diff --git a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
index 569d2a80c..f0169f1d2 100644
--- a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@
             - [`BeaconState`](#beaconstate)
     - [Helper functions](#helper-functions)
         - [Math](#math)
-            - [`int_to_bytes`](#int_to_bytes)
             - [`integer_squareroot`](#integer_squareroot)
             - [`xor`](#xor)
+            - [`int_to_bytes`](#int_to_bytes)
             - [`bytes_to_int`](#bytes_to_int)
         - [Crypto](#crypto)
             - [`hash`](#hash)
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ class DepositData(Container):
 
 ```python
 class CompactCommittee(Container):
-    pubkeys: List[Bytes48, MAX_VALIDATORS_PER_COMMITTEE]
+    pubkeys: List[BLSPubkey, MAX_VALIDATORS_PER_COMMITTEE]
     compact_validators: List[uint64, MAX_VALIDATORS_PER_COMMITTEE]
 ```
 
@@ -541,8 +541,6 @@ class BeaconState(Container):
 
 ### Math
 
-#### `int_to_bytes`
-
 #### `integer_squareroot`
 
 ```python
@@ -561,13 +559,15 @@ def integer_squareroot(n: uint64) -> uint64:
 #### `xor`
 
 ```python
-def xor(bytes1: Bytes32, bytes2: Bytes32) -> Bytes32:
+def xor(bytes_1: Bytes32, bytes_2: Bytes32) -> Bytes32:
     """
     Return the exclusive-or of two 32-byte strings.
     """
-    return Bytes32(a ^ b for a, b in zip(bytes1, bytes2))
+    return Bytes32(a ^ b for a, b in zip(bytes_1, bytes_2))
 ```
 
+#### `int_to_bytes`
+
 ```python
 def int_to_bytes(n: uint64, length: uint64) -> bytes:
     """
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ def is_slashable_attestation_data(data_1: AttestationData, data_2: AttestationDa
 ```python
 def is_valid_indexed_attestation(state: BeaconState, indexed_attestation: IndexedAttestation) -> bool:
     """
-    Verify validity of ``indexed_attestation``.
+    Check if ``indexed_attestation`` has valid indices and signature.
     """
     bit_0_indices = indexed_attestation.custody_bit_0_indices
     bit_1_indices = indexed_attestation.custody_bit_1_indices
@@ -866,7 +866,7 @@ def get_seed(state: BeaconState, epoch: Epoch) -> Hash:
     """
     Return the seed at ``epoch``.
     """
-    mix = get_randao_mix(state, Epoch(epoch + EPOCHS_PER_HISTORICAL_VECTOR - MIN_SEED_LOOKAHEAD))  # Avoid underflow
+    mix = get_randao_mix(state, Epoch(epoch + EPOCHS_PER_HISTORICAL_VECTOR - MIN_SEED_LOOKAHEAD - 1))  # Avoid underflow
     active_index_root = state.active_index_roots[epoch % EPOCHS_PER_HISTORICAL_VECTOR]
     return hash(mix + active_index_root + int_to_bytes(epoch, length=32))
 ```
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ def get_total_balance(state: BeaconState, indices: Set[ValidatorIndex]) -> Gwei:
     """
     Return the combined effective balance of the ``indices``. (1 Gwei minimum to avoid divisions by zero.)
     """
-    return Gwei(max(sum([state.validators[index].effective_balance for index in indices]), 1))
+    return Gwei(max(1, sum([state.validators[index].effective_balance for index in indices])))
 ```
 
 #### `get_total_active_balance`
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ def process_slot(state: BeaconState) -> None:
     previous_state_root = hash_tree_root(state)
     state.state_roots[state.slot % SLOTS_PER_HISTORICAL_ROOT] = previous_state_root
     # Cache latest block header state root
-    if state.latest_block_header.state_root == Hash():
+    if state.latest_block_header.state_root == Bytes32():
         state.latest_block_header.state_root = previous_state_root
     # Cache block root
     previous_block_root = signing_root(state.latest_block_header)
@@ -1483,7 +1483,9 @@ def process_slashings(state: BeaconState) -> None:
     total_balance = get_total_active_balance(state)
     for index, validator in enumerate(state.validators):
         if validator.slashed and epoch + EPOCHS_PER_SLASHINGS_VECTOR // 2 == validator.withdrawable_epoch:
-            penalty = validator.effective_balance * min(sum(state.slashings) * 3, total_balance) // total_balance
+            increment = EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT  # Factored out from penalty numerator to avoid uint64 overflow
+            penalty_numerator = validator.effective_balance // increment * min(sum(state.slashings) * 3, total_balance)
+            penalty = penalty_numerator // total_balance * increment
             decrease_balance(state, ValidatorIndex(index), penalty)
 ```
 
