Sony has remained a leader in the consumer electronics industry for many years, producing popular products like the PlayStation gaming console, one of the best-selling consoles worldwide, and the BRAVIA series of televisions, known for their high-quality displays. These products have become an integral part of the lives of millions of people around the world.
Soneium is a Layer 2 network based on the Ethereum blockchain that uses OP Stack technology from Optimism. This will enable developers to create their own networks with the ability to connect to other networks within the ecosystem through Superchain.
The launch of the Soneium blockchain in the test network is planned for the coming days. The core technology of the blockchain will be optimistic rollups, which will allow transactions to be processed on top of Ethereum at a reduced cost. The OP Stack technology is also used by the American cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase in its Base network and by the decentralized identification project Worldcoin in the World Chain network.
In an interview, Watanabe stated that Startale Labs will now focus all its efforts and resources on developing Soneium, abandoning the Astar zkEVM project. Astar zkEVM plans to integrate its assets and infrastructure with Soneium.
In the first year, the company intends to focus on attracting the Web3 community, and then, within two years, connect Sony products such as Sony Bank, Sony Music, and Sony Pictures to the blockchain. Watanabe also noted that in three years, it may be possible to connect not only Sony products but also other enterprises and decentralized applications. However, these timelines are approximate, and in the first year, the company will strive to attract the maximum number of participants.