The launch of Sony’s Soneium blockchain has sparked significant controversy as memecoins were blacklisted on its first day, causing outrage among users.
Sony’s Layer 2 blockchain, Soneium, entered the crypto scene with a promise to protect intellectual property. However, its launch was marked by immediate backlash. Reports claim that several memecoins were blacklisted for allegedly infringing on intellectual property rights, leading to widespread frustration among traders.
Affected tokens were restricted, making them untradable and inaccessible through the official block explorer. Users reported receiving forbidden alerts when attempting to access these tokens. According to Sony, the blacklisting specifically targeted projects using branding deemed protected by Soneium.
Developers Speak Out
The pseudonymous founder of pump.fun, Alon, criticized Soneium’s actions, stating:
“They actively blacklisted memecoins they don’t like, instantly nuking everyone’s position to zero.”
Another developer, Kawz, founder of Time.fun, accused the platform of freezing over $100,000 worth of ETH, adding that two tokens had been affected since the launch.
Impact on Aibo Token
Among the impacted tokens is Aibo, a memecoin inspired by Sony’s robotic dog series. Currently trading with a market cap of $770,000, its developers are reportedly working with Soneium to resolve the issue. A new logo is also under consideration to comply with intellectual property guidelines.
A Broader Debate
The incident has reignited debates about blockchain decentralization versus corporate control. Critics question the level of authority blockchain developers should hold, especially when it comes to restricting assets on a supposedly permissionless network.
Sony Block Solutions Labs, the Singapore-based subsidiary behind Soneium, emphasized intellectual property enforcement as a core mission during the launch. However, this controversy has raised concerns about its approach to achieving this goal.
