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 63%
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 137539113..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
@@ -8,8 +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
     next_sync_committee_branch = build_proof(state.get_backing(), spec.NEXT_SYNC_COMMITTEE_INDEX)
+    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,
@@ -21,8 +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
     finality_branch = build_proof(state.get_backing(), spec.FINALIZED_ROOT_INDEX)
+    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
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c0f0a205b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/formats/merkle/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Merkle tests
+
+This series of tests provides reference test vectors for validating correct
+generation and verification of merkle proofs based on static data.
+
+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/README.md b/tests/generators/merkle/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a19a67d9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/generators/merkle/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Merkle
+
+The purpose of this test-generator is to provide test-vectors for validating the 
+correct merkleization of objects and corresponding merkle proofs.
+
+Test-format documentation can be found [here](../../formats/merkle/README.md).
diff --git a/tests/generators/merkle/__init__.py b/tests/generators/merkle/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb
diff --git a/tests/generators/merkle/main.py b/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7203c5f19
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/generators/merkle/main.py
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+from eth2spec.test.helpers.constants import ALTAIR
+from eth2spec.gen_helpers.gen_from_tests.gen import run_state_test_generators
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    altair_mods = {key: 'eth2spec.test.altair.merkle.test_' + key for key in [
+        'single_proof',
+    ]}
+
+    all_mods = {
+        ALTAIR: altair_mods
+    }
+
+    run_state_test_generators(runner_name="merkle", all_mods=all_mods)
diff --git a/tests/generators/merkle/requirements.txt b/tests/generators/merkle/requirements.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..182248686
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/generators/merkle/requirements.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pytest>=4.4
+../../../[generator]