Soneium, the Sony-backed Ethereum layer-2 network, said on October 26 that it will introduce a native ecosystem token called SONEIUM as it shifts from basic blockchain infrastructure toward a full onchain entertainment economy. The token has not been issued and no token generation event date has been set. Further details are expected later.

The network, which runs on the OP Stack and settled more than 500 million transactions after its January 2025 mainnet launch, already hosts more than 250 applications spanning music, games, anime, film, collectibles and fan creations. Its new direction centers on Tokenized IP, a model that places ownership, licensing terms and future economic value of creative works onchain so creators, rights holders, developers, fans and investors can interact through programmable rules.

Tokenized IP Model and First Projects

Under the Tokenized IP framework, an IP token can represent an individual creator, a studio or a specific title. It may take the form of a collectible that serves as proof of fandom or a fungible token designed to circulate inside that IP’s own economy. Both structures can include automated revenue splits so participants share in commercial success.

The first project features Moriusa, a character IP owned by Tokyo-based Super State Holdings. Fans and supporters will be able to help fund expansion into physical merchandise, animated short series and broader licensing deals, with the opportunity to grow alongside the property as it develops.

Beyond individual IP tokens, Soneium plans two additional products. IP Vault will offer indirect exposure to entertainment assets such as music catalog funds. IP Bond products will be backed by entertainment businesses. Through a partnership with South Korean K-pop IP company DayOneDream and its WAVIST platform, the network intends to bring concert-business royalties from proven artists, including groups and solo acts such as BTOB and Lee Chae-yeon, onchain. Eligible participants would gain access to revenue streams generated by live performances, subject to regulatory and eligibility requirements.

Portal, Super App and Technical Architecture

Access will be organized around the Soneium Portal, described as the official Tokenized IP platform and primary hub for discovery, primary sales, fan participation and royalty distribution. The Startale App will function as a super app where users manage assets, explore opportunities and earn across the ecosystem.

Supporting the model is an Onchain IP Architecture consisting of three layers. An IP Registry records creative works and ownership. An IP Graph maps connections among original works, derivatives and collaborations. An IP Execution Layer handles licensing payments and revenue distributions through smart contracts according to rules set by rights holders.

Soneium also intends to support ERC-8432, a proposed open Ethereum standard for onchain IP asset and license registries. The standard aims to provide a common, machine-readable interface that both humans and autonomous AI agents can query and settle, allowing discovery of works, inspection of terms and acquisition of licenses without platform lock-in. The network presents the system as complementary to existing copyright law rather than a replacement, particularly as AI-assisted creation expands.

Token Role and Network Adjustments

SONEIUM is positioned as the economic layer that aligns creators, IP owners, builders, fans and investors with the growth of the overall ecosystem rather than as a standalone financial asset. No supply figures, allocation details, vesting schedules or listing plans have been disclosed. Any future issuance by the Soneium Foundation will remain subject to applicable laws and regulatory requirements.

The network also plans to adjust its gas fees to support operational resilience and sustainability, though specific figures have not been released. Earlier this year Sony Ventures invested $13 million in infrastructure partner Startale Group through the Sony Innovation Fund. The network currently uses ETH for transaction fees and hosts the USDSC stablecoin for settlements.

Soneium’s announcement frames the combination of Tokenized IP, the native token, the Portal and the underlying architecture as the foundation for an onchain entertainment economy in which creative works can generate continuous value across music, gaming, anime, film and fan activity, with that value distributed according to predefined rules.