News 
March 28, 2025 
4 min. 
LY Corporation has refuted claims that its Web3 division, Line Next, has formed a business partnership with Soneium, a Sony-backed Ethereum layer-2 network.
The clarification, issued on March 28, came in response to widespread media and social media reports suggesting that an official collaboration between LY and Soneium had been established.
“These reports stem from Soneium’s March 12 announcement, which stated its intent to expand by utilizing the LINE API and LINE Mini Apps on our platform. However, no formal business partnership or agreement exists between LY Corporation and Soneium,” the company stated.
A Soneium representative responded to a crypto news reporter, saying, “Our March 12 statement referred to a collaboration focused on exploring the integration of on-chain Mini Apps within the Line ecosystem. We fully stand by the accuracy of our announcement.”
The spokesperson further clarified that LY Corporation had directed readers to Soneium’s announcement for additional context, adding, “Soneium had permission to reference Line in the statement, and the Kaia Mini App is not tied to any single provider.”
Japan’s Tech Giants and Their Foray into Blockchain
LY Corporation, a powerhouse in Japan’s tech industry, emerged from the merger of several major firms, including Line—Japan’s leading messaging app—and Yahoo Japan. This 2023 consolidation also brought Line’s Web3 division, Line Next, under LY Corporation’s umbrella.
Founded in late 2021, Line Next secured a $140 million investment in December 2023, led by Crescendo Equity Partners. In January, it introduced “Mini Dapps,” a suite of games and social content integrated within the LINE messenger. The feature mirrors the success of Telegram’s Mini Apps, which gained massive traction through tap-to-earn games and airdrops.
These Mini Dapps run on Kaia, a layer-1 blockchain formed by merging Line’s Finschia chain with Kakao’s Klaytn network. By March 6, Line reported that its Mini Dapps had surpassed 35 million users, marking a significant milestone in its blockchain expansion.
Similarly, Soneium, another Web3 initiative, is backed by Japanese tech giant Sony. Developed by Sony Block Solutions Labs, Soneium launched its mainnet in January, offering innovative features like NFTs linked to Amazon Prime Video content.
Soneium Leverages Anime’s Global Appeal for Web3 Expansion
On March 28, Soneium unveiled a new collaboration with Animoca Brands aimed at bringing anime culture into the Web3 space.
As part of the partnership, Animoca’s digital identity platform, Moca Network, will introduce a decentralized identity layer on Soneium. The first step in this initiative is the launch of Anime ID, a reputation-based identifier designed specifically for anime enthusiasts.
This move aligns with the growing global fascination with anime. In a 2024 media interview, Rahul Purini, president of anime streaming giant Crunchyroll, revealed that research conducted by the platform found that 800 million people—excluding those in China and Japan, where Crunchyroll has limited reach—actively engage with anime content.
