Empowering Global Supply Chains Through Blockchain-Based Platforms: New Evidence from the Coffee Industry

Tommaso Agnola, Luca Ambrosini, Edoardo Beretta and Giuliano Gremlich
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Tommaso Agnola: Dipartimento Tecnologie Innovative, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 6962 Lugano, Switzerland
Luca Ambrosini: Dipartimento Tecnologie Innovative, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 6962 Lugano, Switzerland
Giuliano Gremlich: Dipartimento Tecnologie Innovative, Scuola Universitaria Professionale della Svizzera Italiana, 6962 Lugano, Switzerland

FinTech, 2025, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-30

Abstract: Global supply chains, especially in commodity trading, are plagued by fragmentation, lack of transparency, and trust deficits among participants. These issues lead to inefficiencies, increased costs, and an over-reliance on intermediaries. The present Communication describes a blockchain-based platform that leverages Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) to address these challenges in supply chain management. Developed in collaboration with coffee industry stakeholders, our approach proposes a platform with an integrated marketplace for seller discovery, enables precise order definition with detailed terms and conditions, and actively guides both buyers and sellers throughout the shipping process, managing financial guarantees and ensuring a secure transaction flow. The platform is compatible with both traditional banking infrastructure and modern crypto-based systems, enabling seamless financial transactions. In cases where disputes arise, we empower users to easily collect all communications and documents to present to legal authorities, expediting the resolution process. The platform is implemented using the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP) for secure, on-chain storage and application hosting, and is integrated with the Ethereum blockchain to leverage its extensive decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, significant liquidity, and robust stablecoin infrastructure, thereby facilitating secure financial transactions. Moreover, we introduce an SSI-based authentication and authorization framework that spans across the entire platform, including both the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), enabling unified role-based access control through verifiable credentials. A value-added of the present Communication, the framework is demonstrated by means of a detailed case study in the coffee industry, highlighting the technical challenges addressed during implementation. While quantitative efficiency metrics will be established through upcoming real-world testing with industry partners, the platform’s design aims to streamline operations by reducing intermediary dependencies and automating key processes. Finally, the Communication provides insights into its adaptability to other industries facing comparable supply chain challenges, presenting an approach focused on enhancing trust and reducing reliance on intermediaries.

Keywords: blockchain-based platform; Ethereum; global supply chains; internet computer protocol (ICP); peer-to-peer negotiation; self-sovereign identity (SSI); verifiable credential (VC) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C6 F3 G O3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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