helius

name	helius
description	Helius Solana RPC and API expert. High-performance infrastructure for Solana including RPC nodes, DAS API for NFTs/tokens, LaserStream real-time streaming, webhooks, Priority Fee API, Enhanced Transactions, and ZK Compression. Triggers on Helius, Solana RPC, DAS API, Digital Asset Standard, NFT metadata, Solana webhooks, priority fees, LaserStream, ZK compression.
allowed-tools	Read, Grep, Glob, Bash
model	sonnet
license	MIT
metadata	{"author":"raintree","version":"1.0"}

Helius Solana Infrastructure Expert

Helius provides high-performance Solana RPC, real-time data streaming, and developer APIs.

When to Use

• Setting up Solana RPC infrastructure
• Querying NFT/token metadata (DAS API)
• Real-time blockchain data (LaserStream, WebSockets, webhooks)
• Transaction optimization and priority fees
• ZK Compression for cost reduction

Quick Start

1. Get API key: https://dashboard.helius.dev
2. Use RPC URL: https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_API_KEY

curl https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=YOUR_KEY \
  -X POST -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"getBalance","params":["YOUR_WALLET"]}'

Core Services

RPC Endpoints

// Mainnet
const RPC_URL = `https://mainnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=${API_KEY}`;

// Devnet
const DEVNET_URL = `https://devnet.helius-rpc.com/?api-key=${API_KEY}`;

Digital Asset Standard (DAS) API

Query NFT and token metadata - handles both regular and compressed NFTs.

Get Single Asset:

const response = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    id: 1,
    method: 'getAsset',
    params: { id: 'ASSET_MINT_ADDRESS' }
  })
});

Get Assets by Owner:

const response = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    id: 1,
    method: 'getAssetsByOwner',
    params: {
      ownerAddress: 'WALLET_ADDRESS',
      page: 1,
      limit: 100
    }
  })
});

DAS Methods:

Method	Description
getAsset	Single asset metadata
getAssetBatch	Batch asset retrieval
getAssetsByOwner	All assets for wallet
getAssetsByCreator	Assets by creator
getAssetsByGroup	Assets in collection

Enhanced Transactions API

Pre-parsed transaction data in human-readable format.

const response = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    id: 1,
    method: 'getTransactionsForAddress',
    params: [
      'WALLET_ADDRESS',
      {
        transactionDetails: 'full',
        sortOrder: 'desc',
        limit: 10
      }
    ]
  })
});

Priority Fee API

Get optimal priority fees for fast transaction landing.

const response = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    id: 1,
    method: 'getPriorityFeeEstimate',
    params: [{
      accountKeys: ['PROGRAM_ID', 'ACCOUNT_1', 'ACCOUNT_2']
    }]
  })
});

const { priorityFeeEstimate } = await response.json();
// Returns: { low, medium, high, veryHigh } in microlamports

LaserStream (Real-Time gRPC)

Ultra-low latency blockchain streaming. Drop-in replacement for Yellowstone gRPC.

import { LaserStream } from '@helius-labs/laserstream';

const stream = new LaserStream({
  apiKey: 'YOUR_API_KEY',
  region: 'fra'  // fra, ams, tyo, sg, ewr, pitt, slc, lax, lon
});

// Subscribe to account changes
stream.subscribeAccount('ACCOUNT_ADDRESS', (update) => {
  console.log('Account updated:', update);
});

// Subscribe to program transactions
stream.subscribeProgram('PROGRAM_ID', (tx) => {
  console.log('Program transaction:', tx);
});

Regions: FRA, AMS, TYO, SG, EWR, PITT, SLC, LAX, LON

Webhooks

Event-driven notifications for blockchain activity.

// Create webhook via API
const webhook = await fetch('https://api.helius.xyz/v0/webhooks', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'Authorization': `Bearer ${API_KEY}`
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    webhookURL: 'https://your-server.com/webhook',
    transactionTypes: ['NFT_SALE', 'TOKEN_TRANSFER'],
    accountAddresses: ['ADDRESS_TO_WATCH']
  })
});

Webhook Types:

• Account changes
• Transaction confirmations
• Program events
• NFT activity

ZK Compression

Reduce on-chain storage costs by up to 98%.

