diff --git a/include/dogecoin/auxpow.h b/include/dogecoin/auxpow.h
index 60eb2c4ca..d098a4e2a 100644
--- a/include/dogecoin/auxpow.h
+++ b/include/dogecoin/auxpow.h
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ LIBDOGECOIN_BEGIN_DECL
 static const unsigned char pch_merged_mining_header[] = { 0xfa, 0xbe, 'm', 'm' };
 
 int get_expected_index(uint32_t nNonce, int nChainId, unsigned h);
-uint256* check_merkle_branch(uint256 hash, const vector* parent_coinbase_merkle, unsigned int n_index);
+uint256* check_merkle_branch(uint256* hash, const vector* merkle_branch, int index);
 
 LIBDOGECOIN_END_DECL
 
diff --git a/include/dogecoin/hash.h b/include/dogecoin/hash.h
index 9632e4525..de0a04b8c 100644
--- a/include/dogecoin/hash.h
+++ b/include/dogecoin/hash.h
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ typedef struct _chash256 {
 
 static inline chash256* dogecoin_chash256_init() {
     chash256* chash = dogecoin_calloc(1, sizeof(*chash));
-    sha256_context* ctx = NULL;
+    sha256_context* ctx = dogecoin_calloc(1, sizeof(*ctx));
     sha256_init(ctx);
     chash->sha = ctx;
     chash->write = sha256_write;
@@ -107,19 +107,34 @@ static inline chash256* dogecoin_chash256_init() {
     return chash;
 }
 
-static inline uint256* Hash(const uint256 p1begin, const uint256 p1end,
-                    const uint256 p2begin, const uint256 p2end) {
-    static const unsigned char pblank[1];
+// Hashes the data from two uint256 values and returns the double SHA-256 hash.
+static inline uint256* Hash(const uint256* p1, const uint256* p2) {
     uint256* result = dogecoin_uint256_vla(1);
     chash256* chash = dogecoin_chash256_init();
-    chash->write(chash->sha, p1begin == p1end ? pblank : (const unsigned char*)&p1begin[0], (p1end - p1begin) * sizeof(p1begin[0]));
-    chash->write(chash->sha, p2begin == p2end ? pblank : (const unsigned char*)&p2begin[0], (p2end - p2begin) * sizeof(p2begin[0]));
+
+    // Write the first uint256 to the hash context
+    if (p1) {
+        chash->write(chash->sha, (const uint8_t*)p1, sizeof(uint256));
+    }
+
+    // Write the second uint256 to the hash context
+    if (p2) {
+        chash->write(chash->sha, (const uint8_t*)p2, sizeof(uint256));
+    }
+
+    // Finalize and reset for double hashing
     chash->finalize(chash->sha, (unsigned char*)result);
     chash->reset(chash->sha);
+    chash->write(chash->sha, (const uint8_t*)result, SHA256_DIGEST_LENGTH);
+    chash->finalize(chash->sha, (unsigned char*)result);
+
+    // Cleanup
+    free(chash->sha);
+    free(chash);
+
     return result;
 }
 
-
 /** Hashwriter Psuedoclass */
 static enum ser_type {
     // primary actions
diff --git a/include/dogecoin/validation.h b/include/dogecoin/validation.h
index 82b8c817e..c4197b294 100644
--- a/include/dogecoin/validation.h
+++ b/include/dogecoin/validation.h
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ LIBDOGECOIN_BEGIN_DECL
 LIBDOGECOIN_API uint32_t get_chainid(uint32_t version);
 LIBDOGECOIN_API dogecoin_bool is_auxpow(uint32_t version);
 LIBDOGECOIN_API dogecoin_bool is_legacy(uint32_t version);
-LIBDOGECOIN_API dogecoin_bool check_auxpow(dogecoin_auxpow_block block, dogecoin_chainparams* params);
+LIBDOGECOIN_API dogecoin_bool check_auxpow(dogecoin_auxpow_block* block, dogecoin_chainparams* params);
 LIBDOGECOIN_API dogecoin_bool dogecoin_block_header_scrypt_hash(cstring* s, uint256* hash);
 
