Sony has officially launched its Ethereum Layer 2 platform, Soneium, following a testing period that lasted four months and drew in over 14 million users, the company announced Monday.
Developed by subsidiary Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL), the platform is designed to simplify blockchain interactions for creators and their audiences through tools like NFT-based fan engagement systems and an incubator program called Soneium Spark.
Its testnet phase began in August last year and processed some 50 million transactions, according to figures from Blockscout.
The activity averaged 3.3 transactions per address and peaked with 667,508 daily transactions on November 6, 2024, Blockscout told Decrypt.
Additionally, the platform recorded 12,600 verified smart contracts, highlighting strong developer engagement and ecosystem growth during the testing period.
USDC Is Now Supported on Sony Ethereum L2 Soneium
Stablecoin issuer Circle had added support for its Bridged USDC Standard on Sony's Ethereum layer-2 network Soneium. Sony Block Solutions Labs to integrate Bridged USDC Standard on Soneium, a public Ethereum layer 2 blockchain ecosystem. The partnership with Sony Block Solutions Labs, the team behind the new L2, will make USDC one of the primary tokens for value exchange on the platform, according to a joint statement from the companies. The integration of bridged USDC is expected to ease the c...
Built on Ethereum layer-2 technology from the Optimism Foundation, Soneium leverages the OP Stack and Superchain architecture to deliver what it describes as a "blockchain that evokes emotion and empowers creativity,” a statement from the project shared with Decrypt reads.
The platform's development points to a shift in how major entertainment companies approach Web3.
Rather than focusing solely on NFTs or digital collectibles, Sony BSL says it is building infrastructure to support broader creator economies and is poised to leverage the Soneium platform across its subsidiaries for films, music, and games.
The Soneium Spark incubation program demonstrated this approach, selecting 32 applications from over 1,700 applicants.
Ethereum Layer-2 Networks Are Raking in Millions—With Base Leading the Way
Base, the Ethereum layer-2 scaling network launched by top U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase, generated more than $6 million in on-chain profits in May, making it the most profitable layer-2 network while topping the likes of Blast and Optimism in the process. Base’s surging profits have been fueled by a rapid increase in total value locked (TVL), according to L2BEAT, in turn driven by Ethereum’s implementation of EIP-4844 and proto-danksharding via the anticipated Dencun upgrade in March. According...
While not all projects will debut immediately, the selection process revealed strong developer interest in building on entertainment-focused blockchains.
Looking ahead, Sony BSL plans to explore new frameworks for protecting creator rights and mechanisms for equitable value distribution between creators and fans. The company aims to bridge Web2 and Web3 through user-centric design and real-world applications.
Sony BSL emerged as a joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Startale Group Pte. Ltd., established in Singapore in 2023. The company, originally named Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd., rebranded to Sony Block Solutions Labs in August 2024.
Edited by Sebastian Sinclair
Editor's note: This story was updated after publication to add stats provided by Blockscout, as well as remove inaccurate comments from Startale Group founder and CEO Sota Watanabe.
