diff --git a/core/trie/node.go b/core/trie/node.go
index 788567bb3d..647fce7be8 100644
--- a/core/trie/node.go
+++ b/core/trie/node.go
@@ -144,12 +144,13 @@ func (n *Node) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Node{Value: %s, Left: %s, Right: %s, LeftHash: %s, RightHash: %s}", n.Value, n.Left, n.Right, n.LeftHash, n.RightHash)
 }
 
-// Merge combines the fields of two nodes if they are not nil.
-// If a field is nil in the current node, it is updated with the corresponding field from the other node.
-// If a field is not nil in both nodes, the fields must be equal, otherwise an error is returned.
+// Update the receiver with non-nil fields from the `other` Node.
+// If a field is non-nil in both Nodes, they must be equal, or an error is returned.
+//
+// This method modifies the receiver in-place and returns an error if any field conflicts are detected.
 //
 //nolint:gocyclo
-func (n *Node) Merge(other *Node) error {
+func (n *Node) Update(other *Node) error {
 	// Compare Value if both exist
 	if n.Value != nil && other.Value != nil {
 		if !n.Value.Equal(other.Value) {
diff --git a/core/trie/trie.go b/core/trie/trie.go
index 587967707c..702fe77eb9 100644
--- a/core/trie/trie.go
+++ b/core/trie/trie.go
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func (sn *StorageNode) String() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("StorageNode{key: %s, node: %s}", sn.key, sn.node)
 }
 
-func (sn *StorageNode) Merge(other *StorageNode) error {
+func (sn *StorageNode) Update(other *StorageNode) error {
 	if sn.key != nil && other.key != nil && !sn.key.Equal(NilKey) && !other.key.Equal(NilKey) {
 		if !sn.key.Equal(other.key) {
 			return fmt.Errorf("keys do not match: %s != %s", sn.key, other.key)
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func (sn *StorageNode) Merge(other *StorageNode) error {
 	} else if other.key != nil && !other.key.Equal(NilKey) {
 		sn.key = other.key
 	}
-	return sn.node.Merge(other.node)
+	return sn.node.Update(other.node)
 }
 
 func NewStorageNode(key *Key, node *Node) *StorageNode {
@@ -182,10 +182,10 @@ func (s *StorageNodeSet) Put(key Key, node *StorageNode) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("cannot put nil node")
 	}
 
-	// If key exists, merge the nodes
+	// If key exists, update the node
 	if existingNode, exists := s.set.Get(key); exists {
-		if err := existingNode.Merge(node); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to merge nodes for key %v: %w", key, err)
+		if err := existingNode.Update(node); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("failed to update node for key %v: %w", key, err)
 		}
 		return nil
 	}