Pi Network is a crypto project from Stanford University (2019) enabling mining via smartphones. Since the Open Network launched on February 20, 2025, Pi Network has been traded on global exchanges. With 10.14 million accounts migrated and 19 million KYC-verified users, Pi Network is legal for trading.

What is Pi Network and Who Created It?

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency created in 2019 by a team of PhDs from Stanford University, led by Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, an expert in distributed systems, and Dr. Chengdiao Fan, specialized in anthropological sciences. The main goal is to create an accessible digital currency for everyone, even those with no understanding of blockchain technology.

Unlike cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin that require powerful hardware and high electricity consumption, Pi Network allows users to mine simply by opening an app on their smartphone and pressing a button once every 24 hours. This process does not drain the battery because it is not traditional mining but rather a form of participation in the network’s security system based on trust.

The Pi Network system is built using the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), which relies on validation between trusted users to maintain network security, rather than computational power. Each user plays roles such as “Pioneer” (miner), “Contributor” (trust circle builder), “Ambassador” (inviting new users), and “Node” (blockchain connector at full launch).

Since its initial introduction in 2019, Pi Network has grown into a global community with millions of active users. While promising accessibility and inclusivity, Pi Network also sparks various discussions about its future potential and actual value.

Pi Network Officially Launched the Open Network in February 2025

After years of anticipation, Pi Network finally entered the Open Network phase on February 20, 2025. What does this mean for Pi Network? It’s the stage where the Pi blockchain fully opens, allowing users to perform global transactions without firewall restrictions, transfer to external exchanges, and trade on open markets.

According to the official Pi Network announcement on minepi.com, the Open Network was launched on February 20, 2025, at 08:00 UTC, marking a major milestone for this project. Over 10.14 million accounts successfully migrated to the Mainnet, and more than 19 million users completed KYC—numbers reflecting the enthusiasm of the global community.

What Changes After the Open Network

· Pi can be used for unrestricted global transactions

· Pi tokens can be transferred to external exchanges for trading

· The Pi-based ecosystem is growing faster with worldwide participation

· Users can trade Pi on international crypto exchanges

This step indicates that Pi Network has matured and is ready to be part of the global crypto industry. As of December 1, 2025, the price of Pi Network is $0.208, showing volatility that should be understood before investing.

How Does Pi Network Work? Different from Bitcoin

To understand Pi Network technically, it’s important to know how it differs from traditional cryptos. Pi Network uses a different approach from systems like Bitcoin that require costly hardware and high electricity consumption.

Based on Social Consensus

Pi does not use Proof of Work (Proof of Work) like Bitcoin. Instead, it employs the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), which enables users to verify transactions via trust circles among peers. It is much more energy-efficient and can be run from an ordinary smartphone.

No Special Equipment Needed

Mining Pi is done simply through the app on a smartphone without the need for special equipment, high power consumption, or continuous internet connection. After pressing the mining button, the system automatically calculates the Pi coins you produce over the next 24 hours—without needing to keep the app actively running.

User Roles in the Ecosystem

Participation Levels in Pi Network

Pioneer: Basic daily miner who presses the button every 24 hours

Contributor: User who builds the trust circle (trust network)

Ambassador: Invites new users and earns a mining speed bonus

Node: Provides a computer to support network validation (more technical)

The daily reward system works automatically after pressing the mining button, calculating Pi accumulation based on role and activity within the network. The more active and extensive your trust network, the higher your mining rate.

Is Pi Network Legal and Safe?

The crucial question about what Pi Network is always comes down to its legality and security. Since the launch of the Open Network in February 2025, Pi Network is not officially recognized as a legal tender in most countries. However, it’s important to note that Pi Network is not on the blacklist of financial regulators. So, although not fully “recognized,” Pi is not declared illegal either.

The legal status of Pi Network remains in a gray area. Pi coins that can now be traded on global exchanges fall into the category of authorized crypto assets for trading, similar to Bitcoin or Ethereum. Regulators in many countries permit trading certain crypto assets on registered exchanges, and technically Pi can fall into this category after the Mainnet launch.

