diff --git a/src/state/aggregate_vote.rs b/src/state/aggregate_vote.rs
index df7fb8b137..690fa907e0 100644
--- a/src/state/aggregate_vote.rs
+++ b/src/state/aggregate_vote.rs
@@ -10,12 +10,10 @@ pub struct AggregateVote {
 }
 
 impl AggregateVote {
-    pub fn new_for_shard(shard_id: u16, 
-                         shard_block_hash: Sha256Digest) 
-        -> AggregateVote {
-        AggregateVote {
-            shard_id: shard_id,
-            shard_block_hash: shard_block_hash,
+    pub fn zero() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            shard_id: 0,
+            shard_block_hash: Sha256Digest::zero(),
             notary_bitfield: Vec::new(),
             aggregate_sig: AggregateSignature::new()
         }
@@ -41,12 +39,10 @@ mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
     #[test]
-    fn test_new_for_shard() {
-        let id = 1;
-        let hash = Sha256Digest::random();
-        let v = AggregateVote::new_for_shard(id, hash);
-        assert_eq!(v.shard_id, id);
-        assert_eq!(v.shard_block_hash, hash);
+    fn test_zero_fn() {
+        let v = AggregateVote::zero();
+        // TODO: test this better
+        assert_eq!(v.shard_id, 0);
     }
     
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/state/crystallized_state.rs b/src/state/crystallized_state.rs
index 9f232fd8da..935be53cff 100644
--- a/src/state/crystallized_state.rs
+++ b/src/state/crystallized_state.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,24 @@ pub struct CrystallizedState {
 }
 
 impl CrystallizedState {
+    // Returns a new instance with all values set to zero.
+    pub fn zero() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            active_validators: Vec::new(),
+            queued_validators: Vec::new(),
+            exited_validators: Vec::new(),
+            current_shuffling: Vec::new(),
+            current_epoch: 0,
+            last_justified_epoch: 0,
+            last_finalized_epoch: 0,
+            dynasty: 0,
+            next_shard: 0,
+            current_checkpoint: Sha256Digest::zero(),
+            crosslink_records: Vec::new(),
+            total_deposits: U256::zero(),
+        }
+    }
+
     pub fn num_active_validators(&self) -> usize {
         self.active_validators.len()
     }