diff --git a/indexer/constructor.go b/indexer/constructor.go
index 13f6d65..46dc52c 100644
--- a/indexer/constructor.go
+++ b/indexer/constructor.go
@@ -33,11 +33,19 @@ import (
 )
 
 // NewStateDiffIndexer creates and returns an implementation of the StateDiffIndexer interface.
+// The returned indexer is used to process state diffs and write them to a database.
+// The returned SQL database, if non-nil, is the indexer's backing database.
+// `ctx` is used to cancel an underlying DB connection.
+// `chainConfig` is used when processing chain state.
+// `nodeInfo` contains metadata on the Ethereum node, which is inserted with the indexed state.
+// `config` contains configuration specific to the indexer.
+// `isDiff` means to mark state nodes as belonging to an incremental diff, as opposed to a full snapshot.
 func NewStateDiffIndexer(
 	ctx context.Context,
 	chainConfig *params.ChainConfig,
 	nodeInfo node.Info,
 	config interfaces.Config,
+	isDiff bool,
 ) (
 	sql.Database,
 	interfaces.StateDiffIndexer,
@@ -50,7 +58,7 @@ func NewStateDiffIndexer(
 		if !ok {
 			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("file config is not the correct type: got %T, expected %T", config, file.Config{})
 		}
-		ind, err := file.NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConfig, fc, nodeInfo)
+		ind, err := file.NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConfig, fc, nodeInfo, isDiff)
 		return nil, ind, err
 	case shared.POSTGRES:
 		log.Info("Starting statediff service in Postgres writing mode")
@@ -75,7 +83,7 @@ func NewStateDiffIndexer(
 			return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("unrecognized Postgres driver type: %s", pgc.Driver)
 		}
 		db := postgres.NewPostgresDB(driver, pgc.Upsert)
-		ind, err := sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(ctx, chainConfig, db)
+		ind, err := sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(ctx, chainConfig, db, isDiff)
 		return db, ind, err
 	case shared.DUMP:
 		log.Info("Starting statediff service in data dump mode")
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_legacy_test.go b/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_legacy_test.go
index 238423b..411b90b 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_legacy_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_legacy_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func setupLegacyCSVIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
-	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(test.LegacyConfig, file.CSVTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo)
+	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(test.LegacyConfig, file.CSVTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	db, err = postgres.SetupSQLXDB()
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_test.go b/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_test.go
index 06aa366..98095f2 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/csv_indexer_test.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func setupCSVIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
-	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(mocks.TestChainConfig, file.CSVTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo)
+	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(mocks.TestChainConfig, file.CSVTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	db, err = postgres.SetupSQLXDB()
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/csv_writer.go b/indexer/database/file/csv_writer.go
index 5463e64..a634906 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/csv_writer.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/csv_writer.go
@@ -57,7 +57,8 @@ type tableRow struct {
 
 type CSVWriter struct {
 	// dir containing output files
-	dir string
+	dir    string
+	isDiff bool
 
 	writers                fileWriters
 	watchedAddressesWriter fileWriter
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ func (tx fileWriters) flush() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func NewCSVWriter(path string, watchedAddressesFilePath string) (*CSVWriter, error) {
+func NewCSVWriter(path string, watchedAddressesFilePath string, diff bool) (*CSVWriter, error) {
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(path, 0777); err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unable to create directory '%s': %w", path, err)
 	}
@@ -147,6 +148,7 @@ func NewCSVWriter(path string, watchedAddressesFilePath string) (*CSVWriter, err
 		writers:                writers,
 		watchedAddressesWriter: watchedAddressesWriter,
 		dir:                    path,
+		isDiff:                 diff,
 		rows:                   make(chan tableRow),
 		flushChan:              make(chan struct{}),
 		flushFinished:          make(chan struct{}),
@@ -278,14 +280,14 @@ func (csw *CSVWriter) upsertStateCID(stateNode models.StateNodeModel) {
 
