diff --git a/nkms/crypto/__init__.py b/nkms/crypto/__init__.py
index 397da5dd7..332642fd3 100644
--- a/nkms/crypto/__init__.py
+++ b/nkms/crypto/__init__.py
@@ -1,20 +1,13 @@
 import importlib
 from nacl.utils import random  # noqa
+from npre.curves import secp256k1
 
-# 'Random' parameter g here is derived from Bitcoin's hashMerkleRoot of
-# its genesis block:
-# bbs98.ec.serialize(
-#    bbs98.ec.hashEC(
-#       pre.ecgroup,
-#       base64.decodebytes(b'4a5e1e4baab89f3a32518a88c31bc87f618f76673e2cc77ab2127b7afdeda33b')
-#       bbs98.ec.G)) = b'1:A78WgHh03I38RcZO/FQe9SbmPVzQg+oehzR8QsGXOeqz'
 default_algorithm = dict(
         symmetric=dict(
             cipher='nacl'),
         pre=dict(
             cipher='bbs98',     # BBS98 is only temporary here, for development
-            curve=714,          # secp256k1 in OpenSSL
-            g=b'1:A78WgHh03I38RcZO/FQe9SbmPVzQg+oehzR8QsGXOeqz',
+            curve=secp256k1,
             m=None, n=None))
 
