diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
index 438e611cf..8699c65ad 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/context.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ from eth2spec.utils import bls
 from .exceptions import SkippedTest
 from .helpers.constants import (
     PHASE0, ALTAIR,
-    ALL_PHASES, FORKS_BEFORE_ALTAIR,
+    ALL_PHASES, FORKS_BEFORE_ALTAIR, FORKS_BEFORE_MERGE,
 )
 from .helpers.genesis import create_genesis_state
 from .utils import vector_test, with_meta_tags
@@ -365,3 +365,9 @@ def is_post_altair(spec):
     if spec.fork in FORKS_BEFORE_ALTAIR:
         return False
     return True
+
+
+def is_post_merge(spec):
+    if spec.fork in FORKS_BEFORE_MERGE:
+        return False
+    return True
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/block.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/block.py
index 6949b54bc..64f406633 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/block.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/block.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-from eth2spec.test.context import is_post_altair
+from eth2spec.test.context import is_post_altair, is_post_merge
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.execution_payload import build_empty_execution_payload
 from eth2spec.test.helpers.keys import privkeys
 from eth2spec.utils import bls
 from eth2spec.utils.bls import only_with_bls
@@ -94,6 +95,9 @@ def build_empty_block(spec, state, slot=None):
     if is_post_altair(spec):
         empty_block.body.sync_aggregate.sync_committee_signature = spec.G2_POINT_AT_INFINITY
 
+    if is_post_merge(spec):
+        empty_block.body.execution_payload = build_empty_execution_payload(spec, state)
+
     apply_randao_reveal(spec, state, empty_block)
     return empty_block
 
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/execution_payload.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/execution_payload.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e829e07c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/execution_payload.py
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+
+def build_empty_execution_payload(spec, state):
+    """
+    Assuming a pre-state of the same slot, build a valid ExecutionPayload without any transactions.
+    """
+    latest = state.latest_execution_payload_header
+    timestamp = spec.compute_time_at_slot(state, state.slot)
+    empty_txs = spec.List[spec.OpaqueTransaction, spec.MAX_EXECUTION_TRANSACTIONS]()
+
+    payload = spec.ExecutionPayload(
+        block_hash=spec.Hash32(),
+        parent_hash=latest.block_hash,
+        coinbase=spec.Bytes20(),
+        state_root=latest.state_root,  # no changes to the state
+        number=latest.number + 1,
+        gas_limit=latest.gas_limit,  # retain same limit
+        gas_used=0,  # empty block, 0 gas
+        timestamp=timestamp,
+        receipt_root=b"no receipts here" + b"\x00"*16,  # TODO: root of empty MPT may be better.
+        logs_bloom=spec.ByteVector[spec.BYTES_PER_LOGS_BLOOM](),  # TODO: zeroed logs bloom for empty logs ok?
+        transactions_root=empty_txs,
+    )
+    # TODO: real RLP + block hash logic would be nice, requires RLP and keccak256 dependency however.
+    payload.block_hash = spec.Hash32(spec.hash(payload.hash_tree_root() + b"FAKE RLP HASH"))
+
+    return payload
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/__init__.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/__init__.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0cf5cef5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/block_processing/test_process_execution_payload.py
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import PHASE0, ALTAIR
+from eth2spec.test.context import spec_state_test, expect_assertion_error, always_bls, with_all_phases_except
+
+with_merge_and_later = with_all_phases_except([PHASE0, ALTAIR])
+
+
+def run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=True, execution_valid=True):
+    """
+    Run ``process_execution_payload``, yielding:
+      - pre-state ('pre')
+      - execution payload ('execution_payload')
+      - execution details, to mock EVM execution ('execution.yml', a dict with 'execution_valid' key and boolean value)
+      - post-state ('post').
+    If ``valid == False``, run expecting ``AssertionError``
+    """
+
+    yield 'pre', state
+    yield 'execution', {'execution_valid': execution_valid}
+    yield 'execution_payload', execution_payload
+
+    if not valid:
+        expect_assertion_error(lambda: spec.process_execution_payload(state, execution_payload))
+        yield 'post', None
+        return
+
+    spec.process_execution_payload(state, execution_payload)
+
+    yield 'post', state
+
+    # TODO: any assertions to make?
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_success_first_payload(spec, state):
+    assert not spec.is_transition_completed(state)
+
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_success_regular_payload(spec, state):
+    # TODO: setup state
+    assert spec.is_transition_completed(state)
+
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_success_first_payload_with_gap_slot(spec, state):
+    # TODO: transition gap slot
+
+    assert not spec.is_transition_completed(state)
+
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_success_regular_payload_with_gap_slot(spec, state):
+    # TODO: setup state
+    assert spec.is_transition_completed(state)
+    # TODO: transition gap slot
+
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_execution_first_payload(spec, state):
+    # completely valid payload, but execution itself fails (e.g. block exceeds gas limit)
+
+    # TODO: execution payload.
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False, execution_valid=False)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_execution_regular_payload(spec, state):
+    # completely valid payload, but execution itself fails (e.g. block exceeds gas limit)
+
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False, execution_valid=False)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_parent_hash_first_payload(spec, state):
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_number_first_payload(spec, state):
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_everything_first_payload(spec, state):
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_timestamp_first_payload(spec, state):
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False)
+
+
+@with_merge_and_later
+@spec_state_test
+def test_bad_timestamp_regular_payload(spec, state):
+    # TODO: execution payload
+    execution_payload = spec.ExecutionPayload()
+
+    yield from run_execution_payload_processing(spec, state, execution_payload, valid=False)
+
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/sanity/__init__.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/sanity/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/sanity/test_blocks.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/sanity/test_blocks.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f9e69167
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/merge/sanity/test_blocks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.state import (
+    state_transition_and_sign_block
+)
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.block import (
+    build_empty_block_for_next_slot
+)
+from eth2spec.test.context import (
+    with_all_phases, spec_state_test
+)
+
+
+@with_all_phases
+@spec_state_test
+def test_empty_block_transition(spec, state):
+    yield 'pre', state
+
+    block = build_empty_block_for_next_slot(spec, state)
+    assert len(block.body.execution_payload.transactions) == 0
+
+    signed_block = state_transition_and_sign_block(spec, state, block)
+
+    yield 'blocks', [signed_block]
+    yield 'post', state
+
+# TODO: tests with EVM, mock or replacement?