SoundCloud Acquires Decentralized Music Platform Nina Protocol

SoundCloud announced the acquisition of Nina Protocol, a decentralized music platform, just months after it shut down. This move marks SoundCloud's continued effort to expand into a more comprehensive support platform for independent artists.

Nina Protocol, founded in 2021, allowed artists to sell music directly to fans, keeping 100% of the revenue using the Solana blockchain. Unfortunately, Nina had to close operations in May 2026 due to sustainability challenges, according to TechCrunch.

The financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, and it's unconfirmed whether any Nina team members will join SoundCloud. This acquisition is SoundCloud's first since buying AI music company Musiio in 2022, which focused on improving music discovery.

SoundCloud will integrate Nina's editorial archive and 'genre map' into its offerings, aiming to promote emerging artists and music scenes. This strategy highlights its commitment to fostering deeper artist-fan relationships and sustainable careers for musicians.

SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton emphasized their goal to honor Nina's mission of empowering independent artists, indicating that the acquisition will provide new tools and opportunities for artists to monetize and grow their audience.

For artists already on Nina, SoundCloud is offering a migration tool to move their works to its platform. Additionally, these artists will receive a complimentary SoundCloud Artist subscription, including monetization and audience growth tools, until the end of the year.

By acquiring Nina Protocol, SoundCloud is making a strategic bet on decentralized technology, which could reshape how artists engage with fans and manage their content rights. This acquisition reflects a broader industry trend towards empowering artists outside traditional frameworks.