diff --git a/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_deposit.rs b/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_deposit.rs
index 22a62a321f..9b1c4822ee 100644
--- a/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_deposit.rs
+++ b/eth2/state_processing/src/per_block_processing/verify_deposit.rs
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ pub fn get_existing_validator_index(
 
 /// Verify that a deposit is included in the state's eth1 deposit root.
 ///
-/// Spec v0.5.1
+/// Spec v0.6.0
 fn verify_deposit_merkle_proof(state: &BeaconState, deposit: &Deposit, spec: &ChainSpec) -> bool {
-    let leaf = hash(&get_serialized_deposit_data(deposit));
+    let leaf = deposit.data.tree_hash_root();
     verify_merkle_proof(
         Hash256::from_slice(&leaf),
         &deposit.proof,
@@ -99,27 +99,3 @@ fn verify_deposit_merkle_proof(state: &BeaconState, deposit: &Deposit, spec: &Ch
         state.latest_eth1_data.deposit_root,
     )
 }
-
-/// Helper struct for easily getting the serialized data generated by the deposit contract.
-///
-/// Spec v0.5.1
-#[derive(Encode)]
-struct SerializedDepositData {
-    amount: u64,
-    timestamp: u64,
-    input: DepositInput,
-}
-
-/// Return the serialized data generated by the deposit contract that is used to generate the
-/// merkle proof.
-///
-/// Spec v0.5.1
-fn get_serialized_deposit_data(deposit: &Deposit) -> Vec<u8> {
-    let serialized_deposit_data = SerializedDepositData {
-        amount: deposit.deposit_data.amount,
-        timestamp: deposit.deposit_data.timestamp,
-        input: deposit.deposit_data.deposit_input.clone(),
-    };
-
-    ssz_encode(&serialized_deposit_data)
-}