Supply Chain Resilience in Emerging Technologies by Professor Kish Parella, Washington and Lee School of Law

On 12 August 2025, the Centre for Banking & Finance Law hosted Professor Kish Parella from  Washington and Lee University School of Law, United States, who presented on the topic, ‘Supply Chain Resilience in Emerging Technologies.’

The US has announced a series of critical and emerging technology plans to bolster national security, one of which is the establishment of a federal strategic reserve of cryptocurrency. Professor Parella noted that achieving this national security goal depends on the resilience of two types of supply chains within the Bitcoin mining industry: analogue supply chains (hardware components) and data supply chains (software components). She further elaborated on four distinct but complementary dimensions for assessing the resilience of these supply chains – diversity, sustainability, security and transparency.

Professor Parella provided insights into key risks that could lead to disruption in analogue supply chains or damage to software computing components, including environmental, geopolitical, operational and reputational risks. These risks fall into two segments: primary risks from mining hardware manufacturers or direct contributors to Bitcoin protocol, and secondary risks from chip foundries or end users and socio-technical systems. On this basis, she discussed a framework of corporate governance, asset management and disclosure requirements, which has important implications for market actors, investors and policymakers.

Professor Parella also highlighted several cases relating to board governance of human rights to illustrate the relationship between sustainability and supply chain resilience. The seminar ended with a question and answer session.

Professor Parella profile may be found here.