Sony officially launches the Soneium blockchain on the mainnet

A few hours ago, Sony Block Solutions Labs, a subsidiary of the Japanese giant Sony, officially introduced the mainnet of its own blockchain Soneium.

After initially announcing this new layer-2 project in August 2024 and launching a testnet network, here comes the definitive web3 solution for Sony.

Thanks to the popularity of its brand, Soneium aims to redefine the touchpoints between fans and digital creators within the complex logics of the blockchain.

Is there also a new airdrop coming? Let’s find out all the details below.

Sony introduces the Soneium blockchain on mainnet after the success of the testnet

Just 6 months after its initial presentation, the Japanese multinational Sony announced today the official launch of the Soneium blockchain.

After the success of the testnet “Soneium Minato”, which attracted 47 million transactions on 14 million accounts, here comes the turn of the final version on the mainnet.

Let’s talk about an Ethereum layer-2 network built through the OP Stack, which is a set of software components powered by the Optimism Foundation.

In presenting the mainnet of the blockchain to the crypto community, Sony referred to the open-source and trustless characteristics of its new web3 product.

Soneium enters the field in fact as a public infrastructure, open to everyone and without any kind of limitation.

From this moment on, the apps developed in the Soneium blockchain environment, including some of those tested with the incubation program “Spark”, become accessible through real cryptographic resources.

In the technological context of decentralized applications, Sony’s goal is to remove the technical barriers to access, making its network easily accessible to users.

In this regard, the director of Sony BSL Sota Watanabe publicly explained that the group aims to “integrate ordinary people” into this journey.

Soneium therefore appears as an innovative network but easy to use, which does not require knowing the tortuous mechanisms of the blockchain.

In this phase, it is crucial for Sony to try to bridge the gap between web2 and web3, prioritizing creators and fans through a user-centered technological design.

The platform, in addition to financial purposes, is also designed for games, movies, music, and other forms of digital content.

That of Soneium could be one of the first cases where a new blockchain ecosystem manages to open the doors to a more inclusive, accessible, and creative Internet.

The future of blockchain interaction for Sony

The new Sony blockchain, just launched on the mainnet, aims to explore new frameworks for the protection of rights of digital creators.

Within the Soneium ecosystem, users will be able to monetize their contribution through innovative systems based on NFT and via in-app payments.

The ultimate goal of the platform is to foster an equitable distribution of resources among creators, fans, and consumers, with a focus on sharing digital experiences.

Looking to the future, Sony has already made it clear that it will continue to launch use cases that demonstrate the potential of web3 to transform the way we conceive digital networks.

By February 2025, the company plans to launch a platform dedicated to “Fan Marketing”,  designed to help companies launch campaigns based on NFTs and increase user engagement.

As time goes by, the blockchain of Soneium will then be integrated with Sony’s subsidiaries, such as Sony Pictures, Sony Music, and Sony Interactive Entertainment.

We remind you that currently Soneium is managed by some subsidiaries of Sony Group focused on web3 technology, such as S.BLOX Inc. and SNFT Inc.
By launching the mainnet of the blockchain, Sota Watanabe expressed all his enthusiasm for the development of a platform that could redefine the boundaries of the internet.

“We are removing the technical barriers that have limited web3’s ability to integrate billions. By simplifying blockchain interactions through intuitive platforms and real-world applications, Soneium enables creators and users to embrace the next era of the Internet. From protecting intellectual property to promoting global fan engagement, we are making it easier for anyone to innovate and connect in meaningful ways”.

New crypto airdrop opportunity: is the Soneium token coming?

At the moment Sony has not yet talked about a native token for its own blockchain Soneium, but the first rumors are already starting to circulate.

As a respectable infrastructure, it is likely that Soneium will also have its own cryptocurrency dedicated to governance tasks.

Furthermore, judging by the collaborative factors inherent in Sony’s blockchain product, it is possible that this new asset will initially be distributed within the community.

The farmers of the airdrop will have a lot to do in the coming months if they want to try to obtain a share of this alleged new token.

Certainly the first thing to do will be to bridge your funds (ETH, USDC, USDT) from the Ethereum network to the Soneium network, using the Superbridge by Optimism.

Subsequently, another type of interaction that may guarantee eligibility for a potential airdrop will be the use of dapps built on the blockchain.

Some of the typical operations in this context of airdrop farming are swaps on DEX, providing liquidity on DeFi pools, and minting some NFTs.

For the moment, you can start with the decentralized platform Kyo Finance and mint the first Soneium NFT on Sonova

Then, as applications are added to the mainnet, it will be important to test them and execute txn on multiple occasions over time.

As in every case of airdrop distribution, should it actually occur, the consistency with which users dedicate themselves to Soneium will play a fundamental role.

If the goal is to position oneself with one or more wallets to receive a potential future reward, it is necessary to become in all respects a user of this new chain.

We remind you that Soneium is a blockchain with a very short history, which presents possible risks of hack or malicious interaction.

It is important to operate safely in the web3 world, conducting your due diligence and taking precautions to mitigate any bumps in the road.