Pi Ecosystem Summit, coming November 17-19, aims to encourage more builders to develop on Pi, while giving Pioneers an opportunity to discover more applications and utilities across the ecosystem.
The summit will include:
- Platform releases and developer updates
- Developer demos
- App showcases from companies and community developers
- Developer conversations with the Pi Core Team
- All-new hackathon
Learn more https://t.co/eCEDvm8RvE
A few thoughts after TOKEN2049 Singapore, following a long journey and finally making my way back home.
Quite unexpectedly, I met a Product Owner from Pi Network during the event. I should make one thing clear from the beginning: I am not someone who understands Pi Network deeply. I am writing this simply from the perspective of someone relatively new to it, and I would genuinely welcome corrections or different perspectives from those who have followed the project for longer.
I only began looking seriously into Pi Network about a month ago. Nicolas Kokkalis, however, was not a completely unfamiliar name to me.
I first came across Nicolas roughly eight years ago, when I happened to attend a panel where he was presenting StarX, the incubator he was working on at the time. To be quite frank, StarX itself did not leave a particularly strong impression on me. What I did remember was Nicolas. He struck me as someone with an unusually deep understanding of distributed systems — arguably among the stronger people in that field at Stanford.
Later, I briefly had the opportunity to speak with him during a gathering with mutual acquaintances. It was nothing particularly significant, but I remember people describing him as a rather calm and reserved person: someone who rarely made public statements and was far more comfortable with research than publicity.
And that was more or less where the story ended for me. I continued researching AI systems, while he continued on his own path.
Until recently.
As I began exploring the concepts of free mining, decentralised finance and community-owned digital infrastructure, a surprising number of people told me: “You should study what Nicolas built.”
I have never been uncomfortable learning from someone else, regardless of age, background or industry. So I spent about a week studying his project, particularly from the perspective of what lessons might be applicable to the decentralised AI infrastructure we are building.
What I discovered was that the problem was considerably more complicated than I had imagined.
Building technology is difficult. Building technology for millions of people is considerably more difficult. And building something where millions of people attach financial expectations, emotions and personal hopes to that technology is an entirely different matter.
Social media makes this even more complicated.
Perhaps this is also why I understand, to some extent, why Nicolas appears to prefer research to constant public communication. And I respect that.
Recently, he has found himself at the centre of considerable criticism, particularly around the decline in the price of PI. Some people believe that he is deliberately suppressing the token price, or that he should personally be held responsible for its market performance.
I see it somewhat differently.
Before Amazon became what it is today, it went through periods when its survival was genuinely questioned. Tesla went through similarly difficult periods. Had every difficult chapter been reduced entirely to the share price — and had every founder been judged solely by short-term market performance — some of the companies we now consider transformative might never have survived long enough to fulfil their ambitions.
That does not mean founders should be immune from criticism. Nor does it mean price, tokenomics, transparency or execution do not matter. They absolutely do.
But price and vision are not always the same thing.
What I find interesting about Nicolas’s original idea is its ambition: to make digital currency accessible without requiring people to begin with significant capital or pass through the traditional barriers associated with acquiring digital assets, while ultimately pursuing a monetary network that is less dependent on conventional financial intermediaries.
Stablecoins can play an important role in expanding certain utility across the Pi ecosystem, particularly in use cases where predictable price stability is important.
The introduction of stablecoins requires a deliberate, unique approach, and must be aligned with Pi Network’s ecosystem and principles.
- Simply adding a stablecoin does not guarantee that it will naturally complement Pi.
- How the two function alongside each other depends on how stablecoins are integrated into the Pi ecosystem.
This makes the design and initial introduction especially important. Stablecoin functionality should be directed toward circumstances where price stability is needed while preserving the utility of the Pi cryptocurrency across the broader ecosystem.
Learn more https://t.co/MuubtRW4uh
Pi Network is exploring how stablecoins can support additional utility across the Pi ecosystem while maintaining a distinct, complementary role to Pi.
Read the new blog in the Pi mining app to learn about:
- Pi’s approach to stablecoins
- How stablecoins may help expand participation within the ecosystem
- Why their implementation requires careful design
And how the OUSD partnership can fit into Pi’s broader stablecoin strategy.
Pi Network is partnering with @openstandard, the company powering Open USD (OUSD), a partner-governed stablecoin designed as open infrastructure!
Open Standard brings together more than 200+ partners across payments, finance, technology, and crypto, including Visa, Google, and Stripe.
OUSD is designed with an incentive model focused on supporting ecosystem growth, and Pi will explore rewards programs for Pioneers and broader utility across the Pi ecosystem.
Look forward to more details about this partnership.
Following the successful completion of the Protocol 27 upgrade on Pi Mainnet, Pi Testnet has upgraded to Protocol 28.
Protocol 28 improves how the network handles delays in transaction data and enables developers to upgrade groups of smart contracts at once and change stored data more safely as their applications develop.
All Node operators must upgrade their nodes to Protocol 28 by October 13, 2026, in preparation for the Mainnet Protocol 28 network upgrade on October 16, 2026.
Pi has released several technical updates to KYC and Mainnet migration processes that address specific KYC application corner cases, improve verification processes, and help eligible Pioneers who were previously unable to progress.
KYC and Mainnet migration involve many different checks designed to allow genuine Pioneers to progress while preventing bad actors, bots and those with policy violations.