 
diff --git a/nkms/crypto/keypairs.py b/nkms/crypto/keypairs.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b06ace4dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nkms/crypto/keypairs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+import msgpack
+from random import SystemRandom
+from py_ecc.secp256k1 import N, privtopub, ecdsa_raw_sign, ecdsa_raw_recover
+from nkms.crypto import default_algorithm, pre_from_algorithm
+
+
+class EncryptingKeypair(object):
+    def __init__(self, privkey_bytes=None):
+        self.pre = pre_from_algorithm(default_algorithm)
+
+        if not privkey_bytes:
+            self.priv_key = self.pre.gen_priv(dtype='bytes')
+        else:
+            self.priv_key = privkey_bytes
+        self.pub_key = self.pre.priv2pub(self.priv_key)
+
+    def encrypt(self, data, pubkey=None):
+        """
+        Encrypts the data provided.
+
+        :param bytes data: The data to encrypt
+        :param bytes pubkey: Pubkey to encrypt for
+
+        :rtype: bytes
+        :return: Encrypted ciphertext
+        """
+        if not pubkey:
+            pubkey = self.pub_key
+        return self.pre.encrypt(pubkey, data)
+
+    def decrypt(self, enc_data):
+        """
+        Decrypts the data provided
+
+        :param bytes enc_data: Decrypts the data provided
+
+        :rtype: bytes
+        :return: Decrypted plaintext
+        """
+        return self.pre.decrypt(self.priv_key, enc_data)
+
+
+class SigningKeypair(object):
+    def __init__(self, privkey_bytes=None):
+        self.secure_rand = SystemRandom()
+        if privkey_bytes:
+            self.priv_key = privkey_bytes
+        else:
+            # Key generation is random([1, N - 1])
+            priv_number = self.secure_rand.randrange(1, N)
+            self.priv_key = priv_number.to_bytes(32, byteorder='big')
+        # Get the public component
+        self.pub_key = privtopub(self.priv_key)
+
+    def _vrs_msgpack_dump(self, v, r, s):
+        v_bytes = v.to_bytes(1, byteorder='big')
+        r_bytes = r.to_bytes(32, byteorder='big')
+        s_bytes = s.to_bytes(32, byteorder='big')
+        return msgpack.dumps((v_bytes, r_bytes, s_bytes))
+
+    def _vrs_msgpack_load(self, msgpack_vrs):
+        sig = msgpack.loads(msgpack_vrs)
+        v = int.from_bytes(sig[0], byteorder='big')
+        r = int.from_bytes(sig[1], byteorder='big')
+        s = int.from_bytes(sig[2], byteorder='big')
+        return (v, r, s)
+
+    def sign(self, msghash):
+        """
+        Signs a hashed message and returns a msgpack'ed v, r, and s.
+
+        :param bytes msghash: Hash of the message
+
+        :rtype: Bytestring
+        :return: Msgpacked bytestring of v, r, and s (the signature)
+        """
+        v, r, s = ecdsa_raw_sign(msghash, self.priv_key)
+        return self._vrs_msgpack_dump(v, r, s)
+
+    def verify(self, msghash, signature, pubkey=None):
+        """
+        Takes a msgpacked signature and verifies the message.
+
+        :param bytes msghash: The hashed message to verify
+        :param bytes signature: The msgpacked signature (v, r, and s)
+        :param bytes pubkey: Pubkey to validate signature for
+                             Default is the keypair's pub_key.
+
+        :rtype: Boolean
+        :return: Is the signature valid or not?
+        """
+        if not pubkey:
+            pubkey = self.pub_key
+        sig = self._vrs_msgpack_load(signature)
+        # Generate the public key from the signature and validate
+        # TODO: Look into fixed processing time functions for comparison
+        verify_sig = ecdsa_raw_recover(msghash, sig)
+        return verify_sig == pubkey
diff --git a/nkms/crypto/keyring.py b/nkms/crypto/keyring.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d9a5366d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nkms/crypto/keyring.py
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+import sha3
+from nkms.crypto.keypairs import SigningKeypair, EncryptingKeypair
+
+
+class KeyRing(object):
+    def __init__(self, sig_privkey=None, enc_privkey=None):
+        """
+        Initializes a KeyRing object. Uses the private keys to initialize
+        their respective objects, if provided. If not, it will generate new
+        keypairs.
+
+        :param bytes sig_privkey: Private key in bytes of ECDSA signing keypair
+        :param bytes enc_privkey: Private key in bytes of encrypting keypair
+        """
+        self.sig_keypair = SigningKeypair(sig_privkey)
+        self.enc_keypair = EncryptingKeypair(enc_privkey)
+
+    def sign(self, message):
+        """
+        Signs a message and returns a signature with the keccak hash.
+
+        :param bytes message: Message to sign in bytes
+
+        :rtype: bytestring
+        :return: Signature of message
+        """
+        msg_digest = sha3.keccak_256(message).digest()
+        return self.sig_keypair.sign(msg_digest)
+
+    def verify(self, message, signature, pubkey=None):
+        """
+        Verifies a signature.
+
+        :param bytes message: Message to check signature for
+        :param bytes signature: Signature to validate
+        :param bytes pubkey: Pubkey to validate signature with
+                             Default is the sig_keypair's pub_key
+
+        :rtype: Boolean
+        :return: Is the message signature valid or not?
+        """
+        if not pubkey:
+            pubkey = self.sig_keypair.pub_key
+        msg_digest = sha3.keccak_256(message).digest()
+        return self.sig_keypair.verify(msg_digest, signature, pubkey=pubkey)
+
+    def encrypt(self, plaintext, pubkey=None):
+        """
+        Encrypts the plaintext provided.
+
+        :param bytes plaintext: Plaintext to encrypt w/ EncryptingKeypair
+        :param bytes pubkey: Pubkey to encrypt for
+
+        :rtype: bytes
+        :return: Ciphertext of plaintext
+        """
+        if not pubkey:
+            pubkey = self.enc_keypair.pub_key
+        return self.enc_keypair.encrypt(plaintext, pubkey=pubkey)
+
+    def decrypt(self, ciphertext):
+        """
+        Decrypts the ciphertext provided.
+
+        :param bytes ciphertext: Ciphertext to decrypt w/ EncryptingKeypair
+
+        :rtype: bytes
+        :return: Plaintext of Encrypted ciphertext
+        """
+        return self.enc_keypair.decrypt(ciphertext)
diff --git a/nkms/crypto/pre/bbs98.py b/nkms/crypto/pre/bbs98.py
index 4641fd71f..a172a21b5 100644
--- a/nkms/crypto/pre/bbs98.py
+++ b/nkms/crypto/pre/bbs98.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-import base64
 import msgpack
 from nkms import crypto
 from npre.bbs98 import PRE as BasePRE
 
 
 def convert_priv(sk):
-    return b'0:' + base64.encodebytes(sk).strip()
+    return b'\x00' + sk
 
 
 class PRE(BasePRE):
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 71a9cf6cd..00aa4cde4 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -21,9 +21,9 @@ TESTS_REQUIRE = [
 
 # should add --process-dependency-links to pip
 LINKS = [
-        'https://github.com/bmuller/kademlia/archive/kms-dependency.tar.gz#egg=kademlia-1.0',
+        'https://github.com/nucypher/kademlia/archive/kms-dependency.tar.gz#egg=kademlia-1.0',
         'https://github.com/bmuller/rpcudp/archive/python3.5.tar.gz#egg=rpcudp-3.0.0',
-        'https://github.com/nucypher/nucypher-pre-python/archive/master.tar.gz#egg=npre-0.1']
+        'https://github.com/nucypher/nucypher-pre-python/archive/0.3.tar.gz#egg=npre-0.3']
 
