Practical overview
When it fits
Use it when a C++ blockchain implementation needs the documented BLS, DKG, or threshold-encryption primitives and its development team can assess the library's alpha status and integration requirements.
Who it is for
- C++ developers implementing cryptographic workflows in blockchain systems.
- Teams exploring threshold signing, distributed key generation, or threshold encryption.
Documented uses
- Add BLS signing, verification, or multisignature primitives to a blockchain application.
- Coordinate distributed key generation among participants.
- Build a threshold-encryption workflow that encrypts and decrypts data and verifies or combines shares.
Requirements & limits
- The project documents Ubuntu and macOS builds; Linux requires GCC/G++ 11 or newer, while macOS uses Apple Clang.
- MCL is the algebra backend and GMP supports arbitrary-precision integers.
- The README describes alt_bn128 compatibility with Ethereum cryptography and states a security level of 128 bits.
- The project identifies itself as alpha software, with further hardening and testing underway, possible breaking changes, and no security review or audit.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Build libBLS on Ubuntu
Configure and build the library from source on Ubuntu.
Before you start
- Ubuntu
- GCC/G++ 11 or newer
- CMake
- The listed platform packages: automake, build-essential, libgnutls28-dev, libtool, pkg-config, yasm, texinfo, autoconf, and clang-format-14
Steps
Clone the repository and change into its directory.
Install the listed Ubuntu packages.
Build dependencies by running
cd deps, the command below, andcd ...bash ./build.shConfigure with
cmake -S . -B build.Build default targets with
cmake --build build --parallel $(nproc).
Expected outcome
The documented process configures and builds the default targets from source.
Guide limitations
- The README characterizes the library as alpha software and notes that it may undergo breaking changes.
- A successful build does not establish security or production suitability.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 14 October 2026
- Original website title
- skalenetwork/libBLS · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

