diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Eval.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Eval.scala
index 36348160fea..934e6d12372 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/Eval.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/Eval.scala
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@ object Eval extends EvalInstances {
 
 private[cats] trait EvalInstances extends EvalInstances0 {
 
-  implicit val catsBimonadForEval: Bimonad[Eval] with Monad[Eval] with RecursiveTailRecM[Eval] =
-    new Bimonad[Eval] with Monad[Eval] with RecursiveTailRecM[Eval] {
+  implicit val catsBimonadForEval: Bimonad[Eval] with Monad[Eval] =
+    new Bimonad[Eval] with Monad[Eval] {
       override def map[A, B](fa: Eval[A])(f: A => B): Eval[B] = fa.map(f)
       def pure[A](a: A): Eval[A] = Now(a)
       def flatMap[A, B](fa: Eval[A])(f: A => Eval[B]): Eval[B] = fa.flatMap(f)
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/RecursiveTailRecM.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/RecursiveTailRecM.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index 2519806e5b5..00000000000
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/RecursiveTailRecM.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,24 +0,0 @@
-package cats
-
-import java.io.Serializable
-/**
- * This is a marker type that promises that the method
- * .tailRecM for this type is stack-safe for arbitrary recursion.
- */
-trait RecursiveTailRecM[F[_]] extends Serializable {
-  /*
-   * you can call RecursiveTailRecM[F].sameType(Monad[F]).tailRec
-   * to have a static check that the types agree
-   * for safer usage of tailRecM
-   */
-  final def sameType[M[_[_]]](m: M[F]): M[F] = m
-}
-
-object RecursiveTailRecM {
-  private[this] val singleton: RecursiveTailRecM[Id] = new RecursiveTailRecM[Id] { }
-
-  def apply[F[_]](implicit r: RecursiveTailRecM[F]): RecursiveTailRecM[F] = r
-
-  def create[F[_]]: RecursiveTailRecM[F] =
-    singleton.asInstanceOf[RecursiveTailRecM[F]]
-}
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Cokleisli.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Cokleisli.scala
index 752a200c74c..cc77a7d0472 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Cokleisli.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Cokleisli.scala
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ private[data] sealed abstract class CokleisliInstances extends CokleisliInstance
   implicit def catsDataArrowForCokleisli[F[_]](implicit ev: Comonad[F]): Arrow[Cokleisli[F, ?, ?]] =
     new CokleisliArrow[F] { def F: Comonad[F] = ev }
 
-  implicit def catsDataMonadForCokleisli[F[_], A]: Monad[Cokleisli[F, A, ?]] with RecursiveTailRecM[Cokleisli[F, A, ?]] = new Monad[Cokleisli[F, A, ?]] with RecursiveTailRecM[Cokleisli[F, A, ?]] {
+  implicit def catsDataMonadForCokleisli[F[_], A]: Monad[Cokleisli[F, A, ?]] = new Monad[Cokleisli[F, A, ?]] {
     def pure[B](x: B): Cokleisli[F, A, B] =
       Cokleisli.pure(x)
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/EitherT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/EitherT.scala
index 38eab701feb..59361206421 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/EitherT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/EitherT.scala
@@ -345,9 +345,6 @@ private[data] abstract class EitherTInstances2 extends EitherTInstances3 {
   implicit def catsDataMonadErrorForEitherT[F[_], L](implicit F0: Monad[F]): MonadError[EitherT[F, L, ?], L] =
     new EitherTMonadError[F, L] { implicit val F = F0 }
 
-  implicit def catsDataRecursiveTailRecMForEitherT[F[_]: RecursiveTailRecM, L]: RecursiveTailRecM[EitherT[F, L, ?]] =
-    RecursiveTailRecM.create[EitherT[F, L, ?]]
-
   implicit def catsDataSemigroupKForEitherT[F[_], L](implicit F0: Monad[F]): SemigroupK[EitherT[F, L, ?]] =
     new EitherTSemigroupK[F, L] { implicit val F = F0 }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/IdT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/IdT.scala
index 0c619079c0e..e853a7b64ee 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/IdT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/IdT.scala
@@ -86,9 +86,6 @@ private[data] sealed abstract class IdTInstances0 extends IdTInstances1 {
       implicit val F0: Monad[F] = F
     }
 
