What Helius does

Helius is a Solana-native developer platform and infrastructure provider founded in 2022 in Toronto, Canada, and headquartered under the legal entity Helius Blockchain Technologies, Inc. (Delaware). The company builds the underlying plumbing that Solana-based applications, wallets, exchanges, and traders rely on: globally distributed RPC nodes accessed via a proprietary Rust-based edge gateway (Gatekeeper) for sub-millisecond response times; LaserStream, a gRPC streaming service for blocks, transactions, and account data with redundant clusters across nine regional endpoints; Sender, an ultra-low latency transaction submission service with parallel Jito routing; and higher-level APIs such as the Digital Asset Standard (DAS) API, Priority Fee API, Enhanced Transactions, and webhooks. The platform is SOC 2 Type II compliant, processes billions of daily requests at 99.99% uptime, and is anchored by Solana's #1 validator by stake weight, which enables staked connection routing.

Helius monetizes through a credit-based subscription model with five tiers (Free, Developer at $49/mo, Business at $499/mo, Professional at $999/mo, and custom Enterprise) plus usage-based overage charges, data add-ons for LaserStream ($400-$6,000/mo), Shred Delivery ($800-$1,000/mo per IP), and a $1 Agent tier for programmatic AI-agent signup. Enterprise contracts and Validator-as-a-Service add high-value institutional revenue, exemplified by infrastructure powering the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) and validator services for Solana Company (NASDAQ: HSDT). Distribution is product-led through an instant-provisioning self-serve dashboard (no email or credit card required for the free tier), supplemented by enterprise field sales for large institutional clients and a community-led motion across Discord and Solana ecosystem events.

The company has raised approximately $34.35M across seed, Series A, and Series B rounds led by Foundation Capital, Haun Ventures, and Founders Fund, with angel participation from Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko. In June 2026 Helius acquired Light Protocol to integrate zero-knowledge compression and privacy tooling, launching a Solana Privacy Protocol product line, and has positioned itself as the default infrastructure layer for AI agents building on Solana via an MCP server, CLI, SDKs, and an official Claude Code plugin. Customers include Coinbase, Bitwise Asset Management, Solana Foundation, Chainalysis, Keyrock, Phantom, Jupiter, DFlow, Backpack, Crossmint, Drift, Zeta Markets, and over 100 additional ecosystem projects.

Name

Helius

Legal name

Helius Blockchain Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://helius.dev

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Helius is a Solana-native developer platform providing RPC infrastructure, gRPC data streaming (LaserStream), and ultra-low latency transaction delivery (Sender, Gatekeeper) to wallets, exchanges, DeFi protocols, traders, and institutional clients including Coinbase and Bitwise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Processing & Data Preparation (7374)

akta.pro primary industry

Developer APIs & Node Access (RPC providers, node infrastructure APIs) (FSAPABAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

RPC / Node API Infrastructure Providers (FSADAKAD), Decentralized Node Infrastructure & RPC Networks (node providers, RPC relays, indexing-as-a-service) (FSAPALAG)

Keywords

• Solana RPC infrastructure
• Blockchain data APIs
• Crypto developer platform
• Solana node services
• Validator infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Subscription Plans (Credit-Based): Monthly subscription tiers (Free, Developer, Business, Professional) each including a fixed monthly credit allowance. Credits are consumed per API call at varying rates depending on the method called. Credits do not roll over and are non-transferable. Business and Professional plans have auto-scaling enabled by default, charging overage rates when credits are exhausted.
2. Usage-Based Overage Charges: When monthly credit allowances are exhausted, customers are charged at overage rates for additional API usage. Autoscaling can be enabled to automatically consume additional credits. Sender transactions are free on all plans (0 credits).
3. Data Add-Ons: Fixed monthly data allowances for LaserStream gRPC and WebSocket usage on Professional plans, ranging from 5 TB to 100 TB. Replaces pay-per-use metering with predictable costs. Overage rate is 2 credits per 0.1 MB beyond allowance.
4. Shred Delivery: Raw shred delivery via UDP for specialized Solana data access. Priced per IP address per month ($1,000/month on standard plans, $800/month on Professional plans).
5. Enterprise Contracts: Custom enterprise solutions with tailored rate limits, volume discounts, SLA guarantees, direct engineering support, and advanced analytics. Price negotiated directly with sales team based on customer's specific requirements and usage patterns.
6. Agent / AI Plan: $1 one-time payment for AI agents to access Helius APIs programmatically via CLI or MCP server. Includes 1M monthly credits, 10 RPC req/s, and 2 DAS/Enhanced API req/s. Required to prevent automated account creation abuse.
7. Validator-as-a-Service: Institutional-grade validator services enabling organizations to run Solana validators with Helius infrastructure (e.g., Bitwise Solana Staking ETF).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Helius is a unified developer platform and infrastructure provider for the Solana blockchain, offering globally distributed RPC nodes, gRPC-based data streaming (LaserStream), ultra-low latency transaction sending (Sender), digital asset APIs (DAS API), webhooks, and validator services. The platform combines proprietary edge gateway technology (Gatekeeper) with Solana's #1 validator to deliver sub-millisecond RPC response times and 99.99% uptime for developers, trading firms, crypto exchanges, wallets, DeFi protocols, fintechs, and institutional clients building on Solana.

