Transforming trust in the age of AI with OriginTrail

OriginTrail Decentralized Knowledge Graph (DKG) transforms how data is shared, verified, and connected across industries. The DKG uniquely combines two powerful approaches to artificial intelligence: symbolic AI (represented by knowledge graphs) and neural AI (powered by large language models), and leverages blockchain technology for trust and verification. This architecture creates a secure and connected system where data transforms into actionable assets called Knowledge Assets. Built to scale, the DKG integrates with several blockchains—including NeuroWeb, its Polkadot-based blockchain, designed to enhance scalability and incentivization mechanisms. "NeuroWeb and OriginTrail are two sides of the same coin," explains Jurij Skornik. "NeuroWeb powers the scalability and incentives, while the DKG delivers the trust and data connectivity that industries need. Together, they're transforming how we think about decentralized knowledge and enabling us to build highly connected, reliable, and trusted AI solutions."

Challenge: Overcoming scalability, customization, and trust barriers

As OriginTrail’s enterprise adoption grew, addressing challenges across supply chains, healthcare, decentralized science, and manufacturing, limitations in existing blockchain infrastructure became apparent. Ethereum's cost structure and network congestion created significant operational barriers. More critically, the ecosystem required comprehensive governance frameworks and incentive mechanisms to drive knowledge creation while maintaining seamless cross-chain interoperability. "It quickly became clear that all industries need connected, verifiable data," notes Skornik. "Traditional Web2 technologies weren't completely adequate for meeting enterprise trust requirements."

Such constraints were critical bottlenecks in OriginTrail’s ability to scale and innovate effectively. This led the team to explore alternatives, specifically highlighting the need for a blockchain purpose-built for their goals.

Solution: Building Neuroweb on Polkadot

After evaluating several blockchain platforms, OriginTrail chose to build NeuroWeb—a purpose-built blockchain for the DKG—on Polkadot. Leveraging Polkadot's enterprise-grade infrastructure, this strategic decision delivered immediate operational advantages. Polkadot's shared security model eliminated validator network overhead. At the same time, the Polkadot SDK offered the flexibility needed to implement custom incentive structures, including OriginTrail’s Initial Paranet Offerings (IPOs) that incentivize knowledge creation while preserving public access. NeuroWeb is part of "an open source ecosystem," as Skornik describes, "where organizations can join the DKG, run nodes, and implement verifiable, neuro-symbolic AI solutions." Through Polkadot's cross-consensus messaging (XCM), NeuroWeb enables seamless integration with the wider Polkadot ecosystem, creating a comprehensive enterprise knowledge infrastructure.

Results and impact

NeuroWeb on Polkadot provided a significant scalability boost for OriginTrail, with another 500x-1000x improvement in scalability introduced with the recently launched V8 of the DKG, enabling it to support billions of interconnected knowledge assets. This enterprise-scale knowledge management translates to concrete business outcomes such as verification of 25,000+ Asian factory audits supporting 40% of U.S. imports, end-to-end tracking of medical supplies for 20,000+ patients, and deployment of predictive maintenance systems for Swiss Railways' critical infrastructure. This innovation earned industry recognition at the MIT Decentralized AI Summit, where OriginTrail received the “Best Decentralized AI Project” award, validating their neuro-symbolic approach to blockchain and AI integration.

What’s next

The ecosystem's growth trajectory remains strong. Version 8 of the DKG brings another 500-1000x performance improvement and introduces, among other novelties, Edge Nodes. Edge Nodes empower anyone to mine knowledge on the DKG and build privacy-preserving AI applications on edge devices such as laptops and mobile phones. Strategic expansion continues in key verticals, including Decentralized Science (DeSci), autonomous AI agents and systems, and cross-industry applications. Leveraging Polkadot 2.0 upgrades, including Asynchronous Backing enhancements, OriginTrail is positioned to lead the next generation of enterprise-grade verifiable AI and decentralized knowledge systems. The combination of symbolic AI (decentralized knowledge graphs) with neural AI (large language models) and blockchains enables the creation of verifiable AI solutions that meet enterprise trust requirements, with Polkadot serving as the critical bridge between innovation and enterprise adoption.