Sony Ventures has increased its stake in Startale Group with a $13 million investment through the Sony Innovation Fund. This marks the first close of Startale’s Series A round and brings the company’s total disclosed funding to $20 million. The move also strengthens a partnership that began in 2023, when Sony led a $3.5 million seed round.
Startale Labs, a spin-off from the Astar Foundation, serves as the technical backbone for Soneium, an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain co-developed with Sony Block Solutions Labs. Built on Optimism’s OP Stack, the network supports both entertainment-focused and general-purpose applications.
Since its mainnet launch in January 2025, Soneium has processed more than 500 million transactions and hosts over 250 active decentralized applications. Key integrations include Uniswap, Aave, Plume, and LINE. Uniswap added native Soneium support in May 2025, followed by Aave integrating its lending protocol and GHO stablecoin. Plume has brought institutional yield into the network through its SkyLink interoperability engine.
Startale has also launched the Startale App, a super-app designed as the main user gateway to Soneium. The app is still in beta and does not yet have an official launch date. Startale CEO Sota emphasized that Sony’s continued support will help the company expand its infrastructure globally and push its vision of bringing the world on-chain.
The investment fits into Sony’s broader strategy to become a key player in blockchain infrastructure. Sony Bank recently announced plans to launch a US dollar-pegged stablecoin for the US market, expected in fiscal 2026, in collaboration with Bastion Platforms.
Sony Electronics Singapore has also begun accepting USDC for online purchases through Crypto.com Pay, making it the first electronics brand in the country to integrate stablecoin payments at checkout.
Additionally, Sony has advanced its S.BLOX platform, a licensed crypto exchange acquired in 2023 through its takeover of Amber Japan. S.BLOX has been rebranded and integrated with the Soneium blockchain, allowing users to trade assets, access exclusive campaigns, and earn BTC rewards within Sony’s digital ecosystem.
This latest round underscores Sony’s commitment to building a foundational role in web3, combining blockchain infrastructure, stablecoin payments, and a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications.
