diff --git a/docs/architecture/persistence-ownership.md b/docs/architecture/persistence-ownership.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a81fd0b1c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/architecture/persistence-ownership.md
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Graph Persistence Ownership
+
+Status: adopted for the Core/Extensions split. Reviewed 2026-10-24.
+
+ARGI Core owns the graph persistence contracts and reference implementations.
+This repository owns optional durable backends and their operational behavior.
+The decision is tracked with Core issue
+[#190](https://github.com/agentic-ai-java/argi/issues/190).
+
+## Owned modules
+
+| Module | Owner scope | Core contract consumed |
+| --- | --- | --- |
+| `argi-graph-persistence-jdbc` | H2, MySQL, PostgreSQL and Oracle checkpoint savers and `DatabaseStore` | `BaseCheckpointSaver`, `Store`, serializers |
+| `argi-graph-persistence-mongodb` | MongoDB checkpoint saver | `BaseCheckpointSaver`, serializers |
+| `argi-graph-persistence-redis` | Redis checkpoint saver, versioned CAS, leases, Redis Store and RunStore | checkpoint, lease and runtime contracts |
+
+These modules are the only maintenance locations for durable JDBC, MongoDB and
+Redis graph persistence. Backend schemas, keys, transaction behavior, driver
+versions, leases, retention and recovery tests stay here.
+
+## Compatibility rules
+
+- The modules consume `argi-loop-core`; no module depends on the removed
+  `argi-graph-core` coordinate for the persistence path.
+- Existing Java package names in the Extensions adapters remain unchanged.
+- Existing checkpoint fields, serializer markers, database table names, Redis
+  keys, namespace encoding and configuration meanings remain unchanged.
+- The old Core backend classes are removed rather than kept as a second
+  implementation. Consumers migrate to the Extensions artifacts listed in the
+  module table.
+- Cross-version compatibility tests may use the last published graph artifact
+  as a test-only historical writer; it is never a production dependency.
+- The Extensions BOM must publish the persistence modules with the matching
+  Core version.
+
+## Required backend evidence
+
+Each module must keep tests for history/release, retention, serializer
+compatibility, concurrent access and backend restart behavior. Redis additionally
+must cover revision CAS, lease fencing and durable RunStore commit semantics.
+Tests that require PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB or Redis must clearly
+remain integration tests; an in-memory mock is not evidence of backend
+durability.
+
+## Deliberate non-goals
+
+This migration does not rename `graph-persistence` artifacts, change wire
+formats, change serializer ownership, or move the neutral `Store` and
+`CheckpointSaver` contracts into Extensions. It also does not update unrelated
+Extensions consumers of the historical graph coordinate; those belong to their
+own migration tasks.
diff --git a/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-jdbc/pom.xml b/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-jdbc/pom.xml
index 7d4d96bea..4342bb057 100644
--- a/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-jdbc/pom.xml
+++ b/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-jdbc/pom.xml
@@ -41,10 +41,17 @@
     </properties>
 
     <dependencies>
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
+            <artifactId>argi-loop-core</artifactId>
+            <version>${argi.loop.version}</version>
+        </dependency>
+
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
             <artifactId>argi-graph-core</artifactId>
             <version>${argi.version}</version>
+            <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
 
         <dependency>
diff --git a/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-mongodb/pom.xml b/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-mongodb/pom.xml
index 81cb2283e..d0a68ed22 100644
--- a/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-mongodb/pom.xml
+++ b/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-mongodb/pom.xml
@@ -37,10 +37,17 @@
     </scm>
 
     <dependencies>
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
+            <artifactId>argi-loop-core</artifactId>
+            <version>${argi.loop.version}</version>
+        </dependency>
+
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
             <artifactId>argi-graph-core</artifactId>
             <version>${argi.version}</version>
+            <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
 
         <dependency>
diff --git a/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-redis/pom.xml b/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-redis/pom.xml
index 376dcb41f..26707f702 100644
--- a/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-redis/pom.xml
+++ b/graph-persistence/argi-graph-persistence-redis/pom.xml
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@
     <dependencies>
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
-            <artifactId>argi-graph-core</artifactId>
-            <version>${argi.version}</version>
+            <artifactId>argi-loop-core</artifactId>
+            <version>${argi.loop.version}</version>
         </dependency>
 
         <dependency>
@@ -49,11 +49,18 @@
             <version>${redisson.version}</version>
         </dependency>
 
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
+            <artifactId>argi-loop-core</artifactId>
+            <version>${argi.loop.version}</version>
+            <type>test-jar</type>
+            <scope>test</scope>
+        </dependency>
+
         <dependency>
             <groupId>io.github.agentic-ai-java</groupId>
             <artifactId>argi-graph-core</artifactId>
             <version>${argi.version}</version>
-            <type>test-jar</type>
             <scope>test</scope>
         </dependency>
 
diff --git a/pom.xml b/pom.xml
index e87d24c80..18172bec4 100644
--- a/pom.xml
+++ b/pom.xml
@@ -157,6 +157,8 @@
         <!-- ARGI Version -->
         <revision>2.1.0-RC2-SNAPSHOT</revision>
         <argi.version>2.1.0-RC1</argi.version>
+        <argi.loop.version>2.1.0-RC2-SNAPSHOT</argi.loop.version>
+        <argi.loop.version>2.1.0-RC2-SNAPSHOT</argi.loop.version>
 
         <!-- Maven project basic config -->
         <java.version>17</java.version>