- Sony’s Soneium, a Layer 2 blockchain on Ethereum, aims to connect gaming, finance, and entertainment with a user-friendly approach.
- Built on Optimism’s OP Stack, Soneium ensures fast, low-cost transactions, joining networks like Coinbase’s Base and Kraken’s Ink.
- Optimism has historically awarded significant grants, such as 118M OP tokens to Coinbase, fueling competition with rivals like Polygon and Arbitrum.
Sony, the iconic 78-year-old Japanese electronics powerhouse, is diving headfirst into blockchain. On Tuesday, the company announced Soneium, a new general-purpose blockchain platform designed to connect the worlds of gaming, finance, and entertainment.
Developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs (SBSL), a partnership between Sony Group and Singapore-based Startale Labs, Soneium operates as a Layer 2 network on Ethereum. The platform’s launch follows a rigorous four-month test phase, involving participation from 14 million wallets.
Bridging Web2 and Web3 with Soneium
Soneium’s goal is ambitious: bridge the gap between traditional Web2 audiences and the emerging Web3 ecosystem. In a statement shared with CoinDesk, SBSL described the platform as a user-friendly gateway to blockchain technology, simplifying interactions for creators, fans, and communities.
“We’re evolving Web3 from a niche tech hobby into something people use every day,” SBSL said. By focusing on usability, Sony aims to make blockchain less intimidating for mainstream users while opening new avenues for creators to connect with their audiences.
Optimism’s OP Stack: The Backbone of Soneium
Sony’s Soneium is built on Optimism’s OP Stack, a highly customizable framework that uses optimistic rollups to process transactions on Ethereum efficiently and affordably. Sony isn’t alone in choosing this technology—other major players like Coinbase, Kraken, Uniswap, and Worldcoin also leverage OP Stack for their Layer 2 networks.
The Optimism Foundation, which oversees OP Stack development, has been known to offer lucrative grants to companies adopting its technology. While SBSL declined to share details about its potential grant, historical data shows these deals can be substantial.
- In August 2023, Coinbase received up to 118 million OP tokens, valued at $192 million at current prices, for using OP Stack to power its Base chain.
- Kraken followed suit in January 2024, earning 25 million OP tokens, worth approximately $42 million today, to integrate OP Stack for its Ink network.
Competitors like Polygon and Arbitrum are also offering similar incentives, fueling fierce competition to establish dominant ecosystems of interconnected blockchains.
Final Thoughts: Sony’s Vision for Soneium
Sony’s foray into blockchain with Soneium marks another step in traditional tech companies embracing Web3. By leveraging proven technologies like Optimism’s OP Stack and focusing on user-centric design, Sony hopes to transform blockchain from a niche curiosity into an integral part of daily life.
With the platform’s mainnet now live, all eyes are on Sony to see if it can deliver on its promise to revolutionize media and entertainment through blockchain. This isn’t just another experiment—it’s a statement of intent for the future.