-  implicit def catsDataRecursiveTailRecMForIdT[F[_]: RecursiveTailRecM]: RecursiveTailRecM[IdT[F, ?]] =
-    RecursiveTailRecM.create[IdT[F, ?]]
-
   implicit def catsDataFoldableForIdT[F[_]](implicit F: Foldable[F]): Foldable[IdT[F, ?]] =
     new IdTFoldable[F] {
       implicit val F0: Foldable[F] = F
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
index 4adf44d61d5..a1aa8827553 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ private[data] sealed abstract class IorInstances extends IorInstances0 {
     def combine(x: Ior[A, B], y: Ior[A, B]) = x.append(y)
   }
 
-  implicit def catsDataMonadForIor[A: Semigroup]: Monad[A Ior ?] with RecursiveTailRecM[A Ior ?] = new Monad[A Ior ?] with RecursiveTailRecM[A Ior ?] {
+  implicit def catsDataMonadForIor[A: Semigroup]: Monad[A Ior ?] = new Monad[A Ior ?] {
     def pure[B](b: B): A Ior B = Ior.right(b)
     def flatMap[B, C](fa: A Ior B)(f: B => A Ior C): A Ior C = fa.flatMap(f)
     def tailRecM[B, C](b: B)(fn: B => Ior[A, Either[B, C]]): A Ior C = {
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Kleisli.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Kleisli.scala
index 0d7552997f9..27de9974022 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Kleisli.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Kleisli.scala
@@ -149,9 +149,6 @@ private[data] sealed abstract class KleisliInstances0 extends KleisliInstances1
       Kleisli[F, A, C]({ a => FlatMap[F].tailRecM(b) { f(_).run(a) } })
   }
 
-  implicit def catsDataRecursiveTailRecMForKleisli[F[_]: RecursiveTailRecM, A]: RecursiveTailRecM[Kleisli[F, A, ?]] =
-    RecursiveTailRecM.create[Kleisli[F, A, ?]]
-
   implicit def catsDataSemigroupForKleisli[F[_], A, B](implicit M: Semigroup[F[B]]): Semigroup[Kleisli[F, A, B]] =
     new KleisliSemigroup[F, A, B] { def FB: Semigroup[F[B]] = M }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyList.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyList.scala
index 9aaffa7bde1..6dc3b7ca612 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyList.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyList.scala
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@ object NonEmptyList extends NonEmptyListInstances {
 private[data] sealed trait NonEmptyListInstances extends NonEmptyListInstances0 {
 
   implicit val catsDataInstancesForNonEmptyList: SemigroupK[NonEmptyList] with Reducible[NonEmptyList]
-      with Comonad[NonEmptyList] with Traverse[NonEmptyList] with Monad[NonEmptyList] with RecursiveTailRecM[NonEmptyList] =
+      with Comonad[NonEmptyList] with Traverse[NonEmptyList] with Monad[NonEmptyList] =
     new NonEmptyReducible[NonEmptyList, List] with SemigroupK[NonEmptyList] with Comonad[NonEmptyList]
-      with Traverse[NonEmptyList] with Monad[NonEmptyList] with RecursiveTailRecM[NonEmptyList] {
+      with Traverse[NonEmptyList] with Monad[NonEmptyList] {
 
       def combineK[A](a: NonEmptyList[A], b: NonEmptyList[A]): NonEmptyList[A] =
         a concat b
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala
index d602795ceb8..2cc61ebe277 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/NonEmptyVector.scala
@@ -169,9 +169,9 @@ final class NonEmptyVector[A] private (val toVector: Vector[A]) extends AnyVal {
 private[data] sealed trait NonEmptyVectorInstances {
 
   implicit val catsDataInstancesForNonEmptyVector: SemigroupK[NonEmptyVector] with Reducible[NonEmptyVector]
-    with Comonad[NonEmptyVector] with Traverse[NonEmptyVector] with Monad[NonEmptyVector] with RecursiveTailRecM[NonEmptyVector] =
+    with Comonad[NonEmptyVector] with Traverse[NonEmptyVector] with Monad[NonEmptyVector] =
     new NonEmptyReducible[NonEmptyVector, Vector] with SemigroupK[NonEmptyVector] with Comonad[NonEmptyVector]
-      with Traverse[NonEmptyVector] with Monad[NonEmptyVector] with RecursiveTailRecM[NonEmptyVector] {
+      with Traverse[NonEmptyVector] with Monad[NonEmptyVector] {
 
