Sony Block Solutions Labs and Startale Labs will soon launch a testnet for the upcoming Soneium Layer 2 network.
Sony, the major Japanese conglomerate and consumer electronics giant, launched a new web3 division overseeing the development of an Ethereum Layer 2 network.
Announced on Aug. 23, the newly created Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony SBL) will lead all of Sonyâs blockchain and web3 initiatives.Â
Sony also revealed that the division is developing Soneium, a public Ethereum Layer 2 network, in partnership with Startale Labs, the development team behind Astar Network.
The network leveragesOptimismâs OP Stack and supports Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts.Â
Soneium is currently preparing to launch its forthcoming testnet, and plans to release technical documentation and software development kits âin the coming weeks.â
âThe new blockchain unites leading web3 projects and infrastructure pioneers, including Astar Network, Circle, Chainlink, Alchemy, and The Graph⊠to bridge the gap between decentralized innovation and everyday consumer applications in entertainment, gaming, and finance,â Sony SBL said.
Sony SBL said it is exploring new mechanisms for profit-sharing between creators and fans, protecting creator-generated content, and fostering interoperability across digital and real-world environments.
The team emphasized that Sony Group has the potential to expose new audiences to web3 technologies through its massive distribution network and penetration of mainstream consumer markets.
âSony Group has strong distribution channels in multiple industries and existing users in our daily lives,â said Sota Watanabe, the director of Sony SBL and founder of Astar Network. âThrough Soneium, we will make something people want and go mainstream beyond web3.â
Soneium To Integrate With Astar
Sony SBL said Soneium will closely integrate with the Astar zkEVM network and utilize Astarâs ASTR token as a âkey assetâ within the L2âs ecosystem.
The price of ASTR is up more than 6% in less than two hours in response to the news, according to The Defiantâs crypto price feeds.
Sony first teased plans to develop a blockchain in partnership with Startale Labs in September 2023. The two companies also teamed up on a web3 incubator program in February 2023.
Soneium will also integrate support for Circleâs USDC stablecoin,Chainlinkâs cross-chain interoperability platform,Alchemyâs infrastructure and development tools, and The Graphâs on-chain data services.