diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8085abb..6a3436b 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ reports/
 # credentials
 CREDENTIALS*
 bin
-openssl
+openssl/**/*.lib
+openssl/**/*.def
+openssl/**/*.h
+openssl/**/*.c
 *.dll
 
 # Byte-compiled / optimized / DLL files
@@ -25,7 +28,7 @@ dist/
 downloads/
 eggs/
 .eggs/
-lib/
+# lib/
 lib64/
 parts/
 sdist/
diff --git a/openssl/README.md b/openssl/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ed68617
--- /dev/null
+++ b/openssl/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+# OpenSSL Build Dependencies
+
+Since this library is build against OpenSSL to use hashing algorithms within the Cython-based blockchain the necessary build dependencies for OpenSSL must be provided and placed in the corresponding folders.
+
+
+**Windows-only:** This package is currently only tested on Windows and therefore relies on the build process for this platform. The build process uses ***dynamic linking***.
+
+A distribution for Windows can be obtained from [https://slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html](https://slproweb.com/products/Win32OpenSSL.html). The full installer is needed because only this kind of distribution includes all library files to build against.
+
+*2025-12-18: The current version used is 3.5.X which is the current LTS branch of OpenSSL*
+
+Copy the headers from the folder "include" and the build libs from "lib" of the installed OpenSSL distribution over to this directory structure into their corresponding folders. As of 2025/12, the dynamic libraries are located within a folder named "MD" which contains the files for dynamic linking.
+
+*Additionally, you need to copy the pre-compiled dynamic link library files (DLL) for "libcrypto" and "libssl". These must be placed in the source directory because they are shipped as part of the package distribution.*