Sony's blockchain division, Sony Block Solutions Labs [Sony BSL] launched the Soneium Minato public testnet and Soneium Spark incubator today.
The Minato testnet is a public blockchain testnet accessible to all developers and creators who wish to build applications. It offers an efficient development environment and provides tools compatible with Ethereum.
Notably, Soneium Minato will use “test” crypto assets, fostering risk-free exploration of Web3 applications.
The team emphasized,
“This dual initiative marks a significant milestone in Sony Group Corporation's entry in Web3, poised to catalyze ecosystem growth and accelerate adoption by leveraging its vast global reach and technological expertise across entertainment, gaming, and consumer electronics sectors.”
Soneium is an Ethereum layer 2 blockchain ecosystem designed to integrate Web3 with everyday internet services, i.e. Web2. It uses Optimism’s OP Stack codebase.
Indexing protocol The Graph is one of the launch collaborators and will help Soneium by providing decentralized support.
Meanwhile, Soneium Spark will offer developers a host of privileges that encapsulate an investment of up to $100,000 and other funding opportunities available via the program’s partners.
Sony Block Solutions Labs Director Sota Watanabe revealed that eligible developers would also receive official support from Sony Group, Astar Network, and Startale.
Sony’s subsidiaries, including its music, film and education, innovation fund, and Inzone gaming headset divisions will take part in Soneium Spark.
Sony Block Solution Labs Chairman Jun Watanabe said,
“We have opened our testnet as a first step to foster a fan community centered on creators that can connect diverse values through Soneium. We look forward to working with partners who share our vision and are willing to participate in collaboration with Sony Group.”
Last month, it was unveiled that Sony was looking to put back crypto exchange WhaleFin to sea. It acquired the platform from Amber Group in 2023.
This move marked the multi-industry conglomerate’s official entry into the crypto exchange market, while its latest initiative marks another bold move into the Web3 arena.
The firm’s valuation is currently hovering around 17.17 trillion JPY [around $107 billion].