@@ -1547,8 +1549,9 @@ def process_block_header(state: BeaconState, block: BeaconBlock) -> None:
     state.latest_block_header = BeaconBlockHeader(
         slot=block.slot,
         parent_root=block.parent_root,
-        state_root=Hash(),  # Overwritten in the next `process_slot` call
+        # state_root: zeroed, overwritten in the next `process_slot` call
         body_root=hash_tree_root(block.body),
+        # signature is always zeroed
     )
     # Verify proposer is not slashed
     proposer = state.validators[get_beacon_proposer_index(state)]
@@ -1671,7 +1674,7 @@ def process_attestation(state: BeaconState, attestation: Attestation) -> None:
     assert data.crosslink.parent_root == hash_tree_root(parent_crosslink)
     assert data.crosslink.start_epoch == parent_crosslink.end_epoch
     assert data.crosslink.end_epoch == min(data.target.epoch, parent_crosslink.end_epoch + MAX_EPOCHS_PER_CROSSLINK)
-    assert data.crosslink.data_root == Hash()  # [to be removed in phase 1]
+    assert data.crosslink.data_root == Bytes32()  # [to be removed in phase 1]
 
     # Check signature
     assert is_valid_indexed_attestation(state, get_indexed_attestation(state, attestation))
diff --git a/specs/simple-serialize.md b/specs/simple-serialize.md
index 8d9c33103..802adc5a6 100644
--- a/specs/simple-serialize.md
+++ b/specs/simple-serialize.md
@@ -25,8 +25,6 @@
         - [Vectors, containers, lists, unions](#vectors-containers-lists-unions)
     - [Deserialization](#deserialization)
     - [Merkleization](#merkleization)
-        - [Merkleization of `Bitvector[N]`](#merkleization-of-bitvectorn)
-        - [`Bitlist[N]`](#bitlistn-1)
     - [Self-signed containers](#self-signed-containers)
     - [Implementations](#implementations)
 
@@ -50,11 +48,11 @@
 
 * **container**: ordered heterogeneous collection of values
     * python dataclass notation with key-type pairs, e.g.
-```python
-class ContainerExample(Container):
-    foo: uint64
-    bar: boolean
-```
+    ```python
+    class ContainerExample(Container):
+        foo: uint64
+        bar: boolean
+    ```
 * **vector**: ordered fixed-length homogeneous collection, with `N` values
     * notation `Vector[type, N]`, e.g. `Vector[uint64, N]`
 * **list**: ordered variable-length homogeneous collection, limited to `N` values
@@ -101,7 +99,7 @@ We recursively define the `serialize` function which consumes an object `value`
 
 ```python
 assert N in [8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256]
-return value.to_bytes(N // 8, "little")
+return value.to_bytes(N // BITS_PER_BYTE, "little")
 ```
 
