Helium started as a decentralized IoT network using LoRaWAN, incentivizing Hotspot owners to provide coverage.

Since 2023, it’s expanded into a decentralized 5G mobile network via Helium Mobile.

The goal is seamless internet access for devices (IoT) and now mobile users (5G).

It’s true in theory—Hotspots do enable this—but real-world coverage and demand have gaps.

Low Power Wide Area Networking (LoRaWAN) sounds like expensive high-tech stuff.

—Simon
Key Takeaways

  • Helium ($HNT) promised internet for remote areas using Hotspots.

  • It hit $50 in 2021 but crashed to $3.72 by 2025.

  • Fake claims about Lime and Salesforce hurt trust years ago.

  • Now it’s a 5G mobile network with 100,000+ users.

  • Moved to Solana in 2023 for speed and cost.

  • New partners like T-Mobile and Telefonica joined in 2025.

  • Mining HNT pays less now—$20 a month, not $100.

 

The Promise of HNT

The Problem: Reliable Internet Access

Internet isn’t always available. Remote areas struggle the most. Researchers need it for sensors. Workers need it for devices. Setting up networks is hard and expensive.

The Solution: Decentralization

Helium (HNT) had an idea. Use everyday people to fix this. Anyone can buy a Hotspot. It connects devices to the internet. The blockchain keeps it secure. People earn HNT for helping. No big companies needed. They called it “the people’s network.”

“We don’t charge fees—just incentivize people to build the network.”

Amir Haleem, Helium Chairman and CEO
2022

Recent Progress

Things are starting to look promising again for Helium after resolving the issues from a few years ago.

Helium exaggerated partnerships with Lime and Salesforce. Those claims turned out to be false. Validators earned less than expected. Many lost trust.

Now, Helium seems to be bouncing back.

It’s not just for sensors anymore. Helium is now a mobile network. Helium Mobile offers 5G plans. People like the $20 unlimited deal in the U.S and it’s growing fast.

Helium moved to Solana in 2023.

This made it much faster and cheaper. The old blockchain was slow and tricky. Solana fixes this.

New partnerships are helping.

  • T-Mobile teamed up in 2022 for 5G coverage.
  • Telefonica added 2.3 million users in Mexico in 2025.
  • Google bundled Helium with Pixel 8 phones.
  • Dawn Internet joined in 2025, adding 8,000 nodes.

These deals are starting to show real progress.

A Brief History

The Team: Shawn Fanning, Amir Haleem, and Marc Nijdam

Helium started with big names. Shawn Fanning co-founded it in 2013. He’s famous for Napster. Amir Haleem is the CEO. He’s a gaming champ who worked on Battlefield 1942. Marc Nijdam is the CTO. He’s got 25 years in tech from Hewlett-Packard. They aimed to connect devices everywhere.

Roadmap for Development

Helium launched its network in 2019. The plan was simple. Build a network for smart devices. Improve it with validators and coverage checks. Add 5G and WiFi by 2021. They hit those goals. Now in 2025, they focus on Helium Mobile. The roadmap pushes more users and faster service.

Notable Milestones

Helium hit $50 per HNT back in 2021!

Over 1 million Hotspots run today.

The Solana switch in 2023 boosted speed.

Helium Mobile launched in 2023 with 100,000+ users by 2025.

A Dish Network deal in 2022 added real 5G cred.

 

HNT Ecosystem and Utility

Proof of Coverage, Mining, and Staking

Helium uses Proof of Coverage (PoC) to check Hotspots. It makes sure they work right. You buy a Hotspot and mine HNT by sharing internet. In 2021, miners earned $100 a month. Now in 2025, it’s down to $20—less than the $400 cost. Staking HNT with validators helps secure the network. Rewards are small, and some fake nodes cheat the system.

Roaming and Data Credits

Hotspots let devices roam on the network. You earn Data Credits (DCs) for usage. DCs pay for data, like texts or sensor pings. In 2025, Helium Mobile burns $3,000 of HNT daily for 5G data. That’s new since the IoT days. A crowdsourced map shows where coverage works.

 

Using the Helium Network

The network started with IoT—like smart pet collars. It’s still niche, with low demand. Now, Helium Mobile offers 5G plans. Over 100,000 people use it in 2025. The HNT Wallet app on iOS and Android manages Hotspots and tokens. It’s easy but needs tech skills to set up.

Buy and Store $HNT

Buying: Where to Buy on U.S. Exchanges

Want to buy HNT?
It’s easy in the U.S. Top exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, and Uphold sell it.

Coinbase is pretty simple—just sign up, add a bank account or debit card, and buy HNT with the money you transfer from your chequing account.

Kraken works too.

You need to go through KYC to get set up on either of these or any legit crypto exchange.

Storing HNT

The Helium Wallet app on iOS or Android works for quick access. Better yet, use a hardware wallet like Ledger.

Hotspots used to need special wallets, but since the 2023 Solana move, most support HNT now.

Sources

https://www.helium.com/

https://x.com/helium

https://linktr.ee/heliumnetwork