Tech behemoth Sony Group’s blockchain collaboration with Startale Labs unveiled its Soneium Ethereum (ETH) layer-2 network.
According to an Aug. 23 report from industry news outlet The Block, Soneium will be focused on scalability and user-friendliness — hoping to achieve mainstream adoption. Upon launch, the network plans to deliver decentralized applications (DApps) in the entertainment, gaming and finance industries, leveraging Sony’s existing presence. Astar Network founder and Sony Block Solution Labs director Sota Watanabe said:
“Sony Group has strong distribution channels in multiple industries and existing users in our daily lives. […] Through Soneium, we will make something people want and go mainstream beyond Web3.”
Development at full steam
While the companies promised that the upcoming Sony Ethereum layer-2 will soon see its test network deployment, no date has been announced yet. Sony Block Solutions Labs announced that technical details concerning Soneium’s tools and developer requirements will be released in the coming weeks.
Astar Network will use its zero-knowledge Ethereum virtual machine (zkEVM) to integrate its assets and infrastructure with Soneium and boost its liquidity. A zkEVM is a virtual machine that executes Solidity smart contracts while being compatible with both zero-knowledge-proof computations and existing Ethereum infrastructure.
Future Soneium use cases include protecting rights for creator-generated content as well as the development of new profit-sharing mechanisms for creators and fans.
The announcement follows Sony’s recent warning that its Rewards Program will be terminated at the end of the year, with all points expiring along with it leaving members with no choice but to spend what they’ve accrued. The program launched in 2017 and allowed users to gain points through Sony or PlayStation credit cards and spend them on items from the Sony brand, including PlayStation video games.
In May, the tech giant also showcased its long-term forecast for the company with a display of futuristic concepts known as Creative Entertainment Vision. This included intriguing devices platformed, tempered with the video overview stating the products were the outcome of a “prototyping exercise” and not directly related to existing production.
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