Helium

Helium, a Google-backed startup, made an intriguing and promising plan in 2018 to improve the way we build networks for connected devices: through blockchain. By the end of the year, the San Francisco-based company had yet to release its cryptocurrency-mining Hotspot gateway. That means 2019 will be the year to see whether Helium can entice people to buy the $495 device, which will reward users with the company's own digital currency in exchange for providing expanded coverage on its IoT network. The blockchain-powered network will also need buy-in from enterprises who need reliable and comprehensive connectivity for their devices.