From a security perspective, the official Pi Network app is safe to download from Google Play Store or Apple App Store. What to watch out for:

Security Risks to Avoid

Fake Apps: Download only from official stores, avoid suspicious links

Phishing: Never share your private key or password with anyone

Fraudulent Investment Schemes: Avoid “Pi investment” offers promising guaranteed profits

Aggressive Referrals: Beware of promises of large gains just by inviting others

The Pi Network team never asks for payments for mining or KYC. All processes within the official app are free. If someone offers “Premium Pi” or “Paid Mining Acceleration,” it’s a scam.

Advantages and Risks of Pi Network

Understanding what Pi Network is also involves weighing its advantages and risks objectively.

Advantages of Pi Network

On the plus side, Pi Network offers an opportunity to enter the crypto world without significant capital. With just a smartphone and internet connection, anyone can start mining and accumulating coins. This makes Pi attractive to students, stay-at-home parents, or workers wanting to try digital assets without high financial risk.

Since the launch of the Open Network and Pi trading on exchanges, tokens mined over the years now have real market value. Users who mined regularly from the start and completed KYC can sell their Pi at the current market price ($0.208 as of December 1, 2025). There is great potential if Pi coins are widely adopted and have higher exchange value someday.

The Pi Network app has been downloaded over 100 million times on the Play Store, with 3.9 million followers on Twitter and 2.9 million members on Telegram. This impressive community indicates genuine enthusiasm, and Binance’s poll with over 2 million participants (88% in favor of listing) demonstrates the project’s appeal.

Risks to Consider

However, several risks exist. First, since the project only entered the Mainnet phase a year ago, Pi’s value remains highly speculative and volatile. Prices can rise and fall sharply depending on market sentiment and ecosystem adoption.

Second, users should be wary of fake apps, phishing, or fraudulent investment schemes in Pi’s name. The referral-based system can foster aggressive referral patterns that resemble pyramid schemes—though technically Pi is not MLM because there are no payments to join or profit directly from referrals.

Third, the token’s value heavily depends on actual ecosystem adoption. If apps and merchants accepting Pi do not grow, demand will stagnate and prices could decline. Currently, Pi Network has over 80 blockchain-based apps, but offline merchant adoption remains limited.

The mining mechanism, though simple, resembles “Tap to Earn” games like Hamster Kombat or Notcoin. While it encourages engagement, it can also harm the project’s perception, making it seem more like a game than a serious payment solution.

Pi Network Update 2026: New Developer Library

Pi Network released its first update of 2026 this week, launching a new developer library enabling Pi payments integration into apps in less than ten minutes. This update introduces support for JavaScript, React, and Next.js SDKs, as Pi Network seeks to expand its practical utility and developer adoption.

According to documentation on GitHub, the Pi SDK, with its server-side APIs, will be integrated into its library to form a unified setup. The goal is to reduce technical complexity and time needed for the network to embed Pi payments into applications.

The team states that developers can now focus on creating and improving their products rather than infrastructure issues. This simplification aims to strengthen and expand Pi’s utility ecosystem where apps are practical, usable, and ready for real adoption.

Supported Technologies in the 2026 Update

Frontend: JavaScript, React for user interfaces

Backend: Next.js, Ruby on Rails for server logic

Key Functions: connect() for authentication, createPayment() for transactions

Quick Integration: Less than 10 minutes to add Pi payments

This update addresses one of the main criticisms of the project: the difficulty developers face integrating Pi into their apps. With a simplified process, Pi Network hopes to see a surge of apps accepting Pi as a payment method in 2026.

How to Start Mining Pi Network?

If you’re interested in joining and mining Pi after understanding what Pi Network is, follow these simple steps:

Pi Network Registration Guide

Download the Official App: Search for Pi Network on Google Play Store or Apple App Store (verify the official publisher)

Create an Account: Sign up with your phone number or Facebook account (choose carefully as it’s used for verification)

Enter Invitation Code: Since it’s community-based, you need to enter an invitation code from another user to start

Activate Daily Mining: Tap the lightning icon in the app to start mining (repeat every 24 hours)

Complete KYC: After notification, perform the Know Your Customer process so your Pi is valid for trading

The Pi mining process is very simple compared to other cryptos. No need to keep the app open constantly or drain the battery. Just open the app once every 24 hours, press the mining button, and the system will automatically calculate rewards. This makes Pi Network very accessible to beginners.

