Kristof obtained a PhD in engineering sciences at the KU Leuven with research on cryptographic protection of privacy with zero-knowledge proofs. In this context, he won the best paper award at the International Conference on Security and Cryptography (SECRYPT). In 2011, he joined the research department of Smals, an IT service provider for the Belgian public sector. His current domains are privacy-enhancing technologies, post-quantum cryptography, crypto-agility and advanced identifier pseudonymisation. Kristof frequently gives talks about these topics and is author of several books on blockchain. In 2024, he was nominated for the Privacy Professional Award by Belgium’s Cyber Security Coalition. In 2025 the Blinded Pseudonymization Service he co-developed for Belgium’s eHealth-platform received the runner-up (2nd) Award issued by Cybersec Europe for Best Cybersecurity Innovation Europe.