diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index aa67da3..461680b 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+## 0.3.0 (2023-04-08)
+
+- Added `depth` parameter to SMT constructors in `MerkleStore` (#115).
+- Optimized MMR peak hashing for Miden VM (#120).
+- Added `get_leaf_depth` method to `MerkleStore` (#119).
+- Added inner node iterators to `MerkleTree`, `SimpleSmt`, and `Mmr` (#117, #118, #121).
+
 ## 0.2.0 (2023-03-24)
 
 - Implemented `Mmr` and related structs (#67).
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index 069e286..13fc97f 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 [package]
 name = "miden-crypto"
-version = "0.2.0"
+version = "0.3.0"
 description = "Miden Cryptographic primitives"
 authors = ["miden contributors"]
 readme = "README.md"
 license = "MIT"
 repository = "https://github.com/0xPolygonMiden/crypto"
-documentation = "https://docs.rs/miden-crypto/0.2.0"
+documentation = "https://docs.rs/miden-crypto/0.3.0"
 categories = ["cryptography", "no-std"]
 keywords = ["miden", "crypto", "hash", "merkle"]
 edition = "2021"
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 365c7c7..3583271 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ For performance benchmarks of these hash functions and their comparison to other
 [Merkle module](./src/merkle/) provides a set of data structures related to Merkle trees. All these data structures are implemented using the RPO hash function described above. The data structures are:
 
 * `MerkleTree`: a regular fully-balanced binary Merkle tree. The depth of this tree can be at most 64.
-* `SimpleSmt`: a Sparse Merkle Tree, mapping 63-bit keys to 4-element leaf values.
+* `SimpleSmt`: a Sparse Merkle Tree, mapping 64-bit keys to 4-element leaf values.
 * `MerklePathSet`: a collection of Merkle authentication paths all resolving to the same root. The length of the paths can be at most 64.
 * `MerkleStore`: a collection of Merkle trees of different heights designed to efficiently store trees with common subtrees.
 * `Mmr`: a Merkle mountain range structure designed to function as an append-only log.
diff --git a/benches/README.md b/benches/README.md
index 9e14f78..385e01e 100644
--- a/benches/README.md
+++ b/benches/README.md
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ The second scenario is that of sequential hashing where we take a sequence of le
 
 | Function            | BLAKE3 | SHA3    | Poseidon  | Rp64_256  | RPO_256 |
 | ------------------- | -------| ------- | --------- | --------- | ------- |
-| Apple M1 Pro        | 1.1 us | 1.5 us  |  19.4 us  |   118 us  | 70 us   |
+| Apple M1 Pro        | 1.0 us | 1.5 us  |  19.4 us  |   118 us  | 70 us   |
 | Apple M2            | 1.0 us | 1.5 us  |  17.4 us  |   103 us  | 65 us   |
 | Amazon Graviton 3   | 1.4 us |         |           |           | 114 us  |
 | AMD Ryzen 9 5950X   | 0.8 us | 1.7 us  |  15.7 us  |   120 us  | 72 us   |
diff --git a/benches/store.rs b/benches/store.rs
index 793118a..804faa6 100644
--- a/benches/store.rs
+++ b/benches/store.rs
@@ -18,17 +18,18 @@ fn random_word() -> Word {
     rand_array::<Felt, 4>().into()
 }
 
-/// Generates a u64 in `0..range`.
-fn random_index(range: u64) -> u64 {
-    rand_value::<u64>() % range
+/// Generates an index at the specified depth in `0..range`.
+fn random_index(range: u64, depth: u8) -> NodeIndex {
+    let value = rand_value::<u64>() % range;
+    NodeIndex::new(depth, value).unwrap()
 }
 
 /// Benchmarks getting an empty leaf from the SMT and MerkleStore backends.
 fn get_empty_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
     let mut group = c.benchmark_group("get_empty_leaf_simplesmt");
 
-    let depth = 63u8;
-    let size = 2u64.pow(depth as u32);
+    let depth = SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH;
+    let size = u64::MAX;
 
     // both SMT and the store are pre-populated with empty hashes, accessing these values is what is
     // being benchmarked here, so no values are inserted into the backends
@@ -38,16 +39,16 @@ fn get_empty_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
     group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("SimpleSmt", depth), |b| {
         b.iter_batched(
-            || random_index(size),
-            |value| black_box(smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+            || random_index(size, depth),
+            |index| black_box(smt.get_node(index)),
             BatchSize::SmallInput,
         )
     });
 
     group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", depth), |b| {
         b.iter_batched(
-            || random_index(size),
-            |value| black_box(store.get_node(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+            || random_index(size, depth),
+            |index| black_box(store.get_node(root, index)),
             BatchSize::SmallInput,
         )
     });
@@ -72,16 +73,16 @@ fn get_leaf_merkletree(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleTree", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(mtree.get_node(index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(store.get_node(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(store.get_node(root, index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -103,12 +104,12 @@ fn get_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(c, v)| (c.try_into().unwrap(), v.into()))
             .collect::<Vec<(u64, Word)>>();
-        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(63)
+        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)
             .unwrap()
             .with_leaves(smt_leaves.clone())
             .unwrap();
         let store = MerkleStore::new()
-            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(smt_leaves)
+            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH, smt_leaves)
             .unwrap();
         let depth = smt.depth();
         let root = smt.root();
@@ -116,16 +117,16 @@ fn get_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("SimpleSmt", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(smt.get_node(index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(store.get_node(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(store.get_node(root, index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -136,8 +137,7 @@ fn get_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
 fn get_node_of_empty_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
     let mut group = c.benchmark_group("get_node_of_empty_simplesmt");
 
-    let depth = 63u8;
-    let size = 2u64.pow(depth as u32);
+    let depth = SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH;
 
     // both SMT and the store are pre-populated with the empty hashes, accessing the internal nodes
     // of these values is what is being benchmarked here, so no values are inserted into the
@@ -146,19 +146,20 @@ fn get_node_of_empty_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
     let store = MerkleStore::new();
     let root = smt.root();
     let half_depth = depth / 2;
+    let half_size = 2_u64.pow(half_depth as u32);
 
     group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("SimpleSmt", depth), |b| {
         b.iter_batched(
-            || random_index(size),
-            |value| black_box(smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(half_depth, value))),
+            || random_index(half_size, half_depth),
+            |index| black_box(smt.get_node(index)),
             BatchSize::SmallInput,
         )
     });
 
     group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", depth), |b| {
         b.iter_batched(
-            || random_index(size),
-            |value| black_box(store.get_node(root, NodeIndex::new(half_depth, value))),
+            || random_index(half_size, half_depth),
+            |index| black_box(store.get_node(root, index)),
             BatchSize::SmallInput,
         )
     });
@@ -178,22 +179,22 @@ fn get_node_merkletree(c: &mut Criterion) {
         let mtree_leaves: Vec<Word> = leaves.iter().map(|v| v.into()).collect();
         let mtree = MerkleTree::new(mtree_leaves.clone()).unwrap();
         let store = MerkleStore::new().with_merkle_tree(mtree_leaves).unwrap();
-        let half_depth = mtree.depth() / 2;
         let root = mtree.root();
-        let size_u64 = size as u64;
+        let half_depth = mtree.depth() / 2;
+        let half_size = 2_u64.pow(half_depth as u32);
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleTree", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(half_depth, value))),
+                || random_index(half_size, half_depth),
+                |index| black_box(mtree.get_node(index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(store.get_node(root, NodeIndex::new(half_depth, value))),
+                || random_index(half_size, half_depth),
+                |index| black_box(store.get_node(root, index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -216,29 +217,29 @@ fn get_node_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(c, v)| (c.try_into().unwrap(), v.into()))
             .collect::<Vec<(u64, Word)>>();
-        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(63)
+        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)
             .unwrap()
             .with_leaves(smt_leaves.clone())
             .unwrap();
         let store = MerkleStore::new()
-            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(smt_leaves)
+            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH, smt_leaves)
             .unwrap();
         let root = smt.root();
-        let size_u64 = size as u64;
         let half_depth = smt.depth() / 2;
+        let half_size = 2_u64.pow(half_depth as u32);
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("SimpleSmt", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(half_depth, value))),
+                || random_index(half_size, half_depth),
+                |index| black_box(smt.get_node(index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(store.get_node(root, NodeIndex::new(half_depth, value))),
+                || random_index(half_size, half_depth),
+                |index| black_box(store.get_node(root, index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -264,16 +265,16 @@ fn get_leaf_path_merkletree(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleTree", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(mtree.get_path(index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(store.get_path(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(store.get_path(root, index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -295,12 +296,12 @@ fn get_leaf_path_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(c, v)| (c.try_into().unwrap(), v.into()))
             .collect::<Vec<(u64, Word)>>();
-        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(63)
+        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)
             .unwrap()
             .with_leaves(smt_leaves.clone())
             .unwrap();
         let store = MerkleStore::new()
-            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(smt_leaves)
+            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH, smt_leaves)
             .unwrap();
         let depth = smt.depth();
         let root = smt.root();
@@ -308,16 +309,16 @@ fn get_leaf_path_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("SimpleSmt", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(smt.get_path(index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || random_index(size_u64),
-                |value| black_box(store.get_path(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, value))),
+                || random_index(size_u64, depth),
+                |index| black_box(store.get_path(root, index)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -366,7 +367,7 @@ fn new(c: &mut Criterion) {
                         .map(|(c, v)| (c.try_into().unwrap(), v.into()))
                         .collect::<Vec<(u64, Word)>>()
                 },
-                |l| black_box(SimpleSmt::new(63).unwrap().with_leaves(l)),
+                |l| black_box(SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH).unwrap().with_leaves(l)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
         });
@@ -382,7 +383,11 @@ fn new(c: &mut Criterion) {
                             .map(|(c, v)| (c.try_into().unwrap(), v.into()))
                             .collect::<Vec<(u64, Word)>>()
                     },
-                    |l| black_box(MerkleStore::new().with_sparse_merkle_tree(l)),
+                    |l| {
+                        black_box(
+                            MerkleStore::new().with_sparse_merkle_tree(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH, l),
+                        )
+                    },
                     BatchSize::SmallInput,
                 )
             },
@@ -409,7 +414,7 @@ fn update_leaf_merkletree(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleTree", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || (random_index(size_u64), random_word()),
+                || (rand_value::<u64>() % size_u64, random_word()),
                 |(index, value)| black_box(mtree.update_leaf(index, value)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
@@ -418,15 +423,12 @@ fn update_leaf_merkletree(c: &mut Criterion) {
         let mut store_root = root;
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || (random_index(size_u64), random_word()),
+                || (random_index(size_u64, depth), random_word()),
                 |(index, value)| {
                     // The MerkleTree automatically updates its internal root, the Store maintains
                     // the old root and adds the new one. Here we update the root to have a fair
                     // comparison
-                    store_root = store
-                        .set_node(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, index), value)
-                        .unwrap()
-                        .root;
+                    store_root = store.set_node(root, index, value).unwrap().root;
                     black_box(store_root)
                 },
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
@@ -450,12 +452,12 @@ fn update_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
             .enumerate()
             .map(|(c, v)| (c.try_into().unwrap(), v.into()))
             .collect::<Vec<(u64, Word)>>();
-        let mut smt = SimpleSmt::new(63)
+        let mut smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)
             .unwrap()
             .with_leaves(smt_leaves.clone())
             .unwrap();
         let mut store = MerkleStore::new()
-            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(smt_leaves)
+            .with_sparse_merkle_tree(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH, smt_leaves)
             .unwrap();
         let depth = smt.depth();
         let root = smt.root();
@@ -463,7 +465,7 @@ fn update_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
 
