diff --git a/BIP32.js b/BIP32.js
index 0c774d1..7b70d0b 100644
--- a/BIP32.js
+++ b/BIP32.js
@@ -48,6 +48,34 @@ var BIP32 = function(bytes) {
     this.initFromBytes(bytes);
 }
 
+BIP32.seed = function(bytes, network) {
+  if (!network)
+    return false;
+
+  if (!Buffer.isBuffer(bytes))
+    bytes = new Buffer(bytes, 'hex'); //if not buffer, assume hex
+  if (bytes.length < 128/8)
+    return false; //need more entropy
+  var hash = coinUtil.sha512hmac(bytes, new Buffer("Bitcoin seed"));
+
+  var bip32 = new BIP32();
+  bip32.depth = 0x00;
+  bip32.parentFingerprint = new Buffer([0, 0, 0, 0]);
+  bip32.childIndex = new Buffer([0, 0, 0, 0]);
+  bip32.chainCode = hash.slice(32, 64);
+  bip32.version = networks[network].bip32private;
+  bip32.eckey = new Key();
+  bip32.eckey.private = hash.slice(0, 32);
+  bip32.eckey.regenerateSync();
+  bip32.hasPrivateKey = true;
+  bip32.pubKeyHash = coinUtil.sha256ripe160(bip32.eckey.public);
+
+  bip32.buildExtendedPublicKey();
+  bip32.buildExtendedPrivateKey();
+
+  return bip32;
+};
+
 BIP32.prototype.initFromBytes = function(bytes) {
   // Both pub and private extended keys are 78 bytes
   if(bytes.length != 78) throw new Error("not enough data");
diff --git a/test/test.BIP32.js b/test/test.BIP32.js
index 4c0380d..6bf7c80 100644
--- a/test/test.BIP32.js
+++ b/test/test.BIP32.js
@@ -274,4 +274,24 @@ describe('BIP32', function() {
     child2.extendedPublicKeyString().should.equal(vector2_m02147483647h12147483646h2_public);
   });
 
+  describe('#seed', function() {
+
+    it('should initialize a new BIP32 correctly from test vector 1 seed', function() {
+      var hex = vector1_master;
+      var bip32 = BIP32.seed(hex, 'livenet');
+      should.exist(bip32);
+      bip32.extendedPrivateKeyString().should.equal(vector1_m_private);
+      bip32.extendedPublicKeyString().should.equal(vector1_m_public);
+    });
+
+    it('should initialize a new BIP32 correctly from test vector 2 seed', function() {
+      var hex = vector2_master;
+      var bip32 = BIP32.seed(hex, 'livenet');
+      should.exist(bip32);
+      bip32.extendedPrivateKeyString().should.equal(vector2_m_private);
+      bip32.extendedPublicKeyString().should.equal(vector2_m_public);
+    });
+
+  });
+
 });