 ### `boolean`
@@ -120,8 +118,10 @@ return b""
 ### `Bitvector[N]`
 
 ```python
-as_integer = sum([value[i] << i for i in range(len(value))])
-return as_integer.to_bytes((N + 7) // 8, "little")
+array = [0] * ((N + 7) // 8)
+for i in range(N):
+    array[i // 8] |= value[i] << (i % 8)
+return bytes(array)
 ```
 
 ### `Bitlist[N]`
@@ -129,8 +129,11 @@ return as_integer.to_bytes((N + 7) // 8, "little")
 Note that from the offset coding, the length (in bytes) of the bitlist is known. An additional leading `1` bit is added so that the length in bits will also be known.
 
 ```python
-as_integer = (1 << len(value)) + sum([value[i] << i for i in range(len(value))])
-return as_integer.to_bytes((as_integer.bit_length() + 7) // 8, "little")
+array = [0] * ((len(value) // 8) + 1)
+for i in range(len(value)):
+    array[i // 8] |= value[i] << (i % 8)
+array[len(value) // 8] |= 1 << (len(value) % 8)
+return bytes(array)
 ```
 
 ### Vectors, containers, lists, unions
@@ -168,7 +171,8 @@ return serialized_type_index + serialized_bytes
 Because serialization is an injective function (i.e. two distinct objects of the same type will serialize to different values) any bytestring has at most one object it could deserialize to. Efficient algorithms for computing this object can be found in [the implementations](#implementations).
 
 Note that deserialization requires hardening against invalid inputs. A non-exhaustive list:
-- Offsets: out of order, out of range, mismatching minimum element size
+
+- Offsets: out of order, out of range, mismatching minimum element size.
 - Scope: Extra unused bytes, not aligned with element size.
 - More elements than a list limit allows. Part of enforcing consensus.
 
@@ -176,37 +180,36 @@ Note that deserialization requires hardening against invalid inputs. A non-exhau
 
 We first define helper functions:
 
+* `size_of(B)`, where `B` is a basic type: the length, in bytes, of the serialized form of the basic type.
+* `chunk_count(type)`: calculate the amount of leafs for merkleization of the type.
+   * all basic types: `1`
+   * `Bitlist[N]` and `Bitvector[N]`: `(N + 255) // 256` (dividing by chunk size, rounding up)
+   * `List[B, N]` and `Vector[B, N]`, where `B` is a basic type: `(N * size_of(B) + 31) // 32` (dividing by chunk size, rounding up)
+   * `List[C, N]` and `Vector[C, N]`, where `C` is a composite type: `N`
+   * containers: `len(fields)`
+* `bitfield_bytes(bits)`: return the bits of the bitlist or bitvector, packed in bytes, aligned to the start. Exclusive length-delimiting bit for bitlists.
 * `pack`: Given ordered objects of the same basic type, serialize them, pack them into `BYTES_PER_CHUNK`-byte chunks, right-pad the last chunk with zero bytes, and return the chunks.
 * `next_pow_of_two(i)`: get the next power of 2 of `i`, if not already a power of 2, with 0 mapping to 1. Examples: `0->1, 1->1, 2->2, 3->4, 4->4, 6->8, 9->16`
-* `merkleize(data, pad_for)`: Given ordered `BYTES_PER_CHUNK`-byte chunks, if necessary append zero chunks so that the number of chunks is a power of two, Merkleize the chunks, and return the root.
-  The merkleization depends on the effective input, which can be padded: if `pad_for=L`, then pad the `data` with zeroed chunks to `next_pow_of_two(L)` (virtually for memory efficiency).
-  Then, merkleize the chunks (empty input is padded to 1 zero chunk):
-    - If `1` chunk: A single chunk is simply that chunk, i.e. the identity when the number of chunks is one.
-    - If `> 1` chunks: pad to `next_pow_of_two(len(chunks))`, merkleize as binary tree.
+* `merkleize(chunks, limit=None)`: Given ordered `BYTES_PER_CHUNK`-byte chunks, merkleize the chunks, and return the root:
+    * The merkleization depends on the effective input, which can be padded/limited:
+        - if no limit: pad the `chunks` with zeroed chunks to `next_pow_of_two(len(chunks))` (virtually for memory efficiency).
+        - if `limit > len(chunks)`, pad the `chunks` with zeroed chunks to `next_pow_of_two(limit)` (virtually for memory efficiency).
+        - if `limit < len(chunks)`: do not merkleize, input exceeds limit. Raise an error instead.
+    * Then, merkleize the chunks (empty input is padded to 1 zero chunk):
+        - If `1` chunk: the root is the chunk itself.
+        - If `> 1` chunks: merkleize as binary tree.
 * `mix_in_length`: Given a Merkle root `root` and a length `length` (`"uint256"` little-endian serialization) return `hash(root + length)`.
 * `mix_in_type`: Given a Merkle root `root` and a type_index `type_index` (`"uint256"` little-endian serialization) return `hash(root + type_index)`.
 