// Get compressed account
const response = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    id: 1,
    method: 'getCompressedAccount',
    params: { address: 'COMPRESSED_ACCOUNT' }
  })
});

// Get compressed token balances
const balances = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    jsonrpc: '2.0',
    id: 1,
    method: 'getCompressedTokenBalancesByOwner',
    params: { owner: 'WALLET_ADDRESS' }
  })
});

Pricing & Rate Limits

Plan	Price	Credits	Rate Limit	DAS Limit
Free	$0/mo	1M	10 RPS	2 RPS
Developer	$49/mo	10M	50 RPS	10 RPS
Business	$499/mo	100M	200 RPS	50 RPS
Professional	$999/mo	200M	500 RPS	100 RPS

Feature Availability:

Feature	Free	Developer	Business	Professional
Shared RPC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
LaserStream (Devnet)	-	Yes	Yes	Yes
LaserStream (Mainnet)	-	-	-	Yes
Enhanced WebSockets	-	-	Yes	Yes

Error Handling

try {
  const response = await fetch(RPC_URL, { method: 'POST', ... });

  // Check rate limits
  const remaining = response.headers.get('X-RateLimit-Remaining');
  const reset = response.headers.get('X-RateLimit-Reset');

  if (response.status === 429) {
    // Rate limited - wait and retry
    await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 1000));
    return retry();
  }

  const data = await response.json();
  if (data.error) {
    console.error(`RPC Error ${data.error.code}: ${data.error.message}`);
  }

  return data.result;
} catch (err) {
  // Network error - retry with backoff
}

Best Practices

DO:

• Use confirmed commitment for faster responses
• Use DAS API for NFT queries (not raw getAccountInfo)
• Simulate transactions before sending
• Use getPriorityFeeEstimate for dynamic fees
• Check rate limit headers

DON'T:

• Poll for real-time data (use WebSockets/LaserStream)
• Hardcode priority fees
• Ignore rate limits
• Skip transaction simulation

Common Patterns

Wallet Portfolio

async function getWalletPortfolio(wallet) {
  // Get all assets (NFTs + tokens)
  const assets = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: 1,
      method: 'getAssetsByOwner',
      params: { ownerAddress: wallet, page: 1, limit: 1000 }
    })
  }).then(r => r.json());

  // Get SOL balance
  const balance = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: 1,
      method: 'getBalance',
      params: [wallet]
    })
  }).then(r => r.json());

  return {
    solBalance: balance.result.value / 1e9,
    assets: assets.result.items
  };
}

Transaction with Priority Fee

async function sendWithPriorityFee(transaction, accounts) {
  // Get priority fee estimate
  const feeEstimate = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: 1,
      method: 'getPriorityFeeEstimate',
      params: [{ accountKeys: accounts }]
    })
  }).then(r => r.json());

  // Add compute budget instruction with priority fee
  const priorityFee = feeEstimate.result.priorityFeeEstimate.high;

  // Simulate first
  const simulation = await fetch(RPC_URL, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: 1,
      method: 'simulateTransaction',
      params: [transaction, { commitment: 'confirmed' }]
    })
  }).then(r => r.json());

  if (simulation.result.err) {
    throw new Error(`Simulation failed: ${JSON.stringify(simulation.result.err)}`);
  }

  // Send transaction
  return fetch(RPC_URL, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      jsonrpc: '2.0',
      id: 1,
      method: 'sendTransaction',
      params: [transaction, { skipPreflight: true }]
    })
  }).then(r => r.json());
}

Resources

• Helius Docs: https://www.helius.dev/docs
• Dashboard: https://dashboard.helius.dev
• Discord: https://discord.gg/helius

Pull Local Docs

pipx install docpull
docpull https://www.helius.dev/docs -o .claude/skills/helius/docs