Sony's Soneium Blockchain Integrates Mini-Apps Into LINE, Targeting 200 Million Users in Web3 Push

Soneium, the public blockchain initiative backed by tech giant Sony, is partnering with LINE, the dominant messaging and digital services platform in Asia, to bring blockchain-enabled mini-apps to LINE's vast user base of 200 million.

Four initial mini-apps are slated for integration into the Soneium network: Sleepagotchi LITE, Farm Frens, Moonveil’s Puffy Match, and Pocket Mob. These applications span diverse categories, from sleep reward systems and farming games to social strategy RPGs, showcasing the versatility of blockchain technology for consumer-facing applications.

Notably, Sleepagotchi LITE, a streamlined version of a sleep-to-earn app, previously garnered 1 million users on Telegram within a single month, highlighting the potential appeal of these mini-apps to a mainstream audience. Farm Frens, a well-funded farming game from Amihan Entertainment, and Moonveil’s Puffy Match, leveraging zk-L2 and AI-powered gaming, further demonstrate the range of experiences being brought to LINE users through this integration. Pocket Mob, a social strategy RPG from Sonzai Labs, will allow users to earn ‘Respect points’ convertible to NFT rewards, introducing blockchain-based incentives and digital ownership to LINE’s social gaming sphere.

The integration, scheduled to roll out in the coming months, is strategically designed to lower the barriers to entry for Web3, making blockchain applications more user-friendly and accessible to a wider demographic. For Soneium, the partnership provides direct access to LINE’s massive and engaged user base, particularly within key Asian markets where LINE holds significant market share. This offers an unparalleled opportunity to accelerate the adoption of Soneium's blockchain platform and underlying technology.

"LINE has built a strong presence and integrating successful mini-apps into the Soneium ecosystem is the next step toward making Soneium more accessible," Jun Watanabe, chairman of Sony Block Solutions Labs, said in an announcement. “We believe this collaboration will drive engagement and adoption in ways that were previously difficult to achieve.”

For LINE, the collaboration with Soneium positions the platform at the cutting edge of technological innovation, allowing it to offer its users access to the emerging world of Web3 applications. Furthermore, developers building LINE MINI Apps will benefit from Soneium’s resources, including infrastructure support, marketing assistance, and community-building initiatives, enabling them to focus on application innovation and gain valuable experience in Web3 development. This move follows LINE NEXT’s recent introduction of its first batch of Mini dApps via the LINE mobile messenger last month, underscoring the platform’s growing commitment to Web3 integration in the Asian market.

Launched last year, Soneium, built as an Ethereum Layer-2 network using Optimism's OP Stack, has experienced rapid growth, attracting over 1 million accounts and 4 million total addresses. While recent crypto market volatility has impacted active account numbers, this partnership with LINE provides a significant catalyst for renewed growth and user engagement.

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