diff --git a/examples/broadcast_cross_join.rs b/examples/broadcast_cross_join.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cabb89b11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/broadcast_cross_join.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+extern crate timely;
+extern crate differential_dataflow;
+
+use std::ops::Mul;
+
+use timely::Data;
+use timely::dataflow::channels::pact::Pipeline;
+use timely::dataflow::operators::broadcast::Broadcast;
+use timely::dataflow::operators::Operator;
+use timely::dataflow::{Scope, Stream};
+use timely::order::TotalOrder;
+use differential_dataflow::{Collection, AsCollection};
+use differential_dataflow::difference::Semigroup;
+use differential_dataflow::input::Input;
+use differential_dataflow::lattice::Lattice;
+use differential_dataflow::operators::arrange::{Arrange, Arranged};
+use differential_dataflow::trace::{Cursor, BatchReader, TraceReader};
+use differential_dataflow::trace::implementations::ord::OrdKeySpineAbomArc;
+
+// This function is supposed to do one half of a cross join but its implementation is currently
+// incorrect
+// TODO: actually implement a half cross join
+fn half_cross_join<G, Tr1, Key2, R2, Batch2>(
+    left: Arranged<G, Tr1>,
+    right: &Stream<G, Batch2>,
+) -> Collection<G, (Tr1::Key, Key2), <R2 as Mul<Tr1::R>>::Output>
+where
+    G: Scope,
+    G::Timestamp: Lattice + TotalOrder + Ord,
+    Tr1: TraceReader<Time = G::Timestamp> + Clone + 'static,
+    Tr1::Key: Clone,
+    Tr1::R: Clone,
+    Batch2: BatchReader<Key2, (), G::Timestamp, R2> + Data,
+    Key2: Clone + 'static,
+    R2: Semigroup + Clone + Mul<Tr1::R>,
+    <R2 as Mul<Tr1::R>>::Output: Semigroup,
+{
+    let mut trace = left.trace;
+    right.unary(Pipeline, "CrossJoin", move |_cap, _info| {
+        let mut vector = Vec::new();
+        move |input, output| {
+            while let Some((time, data)) = input.next() {
+                data.swap(&mut vector);
+                for batch in vector.drain(..) {
+                    let mut cursor = batch.cursor();
+                    while let Some(key1) = cursor.get_key(&batch) {
+                        let (mut trace_cursor, trace_storage) = trace.cursor();
+                        cursor.map_times(&batch, |time1, diff1| {
+                            while let Some(key2) = trace_cursor.get_key(&trace_storage) {
+                                trace_cursor.map_times(&trace_storage, |time2, diff2| {
+                                    let effect_time = std::cmp::max(time1.clone(), time2.clone());
+                                    let cap_time = time.delayed(&effect_time);
+                                    let diff = diff1.clone().mul(diff2.clone());
+                                    let mut session = output.session(&cap_time);
+                                    session.give((((key2.clone(), key1.clone())), effect_time, diff));
+                                });
+                                trace_cursor.step_key(&trace_storage);
+                            }
+                        });
+                        cursor.step_key(&batch);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    })
+    .as_collection()
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    timely::execute_from_args(::std::env::args(), move |worker| {
+        let worker_idx = worker.index();
+        let (mut handle1, mut handle2, probe) = worker.dataflow::<u64, _, _>(|scope| {
+            let (handle1, input1) = scope.new_collection();
+            let (handle2, input2) = scope.new_collection();