       def combineK[A](a: NonEmptyVector[A], b: NonEmptyVector[A]): NonEmptyVector[A] =
         a concatNev b
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OneAnd.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OneAnd.scala
index ee50730ebb9..9368ed91794 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OneAnd.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OneAnd.scala
@@ -169,9 +169,6 @@ private[data] sealed trait OneAndInstances extends OneAndLowPriority2 {
         go(a, Nil)
       }
     }
-
-    implicit def catsDataOneAnd[F[_]: RecursiveTailRecM]: RecursiveTailRecM[OneAnd[F, ?]] =
-      RecursiveTailRecM.create[OneAnd[F, ?]]
 }
 
 private[data] trait OneAndLowPriority0 {
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala
index 364a8e4583e..ebceaa70abb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/OptionT.scala
@@ -196,9 +196,6 @@ private[data] sealed trait OptionTInstances0 extends OptionTInstances1 {
   implicit def catsDataMonadErrorForOptionT[F[_], E](implicit F0: MonadError[F, E]): MonadError[OptionT[F, ?], E] =
     new OptionTMonadError[F, E] { implicit val F = F0 }
 
-  implicit def catsDataRecursiveTailRecMForOptionT[F[_]](implicit F: RecursiveTailRecM[F]): RecursiveTailRecM[OptionT[F, ?]] =
-    RecursiveTailRecM.create[OptionT[F, ?]]
-
   implicit def catsDataSemigroupKForOptionT[F[_]](implicit F0: Monad[F]): SemigroupK[OptionT[F, ?]] =
     new OptionTSemigroupK[F] { implicit val F = F0 }
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/StateT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/StateT.scala
index 75b0c10401f..96ec613a3af 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/StateT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/StateT.scala
@@ -169,8 +169,6 @@ private[data] sealed trait StateTInstances2 {
   implicit def catsDataMonadForStateT[F[_], S](implicit F0: Monad[F]): Monad[StateT[F, S, ?]] =
     new StateTMonad[F, S] { implicit def F = F0 }
 
-  implicit def catsDataRecursiveTailRecMForStateT[F[_]: RecursiveTailRecM, S]: RecursiveTailRecM[StateT[F, S, ?]] = RecursiveTailRecM.create[StateT[F, S, ?]]
-
   implicit def catsDataSemigroupKForStateT[F[_], S](implicit F0: Monad[F], G0: SemigroupK[F]): SemigroupK[StateT[F, S, ?]] =
     new StateTSemigroupK[F, S] { implicit def F = F0; implicit def G = G0 }
 }
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/WriterT.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/WriterT.scala
index 9c85d97f52b..e1f68fc8b7d 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/WriterT.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/WriterT.scala
@@ -126,9 +126,6 @@ private[data] sealed abstract class WriterTInstances1 extends WriterTInstances2
 
   implicit def catsDataCoflatMapForWriterTId[L]: CoflatMap[WriterT[Id, L, ?]] =
     catsDataCoflatMapForWriterT[Id, L]
-
-  implicit def catsDataRecursiveTailRecMForWriterT1[F[_]: RecursiveTailRecM, L]: RecursiveTailRecM[WriterT[F, L, ?]] =
-    RecursiveTailRecM.create[WriterT[F, L, ?]]
 }
 
 private[data] sealed abstract class WriterTInstances2 extends WriterTInstances3 {
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/either.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/either.scala
index 64777fd1811..6f29dc82a17 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/either.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/either.scala
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ trait EitherInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.EitherInstances {
     }
 
   // scalastyle:off method.length
-  implicit def catsStdInstancesForEither[A]: MonadError[Either[A, ?], A] with Traverse[Either[A, ?]] with RecursiveTailRecM[Either[A, ?]] =
-    new MonadError[Either[A, ?], A] with Traverse[Either[A, ?]] with RecursiveTailRecM[Either[A, ?]] {
+  implicit def catsStdInstancesForEither[A]: MonadError[Either[A, ?], A] with Traverse[Either[A, ?]] =
+    new MonadError[Either[A, ?], A] with Traverse[Either[A, ?]] {
       def pure[B](b: B): Either[A, B] = Right(b)
 
       def flatMap[B, C](fa: Either[A, B])(f: B => Either[A, C]): Either[A, C] =
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/function.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/function.scala
index 13fe53733e9..38711dabe32 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/function.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/function.scala
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ trait FunctionInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.FunctionInstances
 
