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🎈 Helium

Wireless · medium difficulty · initial $300 · ongoing $20 · 🟡 medium risk · · by Jordan, PassivePin Editorial

What is Helium?

Helium is one of the largest DePIN projects. Deploy a Helium hotspot to provide IoT or 5G coverage and earn HNT tokens. The network is used by businesses and devices worldwide.

Category: Wireless. Payout token: HNT. Available in: US, CA, EU, AU. KYC required: Yes.

About Wireless projects

Wireless networks let you deploy a hotspot that provides cellular or LoRaWAN coverage in exchange for token rewards. Helium is the largest project; it started with LoRaWAN in 2019 and added 5G in 2023. The economics have changed dramatically since the 2021 bull run: most hotspots now earn $5-$40/month, and high earners are concentrated in dense urban areas with high demand. For most people, wireless is a speculative bet on a network picking up more customers rather than a reliable income source. Coverage gaps in rural areas can pay well, but require a more complex setup.

How to start with Helium

Wireless hotspots are typically plug-and-play: connect the device to your router or a window-mounted antenna, create an account, and start earning. The 5G hotspots require an outdoor antenna and a good line of sight to a coverage area; LoRaWAN hotspots work indoors but earn less. Hotspots range from $250 (indoor LoRaWAN) to $800 (5G outdoor), and earnings depend on the network$300

Device required: hardware
Earning model: Network coverage - earn HNT for providing wireless coverage to IoT/5G devices.
Payout token: HNT
Lockup period: none
Risk level: 🟡 medium
KYC required: Yes

Risk and rewards

Risk note: Helium is in the medium-risk tier. The project has real customers and a working product, but token price volatility can affect actual returns. Treat earnings as speculative until the token stabilizes.

PassivePin rates every project on a 6-factor scoring rubric: earnings sustainability, security, longevity, transparency, friction, and tokenomics. See our methodology for details. Helium is currently rated as a medium-risk project.

Who is Helium for?

Helium is a good fit if you are looking for wireless exposure and have the time to set up and maintain a dedicated node. It is not a good fit if you want a completely hands-off experience or if you are risk-averse about token price volatility.

See our 7-point scam checklist for a deeper look at how we evaluate wireless projects like this one.

Related learning

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