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("SimpleSMT", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || (random_index(size_u64), random_word()),
+                || (rand_value::<u64>() % size_u64, random_word()),
                 |(index, value)| black_box(smt.update_leaf(index, value)),
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
             )
@@ -472,15 +474,12 @@ fn update_leaf_simplesmt(c: &mut Criterion) {
         let mut store_root = root;
         group.bench_function(BenchmarkId::new("MerkleStore", size), |b| {
             b.iter_batched(
-                || (random_index(size_u64), random_word()),
+                || (random_index(size_u64, depth), random_word()),
                 |(index, value)| {
                     // The MerkleTree automatically updates its internal root, the Store maintains
                     // the old root and adds the new one. Here we update the root to have a fair
                     // comparison
-                    store_root = store
-                        .set_node(root, NodeIndex::new(depth, index), value)
-                        .unwrap()
-                        .root;
+                    store_root = store.set_node(root, index, value).unwrap().root;
                     black_box(store_root)
                 },
                 BatchSize::SmallInput,
diff --git a/src/bit.rs b/src/bit.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 5eb2577..0000000
--- a/src/bit.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,169 +0,0 @@
-/// Yields the bits of a `u64`.
-pub struct BitIterator {
-    /// The value that is being iterated bit-wise
-    value: u64,
-    /// True bits in the `mask` are the bits that have been visited.
-    mask: u64,
-}
-
-impl BitIterator {
-    pub fn new(value: u64) -> BitIterator {
-        BitIterator { value, mask: 0 }
-    }
-
-    /// An efficient skip implementation.
-    ///
-    /// Note: The compiler is smart enough to translate a `skip(n)` into a single shift instruction
-    /// if the code is inlined, however inlining does not always happen.
-    pub fn skip_front(mut self, n: u32) -> Self {
-        let mask = bitmask(n);
-        let ones = self.mask.trailing_ones();
-        let mask_position = ones;
-        self.mask ^= mask.checked_shl(mask_position).unwrap_or(0);
-        self
-    }
-
-    /// An efficient skip from the back.
-    ///
-    /// Note: The compiler is smart enough to translate a `skip(n)` into a single shift instruction
-    /// if the code is inlined, however inlining does not always happen.
-    pub fn skip_back(mut self, n: u32) -> Self {
-        let mask = bitmask(n);
-        let ones = self.mask.leading_ones();
-        let mask_position = u64::BITS - ones - n;
-        self.mask ^= mask.checked_shl(mask_position).unwrap_or(0);
-        self
-    }
-}
-
-impl Iterator for BitIterator {
-    type Item = bool;
-
-    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<<Self as Iterator>::Item> {
-        // trailing_ones is implemented with trailing_zeros, and the zeros are computed with the
-        // intrinsic cttz. [Rust 1.67.0] x86 uses the `bsf` instruction. AArch64 uses the `rbit
-        // clz` instructions.
-        let ones = self.mask.trailing_ones();
-
-        if ones == u64::BITS {
-            None
-        } else {
-            let bit_position = ones;
-            let mask = 1 << bit_position;
-            self.mask ^= mask;
-            let bit = self.value & mask;
-            Some(bit != 0)
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl DoubleEndedIterator for BitIterator {
-    fn next_back(&mut self) -> Option<<Self as Iterator>::Item> {
-        // leading_ones is implemented with leading_zeros, and the zeros are computed with the
-        // intrinsic ctlz. [Rust 1.67.0] x86 uses the `bsr` instruction. AArch64 uses the `clz`
-        // instruction.
-        let ones = self.mask.leading_ones();
-
-        if ones == u64::BITS {
-            None
-        } else {
-            let bit_position = u64::BITS - ones - 1;
-            let mask = 1 << bit_position;
-            self.mask ^= mask;
-            let bit = self.value & mask;
-            Some(bit != 0)
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-#[cfg(test)]
-mod test {
-    use super::BitIterator;
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_bit_iterator() {
-        let v = 0b1;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v);
-        assert!(it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is true");
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-
-        let v = 0b10;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v);
-        assert!(!it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is false");
-        assert!(it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is true");
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-
-        let v = 0b10;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v);
-        assert!(!it.next_back().unwrap(), "last bit is false");
-        assert!(!it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is false");
-        assert!(it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is true");
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_bit_iterator_skip() {
-        let v = 0b1;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v).skip_front(1);
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-
-        let v = 0b10;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v).skip_front(1);
-        assert!(it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is true");
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-
-        let high_bit = 0b1 << (u64::BITS - 1);
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(high_bit).skip_back(1);
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-
-        let v = 0b10;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v).skip_back(1);
-        assert!(!it.next_back().unwrap(), "last bit is false");
-        assert!(!it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is false");
-        assert!(it.next().unwrap(), "first bit is true");
-        assert!(it.all(|v| v == false), "every other value is false");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_skip_all() {
-        let v = 0b1;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v).skip_front(u64::BITS);
-        assert!(it.next().is_none(), "iterator must be exhausted");
-
-        let v = 0b1;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v).skip_back(u64::BITS);
-        assert!(it.next().is_none(), "iterator must be exhausted");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_bit_iterator_count_bits_after_skip() {
-        let any_value = 0b1;
-        for s in 0..u64::BITS {
-            let it = BitIterator::new(any_value).skip_front(s);
-            assert_eq!(it.count() as u32, u64::BITS - s)
-        }
-
-        let any_value = 0b1;
-        for s in 1..u64::BITS {
-            let it = BitIterator::new(any_value).skip_back(s);
-            assert_eq!(it.count() as u32, u64::BITS - s)
-        }
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn test_bit_iterator_rev() {
-        let v = 0b1;
-        let mut it = BitIterator::new(v).rev();
-        assert!(it.nth(63).unwrap(), "the last value is true");
-    }
-}
-
-// UTILITIES
-// ===============================================================================================
-
-fn bitmask(s: u32) -> u64 {
-    match 1u64.checked_shl(s) {
-        Some(r) => r - 1,
-        None => u64::MAX,
-    }
-}
diff --git a/src/hash/blake/mod.rs b/src/hash/blake/mod.rs
index eb07ad6..a3bcfd0 100644
--- a/src/hash/blake/mod.rs
+++ b/src/hash/blake/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 use super::{Digest, ElementHasher, Felt, FieldElement, Hasher, StarkField};
-use crate::utils::{
-    uninit_vector, ByteReader, ByteWriter, Deserializable, DeserializationError, Serializable,
-};
+use crate::utils::{ByteReader, ByteWriter, Deserializable, DeserializationError, Serializable};
 use core::{
     mem::{size_of, transmute, transmute_copy},
     ops::Deref,
@@ -290,15 +288,25 @@ where
     let digest = if Felt::IS_CANONICAL {
         blake3::hash(E::elements_as_bytes(elements))
     } else {
-        let base_elements = E::slice_as_base_elements(elements);
-        let blen = base_elements.len() << 3;
+        let mut hasher = blake3::Hasher::new();
+
+        // BLAKE3 state is 64 bytes - so, we can absorb 64 bytes into the state in a single
+        // permutation. we move the elements into the hasher via the buffer to give the CPU
+        // a chance to process multiple element-to-byte conversions in parallel
+        let mut buf = [0_u8; 64];
+        let mut chunk_iter = E::slice_as_base_elements(elements).chunks_exact(8);
+        for chunk in chunk_iter.by_ref() {
+            for i in 0..8 {
+                buf[i * 8..(i + 1) * 8].copy_from_slice(&chunk[i].as_int().to_le_bytes());
+            }
+            hasher.update(&buf);
+        }
 
-        let mut bytes = unsafe { uninit_vector(blen) };
-        for (idx, element) in base_elements.iter().enumerate() {
-            bytes[idx * 8..(idx + 1) * 8].copy_from_slice(&element.as_int().to_le_bytes());
+        for element in chunk_iter.remainder() {
+            hasher.update(&element.as_int().to_le_bytes());
         }
 
-        blake3::hash(&bytes)
+        hasher.finalize()
     };
     *shrink_bytes(&digest.into())
 }
diff --git a/src/hash/blake/tests.rs b/src/hash/blake/tests.rs
index 8897611..b03b06a 100644
--- a/src/hash/blake/tests.rs
+++ b/src/hash/blake/tests.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,22 @@
 use super::*;
 use crate::utils::collections::Vec;
 use proptest::prelude::*;
+use rand_utils::rand_vector;
+
+#[test]
+fn blake3_hash_elements() {
+    // test multiple of 8
+    let elements = rand_vector::<Felt>(16);
+    let expected = compute_expected_element_hash(&elements);
+    let actual: [u8; 32] = hash_elements(&elements);
+    assert_eq!(&expected, &actual);
+
+    // test not multiple of 8
+    let elements = rand_vector::<Felt>(17);
+    let expected = compute_expected_element_hash(&elements);
+    let actual: [u8; 32] = hash_elements(&elements);
+    assert_eq!(&expected, &actual);
+}
 
 proptest! {
     #[test]
@@ -18,3 +34,14 @@ proptest! {
         Blake3_256::hash(vec);
     }
 }
+
+// HELPER FUNCTIONS
+// ================================================================================================
+
+fn compute_expected_element_hash(elements: &[Felt]) -> blake3::Hash {
+    let mut bytes = Vec::new();
+    for element in elements.iter() {
+        bytes.extend_from_slice(&element.as_int().to_le_bytes());
+    }
+    blake3::hash(&bytes)
+}
diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 7701d36..7c7d753 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
 #[cfg_attr(test, macro_use)]
 extern crate alloc;
 
-mod bit;
 pub mod hash;
 pub mod merkle;
 pub mod utils;
diff --git a/src/merkle/index.rs b/src/merkle/index.rs
index 5729083..b4f3bdf 100644
--- a/src/merkle/index.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/index.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,23 @@
 use super::{Felt, MerkleError, RpoDigest, StarkField};
-use crate::bit::BitIterator;
 
 // NODE INDEX
 // ================================================================================================
 
-/// A Merkle tree address to an arbitrary node.
+/// Address to an arbitrary node in a binary tree using level order form.
 ///
-/// The position is relative to a tree in level order, where for a given depth `d` elements are
-/// numbered from $0..2^d$.
+/// The position is represented by the pair `(depth, pos)`, where for a given depth `d` elements
+/// are numbered from $0..(2^d)-1$. Example:
+///
+/// ```ignore
+/// depth
+/// 0             0
+/// 1         0        1
+/// 2      0    1    2    3
+/// 3     0 1  2 3  4 5  6 7
+/// ```
+///
+/// The root is represented by the pair $(0, 0)$, its left child is $(1, 0)$ and its right child
+/// $(1, 1)$.
 #[derive(Debug, Default, Copy, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, PartialOrd, Ord, Hash)]
 pub struct NodeIndex {
     depth: u8,
@@ -19,20 +29,37 @@ impl NodeIndex {
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /// Creates a new node index.
-    pub const fn new(depth: u8, value: u64) -> Self {
-        Self { depth, value }
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// Returns an error if the `value` is greater than or equal to 2^{depth}.
+    pub const fn new(depth: u8, value: u64) -> Result<Self, MerkleError> {
+        if (64 - value.leading_zeros()) > depth as u32 {
+            Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex { depth, value })
+        } else {
+            Ok(Self { depth, value })
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a new node index for testing purposes.
+    ///
+    /// # Panics
+    /// Panics if the `value` is greater than or equal to 2^{depth}.
+    #[cfg(test)]
+    pub fn make(depth: u8, value: u64) -> Self {
+        Self::new(depth, value).unwrap()
     }
 
     /// Creates a node index from a pair of field elements representing the depth and value.
     ///
     /// # Errors
-    ///
-    /// Will error if the `u64` representation of the depth doesn't fit a `u8`.
+    /// Returns an error if:
+    /// - `depth` doesn't fit in a `u8`.
+    /// - `value` is greater than or equal to 2^{depth}.
     pub fn from_elements(depth: &Felt, value: &Felt) -> Result<Self, MerkleError> {
         let depth = depth.as_int();
         let depth = u8::try_from(depth).map_err(|_| MerkleError::DepthTooBig(depth))?;
         let value = value.as_int();
-        Ok(Self::new(depth, value))
+        Self::new(depth, value)
     }
 
     /// Creates a new node index pointing to the root of the tree.
@@ -40,12 +67,6 @@ impl NodeIndex {
         Self { depth: 0, value: 0 }
     }
 
-    /// Mutates the instance and returns it, replacing the depth.
-    pub const fn with_depth(mut self, depth: u8) -> Self {
-        self.depth = depth;
-        self
-    }
-
     /// Computes the value of the sibling of the current node.
     pub fn sibling(mut self) -> Self {
         self.value ^= 1;
@@ -83,11 +104,6 @@ impl NodeIndex {
         self.value
     }
 
-    /// Returns true if the current value fits the current depth for a binary tree.
-    pub const fn is_valid(&self) -> bool {
-        self.value < (1 << self.depth as u64)
-    }
-
     /// Returns true if the current instance points to a right sibling node.
     pub const fn is_value_odd(&self) -> bool {
         (self.value & 1) == 1
@@ -98,19 +114,6 @@ impl NodeIndex {
         self.depth == 0
     }
 
