diff --git a/src/script/script.h b/src/script/script.h
--- a/src/script/script.h
+++ b/src/script/script.h
@@ -189,6 +189,8 @@
 
 const char *GetOpName(opcodetype opcode);
 
+std::vector<uint8_t> MinimalizeBigEndianArray(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data);
+
 class scriptnum_error : public std::runtime_error {
 public:
     explicit scriptnum_error(const std::string &str)
diff --git a/src/script/script.cpp b/src/script/script.cpp
--- a/src/script/script.cpp
+++ b/src/script/script.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 #include "tinyformat.h"
 #include "utilstrencodings.h"
 
+#include <algorithm>
+
 const char *GetOpName(opcodetype opcode) {
     switch (opcode) {
         // push value
@@ -262,6 +264,37 @@
     }
 }
 
+std::vector<uint8_t>
+MinimalizeBigEndianArray(const std::vector<uint8_t> &data) {
+    std::vector<uint8_t> res;
+
+    // Ensure we have a byte to work with.
+    if (data.size() == 0) {
+        return res;
+    }
+
+    // Check for a negative bit
+    uint8_t msb = data[0] & 0x80;
+    bool start = false;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < data.size(); ++i) {
+        uint8_t x = data[i];
+        if (i == 0 && (x & 0x7f) == 0) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        if (!start && x == 0) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        start = true;
+        res.push_back(x);
+    }
+
+    if (res.size() != 0) {
+        res[0] |= msb;
+    }
+
+    return res;
+}
+
 unsigned int CScript::GetSigOpCount(bool fAccurate) const {
     unsigned int n = 0;
     const_iterator pc = begin();
diff --git a/src/test/script_tests.cpp b/src/test/script_tests.cpp
--- a/src/test/script_tests.cpp
+++ b/src/test/script_tests.cpp
@@ -414,6 +414,22 @@
 }
 } // namespace
 
+BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(minimize_big_endian_test) {
+    std::vector<uint8_t> input(
+        {{0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01}});
+    std::vector<uint8_t> negInput(
+        {{0x80, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01}});
+
+    std::vector<uint8_t> check({0x01, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01});
+    std::vector<uint8_t> negCheck({0x81, 0x00, 0x00, 0x01});
+
+    std::vector<uint8_t> out = MinimalizeBigEndianArray(input);
+    std::vector<uint8_t> negOut = MinimalizeBigEndianArray(negInput);
+
+    BOOST_CHECK(out == check);
+    BOOST_CHECK(negOut == negCheck);
+}
+
 BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(script_build) {
     const KeyData keys;