Pi Network Shuts Central Node, Prepares for Open-Source Code Release

Pi Network has made a significant move towards decentralization by shutting down its central node and preparing to open-source its code. This decision aligns with the network's mission to transition into a decentralized blockchain secured by its proprietary improved proof of stake (IPoS) mechanism. The community is eagerly awaiting the release of the source code, which is expected to bring a new era of transparency to the network.

However, despite these developments, critics remain skeptical about Pi Network's decentralization claims. The network's referral-based mining model and opaque governance structure continue to raise concerns. Additionally, the core team's control over supernode selection and its reported hold on a significant amount of PI tokens have fueled ongoing debates about the project's decentralization.

The timing of these announcements is particularly noteworthy, as they coincide with the crypto world's focus on Consensus 2025. Pi Network has been teasing a series of major announcements, with the first one scheduled for May 14th. This is followed by promises of something significant on the 15th and a speech from Pi co-founder Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis on the 16th. These events have generated considerable excitement and anticipation within the community.

Despite the removal of the central node and the impending open-source release, Pi Network still faces criticism for its closed mainnet and restricted coin transfers. Basic access features like "lightning" often require VPNs in some regions, which seems contradictory to the project's decentralization goals. The upcoming announcements may address these issues, but until the network becomes truly open and borderless, the decentralization debate will likely continue.