+
+            let arranged1 = input1.arrange::<OrdKeySpineAbomArc<_, _, _>>();
+            let arranged2 = input2.arrange::<OrdKeySpineAbomArc<_, _, _>>();
+
+            let batches1 = arranged1.stream.broadcast();
+            let batches2 = arranged2.stream.broadcast();
+
+            // Changes from input1 need to be joined with the per-worker arrangement state of input2
+            let cross1 = half_cross_join(arranged2, &batches1);
+
+            // Changes from input2 need to be joined with the per-worker arrangement state of input1
+            let cross2 = half_cross_join(arranged1, &batches2);
+
+            // The final cross join is the combination of these two
+            let cross_join = cross1.map(|(key1, key2)| (key2, key1)).concat(&cross2);
+
+            let probe = cross_join
+                .inspect(move |d| {
+                    println!("worker {} produced: {:?}", worker_idx, d);
+                })
+                .probe();
+
+            (handle1, handle2, probe)
+        });
+
+        handle1.insert(1i64);
+        handle1.advance_to(1);
+        handle1.insert(2);
+        handle1.advance_to(2);
+        handle1.flush();
+
+        handle2.insert("apple".to_string());
+        handle2.advance_to(1);
+        handle2.insert("orange".to_string());
+        handle2.advance_to(2);
+        handle2.flush();
+
+        while probe.less_than(handle1.time()) {
+            worker.step();
+        }
+    }).unwrap();
+}
diff --git a/src/trace/implementations/ord.rs b/src/trace/implementations/ord.rs
index f394d2365..1c3241cda 100644
--- a/src/trace/implementations/ord.rs
+++ b/src/trace/implementations/ord.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use trace::layers::Builder as TrieBuilder;
 use trace::layers::Cursor as TrieCursor;
 use trace::layers::ordered::{OrdOffset, OrderedLayer, OrderedBuilder, OrderedCursor};
 use trace::layers::ordered_leaf::{OrderedLeaf, OrderedLeafBuilder};
+use trace::abomonated_arc_blanket_impls::AbomArc;
 use trace::{Batch, BatchReader, Builder, Merger, Cursor};
 use trace::description::Description;
 
@@ -46,6 +47,8 @@ pub type OrdKeySpine<K, T, R, O=usize> = Spine<K, (), T, R, Rc<OrdKeyBatch<K, T,
 /// A trace implementation for empty values using a spine of abomonated ordered lists.
 pub type OrdKeySpineAbom<K, T, R, O=usize> = Spine<K, (), T, R, Rc<Abomonated<OrdKeyBatch<K, T, R, O>, Vec<u8>>>>;
 
+/// A trace implementation for empty values using a spine of atomic reference counted abomonated ordered lists.
+pub type OrdKeySpineAbomArc<K, T, R, O = usize> = Spine<K, (), T, R, AbomArc<OrdKeyBatch<K, T, R, O>>>;
 
 /// An immutable collection of update tuples, from a contiguous interval of logical times.
 #[derive(Debug, Abomonation)]
@@ -396,7 +399,7 @@ where
 
 
 /// An immutable collection of update tuples, from a contiguous interval of logical times.
-#[derive(Debug, Abomonation)]
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Abomonation)]
 pub struct OrdKeyBatch<K, T, R, O=usize>
 where
     K: Ord,
diff --git a/src/trace/mod.rs b/src/trace/mod.rs
index 45961491d..19e17c057 100644
--- a/src/trace/mod.rs
+++ b/src/trace/mod.rs
@@ -426,6 +426,168 @@ pub mod rc_blanket_impls {
     }
 }
 
+/// Blanket implementations for atomic reference counted batches.
+pub mod abomonated_arc_blanket_impls {
+    use std::io::Write;
+    use std::mem;
+    use std::ops::Deref;
+    use std::sync::Arc;
+
+    use abomonation::Abomonation;
+
+    /// Wrapper over Arc that can be safely Abomonated.