 We now define Merkleization `hash_tree_root(value)` of an object `value` recursively:
 
-* `merkleize(pack(value))` if `value` is a basic object or a vector of basic objects
-* `mix_in_length(merkleize(pack(value), pad_for=(N * elem_size / BYTES_PER_CHUNK)), len(value))` if `value` is a list of basic objects.
-* `merkleize([hash_tree_root(element) for element in value])` if `value` is a vector of composite objects or a container
-* `mix_in_length(merkleize([hash_tree_root(element) for element in value], pad_for=N), len(value))` if `value` is a list of composite objects.
-* `mix_in_type(merkleize(value.value), value.type_index)` if `value` is of union type
-
-### Merkleization of `Bitvector[N]`
-
-```python
-as_integer = sum([value[i] << i for i in range(len(value))])
-return merkleize(as_integer.to_bytes((N + 7) // 8, "little"))
-```
-
-### `Bitlist[N]`
-
-```python
-as_integer = sum([value[i] << i for i in range(len(value))])
-return mix_in_length(merkleize(as_integer.to_bytes((N + 7) // 8, "little")), len(value))
-```
+* `merkleize(pack(value))` if `value` is a basic object or a vector of basic objects.
+* `merkleize(bitfield_bytes(value), limit=chunk_count(type))` if `value` is a bitvector.
+* `mix_in_length(merkleize(pack(value), limit=chunk_count(type)), len(value))` if `value` is a list of basic objects.
+* `mix_in_length(merkleize(bitfield_bytes(value), limit=chunk_count(type)), len(value))` if `value` is a bitlist.
+* `merkleize([hash_tree_root(element) for element in value])` if `value` is a vector of composite objects or a container.
+* `mix_in_length(merkleize([hash_tree_root(element) for element in value], limit=chunk_count(type)), len(value))` if `value` is a list of composite objects.
+* `mix_in_type(merkleize(value.value), value.type_index)` if `value` is of union type.
 
 ## Self-signed containers
 
diff --git a/specs/test_formats/README.md b/specs/test_formats/README.md
index 277e986d5..e4f013d8b 100644
--- a/specs/test_formats/README.md
+++ b/specs/test_formats/README.md
@@ -33,7 +33,10 @@ The particular formats of specific types of tests (test suites) are defined in s
 
 Test formats:
 - [`bls`](./bls/README.md)
+- [`epoch_processing`](./epoch_processing/README.md)
+- [`genesis`](./genesis/README.md)
 - [`operations`](./operations/README.md)
+- [`sanity`](./sanity/README.md)
 - [`shuffling`](./shuffling/README.md)
 - [`ssz_generic`](./ssz_generic/README.md)
 - [`ssz_static`](./ssz_static/README.md)
diff --git a/test_generators/README.md b/test_generators/README.md
index 95d7e70a8..9fdb45f4f 100644
--- a/test_generators/README.md
+++ b/test_generators/README.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ The `-j N` flag makes the generators run in parallel, with `N` being the amount
 The makefile auto-detects generators in the `test_generators` directory and provides a tests-gen target for each generator. See example:
 
 ```bash
-make ./yaml_tests/shuffling/
+make ./eth2.0-spec-tests/tests/shuffling/
 ```
 
