Sony’s Blockchain Partner Startale Unveils Institutional Stablecoin for Soneium Ecosystem

Startale Labs—the blockchain arm backed by Sony—just dropped a bombshell: an institutional-grade stablecoin designed specifically for its Soneium ecosystem. This isn't your average DeFi plaything; it's built for the suits.

The Corporate On-Ramp

Forget volatile memecoins. This stablecoin targets financial institutions, corporations, and serious builders who need predictable value to operate on-chain. It's a direct bid to legitimize Soneium as infrastructure, not just another speculative network. The move signals a clear pivot from experimentation to utility.

Why It Matters

Sony's indirect stamp via its partnership gives Startale a credibility most crypto projects can only dream of. An institutional stablecoin acts as the financial plumbing—it's what lets real businesses pay salaries, settle contracts, and manage treasury on-chain without touching the wild swings of unpegged crypto. It's the boring, essential foundation for everything flashy that gets built on top.

The Bigger Picture

This launch isn't happening in a vacuum. It's a calculated move to capture the growing wave of traditional finance dipping its toes into digital assets. Startale is effectively building the welcome mat for capital that's still wary of crypto's wild west reputation. They're selling stability and compliance—two words rarely associated with this space, but worth their weight in gold to the right audience.

One cynical take? The finance world loves a good, controlled sandbox where they can play with new toys without any real risk to the mothership. This stablecoin might just be that—a perfectly manicured hedge fund playground, safely fenced off from the rabble. But hey, if it brings real capital on-chain, maybe the rest of us get better roads.

Startale Group, Sony's blockchain collaborator on the Soneium network, has launched an institutional-grade dollar-pegged stablecoin designed to power payments and settlements across its Web3 ecosystem, the company announced in a statement.

Startale USD (USDSC) is built on M0's universal stablecoin platform and debuts alongside STAR Points, a native rewards system that incentivizes onchain activity through the Startale App – the main gateway into the Soneium ecosystem.

Soneium is Sony's ethereum Layer-2 blockchain developed in partnership with Startale Group. The network aims to bridge Sony's entertainment and consumer electronics businesses with Web3 applications, targeting mainstream adoption through familiar user experiences.

"USDSC is built to connect everyday users to the future of finance, unlocking access to the broader on-chain ecosystem," said Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Group. "It powers payments, rewards, and everyday transactions across the Startale App, making web3 feel as familiar as any mainstream app."

The launch establishes payment infrastructure ahead of Startale and SBI Holdings' planned 24/7 digital asset exchange for tokenized stocks and real-world assets. The platform aims to serve what's projected to be an $18.9 trillion tokenization market by 2033.

The MOVE comes as Sony deepens its blockchain strategy across multiple fronts. Last week, Nikkei reported that Sony Bank is planning to issue a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin as early as fiscal year 2026 for use within Sony's gaming, anime, and content ecosystems. Sony Bank applied for a U.S. banking license in October and has partnered with stablecoin infrastructure provider Bastion for the project.

The Sony Bank stablecoin WOULD allow U.S. customers to pay for video games, anime, subscriptions, and other content within Sony's ecosystem, potentially replacing or supplementing credit card payments and reducing transaction fees. The U.S. market accounts for over 30% of Sony Group's external sales.

While Sony Bank's planned stablecoin targets consumer payments within Sony's existing entertainment properties, USDSC focuses on the broader Web3 ecosystem built around Soneium, Sony's Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain developed with Startale Group.

USDSC's introduction comes as Japan's Financial Services Agency advances digital currency frameworks. The regulator recently approved a joint yen-stablecoin pilot from Japan's three megabanks – MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho – under a new Payment Innovation framework, and authorized the country's first regulated yen stablecoin, JPYC.

The timing aligns with broader stablecoin adoption. Global stablecoin circulation now exceeds $316 billion, while EY reports that 13% of financial institutions and corporations globally now use stablecoins, with 54% expecting adoption within the next six to twelve months following passage of the U.S. GENIUS Act.

M0's modular platform, which recently partnered with MetaMask and Stripe's Bridge for the MUSD stablecoin, provides the underlying infrastructure connecting issuance, application logic, and liquidity into a programmable system.

"By building USDSC on M0's open platform, Startale introduces a digital dollar for users across the Startale App and the broader Soneium ecosystem," said Luca Prosperi, CEO and co-founder of M0.

The STAR Points rewards system allows users to earn points through minting and holding USDSC, providing liquidity on Uniswap, completing missions, and interacting with Mini Apps via the Startale App. Points may be redeemed for ecosystem programs, token launches, gas credits, and priority access to new token offerings as the platform develops.

Select projects building on Soneium will distribute tokens and rewards through the Startale App, using STAR Points as the distribution mechanism for ecosystem benefits.