Bitcoin breaks $116K, Solana hits $240. Meanwhile, several DePIN tokens posted notable gains this week, including Helium’s $HNT climbing 12%, Aethir’s $ATH surging 80%, and the $STAR token maintaining solid ground after its TGE near $0.08. There are also important changes to Helium and WeatherXM rewards worth noting.
Helium: September changes
HNT price update: Nova Labs CEO announcement
Amir Haleem, CEO of Nova Labs, announced that the company will purchase 5.7 million HNT tokens from an early investor to reduce sell pressure that has been weighing on the market.
Why it matters: Removing a large net seller helps stabilize price and may improve market confidence. The announcement has already sparked a noticeable price increase.
Reduced coverage for outdoor Wi‑Fi hotspots
- Outdoor Wi‑Fi hotspots will have roughly 22% less credited coverage area to better reflect real‑world signal reach.
- Why it matters: The new model improves accuracy over the prior, overly generous footprint.
If you’re expanding real‑world coverage, consider the 10x Bundle Helium Mobile Outdoor Wifi Hotspot to deploy in high‑traffic outdoor areas.
Mobile data prioritized over PoC rewards
- Today: 20% of HNT emissions go to Proof‑of‑Coverage (PoC); 40% to data transfer; leftover data funds spill into PoC.
- New proposal: Remove the fixed 20% PoC reserve and increase the data bucket to 60%. Any leftover funds after data rewards will flow to PoC.
- Why it matters: Helium is prioritizing real network usage over pure PoC. When HNT price is low and demand is high, data rewards may compress slightly to fit budget. Hotspots in low‑usage areas could see lower PoC rewards during these times, while high HNT prices would leave more for PoC.
GEODNET: 20,000 stations
GEODNET surpassed 20,000 active stations, a major milestone for decentralized RTK networks and centimeter‑level positioning at global scale.
Deploying survey‑grade RTK coverage? See the 5x Bundle Geodnet MobileCM (Triple-band) for scalable, outdoor installations.
Starpower: TGE
With several other projects en route to TGE soon (Wingbits, Nubila, BrushO, and DeEEP), Starpower’s TGE proved a launch doesn’t have to trigger heavy selling. Early miners appear inclined to hold, helping price stability post‑TGE.
Curious about consumer DePIN? Explore BrushO, a smart toothbrush project building toward tokenized participation.
WeatherXM: station requirements
WeatherXM is introducing requirements to maximize rewards. Not following them could result in reduced earnings (applies to both new and existing stations). Read the full Station Photo Verification guide here.
Photo documentation
- Submit 4 clear photos of your weather station from North, East, South, and West.
Mast specifications
- Height: Minimum 2 meters (6.5 ft).
- Inclination: Mast must be perfectly horizontal (level with sea level).
Environmental measurements
- Temperature, Relative Humidity, Wind, and Precipitation: Place the station at least 7× the height of nearby obstacles away from them.
Solar irradiance
- Ensure the station is free from shade or intermittent shadows.
Station proximity
- Stations must be spaced at least 100 meters apart.
