Helium just upset a bunch of their users...but there's a larger issue at hand.
Recently, the Helium core developers suggested that it would make more sense to move from its own blockchain, to Solana.
Which is kind of like Apple saying, hey, forget about iOS, we're just going to start using Android for the iPhone's operating system.
Sure, there would be some obvious benefits - like wider compatibility - but most iPhone users are happy with iOS.
(If they wanted to use Android, they would have bought a Samsung).
There seems to be a similar sentiment around Helium's proposed move to Solana.
Helium’s coin, HNT, is down 47% in the past month; having dropped 15% yesterday following the proposal.
While that sucks, there’s a larger problem at hand...
Helium exists to provide long range wifi for 'internet of things' devices (IOT devices) - think smart watches, smart fridges, smart locks, smart lights etc.
And they pulled it off!
They now provide low bandwidth wifi coverage across 161 countries, thanks to their users/investors installing 940,000+ physical hotspot devices in their homes.
The only problem is, there doesn't seem to be much demand for this kind of long range wifi.
Which makes sense - the vast majority of the IOT devices are already supported through home wifi or cellular data from our phones.
So who cares whether the network runs on Helium or Solana, when there's no demand for the end product?
(Are we missing something here???)
