code: public static boolean areEqual(@Nullable SHA256Digest first, @Nullable SHA256Digest second) {
  		if (first == null) {
  			return second == null;
  		}
  		if (second == null) {
  			return false;
  		}
  		return Arrays.equals(first.getEncodedState(), second.getEncodedState());
  	}
docs: TODO: find something better