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Bitcoinrb

Bitcoinrb is an MIT-licensed Ruby library that implements components of the Bitcoin protocol, including script interpretation, protocol message and transaction handling, and cryptographic operations.

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Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Bitcoinrb — OpenViST project profile in Developer Tools.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Bitcoinrb when a Ruby application needs protocol-level Bitcoin functionality and its documented features fit the implementation. Consult the project wiki for usage examples.

Who it is for

  • Ruby developers building applications that need Bitcoin protocol components.
  • Developers working with Bitcoin scripts, network messages, blocks, transactions, keys or signatures.

Documented uses

  • Interpret Bitcoin scripts, including support for BIP-65, BIP-68 and BIP-112.
  • Serialize and deserialize Bitcoin network messages, blocks and transactions.
  • Generate and verify keys and signatures, including ECDSA and Schnorr-related functions.
  • Work with SegWit, Bech32 and Bech32m addresses, PSBT, Taproot and output script descriptors.
  • Set chain parameters for mainnet, testnet, testnet4, regtest or signet.
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The public GitHub repository identifies the project as open source under the MIT License.

  • Node features require LevelDB and the leveldb-native gem.
  • The project warns that it is a work in progress and may make incompatible changes.
  • Some tests require the libsecp256k1 dynamic library; the README describes setting TEST_LIBSECP256K1_PATH when needed.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Add Bitcoinrb to a Ruby application

Install the gem and load its Bitcoin library in a Ruby application.

Before you start

  • A Ruby application
  • A Gemfile and Bundler, or the ability to install a gem directly

Steps

  1. Add gem 'bitcoinrb', require: 'bitcoin' to the application's Gemfile.

  2. Run bundle to install the Gemfile dependencies, or install the gem with gem install bitcoinrb.

  3. In a Ruby file, load the library with require 'bitcoin'.

Expected outcome

The application has Bitcoinrb installed and its library loaded.

Guide limitations

  • The project is described as a work in progress and may introduce incompatible changes.
Documentation 1 ↗
Source-based practical guide

Select Bitcoin chain parameters

Set Bitcoinrb's chain parameters to one of the documented networks.

Before you start

  • Bitcoinrb installed and loaded in a Ruby application

Steps

  1. Set Bitcoin.chain_params = :mainnet for mainnet.

  2. For test networks, use Bitcoin.chain_params = :testnet or :testnet4; for other documented choices, use :regtest or :signet.

Expected outcome

Bitcoinrb is configured with the selected chain parameters.

Guide limitations

  • The README documents parameter selection but does not describe a complete application workflow for using each network.
Documentation 1 ↗
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Official repository ↗
Source record details
Source availability
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Sources checked
13 October 2026
Original website title
chaintope/bitcoinrb · Official homepage title · retained in its source language
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