Sony Group Unveils Blockchain "Soneium" for Web3 Development

Tokyo, Japan—Sony Block Solution Labs, a joint venture of Sony Group, has developed a new blockchain called "Soneium" to expand Web3 use cases, the company announced on Monday.

Soneium, a public blockchain with an open network, is designed to serve as infrastructure for Web3 applications. 

The company plans to explore making the network publicly available in the future.

The blockchain will allow users to access Web3 games, NFT marketplaces, and entertainment-related services through Soneium-compatible applications. 

Sony Block Solutions Labs intends to leverage various businesses and intellectual property within the Sony Group to create new services.

Jun Watanabe, Chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, said Sony Group considers developing a comprehensive Web3 solution based on blockchain "very significant."

The company will soon release a "testnet" for developers to co-create applications using Soneium's technology. Plans for a public "mainnet" are in development.

Sony Block Solutions Labs aims to create applications that can be used daily by people new to Web3, utilizing services such as the crypto asset trading platform operated by Sony Group's S.BLOX Inc.

Soneium is a Layer 2 solution for Ethereum, built using OP Stack developed by Optimism Foundation. 

The blockchain is designed to be scalable, EVM-compatible, and developer-friendly.

Sony Block Solutions Labs, established in October 2023, is a joint venture with Startale Labs Pte. Ltd., focusing on building new network infrastructure using blockchain technology.