Price and Performance of Pi Network in 2026

As of December 1, 2025, Pi Network’s price is $0.208. Since the launch of the Open Network in February 2025, Pi has experienced significant volatility with an initial peak at $2.10, then a correction to $0.6152, followed by a partial rebound to current levels.

Pi’s market cap surged at launch. After a few days of trading, it reached $9.72 billion, comparable to projects like Sui. This explains the hype around the project. However, Pi Network’s social dominance dropped to 0.004% due to reduced media visibility, which could indicate declining demand for the token overall.

Nearly 18 million Pi tokens were traded early in the week, the highest daily trading volume since mid-December. However, current daily trading volume is about $5.37 million, down 98% from last year’s peaks.

Bears are also closely watching the unlocking of about 95 million Pi tokens worth $19.8 million this month. This market release is part of the 1.24 billion Pi tokens, valued at approximately $259 million, scheduled to be released throughout the year. These ongoing unlocks could exert constant selling pressure.

Opinion on Pi Network: Opportunity or Trend?

Pi Network has several notable strengths. Its mission to make cryptocurrency more accessible than Bitcoin, its simple and user-friendly mining system, and its founding team of researchers lend credibility. The impressive community with over 100 million app downloads demonstrates genuine interest.

Pi’s tokenomics are largely community and user-oriented, with fair distribution. The recent listing of PI on multiple exchanges increased its visibility, and Binance’s poll with over 2 million participants ###88% in favor of listing( shows the project’s appeal.

However, some aspects raise concerns. The mining mechanism resembles “Tap to Earn” games, which can harm the project’s perception by making it seem more like a game than a serious payment solution. The referral system can also resemble pyramid schemes to critics.

The claimed free model actually relies on advertising. Users are exposed to ads, meaning mining isn’t entirely free but costs user attention. The KYC requirement involves submitting personal documents, which is counterintuitive for a blockchain project claiming to protect privacy.

To date, Pi Network has not announced major partnerships and is not publicly supported by recognized crypto industry players. While not a deal-breaker, this raises questions about long-term credibility.

) Conclusion

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project offering unprecedented accessibility—anyone can mine from a phone without costly hardware investment. Since the launch of the Open Network on February 20, 2025, Pi now has real market value and can be traded on global exchanges at $0.208 ###December 2025###.

For users, Pi Network is legal for use and exchange although not recognized as an official means of payment. The official app’s security is guaranteed, but users should beware of scams and phishing impersonating Pi Network. With over 19 million users completing KYC and a continuously developing ecosystem, Pi Network shows potential to become a significant part of the crypto industry—though it still carries risks of volatility and regulatory uncertainty.

FAQ

What is Pi Network in simple terms?

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project that allows users to mine Pi coins solely via a mobile app without special equipment or high electricity use. Developed by Stanford alumni since 2019.

Is Pi Network legal?

Pi Network is not illegal. Although not recognized as an official payment method, Pi trading on crypto exchanges is permitted. Pi is not on financial regulators’ blacklists.

Is Pi Network a scam?

Pi Network is not a scam. The official app is free and requires no payments. However, beware of scams like fraudulent investment schemes or fake apps claiming to be Pi.

When can I sell Pi Network?

Pi can be sold since the launch of the Open Network on February 20, 2025. Users who completed KYC and migrated to Mainnet can trade Pi on global crypto exchanges.

What is the current price of Pi Network?

As of December 1, 2025, Pi’s price is $0.208. This fluctuates based on market demand and ecosystem adoption.

How to mine Pi Network?

Download the official Pi Network app from Play Store/App Store, sign up with an invitation code, then press the mining button every 24 hours. The process does not drain the battery and is completely free.