Role of Blockchain in Supply Chain

Wall Street firms are doubling down on digital assets. Last week's Q2 2025 earnings season exposed a clear divide: while some major banks and firms were relatively silent on digital assets, others positioned themselves as crypto pioneers. Recent legislative developments created more regulatory clarity and running room for financial institutions to explore institutionalizing digital assets, and the market leaders have been front running investments and partnerships and are wasting no time staking leadership claims in the space. Which firms are positioning, partnering, and investing to establish a lead? BlackRock has positioned itself as a leader in shaping the future of finance, with increasing involvement in digital assets, tokenization, and managing stablecoin reserves. Beyond the earnings rhetoric, what is BlackRock doing to drive this innovation? BlackRock's business relationships reveal the depth of their digital asset strategy. Their partnerships span cryptocurrency custody (Coinbase, Anchorage Digital), stablecoin backing (Ethena), and blockchain infrastructure (Injective). They've also invested in digital asset trading platforms like Flowdesk and fintech innovators including Upvest, Texas Stock Exchange, and Sokin; creating a comprehensive ecosystem for digital asset integration across trading, custody, and tokenization. Insights on other major players' digital assets strategies from CB Insights' Earnings Analyst agent insights on their Q2 earnings calls: → Citigroup emerged as another aggressive adopter, with CEO Jane Fraser expressing "high confidence and enthusiasm" about Citi Token Services' ability to provide "multi-asset, multi-bank, cross-border, always-on solutions without needing to partner with other banks." → BNY Mellon and State Street focused heavily on stablecoin infrastructure, with BNY serving as "reserve custodian for Société Générale's first USD stablecoin in Europe" and "primary custodian for Ripple's US stablecoin reserves." State Street's CEO highlighted how "tokenization of money market funds enables uses of these assets in a different way than originally anticipated." CB Insights' Earnings Analyst agent help identify these strategic pivots immediately after calls. Want insights analysis on the major tech firms announcing earnings this week? Comment "Mag7" below for free access to CB Insights' Earnings Analyst breakdown of each Mag7 Q2 2025 quarter and where they are headed.

Reimagining Compliance, Trust and TPRM: Could Blockchain End Our Reliance on PDFs, Screenshots and Questionnaires? ⛓️ Why not use proof instead of trust. And what if instead of trusting auditors, we also trust math? 🔢 Who trusts Attestations and Certifications? 📋 SOC 2 provides trust. You also require trust. You trust that: - The vendor implemented what they claimed (lol, sure) - The auditor properly validated those claims (with screenshots, of course) - Controls haven't degraded since assessment (infrastructure never changes) - Documentation reflects reality (boilerplate policies FTW) But in security, trust isn't a strategy - verification is. Blockchain Security Validation: Trust the Proof ⛓️ Imagine replacing subjective assessment with cryptographic verification: - Configuration states are validated and cryptographically signed - Results immutably recorded on blockchain, evidence are now tamper-proofed - Smart contracts can validate controls automatically against predefined criteria - You can check historical record showing continuous compliance, - Easy real-time alerting when controls drift from attested state Rather than an auditor telling you that "encryption is used," the system would cryptographically verify that "TLS 1.3 is correctly implemented on all endpoints with no deprecated ciphers." Documentation Theatre to Verifiable Security 🎭 This transforms security attestation from paperwork exercise to mathematical proof: - Customers verify cryptographic evidence instead of reading through lengthy massaged control language - Vendors can prove continuous compliance, not just during audit cycles - Configuration drift triggers immediate alerts, not annual findings - Technical teams focus on implementation, not documentation - Customers can check control effectiveness without seeing sensitive implementation details, preserving vendor confidentiality The blockchain creates a permanent, verifiable history addressing both trust issues and point-in-time limitations of current attestations. Why This Matters 🎯 By bridging the documentation-reality gap with cryptographic proof, we eliminate the need for sample-based shallow testing. Imagine never having to answer "Do you have MFA?" again because customers can verify your MFA implementation themselves. The Path Forward 🚀 This isn't woo-woo - the building blocks exist today. We have: - Secure enclave technologies for sensitive validation - Smart contract platforms for attestation logic - API-driven cloud environments ready for integration - Zero-knowledge proofs for private verification What's missing is standardisation and ecosystem adoption. The first vendor to implement this model won't just streamline compliance/audit - they'll fundamentally change TPRM/customer trust dynamics. PS: This wouldn't work for all controls, lots of legal liability to work through, etc. #GRCEngineering

