Discover what Pi Network (PI) is, how it works, and why it matters in crypto. Explore its features, use cases, tokenomics, and tutorials with MEXC.Discover what Pi Network (PI) is, how it works, and why it matters in crypto. Explore its features, use cases, tokenomics, and tutorials with MEXC.

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What is Pi Network (PI)

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Start learning about what is Pi Network through guides, tokenomics, trading information, and more.

Page last updated: 2026-02-21 22:55:00 (UTC+8)

Pi Network (PI) Basic Introduction

What Is Pi Network?

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project and blockchain ecosystem built around the idea of making crypto mining accessible to everyone globally. Users with no technical background can still use their mobile devices to mine Pi coins with minimal energy consumption. Since its debut in 2019, the project has attracted a massive global community of users, known as Pioneers, who mine PI through participation in a social consensus model.

How Pi Network Cryptocurrency Began?

The Pi Network cryptocurrency officially began its journey on Pi Day, March 14, 2019, with a singular, ambitious mission to dramatically simplify and accelerate cryptocurrency adoption for everyone.

The project introduced a revolutionary approach to earning crypto, centered on a lightweight mobile app. This application rewards users simply for daily check-ins and creating trust circles, replacing traditional, complex barriers with unmatched simplicity. Most importantly, battery consumption is minimal. Below is a simplified timeline of Pi Coin key development stages:

  • March 2019: The app launches in beta
  • March 2020: Pi Testnet begins
  • December 2021: Enclosed Mainnet phase begins (internal blockchain goes live)
  • February 20, 2025: Open Mainnet launches

Who Created Pi Network?

The Pi Network project was founded by a core team of Stanford University graduates, combining deep expertise in computer science, social behavior, and anthropology.

The key Pi Network founders are:

  • Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis: Holding a Stanford PhD in Computer Science, Dr. Kokkalis is the Head of Technology and directly responsible for the technical architecture of the Pi blockchain.
  • Dr. Chengdiao Fan: A key founder with a Stanford PhD in Anthropology and Social Behavior. Dr. Fan focuses on the social utility and human-centric design of the Pi Network.
  • Vincent McPhillip: Co-founder who served as Head of Community. McPhillip departed the project in 2021.

Why the Founders' Backgrounds Matter?

The founders' Stanford backgrounds were critical in shaping Pi Network. Their expertise allowed them to integrate technical innovation in distributed systems with social trust-building mechanisms, which form the foundation of Pi's consensus model.

How to Mine Pi Coin?

Mining Pi Coin is straightforward. Users simply install the Pi Network mobile app, log in, and tap the lightning icon once every 24 hours to activate mining. The process does not rely on heavy computation. Instead, Pi Network uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a social trust model where users form security circles that help support the network's decentralized consensus.

Pi Network classifies users into several roles:

  • Pioneer: A user who mines PI daily
  • Contributor: Builds a security circle by adding trusted individuals
  • Ambassador: Invites new users and earns rewards
  • Node Operator: Runs the Pi Node application on a desktop or laptop computer to support network consensus

Mining rewards decrease as more people join, meaning early users benefit the most.

How to Obtain Pi?

Unlike other cryptocurrencies, Pi was initially obtained through mobile mining:

  • Download the Pi Network app and register an account
  • Tap the lightning button once per day to start mining
  • Invite friends to join to increase your mining rate
  • Complete KYC (identity verification) before PI can be transferred to the mainnet wallet

Today, PI is listed on major exchanges, including MEXC, allowing users to trade directly on the platform and check the Pi coin price daily:

  • Sign up for an account on MEXC and complete KYC Verification
  • Deposit funds using a bank card or USDT
  • In the Spot trading section, select the PI/USDT trading pair to buy PI
  • This shift marks Pi's transition from mining without tradability to actual circulation on the open market

Can I Buy Anything With Pi Coin?

Yes, you can spend Pi in certain cases, though mainly within the Pi community. Users have traded Pi for small items such as shirts, accessories, gadgets, and food through informal barter or community-led marketplaces. Events such as PiFest 2025, which saw over 125,000 registered merchants and 58,000 active sellers participate, show growing interest in Pi's real-world usage. However, major retailers and mainstream apps do not yet accept Pi, as adoption is still in the early stages and remains community-driven.

How to Complete Pi Network KYC?

To unlock and transfer mined PI to the mainnet:

  • Install the Pi Browser app
  • Create a mainnet wallet and write down the recovery phrase
  • Open the KYC section in the Pi Browser app and upload your identification documents
  • Complete facial recognition through the camera
  • Submit your application (usually requires a small fee in PI)

Once approved, your PI balance can be migrated to your mainnet wallet.

