconfig = xyes; then
 
@@ -753,17 +757,10 @@ if test x$use_pkgconfig = xyes; then
     AC_MSG_ERROR(pkg-config not found.)
   fi
 
-  if test "${ICU_PREFIX}" != "auto"; then
-    PKG_CONFIG_PATH="${ICU_PREFIX}/lib/pkgconfig:$PKG_CONFIG_PATH"
-    export PKG_CONFIG_PATH
-  fi
-
   : #NOP
   m4_ifdef(
     [PKG_CHECK_MODULES],
     [
-      PKG_CHECK_MODULES([ICU], [icu-i18n],, [AC_MSG_ERROR(icu-i18n not found.)])
-      AC_CHECK_HEADER([unicode/errorcode.h],, AC_MSG_ERROR(libicu headers missing))
       PKG_CHECK_MODULES([SSL], [libssl],, [AC_MSG_ERROR(openssl not found.)])
       PKG_CHECK_MODULES([CRYPTO], [libcrypto],, [AC_MSG_ERROR(libcrypto not found.)])
 
@@ -789,11 +786,7 @@ if test x$use_pkgconfig = xyes; then
       fi
     ]
   )
-else
-  AC_MSG_WARN([Using ICU_CPPFLAGS $ICU_CPPFLAGS])
-  AC_MSG_WARN([Using ICU_LIBS $ICU_LIBS])
-  AC_MSG_WARN([Using CPPFLAGS $CPPFLAGS])
-
+else # compiling on Windows:
   AC_CHECK_HEADER([unicode/errorcode.h],,AC_MSG_ERROR(libicu headers missing))
   AC_CHECK_LIB([icudata], [main], ICU_LIBS="-L$ICU_PREFIX/lib -licui18n -licuuc -licudata -dl",
     AC_CHECK_LIB([icu18n], [main],ICU_LIBS=$ICU_LIBS, ICU_LIBS="-L$ICU_PREFIX/lib -lsicudt -lsicuin -lsicuio -lsicule -lsiculx -lsicutest -lsicutu -lsicuuc"))
@@ -874,7 +867,7 @@ AC_SUBST(UNIVALUE_LIBS)
 CXXFLAGS_TEMP="$CXXFLAGS"
 LIBS_TEMP="$LIBS"
 CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS $CPPFLAGS $SSL_CFLAGS $CRYPTO_CFLAGS"
-LIBS="$LIBS $SSL_LIBS $CRYPTO_LIBS $ICU_LIBS"
+LIBS="$LIBS $SSL_LIBS $CRYPTO_LIBS"
 #AC_CHECK_HEADER([openssl/ec.h],, AC_MSG_ERROR(OpenSSL ec header missing),)
 CXXFLAGS="$CXXFLAGS_TEMP"
 LIBS="$LIBS_TEMP"
diff --git a/depends/packages/boost.mk b/depends/packages/boost.mk
index 14700090b..4e64d25e6 100644
--- a/depends/packages/boost.mk
+++ b/depends/packages/boost.mk
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ $(package)_version=1_59_0
 $(package)_download_path=http://sourceforge.net/projects/boost/files/boost/1.59.0
 $(package)_file_name=$(package)_$($(package)_version).tar.bz2
 $(package)_sha256_hash=727a932322d94287b62abb1bd2d41723eec4356a7728909e38adb65ca25241ca
+$(package)_dependencies:icu
 
 define $(package)_set_vars
 $(package)_config_opts_release=variant=release
diff --git a/depends/packages/icu.mk b/depends/packages/icu.mk
index 0093fee80..659bfa190 100644
--- a/depends/packages/icu.mk
+++ b/depends/packages/icu.mk
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 package=icu
-$(package)_version=55_1
-$(package)_download_path=http://download.icu-project.org/files/icu4c/55.1
+$(package)_version=57_1
+$(package)_download_path=http://download.icu-project.org/files/icu4c/57.1
 $(package)_file_name=$(package)4c-$($(package)_version)-src.tgz
-$(package)_sha256_hash=e16b22cbefdd354bec114541f7849a12f8fc2015320ca5282ee4fd787571457b
+$(package)_sha256_hash=ff8c67cb65949b1e7808f2359f2b80f722697048e90e7cfc382ec1fe229e9581
 $(package)_build_subdir=source
 