 	var values []interface{}
 	values = append(values, stateNode.BlockNumber, stateNode.HeaderID, stateNode.StateKey, stateNode.CID,
-		true, balance, strconv.FormatUint(stateNode.Nonce, 10), stateNode.CodeHash, stateNode.StorageRoot, stateNode.Removed)
+		csw.isDiff, balance, strconv.FormatUint(stateNode.Nonce, 10), stateNode.CodeHash, stateNode.StorageRoot, stateNode.Removed)
 	csw.rows <- tableRow{schema.TableStateNode, values}
 }
 
 func (csw *CSVWriter) upsertStorageCID(storageCID models.StorageNodeModel) {
 	var values []interface{}
 	values = append(values, storageCID.BlockNumber, storageCID.HeaderID, storageCID.StateKey, storageCID.StorageKey, storageCID.CID,
-		true, storageCID.Value, storageCID.Removed)
+		csw.isDiff, storageCID.Value, storageCID.Removed)
 	csw.rows <- tableRow{schema.TableStorageNode, values}
 }
 
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/indexer.go b/indexer/database/file/indexer.go
index 56719b8..d47042d 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/indexer.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/indexer.go
@@ -63,7 +63,11 @@ type StateDiffIndexer struct {
 }
 
 // NewStateDiffIndexer creates a void implementation of interfaces.StateDiffIndexer
-func NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, config Config, nodeInfo node.Info) (*StateDiffIndexer, error) {
+// `chainConfig` is used when processing chain state.
+// `config` contains configuration specific to the indexer.
+// `nodeInfo` contains metadata on the Ethereum node, which is inserted with the indexed state.
+// `isDiff` means to mark state nodes as belonging to an incremental diff, as opposed to a full snapshot.
+func NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, config Config, nodeInfo node.Info, isDiff bool) (*StateDiffIndexer, error) {
 	var err error
 	var writer FileWriter
 
@@ -86,7 +90,7 @@ func NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, config Config, nodeInf
 		}
 		log.Info("Writing watched addresses to file", "file", watchedAddressesFilePath)
 
-		writer, err = NewCSVWriter(outputDir, watchedAddressesFilePath)
+		writer, err = NewCSVWriter(outputDir, watchedAddressesFilePath, isDiff)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -109,7 +113,7 @@ func NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, config Config, nodeInf
 		}
 		log.Info("Writing watched addresses to file", "file", watchedAddressesFilePath)
 
-		writer = NewSQLWriter(file, watchedAddressesFilePath)
+		writer = NewSQLWriter(file, watchedAddressesFilePath, isDiff)
 	default:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("unrecognized file mode: %s", config.Mode)
 	}
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go b/indexer/database/file/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go
index cdb8042..df425d6 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func setupMainnetIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
-	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConf, file.CSVTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo)
+	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(chainConf, file.CSVTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	db, err = postgres.SetupSQLXDB()
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_legacy_test.go b/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_legacy_test.go
index 6d721d5..26da928 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_legacy_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_legacy_test.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func setupLegacySQLIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
-	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(test.LegacyConfig, file.SQLTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo)
+	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(test.LegacyConfig, file.SQLTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	db, err = postgres.SetupSQLXDB()
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_test.go b/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_test.go
index 3aab7b8..688ae70 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/sql_indexer_test.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func setupIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 	}
 
-	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(mocks.TestChainConfig, file.SQLTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo)
+	ind, err = file.NewStateDiffIndexer(mocks.TestChainConfig, file.SQLTestConfig, test.LegacyNodeInfo, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	db, err = postgres.SetupSQLXDB()
diff --git a/indexer/database/file/sql_writer.go b/indexer/database/file/sql_writer.go
index b6b5c4f..5326b6f 100644
--- a/indexer/database/file/sql_writer.go
+++ b/indexer/database/file/sql_writer.go
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ var (
 type SQLWriter struct {
 	wc             io.WriteCloser
 	stmts          chan []byte
+	isDiff         bool
 	collatedStmt   []byte
 	collationIndex int
 
