diff --git a/jose/backends/__init__.py b/jose/backends/__init__.py
index d1b9fa1a..a17814df 100644
--- a/jose/backends/__init__.py
+++ b/jose/backends/__init__.py
@@ -11,3 +11,18 @@
     from jose.backends.cryptography_backend import CryptographyECKey as ECKey  # noqa: F401
 except ImportError:
     from jose.backends.ecdsa_backend import ECDSAECKey as ECKey  # noqa: F401
+
+try:
+    from jose.backends.nacl_backend import Ed25519Key  # noqa: F401
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+else:
+    # Since PyNaCl is an optional dependency, we do not add EdDSA to the set
+    # of supported algorithms in the jose.constants module.
+    # As a result, when we successfully import Ed25519Key, we need to manually
+    # register that algorithm, but we cannot do it in the jose.constants module
+    # because that would create a circular import. Instead, we do it here.
+    # TODO: Refactor to use __init_subclass__ hook on jose.backends.base.Key
+    import jose.constants as j_c
+    j_c.ALGORITHMS.SUPPORTED = j_c.ALGORITHMS.SUPPORTED.union(j_c.ALGORITHMS.ED)
+    j_c.ALGORITHMS.ALL = j_c.ALGORITHMS.SUPPORTED.union([j_c.ALGORITHMS.NONE])
diff --git a/jose/backends/nacl_backend.py b/jose/backends/nacl_backend.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..572d8297
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jose/backends/nacl_backend.py
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+import base64
+
+import six
+
+from jose.backends.base import Key
+from jose.constants import ALGORITHMS, USAGES
+from jose.exceptions import JWKError
+
+from nacl.exceptions import BadSignatureError
+from nacl.signing import SigningKey, VerifyKey
+
+
+class Ed25519Key(Key):
+    def __init__(self, key, algorithm, use=None):
+        if algorithm not in ALGORITHMS.ED:
+            raise JWKError('hash_alg: %s is not a valid Ed25519 hash algorithm' % algorithm)
+
+        # TODO: Validate Ed25519 hash algorithms
+        self._algorithm = algorithm
+
+        if isinstance(key, dict):
+            self._prepared_key = self._process_jwk(key)
+            return
+
+        if isinstance(key, (SigningKey, VerifyKey)):
+            self._prepared_key = key
+            return
+
+        if isinstance(key, six.string_types):
+            key = key.encode('utf-8') + b'=='
+
+        if isinstance(key, six.binary_type):
+            if use is None:
+                raise JWKError("The 'use' parameter is required when deserializing an Ed25519 key "
+                               "from a string or bytes")
+
+            if use == USAGES.PUBLIC:
+                decoded_key_bytes = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(key)
+                self._prepared_key = VerifyKey(decoded_key_bytes)
+            elif use == USAGES.PRIVATE:
+                decoded_key_bytes = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(key)
+                self._prepared_key = SigningKey(decoded_key_bytes)
+            else:
+                raise JWKError("The 'use' parameter must either be 'public' or 'private', not %s" % use)
+            return
+
+        raise JWKError('Unable to parse an Ed25519_JWK from key: %s' % key)
+
+    def _process_jwk(self, jwk_dict):
+        if not jwk_dict.get('kty') == 'OKP':
+            raise JWKError("Incorrect key type.  Expected: 'OKP', Received: %s" % jwk_dict.get('kty'))
+
+        if not jwk_dict.get('crv') == 'Ed25519':
+            raise JWKError("Incorrect key subtype.  Expected 'Ed25519', Received %s" % jwk_dict.get('crv'))
+
+        if 'd' in jwk_dict:
+            # d indicates private key
+            d = jwk_dict.get('d').encode('utf-8') + b'=='
+            decoded_d_bytes = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(d)
+            return SigningKey(decoded_d_bytes)
+        else:
+            # no d indicates public key
+            x = jwk_dict.get('x').encode('utf-8') + b'=='
+            decoded_x_bytes = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(x)
+            return VerifyKey(decoded_x_bytes)
+
+    def sign(self, msg):
+        if isinstance(msg, six.string_types):
+            msg = msg.encode('utf-8')
+        return self._prepared_key.sign(msg)
+
+    def verify(self, msg, sig=None):
+        try:
+            self._prepared_key.verify(msg, sig)
+            return True
+        except BadSignatureError:
+            return False
+
+    def is_public(self):
+        return isinstance(self._prepared_key, VerifyKey)
+
+    def public_key(self):
+        if isinstance(self._prepared_key, VerifyKey):
+            return self
+        return self.__class__(self._prepared_key.verify_key, self._algorithm)
+
+    def to_pem(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        # Serializing Ed25519 keys is not yet supported anywhere in Python
+        # AFAICT, so instead of creating our own format, we simply prevent
+        # anybody from serializing to PEM.
+        raise NotImplementedError("Cannot serialize Ed25519 keys yet")
+
+    def to_dict(self):
+        public_key = self.public_key()
+
+        data = {
+            'alg': self._algorithm,
+            'kty': 'OKP',
+            'crv': 'Ed25519',
+            'x': base64.urlsafe_b64encode(bytes(public_key._prepared_key)).decode('utf-8'),
+        }
+
+        if not self.is_public():
+            data.update({'d': base64.urlsafe_b64encode(bytes(self._prepared_key)).decode('utf-8')})
+
+        return data
diff --git a/jose/constants.py b/jose/constants.py
index eb146549..3f202d6d 100644
--- a/jose/constants.py
+++ b/jose/constants.py
@@ -12,11 +12,15 @@ class Algorithms(object):
     ES256 = 'ES256'
     ES384 = 'ES384'
     ES512 = 'ES512'
+    # RFC8037 - https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc8037
+    EdDSA = 'EdDSA'
 
