Helium Network to Migrate to Solana Blockchain: What You Need to Know

The Helium Network, a decentralized wireless infrastructure provider that operates using blockchain technology, has announced its migration to the Solana blockchain on March 27th, 2023. This move is expected to address scaling bottlenecks for Proof-of-Coverage and Data Transfer processing.

To help users prepare for the migration, the Helium Foundation has released migration documentation on docs.helium.com, which is broken out by various audiences. The documentation will continue to be updated over the next month leading up to the migration date.

To ensure a smooth transition, the Helium Foundation is also kicking off an Upgrade Readiness Working Group. This community-based group will oversee the migration process and will have the final say in determining the migration date.

Most Hotspot Owners and token holders ($HNT and $MOBILE) will not need to take any action to participate in the upgrade. However, owners of large fleets of Hotspots may want to work with community developers to test specific claim functionality or develop custom wallet solutions, as they have already done on the Helium L1.

It is important to note that users still using the original Helium Hotspot app (blue icon) must upgrade to the new Helium Wallet app (black icon) before the migration. This can be done seamlessly by installing both apps, ensuring they are up to date, and following in-app instructions.

During the migration process, the current Helium blockchain will be halted during a 24-hour transition period on the proposed March 27th date. However, Data Transfer and Proof-of-Coverage activity will be unaffected.

After the migration is complete, users and exchanges can access their assets using the same private key on Solana, as both blockchains use the same ed25519 encryption algorithm. Additionally, Programmatic Treasury is planned to be activated in 2023 Q2, allowing users to convert $MOBILE and $IOT into $HNT on-chain at that time.

In summary, the Helium Network migration to the Solana blockchain is a significant move that will benefit the entire Helium community. To ensure a seamless transition, users are encouraged to follow the migration documentation, upgrade to the new Helium Wallet app if needed, and stay informed about any updates leading up to the migration date.

Q: What is the Helium Foundation, and why is it migrating to the Solana blockchain?

A: The Helium Foundation is a decentralized wireless infrastructure provider that operates the Helium Network, which allows IoT devices to communicate with each other. The Foundation is migrating to the Solana blockchain to address scaling bottlenecks for Proof-of-Coverage and Data Transfer processing.

Q: When is the migration happening?

A: The Helium Foundation has proposed March 27, 2023, as the migration date, with a 24-hour transition period beginning at approximately 15:00 UTC.

Q: What are the migration process steps?

A: The Helium blockchain will officially halt, and the chain state will be snapshotted. Existing $HNT and $MOBILE will be mapped to Solana, and Hotspots will be minted as NFTs. POC and Data Transfer will continue to function through the offchain Oracle during the migration, and rewards will be claimable after the transition phase (estimated 24-48 hours) is complete. Users and Exchanges can access their assets using the same private key on Solana, as both blockchains use the same ed25519 encryption algorithm.

Q: Will POC and Data Transfer be affected during the migration?

A: POC and Data Transfer will continue to function through the offchain Oracle during the migration.

Q: How long will the transition phase take?

A: The transition phase is estimated to take 24-48 hours.

Q: What will happen during the migration?

A: Core Developers will initiate a chain halt, Validators will stop producing blocks, and the network and account state will be effectively frozen. A final snapshot of the Helium blockchain will be taken, and the chain state will be migrated to the Solana blockchain, including all accounts/tokens. Hotspots will be minted as NFTs, and users will be able to access their assets using the same private key on Solana.

Q: Will Proof-of-Coverage and Data Transfer be affected during the migration?

A: POC and Data Transfer will continue to function through the off-chain Oracle during the migration. Rewards will be claimable after the transition phase (estimated 24-48 hours) is complete.

Q: Will users need to take any action during the migration?

A: Most Hotspot Owners and token holders will not need to take any action. However, owners of large fleets of Hotspots may want to work with community developers to test specific claim functionality or develop custom wallet solutions.

Q: When will Programmatic Treasury be activated, and what does it mean for users?

A: Programmatic Treasury is planned to be activated in Q2 2023. Users will be able to convert $MOBILE and $IOT into $HNT on-chain at that time.

Q: Is there a group overseeing the migration process?

A: Yes, a community-based Upgrade Readiness Working Group is being formed to oversee the migration process and will have the final say in determining the migration date. The migration will include all wallets, Hotspots, and Helium Network state.