𝗗𝗼 banks 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 the blockchain, but 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 crypto❓ A week ago, I had written why banks don't want crypto firms as customers (https://lnkd.in/gq2ENHJm). But on the institutional side, many banks are either investing in blockchain based companies, or building solutions independently or in partnership with them. Even I was surprised by the hallowed names listed here. 👏 J.P. Morgan • Built its own private blockchain, Onyx. • Created token JPM Coin on Onyx to facilitate settlement and liquidity management for its global clients • Developed Liink, a network for seamless payment-related data sharing • Built a platform for tokenizing and trading various assets on Onyx Standard Chartered • Through innovation arm, SC Ventures by Standard Chartered invested in crypto custody (with Northern Trust), brokerage, and tokenization platforms • Building a blockchain-based trade finance solution HSBC • Launching a digital assets custody service this year for tokenized securities • Offered tokenized gold to retail investors • Exploring Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority • Working with Visa on tokenized deposits and CBDC trials Citi • Invested in technology providers to enhance digital asset management and settlement capabilities • Exploring blockchain and digital asset solutions to broadly improve financial services Wells Fargo • Developing a platform for internal cross-border payments using tokenized cash DBS Bank • Offers a digital asset exchange platform • Exploring an open industry platform for 24/7 multi-currency real-time payments, clearing and settlements, through Partior (a joint venture with Temasek and JP Morgan) Goldman Sachs • Invested in blockchain analytics firms • Exploring blockchain based trading and tokenized securities BNY • Offer institutional crypto custody solutions in partnership with other providers • Exploring blockchain-based asset management UBS • Invested in financial market infrastructure technologies • Exploring blockchain-driven efficiency for capital markets and trade finance MUFG • Invested in digital asset exchanges • Exploring blockchain-based payments BBVA • Built a blockchain corporate lending platform for transparent and efficient loan processing. • Exploring tokenization of real-world assets. Of course, most of the above relate blockchain technology and n͟o͟t͟ crypto as in cryptocurrencies. Fair. But the term "crypto" should apply equally to crypto assets, tokens, and cryptography in general, all of which applies for the use cases listed. Now, if banks could only extend the same love to banking crypto firms ... 🤞

A few years ago, I worked with a different blockchain company that was exploring a partnership with a pro sports team. The team’s pitch? “Give us $5M, and we’ll plaster your logo on everything: advertising placement, arena banners, the works. Maybe we’ll even build a consumer loyalty app using your blockchain.” The deal didn’t close, and in hindsight, I’m glad it didn’t. Why? Because while that approach might pump a token’s marketing value in the short term, it doesn’t create real utility. It doesn’t bring users to the network or build lasting infrastructure. It’s FTX Arena all over again. Tons of money spent, zero use of the actual blockchain or token. No payments, no loyalty, no ticketing integration. Just a flashy logo and no substance. Today, when sports teams come to us, the conversation is completely different. We’re no longer throwing marketing money at teams in exchange for hypothetical tech adoption. Instead, it’s about building partnerships with teeth — like working alongside their tech partners (think Amazon X) to build something substantial. Here’s the shift: 1. No more hype for hype’s sake We’ve stripped out the “logo on a car” approach. If we’re partnering, it’s to build real tech that people will actually use, not just to buy ad space. 2. Joint go-to-market strategies Instead of grants or marketing budgets, we’re allocating resources to develop technology together. That means headcount, tech builds, and alignment on a shared vision. 3. Utility over exposure The focus is on creating tools that integrate with the blockchain. Think ticketing systems, loyalty programs, or payment options that bring users into the ecosystem. — The industry is maturing. Deals based on vague promises and hype campaigns are fading fast. If you’re a founder or executive navigating blockchain partnerships, focus on utility. Partnerships that build infrastructure and drive adoption will outlast any short-term marketing splash.