 private[instances] sealed trait Function0Instances {
 
-  implicit val catsStdBimonadForFunction0: Bimonad[Function0] with RecursiveTailRecM[Function0] =
-    new Bimonad[Function0] with RecursiveTailRecM[Function0] {
+  implicit val catsStdBimonadForFunction0: Bimonad[Function0] =
+    new Bimonad[Function0] {
       def extract[A](x: () => A): A = x()
 
       def coflatMap[A, B](fa: () => A)(f: (() => A) => B): () => B =
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ private[instances] sealed trait Function1Instances {
         fa.compose(f)
     }
 
-  implicit def catsStdMonadReaderForFunction1[T1]: MonadReader[T1 => ?, T1] with RecursiveTailRecM[T1 => ?] =
-    new MonadReader[T1 => ?, T1] with RecursiveTailRecM[T1 => ?] {
+  implicit def catsStdMonadReaderForFunction1[T1]: MonadReader[T1 => ?, T1] =
+    new MonadReader[T1 => ?, T1] {
       def pure[R](r: R): T1 => R = _ => r
 
       def flatMap[R1, R2](fa: T1 => R1)(f: R1 => T1 => R2): T1 => R2 =
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/future.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/future.scala
index 216a56c4260..112678e96e4 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/future.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/future.scala
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import scala.concurrent.{ExecutionContext, Future}
 
 trait FutureInstances extends FutureInstances1 {
 
-  implicit def catsStdInstancesForFuture(implicit ec: ExecutionContext): MonadError[Future, Throwable] with CoflatMap[Future] with Monad[Future] with RecursiveTailRecM[Future] =
-    new FutureCoflatMap with MonadError[Future, Throwable] with Monad[Future] with RecursiveTailRecM[Future] {
+  implicit def catsStdInstancesForFuture(implicit ec: ExecutionContext): MonadError[Future, Throwable] with CoflatMap[Future] with Monad[Future] =
+    new FutureCoflatMap with MonadError[Future, Throwable] with Monad[Future] {
       def pure[A](x: A): Future[A] = Future.successful(x)
 
       def flatMap[A, B](fa: Future[A])(f: A => Future[B]): Future[B] = fa.flatMap(f)
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/list.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/list.scala
index bf982d8eed7..3ff790c1464 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/list.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/list.scala
@@ -8,9 +8,8 @@ import scala.collection.mutable.ListBuffer
 
 trait ListInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.ListInstances {
 
-  implicit val catsStdInstancesForList: TraverseFilter[List] with MonadCombine[List] with Monad[List] with CoflatMap[List] with RecursiveTailRecM[List] =
-    new TraverseFilter[List] with MonadCombine[List] with Monad[List] with CoflatMap[List] with RecursiveTailRecM[List] {
-
+  implicit val catsStdInstancesForList: TraverseFilter[List] with MonadCombine[List] with Monad[List] with CoflatMap[List] =
+    new TraverseFilter[List] with MonadCombine[List] with Monad[List] with CoflatMap[List] {
       def empty[A]: List[A] = Nil
 
       def combineK[A](x: List[A], y: List[A]): List[A] = x ++ y
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/map.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/map.scala
index 682a627b36b..7784f428e50 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/map.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/map.scala
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ trait MapInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.MapInstances {
     }
 
   // scalastyle:off method.length
-  implicit def catsStdInstancesForMap[K]: TraverseFilter[Map[K, ?]] with FlatMap[Map[K, ?]] with RecursiveTailRecM[Map[K, ?]] =
-    new TraverseFilter[Map[K, ?]] with FlatMap[Map[K, ?]] with RecursiveTailRecM[Map[K, ?]] {
+  implicit def catsStdInstancesForMap[K]: TraverseFilter[Map[K, ?]] with FlatMap[Map[K, ?]] =
+    new TraverseFilter[Map[K, ?]] with FlatMap[Map[K, ?]] {
 
       override def traverse[G[_], A, B](fa: Map[K, A])(f: A => G[B])(implicit G: Applicative[G]): G[Map[K, B]] = {
         val gba: Eval[G[Map[K, B]]] = Always(G.pure(Map.empty))
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/option.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/option.scala
index b9ca152996c..3ce0a096f21 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/option.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/option.scala
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ import scala.annotation.tailrec
 
 trait OptionInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.OptionInstances {
 
