Sony Group Corp. boosted its stake in Startale Group with a $13 million follow-on investment. Sony made the move after watching the Soneium network run on mainnet since January 2025.
Data from Soneium’s public block explorer shows the network processed about 524 million transactions since mainnet launch. Nansen data shows comparable periods recorded roughly 442 million transactions for Avalanche and 383 million for Algorand (Ed. note: transaction counts do not equal user adoption or economic activity).
A Startale spokesperson said post-launch metrics informed Sony’s decision and the funding keeps Sony’s operational and governance roles unchanged. “This ecosystem growth, combined with the strength of the ongoing collaboration through Sony Block Solutions Labs, reflects the progress that underpins Sony’s continued investment.”
Startale said its Startale USD (USDSC) stablecoin is live on Soneium, built on M0‘s platform as a native settlement layer for applications and payments. The firm called the $13 million injection the first close of its Series A and declined to disclose valuation details.
Soneium was first announced in August 2024 as an Ethereum layer 2 targeting entertainment, gaming and consumer applications. The project moved from the Minato public testnet and the Soneium Spark incubator into full mainnet operations in January 2025, with a Jan. 14 action restricting some contracts over alleged IP violations.