Product overview

Helius is a unified developer platform and infrastructure provider for Solana, offering a comprehensive suite of products organized as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering centers on Solana RPC nodes with ultra-low latency via Gatekeeper edge gateway, combined with LaserStream (gRPC data streaming) and Sender (transaction delivery). The platform provides data APIs including DAS API for digital assets, Token APIs, Historical Data, Wallet API, and Priority Fee API. Transaction infrastructure includes Staked Connections and Shred Delivery. Validator services encompass the Helius Validator (Solana's #1 validator), Validator-as-a-Service, and staking tools. Following its June 2026 acquisition of Light Protocol, Helius launched the Solana Privacy Protocol for ZK compression-based privacy solutions. The platform also provides AI agent tooling including MCP server, CLI, TypeScript/Rust SDKs, and Claude Code plugin for autonomous agent development. Add-on tools include AirShip (ZK compression airdrops), Orb (trading analytics), and Startup Launchpad. Pricing follows a credit-based model across Free, Developer ($49/mo), Business ($499/mo), Professional ($999/mo), and custom Enterprise tiers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Orb: Product mentioned on the website for trading/explorer functionality
• AirShip
• Gatekeeper
• LaserStream
• Sender

Products and services

• Solana RPC Nodes Globally distributed RPC nodes providing sub-millisecond response times via the Gatekeeper Rust-based edge gateway, with Helius-exclusive archival methods and cursor-based pagination. Sold to developers, trading firms, crypto exchanges, and institutions building on Solana.
• LaserStream Real-time Solana data streaming via gRPC with redundant node clusters, historical replay, persistence, and global regional endpoints (FRA, AMS, TYO, SG, LAX, LON, EWR, PITT, SLC). For developers, trading firms, and market makers needing the freshest on-chain data.
• Sender Ultra-low latency transaction sending service with parallel routing to Jito and Helius validators, 7 global regional endpoints, and 50 TPS default capacity. Targets traders, market makers, and applications requiring reliable transaction landing during peak market activity. Sender transactions cost 0 API credits on all plans.
• Webhooks & WebSockets Event-driven notification system pushing onchain events to user-operated HTTPS endpoints (Webhooks) and persistent WebSocket connections for real-time updates. For developers building wallets, exchanges, and applications requiring real-time on-chain event delivery.
• DAS API (Digital Asset Standard) High-level unified interface for querying Solana digital assets including NFTs, compressed NFTs, and fungible tokens with enriched metadata, ownership, and pricing data. For NFT platforms, marketplaces, wallets, and analytics applications.
• Token APIs APIs for querying token balances, transfers, and metadata on the Solana blockchain. For wallet developers, exchanges, DeFi protocols, and analytics platforms.
• Wallet API API for wallet functionality including balance queries and transaction monitoring. For wallet developers, account abstraction applications, and user-facing applications requiring wallet infrastructure. Currently in Beta.
• Priority Fee API

