Sony presents Soneium: A new blockchain

Sony Block Solution Labs, a joint venture between Sony Group and Startale Labs, has announced the development of its new blockchain infrastructure, Soneium™. This layer 2 Ethereum blockchain aims to become the foundation for web3 applications in various sectors, including entertainment, gaming, and finance.

What is Soneium™?

Soneium™ is a public blockchain designed to decentralize the concentrated power of traditional Internet and make web3 technologies accessible for everyday use. By leveraging blockchain technology, Soneium™ seeks to provide comprehensive web3 solutions, from infrastructure to application layers, fostering a more decentralized and autonomous digital ecosystem.

The development of Soneium™ reflects Sony's commitment to integrating web3 technology into its wide range of businesses and intellectual properties. The blockchain will be open and public, allowing anyone to participate and develop applications on its network.

Key features and collaborations

Soneium™ will utilize Optimist Rollup technology through Optimism's OP Stack, enabling more cost-effective and efficient transactions on networks built on Ethereum. This infrastructure will also connect with other networks in the ecosystem through the "Superchain," a feature that enables interoperability between different blockchain networks.

Sony Block Solutions Labs has partnered with several major Web3 companies, including Optimism, Circle, Alchemy, The Graph, and Chainlink, to enhance Soneium's capabilities. These collaborations are expected to strengthen the functionality of the blockchain and provide developers with robust tools to create compatible and innovative applications.

A vision for the future

The launch of Soneium™ is part of a broader strategy by Sony to bring web3 technologies to the general public. Initially, the focus will be on incorporating Web3 developers and enthusiasts to build the ecosystem. In the coming years, Sony plans to integrate web3 and blockchain technologies across its diverse range of products, including Sony Bank, Sony Music, and Sony Pictures.

Jun Watanabe, President of Sony Block Solutions Labs, emphasized the importance of creating web3 use cases that can enrich people's lives and stated, "Our goal is to develop diverse businesses and new use cases that provide unique value to the customer through Web3 technology, reaching as many users as possible."

Sota Watanabe, Director of Sony Block Solutions Labs, highlighted the gradual approach to the adoption of Soneium: "In the first year, our goal is to onboard Web3 developers. By the second year, we will start integrating Sony products with blockchain technology, and within three years, we hope to onboard businesses and decentralized applications in general to the platform."

Upcoming Events and Test Network Launch

Soneium™ will be launched on a test network in the coming days, with a teaser on its X channel suggesting it will be on August 28 here, and plans to offer developers the opportunity to experiment with blockchain capabilities. This test network will be used to create applications in collaboration with developers inside and outside the Sony Group, paving the way for the final launch of the Soneium™ main network.

Jun Watanabe and Sota Watanabe will speak about Soneium™ and its

Future direction in upcoming events, including WebX in Tokyo on August 28 and 29 and Token2049 in Singapore on September 18 and 19.

The introduction of Soneium™ is part of Sony's ongoing exploration of Web3 technologies. Sony has been actively integrating blockchain and NFTs into its operations, with previous initiatives such as the "NFT framework for transferring and using digital assets between gaming platforms" demonstrating its commitment to the space.

Japan, Sony's home country, has also supported advances in Web3, with government initiatives aimed at boosting investments in Web3 startups. Sony's foray into blockchain with Soneium™ aligns with this national trend, positioning the company as a leader in the adoption and development of Web3 technologies. For more information on Sony's launch and upcoming steps, visit the official Soneium website.