Sophon to shut down mainnet on November 30, sets earlier withdrawal deadline
Sophon has given users until November 25, 2026, to withdraw assets from its blockchain before the network’s planned shutdown on November 30.
- Sophon has set November 25 as the deadline to withdraw assets before its November 30 mainnet shutdown.
- Users must withdraw SOPH, ETH, USDC, staking rewards and farm assets to avoid potentially losing access.
- Sophon began winding down its blockchain in June to focus on consumer finance and AI applications on Base.
- Binance previously migrated SOPH to Ethereum at a 1:1 ratio, allowing the token to continue beyond the chain’s closure.
In an October 19 announcement, Sophon confirmed the final timetable for closing its mainnet and warned that infrastructure and related websites would begin shutting down after November 25. Assets remaining on the network after the withdrawal deadline could become permanently inaccessible.
The announcement follows the project’s June decision to stop operating its own Ethereum layer-2 blockchain and concentrate on consumer finance and artificial intelligence applications on Base.
Sophon warns users to withdraw assets before November 25
Sophon instructed users to withdraw SOPH, ETH, USDC and any other assets still held on its blockchain before the deadline.
The team directed users to its official claims portal to withdraw liquid assets and collect outstanding staking and Guardian rewards. Users with assets in Sophon Farm were instructed to withdraw them through the farming platform.
“Nov 25 is the date to act, not Nov 30,” Sophon stated in the announcement.
The five-day gap between the withdrawal deadline and the final shutdown is important because users may lose access to essential services before the blockchain stops operating entirely.
Sophon warned that key websites and network infrastructure would begin closing after November 25. It did not promise that withdrawals would remain possible until November 30.
The project urged users to rely exclusively on official links and watch for fraudulent migration websites. Such sites may imitate legitimate withdrawal portals to trick users into connecting wallets or approving malicious transactions.
Sophon began moving away from its blockchain in June
Sophon first disclosed plans to retire its blockchain in June, saying the cost of maintaining a standalone network no longer justified the benefits.
In a June 25 announcement, founder and CEO Seb explained the decision:
“We paused nine months ago and asked the basic question: was our own chain doing anything that justified spending millions a year on infrastructure? It wasn’t.”
The project said it would focus on applications built on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network developed by Coinbase. Its planned products include consumer finance services and applications involving artificial intelligence.
Sophon previously raised $60 million through a node sale in 2024, after securing a separate $10 million funding round. The project originally used its zero-knowledge-powered network to support consumer applications, including gaming and entertainment.
The shutdown changes the utility of its native SOPH token. According to Sophon’s token transition plan, SOPH’s original uses for network transaction fees and staking are being phased out.
The company plans to replace those functions with token buybacks and burns funded by revenue from its consumer products. It has identified Pyre, its finance application, as a potential source of revenue for the program.
SOPH token migration began before the shutdown deadline
Some exchanges had already moved away from the original Sophon network before the October announcement.
On July 28, Binance announced that it would discontinue support for SOPH deposits and withdrawals on the Sophon mainnet from August 4.
The exchange said SOPH would migrate to Ethereum’s ERC-20 network at a 1:1 ratio. Its notice specified that spot, margin and futures trading, along with Binance Earn services, would not be affected by the network migration.
The distinction means the closure of Sophon’s blockchain does not necessarily mean the SOPH token itself will cease to exist.
In August, crypto.news reported Binance’s closer monitoring of SOPH and four other cryptocurrencies. The Monitoring Tag designation meant the assets faced additional reviews and possible delisting risks, not an immediate removal from trading.
A September report on Upbit’s warning documented further changes affecting SOPH. Upbit had placed the token under investment caution, while South Korean exchanges had previously updated their supported deposit and withdrawal networks.
Sophon has not specified any extension beyond November 25 for users who fail to move assets from the retiring chain. Its October 19 instructions cover liquid token balances, unpaid staking and Guardian rewards, and assets remaining in Sophon Farm.
