diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/__init__.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_helpers.py b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py
similarity index 66%
rename from tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_helpers.py
rename to tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py
index 7eefc458b..f9aa68add 100644
--- a/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/unittests/test_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/core/pyspec/eth2spec/test/altair/merkle/test_single_proof.py
@@ -8,12 +8,14 @@ from eth2spec.test.helpers.merkle import build_proof
 
 @with_phases([ALTAIR])
 @spec_state_test
-def test_next_sync_committee_tree(spec, state):
+def test_next_sync_committee_merkle_proof(spec, state):
     yield "state", state
-    yield "leaf", state.next_sync_committee.hash_tree_root()
-    yield "leaf_index", "meta", spec.NEXT_SYNC_COMMITTEE_INDEX
     next_sync_committee_branch = build_proof(state.get_backing(), spec.NEXT_SYNC_COMMITTEE_INDEX)
-    yield "proof", next_sync_committee_branch
+    yield "proof", {
+        "leaf": "0x" + state.next_sync_committee.hash_tree_root().hex(),
+        "leaf_index": spec.NEXT_SYNC_COMMITTEE_INDEX,
+        "branch": ['0x' + root.hex() for root in next_sync_committee_branch]
+    }
     assert spec.is_valid_merkle_branch(
         leaf=state.next_sync_committee.hash_tree_root(),
         branch=next_sync_committee_branch,
@@ -25,12 +27,15 @@ def test_next_sync_committee_tree(spec, state):
 
 @with_phases([ALTAIR])
 @spec_state_test
-def test_finality_root_tree(spec, state):
+def test_finality_root_merkle_proof(spec, state):
     yield "state", state
-    yield "leaf", state.finalized_checkpoint.root
-    yield "leaf_index", "meta", spec.FINALIZED_ROOT_INDEX
     finality_branch = build_proof(state.get_backing(), spec.FINALIZED_ROOT_INDEX)
-    yield "proof", finality_branch
+    yield "proof", {
+        "leaf": "0x" + state.finalized_checkpoint.root.hex(),
+        "leaf_index": spec.FINALIZED_ROOT_INDEX,
+        "branch": ['0x' + root.hex() for root in finality_branch]
+    }
+
     assert spec.is_valid_merkle_branch(
         leaf=state.finalized_checkpoint.root,
         branch=finality_branch,
diff --git a/tests/formats/merkle/README.md b/tests/formats/merkle/README.md
index a1810d667..c0f0a205b 100644
--- a/tests/formats/merkle/README.md
+++ b/tests/formats/merkle/README.md
@@ -3,34 +3,6 @@
 This series of tests provides reference test vectors for validating correct
 generation and verification of merkle proofs based on static data.
 
-## Test case format
-
-### `meta.yaml`
-
-```yaml
-leaf_index: int        -- Generalized leaf index, verifying against the proof.
-proof_count: int       -- Amount of proof elements.
-```
-
-### `state.ssz_snappy`
-
-An SSZ-snappy encoded `BeaconState` object from which other data is generated.
-
-### `leaf.ssz_snappy`
-
-An SSZ-snappy encoded `Bytes32` reflecting the merkle root of `leaf_index` at
-the given `state`.
-
-### `proof_<index>.ssz_snappy`
-
-A series of files, with `<index>` in range `[0, proof_count)`. Each file is an
-SSZ-snappy encoded `Bytes32` and represents one element of the merkle proof for
-`leaf_index` at the given `state`.
-
-## Condition
-
-A test-runner can implement the following assertions:
-- Check that `is_valid_merkle_branch` confirms `leaf` at `leaf_index` to verify
-  against `has_tree_root(state)` and `proof`.
-- If the implementation supports generating merkle proofs, check that the
-  self-generated proof matches the `proof` provided with the test.
+Handlers:
+- `single_proof`: see [Single leaf proof test format](./single_proof.md)
+- Different types of merkle proofs may be supported in the future.
diff --git a/tests/formats/merkle/single_proof.md b/tests/formats/merkle/single_proof.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..65fe7c988
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/formats/merkle/single_proof.md
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# Single leaf merkle proof tests
+
+This series of tests provides reference test vectors for validating correct
+generation and verification of merkle proofs based on static data.
+
+## Test case format
+
+### `state.ssz_snappy`
+
+An SSZ-snappy encoded `BeaconState` object from which other data is generated.
+
+### `proof.yaml`
+
+A proof of the leaf value (a merkle root) at generalized-index `leaf_index` in the given `state`.
+
+```yaml
+leaf: Bytes32            # string, hex encoded, with 0x prefix
+leaf_index: int          # integer, decimal
+branch: list of Bytes32  # list, each element is a string, hex encoded, with 0x prefix 
+```
+
+## Condition
+
+A test-runner can implement the following assertions:
+- Check that `is_valid_merkle_branch` confirms `leaf` at `leaf_index` to verify
+  against `has_tree_root(state)` and `proof`.
+- If the implementation supports generating merkle proofs, check that the
+  self-generated proof matches the `proof` provided with the test.
diff --git a/tests/generators/merkle/main.py b/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
index 53cb59de9..7203c5f19 100644
--- a/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
+++ b/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ from eth2spec.gen_helpers.gen_from_tests.gen import run_state_test_generators
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    altair_mods = {key: 'eth2spec.test.altair.unittests.test_' + key for key in [
-        'helpers',
+    altair_mods = {key: 'eth2spec.test.altair.merkle.test_' + key for key in [
+        'single_proof',
     ]}
 
     all_mods = {