eth2.0-specs/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md

# Ethereum 2.0 Phase 0 -- The Beacon Chain

**NOTICE**: This document is a work-in-progress for researchers and implementers. It reflects recent spec changes and takes precedence over the Python proof-of-concept implementation [[python-poc]](#ref-python-poc).

## Table of contents
<!-- TOC -->

- [Ethereum 2.0 Phase 0 -- The Beacon Chain](#ethereum-20-phase-0----the-beacon-chain)
    - [Table of contents](#table-of-contents)
    - [Introduction](#introduction)
    - [Notation](#notation)
    - [Terminology](#terminology)
    - [Constants](#constants)
        - [Misc](#misc)
        - [Deposit contract](#deposit-contract)
        - [Initial values](#initial-values)
        - [Time parameters](#time-parameters)
        - [Reward and penalty quotients](#reward-and-penalty-quotients)
        - [Status flags](#status-flags)
        - [Max operations per block](#max-operations-per-block)
        - [Validator registry delta flags](#validator-registry-delta-flags)
        - [Signature domains](#signature-domains)
    - [Data structures](#data-structures)
        - [Signatures](#signatures)
            - [`Signature`](#signature)
        - [Beacon chain operations](#beacon-chain-operations)
            - [Proposer slashings](#proposer-slashings)
                - [`ProposerSlashing`](#proposerslashing)
            - [Casper slashings](#casper-slashings)
                - [`CasperSlashing`](#casperslashing)
                - [`SlashableVoteData`](#slashablevotedata)
            - [Attestations](#attestations)
                - [`Attestation`](#attestation)
                - [`AttestationData`](#attestationdata)
                - [`AttestationDataAndCustodyBit`](#attestationdataandcustodybit)
            - [Deposits](#deposits)
                - [`Deposit`](#deposit)
                - [`DepositData`](#depositdata)
                - [`DepositInput`](#depositinput)
            - [Exits](#exits)
                - [`Exit`](#exit)
        - [Beacon chain blocks](#beacon-chain-blocks)
            - [`BeaconBlock`](#beaconblock)
            - [`BeaconBlockBody`](#beaconblockbody)
            - [`ProposalSignedData`](#proposalsigneddata)
        - [Beacon chain state](#beacon-chain-state)
            - [`BeaconState`](#beaconstate)
            - [`ValidatorRecord`](#validatorrecord)
            - [`CrosslinkRecord`](#crosslinkrecord)
            - [`DepositRootVote`](#depositrootvote)
            - [`PendingAttestationRecord`](#pendingattestationrecord)
            - [`ForkData`](#forkdata)
            - [`ValidatorRegistryDeltaBlock`](#validatorregistrydeltablock)
    - [Ethereum 1.0 deposit contract](#ethereum-10-deposit-contract)
        - [Deposit arguments](#deposit-arguments)
        - [Withdrawal credentials](#withdrawal-credentials)
        - [`Deposit` logs](#deposit-logs)
        - [`ChainStart` log](#chainstart-log)
        - [Vyper code](#vyper-code)
    - [Beacon chain processing](#beacon-chain-processing)
        - [Beacon chain fork choice rule](#beacon-chain-fork-choice-rule)
    - [Beacon chain state transition function](#beacon-chain-state-transition-function)
        - [Helper functions](#helper-functions)
            - [`hash`](#hash)
            - [`hash_tree_root`](#hash_tree_root)
            - [`is_active_validator`](#is_active_validator)
            - [`get_active_validator_indices`](#get_active_validator_indices)
            - [`shuffle`](#shuffle)
            - [`split`](#split)
            - [`get_committee_count_per_slot`](#get_committee_count_per_slot)
            - [`get_shuffling`](#get_shuffling)
            - [`get_previous_epoch_committee_count_per_slot`](#get_previous_epoch_committee_count_per_slot)
            - [`get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot`](#get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot)
            - [`get_crosslink_committees_at_slot`](#get_crosslink_committees_at_slot)
            - [`get_block_root`](#get_block_root)
            - [`get_randao_mix`](#get_randao_mix)
            - [`get_beacon_proposer_index`](#get_beacon_proposer_index)
            - [`merkle_root`](#merkle_root)
            - [`get_attestation_participants`](#get_attestation_participants)
            - [`int_to_bytes1`, `int_to_bytes2`, ...](#int_to_bytes1-int_to_bytes2-)
            - [`get_effective_balance`](#get_effective_balance)
            - [`get_fork_version`](#get_fork_version)
            - [`get_domain`](#get_domain)
            - [`verify_slashable_vote_data`](#verify_slashable_vote_data)
            - [`is_double_vote`](#is_double_vote)
            - [`is_surround_vote`](#is_surround_vote)
            - [`integer_squareroot`](#integer_squareroot)
            - [`bls_verify`](#bls_verify)
            - [`bls_verify_multiple`](#bls_verify_multiple)
            - [`bls_aggregate_pubkeys`](#bls_aggregate_pubkeys)
        - [On startup](#on-startup)
        - [Routine for processing deposits](#routine-for-processing-deposits)
        - [Routines for updating validator status](#routines-for-updating-validator-status)
    - [Per-slot processing](#per-slot-processing)
        - [Misc counters](#misc-counters)
        - [Block roots](#block-roots)
    - [Per-block processing](#per-block-processing)
        - [Slot](#slot)
        - [Proposer signature](#proposer-signature)
        - [RANDAO](#randao)
        - [Deposit root](#deposit-root)
        - [Operations](#operations)
            - [Proposer slashings](#proposer-slashings-1)
            - [Casper slashings](#casper-slashings-1)
            - [Attestations](#attestations-1)
            - [Deposits](#deposits-1)
            - [Exits](#exits-1)
            - [Custody](#custody)
    - [Per-epoch processing](#per-epoch-processing)
        - [Helpers](#helpers)
        - [Deposit roots](#deposit-roots)
        - [Justification](#justification)
        - [Crosslinks](#crosslinks)
        - [Rewards and penalties](#rewards-and-penalties)
            - [Justification and finalization](#justification-and-finalization)
            - [Attestation inclusion](#attestation-inclusion)
            - [Crosslinks](#crosslinks-1)
        - [Ejections](#ejections)
        - [Validator registry](#validator-registry)
        - [Final updates](#final-updates)
    - [State root processing](#state-root-processing)
- [References](#references)
    - [Normative](#normative)
    - [Informative](#informative)
- [Copyright](#copyright)

<!-- /TOC -->

## Introduction

This document represents the specification for Phase 0 of Ethereum 2.0 -- The Beacon Chain.

At the core of Ethereum 2.0 is a system chain called the "beacon chain". The beacon chain stores and manages the registry of [validators](#dfn-validator). In the initial deployment phases of Ethereum 2.0 the only mechanism to become a [validator](#dfn-validator) is to make a one-way ETH transaction to a deposit contract on Ethereum 1.0. Activation as a [validator](#dfn-validator) happens when Ethereum 1.0 deposit receipts are processed by the beacon chain, the activation balance is reached, and after a queuing process. Exit is either voluntary or done forcibly as a penalty for misbehavior.

The primary source of load on the beacon chain is "attestations". Attestations are availability votes for a shard block, and simultaneously proof of stake votes for a beacon chain block. A sufficient number of attestations for the same shard block create a "crosslink", confirming the shard segment up to that shard block into the beacon chain. Crosslinks also serve as infrastructure for asynchronous cross-shard communication.

## Notation

Unless otherwise indicated, code appearing in `this style` is to be interpreted as an algorithm defined in Python. Implementations may implement such algorithms using any code and programming language desired as long as the behavior is identical to that of the algorithm provided.

## Terminology

* **Validator** <a id="dfn-validator"></a> - a participant in the Casper/sharding consensus system. You can become one by depositing 32 ETH into the Casper mechanism.
* **Active validator** <a id="dfn-active-validator"></a> - a [validator](#dfn-validator) currently participating in the protocol which the Casper mechanism looks to produce and attest to blocks, crosslinks and other consensus objects.
* **Committee** - a (pseudo-) randomly sampled subset of [active validators](#dfn-active-validator). When a committee is referred to collectively, as in "this committee attests to X", this is assumed to mean "some subset of that committee that contains enough [validators](#dfn-validator) that the protocol recognizes it as representing the committee".
* **Proposer** - the [validator](#dfn-validator) that creates a beacon chain block
* **Attester** - a [validator](#dfn-validator) that is part of a committee that needs to sign off on a beacon chain block while simultaneously creating a link (crosslink) to a recent shard block on a particular shard chain.
* **Beacon chain** - the central PoS chain that is the base of the sharding system.
* **Shard chain** - one of the chains on which user transactions take place and account data is stored.
* **Block root** - a 32-byte Merkle root of a beacon chain block or shard chain block. Previously called "block hash".
* **Crosslink** - a set of signatures from a committee attesting to a block in a shard chain, which can be included into the beacon chain. Crosslinks are the main means by which the beacon chain "learns about" the updated state of shard chains.
* **Slot** - a period of `SLOT_DURATION` seconds, during which one proposer has the ability to create a beacon chain block and some attesters have the ability to make attestations
* **Epoch** - an aligned span of slots during which all [validators](#dfn-validator) get exactly one chance to make an attestation
* **Finalized**, **justified** - see Casper FFG finalization [[casper-ffg]](#ref-casper-ffg)
* **Withdrawal period** - the number of slots between a [validator](#dfn-validator) exit and the [validator](#dfn-validator) balance being withdrawable
* **Genesis time** - the Unix time of the genesis beacon chain block at slot 0

## Constants

### Misc

| Name | Value | Unit |
| - | - | :-: |
| `SHARD_COUNT` | `2**10` (= 1,024) | shards |
| `TARGET_COMMITTEE_SIZE` | `2**7` (= 128) | [validators](#dfn-validator) |
| `EJECTION_BALANCE` | `2**4` (= 16) | ETH |
| `MAX_BALANCE_CHURN_QUOTIENT` | `2**5` (= 32) | - |
| `GWEI_PER_ETH` | `10**9` | Gwei/ETH |
| `BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER` | `2**64 - 1` | - |
| `MAX_CASPER_VOTES` | `2**10` (= 1,024) | votes |
| `LATEST_BLOCK_ROOTS_LENGTH` | `2**13` (= 8,192) | block roots |
| `LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH` | `2**13` (= 8,192) | randao mixes |
| `LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH` | `2**13` (= 8,192) | epochs | ~36 days |
| `MAX_WITHDRAWALS_PER_EPOCH` | `2**2` (= 4) | withdrawals |

* For the safety of crosslinks `TARGET_COMMITTEE_SIZE` exceeds [the recommended minimum committee size of 111](https://vitalik.ca/files/Ithaca201807_Sharding.pdf); with sufficient active validators (at least `EPOCH_LENGTH * TARGET_COMMITTEE_SIZE`), the shuffling algorithm ensures committee sizes at least `TARGET_COMMITTEE_SIZE`. (Unbiasable randomness with a Verifiable Delay Function (VDF) will improve committee robustness and lower the safe minimum committee size.)

