What could affect the price of PI?
Pi’s price is caught between growth opportunities and risks related to token supply.
- Mainnet Launch (Q1 2025) – Activating the Open Network could boost Pi’s use or reveal liquidity challenges.
- Whale Accumulation – One large holder has bought 331 million Pi since August, signaling strategic interest.
- Regulatory Compliance – Meeting EU rules (MiCA) may open doors to European exchange listings.
Deep Dive
1. Open Network Transition (Mixed Impact)
Overview:
Pi’s Open Mainnet launch, now expected in early 2025, will allow users to send Pi tokens outside the network and list Pi on exchanges. However, 5.2 billion Pi tokens (about 62% of the migrated supply) are still locked and will be gradually unlocked through 2027 (Pi Core Team).
What this means:
If more people start using Pi after the launch, the price could rise. But if many tokens are unlocked and sold at once, it could put downward pressure on the price. For perspective, about 182 million Pi tokens will unlock each month in 2025, which is roughly 8% of the current circulating supply.
2. Whale Activity & Sentiment (Bullish)
Overview:
A single large wallet (“GAS…ODM”) has purchased 331 million Pi tokens (worth about $148 million) since August 2025, mostly when prices were low. This has reduced the amount of Pi available on exchanges by 21% (PiScan).
What this means:
With fewer tokens available to sell, price stability could improve. However, relying on one big holder adds risk because their actions can cause price swings. Historically, similar large accumulations happened before XRP’s massive price surge in 2017 (+35,000%).
3. Regulatory Risks & MiCA (Bullish)
Overview:
Pi announced in November 2025 that it complies with the EU’s MiCA regulations, which could help it get listed on European exchanges. However, there is a $10 million lawsuit claiming the Pi team sold tokens without proper disclosure (Cryptopotato).
What this means:
Clear regulatory status can attract institutional investors, but ongoing legal issues might slow down partnerships and listings. Other MiCA-compliant tokens like XLM saw their prices rise 58% after the regulations took effect in 2024.
Conclusion
Pi’s price will depend on how well it balances token unlocks with real-world use after the Mainnet launch. Whale buying and regulatory progress are positive signs, but the network needs to show it can support actual transactions—not just speculative interest. Watch for daily active users and token flow on exchanges after the February 2025 migration deadline to gauge Pi’s true momentum.
What are people saying about PI?
The Pi (PI) community is divided on whether the coin can hold its value around $0.20. Some see signs of a potential price increase, while others are concerned about a large number of tokens becoming available soon. Here’s a quick overview:
- A possible breakout from a "falling wedge" pattern could push prices higher.
- About 630 million PI tokens will be unlocked soon, raising fears of increased selling.
- Delays in launching the mainnet raise questions about Pi’s long-term usefulness.
Deep Dive
1. Falling Wedge Pattern Could Push Price to $0.64
John Morgan (@johnmorganFL) shared that PI might rally by 35% if it breaks out of a falling wedge pattern, a technical chart formation that often signals a price reversal. If PI closes above $0.21, it could trigger buying that pushes the price toward $0.25 to $0.30. However, trading volume has dropped by 11% this week, which makes this less certain.
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2. Large Token Unlock Could Increase Selling Pressure
A community post on CoinMarketCap warns that 630 million PI tokens—about 7.5% of the circulating supply—will be unlocked by August. This could flood the market and increase selling pressure. Currently, daily trading volume is about $8.1 million, so it might take roughly 78 days for the market to absorb all these tokens without a big price drop.
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3. Mainnet Launch Delays Create Uncertainty
MarketCoinpedia notes that while improvements like KYC (identity verification) and AI upgrades are helping users migrate to the new system, the full Open Mainnet launch is still delayed. This is important because the mainnet is needed for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and listings on major exchanges. Without it, PI remains mostly speculative.
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Conclusion
Opinions on Pi’s future are mixed. Technical traders see a chance for a rebound if the price holds around $0.20, but others worry that upcoming token unlocks and declining interest could push the price down to $0.14–$0.16. Keep an eye on the RSI (Relative Strength Index) closing above 30 on December 28, which might indicate the selling pressure is easing. However, a large token unlock scheduled for January could still impact the price. For now, Pi’s performance will likely depend on Bitcoin’s movement during a typically quiet holiday trading period.
