Sony has unveiled a new blockchain-powered platform designed to reshape the way fans interact with Japanese idol groups. Through its Soneium blockchain initiative, the company is rolling out an artificial intelligence–enhanced application for the IDOL RUNWAY COLLECTION (IRC) 2026 festival. The tool is intended to translate social media participation into measurable, blockchain-verified fan influence.
Developed in collaboration with YOAKE entertainment, the IRC APP enables supporters of popular idol groups—including Nogizaka46, =LOVE, and FRUITS ZIPPER—to earn what are known as IRC Scores. These scores are generated when users engage in positive or supportive activity across social platforms. The accumulated score gives fans access to exclusive benefits, ranging from entry to festival events to the ability to take part in voting processes tied to show activities and festival outcomes. The system is positioned as a new layer of interaction that blends traditional fandom with Web3 infrastructure.
Account Abstraction Makes On-Chain Interaction Seamless
A key element of the platform’s design is its reliance on Account Abstraction technology, which removes many of the complexities commonly associated with blockchain usage. Sony structured the app so that fans are not required to understand or manage typical on-chain processes. Instead, participants can link their social media accounts directly to the application, allowing the AI system to assess engagement levels and convert them into a fandom score.
The score functions as a dynamic indicator of each user’s involvement, determining membership tiers as well as influence within festival-related decisions. This approach is meant to make blockchain participation effortless while still maintaining verifiable on-chain records. By streamlining access, the platform aims to widen participation and make decentralized features more appealing to everyday fans who may not have prior experience with Web3 systems.
& many more..!
Checkout IRC App: https://t.co/myAOV538IZ
— Soneium 💿 (@soneium) November 28, 2025
Strengthening Creative Communities Through Blockchain
The launch of this platform has been framed as part of Sony’s broader effort to bring fresh value to creative communities by merging entertainment with emerging technologies. The company’s vision involves using blockchain to enhance trust, transparency, and interaction between performers and their supporters. In this case, Soneium acts as the foundational layer that authenticates fan activity while enabling AI to evaluate engagement in a structured manner.
The integration of real-world rewards is expected to deepen fan commitment and elevate the festival experience. By tying social participation to event privileges and decision-making roles, Sony intends to create a more participatory culture around idol fandom. The system also highlights a growing trend in the entertainment sector, where blockchain is used not merely as a transactional tool but as a mechanism to empower audiences and broaden community involvement.
As Sony continues expanding its blockchain initiatives, the IRC APP and its scoring framework may serve as a blueprint for future entertainment projects seeking to combine AI, social interaction, and decentralized technology. Through this model, the company aims to build a more interactive, transparent, and rewarding digital ecosystem for creative industries and their global audiences.