diff --git a/beacon_chain/types/src/validator_record.rs b/beacon_chain/types/src/validator_record.rs
index bc0b6b6b5..7077d87e2 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/types/src/validator_record.rs
+++ b/beacon_chain/types/src/validator_record.rs
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ use crate::test_utils::TestRandom;
 use rand::RngCore;
 use ssz::{Decodable, DecodeError, Encodable, SszStream};
 use std::convert;
+use std::default;
 
 const STATUS_FLAG_INITIATED_EXIT: u8 = 1;
 const STATUS_FLAG_WITHDRAWABLE: u8 = 2;
@@ -41,6 +42,26 @@ pub struct ValidatorRecord {
     pub penultimate_custody_reseed_slot: u64,
 }
 
+impl default::Default for ValidatorRecord {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            pubkey: PublicKey::default(),
+            withdrawal_credentials: Hash256::default(),
+            randao_commitment: Hash256::default(),
+            randao_layers: 0,
+            activation_slot: std::u64::MAX,
+            exit_slot: std::u64::MAX,
+            withdrawal_slot: std::u64::MAX,
+            penalized_slot: std::u64::MAX,
+            exit_count: 0,
+            status_flags: None,
+            custody_commitment: Hash256::default(),
+            latest_custody_reseed_slot: 0, // NOTE: is `GENESIS_SLOT`
+            penultimate_custody_reseed_slot: 0, // NOTE: is `GENESIS_SLOT`
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 impl Encodable for StatusFlags {
     fn ssz_append(&self, s: &mut SszStream) {
         let byte: u8 = match self {
@@ -142,15 +163,12 @@ impl<T: RngCore> TestRandom<T> for ValidatorRecord {
             withdrawal_credentials: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
             randao_commitment: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
             randao_layers: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
-            activation_slot: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
-            exit_slot: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
-            withdrawal_slot: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
-            penalized_slot: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
             exit_count: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
             status_flags: Some(<_>::random_for_test(rng)),
             custody_commitment: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
             latest_custody_reseed_slot: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
             penultimate_custody_reseed_slot: <_>::random_for_test(rng),
+            ..Self::default()
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/beacon_chain/utils/bls/src/public_key.rs b/beacon_chain/utils/bls/src/public_key.rs
index 49dbc9e4b..e7950969e 100644
--- a/beacon_chain/utils/bls/src/public_key.rs
+++ b/beacon_chain/utils/bls/src/public_key.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use super::SecretKey;
 use bls_aggregates::PublicKey as RawPublicKey;
 use ssz::{decode_ssz_list, Decodable, DecodeError, Encodable, SszStream};
+use std::default;
 
 /// A single BLS signature.
 ///
@@ -20,6 +21,13 @@ impl PublicKey {
     }
 }
 
+impl default::Default for PublicKey {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        let secret_key = SecretKey::random();
+        PublicKey::from_secret_key(&secret_key)
+    }
+}
+
 impl Encodable for PublicKey {
     fn ssz_append(&self, s: &mut SszStream) {
         s.append_vec(&self.0.as_bytes());