While most Pioneers move through these processes continuously, certain groups can become stuck because of specific corner cases that require additional evaluation or custom technical solutions.
Learn more https://t.co/eA7mbDZicT
Pi KYC and Mainnet migration received several technical updates that address corner cases and help unblock more Pioneers in these processes!
Go to the Pi app to learn more!
BREAKING: Tesla has established a subsidiary in Vietnam. 🇻🇳
Tesla Motors Vietnam was registered in Ho Chi Minh City with $3M in capital. The company can import, distribute and sell cars, parts & equipment.
Tesla is moving into one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing EV markets.
SoloHost updates have been released alongside Pi Desktop version 0.6.3! This improves app discovery, reliability, and developer tools.
Pioneers can more easily discover actively used SoloHost apps. Reliability improvements and developer resources, such as AI agents compatibility, also support the building and troubleshooting of apps.
These updates further support SoloHost’s role in extending the utility of Pi Desktop and Nodes beyond blockchain infrastructure, giving Pioneers more ways to use their computers for self-hosted apps and developers more tools to build and bring apps into SoloHost.
Learn more in the Pi app!
Supporting developers is essential to expanding utility at the application level.
Developers create products, services, and experiences that give Pioneers more ways to participate in the Pi ecosystem. Improving the underlying development environment helps turn Pi’s technical capabilities and ecosystem resources into applications that Pioneers can use.
Learn more about Pi's newly released developer capabilities and developer documentation. https://t.co/EVzcu9EtmX
Pi has introduced new capabilities for developers building on Pi! This includes local storage support, access to app-specific staking data, and file and video sharing.
Pi’s new developer documentation is also now released, providing a single destination for technical resources and a clearer path from getting started to building and launching an app on Pi.
Improving developer tools is important for Pi’s broader focus on utility because they directly affect the types of apps and services that developers can create for the community and beyond.
Learn more in the Pi app!
SoloHost gives Pioneers more ways to use their computers for local AI and easier access to other self-hosted applications, further extending the utility of Pi Desktop and Nodes beyond blockchain infrastructure.
OpenClaw and the Atlassian MCP Server show how SoloHost can support different types of self-hosted software for different user needs, from local AI agents to more specialized developer utilities.
Through SoloHost, people can benefit from AI while keeping more of their data and computation on their own devices and reducing reliance on third-party remote infrastructure.
Learn more
https://t.co/qyzzhDC1SB
OpenClaw and the Atlassian MCP Server are now featured in SoloHost on Pi Desktop, expanding the range of self-hosted tools users can run locally.
OpenClaw offers a more contained local AI setup with streamlined installation, while the Atlassian MCP Server supports AI-integrated Jira workflows for professionals through a locally run connection.
Go to the Pi mining app to learn more about both apps and how SoloHost expands the utility of Pi Desktop and Nodes beyond blockchain infrastructure by bringing new AI and developer tools into the Pi ecosystem.
Following the successful completion of the Protocol 26 upgrade on Pi Mainnet, Pi Testnet is upgrading to Protocol 27!
Protocol 27 introduces more flexible and secure smart contract authentication capabilities, enabling more advanced ways for accounts and applications to authorize transactions. The upgrade continues Pi’s broader work to incorporate newer protocol features and expand the network’s smart contract capabilities.
The target date for the Mainnet upgrade to 27 is September 15, 2026.
Today’s message from @POTUS was clear: This Administration is committed to passing the Clarity Act — answering voters’ call for consistent rules for crypto.
Regulators @SECPaulatkins and @chairmanselig are aligned, Congress has set a date, and the entire industry is ready to get this across the finish line.
67M Americans own crypto, and they want this legislation. I’m confident the Senate will listen. Contact your lawmakers today — let’s get this done!
Looks like PayPal is supporting Pi Network
@PayPal has revamped its official developer ecosystem by adding support for Pi Network ($PI) through its 'Pay with Crypto' checkout program.
The revision, finalized on August 11, 2026, adds $PI to the whitelist of about 100 crypto assets that can be used in transactions.
This will enable customers worldwide to pay with $PI at verified U.S. Business merchants, using PayPal to convert the crypto asset to fiat in real time.
Along with the new Node 0.6.2 release, Pi has completed an initial distributed computing functionality test through SoloHost with five volunteer Node runners.
The devices operated by all five participants successfully completed the computing tasks sent to them automatically through a SoloHost app.
The test validated the end-to-end flow of tasks across real devices, including connecting to a Pi coordinator, receiving and processing computing jobs, and reporting results back.
Learn more
https://t.co/ixX8qRu0as
The Pi Node version 0.6.2 has been released!
This introduces improvements to SoloHost, Node connectivity, and the Pi Desktop user experience.
In parallel, Pi has successfully completed a distributed computing test through a SoloHost app, further advancing the utility of Pi Nodes beyond supporting the Pi blockchain.
Together, these updates make it easier to run and manage applications on Pi Nodes and SoloHost, while advancing their distributed computing utility.
Go to the Pi app to learn more!
Introducing Adapter (Protocol 28), designed for builders. The dates you need to know ⬇️
✔️ August 27th: Testnet vote
✔️ September 16th: Mainnet vote
Check out the thread from @BuildOnStellar for a detailed look at what to expect from the upgrade.