# a16z/helios

A fast, secure, and portable multichain light client for Ethereum

Repository: https://github.com/a16z/helios
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/a16z-helios
Language: Rust
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: ethereum
Last push: 2026-06-26T19:14:25+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 85/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 89, release rhythm 72, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 1484, "days_push": 68, "days_rel": 187, "gap_med": 14.5, "n_releases_24m": 19}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2175, forks 454 (observed 2026-08-28T04:06:22.165884+00:00)

## What it is
Helios is a fast, trustless multichain light client for Ethereum written in Rust that turns an untrusted centralized RPC endpoint into a verified local RPC server. It syncs in seconds, requires no storage, and compiles to WebAssembly so it can be embedded in wallets and dapps.

## Use cases
- run a trustless local ethereum rpc endpoint
- verify ethereum rpc responses without running a full node
- embed a light client in a crypto wallet
- sync to ethereum mainnet in seconds on mobile
- use a light client for op stack chains like base
- access linea chain data without trusting the rpc provider
- convert alchemy or infura into a verified local rpc

## When to choose
- you need trust-minimized ethereum access without running a full node
- you're building a wallet or dapp that needs verified chain data
- you want a lightweight client that runs on mobile or in wasm
- you need to verify rpc data from untrusted providers like alchemy or infura

## When to avoid
- you need a full archive node with historical state access
- you need chains outside ethereum, op stack, and linea
- you need high-throughput production rpc infrastructure for many users
- you require features beyond the rpc methods helios supports

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: rpc, http-server, cryptography, security, cli, wasm, sdk
- domain: blockchain, security, developer-tools, privacy, cross-platform
- platform: windows, cli, wasm, rust, cross-platform
- tags: ethereum, light-client, blockchain, trustless, op-stack, linea, webassembly, wallet-infrastructure, cryptocurrency, linux, macos, mobile

## Member repositories
- a16z/helios (main) score 85

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:22.165884+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T02:48:54.869279+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/a16z/helios (fetched 2026-08-28T04:06:22.165884+00:00, sha 7fb2cbf6d498)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.