 ## Developing a generator
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase_0/epoch_processing/test_process_slashings.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase_0/epoch_processing/test_process_slashings.py
index 7be23a04d..c58da5a4a 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase_0/epoch_processing/test_process_slashings.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/phase_0/epoch_processing/test_process_slashings.py
@@ -66,8 +66,13 @@ def test_small_penalty(spec, state):
     spec.process_slashings(state)
     yield 'post', state
 
-    assert state.balances[0] == pre_slash_balances[0] - (state.validators[0].effective_balance
-                                                         * 3 * total_penalties // total_balance)
+    expected_penalty = (
+        state.validators[0].effective_balance // spec.EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT
+        * (3 * total_penalties)
+        // total_balance
+        * spec.EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT
+    )
+    assert state.balances[0] == pre_slash_balances[0] - expected_penalty
 
 
 @with_all_phases
@@ -121,5 +126,10 @@ def test_scaled_penalties(spec, state):
 
     for i in slashed_indices:
         v = state.validators[i]
-        penalty = v.effective_balance * total_penalties * 3 // total_balance
-        assert state.balances[i] == pre_slash_balances[i] - penalty
+        expected_penalty = (
+            v.effective_balance // spec.EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT
+            * (3 * total_penalties)
+            // (total_balance)
+            * spec.EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT
+        )
+        assert state.balances[i] == pre_slash_balances[i] - expected_penalty
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/merkle_minimal.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/merkle_minimal.py
index e9416ea05..9d7138d7d 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/merkle_minimal.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/merkle_minimal.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .hash_function import hash
+from eth2spec.utils.hash_function import hash
 from math import log2
 
 
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ def calc_merkle_tree_from_leaves(values, layer_count=32):
 
 
 def get_merkle_root(values, pad_to=1):
+    if pad_to == 0:
+        return zerohashes[0]
     layer_count = int(log2(pad_to))
     if len(values) == 0:
         return zerohashes[layer_count]
@@ -35,10 +37,21 @@ def get_merkle_proof(tree, item_index):
     return proof
 
 
-def merkleize_chunks(chunks, pad_to: int=1):
+def merkleize_chunks(chunks, limit=None):
+    # If no limit is defined, we are just merkleizing chunks (e.g. SSZ container).
+    if limit is None:
+        limit = len(chunks)
+
     count = len(chunks)
+    # See if the input is within expected size.
+    # If not, a list-limit is set incorrectly, or a value is unexpectedly large.
+    assert count <= limit
+
+    if limit == 0:
+        return zerohashes[0]
+
     depth = max(count - 1, 0).bit_length()
-    max_depth = max(depth, (pad_to - 1).bit_length())
+    max_depth = (limit - 1).bit_length()
     tmp = [None for _ in range(max_depth + 1)]
 