The average cost to organizations due to poor data quality is $12.9 million annually. Only about 10% or less of enterprise data is actionable, while it's just 5% for the Telecom sector. The above facts by Gartner aren't limited to business insights. Data Observability plays a crucial role when it comes to operational disruptions, lost opportunities, customer dissatisfaction, and even regulatory compliance issues. As Data Engineers, we often overlook data observability features due to complexity or focus more towards functionality. investing in robust data observability is not just a technical best practice-it’s a strategic imperative, as we build pipelines to ensure data integrity, operational efficiency, and business success. Curious to know why to emphasise on Data Observability? -> Helps in Proactive Issue Detection by identifying and resolving issues before they impact downstream systems and business users. -> Improves Data Quality, ensuring data accuracy, completeness, and reliability. -> Reduces the Downtime by minimizing pipeline failures and accelerating recovery times. -> Optimizes performance by Pinpointing bottlenecks and areas for improvement. -> Builds Trust and confidence in your data pipelines and the insights they generate. I know it's difficult to understand how to implement each of these, below are some practical applications to leverage: ▶️ Early Issue Detection - Detect schema changes before pipeline failures - Identify performance bottlenecks in real-time - Flag data quality issues before downstream impact - Prevent data reliability incidents proactively ▶️ Operational Excellence - Reduces MTTR with precise error diagnostics - Improves SLAs with continuous monitoring - Optimizes resource allocation with usage patterns - Establishes data governance with automated checks All of this helps in implementing robust data observability practices, both to prevent problems before they occur and improve the overall operational efficiency in data pipeline. For data engineers, building pipelines isn't enough; instead we must ensure those pipelines deliver trustworthy data consistently. It is important to maintain good health, quality, and reliability of data as it flows through pipelines Below is an illustration depicting the key features of "Data Observability for Modern Data Pipelines" From a data engineering perspective, comprehensive observability requires instrumentation across: - Source Integrity - Process Monitoring - Data Contracts - Target Validation - Error Intelligence Instead of being reactive troubleshooters, be the proactive system optimizers to detect anomalies and solve them beforehand. What your experience towards Data Observability? Stay tuned for more on DATA with Pooja Jain!! #data #engineering #datagovernance #dataquality

🚨POV: Enterprise teams trying to work with Blockchain & Crypto in 2023… 🤦🏻♂️I’ve been working with decentralised technology and enterprises for 8 years now. And it STILL isn’t easy to deploy DApps and NFTs event though the tech is ‘mature’ 🏀There’s still a bunch of hoops (sorry) that companies need to jump through from internal process perspectives… 👩🏽⚖️…and we STILL don’t have stable and predictable regulation on digital assets, crypto transactions and compliance in most countries today (though many are trying) 💥We even have some nations proposing to ‘wage war’ against crypto. Waging war against code. In 2023!… 📄 Here’s a list of some of the biggest challenges I’ve seen to enterprises using decentralised applications, launching digital assets or NFTs: - Cost of internal process change - Lack of objective business case - Ego of senior leaders - Lack of technical talent - Unclear regulation across multiple jurisdictions where companies operate - Inability to drive network effect - Hype cycle moved to another technology - Key management seemed too hard - Fear of transparency 🙋🏽♂️That last one is the one that worries me a LOT. And is the reason I joined Midnight… 🤬We are using apps today where sensitive data is ingested and monetised in huge volumes. Companies are being pressured to have their operations (not just finances) audited, yet are publishing their results through press releases from Marketing teams. And sensitive data continues to leak on a daily basis… ⛓️Blockchain and DApps can improve a lot of business’s and individuals’ issues with technology today. We just need to make it easier and remove the barriers. 🧠 We need to provide Web3 transparency, compliance with regulations, AND protection of sensitive data and metadata. Together. What’s your biggest blocker to Blockchain adoption? And how do we fix it? 🚀🌔 #blockchain #technology #management #innovation #sustainability

