Soneium, the Ethereum Layer 2 network backed by Sony, announced on October 26 that it plans to issue a native token called SONEIUM as it shifts from a foundational blockchain into an onchain entertainment economy centered on tokenized intellectual property. The network said details on the token generation event schedule will be released at a later date.
The move matters because Soneium has operated without a token of its own for most of its life. Its mainnet went live on January 14, 2025, and users have since paid transaction fees in ETH, Ethereum's native currency. The SONEIUM token plan signals a change in direction for a network that is developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs, Sony's blockchain unit, and built on Optimism's OP Stack.
What the SONEIUM Token Is Meant to Do
The stated goal of the SONEIUM token is to power what the project describes as an onchain entertainment economy. According to Bitcoin.com News, the token will serve as the economic layer across the network, designed to align incentives among creators, rights holders, developers and users.
Soneium's updated roadmap outlines a framework designed to let creators, studios and fans participate in the economic lifecycle of entertainment assets through programmable ownership, licensing and revenue distribution, Bitcoin.com News reported. The platform aims to give creators alternative funding mechanisms while offering IP holders automated royalty distribution and clear licensing terms amid the growth of artificial intelligence-assisted content creation.
Yuji Kumagai, head of Soneium Protocol, framed the shift around creators. Entertainment starts with creators, he said, according to Bitcoin.com News. Today, Soneium enters a new stage built to stand behind them. Kumagai also said the project will support creators in raising funds for new works, trying new forms of expression and communicating with fans, according to bloomingbit.
Soneium Portal, IP Vault and IP Bonds
At the center of the plan sits the Soneium Portal. Soneium said it plans to use the Portal to create a system that automates IP tokenization, license management and revenue distribution through smart contracts, according to bloomingbit. Through the official platform, the project plans to support IP investment and fan participation.
Two new investment products are slated for the Portal: IP Vault and IP Bond. Soneium said it will introduce these products and pursue a plan to issue K-pop concert business revenue as tokenized bonds, bloomingbit reported. Beyond individual character tokens, Soneium plans to introduce broader financial instruments, including products offering indirect exposure to entertainment portfolios, according to Bitcoin.com News.
User access to the ecosystem will be funneled through the Soneium Portal and the Startale app, Bitcoin.com News reported. Discovery and asset distribution will launch via the Portal alongside the Startale App super app.
First IP Deals: Moriusa and K-Pop Royalties
The first IP tokenization project will feature Moriusa, a character from Japanese entertainment company Super State Holdings. Soneium is partnering with Super State Holdings on the Moriusa character IP, and the integration will support merchandise, animated short series and broader licensing ventures, according to Bitcoin.com News.
Soneium is also working with South Korean K-pop IP company DayOneDream on a plan to issue tokenized bonds tied to concert business revenue from artists including BTOB and Lee Chae-yeon, according to bloomingbit. The partnership with DayOneDream covers tokenizing K-pop intellectual property and bringing its revenue streams onchain, Bitcoin.com News reported.
To support cross-platform licensing and autonomous discovery, Soneium is adopting ERC-8432, a standard that provides machine-readable licensing interfaces allowing human operators and autonomous AI agents to verify and settle rights agreements without platform lock-in, according to Bitcoin.com News.
Network Traction and Sony's Backing
Soneium says it hosts more than 250 applications spanning music, gaming, anime, film, collectibles and fan creations. The network has positioned itself as a bridge between Web2 and Web3 audiences, relying on user-friendly tools for the entertainment sector.
Some supporting infrastructure is already live. The USDSC stablecoin is running on Soneium's mainnet and used for settlements, which matters if royalty payments are going to move in something steadier than a volatile token, according to Crypto Briefing.
Sony has put money behind the effort beyond the blockchain unit itself. It invested $13 million in Startale in early 2025, according to Crypto Briefing. Startale Labs is the infrastructure partner Sony has worked with to build out the blockchain.
For Ethereum's Layer 2 landscape, Soneium represents a different playbook. Most rollups compete on fees, speed or DeFi activity, while Soneium is competing on content, betting that recognizable IP draws users more effectively than cheaper transactions, according to Crypto Briefing.
Open Questions on the SONEIUM Token
The announcement leaves several questions for later. According to Crypto Briefing, readers should watch for token distribution details, how SONEIUM will interact with ETH for fees, and what role USDSC plays in royalty flows.
Royalty-backed assets and products described as bonds sit close to territory that securities regulators tend to scrutinize, Crypto Briefing reported. How Soneium structures IP Bonds in particular will matter for which markets it can serve.
Conclusion
Soneium's plan marks a shift for the Sony-backed Ethereum Layer 2 from running without a native token to building an entertainment economy around tokenized intellectual property, with the SONEIUM token as its economic layer. The first projects pair the Moriusa character IP from Super State Holdings with tokenized K-pop concert revenue bonds from DayOneDream tied to artists including BTOB and Lee Chae-yeon. The next concrete step is the release of token generation event schedule details, which Soneium said will come at a later date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SONEIUM token announced on October 26, 2026?
SONEIUM is a planned native token for Soneium, the Ethereum Layer 2 network backed by Sony and developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs. Announced on October 26, the token is intended to serve as the economic layer across the network, aligning incentives among creators, rights holders, developers and users in an onchain entertainment economy.
When will Soneium's SONEIUM token launch?
Soneium has not given a launch date. The network said on October 26 that details regarding the token generation event schedule will be released at a later date. Soneium's mainnet has been live since January 14, 2025, and users have paid transaction fees in ETH since then.
What are Soneium's IP Vault and IP Bond products?
IP Vault and IP Bond are new investment products Soneium plans to introduce through its Soneium Portal platform. Soneium said it will pursue a plan to issue K-pop concert business revenue as tokenized bonds, and it also plans broader financial instruments offering indirect exposure to entertainment portfolios.
Which K-pop artists are involved in Soneium's tokenized bonds with DayOneDream?
Soneium is working with South Korean K-pop IP company DayOneDream on a plan to issue tokenized bonds tied to concert business revenue from artists including BTOB and Lee Chae-yeon. The partnership covers tokenizing K-pop intellectual property and bringing its revenue streams onchain.
How many applications run on the Sony-backed Soneium network?
Soneium says it hosts more than 250 applications spanning music, gaming, anime, film, collectibles and fan creations. The network, built on Optimism's OP Stack, launched its mainnet on January 14, 2025, and has positioned itself as a bridge between Web2 and Web3 audiences.