-    /// Returns a bit iterator for the `value`.
-    ///
-    /// Bits read from left-to-right represent which internal node's child should be visited to
-    /// arrive at the leaf. From the right-to-left the bit represent the position the hash of the
-    /// current element should go.
-    ///
-    /// Additionally, the value that is not visited are the sibling values necessary for a Merkle
-    /// opening.
-    pub fn bit_iterator(&self) -> BitIterator {
-        let depth: u32 = self.depth.into();
-        BitIterator::new(self.value).skip_back(u64::BITS - depth)
-    }
-
     // STATE MUTATORS
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -127,14 +130,43 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use proptest::prelude::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_node_index_value_too_high() {
+        assert_eq!(
+            NodeIndex::new(0, 0).unwrap(),
+            NodeIndex { depth: 0, value: 0 }
+        );
+        match NodeIndex::new(0, 1) {
+            Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex { depth, value }) => {
+                assert_eq!(depth, 0);
+                assert_eq!(value, 1);
+            }
+            _ => unreachable!(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_node_index_can_represent_depth_64() {
+        assert!(NodeIndex::new(64, u64::MAX).is_ok());
+    }
+
+    prop_compose! {
+        fn node_index()(value in 0..2u64.pow(u64::BITS - 1)) -> NodeIndex {
+            // unwrap never panics because the range of depth is 0..u64::BITS
+            let mut depth = value.ilog2() as u8;
+            if value > (1 << depth) { // round up
+                depth += 1;
+            }
+            NodeIndex::new(depth, value.into()).unwrap()
+        }
+    }
+
     proptest! {
         #[test]
         fn arbitrary_index_wont_panic_on_move_up(
-            depth in prop::num::u8::ANY,
-            value in prop::num::u64::ANY,
+            mut index in node_index(),
             count in prop::num::u8::ANY,
         ) {
-            let mut index = NodeIndex::new(depth, value);
             for _ in 0..count {
                 index.move_up();
             }
diff --git a/src/merkle/merkle_tree.rs b/src/merkle/merkle_tree.rs
index 434c8e7..3587fc6 100644
--- a/src/merkle/merkle_tree.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/merkle_tree.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-use super::{Felt, MerkleError, MerklePath, NodeIndex, Rpo256, RpoDigest, Vec, Word};
+use super::{
+    Felt, InnerNodeInfo, MerkleError, MerklePath, NodeIndex, Rpo256, RpoDigest, Vec, Word,
+};
 use crate::{
     utils::{string::String, uninit_vector, word_to_hex},
     FieldElement,
@@ -12,7 +14,7 @@ use winter_math::log2;
 /// A fully-balanced binary Merkle tree (i.e., a tree where the number of leaves is a power of two).
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct MerkleTree {
-    pub(crate) nodes: Vec<Word>,
+    nodes: Vec<Word>,
 }
 
 impl MerkleTree {
@@ -77,8 +79,6 @@ impl MerkleTree {
             return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooSmall(index.depth()));
         } else if index.depth() > self.depth() {
             return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(index.depth() as u64));
-        } else if !index.is_valid() {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(index));
         }
 
         let pos = index.to_scalar_index() as usize;
@@ -97,8 +97,6 @@ impl MerkleTree {
             return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooSmall(index.depth()));
         } else if index.depth() > self.depth() {
             return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(index.depth() as u64));
-        } else if !index.is_valid() {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(index));
         }
 
         // TODO should we create a helper in `NodeIndex` that will encapsulate traversal to root so
@@ -124,11 +122,7 @@ impl MerkleTree {
     /// # Errors
     /// Returns an error if the specified index value is not a valid leaf value for this tree.
     pub fn update_leaf<'a>(&'a mut self, index_value: u64, value: Word) -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
-        let depth = self.depth();
-        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(depth, index_value);
-        if !index.is_valid() {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(index));
-        }
+        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), index_value)?;
 
         // we don't need to copy the pairs into a new address as we are logically guaranteed to not
         // overlap write instructions. however, it's important to bind the lifetime of pairs to
@@ -158,9 +152,50 @@ impl MerkleTree {
 
         Ok(())
     }
+
+    /// An iterator over every inner node in the tree. The iterator order is unspecified.
+    pub fn inner_nodes(&self) -> MerkleTreeNodes<'_> {
+        MerkleTreeNodes {
+            nodes: &self.nodes,
+            index: 1, // index 0 is just padding, start at 1
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+// ITERATORS
+// ================================================================================================
+
+/// An iterator over every inner node of the [MerkleTree].
+///
+/// Use this to extract the data of the tree, there is no guarantee on the order of the elements.
+pub struct MerkleTreeNodes<'a> {
+    nodes: &'a Vec<Word>,
+    index: usize,
 }
 
-/// Utility to vizualize a [MerkleTree] in text.
+impl<'a> Iterator for MerkleTreeNodes<'a> {
+    type Item = InnerNodeInfo;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        if self.index < self.nodes.len() / 2 {
+            let value = self.index;
+            let left = self.index * 2;
+            let right = left + 1;
+
+            self.index += 1;
+
+            Some(InnerNodeInfo {
+                value: self.nodes[value],
+                left: self.nodes[left],
+                right: self.nodes[right],
+            })
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Utility to visualize a [MerkleTree] in text.
 pub fn tree_to_text(tree: &MerkleTree) -> Result<String, fmt::Error> {
     let indent = "  ";
     let mut s = String::new();
@@ -169,11 +204,8 @@ pub fn tree_to_text(tree: &MerkleTree) -> Result<String, fmt::Error> {
     for d in 1..=tree.depth() {
         let entries = 2u64.pow(d.into());
         for i in 0..entries {
-            let index = NodeIndex::new(d, i);
-
-            let node = tree
-                .get_node(index)
-                .expect("The index must always be valid");
+            let index = NodeIndex::new(d, i).expect("The index must always be valid");
+            let node = tree.get_node(index).expect("The node must always be found");
 
             for _ in 0..d {
                 s.push_str(indent);
@@ -186,7 +218,7 @@ pub fn tree_to_text(tree: &MerkleTree) -> Result<String, fmt::Error> {
     Ok(s)
 }
 
-/// Utility to vizualize a [MerklePath] in text.
+/// Utility to visualize a [MerklePath] in text.
 pub fn path_to_text(path: &MerklePath) -> Result<String, fmt::Error> {
     let mut s = String::new();
     s.push('[');
@@ -212,7 +244,7 @@ pub fn path_to_text(path: &MerklePath) -> Result<String, fmt::Error> {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::merkle::int_to_node;
+    use crate::merkle::{int_to_node, InnerNodeInfo};
     use core::mem::size_of;
     use proptest::prelude::*;
 
@@ -258,16 +290,16 @@ mod tests {
         let tree = super::MerkleTree::new(LEAVES4.to_vec()).unwrap();
 
         // check depth 2
-        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[0], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(2, 0)).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[1], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(2, 1)).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[2], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(2, 2)).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[3], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(2, 3)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[0], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 0)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[1], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 1)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[2], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 2)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(LEAVES4[3], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 3)).unwrap());
 
         // check depth 1
         let (_, node2, node3) = compute_internal_nodes();
 
-        assert_eq!(node2, tree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(1, 0)).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(node3, tree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(1, 1)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(node2, tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 0)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(node3, tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 1)).unwrap());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -279,24 +311,24 @@ mod tests {
         // check depth 2
         assert_eq!(
             vec![LEAVES4[1], node3],
-            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 0)).unwrap()
+            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 0)).unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             vec![LEAVES4[0], node3],
-            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 1)).unwrap()
+            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 1)).unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             vec![LEAVES4[3], node2],
-            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 2)).unwrap()
+            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 2)).unwrap()
         );
         assert_eq!(
             vec![LEAVES4[2], node2],
-            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 3)).unwrap()
+            *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 3)).unwrap()
         );
 
         // check depth 1
-        assert_eq!(vec![node3], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(1, 0)).unwrap());
-        assert_eq!(vec![node2], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(1, 1)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(vec![node3], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(1, 0)).unwrap());
+        assert_eq!(vec![node2], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(1, 1)).unwrap());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -323,6 +355,40 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(expected_tree.nodes, tree.nodes);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn nodes() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
+        let tree = super::MerkleTree::new(LEAVES4.to_vec()).unwrap();
+        let root = tree.root();
+        let l1n0 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 0))?;
+        let l1n1 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 1))?;
+        let l2n0 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 0))?;
+        let l2n1 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 1))?;
+        let l2n2 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 2))?;
+        let l2n3 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 3))?;
+
+        let nodes: Vec<InnerNodeInfo> = tree.inner_nodes().collect();
+        let expected = vec![
+            InnerNodeInfo {
+                value: root,
+                left: l1n0,
+                right: l1n1,
+            },
+            InnerNodeInfo {
+                value: l1n0,
+                left: l2n0,
+                right: l2n1,
+            },
+            InnerNodeInfo {
+                value: l1n1,
+                left: l2n2,
+                right: l2n3,
+            },
+        ];
+        assert_eq!(nodes, expected);
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     proptest! {
         #[test]
         fn arbitrary_word_can_be_represented_as_digest(
diff --git a/src/merkle/mmr/accumulator.rs b/src/merkle/mmr/accumulator.rs
index f27355f..2a5d522 100644
--- a/src/merkle/mmr/accumulator.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/mmr/accumulator.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,8 @@
-use super::{super::Vec, MmrProof, Rpo256, Word};
+use super::{
+    super::Vec,
+    super::{WORD_SIZE, ZERO},
+    MmrProof, Rpo256, Word,
+};
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq)]
 pub struct MmrPeaks {
@@ -8,18 +12,17 @@ pub struct MmrPeaks {
     /// the MMR has a power-of-two number of leaves there is a single peak.
     ///
     /// Every tree in the MMR forest has a distinct power-of-two size, this means only the right
-    /// most tree can have an odd number of elements (1). Additionally this means that the bits in
+    /// most tree can have an odd number of elements (e.g. `1`). Additionally this means that the bits in
     /// `num_leaves` conveniently encode the size of each individual tree.
     ///
     /// Examples:
     ///
-    ///    Example 1: With 5 leaves, the binary 0b101. The number of set bits is equal the number
-    ///    of peaks, in this case there are 2 peaks. The 0-indexed least-significant position of
-    ///    the bit determines the number of elements of a tree, so the rightmost tree has 2**0
-    ///    elements and the left most has 2**2.
-    ///
-    ///    Example 2: With 12 leaves, the binary is 0b1100, this case also has 2 peaks, the
-    ///    leftmost tree has 2**3=8 elements, and the right most has 2**2=4 elements.
+    ///    - With 5 leaves, the binary `0b101`. The number of set bits is equal the number
+    ///      of peaks, in this case there are 2 peaks. The 0-indexed least-significant position of
+    ///      the bit determines the number of elements of a tree, so the rightmost tree has `2**0`
+    ///      elements and the left most has `2**2`.
+    ///    - With 12 leaves, the binary is `0b1100`, this case also has 2 peaks, the
+    ///      leftmost tree has `2**3=8` elements, and the right most has `2**2=4` elements.
     pub num_leaves: usize,
 
     /// All the peaks of every tree in the MMR forest. The peaks are always ordered by number of
@@ -30,9 +33,23 @@ pub struct MmrPeaks {
 }
 
 impl MmrPeaks {
-    /// Hashes the peaks sequentially, compacting it to a single digest
+    /// Hashes the peaks.
+    ///
+    /// The hashing is optimized to work with the Miden VM, the procedure will:
+    ///
+    /// - Pad the peaks with ZERO to an even number of words, this removes the need to handle RPO padding.
+    /// - Pad the peaks to a minimum length of 16 words, which reduces the constant cost of
+    ///   hashing.
     pub fn hash_peaks(&self) -> Word {
-        Rpo256::hash_elements(&self.peaks.as_slice().concat()).into()
+        let mut copy = self.peaks.clone();
+
+        if copy.len() < 16 {
+            copy.resize(16, [ZERO; WORD_SIZE])
+        } else if copy.len() % 2 == 1 {
+            copy.push([ZERO; WORD_SIZE])
+        }
+
+        Rpo256::hash_elements(&copy.as_slice().concat()).into()
     }
 
     pub fn verify(&self, value: Word, opening: MmrProof) -> bool {
diff --git a/src/merkle/mmr/full.rs b/src/merkle/mmr/full.rs
index 92c350c..d100f57 100644
--- a/src/merkle/mmr/full.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/mmr/full.rs
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@
 //! merged, creating a new tree with depth d+1, this process is continued until the property is
 //! restabilished.
 use super::bit::TrueBitPositionIterator;
-use super::{super::Vec, MmrPeaks, MmrProof, Rpo256, Word};
-use crate::merkle::MerklePath;
+use super::{
+    super::{InnerNodeInfo, MerklePath, Vec},
+    MmrPeaks, MmrProof, Rpo256, Word,
+};
 use core::fmt::{Display, Formatter};
 
