diff --git a/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/CMakeLists.txt b/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6699eb9e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+file(GLOB HEADERS "include/graphene/generate_genesis/*.hpp")
+
+add_library( grapehen_generate_genesis
+             generate_genesis.cpp
+           )
+
+target_link_libraries( grapehen_generate_genesis graphene_chain graphene_app graphene_time )
+target_include_directories( grapehen_generate_genesis
+                           PUBLIC "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/include" )
+
+install( TARGETS
+   grapehen_generate_genesis
+
+   RUNTIME DESTINATION bin
+   LIBRARY DESTINATION lib
+   ARCHIVE DESTINATION lib
+)
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.cpp b/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f580f0ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,114 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2015 Cryptonomex, Inc., and contributors.
+ *
+ * The MIT License
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+#include <graphene/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.hpp>
+
+#include <graphene/chain/database.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/genesis_state.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/witness_object.hpp>
+#include <graphene/time/time.hpp>
+
+#include <graphene/utilities/key_conversion.hpp>
+
+#include <fc/smart_ref_impl.hpp>
+#include <fc/thread/thread.hpp>
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+using namespace graphene::generate_genesis_plugin;
+using std::string;
+using std::vector;
+
+namespace bpo = boost::program_options;
+
+void generate_genesis_plugin::plugin_set_program_options(
+   boost::program_options::options_description& command_line_options,
+   boost::program_options::options_description& config_file_options)
+{
+   command_line_options.add_options()
+         ("output-genesis-file,o", bpo::value<std::string>()->default_value("genesis.json"), "Genesis file to create")
+         ("snapshot-block-number", bpo::value<uint32_t>()->default_value(1), "Block number at which to snapshot balances")
+         ;
+   config_file_options.add(command_line_options);
+}
+
+std::string generate_genesis_plugin::plugin_name()const
+{
+   return "generate_genesis";
+}
+
+void generate_genesis_plugin::plugin_initialize(const boost::program_options::variables_map& options)
+{ try {
+   ilog("generate genesis plugin:  plugin_initialize() begin");
+   _options = &options;
+
+   _genesis_filename = options["output-genesis-file"].as<std::string>();
+   _block_to_snapshot = options["snapshot-block-number"].as<uint32_t>();
+   database().applied_block.connect([this](const graphene::chain::signed_block& b){ block_applied(b); });
+   ilog("generate genesis plugin:  plugin_initialize() end");
+} FC_LOG_AND_RETHROW() }
+
+void generate_genesis_plugin::plugin_startup()
+{ try {
+   ilog("generate genesis plugin:  plugin_startup() begin");
+   chain::database& d = database();
+   if (d.head_block_num() == _block_to_snapshot)
+   {
+      ilog("generate genesis plugin: already at snapshot block");
+      generate_snapshot();
+   }
+   else if (d.head_block_num() > _block_to_snapshot)
+      elog("generate genesis plugin: already passed snapshot block, you must reindex to return to the snapshot state");
+   else
+      elog("generate genesis plugin: waiting for block ${snapshot_block} to generate snapshot, current head is ${head}",
+           ("snapshot_block", _block_to_snapshot)("head", d.head_block_num()));
+
+   ilog("generate genesis plugin:  plugin_startup() end");
+} FC_CAPTURE_AND_RETHROW() }
+
+void generate_genesis_plugin::block_applied(const graphene::chain::signed_block& b)
+{
+   if (b.block_num() == _block_to_snapshot)
+   {
+      ilog("generate genesis plugin: snapshot block has arrived");
+      generate_snapshot();
+   }
+}
+
+void generate_genesis_plugin::generate_snapshot()
+{
+   ilog("generate genesis plugin: generating snapshot now");
+   graphene::chain::genesis_state_type new_genesis_state;
+   chain::database& d = database();
+   auto& account_index = d.get_index_type<graphene::chain::account_index>();
+   auto& account_by_id_index = account_index.indices().get<graphene::chain::by_id>();
+   for (const graphene::chain::account_object& account_obj : account_by_id_index)
+   {
+      //new_genesis_state.initial_accounts.emplace_back(genesis_state_type::initial_account_type(account_obj.name, account
+   }
+}
+
+void generate_genesis_plugin::plugin_shutdown()
+{
+}
+
diff --git a/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/include/graphene/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.hpp b/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/include/graphene/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d91dd900
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libraries/plugins/generate_genesis/include/graphene/generate_genesis/generate_genesis.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) 2015 Cryptonomex, Inc., and contributors.
+ *
+ * The MIT License
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+ * AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+#pragma once
+
+#include <graphene/app/plugin.hpp>
+#include <graphene/chain/database.hpp>
+
+#include <fc/thread/future.hpp>
+
+namespace graphene { namespace generate_genesis_plugin {
+
+class generate_genesis_plugin : public graphene::app::plugin {
+public:
+   ~generate_genesis_plugin() {
+   }
+
+   std::string plugin_name()const override;
+
+   virtual void plugin_set_program_options(
+      boost::program_options::options_description &command_line_options,
+      boost::program_options::options_description &config_file_options
+      ) override;
+
+   virtual void plugin_initialize( const boost::program_options::variables_map& options ) override;
+   virtual void plugin_startup() override;
+   virtual void plugin_shutdown() override;
+
+private:
+   void block_applied(const graphene::chain::signed_block& b);
+   void generate_snapshot();
+
+   boost::program_options::variables_map _options;
+
+   uint32_t _block_to_snapshot;
+   std::string _genesis_filename;
+};
+
+} } //graphene::generate_genesis_plugin