 setup(name='nkms',
       version='0.1',
diff --git a/tests/crypto/test_keypairs.py b/tests/crypto/test_keypairs.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..df51c0ff3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/crypto/test_keypairs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import unittest
+import sha3
+import msgpack
+from nkms.crypto.keypairs import SigningKeypair, EncryptingKeypair
+
+
+class TestSigningKeypair(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.keypair_a = SigningKeypair()
+        self.keypair_b = SigningKeypair()
+        self.msg = b'this is a test'
+
+    def test_signing(self):
+        msg_digest = sha3.keccak_256(self.msg).digest()
+        signature = self.keypair_a.sign(msg_digest)
+
+        sig = msgpack.loads(signature)
+        self.assertTrue(1, len(sig[0]))     # Check v
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[1]))    # Check r
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[2]))    # Check s
+
+    def test_verification(self):
+        msg_digest = sha3.keccak_256(self.msg).digest()
+        signature = self.keypair_a.sign(msg_digest)
+
+        sig = msgpack.loads(signature)
+        self.assertTrue(1, len(sig[0]))     # Check v
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[1]))    # Check r
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[2]))    # Check s
+
+        verify_sig = self.keypair_b.verify(msg_digest, signature,
+                                           pubkey=self.keypair_a.pub_key)
+        self.assertTrue(verify_sig)
+
+
+class TestEncryptingKeypair(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.send_keypair = EncryptingKeypair()
+        self.recv_keypair = EncryptingKeypair()
+        self.msg = b'this is a test'
+
+    def test_encryption(self):
+        ciphertext = self.send_keypair.encrypt(self.msg,
+                pubkey=self.recv_keypair.pub_key)
+        self.assertNotEqual(self.msg, ciphertext)
+
+    def test_decryption(self):
+        ciphertext = self.send_keypair.encrypt(self.msg,
+                pubkey=self.recv_keypair.pub_key)
+        self.assertNotEqual(self.msg, ciphertext)
+
+        plaintext = self.recv_keypair.decrypt(ciphertext)
+        self.assertEqual(self.msg, plaintext)
diff --git a/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py b/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0e254dbd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/crypto/test_keyring.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+import unittest
+import msgpack
+from nkms.crypto.keyring import KeyRing
+
+
+class TestKeyRing(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.keyring_a = KeyRing()
+        self.keyring_b = KeyRing()
+
+        self.msg = b'this is a test'
+
+    def test_signing(self):
+        signature = self.keyring_a.sign(self.msg)
+
+        sig = msgpack.loads(signature)
+        self.assertTrue(1, len(sig[0]))     # Check v
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[1]))    # Check r
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[2]))    # Check s
+
+    def test_verification(self):
+        signature = self.keyring_a.sign(self.msg)
+
+        sig = msgpack.loads(signature)
+        self.assertTrue(1, len(sig[0]))     # Check v
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[1]))    # Check r
+        self.assertTrue(32, len(sig[2]))    # Check s
+
+        is_valid = self.keyring_b.verify(self.msg, signature,
+                                    pubkey=self.keyring_a.sig_keypair.pub_key)
+        self.assertTrue(is_valid)
+
+    def test_encryption(self):
+        ciphertext = self.keyring_a.encrypt(self.msg,
+                                    pubkey=self.keyring_b.enc_keypair.pub_key)
+        self.assertNotEqual(self.msg, ciphertext)
+
+    def test_decryption(self):
+        ciphertext = self.keyring_a.encrypt(self.msg,
+                                    pubkey=self.keyring_b.enc_keypair.pub_key)
+        self.assertNotEqual(self.msg, ciphertext)
+
+        plaintext = self.keyring_b.decrypt(ciphertext)
+        self.assertEqual(self.msg, plaintext)
diff --git a/tests/test_default_crypto.py b/tests/test_default_crypto.py
index da371d474..451c0d2c8 100644
--- a/tests/test_default_crypto.py
+++ b/tests/test_default_crypto.py
@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ def test_pre():
     pk_alice = pre.priv2pub(sk_alice)
     pk_bob = pre.priv2pub(sk_bob)
 
+    assert len(pk_alice) == 34
+    assert len(pk_bob) == 34
+    assert pk_alice[0] == 1
+    assert pk_bob[0] == 1
+
     cleartext = b'Hello world'
 
     cyphertext_for_alice = pre.encrypt(pk_alice, cleartext)
diff --git a/tox.ini b/tox.ini
index 591694f00..7f03ae065 100644
--- a/tox.ini
+++ b/tox.ini
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ envlist = py35,py36
 deps = .[testing]
 install_command = pip install --process-dependency-links {opts} {packages}
 commands = py.test {posargs}
+usedevelop = True
 
 [pytest]
 testpaths = tests