 #[cfg(feature = "std")]
@@ -172,7 +174,7 @@ impl Mmr {
         self.forest += 1;
     }
 
-    /// Returns an accumulator representing the current state of the MMMR.
+    /// Returns an accumulator representing the current state of the MMR.
     pub fn accumulator(&self) -> MmrPeaks {
         let peaks: Vec<Word> = TrueBitPositionIterator::new(self.forest)
             .rev()
@@ -190,6 +192,16 @@ impl Mmr {
         }
     }
 
+    /// An iterator over inner nodes in the MMR. The order of iteration is unspecified.
+    pub fn inner_nodes(&self) -> MmrNodes {
+        MmrNodes {
+            mmr: self,
+            forest: 0,
+            last_right: 0,
+            index: 0,
+        }
+    }
+
     // UTILITIES
     // ============================================================================================
 
@@ -246,6 +258,87 @@ where
     }
 }
 
+// ITERATOR
+// ===============================================================================================
+
+/// Yields inner nodes of the [Mmr].
+pub struct MmrNodes<'a> {
+    /// [Mmr] being yielded, when its `forest` value is matched, the iterations is finished.
+    mmr: &'a Mmr,
+    /// Keeps track of the left nodes yielded so far waiting for a right pair, this matches the
+    /// semantics of the [Mmr]'s forest attribute, since that too works as a buffer of left nodes
+    /// waiting for a pair to be hashed together.
+    forest: usize,
+    /// Keeps track of the last right node yielded, after this value is set, the next iteration
+    /// will be its parent with its corresponding left node that has been yield already.
+    last_right: usize,
+    /// The current index in the `nodes` vector.
+    index: usize,
+}
+
+impl<'a> Iterator for MmrNodes<'a> {
+    type Item = InnerNodeInfo;
+
+    fn next(&mut self) -> Option<Self::Item> {
+        debug_assert!(
+            self.last_right.count_ones() <= 1,
+            "last_right tracks zero or one element"
+        );
+
+        // only parent nodes are emitted, remove the single node tree from the forest
+        let target = self.mmr.forest & (usize::MAX << 1);
+
+        if self.forest < target {
+            if self.last_right == 0 {
+                // yield the left leaf
+                debug_assert!(self.last_right == 0, "left must be before right");
+                self.forest |= 1;
+                self.index += 1;
+
+                // yield the right leaf
+                debug_assert!((self.forest & 1) == 1, "right must be after left");
+                self.last_right |= 1;
+                self.index += 1;
+            };
+
+            debug_assert!(
+                self.forest & self.last_right != 0,
+                "parent requires both a left and right",
+            );
+
+            // compute the number of nodes in the right tree, this is the offset to the
+            // previous left parent
+            let right_nodes = nodes_in_forest(self.last_right);
+            // the next parent position is one above the position of the pair
+            let parent = self.last_right << 1;
+
+            // the left node has been paired and the current parent yielded, removed it from the forest
+            self.forest ^= self.last_right;
+            if self.forest & parent == 0 {
+                // this iteration yielded the left parent node
+                debug_assert!(self.forest & 1 == 0, "next iteration yields a left leaf");
+                self.last_right = 0;
+                self.forest ^= parent;
+            } else {
+                // the left node of the parent level has been yielded already, this iteration
+                // was the right parent. Next iteration yields their parent.
+                self.last_right = parent;
+            }
+
+            // yields a parent
+            let value = self.mmr.nodes[self.index];
+            let right = self.mmr.nodes[self.index - 1];
+            let left = self.mmr.nodes[self.index - 1 - right_nodes];
+            self.index += 1;
+            let node = InnerNodeInfo { value, left, right };
+
+            Some(node)
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 // UTILITIES
 // ===============================================================================================
 
diff --git a/src/merkle/mmr/tests.rs b/src/merkle/mmr/tests.rs
index 577c6c4..218a6dd 100644
--- a/src/merkle/mmr/tests.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/mmr/tests.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 use super::bit::TrueBitPositionIterator;
 use super::full::{high_bitmask, leaf_to_corresponding_tree, nodes_in_forest};
-use super::{super::Vec, Mmr, Rpo256, Word};
+use super::{
+    super::{InnerNodeInfo, Vec, WORD_SIZE, ZERO},
+    Mmr, MmrPeaks, Rpo256, Word,
+};
 use crate::merkle::{int_to_node, MerklePath};
 
 #[test]
@@ -410,6 +413,101 @@ fn test_bit_position_iterator() {
     );
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_mmr_inner_nodes() {
+    let mmr: Mmr = LEAVES.into();
+    let nodes: Vec<InnerNodeInfo> = mmr.inner_nodes().collect();
+
+    let h01 = *Rpo256::hash_elements(&[LEAVES[0], LEAVES[1]].concat());
+    let h23 = *Rpo256::hash_elements(&[LEAVES[2], LEAVES[3]].concat());
+    let h0123 = *Rpo256::hash_elements(&[h01, h23].concat());
+    let h45 = *Rpo256::hash_elements(&[LEAVES[4], LEAVES[5]].concat());
+    let postorder = vec![
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: h01,
+            left: LEAVES[0],
+            right: LEAVES[1],
+        },
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: h23,
+            left: LEAVES[2],
+            right: LEAVES[3],
+        },
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: h0123,
+            left: h01,
+            right: h23,
+        },
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: h45,
+            left: LEAVES[4],
+            right: LEAVES[5],
+        },
+    ];
+
+    assert_eq!(postorder, nodes);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_mmr_hash_peaks() {
+    let mmr: Mmr = LEAVES.into();
+    let peaks = mmr.accumulator();
+
+    let first_peak = *Rpo256::merge(&[
+        Rpo256::hash_elements(&[LEAVES[0], LEAVES[1]].concat()),
+        Rpo256::hash_elements(&[LEAVES[2], LEAVES[3]].concat()),
+    ]);
+    let second_peak = *Rpo256::hash_elements(&[LEAVES[4], LEAVES[5]].concat());
+    let third_peak = LEAVES[6];
+
+    // minimum length is 16
+    let mut expected_peaks = [first_peak, second_peak, third_peak].to_vec();
+    expected_peaks.resize(16, [ZERO; WORD_SIZE]);
+    assert_eq!(
+        peaks.hash_peaks(),
+        *Rpo256::hash_elements(&expected_peaks.as_slice().concat())
+    );
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_mmr_peaks_hash_less_than_16() {
+    let mut peaks = Vec::new();
+
+    for i in 0..16 {
+        peaks.push(int_to_node(i));
+        let accumulator = MmrPeaks {
+            num_leaves: (1 << peaks.len()) - 1,
+            peaks: peaks.clone(),
+        };
+
+        // minimum length is 16
+        let mut expected_peaks = peaks.clone();
+        expected_peaks.resize(16, [ZERO; WORD_SIZE]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            accumulator.hash_peaks(),
+            *Rpo256::hash_elements(&expected_peaks.as_slice().concat())
+        );
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_mmr_peaks_hash_odd() {
+    let peaks: Vec<_> = (0..=17).map(|i| int_to_node(i)).collect();
+
+    let accumulator = MmrPeaks {
+        num_leaves: (1 << peaks.len()) - 1,
+        peaks: peaks.clone(),
+    };
+
+    // odd length bigger than 16 is padded to the next even nubmer
+    let mut expected_peaks = peaks.clone();
+    expected_peaks.resize(18, [ZERO; WORD_SIZE]);
+    assert_eq!(
+        accumulator.hash_peaks(),
+        *Rpo256::hash_elements(&expected_peaks.as_slice().concat())
+    );
+}
+
 mod property_tests {
     use super::leaf_to_corresponding_tree;
     use proptest::prelude::*;
diff --git a/src/merkle/mod.rs b/src/merkle/mod.rs
index b0c7b2d..4d36577 100644
--- a/src/merkle/mod.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use super::{
     hash::rpo::{Rpo256, RpoDigest},
-    utils::collections::{vec, BTreeMap, BTreeSet, Vec},
+    utils::collections::{vec, BTreeMap, Vec},
     Felt, StarkField, Word, WORD_SIZE, ZERO,
 };
 use core::fmt;
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ pub use mmr::{Mmr, MmrPeaks};
 mod store;
 pub use store::MerkleStore;
 
+mod node;
+pub use node::InnerNodeInfo;
+
 // ERRORS
 // ================================================================================================
 
@@ -42,7 +45,7 @@ pub enum MerkleError {
     DepthTooBig(u64),
     NodeNotInStore(Word, NodeIndex),
     NumLeavesNotPowerOfTwo(usize),
-    InvalidIndex(NodeIndex),
+    InvalidIndex { depth: u8, value: u64 },
     InvalidDepth { expected: u8, provided: u8 },
     InvalidPath(MerklePath),
     InvalidEntriesCount(usize, usize),
@@ -60,9 +63,9 @@ impl fmt::Display for MerkleError {
             NumLeavesNotPowerOfTwo(leaves) => {
                 write!(f, "the leaves count {leaves} is not a power of 2")
             }
-            InvalidIndex(index) => write!(
+            InvalidIndex{ depth, value} => write!(
                 f,
-                "the index value {} is not valid for the depth {}", index.value(), index.depth()
+                "the index value {value} is not valid for the depth {depth}"
             ),
             InvalidDepth { expected, provided } => write!(
                 f,
diff --git a/src/merkle/node.rs b/src/merkle/node.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..681e306
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/merkle/node.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+use super::Word;
+
+/// Representation of a node with two children used for iterating over containers.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct InnerNodeInfo {
+    pub value: Word,
+    pub left: Word,
+    pub right: Word,
+}
diff --git a/src/merkle/path.rs b/src/merkle/path.rs
index 9a4e46b..964f6d0 100644
--- a/src/merkle/path.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/path.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use super::{vec, NodeIndex, Rpo256, Vec, Word};
+use super::{vec, MerkleError, NodeIndex, Rpo256, Vec, Word};
 use core::ops::{Deref, DerefMut};
 
 // MERKLE PATH
@@ -23,14 +23,15 @@ impl MerklePath {
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /// Computes the merkle root for this opening.
-    pub fn compute_root(&self, index_value: u64, node: Word) -> Word {
-        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), index_value);
-        self.nodes.iter().copied().fold(node, |node, sibling| {
+    pub fn compute_root(&self, index: u64, node: Word) -> Result<Word, MerkleError> {
+        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), index)?;
+        let root = self.nodes.iter().copied().fold(node, |node, sibling| {
             // compute the node and move to the next iteration.
             let input = index.build_node(node.into(), sibling.into());
             index.move_up();
             Rpo256::merge(&input).into()
-        })
+        });
+        Ok(root)
     }
 
     /// Returns the depth in which this Merkle path proof is valid.
@@ -42,7 +43,10 @@ impl MerklePath {
     ///
     /// Returns `true` if `node` exists at `index` in a Merkle tree with `root`.
     pub fn verify(&self, index: u64, node: Word, root: &Word) -> bool {
-        root == &self.compute_root(index, node)
+        match self.compute_root(index, node) {
+            Ok(computed_root) => root == &computed_root,
+            Err(_) => false,
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/merkle/path_set.rs b/src/merkle/path_set.rs
index 9a90687..ef3cc48 100644
--- a/src/merkle/path_set.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/path_set.rs
@@ -64,11 +64,6 @@ impl MerklePathSet {
     /// * The specified index is not valid for the depth of structure.
     /// * Requested node does not exist in the set.
     pub fn get_node(&self, index: NodeIndex) -> Result<Word, MerkleError> {
-        if !index.with_depth(self.total_depth).is_valid() {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(
-                index.with_depth(self.total_depth),
-            ));
-        }
         if index.depth() != self.total_depth {
             return Err(MerkleError::InvalidDepth {
                 expected: self.total_depth,
@@ -90,7 +85,8 @@ impl MerklePathSet {
     /// * The specified index is not valid for the depth of the structure.
     /// * Leaf with the requested path does not exist in the set.
     pub fn get_leaf(&self, index: u64) -> Result<Word, MerkleError> {
-        self.get_node(NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), index))
+        let index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), index)?;
+        self.get_node(index)
     }
 
