Sony Group, in partnership with Startale, has launched Soneium, a public Layer 2 Ethereum blockchain. This development is part of Sony’s strategic expansion into the blockchain ecosystem, leveraging its extensive distribution networks in entertainment, gaming, finance, and electronics. Soneium aims to mainstream Web3 technologies and integrate them into everyday consumer applications, promising to enhance user experience with the benefits of blockchain.
“Soneium, from Sony Block Solutions Labs, is building a next-generation Ethereum Layer 2 public blockchain ecosystem designed to invoke emotions and empower creativity. Soneium will connect blockchain technology (Web3) with everyday internet services (Web2). This connection will make things easier for users, helping more people start using blockchain,” the official said. advertisement read.
Sony aims to bring Ethereum to the general public
Soneium was developed as an Ethereum layer 2 solution that builds on top of Ethereum’s existing infrastructure. It uses the Op Stack developed by the Optimism Foundation to improve scalability and efficiency, while maintaining compatibility with Ethereum’s security features. This aims to address the issues of slow processing speeds and high transaction costs often associated with Ethereum layer 1 solutions.
Jun Watanabe, President of Sony Block Solutions Labs, explained the strategic importance of the new blockchain solution: “We believe that the development of a comprehensive blockchain-based Web3 solution is very significant for the Sony Group, which has developed a wide variety of businesses under its purpose of ‘Filling the world with excitement, through the power of creativity and technology.’”
Soneium is designed to be a versatile, general-purpose blockchain that can meet a wide range of needs across different industries and user bases globally. The goal is to create a robust, developer-friendly environment that supports innovation and empowers communities, creators, and developers.
It is worth noting that Sony is bringing something to the Ethereum ecosystem that no other company has done on this scale. “The industry has been creating something that people in the web3 want due to the lack of general touchpoints with users and their feedback. Sony Group has strong distribution channels across multiple industries and existing users in our daily lives. Through Soneium, we will create something that people want and reach the general public beyond the industry.” web3“Watanabe said.
Soneium plans to support the creation of innovative applications that push the boundaries of what blockchain technology can achieve. This includes a combination of entertainment, gaming, finance, and other applications that leverage the unique properties of blockchain to deliver new types of user experiences.
Soneium’s development environment is being adapted to meet the needs of modern blockchain developers. Soneium plans to offer a fully-featured testnet environment that mirrors mainnet conditions, allowing for thorough testing and fine-tuning of projects.
Sony and its partners are committed to ensuring that developers and creators have the tools they need to succeed. “We believe in giving developers and creators the tools they need to succeed,” said Sota Watanabe, Director of Sony Block Solutions Labs. Extensive documentation and third-party tools will be made available to developers to enable them to easily get started and move forward with their projects.
In terms of partnerships, Sony has announced collaborations with several key entities in the blockchain and Web3 space, including OptimismChain, Alchemy, Circle Internet Financial and The Graph. These partnerships aim to bring diverse technologies and services to the Soneium ecosystem, enriching the platform’s capabilities and ensuring it becomes a hub for innovation and user engagement.
Ryan Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at Optimism Unlimited, reflected on the significance of Sony’s entry into the blockchain space: “Like other global giants, Sony Group has chosen Optimism’s OP Stack and is entering the Superchain, joining its growing network of chains. As part of the Superchain, Soneium will contribute network revenue to the Optimism Collective, further supporting its ever-expanding ecosystem.”
The launch of the Soneium testnet is an imminent step that will allow developers to have their first hands-on experience with the platform. Sony plans to release detailed technical documentation and tools in the coming weeks to support community participation in the testnet.
“As a first step towards realizing our mission, we will be launching the Soneium testnet in the coming days. Developers and creators will be able to start experiencing the Soneium development environment and begin building their own applications on the testnet. We will then reveal the details of the testnet ahead of its launch,” the press release reveals.
At the time of writing, Ethereum was trading at $2,677.
Featured image by Unsplash/Nikita Kostrykin, chart by TradingView.com
