Blockchain-based Data Lifecycle in Data Spaces

Modern data ecosystems require governance mechanisms that ensure trust, accountability, and sovereignty across organizational boundaries. In this context, data spaces have emerged as a federated model for data sharing, while blockchain provides a decentralized infrastructure for verifiable and tamper-evident governance. This paper proposes a blockchain-enabled framework for managing the data lifecycle in federated data spaces by integrating verifiable evidence management into each stage, from data creation to withdrawal. The approach positions blockchain as a distributed trust layer that complements data space middleware, enabling governance rules to be enforced and audited through smart contracts. A proof-of-concept implementation within the EU-funded NOUS project empirically validates the framework, demonstrating incremental development and improving scalability and reliability in multi-node environments. The proposed architecture contributes to trustworthy and sovereign European data ecosystems, providing a foundation for transparent lifecycle governance and sustainable value creation in the emerging data economy.