     def merge(h, i):
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_impl.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_impl.py
index d5855a755..b005f2456 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_impl.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_impl.py
@@ -41,11 +41,14 @@ def serialize(obj: SSZValue):
     if isinstance(obj, BasicValue):
         return serialize_basic(obj)
     elif isinstance(obj, Bitvector):
-        as_integer = sum([obj[i] << i for i in range(len(obj))])
-        return as_integer.to_bytes((len(obj) + 7) // 8, "little")
+        return obj.as_bytes()
     elif isinstance(obj, Bitlist):
-        as_integer = (1 << len(obj)) + sum([obj[i] << i for i in range(len(obj))])
-        return as_integer.to_bytes((as_integer.bit_length() + 7) // 8, "little")
+        as_bytearray = list(obj.as_bytes())
+        if len(obj) % 8 == 0:
+            as_bytearray.append(1)
+        else:
+            as_bytearray[len(obj) // 8] |= 1 << (len(obj) % 8)
+        return bytes(as_bytearray)
     elif isinstance(obj, Series):
         return encode_series(obj)
     else:
@@ -92,12 +95,10 @@ def encode_series(values: Series):
 def pack(values: Series):
     if isinstance(values, bytes):  # Bytes and BytesN are already packed
         return values
-    elif isinstance(values, Bitvector):
-        as_integer = sum([values[i] << i for i in range(len(values))])
-        return as_integer.to_bytes((values.length + 7) // 8, "little")
-    elif isinstance(values, Bitlist):
-        as_integer = sum([values[i] << i for i in range(len(values))])
-        return as_integer.to_bytes((values.length + 7) // 8, "little")
+    elif isinstance(values, Bits):
+        # packs the bits in bytes, left-aligned.
+        # Exclusive length delimiting bits for bitlists.
+        return values.as_bytes()
     return b''.join([serialize_basic(value) for value in values])
 
 
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ def item_length(typ: SSZType) -> int:
 
 
 def chunk_count(typ: SSZType) -> int:
+    # note that for lists, .length *on the type* describes the list limit.
     if isinstance(typ, BasicType):
         return 1
     elif issubclass(typ, Bits):
@@ -150,7 +152,7 @@ def hash_tree_root(obj: SSZValue):
         raise Exception(f"Type not supported: {type(obj)}")
 
     if isinstance(obj, (List, Bytes, Bitlist)):
-        return mix_in_length(merkleize_chunks(leaves, pad_to=chunk_count(obj.type())), len(obj))
+        return mix_in_length(merkleize_chunks(leaves, limit=chunk_count(obj.type())), len(obj))
     else:
         return merkleize_chunks(leaves)
 
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_typing.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_typing.py
index 2ec4b5ce2..1f199e6e1 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_typing.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/ssz/ssz_typing.py
@@ -354,7 +354,12 @@ class BitElementsType(ElementsType):
 
 
 class Bits(BaseList, metaclass=BitElementsType):
-    pass
+
+    def as_bytes(self):
+        as_bytearray = [0] * ((len(self) + 7) // 8)
+        for i in range(len(self)):
+            as_bytearray[i // 8] |= int(self[i]) << (i % 8)
+        return bytes(as_bytearray)
 
 
 class Bitlist(Bits):
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/test_merkle_minimal.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/test_merkle_minimal.py
index f1ed768e6..3746ea6ca 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/test_merkle_minimal.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/utils/test_merkle_minimal.py
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@ def h(a: bytes, b: bytes) -> bytes:
 
 
 def e(v: int) -> bytes:
-    return v.to_bytes(length=32, byteorder='little')
+    # prefix with 0xfff... to make it non-zero
+    return b'\xff' * 28 + v.to_bytes(length=4, byteorder='little')
 
 
 def z(i: int) -> bytes:
@@ -16,44 +17,64 @@ def z(i: int) -> bytes:
 