### Deposit contract

| Name | Value | Unit |
| - | - | :-: |
| `DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_ADDRESS` | **TBD** |
| `DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH` | `2**5` (= 32) | - |
| `MIN_DEPOSIT` | `2**0` (= 1) | ETH |
| `MAX_DEPOSIT` | `2**5` (= 32) | ETH |

### Initial values

| Name | Value |
| - | - |
| `GENESIS_FORK_VERSION` | `0` |
| `GENESIS_SLOT` | `0` |
| `GENESIS_START_SHARD` | `0` |
| `FAR_FUTURE_SLOT` | `2**64 - 1` |
| `ZERO_HASH` | `int_to_bytes32(0)` |
| `EMPTY_SIGNATURE` | `[int_to_bytes48(0), int_to_bytes48(0)]` |
| `BLS_WITHDRAWAL_PREFIX_BYTE` | `int_to_bytes1(0)` |

### Time parameters

| Name | Value | Unit | Duration |
| - | - | :-: | :-: |
| `SLOT_DURATION` | `6` | seconds | 6 seconds |
| `MIN_ATTESTATION_INCLUSION_DELAY` | `2**2` (= 4) | slots | 24 seconds |
| `EPOCH_LENGTH` | `2**6` (= 64) | slots | 6.4 minutes |
| `SEED_LOOKAHEAD` | `2**6` (= 64) | slots | 6.4 minutes |
| `ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY` | `2**8` (= 256) | slots | 25.6 minutes |
| `DEPOSIT_ROOT_VOTING_PERIOD` | `2**10` (= 1,024) | slots | ~1.7 hours |
| `MIN_VALIDATOR_WITHDRAWAL_TIME` | `2**14` (= 16,384) | slots | ~27 hours |

### Reward and penalty quotients

| Name | Value |
| - | - |
| `BASE_REWARD_QUOTIENT` | `2**10` (= 1,024) |
| `WHISTLEBLOWER_REWARD_QUOTIENT` | `2**9` (= 512) |
| `INCLUDER_REWARD_QUOTIENT` | `2**3` (= 8) |
| `INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT` | `2**24` (= 16,777,216) |

* The `BASE_REWARD_QUOTIENT` parameter dictates the per-epoch reward. It corresponds to ~2.54% annual interest assuming 10 million participating ETH in every epoch.
* The `INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT` equals `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME**2` where `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME := 2**12 epochs` (~18 days) is the time it takes the inactivity penalty to reduce the balance of non-participating [validators](#dfn-validator) to about `1/sqrt(e) ~= 60.6%`. Indeed, the balance retained by offline [validators](#dfn-validator) after `n` epochs is about `(1-1/INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT)**(n**2/2)` so after `INVERSE_SQRT_E_DROP_TIME` epochs it is roughly `(1-1/INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT)**(INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT/2) ~= 1/sqrt(e)`.

### Status flags

| Name | Value |
| - | - |
| `INITIATED_EXIT` | `2**0` (= 1) |
| `WITHDRAWABLE` | `2**1` (= 2) |

### Max operations per block

| Name | Value |
| - | - |
| `MAX_PROPOSER_SLASHINGS` | `2**4` (= 16) |
| `MAX_CASPER_SLASHINGS` | `2**4` (= 16) |
| `MAX_ATTESTATIONS` | `2**7` (= 128) |
| `MAX_DEPOSITS` | `2**4` (= 16) |
| `MAX_EXITS` | `2**4` (= 16) |

### Validator registry delta flags

| Name | Value |
| - | - |
| `ACTIVATION` | `0` |
| `EXIT` | `1` |

### Signature domains

| Name | Value |
| - | - |
| `DOMAIN_DEPOSIT` | `0` |
| `DOMAIN_ATTESTATION` | `1` |
| `DOMAIN_PROPOSAL` | `2` |
| `DOMAIN_EXIT` | `3` |

## Data structures

### Signatures

#### `Signature`

```python
{
    'z_1': 'bytes48',
    'z_2': 'bytes48',
}
```

### Beacon chain operations

#### Proposer slashings

##### `ProposerSlashing`

```python
{
    # Proposer index
    'proposer_index': 'uint24',
    # First proposal data
    'proposal_data_1': ProposalSignedData,
    # First proposal signature
    'proposal_signature_1': Signature,
    # Second proposal data
    'proposal_data_2': ProposalSignedData,
    # Second proposal signature
    'proposal_signature_2': Signature,
}
```

#### Casper slashings

##### `CasperSlashing`

```python
{
    # First batch of votes
    'slashable_vote_data_1': SlashableVoteData,
    # Second batch of votes
    'slashable_vote_data_2': SlashableVoteData,
}
```

##### `SlashableVoteData`

```python
{
    # Validator indices with custody bit equal to 0
    'custody_bit_0_indices': ['uint24'],
    # Validator indices with custody bit equal to 1
    'custody_bit_1_indices': ['uint24'],
    # Attestation data
    'data': AttestationData,
    # Aggregate signature
    'aggregate_signature': Signature,
}
```

#### Attestations

##### `Attestation`

```python
{
    # Attestation data
    'data': AttestationData,
    # Attester participation bitfield
    'participation_bitfield': 'bytes',
    # Custody bitfield
    'custody_bitfield': 'bytes',
    # BLS aggregate signature
    'aggregate_signature': Signature,
}
```

##### `AttestationData`

```python
{
    # Slot number
    'slot': 'uint64',
    # Shard number
    'shard': 'uint64',
    # Hash of root of the signed beacon block
    'beacon_block_root': 'bytes32',
    # Hash of root of the ancestor at the epoch boundary
    'epoch_boundary_root': 'bytes32',
    # Shard block's hash of root
    'shard_block_root': 'bytes32',
    # Last crosslink's hash of root
    'latest_crosslink_root': 'bytes32',
    # Slot of the last justified beacon block
    'justified_slot': 'uint64',
    # Hash of the last justified beacon block
    'justified_block_root': 'bytes32',
}
```

##### `AttestationDataAndCustodyBit`

```python
{
    # Attestation data
    data: AttestationData,
    # Custody bit
    custody_bit: bool,
}
```

#### Deposits

##### `Deposit`

```python
{
    # Branch in the deposit tree
    'branch': '[bytes32]',
    # Index in the deposit tree
    'index': 'uint64',
    # Data
    'deposit_data': DepositData,
}
```

##### `DepositData`

```python
{
    # Amount in Gwei
    'amount': 'uint64',
    # Timestamp from deposit contract
    'timestamp': 'uint64',
    # Deposit input
    'deposit_input': DepositInput,
}
```

##### `DepositInput`

```python
{
    # BLS pubkey
    'pubkey': 'bytes48',
    # Withdrawal credentials
    'withdrawal_credentials': 'bytes32',
    # Initial RANDAO commitment
    'randao_commitment': 'bytes32',
    # Initial custody commitment
    'custody_commitment': 'bytes32',
    # A BLS signature of this `DepositInput`
    'proof_of_possession': Signature,
}
```

#### Exits

##### `Exit`

```python
{
    # Minimum slot for processing exit
    'slot': 'uint64',
    # Index of the exiting validator
    'validator_index': 'uint24',
    # Validator signature
    'signature': Signature,
}
```

### Beacon chain blocks

#### `BeaconBlock`

```python
{
    ## Header ##
    'slot': 'uint64',
    'parent_root': 'bytes32',
    'state_root': 'bytes32',
    'randao_reveal': 'bytes32',
    'deposit_root': 'bytes32',
    'signature': Signature,

    ## Body ##
    'body': BeaconBlockBody,
}
```

#### `BeaconBlockBody`

```python
{
    'proposer_slashings': [ProposerSlashing],
    'casper_slashings': [CasperSlashing],
    'attestations': [Attestation],
    'custody_reseeds': [CustodyReseed],
    'custody_challenges': [CustodyChallenge],
    'custody_responses': [CustodyResponse],
    'deposits': [Deposit],
    'exits': [Exit],
}
```

`CustodyReseed`, `CustodyChallenge`, and `CustodyResponse` will be defined in phase 1; for now, put dummy classes as these lists will remain empty throughout phase 0.

