Animoca Brands has announced a new partnership with Sony Block Solutions Labs to develop blockchain-based identity infrastructure and support anime-themed projects on Soneium—Sony’s Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain.

The collaboration introduces Anime ID, a decentralised identity system built by San FranTokyo, a contributor to the Anime Foundation. It will serve as the first implementation of Moca Network’s identity tools on Soneium. Moca Network will play a central role in enabling these features through its AIR SDK (Account, Identity, Reputation Software Development Kit), which provides account management and credential verification across applications.

The partnership also includes a cultural component: a series of anime-related campaigns led by San FranTokyo to attract anime communities to Soneium and explore blockchain-based experiences.

What will this partnership bring?

Under the agreement, Moca Network will integrate its identity infrastructure into Soneium, starting with Anime ID. The AIR SDK will allow users to maintain a single identity and reputation record across different applications, while also enabling developers on Soneium to issue and verify user credentials.

“By integrating Moca Network’s identity infrastructure, we’re not just enhancing entertainment experiences; we’re creating a seamless digital ecosystem,” said Yat Siu, Co-founder and Executive chairman of Animoca Brands. “The partnership will empower Soneium users with unified digital identities, bridging anime, gaming, and blockchain technologies.”

Anime ID will act as a decentralised identifier system and reputation layer, offering support for features such as embedded accounts, persistent identity, and cross-platform engagement. These features are designed to make it easier for users to navigate and interact with various applications without needing separate profiles or verification steps for each service.

“By integrating Moca Network’s AIR SDK and Anime ID into Soneium and Animoca Brands launching anime-inspired cultural campaigns, we aim to onboard global anime fans to the blockchain, enabling them to collaborate, create, and infuse the world with emotion,” added Jun Watanabe, chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs of Soneium.

In parallel, San FranTokyo will launch anime-themed campaigns intended to increase user engagement on Soneium. These campaigns are expected to connect anime communities to blockchain-based projects, though specific details on the campaigns or participating IPs have not been announced.

What’s next for Animoca Brands?

This collaboration marks a continuation of Animoca Brands’ strategy to build infrastructure for digital identity across blockchain ecosystems. Moca Network, one of the company’s key projects, is designed to work across multiple blockchains and support unified identity, asset ownership, and reputation tracking. Moca Network is powered by the $MOCA token, which is used to support identity verification, data storage, and network governance.

Animoca Brands continues to expand its presence in blockchain gaming, decentralised identity, and digital ownership through partnerships and investment. The company has built a large portfolio of web3-related projects and has been active in developing infrastructure intended to support long-term adoption of decentralised technologies.

No specific launch date for Anime ID or the upcoming campaigns on Soneium has been confirmed, but both companies say development is already underway.

Sony’s entertainment robot, Aibo, is entering the web3 space through a blockchain initiative on Soneium, an Ethereum Layer-2 network developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs. This introduces a collection of Soulbound Tokens (SBTs) that serve as digital representations of Aibo’s history.

Aibo, first released in 1999, was designed to be an interactive robotic pet with AI-driven features. It quickly became known for its ability to engage with owners, learn behaviours, and develop unique personality traits over time.

Now, rather than releasing new hardware, Sony is focusing on bringing Aibo’s legacy to the blockchain, ensuring its presence continues in a new digital format. The Aibo SBTs are non-transferable, reinforcing their role as a personal digital memento rather than a tradable asset.

What is Aibo?

The name “Aibo” originates from the Japanese word “aibou,” meaning “mate” or “companion.”

Sony’s robotic pet was designed to function as an interactive companion, using AI to learn from its environment and develop an evolving relationship with its owner. Over the past 25 years, Aibo has been recognised as a pioneering robotic pet, demonstrating how technology can mimic social interactions and companionship.

By integrating Aibo into the Soneium blockchain, Sony aims to maintain the concept of digital companionship in a new form. The Soulbound Tokens in the “Entertainment Robot Aibo” collection are permanently tied to the owner’s digital wallet, ensuring they cannot be sold or transferred. This approach reflects Aibo’s original purpose as a personal, long-term companion rather than a product that can change hands.

How to mint an Aibo SBT?

The Aibo collection is available for free minting on OpenSea, with only a small gas fee required to complete the transaction. Each wallet can mint up to 1,000 tokens, and the minting period is open until March 24.