-  implicit val catsStdInstancesForOption: TraverseFilter[Option] with MonadError[Option, Unit] with MonadCombine[Option] with Monad[Option] with CoflatMap[Option] with Alternative[Option] with RecursiveTailRecM[Option] =
-    new TraverseFilter[Option] with MonadError[Option, Unit]  with MonadCombine[Option] with Monad[Option] with CoflatMap[Option] with Alternative[Option] with RecursiveTailRecM[Option] {
+  implicit val catsStdInstancesForOption: TraverseFilter[Option] with MonadError[Option, Unit] with MonadCombine[Option] with Monad[Option] with CoflatMap[Option] with Alternative[Option] =
+    new TraverseFilter[Option] with MonadError[Option, Unit]  with MonadCombine[Option] with Monad[Option] with CoflatMap[Option] with Alternative[Option] {
 
       def empty[A]: Option[A] = None
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/stream.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/stream.scala
index 904358fb631..5ffcd171df6 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/stream.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/stream.scala
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@ import cats.syntax.show._
 import scala.annotation.tailrec
 
 trait StreamInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.StreamInstances {
-  implicit val catsStdInstancesForStream: TraverseFilter[Stream] with MonadCombine[Stream] with CoflatMap[Stream] with RecursiveTailRecM[Stream] =
-    new TraverseFilter[Stream] with MonadCombine[Stream] with CoflatMap[Stream] with RecursiveTailRecM[Stream] {
+  implicit val catsStdInstancesForStream: TraverseFilter[Stream] with MonadCombine[Stream] with CoflatMap[Stream] =
+    new TraverseFilter[Stream] with MonadCombine[Stream] with CoflatMap[Stream] {
 
       def empty[A]: Stream[A] = Stream.Empty
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/try.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/try.scala
index e96d6bb5110..faacee1f571 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/try.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/try.scala
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ import scala.annotation.tailrec
 trait TryInstances extends TryInstances1 {
 
   // scalastyle:off method.length
-  implicit def catsStdInstancesForTry: MonadError[Try, Throwable] with CoflatMap[Try] with Traverse[Try] with Monad[Try] with RecursiveTailRecM[Try] =
-    new TryCoflatMap with MonadError[Try, Throwable] with Traverse[Try] with Monad[Try] with RecursiveTailRecM[Try] {
+  implicit def catsStdInstancesForTry: MonadError[Try, Throwable] with CoflatMap[Try] with Traverse[Try] with Monad[Try] =
+    new TryCoflatMap with MonadError[Try, Throwable] with Traverse[Try] with Monad[Try] {
       def pure[A](x: A): Try[A] = Success(x)
 
       override def product[A, B](ta: Try[A], tb: Try[B]): Try[(A, B)] = (ta, tb) match {
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/tuple.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/tuple.scala
index 9a1acfe5832..f4aed0e05b0 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/tuple.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/tuple.scala
@@ -44,18 +44,18 @@ sealed trait Tuple2Instances extends Tuple2Instances1 {
 }
 
 sealed trait Tuple2Instances1 extends Tuple2Instances2 {
-  implicit def catsStdMonadForTuple2[X](implicit MX: Monoid[X]): Monad[(X, ?)] with RecursiveTailRecM[(X, ?)] =
+  implicit def catsStdMonadForTuple2[X](implicit MX: Monoid[X]): Monad[(X, ?)] =
     new FlatMapTuple2[X](MX) with Monad[(X, ?)] {
       def pure[A](a: A): (X, A) = (MX.empty, a)
     }
 }
 
 sealed trait Tuple2Instances2 {
-  implicit def catsStdFlatMapForTuple2[X](implicit SX: Semigroup[X]): FlatMap[(X, ?)] with RecursiveTailRecM[(X, ?)]=
+  implicit def catsStdFlatMapForTuple2[X](implicit SX: Semigroup[X]): FlatMap[(X, ?)] =
     new FlatMapTuple2[X](SX)
 }
 
