Deep Dive
1. Attention Capital Markets Live (Q3 2025)
Overview: Sonic SVM’s core innovation, the Attention Capital Market, transitioned to mainnet in Q3 2025. This framework quantifies user engagement (wallet activity, staking, transactions) into a dynamic scoring system.
The protocol uses three node types (Relay, HSSN, Grid) to process attention metrics, rewarding developers based on actual dApp usage. For example, FoMoney’s 200M+ transactions since testnet now directly influence its "Authority Score," affecting rewards.
What this means: This is bullish for SONIC because it aligns token value with real user growth, incentivizing developers to build sticky applications. (Source)
2. Validator Program Launch (22 May 2025)
Overview: Introduced a dual staking model (self-stake/delegation) with validators earning fees from gas and delegations (0-20% commissions). Partners like Restake and Stakin joined to secure the network.
Operational costs for validators range $500-$3,000/month, with performance-based rewards. Over 12 validators now secure Sonic SVM’s 416M+ circulating supply.
What this means: This is neutral for SONIC—it improves decentralization but requires sustained validator participation to maintain network health. (Source)
3. Buy-and-Lock Mechanism (19 May 2025)
Overview: Replaced token burns with a system where 50% of fees buy SONIC from markets, locking tokens for 24 months. Remaining 12.5% of fees (in SOL) are staked to fund liquidity pools.
By November 2025, the program had locked ~180M SONIC (43% of circulating supply), creating consistent buy pressure.
What this means: This is bullish for SONIC as it reduces sell pressure and deepens liquidity, though reliance on transaction volume poses risks during low-activity periods. (Source)
Conclusion
Sonic SVM’s codebase advances prioritize sustainable tokenomics (buy-and-lock), decentralized infrastructure (validators), and novel attention economies. While these upgrades strengthen long-term value, success hinges on maintaining developer activity and user adoption. How will competing L2s respond to Sonic’s attention-based model?