Aug 26, 2024 12:08:00

Sony Announces Ethereum Layer 2 Blockchain 'Soneium'

Sony Block Solutions Labs , a Sony group company that aims to build network infrastructure using blockchain technology, has announced that it has developed ' Soneium' , a blockchain infrastructure network that will serve as the foundation for Web3 . Soneium functions as an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, and by building a network on the existing Ethereum Layer 1 and handling data processing, it can solve issues that arise in Layer 1, such as slower data processing speeds and increased fees.

Sony Group Portal - Development of Blockchain 'Soneium™'
https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/News/Press/202408/24-029E/

Sony Group Portal | News Release | Development of Blockchain 'Soneium™'
https://www.sony.com/ja/SonyInfo/News/Press/202408/24-029/

Introducing Soneium by Sony Block Solutions Labs for the Future of Web3 | Soneium
https://soneium.org/en/blog/introducing-soneium-by-sony-block-solutions-labs-for-the-future-of-web3/

Sony Group and Startale unveil Soneium blockchain to accelerate Web3 innovation | VentureBeat
https://venturebeat.com/games/sony-group-and-startale-unveil-soneium-blockchain-to-accelerate-web3-innovation/

Sony's Long-Awaited Ethereum Layer-2 Chain to Launch in Coming Weeks - Decrypt
https://decrypt.co/246071/sonys-long-awaited-ethereum-layer-2-chain-launch-coming-weeks

Sony to launch Ethereum L2 Soneium to 'realize the open internet'
https://cryptobriefing.com/sony-ethereum-l2-soneium/

Sony's Soneium Ethereum Layer-2 Launch | Bitcoin Insider
https://www.bitcoininsider.org/article/257266/sonys-soneium-ethereum-layer-2-launch

The Internet has contributed to improving convenience around the world, but the vast amount of information and the Internet economy have become centralized. Web3 is a technology that makes it possible to decentralize the power of the centralized Internet. At the time of writing, users of Web3 technologies and services are limited to a few core users, but the creation of overwhelming use cases to popularize them to the general public is eagerly awaited.

In this context, Sony Block Solutions Labs is developing Soneium. Soneium is a public blockchain with an open network that anyone can join, without limiting participants. 'By developing blockchain, which is the basic infrastructure of Web3, we will be able to provide comprehensive Web3 solutions from infrastructure to the application layer, rather than just providing partial services,' Sony explains.

End users can access Soneium through applications that are compatible with the Soneium network, and can use the Web3 games and marketplaces for buying and selling NFTs provided by each app, as well as entertainment-related services. Because Soneium is based on blockchain technology, activity history on the app can be managed in a decentralized and more self-sovereign manner than the traditional Internet. Each app can be accessed from a wallet.

In addition to existing Web3 service-related apps that will be supported in the future, new services in collaboration with Sony Group businesses are being considered as apps that can be used with Soneium. They are also working on creating use cases that can arouse interest from people who have never used Web3 services, expanding creators' creativity by using Web3 technology, and strengthening engagement with fan communities. They are also considering new mechanisms for protecting the creative rights created by creators, new revenue distribution mechanisms to support creators and fans, and places where creators can be active across the digital and real worlds.

Soneium is planned to provide developers and creators with easy-to-use, efficient, and cost-effective tools and environments. Sony also announced that it will soon open a Soneium ' testnet ' for app developers. The purpose of this testnet is to co-create apps using Soneium technology with developers inside and outside the Sony Group, and in the future, consideration will be given to the public release of the 'mainnet' along with the apps developed on the testnet.

According to a report from technology media VentureBeat, Soneium will be built on the Superchain of Optimism (OP Mainnet), Ethereum's Layer 2 scaling solution. This will aim to expand the capacity of the Superchain to the scale of the Internet, putting Soneium at the forefront of Ethereum's scaling efforts.

In addition, leading Web3 companies such as Optimism, Circle, Alchemy, The Graph, and Chainlink will participate as technology launch partners in preparation for the launch of Soneium's testnet. In addition, Soneium's testnet will be launched through a special partnership with Astar Network, which will be an important step in bridging various blockchain ecosystems and expanding Soneium's capabilities.

As part of this integration, Astar zkEVM will integrate its assets' underlying infrastructure with Soneium. This strategic initiative aims to provide Soneium with an initial boost in liquidity and a diverse range of fungible and non-fungible digital assets. This will not only create a burgeoning ecosystem from day one, but also demonstrate the interoperability and collaborative nature of the project.