 LIBDOGECOIN_END_DECL
diff --git a/src/auxpow.c b/src/auxpow.c
index a4eb3f9e3..00ea078e3 100644
--- a/src/auxpow.c
+++ b/src/auxpow.c
@@ -56,17 +56,29 @@ int get_expected_index (uint32_t nNonce, int nChainId, unsigned h)
   return rand % (1 << h);
 }
 
-uint256* check_merkle_branch(uint256 hash, const vector* parent_coinbase_merkle, unsigned int n_index) {
-    if (n_index == (unsigned int)-1) return dogecoin_uint256_vla(1);
-    unsigned int i = n_index;
-    for (; i < parent_coinbase_merkle->len; ++i) {
-        uint256 pcm;
-        memcpy(pcm, vector_idx(parent_coinbase_merkle, i), 32);
-        if (i & 1)
-            hash = (uint8_t *)Hash(UBEGIN(*pcm), UEND(*pcm), UBEGIN(hash), UEND(hash));
-        else
-            hash = (uint8_t *)Hash(UBEGIN(hash), UEND(hash), UBEGIN(*pcm), UEND(*pcm));
-        i >>= 1;
+// Computes the Merkle root from a given hash, Merkle branch, and index.
+uint256* check_merkle_branch(uint256* hash, const vector* merkle_branch, int index) {
+    if (index == -1) {
+        return dogecoin_uint256_vla(1);  // Return a zeroed-out uint256 array.
     }
-    return (uint256*)*&hash;
+
+    uint256* current_hash = dogecoin_uint256_vla(1);
+    memcpy(current_hash, hash, sizeof(uint256)); // Copy the initial hash
+
+    for (int i = 0; i < merkle_branch->len; ++i) {
+        uint256* next_branch_hash = (uint256*)vector_idx(merkle_branch, i);
+        uint256* new_hash;
+
+        if (index & 1) {
+            new_hash = Hash(next_branch_hash, current_hash);
+        } else {
+            new_hash = Hash(current_hash, next_branch_hash);
+        }
+
+        memcpy(current_hash, new_hash, sizeof(uint256)); // Update the current hash
+        dogecoin_free(new_hash); // Free the new hash memory
+        index >>= 1;
+    }
+
+    return current_hash;
 }
diff --git a/src/block.c b/src/block.c
index 3b57220ec..3e807e503 100644
--- a/src/block.c
+++ b/src/block.c
@@ -53,25 +53,29 @@ dogecoin_bool check(void *ctx, uint256* hash, uint32_t chainid, dogecoin_chainpa
 
     uint32_t parent_chainid = get_chainid(block->parent_header->version);
     if (params->strict_id && parent_chainid == chainid) {
-        printf("Aux POW parent has our chain ID");
+        printf("Aux POW parent has our chain ID\n");
         return false;
     }
 
-    vector* parent_merkle = vector_new(8, NULL);
-    size_t p = 0;
-    for (; p < block->parent_merkle_count; p++) {
-        vector_add(parent_merkle, block->parent_coinbase_merkle[p]);
+    vector* chain_merkle_branch = vector_new(block->aux_merkle_count, NULL);
+    for (size_t p = 0; p < block->aux_merkle_count; p++) {
+        vector_add(chain_merkle_branch, block->aux_merkle_branch[p]);
     }
 
-    if (parent_merkle->len > 30) {
+    if (chain_merkle_branch->len > 30) {
         printf("Aux POW chain merkle branch too long\n");
+        vector_free(chain_merkle_branch, true);
         return false;
     }
 
