Sony backed Soneium plans native token as it expands into entertainment IP

Sony backed Ethereum layer 2 network Soneium has announced plans to issue a native ecosystem token called SONEIUM as it expands into tokenized entertainment rights and new investment products tied to music, anime, games, and other creative works.

According to an October 26 announcement from Soneium, the proposed token will connect creators, intellectual property owners, developers, fans, and investors across an ecosystem that already supports more than 250 applications.

The company has not announced a launch date for SONEIUM or provided details about its supply, distribution, or token generation event. Its official announcement confirmed that no token has been issued, with further information expected later.

Soneium, developed through a collaboration between Sony Group and Startale Group, is now building a platform where entertainment companies can raise funds against their intellectual property while allowing supporters to participate in the commercial activity surrounding individual works.

Soneium token plans accompany new entertainment investment products

Soneium’s new plans center on what it calls Tokenized IP, a system designed to represent intellectual property and its associated economic value on the blockchain.

Creators and entertainment companies will be able to issue IP Tokens linked to individual artists, studios, or specific entertainment titles. Depending on their structure, the tokens may function as digital collectibles or fungible assets used within an individual property’s economy.

Collectibles would serve as proof of fandom and support community activities, while fungible tokens could circulate within entertainment projects. Some offerings may include automated revenue sharing arrangements, allowing eligible participants to receive distributions tied to commercial activity.

The first project involves Moriusa, a character owned by Tokyo based entertainment company Super State Holdings.

Soneium said the initiative would support the character’s expansion into merchandise, animated shorts, and licensing arrangements, with fans potentially contributing funding toward those activities.

Beyond individual IP Tokens, the network is preparing IP Vault, which will provide indirect access to entertainment investments such as music catalog funds. Another proposed product, IP Bond, will involve bonds backed by entertainment businesses.

The network has already been working with South Korean entertainment company DayOneDream on tokenizing K-pop intellectual property.

Their partnership, announced in September, involves DayOneDream’s WAVIST platform and plans to bring concert related royalties onto Soneium.

WAVIST had previously completed the issuance, redemption, and burning of a tokenized IP bond in May, although the companies have not disclosed the final terms or investor eligibility requirements for future Soneium offerings.

Soneium Portal will handle IP sales and royalty distribution

Soneium is introducing a dedicated platform called Soneium Portal, where users will be able to discover tokenized entertainment projects and participate in their financing.

The platform will initially focus on primary sales before adding fan participation features and royalty distribution.

Supporting these products is a three part technical system called Onchain IP Architecture, which records intellectual property information and manages how rights and payments move between participants.

Its IP Registry will maintain records of creative works and ownership information, while an IP Graph will track connections between original content, derivative works, and collaborations.

An IP Execution Layer will handle licensing payments and revenue distributions through smart contracts using rules established by rights holders.

Soneium intends to support ERC-8432, a proposed Ethereum standard that allows applications and autonomous AI agents to read licensing terms and verify agreements across different platforms.

The company said the system could help creators manage the use of their work as AI generated and AI assisted content becomes more common. Existing copyright protections would continue to apply.

Sony’s blockchain network builds on existing infrastructure

Soneium’s entertainment plans follow several developments involving its underlying blockchain and consumer applications.

In September, the network adopted OP Enterprise services from OP Labs to support chain operations, including its sequencer, monitoring, upgrades, and incident response.

The agreement carries a 99.9% monthly uptime target, while Soneium retains control over its network development and product decisions.

Sony Ventures had previously made a $13 million investment in Startale Group through the Sony Innovation Fund in January.

At the time, Startale said Soneium had processed more than 500 million transactions since its January 2025 mainnet launch.

The network’s consumer ecosystem includes the Startale App, which supports digital asset management, decentralized applications, and rewards.

Startale announced plans in April to integrate privacy features through Sunnyside Labs’ Privacy Boost, allowing users to make private transfers while retaining control of their assets.

Soneium’s latest announcement identifies the app as a gateway for users entering its entertainment ecosystem, while Soneium Portal will handle tokenized IP participation.

Yuji Kumagai, head of Soneium Protocol, said the company wanted to help creators finance new projects and experiment with different forms of entertainment.

“We will help them fund their next work at a new scale, try new forms of expression and find fresh ways to connect with fans,” Kumagai said.

Soneium’s official documentation states that any future SONEIUM issuance by the Soneium Foundation will remain subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements. The company has not provided a timetable for the token generation event.