Sony Launches Testnet and Incubator For Soneium Layer 2

Sony is making quick progress on Soneium, the consumer electronics giant’s forthcoming Ethereum Layer 2.

On Aug. 28, Sony Group’s blockchain subsidiary, Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL), launched the “Minato” testnet for Soneium. Minato is a public testnet allowing any developer or user to explore the network prior to its mainnet launch.

Minato said the testnet lets developers become familiar with the network while also allowing users to provide feedback to builders ahead of mainnet deployment. The testnet will also help Sony BSL ensure that the Seoneium network is stable and fully functional before going live.

“The launch of Soneium Minato… enables the formation of early communities around developers and creators, allowing them to gather valuable feedback during this period,” Sony SBL said.

Minato’s launch comes nearly one week after Sony announced the launch of Sony SBL and its development of Soneium in collaboration with Startale Labs, the team behind Astar Network. Soneium is built on the OP Stack and supports Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts.

Soneium unveils Spark incubator

Soneium also opened Spark, an incubator program intended to onboard builders and bootstrap development on the network.

Spark offers up to $100,000 in investment for eligible developers. The program will provide marketing, business, technical, and financial support, in addition to technical workshops and mentorship sessions.

Soneium Spark aims to attract participation from DeFi projects including DEXes, lending protocols, derivatives exchanges, and stablecoins, in addition to NFT, gaming, and social applications.

“Through Soneium Spark, we bridge Web3 and Web2, startups and enterprises, and innovative builders and the mass users,” said Sota Watanabe, director of Sony BLS and CEO of Startale Labs.

Soneium will accept applications from prospective participants from today for 30 days, with Spark aiming to onboard 30 projects into its first cohort. Spark’s first program will begin in mid-October and run for several months.

Soneium said its technology and strategic partners Astar Network, Optimism, Circle, The Graph, Chainlink, and Alchemy will provide support to Spark participants. 10 venture capital (VC) partners will also support the program, including top crypto VCs HashKey Capital, Delphi Ventures, and Mechanism Capital.

Soneium also revealed 10 infrastructure partners and 10 security auditors that will participate in Spark.

Sony’s move into web3

Soneium’s announcement comes after Sony increasingly engaged the web3 sector in recent years.

In April 2021, Sony made an investment of $200 million in Epic Games, a major video game publisher and software developer known for the popular Fortnite franchise. The investment was part of a broader $1 billion funding round to support Epic’s plans to build a gaming metaverse.

In August 2022, Sony Music filed a trademark application for its subsidiary, Columbia Records, for use in the context of NFT-based media. In October 2022, Sony Music invested in MakersPlace, an NFT marketplace for digital art.

In February 2023, Sony launched a Web3 incubator program in partnership with Startale Labs, providing resources and mentorship to startups and developers working on Web3 projects. In June 2023, Sony Network Communications invested $3.5 million in Startale Labs.

In April 2024, Sony Bank launched a stablecoin proof-of-concept exploring in-game payments in partnership with Polygon.