Sony Block Solutions Labs, a subsidiary of Sony Group, has announced its intention to develop Soneium, an Ethereum Layer-2 network aiming to expedite the widespread adoption of blockchain technology, as stated in an Aug. 23 announcement .

This layer-2 network, born from a partnership with blockchain infrastructure provider Startale, aims to connect blockchain technology (Web3) with everyday online services.

This project signals Sony’s ongoing expansion into the digital asset space. Sony Group hinted at launching a crypto exchange in July after acquiring Amber Japan’s WhaleFin exchange. The tech giant plans to rename and relaunch the exchange, although the timeline remains unclear.

Soneium

The network would be built as a adaptable, all-purpose blockchain with competitive features, combining aspects from entertainment, gaming, finance, and other industries.

Soneium would utilize the Op Stack and Superchain developed by the Optimism Foundation. A test environment will be launched in the coming weeks to provide developers with practical experience.

Several prominent crypto protocols, including Chainlink and the Astar network, have already committed to participating as launch partners. Astar has indicated that its zkEVM solution will be incorporated into Soneium, and its native ASTR token will play a crucial role within the proposed layer-2 solution.

Jun Watanabe, Chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, emphasized Soneium’s potential to introduce blockchain technology to a global audience by leveraging Sony’s extensive reach across entertainment, finance, electronics, and gaming. He underscored that Soneium will eventually integrate with Sony Group services to attract users who are unfamiliar with Web3.

Layer-2 networks

Ethereum layer-2 networks are designed to enhance the mainnet's scalability and processing speed, and have recently witnessed significant success.

Over the past year, the layer-2 landscape has become increasingly competitive, with major crypto firms, including Coinbase , launching their own networks and gaining substantial community support .

Consequently, layer-2 networks now handle the majority of Ethereum’s activity. According to available data , approximately 89% of blockchain transactions are conducted on these platforms.

However, some critics argue that this expansion could harm Ethereum in the long run. These networks have already pushed the blockchain network transaction costs to three-year lows and could also potentially signal the end of ETH’s “ultrasound money” narrative.