A Survey on Decentralized Knowledge Graph Evolution using Blockchain Technology

Abstract

Graph-based knowledge representations have emerged as powerful tools for organizing interconnected information sourced from heterogeneous data environments. However, when contributing parties span multiple organizations with varying levels of mutual trust, maintaining and evolving such graphs in a coordinated manner poses significant challenges. Traditional centralized management platforms, while operationally convenient, tend to create systemic vulnerabilities including single points of failure, inadequate transparency mechanisms, and insufficient mechanisms for verifiable data lineage. In contrast, blockchain-based infrastructures offer compelling properties for managing distributed knowledge systems, including tamperevident ledgers, peer-driven transaction verification, cryptographic authenticity assurance, and rule-based automation via programmable contracts. This paper surveys contemporary research that intersects graph-based knowledge management with distributed ledger technology, examining methods for decentralized identity management, contract-driven governance, and multi-party data coordination. The survey analyzes currently deployed systems, highlights their shortcomings, and introduces a conceptual architecture that supports authenticated graph modifications, auditable data lineage, and permission-governed knowledge exchange across organizational boundaries. Key technical obstacles including on-chain storage constraints, retrieval latency, cross-system compatibility, confidentiality, and throughput limitations are systematically examined. The findings indicate that when blockchain components are thoughtfully integrated with off-chain graph repositories and optimized validation pipelines, decentralized approaches can substantially improve accountability and trustworthiness in collaborative knowledge ecosystems.