In the landscape of decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), Helium stands as a trailblazer. Founded in 2013 by Amir Haleem, Shawn Fanning, and Sean Carey, Helium paved the way long before the term became trendy.

With over 350,000 hotspots spread across more than 80 countries, Helium continues to revolutionize how users share wireless coverage and earn tokens through IoT hotspots.

Frank Mong, the Chief Operating Officer, shares insights on the challenges of hardware deployment. “You face hurdles like building physical products, which include everything from structures to electronics,” Mong remarked. He noted the complexities of physically setting up networks, recalling, "It takes time for things to be built physically to use that network."

Mong is encouraged by the explosion of DePIN projects this year—an estimated 1,300 innovations—leveraging Helium’s economic model to fuel real-world infrastructure solutions. “It is quite amazing to see,” he expressed.

Particularly passionate about mapping applications, Mong suggests looking into Hivemapper as they exemplify the potential of decentralized mapping.

As for Helium's growth trajectory, the platform now has 100,000 subscribers, positioning itself as a formidable alternative to traditional mobile providers in cities like New York, Miami, and Los Angeles. After initially launching on its own blockchain, it transitioned to utilizing Solana in 2023.

Mong, who hails from the Tenderloin district of San Francisco, reflects on the journey ahead: "You have to just jump off the cliff and believe that you’re going to land safely. That’s probably the hardest part. Once you do it, the journey is amazing."

Looking forward, Mong is optimistic: “I hope that the innovation of crypto software continues to thrive and grows, bringing responsible actors to the table with truly useful products for consumers.”