diff --git a/libraries/libfc/include/fc/crypto/bls_private_key.hpp b/libraries/libfc/include/fc/crypto/bls_private_key.hpp
index 98799b42c5..c3cd2004ac 100644
--- a/libraries/libfc/include/fc/crypto/bls_private_key.hpp
+++ b/libraries/libfc/include/fc/crypto/bls_private_key.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ namespace fc::crypto::blslib {
 
          bls_public_key     get_public_key() const;
          bls_signature      sign( const std::vector<uint8_t>& message ) const;
-         std::string        get_pop_str() const;
+
+         // Returns proof of possession
+         bls_signature      pop_proof() const;
 
          static bls_private_key generate();
 
diff --git a/libraries/libfc/src/crypto/bls_private_key.cpp b/libraries/libfc/src/crypto/bls_private_key.cpp
index 27db3c9baf..3fc4092967 100644
--- a/libraries/libfc/src/crypto/bls_private_key.cpp
+++ b/libraries/libfc/src/crypto/bls_private_key.cpp
@@ -13,12 +13,10 @@ namespace fc::crypto::blslib {
       return bls_public_key(pk);
    }
 
-   std::string bls_private_key::get_pop_str() const
+   bls_signature bls_private_key::pop_proof() const
    {
       bls12_381::g2 proof = bls12_381::pop_prove(_sk);
-      constexpr bool raw = true;
-      std::array<uint8_t, 192> bytes = proof.toAffineBytesLE(raw);
-      return fc::crypto::blslib::serialize_base64<std::array<uint8_t, 192>>(bytes);
+      return bls_signature(proof);
    }
 
    bls_signature bls_private_key::sign( const std::vector<uint8_t>& message ) const
diff --git a/programs/leap-util/actions/bls.cpp b/programs/leap-util/actions/bls.cpp
index abff8fe624..4d43894aed 100644
--- a/programs/leap-util/actions/bls.cpp
+++ b/programs/leap-util/actions/bls.cpp
@@ -54,13 +54,13 @@ int bls_actions::create_key() {
    const bls_private_key private_key = bls_private_key::generate();
    const bls_public_key public_key = private_key.get_public_key();
 
-   // generate pop
-   const std::string pop_str = private_key.get_pop_str();
+   // generate proof of possession
+   const bls_signature pop = private_key.pop_proof();
 
    // prepare output
    std::string out_str = "Private key: " + private_key.to_string({}) + "\n";
    out_str += "Public key: " + public_key.to_string({}) + "\n";
-   out_str += "Proof of Possession: " + pop_str + "\n";
+   out_str += "Proof of Possession: " + pop.to_string({}) + "\n";
    if (opt->print_console) {
       std::cout << out_str;
    } else {
@@ -106,9 +106,9 @@ int bls_actions::create_pop() {
    // create private key object using input private key string
    const bls_private_key private_key = bls_private_key(private_key_str);
    const bls_public_key public_key = private_key.get_public_key();
-   std::string pop_str = private_key.get_pop_str();
+   const bls_signature pop = private_key.pop_proof();
 
-   std::cout << "Proof of Possession: " << pop_str << "\n";
+   std::cout << "Proof of Possession: " << pop.to_string({})<< "\n";
    std::cout << "Public key: " <<  public_key.to_string({}) << "\n";
 
    return 0;
diff --git a/tests/leap_util_bls_test.py b/tests/leap_util_bls_test.py
index 6c07cb7787..fb7c77037f 100755
--- a/tests/leap_util_bls_test.py
+++ b/tests/leap_util_bls_test.py
@@ -100,12 +100,13 @@ def check_create_key_results(rslts):
     # check each output has valid value
     assert "PVT_BLS_" in results["Private key"]
     assert "PUB_BLS_" in results["Public key"]
+    assert "SIG_BLS_" in results["Proof of Possession"]
 
 def get_results(rslts):
     # sample output looks like
     # Private key: PVT_BLS_kRhJJ2MsM+/CddO...
     # Public key: PUB_BLS_lbUE8922wUfX0Iy5...
-    # Proof of Possession: 3jwkVUUYahHgsnmnEA...
+    # Proof of Possession: SIG_BLS_3jwkVUUYahHgsnmnEA...
     pattern = r'(\w+[^:]*): ([^\n]+)'
     matched= re.findall(pattern, rslts)