Is Pi Network Legitimate?

Pi does not require upfront investment or fees to start mining, making it easy for anyone to begin. This sets it apart from many fraudulent crypto projects. The founders and the core team are public and visible, and the development has been continuously achieved for multiple milestones. The project is best described as a long-term, experimental approach to building a decentralized ecosystem with community-first principles. However, it is too early to declare Pi a definitive success. It is neither a get-rich-quick scheme nor a scam, but rather a slow-developing cryptocurrency project worth monitoring as it matures.

Pi Coin Price Today: Hype vs. Reality and Future Value

The question of "How much is 1 Pi coin worth?" generates immense curiosity. While speculation and peer-to-peer trades exist, a stable Pi coin price is still being established.

Current Price

Speculative Trading: Prices on centralized exchanges (including MEXC, Bitget, OKX, and Gate.io) often fluctuate around $0.24-$0.26 (as of late November 2025).

The Caveat: These prices may not fully reflect market value because trading volume remains limited compared to established cryptocurrencies. The project's development team has emphasized that building real-world utility is the priority over short-term price movements.

Ultimately, Pi's true value will depend on real-world utility, not just its exchange price.

Pi Network (PI) Profile

Token Name
Pi Network
Ticker Symbol
PI
Public Blockchain
PINETWORK
Whitepaper
Official Website
Sector
LAYER 1 / LAYER 2
Market Cap
$ 1.58B
All Time Low
$ 0.131231
All Time High
$ 2.9816
Social Media
Block Explorer

What is Pi Network (PI) Trading

Pi Network (PI) trading refers to buying and selling the token in the cryptocurrency market. On MEXC, users can trade PI through different markets depending on your investment goals and risk preferences. The two most common methods are spot trading and futures trading.

Pi Network (PI) Spot Trading

Crypto spot trading is directly buying or selling PI at the current market price. Once the trade is completed, you own the actual PI tokens, which can be held, transferred, or sold later. Spot trading is the most straightforward way to get exposure to PI without leverage.

Pi Network Spot Trading

How to Acquire Pi Network (PI)

You can easily obtain Pi Network (PI) on MEXC using a variety of payment methods such as credit card, debit card, bank transfer, Paypal, and many more! Learn how to buy tokens at MEXC now!

How to Buy Pi Network Guide

Deeper Insights into Pi Network (PI)

Pi Network (PI) History and Background

Pi Network (PI): Historical Background and Development

Pi Network was founded in March 2019 by a team of Stanford PhD graduates, including Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, Dr. Chengdiao Fan, and Vincent McPhillip. The project emerged as an ambitious attempt to create the world's most widely used cryptocurrency by making mining accessible to ordinary smartphone users without draining battery life or consuming excessive data.

Founding Vision and Philosophy

The creators of Pi Network identified a fundamental problem in the cryptocurrency space: the increasing centralization of mining power in Bitcoin and other proof-of-work cryptocurrencies. They observed that mining had become dominated by large-scale operations with expensive hardware, making it nearly impossible for average users to participate meaningfully in the mining process.

Pi Network's core philosophy centers around democratizing cryptocurrency access and creating a more inclusive digital economy. The founders envisioned a cryptocurrency that could be mined by anyone with a smartphone, eliminating barriers to entry that prevented widespread adoption of digital currencies.

Technical Innovation and Consensus Mechanism

Pi Network introduced the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a novel approach that allows mobile mining without the energy-intensive computations required by traditional proof-of-work systems. This consensus mechanism enables users to mine Pi coins simply by pressing a button once every 24 hours on their mobile app, making the process incredibly user-friendly.

Development Phases and Milestones

The project has progressed through several distinct phases. The initial phase focused on building a user base and distributing Pi tokens through mobile mining. By 2021, Pi Network had accumulated millions of users worldwide, making it one of the largest cryptocurrency communities by user count.

The testnet phase allowed developers to test the blockchain infrastructure and prepare for the eventual mainnet launch. During this period, users could mine Pi tokens while the team worked on developing the ecosystem and establishing partnerships.

Challenges and Controversies

Pi Network has faced skepticism from some cryptocurrency enthusiasts who question the legitimacy of mobile mining and the actual value of Pi tokens. Critics argue that the ease of mining and lack of immediate tradability raise concerns about the project's long-term viability and tokenomics.

Despite controversies, Pi Network continues to develop its ecosystem, working toward creating practical use cases and establishing Pi as a functional digital currency for everyday transactions.

