Helium

Introduction to Helium

Helium pioneered the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) category, creating the world’s largest peer-to-peer wireless network for Internet of Things devices. Instead of telecommunications companies building infrastructure, Helium incentivizes individuals to deploy hotspots that provide coverage, earning cryptocurrency rewards in return.

The network started with LoRaWAN coverage for IoT sensors and expanded to mobile 5G coverage through Helium Mobile. After migrating to Solana in 2023, Helium now operates as one of the most tangible examples of crypto enabling real-world infrastructure that wouldn’t exist otherwise.

How Helium Works

People-Powered Network

Infrastructure model:

• Individuals deploy hotspots
• Hotspots provide wireless coverage
• Devices use the coverage
• Hosts earn token rewards

Coverage Verification

Proof of Coverage:

• Hotspots verify each other
• Random challenges
• Location confirmation
• Reward distribution

Token Economics

Incentive structure:

• HNT for coverage provision
• Data Credits for network usage
• Burn mechanism
• Supply/demand balance

Technical Specifications

Metric	Value
Blockchain	Solana
Hotspots	900,000+ globally
Coverage	IoT (LoRaWAN) + Mobile
Token	HNT
Migration	April 2023 to Solana

The HNT Token

Utility

HNT serves multiple purposes:

• Rewards: Earned by hotspot operators
• Staking: Validator participation
• Burning: Creates Data Credits
• Governance: Network decisions

Data Credits

Usage tokens:

• Created by burning HNT
• Fixed USD price
• Used to transmit data
• Non-transferable

Tokenomics

Supply dynamics:

• Halving schedule
• Max supply cap
• Burn and mint equilibrium
• Reward distribution curves

Solana Migration

Why Migrate

Decision factors:

• Scalability limitations
• Development resources
• Ecosystem benefits
• Technical efficiency

Migration Process

Transition:

• April 2023 completion
• Token migration
• Node transition
• Continued operation

Post-Migration

Current state:

• HNT as SPL token
• Solana infrastructure
• Improved scalability
• Ecosystem integration

Network Types

IoT Network (LoRaWAN)

Original network:

• Long-range, low-power
• Sensor connectivity
• Asset tracking
• Smart agriculture

Mobile Network (5G/LTE)

Expanded coverage:

• Cellular connectivity
• Helium Mobile carrier
• CBRS spectrum
• Consumer service

Separate Tokens

Network-specific:

• IOT token for LoRaWAN
• MOBILE token for cellular
• HNT as umbrella token
• Distinct economics

Helium Mobile

Consumer Service

Mobile carrier:

• $20/month unlimited plan
• Uses Helium + T-Mobile
• Real consumer product
• Growing subscriber base

How It Works

Hybrid network:

• Helium hotspots where available
• T-Mobile fallback
• Seamless handoff
• Cost arbitrage

MOBILE Token

Carrier economics:

• Hotspot rewards
• Service payments
• Discovery mapping
• Network incentives

The DePIN Pioneer

Category Definition

What Helium proved:

• Crypto can build infrastructure
• Token incentives work
• Decentralized coordination possible
• Real utility achievable

Inspiring Others

DePIN expansion:

• Storage networks (Filecoin)
• Compute networks (Render)
• Mapping (Hivemapper)
• Sensors (WeatherXM)

Competition and Positioning

Telecom Industry

Traditional alternatives:

• Carrier-built infrastructure
• Municipal networks
• Enterprise IoT solutions
• LoRaWAN alternatives

Helium’s Advantages

Key differentiators:

• Rapid deployment
• Lower cost structure
• Global coverage potential
• Token incentives

Challenges and Criticism

Gaming Concerns

Historical issues:

• Location spoofing
• Fake hotspots
• Reward manipulation
• Trust problems

Revenue Reality

Business concerns:

• Low data usage initially
• Token rewards vs. actual revenue
• Sustainability questions
• Usage growth imperative

Hardware Dependencies

Hotspot challenges:

• Third-party manufacturers
• Quality variations
• Supply chain issues
• User experience

Recent Developments

Helium Mobile Growth

Subscriber expansion:

• Growing user base
• Coverage improvements
• Partnership announcements
• Service enhancements

Network Statistics

Adoption metrics:

• Data transfer growth
• Hotspot deployment
• Geographic coverage
• Mobile subscribers

Real-World Usage

IoT Applications

Actual use cases:

• Asset tracking companies
• Smart agriculture
• Environmental monitoring
• Supply chain tracking

Enterprise Adoption

Business customers:

• Logistics companies
• Agriculture firms
• Smart city projects
• Industrial IoT

Future Roadmap

Development priorities:

• Mobile Growth: Subscriber acquisition
• Coverage: Network expansion
• Enterprise: Business adoption
• Technology: Network improvements
• Ecosystem: Application development

Conclusion

Helium proved that decentralized networks can build real-world infrastructure at scale. The 900,000+ hotspots deployed globally represent genuine physical infrastructure that didn’t exist before—a remarkable achievement for any coordination mechanism, crypto or otherwise.

The migration to Solana and launch of Helium Mobile represent maturation from experiment to product. Whether the network can achieve sustainable economics through actual usage rather than primarily token speculation remains the key question.

For those interested in DePIN or seeking alternative wireless coverage, Helium provides the most developed example of crypto-incentivized infrastructure—with real products serving real users, even as the economic model continues evolving.