What is the latest news about PI?
Pi is holding steady near the $0.20 support level despite facing downward price pressure, ongoing legal challenges, and efforts to improve its ecosystem. Here’s a quick summary of the latest developments:
- Price Near Key Support (December 27, 2025) – PI is trading around $0.20, with technical indicators warning of a possible drop to $0.14–$0.16.
- Fraud Lawsuit Filed (December 10, 2025) – Founders are accused of secretly selling tokens and delaying the Open Mainnet launch; the trial starts December 23.
- Hackathon Drives New Uses (December 16, 2025) – Winning apps focus on privacy and loyalty programs, aiming to increase real-world use of PI.
In-Depth Look
1. Price Near Key Support (December 27, 2025)
Summary: PI is trading between $0.20 and $0.21, holding onto an important support level despite weak market signals. The token is below major moving averages, with resistance around $0.23–$0.24. Experts warn that if PI falls below $0.20, it could drop about 30% to its October low near $0.172. This bearish trend is worsened by low trading volume and liquidity, which dropped 11% in the last 24 hours.
What this means: Investors are cautious, with altcoins making up 30% of the market compared to Bitcoin’s 59%. Still, the repeated defense of the $0.20 level suggests some buying interest. However, daily token unlocks of over 6 million PI limit potential price gains. (CoinMarketCap)
2. Fraud Lawsuit Filed (December 10, 2025)
Summary: A class-action lawsuit claims Pi Network’s founders secretly sold billions of PI tokens and purposely delayed the Open Mainnet launch. The plaintiffs allege price manipulation and misleading users, seeking $10 million in damages.
What this means: This legal uncertainty adds downward pressure on PI and could discourage institutional investors until the case is resolved. It also highlights governance risks for a project still in its “Enclosed Mainnet” phase. (CryptoPotato)
3. Hackathon Drives New Uses (December 16, 2025)
Summary: Pi Network awarded 160,000 PI tokens to decentralized apps (dApps) like Blind_Lounge, a privacy-focused social platform, and Starmax, a loyalty rewards program. These efforts aim to increase PI’s real-world usefulness. The Core Team is shifting focus from identity verification delays to growing the ecosystem.
What this means: While promising for long-term adoption, these apps need widespread use to impact PI’s price. A recent partnership with CiDi Games hints at gaming applications but hasn’t yet influenced the market. (CoinMarketCap)
Conclusion
PI’s future depends on maintaining the $0.20 support level, resolving legal issues, and expanding real-world use cases. Although ecosystem improvements show progress, short-term challenges like token unlocks and weak altcoin markets remain significant. The question is whether Pi’s community-driven approach can overcome these bearish trends in 2026.
What is expected in the development of PI?
Pi Network’s roadmap highlights key technical improvements, ecosystem growth, and regulatory compliance goals.
- Protocol v23 Upgrade (Q4 2025–Q1 2026) – Boosts blockchain performance by integrating Stellar Core technology.
- Pi DEX Launch (November 2025) – Introduces a decentralized exchange to encourage decentralized finance (DeFi) use.
- ISO 20022 Compliance (November 2025) – Aligns Pi with global financial messaging standards for better banking integration.
- Rust SDK Development (2026) – Makes it easier for developers to create smart contracts on Pi’s platform.
In-Depth Look
1. Protocol v23 Upgrade (Q4 2025–Q1 2026)
What’s happening:
Pi Network is preparing a major upgrade called Protocol v23, which incorporates Stellar Core v23.0.1 technology. This upgrade aims to handle more transactions faster, reduce delays, and make the network more reliable. It’s currently being tested and is expected to launch on the main network by early 2026.
Why it matters:
A faster and more scalable network can attract developers and increase how much Pi is used. However, delays or technical issues during testing could slow down this progress.