#### `ProposalSignedData`

```python
{
    # Slot number
    'slot': 'uint64',
    # Shard number (`BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER` for beacon chain)
    'shard': 'uint64',
    # Block's hash of root
    'block_root': 'bytes32',
}
```

### Beacon chain state

#### `BeaconState`

```python
{
    # Misc
    'slot': 'uint64',
    'genesis_time': 'uint64',
    'fork_data': ForkData,  # For versioning hard forks

    # Validator registry
    'validator_registry': [ValidatorRecord],
    'validator_balances': ['uint64'],
    'validator_registry_latest_change_slot': 'uint64',
    'validator_registry_exit_count': 'uint64',
    'validator_registry_delta_chain_tip': 'bytes32',  # For light clients to track deltas

    # Randomness and committees
    'latest_randao_mixes': ['bytes32'],
    'latest_vdf_outputs': ['bytes32'],
    'previous_epoch_start_shard': 'uint64',
    'current_epoch_start_shard': 'uint64',
    'previous_epoch_calculation_slot': 'uint64',
    'current_epoch_calculation_slot': 'uint64',
    'previous_epoch_randao_mix': 'bytes32',
    'current_epoch_randao_mix': 'bytes32',

    # Custody challenges
    'custody_challenges': [CustodyChallenge],

    # Finality
    'previous_justified_slot': 'uint64',
    'justified_slot': 'uint64',
    'justification_bitfield': 'uint64',
    'finalized_slot': 'uint64',

    # Recent state
    'latest_crosslinks': [CrosslinkRecord],
    'latest_block_roots': ['bytes32'],  # Needed to process attestations, older to newer
    'latest_penalized_exit_balances': ['uint64'],  # Balances penalized at every withdrawal period
    'latest_attestations': [PendingAttestationRecord],
    'batched_block_roots': ['bytes32'],

    # Ethereum 1.0 deposit root
    'latest_deposit_root': 'bytes32',
    'deposit_root_votes': [DepositRootVote],
}
```

#### `ValidatorRecord`

```python
{
    # BLS public key
    'pubkey': 'bytes48',
    # Withdrawal credentials
    'withdrawal_credentials': 'bytes32',
    # RANDAO commitment
    'randao_commitment': 'bytes32',
    # Slots the proposer has skipped (i.e. layers of RANDAO expected)
    'randao_layers': 'uint64',
    # Slot when validator activated
    'activation_slot': 'uint64',
    # Slot when validator exited
    'exit_slot': 'uint64',
    # Slot when validator withdrew
    'withdrawal_slot': 'uint64',
    # Slot when validator was penalized
    'penalized_slot': 'uint64',
    # Exit counter when validator exited
    'exit_count': 'uint64',
    # Status flags
    'status_flags': 'uint64',
    # Custody commitment
    'custody_commitment': 'bytes32',
    # Slot of latest custody reseed
    'latest_custody_reseed_slot': 'uint64',
    # Slot of second-latest custody reseed
    'penultimate_custody_reseed_slot': 'uint64',
}
```

#### `CrosslinkRecord`

```python
{
    # Slot number
    'slot': 'uint64',
    # Shard block root
    'shard_block_root': 'bytes32',
}
```

#### `DepositRootVote`

```python
{
    # Deposit root
    'deposit_root': 'bytes32',
    # Vote count
    'vote_count': 'uint64',
}
```

#### `PendingAttestationRecord`

```python
{
    # Signed data
    'data': AttestationData,
    # Attester participation bitfield
    'participation_bitfield': 'bytes',
    # Custody bitfield
    'custody_bitfield': 'bytes',
    # Slot the attestation was included
    'slot_included': 'uint64',
}
```

#### `ForkData`

```python
{
    # Previous fork version
    'pre_fork_version': 'uint64',
    # Post fork version
    'post_fork_version': 'uint64',
    # Fork slot number
    'fork_slot': 'uint64',
}
```

#### `ValidatorRegistryDeltaBlock`

```python
{
    latest_registry_delta_root: 'bytes32',
    validator_index: 'uint24',
    pubkey: 'bytes48',
    slot: 'uint64',
    flag: 'uint64',
}
```

## Ethereum 1.0 deposit contract

The initial deployment phases of Ethereum 2.0 are implemented without consensus changes to Ethereum 1.0. A deposit contract at address `DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_ADDRESS` is added to Ethereum 1.0 for deposits of ETH to the beacon chain. Validator balances will be withdrawable to the shards in phase 2, i.e. when the EVM2.0 is deployed and the shards have state.

### Deposit arguments

The deposit contract has a single `deposit` function which takes as argument a SimpleSerialize'd `DepositInput`.

### Withdrawal credentials

One of the `DepositInput` fields is `withdrawal_credentials`. It is a commitment to credentials for withdrawals to shards. The first byte of `withdrawal_credentials` is a version number. As of now the only expected format is as follows:

* `withdrawal_credentials[:1] == BLS_WITHDRAWAL_PREFIX_BYTE`
* `withdrawal_credentials[1:] == hash(withdrawal_pubkey)[1:]` where `withdrawal_pubkey` is a BLS pubkey

The private key corresponding to `withdrawal_pubkey` will be required to initiate a withdrawal. It can be stored separately until a withdrawal is required, e.g. in cold storage.

### `Deposit` logs

Every Ethereum 1.0 deposit, of size between `MIN_DEPOSIT` and `MAX_DEPOSIT`, emits a `Deposit` log for consumption by the beacon chain. The deposit contract does little validation, pushing most of the validator onboarding logic to the beacon chain. In particular, the proof of possession (a BLS signature) is not verified by the deposit contract.

### `ChainStart` log

When sufficiently many full deposits have been made the deposit contract emits the `ChainStart` log. The beacon chain state may then be initialized by calling the `get_initial_beacon_state` function (defined below) where:

* `genesis_time` equals `time` in the `ChainStart` log
* `latest_deposit_root` equals `deposit_root` in the `ChainStart` log
* `initial_validator_deposits` is a list of `Deposit` objects built according to the `Deposit` logs up to the deposit that triggered the `ChainStart` log, processed in the order in which they were emitted (oldest to newest)

### Vyper code

```python
## compiled with v0.1.0-beta.6 ##

MIN_DEPOSIT: constant(uint256) = 1  # ETH
MAX_DEPOSIT: constant(uint256) = 32  # ETH
GWEI_PER_ETH: constant(uint256) = 1000000000  # 10**9
CHAIN_START_FULL_DEPOSIT_THRESHOLD: constant(uint256) = 16384  # 2**14
DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH: constant(uint256) = 32
TWO_TO_POWER_OF_TREE_DEPTH: constant(uint256) = 4294967296  # 2**32
SECONDS_PER_DAY: constant(uint256) = 86400

Deposit: event({previous_deposit_root: bytes32, data: bytes[2064], merkle_tree_index: bytes[8]})
ChainStart: event({deposit_root: bytes32, time: bytes[8]})

deposit_tree: map(uint256, bytes32)
deposit_count: uint256
full_deposit_count: uint256

@payable
@public
def deposit(deposit_input: bytes[2048]):
    assert msg.value >= as_wei_value(MIN_DEPOSIT, "ether")
    assert msg.value <= as_wei_value(MAX_DEPOSIT, "ether")

    index: uint256 = self.deposit_count + TWO_TO_POWER_OF_TREE_DEPTH
    msg_gwei_bytes8: bytes[8] = slice(concat("", convert(msg.value / GWEI_PER_ETH, bytes32)), start=24, len=8)
    timestamp_bytes8: bytes[8] = slice(concat("", convert(block.timestamp, bytes32)), start=24, len=8)
    deposit_data: bytes[2064] = concat(msg_gwei_bytes8, timestamp_bytes8, deposit_input)
    merkle_tree_index: bytes[8] = slice(concat("", convert(index, bytes32)), start=24, len=8)

    log.Deposit(self.deposit_tree[1], deposit_data, merkle_tree_index)

    # add deposit to merkle tree
    self.deposit_tree[index] = sha3(deposit_data)
    for i in range(DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH):
        index /= 2
        self.deposit_tree[index] = sha3(concat(self.deposit_tree[index * 2], self.deposit_tree[index * 2 + 1]))

    self.deposit_count += 1
    if msg.value == as_wei_value(MAX_DEPOSIT, "ether"):
        self.full_deposit_count += 1
        if self.full_deposit_count == CHAIN_START_FULL_DEPOSIT_THRESHOLD:
            timestamp_day_boundary: uint256 = as_unitless_number(block.timestamp) - as_unitless_number(block.timestamp) % SECONDS_PER_DAY + SECONDS_PER_DAY
            timestamp_day_boundary_bytes8: bytes[8] = slice(concat("", convert(timestamp_day_boundary, bytes32)), start=24, len=8)
            log.ChainStart(self.deposit_tree[1], timestamp_day_boundary_bytes8)

@public
@constant
def get_deposit_root() -> bytes32:
    return self.deposit_tree[1]

@public
@constant
def get_branch(leaf: uint256) -> bytes32[32]: # size is DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH (symbolic const not supported)
    branch: bytes32[32] # size is DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH
    index: uint256 = leaf + TWO_TO_POWER_OF_TREE_DEPTH
    for i in range(DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH):
        branch[i] = self.deposit_tree[bitwise_xor(index, 1)]
        index /= 2
    return branch
```

## Beacon chain processing

The beacon chain is the system chain for Ethereum 2.0. The main responsibilities of the beacon chain are:

* Store and maintain the registry of [validators](#dfn-validator)
* Process crosslinks (see above)
* Process its per-slot consensus, as well as the finality gadget

Processing the beacon chain is similar to processing the Ethereum 1.0 chain. Clients download and process blocks, and maintain a view of what is the current "canonical chain", terminating at the current "head". However, because of the beacon chain's relationship with Ethereum 1.0, and because it is a proof-of-stake chain, there are differences.

For a beacon chain block, `block`, to be processed by a node, the following conditions must be met:

* The parent block with root `block.parent_root` has been processed and accepted.
* The node has processed its `state` up to slot, `block.slot - 1`.
* An Ethereum 1.0 block pointed to by the `state.latest_deposit_root` has been processed and accepted.
* The node's local clock time is greater than or equal to `state.genesis_time + block.slot * SLOT_DURATION`.

If these conditions are not met, the client should delay processing the beacon block until the conditions are all satisfied.

Beacon block production is significantly different because of the proof of stake mechanism. A client simply checks what it thinks is the canonical chain when it should create a block, and looks up what its slot number is; when the slot arrives, it either proposes or attests to a block as required. Note that this requires each node to have a clock that is roughly (i.e. within `SLOT_DURATION` seconds) synchronized with the other nodes.

### Beacon chain fork choice rule

The beacon chain fork choice rule is a hybrid that combines justification and finality with Latest Message Driven (LMD) Greediest Heaviest Observed SubTree (GHOST). At any point in time a [validator](#dfn-validator) `v` subjectively calculates the beacon chain head as follows.

* Let `store` be the set of attestations and blocks that the [validator](#dfn-validator) `v` has observed and verified (in particular, block ancestors must be recursively verified). Attestations not part of any chain are still included in `store`.
* Let `finalized_head` be the finalized block with the highest slot number. (A block `B` is finalized if there is a descendant of `B` in `store` the processing of which sets `B` as finalized.)
* Let `justified_head` be the descendant of `finalized_head` with the highest slot number that has been justified for at least `EPOCH_LENGTH` slots. (A block `B` is justified if there is a descendant of `B` in `store` the processing of which sets `B` as justified.) If no such descendant exists set `justified_head` to `finalized_head`.
* Let `get_ancestor(store, block, slot)` be the ancestor of `block` with slot number `slot`. The `get_ancestor` function can be defined recursively as `def get_ancestor(store, block, slot): return block if block.slot == slot else get_ancestor(store, store.get_parent(block), slot)`.
* Let `get_latest_attestation(store, validator)` be the attestation with the highest slot number in `store` from `validator`. If several such attestations exist, use the one the [validator](#dfn-validator) `v` observed first.
* Let `get_latest_attestation_target(store, validator)` be the target block in the attestation `get_latest_attestation(store, validator)`.
* The head is `lmd_ghost(store, justified_head)` where the function `lmd_ghost` is defined below. Note that the implementation below is suboptimal; there are implementations that compute the head in time logarithmic in slot count.

```python
def lmd_ghost(store, start):
    validators = start.state.validator_registry
    active_validators = [validators[i] for i in
                         get_active_validator_indices(validators, start.state.slot)]
    attestation_targets = [get_latest_attestation_target(store, validator)
                           for validator in active_validators]
    def get_vote_count(block):
        return len([target for target in attestation_targets if
                    get_ancestor(store, target, block.slot) == block])

    head = start
    while 1:
        children = get_children(head)
        if len(children) == 0:
            return head
        head = max(children, key=get_vote_count)
```

## Beacon chain state transition function

We now define the state transition function. At a high level the state transition is made up of two parts:

1. The per-slot transitions, which happens every slot, and only affects a parts of the `state`.
2. The per-epoch transitions, which happens at every epoch boundary (i.e. `state.slot % EPOCH_LENGTH == 0`), and affects the entire `state`.

The per-slot transitions generally focus on verifying aggregate signatures and saving temporary records relating to the per-slot activity in the `BeaconState`. The per-epoch transitions focus on the [validator](#dfn-validator) registry, including adjusting balances and activating and exiting [validators](#dfn-validator), as well as processing crosslinks and managing block justification/finalization.

### Helper functions

Note: The definitions below are for specification purposes and are not necessarily optimal implementations.

#### `hash`

The hash function is denoted by `hash`. In Phase 0 the beacon chain is deployed with the same hash function as Ethereum 1.0, i.e. Keccak-256 (also incorrectly known as SHA3).

Note: We aim to migrate to a S[T/N]ARK-friendly hash function in a future Ethereum 2.0 deployment phase.

#### `hash_tree_root`

`hash_tree_root` is a function for hashing objects into a single root utilizing a hash tree structure. `hash_tree_root` is defined in the [SimpleSerialize spec](https://github.com/ethereum/eth2.0-specs/blob/master/specs/simple-serialize.md#tree-hash).

#### `is_active_validator`
```python
def is_active_validator(validator: ValidatorRecord, slot: int) -> bool:
    """
    Checks if ``validator`` is active.
    """
    return validator.activation_slot <= slot < validator.exit_slot
```

#### `get_active_validator_indices`

```python
def get_active_validator_indices(validators: [ValidatorRecord], slot: int) -> List[int]:
    """
    Gets indices of active validators from ``validators``.
    """
    return [i for i, v in enumerate(validators) if is_active_validator(v, slot)]
```

#### `shuffle`

```python
def shuffle(values: List[Any], seed: Hash32) -> List[Any]:
    """
    Returns the shuffled ``values`` with ``seed`` as entropy.
    """
    values_count = len(values)

    # Entropy is consumed from the seed in 3-byte (24 bit) chunks.
    rand_bytes = 3
    # The highest possible result of the RNG.
    rand_max = 2 ** (rand_bytes * 8) - 1

    # The range of the RNG places an upper-bound on the size of the list that
    # may be shuffled. It is a logic error to supply an oversized list.
    assert values_count < rand_max

    output = [x for x in values]
    source = seed
    index = 0
    while index < values_count - 1:
        # Re-hash the `source` to obtain a new pattern of bytes.
        source = hash(source)
        # Iterate through the `source` bytes in 3-byte chunks.
        for position in range(0, 32 - (32 % rand_bytes), rand_bytes):
            # Determine the number of indices remaining in `values` and exit
            # once the last index is reached.
            remaining = values_count - index
            if remaining == 1:
                break

            # Read 3-bytes of `source` as a 24-bit big-endian integer.
            sample_from_source = int.from_bytes(source[position:position + rand_bytes], 'big')

            # Sample values greater than or equal to `sample_max` will cause
            # modulo bias when mapped into the `remaining` range.
            sample_max = rand_max - rand_max % remaining

            # Perform a swap if the consumed entropy will not cause modulo bias.
            if sample_from_source < sample_max:
                # Select a replacement index for the current index.
                replacement_position = (sample_from_source % remaining) + index
                # Swap the current index with the replacement index.
                output[index], output[replacement_position] = output[replacement_position], output[index]
                index += 1
            else:
                # The sample causes modulo bias. A new sample should be read.
                pass

    return output
```

#### `split`

```python
def split(values: List[Any], split_count: int) -> List[List[Any]]:
    """
    Splits ``values`` into ``split_count`` pieces.
    """
    list_length = len(values)
    return [
        values[(list_length * i // split_count): (list_length * (i + 1) // split_count)]
        for i in range(split_count)
    ]
```

#### `get_committee_count_per_slot`

```python
def get_committee_count_per_slot(active_validator_count: int) -> int:
    return max(
        1,
        min(
            SHARD_COUNT // EPOCH_LENGTH,
            active_validator_count // EPOCH_LENGTH // TARGET_COMMITTEE_SIZE,
        )
    )
```

#### `get_shuffling`

```python
def get_shuffling(seed: Hash32,
                  validators: List[ValidatorRecord],
                  slot: int) -> List[List[int]]
    """
    Shuffles ``validators`` into crosslink committees seeded by ``seed`` and ``slot``.
    Returns a list of ``EPOCH_LENGTH * committees_per_slot`` committees where each
    committee is itself a list of validator indices.
    """

    # Normalizes slot to start of epoch boundary
    slot -= slot % EPOCH_LENGTH

    active_validator_indices = get_active_validator_indices(validators, slot)

    committees_per_slot = get_committee_count_per_slot(len(active_validator_indices))

    # Shuffle
    seed = xor(seed, int_to_bytes32(slot))
    shuffled_active_validator_indices = shuffle(active_validator_indices, seed)

    # Split the shuffled list into epoch_length * committees_per_slot pieces
    return split(shuffled_active_validator_indices, committees_per_slot * EPOCH_LENGTH)
```

**Invariant**: if `get_shuffling(seed, validators, slot)` returns some value `x`, it should return the same value `x` for the same `seed` and `slot` and possible future modifications of `validators` forever in phase 0, and until the ~1 year deletion delay in phase 2 and in the future.

**Note**: this definition and the next few definitions make heavy use of repetitive computing. Production implementations are expected to appropriately use caching/memoization to avoid redoing work.

#### `get_previous_epoch_committee_count_per_slot`

```python
def get_previous_epoch_committee_count_per_slot(state: BeaconState) -> int:
    previous_active_validators = get_active_validator_indices(
        state.validator_registry,
        state.previous_epoch_calculation_slot,
    )
    return get_committee_count_per_slot(len(previous_active_validators))
```

#### `get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot`

```python
def get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot(state: BeaconState) -> int:
    current_active_validators = get_active_validator_indices(
        state.validator_registry,
        state.current_epoch_calculation_slot,
    )
    return get_committee_count_per_slot(len(current_active_validators))
```

#### `get_crosslink_committees_at_slot`

```python
def get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(state: BeaconState,
                                     slot: int) -> List[Tuple[List[int], int]]:
    """
    Returns the list of ``(committee, shard)`` tuples for the ``slot``.
    """
    earliest_slot = state.slot - (state.slot % EPOCH_LENGTH) - EPOCH_LENGTH
    assert earliest_slot <= slot < earliest_slot + EPOCH_LENGTH * 2
    offset = slot % EPOCH_LENGTH

    if slot < earliest_slot + EPOCH_LENGTH:
        committees_per_slot = get_previous_epoch_committee_count_per_slot(state)
        shuffling = get_shuffling(
            state.previous_epoch_randao_mix,
            state.validator_registry,
            state.previous_epoch_calculation_slot,
        )
        slot_start_shard = (state.previous_epoch_start_shard + committees_per_slot * offset) % SHARD_COUNT
    else:
        committees_per_slot = get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot(state)
        shuffling = get_shuffling(
            state.current_epoch_randao_mix,
            state.validator_registry,
            state.current_epoch_calculation_slot,
        )
        slot_start_shard = (state.current_epoch_start_shard + committees_per_slot * offset) % SHARD_COUNT

    return [
        (
            shuffling[committees_per_slot * offset + i],
            (slot_start_shard + i) % SHARD_COUNT,
        )
        for i in range(committees_per_slot)
    ]
```

**Note**: we plan to replace the shuffling algorithm with a pointwise-evaluable shuffle (see https://github.com/ethereum/eth2.0-specs/issues/323), which will allow calculation of the committees for each slot individually.

#### `get_block_root`

```python
def get_block_root(state: BeaconState,
                   slot: int) -> Hash32:
    """
    Returns the block root at a recent ``slot``.
    """
    assert state.slot <= slot + LATEST_BLOCK_ROOTS_LENGTH
    assert slot < state.slot
    return state.latest_block_roots[slot % LATEST_BLOCK_ROOTS_LENGTH]
```

`get_block_root(_, s)` should always return `hash_tree_root` of the block in the beacon chain at slot `s`, and `get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(_, s)` should not change unless the [validator](#dfn-validator) registry changes.

#### `get_randao_mix`

```python
def get_randao_mix(state: BeaconState,
                   slot: int) -> Hash32:
    """
    Returns the randao mix at a recent ``slot``.
    """
    assert state.slot < slot + LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH
    assert slot <= state.slot
    return state.latest_randao_mixes[slot % LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH]
```

#### `get_beacon_proposer_index`

```python
def get_beacon_proposer_index(state: BeaconState,
                              slot: int) -> int:
    """
    Returns the beacon proposer index for the ``slot``.
    """
    first_committee, _ = get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(state, slot)[0]
    return first_committee[slot % len(first_committee)]
```

#### `merkle_root`

```python
def merkle_root(values: List[Hash32]) -> Hash32:
    """
    Merkleize ``values`` (where ``len(values)`` is a power of two) and return the Merkle root.
    """
    o = [0] * len(values) + values
    for i in range(len(values) - 1, 0, -1):
        o[i] = hash(o[i * 2] + o[i * 2 + 1])
    return o[1]
```

#### `get_attestation_participants`

```python
def get_attestation_participants(state: BeaconState,
                                 attestation_data: AttestationData,
                                 participation_bitfield: bytes) -> List[int]:
    """
    Returns the participant indices at for the ``attestation_data`` and ``participation_bitfield``.
    """

    # Find the committee in the list with the desired shard
    crosslink_committees = get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(state, attestation_data.slot)

    assert attestation_data.shard in [shard for _, shard in crosslink_committees]
    crosslink_committee = [committee for committee, shard in crosslink_committees if shard == attestation_data.shard][0]
    assert len(participation_bitfield) == (len(committee) + 7) // 8

    # Find the participating attesters in the committee
    participants = []
    for i, validator_index in enumerate(crosslink_committee):
        participation_bit = (participation_bitfield[i//8] >> (7 - (i % 8))) % 2
        if participation_bit == 1:
            participants.append(validator_index)
    return participants
```

#### `int_to_bytes1`, `int_to_bytes2`, ...

`int_to_bytes1(x): return x.to_bytes(1, 'big')`, `int_to_bytes2(x): return x.to_bytes(2, 'big')`, and so on for all integers, particularly 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 32.

#### `get_effective_balance`

```python
def get_effective_balance(state: State, index: int) -> int:
    """
    Returns the effective balance (also known as "balance at stake") for a ``validator`` with the given ``index``.
    """
    return min(state.validator_balances[index], MAX_DEPOSIT * GWEI_PER_ETH)
```

#### `get_fork_version`

```python
def get_fork_version(fork_data: ForkData,
                     slot: int) -> int:
    if slot < fork_data.fork_slot:
        return fork_data.pre_fork_version
    else:
        return fork_data.post_fork_version
```

#### `get_domain`

```python
def get_domain(fork_data: ForkData,
               slot: int,
               domain_type: int) -> int:
    return get_fork_version(
        fork_data,
        slot
    ) * 2**32 + domain_type
```

#### `verify_slashable_vote_data`

```python
def verify_slashable_vote_data(state: BeaconState, vote_data: SlashableVoteData) -> bool:
    if len(vote_data.custody_bit_0_indices) + len(vote_data.custody_bit_1_indices) > MAX_CASPER_VOTES:
        return False

    return bls_verify_multiple(
        pubkeys=[
            bls_aggregate_pubkeys([state.validator_registry[i].pubkey for i in vote_data.custody_bit_0_indices]),
            bls_aggregate_pubkeys([state.validator_registry[i].pubkey for i in vote_data.custody_bit_1_indices]),
        ],
        messages=[
            hash_tree_root(AttestationDataAndCustodyBit(vote_data.data, False)),
            hash_tree_root(AttestationDataAndCustodyBit(vote_data.data, True)),
        ],
        signature=vote_data.aggregate_signature,
        domain=get_domain(
            state.fork_data,
            state.slot,
            DOMAIN_ATTESTATION,
        ),
    )
```

#### `is_double_vote`

```python
def is_double_vote(attestation_data_1: AttestationData,
                   attestation_data_2: AttestationData) -> bool
    """
    Assumes ``attestation_data_1`` is distinct from ``attestation_data_2``.
    Returns True if the provided ``AttestationData`` are slashable
    due to a 'double vote'.
    """
    target_epoch_1 = attestation_data_1.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH
    target_epoch_2 = attestation_data_2.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH
    return target_epoch_1 == target_epoch_2
```

#### `is_surround_vote`

```python
def is_surround_vote(attestation_data_1: AttestationData,
                     attestation_data_2: AttestationData) -> bool:
    """
    Assumes ``attestation_data_1`` is distinct from ``attestation_data_2``.
    Returns True if the provided ``AttestationData`` are slashable
    due to a 'surround vote'.
    Note: parameter order matters as this function only checks
    that ``attestation_data_1`` surrounds ``attestation_data_2``.
    """
    source_epoch_1 = attestation_data_1.justified_slot // EPOCH_LENGTH
    source_epoch_2 = attestation_data_2.justified_slot // EPOCH_LENGTH
    target_epoch_1 = attestation_data_1.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH
    target_epoch_2 = attestation_data_2.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH
    return (
        (source_epoch_1 < source_epoch_2) and
        (source_epoch_2 + 1 == target_epoch_2) and
        (target_epoch_2 < target_epoch_1)
    )
```

#### `integer_squareroot`

```python
def integer_squareroot(n: int) -> int:
    """
    The largest integer ``x`` such that ``x**2`` is less than ``n``.
    """
    assert n >= 0
    x = n
    y = (x + 1) // 2
    while y < x:
        x = y
        y = (x + n // x) // 2
    return x
```

#### `bls_verify`

`bls_verify` is a function for verifying a BLS signature, defined in the [BLS Signature spec](https://github.com/ethereum/eth2.0-specs/blob/master/specs/bls_signature.md#bls_verify).

#### `bls_verify_multiple`

`bls_verify_multiple` is a function for verifying a BLS signature constructed from multiple messages, defined in the [BLS Signature spec](https://github.com/ethereum/eth2.0-specs/blob/master/specs/bls_signature.md#bls_verify_multiple).

#### `bls_aggregate_pubkeys`

`bls_aggregate_pubkeys` is a function for aggregating multiple BLS public keys into a single aggregate key, defined in the [BLS Signature spec](https://github.com/ethereum/eth2.0-specs/blob/master/specs/bls_signature.md#bls_aggregate_pubkeys).

### On startup

A valid block with slot `GENESIS_SLOT` (a "genesis block") has the following values. Other validity rules (e.g. requiring a signature) do not apply.

```python
{
    slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
    parent_root=ZERO_HASH,
    state_root=STARTUP_STATE_ROOT,
    randao_reveal=ZERO_HASH,
    deposit_root=ZERO_HASH,
    signature=EMPTY_SIGNATURE,
    body=BeaconBlockBody(
        proposer_slashings=[],
        casper_slashings=[],
        attestations=[],
        custody_reseeds=[],
        custody_challenges=[],
        custody_responses=[],
        deposits=[],
        exits=[],
    ),
}
```

`STARTUP_STATE_ROOT` (in the above "genesis block") is generated from the `get_initial_beacon_state` function below. When enough full deposits have been made to the deposit contract and the `ChainStart` log has been emitted, `get_initial_beacon_state` will execute to compute the `hash_tree_root` of `BeaconState`.

```python
def get_initial_beacon_state(initial_validator_deposits: List[Deposit],
                             genesis_time: int,
                             latest_deposit_root: Hash32) -> BeaconState:
    state = BeaconState(
        # Misc
        slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        genesis_time=genesis_time,
        fork_data=ForkData(
            pre_fork_version=GENESIS_FORK_VERSION,
            post_fork_version=GENESIS_FORK_VERSION,
            fork_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        ),

        # Validator registry
        validator_registry=[],
        validator_balances=[],
        validator_registry_latest_change_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        validator_registry_exit_count=0,
        validator_registry_delta_chain_tip=ZERO_HASH,

        # Randomness and committees
        latest_randao_mixes=[ZERO_HASH for _ in range(LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH)],
        latest_vdf_outputs=[ZERO_HASH for _ in range(LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH // EPOCH_LENGTH)],
        previous_epoch_start_shard=GENESIS_START_SHARD,
        current_epoch_start_shard=GENESIS_START_SHARD,
        previous_epoch_calculation_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        current_epoch_calculation_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        previous_epoch_randao_mix=ZERO_HASH,
        current_epoch_randao_mix=ZERO_HASH,

        # Custody challenges
        custody_challenges=[],

        # Finality
        previous_justified_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        justified_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        justification_bitfield=0,
        finalized_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,

        # Recent state
        latest_crosslinks=[CrosslinkRecord(slot=GENESIS_SLOT, shard_block_root=ZERO_HASH) for _ in range(SHARD_COUNT)],
        latest_block_roots=[ZERO_HASH for _ in range(LATEST_BLOCK_ROOTS_LENGTH)],
        latest_penalized_exit_balances=[0 for _ in range(LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH)],
        latest_attestations=[],
        batched_block_roots=[],

        # Deposit root
        latest_deposit_root=latest_deposit_root,
        deposit_root_votes=[],
    )

    # Process initial deposits
    for deposit in initial_validator_deposits:
        process_deposit(
            state=state,
            pubkey=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.pubkey,
            amount=deposit.deposit_data.amount,
            proof_of_possession=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.proof_of_possession,
            withdrawal_credentials=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.withdrawal_credentials,
            randao_commitment=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.randao_commitment,
            custody_commitment=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.custody_commitment,
        )

    # Process initial activations
    for validator_index, _ in enumerate(state.validator_registry):
        if get_effective_balance(state, validator_index) >= MAX_DEPOSIT * GWEI_PER_ETH:
            activate_validator(state, validator_index, True)

    return state
```

### Routine for processing deposits

First, a helper function:

```python
def validate_proof_of_possession(state: BeaconState,
                                 pubkey: int,
                                 proof_of_possession: bytes,
                                 withdrawal_credentials: Hash32,
                                 randao_commitment: Hash32,
                                 custody_commitment: Hash32) -> bool:
    proof_of_possession_data = DepositInput(
        pubkey=pubkey,
        withdrawal_credentials=withdrawal_credentials,
        randao_commitment=randao_commitment,
        custody_commitment=custody_commitment,
        proof_of_possession=EMPTY_SIGNATURE,
    )

    return bls_verify(
        pubkey=pubkey,
        message=hash_tree_root(proof_of_possession_data),
        signature=proof_of_possession,
        domain=get_domain(
            state.fork_data,
            state.slot,
            DOMAIN_DEPOSIT,
        )
    )
```

Now, to add a [validator](#dfn-validator) or top up an existing [validator](#dfn-validator)'s balance by some `deposit` amount:

```python
def process_deposit(state: BeaconState,
                    pubkey: int,
                    amount: int,
                    proof_of_possession: bytes,
                    withdrawal_credentials: Hash32,
                    randao_commitment: Hash32,
                    custody_commitment: Hash32) -> None:
    """
    Process a deposit from Ethereum 1.0.
    Note that this function mutates ``state``.
    """
    # Validate the given `proof_of_possession`
    assert validate_proof_of_possession(
        state,
        pubkey,
        proof_of_possession,
        withdrawal_credentials,
        randao_commitment,
        custody_commitment,
    )

    validator_pubkeys = [v.pubkey for v in state.validator_registry]

    if pubkey not in validator_pubkeys:
        # Add new validator
        validator = ValidatorRecord(
            pubkey=pubkey,
            withdrawal_credentials=withdrawal_credentials,
            randao_commitment=randao_commitment,
            randao_layers=0,
            activation_slot=FAR_FUTURE_SLOT,
            exit_slot=FAR_FUTURE_SLOT,
            withdrawal_slot=FAR_FUTURE_SLOT,
            penalized_slot=FAR_FUTURE_SLOT,
            exit_count=0,
            status_flags=0,
            custody_commitment=custody_commitment,
            latest_custody_reseed_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
            penultimate_custody_reseed_slot=GENESIS_SLOT,
        )

        # Note: In phase 2 registry indices that has been withdrawn for a long time will be recycled.
        index = len(state.validator_registry)
        state.validator_registry.append(validator)
        state.validator_balances.append(amount)
    else:
        # Increase balance by deposit amount
        index = validator_pubkeys.index(pubkey)
        assert state.validator_registry[index].withdrawal_credentials == withdrawal_credentials

        state.validator_balances[index] += amount
```

### Routines for updating validator status

Note: All functions in this section mutate `state`.

```python
def activate_validator(state: BeaconState, index: int, genesis: bool) -> None:
    validator = state.validator_registry[index]

    validator.activation_slot = GENESIS_SLOT if genesis else (state.slot + ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY)
    state.validator_registry_delta_chain_tip = hash_tree_root(
        ValidatorRegistryDeltaBlock(
            latest_registry_delta_root=state.validator_registry_delta_chain_tip,
            validator_index=index,
            pubkey=validator.pubkey,
            slot=validator.activation_slot,
            flag=ACTIVATION,
        )
    )
```

```python
def initiate_validator_exit(state: BeaconState, index: int) -> None:
    validator = state.validator_registry[index]
    validator.status_flags |= INITIATED_EXIT
```

```python
def exit_validator(state: BeaconState, index: int) -> None:
    validator = state.validator_registry[index]

    # The following updates only occur if not previous exited
    if validator.exit_slot <= state.slot + ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY:
        return

    validator.exit_slot = state.slot + ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY

    state.validator_registry_exit_count += 1
    validator.exit_count = state.validator_registry_exit_count
    state.validator_registry_delta_chain_tip = hash_tree_root(
        ValidatorRegistryDeltaBlock(
            latest_registry_delta_root=state.validator_registry_delta_chain_tip,
            validator_index=index,
            pubkey=validator.pubkey,
            slot=validator.exit_slot,
            flag=EXIT,
        )
    )
```

```python
def penalize_validator(state: BeaconState, index: int) -> None:
    exit_validator(state, index)
    validator = state.validator_registry[index]
    state.latest_penalized_exit_balances[(state.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH) % LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH] += get_effective_balance(state, index)

    whistleblower_index = get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)
    whistleblower_reward = get_effective_balance(state, index) // WHISTLEBLOWER_REWARD_QUOTIENT
    state.validator_balances[whistleblower_index] += whistleblower_reward
    state.validator_balances[index] -= whistleblower_reward
    validator.penalized_slot = state.slot
```

```python
def prepare_validator_for_withdrawal(state: BeaconState, index: int) -> None:
    validator = state.validator_registry[index]
    validator.status_flags |= WITHDRAWABLE
```

## Per-slot processing

Below are the processing steps that happen at every slot.

### Misc counters

* Set `state.slot += 1`.
* Set `state.validator_registry[get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)].randao_layers += 1`.
* Set `state.latest_randao_mixes[state.slot % LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH] = state.latest_randao_mixes[(state.slot - 1) % LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH]`

### Block roots

* Let `previous_block_root` be the `tree_hash_root` of the previous beacon block processed in the chain.
* Set `state.latest_block_roots[(state.slot - 1) % LATEST_BLOCK_ROOTS_LENGTH] = previous_block_root`.
* If `state.slot % LATEST_BLOCK_ROOTS_LENGTH == 0` append `merkle_root(state.latest_block_roots)` to `state.batched_block_roots`.

## Per-block processing

Below are the processing steps that happen at every `block`.

### Slot

* Verify that `block.slot == state.slot`.

### Proposer signature

* Let `block_without_signature_root` be the `hash_tree_root` of `block` where `block.signature` is set to `EMPTY_SIGNATURE`.
* Let `proposal_root = hash_tree_root(ProposalSignedData(state.slot, BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER, block_without_signature_root))`.
* Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=state.validator_registry[get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)].pubkey, message=proposal_root, signature=block.signature, domain=get_domain(state.fork_data, state.slot, DOMAIN_PROPOSAL))`.

### RANDAO

* Let `repeat_hash(x, n) = x if n == 0 else repeat_hash(hash(x), n-1)`.
* Let `proposer = state.validator_registry[get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)]`.
* Verify that `repeat_hash(block.randao_reveal, proposer.randao_layers) == proposer.randao_commitment`.
* Set `state.latest_randao_mixes[state.slot % LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH] = hash(xor(state.latest_randao_mixes[state.slot % LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH], block.randao_reveal))`
* Set `proposer.randao_commitment = block.randao_reveal`.
* Set `proposer.randao_layers = 0`.

### Deposit root

* If `block.deposit_root` is `deposit_root_vote.deposit_root` for some `deposit_root_vote` in `state.deposit_root_votes`, set `deposit_root_vote.vote_count += 1`.
* Otherwise, append to `state.deposit_root_votes` a new `DepositRootVote(deposit_root=block.deposit_root, vote_count=1)`.

### Operations

#### Proposer slashings

Verify that `len(block.body.proposer_slashings) <= MAX_PROPOSER_SLASHINGS`.

For each `proposer_slashing` in `block.body.proposer_slashings`:

* Let `proposer = state.validator_registry[proposer_slashing.proposer_index]`.
* Verify that `proposer_slashing.proposal_data_1.slot == proposer_slashing.proposal_data_2.slot`.
* Verify that `proposer_slashing.proposal_data_1.shard == proposer_slashing.proposal_data_2.shard`.
* Verify that `proposer_slashing.proposal_data_1.block_root != proposer_slashing.proposal_data_2.block_root`.
* Verify that `proposer.penalized_slot > state.slot`.
* Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=proposer.pubkey, message=hash_tree_root(proposer_slashing.proposal_data_1), signature=proposer_slashing.proposal_signature_1, domain=get_domain(state.fork_data, proposer_slashing.proposal_data_1.slot, DOMAIN_PROPOSAL))`.
* Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=proposer.pubkey, message=hash_tree_root(proposer_slashing.proposal_data_2), signature=proposer_slashing.proposal_signature_2, domain=get_domain(state.fork_data, proposer_slashing.proposal_data_2.slot, DOMAIN_PROPOSAL))`.
* Run `penalize_validator(state, proposer_slashing.proposer_index)`.

#### Casper slashings

Verify that `len(block.body.casper_slashings) <= MAX_CASPER_SLASHINGS`.

For each `casper_slashing` in `block.body.casper_slashings`:

* Let `slashable_vote_data_1 = casper_slashing.slashable_vote_data_1`.
* Let `slashable_vote_data_2 = casper_slashing.slashable_vote_data_2`.
* Let `indices(slashable_vote_data) = slashable_vote_data.custody_bit_0_indices + slashable_vote_data.custody_bit_1_indices`.
* Let `intersection = [x for x in indices(slashable_vote_data_1) if x in indices(slashable_vote_data_2)]`.
* Verify that `len(intersection) >= 1`.
* Verify that `slashable_vote_data_1.data != slashable_vote_data_2.data`.
* Verify that `is_double_vote(slashable_vote_data_1.data, slashable_vote_data_2.data)` or `is_surround_vote(slashable_vote_data_1.data, slashable_vote_data_2.data)`.
* Verify that `verify_slashable_vote_data(state, slashable_vote_data_1)`.
* Verify that `verify_slashable_vote_data(state, slashable_vote_data_2)`.
* For each [validator](#dfn-validator) index `i` in `intersection` run `penalize_validator(state, i)` if `state.validator_registry[i].penalized_slot > state.slot`.

#### Attestations

Verify that `len(block.body.attestations) <= MAX_ATTESTATIONS`.

For each `attestation` in `block.body.attestations`:

* Verify that `attestation.data.slot + MIN_ATTESTATION_INCLUSION_DELAY <= state.slot`.
* Verify that `attestation.data.slot + EPOCH_LENGTH >= state.slot`.
* Verify that `attestation.data.justified_slot` is equal to `state.justified_slot if attestation.data.slot >= state.slot - (state.slot % EPOCH_LENGTH) else state.previous_justified_slot`.
* Verify that `attestation.data.justified_block_root` is equal to `get_block_root(state, attestation.data.justified_slot)`.
* Verify that either `attestation.data.latest_crosslink_root` or `attestation.data.shard_block_root` equals `state.latest_crosslinks[shard].shard_block_root`.
* `aggregate_signature` verification:
    * Let `participants = get_attestation_participants(state, attestation.data, attestation.participation_bitfield)`.
    * Let `group_public_key = bls_aggregate_pubkeys([state.validator_registry[v].pubkey for v in participants])`.
    * Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=group_public_key, message=hash_tree_root(AttestationDataAndCustodyBit(attestation.data, False)), signature=attestation.aggregate_signature, domain=get_domain(state.fork_data, attestation.data.slot, DOMAIN_ATTESTATION))`.
* [TO BE REMOVED IN PHASE 1] Verify that `attestation.data.shard_block_root == ZERO_HASH`.
* Append `PendingAttestationRecord(data=attestation.data, participation_bitfield=attestation.participation_bitfield, custody_bitfield=attestation.custody_bitfield, slot_included=state.slot)` to `state.latest_attestations`.

#### Deposits

Verify that `len(block.body.deposits) <= MAX_DEPOSITS`.

[TODO: add logic to ensure that deposits from 1.0 chain are processed in order]
[TODO: update the call to `verify_merkle_branch` below if it needs to change after we process deposits in order]

For each `deposit` in `block.body.deposits`:

* Let `serialized_deposit_data` be the serialized form of `deposit.deposit_data`. It should be 8 bytes for `deposit_data.amount` followed by 8 bytes for `deposit_data.timestamp` and then the `DepositInput` bytes. That is, it should match `deposit_data` in the [Ethereum 1.0 deposit contract](#ethereum-10-deposit-contract) of which the hash was placed into the Merkle tree.
* Verify that `verify_merkle_branch(hash(serialized_deposit_data), deposit.branch, DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH, deposit.index, state.latest_deposit_root)` is `True`.

```python
def verify_merkle_branch(leaf: Hash32, branch: [Hash32], depth: int, index: int, root: Hash32) -> bool:
    value = leaf
    for i in range(depth):
        if index // (2**i) % 2:
            value = hash(branch[i] + value)
        else:
            value = hash(value + branch[i])
    return value == root
```

* Run the following:

```python
process_deposit(
    state=state,
    pubkey=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.pubkey,
    amount=deposit.deposit_data.amount,
    proof_of_possession=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.proof_of_possession,
    withdrawal_credentials=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.withdrawal_credentials,
    randao_commitment=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.randao_commitment,
    custody_commitment=deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.custody_commitment,
)
```

#### Exits

Verify that `len(block.body.exits) <= MAX_EXITS`.

For each `exit` in `block.body.exits`:

* Let `validator = state.validator_registry[exit.validator_index]`.
* Verify that `validator.exit_slot > state.slot + ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY`.
* Verify that `state.slot >= exit.slot`.
* Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=validator.pubkey, message=ZERO_HASH, signature=exit.signature, domain=get_domain(state.fork_data, exit.slot, DOMAIN_EXIT))`.
* Run `initiate_validator_exit(state, exit.validator_index)`.

#### Custody

[TO BE REMOVED IN PHASE 1] Verify that `len(block.body.custody_reseeds) == len(block.body.custody_challenges) == len(block.body.custody_responses) == 0`.

## Per-epoch processing

The steps below happen when `state.slot % EPOCH_LENGTH == 0`.

### Helpers

All [validators](#dfn-validator):

* Let `active_validator_indices = get_active_validator_indices(state.validator_registry, state.slot)`.
* Let `total_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in active_validator_indices])`.

[Validators](#dfn-Validator) attesting during the current epoch:

* Let `current_epoch_attestations = [a for a in state.latest_attestations if state.slot - EPOCH_LENGTH <= a.data.slot < state.slot]`. (Note: this is the set of attestations of slots in the epoch `state.slot-EPOCH_LENGTH...state.slot-1`, _not_ attestations that got included in the chain during the epoch `state.slot-EPOCH_LENGTH...state.slot-1`.)
* Validators justifying the epoch boundary block at the start of the current epoch:
  * Let `current_epoch_boundary_attestations = [a for a in current_epoch_attestations if a.data.epoch_boundary_root == get_block_root(state, state.slot-EPOCH_LENGTH) and a.justified_slot == state.justified_slot]`.
  * Let `current_epoch_boundary_attester_indices` be the union of the [validator](#dfn-validator) index sets given by `[get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield) for a in current_epoch_boundary_attestations]`.
  * Let `current_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in current_epoch_boundary_attester_indices])`.

[Validators](#dfn-Validator) attesting during the previous epoch:

* Validators that made an attestation during the previous epoch:
  * Let `previous_epoch_attestations = [a for a in state.latest_attestations if state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH <= a.slot < state.slot - EPOCH_LENGTH]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_attester_indices` be the union of the validator index sets given by `[get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield) for a in previous_epoch_attestations]`.
* Validators targeting the previous justified slot:
  * Let `previous_epoch_justified_attestations = [a for a in current_epoch_attestations + previous_epoch_attestations if a.justified_slot == state.previous_justified_slot]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_justified_attester_indices` be the union of the validator index sets given by `[get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield) for a in previous_epoch_justified_attestations]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_justified_attesting_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in previous_epoch_justified_attester_indices])`.
* Validators justifying the epoch boundary block at the start of the previous epoch:
  * Let `previous_epoch_boundary_attestations = [a for a in previous_epoch_justified_attestations if a.epoch_boundary_root == get_block_root(state, state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH)]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_boundary_attester_indices` be the union of the validator index sets given by `[get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield) for a in previous_epoch_boundary_attestations]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in previous_epoch_boundary_attester_indices])`.
* Validators attesting to the expected beacon chain head during the previous epoch:
  * Let `previous_epoch_head_attestations = [a for a in previous_epoch_attestations if a.beacon_block_root == get_block_root(state, a.slot)]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_head_attester_indices` be the union of the validator index sets given by `[get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield) for a in previous_epoch_head_attestations]`.
  * Let `previous_epoch_head_attesting_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in previous_epoch_head_attester_indices])`.

**Note**: `previous_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance` balance might be marginally different than `current_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance` during the previous epoch transition. Due to the tight bound on validator churn each epoch and small per-epoch rewards/penalties, the potential balance difference is very low and only marginally affects consensus safety.

For every `slot in range(state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH, state.slot)`, let `crosslink_committee_at_slot = get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(slot)`. For every `(crosslink_committee, shard)` in `crosslink_committee_at_slot`, compute:

* Let `shard_block_root` be `state.latest_crosslinks[shard].shard_block_root`
* Let `attesting_validator_indices(crosslink_committee, shard_block_root)` be the union of the [validator](#dfn-validator) index sets given by `[get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield) for a in current_epoch_attestations + previous_epoch_attestations if a.shard == shard and a.shard_block_root == shard_block_root]`.
* Let `winning_root(crosslink_committee)` be equal to the value of `shard_block_root` such that `sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in attesting_validator_indices(crosslink_committee, shard_block_root)])` is maximized (ties broken by favoring lower `shard_block_root` values).
* Let `attesting_validators(crosslink_committee)` be equal to `attesting_validator_indices(crosslink_committee, winning_root(crosslink_committee))` for convenience.
* Let `total_attesting_balance(crosslink_committee) = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in attesting_validators(crosslink_committee)])`.
* Let `total_balance(crosslink_committee) = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in crosslink_committee])`.

Define the following helpers to process attestation inclusion rewards and inclusion distance reward/penalty. For every attestation `a` in `previous_epoch_attestations`:

* Let `inclusion_slot(state, index) = a.slot_included` for the attestation `a` where `index` is in `get_attestation_participants(state, a.data, a.participation_bitfield)`.
* Let `inclusion_distance(state, index) = a.slot_included - a.data.slot` where `a` is the above attestation.

### Deposit roots

If `state.slot % DEPOSIT_ROOT_VOTING_PERIOD == 0`:

* Set `state.latest_deposit_root = deposit_root_vote.deposit_root` if `deposit_root_vote.vote_count * 2 > DEPOSIT_ROOT_VOTING_PERIOD` for some `deposit_root_vote` in `state.deposit_root_votes`.
* Set `state.deposit_root_votes = []`.

### Justification

* Set `state.previous_justified_slot = state.justified_slot`.
* Set `state.justification_bitfield = (state.justification_bitfield * 2) % 2**64`.
* Set `state.justification_bitfield |= 2` and `state.justified_slot = state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH` if `3 * previous_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance >= 2 * total_balance`.
* Set `state.justification_bitfield |= 1` and `state.justified_slot = state.slot - 1 * EPOCH_LENGTH` if `3 * current_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance >= 2 * total_balance`.

Set `state.finalized_slot = state.previous_justified_slot` if any of the following are true:

* `state.previous_justified_slot == state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH and state.justification_bitfield % 4 == 3`
* `state.previous_justified_slot == state.slot - 3 * EPOCH_LENGTH and state.justification_bitfield % 8 == 7`
* `state.previous_justified_slot == state.slot - 4 * EPOCH_LENGTH and state.justification_bitfield % 16 in (15, 14)`

### Crosslinks

For every `slot in range(state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH, state.slot)`, let `crosslink_committee_at_slot = get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(slot)`. For every `(crosslink_committee, shard)` in `crosslink_committee_at_slot`, compute:

* Set `state.latest_crosslinks[shard] = CrosslinkRecord(slot=state.slot, shard_block_root=winning_root(crosslink_committee))` if `3 * total_attesting_balance(crosslink_committee) >= 2 * total_balance(crosslink_committee)`.

### Rewards and penalties

First, we define some additional helpers:

* Let `base_reward_quotient = BASE_REWARD_QUOTIENT * integer_squareroot(total_balance // GWEI_PER_ETH)`.
* Let `base_reward(state, index) = get_effective_balance(state, index) // base_reward_quotient // 5` for any validator with the given `index`.
* Let `inactivity_penalty(state, index, epochs_since_finality) = base_reward(state, index) + get_effective_balance(state, index) * epochs_since_finality // INACTIVITY_PENALTY_QUOTIENT // 2` for any validator with the given `index`.

#### Justification and finalization

Note: When applying penalties in the following balance recalculations implementers should make sure the `uint64` does not underflow.

* Let `epochs_since_finality = (state.slot - state.finalized_slot) // EPOCH_LENGTH`.

