Sony Group’s Ethereum Layer 2 network, Soneium, faced backlash from some users shortly after its mainnet launch due to the network blacklisting certain memecoins to protect creators’ rights. However, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin saw value in Ethereum Layer 2 network amid the controversy and expressed his views on how L2 can achieve a balance between enterprises and users.
Soneium Takes Action Against Infringements
Sony’s subsidiary, Sony Network Communications, jointly established Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL) with the development company Startale Labs of the Japanese public chain Astar Network last year, introducing the second-layer blockchain Soneium utilizing Optimistic rollup technology. This week, Sony BSL announced the launch of Soneium’s mainnet, targeting content creators, fans, and communities, with a focus on addressing current pain points in the content creation field.
According to DL News, some Soneium users complained on Discord that they could not trade two new memecoins, Aibo and Toro. These tokens are named after Sony’s Aibo robot dog and PlayStation’s Toro cat. The related smart contracts were quickly labeled as “forbidden” based on information from the blockchain explorer Blockscout, cutting off the trading channels for these two memecoins traders.
In a post on the X community platform, Soneium outlined its approach to balancing creation and intellectual property protection, stating that the team has taken measures to “safeguard intellectual property rights to ensure a fair and inclusive ecosystem.” “Temporary restrictions on certain contracts at the RPC level are in place to protect creators’ rights while encouraging responsible innovation.”
Criticism from Alon, the anonymous founder of the Solana ecosystem memecoin issuance platform pump.fun:
Luca Donno, a researcher from the analysis site L2 Beat, demonstrated on X how Soneium users could bypass the network’s restrictions. Users can complete transactions directly on the Ethereum mainnet with some technical knowledge instead of attempting transactions on Soneium, albeit with a 12-hour delay.
Vitalik’s Take on Soneium Controversy
Regarding the controversy surrounding Soneium, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin positively delineated the potential value of Ethereum Layer 2 for enterprises and users, stating:
Vitalik mentioned that enterprises could design a very closed system where operators can edit the state root, but users are clear about the system they are entering, with analysis sites like l2beat and numerous independent network investigators assisting them. Enterprises can also establish a fully open system.
Additionally, Vitalik mentioned that L2 builders could design a system with a “speed bump” where users can know they can send transactions on this L2 when needed but face a significant slowdown – the sequencer can limit transaction speed without reviewing them. Vitalik pointed out that Sony’s Soneium is an example of such a system.
According to Vitalik, free market competition drives the development of the Ethereum ecosystem, but as an ecosystem, it needs to ensure two things: core financial activities occur in a fully open environment and provide sufficient tools to help users understand the characteristics of the chain environment they are participating in.
Sota Watanabe, Director of Sony Block Solutions Labs, stated in an interview with Decrypt that Soneium’s approach is not against memecoins but rather “supports responsibility.” He mentioned that the network’s team will implement a grace period for potential blacklist decisions in the future.
A spokesperson for Soneium stated, “We believe that when memecoins are developed responsibly and comply with ethical and legal frameworks, they are a powerful tool. We are committed to fostering an environment of innovative growth while ensuring creators’ rights are protected.”
Source: Decrypt
