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: 2026-01-19 23:04:39 (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
$ 1.59B
All Time Low
$ 0.158525
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) History and Background

Pi Network was founded in March 2019 by a team of Stanford University graduates, including Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, Dr. Chengdiao Fan, and Vincent McPhillip. The project emerged with an ambitious vision to create the world's most widely distributed cryptocurrency, making digital currency accessible to everyday users through mobile mining.

Founding Vision and Mission

The founders identified significant barriers preventing mainstream cryptocurrency adoption, including technical complexity, energy consumption concerns, and centralization of mining power among wealthy participants. Pi Network was designed to address these issues by enabling users to mine cryptocurrency directly from their smartphones without draining battery life or consuming excessive energy.

Development Phases

Pi Network operates through distinct phases. Phase 1, launched in 2019, focused on building the user base through mobile mining simulation. During this period, users could earn Pi tokens by simply pressing a button daily in the mobile application. Phase 2 introduced the testnet, allowing developers to test applications and smart contracts on the Pi blockchain.

Consensus Mechanism

The network utilizes the Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP), a federated Byzantine agreement system that enables fast, secure, and energy-efficient transactions. This approach eliminates the need for energy-intensive proof-of-work mining while maintaining decentralization and security.

Community Growth

Pi Network experienced rapid growth, attracting millions of users worldwide within its first few years. The project emphasized building a strong community foundation before launching the mainnet, focusing on user education and ecosystem development.

Current Status

The project continues developing toward its mainnet launch, working on KYC verification processes, ecosystem applications, and preparing for the transition from the current enclosed network to an open blockchain where Pi tokens can be freely traded and utilized in real-world applications.

Who Created Pi Network (PI)?

Pi Network was created by a team of Stanford University graduates who launched the project in March 2019. The founding team consists of three core members 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 earned her PhD from Stanford University, specializing in computational anthropology. Her academic background brings a unique perspective to understanding user behavior and social dynamics within the Pi Network ecosystem.

Vincent McPhillip completes the founding trio as the Head of Community. He graduated from Stanford University with expertise in social movements and community building. His role focuses on growing and managing the global Pi Network community, which has expanded to millions of users worldwide.

The team's vision was to create a cryptocurrency that could be mined on mobile devices without draining battery life or consuming excessive energy. They aimed to make cryptocurrency mining accessible to everyday users, addressing the barriers that prevent ordinary people from participating in traditional cryptocurrency networks like Bitcoin.

Pi Network's unique approach involves a mobile-first mining mechanism that doesn't require expensive hardware or high energy consumption. The founders designed the system to build a trusted network through social connections, where users can expand their mining rates by inviting trusted contacts to join the network.

The project gained significant traction due to its user-friendly approach and the founders' academic credibility. Their Stanford background and research experience in blockchain technology helped establish trust and attract early adopters to the platform.

Since its launch, the Pi Network has grown into one of the largest cryptocurrency communities globally, with the founding team continuing to develop the ecosystem toward full decentralization and mainnet launch.

How Does Pi Network (PI) Work?

Pi Network Overview

Pi Network is a cryptocurrency project that aims to make digital currency mining accessible to everyday mobile phone users. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that require expensive mining equipment and consume massive amounts of energy, Pi Network operates through a mobile app that allows users to mine Pi coins using their smartphones.

Mobile Mining Mechanism

The core innovation of Pi Network lies in its mobile-first approach to cryptocurrency mining. Users download the Pi Network app and can start mining by simply pressing a button once every 24 hours. This process doesn't drain the phone's battery or consume significant processing power, as the actual mining computation happens on Pi's servers rather than on individual devices.

Consensus Algorithm

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

Security Circle System

One of Pi Network's unique features is its Security Circle system. Users can build their security circles by adding people they trust, such as family members and friends. These security circles help determine who can validate transactions on behalf of the user and contribute to the overall network security. The larger and more diverse a user's security circle, the more Pi they can potentially earn.

Three Development Phases

Pi Network operates in three distinct phases. Phase 1 was the design and distribution phase, where users could mine Pi tokens through the mobile app. Phase 2 introduced the testnet, allowing users to test transactions and smart contracts. Phase 3, the mainnet phase, represents the transition to a fully decentralized blockchain where Pi tokens gain real utility and can be traded on exchanges.

Earning Mechanisms

Users can earn Pi tokens through multiple methods. The base mining rate allows all users to earn Pi by checking in daily. Users can increase their earning rate by inviting others to join their network, building security circles, and running nodes. The earning rate decreases as more people join the network, following a halving schedule similar to Bitcoin.

