Welcome
I’m Nicky Mouha, a cryptographer specializing in the secure and efficient implementation of next-generation technologies, including post-quantum cryptography and AI inference.
With a Ph.D. and two decades of experience (including nine years at NIST), I help organizations translate research into secure, large-scale deployments. Through KeyCryptic, I identify critical vulnerabilities and optimize the performance of their hardware and software implementations.
I’m known for inventing the MILP- and SAT-based techniques for differential and linear cryptanalysis, designing the lightweight Chaskey algorithm (standardized in ISO/IEC 29192-6), and identifying vulnerabilities that affected billions of devices (CVE-2019-8741 and CVE-2022-37454).
I actively support the cryptographic community through program committees and editorial roles, including IACR Transactions on Symmetric Cryptology (ToSC), CT-RSA 2026, ACM CCS 2025, Latincrypt 2025, and CFAIL 2026, where I also serve on the steering committee.
I have contributed to various software projects, including:
- AI inference: llama.cpp, whisper.cpp
- Cryptography: AWS-LC, BoringSSL, mldsa-native, mlkem-native, OpenSSL
- Formal methods & logic: cvc5, Fil-C, Frama-C, Lean’s mathlib
- Software supply chain: CodeQL, nixpkgs
I’m open to paid collaborations and proposal-stage efforts where funding or impact is likely. To prioritize time-sensitive work, please include your expected scope, timeline, and budget range in your message.
I am currently based in the Washington, DC area, and available for remote work, travel, and relocation.
Feel free to reach out at: .