BlackRock didn’t choose Ethereum for its low fees. They chose it for its purchasing power. This report from Elevandi dives into why permissionless blockchains are yet to break through in financial services and what needs to change to make that happen. Here are my key takeaways: 🔶 Financial institutions find blockchain's probabilistic settlement finality a sticking point, preferring deterministic finality for consistent operations. 🔶 Compliance with KYC/AML regulations is challenging without a unified identity standard, though multi-layer solutions are emerging to bridge this gap. 🔶 High transition costs (like exchange fees and tax implications) act as barriers, slowing down public blockchain adoption. 🔶 Risk management standards for public blockchains are demanding, with institutions seeking clearer policies to ensure resilience and trust. 🔶 Transparency on public blockchains conflicts with privacy needs. Advances like Zero-Knowledge Proofs are promising but not yet mainstream. 🔶 Interoperability issues complicate seamless blockchain integration and are a significant factor holding back broader use. We're at a "cloud computing moment" for blockchain in finance. Just as cloud took decades to become standard, blockchain's transformation is inevitable. #Blockchain #FinancialServices #couchonomics #payments #fintech #embeddedfinance #digitalassets #futureofmoney #futureoffinance Couchonomics with Arjun Couchonomics Crunch Fintech Tuesdays - ⁠- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you found the above post useful then please do the following: 👍 Like the post ♻️ Repost to your community 📢 Leave a comment 🎙️ Subscribe to my podcast Couchonomics with Arjun on YouTube 📖 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter Couchonomics Crunch on LinkedIn 🕺💃 If you’re in the MENA region, join our Fintech Community called Fintech Tuesdays 🤝 Connect or Follow me - ⁠- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

🔴 Is it time for luxury companies to hire a Head of Traceability? 👇 Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency about where & how their products are made. 🏭 According to the Fashion Transparency Index 2023, over 50% of the world's largest fashion brands started disclosing info about their supply chains. Regulation is coming, so instead of reacting, brands should use traceability to look ahead. 👗 Tapestry, the owner of Coach and kate spade new york, exemplifies this: they aim to trace 95% of their raw materials by 2025. Initially, the company relied on basic tools, but in 2022, they partnered with TrusTrace to streamline data collection from suppliers. Ninety percent of their suppliers are now onboarded. 🤝 However, building trust with suppliers is challenging. The fashion industry has a history of poor supplier treatment. Professor of supply chain management, Donna Marshall, notes that suppliers remember being blamed for issues. Overcoming this requires a dedicated effort to build positive relationships. 🧑🏫 Tapestry -for example- organizes one-on-one sessions, summits and tailored training programs. They also have a social labor audit program to address issues like working hours and health and safety. 👩✈️ A Head of Traceability can streamline these efforts, providing leadership to navigate regulations and meet consumer expectations. Ralph Lauren & VF Corporation already have dedicated traceability functions. ⭐️ Other luxury brands are advancing their traceability efforts as well. • Cartier uses the Aura Blockchain Consortium for transparency & anti-counterfeiting. • Vacheron Constantin employs Arianee’s digital ID solutions for product provenance. • Gabriela Hearst partners with EON for digital IDs, enabling lifecycle tracking and sustainability insights. 🏷 Smaller brands can integrate traceability into product development from the start. For example, ASKET, a Swedish brand, ensures every product can be traced upstream from the initial sketch. ☠️ But increased transparency can reveal uncomfortable truths as well. Recent revelations about Dior showed that a $2,800 handbag costs only $57 to manufacture, leading to scrutiny. Transparency can expose these issues but also push brands to improve practices, despite risks to reputation and profit margins. 🚀 As the industry evolves, those who prioritize traceability will better meet regulatory demands & earn consumer trust. ➡️ Is transparency the future of luxury? #innovation #sustainability #ESG #retail #luxury #fashion #blockchain

𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 Enterprise Architects often write policies. But leaders remember what they can see. 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀—like many financial giants—invests in real-time data quality dashboards. Data platforms help them 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 across systems, making quality gaps visible before they become costly. The result? ✅ Improved customer data accuracy ✅ Lower compliance risk ✅ Stronger foundations for AI and analytics It’s a shift from governance-on-paper to governance-in-action. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲: ✅ 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 (𝗖𝗗𝗘𝘀) Focus on the handful of fields that drive decisions, compliance, or customer experience. ➡️ How? Track completeness, consistency, and timeliness—then surface issues fast. ✅ 𝟮. 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 A dashboard no one uses is a spreadsheet with colors. Your goal? Shared visibility that drives real accountability. ➡️ How? Show owners, thresholds, and trends—not just scores. ✅ 𝟯. 𝗧𝗶𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 Dashboards are most powerful when they connect data hygiene to real-world results. ➡️ How? Highlight those fewer failed transactions, the faster onboarding, the better regulatory posture. Data governance isn’t just a policy discipline. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. Make it real. Make it actionable. Let your architecture practice 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁. --- ➕ Follow Kevin Donovan 🔔 ♻️ Repost | 💬 Comment | 👍 Like 🚀 Join 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬’ 𝐇𝐮𝐛 – our newsletter & community to enhance skills, meet peers, and level-up your architecture career! Subscribe 👉 https://lnkd.in/dgmQqfu2

This is big news. Google announced the first serious attempt to define payment rules for agentic commerce. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱: ●  A new open protocol (AP2) that defines how AI agents can initiate and complete payments securely on behalf of users. ●  Backed by Google Cloud and a heavyweight consortium of 60+ players including Adyen, American Express, Mastercard, PayPal, Stripe, Visa, Coinbase, Revolut, UnionPay International, Worldpay, Alipay, etc. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀: ●  Builds a chain of trust: users set the rules, agents act within them, and a verifiable record ensures accountability if something goes wrong. ●  Standardises how agents get permission, prove they’re acting legitimately, and stay accountable. ●  Works across all major ways money moves — from cards and bank transfers to wallets, stablecoins, and crypto. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝘀: The rise of agentic commerce has triggered a battle over protocols - major tech and payment players want to to define the rules and position themselves as the gateways for agentic transactions and revenues. Here are the key contenders: ●  A2A (Agent-to-Agent Protocol – Google) Defines how AI agents can talk to each other — exchanging messages, negotiating, and coordinating actions across platforms. It’s about seamless agent-to-agent communication. ●  MCP (Model Context Protocol – Anthropic) Lets AI agents connect to external tools, apps, and data sources in a secure, standardized way. It expands what an agent can “know” and “do” beyond its own model. ●  ACP (Agent Communication Protocol – IBM Research) A framework for multi-agent collaboration, where agents delegate tasks, share knowledge, and work together. It’s broader than payments, focusing on task coordination and cooperation. AP2 is the first to tackle payments. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱: ●  Agents are becoming economic actors – they will soon spend, subscribe, and negotiate on our behalf. And software is becoming the customer. ●  Trust has to be re-architected. Clicks, PINs, and passwords don’t work with agents. Protocols create this new chain of trust for agents. ●  Money rails are fragmented: cards, bank transfers, wallets, stablecoins, crypto, etc. An agentic payments protocol will act as the unifying layer that lets agents move value seamlessly across all of them. ●  History shows that whoever sets the standard (TCP/IP, EMV, OAuth controls the gateways. That’s why the biggest players are piling in now. The foundations of agentic commerce are being laid right now — and protocols are becoming the core infrastructure. Opinions: my own, Video source: Google Cloud Subscribe to my newsletter: https://lnkd.in/dkqhnxdg