-    // Check that the chain merkle root is in the coinbase
-    uint256* n_roothash = check_merkle_branch((uint8_t*)hash, parent_merkle, parent_merkle->len);
-    const unsigned char* vch_roothash = (unsigned char*)hash_to_string((uint8_t*)n_roothash); // correct endian
-    vector_free(parent_merkle, true);
+    // First call to check_merkle_branch for the auxiliary blockchain's merkle branch
+    uint256* chain_merkle_root = check_merkle_branch(hash, chain_merkle_branch, block->aux_merkle_index);
+    vector_free(chain_merkle_branch, true);
+
+    // Convert the root hash to a human-readable format (hex)
+    unsigned char vch_roothash[64]; // Make sure it's large enough to hold the hash
+    memcpy(vch_roothash, hash_to_string((uint8_t*)chain_merkle_root), 64); // Copy the data
+    dogecoin_free(chain_merkle_root); // Free the computed merkle root
 
     dogecoin_tx_in *tx_in = vector_idx(block->parent_coinbase->vin, 0);
     size_t idx = 0, count = 0;
@@ -146,6 +150,13 @@ dogecoin_auxpow_block* dogecoin_auxpow_block_new() {
     dogecoin_auxpow_block* block = dogecoin_calloc(1, sizeof(*block));
     block->header = dogecoin_block_header_new();
     block->parent_coinbase = dogecoin_tx_new();
+    dogecoin_mem_zero(&block->parent_hash, DOGECOIN_HASH_LENGTH);
+    block->parent_merkle_count = 0;
+    block->parent_coinbase_merkle;
+    block->parent_merkle_index = 0;
+    block->aux_merkle_count = 0;
+    block->aux_merkle_branch;
+    block->aux_merkle_index = 0;
     block->parent_header = dogecoin_block_header_new();
     block->header->auxpow->check = check;
     block->header->auxpow->ctx = block;
@@ -244,7 +255,7 @@ void print_parent_header(dogecoin_auxpow_block* block) {
     printf("block->aux_merkle_count:                        %d\n", block->aux_merkle_count);
     j = 0;
     for (; j < block->aux_merkle_count; j++) {
-        printf("block->aux_merkle_branch[%zu]:                            "
+        printf("block->aux_merkle_branch[%zu]:                    "
                 "%s\n", j, hash_to_string((uint8_t*)block->aux_merkle_branch[j]));
     }
     printf("block->aux_merkle_index:                        %d\n", block->aux_merkle_index);
@@ -328,7 +339,9 @@ int deserialize_dogecoin_auxpow_block(dogecoin_auxpow_block* block, struct const
         return false;
     }
     uint8_t i = 0;
-    block->parent_coinbase_merkle = dogecoin_calloc(block->parent_merkle_count, sizeof(uint256));
+    if (block->parent_merkle_count > 0) {
+        block->parent_coinbase_merkle = dogecoin_calloc(block->parent_merkle_count, sizeof(uint256));
+    }
     for (; i < block->parent_merkle_count; i++) {
         if (!deser_u256(block->parent_coinbase_merkle[i], buffer)) {
             printf("%d:%s:%d\n", __LINE__, __func__, i);
@@ -344,7 +357,9 @@ int deserialize_dogecoin_auxpow_block(dogecoin_auxpow_block* block, struct const
         printf("%s:%d:%s:%s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, strerror(errno));
         return false;
     }
-    block->aux_merkle_branch = dogecoin_calloc(block->aux_merkle_count, sizeof(uint256));
+    if (block->aux_merkle_count > 0) {
+        block->aux_merkle_branch = dogecoin_calloc(block->aux_merkle_count, sizeof(uint256));
+    }
     for (i = 0; i < block->aux_merkle_count; i++) {
         if (!deser_u256(block->aux_merkle_branch[i], buffer)) {
             printf("%d:%s:%d\n", __LINE__, __func__, i);
@@ -381,8 +396,9 @@ int deserialize_dogecoin_auxpow_block(dogecoin_auxpow_block* block, struct const
         return false;
     }
 