-private[instances] class FlatMapTuple2[X](s: Semigroup[X]) extends FlatMap[(X, ?)] with RecursiveTailRecM[(X, ?)] {
+private[instances] class FlatMapTuple2[X](s: Semigroup[X]) extends FlatMap[(X, ?)] {
   override def ap[A, B](ff: (X, A => B))(fa: (X, A)): (X, B) = {
     val x = s.combine(ff._1, fa._1)
     val b = ff._2(fa._2)
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/vector.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/vector.scala
index cdbf80f94d8..4b91a414c43 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/vector.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/instances/vector.scala
@@ -7,8 +7,8 @@ import scala.collection.+:
 import scala.collection.immutable.VectorBuilder
 
 trait VectorInstances extends cats.kernel.instances.VectorInstances {
-  implicit val catsStdInstancesForVector: TraverseFilter[Vector] with MonadCombine[Vector] with CoflatMap[Vector] with RecursiveTailRecM[Vector] =
-    new TraverseFilter[Vector] with MonadCombine[Vector] with CoflatMap[Vector] with RecursiveTailRecM[Vector] {
+  implicit val catsStdInstancesForVector: TraverseFilter[Vector] with MonadCombine[Vector] with CoflatMap[Vector] =
+    new TraverseFilter[Vector] with MonadCombine[Vector] with CoflatMap[Vector] {
 
       def empty[A]: Vector[A] = Vector.empty[A]
 
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/package.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/package.scala
index e0708dd7876..1643380a327 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/package.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/package.scala
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ package object cats {
  * encodes pure unary function application.
  */
   type Id[A] = A
-  implicit val catsInstancesForId: Bimonad[Id] with Monad[Id] with Traverse[Id] with RecursiveTailRecM[Id] =
-    new Bimonad[Id] with Monad[Id] with Traverse[Id] with RecursiveTailRecM[Id] {
+  implicit val catsInstancesForId: Bimonad[Id] with Monad[Id] with Traverse[Id] =
+    new Bimonad[Id] with Monad[Id] with Traverse[Id] {
       def pure[A](a: A): A = a
       def extract[A](a: A): A = a
       def flatMap[A, B](a: A)(f: A => B): B = f(a)
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/MonadLaws.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/MonadLaws.scala
index 79620c6318b..cfcd028f5c4 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/MonadLaws.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/MonadLaws.scala
@@ -35,6 +35,12 @@ trait MonadLaws[F[_]] extends ApplicativeLaws[F] with FlatMapLaws[F] {
    */
   def mapFlatMapCoherence[A, B](fa: F[A], f: A => B): IsEq[F[B]] =
     fa.flatMap(a => F.pure(f(a))) <-> fa.map(f)
+
+  val tailRecMStackSafety: IsEq[F[Int]] = {
+    val n = 50000
+    val res = F.tailRecM(0)(i => F.pure(if (i < n) Either.left(i + 1) else Either.right(i)))
+    res <-> F.pure(n)
+  }
 }
 
