Helium Mobile cancels $5 plan, why are 1.7 million daily active users so angry

Helium Mobile’s recent actions have thoroughly angered early users. According to the latest news, this decentralized mobile network operator will cease early access fee plans starting January 27, including the $5 and $20 monthly packages. Although the company states this is a forced measure and offers compensation plans, user reactions are: you have betrayed your promises. This incident reflects the sharp contradiction in Web3 projects from early incentives to commercialization.

What happened: from discounts to price hikes

Helium Mobile’s adjustments involve three types of users:

The company’s reason is: taxes imposed by government and payment partners. To ease user dissatisfaction, Helium Mobile offers upgrade incentives: upgrade to a higher-tier package (Air or Infinity) before the deadline to enjoy a 50% discount for a year and $50 cloud credits.

Why are users so angry

This is not just about price increases but a breach of trust.

Promise vs. Reality Contradiction

Many early users accuse the company of promising “permanent” favorable rates, only to unilaterally change the rules now. This is a common issue in Web3 projects: during fundraising and early expansion, projects often give aggressive incentives to early adopters, but when business pressures arise, these promises become “unsustainable.”

For users, this is not just economic loss but a psychological betrayal. Early users are usually loyal supporters who took risks and believed in the project’s vision. Now they are told “things have changed.”

The company’s response appears passive

Helium Mobile founder Amir Haleem responded that the company did not promise to provide the $5 packages permanently. This may hold legally, but psychologically it scores poorly. It seems like the company is passing the buck rather than solving the problem.

A more effective communication approach would be: honestly explain the specific tax pressures, why adjustments are necessary, and how the company plans to continue creating value for users in the new environment.

Market status: growth and dissatisfaction coexist

Interestingly, according to data, Helium Mobile’s network expansion continues:

• Over 1,000 deployments in Latin America hotspots
• Over 1.7 million daily active users

What does this mean? On one hand, although users are angry on social media, the overall network growth hasn’t stopped. This could indicate that: the influx of new users offsets some early user churn, or that user dissatisfaction, while real, may not lead to large-scale disconnection.

On the other hand, this is also the confidence behind Helium Mobile to make this decision. If the network had stagnated, they would be more cautious. But seeing daily active users still growing, the business pressure to cancel discount packages becomes an acceptable risk.

What does this reflect

Tax pressure is real

Helium Mobile claims the adjustment is due to “taxes enforced by government and payment partners.” This is not fabricated. Many emerging mobile operators face this issue: as scale expands, regulatory and tax costs rise rapidly. This is unavoidable for any project aiming to operate compliantly.

The dilemma of DePIN business models

Helium Mobile represents the DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) sector facing a fundamental problem: how to maintain decentralization while establishing a sustainable business model. Early ultra-low prices were to quickly acquire users and network effects, but ultimately, pricing must become sustainable.

The fragility of brand trust

The biggest damage from this event is not just user loss but the erosion of brand trust. For a project emphasizing “decentralization” and “user-first,” being accused of betraying promises is fatal. It casts doubt on all subsequent commitments.

Future focus points

Helium Mobile needs to think about not only how to retain existing users but also how to repair trust. Possible directions include:

• More transparent disclosure of tax and cost structures to help users understand the necessity of adjustments
• Offering more attractive incentives for long-term users beyond one-time compensation
• Strengthening innovation in products and services to make price increases seem worthwhile
• Establishing user feedback mechanisms to make users feel heard

Summary

Helium Mobile’s decision is a collision between business realities and early promises. Tax pressures are real, but passive communication and denial of commitments have intensified user dissatisfaction. This incident reminds all DePIN projects: maintaining trust during rapid expansion may be more important than pure technological innovation. User anger also shows that early supporters’ expectations are not just about financial returns but about a commitment to “something different.” When a project becomes “normal,” this expectation can be shattered.