 
 cases = [
-    (0, 0, 1, z(0)),
-    (0, 1, 1, e(0)),
-    (1, 0, 2, h(z(0), z(0))),
-    (1, 1, 2, h(e(0), z(0))),
-    (1, 2, 2, h(e(0), e(1))),
-    (2, 0, 4, h(h(z(0), z(0)), z(1))),
-    (2, 1, 4, h(h(e(0), z(0)), z(1))),
-    (2, 2, 4, h(h(e(0), e(1)), z(1))),
-    (2, 3, 4, h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), z(0)))),
-    (2, 4, 4, h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3)))),
-    (3, 0, 8, h(h(h(z(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2))),
-    (3, 1, 8, h(h(h(e(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2))),
-    (3, 2, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), z(1)), z(2))),
-    (3, 3, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), z(0))), z(2))),
-    (3, 4, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), z(2))),
-    (3, 5, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), z(0)), z(1)))),
-    (3, 6, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(z(0), z(0))))),
-    (3, 7, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), z(0))))),
-    (3, 8, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), e(7))))),
-    (4, 0, 16, h(h(h(h(z(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2)), z(3))),
-    (4, 1, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2)), z(3))),
-    (4, 2, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), z(1)), z(2)), z(3))),
-    (4, 3, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), z(0))), z(2)), z(3))),
-    (4, 4, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), z(2)), z(3))),
-    (4, 5, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), z(0)), z(1))), z(3))),
-    (4, 6, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(z(0), z(0)))), z(3))),
-    (4, 7, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), z(0)))), z(3))),
-    (4, 8, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), e(7)))), z(3))),
-    (4, 9, 16,
-     h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), e(7)))), h(h(h(e(8), z(0)), z(1)), z(2)))),
+    # limit 0: always zero hash
+    (0, 0, z(0)),
+    (1, 0, None),  # cut-off due to limit
+    (2, 0, None),  # cut-off due to limit
+    # limit 1: padded to 1 element if not already. Returned (like identity func)
+    (0, 1, z(0)),
+    (1, 1, e(0)),
+    (2, 1, None),  # cut-off due to limit
+    (1, 1, e(0)),
+    (0, 2, h(z(0), z(0))),
+    (1, 2, h(e(0), z(0))),
+    (2, 2, h(e(0), e(1))),
+    (3, 2, None),  # cut-off due to limit
+    (16, 2, None),  # bigger cut-off due to limit
+    (0, 4, h(h(z(0), z(0)), z(1))),
+    (1, 4, h(h(e(0), z(0)), z(1))),
+    (2, 4, h(h(e(0), e(1)), z(1))),
+    (3, 4, h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), z(0)))),
+    (4, 4, h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3)))),
+    (5, 4, None),  # cut-off due to limit
+    (0, 8, h(h(h(z(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2))),
+    (1, 8, h(h(h(e(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2))),
+    (2, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), z(1)), z(2))),
+    (3, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), z(0))), z(2))),
+    (4, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), z(2))),
+    (5, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), z(0)), z(1)))),
+    (6, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(z(0), z(0))))),
+    (7, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), z(0))))),
+    (8, 8, h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), e(7))))),
+    (9, 8, None),  # cut-off due to limit
+    (0, 16, h(h(h(h(z(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2)), z(3))),
+    (1, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), z(0)), z(1)), z(2)), z(3))),
+    (2, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), z(1)), z(2)), z(3))),
+    (3, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), z(0))), z(2)), z(3))),
+    (4, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), z(2)), z(3))),
+    (5, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), z(0)), z(1))), z(3))),
+    (6, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(z(0), z(0)))), z(3))),
+    (7, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), z(0)))), z(3))),
+    (8, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), e(7)))), z(3))),
+    (9, 16, h(h(h(h(e(0), e(1)), h(e(2), e(3))), h(h(e(4), e(5)), h(e(6), e(7)))), h(h(h(e(8), z(0)), z(1)), z(2)))),
 ]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
-    'depth,count,pow2,value',
+    'count,limit,value',
     cases,
 )
-def test_merkleize_chunks_and_get_merkle_root(depth, count, pow2, value):
+def test_merkleize_chunks_and_get_merkle_root(count, limit, value):
     chunks = [e(i) for i in range(count)]
-    assert merkleize_chunks(chunks, pad_to=pow2) == value
-    assert get_merkle_root(chunks, pad_to=pow2) == value
+    if value is None:
+        bad = False
+        try:
+            merkleize_chunks(chunks, limit=limit)
+            bad = True
+        except AssertionError:
+            pass
+        if bad:
+            assert False, "expected merkleization to be invalid"
+    else:
+        assert merkleize_chunks(chunks, limit=limit) == value
+        assert get_merkle_root(chunks, pad_to=limit) == value