 define $(package)_set_vars
-  $(package)_config_opts=--enable-debug --disable-release --host=i686-w64-mingw32 --with-cross-build=/tmp/icu_staging/icu/source --enable-extras=no --enable-strict=no -enable-static --enable-shared=no --enable-tests=no --enable-samples=no --enable-dyload=no
+  $(package)_config_opts=--enable-debug --disable-release --host=i686-w64-mingw32 --with-cross-build=/tmp/icu_staging/icu/source --enable-extras=no --enable-strict=no --enable-static --enable-shared=no --enable-tests=no --enable-samples=no --enable-dyload=no
   $(package)_config_opts_release=--disable-debug --enable-release
   $(package)_config_opts_mingw32=--host=i686-w64-mingw32
   $(package)_config_opts_linux=--with-pic
@@ -23,6 +23,3 @@ endef
 define $(package)_stage_cmds
   $(MAKE) DESTDIR=$($(package)_staging_dir) install
 endef
-
-define $(package)_postprocess_cmds
-endef
diff --git a/packaging/build_windows.sh b/packaging/build_windows.sh
index 016a06ae1..5b3ce3ee7 100755
--- a/packaging/build_windows.sh
+++ b/packaging/build_windows.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ sudo apt-get install -y --no-install-recommends \
 
 #################################################################
 # Build ICU for Linux first so that we can cross compile it below
+# It's a strange ICU thing in that it requries a working 
+# Linux build of itself to be used as part of the cross-compile
 #################################################################
 staging_dir=/tmp/icu_staging
 icu_linux_dir=$staging_dir/build_icu_linux
@@ -18,13 +20,15 @@ pushd $staging_dir
 wget -c http://download.icu-project.org/files/icu4c/57.1/icu4c-57_1-src.tgz
 tar -xvzf icu4c-57_1-src.tgz
 pushd icu/source
-./runConfigureICU Linux --prefix=$icu_linux_dir --enable-extras=no --enable-strict=no -enable-static --enable-shared=no --enable-tests=no --enable-samples=no --enable-dyload=no
+./runConfigureICU Linux --prefix=$icu_linux_dir --enable-extras=no --enable-strict=no --enable-static --enable-shared=no --enable-tests=no --enable-samples=no --enable-dyload=no
 make
 make install
 popd
 popd
 
 cd depends
+mkdir -p sources
+cp "$staging_dir/icu4c-57_1-src.tgz" sources/
 make HOST=i686-w64-mingw32 NO_QT=1
 cd ..
 patch -p1 < packaging/remove_consensus.patch
diff --git a/src/Makefile.am b/src/Makefile.am
index 08455a45c..b8b10c460 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.am
+++ b/src/Makefile.am
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ $(LIBLEVELDB) $(LIBMEMENV):
 endif
 
 BITCOIN_CONFIG_INCLUDES=-I$(builddir)/config
-BITCOIN_INCLUDES=-I$(builddir) -I$(builddir)/obj $(ICU_CPPFLAGS) $(BOOST_CPPFLAGS) $(LEVELDB_CPPFLAGS) $(CRYPTO_CFLAGS) $(SSL_CFLAGS) $(ICU_CFLAGS)
+BITCOIN_INCLUDES=-I$(builddir) -I$(builddir)/obj $(ICU_CPPFLAGS) $(BOOST_CPPFLAGS) $(LEVELDB_CPPFLAGS) $(CRYPTO_CFLAGS) $(SSL_CFLAGS)
 
 BITCOIN_INCLUDES += -I$(srcdir)/secp256k1/include
 BITCOIN_INCLUDES += $(UNIVALUE_CFLAGS)
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ lbrycrd_cli_LDADD = \
   $(LIBUNIVALUE) \
   $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL)
 
-lbrycrd_cli_LDADD += $(BOOST_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(EVENT_LIBS)
+lbrycrd_cli_LDADD += $(BOOST_LIBS) $(ICU_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(EVENT_LIBS)
 #
 