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.99% RPC success rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Solana FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Helius is coordinating with the Solana Foundation and other infrastructure providers in a broader privacy infrastructure race to attract enterprise adoption on Solana. Helius acquired Light Protocol to integrate privacy tooling, with the Solana Foundation supporting ecosystem-level privacy initiatives.
• Light ProtocolcoreTechnology or Integration · 10 June 2026Helius acquired Light Protocol on June 10, 2026 to integrate zero-knowledge compression and privacy tooling into the Helius RPC layer, positioning it as the canonical privacy layer for Solana. The acquisition strengthens Helius' offering for enterprise privacy use cases and confidential on-chain computation.
• MastercardcoreTechnology or Integration · 25 March 2026Mastercard is a technology partner in the Solana Developer Platform (SDP) led by the Solana Foundation, enabling stablecoin settlement and cross-border payments for financial institutions. Helius participates as a core infrastructure provider within the SDP ecosystem.
• WorldpaycoreTechnology or Integration · 25 March 2026Worldpay is a technology partner in the Solana Developer Platform (SDP), providing payment technology for stablecoin settlement and cross-border payment infrastructure. Helius is part of the SDP infrastructure layer alongside Worldpay.
• Western UnioncoreTechnology or Integration · 25 March 2026Western Union is a technology partner in the Solana Developer Platform (SDP), contributing cross-border payment expertise for blockchain-based money movement. Helius participates as an infrastructure layer provider within the SDP ecosystem.
• 6th Man VenturesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 January 20266th Man Ventures served as an advisor in Pump.fun's $3M 'Build in Public' hackathon alongside Helius, providing feedback to hackathon projects and engaging publicly with builders.
• Bitwise Asset ManagementcoreTechnology or Integration · 28 October 2025Helius powers the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL), the first U.S. ETP with 100% direct exposure to SOL and built-in staking, on NYSE. Helius built a custom high-performance validator to meet Bitwise's stringent security and reporting requirements for ETF issuance. Targeting Solana's average 7% staking rewards.
• Solana Company (HSDT)coreTechnology or Integration · 23 October 2025Solana Company (NASDAQ: HSDT) entered into staking agreements with Helius, alongside Twinstake and Anchorage Digital, to support its Solana treasury strategy. Helius provides validator services enabling HSDT to stake its SOL holdings and generate on-chain yield as part of its treasury management.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• QuickNode: QuickNode provides multi-chain RPC endpoints, dedicated nodes, and developer APIs with Solana support. It directly competes with Helius for high-throughput application developers and enterprise workloads.
• Chainstack: Chainstack offers managed blockchain nodes, RPC APIs, and dedicated infrastructure across multiple chains including Solana. It targets similar enterprise and developer customers with comparable API-first product packaging.
• Alchemy: Alchemy is the largest multi-chain RPC and developer platform, offering node infrastructure, APIs, and developer tooling across EVM and Solana. It is Helius's most direct competitor as the broad horizontal alternative to Helius's Solana-deep stack.
• Triton (RPC Pool): Triton operates Solana RPC infrastructure with a focus on validators, MEV, and trading-firm workloads. It is one of the closest Solana-specialized peers to Helius, especially in the validator and transaction-sending layers.

Broad incumbents

• Infura (Consensys): Infura, part of Consensys, is a broad incumbent in blockchain node infrastructure primarily serving EVM chains but expanding to other networks. It is an indirect competitor with deeper institutional reach but less Solana-specific depth.
• Blockdaemon: Blockdaemon provides institutional-grade blockchain node and staking infrastructure across many networks. It is comparable to Helius's validator and enterprise node offerings but as part of a broader multi-chain portfolio.
• Ankr: Ankr provides multi-chain RPC endpoints, node infrastructure, and staking services across many networks including Solana. It competes at a broader, more commoditized layer of the RPC market than Helius.

Others

• Moralis: Moralis provides Web3 APIs and node infrastructure for dApp development across chains, including Solana. It is adjacent to Helius in offering developer-facing APIs but is more oriented to general dApp backends than low-latency trading infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Syndica: Syndica is a Solana-focused infrastructure provider offering RPC, validator, and developer tooling. It is one of the closest pure-Solana competitors to Helius, particularly for node and validator services.
• Figment: Figment is a blockchain infrastructure provider focused on staking and node services across multiple chains including Solana. It overlaps with Helius in validator-as-a-service and institutional staking, particularly relevant given the Bitwise BSOL partnership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/heliuslabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heliusapi

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors12 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helius