The Blockchain Solution for the World’s Most Problematic Minerals

Nov 7, 2025 | Andrew Kaminsky
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Minerals change hands many times as they move from mine to smelter to manufacturer. By the time they reach the company that makes auto parts, battery components, or solar panels, nobody really knows where the minerals came from. Not knowing the origin wouldn’t be a problem, except that some mines operate using child labor, forced labor, environmental negligence or no legal standing. In some regions, mining minerals like tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold is also significant source of revenue for violent armed groups, resulting in what’s known as, “conflict minerals.”