 # bitcoin-tx binary #
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ lbrycrd_tx_LDADD = \
   $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO) \
   $(LIBSECP256K1)
 
-lbrycrd_tx_LDADD += $(BOOST_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS)
+lbrycrd_tx_LDADD += $(BOOST_LIBS) $(ICU_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS)
 #
 
 # bitcoinconsensus library #
diff --git a/src/Makefile.bench.include b/src/Makefile.bench.include
index aaa540f84..abb0b839b 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.bench.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.bench.include
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ bench_bench_bitcoin_SOURCES = \
   bench/bench.h \
   bench/Examples.cpp
 
-bench_bench_bitcoin_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(EVENT_CLFAGS) $(EVENT_PTHREADS_CFLAGS) $(ICU_CPPFLAGS) $(BOOST_CPPFLAGS) -I$(builddir)/bench/
+bench_bench_bitcoin_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(EVENT_CLFAGS) $(EVENT_PTHREADS_CFLAGS) $(BOOST_CPPFLAGS) -I$(builddir)/bench/
 bench_bench_bitcoin_CXXFLAGS = $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(PIE_FLAGS)
 bench_bench_bitcoin_LDADD = \
   $(LIBBITCOIN_SERVER) \
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ if ENABLE_WALLET
 bench_bench_bitcoin_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 
-bench_bench_bitcoin_LDADD += $(ICU_LIBS) $(BOOST_LIBS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS) $(EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS) $(EVENT_LIBS)
+bench_bench_bitcoin_LDADD += $(BOOST_LIBS) $(ICU_LIBS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS) $(EVENT_PTHREADS_LIBS) $(EVENT_LIBS)
 bench_bench_bitcoin_LDFLAGS = $(RELDFLAGS) $(AM_LDFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_APP_LDFLAGS) 
 
 CLEAN_BITCOIN_BENCH = bench/*.gcda bench/*.gcno
diff --git a/src/Makefile.test.include b/src/Makefile.test.include
index 837663ba1..0ec0ecd5e 100644
--- a/src/Makefile.test.include
+++ b/src/Makefile.test.include
@@ -100,15 +100,15 @@ BITCOIN_TESTS += \
 endif
 
 test_test_lbrycrd_SOURCES = $(BITCOIN_TESTS) $(JSON_TEST_FILES) $(RAW_TEST_FILES)
-test_test_lbrycrd_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(ICU_CPPFLAGS) $(BOOST_CPPFLAGS) -I$(builddir)/test/ $(TESTDEFS)
+test_test_lbrycrd_CPPFLAGS = $(AM_CPPFLAGS) $(BITCOIN_INCLUDES) $(BOOST_CPPFLAGS) -I$(builddir)/test/ $(TESTDEFS)
 test_test_lbrycrd_LDADD = $(LIBBITCOIN_SERVER) $(LIBBITCOIN_CLI) $(LIBBITCOIN_COMMON) $(LIBBITCOIN_UTIL) $(LIBBITCOIN_CONSENSUS) $(LIBBITCOIN_CRYPTO) $(LIBUNIVALUE) $(LIBLEVELDB) $(LIBMEMENV) \
-  $(ICU_LIBS) $(BOOST_LIBS) $(BOOST_UNIT_TEST_FRAMEWORK_LIB) $(LIBSECP256K1)
+  $(BOOST_LIBS) $(BOOST_UNIT_TEST_FRAMEWORK_LIB) $(LIBSECP256K1)
 test_test_lbrycrd_CXXFLAGS = $(AM_CXXFLAGS) $(PIE_FLAGS)
 if ENABLE_WALLET
 test_test_lbrycrd_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_WALLET)
 endif
 
-test_test_lbrycrd_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_CONSENSUS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(ICU_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS)
+test_test_lbrycrd_LDADD += $(LIBBITCOIN_CONSENSUS) $(ICU_LIBS) $(BDB_LIBS) $(SSL_LIBS) $(CRYPTO_LIBS) $(MINIUPNPC_LIBS)
 test_test_lbrycrd_LDFLAGS = $(RELDFLAGS) $(AM_LDFLAGS) $(LIBTOOL_APP_LDFLAGS)
 
 if ENABLE_ZMQ