Send Bitcoin
To send Bitcoin to me, use my PayNym address — a privacy-enhanced payment code that does not expose your transaction history on the public blockchain.
⚑ Updated November 2025 to use PayNym for enhanced privacy. Learn what PayNyms are →
Lightning Network (Layer 2 Bitcoin)
For instant, near-zero-fee Bitcoin donations via the Lightning Network, use my Lightning address below. No KYC. No intermediary. Settles in seconds.
Decentralized Cloud Storage — XNS
S3-compatible cloud storage built on a global mesh of secure, performant Storage Provider nodes in Virtual Private Datacenters that you configure and control — no single company owns your data.
Why Decentralized Storage?
Traditional cloud providers (AWS, Google, Azure) can freeze, censor, or delete your data at will. XNS distributes storage across independent nodes — your files are encrypted, redundant, and owned by you.
Helium Network — The People's Wireless
I operate a Helium IoT hotspot in Richmond, BC on the 915 MHz LoRaWAN band. Here is where the network stands in 2026.
What Is the Helium Network?
Helium is a decentralized wireless network where ordinary people host small radio boxes at home and earn cryptocurrency (HNT) for providing coverage to IoT sensors — flood detectors, asset trackers, temperature monitors, and similar low-bandwidth devices. It is a real-world example of DePIN: Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks.
📉 Network Stats (April 2026)
What Happened?
- Helium pivoted from IoT to 5G mobile phone service (Helium Mobile), backed by T-Mobile infrastructure in the USA.
- IoT hotspot count fell from ~1 million to ~236,000 active units — a 76% collapse.
- Reward tokens IOT and MOBILE were phased out in January 2025 (HIP 138); everything now pays in HNT.
- Earnings for IoT miners dropped to roughly $4–$8/month for a well-placed unit.
- Helium Mobile now has partnerships with AT&T and Telefónica — but only in the USA.
What About Canada?
Helium Mobile's 5G service is tied to T-Mobile's US network. There is no Canadian roadmap as of April 2026. Canadian IoT hotspot operators can still earn small HNT for Proof-of-Coverage, but meaningful income from the network is largely gone. An early IoT roaming deal existed with Quebec-based X-TELIA, but that is legacy infrastructure, not growth.
How to Check Your Hotspot
The original explorer.helium.com was retired. Use these current tools — search by your hotspot's three-word name (e.g., Tall-Blue-Moose):
Official explorer. Click the green IoT tab → Hotspot Map. Search by your hotspot's name.
Best third-party tool. Full rewards, beacon & witness data. Has a mobile app.
Community-built map with hotspot details and live network statistics.
Should You Keep It Running?
Keep it plugged in — it costs almost nothing to run and still earns a few dollars a month in HNT. But don't invest further time or money into the IoT side. The gold rush is over. Helium remains a fascinating DePIN experiment worth watching, especially if Helium Mobile ever expands north of the border.
🔒 Recommended Privacy Tool
For secure browsing, streaming, and censorship-resistant access, I recommend Obscura VPN — no KYC required, and you can pay with Bitcoin Lightning. Your VPN provider should never know who you are.
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