Sony Block Solutions Labs, the blockchain division of Sony, is rolling out a testnet and developer incubation program for its Soneium network.
This initiative is a major step in Sony Group’s move into Web3 as it grows the ecosystem and speed up adoption by leveraging its global footprint in entertainment, gaming, and consumer electronics.
The Soneium blockchain is an Ethereum Layer 2 solution built on the Op Stack, designed to offer a cost-effective environment for developing consumer-grade applications. Early participants in the network include Circle, Optimism, Alchemy, The Graph, Chainlink, and Astar Network.
The Soneium Spark incubation program, supported by Sony subsidiaries such as Sony Music, Sony Pictures, and the Sony Innovation Fund, offers up to $100,000 in starting capital to applicants. Participants will also gain access to a network of exchanges and venture capitalists.
Additionally, Astar Network will incorporate its zkEVM assets and infrastructure into Soneium, enhancing the blockchain’s initial liquidity. Sony recently highlighted this integration while announcing the testnet launch.
The network will be built using the Optimism blockchain ecosystem’s OP Stack, a customizable toolkit that lets developers create their own networks. These networks can connect to others within the Optimism ecosystem through the “Superchain,” enabling seamless interaction and scalability across different platforms.
Sony is also set to launch a local crypto trading platform in Japan by revamping the local trading platform WhaleFin, which it acquired last year.
The crypto trading entity originally began as the Japanese crypto exchange DeCurret, which was acquired by the Japanese subsidiary of Singapore’s Amber Group in 2022. In August 2023, Sony’s wholly-owned subsidiary Quetta Web Co. acquired the platform.
Sony has been actively expanding its presence in the Web3 space. Last year, Sony Network Communications partnered with Japanese blockchain firm Startale Labs to build Sony’s own public blockchain network.
