Helium Network Leads Decentralized Infrastructure Growth
The Helium Network, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), is leading the charge with its blockchain and community-driven approach to wireless infrastructure. The network saw remarkable growth in Q1 2024, largely due to its Helium Mobile plan, which attracted nearly 100,000 subscribers and led to the burning of 160,000 HNT tokens for Data Credits. The Helium Foundation’s Q1 2024 Protocol Report highlighted the surge in network activity and the adoption of Helium Mobile, which was further boosted by the listing of the MOBILE token on Coinbase. Additionally, Helium’s IoT network continues to be the largest public LoRaWAN network, with over 100 organizations building on it after 15 new OUIs were issued in Q1 2024. The network has been utilized for innovative solutions such as flood resilience systems and environmental monitoring. Governance updates and the introduction of targeted growth mechanisms like HIP 84 have also contributed to the network’s expansion. The Helium Foundation is focused on scaling its advocacy and educational efforts, with a membership program introduced in March to increase public awareness and user onboarding. DePIN projects like Helium are gaining traction on platforms like Solana, which offers advantages in speed, cost, and scalability. Other projects in the DePIN sector, such as WiFi Dabba, Pollen Mobile, and Uprock, are also emerging, offering decentralized alternatives to traditional connectivity solutions.