Soneium ¹

Sony's entertainment-focused L2 with IP protection that blocked meme coins on launch day, sparking community backlash.

Key Difference: Built-in IP protection system that restricts contracts suspected of infringement — blocked Sony-themed meme coins (Aibo, Toro) and froze funds, prioritizing corporate IP over permissionless deployment.

Best for: Entertainment companies needing IP protection, Sony ecosystem partners, regulated applications requiring compliance controls.

Technical: OP Stack optimistic rollup with IP protection layer, RPC-level contract restrictions, curated application ecosystem.

• Use Cases

  • Entertainment IP: Sony Music/Pictures NFTs, anime titles like Solo Leveling
  • Event management: On-chain ticketing, fan engagement platforms
  • Curated ecosystem: Soneium Spark selected 32 apps from 1,700+ applicants
  • Corporate Web3: Applications requiring IP compliance and content controls

• Security & Data Availability

  • Optimistic rollup on OP Stack with standard 7-day withdrawal period.
  • Centralized sequencer operated by Sony Block Solutions Labs.
  • Fraud proofs limited to authorized actors, not permissionless.

• Infra & Execution

  • EVM-equivalent with OP Stack and Superchain compatibility.
  • IP protection system flags suspected infringing contracts.
  • Restrictions apply at RPC level; direct L1 submission possible with delays.

• Performance

  • Processes ~8 operations per second on average.
  • Low fees (typically <$0.001 per transaction).
  • Batch intervals: ~9 minutes for transactions, ~2 hours for state updates.

• Trade-offs

  • Blocked popular meme coins on launch, freezing ~$100k in user funds.
  • Contract restrictions prevent permissionless deployment.
  • RPC-level controls make flagged contracts invisible on explorers.
  • 12-hour delay required to bypass restrictions via L1.
  • Philosophy conflicts with crypto's permissionless ethos.