![]() Helium’s next test is to roll out a decentralized 5G network. Doing so has required a fundamental redesign. After creating the largest IoT network in history, Helium has ambitions to support other networks, including WiFi, VPN, CDN, and 5G. For these reasons, many believe “Decentralized Wireless” or DeWi is necessary. It’s also a sector with strong governmental ties. Telecom is a massive market with a handful of major players. Helium is a blend of hardware, software, blockchains, and decentralized governance. It is a story of entrepreneurial grit and ingenuity. Founded by Amir Haleem and Shawn Fanning in 2013, Helium went through several pivots before landing on the version we see today. We’ll explore those ideas in today’s piece. Whatever the outcome, Helium has already had a startling impact, pioneering a new business model for building infrastructure and demonstrating the utility of cryptocurrencies. And yet, with a global telecom market worth $1.6 trillion, the opportunity merits incurring such challenges. Managing multiple economies and subDAOs sounds fiendishly difficult on a dozen different levels. Not all of Helium’s existing users have taken kindly to the introduction of 5G and the changes it brings to existing reward structures. It’s an audacious vision that brings real risks. In that ambition, it seeks to be a true “Network of Networks,” orchestrating systems that will improve billions of lives worldwide and take power out of the hands of centralized incumbents. ![]() In time, Helium hopes to support WiFi, VPNs, and other protocols. As part of this evolution, the firm will expand beyond IoT, starting with its 5G rollout this summer. Earlier this year, the company announced it was entering “Chapter 2” of its story. In February of this year, Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global co-led a $200 million investment into the firm.ĭespite such strong validation, Helium’s best may be yet to come. Helium’s revolutionary premise has catapulted the project to a fully diluted valuation of $2.2 billion, down from a 2021 high of approximately $12 billion. It is one of crypto’s greatest accomplishments and a demonstration of its use. Owners of Helium’s hotspots not only contribute to decentralizing access to the internet, they earn “HNT” as their node in the network is used. Haleem’s project is built on the blockchain and propelled by token rewards it gives to those who secure the network. Though Helium’s scale is remarkable in and of itself, its infrastructure is its defining characteristic. So too soil sensors, air pollution systems, and dozens of other gadgets and apparatuses we interact with and depend upon. The wearable around your wrist, the perky smart fridge that cajoles you to buy more eggs, and the doorbell that tells you UPS has arrived could all rely on a connection to Helium. Close to a million Helium hotspots blanket the world, quietly connecting intelligent devices to the internet. Focused on serving the Internet of Things (IoT), Helium has a presence in 65,000 cities and 170 countries. Founded in 2013, the decentralized wireless network has grown to become the “largest continuous wireless network in the world,” according to founder Amir Haleem. Participating hotspots will earn a new token, MOBILE.Įven if you’ve never heard of it, there’s a chance you’ve interacted with Helium before. Helium’s quest to build a decentralized 5G network is expected to kick off later this month. “Cellular Summer” is about to begin in earnest.While a considerable opportunity, each new network adds significant complexity. It hopes to provide infrastructure for 5G, WiFi, VPN, and other networks. To bring more demand into the system, Helium is expanding beyond IoT. Though Helium’s network has a massive range, it is processing relatively little data. Projects like Helium use noisier but cheaper unlicensed spectrum bands. This is purchased from the FCC and promises an uninterrupted connection. Traditional broadcasters and telecommunication businesses rely on licensed spectrum. Professional web3 implementation businesses have arisen to capitalize on the opportunity. While rewards vary, some hotspots may have taken millions in earnings. ![]() Helium hotspots earn “HNT” tokens in exchange for contributing to the network. The company has leveraged token incentives to deploy and operate the largest IoT network in the world. Helium is the counter-argument to the criticism that crypto serves no real purpose. If you only have two minutes to spare, here's what investors, operators, and founders should know about Helium.
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