Japanese multinational conglomerate Sony is stepping into the blockchain spotlight with the launch of Soneium, its layer-2 solution built on the Ethereum network. Designed to “unlock new possibilities, enhancing fan engagement and leveraging the transformative potential of web3 technology,” Soneium promises a future where creators, fans, and developers collaborate in a decentralized digital space, according to the Jan. 14 mainnet launch announcement.
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But not everyone’s buying it — crypto diehards are up in arms over the platform’s controversial approach to intellectual property protection.
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What is Soneium
Soneium is Sony’s bold leap into the web3 space. Built on the OP Stack from the Optimism Foundation, the layer-2 blockchain aims to bridge the gap between web2 and web3 users. The platform integrates Sony’s NFT-based Fan Marketing Platform and Soneium Spark, initiatives designed to support creators and offer fans unique experiences.
Soneium also leverages Sony’s entertainment divisions — Sony Pictures, Sony Music, and Sony Music Publishing — bringing blockchain-based digital collectibles to fans as a gateway to exclusive content. The goal? To enhance fan engagement and foster deeper connections between creators and their audiences.
.@soneium rugged users >$100k in ETH on launch dayI've never seen anything like itWant to be a permissioned chain? fine. Instead of whitelisting developers, they chose to instead freeze contracts (effectively rugging users)Amazing launch! pic.twitter.com/OYWEb7Wiwg
— Kawz (@0xKawz)January 14, 2025
But Soneium isn’t just about fun and games. It’s packing tools to protect IP and promises fair profit-sharing, aiming to shake up digital creativity. Still, some in the crypto crowd are fuming, accusing the developers of rug-pulling investors with censorship features.
Community backlash
The launch hasn’t been without hiccups. While some celebrated Soneium’s launch, others expressed concerns over its approach to restricting certain blockchain activities. Co-founder of defi creator studio Pink Brains Ignas, commenting on Soneium’s launch, noted in an X post that all “current corporate L2s fall short and will probably never align with Ethereum, as their incentive structures differ.”