Who Created Pi Network (PI)?

Pi Network was created by a team of Stanford University graduates who launched the project in March 2019. The core founding team consists of three main individuals with strong academic and technical backgrounds.

Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis serves as the Head of Technology for Pi Network. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Stanford University and has extensive experience in blockchain technology and distributed systems. Before founding Pi Network, he worked as a lecturer at Stanford and was involved in various blockchain research projects.

Dr. Chengdiao Fan is the Head of Product for the Pi Network project. She also graduated from Stanford University with a PhD in Computational Anthropology. Her expertise lies in human-computer interaction and social network analysis, which contributes significantly to Pi Network's user-centric design and community building aspects.

Vincent McPhillip completes the founding trio as the Head of Community. He brings business development and community management expertise to the project, focusing on growing and maintaining the Pi Network ecosystem.

The team's vision was to create a cryptocurrency that would be accessible to everyday users without requiring expensive mining equipment or high energy consumption. They designed Pi Network to be mined through a mobile application, making cryptocurrency mining more democratic and environmentally friendly.

The founders aimed to address the barriers that prevent ordinary people from participating in cryptocurrency networks, such as technical complexity, high costs, and environmental concerns associated with traditional mining methods.

Pi Network operates on a unique consensus algorithm that allows users to mine Pi coins simply by pressing a button daily on their mobile devices, making it one of the most user-friendly cryptocurrency projects in terms of accessibility and ease of use.

How Does Pi Network (PI) Work?

Pi Network Overview

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project that aims to create a decentralized digital currency accessible to everyday users through mobile mining. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that require expensive hardware and high energy consumption, Pi Network allows users to mine coins using their smartphones with minimal battery drain and data usage.

Mobile Mining Mechanism

The core innovation of Pi Network lies in its mobile-first approach. Users download the Pi Network app and activate mining by simply pressing a button once every 24 hours. This process doesn't actually perform complex computations on the device but rather validates the user's presence and engagement with the network. The mining rate decreases as more users join, creating scarcity and encouraging early adoption.

Consensus Algorithm

Pi Network utilizes the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), which is based on Federated Byzantine Agreement (FBA). This consensus mechanism allows the network to reach agreement without requiring energy-intensive proof-of-work mining. Instead, it relies on a network of trusted nodes to validate transactions and maintain network security.

Security Circles

Users can build security circles by inviting trusted contacts to join their network. These circles help establish trust relationships and contribute to the overall security of the Pi Network. The more security circles a user participates in, the higher their mining rate becomes, incentivizing community building and network growth.

Development Phases

Pi Network operates in multiple phases. Phase 1 focused on user acquisition and basic functionality. Phase 2 introduced the testnet and began developing the ecosystem. Phase 3 aims to launch the mainnet and enable real transactions. Currently, Pi coins exist as IOUs and cannot be traded on external exchanges until the mainnet launches and the network becomes fully decentralized.

Pi Network (PI) Key Features

Pi Network Core Features and Characteristics

Pi Network represents a revolutionary approach to cryptocurrency mining that aims to make digital currency accessible to everyday users through mobile devices. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that require expensive mining equipment and consume massive amounts of energy, Pi Network has developed a unique consensus mechanism that allows users to mine coins using their smartphones.

Mobile Mining Innovation

The most distinctive feature of Pi Network is its mobile-first mining approach. Users can participate in the network by simply downloading the Pi Network app and pressing a button once every 24 hours to start mining. This process doesn't drain battery life or consume significant computational resources, making it environmentally friendly and accessible to users worldwide regardless of their technical expertise or financial resources.

Consensus Algorithm

Pi Network utilizes the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), which is based on the concept of trust networks rather than energy-intensive proof-of-work mechanisms. This algorithm allows the network to reach consensus through a system of trusted nodes, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining security and decentralization principles.

Security Circles

The platform implements a unique security model through "Security Circles" where users can select trusted individuals from their network. These circles help establish trust relationships within the broader Pi Network ecosystem, contributing to the overall security and integrity of the blockchain while preventing fraudulent activities and maintaining network authenticity.

Referral System

Pi Network incorporates a referral-based growth mechanism that rewards users for inviting others to join the platform. This system creates network effects that help expand the user base while providing additional mining rewards to active community members who contribute to network growth and adoption.

Gradual Decentralization

The project follows a phased approach toward full decentralization, currently operating in a testnet phase while building its ecosystem and user base. This methodical approach allows developers to refine the platform, test security measures, and ensure scalability before transitioning to a fully decentralized mainnet.

