Sony Block Solutions Labs, a subsidiary of the Sony Group, has announced its plans to develop Soneium, an Ethereum Layer-2 network aimed at accelerating the adoption of blockchain technology. The collaboration with blockchain infrastructure provider Startale aims to bridge blockchain technology (Web3) with everyday internet services.
The unveiling of Soneium marks Sony’s continued expansion into the digital asset space, following the acquisition of Amber Japan’s WhaleFin exchange. The tech giant hinted at launching a crypto exchange in July and plans to rename and relaunch the exchange in the near future.
Soneium is envisioned as a versatile, general-purpose blockchain with competitive features that combine elements from entertainment, gaming, finance, and other sectors. Leveraging the Op Stack and Superchain developed by the Optimism Foundation, the network will launch a testnet in the coming weeks to provide developers with hands-on experience.
Several crypto protocols, including Chainlink and the Astar network, have already joined the project as launch partners. Astar’s zkEVM solution will transition into Soneium, with its native ASTR token playing a crucial role in the planned layer-2 solution.
Jun Watanabe, Chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, emphasized Soneium’s potential to introduce blockchain technology to a global audience by leveraging Sony’s extensive reach across entertainment, finance, electronics, and gaming. Integrating with Sony Group services will help attract users unfamiliar with Web3.
Layer-2 networks, designed to enhance mainnet scalability and speed, have seen significant success in the past year. Leading crypto firms, including Coinbase, have launched their networks and garnered massive community adoption, with about 89% of blockchain transactions now occurring on these platforms.
While layer-2 networks have improved Ethereum’s scalability, some critics argue that their expansion could negatively impact the network in the long run. These networks have driven Ethereum transaction fees to three-year lows and may challenge ETH’s narrative as “ultrasound money.”
Overall, Sony’s introduction of Soneium reflects the growing importance of layer-2 solutions in the blockchain space and highlights the tech giant’s commitment to advancing blockchain technology for a global audience.
