Pi Network (PI) After 1 Year: Growth, Challenges, and What’s Ahead
The controversial cryptocurrency venture Pi Network has been round since 2019, however customers needed to wait till February 2025 earlier than they may lastly commerce the native token PI.
Over the previous 12 months, the Core Team has rolled out a number of upgrades because the ecosystem has continued to develop. Yet, PI’s worth has suffered a steep decline, the venture continues to be grappling with a number of challenges, and some Pioneers have voiced rising criticism. The key query now’s whether or not the upcoming developments can set off a decisive comeback for PI or whether or not the bears will stay in cost.
Happy First Birthday, PI
Exactly one 12 months in the past, Pi Network launched its Open Network. The initiative made PI publicly accessible and enabled exchanges to record it as the primary to hop on the bandwagon have been Bitget, OKX, and MEXC.
On the debut day, the asset’s valuation diversified throughout platforms, starting from $1.68 to $1.72. Interest from merchants and traders was high over the next days, and PI reached a historic peak of roughly $3 by the top of February final 12 months. Meanwhile, its market capitalization exploded above $18 billion, putting the coin among the many 15 largest cryptocurrencies.
However, the height was short-lived, and PI headed straight south within the following months. Some causes doubtlessly suppressing the worth embody ongoing token unlocks, fading curiosity from market individuals, accusations that the venture could possibly be a rip-off, and Binance’s inaction.
The world’s largest crypto change was rumored to comply with Bitget, OKX, and MEX in itemizing PI: a transfer that might carry the token’s worth by growing its liquidity, visibility, and general legitimacy. It even held a group vote to ask its purchasers whether or not they wished the asset out there on the platform. While greater than 86% of the individuals chosen the “sure” possibility, Binance has but to honor their want.
PI has seen sporadic worth revivals over the past a number of months, pushed by upgrades introduced by Pi Network’s staff, however presently trades at round $0.17, representing a staggering 94% decline from the all-time high.
Some of the updates focused the verification course of, which has lengthy been a supply of frustration for a lot of customers. In September 2025, as an illustration, the staff unveiled Fast Track KYC – a characteristic that permits Pioneers to take part within the Mainnet ecosystem “sooner than ever earlier than.”
In October, it was revealed that greater than 3.36 million further customers had efficiently accomplished the required verification procedures following the discharge of a system course of that conducts important checks on Tentative KYC circumstances. Just a couple of weeks in the past, the staff unveiled a technical improve that ought to enable a number of Pioneers to go the Miannet migration. Specifically, they claimed the roughly 2.5 million customers who have been beforehand unable emigrate can be unblocked.
Other standout developments over the previous 12 months embody the launch of Pi Network Ventures (a Pi-related fund focusing on $100 millin in investments in modern startups), the venture’s entry into the AI area via Pi App Studio, the introduction of the primary Hackathon, and a partnership with CiDi Games to accelerate Web3 gaming engagement.
Most not too long ago, the Core Team disclosed that migration to Protocol v19.6 was efficiently accomplished. “Next up is v19.9 – the ultimate step earlier than v20. Node operators ought to ensure they’re upgraded and keep tuned for additional directions,” the X submit learn.
What Lies Ahead?
Many members of Pi Network’s group imagine that 2026 could possibly be profitable, claiming that one thing “huge” is on the horizon. Some have pointed out March 12 as a key date, as a serious improve associated to the Pi DEX activation is anticipated to go reside then. If confirmed, the launch may play an essential position in strengthening person belief and growing real-world use of PI.
Meanwhile, rumors have circulated that main exchanges, similar to Kraken, could quickly supply buying and selling providers for the token.
Pioneers are additionally intently watching March 14 – a date, identified throughout the group as Pi Day as a consequence of its symbolic resemblance to the mathematical fixed π (3.14). Pi Network expanded its ecosystem on that day in 2025, and it stays to be seen whether or not the same transfer will happen this 12 months.
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