Soneium blockchain launches as Sony dives deeper into NFT and crypto space

Sony taps into the decentralized internet with Soneium, merging blockchain with entertainment for enhanced creativity and innovation.

Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

Sony has officially launched the mainnet of Soneium, its Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, according to a Jan. 14 statement shared with CryptoSlate.

Soneium leverages the OP Stack infrastructure developed by the Optimism Foundation and prioritizes streamlined blockchain experiences. Its ecosystem includes Sony’s NFT-focused fan engagement platform, created by SNFT Inc., and the Soneium Spark incubator to support emerging projects.

The blockchain gained traction during its testnet phase, where Soneium Minato hosted over 32 projects selected from 1,700 entries for the Spark incubation program. Additional apps developed independently span entertainment, gaming, social platforms, and finance, contributing to a network that now boasts over 14 million accounts and 47 million transactions.

Sony positions Soneium as a foundational layer for a decentralized internet. The platform aims to connect Web2 audiences with Web3 technologies, enabling inclusive participation while empowering creators with tools to safeguard intellectual property and foster innovative ideas.

Sota Watanabe, Director of Sony Block Solutions Labs, said:

“Our vision with Soneium is simple but ambitious: to build an open internet where creativity flows freely and fairly, and to empower the next wave of users to embrace web3.”

Sony’s new projects

Beyond the mainnet launch of Soneium, Sony also revealed that it was introducing two new projects into the crypto ecosystem, including a fan marketing platform and an S. Blox exchange.

Fan Marketing Platform by SNFT Inc.

The platform is designed to enable brands, creators, and enterprises to use NFTs for fan engagement and marketing.

The tool simplifies NFT issuance and data analysis, offering an integrated web-based wallet with social login. This approach lowers barriers for new users, ensuring seamless participation in Web3 activities.

Sony also plans to pilot the platform with its entertainment subsidiaries, creating NFTs on the Soneium network to deliver value and deepen fan engagement.

The project will launch in February 2025.

S.BLOX Exchange Services

S.BLOX Inc. has launched a revamped crypto asset exchange platform, replacing “WhaleFin” with an improved interface and broader currency support. A new mobile app is being developed to enhance user experience.

S.BLOX is offering BTC rewards for new accounts and trades to celebrate the launch alongside an NFT distribution campaign in February 2025.

The exchange service, available exclusively in Japan, aims to foster innovation within the Soneium ecosystem.

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