Sony has officially launched its Ethereum Layer 2 platform, Soneium, after a four-month testing period that has attracted more than 14 million users, the company announced on Monday.

Developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL), the platform is designed to simplify blockchain interactions for creators and their audiences through tools such as NFT-based fan engagement systems and an incubator program called Soneium Spark.

that it Testnet phase It started in August last year and has processed about 47 million transactions, according to figures from Blockscout.

“Soneium is available to everyone,” said Sota Watanabe, Director of Sony BSL. Decryption In an interview. Watanabe claims the plan is to "qualify ordinary people" and have them use the technology without necessarily "knowing Web3."

Watanabe talks about the concept of chain abstraction – where blockchain technology operates unnoticed and without human intervention – as key to increasing cryptocurrency user adoption.

“I think creativity crosses a lot of boundaries,” Watanabe said, speaking about how the platform helps creators with the cross-chain economy.

There is a need to "create an entertainment layer" on top of Web3 as a "financial layer," says Watanabe, claiming that entertainment has the power to connect people.

Built on the Optimism Foundation's Ethereum Layer-2 technology, Soneium leverages the OP Stack and Superchain architecture to deliver what it describes as “a blockchain that sparks emotion and enables creativity,” said a statement from the project shared with Decryption He reads.

The platform's evolution signals a shift in how major entertainment companies approach Web3.

Rather than focusing solely on NFTs or digital collectibles, Sony BSL says it is building infrastructure to support creator economies more broadly and is preparing to leverage the Soneium platform across its film, music and gaming subsidiaries.

The Soneium Spark incubation program demonstrated this approach, selecting 32 applications from more than 1,700 applicants.

Although not all projects will launch immediately, the selection process revealed a strong developer interest in building on entertainment-focused blockchains.

Looking to the future, Sony BSL plans to explore new frameworks to protect creator rights and mechanisms for fair distribution of value between creators and fans. The company aims to connect Web2 and Web3 through user-centered design and real-world applications.

Sony BSL emerged as a joint venture between Sony Group Corporation and Startale Group Pte. Ltd., was established in Singapore in 2023. The company, originally called Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd., and was rebranded as Sony Block Solutions Labs in August 2024.

Modified by Sebastian Sinclair