tl;dr
Soneium, a Japan-born Layer-2 project, leverages regulatory clarity, Sony's IP, and enterprise partnerships to challenge Ethereum's dominance, achieving 297 million transactions while prioritizing compliance over speculation.
**Soneium: Japan’s Layer-2 Challenger Aims to Redefine Blockchain Through Compliance, Entertainment, and Enterprise**
As Ethereum’s Layer-2 ecosystem grows increasingly competitive, Startale Group is positioning its project, Soneium, as a unique player rooted in Japan’s regulatory clarity and institutional partnerships. With a focus on compliance, entertainment-driven adoption, and enterprise-grade infrastructure, Soneium seeks to carve out a niche in a market dominated by giants like Arbitrum and Base.
### **A Japan-Born L2 Proves Its Mettle**
Soneium’s rise is already evident through third-party data. L2BEAT notes its governance risks, but OKLink confirms its massive on-chain throughput, with over 297 million transactions processed by September 2025. Blockscout records ERC-4337 account-abstraction operations, showcasing transparency in user interactions. These metrics highlight that a Japan-born Layer-2 can meet global benchmarks, even under external scrutiny.
The project’s partnerships further solidify its credibility. Sony, through a 2023 joint venture (JV) and incubator, announced Soneium’s development in 2024 and its mainnet launch in 2025. Meanwhile, SBI Holdings has outlined plans to integrate Soneium with capital markets, signaling a convergence of entertainment and finance in Japan’s blockchain landscape.
### **Mission: Japan as a Global Blockchain Leader**
Startale’s vision extends beyond Japan. Its medium- to long-term goals aim to establish Soneium as a global player, proving that a Japanese blockchain can compete at the highest level. “The next iteration of the internet will be built on blockchains,” said Ken Watanabe, CEO of Startale. “Japan must lead this transformation, not just for crypto enthusiasts, but for enterprises demanding reliability, compliance, and security.”
The company’s strategy hinges on blending engineering excellence with business development. By partnering with conglomerates like Sony and SBI, Startale is building a bridge between blockchain and traditional industries. However, the path is not without challenges. Watanabe acknowledges the need for clarity in a rapidly evolving sector, emphasizing that compliance and reliability, not speculation, remain central to Soneium’s identity.
### **Investment Story: Scale Over Speculation**
The Layer-2 market faces headwinds, with slowing capital inflows and stagnant token appeal. Soneium’s success, Watanabe argues, lies in its focus on distribution channels and new user segments. “The industry has matured,” he said. “Competition now targets users who’ve never engaged with crypto before.”
Soneium’s scale is undeniable: 295 million transactions, 90,000 daily active addresses, and 350,000 account-abstraction operations by 2025. Yet, it still lags behind Arbitrum and Base in Total Value Secured (TVL). Watanabe counters that metrics like distribution pipelines and user engagement matter more than raw numbers. “Securing new adoption channels is a durable moat,” he said.
### **Token Design: Compliance Over Short-Term Gains**
Soneium currently uses ETH for gas, but native token plans remain uncertain. Watanabe highlights the risks of U.S. SEC scrutiny around Layer-2 “independence” and stresses that sustainable revenue will come from sequencer fees, JVs, and compliance services. “Token incentives are fleeting,” he noted. “We reinvest in the ecosystem through sequencer revenues and JV income.”
### **Sony’s Edge: Entertainment as a Catalyst**
While Soneium’s TVL relies on bridged assets, Sony’s intellectual property (IP) offers a unique advantage. Watanabe outlined plans to tokenize music, film, and gaming content, paired with wallets and account abstraction tools to streamline user experiences. “Users engage with content they love, not speculation,” he said.
### **Centralization vs. Decentralization: A Balanced Approach**
Soneium’s centralized sequencer and fraud-proof authority raise governance risks, but Watanabe frames this as a strategic choice. “Pure decentralization without usability won’t achieve mass adoption,” he said. The project aims to gradually transition toward decentralization while prioritizing stability. A recent example: the Yoake concert app, where fans voted on-chain without realizing it, showcasing seamless compliance integration.
### **Enterprise Strategy: Trust as a Pillar**
In Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong, enterprises prioritize auditability and predictable costs. Startale’s “Entertainment Tokenized Assets” (ETA) framework offers programmable rights and royalties around cultural IP, enabling adoption without compromising compliance. “Our strategy focuses on regulated infrastructure, scalability, and developer-friendly tools,” Watanabe said.
### **Connecting Japan to Capital Markets**
Startale and SBI’s JV aims to launch tokenized stock and real-world asset (RWA) markets, leveraging Japan’s regulatory clarity and institutional trust. Watanabe argued that Japan’s unique blend of financial oversight and cultural IP positions it to lead tokenization at scale.
### **Regulatory and Policy Strategy: Compliance by Design**
As global frameworks like the EU’s MiCA and Japan’s FIEA evolve, Startale emphasizes compliance as a core feature. “Our infrastructure meets Japan’s standards and global regulations,” Watanabe said. This approach, he believes, could set a template for Web3’s trustworthy evolution.
### **The Road Ahead**
Soneium’s journey reflects Japan’s ambition to export blockchain infrastructure, much like its historic exports of manufacturing and culture. While challenges remain—balancing decentralization, competing with established Layer-2s, and navigating regulatory shifts—the project’s focus on enterprise adoption, entertainment integration, and compliance-first design positions it as a formidable player.
For investors and enterprises, the test lies in whether Soneium’s headline growth translates into durable adoption. If successful, it could redefine what it means to build a blockchain in Japan—a nation poised to lead the next wave of internet innovation.