The controversial crypto project remains among the most-talked-about topics in the entire digital asset space, and one upcoming development may increase its popularity even more.
PI pumped hard in mid-March, but the momentum faded fast. Meanwhile, current market signals suggest that a further correction may be looming.
Pi Network Gains a Top-Tier Spot
One of the biggest and most influential crypto conferences, Consensus 2026, is less than two months away, and it was revealed that Pi Network will be one of its sponsors. Other backers of the event are well-known organizations such as Grayscale, Google Cloud, Ripple, Circle, Mastercard, and many more.
The news sparked major excitement across the PI community, with some highlighting the significance of the development. X user Whale Hunter, for instance, pointed out that Pi Network’s sponsorship comes with a 20-minute main-stage session focused on PI and Artificial Intelligence.
Consensus 2026 will be held in Miami from May 5 to May 7. The event is expected to gather roughly 20,000 attendees, with Forbes describing it as “the Super Bowl of Blockchain, the World Cup of Web3.” Speakers include heavyweights like Michael Saylor, Paul Atkins, Bo Hines, Arthur Hayes, Kevin O’Leary, Brad Garlinghouse, Tom Lee, Justin Sun, and others.
This isn’t the first time Pi Network has done something similar. Last year, the project served as a Gold Sponsor of TOKEN2049 in Singapore, which is another major crypto conference.
The Protocol Updates
At the beginning of March, Pi Network’s Core Team disclosed that the protocol v19.9 migration was successfully completed, while version 20.2 arrived with the Pi Day celebratory announcement on March 14. The update drew significant attention because it introduced the first steps toward smart-contract support, or as X user drealFx said:
You may also like:
*
Bitcoin (BTC) Plunges Before the FOMC Meeting, Pi Network (PI) Soars by 15%: Market Watch
“In simple terms: Pi is moving closer to becoming a fully functional blockchain ecosystem, not just a digital coin.”
The team aims to release these features gradually and plans to prioritize categories that add real utility. Pi Network later revealed that the next protocol upgrade is v21, albeit without providing a specific release timeline.
PI Price Outlook
The aforementioned advancements, as well as Kraken’s decision to enable trading services with PI, triggered a major rally for the asset, whose price reached a five-month peak of around $0.30 less than two weeks ago.
Nonetheless, this rally was short-lived and was followed by another painful decline, which pushed the valuation as low as $0.17. As of this writing, PI trades at around $0.18 (per CoinGecko), representing a 20% drop on a 14-day scale.
Token unlocks could make the coming weeks even more turbulent. Over 175 million PI are set for release in the next 30 days, with April 2 standing out as the record day when 15.2 million coins will be unlocked.
PI Token Unlocks, Source: piscan.io
SPECIAL OFFER (Exclusive)
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. See Disclaimer for more information.
Tags:
Bitcoin (BTC) Price
Pi Network (PI)
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
Pi Network Requires Mainnet Upgrade to v22.1 by April 27 or Risk Disconnection
Pi Network announced a mandatory upgrade to Protocol version 22.1, requiring completion by April 27, 2026, to maintain network connection. The upgrade is seen positively for enhancing security and performance, with next version expected by May 11, 2026.
GateNews17h ago
Pi Network V23 Upgrade to Launch Smart Contracts, DApp Ecosystem, and DEX Next Month
Pi Network will launch its V23 upgrade next month, featuring smart contracts, a DApp ecosystem, and a decentralized exchange. With over 18 million KYC-verified users, this upgrade moves Pi towards practical applications and utility in its ecosystem.
GateNews04-16 05:41
Pi Network Agreement 23 Targets the Institutional Market, Smart Contracts, and RWA Tokenization to Launch in Early May
Pi Network officially went live with Protocol 23 on May 18, bringing smart contracts, real-world asset tokenization, and the AI App Studio, enabling Pi to transform from a payment token into a programmable blockchain infrastructure. The protocol covers four major functions, similar to Ethereum, and is expected to attract institutional investors. The upgraded node milestones signal market confidence and may affect Pi’s price performance.
MarketWhisper04-15 03:02
Pi Network 18 million users complete KYC, and 26.5 million PI are issued to verifiers
Pi Network distributes 26.5 million PI tokens to more than 1 million community members who have completed KYC verification, to accelerate user identity verification and strengthen the decentralized model. 18 million already-verified users have laid the groundwork for the ecosystem’s development, but the key lies in how to convert these users into active participants. With the protocol upgrade, Pi Network is moving toward the open network phase, and smart contract support signals richer application scenarios.
MarketWhisper04-14 05:07
Pi Network price hits a new 7-week low as a wave of 60 million token unlocks comes in
Pi Network's native token PI fell to $0.165 in April, hitting a 7-week low and leaving market sentiment weak. The unlock peak will release more than 60 million PI, adding downward pressure. Despite the core team recently publishing technical updates, it failed to improve market confidence and instead drew community criticism due to KYC access issues and the ongoing slide in price. Increased future supply could further drive prices lower.
MarketWhisper04-14 02:50
Pi Network Distributes 26.5M PI to 1M KYC Validators
Pi Network has taken another step forward in building its ecosystem. The project recently distributed 26.5 million PI tokens to more than 1 million KYC validators.
These rewards were given to users who helped verify identities on the network. This process is important. Because it ensures that
Coinfomania04-13 13:30
