Helium is a digital currency and blockchain network focused on improving supply chain logistics in the construction and infrastructure sectors. Using a community-focused research program, Helium seeks talent from within its network of participants to help build its second-tier network layer and enhance services to improve supply chain logistics. With a focus on the Internet of Things (IOT), smart contracts, and enterprise applications, Helium aims to orchestrate the complexities of large-scale infrastructure projects through the transparency and trust of blockchain technology.

Advantage

- The complex technical challenge of running a full node on a blockchain is growing in size and complexity, so it is being outsourced to those companies best equipped to take on the challenge.
- Users can focus on being users, removing barriers to participation.
- Enhancing decentralization through wider adoption of full nodes.
- Faster relay network, more use of high bandwidth and high quality hardware.
- Provider rating system improves quality, service level and reduces costs.
- Servicer collateral requirements to prevent Sybil operators.

Disadvantages

- argues that decentralization is somewhat weakened by encouraging professional hosting options, providing an attack vector for law enforcement and regulatory oversight.
- Managed services have labor and infrastructure resource costs that will be an obstacle.
- It is impossible to vet new service providers, users must rely on evidence of bad service.