Sony Block Solutions Labs just announced it has launched a testnet of a new Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain.
‘Soneium,’ the L2 blockchain from Sony, will focus on decentralization, scalability, efficiency, and user-friendliness as it aims to accelerate the mass-adoption of Web3. According to a press release shared with Rarity Sniper, the blockchain will be used to support entertainment, finance, gaming apps, and more.
To begin, Sonieum will explore new initiatives and projects for businesses within the Sony Group. Some pivotal areas include new mechanisms to foster equitable profit-sharing for fans and creators, and rights protection for content creators.
Jun Watanabe, the Chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, said “the development of a comprehensive Web3 solution based on blockchain is very significant to the Sony Group.” She added, “We will work to create diverse businesses and new use cases with the aim of delivering customer value that can only be enjoyed through Web3 technology to as many users as possible….”
The Soneium blockchain leverages the Optimism Foundation’s OP stack, which is EVM-compatible and scalable. Unsurprisingly, a slew of Web3 companies are teaming up with Soneium for its testnet launch, including Circle, Optimism, The Graph, Chainlink, Astar Network, and Alchemy.
The testnet, which will closely resemble the upcoming mainnet, has a scalable infrastructure and advanced smart contract capabilities, as well as tools to help developers navigate global regulations.
The catchphrase for the new L2 blockchain is “Go Mainstream (GM) with Soneium,” a play on Crypto Twitter’s popular greeting “GM” (Good Morning), and an indication that Sony wants to bring blockchain technology to the masses.
Sony’s New L2 Comes After Years of Experimenting in Web3
News of a multi-national tech conglomerate like Sony launching an L2 blockchain on Ethereum is exciting for the space, and it could signal a broader shift towards traditional companies launching their own blockchains and Web3 technologies. But the fact the blockchain is being launched by the Sony Group should come as no surprise.
At Rarity Sniper, we’ve covered several articles about Sony in Web3. Here are some of the headlines from the past year:
- Web3 App from Sony Bank Lets Users Trade NFTs
- Sony Reveals It Owns a Crypto Exchange in Japan: Report
- Siemens Partners with Amazon, Microsoft & Sony for Industrial Metaverse
- Sony Develops NFT-Like Tech to Authenticate Photographs
- Sony to Invest in Web3 Firms Through Incubator Program
- Sony Patents Cross-Platform NFT Trading for Gaming
As you can see, Sony has been bullish on Web3 technology for some time now. In fact, some of Sony’s first moves in the space came over two years ago when it first started experimenting with NFTs and the metaverse.
The latest move from Sony to launch its own L2 blockchain indicates that it has learned a lot from the myriad of projects, innovations, and collaborations it’s participated in in recent years — and now Sony looks like it’s ready to do its own thing. Time will tell if the new L2 is popular with users. But one thing is certain: Sony is bullish on Web3 — and that’s good news for the space as a whole.