     /// Returns a Merkle path to the node at the specified index. The node itself is
@@ -101,9 +97,6 @@ impl MerklePathSet {
     /// * The specified index is not valid for the depth of structure.
     /// * Node of the requested path does not exist in the set.
     pub fn get_path(&self, index: NodeIndex) -> Result<MerklePath, MerkleError> {
-        if !index.with_depth(self.total_depth).is_valid() {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(index));
-        }
         if index.depth() != self.total_depth {
             return Err(MerkleError::InvalidDepth {
                 expected: self.total_depth,
@@ -165,8 +158,7 @@ impl MerklePathSet {
         value: Word,
         mut path: MerklePath,
     ) -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
-        let depth = path.len() as u8;
-        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(depth, index_value);
+        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(path.len() as u8, index_value)?;
         if index.depth() != self.total_depth {
             return Err(MerkleError::InvalidDepth {
                 expected: self.total_depth,
@@ -190,7 +182,7 @@ impl MerklePathSet {
         if self.root == [ZERO; 4] {
             self.root = root;
         } else if self.root != root {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidPath(path));
+            return Err(MerkleError::ConflictingRoots([self.root, root].to_vec()));
         }
 
         // finish updating the path
@@ -205,12 +197,7 @@ impl MerklePathSet {
     /// Returns an error if:
     /// * Requested node does not exist in the set.
     pub fn update_leaf(&mut self, base_index_value: u64, value: Word) -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
-        let depth = self.depth();
-        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(depth, base_index_value);
-        if !index.is_valid() {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(index));
-        }
-
+        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), base_index_value)?;
         let parity = index.value() & 1;
         let path_key = index.value() - parity;
         let path = match self.paths.get_mut(&path_key) {
@@ -293,10 +280,9 @@ mod tests {
         let set = super::MerklePathSet::new(depth)
             .with_paths([(index, hash_6, path_6.clone().into())])
             .unwrap();
-        let stored_path_6 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, index)).unwrap();
+        let stored_path_6 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(depth, index)).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(path_6, *stored_path_6);
-        assert!(set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, 15_u64)).is_err())
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -311,9 +297,8 @@ mod tests {
 
         assert_eq!(
             int_to_node(6u64),
-            set.get_node(NodeIndex::new(depth, index)).unwrap()
+            set.get_node(NodeIndex::make(depth, index)).unwrap()
         );
-        assert!(set.get_node(NodeIndex::new(depth, 15_u64)).is_err());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -347,13 +332,13 @@ mod tests {
         let new_hash_5 = int_to_node(55);
 
         set.update_leaf(index_6, new_hash_6).unwrap();
-        let new_path_4 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, index_4)).unwrap();
+        let new_path_4 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(depth, index_4)).unwrap();
         let new_hash_67 = calculate_parent_hash(new_hash_6, 14_u64, hash_7);
         assert_eq!(new_hash_67, new_path_4[1]);
 
         set.update_leaf(index_5, new_hash_5).unwrap();
-        let new_path_4 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, index_4)).unwrap();
-        let new_path_6 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, index_6)).unwrap();
+        let new_path_4 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(depth, index_4)).unwrap();
+        let new_path_6 = set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(depth, index_6)).unwrap();
         let new_hash_45 = calculate_parent_hash(new_hash_5, 13_u64, hash_4);
         assert_eq!(new_hash_45, new_path_6[1]);
         assert_eq!(new_hash_5, new_path_4[0]);
diff --git a/src/merkle/simple_smt/mod.rs b/src/merkle/simple_smt/mod.rs
index e330a97..b9eda8a 100644
--- a/src/merkle/simple_smt/mod.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/simple_smt/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use super::{
-    BTreeMap, EmptySubtreeRoots, MerkleError, MerklePath, NodeIndex, Rpo256, RpoDigest, Vec, Word,
+    BTreeMap, EmptySubtreeRoots, InnerNodeInfo, MerkleError, MerklePath, NodeIndex, Rpo256,
+    RpoDigest, Vec, Word,
 };
 
 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -8,14 +9,27 @@ mod tests;
 // SPARSE MERKLE TREE
 // ================================================================================================
 
-/// A sparse Merkle tree with 63-bit keys and 4-element leaf values, without compaction.
-/// Manipulation and retrieval of leaves and internal nodes is provided by its internal `Store`.
+/// A sparse Merkle tree with 64-bit keys and 4-element leaf values, without compaction.
 /// The root of the tree is recomputed on each new leaf update.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct SimpleSmt {
-    root: Word,
     depth: u8,
-    pub(crate) store: Store,
+    root: Word,
+    leaves: BTreeMap<u64, Word>,
+    branches: BTreeMap<NodeIndex, BranchNode>,
+    empty_hashes: Vec<RpoDigest>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+struct BranchNode {
+    left: RpoDigest,
+    right: RpoDigest,
+}
+
+impl BranchNode {
+    fn parent(&self) -> RpoDigest {
+        Rpo256::merge(&[self.left, self.right])
+    }
 }
 
 impl SimpleSmt {
@@ -26,7 +40,7 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
     pub const MIN_DEPTH: u8 = 1;
 
     /// Maximum supported depth.
-    pub const MAX_DEPTH: u8 = 63;
+    pub const MAX_DEPTH: u8 = 64;
 
     // CONSTRUCTORS
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -40,8 +54,16 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
             return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(depth as u64));
         }
 
-        let (store, root) = Store::new(depth);
-        Ok(Self { root, depth, store })
+        let empty_hashes = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(depth).to_vec();
+        let root = empty_hashes[0].into();
+
+        Ok(Self {
+            root,
+            depth,
+            empty_hashes,
+            leaves: BTreeMap::new(),
+            branches: BTreeMap::new(),
+        })
     }
 
     /// Appends the provided entries as leaves of the tree.
@@ -57,7 +79,7 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
     {
         // check if the leaves count will fit the depth setup
         let mut entries = entries.into_iter();
-        let max = 1 << self.depth;
+        let max = 1 << self.depth.min(63);
         if entries.len() > max {
             return Err(MerkleError::InvalidEntriesCount(max, entries.len()));
         }
@@ -72,8 +94,7 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
     where
         I: IntoIterator<Item = RpoDigest>,
     {
-        self.store
-            .replace_empty_subtrees(hashes.into_iter().collect());
+        self.replace_empty_subtrees(hashes.into_iter().collect());
         self
     }
 
@@ -95,32 +116,30 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
 
     /// Returns the set count of the keys of the leaves.
     pub fn leaves_count(&self) -> usize {
-        self.store.leaves_count()
+        self.leaves.len()
     }
 
-    /// Returns a node at the specified key
+    /// Returns a node at the specified index.
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// Returns an error if:
     /// * The specified depth is greater than the depth of the tree.
-    pub fn get_node(&self, index: &NodeIndex) -> Result<Word, MerkleError> {
+    pub fn get_node(&self, index: NodeIndex) -> Result<Word, MerkleError> {
         if index.is_root() {
             Err(MerkleError::DepthTooSmall(index.depth()))
         } else if index.depth() > self.depth() {
             Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(index.depth() as u64))
         } else if index.depth() == self.depth() {
-            self.store
-                .get_leaf_node(index.value())
+            self.get_leaf_node(index.value())
                 .or_else(|| {
-                    self.store
-                        .empty_hashes
+                    self.empty_hashes
                         .get(index.depth() as usize)
                         .copied()
                         .map(Word::from)
                 })
-                .ok_or(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(*index))
+                .ok_or(MerkleError::NodeNotInSet(index.value()))
         } else {
-            let branch_node = self.store.get_branch_node(index);
+            let branch_node = self.get_branch_node(&index);
             Ok(Rpo256::merge(&[branch_node.left, branch_node.right]).into())
         }
     }
@@ -142,7 +161,7 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
         for _ in 0..index.depth() {
             let is_right = index.is_value_odd();
             index.move_up();
-            let BranchNode { left, right } = self.store.get_branch_node(&index);
+            let BranchNode { left, right } = self.get_branch_node(&index);
             let value = if is_right { left } else { right };
             path.push(*value);
         }
@@ -156,19 +175,31 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
     /// Returns an error if:
     /// * The specified key does not exist as a leaf node.
     pub fn get_leaf_path(&self, key: u64) -> Result<MerklePath, MerkleError> {
-        self.get_path(NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), key))
+        let index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), key)?;
+        self.get_path(index)
+    }
+
+    /// Iterator over the inner nodes of the [SimpleSmt].
+    pub fn inner_nodes(&self) -> impl Iterator<Item = InnerNodeInfo> + '_ {
+        self.branches.values().map(|e| InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: e.parent().into(),
+            left: e.left.into(),
+            right: e.right.into(),
+        })
     }
 
     // STATE MUTATORS
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-    /// Replaces the leaf located at the specified key, and recomputes hashes by walking up the tree
+    /// Replaces the leaf located at the specified key, and recomputes hashes by walking up the
+    /// tree.
     ///
     /// # Errors
     /// Returns an error if the specified key is not a valid leaf index for this tree.
     pub fn update_leaf(&mut self, key: u64, value: Word) -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
-        if !self.store.check_leaf_node_exists(key) {
-            return Err(MerkleError::InvalidIndex(NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), key)));
+        let index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), key)?;
+        if !self.check_leaf_node_exists(key) {
+            return Err(MerkleError::NodeNotInSet(index.value()));
         }
         self.insert_leaf(key, value)?;
 
@@ -177,67 +208,29 @@ impl SimpleSmt {
 
     /// Inserts a leaf located at the specified key, and recomputes hashes by walking up the tree
     pub fn insert_leaf(&mut self, key: u64, value: Word) -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
-        self.store.insert_leaf_node(key, value);
+        self.insert_leaf_node(key, value);
 
         // TODO consider using a map `index |-> word` instead of `index |-> (word, word)`
-        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), key);
+        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.depth(), key)?;
         let mut value = RpoDigest::from(value);
         for _ in 0..index.depth() {
             let is_right = index.is_value_odd();
             index.move_up();
-            let BranchNode { left, right } = self.store.get_branch_node(&index);
+            let BranchNode { left, right } = self.get_branch_node(&index);
             let (left, right) = if is_right {
                 (left, value)
             } else {
                 (value, right)
             };
-            self.store.insert_branch_node(index, left, right);
+            self.insert_branch_node(index, left, right);
             value = Rpo256::merge(&[left, right]);
         }
         self.root = value.into();
         Ok(())
     }
-}
-
-// STORE
-// ================================================================================================
-
-/// A data store for sparse Merkle tree key-value pairs.
-/// Leaves and branch nodes are stored separately in B-tree maps, indexed by key and (key, depth)
-/// respectively. Hashes for blank subtrees at each layer are stored in `empty_hashes`, beginning
-/// with the root hash of an empty tree, and ending with the zero value of a leaf node.
-#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub(crate) struct Store {
-    pub(crate) branches: BTreeMap<NodeIndex, BranchNode>,
-    leaves: BTreeMap<u64, Word>,
-    pub(crate) empty_hashes: Vec<RpoDigest>,
-    depth: u8,
-}
 
-#[derive(Debug, Default, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
-pub(crate) struct BranchNode {
-    pub(crate) left: RpoDigest,
-    pub(crate) right: RpoDigest,
-}
-
-impl Store {
-    fn new(depth: u8) -> (Self, Word) {
-        let branches = BTreeMap::new();
-        let leaves = BTreeMap::new();
-
-        // Construct empty node digests for each layer of the tree
-        let empty_hashes = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(depth).to_vec();
-
-        let root = empty_hashes[0].into();
-        let store = Self {
-            branches,
-            leaves,
-            empty_hashes,
-            depth,
-        };
-
-        (store, root)
-    }
+    // HELPER METHODS
+    // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     fn replace_empty_subtrees(&mut self, hashes: Vec<RpoDigest>) {
         self.empty_hashes = hashes;
@@ -269,8 +262,4 @@ impl Store {
         let branch = BranchNode { left, right };
         self.branches.insert(index, branch);
     }
-
-    fn leaves_count(&self) -> usize {
-        self.leaves.len()
-    }
 }
diff --git a/src/merkle/simple_smt/tests.rs b/src/merkle/simple_smt/tests.rs
index 6abd343..82938d3 100644
--- a/src/merkle/simple_smt/tests.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/simple_smt/tests.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 use super::{
-    super::{int_to_node, MerkleTree, RpoDigest, SimpleSmt},
+    super::{int_to_node, InnerNodeInfo, MerkleError, MerkleTree, RpoDigest, SimpleSmt},
     NodeIndex, Rpo256, Vec, Word,
 };
 use proptest::prelude::*;
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ fn build_sparse_tree() {
     let mt2 = MerkleTree::new(values.clone()).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(mt2.root(), smt.root());
     assert_eq!(
-        mt2.get_path(NodeIndex::new(3, 6)).unwrap(),
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(3, 6)).unwrap()
+        mt2.get_path(NodeIndex::make(3, 6)).unwrap(),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(3, 6)).unwrap()
     );
 
