Sony, the renowned Japanese electronics giant, is venturing into blockchain technology with the launch of Soneium, a general-purpose blockchain platform.

The initiative stems from Sony Block Solutions Labs (SBSL), a collaboration between Sony Group and the Singapore-based Startale Labs, describing Soneium as a layer-2 network on Ethereum. This platform is designed to support a broad ecosystem of applications in gaming, finance, and entertainment. According to SBSL, the launch follows a four-month testing phase that saw participation from 14 million wallets.

The network aims to bridge the divide between web2 and web3 users, particularly for creators, fans, and communities. SBSL mentions, "The platform prioritizes user-centric design, streamlining blockchain engagement and transforming web3 from a niche into a mainstream experience."

To build their network, the team utilized Optimism’s OP Stack, a flexible framework enabling developers to leverage optimistic rollup technology for efficient and cost-effective Ethereum transactions.

Notable companies employing the OP Stack include U.S. crypto exchanges such as Coinbase and Kraken, which use it to support their Base and Ink networks. Other prominent projects like Uniswap and Worldcoin also utilize OP Stack for their layer-2 blockchain frameworks.

The Optimism Foundation rewards developers with grants for utilizing this technology, although SBSL has not disclosed the number of OP tokens they are set to receive. Previous reports suggest these grants can be significant, with Coinbase having received up to 118 million OP tokens worth approximately $182 million at that time.

Soneium's launch emphasizes the ongoing interest of traditional tech firms in blockchain's potential to revolutionize media interaction.