Pi Network (PI) Key Features

Mobile-First Mining Approach

Pi Network revolutionizes cryptocurrency mining by enabling users to mine directly from their smartphones without draining battery life or consuming excessive data. Unlike traditional cryptocurrencies that require expensive hardware and high energy consumption, Pi utilizes a unique consensus algorithm called Stellar Consensus Protocol (SCP). This innovative approach makes cryptocurrency mining accessible to everyday users worldwide, eliminating the technical barriers that typically prevent mass adoption of digital currencies.

User-Centric Security Model

The network employs a trust-based security system where users build security circles by inviting people they know and trust. This creates a web of interconnected trust relationships that strengthens the overall network security. Users can earn higher mining rates by expanding their security circles, encouraging organic growth and community building. The system relies on real human connections rather than computational power, making it more democratic and inclusive than traditional proof-of-work systems.

Three-Phase Development Strategy

Pi Network follows a structured three-phase roadmap. Phase 1 focuses on design and distribution, allowing users to mine Pi tokens while the network develops. Phase 2 introduces the testnet where users can test transactions and smart contracts. Phase 3 represents the mainnet launch with full decentralization and open-source code. This phased approach ensures stable development while building a substantial user base before full deployment.

Emphasis on Real User Verification

To combat fake accounts and bots, Pi Network implements a comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) process. Users must verify their real identity to access their mined Pi tokens and participate in the mainnet. This verification system ensures that only genuine users benefit from the network, maintaining fairness and preventing manipulation by automated systems or fraudulent accounts.

Sustainable Economic Model

The platform incorporates a halving mechanism where mining rates decrease as the network grows, creating scarcity and potential value appreciation. Pi tokens have utility within the ecosystem through planned applications and merchant integrations. The economic model encourages early adoption while ensuring long-term sustainability through controlled token distribution and real-world use cases.

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 capped, with specific allocations designated for different purposes within the network.

Mining and User Distribution

The largest portion of Pi tokens is allocated to miners and active users who participate in the network through the mobile mining application. Users earn Pi tokens by simply opening the app daily and pressing the mining button, which validates their presence without consuming significant battery or computational resources. The mining rate decreases as the network grows, creating scarcity over time.

Core Team Allocation

A predetermined percentage of Pi tokens is reserved for the core development team and early contributors. This allocation ensures continued development, maintenance, and improvement of the Pi Network ecosystem. The team allocation typically follows vesting schedules to prevent immediate selling pressure.

Node Operators and Validators

Pi Network allocates tokens to users who run nodes and contribute to network security and decentralization. Node operators help maintain the blockchain infrastructure and are rewarded with additional Pi tokens for their technical contributions and computational resources.

Ecosystem Development Fund

A portion of tokens is reserved for ecosystem development, including partnerships, developer incentives, and community initiatives. This fund supports the growth of applications and services built on the Pi Network platform.

Distribution Timeline and Phases

Pi Network operates in phases, with token distribution occurring gradually. The project has moved through testnet phases toward mainnet launch, with token transfers initially restricted until the network achieves sufficient decentralization and security milestones.

KYC and Verification Requirements

To receive their allocated Pi tokens, users must complete Know Your Customer verification processes. This requirement helps ensure compliance with regulations and prevents fraudulent accounts from claiming tokens, maintaining the integrity of the distribution process.

Pi Network (PI) Utility and Use Cases

Pi Network (PI) Use Cases and Applications

Pi Network is a mobile-first cryptocurrency project that aims to create an accessible digital currency ecosystem. The PI token serves multiple purposes within its growing ecosystem, designed to facilitate various real-world applications and transactions.

Peer-to-Peer Transactions

The primary application of PI tokens is enabling direct transactions between users without traditional banking intermediaries. Users can send and receive PI tokens globally with minimal fees, making it particularly valuable for cross-border payments and remittances. This functionality supports financial inclusion for unbanked populations worldwide.

Marketplace and E-commerce

Pi Network has developed an integrated marketplace where users can buy and sell goods and services using PI tokens. This creates a circular economy where merchants accept PI as payment for products ranging from digital services to physical goods. The marketplace encourages real-world utility and adoption of the cryptocurrency.

App Ecosystem Development

The Pi Platform supports third-party developers in creating applications that utilize PI tokens. These decentralized applications (dApps) can integrate PI for various purposes including gaming, social media, productivity tools, and educational platforms. This expands the token's utility beyond simple transactions.

Micropayments and Content Monetization

PI tokens enable efficient micropayments for digital content, allowing creators to monetize their work directly. Users can tip content creators, pay for premium features, or access subscription services using small amounts of PI, making it ideal for the creator economy.

Loyalty and Rewards Programs

Businesses can implement PI-based loyalty programs, rewarding customers with tokens for purchases or engagement. This creates additional incentives for user participation while providing merchants with innovative customer retention tools.

Future Financial Services

As the network matures, PI aims to support lending, borrowing, and other decentralized finance (DeFi) services, potentially offering users alternative financial products outside traditional banking systems.

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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