Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin endorses Soneium

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has publicly endorsed Soneium, a new Layer-2 scaling solution developed with support from Sony Group.
Launched this week, Soneium has sparked both interest and criticism for its innovative approach, including restrictions on memecoin transactions—a move some view as financial censorship, according to Coingape.
Buterin, however, sees Soneium’s design as a testament to blockchain’s versatility for businesses and users alike.
Speaking on the protocol’s launch, he emphasized that Soneium allows companies to create rules on-chain that are auditable and transparent. “Whatever the rules enshrined onchain are, that is the rule,” Buterin noted, adding that third-party platforms like L2Beat ensure accountability by monitoring blockchain activity.
Transparency Versus Control
The Ethereum co-founder pointed out that Soneium’s ability to throttle certain activities, rather than censor them outright, represents a balanced approach for corporations seeking fine-grained control over blockchain environments. He acknowledged the potential for closed systems in such frameworks but argued that full transparency allows users to make informed decisions.
Soneium’s launch marks a significant milestone in the competitive Ethereum Layer-2 ecosystem, which has seen rapid expansion with solutions like Coinbase’s Base Network and Arbitrum. Despite the controversy, Buterin underscored the importance of maintaining open, fully auditable systems to foster trust and innovation.
As Ethereum continues to evolve, the introduction of protocols like Soneium reflects a growing focus on meeting corporate needs without sacrificing user awareness. Buterin concluded with a call to action for the blockchain community: ensure that critical financial activity remains accessible in open environments while providing users with the tools to engage responsibly.
Soneium’s debut signals a new chapter in Ethereum’s scalability journey, with transparency and innovation at the forefront.
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