Can Blockchain Decentralize Education? A Systematic Review of Challenges and Pathways

Context The blockchain technology has become a secure, transparent, and decentralized infrastructure in data handling and its potential in the education sector has gained more and more attention especially in securing academic records, preventing credential fraud, and enhancing confidence in the verification procedures. Nonetheless, regardless of this interest, there is a lack of synthesis of the way in which blockchain is being implemented into real educational environment and the challenge that hinder its use. Objectives The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic review of applications of blockchain in education, determine the main areas of its implementation, evaluate the advantages and limitations mentioned in the literature, and offer recommendations to subsequent research and real‐world implementation. Methods The systematic literature review was carried out according to the methodology suggested by Okoli and Schabram. A total of 64 peer‐reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2025 were analyzed. Results The results showed that blockchain is mostly utilized in credential and certificate management, microcredential and credit transfer, competency and assessment tracking, and secure collaborative e‐learning, with other applications in copyright protection and decentralized examination systems. Compared with conventional educational technologies, blockchain enables tamper‐evident records, independently verifiable credentials, and reduced verification costs through cryptographic auditability and decentralized trust. Contributions This review provides a consolidated evidence base on blockchain‐enabled education, highlighting realistic implementation opportunities, such as QR‐hash diplomas and inter‐institution credit exchanges, while emphasizing the need for privacy‐preserving architectures and shared governance standards. The findings support researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to assess and promote safe, reliable, and effective blockchain‐based learning ecosystems.