     // insert second value at distinct leaf branch
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ fn build_sparse_tree() {
     let mt3 = MerkleTree::new(values).unwrap();
     assert_eq!(mt3.root(), smt.root());
     assert_eq!(
-        mt3.get_path(NodeIndex::new(3, 2)).unwrap(),
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(3, 2)).unwrap()
+        mt3.get_path(NodeIndex::make(3, 2)).unwrap(),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(3, 2)).unwrap()
     );
 }
 
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@ fn build_full_tree() {
 
     let (root, node2, node3) = compute_internal_nodes();
     assert_eq!(root, tree.root());
-    assert_eq!(node2, tree.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(1, 0)).unwrap());
-    assert_eq!(node3, tree.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(1, 1)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(node2, tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 0)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(node3, tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 1)).unwrap());
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -100,10 +100,10 @@ fn get_values() {
         .unwrap();
 
     // check depth 2
-    assert_eq!(VALUES4[0], tree.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(2, 0)).unwrap());
-    assert_eq!(VALUES4[1], tree.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(2, 1)).unwrap());
-    assert_eq!(VALUES4[2], tree.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(2, 2)).unwrap());
-    assert_eq!(VALUES4[3], tree.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(2, 3)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[0], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 0)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[1], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 1)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[2], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 2)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[3], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 3)).unwrap());
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -118,24 +118,69 @@ fn get_path() {
     // check depth 2
     assert_eq!(
         vec![VALUES4[1], node3],
-        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 0)).unwrap()
+        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 0)).unwrap()
     );
     assert_eq!(
         vec![VALUES4[0], node3],
-        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 1)).unwrap()
+        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 1)).unwrap()
     );
     assert_eq!(
         vec![VALUES4[3], node2],
-        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 2)).unwrap()
+        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 2)).unwrap()
     );
     assert_eq!(
         vec![VALUES4[2], node2],
-        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, 3)).unwrap()
+        *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, 3)).unwrap()
     );
 
     // check depth 1
-    assert_eq!(vec![node3], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(1, 0)).unwrap());
-    assert_eq!(vec![node2], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(1, 1)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(vec![node3], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(1, 0)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(vec![node2], *tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(1, 1)).unwrap());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_parent_node_iterator() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
+    let tree = SimpleSmt::new(2)
+        .unwrap()
+        .with_leaves(KEYS4.into_iter().zip(VALUES4.into_iter()))
+        .unwrap();
+
+    // check depth 2
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[0], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 0)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[1], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 1)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[2], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 2)).unwrap());
+    assert_eq!(VALUES4[3], tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 3)).unwrap());
+
+    // get parent nodes
+    let root = tree.root();
+    let l1n0 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 0))?;
+    let l1n1 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(1, 1))?;
+    let l2n0 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 0))?;
+    let l2n1 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 1))?;
+    let l2n2 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 2))?;
+    let l2n3 = tree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(2, 3))?;
+
+    let nodes: Vec<InnerNodeInfo> = tree.inner_nodes().collect();
+    let expected = vec![
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: root.into(),
+            left: l1n0.into(),
+            right: l1n1.into(),
+        },
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: l1n0.into(),
+            left: l2n0.into(),
+            right: l2n1.into(),
+        },
+        InnerNodeInfo {
+            value: l1n1.into(),
+            left: l2n2.into(),
+            right: l2n3.into(),
+        },
+    ];
+    assert_eq!(nodes, expected);
+
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -218,7 +263,7 @@ fn small_tree_opening_is_consistent() {
     ];
 
     for (depth, key, path) in cases {
-        let opening = tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(depth, key)).unwrap();
+        let opening = tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(depth, key)).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(path, *opening);
     }
@@ -242,7 +287,7 @@ proptest! {
         // traverse to root, fetching all paths
         for d in 1..depth {
             let k = key >> (depth - d);
-            tree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, k)).unwrap();
+            tree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, k)).unwrap();
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/merkle/store/mod.rs b/src/merkle/store/mod.rs
index f98ae6f..a938c4f 100644
--- a/src/merkle/store/mod.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/store/mod.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
+use super::mmr::{Mmr, MmrPeaks};
 use super::{
-    BTreeMap, BTreeSet, EmptySubtreeRoots, MerkleError, MerklePath, MerklePathSet, MerkleTree,
-    NodeIndex, RootPath, Rpo256, RpoDigest, SimpleSmt, ValuePath, Vec, Word,
+    BTreeMap, EmptySubtreeRoots, MerkleError, MerklePath, MerklePathSet, MerkleTree, NodeIndex,
+    RootPath, Rpo256, RpoDigest, SimpleSmt, ValuePath, Vec, Word,
 };
 use crate::utils::{ByteReader, ByteWriter, Deserializable, DeserializationError, Serializable};
 
@@ -52,15 +53,19 @@ pub struct Node {
 ///
 /// // every leaf except the last are the same
 /// for i in 0..7 {
-///     let d0 = store.get_node(ROOT0, NodeIndex::new(3, i)).unwrap();
-///     let d1 = store.get_node(ROOT1, NodeIndex::new(3, i)).unwrap();
+///     let idx0 = NodeIndex::new(3, i).unwrap();
+///     let d0 = store.get_node(ROOT0, idx0).unwrap();
+///     let idx1 = NodeIndex::new(3, i).unwrap();
+///     let d1 = store.get_node(ROOT1, idx1).unwrap();
 ///     assert_eq!(d0, d1, "Both trees have the same leaf at pos {i}");
 /// }
 ///
 /// // The leafs A-B-C-D are the same for both trees, so are their 2 immediate parents
 /// for i in 0..4 {
-///     let d0 = store.get_path(ROOT0, NodeIndex::new(3, i)).unwrap();
-///     let d1 = store.get_path(ROOT1, NodeIndex::new(3, i)).unwrap();
+///     let idx0 = NodeIndex::new(3, i).unwrap();
+///     let d0 = store.get_path(ROOT0, idx0).unwrap();
+///     let idx1 = NodeIndex::new(3, i).unwrap();
+///     let d1 = store.get_path(ROOT1, idx1).unwrap();
 ///     assert_eq!(d0.path[0..2], d1.path[0..2], "Both sub-trees are equal up to two levels");
 /// }
 ///
@@ -115,13 +120,19 @@ impl MerkleStore {
         Ok(self)
     }
 
-    /// Appends the provided sparse merkle tree represented by its `entries` to the set.
-    pub fn with_sparse_merkle_tree<R, I>(mut self, entries: R) -> Result<Self, MerkleError>
+    /// Appends the provided Sparse Merkle tree represented by its `entries` to the set.
+    ///
+    /// For more information, check [MerkleStore::add_sparse_merkle_tree].
+    pub fn with_sparse_merkle_tree<R, I>(
+        mut self,
+        depth: u8,
+        entries: R,
+    ) -> Result<Self, MerkleError>
     where
         R: IntoIterator<IntoIter = I>,
         I: Iterator<Item = (u64, Word)> + ExactSizeIterator,
     {
-        self.add_sparse_merkle_tree(entries)?;
+        self.add_sparse_merkle_tree(depth, entries)?;
         Ok(self)
     }
 
@@ -145,6 +156,15 @@ impl MerkleStore {
         Ok(self)
     }
 
+    /// Appends the provided [Mmr] represented by its `leaves` to the set.
+    pub fn with_mmr<I>(mut self, leaves: I) -> Result<Self, MerkleError>
+    where
+        I: IntoIterator<Item = Word>,
+    {
+        self.add_mmr(leaves)?;
+        Ok(self)
+    }
+
     // PUBLIC ACCESSORS
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -168,12 +188,14 @@ impl MerkleStore {
             .get(&hash)
             .ok_or(MerkleError::RootNotInStore(hash.into()))?;
 
-        for bit in index.bit_iterator().rev() {
+        for i in (0..index.depth()).rev() {
             let node = self
                 .nodes
                 .get(&hash)
                 .ok_or(MerkleError::NodeNotInStore(hash.into(), index))?;
-            hash = if bit { node.right } else { node.left }
+
+            let bit = (index.value() >> i) & 1;
+            hash = if bit == 0 { node.left } else { node.right }
         }
 
         Ok(hash.into())
@@ -197,18 +219,19 @@ impl MerkleStore {
             .get(&hash)
             .ok_or(MerkleError::RootNotInStore(hash.into()))?;
 
-        for bit in index.bit_iterator().rev() {
+        for i in (0..index.depth()).rev() {
             let node = self
                 .nodes
                 .get(&hash)
                 .ok_or(MerkleError::NodeNotInStore(hash.into(), index))?;
 
-            hash = if bit {
-                path.push(node.left.into());
-                node.right
-            } else {
+            let bit = (index.value() >> i) & 1;
+            hash = if bit == 0 {
                 path.push(node.right.into());
                 node.left
+            } else {
+                path.push(node.left.into());
+                node.right
             }
         }
 
@@ -221,6 +244,81 @@ impl MerkleStore {
         })
     }
 
+    /// Reconstructs a path from the root until a leaf or empty node and returns its depth.
+    ///
+    /// The `tree_depth` parameter defines up to which depth the tree will be traversed, starting
+    /// from `root`. The maximum value the argument accepts is [u64::BITS].
+    ///
+    /// The traversed path from leaf to root will start at the least significant bit of `index`,
+    /// and will be executed for `tree_depth` bits.
+    ///
+    /// # Errors
+    /// Will return an error if:
+    /// - The provided root is not found.
+    /// - The path from the root continues to a depth greater than `tree_depth`.
+    /// - The provided `tree_depth` is greater than `64.
+    /// - The provided `index` is not valid for a depth equivalent to `tree_depth`. For more
+    /// information, check [NodeIndex::new].
+    pub fn get_leaf_depth(
+        &self,
+        root: Word,
+        tree_depth: u8,
+        index: u64,
+    ) -> Result<u8, MerkleError> {
+        // validate depth and index
+        if tree_depth > 64 {
+            return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(tree_depth as u64));
+        }
+        NodeIndex::new(tree_depth, index)?;
+
+        // it's not illegal to have a maximum depth of `0`; we should just return the root in that
+        // case. this check will simplify the implementation as we could overflow bits for depth
+        // `0`.
+        if tree_depth == 0 {
+            return Ok(0);
+        }
+
+        // check if the root exists, providing the proper error report if it doesn't
+        let empty = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(tree_depth);
+        let mut hash: RpoDigest = root.into();
+        if !self.nodes.contains_key(&hash) {
+            return Err(MerkleError::RootNotInStore(hash.into()));
+        }
+
+        // we traverse from root to leaf, so the path is reversed
+        let mut path = (index << (64 - tree_depth)).reverse_bits();
+
+        // iterate every depth and reconstruct the path from root to leaf
+        for depth in 0..tree_depth {
+            // we short-circuit if an empty node has been found
+            if hash == empty[depth as usize] {
+                return Ok(depth);
+            }
+
+            // fetch the children pair, mapped by its parent hash
+            let children = match self.nodes.get(&hash) {
+                Some(node) => node,
+                None => return Ok(depth),
+            };
+
+            // traverse down
+            hash = if path & 1 == 0 {
+                children.left
+            } else {
+                children.right
+            };
+            path >>= 1;
+        }
+
+        // at max depth assert it doesn't have sub-trees
+        if self.nodes.contains_key(&hash) {
+            return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(tree_depth as u64 + 1));
+        }
+
+        // depleted bits; return max depth
+        Ok(tree_depth)
+    }
+
     // STATE MUTATORS
     // --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -243,56 +341,44 @@ impl MerkleStore {
             return Err(MerkleError::DepthTooSmall(leaves.len() as u8));
         }
 
-        let layers = leaves.len().ilog2();
         let tree = MerkleTree::new(leaves)?;
-
-        let mut depth = 0;
-        let mut parent_offset = 1;
-        let mut child_offset = 2;
-        while depth < layers {
-            let layer_size = 1usize << depth;
-            for _ in 0..layer_size {
-                // merkle tree is using level form representation, so left and right siblings are
-                // next to each other
-                let left = tree.nodes[child_offset];
-                let right = tree.nodes[child_offset + 1];
-                self.nodes.insert(
-                    tree.nodes[parent_offset].into(),
-                    Node {
-                        left: left.into(),
-                        right: right.into(),
-                    },
-                );
-                parent_offset += 1;
-                child_offset += 2;
-            }
-            depth += 1;
+        for node in tree.inner_nodes() {
+            self.nodes.insert(
+                node.value.into(),
+                Node {
+                    left: node.left.into(),
+                    right: node.right.into(),
+                },
+            );
         }
 