     HMAC = {HS256, HS384, HS512}
     RSA = {RS256, RS384, RS512}
     EC = {ES256, ES384, ES512}
+    ED = {EdDSA}
 
+    # This is modified in jose.backends.nacl_backend to register EdDSA
     SUPPORTED = HMAC.union(RSA).union(EC)
 
     ALL = SUPPORTED.union([NONE])
@@ -37,3 +41,15 @@ class Algorithms(object):
 
 
 ALGORITHMS = Algorithms()
+
+
+class Usages(object):
+    PUBLIC = 'public'
+    PRIVATE = 'private'
+
+    SUPPORTED = {PUBLIC, PRIVATE}
+
+    ALL = SUPPORTED
+
+
+USAGES = Usages()
diff --git a/jose/jwk.py b/jose/jwk.py
index 87f30b41..e4fb25ca 100644
--- a/jose/jwk.py
+++ b/jose/jwk.py
@@ -19,6 +19,11 @@
 except ImportError:
     pass
 
+try:
+    from jose.backends import Ed25519Key  # noqa: F401
+except ImportError:
+    pass
+
 
 def get_key(algorithm):
     if algorithm in ALGORITHMS.KEYS:
@@ -31,6 +36,9 @@ def get_key(algorithm):
     elif algorithm in ALGORITHMS.EC:
         from jose.backends import ECKey  # noqa: F811
         return ECKey
+    elif algorithm in ALGORITHMS.ED:
+        from jose.backends import Ed25519Key  # noqa: F811
+        return Ed25519Key
     return None
 
 
@@ -42,7 +50,7 @@ def register_key(algorithm, key_class):
     return True
 
 
-def construct(key_data, algorithm=None):
+def construct(key_data, algorithm=None, use=None):
     """
     Construct a Key object for the given algorithm with the given
     key_data.
@@ -58,7 +66,10 @@ def construct(key_data, algorithm=None):
     key_class = get_key(algorithm)
     if not key_class:
         raise JWKError('Unable to find a algorithm for key: %s' % key_data)
-    return key_class(key_data, algorithm)
+    if use is None:
+        return key_class(key_data, algorithm)
+    else:
+        return key_class(key_data, algorithm, use)
 
 
 def get_algorithm_object(algorithm):
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 04dd5d1b..131e5877 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -3,3 +3,4 @@ six
 rsa
 ecdsa
 pyasn1
+pynacl
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 01281158..3744b9b9 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -37,9 +37,10 @@ def _cryptography_version():
     'cryptography': [_cryptography_version()],
     'pycrypto': ['pycrypto >=2.6.0, <2.7.0'] + pyasn1,
     'pycryptodome': ['pycryptodome >=3.3.1, <4.0.0'] + pyasn1,
+    'ed25519': ['pynacl'],
 }
 legacy_backend_requires = ['ecdsa <1.0', 'rsa'] + pyasn1
-install_requires = ['six <2.0']
+install_requires = ['six <2.0', 'pynacl']
 
