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Helios

A Rust-based, portable multichain Ethereum light client that verifies data from an untrusted RPC endpoint and exposes a local RPC.

Explore the practical guide ↓

Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Helios — OpenViST project profile in Infrastructure.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Helios when a wallet, application or service needs a local verification layer in front of an Ethereum RPC provider.

Who it is for

  • Developers building wallets or decentralised applications
  • Teams running self-hosted blockchain infrastructure
  • Applications that need locally verified Ethereum data
  • Users testing or monitoring RPC responses

Documented uses

  • Convert an untrusted execution RPC into a locally exposed verified RPC
  • Provide lightweight chain data without operating a full node
  • Embed Ethereum verification capabilities in wallets and dapps
  • Run a portable CLI or server-side blockchain component
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The project is open source, MIT-licensed and documented for CLI, server and self-hosted use. The repository provides installation and command-line usage instructions.

  • The execution RPC provider must support eth_getProof for the documented Ethereum flow.
  • Helios uses weak-subjectivity checkpoints as a root of trust.
  • The default RPC bind address is local-only at 127.0.0.1; remote access requires changing the bind setting.
  • Supported documented targets include Ethereum, OP Stack and Linea, with specific network values listed in the repository.
  • External checkpoint fallback is described as a last resort and provides no security guarantees.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Install Helios and run an Ethereum local RPC

Set up Helios and expose a local Ethereum RPC using a supported execution provider.

Before you start

  • A shell environment with curl
  • An Ethereum Execution API provider URL that supports eth_getProof

Steps

  1. Install heliosup with the documented installer command.

  2. Run heliosup to install Helios.

  3. Run helios ethereum --execution-rpc $ETH_RPC_URL, replacing the variable with a supported provider URL.

  4. Connect to the local RPC server at http://127.0.0.1:8545.

Expected outcome

Helios runs an Ethereum light client and exposes a local RPC endpoint.

Guide limitations

  • The documented command requires an execution provider supporting eth_getProof.
  • The default local bind address is 127.0.0.1.
  • Consensus and checkpoint options affect synchronisation and trust assumptions.
Documentation 1 ↗
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Official repository ↗
Source record details
Source availability
Active
Sources checked
1 October 2026
Original website title
a16z/helios · Official homepage title · retained in its source language
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