Dirk Hermans

Dirk Hermans is Innovation Manager and Blockchain Lead at KBC Bank & Verzekering, a role he has held since May 2016. His mandate covers awareness creation, facilitation of workshops and proof of concepts, assessment of blockchain solutions, defining the solution track from idea through pilot to production, and developing a blockchain control framework spanning risk, compliance, and legal dimensions, as well as elaborating blockchain strategy.

Since 2016, Hermans has led KBC's blockchain initiatives through multiple phases, including participation in consortium projects such as we.trade and Finality, and the 2022 launch of a private blockchain-based coin. As of early 2025, KBC was preparing to offer USD stablecoin payment services to corporate clients and exploring wallet offerings within the bank's product range, with Hermans actively monitoring the implications of Europe's MiCAR regulatory framework for both startups and established institutions. He has noted that traditional banks can serve a distinct role in blockchain-enabled financial services by providing familiar trust and usability that fully decentralised models may not offer to mainstream customers. Hermans holds a Master's degree in Commercial Engineering with an option in Information Technology from UHasselt (1991–1996). He also holds a Certified SAFe 5 Agilist certification and completed the Make Strategy Work programme at Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University in May 2024.