 object MonadLaws {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/BimonadTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/BimonadTests.scala
index fb9f545dda2..9d1a7508d69 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/BimonadTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/BimonadTests.scala
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ trait BimonadTests[F[_]] extends MonadTests[F] with ComonadTests[F] {
     EqFB: Eq[F[B]],
     EqFC: Eq[F[C]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadCombineTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadCombineTests.scala
index be6ec6ed11b..ff0b0b90e30 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadCombineTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadCombineTests.scala
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ trait MonadCombineTests[F[_]] extends MonadFilterTests[F] with AlternativeTests[
     EqFB: Eq[F[B]],
     EqFC: Eq[F[C]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadErrorTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadErrorTests.scala
index 74bca14988f..fc6745e2d4b 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadErrorTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadErrorTests.scala
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ trait MonadErrorTests[F[_], E] extends ApplicativeErrorTests[F, E] with MonadTes
     EqFEitherEA: Eq[F[Either[E, A]]],
     EqEitherTFEA: Eq[EitherT[F, E, A]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadFilterTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadFilterTests.scala
index bfdb555fd64..a278139434e 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadFilterTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadFilterTests.scala
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ trait MonadFilterTests[F[_]] extends MonadTests[F] with FunctorFilterTests[F] {
     EqFB: Eq[F[B]],
     EqFC: Eq[F[C]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadReaderTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadReaderTests.scala
index 10f25078167..f5a07f71738 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadReaderTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadReaderTests.scala
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ trait MonadReaderTests[F[_], R] extends MonadTests[F] {
     EqFC: Eq[F[C]],
     EqFR: Eq[F[R]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadStateTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadStateTests.scala
index c27d93d7ac0..e70ffe0e47a 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadStateTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadStateTests.scala
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ trait MonadStateTests[F[_], S] extends MonadTests[F] {
     EqFUnit: Eq[F[Unit]],
     EqFS: Eq[F[S]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadTests.scala
index 50e6a560398..42741bae5d7 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadTests.scala
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ trait MonadTests[F[_]] extends ApplicativeTests[F] with FlatMapTests[F] {
     EqFB: Eq[F[B]],
     EqFC: Eq[F[C]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
   ): RuleSet = {
     new RuleSet {
@@ -29,7 +30,8 @@ trait MonadTests[F[_]] extends ApplicativeTests[F] with FlatMapTests[F] {
       def props: Seq[(String, Prop)] = Seq(
         "monad left identity" -> forAll(laws.monadLeftIdentity[A, B] _),
         "monad right identity" -> forAll(laws.monadRightIdentity[A] _),
-        "map flatMap coherence" -> forAll(laws.mapFlatMapCoherence[A, B] _)
+        "map flatMap coherence" -> forAll(laws.mapFlatMapCoherence[A, B] _),
+        "tailRecM stack safety" -> laws.tailRecMStackSafety
       )
     }
   }
diff --git a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadWriterTests.scala b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadWriterTests.scala
index e3f92eb5637..25f053c52d4 100644
--- a/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadWriterTests.scala
+++ b/laws/src/main/scala/cats/laws/discipline/MonadWriterTests.scala
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ trait MonadWriterTests[F[_], W] extends MonadTests[F] {
     EqFC: Eq[F[C]],
     EqFU: Eq[F[Unit]],
     EqFABC: Eq[F[(A, B, C)]],
+    EqFInt: Eq[F[Int]],
     WA: Arbitrary[W],
     WM: Monoid[W],
     iso: Isomorphisms[F]
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/MonadRecInstancesTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/MonadRecInstancesTests.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index 604318ae147..00000000000
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/MonadRecInstancesTests.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,105 +0,0 @@
-package cats
-package tests
-
-import cats.data.{
-  Cokleisli,
-  EitherT,
-  IdT,
-  Ior,
-  Kleisli,
-  NonEmptyList,
-  NonEmptyVector,
-  OneAnd,
-  OptionT,
-  StateT,
-  WriterT
-}
-
-class MonadRecInstancesTests extends CatsSuite {
-  def tailRecMStackSafety[M[_]: RecursiveTailRecM](implicit M: Monad[M], Eq: Eq[M[Int]]): Unit = {
-    val n = 50000
-    val res = M.tailRecM(0)(i => M.pure(if (i < n) Either.left(i + 1) else Either.right(i)))
-    res should === (M.pure(n))
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Cokleisli[Option, Int, ?]") {
-    implicit val eq: Eq[Cokleisli[Option, Int, Int]] = new Eq[Cokleisli[Option, Int, Int]] {
-      def eqv(a: Cokleisli[Option, Int, Int], b: Cokleisli[Option, Int, Int]) =
-        a.run(None) == b.run(None)
-    }
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Cokleisli[Option, Int, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Kleisli[Option, Int, ?]") {
-    implicit val eq: Eq[Kleisli[Option, Int, Int]] = new Eq[Kleisli[Option, Int, Int]] {
-      def eqv(a: Kleisli[Option, Int, Int], b: Kleisli[Option, Int, Int]) =
-        a.run(0) == b.run(0)
-    }
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Kleisli[Option, Int, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Id") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Id]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for IdT[Option, ?]") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[IdT[Option, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Option") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Option]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for OptionT") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[OptionT[Option, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for OneAnd[Stream, ?]") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[OneAnd[Stream, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Either") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Either[String, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for NonEmptyList") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[NonEmptyList]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for NonEmptyVector") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[NonEmptyVector]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for EitherT") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[EitherT[Option, String, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Ior") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Int Ior ?]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for List") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[List]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Stream") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Stream]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Vector") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Vector]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for Eval") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[Eval]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for StateT") {
-    import StateTTests._ // import implicit Eq[StateT[...]]
-    tailRecMStackSafety[StateT[Option, Int, ?]]
-  }
-
-  test("tailRecM stack-safety for WriterT[Option, Int, ?]") {
-    tailRecMStackSafety[WriterT[Option, Int, ?]]
-  }
-}