Case 1: `epochs_since_finality <= 4`:

* Expected FFG source:
  * Any [validator](#dfn-validator) `index` in `previous_epoch_justified_attester_indices` gains `base_reward(state, index) * previous_epoch_justified_attesting_balance // total_balance`.
  * Any [active validator](#dfn-active-validator) `v` not in `previous_epoch_justified_attester_indices` loses `base_reward(state, index)`.
* Expected FFG target:
  * Any [validator](#dfn-validator) `index` in `previous_epoch_boundary_attester_indices` gains `base_reward(state, index) * previous_epoch_boundary_attesting_balance // total_balance`.
  * Any [active validator](#dfn-active-validator) `index` not in `previous_epoch_boundary_attester_indices` loses `base_reward(state, index)`.
* Expected beacon chain head:
  * Any [validator](#dfn-validator) `index` in `previous_epoch_head_attester_indices` gains `base_reward(state, index) * previous_epoch_head_attesting_balance // total_balance)`.
  * Any [active validator](#dfn-active-validator) `index` not in `previous_epoch_head_attester_indices` loses `base_reward(state, index)`.
* Inclusion distance:
  * Any [validator](#dfn-validator) `index` in `previous_epoch_attester_indices` gains `base_reward(state, index) * MIN_ATTESTATION_INCLUSION_DELAY // inclusion_distance(state, index)`

Case 2: `epochs_since_finality > 4`:

* Any [active validator](#dfn-active-validator) `index` not in `previous_epoch_justified_attester_indices`, loses `inactivity_penalty(state, index, epochs_since_finality)`.
* Any [active validator](#dfn-active-validator) `index` not in `previous_epoch_boundary_attester_indices`, loses `inactivity_penalty(state, index, epochs_since_finality)`.
* Any [active validator](#dfn-active-validator) `index` not in `previous_epoch_head_attester_indices`, loses `base_reward(state, index)`.
* Any [active_validator](#dfn-active-validator) `index` with `validator.penalized_slot <= state.slot`, loses `2 * inactivity_penalty(state, index, epochs_since_finality) + base_reward(state, index)`.
* Any [validator](#dfn-validator) `index` in `previous_epoch_attester_indices` loses `base_reward(state, index) - base_reward(state, index) * MIN_ATTESTATION_INCLUSION_DELAY // inclusion_distance(state, index)`

#### Attestation inclusion

For each `index` in `previous_epoch_attester_indices`, we determine the proposer `proposer_index = get_beacon_proposer_index(state, inclusion_slot(state, index))` and set `state.validator_balances[proposer_index] += base_reward(state, index) // INCLUDER_REWARD_QUOTIENT`.

#### Crosslinks

For every `i in range(state.slot - 2 * EPOCH_LENGTH, state.slot - EPOCH_LENGTH)`, let `crosslink_committee_at_slot, start_shard = get_crosslink_committees_at_slot(i)`. For every `j in range(len(crosslink_committee_at_slot))`, let `crosslink_committee = crosslink_committee_at_slot[j]`, `shard = (start_shard + j) % SHARD_COUNT`, and compute:

* If `index in attesting_validators(crosslink_committee)`, `state.validator_balances[index] += base_reward(state, index) * total_attesting_balance(crosslink_committee) // total_balance(crosslink_committee))`.
* If `index not in attesting_validators(crosslink_committee)`, `state.validator_balances[index] -= base_reward(state, index)`.

### Ejections

* Run `process_ejections(state)`.

```python
def process_ejections(state: BeaconState) -> None:
    """
    Iterate through the validator registry
    and eject active validators with balance below ``EJECTION_BALANCE``.
    """
    for index in get_active_validator_indices(state.validator_registry, state.slot):
        if state.validator_balances[index] < EJECTION_BALANCE * GWEI_PER_ETH:
            exit_validator(state, index)
```

### Validator registry

If the following are satisfied:

* `state.finalized_slot > state.validator_registry_latest_change_slot`
* `state.latest_crosslinks[shard].slot > state.validator_registry_latest_change_slot` for every shard number `shard` in `[(state.current_epoch_start_shard + i) % SHARD_COUNT for i in range(get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot(state) * EPOCH_LENGTH)]` (that is, for every shard in the current committees)

update the validator registry and associated fields by running

```python
def update_validator_registry(state: BeaconState) -> None:
    """
    Update validator registry.
    Note that this function mutates ``state``.
    """
    # The active validators
    active_validator_indices = get_active_validator_indices(state.validator_registry, state.slot)
    # The total effective balance of active validators
    total_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in active_validator_indices])

    # The maximum balance churn in Gwei (for deposits and exits separately)
    max_balance_churn = max(
        MAX_DEPOSIT * GWEI_PER_ETH,
        total_balance // (2 * MAX_BALANCE_CHURN_QUOTIENT)
    )

    # Activate validators within the allowable balance churn
    balance_churn = 0
    for index, validator in enumerate(state.validator_registry):
        if validator.activation_slot > state.slot + ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY and state.validator_balances[index] >= MAX_DEPOSIT * GWEI_PER_ETH:
            # Check the balance churn would be within the allowance
            balance_churn += get_effective_balance(state, index)
            if balance_churn > max_balance_churn:
                break

            # Activate validator
            activate_validator(state, index, False)

    # Exit validators within the allowable balance churn
    balance_churn = 0
    for index, validator in enumerate(state.validator_registry):
        if validator.exit_slot > state.slot + ENTRY_EXIT_DELAY and validator.status_flags & INITIATED_EXIT:
            # Check the balance churn would be within the allowance
            balance_churn += get_effective_balance(state, index)
            if balance_churn > max_balance_churn:
                break

            # Exit validator
            exit_validator(state, index)

    state.validator_registry_latest_change_slot = state.slot
```

and perform the following updates:

* Set `state.previous_epoch_calculation_slot = state.current_epoch_calculation_slot`
* Set `state.previous_epoch_start_shard = state.current_epoch_start_shard`
* Set `state.previous_epoch_randao_mix = state.current_epoch_randao_mix`
* Set `state.current_epoch_calculation_slot = state.slot`
* Set `state.current_epoch_start_shard = (state.current_epoch_start_shard + get_current_epoch_committee_count_per_slot(state) * EPOCH_LENGTH) % SHARD_COUNT`
* Set `state.current_epoch_randao_mix = get_randao_mix(state, state.current_epoch_calculation_slot - SEED_LOOKAHEAD)`

If a validator registry update does _not_ happen do the following:

* Set `state.previous_epoch_calculation_slot = state.current_epoch_calculation_slot`
* Set `state.previous_epoch_start_shard = state.current_epoch_start_shard`
* Let `epochs_since_last_registry_change = (state.slot - state.validator_registry_latest_change_slot) // EPOCH_LENGTH`.
* If `epochs_since_last_registry_change` is an exact power of 2, set `state.current_epoch_calculation_slot = state.slot` and `state.current_epoch_randao_mix = state.latest_randao_mixes[(state.current_epoch_calculation_slot - SEED_LOOKAHEAD) % LATEST_RANDAO_MIXES_LENGTH]`. Note that `state.current_epoch_start_shard` is left unchanged.

Regardless of whether or not a validator set change happens, run the following:

```python
def process_penalties_and_exits(state: BeaconState) -> None:
    # The active validators
    active_validator_indices = get_active_validator_indices(state.validator_registry, state.slot)
    # The total effective balance of active validators
    total_balance = sum([get_effective_balance(state, i) for i in active_validator_indices])

    for index, validator in enumerate(state.validator_registry):
        if (state.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH) == (validator.penalized_slot // EPOCH_LENGTH) + LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH // 2:
            e = (state.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH) % LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH
            total_at_start = state.latest_penalized_exit_balances[(e + 1) % LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH]
            total_at_end = state.latest_penalized_exit_balances[e]
            total_penalties = total_at_end - total_at_start
            penalty = get_effective_balance(state, index) * min(total_penalties * 3, total_balance) // total_balance
            state.validator_balances[index] -= penalty

    def eligible(index):
        validator = state.validator_registry[index]
        if validator.penalized_slot <= state.slot:
            PENALIZED_WITHDRAWAL_TIME = LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH * EPOCH_LENGTH // 2
            return state.slot >= validator.penalized_slot + PENALIZED_WITHDRAWAL_TIME
        else:
            return state.slot >= validator.exit_slot + MIN_VALIDATOR_WITHDRAWAL_TIME

    all_indices = list(range(len(state.validator_registry)))
    eligible_indices = filter(eligible, all_indices)
    sorted_indices = sorted(eligible_indices, key=lambda index: state.validator_registry[index].exit_count)
    withdrawn_so_far = 0
    for index in sorted_indices:
        prepare_validator_for_withdrawal(state, index)
        withdrawn_so_far += 1
        if withdrawn_so_far >= MAX_WITHDRAWALS_PER_EPOCH:
            break
```

### Final updates

* Let `e = state.slot // EPOCH_LENGTH`. Set `state.latest_penalized_exit_balances[(e+1) % LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH] = state.latest_penalized_exit_balances[e % LATEST_PENALIZED_EXIT_LENGTH]`
* Remove any `attestation` in `state.latest_attestations` such that `attestation.data.slot < state.slot - EPOCH_LENGTH`.

## State root processing

Verify `block.state_root == hash_tree_root(state)` if there exists a `block` for the slot being processed.

# References

This section is divided into Normative and Informative references.  Normative references are those that must be read in order to implement this specification, while Informative references are merely that, information.  An example of the former might be the details of a required consensus algorithm, and an example of the latter might be a pointer to research that demonstrates why a particular consensus algorithm might be better suited for inclusion in the standard than another.

## Normative

## Informative
<a id="ref-casper-ffg"></a> _**casper-ffg**_  
 &nbsp; _Casper the Friendly Finality Gadget_. V. Buterin and V. Griffith. URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1710.09437

<a id="ref-python-poc"></a> _**python-poc**_  
 &nbsp; _Python proof-of-concept implementation_. Ethereum Foundation. URL: https://github.com/ethereum/beacon_chain

# Copyright
Copyright and related rights waived via [CC0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/).