@@ -55,11 +56,15 @@ type SQLWriter struct {
 	watchedAddressesFilePath string
 }
 
-// NewSQLWriter creates a new pointer to a Writer
-func NewSQLWriter(wc io.WriteCloser, watchedAddressesFilePath string) *SQLWriter {
+// NewSQLWriter creates a new Writer.
+// `wc` is the underlying io.WriteCloser to write to.
+// `watchedAddressesFilePath` is the path to the file containing watched addresses.
+// `isDiff` means to mark state nodes as belonging to an incremental diff, as opposed to a full snapshot.
+func NewSQLWriter(wc io.WriteCloser, watchedAddressesFilePath string, isDiff bool) *SQLWriter {
 	return &SQLWriter{
 		wc:                       wc,
 		stmts:                    make(chan []byte),
+		isDiff:                   isDiff,
 		collatedStmt:             make([]byte, writeBufferSize),
 		flushChan:                make(chan struct{}),
 		flushFinished:            make(chan struct{}),
@@ -225,12 +230,12 @@ func (sqw *SQLWriter) upsertStateCID(stateNode models.StateNodeModel) {
 		balance = "0"
 	}
 	sqw.stmts <- []byte(fmt.Sprintf(stateInsert, stateNode.BlockNumber, stateNode.HeaderID, stateNode.StateKey, stateNode.CID,
-		stateNode.Removed, true, balance, stateNode.Nonce, stateNode.CodeHash, stateNode.StorageRoot))
+		stateNode.Removed, sqw.isDiff, balance, stateNode.Nonce, stateNode.CodeHash, stateNode.StorageRoot))
 }
 
 func (sqw *SQLWriter) upsertStorageCID(storageCID models.StorageNodeModel) {
 	sqw.stmts <- []byte(fmt.Sprintf(storageInsert, storageCID.BlockNumber, storageCID.HeaderID, storageCID.StateKey, storageCID.StorageKey, storageCID.CID,
-		storageCID.Removed, true, storageCID.Value))
+		storageCID.Removed, sqw.isDiff, storageCID.Value))
 }
 
 // LoadWatchedAddresses loads watched addresses from a file
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/indexer.go b/indexer/database/sql/indexer.go
index 6dab963..8db9d73 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/indexer.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/indexer.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ import (
 
 var _ interfaces.StateDiffIndexer = &StateDiffIndexer{}
 
-// StateDiffIndexer satisfies the indexer.StateDiffIndexer interface for ethereum statediff objects on top of an SQL sql
+// StateDiffIndexer satisfies the indexer.StateDiffIndexer interface for ethereum statediff objects on top of an SQL DB.
 type StateDiffIndexer struct {
 	ctx         context.Context
 	chainConfig *params.ChainConfig
@@ -51,11 +51,17 @@ type StateDiffIndexer struct {
 }
 
 // NewStateDiffIndexer creates a sql implementation of interfaces.StateDiffIndexer
-func NewStateDiffIndexer(ctx context.Context, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, db Database) (*StateDiffIndexer, error) {
+// `ctx` is used to cancel the underlying DB connection.
+// `chainConfig` is used when processing chain state.
+// `db` is the backing database to use.
+// `isDiff` means to mark state nodes as belonging to an incremental diff, as opposed to a full snapshot.
+func NewStateDiffIndexer(
+	ctx context.Context, chainConfig *params.ChainConfig, db Database, isDiff bool,
+) (*StateDiffIndexer, error) {
 	return &StateDiffIndexer{
 		ctx:         ctx,
 		chainConfig: chainConfig,
-		dbWriter:    NewWriter(db),
+		dbWriter:    NewWriter(db, isDiff),
 	}, nil
 }
 
