diff --git a/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc.rs b/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc.rs
index f72d2916..f0cf0b33 100644
--- a/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc.rs
+++ b/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc.rs
@@ -16,17 +16,7 @@ pub mod chip;
 pub trait EccInstructions<C: CurveAffine>:
     Chip<C::Base> + UtilitiesInstructions<C::Base> + Clone + Debug + Eq
 {
-    /// Variable representing an element of the elliptic curve's base field, that
-    /// is used as a scalar in variable-base scalar mul.
-    ///
-    /// It is not true in general that a scalar field element fits in a curve's
-    /// base field, and in particular it is untrue for the Pallas curve, whose
-    /// scalar field `Fq` is larger than its base field `Fp`.
-    ///
-    /// However, the only use of variable-base scalar mul in the Orchard protocol
-    /// is in deriving diversified addresses `[ivk] g_d`,  and `ivk` is guaranteed
-    /// to be in the base field of the curve. (See non-normative notes in
-    /// https://zips.z.cash/protocol/nu5.pdf#orchardkeycomponents.)
+    /// Variable representing a scalar used in variable-base scalar mul.
     type ScalarVar: Clone + Debug;
     /// Variable representing a full-width element of the elliptic curve's
     /// scalar field, to be used for fixed-base scalar mul.
diff --git a/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip.rs b/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip.rs
index 5454db62..44d39220 100644
--- a/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip.rs
+++ b/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip.rs
@@ -377,6 +377,26 @@ impl EccBaseFieldElemFixed {
     }
 }
 
+/// An enumeration of the possible types of scalars used in variable-base
+/// multiplication.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub enum ScalarVar {
+    /// An element of the elliptic curve's base field, that is used as a scalar
+    /// in variable-base scalar mul.
+    ///
+    /// It is not true in general that a scalar field element fits in a curve's
+    /// base field, and in particular it is untrue for the Pallas curve, whose
+    /// scalar field `Fq` is larger than its base field `Fp`.
+    ///
+    /// However, the only use of variable-base scalar mul in the Orchard protocol
+    /// is in deriving diversified addresses `[ivk] g_d`,  and `ivk` is guaranteed
+    /// to be in the base field of the curve. (See non-normative notes in
+    /// https://zips.z.cash/protocol/nu5.pdf#orchardkeycomponents.)
+    BaseFieldElem(AssignedCell<pallas::Base, pallas::Base>),
+    /// A full-width scalar. This is unimplemented for halo2_gadgets v0.1.0.
+    FullWidth,
+}
+
 impl<Fixed: FixedPoints<pallas::Affine>> EccInstructions<pallas::Affine> for EccChip<Fixed>
 where
     <Fixed as FixedPoints<pallas::Affine>>::Base:
@@ -388,7 +408,7 @@ where
 {
     type ScalarFixed = EccScalarFixed;
     type ScalarFixedShort = EccScalarFixedShort;
-    type ScalarVar = AssignedCell<pallas::Base, pallas::Base>;
+    type ScalarVar = ScalarVar;
     type Point = EccPoint;
     type NonIdentityPoint = NonIdentityEccPoint;
     type X = AssignedCell<pallas::Base, pallas::Base>;
@@ -484,11 +504,16 @@ where
         base: &Self::NonIdentityPoint,
     ) -> Result<(Self::Point, Self::ScalarVar), Error> {
         let config = self.config().mul;
-        config.assign(
-            layouter.namespace(|| "variable-base scalar mul"),
-            scalar.clone(),
-            base,
-        )
+        match scalar {
+            ScalarVar::BaseFieldElem(scalar) => config.assign(
+                layouter.namespace(|| "variable-base scalar mul"),
+                scalar.clone(),
+                base,
+            ),
+            ScalarVar::FullWidth => {
+                todo!()
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     fn mul_fixed(
@@ -549,6 +574,6 @@ where
         _layouter: &mut impl Layouter<pallas::Base>,
         base: &Self::Var,
     ) -> Result<Self::ScalarVar, Error> {
-        Ok(base.clone())
+        Ok(ScalarVar::BaseFieldElem(base.clone()))
     }
 }
diff --git a/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip/mul.rs b/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip/mul.rs
index 910a3d73..67387c5c 100644
--- a/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip/mul.rs
+++ b/halo2_gadgets/src/ecc/chip/mul.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use super::{add, EccPoint, NonIdentityEccPoint, T_Q};
+use super::{add, EccPoint, NonIdentityEccPoint, ScalarVar, T_Q};
 use crate::{
     primitives::sinsemilla,
     utilities::{bool_check, lookup_range_check::LookupRangeCheckConfig, ternary},
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ impl Config {
         mut layouter: impl Layouter<pallas::Base>,
         alpha: AssignedCell<pallas::Base, pallas::Base>,
         base: &NonIdentityEccPoint,
-    ) -> Result<(EccPoint, AssignedCell<pallas::Base, pallas::Base>), Error> {
+    ) -> Result<(EccPoint, ScalarVar), Error> {
         let (result, zs): (EccPoint, Vec<Z<pallas::Base>>) = layouter.assign_region(
             || "variable-base scalar mul",
             |mut region| {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ impl Config {
             &zs,
         )?;
 
-        Ok((result, alpha))
+        Ok((result, ScalarVar::BaseFieldElem(alpha)))
     }
 
     /// Processes the final scalar bit `k_0`.
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ pub mod tests {
         ecc::{
             chip::{EccChip, EccPoint},
             tests::TestFixedBases,
-            EccInstructions, NonIdentityPoint, Point,
+            BaseFitsInScalarInstructions, EccInstructions, NonIdentityPoint, Point,
         },
         utilities::UtilitiesInstructions,
     };
@@ -525,6 +525,7 @@ pub mod tests {
                     column,
                     Some(scalar_val),
                 )?;
+                let scalar = chip.scalar_var_from_base(&mut layouter, &scalar)?;
                 p.mul(layouter.namespace(|| "random [a]B"), &scalar)?
             };
             constrain_equal_non_id(
@@ -543,6 +544,7 @@ pub mod tests {
             let (result, _) = {
                 let scalar =
                     chip.load_private(layouter.namespace(|| "zero"), column, Some(scalar_val))?;
+                let scalar = chip.scalar_var_from_base(&mut layouter, &scalar)?;
                 p.mul(layouter.namespace(|| "[0]B"), &scalar)?
             };
             if let Some(is_identity) = result.inner().is_identity() {
@@ -556,6 +558,7 @@ pub mod tests {
             let (result, _) = {
                 let scalar =
                     chip.load_private(layouter.namespace(|| "-1"), column, Some(scalar_val))?;
+                let scalar = chip.scalar_var_from_base(&mut layouter, &scalar)?;
                 p.mul(layouter.namespace(|| "[-1]B"), &scalar)?
             };
             constrain_equal_non_id(