 # TODO: work this into the extras selection instead.
 install_requires += legacy_backend_requires
diff --git a/tests/algorithms/test_Ed25519.py b/tests/algorithms/test_Ed25519.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2cdd0bf1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/algorithms/test_Ed25519.py
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+
+import base64
+
+from jose.backends.nacl_backend import Ed25519Key
+from jose.constants import ALGORITHMS, USAGES
+from jose.exceptions import JWKError
+
+from nacl.signing import SigningKey, VerifyKey
+
+import pytest
+
+
+SIGNING_KEY = "npAVhmIfq2byvIzcmgS5cguKCv2Nw8Seqa1Fku00LoE="
+signing_key_bytes = base64.urlsafe_b64decode(SIGNING_KEY.encode('utf-8'))
+nacl_signing_key = SigningKey(signing_key_bytes)
+nacl_verify_key = nacl_signing_key.verify_key
+VERIFY_KEY = base64.urlsafe_b64encode(bytes(nacl_verify_key))
+
+
+class TestEd25519Algorithm:
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("alg", ALGORITHMS.ED)
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("use", USAGES.ALL)
+    def test_Ed25519_key(self, alg, use):
+        assert Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=alg, use=use)._prepared_key
+        assert Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY.encode('utf-8'), algorithm=alg, use=use)._prepared_key
+        # With Ed25519, there is no difference between seeds for private and public keys, and ALL
+        # 256-bit values are valid seeds, so since we have already tested with private key seeds,
+        # we do not need to also test for public key seeds
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("alg", ALGORITHMS.ED)
+    def test_Ed25519_signing_key(self, alg):
+        assert Ed25519Key(nacl_signing_key, algorithm=alg)._prepared_key
+        assert not Ed25519Key(nacl_signing_key, algorithm=alg).is_public()
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("alg", ALGORITHMS.ED)
+    def test_Ed25519_verify_key(self, alg):
+        assert Ed25519Key(nacl_verify_key, algorithm=alg)._prepared_key
+        assert Ed25519Key(nacl_verify_key, algorithm=alg).is_public()
+
+    def test_Ed25519_key_unknown_object(self):
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(object(), algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA)
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("use", USAGES.ALL)
+    def test_Ed25519_key_bad_alg(self, use):
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.ES256, use=use)
+
+    @pytest.mark.parametrize("alg", ALGORITHMS.ED)
+    def test_Ed25519_key_bad_use(self, alg):
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=alg)
+
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=alg, use=None)
+
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=alg, use='bad_usage')
+
+    def test_get_verify_key(self):
+        signing_key = Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+
+        assert not signing_key.is_public()
+
+        verify_key = signing_key.public_key()  # public_key is part of the Key API
+        verify_key2 = verify_key.public_key()
+
+        assert verify_key.is_public()
+        assert verify_key is verify_key2
+
+    def test_to_pem(self):
+        signing_key = Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+            signing_key.to_pem()
+
+    def test_verify_key_to_pem(self):
+        signing_key = Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+        verify_key = signing_key.public_key()
+
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+            verify_key.to_pem()
+
+    def assert_parameters(self, as_dict, private):
+        assert isinstance(as_dict, dict)
+
+        # Public parameters should always be there
+        assert 'x' in as_dict
+
+        if private:
+            # Private parameters as well
+            assert 'd' in as_dict
+        else:
+            # Private parameters should be absent
+            assert 'd' not in as_dict
+
+    def assert_roundtrip(self, key, use):
+        assert Ed25519Key(key.to_dict(), ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=use).to_dict() == key.to_dict()
+
+    def test_signing_key_to_dict(self):
+        key = Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+
+        self.assert_parameters(key.to_dict(), private=True)
+        self.assert_roundtrip(key, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+
+    def test_verify_key_to_dict(self):
+        key = Ed25519Key(VERIFY_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PUBLIC)
+
+        self.assert_parameters(key.to_dict(), private=False)
+        self.assert_roundtrip(key, use=USAGES.PUBLIC)
+
+    def test_verify_key_from_bad_dict(self):
+        key = Ed25519Key(VERIFY_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PUBLIC)
+        key_dict = key.to_dict()
+
+        bad_key_dict = key_dict.copy()
+        bad_key_dict['kty'] = "SOMETHING_ELSE"
+
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(bad_key_dict, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA)
+
+        bad_key_dict = key_dict.copy()
+        bad_key_dict['crv'] = "SOMETHING_ELSE"
+
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            Ed25519Key(bad_key_dict, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA)
+
+    def test_signing_bytes_parity(self):
+        signing_key = Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+        verify_key = signing_key.public_key()
+
+        msg = b'test'
+        smsg = signing_key.sign(msg)  # -> signature + cleartext message
+        bad_smsg_message = bytes([(b + 1) if b < 255 else 0 for b in bytearray(smsg.message)])
+        bad_smsg_signature = bytes([(b + 1) if b < 255 else 0 for b in bytearray(smsg.signature)])
+        bad_smsg = bad_smsg_signature + bad_smsg_message
+
+        assert verify_key.verify(smsg)
+        assert verify_key.verify(smsg.signature + smsg.message)
+        assert verify_key.verify(smsg.message, smsg.signature)
+
+        assert not verify_key.verify(smsg.message, bad_smsg_signature)
+        assert not verify_key.verify(bad_smsg_message, smsg.signature)
+        assert not verify_key.verify(bad_smsg_message, bad_smsg_signature)
+        assert not verify_key.verify(bad_smsg)
+
+    def test_signing_string_parity(self):
+        signing_key = Ed25519Key(SIGNING_KEY, algorithm=ALGORITHMS.EdDSA, use=USAGES.PRIVATE)
+        verify_key = signing_key.public_key()
+
+        msg = 'test'
+        smsg = signing_key.sign(msg)  # -> signature + cleartext message
+        bad_smsg_message = bytes([(b + 1) if b < 255 else 0 for b in bytearray(smsg.message)])
+        bad_smsg_signature = bytes([(b + 1) if b < 255 else 0 for b in bytearray(smsg.signature)])
+        bad_smsg = bad_smsg_signature + bad_smsg_message
+
+        assert verify_key.verify(smsg)
+        assert verify_key.verify(smsg.signature + smsg.message)
+        assert verify_key.verify(smsg.message, smsg.signature)
+
+        assert not verify_key.verify(smsg.message, bad_smsg_signature)
+        assert not verify_key.verify(bad_smsg_message, smsg.signature)
+        assert not verify_key.verify(bad_smsg_message, bad_smsg_signature)
+        assert not verify_key.verify(bad_smsg)
diff --git a/tests/test_jwk.py b/tests/test_jwk.py
index 6ea5a1b8..d062d4f5 100644
--- a/tests/test_jwk.py
+++ b/tests/test_jwk.py
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@
     "y": "AdymlHvOiLxXkEhayXQnNCvDX4h9htZaCJN34kfmC6pV5OhQHiraVySsUdaQkAgDPrwQrJmbnX9cwlGfP-HqHZR1"
 }
 
