diff --git a/src/avalanche/validation.h b/src/avalanche/validation.h
--- a/src/avalanche/validation.h
+++ b/src/avalanche/validation.h
@@ -10,27 +10,14 @@
 namespace avalanche {
 
 enum class ProofValidationResult {
-    NONE,
+    NONE = 0,
     NO_STAKE,
     DUST_THRESOLD,
     DUPLICATE_STAKE,
     INVALID_SIGNATURE,
 };
 
-class ProofValidationState : public ValidationState {
-private:
-    ProofValidationResult m_result = ProofValidationResult::NONE;
-
-public:
-    bool Invalid(ProofValidationResult result,
-                 const std::string &reject_reason = "",
-                 const std::string &debug_message = "") {
-        m_result = result;
-        ValidationState::Invalid(reject_reason, debug_message);
-        return false;
-    }
-    ProofValidationResult GetResult() const { return m_result; }
-};
+class ProofValidationState : public ValidationState<ProofValidationResult> {};
 
 } // namespace avalanche
 
diff --git a/src/consensus/validation.h b/src/consensus/validation.h
--- a/src/consensus/validation.h
+++ b/src/consensus/validation.h
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  */
 enum class TxValidationResult {
     //! initial value. Tx has not yet been rejected
-    TX_RESULT_UNSET,
+    TX_RESULT_UNSET = 0,
     //! invalid by consensus rules
     TX_CONSENSUS,
     /**
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
  */
 enum class BlockValidationResult {
     //! initial value. Block has not yet been rejected
-    BLOCK_RESULT_UNSET,
+    BLOCK_RESULT_UNSET = 0,
     //! invalid by consensus rules (excluding any below reasons)
     BLOCK_CONSENSUS,
     /**
@@ -79,34 +79,33 @@
 };
 
 /**
- * Base class for capturing information about block/transaction validation.
- * This is subclassed by TxValidationState and BlockValidationState for
+ * Template for capturing information about block/transaction validation.
+ * This is instantiated by TxValidationState and BlockValidationState for
  * validation information on transactions and blocks respectively.
  */
-class ValidationState {
+template <typename Result> class ValidationState {
 private:
     enum mode_state {
         MODE_VALID,   //!< everything ok
         MODE_INVALID, //!< network rule violation (DoS value may be set)
         MODE_ERROR,   //!< run-time error
     } m_mode{MODE_VALID};
+    Result m_result{};
     std::string m_reject_reason;
     std::string m_debug_message;
 
-protected:
-    void Invalid(const std::string &reject_reason = "",
+public:
+    bool Invalid(Result result, const std::string &reject_reason = "",
                  const std::string &debug_message = "") {
+        m_result = result;
         m_reject_reason = reject_reason;
         m_debug_message = debug_message;
         if (m_mode != MODE_ERROR) {
             m_mode = MODE_INVALID;
         }
+        return false;
     }
 
-public:
-    // ValidationState is abstract. Have a pure virtual destructor.
-    virtual ~ValidationState() = 0;
-
     bool Error(const std::string &reject_reason) {
         if (m_mode == MODE_VALID) {
             m_reject_reason = reject_reason;
@@ -117,6 +116,7 @@
     bool IsValid() const { return m_mode == MODE_VALID; }
     bool IsInvalid() const { return m_mode == MODE_INVALID; }
     bool IsError() const { return m_mode == MODE_ERROR; }
+    Result GetResult() const { return m_result; }
     std::string GetRejectReason() const { return m_reject_reason; }
     std::string GetDebugMessage() const { return m_debug_message; }
     std::string ToString() const {
@@ -132,36 +132,7 @@
     }
 };
 
-inline ValidationState::~ValidationState(){};
-
-class TxValidationState : public ValidationState {
-private:
-    TxValidationResult m_result = TxValidationResult::TX_RESULT_UNSET;
-
-public:
-    bool Invalid(TxValidationResult result,
-                 const std::string &reject_reason = "",
-                 const std::string &debug_message = "") {
-        m_result = result;
-        ValidationState::Invalid(reject_reason, debug_message);
-        return false;
-    }
-    TxValidationResult GetResult() const { return m_result; }
-};
-
-class BlockValidationState : public ValidationState {
-private:
-    BlockValidationResult m_result = BlockValidationResult::BLOCK_RESULT_UNSET;
-
-public:
-    bool Invalid(BlockValidationResult result,
-                 const std::string &reject_reason = "",
-                 const std::string &debug_message = "") {
-        m_result = result;
-        ValidationState::Invalid(reject_reason, debug_message);
-        return false;
-    }
-    BlockValidationResult GetResult() const { return m_result; }
-};
+class TxValidationState : public ValidationState<TxValidationResult> {};
+class BlockValidationState : public ValidationState<BlockValidationResult> {};
 
 #endif // BITCOIN_CONSENSUS_VALIDATION_H