+    pub enum AbomArc<T> {
+        /// An Arc that has been constructed normally
+        Owned(Arc<T>),
+        /// The result of decoding an abomonated AbomArc
+        Abomonated(Box<T>),
+    }
+
+    impl<T> AbomArc<T> {
+        fn new(inner: T) -> Self {
+            Self::Owned(Arc::new(inner))
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<T: Clone> Clone for AbomArc<T> {
+        fn clone(&self) -> Self {
+            match self {
+                Self::Owned(arc) => Self::Owned(Arc::clone(arc)),
+                Self::Abomonated(val) => Self::Owned(Arc::new(T::clone(&*val))),
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<T> Deref for AbomArc<T> {
+        type Target = T;
+        fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+            match self {
+                Self::Owned(arc) => &**arc,
+                Self::Abomonated(val) => &*val,
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<T: Abomonation> Abomonation for AbomArc<T> {
+        unsafe fn entomb<W: Write>(&self, bytes: &mut W) -> std::io::Result<()> {
+            bytes.write_all(std::slice::from_raw_parts(mem::transmute(&**self), mem::size_of::<T>()))?;
+            (**self).entomb(bytes)
+        }
+        unsafe fn exhume<'a,'b>(&'a mut self, bytes: &'b mut [u8]) -> Option<&'b mut [u8]> {
+            let binary_len = mem::size_of::<T>();
+            if binary_len > bytes.len() {
+                None
+            } else {
+                let (mine, rest) = bytes.split_at_mut(binary_len);
+                let mut value = Box::from_raw(mine.as_mut_ptr() as *mut T);
+                let rest = (*value).exhume(rest)?;
+                std::ptr::write(self, Self::Abomonated(value));
+                Some(rest)
+            }
+        }
+        fn extent(&self) -> usize {
+            mem::size_of::<T>() + (&**self).extent()
+        }
+    }
+
+    use timely::progress::{Antichain, frontier::AntichainRef};
+    use super::{Batch, BatchReader, Batcher, Builder, Merger, Cursor, Description};
+
+    impl<K, V, T, R, B: BatchReader<K,V,T,R>> BatchReader<K,V,T,R> for AbomArc<B> {
+
+        /// The type used to enumerate the batch's contents.
+        type Cursor = ArcBatchCursor<K, V, T, R, B>;
+        /// Acquires a cursor to the batch's contents.
+        fn cursor(&self) -> Self::Cursor {
+            ArcBatchCursor::new((&**self).cursor())
+        }
+
+        /// The number of updates in the batch.
+        fn len(&self) -> usize { (&**self).len() }
+        /// Describes the times of the updates in the batch.
+        fn description(&self) -> &Description<T> { (&**self).description() }
+    }
+
+    /// Wrapper to provide cursor to nested scope.
+    pub struct ArcBatchCursor<K, V, T, R, B: BatchReader<K, V, T, R>> {
+        phantom: ::std::marker::PhantomData<(K, V, T, R)>,
+        cursor: B::Cursor,
+    }
+
+    impl<K, V, T, R, B: BatchReader<K, V, T, R>> ArcBatchCursor<K, V, T, R, B> {
+        fn new(cursor: B::Cursor) -> Self {
+            ArcBatchCursor {
+                cursor,
+                phantom: ::std::marker::PhantomData,
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    impl<K, V, T, R, B: BatchReader<K, V, T, R>> Cursor<K, V, T, R> for ArcBatchCursor<K, V, T, R, B> {
+
+        type Storage = AbomArc<B>;
+
+        #[inline] fn key_valid(&self, storage: &Self::Storage) -> bool { self.cursor.key_valid(storage) }
+        #[inline] fn val_valid(&self, storage: &Self::Storage) -> bool { self.cursor.val_valid(storage) }
+
+        #[inline] fn key<'a>(&self, storage: &'a Self::Storage) -> &'a K { self.cursor.key(storage) }
+        #[inline] fn val<'a>(&self, storage: &'a Self::Storage) -> &'a V { self.cursor.val(storage) }
+
+        #[inline]
+        fn map_times<L: FnMut(&T, &R)>(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage, logic: L) {
+            self.cursor.map_times(storage, logic)
+        }
+
+        #[inline] fn step_key(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage) { self.cursor.step_key(storage) }
+        #[inline] fn seek_key(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage, key: &K) { self.cursor.seek_key(storage, key) }
+
+        #[inline] fn step_val(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage) { self.cursor.step_val(storage) }
+        #[inline] fn seek_val(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage, val: &V) { self.cursor.seek_val(storage, val) }
+
+        #[inline] fn rewind_keys(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage) { self.cursor.rewind_keys(storage) }
+        #[inline] fn rewind_vals(&mut self, storage: &Self::Storage) { self.cursor.rewind_vals(storage) }
+    }
+
+    /// An immutable collection of updates.
