

Python remains a leading choice for building secure and scalable blockchain applications.
PyCryptodome and PyNaCl deliver modern, high-security cryptographic foundations.
Web3.py, Starknet-py, and Solana.py strengthen multi-chain development capabilities.
The growth of blockchain and digital-asset technology has made Python one of the most popular languages for building crypto tools. Many developers choose Python because it supports secure key management, blockchain interactions, smart contract workflows, and exchange automation. Many crypto libraries now offer strong security records, active updates, and support for the latest standards.
The cryptography package from the PyCA team is widely accepted as the main cryptographic library for Python. It offers both high-level tools like Fernet and X.509 certificate support, and low-level primitives such as AES, ChaCha20-Poly1305, HKDF, and Ed25519.
In October 2025, the library reached version 46.0.3, built on OpenSSL 3.5.4. It also ended support for Python 3.7 and deprecated older OpenSSL versions below 3.0.
These changes follow the industry trend toward stronger encryption defaults and better TLS security.
PyCryptodome is a self-contained package of low-level cryptographic algorithms, a modern replacement for the old PyCrypto library. It supports Python 3.7 and newer versions, as well as PyPy.
In May 2025, PyCryptodome released version 3.23.0, adding support for Key Wrap and Key Wrap with Padding, as specified in NIST SP 800-38F. It also introduced HPKE (Hybrid Public Key Encryption) from RFC 9180.
These updates make the library suitable for secure key transfers used in hardware wallets and modern hybrid encryption systems.
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PyNaCl provides access to the libsodium library and offers secure tools for secret-key encryption, public-key encryption, digital signatures (Ed25519), and password hashing with Argon2.
In 2025, a new packaging update delivered version 1.6.1 across major platforms. Download statistics showed tens of millions of installations across different channels, displaying high usage.
Its focus on safe-by-design APIs makes it valuable for secure messaging, authentication systems, and signing operations in crypto applications.
web3.py is the main Python library for connecting to Ethereum and all EVM-compatible blockchains. It supports account management, smart-contract deployment, event monitoring, and direct JSON-RPC communication.
By October 2025, web3.py reached version 7.14.0. Recent updates improved thread-safety for request batching and adjusted the testing suite to match changes in Geth v1.16.0.
These improvements matter for high-load blockchain services and infrastructure that handle many transactions at once.
The Ape Framework, published as eth-ape, is a modern Python environment for smart-contract development. It supports compilation, deployment, testing, automated scripts, and multi-chain use through plugins.
Throughout early 2025, the framework’s active versions were around 0.8.x series, and plugins like Ape-foundry allowed smooth integration with the popular Foundry toolset.
Since the older Brownie framework is no longer maintained, Ape has become the leading Python-based ecosystem for EVM smart-contract development.
CCXT is one of the most widely used crypto libraries in the world. It offers a unified interface to more than one hundred exchanges, covering spot and derivatives markets.
The project receives frequent updates, with version 4.5.25 released in December 2025.
Continuous exchange support and rapid fixes make CCXT an important tool for trading bots, automated strategies, and large-scale market-data systems.
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python-binance focuses on deep integration with all Binance API services. It includes support for spot, margin, futures, mining, and newer features such as Simple Earn products.
In November 2025, version 1.0.32 was released. The library added more automatically generated client methods to match Binance’s fast-expanding API endpoints.
This strong alignment is needed for automated trading systems as Binance frequently updates its platform.
BitcoinLib, often referred to as Python BitcoinLib, provides all the major tools needed for Bitcoin development. It supports wallet management, HD wallets based on BIP-32, transaction building, and interactions with mainnet, testnet, and regtest.
Version 0.7.6’s documentation was published recently, confirming the project's ongoing work. The complete toolkit is practical for payment services, explorers, and wallet providers.
starknet-py functions as the official Python SDK for Starknet, a fast zero-knowledge rollup network built on the Cairo language. It enables developers to query network state, send transactions, and interact with smart contracts.
In November 2025, the project reached version 0.28.1, and newer pre-releases began supporting Starknet RPC 0.9.0.
These updates follow major changes on the Starknet network, including staking features and fee reductions introduced across 2024 and 2025.
The Solana package, commonly known as Solana.py, is the main Python client for the Solana blockchain. It handles JSON-RPC requests, transaction building, and SPL token operations. Download counts indicate hundreds of thousands of monthly uses in 2025.
The Solana ecosystem has also been linked to recent supply-chain security warnings. In 2024, a malicious package posing as a Solana library appeared on PyPI and attempted to steal wallet information. New attempts were documented again in 2025.
This further highlights the importance of package-name checks and dependency auditing when installing blockchain-related libraries.
The Python crypto ecosystem is strong, diverse, and improving continually. Libraries like cryptography, PyCryptodome, and PyNaCl provide secure building blocks for encryption and signing. Tools like web3.py, starknet-py, Solana.py, and the Ape Framework allow blockchain development across major networks. Trading systems rely heavily on CCXT and python-binance, while Bitcoin development uses BitcoinLib.
Crypto libraries must be chosen with care to accommodate fast updates, protocol changes, and ongoing security concerns. Maintenance activity, security practices, and alignment with the latest blockchain standards are more important than ever.
1. What are crypto libraries in Python?
Crypto libraries are Python packages that provide encryption, signing, blockchain interaction, and secure data-handling tools used in crypto and Web3 development.
2. Why are PyCryptodome and PyNaCl widely recommended?
PyCryptodome offers modern encryption standards, while PyNaCl provides misuse-resistant, high-security functions based on libsodium, making both reliable for sensitive operations.
3. Which Python library is best for blockchain smart-contract work?
Web3.py is ideal for Ethereum-based projects, while Ape Framework supports full EVM development workflows with plugins and testing tools.
4. Are these libraries suitable for beginners?
Yes. Most libraries offer beginner-friendly APIs, though cryptography-focused packages may require a basic understanding of security concepts.
5. How important is library maintenance in crypto development?
Extremely important. Frequent updates ensure compatibility with new blockchain protocols and protect against security vulnerabilities.