There is no doubt that mining is an integral part of the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Without digital currency mining, it would not be easy to access a large portion of cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Hereunder we are investigating a new method of mining with a hotspot network. Helium is a new blockchain network designed to create decentralized, public wireless networks. For this purpose, Helium uses a unique radiofrequency (RF) technology that provides coatings for IoT devices. 

Helium cryptocurrency is a decentralized network based on Blockchain technology, which has been operating since 2019, intending to provide the infrastructure for the Internet of Things (loT) in the future. Helium includes hotspots that provide Internet coverage for devices with LoRaWAN support. LoRWAN is a single-point to a multi-point network protocol that transmits radio waves at low levels.

Routers and devices suspending in the space

Hotspots are Internet connection points that act as physical devices on the network. These devices, which provide Internet coverage on the network, are formed from a network of nodes, and in return for their services, they are receiving the native helium token, known as HNT. A couple of years after the project started, more than 25,000 hotspots have built one of the most extensive LoRWAN networks globally.

Proof of Coverage

The Helium blockchain uses a novel work algorithm called “Proof of Coverage” (PoC) to prove that Hotspots are located in the place they have claimed. Put another way, PoC tries to verify, on an ongoing basis, that Hotspots are honestly representing their location and the wireless network coverage they are creating from that location.

Proof of Coverage Challenges

A challenge is testing which is to convince the coverage proof algorithm. Each challenge consists of three parts: the “Challenger,” “Transmitter,” and “Witness.”

Each section has a specific function for verifying the data sent by a hotspot.

  1. Challenger – The Hotspot that constructs and issues the PoC Challenge. Hotspots issue challenges approximately once per every 360 blocks.
  2. Transmitter – Sometimes called “Challengee.” This Hotspot is the target of the PoC challenge and is responsible for transmitting (or “beaconing”) challenge packets to be witnessed by geographically proximate Hotspots potentially.
  3. Witness – Hotspots that are geographically proximate to the Transmitter and report the existence of the challenge packet after it has been transmitted

Goals of helium network

Perhaps the most crucial goal of the helium network is to expand the Internet of Things in the city and society. The project believes that if the Internet penetrates different layers of people’s lives, a good community (of participants) will form in the future. With the increasing use of the Internet of Things, good data and information will be available to the public, increasing the quality of life.

What Does Hotspot in Helium Network Mean?

Hotspots are peer-to-peer wireless networks that enable IoT devices to deliver and receive data over the Internet efficiently. Helium network hotspots function like nodes. These nodes cover the network for millions of devices that use LongFi Helium technology, and the network gives them $HNT as rewards. Interestingly, helium hotspots consume only 5 watts of energy, which we can consider an energy-efficient network.

A schematic profile of a city that shows the connectivity among the network devices

How Does Helium Mining Work?

Helium hotspots power the Helium network, which is run by individuals across the globe, to provide the required connectivity. Hotspots act as network miners and wireless access points, and they are simple devices like Wi-Fi routers in the office or stuck to the windows. These devices connect to the Internet and provide wireless coverage to millions of IoT devices.

Users need an indoor or outdoor hotspot to communicate with other mining helium devices to become part of the helium network. Turning on, registering the device, and connecting to the network does not mean starting the process of extracting helium currency. Users have to wait for the device to sync with the blockchain. According to the network instructions, it takes 24 to 48 hours for the device to sync with the blockchain. After synchronization, it is time to mine. The amount of revenue depends on the amount of data transfer and other factors mentioned below.

there are three ways to mine $HNT:

  1. Facilitate data transfer: transfer data via Hotspot.
  2. Proof of coverage: Hotspots are randomly tested under the “Proof of Coverage” algorithm to ensure they are in the registered location and working correctly.
  3. Group Consensus: Approve transactions and add blocks to the helium chain.

Conclusion

Just as it was difficult at first to accept and influence the Internet and then a phenomenon like a blockchain, these types of projects also face difficulties in the first place. The Hotspot that connects the Internet to devices using the LoRaWAN protocol creates a Helium blockchain network. In this mechanism, participating miners in the network get the reward against serving the blockchain by transferring the data.