+ed25519_key = {
+    "kty": "OKP",
+    "crv": "Ed25519",
+    "d": "npAVhmIfq2byvIzcmgS5cguKCv2Nw8Seqa1Fku00LoE",
+    "x": "th-Fe1Whyvy0vdexhMwSybtIyMh-WiYgUTogOKXfVnI",
+}
+
 
 class TestJWK:
 
@@ -53,6 +60,9 @@ def test_invalid_hash_alg(self):
         with pytest.raises(JWKError):
             key = ECKey(ec_key, 'RS512')  # noqa: F841
 
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            key = Ed25519Key(ed25519_key, 'RS512')
+
     def test_invalid_jwk(self):
 
         with pytest.raises(JWKError):
@@ -64,6 +74,9 @@ def test_invalid_jwk(self):
         with pytest.raises(JWKError):
             key = ECKey(rsa_key, 'ES256')  # noqa: F841
 
+        with pytest.raises(JWKError):
+            key = Ed25519Key(rsa_key, 'EdDSA')
+
     def test_RSAKey_errors(self):
 
         rsa_key = {
@@ -101,6 +114,9 @@ def test_construct_from_jwk(self):
         key = jwk.construct(hmac_key)
         assert isinstance(key, jwk.Key)
 
+        key = jwk.construct(ed25519_key, algorithm='EdDSA', use='private')
+        assert isinstance(key, jwk.Key)
+
     def test_construct_EC_from_jwk(self):
         key = ECKey(ec_key, algorithm='ES512')
         assert isinstance(key, jwk.Key)
@@ -126,6 +142,7 @@ def test_get_key(self):
         assert issubclass(hs_key, Key)
         assert issubclass(jwk.get_key("RS256"), Key)
         assert issubclass(jwk.get_key("ES256"), Key)
+        assert issubclass(jwk.get_key("EdDSA"), Key)
 
         assert jwk.get_key("NONEXISTENT") is None