-        Ok(tree.nodes[1])
+        Ok(tree.root())
     }
 
-    /// Adds all the nodes of a Sparse Merkle tree represented by `entries`.
+    /// Adds a Sparse Merkle tree defined by the specified `entries` to the store, and returns the
+    /// root of the added tree.
     ///
-    /// This will instantiate a Sparse Merkle tree using `entries` and include all the nodes into
-    /// the store.
+    /// The entries are expected to contain tuples of `(index, node)` describing nodes in the tree
+    /// at `depth`.
     ///
     /// # Errors
-    ///
-    /// This will return `InvalidEntriesCount` if the length of `entries` is not `63`.
-    pub fn add_sparse_merkle_tree<R, I>(&mut self, entries: R) -> Result<Word, MerkleError>
+    /// Returns an error if the provided `depth` is greater than [SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH].
+    pub fn add_sparse_merkle_tree<R, I>(
+        &mut self,
+        depth: u8,
+        entries: R,
+    ) -> Result<Word, MerkleError>
     where
         R: IntoIterator<IntoIter = I>,
         I: Iterator<Item = (u64, Word)> + ExactSizeIterator,
     {
-        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)?.with_leaves(entries)?;
-        for branch in smt.store.branches.values() {
-            let parent = Rpo256::merge(&[branch.left, branch.right]);
+        let smt = SimpleSmt::new(depth)?.with_leaves(entries)?;
+        for node in smt.inner_nodes() {
             self.nodes.insert(
-                parent,
+                node.value.into(),
                 Node {
-                    left: branch.left,
-                    right: branch.right,
+                    left: node.left.into(),
+                    right: node.right.into(),
                 },
             );
         }
@@ -311,7 +397,7 @@ impl MerkleStore {
         mut node: Word,
         path: MerklePath,
     ) -> Result<Word, MerkleError> {
-        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(self.nodes.len() as u8, index_value);
+        let mut index = NodeIndex::new(path.len() as u8, index_value)?;
 
         for sibling in path {
             let (left, right) = match index.is_value_odd() {
@@ -340,33 +426,14 @@ impl MerkleStore {
     /// into the store.
     ///
     /// For further reference, check [MerkleStore::add_merkle_path].
-    ///
-    /// # Errors
-    ///
-    /// Every path must resolve to the same root, otherwise this will return an `ConflictingRoots`
-    /// error.
-    pub fn add_merkle_paths<I>(&mut self, paths: I) -> Result<Word, MerkleError>
+    pub fn add_merkle_paths<I>(&mut self, paths: I) -> Result<(), MerkleError>
     where
         I: IntoIterator<Item = (u64, Word, MerklePath)>,
     {
-        let paths: Vec<(u64, Word, MerklePath)> = paths.into_iter().collect();
-
-        let roots: BTreeSet<RpoDigest> = paths
-            .iter()
-            .map(|(index, node, path)| path.compute_root(*index, *node).into())
-            .collect();
-
-        if roots.len() != 1 {
-            return Err(MerkleError::ConflictingRoots(
-                roots.iter().map(|v| Word::from(*v)).collect(),
-            ));
-        }
-
-        for (index_value, node, path) in paths {
+        for (index_value, node, path) in paths.into_iter() {
             self.add_merkle_path(index_value, node, path)?;
         }
-
-        Ok(roots.iter().next().unwrap().into())
+        Ok(())
     }
 
     /// Appends the provided [MerklePathSet] into the store.
@@ -380,6 +447,25 @@ impl MerkleStore {
         Ok(root)
     }
 
+    /// Appends the provided [Mmr] into the store.
+    pub fn add_mmr<I>(&mut self, leaves: I) -> Result<MmrPeaks, MerkleError>
+    where
+        I: IntoIterator<Item = Word>,
+    {
+        let mmr = Mmr::from(leaves);
+        for node in mmr.inner_nodes() {
+            self.nodes.insert(
+                node.value.into(),
+                Node {
+                    left: node.left.into(),
+                    right: node.right.into(),
+                },
+            );
+        }
+
+        Ok(mmr.accumulator())
+    }
+
     /// Sets a node to `value`.
     ///
     /// # Errors
@@ -409,15 +495,9 @@ impl MerkleStore {
         let root2: RpoDigest = root2.into();
 
         if !self.nodes.contains_key(&root1) {
-            Err(MerkleError::NodeNotInStore(
-                root1.into(),
-                NodeIndex::new(0, 0),
-            ))
+            Err(MerkleError::NodeNotInStore(root1.into(), NodeIndex::root()))
         } else if !self.nodes.contains_key(&root1) {
-            Err(MerkleError::NodeNotInStore(
-                root2.into(),
-                NodeIndex::new(0, 0),
-            ))
+            Err(MerkleError::NodeNotInStore(root2.into(), NodeIndex::root()))
         } else {
             let parent: Word = Rpo256::merge(&[root1, root2]).into();
             self.nodes.insert(
diff --git a/src/merkle/store/tests.rs b/src/merkle/store/tests.rs
index 9ccd3ec..de65b1f 100644
--- a/src/merkle/store/tests.rs
+++ b/src/merkle/store/tests.rs
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ fn test_root_not_in_store() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     let mtree = MerkleTree::new(LEAVES4.to_vec())?;
     let store = MerkleStore::default().with_merkle_tree(LEAVES4)?;
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(LEAVES4[0], NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(LEAVES4[0], NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0)),
         Err(MerkleError::RootNotInStore(LEAVES4[0])),
         "Leaf 0 is not a root"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_path(LEAVES4[0], NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_path(LEAVES4[0], NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0)),
         Err(MerkleError::RootNotInStore(LEAVES4[0])),
         "Leaf 0 is not a root"
     );
@@ -45,22 +45,22 @@ fn test_merkle_tree() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     // STORE LEAVES ARE CORRECT ==============================================================
     // checks the leaves in the store corresponds to the expected values
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[0]),
         "node 0 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 1)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 1)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[1]),
         "node 1 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 2)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 2)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[2]),
         "node 2 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 3)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 3)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[3]),
         "node 3 must be in the tree"
     );
@@ -68,76 +68,76 @@ fn test_merkle_tree() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     // STORE LEAVES MATCH TREE ===============================================================
     // sanity check the values returned by the store and the tree
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0)),
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0)),
+        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0)),
         "node 0 must be the same for both MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 1)),
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 1)),
+        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 1)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 1)),
         "node 1 must be the same for both MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 2)),
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 2)),
+        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 2)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 2)),
         "node 2 must be the same for both MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 3)),
-        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 3)),
+        mtree.get_node(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 3)),
+        store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 3)),
         "node 3 must be the same for both MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     // STORE MERKLE PATH MATCHS ==============================================================
     // assert the merkle path returned by the store is the same as the one in the tree
     let result = store
-        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0))
+        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[0], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0)),
+        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 1))
+        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 1))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[1], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 1)),
+        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 1)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 1 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 2))
+        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 2))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[2], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 2)),
+        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 2)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 3))
+        .get_path(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 3))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[3], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 3)),
+        mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 3)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ fn test_empty_roots() {
     for depth in 0..255 {
         root = Rpo256::merge(&[root; 2]);
         assert!(
-            store.get_node(root.into(), NodeIndex::new(0, 0)).is_ok(),
+            store.get_node(root.into(), NodeIndex::make(0, 0)).is_ok(),
             "The root of the empty tree of depth {depth} must be registered"
         );
     }
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ fn test_leaf_paths_for_empty_trees() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     for depth in 1..64 {
         let smt = SimpleSmt::new(depth)?;
 
-        let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, 0);
+        let index = NodeIndex::make(depth, 0);
         let store_path = store.get_path(smt.root(), index)?;
         let smt_path = smt.get_path(index)?;
         assert_eq!(
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ fn test_leaf_paths_for_empty_trees() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
             "the returned merkle path does not match the computed values"
         );
         assert_eq!(
-            store_path.path.compute_root(depth.into(), EMPTY),
+            store_path.path.compute_root(depth.into(), EMPTY).unwrap(),
             smt.root(),
             "computed root from the path must match the empty tree root"
         );
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ fn test_get_invalid_node() {
     store
         .add_merkle_tree(LEAVES4.to_vec())
         .expect("adding a merkle tree to the store must work");
-    let _ = store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 3));
+    let _ = store.get_node(mtree.root(), NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 3));
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -205,24 +205,24 @@ fn test_add_sparse_merkle_tree_one_level() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     let mut store = MerkleStore::default();
     let keys2: [u64; 2] = [0, 1];
     let leaves2: [Word; 2] = [int_to_node(1), int_to_node(2)];
-    store.add_sparse_merkle_tree(keys2.into_iter().zip(leaves2.into_iter()))?;
+    store.add_sparse_merkle_tree(48, keys2.into_iter().zip(leaves2.into_iter()))?;
     let smt = SimpleSmt::new(1)
         .unwrap()
         .with_leaves(keys2.into_iter().zip(leaves2.into_iter()))
         .unwrap();
 
-    let idx = NodeIndex::new(1, 0);
-    assert_eq!(smt.get_node(&idx).unwrap(), leaves2[0]);
+    let idx = NodeIndex::make(1, 0);
+    assert_eq!(smt.get_node(idx).unwrap(), leaves2[0]);
     assert_eq!(
         store.get_node(smt.root(), idx).unwrap(),
-        smt.get_node(&idx).unwrap()
+        smt.get_node(idx).unwrap()
     );
 
-    let idx = NodeIndex::new(1, 1);
-    assert_eq!(smt.get_node(&idx).unwrap(), leaves2[1]);
+    let idx = NodeIndex::make(1, 1);
+    assert_eq!(smt.get_node(idx).unwrap(), leaves2[1]);
     assert_eq!(
         store.get_node(smt.root(), idx).unwrap(),
-        smt.get_node(&idx).unwrap()
+        smt.get_node(idx).unwrap()
     );
 
     Ok(())
@@ -231,7 +231,10 @@ fn test_add_sparse_merkle_tree_one_level() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
 #[test]
 fn test_sparse_merkle_tree() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     let mut store = MerkleStore::default();
-    store.add_sparse_merkle_tree(KEYS4.into_iter().zip(LEAVES4.into_iter()))?;
+    store.add_sparse_merkle_tree(
+        SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH,
+        KEYS4.into_iter().zip(LEAVES4.into_iter()),
+    )?;
 
     let smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)
         .unwrap()
@@ -241,27 +244,27 @@ fn test_sparse_merkle_tree() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     // STORE LEAVES ARE CORRECT ==============================================================
     // checks the leaves in the store corresponds to the expected values
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 0)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[0]),
         "node 0 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 1)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 1)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[1]),
         "node 1 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 2)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 2)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[2]),
         "node 2 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 3)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 3)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[3]),
         "node 3 must be in the tree"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 4)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 4)),
         Ok(EMPTY),
         "unmodified node 4 must be ZERO"
     );
@@ -269,94 +272,94 @@ fn test_sparse_merkle_tree() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     // STORE LEAVES MATCH TREE ===============================================================
     // sanity check the values returned by the store and the tree
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 0)),
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 0)),
+        smt.get_node(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 0)),
         "node 0 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 1)),
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 1)),
+        smt.get_node(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 1)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 1)),
         "node 1 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 2)),
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 2)),
+        smt.get_node(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 2)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 2)),
         "node 2 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 3)),
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 3)),
+        smt.get_node(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 3)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 3)),
         "node 3 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_node(&NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 4)),
-        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 4)),
+        smt.get_node(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 4)),
+        store.get_node(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 4)),
         "node 4 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     // STORE MERKLE PATH MATCHS ==============================================================
     // assert the merkle path returned by the store is the same as the one in the tree
     let result = store
-        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 0))
+        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 0))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[0], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 0)),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 0)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 1))
+        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 1))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[1], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 1 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 1)),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 1)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 1 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 2))
+        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 2))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[2], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 2 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 2)),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 2)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 2 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 3))
+        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 3))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[3], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 3 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 3)),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 3)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 3 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 4))
+        .get_path(smt.root(), NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 4))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         EMPTY, result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 4 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::new(smt.depth(), 4)),
+        smt.get_path(NodeIndex::make(smt.depth(), 4)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 4 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
@@ -369,16 +372,16 @@ fn test_add_merkle_paths() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     let mtree = MerkleTree::new(LEAVES4.to_vec())?;
 
