Sony Launches Soneium Minato Testnet and Web3 Developer Incubator

On August 28, Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL) introduced the Soneium Minato public testnet and the Soneium Spark incubator. The layer-2 Soneium blockchain, crafted by Startale Labs, a Singapore-based subsidiary of Sony, had its initial launch a week prior, marking Sony’s most significant venture into the Web3 arena to date.

Bootstrapping, the Sony way

Soneium Spark aims to empower developers by providing a range of benefits, including potential funding of up to $100,000 and additional investment opportunities through the program’s partners. According to Sota Watanabe, the director of Sony Block Solutions Labs, qualifying developers will also gain “official support from Sony Group, Astar Network, and Startale.”

The Astar Network, a key partner in the new blockchain initiative, will collaborate with other industry players such as Circle, the issuer of USD Coin (USDC), Ethereum layer-2 solution Optimism, developer platform Alchemy, decentralized indexing provider The Graph, and oracle service Chainlink. Notably, Soneium is built upon the OP Stack codebase from Optimism.

Sony’s various subsidiaries will also join forces in the Soneium Spark program. This includes its music, film, and educational divisions, the innovation fund, and the Inzone gaming headset sector. Jun Watanabe, chairman of Sony Block Solution Labs, stated:

“We have launched our testnet as a foundational step to build a fan community centered around creators, connecting diverse values through Soneium. We are eager to collaborate with partners who align with our vision and are open to working alongside Sony Group.”

Sony on the road to Web3

Sony’s collaboration with Startale, the developer behind Astar, began in June 2023 following a $3.5 million investment from Sony Network Communications, a provider of fiber optic internet services. Subsequently, this subsidiary was rebranded as Sony BSL in conjunction with the Soneium launch.

In addition to his role at Sony BSL, Sota Watanabe is the CEO of Startale and the creator of Astar, a parachain operating within the Polkadot ecosystem.

Sony, known for its PlayStation gaming console, has been steadily expanding its presence in the digital realm. In April 2021, Sony invested in Epic Games to support its metaverse ambitions. The following year, Sony Music backed MakersPlace, a digital art-focused NFT marketplace, and secured a patent for an NFT application under the Columbia Records brand in September 2022.

Additionally, in April, Sony Bank revealed it was testing its own stablecoin for business payments, leveraging its intellectual property.

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