Pi Network (PI) Distribution and Allocation

Pi Network Token Distribution and Allocation Overview

Pi Network has designed a comprehensive token distribution model that aims to create a fair and accessible cryptocurrency ecosystem. The total supply of Pi tokens is carefully allocated across different categories to ensure sustainable growth and widespread adoption.

Core Distribution Categories

The Pi Network token allocation follows a structured approach with several key distribution channels. Mining rewards constitute the largest portion, allowing users to earn Pi tokens through mobile mining activities. This approach democratizes access to cryptocurrency by eliminating the need for expensive hardware or technical expertise.

Mining and Earning Mechanisms

Users can earn Pi tokens through various methods within the network. The primary method involves daily mining sessions that require users to activate their mining status every 24 hours. Additional earning opportunities include building referral networks, where users receive bonuses for inviting new members to join the Pi Network ecosystem.

Contributor and Developer Allocations

A significant portion of Pi tokens is reserved for contributors who help develop and maintain the network infrastructure. This includes core team members, developers, and early supporters who contributed to the project's foundation. These allocations are typically subject to vesting schedules to ensure long-term commitment to the network's success.

Community and Ecosystem Development

Pi Network allocates tokens specifically for community development initiatives and ecosystem growth. These funds support various programs including educational initiatives, partnership developments, and community-driven projects that enhance the overall Pi Network experience and utility.

Distribution Timeline and Phases

The token distribution occurs across multiple phases, starting with the current testnet phase where users accumulate Pi tokens that will be transferred to the mainnet upon launch. The distribution process is designed to be gradual and sustainable, preventing sudden market disruptions while ensuring fair access for all participants in the Pi Network ecosystem.

Pi Network (PI) Utility and Use Cases

Pi Network (PI) Use Cases and Applications

Pi Network represents an innovative approach to cryptocurrency mining through mobile devices, creating a unique ecosystem with diverse potential applications. The PI token serves multiple purposes within this decentralized network.

Peer-to-Peer Transactions

The primary use case for PI involves facilitating direct transactions between users without traditional banking intermediaries. Users can send and receive PI tokens instantly across the network, enabling seamless value transfer globally. This functionality makes PI particularly valuable for cross-border payments and remittances.

Marketplace Integration

Pi Network has developed an integrated marketplace where users can trade goods and services using PI tokens. This creates a circular economy within the network, allowing merchants to accept PI as payment while consumers utilize their mined tokens for real-world purchases.

Smart Contract Platform

The network supports smart contract functionality, enabling developers to build decentralized applications on the Pi blockchain. This opens possibilities for various DeFi services, including lending protocols, automated trading systems, and yield farming opportunities.

Social Commerce

Pi Network leverages its social mining model to create commerce opportunities within trusted circles. Users can engage in business transactions with their network connections, utilizing the trust relationships established through the referral system.

Staking and Governance

PI holders can participate in network governance by staking their tokens and voting on protocol improvements. This democratic approach ensures community-driven development and gives users direct influence over the platform's evolution.

Developer Ecosystem

The network provides APIs and development tools for creating Pi-integrated applications, fostering innovation and expanding the ecosystem's utility beyond basic transactions.

Pi Network (PI) Tokenomics

Tokenomics describes the economic model of Pi Network (PI), including its supply, distribution, and utility within the ecosystem. Factors such as total supply, circulating supply, and token allocation to the team, investors, or community play a major role in shaping its market behavior.

Pi Network Tokenomics

Pro Tip: Understanding PI's tokenomics, price trends, and market sentiment can help you better assess its potential future price movements.

Pi Network (PI) Price History

Price history provides valuable context for PI, showing how the token has reacted to different market conditions since its launch. By studying historical highs, lows, and overall trends, traders can spot patterns or gain perspective on the token's volatility. Explore the PI historical price movement now!

Pi Network (PI) Price History

Pi Network (PI) Price Prediction

Building on tokenomics and past performance, price predictions for PI aim to estimate where the token might be headed. Analysts and traders often look at supply dynamics, adoption trends, market sentiment, and broader crypto movements to form expectations. Did you know, MEXC has a price prediction tool that can assist you in measuring the future price of PI? Check it out now!

Pi Network Price Prediction

Disclaimer

The information on this page regarding Pi Network (PI) is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or trading advice. MEXC makes no guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the content provided. Cryptocurrency trading carries significant risks, including market volatility and potential loss of capital. You should conduct independent research, assess your financial situation, and consult a licensed advisor before making any investment decisions. MEXC is not liable for any losses or damages arising from reliance on this information.

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