Blab Music
SoundCloud Acquires Shuttered Web3 Music Platform Nina Protocol
On July 22, 2026, SoundCloud announced that it had taken over Nina Protocol, a blockchain‑based music service that had quietly shut its doors in late May. The deal gives the streaming giant access to Nina’s editorial archive, genre map and, for artists who choose to join SoundCloud’s creator ecosystem, their music catalogs.
Nina Protocol was launched in New York in 2021 by Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard and Eric Farber. Built on the Solana and Arweave blockchains, the platform positioned itself as a direct‑to‑artist alternative to the likes of Spotify. Musicians could upload tracks straight to the blockchain and keep 100 % of the revenue from sales.
Despite its ambitious vision, Nina struggled financially. A recent audit revealed that the platform spent only about $50 000 over its five‑year life. Seventy‑seven percent of releases remained uncollected, and a migration to a new on‑chain protocol last year left roughly 6,500 early releases stranded on Solana, unavailable for purchase.
SoundCloud’s acquisition was announced without a disclosed price. The company will inherit Nina’s editorial archive and genre map, and will allow artists to opt into SoundCloud’s creator ecosystem. Those who do so will gain access to distribution tools, direct fan monetization, audience‑growth features, fan‑engagement options and a more equitable streaming‑revenue model.
Mike Pollard, Nina’s CEO, said the platform was “about empowering independent artists and documenting the communities that drive music forward.” He added that SoundCloud shared those values and would be a natural home for Nina’s community.
Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud, noted that the company’s mission to support independent artists aligns with Nina’s. He emphasized that the acquisition would help artists build deeper relationships with fans and unlock new revenue streams.
SoundCloud, founded in 2007, is a German audio‑streaming service with a global user base. As of 2021 it had over 76 million active monthly users and more than 200 million tracks. The platform offers free and paid memberships and is available on mobile, desktop and gaming consoles.
The move is significant for the music‑tech landscape. It preserves Nina’s community and editorial work while integrating decentralized music distribution into a mainstream streaming platform. The acquisition may signal a broader trend of consolidation between web3 music services and established streaming giants.
At present, the terms of the deal remain undisclosed. Artists who had catalogues on Nina can opt into SoundCloud’s ecosystem, but the process for transferring catalogues and revenue streams has not yet been detailed. The industry will watch how SoundCloud implements the integration and whether it expands its support for decentralized music models.
The acquisition marks a new chapter for Nina’s artists and the broader indie community. SoundCloud’s platform will now host Nina’s editorial content and genre mapping, potentially offering a hybrid model that blends blockchain‑based ownership with the reach of a global streaming service.
Nina Protocol was launched in New York in 2021 by Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard and Eric Farber. Built on the Solana and Arweave blockchains, the platform positioned itself as a direct‑to‑artist alternative to the likes of Spotify. Musicians could upload tracks straight to the blockchain and keep 100 % of the revenue from sales.
Despite its ambitious vision, Nina struggled financially. A recent audit revealed that the platform spent only about $50 000 over its five‑year life. Seventy‑seven percent of releases remained uncollected, and a migration to a new on‑chain protocol last year left roughly 6,500 early releases stranded on Solana, unavailable for purchase.
SoundCloud’s acquisition was announced without a disclosed price. The company will inherit Nina’s editorial archive and genre map, and will allow artists to opt into SoundCloud’s creator ecosystem. Those who do so will gain access to distribution tools, direct fan monetization, audience‑growth features, fan‑engagement options and a more equitable streaming‑revenue model.
Mike Pollard, Nina’s CEO, said the platform was “about empowering independent artists and documenting the communities that drive music forward.” He added that SoundCloud shared those values and would be a natural home for Nina’s community.
Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud, noted that the company’s mission to support independent artists aligns with Nina’s. He emphasized that the acquisition would help artists build deeper relationships with fans and unlock new revenue streams.
SoundCloud, founded in 2007, is a German audio‑streaming service with a global user base. As of 2021 it had over 76 million active monthly users and more than 200 million tracks. The platform offers free and paid memberships and is available on mobile, desktop and gaming consoles.
The move is significant for the music‑tech landscape. It preserves Nina’s community and editorial work while integrating decentralized music distribution into a mainstream streaming platform. The acquisition may signal a broader trend of consolidation between web3 music services and established streaming giants.
At present, the terms of the deal remain undisclosed. Artists who had catalogues on Nina can opt into SoundCloud’s ecosystem, but the process for transferring catalogues and revenue streams has not yet been detailed. The industry will watch how SoundCloud implements the integration and whether it expands its support for decentralized music models.
The acquisition marks a new chapter for Nina’s artists and the broader indie community. SoundCloud’s platform will now host Nina’s editorial content and genre mapping, potentially offering a hybrid model that blends blockchain‑based ownership with the reach of a global streaming service.
