Sophon has set November 25 as the final deadline for users to withdraw assets from its network before the planned permanent shutdown of the Sophon mainnet on November 30, 2026. In an October 19 announcement, the project said it would begin deactivating infrastructure and associated websites on the deadline date and warned that any funds remaining on Sophon Chain could become permanently inaccessible once the shutdown is complete.
Users are required to withdraw SOPH tokens, Ethereum (ETH), USDC and any other assets held on the network, as well as claim outstanding staking and Guardian rewards. Sophon also cautioned users to verify official instructions and avoid unsolicited links, as shutdown announcements can attract phishing attempts.
The decision to wind down the chain was first announced in June. Developers said the cost of maintaining an independent blockchain no longer justified its benefits. Sophon originally launched as an Ethereum layer-2 solution using zero-knowledge proofs, focused on gaming, entertainment and artificial intelligence. After abandoning its own infrastructure, the project plans to develop consumer finance and AI applications on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network associated with Coinbase.
Sophon raised $60 million through a node sale in 2024, following a separate $10 million funding round. The shutdown also highlights broader pressure on consumer-focused Ethereum layer-2 networks: Abstract, another L2 developed by Igloo, the parent company of Pudgy Penguins, is scheduled to cease operations on December 15 after reportedly losing tens of millions of dollars maintaining its infrastructure.
