diff --git a/common/cosmwasm-smart-contracts/coconut-dkg-contract/src/msg.rs b/common/cosmwasm-smart-contracts/coconut-dkg-contract/src/msg.rs
index 31464b554a..235575ede8 100644
--- a/common/cosmwasm-smart-contracts/coconut-dkg-contract/src/msg.rs
+++ b/common/cosmwasm-smart-contracts/coconut-dkg-contract/src/msg.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,15 @@
 // Copyright 2022 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 
-use crate::types::{EncodedBTEPublicKeyWithProof, EncodedEd25519PublicKey};
+use crate::types::{BlockHeight, EncodedBTEPublicKeyWithProof, EncodedEd25519PublicKey};
 use schemars::JsonSchema;
 use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, PartialEq, JsonSchema)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
-pub struct InstantiateMsg {}
+pub struct InstantiateMsg {
+    pub dealing_exchange_beginning_height: BlockHeight,
+}
 
 #[derive(Serialize, Deserialize, Clone, Debug, PartialEq, JsonSchema)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "snake_case")]
diff --git a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/mod.rs b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/mod.rs
index 87d5c392c8..11f07ae776 100644
--- a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/mod.rs
+++ b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/mod.rs
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
 // Copyright 2022 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+pub mod queries;
+pub mod storage;
+pub mod transactions;
diff --git a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/queries.rs b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/queries.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..87d5c392c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/queries.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+// Copyright 2022 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
diff --git a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/storage.rs b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/storage.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3ba73a58c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/storage.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+// Copyright 2022 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+
+use coconut_dkg_common::types::Epoch;
+use cw_storage_plus::Item;
+
+pub(crate) const CURRENT_EPOCH: Item<Epoch> = Item::new("current_epoch");
diff --git a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/transactions.rs b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/transactions.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..87d5c392c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/epoch/transactions.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+// Copyright 2022 - Nym Technologies SA <contact@nymtech.net>
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
diff --git a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/lib.rs b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/lib.rs
index cb0baa41b3..37158efa3d 100644
--- a/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/lib.rs
+++ b/contracts/coconut-dkg/src/lib.rs
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 
 use crate::error::ContractError;
 use coconut_dkg_common::msg::{ExecuteMsg, InstantiateMsg, MigrateMsg, QueryMsg};
+use coconut_dkg_common::types::{Epoch, EpochState};
 use cosmwasm_std::{entry_point, Deps, DepsMut, Env, MessageInfo, QueryResponse, Response};
+use epoch::storage as epoch_storage;
 
 mod constants;
 mod dealers;
@@ -18,11 +20,21 @@ mod support;
 /// `msg` is the contract initialization message, sort of like a constructor call.
 #[entry_point]
 pub fn instantiate(
-    _deps: DepsMut<'_>,
-    _env: Env,
+    deps: DepsMut<'_>,
+    env: Env,
     _info: MessageInfo,
-    _msg: InstantiateMsg,
+    msg: InstantiateMsg,
 ) -> Result<Response, ContractError> {
+    epoch_storage::CURRENT_EPOCH.save(
+        deps.storage,
+        &Epoch {
+            id: 0,
+            state: EpochState::PublicKeySubmission {
+                begun_at: env.block.height,
+                finish_by: msg.dealing_exchange_beginning_height,
+            },
+        },
+    )?;
     Ok(Response::default())
 }