Block chain. Cryptocurrency. Mining. Tokenization. The past few years we’ve seen a lot of new, often bewildering, terminology emerging from the digital currency world.  The average person may have heard of Bitcoin and NFTs, but chances are they have not yet heard of Helium.

Even more puzzling to many people is how digital currency can be applied to, or used in, the “real” world, which is what Helium does, providing a crossover radio-like technology for practical uses.  Also unique to Helium as a platform is how it enables individuals to create income.

Dubbed “The People’s Network,” Helium is a decentralized peer-to-peer network of wireless hotspots for “internet of things” (IoT) devices, powered by cryptocurrency, and one of the first and the largest projects that tokenizes data in the real world.  Users can utilize a radio, often on the roof, that provides coverage on a frequency called LoRaWAN (LoRa = Long Range.) LoRa covers sensors in the “real” world that transmit practical information at a longer range than WiFi or cellular signals.

Examples of how Helium can be deployed for practical use include “smart” agriculture (monitoring environmental conditions of soil, temp, irrigation, data tracking of resource usage, trucking), environmental monitoring (extreme weather, air quality, water usage),  and business logistics and supply chain management.

However, despite its relative newness and dependency on ordinary people to contribute to its network,  the company itself does not provide much training.

Enter Nik Hawk, an early adopter of Helium technology, and Lee Selman, a couple who created courses using LifterLMS, to share their knowledge of Helium with others on their site Gristle King.

Why a Course on Helium?

In the world cryptocurrency, Helium is currently one of the most profitable, where users are compensated in the form of a Helium network token (HNT) and can make anywhere from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars a month. However, it is also a large, complex ecosystem, undergoing many changes at a rapid pace, such as expanding to 5G. In order to transmit the information, users must know:

• where to buy hotspots
• how to set them up and what to do with them
• how to find the right location for the best profitability
• how does the system work and understanding rules
• what to do when they go down and how to troubleshoot
• what’s currently being developed on Helium

From Consulting to Online Education

Nik learned about Helium after being involved in a search-and-rescue attempt tragedy, where GPS and mobile access had sadly not proved efficient enough. While digging into other networks he came across LoRa, and subsequently Helium, prompting him to build his first hotspot and blog about his experience.

Not surprisingly, his blog about how to optimize a hotspot and make $15,000 to $20,000 a month was picked up on Reddit and he found himself advising interested would-be-miners.

In response to the growing interest in this lucrative opportunity, Nik initially shared his expertise at no cost, and eventually started charging for consulting. Although the consulting business took off, the demand necessitated adding another approach, and Lee suggested they create courses to systemize and package the information to be more approachable for most people wishing to learn about hotspots and mining.

The basic course includes 15 lessons explaining hotspots and antennas, how to maximize earnings and use HNT in the real world, and what to expect when one mines Helium.

The Masterclass offers a deeper dive into how and where to determine the best antenna placements, improved efficiency, maximizing earnings, and management of hotspot fleets.

Gristle King students also receive added value benefits in the form of an exclusive  member community, the Gristle Crüe, with weekly Zoom meetings, interviews with Helium experts, and a private Discord channel to connect with other miners. Community access is also available as a stand-alone option by subscription.

Despite the fact that 3.5 million miners are expected to be in the Helium network globally by the end of 2022, Helium remains a small company and has not managed to put out many resources into training materials. The Gristle King courses have clearly filled a needed void.

How to identify best who their potential members are, and frame the courses in a format that will best serve them, is an evolving project, assisted by the many options LifterLMS offers.

Educating for New Possibilities

As demand for knowledge increases, Gristle King will be able to continually evolve their courses and programs to engage learners, aided by the array of e-learning tools LifterLMS provides. In doing so, they will be helping people contribute to a new worldwide community that can be both practical and tokenized.

We have published a podcast episode with Nik Hawks & Lee Selman, Gristle King on LMScast. You can learn a lot more in detail about How to Make Money from HNT Cryptocurrency on the Helium Blockchain from this podcast: