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- IRC will use Soneium’s IPFi infrastructure to measure and reward fan activity, issuing “IRC Scores” with its mobile app.
- It will convert these scores into membership levels that provide practical benefits.
Technology giant Sony is moving forward with Web3 adoption in Asia, as its Layer-2 blockchain platform Soneium recently partnered with IRC APP, the largest idol and fashion festival app in Japan. So IRC will now be part of Soneium’s AI-powered IPFi infrastructure, which will increase global fan engagement.
Idol Runway Collection (IRC), Japan’s largest hybrid idol and fashion festival, partnered with Sony’s Soneium blockchain for an on-chain fan engagement model. Through this partnership, IRC aims to transform the way brands interact with global audiences.
Additionally, the platform will leverage Sony’s IPFi infrastructure, allowing it to measure and reward fans for their participation. IRC has successfully tested this approach within the Asian entertainment industry. It wants to replicate the same success in western countries too!
During the 2025 event, IRC attracted approximately 11,800 visitors and 107 idol groups. To ensure the success of this initiative, the company is leveraging the IRC mobile app, which uses AI to evaluate fan activity across various social media platforms.
Fans earn “IRC scores” for their positive engagement. The company then automatically distributes them to fan wallets without any gas costs. These scores are later converted into membership levels such as Normal, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Users can use these points at the next IRC events to receive benefits such as early ticket access, priority entry and invitations to premium venues. The system also allows fans to vote through the chain to influence aspects of the 2026 event.
Through this partnership with Sony’s Soneium, IRC plans to expand this measurable fandom model beyond idol culture. The platform said it will explore broader creative categories such as fashion and anime, along with the world’s second-largest music market. The official announcement notes:
“Powered by Soneium’s infrastructure, the IRC APP creates a seamless bridge between everyday fandom activity and the real-world impact at IRC. IRC APP leverages Account Abstraction (AA) to ensure the experience is immediately accessible to users unfamiliar with blockchain applications, while providing unprecedented fandom influence.”
Sony launched its Layer-2 blockchain network Soneium earlier this year, in January 2025, and immediately received support from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. Moreover, Soneium has collaborated with DeFi market players such as Uniswap for faster market expansion.
The Asian entertainment industry is undergoing a major transformation
The Asian entertainment industry is seeing a major change. Prominent players in this field, across Japan, South Korea and China, are now working on various Web3 projects.
Sony’s Soneium infrastructure supports high-volume applications. The scalable Layer-2 infrastructure supports voting, reward distribution, and community engagement. Market experts believe that Soneium’s success will depend on whether entertainment companies can build effective participation models on this infrastructure.