-    if (!check_auxpow(*block, (dogecoin_chainparams*)params)) {
+    if (!check_auxpow(block, (dogecoin_chainparams*)params)) {
         printf("check_auxpow failed!\n");
+        print_block(block);
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/validation.c b/src/validation.c
index e662e6ec8..51302c817 100644
--- a/src/validation.c
+++ b/src/validation.c
@@ -42,9 +42,13 @@
  */
 dogecoin_bool dogecoin_block_header_scrypt_hash(cstring* s, uint256* hash) {
     char scratchpad[SCRYPT_SCRATCHPAD_SIZE];
+#if defined(USE_SSE2)
+    scrypt_1024_1_1_256_sp_sse2((const char*)s->str, (char *) hash, scratchpad);
+#else
     scrypt_1024_1_1_256_sp_generic((const char*)s->str, (char *) hash, scratchpad);
+#endif
     return true;
-    }
+}
 
 uint32_t get_chainid(uint32_t version) {
     return version >> 16;
@@ -60,29 +64,29 @@ dogecoin_bool is_legacy(uint32_t version) {
         || (version == 2 && get_chainid(version) == 0);
 }
 
-dogecoin_bool check_auxpow(dogecoin_auxpow_block block, dogecoin_chainparams* params) {
+dogecoin_bool check_auxpow(dogecoin_auxpow_block* block, dogecoin_chainparams* params) {
     /* Except for legacy blocks with full version 1, ensure that
        the chain ID is correct.  Legacy blocks are not allowed since
        the merge-mining start, which is checked in AcceptBlockHeader
        where the height is known.  */
-    if (!is_legacy(block.header->version) && params->strict_id && get_chainid(block.header->version) != params->auxpow_id) {
+    if (!is_legacy(block->header->version) && params->strict_id && get_chainid(block->header->version) != params->auxpow_id) {
         printf("%s:%d:%s : block does not have our chain ID"
                 " (got %d, expected %d, full nVersion %d) : %s\n",
-                __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, get_chainid(block.header->version),
-                params->auxpow_id, block.header->version, strerror(errno));
+                __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, get_chainid(block->header->version),
+                params->auxpow_id, block->header->version, strerror(errno));
         return false;
     }
 
     /* If there is no auxpow, just check the block hash.  */
-    if (!block.header->auxpow->is) {
+    if (!block->header->auxpow->is) {
 
         uint256 hash = {0};
         cstring* s = cstr_new_sz(64);
-        dogecoin_block_header_serialize(s, block.header);
+        dogecoin_block_header_serialize(s, block->header);
         dogecoin_block_header_scrypt_hash(s, &hash);
         cstr_free(s, true);
 
-        if (!check_pow(&hash, block.header->bits, params)) {
+        if (!check_pow(&hash, block->header->bits, params)) {
             printf("%s:%d:%s : non-AUX proof of work failed : %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, strerror(errno));
             return false;
         }
@@ -92,23 +96,20 @@ dogecoin_bool check_auxpow(dogecoin_auxpow_block block, dogecoin_chainparams* pa
 
     /* We have auxpow.  Check it.  */
     uint256 block_header_hash;
-    cstring* s = cstr_new_sz(64);
-    dogecoin_block_header_serialize(s, block.header);
-    dogecoin_block_header_scrypt_hash(s, &block_header_hash);
-    cstr_free(s, true);
-    uint32_t chainid = get_chainid(block.header->version);
-    if (!block.header->auxpow->check(&block, &block_header_hash, chainid, params)) {
+    dogecoin_block_header_hash(block->header, block_header_hash);
+    uint32_t chainid = get_chainid(block->header->version);
+    if (!block->header->auxpow->check(block, &block_header_hash, chainid, params)) {
         printf("%s:%d:%s : AUX POW is not valid : %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, strerror(errno));
         return false;
     }
 
     uint256 parent_hash;
     cstring* s2 = cstr_new_sz(64);
-    dogecoin_block_header_serialize(s2, block.parent_header);
+    dogecoin_block_header_serialize(s2, block->parent_header);
     dogecoin_block_header_scrypt_hash(s2, &parent_hash);
     cstr_free(s2, true);
-    if (!check_pow(&parent_hash, block.header->bits, params)) {
-        printf("%s:%d:%s : check_pow failure : %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, strerror(errno));
+    if (!check_pow(&parent_hash, block->header->bits, params)) {
+        printf("%s:%d:%s : AUX proof of work failed: %s\n", __FILE__, __LINE__, __func__, strerror(errno));
         return false;
     }