     let i0 = 0;
-    let p0 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, i0)).unwrap();
+    let p0 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, i0)).unwrap();
 
     let i1 = 1;
-    let p1 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, i1)).unwrap();
+    let p1 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, i1)).unwrap();
 
     let i2 = 2;
-    let p2 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, i2)).unwrap();
+    let p2 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, i2)).unwrap();
 
     let i3 = 3;
-    let p3 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(2, i3)).unwrap();
+    let p3 = mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(2, i3)).unwrap();
 
     let paths = [
         (i0, LEAVES4[i0 as usize], p0),
@@ -398,22 +401,22 @@ fn test_add_merkle_paths() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     // STORE LEAVES ARE CORRECT ==============================================================
     // checks the leaves in the store corresponds to the expected values
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 0)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[0]),
         "node 0 must be in the set"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 1)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 1)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[1]),
         "node 1 must be in the set"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 2)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 2)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[2]),
         "node 2 must be in the set"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 3)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 3)),
         Ok(LEAVES4[3]),
         "node 3 must be in the set"
     );
@@ -421,76 +424,76 @@ fn test_add_merkle_paths() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     // STORE LEAVES MATCH SET ================================================================
     // sanity check the values returned by the store and the set
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_node(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 0)),
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 0)),
+        set.get_node(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 0)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 0)),
         "node 0 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_node(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 1)),
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 1)),
+        set.get_node(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 1)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 1)),
         "node 1 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_node(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 2)),
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 2)),
+        set.get_node(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 2)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 2)),
         "node 2 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_node(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 3)),
-        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 3)),
+        set.get_node(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 3)),
+        store.get_node(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 3)),
         "node 3 must be the same for both SparseMerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     // STORE MERKLE PATH MATCHS ==============================================================
     // assert the merkle path returned by the store is the same as the one in the set
     let result = store
-        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 0))
+        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 0))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[0], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 0)),
+        set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 0)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 1))
+        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 1))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[1], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 1)),
+        set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 1)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 1 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 2))
+        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 2))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[2], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 2)),
+        set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 2)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
 
     let result = store
-        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 3))
+        .get_path(set.root(), NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 3))
         .unwrap();
     assert_eq!(
         LEAVES4[3], result.value,
         "Value for merkle path at index 0 must match leaf value"
     );
     assert_eq!(
-        set.get_path(NodeIndex::new(set.depth(), 3)),
+        set.get_path(NodeIndex::make(set.depth(), 3)),
         Ok(result.path),
         "merkle path for index 0 must be the same for the MerkleTree and MerkleStore"
     );
@@ -547,7 +550,7 @@ fn store_path_opens_from_leaf() {
         .with_merkle_tree([a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h])
         .unwrap();
     let path = store
-        .get_path(root.into(), NodeIndex::new(3, 1))
+        .get_path(root.into(), NodeIndex::make(3, 1))
         .unwrap()
         .path;
 
@@ -560,7 +563,7 @@ fn test_set_node() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     let mtree = MerkleTree::new(LEAVES4.to_vec())?;
     let mut store = MerkleStore::default().with_merkle_tree(LEAVES4)?;
     let value = int_to_node(42);
-    let index = NodeIndex::new(mtree.depth(), 0);
+    let index = NodeIndex::make(mtree.depth(), 0);
     let new_root = store.set_node(mtree.root(), index, value)?.root;
     assert_eq!(
         store.get_node(new_root, index),
@@ -579,54 +582,222 @@ fn test_constructors() -> Result<(), MerkleError> {
     let depth = mtree.depth();
     let leaves = 2u64.pow(depth.into());
     for index in 0..leaves {
-        let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, index);
+        let index = NodeIndex::make(depth, index);
         let value_path = store.get_path(mtree.root(), index)?;
         assert_eq!(mtree.get_path(index)?, value_path.path);
     }
 
+    let depth = 32;
     let store = MerkleStore::default()
-        .with_sparse_merkle_tree(KEYS4.into_iter().zip(LEAVES4.into_iter()))?;
-    let smt = SimpleSmt::new(SimpleSmt::MAX_DEPTH)
+        .with_sparse_merkle_tree(depth, KEYS4.into_iter().zip(LEAVES4.into_iter()))?;
+    let smt = SimpleSmt::new(depth)
         .unwrap()
         .with_leaves(KEYS4.into_iter().zip(LEAVES4.into_iter()))
         .unwrap();
     let depth = smt.depth();
 
     for key in KEYS4 {
-        let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key);
+        let index = NodeIndex::make(depth, key);
         let value_path = store.get_path(smt.root(), index)?;
         assert_eq!(smt.get_path(index)?, value_path.path);
     }
 
     let d = 2;
     let paths = [
-        (0, LEAVES4[0], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 0)).unwrap()),
-        (1, LEAVES4[1], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 1)).unwrap()),
-        (2, LEAVES4[2], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 2)).unwrap()),
-        (3, LEAVES4[3], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 3)).unwrap()),
+        (
+            0,
+            LEAVES4[0],
+            mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 0)).unwrap(),
+        ),
+        (
+            1,
+            LEAVES4[1],
+            mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 1)).unwrap(),
+        ),
+        (
+            2,
+            LEAVES4[2],
+            mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 2)).unwrap(),
+        ),
+        (
+            3,
+            LEAVES4[3],
+            mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 3)).unwrap(),
+        ),
     ];
 
     let store1 = MerkleStore::default().with_merkle_paths(paths.clone())?;
     let store2 = MerkleStore::default()
-        .with_merkle_path(0, LEAVES4[0], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 0))?)?
-        .with_merkle_path(1, LEAVES4[1], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 1))?)?
-        .with_merkle_path(2, LEAVES4[2], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 2))?)?
-        .with_merkle_path(3, LEAVES4[3], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::new(d, 3))?)?;
+        .with_merkle_path(0, LEAVES4[0], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 0))?)?
+        .with_merkle_path(1, LEAVES4[1], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 1))?)?
+        .with_merkle_path(2, LEAVES4[2], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 2))?)?
+        .with_merkle_path(3, LEAVES4[3], mtree.get_path(NodeIndex::make(d, 3))?)?;
     let set = MerklePathSet::new(d).with_paths(paths).unwrap();
 
     for key in [0, 1, 2, 3] {
-        let index = NodeIndex::new(d, key);
+        let index = NodeIndex::make(d, key);
         let value_path1 = store1.get_path(set.root(), index)?;
         let value_path2 = store2.get_path(set.root(), index)?;
         assert_eq!(value_path1, value_path2);
 
-        let index = NodeIndex::new(d, key);
+        let index = NodeIndex::make(d, key);
         assert_eq!(set.get_path(index)?, value_path1.path);
     }
 
     Ok(())
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn node_path_should_be_truncated_by_midtier_insert() {
+    let key = 0b11010010_11001100_11001100_11001100_11001100_11001100_11001100_11001100_u64;
+
+    let mut store = MerkleStore::new();
+    let root: Word = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(64)[0].into();
+
+    // insert first node - works as expected
+    let depth = 64;
+    let node = [Felt::new(key); WORD_SIZE];
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key).unwrap();
+    let root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    let result = store.get_node(root, index).unwrap();
+    let path = store.get_path(root, index).unwrap().path;
+    assert_eq!(node, result);
+    assert_eq!(path.depth(), depth);
+    assert!(path.verify(index.value(), result, &root));
+
+    // flip the first bit of the key and insert the second node on a different depth
+    let key = key ^ (1 << 63);
+    let key = key >> 8;
+    let depth = 56;
+    let node = [Felt::new(key); WORD_SIZE];
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key).unwrap();
+    let root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    let result = store.get_node(root, index).unwrap();
+    let path = store.get_path(root, index).unwrap().path;
+    assert_eq!(node, result);
+    assert_eq!(path.depth(), depth);
+    assert!(path.verify(index.value(), result, &root));
+
+    // attempt to fetch a path of the second node to depth 64
+    // should fail because the previously inserted node will remove its sub-tree from the set
+    let key = key << 8;
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(64, key).unwrap();
+    assert!(store.get_node(root, index).is_err());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn get_leaf_depth_works_depth_64() {
+    let mut store = MerkleStore::new();
+    let mut root: Word = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(64)[0].into();
+    let key = u64::MAX;
+
+    // this will create a rainbow tree and test all opening to depth 64
+    for d in 0..64 {
+        let k = key & (u64::MAX >> d);
+        let node = [Felt::new(k); WORD_SIZE];
+        let index = NodeIndex::new(64, k).unwrap();
+
+        // assert the leaf doesn't exist before the insert. the returned depth should always
+        // increment with the paths count of the set, as they are insersecting one another up to
+        // the first bits of the used key.
+        assert_eq!(d, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, k).unwrap());
+
+        // insert and assert the correct depth
+        root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+        assert_eq!(64, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, k).unwrap());
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn get_leaf_depth_works_with_incremental_depth() {
+    let mut store = MerkleStore::new();
+    let mut root: Word = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(64)[0].into();
+
+    // insert some path to the left of the root and assert it
+    let key = 0b01001011_10110110_00001101_01110100_00111011_10101101_00000100_01000001_u64;
+    assert_eq!(0, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+    let depth = 64;
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key).unwrap();
+    let node = [Felt::new(key); WORD_SIZE];
+    root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    assert_eq!(depth, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+
+    // flip the key to the right of the root and insert some content on depth 16
+    let key = 0b11001011_10110110_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_u64;
+    assert_eq!(1, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+    let depth = 16;
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key >> (64 - depth)).unwrap();
+    let node = [Felt::new(key); WORD_SIZE];
+    root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    assert_eq!(depth, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+
+    // attempt the sibling of the previous leaf
+    let key = 0b11001011_10110111_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_u64;
+    assert_eq!(16, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key >> (64 - depth)).unwrap();
+    let node = [Felt::new(key); WORD_SIZE];
+    root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    assert_eq!(depth, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+
+    // move down to the next depth and assert correct behavior
+    let key = 0b11001011_10110100_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_00000000_u64;
+    assert_eq!(15, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+    let depth = 17;
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(depth, key >> (64 - depth)).unwrap();
+    let node = [Felt::new(key); WORD_SIZE];
+    root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    assert_eq!(depth, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 64, key).unwrap());
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn get_leaf_depth_works_with_depth_8() {
+    let mut store = MerkleStore::new();
+    let mut root: Word = EmptySubtreeRoots::empty_hashes(8)[0].into();
+
+    // insert some random, 8 depth keys. `a` diverges from the first bit
+    let a = 0b01101001_u64;
+    let b = 0b10011001_u64;
+    let c = 0b10010110_u64;
+    let d = 0b11110110_u64;
+
+    for k in [a, b, c, d] {
+        let index = NodeIndex::new(8, k).unwrap();
+        let node = [Felt::new(k); WORD_SIZE];
+        root = store.set_node(root, index, node).unwrap().root;
+    }
+
+    // assert all leaves returns the inserted depth
+    for k in [a, b, c, d] {
+        assert_eq!(8, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, k).unwrap());
+    }
+
+    // flip last bit of a and expect it to return the the same depth, but for an empty node
+    assert_eq!(8, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, 0b01101000_u64).unwrap());
+
+    // flip fourth bit of a and expect an empty node on depth 4
+    assert_eq!(4, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, 0b01111001_u64).unwrap());
+
+    // flip third bit of a and expect an empty node on depth 3
+    assert_eq!(3, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, 0b01001001_u64).unwrap());
+
+    // flip second bit of a and expect an empty node on depth 2
+    assert_eq!(2, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, 0b00101001_u64).unwrap());
+
+    // flip fourth bit of c and expect an empty node on depth 4
+    assert_eq!(4, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, 0b10000110_u64).unwrap());
+
+    // flip second bit of d and expect an empty node on depth 3 as depth 2 conflicts with b and c
+    assert_eq!(3, store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, 0b10110110_u64).unwrap());
+
+    // duplicate the tree on `a` and assert the depth is short-circuited by such sub-tree
+    let index = NodeIndex::new(8, a).unwrap();
+    root = store.set_node(root, index, root).unwrap().root;
+    assert_eq!(
+        Err(MerkleError::DepthTooBig(9)),
+        store.get_leaf_depth(root, 8, a)
+    );
+}
+
 #[cfg(std)]
 #[test]
 fn test_serialization() -> Result<(), Box<dyn Error>> {