TLDR

• Sony launched Soneium, an Ethereum Layer 2 platform, after a successful testnet with 14 million users
• The network restricted transactions of two meme coins (Aibo and Toro) that used Sony’s intellectual property
• Users found they could bypass restrictions through Ethereum’s main network with a 12-hour delay
• Vitalik Buterin supported Sony’s approach, saying businesses can choose their level of control while maintaining user options
• Sony Block Solutions Labs director clarified they’re “pro-responsibility” not “anti-meme coin”

---

Sony’s new Ethereum scaling network, Soneium, made headlines this week by restricting transactions involving unauthorized use of its intellectual property while maintaining paths for user autonomy. The move sparked discussions about the balance between corporate control and blockchain accessibility in the cryptocurrency space.

The platform, developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL), launched its mainnet following a four-month testing period that attracted over 14 million users. Soneium operates as a Layer 2 solution on Ethereum, designed to provide faster and cheaper transactions compared to the main network.

Shortly after launch, users reported difficulties trading two meme coins named Aibo and Toro, which referenced Sony’s robotic dog product line and a PlayStation mascot respectively. The network labeled these tokens’ smart contracts as “forbidden” according to blockchain explorer Blockscout.

Soneium’s team addressed the situation on social media, explaining they had implemented “temporary restrictions on certain contracts” to protect intellectual property rights. This action demonstrated how Layer 2 networks can exercise control over transaction processing through their centralized sequencers.

However, cryptocurrency researcher Luca Donno revealed that users could still process these transactions by submitting them directly to Ethereum’s main network, though with a 12-hour delay. This workaround exists because of Soneium’s underlying architecture, built using the OP Stack – the same technology powering other Layer 2 networks like Base and Ink.

Sota Watanabe, director of Sony Block Solutions Labs, explained their stance to Decrypt, describing it as “pro-responsibility” rather than “anti-meme coin.” The team plans to implement a grace period for future blacklisting decisions, showing a willingness to refine their approach.

The network’s design allows for what Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin called “a large speed bump,” where the sequencer can slow down but not completely block transactions. Buterin supported this approach, noting that businesses can choose different levels of control while operating within Ethereum’s ecosystem.

The @Soneium situation is a good live demonstration of how launching an ethereum L2 is great for businesses *and* users.

Businesses can make very fine-grained choices around how much control they keep vs give to users.

But whatever rules they choose, that’s what the rules are.… https://t.co/jmaCRDsyF0

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 15, 2025

Soneium currently operates with a centralized sequencer, according to analytics platform L2 Beat. This gives the team control over transaction processing and the ability to blacklist projects through RPC nodes supporting the chain.

The network’s team emphasized that their actions don’t censor the blockchain itself, as blacklisting only affects specific smart contracts on Soneium’s public RPCs. Users retain the ability to access the chain through alternative methods.

In the context of meme coins, which often appropriate various intellectual properties without permission, Soneium’s approach represents a new way to address IP rights while maintaining blockchain principles. The team expressed support for meme coins developed “responsibly and within ethical and legal frameworks.”

The platform aims to serve creators and audiences through features like NFT-based fan engagement systems and an incubator program called Soneium Spark. These tools suggest Sony’s broader vision for blockchain technology in entertainment and creative industries.

Technically, Soneium functions by bundling transactions together and submitting them to Ethereum’s network after processing, a common approach for Layer 2 solutions seeking to improve speed and reduce costs.

The bypass method discovered by users exists by design, as it’s built into the OP Stack’s architecture. This demonstrates how fundamental blockchain principles of accessibility remain intact even within more controlled environments.

Buterin noted the importance of having both fully open systems and more controlled environments within Ethereum’s ecosystem, emphasizing the need for users to understand the properties of their chosen platforms.

According to recent updates from Soneium’s team, they’re working on clearer guidelines for contract restrictions and improved communication about network policies.