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go b/indexer/database/sql/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go
index 22bc6e6..0d2f4ab 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/mainnet_tests/indexer_test.go
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ func setupMainnetIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), chainConf, db)
+	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), chainConf, db, true)
 }
 
 func checkTxClosure(t *testing.T, idle, inUse, open int64) {
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_legacy_test.go b/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_legacy_test.go
index 689b11e..d68305c 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_legacy_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_legacy_test.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ func setupLegacyPGXIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), test.LegacyConfig, db)
+	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), test.LegacyConfig, db, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_test.go b/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_test.go
index 2adee95..944d682 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/pgx_indexer_test.go
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func setupPGXIndexer(t *testing.T, config postgres.Config) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), mocks.TestChainConfig, db)
+	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), mocks.TestChainConfig, db, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_legacy_test.go b/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_legacy_test.go
index af96940..05ea7d5 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_legacy_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_legacy_test.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func setupLegacySQLXIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), test.LegacyConfig, db)
+	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), test.LegacyConfig, db, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_test.go b/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_test.go
index 3aa35c4..fb099ef 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_test.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/sqlx_indexer_test.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func setupSQLXIndexer(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), mocks.TestChainConfig, db)
+	ind, err = sql.NewStateDiffIndexer(context.Background(), mocks.TestChainConfig, db, true)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
diff --git a/indexer/database/sql/writer.go b/indexer/database/sql/writer.go
index e5e0c81..752761b 100644
--- a/indexer/database/sql/writer.go
+++ b/indexer/database/sql/writer.go
@@ -34,13 +34,15 @@ import (
 
 // Writer handles processing and writing of indexed IPLD objects to Postgres
 type Writer struct {
-	db Database
+	db     Database
+	isDiff bool
 }
 
-// NewWriter creates a new pointer to a Writer
-func NewWriter(db Database) *Writer {
+// NewWriter creates a new pointer to a Writer. `diff` indicates whether this is part of an
+// incremental diff (as opposed to a snapshot).
+func NewWriter(db Database, diff bool) *Writer {
 	return &Writer{
-		db: db,
+		db: db, isDiff: diff,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -308,7 +310,8 @@ func (w *Writer) upsertStateCID(tx Tx, stateNode models.StateNodeModel) error {
 		_, err = tx.CopyFrom(w.db.Context(),
 			schema.TableStateNode.TableName(), schema.TableStateNode.ColumnNames(),
 			toRows(toRow(blockNum, stateNode.HeaderID, stateNode.StateKey, stateNode.CID,
-				true, balance, stateNode.Nonce, stateNode.CodeHash, stateNode.StorageRoot, stateNode.Removed)))
+				w.isDiff, balance, stateNode.Nonce, stateNode.CodeHash, stateNode.StorageRoot,
+				stateNode.Removed)))
 		if err != nil {
 			return insertError{"eth.state_cids", err, "COPY", stateNode}
 		}
@@ -318,7 +321,7 @@ func (w *Writer) upsertStateCID(tx Tx, stateNode models.StateNodeModel) error {
 			stateNode.HeaderID,
 			stateNode.StateKey,
 			stateNode.CID,
-			true,
+			w.isDiff,
 			bal,
 			stateNode.Nonce,
 			stateNode.CodeHash,
@@ -346,7 +349,7 @@ func (w *Writer) upsertStorageCID(tx Tx, storageCID models.StorageNodeModel) err
 		_, err = tx.CopyFrom(w.db.Context(),
 			schema.TableStorageNode.TableName(), schema.TableStorageNode.ColumnNames(),
 			toRows(toRow(blockNum, storageCID.HeaderID, storageCID.StateKey, storageCID.StorageKey, storageCID.CID,
-				true, storageCID.Value, storageCID.Removed)))
+				w.isDiff, storageCID.Value, storageCID.Removed)))
 		if err != nil {
 			return insertError{"eth.storage_cids", err, "COPY", storageCID}
 		}
@@ -357,7 +360,7 @@ func (w *Writer) upsertStorageCID(tx Tx, storageCID models.StorageNodeModel) err
 			storageCID.StateKey,
 			storageCID.StorageKey,
 			storageCID.CID,
-			true,
+			w.isDiff,
 			storageCID.Value,
 			storageCID.Removed,
 		)
diff --git a/main/main.go b/main/main.go
index 20f9aca..61cce90 100644
--- a/main/main.go
+++ b/main/main.go
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ func InitializeNode(stack core.Node, b core.Backend) {
 			adapt.ChainConfig(backend.ChainConfig()),
 			info,
 			serviceConfig.IndexerConfig,
+			true,
 		)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Error("failed to construct indexer", "error", err)