Since the launch, over 17.8 million Aibo NFTs have been minted, with over 56,000 unique owners. Sony has not announced any new hardware releases for Aibo, but the introduction of blockchain-based collectibles could signal a broader strategy for preserving digital assets.

Whether this initiative serves purely as a commemorative project or lays the foundation for future blockchain-powered AI companions remains uncertain.

Sony Group’s three blockchain-focused companies have officially launched the Soneium mainnet, introducing a new era for Web3 and NFTs. With Soneium, Sony aims to bridge the gap between everyday internet users and the complexities of blockchain so that fans and creators can easily connect in new ways. In addition to its potential to remove barriers for everyday users, Soneium has also stirred some controversy for blacklisting certain tokens, raising questions about how regulation and decentralization can coexist.

Soneium: A New Kind of Blockchain?

Soneium is a public blockchain—a type of network where transactions are recorded on a digital ledger and verified by multiple participants rather than a single authority. Sony’s vision for Soneium is to “Realize the Open Internet that Transcends Boundaries,” meaning it wants anyone, from hobbyists to big-name creators, to tap into the benefits of Web3.

Source Soneium

Soneium also functions as a Layer 2 solution for Ethereum, meaning it builds on top of Ethereum’s primary (Layer 1) network to handle data processing more efficiently.

Soneium Spark Innovation

Before the mainnet launch, Sony opened Soneium Minato, a test environment for developers.

This “testnet” allowed teams to experiment with apps without risk, and it quickly racked up impressive numbers: more than 14 million accounts and 47 million transactions. Through an incubation program called Soneium Spark, Sony accepted 32 different projects out of 1,700 applications, proving there’s a huge appetite for creative ideas in this space.

The Soneium Spark program brought forth several standout winners eager to reinvent how we create, play, and share in the Web3 world. Here’s just a few:

• Flickplay: A Web3 consumer platform teaming with top franchises, allowing fans to collect, interact, and stay loyal to beloved characters.

• MintPass: A travel recommendation network where you collect NFT souvenirs and earn rewards for sharing travel experiences.

• PunkgaMe: An on-chain multiverse for manga, letting creators own and connect characters in a vast, evolving universe.

• ServeUp.ai: Pioneers AI-to-human payments, instantly rewarding on-chain verified actions and reshaping how we engage with digital platforms.

Source PunkgaMe

NFTs at the Heart of Soneium

Whether you’re an artist looking to release limited-edition pieces or a game developer planning to reward your best players, Soneium’s built-in NFT issuance tools aim to make it easy. Beginners don’t have to wrestle with complicated crypto wallets or jargon—the platform simplifies the entire process.

Furthermore, and perhaps the most eye-catching example of Sony’s new NFT capabilities is its upcoming campaign with Ghost in the Shell, a popular anime and sci-fi franchise. This drops in February and will give fans special edition NFTs with exclusive content and new ways to interact with the story.

Meanwhile, SNFT Inc. is launching a new fan marketing platform that will allow businesses and creators to launch NFT campaigns. Instead of dealing with separate crypto wallets users can log in through social media, receive tokens and track community engagement all in one place. This approach may encourage casual fans and newcomers to explore NFTs without feeling overwhelmed.

Soneium’s Token Restrictions Challenge Blockchain Ethos

Soneium’s decision to block certain tokens—multiple memecoins and those with Sony IP conflicts—has caused a stir in the crypto community. Critics argue that this is against the ethos of blockchain, which is about free access and censorship resistance. They think Soneium is moving towards a more centralized model, which goes against the original idea of decentralized technology.

Others think Sony is being pragmatic by prioritizing regulatory compliance, and it’s clear that Sony is staunchly committed to protecting its intellectual property.

Conclusion

The engagement during the Soneium Minato testnet and the 32 projects selected through the Soneium Spark program shows there’s a new wave of NFT and Web3 interest. By showing off different use cases and making user-friendly tools available, Sony is bringing in new blood to the growing Web3 world. At the same time, token restrictions remain a talking point, highlighting the balance between decentralization and compliance as Web3 moves forward.

As the Soneium ecosystem evolves, its focus on NFTs will open up new collaboration opportunities – and inspire artists, developers and fans to explore the endless possibilities of digital ownership and community.

Editor’s note: Written with the assistance of AI – Edited and fact-checked by Jason Newey.

Main Image Source: Unsplash