+    impl<K,V,T,R,B: Batch<K,V,T,R>> Batch<K, V, T, R> for AbomArc<B> {
+        type Batcher = ArcBatcher<K, V, T, R, B>;
+        type Builder = ArcBuilder<K, V, T, R, B>;
+        type Merger = ArcMerger<K, V, T, R, B>;
+    }
+
+    /// Wrapper type for batching reference counted batches.
+    pub struct ArcBatcher<K,V,T,R,B:Batch<K,V,T,R>> { batcher: B::Batcher }
+
+    /// Functionality for collecting and batching updates.
+    impl<K,V,T,R,B:Batch<K,V,T,R>> Batcher<K, V, T, R, AbomArc<B>> for ArcBatcher<K,V,T,R,B> {
+        fn new() -> Self { ArcBatcher { batcher: <B::Batcher as Batcher<K,V,T,R,B>>::new() } }
+        fn push_batch(&mut self, batch: &mut Vec<((K, V), T, R)>) { self.batcher.push_batch(batch) }
+        fn seal(&mut self, upper: Antichain<T>) -> AbomArc<B> { AbomArc::new(self.batcher.seal(upper)) }
+        fn frontier(&mut self) -> timely::progress::frontier::AntichainRef<T> { self.batcher.frontier() }
+    }
+
+    /// Wrapper type for building reference counted batches.
+    pub struct ArcBuilder<K,V,T,R,B:Batch<K,V,T,R>> { builder: B::Builder }
+
+    /// Functionality for building batches from ordered update sequences.
+    impl<K,V,T,R,B:Batch<K,V,T,R>> Builder<K, V, T, R, AbomArc<B>> for ArcBuilder<K,V,T,R,B> {
+        fn new() -> Self { ArcBuilder { builder: <B::Builder as Builder<K,V,T,R,B>>::new() } }
+        fn with_capacity(cap: usize) -> Self { ArcBuilder { builder: <B::Builder as Builder<K,V,T,R,B>>::with_capacity(cap) } }
+        fn push(&mut self, element: (K, V, T, R)) { self.builder.push(element) }
+        fn done(self, lower: Antichain<T>, upper: Antichain<T>, since: Antichain<T>) -> AbomArc<B> { AbomArc::new(self.builder.done(lower, upper, since)) }
+    }
+
+    /// Wrapper type for merging reference counted batches.
+    pub struct ArcMerger<K,V,T,R,B:Batch<K,V,T,R>> { merger: B::Merger }
+
+    /// Represents a merge in progress.
+    impl<K,V,T,R,B:Batch<K,V,T,R>> Merger<K, V, T, R, AbomArc<B>> for ArcMerger<K,V,T,R,B> {
+        fn new(source1: &AbomArc<B>, source2: &AbomArc<B>, compaction_frontier: Option<AntichainRef<T>>) -> Self { ArcMerger { merger: B::begin_merge(source1, source2, compaction_frontier) } }
+        fn work(&mut self, source1: &AbomArc<B>, source2: &AbomArc<B>, fuel: &mut isize) { self.merger.work(source1, source2, fuel) }
+        fn done(self) -> AbomArc<B> { AbomArc::new(self.merger.done()) }
+    }
+}
+
 
 /// Blanket implementations for reference counted batches.
 pub mod abomonated_blanket_impls {