Sony’s subsidiary, Sony Block Solutions Labs, has officially launched the mainnet of its Layer 2 solution, Soneium. Additionally, the company announced the rebranding of WhaleFin exchange and plans for a new NFT platform.
A New Milestone for Soneium
The Soneium solution, built on Layer 2 (L2) technology using the OP Stack software framework from Optimism, was first announced in late August 2024. The project is a joint venture between Sony Group and the Singapore-based startup Startale Labs.
Earlier, the Soneium Minato testnet was developed in collaboration with the Astar Network platform. This partnership allowed the integration of Astar’s liquidity and infrastructure into the Soneium ecosystem. During the test phase, over 14 million addresses were registered, 47 million transactions were processed, and various applications, including financial, social, and gaming apps, were launched.
The Soneium mainnet retained key specifications from the Minato testnet, ensuring seamless migration between networks.
WhaleFin Rebranding and a New NFT Platform
Following its acquisition of the WhaleFin exchange in August 2023, Sony Block Solutions Labs undertook a comprehensive rebranding. The revamped platform, now called S.BLOX, has been modernized to meet the evolving demands of financial technology.
Additionally, in February 2025, SNFT Inc. plans to launch the Fan Marketing Platform. This new platform will support partners implementing NFT initiatives, providing comprehensive tools for the easy creation and issuance of non-fungible tokens.
Criticism Surrounding Soneium Launch
The launch of the Soneium mainnet was not without controversy. The community criticized the alleged blocking of certain memecoins. Notably, pump.fun founder, known by the pseudonym alon, expressed dissatisfaction with these restrictions.
Conclusion
The launch of Soneium and the rebranding of S.BLOX highlight Sony’s ambitious plans to expand its influence in the blockchain industry. The company continues to invest in innovative solutions for the cryptocurrency community, cementing its role at the forefront of global technological advancements.
Info & photo: incrypted.