SoundCloud acquires Nina Protocol, a failed decentralized music platform, months after shutdown

SoundCloud announced Wednesday that it has acquired Nina Protocol, a decentralized music platform that shut down in May after failing to establish a sustainable business model.

Financial terms were not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether any of Nina's team will join SoundCloud. The company did not respond to requests for comment on those details.

Nina Protocol, founded in 2021 by independent musicians Jack Callahan, Mike Pollard, and Eric Farber, allowed artists to operate their own digital storefronts and sell music directly to fans while retaining 100% of revenue. The platform used the Solana blockchain for transactions and Arweave for decentralized storage of music files and metadata.

This acquisition represents SoundCloud's first deal since purchasing AI music company Musiio in 2022. As part of the deal, SoundCloud takes ownership of Nina's editorial archive and "genre map," which the company said preserves "a rich collection of music journalism, artist features, and cultural commentary."

"[Nina Protocol] built an incredible platform by putting independent artists, scenes, and communities first, and our priority is to honor what they've created, while carrying that mission forward," SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton said in a statement. "Together, we'll help more independent artists build deeper relationships with fans, unlock new ways to earn, and access the tools they need to grow sustainable careers on their own terms."

For Nina Protocol artists, SoundCloud is offering a migration tool to transfer work to its platform. Artists will also receive complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscriptions through the end of the year, which include monetization features and audience growth tools.

The move signals SoundCloud's continued expansion beyond music hosting into a broader platform for independent artists. It also raises questions about the viability of blockchain-based music platforms, given Nina's inability to sustain operations despite the appeal of direct artist-to-fan monetization.