2. Pi DEX Launch (November 2025)
What’s happening:
The Pi Decentralized Exchange (DEX) will launch in November 2025. This platform allows users to trade Pi and other digital assets directly with each other, without middlemen. It will also include a feature to connect with traditional financial systems through ISO 20022 standards.
Why it matters:
This could improve liquidity (how easily assets can be bought or sold) and help stabilize Pi’s price. Still, early trading might be volatile due to new tokens becoming available and speculative activity.
3. ISO 20022 Compliance (November 2025)
What’s happening:
By November 22, 2025, Pi Network plans to comply with ISO 20022, a global standard for exchanging financial information. This will help Pi work smoothly with banks and meet regulatory requirements.
Why it matters:
Meeting this standard can encourage institutional investors and financial organizations to adopt Pi. However, if Pi falls behind in implementation, it could face regulatory challenges.
4. Rust SDK Development (2026)
What’s happening:
Pi is developing a Software Development Kit (SDK) using the Rust programming language. This tool will make it easier for developers to build smart contracts and decentralized apps (dApps) on Pi, inspired by Stellar’s Soroban SDK.
Why it matters:
This can expand the Pi ecosystem by attracting more developers and increasing the number of useful applications. Success depends on how well the SDK is supported and documented.
Conclusion
Pi Network’s roadmap focuses on strengthening its technology, aligning with financial regulations, and growing its ecosystem. While upgrades like the Pi DEX and ISO 20022 compliance could boost adoption, challenges such as execution risks and a large number of tokens unlocking (~1.4 billion PI between 2025 and 2028) remain. The big question is whether Protocol v23’s improved scalability will open the door for a new wave of decentralized applications on Pi.
What updates are there in the PI code base?
Pi Network rolled out three key updates in the last quarter of 2025, focusing on improving how the ecosystem works and boosting security.
- DEX/AMM Interface Redesign (Dec 18, 2025) – Enhanced tracking of liquidity and added trading pairs priced in Pi.
- AI-Powered KYC Integration (Dec 5, 2025) – Faster identity verification to support Mainnet migration.
- App Studio Code Flexibility (Nov 14, 2025) – Developers can now export and import app code for more advanced customization.
Deep Dive
1. DEX/AMM Interface Redesign (Dec 18, 2025)
Overview:
The Pi Testnet’s decentralized exchange (DEX) and automated market maker (AMM) liquidity pools got a makeover. Now, trading pairs are shown in Pi, and liquidity providers are ranked.
New features include badges that verify trusted projects and real-time data on liquidity depth. A trust score system was also introduced, which rates projects based on transaction volume and how long liquidity is locked (Source).
What this means:
This update is positive for Pi because clearer liquidity information helps reduce risks like price slippage and can attract more traders. It also improves transparency, addressing concerns about potential scams common in decentralized finance (DeFi).
2. AI-Powered KYC Integration (Dec 5, 2025)
Overview:
Pi’s Know Your Customer (KYC) process now uses artificial intelligence to speed up document verification and facial recognition. This cuts the time needed for approval by about half, especially in areas with fewer human validators.
The system flags suspicious cases for manual review and follows strict data privacy rules (GDPR compliant). After this update, over 3.36 million more users, called Pioneers, moved to the Mainnet (Source).
What this means:
This is a neutral update for Pi. Faster KYC helps onboard users more quickly, but some countries still face delays due to a shortage of validators.
3. App Studio Code Flexibility (Nov 14, 2025)
Overview:
Developers using Pi App Studio can now download their app projects, make changes outside the platform (like adding smart contracts), and then upload the updated code through the Pi Browser.
The update also added support for TypeScript and a debugging console to test Pi SDK features such as in-app payments (Source).
What this means:
This is a positive step for Pi because it makes it easier for developers to create more complex decentralized apps (dApps), which could increase the network’s usefulness beyond simple applications.
Conclusion
These updates focus on making Pi Network more practical—improving DeFi tools, speeding up user onboarding, and giving developers better tools. While the technical improvements are promising, Pi’s future value depends on whether these changes lead to ongoing activity in the ecosystem. A key question remains: will the speed of Mainnet migration balance out the selling pressure from token unlocks?